Hi Raleigh Lover!

This past weekend, we laced up for one of Raleigh’s most legendary (and slightly absurd) traditions—the Krispy Kreme Challenge! A five-mile run from the NC State Belltower to Krispy Kreme on Person Street, where participants attempt to eat a dozen doughnuts before making the return trip.

Now, being gluten-free meant I had to skip the gluttony part (probably for the best!), but for me, it’s never been about the doughnuts. It’s about showing up for a great cause—raising money for UNC Children’s Hospital—and being part of a community that thrives on fun, quirky traditions like this. Raleigh has a way of bringing people together in the best ways, and this event is proof that you can just show up, be yourself, and be part of something bigger.

Typically, I’m more of a walker than a runner, but this year, I flipped the script. Did I set any records? Absolutely not. Did I do better than last time? Yes! And that’s the only comparison that matters. We spend far too much time measuring ourselves against others, never truly knowing their struggles or journey. We see a snapshot in time and either inflate our egos or let self-doubt creep in. But as they say, comparison is the thief of joy. The only race that matters is the one we’re running for ourselves, evolving with every step.

And if we can do that while laughing, sweating, and celebrating with friends (doughnuts optional)—even better.

Hope you all had an amazing weekend, too! Let’s dive into what’s happening this week in Raleigh…

Cheers,
Caroline

P.S. Gonna be 70 degrees today! Get on outside and soak it up! You know that it will revert back to cold soon. It’s the psychotic Raleigh way!

💖 FAVORITE FINDS

• Valentine’s Day treats from Edible Bakery - cupcakes and heart shaped macarons

• Flat white in Jubala was perfect after a 5-mile run

• Sunrise from my car in downtown Raleigh

⭐DID YOU HEAR?

• Julian Jacobs, owner of Unorthodox Vintage n Downtown Raleigh is opening a new retail store (today), The Burrow in the Warehouse District.

• Dates have been announced for the rescheduled NC Governor’s Inauguration Ball (April 5) and the NC Council of State Reception (April 4) There are a limited number of tickets available.

• Raising Canes is bringing its fried chicken tenders to Raleigh at 2420 Hillsborough St. I don’t get it, but my daughter begged me to take me to the opening in Chapel Hill and we waited for nearly an hour!! Students and tens love it!

• New Yorkers in Raleigh will be thrilled to know H&H bagels are coming to the Triangle with five locations as part of their national expansion!

• GloRilla has announced she’ll be playing at Dreamville - no official lineup announced yet.
  

🖋 ON THE BLOG

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📆THIS WEEKEND

You may like…

1. First Friday in Downtown Raleigh - a special love theme!

2. Black History Trolley Tour starting at Mordecai Historic Park

3. Fairy Tale Tea at Marbles Kid’s Museum

4. Triangle Yoga Fest in Downtown Apex

5. The Southern Farm Show is the largest annual agricultural exposition in the Carolinas and Virginia.

🗣JOIN THE CONVERSATION

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

👍ON THE GRAM

• LISTENING: How to awaken your divine manifestation power to attract anything - Gregg Braden on the Lewis Howes podcast

• READING: The Gap & the Gain (audiobook) by Dan Sullivan and Dr. Benjamin Hardy

• WATCHING: The Superbowl - Chiefs or Eagles? Here are some NFL bars in Raleigh.

• DOING: filming apartments, life planning with my daughter,