Rent the Runway (RTR).  I quickly googled RTR and as I had imagined, it is a service where you can rent designer dresses for either four or eight days.  Their website provides various search engines to help you find the perfect dress for your occasion.  Once I logged on to their website, the first thing I did was search   fee was 1/11th of the retail […]

Before this past week, I honestly did not know the difference between an Ashiatsu, a Swedish, a hot stone or a deep tissue massage.  Ashiatsu  comes from two words:  Ashi (foot) and atsu (pressure).  Ashiatsu is a massage therapy in which the therapist walks on the client’s back, using bars for support to vary pressure and weight.  How […]

What do Peru, Morrisville & rotisserie chicken have in common? Mami Nora’s Peruvian Restaurant located in Morrisville, North Carolina, of course! It all started with the Palma family, husband Julio of Peru, and wife Nora of El Salvador, after whom the business was named. Prior to calling The Triangle home, the couple and their family […]

I met my friend Marianela in Buenos Aires, Argentina while I was on an international assignment for my day job. We worked on the same floor and we quickly became the best of friends, because according to both of us, “We are Taruses”. Since my international assignment, I have returned to the state of North […]

The last time I walked into an Applebee’s restaurant, I was 18.  It was the favorite weekend spot for my gal pals and I.  That said… I grew up in a very small Texas town.  My girlfriends and I would often get together at Applebee’s for lunches, study breaks or dinner.  Occasionally we would sneak in […]

This past March, I continued my 24 hours series with a visit to New Bern, North Carolina. Until this visit to New Bern, I didn’t realize the rich 300 years of history behind the second oldest city and first state capital of North Carolina. The charming riverfront town is set alongside the Neuse and Trent […]

This weekend my family and I celebrated our patriarch’s 98th birthday – a true blessing.   The Mexican-themed fiesta was a collaborative effort between the children, grandchildren and family friends of Candelario Moreno.   It was a joyous occasion where friends and family traveled near and far from both the US and Mexico to come and celebrate […]

Recently, I attended the Competition Dining Series, held at 1705 Prime in Raleigh, NC where Chef Ben Adams from Piedmont Restaurant in Durham and Chef Chelsi Hogue from Ed’s Southern Food & Spirits in Goldsboro battled it out side by side in the kitchen.   Each chef created an appetizer, entrée and dessert using a secret […]

I am excited to share my first Valentine’s Day post with a special feature and menu preview of Raleigh’s Brio Tuscan Grille.  Whether you are celebrating with your significant other, friends or family there is no rush to get the coveted February 14th dinner reservation.  Raleigh’s Brio Tuscan Grille at Crabtree Valley Mall  will feature a […]

This weekend we celebrated my grandfather’s 97th birthday party.  One of the side dishes I prepared for the celebration was a pineapple-mango salsa.  I didn’t expect it, but it made quite an impression on the crowd.   The most seasoned of cooks asked for the recipe – which was quite an honor for me.  I dedicate this […]

Never have I seen a more complex battle among sweet things than the doughnut or donut. Even the spelling of this American classic is up for debate.   Although I love all sweets, doughnuts did not necessarily strike my fancy.  That is until five years ago when I discovered the Doughnut Plant in New York City….but […]

The origin of sangria is Spanish and Portuguese and is made with red wine, orange juice, chopped fruit and alcohol, like brandy.  I actually had my fair share of sangria during my semester abroad in Spain my junior year, however, I was never a huge fan.  I found it to be too heavy and not […]

Fall is here!  What is the first thing that comes to mind?  Perhaps cooler weather, pumpkin spice latte’s, cashmere sweaters, suede boots or perhaps dishes like a sweet potato casserole.  If you are a fan of the latter and currently living in NC, we are fortunate that our state is the #1 producer of sweet […]

What is an empanada?  It is a pastry that can be baked or fried, stuffed with a sweet or savory filling such as fruit, meat or vegetables and is cooked to a golden brown.  The cooking method (baking or frying), choice of stuffing and flours used to create these delicious turnovers vary by each country […]