by Kasey Murphy | Oct 31, 2018 | November 2018, Polish, Stuff
Perhaps more than any other fashion accessory, belts are celebrated for their utility: when it comes down to it, they help your pants stay up. But that’s not to say that belts don’t add flair to a whole range of looks, and it’s that versatility that Alicia Dailey Lam has embraced with her belt buckle design business, Buckleluv.
Lam creates custom made belt buckles with the purpose of adding an element of style that’s completely unique to her customers’ overall looks. The designer, who operates the business she started three years ago mainly through social media and at pop-up events, says she aims to create pieces of art with her belts that also reflect her clients’ personalities. That’s why the process of creating a buckle from Buckleluv starts 100 percent with you.
Clients can reach out to Lam at Buckleluv through Instagram, Facebook or via email. Or, if you find her at a local pop-up shop, charity event, rodeo or art show, you can have an on-the-spot consultation with Lam, or schedule one for later. Then, after she gets an idea of what you may like, Lam goes on a sourcing hunt for materials to use for the buckle.
In creating her buckles, Lam tries to use locally sourced materials, though she sometimes uses pieces from other areas of the United States. Lam uses genuine stones, repurposed vintage jewelry, leather and fabric, and has also used coins, Lego blocks and inherited jewelry in her designs that otherwise would go to waste.
After sourcing, Lam’s next step is to create a collection of three to five buckles inspired around an original theme that the client has requested. Finally, the client can choose which buckle or buckles he or she wants to buy, and Buckleluv will add the remaining buckles in that collection to the company’s inventory of individual pieces for sale. So, in addition to to having buckles custom made for you, you can also buy pieces from Buckleluv that were made as part of an original collection, or just for fun.
Lam has created Halloween pieces, football-themed buckles, turquoise gem pieces and more. Buckles cost anywhere from $25-$150, depending on the products used, but Lam will give a display range when consulting with you on your specific customized buckle.
“If you can dream it, we can make it!,” Lam says. “We only ask that when wearing a Buckleluv buckle, you have tons of fun, be safe and enjoy it as much as we love making it!”
Buckleluv is a growing business, and will launch a website this month! In the meantime, find the company on Instagram and Facebook @Buckleluv, or email Lam at [email protected]
by Kasey Murphy | Jun 23, 2018 | Do, June 2018
1.) Vecino Brewing Company
Chapel Hill
Vecino Brewing Company is a new remodel of YesterYears Brewery & Taproom that arose out of a UNC-Chapel Hill graduate student-led fundraising effort to save the local brewery. After a rebranding and update, Vecino Brewing Company was born and brought nine original brews with it. In addition, Vecino welcomes guest taps and offers a food menu with snacks, small plates and sandwiches. Welcome Vecino Brewing Company into North Carolina at Wednesday Trivia Nights, or any other night of the week except Tuesdays! vecinobrewing.com
2.) NC Hip-Hop Festival
Durham
Friday, June 22- Sunday, June 24
General Admission $49
This is the only music festival on the East Coast dedicated solely to Hip-Hop. More than 100 different stage locations will showcase old-school to contemporary Hip-Hop artists, with 24 national recording artists in attendance, along with several on-the-verge artists. More than 22,000 people are expected to turn out for this event where the Hip-Hop just won’t stop! nchiphopfestival.com
3.) 
Postmaster
Cary
This exquisitely modern, Southern eatery adds a rustic touch to downtown Cary with its often-changing menu and handpicked matching beverages. Postmaster is a restaurant and bar that embodies three themes: local, seasonal and Southern. The menu consists of small plates, large plates, desserts and drinks – all of which are handpicked with the changing seasons. This spot makes for a great evening with flavorful options for everyone, and Sunday Brunch will be offered soon. postmastercary.com
4.) Pink Magnolia Boutique
Morrisville
The owners of Pink Magnolia Boutique wanted to create a place where mothers, daughters and granddaughters could all shop together, and the boutique is the epitome of Southern chic. Clothing and accessories are curated by stylists, and the store hosts sip-and-shop events every third Thursday each month from 5-7 p.m., with wine and giveaways. This cute store is definitely worth checking out for your best summer looks. lovepinkmagnolia.com
5.) Coffee Tasting Around The World
Carrboro
June 2 11 a.m.- 2 p.m.; $30
If your coffee addiction needs some education, this event is definitely for you. Carrboro Coffee Roasters hosts a tasting and discussion event featuring coffees from all around the world and focusing on how climate, culture and marketplace can affect the taste of your favorite energy-boosting drink. With samples from each major region, your taste buds will educate you on what type of coffee you really like the best. carrborocoffee.com/education/workshops/
by Kasey Murphy | May 28, 2018 | Do, May 2018
Bano Boutique
2699 Durham-Chapel Hill Blvd., Durham
If you’ve ever wanted to feel like you have your own personal stylist to help you stand out from the crowd (in the best way possible), stop by Bano Boutique. Owner Sima Rafizadeh is at the store daily and offers appointments for wardrobe consulting; services include custom tailoring and alterations, too. Bano Boutique is unique in that Rafizadeh handpicks clothes during each of her four seasonal buying trips to Europe, New York, Canada and other locations. She rarely buys pieces in bulk, which makes your time browsing, trying or buying the clothes in her store an unforgettable experience. banoboutique.com
Milk Lab
6418 Tryon Road, Cary
You’ve likely seen the enchanting internet videos of ice cream being flattened and rolled into perfect cylinders for a picturesque treat. If you haven’t, no worries—you can go experience the cylindrical ice cream in person at Milk Lab! The dessertery opened in Cary last month and offers homemade Thai-style ice cream rolls with unlimited toppings, boba milk tea with tapioca balls and other delicious sweet options. Milk Lab opens daily at 11:30 a.m., so stop by soon for a fun treat that’s not too out of the way. milklabcafe.com
Freedom Balloon Fest
Fleming Loop Park, Fuquay-Varina
May 25-28
This one-of-a-kind experience is an event that the whole family can enjoy over Memorial Day weekend! Hot air balloons are a beautiful sight when they’re overtaking the sky, but they’re especially beautiful when they’re flying to support military families. This festival is a fun way to support local military service members. In addition to watching the hot air balloons soar, the weekend-long festival features field games, balloon competitions, food competitions and music. Visit the website for specific event schedules and have yourself a patriotic Memorial Day Weekend! freedomballoonfest.com
A Safe Space for the Soul
546 Loblolly Drive, Vass
May 26 9 a.m.-4 p.m.
In the third session of a five-session tour, retreat leaders Diane Petteway and Sandie Merriam guide you through an exploration of your inner landscape for a tranquil renewal of the heart, mind and spirit. Participants separate into small groups and work to discover themselves through poetry, short readings, art, music and journaling. This year’s tour focuses on personal meditation and reflections. Petteway and Merriam work for the Center for Courage and Renewal, a national education nonprofit aimed at fostering courage and integrity in the personal and professional realms. This session costs $50. Register online. eventbrite.com/e/a-safe-space-for-the-soul-tickets-42389435944
May Baby Goat Yoga
Spring Haven Farm, Chapel Hill
May 19-20, 1 p.m.-2 p.m.
Baby animals have a way of instantly improving the moods of everyone around them, and yoga is proven to bring relaxation and zen. So it only follows that combining the two makes for the perfect event! At Spring Haven Farm, experience an all-levels yoga class with the help of some of the farm’s baby goats. Lindsey Alexander makes the dream a reality and, having cultivated a large following of yogis, she decided to make the class a monthly event for all animal and yoga lovers to enjoy. springhaven.farm
by Kasey Murphy | May 7, 2018 | Do, May 2018
You know the feeling when you want to give someone a great gift but don’t have the time or resources to bring it all together with a beautiful bow on top? Now, that feeling can be a thing of the past with Memento & Muse, a custom-design gifting studio that specializes in gift giving and presentation.
Memento & Muse founder Melinda McKee aims to bring ease and eloquence to basic gifting. After a ‘getting-to-know-you’ conversation, she’ll figure out how to put together a one-of-a-kind package for any occasion, whether it’s a wedding, a business event, a Mother’s Day present or something else entirely. Following the consultation, McKee offers each client two different package options and clients choose which one they like best.
The best part of the service is that every single basket of goods McKee devises is 100 percent unique, guaranteeing that the recipient has never received anything like it before. Many of Memento & Muse’s products are sourced locally, whether they’re sweet treats, monogrammed mugs, small trinkets or scented candles.
“Gift-giving is very much my love language, and I had so much fun curating that first gift box,” McKee says. “It soon hit me that there could actually be a real market for such a venture and, event
ually, Memento & Muse was born.”
Whatever the occasion, Memento & Muse’s beautiful gift packages are a bundle of joy, in a very literal sense—and they make gift giving a totally stress-free experience. Mementoandmuse.com
by Kasey Murphy | May 7, 2018 | May 2018, Retreat, Stuff
The warm weather is finally here and with it comes long afternoons and balmy evenings where we can sit outside, relax and unwind to our favorite tunes. To make that last part all the better, the outdoor sound provider PlanterSpeaker just released its new, high resolution North Dakota Speaker design, which plays the high notes and deep base lines from all the songs on your playlists, as well as anything and everything in between.
Hidden in sleek North American cedar wood planters, the speakers play music from three of the four sides of the box, resulting in a cohesive sound that seems as if it’s coming out of the air around you. The natural wood aesthetic fits in with all kinds of outdoor settings, including decks, patios, gardens and pools, so you’ll have the look and feel of outdoor furniture without sacrificing any of the sound quality of your favorite music. Happy listening!
