Hi Raleigh Lover!

This week, we had the absolute joy of attending the NC Courage season kickoff event, a fantastic celebration of our state’s professional women’s soccer team! If you’re looking for an affordable and thrilling afternoon or evening out, their games at First Horizon Stadium at WakeMed Soccer Park are a must. Every seat has a great view, the energy is electric, and these women put on an incredible show.

We especially love supporting women’s sports—and with March being Women’s History Month, there’s no better time to rally behind these talented athletes! But the real highlight for us? Meeting the Courage’s latest recruits—two Australian soccer stars, Charlotte Mclean and Cortnee Vine!

If you followed the Women’s World Cup last year, you’ll know just how extraordinary the Australian Matildas were, making history and inspiring a nation. And if you remember that legendary penalty shootout against France? Cortnee Vine was the one who scored the winning goal that sent Australia to the semifinals! It was a moment that gave us chills—and, yes, made me cry with pride and gratitude for what it meant for women's sports in Australia, actually women in general.

Meeting Cortnee and Charlotte was such a special experience. They were incredibly friendly and down-to-earth, and we bonded over our shared Aussie roots—trading travel stories, reminiscing about our Australian lifestyle, Australian coffee, and, of course, missing Vegemite. It was a little taste of home, right here in Raleigh.

We also loved hearing them rave about their new home and how much they enjoy playing for NC Courage. According to them, the National Women's Soccer League is the best in the world, which means we have some of the top global talent right here in our backyard. The Courage consistently ranks among the league’s best—so if you’re not already going to games, now’s the time to start!

Mark your calendars: NC Courage’s first home game is March 22! Let’s show up, cheer them on, and maybe even throw in an Aussie “Oi Oi Oi!” for Cortnee and Charlotte. See you at the game—it’s going to be an unforgettable season!

Much gratitude to another NC Courage Aussie, Hana on the marketing team who invited us to the event! That’s all of us in the photo above - Aussies are taking over y’all, at least our accent is Real Southern!

Caroline

P.S. They also said Madre is their favorite restaurant in Raleigh - and we’re going there for the first time tonight!! They also agreed that Fount has one of the best coffees in Wake County. Milos was another favorite of theirs.

💖 FAVORITE FINDS

• The Stockroom at 230 is a great warehouse style venue space hidden on Fayetteville St.

• I’ll say it again the Italian caramel latte from Iris Coffee Lab is awesome.

• The Jambalaya topped with two over-easy eggs from Another Broken Egg Cafe in North Hills.

• Coca-mocha-nut from Lucky Tree Cafe, enjoyed with Bearta from NC Vibes who is running the Women’s Expo tomorrow (see below)

⭐DID YOU HEAR?

• I will be speaking at the Raleigh Professional Women’s Forum's monthly lunch meeting this week on From Backpack to Boardroom (Wherever My Laptop Is): The Power of Uncertainty, Passion, & Reinvention"

• It’s International Women’s Day on Saturday! Here are different ways to celebrate women this month in Raleigh and here are some women owned business in Raleigh to celebrate (leave some of your faves in the comments)

• A new coffee shop Cortado is opening tomorrow on Glenwood Ave.

• Rivals UNC and Duke play tomorrow night in the run up to the ACC and March Madness! Place your bets.

• Durham’s Simon Says Dip will open in the Bloc [83] in downtown today! Their dipped ice cream creations are yummy!

• The Architect Bar on E Hargett St announced their closure 🥲

• An exciting new event is coming March 22: Grace & Growth - - a powerful gathering dedicated to honoring women for their hard work, resilience, and contributions to their families, careers, and communities. I’m excited to be attending and sharing a few encouraging words at the beginning.
  

🖋 ON THE BLOG

📆THIS WEEKEND

You may like…

1. First Friday in Downtown Raleigh with a feminist theme to celebrate women’s history month.

2. International Women’s Expo at the Raleigh Convention Center. There’ll be speakers from accomplished entrepreneurs and businesswomen, exhibits and workshops

3. Raleigh Brewing (woman owned)12th Anniversary Party with games, live music and new beer releases.

4. Future Me Fair at Marbles Kids Museum. Learn about various trades and professions and empower kids to dream big about future pathways!

5. Women’s History Tour Learn about the incredible women who helped make Raleigh the fabulous city that it is today on a guided walking tour!

🗣JOIN THE CONVERSATION

The social posts that have everyone talking (click image to join)

👍ON THE GRAM

• LISTENING: Mr. Beast on Diary of a CEO Podcast

• READING: Finished The Cove for book club this week

• WATCHING: The Oscars (😭😭Timothee Chalamet didn’t win), Zero Day

• DOING: dinner and jazz with friends, wishing Kalyra Bon Voyage for her school trip to Paris and London, watching our daughter play soccer,