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Finally got to visit this little slice of heaven here in the Triangle-Honeysuckle Tea House. Beautiful gardens, great staff, and fabulous teas & mead made from the gardens herbs & flowers. (If you go try a mead sampler!) Thanks Laura & @venetiakg for a great girls’ night. (Missed you @maceandrea!) #teahouse #tea #mead #explore #NCeats #girlsnight #chapelhill #zen (at Honeysuckle Tea House) https://www.instagram.com/p/B0dwrsgH1l6/?igshid=1p6qixkuvbgb7

Crudités. Carolina style. Chopped some fruits & veggies while the 🥖 & 🧀 we’re getting toasty in the oven. The winning combo was a play on pepper jelly-crabapple jelly, broiled manchego with poblano slices I charred on the cooktop all stacked on Vienna bread toast points. #fridayvibes #friday #crudite #thingsinmyfridge #nc #veggie #veggietray #poblano #pepperjelly #lovetocook #flowergirlnc (at The Engalawish House) https://www.instagram.com/p/B0Z5mqfH0Ep/?igshid=1tlvaumhaqs2h

A girl’s night with Viv is already its own kind of Shangri La but this might have bordered on zen overload. Vivienne & I have wanted to visit the Won Buddhism Meditation Temple for awhile & finally got the chance this evening. The study & guided practice of meditation was beautiful. Viv & I are connected by our restless spirits & wandering minds so this was a chance to quietly & calmly connect. It’s not about becoming Buddhist but about finding balance & I’m excited to be on that journey with my daughter. To learn more about this magical corner of Raleigh, check out their website for interesting future programs & retreats, http://wonbuddhismnc.org. #motherdaughtertime #findingzen #calm #lifewithviv #thursdaythoughts #breathe #meditate #connect (at Won-Buddhist Temple) https://www.instagram.com/p/B0XJR1MnY62/?igshid=1tj12zk2kw6o0

Until we can head to the 🏖 Viv & I will keep on the prowl for the best 🍤 in the Triangle. Trying out Capital Seafood in Dham tonight. Can’t believe this wasn’t on our radar-crazy assortment of fresh seafood (if you want to cook) or cooked to order seafood (if you want someone else to do the dishes). And an endless list of Soul Food (we will check off that list when we bring Warren!) #durham #girlsnightout #triangleeats #lifewithviv #explore #nodishestowash #seafood #NCseafood #yum (at Durham, North Carolina) https://www.instagram.com/p/B0Wv7yRnGRs/?igshid=1e7xdmpwas80h

When in Rome.....we asked where the locals eat and got directed to Munchie’s. It’s easy to see why it’s a Savannah favorite. Amazing greens, baked beans & of course BBQ. #munchies #savannah #roadtrip #bbq #hotmeat #explore (at Munchie's BBQ & SUBS) https://www.instagram.com/p/B0JXNtRnDi-/?igshid=mwd3mh5znxcg

SCAD. And just like that she acts & talks like a college student. Ironically, she was homesick until we came to pick her up. Now it’s “Mom, give me space!” My helicopter has been grounded. #lifewithviv #scad #artschool #artistintraining #savannah #helicoptermom #momboss #highschool #flowergirlnc (at Savannah, Georgia) https://www.instagram.com/p/B0G6TSaHy6y/?igshid=14yl5cw3ore0e

Cocktails. Great friends. And a meat cart. The perfect formula for a fabulous hump day. #girlsnightout #girlfriends #primerib #cocktails #humpday #whynot #raleigh #wednesdaywisdom #girlbossesunite (at The Peddler Steak House of Raleigh) https://www.instagram.com/p/B0Cm7Q6HFc_/?igshid=to72nfx3y85y

Fitz & the Tantrums! Love this band and this venue. A Red Hat concert with friends on a balmy (let’s face it HOT) summer night is one of our favorite things to do in Raleigh. #redhatamphitheater #livenation #raleigh #downtownraleigh #supportlivemusic #fitzandthetantrums #weeknight #datenight (at Red Hat Amphitheater) https://www.instagram.com/p/Bz_zuyLHI-x/?igshid=cwvnhlac5ph5

Repost was not agreeing with my IG account so I’ll share this as a screenshot. Viv took this picture last week at the @nytransitmuseum in Brooklyn. It was a stop on our tour of my old stomping grounds. I love the way she sees the world. I get to discover so many things that I might take for granted otherwise-like the symmetry of objects in this train car or the color tension between the Orange linoleum floors and blue seats & walls (all done in honor of the World Fair’s colors btw). She makes me stop and think and reflect on the simplest and sweetest things in life every day. She doesn’t consider herself an “artist” yet but I can say without bias that being in her sphere it’s hard to think of her any other way. #lifewithviv #nyc #iloveny #brooklyn #artist #explore #saintmarys #subway #highschool (at New York Transit Museum) https://www.instagram.com/p/Bz9dnA4nFlc/?igshid=pcid8wmb141b

“Chalk” it up to a little porch improvement. Refurbishing an old Pier One favorite with chalk paint & wax for our screen porch. I’ve got to keep up with Warren’s exterior house projects. #mondaymotivation #diy #homeimprovement #chalkpaint #flowergirlnc #refurbish (at Warren's Poker Palace) https://www.instagram.com/p/Bz9QZA3H1JU/?igshid=1a1qhvbny45ah

Whirlwind Savannah road trip...Viv’s first visit to Savannah and SCAD for design camp. I’m a self professed 🚁 mom so leaving her is always tough but a late lunch at Mashama Bailey’s brilliant restaurant, The Grey, and a SC 💥 🧨 stop served as great distractions. (Can’t wait to see what the HOA thinks of these SC finds!) #lifewithviv #thegrey #savannah #scad #roadtrip #fireworks #i95 (at Savannah Historic District) https://www.instagram.com/p/Bz7CPlBn6nv/?igshid=1x7moerkw0720

Exploring......#lifewithviv #familytime #queens #nyc #hindutemple #reflect #meditate #flowergirlnc #explore (at The Hindu Temple Society of North America) https://www.instagram.com/p/Bzw1AtKHM3t/?igshid=12roe1e8i0s33

Dave Chapelle. Opening Night on Broadway. Another experiment in bad parenting for @viviensbe. But as I told her, why go through life “Frozen” when you could be “Half-Baked”. #lifewithviv #nyc #davechappelle #broadway #parenting #iheartnewyork #comedyisthebestperspective (at Times Square, New York City) https://www.instagram.com/p/BzuJ-O1HCMA/?igshid=gbbgbke5o5m4

State #4-Tennessee’s Run Your Half Off Half Marathon. Great race in Chattanooga’s River Park. Mostly flat course with cool river views. Encountered a couple of slithering creatures (snakes not runners) and the most blue herons I’ve ever seen in one place. And Warren ran under his alias-Mitch McConnell. Awesomesauce Events is a wonderful race organizer! I mean who doesn’t love a race with cowbells!! Check out their races throughout the southeast. https://runawesomesauce.com/a/ Not sure what is next up on the map but seeing our amazing country on foot is my new favorite travel plan! #halfmarathon #halffanatics #tennessee #runtennessee #getoutandrun #50stateshalfmarathon #flowergirlnc #runningmotivation #girlboss #awesomesauce (at Chattanooga, Tennessee) https://www.instagram.com/p/BzpEJ5dnqz3/?igshid=18wkf8fjy49n3

Before, during & after. Awesome Night Train Half Marathon in Farmville, VA. Beautiful course on an old railroad bed running to the High Bridge starting & ending in Farmville’s charming downtown. This makes my third state in my 50 State 50 Half goal of running a half marathon in every state before the big 5-0 in 2022. (NC & NY are my others). For Mother’s Day, Viv & Warren surprised me with the gift of making this happen. 47 states to go! Can’t think of any better way to see the country than in a pair of running shoes. #50by50 #run #virginiaisforrunners #va #running #weekend #bestbeerever #flowergirlnc #girlboss (at Farmville Historic District) https://www.instagram.com/p/BzVu9ITn0Na/?igshid=1ongda9ac0wq7

Finding some backyard zen with these two. Our new evening routine (when work allows)-a raised garden area, the beginnings of a shade garden, my fabulous meditation bell (handmade by the world’s greatest blacksmith teacher EW) and 23 seconds of gongtastic bliss. Few things de-stress like getting your hands dirty & swinging a ⛏! #backyard #yardening #diy #shadegarden #gardening #destress #getyourhandsdirty #bangagong #zen (at The Engalawish House) https://www.instagram.com/p/BzLkYsAHvDM/?igshid=1thlwr6t9oer8

I don’t have to worry about Viv getting into the liquor cabinet. She heads for the spice rack every time she’s left home alone! Our rogue Betty Crocker! #lifewithviv #vegan #veganbaking #dairyfree #bettycrocker (at The Engalawish House) https://www.instagram.com/p/By6hJUcHsn9/?igshid=1wmdzgpbywsd