82 °F and a slight breeze… the perfect temperature for making sandcastles. Today, 
Athena and I had one goal – to kick off our shoes and get down to making sandcastles. (Well, that was my goal. Athena’s goal was to sneak in a bite of a seashell any time I wasn’t looking but it fit nicely with my sandcastle goal so she went along.) This week is all about soaking up Athena time and she loves the sand so that’s where we spent our day.
I needed to put my feet in the sand and hear the sound of the ocean waves; it was a 
long-over-due necessity. So we planned a weekend at Island Vista Resort in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. When we arrived, I was pleasantly surprised with the amenities available in the suite, including one king bed, 1 sofa sleeper, 2 full baths, full kitchen, dining room, washer and dryer, in room safe, and an oceanfront balcony that offered access to both the living room and the bedroom. It provided everything a guest needed to stay for a night, a weekend, a week, or even a month. Continue reading
It’s 9:13 pm and I’m exhausted. I feel like it’s 4 o’clock in the morning. Why? because I 
spent the day basking in the warm, bright sun, building sand castles, and running along the beach chasing birds. We’re spending the weekend at Island Vista Resort in Myrtle Beach, SC and it’s a remarkable place to enjoy with your family. Continue reading
Darren and I decided a beach weekend was long over-due so we’re heading to Island Vista Resort in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina tomorrow. I received a welcomed email from the resort and I realized that it represented customer service at its finest.
Holes in the wall, lifting heavy boxes, scratches on the floor, packing, unpacking, 
misplacing screws… moving is stressful. My new house is absolutely beautiful and during the evening when I can look up at the stars from my bedroom window, it’s all worth the hassle but I needed a break. There’s no better place to get away from it all than Neverland. Jean-Pierre Bonnefoux’s gravity-defying Peter Pan tells the story of the mischievous boy who never wants to grow up, his spunky sidekick Tinker Bell, and the frightful Captain Hook. Last night, I escaped to Neverland with this whimsical ballet and my imagination took flight. Continue reading
When I added Grove Park Inn to my 2013 bucket list, I had no idea the extent of relaxation 
and resort luxury I was going to experience or how much I truly needed it. Just a two hour drive from our home in Charlotte brought us to another world; a world filled with spacious accommodations, superb dining, unbelievable views, and endless amenities. We marveled at the spectacular view during our breakfast experience, escaped to a world-class spa, and stepped into a world of glamour inspired by the great American author F. Scott Fitzgerald in The Gatsby theme room. Grove Park Inn was the relaxing weekend away from it all that we desperately needed. Rather than posting, texting, Tweeting, and sharing on Facebook, I turned off my phone, put away the computer, and forgot the camera… most of the time. It was a weekend for us as a family – the perfect relaxing, mountain getaway. Sometimes even extreme adventure seekers need a rest. Continue reading
We like to dine out. With a 9 month old and work and laundry and cleaning and getting 
ready for a new house and life, we like to dine out. It’s easy to say, “Darren I’ve been home all day. Let’s go out for something to eat.” But going out for dinner every other night of the week can be costly so we usually end up at fast food restaurants and eating unhealthy food, continuing the cycle of bland dining experiences. A chef recently said to me, “You can waste your money eating out regularly to fill the void or you can dine out once-and-awhile and make it an occasion. A celebration of food and life.” I liked that philosophy and I’ve been trying to incorporate it into our lives ever since. This past weekend we celebrated dining at Print Works Bistro. We ordered appetizers, entrees, and dessert; we had extraordinary flavors in a vibrant surrounding, making dining a true celebration. Continue reading
Proximity Hotel in Greensboro, North Carolina was the first LEED Platinum Hotel in USA. LEED is the U.S. Green Building Council’s rating system for designing and constructing the world’s greenest, most energy efficient, and high performing buildings. This weekend we were able to experience what it means to be in the LEED. Continue reading
Before I created Bucket List Publications, I was a high school English teacher for 8 years and a university student 
for 7 years before that; my life was littered with books, reading, and writing. I cherished the daily reading time that was built into my class schedule and I loved going to class to discuss a book, new or old. The feel of the pages below my fingers, the look of the written word displayed before me in sentences and paragraphs, and the unlimited world that was created with each new character and setting all came together to drive my passion for reading. I read 100s, maybe 1000s, of books and narrowed my favorite authors down to a handful. Choosing an absolute favorite seemed impossible; with countless genres spanning the history of time, I didn’t think one would rise above the others. Then, one day in class, a student suggested I read “The Five People You Meet in Heaven” by Mitch Albom and a new love for reading flourished. I read all of his books over and over again; I found ways to incorporate them into the high school curriculum; I suggested them to everyone I knew. I had found my favorite author. Filled with inspiration and creativity, his books are a cherished addition to my collection. His new book, “The Time Keeper”, is Albom’s most imaginative novel yet. Regardless if you read regularly or just on occasion, give the gift of time this Christmas and experience the world through Mitch Albom’s eyes. Continue reading
Pulled pork, BBQs, slow-cookers, mac n cheese, beans, smokers, and Brunswick stew 
are all North Carolina staples that I’d been dreaming about experiencing. Since moving here 6 months ago, I was on the hunt for the best southern comfort food that North Carolina has to offer. I tried everything from expensive, uptown restaurants to cheap dives in sketchy neighborhoods, but I still felt like I was missing the authentic experience. When I heard about Mac’s Speed Shop, part biker bar, part barbecue joint, filled with tables, chairs, and picnic tables out front, I didn’t expect to find “the spot”. From the time our appetizers arrived until the last bite of dessert, my taste buds were elated with the unique flavor-filled experience of true North Carolina cooking. Continue reading
