Excellent [ek-suh-luhnt] adjective: possessing outstanding quality or superior merit; remarkably good.

Last Friday night, I drove to a little restaurant in Fort Mill, located behind a Bojangles in a building that, rumor has it, used to be a brothel. The food was, simply put, excellent. There was calamari, homemade ravioli, stuffed zucchini blossoms, pork chops and gag grouper. Each dish was skillfully executed and made with care and respect for each of the ingredients. It was the perfect way to end a long week, mentally unwinding and slowly getting lost in the flavors.

I came across this restaurant, aptly named Passion8 Bistro, when I met Jessica, one of the owners, at a networking event. Somewhere in the banality of business card exchanges and 30-second elevator speeches, she said to me something I will never forget: "I can?t change the whole world, but I can make my part of the world better. I believe the best way for me to do that is to wake up every day and do what I love to do the best that I can. And that?s what we do at the restaurant ? we deliver an excellent dining experience." With a heartfelt sales pitch like that, of course I had to visit. When she talks about the restaurant, her face lights up, and consequently, so does the rest of the room. There is a certain unavoidable ignition that occurs when people connect something they love with their livelihood.

After the meal, Chef Luca, her husband, stopped by the table to see how we enjoyed our food. He shared with us the story of the restaurant. The chef and his sous chef shop every day for the best available meat and produce and craft a menu around their selections. The menu changes daily, reflecting the season and variety of the harvest. They know the farmers and their stories personally. The fish of the day, gag grouper, was caught off the North Carolina coast by a local fisherman who used to be an engineer. He was a talented engineer, but his passion was fishing, and he was quite good at it. So one day, he quit his ?traditional? job to do what he loves. Now, he goes out twice a week and brings his catch to a few restaurants, including Passion8 Bistro.

What I love about this experience is how several individual choices, executed with conviction come together to generate so much good. The local farmer, the fisherman and the chef each wake up every day pursing something that they love ? and so they do it with excellence, heart and integrity. The result is exactly as promised: an excellent dining experience. But beyond the immediate good (my dinner), they contribute so much more. All three are local family businesses and what they produce and provide strengthens our economy. They are also our neighbors. Because they know that what they grow, catch and prepare nourishes our families, they do so with utmost care. These may be simple acts of everyday excellence, but they create substantial impact.

I think too often we reserve excellence for the BIG! things, like year-end reports, marketing presentations, and wedding planning. Or worse, we confine expectations of excellence to lofty pursuits like leadership, governance, and corporate America. I believe that small acts of everyday excellence are equally important. There is a sense of personal satisfaction that comes with doing something well. It builds confidence and pride, and establishes a sense of self. The current economic and political climate is so rife with feelings of frustration and dissatisfaction, that we could use some more personal satisfaction and few more happy people. I?m not advocating that people quit their jobs in search of their passions, but I am suggesting that we take the time to do a few simple things really well. In the process, someone might discover a new calling or find momentary peace in a job well done. I think it is possible that the collective impact of everyday excellence is the fuel that we need to turn everything around. The world has always run on the labor of everyday people, so let?s deliver an excellent living experience.

In January 2012, the Mecklenburg County Bar (the Bar) began commemorating our 100th anniversary and ?celebrating the remarkable journey that has transformed the Mecklenburg County Bar from one lone lawyer in a colonial town to a community of 4,400+ professional members.? 

In honor of the Bar's 100th anniversary and in commemoration of the role of lawyers in the larger community, part of this celebration has been the Bar?s designation of April 2012 as a month-long Celebration of Community Service. Thanks to the Bar?s focus on community service, I got off my tuckus and had the pleasure of volunteering at the Crisis Assistance Ministry Free Store yesterday evening for two hours.

As many of you know (and according to its website ), Crisis Assistance Ministry ?serves the low-income citizens of Mecklenburg County, often classified as ?the working poor? who are facing financial emergencies and are struggling to meet life's basic needs.? One way the Free Store meets this need is by providing a place for those in need to ?shop? for such items as clothing, towels, sheets, home décor, shoes and other accessories at NO cost (although a limit is typically placed on the number of items and frequency of monthly visits patrons can make). The Free Store allows its patrons to use their limited resources to focus on other basic necessities ? such as food, housing and utilities.

Volunteers at the Free Store help sort donated items, re-stock the shelves and provide a retail-like atmosphere for its patrons through visually displaying available items and assisting patrons. The Free Store welcomes volunteers every day of the week and also has opportunities for drop-in volunteers or volunteer groups on Tuesday nights from 5:00 pm to 9:00 pm. It is one of the most accessible volunteer experiences I have ever had ? and I plan to volunteer there at least one Tuesday a month!

As part of the first of what I hope will be another 100 years of Aprils filed with volunteering lawyers, I would encourage you to check the Free Store out and consider volunteering and donating to this wonderful organization.

Warm weather is upon us, and what better place to be as a ?doggy mama? than finding pet-friendly places to meet other furry friends and their owners! I adopted an Australian Shepherd Collie mix named Koda a month ago from Project Halo, a no-kill shelter in Charlotte and wanted to find fun places for her to meet other dogs to stay socialized. After doing a little research I found many dog parks & pet-friendly places in Charlotte to choose from.

William Davie Dog Park is awesome! The park has two sides to it. One side is for small dogs from 20lbs on down, and the other is for big dogs from 20lbs on up. There?s a nice fenced in large area with plenty of water, running room and toys. The parents also have a place to sit and watch their fur-children run wild. Another perk is there are plenty of trees so you can stay in the shade on the many hot days Charlotteans will experience. I?m realizing Koda has a love for sticks and water. Instead of politely taking a sip of water from the large ?buckets? they have, she dipped both of her front legs and entire head in the water. With all that running around with her buddies I guess she was hot! The dog park is open from 7:30 a.m. to sunset.

Koda and her stick

For those that live in Uptown Charlotte, Frazier Park is another great option for a pet friendly dog park. Like William Davie Dog Park, this also has a separate small dogs area from the large dog area. There?s plenty of drinking water and small tubs for them to take a dip and cool off. Frazier Park is well maintained, and a lot of younger people who live in the city bring their dogs here. So if you?re out going, it?s a great place to talk to strangers.

Being a very active girl who enjoys the outdoors, the U.S. National Whitewater Center is also a great place to bring your dog. USNWC is an outdoor adventure center with whitewater rafting, hiking trails, biking, a bar and grill with patio seating, rock climbing and special events from Thursday River Jam with live music to Olympic trials. Dogs on leashes are allowed on the grounds and trails!

Like beer and want to bring your dog to the bar? Kick back and relax while your pooch plays with friends at The Dog Bar in NODA. Even if you don?t own a dog it?s a great place to check out the other pooches and chat with their owners. There?s a fenced-in area where the dogs can run around and play as well as walk around near the high top tables where people are enjoying their drinks at. It?s a very chill atmosphere, but remember to give your dog water not beer!

Even though it?s only been a month since I?ve owned Koda, it?s been a fun journey so far! There is a strong sense of community that takes place when you visit a dog park where you instantly have a connection and conversation starter with a stranger. The people you meet can either be local, visiting a friend or not even own a dog at all but can appreciate a cute pup to watch for part of their day. Whether you decide to bring your pet to a dog park, a dog bar or a rafting center to people and dog watch, make sure to bring treats and be prepared to give lots of belly rubs.

Beer, dogs, and good conversations along the way ... ah the good life. What is your favorite dog spot in Charlotte?

March Madness is here, spring is almost, but it?s never too early to talk football. If you haven?t heard yet, the Carolina Panthers will take the field in 2012 with a new and improved logo. The logo and logotype change is the first in the team?s 18-year history.

The new logo incorporates the use of more blue and gives the panther a sleeker three-dimensional, contemporary look. The change comes at an interesting time, with the NFL announcing that the official uniform provider will switch from Reebok to Nike this upcoming season. It will be interesting to see some of the updates teams make to their uniforms, given Nike?s track record for designing ?outside the box?. If you are unfamiliar with the influence Nike has had on many college football teams? uniforms, a good example to take a look at is Oregon?s from last season. The next question is how this will affect the Panther uniforms in 2012. There is plenty of speculation, but with the exception of the brand switch, the extent of uniform changes for the Panthers is not known at this time.

The new look for the Carolina Panthers.

The Panther organization is coming off a season in which three team members were selected to the Pro Bowl, including rookie sensation Cam Newton. He emerged as not only the Rookie of the Year, but also as one of the premier quarterbacks in the entire league. In fact, Cam was the first quarterback in NFL history to pass for 4,000 yards and rush for 500 yards in the same season. He also now owns the record for most rushing touchdowns in a season by a quarterback with 14. Charlotte is certainly full of positive energy, and that energy seems to have been injected into our team. Last season, it felt like there were a few more ?victories? than what the team?s final record of 6-10 indicated. Things are definitely looking up for the Carolina Panthers in 2012!

Can you smell it? Spring is in the air. Spring immediately makes me think of fresh flowers, picnics in the park, and bright-colored dresses. However, dresses usually mean exposing more of your body than the heavy winter coats and sweaters. So with spring also comes the new-found motivation to stop hibernating and work out more, shedding those nasty winter pounds you gained to help keep warm! Charlotte is a great place to be for so many reasons, one of which is the countless fitness options available. One of my personal favorites, running, has a plethora of options. However, running can be time consuming, monotonous and sometimes difficult to stay motivated to do if you don?t have a goal. For years I have used races of varying lengths as my ?light at the end of the tunnel.? There are two 5k races coming up this spring in Charlotte that are very near and dear to my heart. Both would be perfect races for beginners to use as a training goal or for or more seasoned runners to compete for a place.

Central Piedmont Community College?s Foundation has its 17th annual Charlotte Skyline Run, which will take place Saturday, April 28, 2012. It is one of nine races featured in the Run for Your Life ?Grand Prix? series. An estimated 1,500 runners are expected to attend this family fun event which will support CPCC Student Scholarships and other student needs. The Skyline Run will consist of the 5K run, Walk for Health, Family Fun Run and Charlotte Baby Jogger Championship. Central Piedmont Community College, which also happens to be my place of employment, is dedicated to providing scholarships for students in need. Last year they provided 1,249 student scholarships! The Skyline run is one way the CPPC Foundation is able to continue to meet the needs of CPCC students in an ever-changing and challenging economy. You can help support and register for the Skyline Run here.

Dress for Success? Charlotte location holds an annual 5K Power Walk taking place the following month, on May 12, 2012, in Freedom Park. Last year the walk was held in three countries and 32 cities, and it continues to grow each year! In order to gain employment and become self-sufficient, it is critical that women are also healthy and well. Dress for Success helps empower women to make healthy choices in work and in life. The Power Walk for Dress for Success plays a crucial role in ensuring that women understand the importance of maintaining a well-balanced lifestyle. This 5k event promotes health and wellness initiatives of the organization as well as raises funds and visibility for Dress for Success. The Power Walk for Dress for Success is a celebration of family, fitness, and financial independence. It is guaranteed to be a fun, unique event to do as an individual or to get a team of your friends and family together to support a good cause. You can get more information or register for the 5K Power Walk here. 

What do you call five hundred lawyers at the bottom of the ocean? (Conventional wisdom says: ?a good start.?) So, then, what do you call five hundred lawyers volunteering their time on Friday, March 2 to help 10,000 people with their legal questions? Now, there?s ?a good start.?

As a litigation attorney here in Charlotte, I am proud to report that the North Carolina Bar Association Foundation and the North Carolina Bar Association have teamed up to put on this year?s fifth annual Justice 4ALL Statewide Service Day ask-a-lawyer event. Charlotte?s WBTV is hosting one of seven statewide locations where callers can ask questions and receive relevant legal information or a referral to a qualified attorney if necessary. Callers will have free, quick access to lawyers who practice in areas such as family law, criminal law, personal injury law, and (like me) contract or commercial disputes.

The 4All Service Day is part of North Carolina Bar Association?s larger Justice 4All effort, which provides more extensive legal services to people in need. In fact, perhaps in recognition of the problem with lawyer jokes (?lawyers don?t think they?re funny, and everyone else doesn?t think they?re jokes?), the Justice 4All program is only one of the NCBA?s targeted efforts to encourage attorneys to serve their communities. For example, each year, the NCBA recognizes a dozen or so outstanding ?Citizen Lawyers? ? a prestigious award for attorneys who are making a positive impact in their communities through, for example, church or military service, elected office, PTA, Little League, or charity work.

For my part, bravely imperiling the ?professional courtesy? currently extended by great white sharks, a number of my colleagues and I have signed up to take calls for 4All Service Day between 4:00 ? 7:30 PM this Friday at WBTV. Call in and ask your question!

Call-in numbers are: 1-866-616-4255 (all day in English) and 1-855-455-4255 (between 8:30-5:30 in Spanish).

If you are like most of us who have been in the workforce for at least a few years, you?ve probably heard some executive, senior manager or HR staff member expound on their thoughts regarding work/life balance. When I think back on the innumerable discussions of that sort that I have been a part of I tend to recall the majority of these people not having what I consider a desirable balance themselves. Many of them, especially the executives, work way too much at a severe cost to their roles as parents, spouses, etc. In effect they have become better than average corporate executives, but worse than average parents and spouses. Some of them were probably well below average in those categories. In that sense their lives were far from balanced!

However, not all successful executives that I recall meeting failed miserably in the area of balance. Those that at least seemed to be successful at balancing work and family life acknowledged the challenges of doing so and often went as far as saying that it really doesn?t exist. I recount a couple focusing more on prioritization rather than balancing their family and work lives. Prioritizing forces us to make decisions. We must determine what comes first in our lives. Is it our spouse and/or children or perhaps that big promotion and pay raise? Is it more important to take your family out to dinner or spend the evening entertaining customers? The choices can sometimes be difficult, but not making a choice is not really an option because if you decide not to think through these decisions then they will likely be made for you. The entity that will win will likely be the one that complains the loudest. Since complaining generally comes after there is already a problem, you?ll already be behind in meeting your commitments thus risking your relationship with both your professional and home lives. So as in most things, it pays to be proactive.

Now as I reflect and recount my decisions that got me to where I am today I question myself as perhaps you should, ?Did I prioritize the right people and things as it relates to work and family life? Where would I be had I made different decisions?? Ultimately, you can?t change your past, but you can use it to shape your future. So, if you haven?t made what you feel to be the right decisions about what we?ll now call work/life prioritization, then now is a good time to change that. Also, if you haven?t made a decision on what you will prioritize then there is no better day than today. Do it for yourself and your friends and family. When you get it right you can be one of those executives that expound your wisdom on the matter, but you?ll also be a successful example for how it?s done.

This weekend, I attended a screening of a short film, "Southern Blend: A Dating Experiment." The film was designed to explore the current state of interracial dating in the South. The camera followed men and women who had never dated outside of their race on blind dates with someone of a different race. Throughout the film, professors of history and race relations were interviewed to provide context, and married couples discussed their own experiences within an interracial relationship. The screening was followed by a panel discussion about the film and the panelists? personal experiences with interracial dating.

First, a quick observation about Charlotte: this place has a powerful sense of community. In the past three years since I moved to Charlotte, I have been impressed with the many different community conversations around serious and important subjects: education, economic development, politics and many others. From community participation in the development of an uptown market to a community commitment to revitalize an often overlooked part of Charlotte, I find the opportunities for participation real, substantive and open to the general public. This evening was no exception. It was refreshing to see so many people come out on a Friday night to participate in this discussion about interracial relationships. It is just as special that we live in a place committed to fostering genuine community engagement and dialogue.

In the film and discussion, many different questions and topics were covered. Together, we discussed children, attraction, parents, acceptance and even hair. For me personally, two questions and their answers defined the evening.

Q: What are some tools or strategies that couples can use to work through their differences?

A: Respect. Trust. Love. Communication. Compromise.

Q: What motivated you to date outside your race?

A: For me, it was not intentional. I fell in love with my husband, and he happened to be of a different race.

As I think through these questions and answers, I am surprised by the simplicity of the responses. They reinforce the idea that love is colorblind, and it is the people who are not. They highlight the fact that the keys to success are the same in every relationship. Love and respect one another. Talk to each other. Listen with an open mind and heart. And these answers also remind us that we choose who we fall in love with as much as we choose the color of our skin.

Many people might suggest that we have progressed beyond these sorts of discussions about race relations, but I was struck by the relevance of this topic. Interracial marriage was illegal less than a generation ago. Today, although much more common, there are still challenges, stigmas and ignorance surrounding interracial relationships, romantic and otherwise. And now, across the country and in the state of North Carolina, we are confronted again with the issue of whom we will grant the right to express legally who they love. The conversation continues. And so, on this Valentine?s Day, I challenge everyone to think about their own experiences with love and evaluate our capacity as a community to embrace love, in all its forms, between all human beings. Happy Valentine?s Day.

Ever had that end-of-day meeting that just wouldn?t end, and all you keep doing is checking your watch to make sure you?ve allowed yourself enough time to go pick up your little one from day care before you get hit with that late charge? If you?re a working mom (or dad), you know the feeling.

As an ambitious young professional who is also a wife and a mother of a 5-year-old, I often find myself juggling several different responsibilities all at the same time. Whether it?s bringing my daughter with me to appropriate work events or turning down a great networking dinner to sit in my daughter?s class for Parents' Night, it?s a matter of prioritizing what is important in life.

And, living in Charlotte, I feel lucky to have the number of options and opportunities from which to choose.

During any given week, I can stay informed and networked at a chamber Survive & Thrive breakfast about social media or go to the opera with the Arts & Science Council?s Young Donor Society on one end of the spectrum. Then, on the other end, I can head to the Children?s Theatre of Charlotte to see Rapunzel brought to life on the stage with my husband and daughter and stroll through Freedom Park before heading home. In short, Charlotte has a great mix of opportunities for the professional side of me and the mom in me at the same time.

Beyond my anecdote of friends and co-workers, a little help from the U.S. Census Bureau?s website taught me that I?m not alone. By their count, roughly 61 percent of mothers are employed, and the average age for women to have their first child is 25-years-old. Translation: There are other young professional moms out there just like me!

As a newly minted board member for Engage Charlotte, I can?t help but applaud the group for its balanced approach to its events ? a great mix of lunch meetings, early morning gatherings and after-hours events ? perfect for working moms to pick and choose which fits their busy schedules.

So, if you?re a young, professional, ambitious, goal-oriented woman and mother, you?re in good company. Because there are tons of us ? and opportunities to stay engaged ? right here in Charlotte.

P.S. If you find yourself in this category, I recommend checking out MeetUp.com as I?ve found there are several great groups right here in Charlotte for working moms looking to network over a glass of wine or a bouncy house at Monkey Joe?s.

With all the hoopla surrounding Charlotte being the host city for the 2012 Democratic National Convention, it is easy to get lost in all the parties, protests, celebrities, and other extracurricular activities that will take place here next September. We hear about the projected economic impact, we hear about the venues, and we hear about the worldwide spotlight to be placed on our great city. What we often don?t hear about though are the actual politics beneath it all. After all, you didn?t think this was just one giant party without any political background, did you?

First things first, a little bit of history: while political conventions were originally established for party members to come together to nominate their candidate to run for president, that is not exactly how it works today. Think about it ? how many debates have you either watched or heard of these past few months alone in states like Florida or New Hampshire or South Carolina? This is because the individual state primaries has replaced the convention as the presidential nomination process in modern politics. Throughout primary season candidates go from state to state in an attempt to win the popular vote & delegates of that state. Essentially, win the majority of the key primaries and the candidate wins the nomination! Now you might ask yourself, that?s great, so then what?s the deal with these delegates and what is their role in all of this if the voters have already picked their nominee?

The short answer is that delegates go to the convention to represent the people of their state. In other words, win the presidential primary in a state to earn delegate representation at the convention in favor of your candidacy. How many delegates, however, and how they represent the candidate gets a little tricky by each party. Democrats and Republicans set their own rules (of course). For the Democrats, delegates are proportionate to the number of votes in the primary. (That is, of course, if there was a primary. We already know President Obama will be the nominee, but delegates will still come to Charlotte all representing President Obama). Republicans simply use a winner takes all approach ? win the primary in the state and win the delegates. And how many delegates would that be? Well, here again it depends on the party and where the convention is being held, but it essentially becomes a combination of the size of the state, how they have supported the party in the past, and a few other criteria.

Whew! And just when you thought we?d covered it all, one more factor to consider: a few states that still use the caucus system, such as Iowa. Here again this gets tricky by each party on how the process works, and it would take far too long to delve into the details. Suffice it to say, because of the complexity of this process most states have moved to the primary process described above though there are still some very notable exceptions such as the Iowa caucus.

So if the question of the party nominee has been settled through the primary or caucus process, you might wonder what is the point of the convention. As noted above, it certainly has local impacts on the host city. But what does it mean politically? The truth is not much. While the delegates do attend to represent their states and voters, there is no real decision to be made on the nominee. No major debates or anything of that nature takes place. If nothing else, it serves as a platform to show unity behind the nominee and party strength as well as an opportunity to shine a spotlight on the nominee.

Just don?t expect any earth shattering political developments to come out of Charlotte this September!