Connie Francis passed away at 87, closing the chapter on a life lived fully, loudly, and often, defiantly. Her voice, instantly recognizable on hits like "Stupid Cupid" and "Where the Boys Are," was just one facet of a woman whose journey epitomized ...

Hey friends! Happy Monday from right here in beautiful Western North Carolina! Mondays can sometimes feel like trying to push a boulder uphill, especially when you're still dreaming of the weekend's mountain adventures. Start lifting your mood right ...

There's a certain magic to a Southern summer night. You know the one: where the air hangs heavy and warm, cicadas hum their twilight song, and then, slowly, one by one, tiny lights begin to wink on. For generations, these dancing pinpricks of light—f...

Get ready for a celestial spectacle! This Thursday, July 10, 2025, marks the arrival of the first full moon of the astronomical summer, often known as the Thunder Moon or Buck Moon. If you're in Western North Carolina, you're in luck – this magnifice...

Pets Need to Be Safe

The Fourth of July. For many of us, it's a weekend of barbecues, sunshine, and dazzling fireworks lighting up the night sky. But for our beloved pets and the unseen wildlife around us, it's often a weekend of sheer terror, disorientation, and even da...

A student holds a small, strange-looking device that looks like a speaker aimed at a flickering flame. He flips a switch, a deep, rumbling sound fills the air, and poof—the fire vanishes as if snuffed out by an invisible hand.It seems like something ...

The world often tells us vacations are for couples, families, or groups of friends. But what if your soul is craving something different? What if you're yearning for an adventure that's solely yours – a "bravecation" where you step outside your comfo...

While the news of Brian Wilson's passing yesterday, June 11, 2025, at the age of 82, brings a bittersweet note, it's truly a moment to turn up the volume and bask in the incredible, sun-drenched legacy he leaves behind. Brian Wilson wasn't just a mus...

Ready to rally the troops? Here are some Friendcation activity ideas adaptable to your corner of Western NC, tailored for different vibes and age groups, all designed for a 2-to-5-day getaway within about 50 miles of your home base:The Energetic Expl...

“Through the smoke, the sun still rises—same as us.”

Because in These Hills, You Can Laugh, Cry, and Rebuild—All in a DayThe air's been thick lately in alot of places —with smoke, yes, but also grit and grace.We've been through it: Hurricane Helene left her mark, and now wildfires edge closer than...

Less is Now: Spring Cleaning with Purpose (And Sanity)

Inspired by The Minimalists and that nagging pile of stuff you keep ignoring If you've watched The Minimalists: Less Is Now on Netflix, you know exactly where I'm going with this. Joshua Fields Millburn and Ryan Nicodemus remind us that our stuff — t...

Western North Carolina is still rebuiding after Hurricane Helene swept through in September 2024, leaving a trail of destruction in its wake. Trees—nature's best defense against flooding, erosion, and extreme weather—were lost in staggering numb...

In a move that has sparked nationwide debate,  President Donald Trump took to Truth Social on February 9, 2025, to announce that he has directed the U.S. Treasury Department to halt the production of new pennies. In his post, Trump stated: ...