Every April, bright, colorful puzzle pieces begin to appear all around us on social media, television, and storefront advertisements. World Autism Month is a great time to spread awareness for a disorder that affects so many. With 1 in 54 children being diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), it has touched most of us in one way or another.

Hippity Hoppity Easter's on its way! I can't believe that Easter Weekend is already here. I feel like Easter sneaks up on me every year. Maybe it's because Easter is never on the same day each year, so I never know exactly when to expect it. However, it could be because I don't celebrate the holiday with the same enthusiasm that I did as a child. I always looked forward to Easter because there were so many fun activities surrounding the holiday. This year, I plan to bring back a little bit of that excitement by checking out some of the area's Easter events.

Every year in March, we celebrate Women's History Month, a time to acknowledge all the brave hard-working women who came before us and paved the way for women's equality. In fact, Carolina Trust has highlighted prominent women in our community all month long on Living Local Carolina. And as great as it is to underline historical women who have made strides for women's independence and equality, it's even more important to use this month as a way to motivate and empower present-day women to rise up and take advantage of the opportunities that are available to help them achieve independence, stability, and success.

Welcome, Spring! Aside from all the pollen, springtime is one of my favorite times of the year. Every spring, the world transforms from winter's dull gloominess into a warm, bright, colorful landscape of flowers and sunshine.

Spring always gives me the feeling of a fresh start. Like the world around us, we can grow and bloom into something bright and beautiful. To start fresh, though, you have to do a little spring cleaning and get rid of the old.

Have you already filed your taxes? If not, now is the time to start gathering your information because May 17th will be here before you know it. Finances were a little trickier in 2020, so if you plan to do your own taxes, make sure you have all the necessary information about the 2021 tax season. If you plan to take your taxes to a professional, try not to wait until the last minute and make sure you have all of the necessary documents to ensure the process goes as smoothly as possible. For more information on how you can prepare yourself for tax time, check out the BALANCE blog below.

In honor of Black History Month, Carolina Trust highlighted influential African American men and women all month long on our weekly Living Local Carolina segments. The individuals whom we had the honor of talking to had such inspiring and interesting stories. It was such an honor to learn about their lives and the hurdles they had to jump through in order to succeed.

In honor of Random Acts of Kindness Day on February 17th, I visited Autumn Care of Shallotte, a nursing home in Brunswick County, NC, and dropped off flowers and reachers for the residents. I hate to admit that it took a special day like Random Acts of Kindness Day to remind me to reach out to our local nursing home and see how I can help. The senior citizens in our community laid the groundwork for the lives we live today, so I feel like we owe them our love and support, especially during tough times like the pandemic.

Before the pandemic, I tried to visit local nursing homes a few times a year, even if it was just to talk to the residents. Many residents rarely have visitors, so you can tell they really enjoy your company. Unfortunately, many local nursing homes had to quit allowing visitors and limit interaction between residents as a COVID-19 precaution. For some, the reduced social interaction led to feelings of loneliness, depression, and isolation. Although facility workers do their best to plan safe activities that boost morale, it's up to us to reach out to our local nursing homes and find ways to make sure they still feel like they have a valuable role in society.

As a child, I always loved Valentine's Day. My favorite part of celebrating was going to the store and picking out a box of Valentine's Day cards to give the other kids in my class. It always took me forever to address my cards because I wanted each card's phrase to match its recipient perfectly. And let's face it, it's a tough decision to decide who gets "Be Mine" when you're in the fourth grade. Honestly, that card probably got tossed in the trash.

I'm not sure that finding the right card for my loved ones has gotten any easier as an adult. Although there are isles and isles of cards with both funny and mushy sayings, nothing ever really seems to perfectly suit my friends and family, which is why I've resorted to making my own.

While I sat down to make my own cards, I began thinking of all those who could use a little extra love this Valentine's Day, so I researched a list of places that I could send additional cards.

I became a homeowner a little over six months ago and absolutely love it. I'm not quite sure if it's because I love my house so much or if I love the idea of actually having something of my own. However, I will say that as I'm settling into my home, I've begun to notice a few things that I will probably change in the next few years.

You may not be able to have the big super bowl party like usual, but there is one festivity that you can still enjoy, the snacks. Whether or not your team wins, you'll be sure to score it big in the kitchen with these delicious recipes from Chef Jamie Daskalis, Owner of Johnny D's Waffles and Benedicts.