Southwest Chocolate…

I’m back in Albuquerque, NM, and fully geared up for tomorrow’s big event—the 16th annual Southwest Chocolate & Coffee Fest at Expo New Mexico. I haven’t been since 2017, so the anticipation is real. The festival runs this weekend, April 11 & 12, 2026, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and I plan to spend most of the day soaking it all in. Demos, chocolate tastings, coffee sipping…It’s basically my dream weekend.

I’m also here to spend time with my mom. I arrived this morning after a smooth drive and rolled into Albuquerque around 9:30. My first stop? The brand-new Whole Foods on Carlisle. That place is HUGE—beautiful, bright, and absolutely worth the detour.

Now I’m unwinding, catching up on emails, and resting up for a full day of chocolate and coffee bliss tomorrow.

MY journey….