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Striking a Pose with Jacqueline Perry Photography

Every year, I schedule a family photo shoot.  It’s ritualistic!  It’s just what I do, and it was something I did way before a husband and kids entered the picture.

Those were the easy days.  Santa, my cat, and I always smiled for the camera, but now a good family photo takes a great photographer behind the camera.

I went for a different look for our photos this year, but the preparation leading up to the family shoot was all too familiar.

“No, I don’t want to wear that sweater,” my son yelled as he ran off to hide.

“How long will this take?” inquired my husband as he got everyone in the car.

And the baby?  She was happy as long as she could wear these shoes.



We met lifestyle photographer Jacqueline Perry in downtown Raleigh’s City Market area.  It’s a quaint area with cobblestone streets and charming cafes.


Downtown Raleigh, North Carolina (City Market)

You never know what to expect with the weather when you schedule a photo shoot.  At 4 p.m., the City Market area was extremely cloudy and windy.  Jacqueline decided to move us a mile down the road to the historic Mordecai House and grounds.  It was a fantastic decision.

Chapel on grounds of Mordecai House in Raleigh, North Carolina 

The colors on the grounds were spectacular.



My kids forgot that their photo was being taken.  They were having fun. 


The Mordecai House is Raleigh’s oldest residence on its original foundation and was the seat of the largest plantation in Wake County.  It was the perfect backdrop for this Southern girl and her family.

Mordecai House in Oakwood Neighborhood of Downtown Raleigh, NC

Out of 105 photos, I think I got the perfect Christmas card photo, too. But, you won't find that one in this slideshow below.  Some things just have to be in the mail.

I’m showing you so many photos because I want you to get a feel for Jacqueline Perry’s work. She has agreed to give away a photo shoot and package for my readers.  It’s one of my holiday gifts to one lucky reader because photo shoots are so important to me, and sometimes they may be hard to fit in the family budget.  I thank Jacqueline Perry Photography for working with me this year to make this holiday gift possible.

Anyone can enter this giveaway, but the photo shoot will have to take place in the Triangle area.  This package will be valued at over $200.  She is also offering a special discount to Hines-Sight Blog readers if you book a photo session by 12/31/2011.  Your photo session can take place in 2012.


To enter the Hines-Sight Blog/Jacqueline Perry Photography Giveaway
Visit Jacqueline Perry’s blog, and tell her what type of photo shoot you would like to have for your family so she can get her creative juices flowing.   It can be in your home decorating your Christmas tree or in your favorite park.  Jacqueline also knows some great spots in the Triangle area that are great for on-location photo shoots.  (Remember, anyone can enter this giveaway, but photos have to take place in the Triangle area.)  Once you give Jacqueline your photo wish list, be sure to record your name under my comment section so I can add you into our random drawing.

Additional entries:

Share this giveaway on your Facebook page (two entries).

This is not required for entry, but I would love it if you decided to follow the Hines-Sight Blog via Twitter, Facebook, Google friends, or through email.  Facebook is where I have the most fun interacting with you.  Jacqueline Perry is also on Twitter and Facebook. This is how she informs clients of  her specials. 

Deadline to enter is Tuesday, December 6, at 11:59 p.m. 



Disclosure:  I received a discount on my photo session as well as negotiated the photography giveaway for my readers in exchange for this post.  
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Many Thanks!

I will be surprised if I don't get a phone call from my mom once she sees this post.

"Get off that computer, and get that turkey in the oven! We used to cook the turkey the night before when we hosted Thanksgiving.  Your turkey won't be done," my mom will say with nervousness in her voice.

Somehow though,  all the catalogs, and other junk,  will be removed from the dining room table, and the table will be set for seven by 5 p.m. tonight.

It will get done.

There is no doubt in my mind that the kids will cry at some point, and my house will seem like chaos before we all sit down, and eat a very done turkey.

Our family has so much to be thankful for this year.  We are very blessed.

I could not begin my Thanksgiving preps today without taking the time to wish all of you a very Happy Thanksgiving!  Thank you for the time you give me each week.  In the past year, I have loved getting to know so many wonderful and talented people.

Enjoy your time with your family, and I'll see you back here next week.




Oh, and I hope you remembered to thaw your turkey.  I had some friends one year who forgot.  If you didn't remember, I know some great luxury hotels that are serving Thanksgiving dinner today.






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I’m Just Not a Same Ole, Same Ole Gal. Are you?

It’s true.  I like variety.

As you have gotten to know me this year, you realize this blog is a hodgepodge. I write about parenting, travel, food, and whatever inspires me that day.  I can’t just stick with one topic, or I would be bored.

I like variety in my closet, too.  You can find lively Lilly to Bohemian chic.  Classic Prep to Trendy.  I’m either a stylist’s dream or her worst nightmare.

My husband, on the other hand, shops at only one men’s store, and every day he totes one ham or turkey sandwich with provolone cheese, some type of half-sandwich, and a handful of tortilla chips in a Tupperware container to his office. 

I just can’t eat the same thing every day like he does.  That’s why you can find me lunching with my mom quite frequently, which is not good for the family budget.  I get tired of the same ole sandwich, and sometimes I want to eat a meal that requires a fork.  In fact, when I was in the working world, I ate out every day and probably spent at least $50 of my salary each week.  Did you know that is $2,600 a year?  Yikes.  It’s also hard to keep those restaurant calories in check.

Healthy Choice sent me two entrees to review
When theMotherhood asked me to give my opinion about the new Healthy Choice Top Chef Inspired Café Steamers, I welcomed the opportunity to put some variety in my lunch choices at home.  I lived off of Healthy Choice in my twenties because it was certainly easier to eat those than to cook for one.  Since having a family, though, I have rarely purchased the frozen, single-serving entrées.

Truthfully, I had no idea that Café Steamers were on the market.  I don’t watch Bravo’s Top Chef, and all that I really know about that show is that the contestants can cook better than I can.  In case you didn’t know, either, Bravo’s Top Chef and Healthy Choice have partnered to introduce an exclusive line of dishes that combine bold, innovative, and exciting flavors.

This exclusive new line includes eight healthy varieties that utilize proprietary steaming technology that produces a fresh-tasting meal in minutes.  The unique steaming technology separates the sauce from the rest of the entrée to steam the meal in the microwave, allowing for crisp vegetables, tender meats and al dente pastas.



Will Healthy Choice Break Me from the Same Ole Same Ole Lunch at Home?


I have to admit that I was excited to eat something other than a sandwich for lunch when I popped a café steamer into the microwave.  The first entrée I tried was the Grilled Vegetable Mediterranean with Rice.  What I liked about it was that it was 230 calories and that it had no preservatives.  Honestly, I think I loved having something other than a sandwich to eat for lunch, and eating something hot, healthy, and only 230 calories more than I loved the taste of entrée.  I can’t put my finger on it.  It was just OK to me, but not really memorable.  I also don’t think I’m a big fan of barley, which is an ingredient in the dish. Will I buy this one again?  Maybe. I think it deserves another taste, but based on my tastes, I think I personally would choose the other seven over this one.  They seem more appealing to me.

Two days later, I happily opened the Barbecue Seasoned Steak with Red Potatoes.

Healthy Choice Entree
There is something about a hot meal that is just pleasing to the palate.  In less than five minutes, I sat down at my computer and took my first bite.  WOW! I loved this entrée.  This was “clean the plate good, and wish you had a little bit more.”  It was a great lunch for me.  It was 330 calories, 20 grams of protein, and 4 grams of fiber.  I stayed full until dinner.  I highly recommend this entrée.  In fact, I have even thought about the entrée this week and wished I had another one in the freezer for lunch.


Will I be buying this entrée?  Yes, I’m going to be storing a lot in Baby Diva’s cart on our next trip to the grocery store.

Healthy Choice Top Chef Inspired Cafe Steamers will soon fill this cart
I don't have to eat the same ole, same ole sandwich again. 
Healthy Choice Top Chef Inspired Café Steamers will definitely give me the much-needed variety I crave in my lunch routine.  I no longer have to eat same ole, same ole again.  Who knows? Maybe my husband will even take one to work to change things up a bit.

These entrees are starting to appear on the grocery store aisles with a retail price of $2.75 to $3.50, which beats eating out.

For all the varieties on the market visit, www.healthychoice.com or www.bravotv.com/showdown


Disclosure: I was compensated by theMotherhood and Healthy Choice to write this post.   As always, my thoughts and opinions are my own, and are not influenced by the company. 




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It’s Not Always Too Good To Be True

I’ve been meaning to tell you this little tale for a while, but everyday life kept getting in the way.

One day in August, I received a strange email.  I thought the email was spam and almost deleted it because as the saying goes, “if it is too good to be true, then it probably is.” 

To make a long story short, I got an email from nine women who call themselves the Nanas.  The email came from their project manager, Sunny.  She wrote,    

“There is a group of ladies in the Memphis, TN area that absolutely adore your blog! And I'm writing because they're celebrating 50 States 31 Days of Giving. For thirty-four years, they've surreptitiously helped single moms and widows. But for the month of August, the Nanas decided to extend their reach and make happiness happen for someone in each of our 50 states.

For the state of North Carolina, you're the chosen one!”

They wanted to send me a gift certificate to a great romantic restaurant called Café Tiramisu to help spread some additional happiness in my life.

What?  I scratched my head.  Like any former journalist, I did a little research. 

I learned that the Nanas owned a cake company, and they were well-known in the Memphis area for their wonderful philanthropy.

This was actually a case in which something wasn’t too good to be true.

The Nanas sent me the gift certificate along with two poundcakes from their bakery.   How did they know that poundcake was my absolute favorite cake of all time?  We devoured the cakes in no time.  They were simply delicious and baked fresh.  The Nanas’ cakes have no artificial flavors, colors, or preservatives.  It’s cake just like my grandma would bake.


Of course, the cake was long gone, but the gift certificate remained on our counter unused for some time.  Unexpected events would constantly change our plans, and as a result we didn’t use our gift certificate to Café Tiramisu until a few weeks ago.

We had a delightful meal, and you know what?  We were giddy-happy.  We had a wonderful meal and only had to pay for our sitter.  

Cafe Tiramisu in Raleigh

Thank you, Nanas, for spreading some extra happiness in my home.  My husband was happy because his wallet stayed in his pocket, and I was happy because I didn’t have to put my kids to bed and had a great meal to boot.  My kids were happy because they ate lots of poundcake.  Well, they were happy until we all fought over the last bite.  Yes, those cakes are that good.

And as a blogger, it also thrilled me that someone other than my mom was reading my posts when they chose me for this Happiness Project.  It makes me want to smile every time I think about it.

Have a great weekend! See you back here next week.

Disclosure: I was chosen to receive the gift certificate to Café Tiramisu by the Nanas as part of their Happiness Project and was under no obligation to write about it here on my blog.  I chose to share the story with you because I found it interesting, and the gift certificate did not influence my opinion about the cakes.  As always, my opinions are my own.




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Turn the Never Ending To-Do List Into DONE

As I crawl into bed later and later each evening, I sometimes ponder if I accomplished anything at all that day. 


Last month, I captured one day of my life in photos and kept a journal.  


It was eye-opening.
It appears that I accomplish very little in a day, which is crazy because I know that I’m busier than hell.  My to-do list just seems to get longer, and is never-ending. 
At the end of the day, the mess seems messier, and the laundry just procreates.




At nightfall, I still have emails to answer, errands to run, and people on my list to call.  In fact, it took me three days to call my pediatrician’s office last week to schedule a well visit.  Yes, three days! I would remember to make the call, get distracted, and then it wouldn’t get done that day because I wouldn’t remember until the office was closed.
Don’t even get me started on the kitchen! As soon as I clean the kitchen for one meal, it’s time to start another one.
I rise at 6 a.m. and go to bed as late as 11 p.m. some nights, but it seems I have nothing to show for what I did that day.
When I was in television, I produced a news story every day.  I worked all day for that one news feature.  Once it aired, I had one minute and thirty seconds of work that showed what I did all day.
But motherhood?  That’s a whole different ballgame. Let me be the first to tell you that we really accomplish a lot in a single day, but it’s just harder to measure our work.
A wise friend with children once told me that she makes a daily to-do list, and if she just accomplishes one thing on her list then she considers her day a success.




So here’s my new list.  It will no longer be the "Freakin Never Ending To-Do List" because I'm changing my approach to my to-do list so I can feel some accomplishment at the end of the day. 
You should try this, too. 
Get out your pen and paper, and write the following:
  • Hug and kiss my child lots
  • Make my child laugh or smile today
  • Teach my child something today
  • Read my child a book
  • Transport my child to and from somewhere safely
  • Prepare food for my child
  • (Write one item here that you would like to get done such as schedule an appointment, run an errand, clean the bathroom, do one load of laundry, whatever)
At the end of the day, check off what you accomplished.
I will place bets that you accomplish everything on that list in one single day even the one chore that you need to get done. 


Since I've changed my approach to my to-do list, it has changed how I feel about my days. 
Who knew that making a checklist would feel so satisfying?
I now love my daily to-do list. 


 But, no matter what I do, I still have laundry to fold. I can never seem to get that off my list. 
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I'm linking this post  with Shell's blog today.  If you are from her site, welcome!



Would love to hear from you. To make a comment, please click on the post title if you are viewing from the blog's home page.
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