Hi Raleigh Lover!

I’m writing this email to you this morning as I munch on vegemite toast feeling immensely sorry for most Americans who do not understand what a joyful experience this s. Like IMMENSELY joyful. I’m so grateful to Craig’s parents and our neighbor for bringing us care packages of vegemite, including gluten free for myself. And when the girls extra large jars run out, they try and fight me for my one! #nothappening

Most non-Australians HATE it. If you don’t know, vegemite is a black spread that is made from yeast and is very very salty. Australians typically start eating it as soon as we’re able to eat as babes. So for most of us, it’s never a distasteful flavor, only something passed down from the Gods.

Raleigh is a melting pot of people from all over the USA and the world, and it’s one of the things I love most about this city. Each of us brings our own version of “vegemite” — something unique from our culture or hometown that others might not quite understand or appreciate at first. And that’s okay! Sometimes, it’s simply a matter of getting used to new flavors.

But imagine the richness we can experience when we open ourselves up to celebrating those differences rather than fearing them. Sharing our “vegemites” with each other, even if we turn up our noses at first, creates opportunities to connect, learn, and understand each other better.

So while I may not share my actual jar of vegemite with you (sorry, not sorry — it's sacred in our house!), I’ll gladly share a slice of Aussie culture and my love for the uniqueness we each bring to the table. Here’s to celebrating the beautiful diversity that makes Raleigh such a vibrant and welcoming place to call home!

I’d love to hear your “vegemite”. Please reply to me now so I can celebrate it with you!

Cheers to differences,
Caroline

💖 FAVORITE FINDS

• Illuminate Art Walk kicks off today and we had a sneak preview last night. I loved this year’s feature The TUNNEL. My other favorites were the dance floor, and love for the Triangle. Post below with full details.

• Macs Speed Shop in Five Points. What a FIND! Swanky interior, possibly the best wings I’ve ever had (smoked), great BBQ platters, reasonable prices, with a great music vibe. Live music on Fridays during the winter.

• Irish coffee at Hibernian! A “vegemite’ of mine after living in Dublin It’s so hard to find a good one. Keith (the Dubliner manager) makes an Irish coffee that takes me back to Dublin. I cannot get enough! But, you gotta ask for Keith to make it for you. He has the Celtic magic.

• Wicked! Have you seen it yet? I saw it with girlfriends at Fenton. So great! Perfectly paired with the holiday magic of Fenton.

• The Bananas Fosters Flat White from Iris Coffee Lab. Oh MY!

• The Christmas ight car Fun spot on Glenwood Ave. Keep your eyes open!

• The Sunflower Towers (see reel below)

⭐DID YOU HEAR?

• Last chance to enter our Beth’s Christmas Giveaway: By email | By Instagram

• Boylan Heights Art Walk is on this Sunday. It’s one of our favorite Raleigh annual events.

• Biotech giant Amgen in Holly Springs will expand its campus with an infusion of $1 billion and an additional 370 jobs.

• Spotify Wrapped has been revealed. No surprises that Zach Bryan was my most played artist for this year. Some of my most played songs however, were that way because Spotify always injects them into my Made for you playlists.

• One of our favorites, Drift Coffee will open at HUB RTP next year.

• City Club Raleigh has decided to close after 45 yeas as a business networking club.

• My favorite band, Pearl Jam is coming to Raleigh next May for two shows at Lenovo Center.

• The wolfpack have made a bowl game. details to come. QB CJ Bailey is staying with the pack for next year! Yay!

• Santa may be feeling overwhelmed this weekend so take it easy on him. Where you can find him is in the post below.

• Here are our top picks for this weekend as shared on G105’s Erica Show. Totally forgot about Boylan Heights Art walk for this one, but I’ve got you above!

🖋 ON THE BLOG

🗣JOIN THE CONVERSATION

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

👍ON THE GRAM

• LISTENING: How to heal your trauma to manifest your most abundant life with Melissa Wood-Tepperberg on the School of Greatness Podcast

• READING: Finished the Maid finally. I enjoyed it. Now trying to The Good Girl.

• WATCHING: Lincoln Lawyer Season 3, Kabbalah one course

• DOING: Filming Town Triangle Apartments, creating lots of Christmas content. Trying to stop our cat Peach from escaping and taking her for walks when its not too cold, checking out Downtown Cary tree lighting, passing my 2nd post licensing real estate course!