A couple of weekends ago, I saw the need to drive to Charleston to see what this food truck rodeo was all about. The thing is a friend on FB who lives there posted a picture of these different donuts with all these interesting flavors. I asked, and he told, and I had been stalking the truck ever since.

The spring fling poster had a long list of food trucks that would be in attendance, all of which I researched. On top of the food trucks, the flier for the event boasted a beer garden at the accompanying restaurant and live music in a cute lounge area, the Easter Bunny would be there along with an egg decorating station and also various craft vendors as well.

Of course the first truck we stopped at was the Diggity Doughnut truck and what do you know? There is a doughnut with my namesake, so I must try it. Not to mention it had been one of the flavors I had been most interested in on the long list of yummy sounding flavors.

The coolest part about this is the doughnuts are made fresh to order and the toppings glazed on right then. The are whole wheat, dairy free, egg free and low in sugar with natural ingredients. So you can have your doughnut with a lot less guilt. They are a perfect combination between dense cake doughnut and an airy doughnut almost mimicking a larger version of a funnel cake.

Across there in the purple is the Vietnamese food truck that has the Bahn mi sandwiches. They also had an iced green tea with basil and honey. It was very Basil-y and not so great pair with the sandwich but it did compliment my doughnut very well. The black and grey truck next to it had fried green tomatoes (one of my favorite southern foods) two of my friends that has came with had never had them before so we had to sample some on the way out. They were topped with this spicy cream sauce that was good but a little over kill. I like being in control of my sauce allowance also so the crunchy bready doesn’t become soggy. Next time I will order the sauce on the side.

From top left, Peanut butter Siracha, Vanilla Bean, Lemon with Chocolate sprinkles, Strawberry Jalapeno (Starla), Chocolate, and lastly the Arnold Palmer. I have to say I LOVED my doughnut and it was well worth the $2.50, I later went back to get another but the girl in front of me ordered the last one. The Starla and The Nutty Professor had sold out.

On top of the food truck, there was said to be a puppy treat truck which wasn’t there or if it was we never found it in the four hours we were there. But there was a traveling boutique called Gypsy Blue, which has goes to many different southern events. Recently it visited Nashville Fashion Week so this is not something exclusive to South Carolina.

Chloe loved going in and out of the truck. I tried on a couple of dresses but as in most things in my life they were too short. My friend took home a maxi dress that complimented her style well. The prices were average boutique prices. One of the dresses I tried on was in the $20 (clearance) range while another skirt that I LOVED was near $70. With the average price being about $45. Very cool concept. If they are ever in your neck of the woods I encourage you to check it out.

This restaurant has service, style, and art. Culinary art.

The art on our plates mimicked the art in the various paintings and sculptures that reside on the floors above.  The colors of the food were vibrant, with the sauces poured on in a painted manner. Every course was narrated to us, and any questions we had were answered promptly.

The four in our group opted for the two courses and dessert option on the lunch menu which offered plenty.

Before our appetizers we were greeted with hor dourves. Two-bite spoons, one with pickled raspberry, and the other with a duck breast. So our gastronomic adventure begins.

Then came the bread. I LOVE bread baskets that offer variety. These breads were different and not only were the breads in variety so were the butters. This was my first time trying goat butter and I kinda loved it.

The next surprise. Our amuse bouche. A mackerel with fish roe and some sort of citrus oils and such. The four of us were not a fan. But then again not of us care too much for fish. I like fish, but not a fan of mackerel.

Next our appetizers or our first course of choice. Most of us had looked at the menu and were quiet excited about MUNSTER-BRIE “SOUFFLÉ” now that I see the on the menu souffle is in quotations I should have taken the choice or disappointment more lightly.  While the presentation was stunning… it was too salty. far to salty. 3 out of 4 of us ordered this as our first option. The fourth made a much better choice in the organic green salad. 

Next was our second course option.

Half of us got the pork tenderloin and the other half the beef tenderloin. No complaints. Very Tender.

Lastly… DESSERT!!!!! What would four women be most pleased with. Chocolate and sugar of course. And that is why this course, of course was the BEST!

L and D ordered the MANJARI CHOCOLATE PALET

I ordered the MILK CHOCOLATE AND HAZELNUT DACQUOISE

and N ordered the Pear thing with the pancakes… the menu has changed since last week but none the less, they were all amazing!
And lastly we were finished off with some coffee and petit fours, which arguably were not as good as dessert.

Eating here was so much fun, and it was such an interesting treat. My girlfriends mother paid for our meal (and another) while we were in New York because we are military wives and don’t get opportunities like this often. This was such a treat, and we all thank her from the bottom of our hearts.

If you guys want ot hear more about the meal or the trip in general make sure to check out the podcast.

Thanks for reading!

This was already going to be my favorite day because I had lunch at Korilla was later having coal-oven pizza and ending at Gotham comedy club. What is better than mixing my two favorite things exploring and chocolate?

This tour was led by a knowledgeable New Yorker, Walter, who also leads other tours such as the food, and ghost tours. Because of his experience we also go to stop by other non-chocolate related places along the way as he interjected bits of city history.

We met at the Chelsea Market for our first stop at  Jacques Torres  for the wicked hot chocolate. It was a bitter, rich cocoa drink with a bit of spice.

Chelsea Market

Hot chocolate Bar

Second spot we were on to Lilac Chocolates where we sampled a small bit of dark chocolate but I think the things they had made out of chocolate was the most interesting with chocolate high heels and a chocolate bunny worth about $175 if I remember correctly.

Third stop:Chocolate Bar because one of our stops would not be open during the time of the tour we were getting two samples from Chocolate Bar. We sampled a spicy milk and a salted dark. I also bought a black pepper milk mustache. I liked all the chocolate I sampled and bought from here.

Photo courtesy: Nadine

fourth stop: Magnolia Bakery, here we sampled FULL SIZE cupcakes, chocolate cake with chocolate butter cream. for me, the frosting was too much but my friend was more than happy to take it, the cake was perfect and moist.

Next Stop:

Milk & Cookies, here we “sampled” full sized chocolate , chocolate chunk cookies. At this point we were starting to get full and the glass ceiling on chocolate level is being reached. But darn those cookies were good. They were so big most of us had a hard time finishing them. We wrapped them in napkins to have later.

Sixth Stop: Pasticceria Bruno, this has the “Best Canoli in New York” and actually it was very good. And although it had chocolate chips in the filling it offered the much need break from the chocolate overload we were near experiencing.

The grand finale! Xocolatti this stop was by far my favorite. Save the best for last they say. And well, they just happen to be right this time. In this store the owner actually gives us his own chocolate speech of how the store came into business. This store has only been in business a year and a half. The owner was nice, and personable with an obvious passion for chocolate. HE had what we all wanted… the truffles! We sampled a golden milk chocolate. 3 out 4 of us bought more to bring home. These truffles are pricey but the uniqueness makes them worth it. I also plan to order the “Uncommon Box” when my husband gets home. The space is small but what they have done with the space and the chocolate pretty much makes it a must the next time I go back to New York.

The thing is I listen to a lot of podcasts. I almost listen to more podcasts than music these days because I have found some great ones that encourage education and storytelling. As a person, there is nothing I love more than hearing other peoples stories. I hope that there are other people like me out there.

Since I know so many people who are working hard as photographers, editors, musicians, models, writers… there is this underground world of people trying to make a name for themselves. Let me be the hipster of the industry world and show you fascinating people that you may have not known about. I plan to do back stage stuff at fashion shows. One episode will document our mom trip to New York (kid free!) And my first episode tackles body image.

My friend Nadine is in my cover art. So big thank you to her for letting me style, photograph her, and use her image.

And then of course a thanks in advance to my kids for thinking its cool (they love to record themselves on the fancy mic), my family and friends for supporting the idea, and the guests and futures guests for loving the arts.

We have musician/model etc, a make up artist, a trip, a magazine editor at a fashion mag, editors and creators of a visual arts mag, more musicians. It’s pretty exciting.

You can follow the blog here

https://respectedinheels.wordpress.com/

Thanks Guys!

If you have never heard of Relay for Life, it is  a fundraising event for American Cancer Society, some events are 12 hours  and some 24 hours. You build a team or join a team, and the general idea is to have someone walking on a track all through the night. You fund raise before and at the event, they make it slightly competitive but mostly fun.

My team has grown this year. We are doing a great job working together. We have taken on a few big projects and are being very ambitious. I love that. There are no limits to these girls ideas as far as fundraising  and they all have such an open and helping heart. Many of us have been affected in some way by cancer, so there is a good deal of passion in my group.

My mother is a survivor. She doesn’t see it as any strong feat because the way she see’s it, its just something most of us go through at one point or another, it’s like a game, you either win or lose, no need to be boastful.

I on the other hand take  some pride in that, in hopes that when I too am faced will these fears I too will be able to defeat them with the help of modern medicine.

Our biggest fundraiser for our team this year will be a fashion show/silent auction.

I wanted to create a way to stimulate local economy, while giving back and having fun/doing something I love.

We are so thankful for everything coming together so far. We have three store dressing models, an awesome restaurant has donated space, time and a percentage of sales, several local businesses are donating for the silent auction and people are donating their time for make up, photography, and modeling.

 As we get closer to time, I am trying to find way for my kids to get involved. They generally go to Relay and do the bounce houses, face painting, and fair like food. They may camp out with us over night at the event this year. I think it’s important for kids to be involved and to see their parents doing something outside themselves. I am hoping that over time they learn, through this and other volunteering, that giving back in any way is the most rewarding thing you can do.

On top of our team activities I have decided that if I met my goal this year I would shave my head and stream it live. Already about 1/3 of the way there and still have little over a month.

We have had our car going on three years. It’s an 08 we bought in California with 39,ooo miles on it in 2010. And it finally happened.

 We were driving along I-95 on our way back from my husbands anniversary gift (I got him tickets to see The XX in Jacksonville, FL) I was asleep as it was after mid-night. All of a sudden I feel a patting on my leg, followed by “Babe, Babe, look its about to happen.”

“Uhhhh I can’t focus, can’t find the camera, must hurry, your driving too fast, must pull up camera app.”

It really is silly, but it’s not just a number. It’s kind of a symbol of all the places we’ve gone in this car so far. It makes us look forward to the next 100,000 miles, and since it was our anniversary, our next five years together.

This car has been across the country three times, to many national parks, landmarks, states and cities. It has carried us to terminals to say good bye to one another, and carried us home when we were reunited, it brought our daughter home from the hospital, and took my son to his first day of school. It’s transported my hoops everywhere, and his weight sets across state lines. The car may not mean anything to us because it’s just an object but the numbers represent something.

And if the numbers don’t, maybe the floor board does. Much like my past tolerance for the gas prices, the floor too, is wearing thin. Of all the numbers, that is the one I don’t want to calculate.

How do you know when you are successful?

Lately, while struggling with my depression and lack of motivation, I question myself, mostly as a person. That if I were trying hard enough that my results would be better.

Then my husband comes around and lets me know that it’s not just me. While he was deployed he would always tell me I need to do A when I did B…. now he reacts to situations the same way with the kids that I did. I can’t help but laugh.

The other day he said, “that kid is frustrating.” referring to our son. I just said, “I know.”, and started laughing.

Now our daughter is hitting her “terrible twos” and the deep tone screaming and angry faces are so funny it’s hard not to laugh or to take her seriously but we must mask our faces as not to encourage more of this behavior.

I keep thinking that if I were successful that my children would be sweet.

I keep thinking they would get along.

If I were successful, I would have daily struggles with school mornings, or evenings.

Some people make it all look so easy.

Damn those people.

I just…. I put a lot of pressure on myself because I know that for the negative or positive, no matter what I do I am shaping their lives… and it scares the living hell out of me.

On Christmas Day we said “Happy 2nd Birthday” to our beautiful but goofy little Chloe. We spent Christmas day with my “step-family” and then at by little brothers house with my sister, their kids, and some of my brothers wife’s family…that sounds complicated. It’s not. Lots of food, lots of people. Country Yumming

Our Thanksgiving holiday weekend was spent with our military family and both sides of my husband’s family.

In October my Husband returned home from his first deployment. Thankfully it was only 7 months… maybe a little longer. He wasn’t thankful it was a ship but because it was a ship he did visit Greece, Dubai, and Bahrain with the most brief “layovers” in Italy and Ireland.

While my husband was working hard and sweating in harder, the kids and I made way to a few less exotic places. We saw our family in Virginia, Alabama, and went to be with the grandparents in California. While our destinations were much less exotic they were no less cultured. The kids summer was filled with many museums, aquariums, fun educational experiences as well as culinary trials on their part.

Eli, our 5-year-old, went from Pre-K to K and while we were sure that his new grade would be more challenging in a stimulating way, he continued to get in trouble almost every day. He is so underestimated or challenged that he has had a behavior chart developed for the class and he and another student have private “offices” because they can only work with others for so long. I say to this that I don’t want my child to be treated differently and that over time he may learn the social norm. He has started seeing a therapist every week and I’m not sure what they do in the sessions but he is drastically more caring, understanding, patient and over all less sad and angry.

Chloe she has turned two… and I’m not sure that if it is her age or her slight cold from time to time but she is cranky. Cranky and dramatic. Her favorite terms are “HEEEEEEEYYYYY!” or “no”, if she doesn’t get her way she falls to the floor, face embedded, and lets out tearful cries. No doubt while her attitude is not the best at times, she is still clingy and shy, easily consoled by hugs and loves kisses. She still has a sweet nature to take care of things and console her sad friends and family.

DH didn’t change at all on deployment, which was my biggest fear since I had changed so much. He isn’t sure about the direction of the future with his job and it tends to make him nervous. At certain times we miss California. But we have been here now for exactly a year.

Now to be tacky and boastful.

I am not sure if it’s boastful or celebrating my successes and good fortune with my friends and supporters.

Finally, in October I got certified to teach hoopdance to Level 2 through Hoopnotica. Early in the year, pre-deployment, we were approved for a free photo session through an organization called Hearts Apart. I was fortunate to fall back into my modeling career after wanting to call it quits. I worked on three independent projects with some fantastic artists and creatives for three independent publications. First for Essere with the work of an amazing photographer and person Jyoti Sackett, she has quiet an impressive Photo Vogue portfolio. I worked with local photographer Michael Mulligan on our Victor/ Victoria priject with other local models, make-up artists, and stylists, from this I’ve made some great friends and an issue of Vigore. Finally the work I’m proudest of is the article that I wrote edited by my friend Emily, with accompaying photos I self shot over the course of a few days, styled myself and composed myself with some camera help from my husband in the watery parts, all in the January issue of Essere.

With all the bad and good that comes over a single year, we have to be really greatful for all our freinds, family, support systems, and most importantly, God. Without everyone and everything we would have nothing.

From our family to yours, good luck in the New Year.

Well on top of the holidays and travels I had my finals, and yes, I passed.

But I have had so many idea as a model and no photographer friends that live close so I decided to dust of my 35mm film camera (Canon K2) and take matters into my own hands. I am by no means a photographer. I have not been trained in any form or fashion but I know what I like and I strive for it.

Here are a few photos I’ve done with local models from Savannah, Ga, Charleston, SC and even right here on base.

Most of the film I used here is expired, some from 2001, with the exception of the black and white. Thanks to Amy, Julietta, Kira, and Nadine for following my vision and being patient when I forgot to turn the camera on. HOLDING POSES IS HARD!

Not too long ago I heard of an island off of South Carolina filled with monkeys. I also heard this island is uninhibited because the monkeys have some sort of disease that doesn’t harm the monkey population but would kill people.

Urban myths are that, myths. but this one is not 100% myth. This island does exist, and here in Beaufort County. I am pretty surprised at how close it is to places we go and beaches we’ve been too. Where we live there are lots of little islands and water ways and many are uninhibited, so to find out why one is uninhibited is pretty interesting.

A local news station did a story. I definitely would google it or check it out. Now it’s a small goal to boat past it and see the Indian monkeys myself.