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Sunday, November 2, 2014

Explore Asheville

Have you been to Asheville??

Last week, I took a trip with the "My Carolina Today" team to explore Asheville, North Carolina.

It was a work trip for some feature segments were doing on the city and my gosh is it GORGEOUS. 

If you've never been - it's so worth the trip. 
Mountains, beautiful trees, historic buildings...the list goes on.

We got there right at the start of "fall color change... "
<at least that's what I call it - you know when the trees start turning pretty colors>
 



 
Being a Florida girl - I have really never seen anything like this. I grew up around palm trees so my version of winter was adding fake icicles to buildings - haha! So, I'm seeing FALL in FULL EFFECT like never before. 

Maybe its silly but I LOVE IT.

For the first part of our shoot - we visited the River Arts District and watched live demonstrations by several artists -- painting, sculpting, blowing glass. It's such an artistic & creative city. So glad I left my credit card in the car or I would have been buying stuff left and right.




Every street was literally breathtaking.
So much history.



THEN AN AMAZING STOP @ Asheville TreeTops Adventure Park AKA Zip Lining!
Now I'm not gonna lie - I was genuinely terrified at first but it turned out all ok. More pictures and video to come at a later post. <thats me and my co host Valonda>

                  

For dinner - we ate at an amazing local spot called HomeGrown - AND WOW.

The food was IN-CRED-IBLE. So good. Their motto "Slow food - right quick"
I ordered Buttermilk chicken, an arugula salad, and a side of mac n cheese.

It was so good I forgot to take a pic of the whole meal but the MACnCheese was redonkulous.
<as in AMAZing> Quite possibly the best mac n cheese I've ever had in my life - EVER.



               Tried to get a quick selfie in with the trees but the sun was shining SO BRIGHT!! LOL
   

Then we went on a Wellness Tour...
It started with spending some time meditating in a Salt Cave. Now that was cool.
It was really a very different experience and its crazy how the salt can literally calm you.  The minute I walked into the room I felt so relaxed. It was as if a weight was lifted off my shoulders.

I really can't completely explain it in words but it was a very soothing feeling. I was sore from Zip lining earlier so I put some of the salt crystals on my muscles and it honestly felt better after. Who knew? Have you ever been to a salt cave?



I finished up my tour of Asheville with a foot soak like none other at Wake Foot Sanctuary. It was pretty phenomenal. My foot soak included: <Green tea, lemongrass, & avocado oil -all together for an energizing yet nourishing soak. > Breathe deep – :) It was a warm and relaxing 45 minute experience.



While you soak they wrap a hot towel around your neck and serve you hot tea. It felt very royal - ha! If that's what royalty feels like.. sign me up FOR LIFE.

   

I was sad to leave the pretty city but it was a quick work trip to show people in Raleigh the beauty of Asheville. We are putting together a segment on all the amazing fun you can get into by visiting Asheville -- its set to air later this month on NBC.

It's a four hour drive away from Raleigh but I discovered a beautiful place in the mountains I plan to return to soon. XOXO

Happy Sunday,
Alex

PS. #Explore 


                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 
Sunday, October 12, 2014

Fall Weather & Pumpkin Spice

Pumpkin Spice Latte's are EVERYTHING.
Literally sometimes I feel like my whole life revolves around the happiness that is Pumpkin Spice.

Yes, I give it capital first letters - ha - thats how important it is to me.
Trader Joe's makes some pretty fantastic Pumpkin EVERYTHING... during this season. There is an amazing Pumpkin Swirl Brownie recipe on the Trader Joe's site I had to share AND I am dying to try.

(**No -- you wont see fancy pictures of me trying to make something amazing with pumpkin spice because I'm a messy cook and lets just say that I am convinced those blog food photos that FOOD bloggers posts are a lie - or if it's true I am honestly jealous because we all know were messy in the kitchen ha -- or at least I am :))**

Anyway - I finally feel settled in and moved in to Raleigh. So far I LOVE it here.

I feel like I can finally breathe a sigh of relief because we are moved into our new apartment, I had my hair done yesterday (thank the lord) ha! And I am dreaming of a white christmas. (Literally - I hope it snows.) Is that bad? I just feel like I have never had a real christmas tree - snow outside holiday. Maybe that's because I am a true Floridian. Uh yah -our idea of Xmas is fake icicles hanging from buildings. So needless to say I'm ready for the real thing! Let it snow! Please and thank you.



P.S. I took my first trip to Chapel Hill and got to see The Top Of The Hill and the gorgeous university. It was really breathtaking and fun to finally get out and see FALL happening in full motion...
                
  
                   
I bought this mirror cause I think it lies and makes me look thinner haha. Now thats a good reason to buy a mirror. You can get this fab lying mirror at LOWES - it wasnt available online :/

Scarf: H&M - similar HERE
Top: H&M - similar HERE
Jeans: 7 For all Mankind: HERE - these jeans are AMAZE
Boots: Ciao Bella : Available and on sale HERE

Happy Sunday, xo
Alex