April Blog Income Report (And Traffic, Too)

May 14, 2015

I receive the same response from nearly everyone I tell that I quit my full-time job to become a writer-entrepreneur. First, they pause and give me a quizzical stare. “You do what?” That moment of awkwardness, which I purposely let linger longer than I should, is then followed by the same question every time, “How do you make money?” Sometimes the intent behind the question is sheer curiosity. Sometimes it’s judgement, “Have…

Travel, United States

Easter Photo Fun! A Photo Essay of the Big Egg Hunt in NYC

April 2, 2015

I’m ashamed to admit, but when I was growing up, Easter was more about where we were going than the holiday itself. Often times, our family had extravagant plans to someplace tropical to shake off the winter blues like Mexico, the Bahamas, or, even once, Venezuela. Other years we visited family in Tampa, Washington, DC, or Los Angeles. Rarely did we stay in Ohio. If we did, we made a road trip…

Queen City Brewers Festival in Charlotte, North Carolina

February 5, 2015

Seriously? Another craft beer festival? Less than a year ago I was saying the same thing about craft breweries. How many is too many? It seemed like every week the Charlotte Business Journal published an article about another proposed opening. Don’t get me wrong, I like beer (just look at my belly), but was the mug about to spillover? While I’ve come to the conclusion that the craft beer market has not…

Raleigh Rare Beer Festival

January 29, 2015

The Craft Beer Festival Movement I kind of feel like a hippy going to Woodstock when I attend a craft beer festival. The whole craft movement is still pretty new and the festival phenomenon is even newer with multiple popping up in almost every major metropolitan city (We have well over a dozen here in Charlotte). When I tell friends that I’m going, it’s like I’m wearing a renegade badge of honor where…

Food

Negra Modelo The Perfect Complement to Friendsgiving!

November 18, 2014

The Birth of Friendsgiving The Holidays can be stressful. I mean, I love my family (and my in-laws are growing on me), but dang! The stress of watching what I drink, pretending that I like turkey, trying not to swear too much, and having to perfect every last detail of a dinner that only includes family makes me want to drink even more. Why does it have to be so difficult? Why…

Travel Budgeting

How to Cancel Cable TV and Save $5,850

October 30, 2014

Finally we said enough! For years, we kept our cable with full house DVR simply because we were hooked on football and a few television programs. The cable company had us convinced that we couldn’t live without their precious programing. The we couldn’t possibly cancel cable TV. I’m sure many of you can relate. We accepted yearly rate increases without batting an eye because they justified it was the cost of ESPN that…

Latin America, Travel

Getting to Know My Host Family – Semester in Ecuador Part 5

October 28, 2014

This was the toughest installation of this series to recall yet as it brought up many food memories and emotions from Ecuador. I will always remember the family that I was placed with in Ecuador quite fondly. It was a blessing to be dropped into the midst of the love they all shared for each other and extended to me. The Valverde-Orellana family is the reason that I had such a positive…

Wine

Spanish Cider Tasting Sidra Natural Fanjul and An Introduction to Spanish Sidras

October 6, 2014

An Introduction to Spanish Ciders You may have noticed in October’s Beer Versus Wine Challenge that I paired a Spanish sidra (cider) and not a beer or wine with soft shell crabs. I know, I know. I completely broke the rules. A Spanish cider is NOT a beer or wine, and I gave If It Falls on the Floor hell for suggesting a cider in a past Beer Versus Wine Challenge (she…

Food, Travel

Food for Thought with The Wandering Gourmand

August 11, 2014

An excerpt from my interview with Turtles Travel: Food connects us to our past, to those places we consider “home,” and to new destinations we discover through travel. Food can break down barriers we sometimes encounter while traveling, including language! Sharing a meal is a wonderful way to make new friends. Through our Food for Thought series, we continue to learn about other travelers’ journeys and the role food plays. This week’s interview…

Craft Beer Travel

What Happened to the Neighborhood Pub?

August 8, 2014

Lately I’ve been infatuated with the idea of the tavern as a meeting place, where people and minds gather for more than just talk about sports. Where people come together for camaraderie and to share ideas on politics or business. Where people are drawn to simply be with friends for a round or two of beer. This interest has been sparked by the history books I’ve been reading (and the re-runs of…

OG

April Blog Income Report (And Traffic, Too)

Easter Photo Fun! A Photo Essay of the Big Egg Hunt in NYC

Queen City Brewers Festival in Charlotte, North Carolina

Raleigh Rare Beer Festival

Negra Modelo The Perfect Complement to Friendsgiving!

How to Cancel Cable TV and Save $5,850

Getting to Know My Host Family – Semester in Ecuador Part 5

Spanish Cider Tasting Sidra Natural Fanjul and An Introduction to Spanish Sidras

Food for Thought with The Wandering Gourmand

What Happened to the Neighborhood Pub?

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