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City Sidewalks and an Inspirational Giveaway from Loving on Me

The hustle and bustle of the holidays are here. We all have a million places to be, and our time is limited. Thank you for even reading today. 

 Since Dec. 1, I've had bubbles with a friend at Washington Duke Inn, and celebrated the holidays with other N.C. bloggers, who are fellow members of NC Blogger Network. I captured this Raleigh Christmas skyline at Boylan Bridge Brew Pub in Raleigh.
Raleigh City Skyline at Christmas
Raleigh Skyline from Boylan Bridge Brew Pub

My own home is starting to look a little more like Christmas. I still have items to put out, and items to go back in the attic. For our tree trimming this year, I made my simple baked ziti. 
Christmas Tree
Our house for the 2014 Holiday
Tis the season for lots to do. I took the kids to see Santa this week. Here's the real story behind this photo I shared on Facebook.
Santa
Dear Santa, Mom wants this Tory Burch wallet, but I guess I really need this Tory Burch umbrella. 
Hey kids, our Christmas story starts like this. I took you to see Santa in the rain. I stabbed myself with my broken umbrella.Guess I need to put an umbrella on my Christmas list. After dinner, I tried not to show my frustration as I carried three unopened umbrellas, one to go box, a holiday book and kid drink up a slippery hill in the rain, all while you ate sticky candy canes. The night finally ended with my letting a few curse words fly in the parking lot when the Sprite spilled all over my seat while standing in the rain as I was trying to get three umbrellas, a book, food and a drink in the car. Yes, kids, that's the real story behind this lovely holiday photo, but at least we got to see Santa who is thinking that he may be in for a long night. Twenty years from now, we'll just remember the photo, but thanks to this blog, we have this story to remember. You'll tell your kids, "I remember the time Grandma...let it loose in the parking lot, but at least she didn't get run over by a reindeer." 
My Gift to You: An Inspirational Holiday Giveaway

 I always like to give back to my readers this time of year because if it weren't for you and this blog I created, my life would not be the same. You inspire me to come back to this space to write and tell you something even if that means I have dishes in the sink and piles of laundry still in the dryer. 

I was contacted by Loving On Me, an online shop that offers inspirational products that make positive affirmations a part of everyday life to host a giveaway. At home, work and anywhere-in-between, the products, such as coffee mugs, t-shirts, pillows, totes and more, shout out powerful phrases that remind women that they are “unstoppable,” “a masterpiece,” “strong, mighty and enough."
Loving on Me Gift Tote

Founded in 2012 by non-profit leader and social responsibility pioneer Katrina McGhee, Loving on Me has a unique dual mission – to both inspire individuals AND ignite them into action. Its robust social media community and retail business make inspiration a part of every day life, while its Love in Action philanthropy arm ignites action by supporting global charities through financial contributions and volunteerism. 

Inspirational Gifts


The company is committed to the growth and development of the broader women’s community. That’s why every quarter, Katrina make contributions to organizations supporting the education, empowerment and good health of women and girls. Since September 2012, Loving On Me has provided over $25,000 in support to Breast Care International, Girl  Rising, Minnie’s Food Pantry,Susan G. Komen for the Cure,Play Like a Girl, and the Unstoppable foundation.

Inspirational Gifts that Give Back


As a thank you from me, you will be able to win a Loving On Me gift pack that includes a tote bag, a mug, and journal. One winner will be chosen by random on Friday, Dec. 19.  You may enter via rafflecopter below. 


I think we can all use a new mug for coffee. And not to be funny, but I like my coffee strong in the morning. :)

 Happy holidays everyone! 

 Disclosure: LovingOnMe sponsored this prize, and the prize will be mailed to the winner by the company. The prize will more than likely reach you after the Christmas holidays. 



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Southern Chat: The Carlyle in N.Y. is Suited for Royals and You

When luxury hotels and royals collide, I get excited. A lot of times, royals are hosted in various homes or government houses on their official visits. Sometimes, we get lucky though and they stay in hotel brands that we could stay in as well.

William and Kate in N.Y at The Carlyle
NEILSON BARNARD/GETTY

For example, I was fascinated with the Goring Hotel in London long before Kate stayed there the night before her wedding. The couple stayed in a lovely Relais and Chateaux property during their Australia and New Zealand trip earlier this year.

Relais and Chateaux properties are fabulous, and I stayed in one here in North Carolina this year.

William and Kate stayed in the classic, The Carlyle, in New York City during their U.S. tour this month.  The Carlyle, is an elite and luxurious Rosewood Hotel, that has hosted world dignitaries since 1930.

TheCarlyle on Instagram 

The Carlyle is on Instagram, and the feed is filled with beautiful people and beautiful things. They even monogram pillowcases for guests.

Monogrammed pillowcases at The Carlyle in NY.


Some suites come with a hefty price-tags at several thousand dollars per night. Not everyone has the royals budget, but you can find a room rate below $500, depending on the time of year. And the hotel offers some great specials throughout the year such as pay for two nights, and get a third night complimentary.

Chances are Kate and William saw this tree in the lobby.

Holidays at The Carlyle in N.Y.
The Caryle Instagram account 


Who's ready to go to New York for the holidays?













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Pesaro, Italy: An 18th Century Murano Glass Mirror Selfie and More

It's #IGTRAVELThursday, and I'm continuing to document some of the highlights of my Italian journey.

Pesaro, Italy in #Marche Region


Catch up Here:
   Gradara Italy:  The Photo that Almost Didn't Happen (Oct. 17, 2014)
   Discover Marche in Italy: Sunsets and Wine (Nov. 5, 2014)


We spent several hours in Pesaro, Italy during my Marche press trip in October. 
Musei Civici in Pesaro, Italy



Pesaro is a lovely coastal city with about 90,000 residents and it is the second largest city in the Marche region. On this particular Sunday, the market was bustling with people. The city is the birthplace of composer,Gioachino Rossini, and hosts the Rossini Opera Festival every summer.
Rossini birthplace in Pesaro, Italy
While touring the capital city of the Pesaro en Urbino province in Marche, we stopped to visit Musei Civici, following a private tour of the President's Office. Musei Civici had a small area where you could have complimentary espresso in these locally made ceramic cups.
Pesaro Italy ceramics
To me, this was an #ilikemarche moment. This is something that is just not replicated in America. Sure, we have cafés in museums, but they certainly don't offer the charm of the coffee being served complimentary in handmade mugs. This will be a longtime memory for me because I had taken a motion sickness pill for the curvy roads and needed this coffee badly.


espresso in Pesaro, Italy
After fueling my body with an espresso, I was ready to see Musei Civici, which is a city art museum known for its ceramics and priceless works of art. Many of the pieces were collected by an Italian aristocratic family. For us, they allowed photos. 

What did I do?  I did what any modern journalist with a cell phone would do. 
Travel writer Leigh Hines taking a selfie in 18th Century Murano Glass Mirror
I could not resist. I put on Instagram, "We just HAD to do it. An extraordinary selfie in a Murano glass mirror from the 18th century in Pesaro."
I highly recommend a visit to Pesaro. I was there in the off-season, but it's not an area swarming with tourists. 

 We had a traditional lunch in a market where the entree was a fish stew, locally known as brodetto. Since I'm more of a pasta lover than a seafood lover, I didn't love this dish because it basically had all of "The Little Mermaid's" friends in it. 
Pesaro regional cuisine called brodetto
However, I certainly appreciated the labor of love it took to create this regional cuisine. Look at the size of that pan! Do they judge chefs in Italy by the size of their pans. Hmmm!
Brodetto pan in Pesro, Italy

I very much enjoyed the gelato we found on the walk to city's coastline. 
Italian gelato in Pesaro, Italy

The villas in the area were colorful and grand. 
Colorful Italian Villa in Pesaro, Italy

The coastline was inviting for families. 
Amusement for families in Pesaro, Italy
And this famous bronze sphere by Italian sculptor, Arnaldo Pomodoro catches everyone's eye. 
Pesaro, Italy
To begin to plan your trip to the Marche region,start by visiting the Discover Marche website. The Le Marche region is diverse, and I have it linked to the area I traveled on this press visit. We left Pesaro, toured Fano, then spent our last evening in Senigallia. I'll have more on Fano and Senigallia in the future. 

 And on a hotel sidenote: I did not have time to visit this hotel, but I spotted Grand Hotel Vittoria  while I walked around the coastline. It is a five-star, historic property. Reviews are great, and it looked charming from the outside. 

 Link-up with us and use the hashtag #IGTRAVELThursday on Instagram


Disclosure: My trip to Italy was sponsored by TBDItaly. I'm so glad I was selected to participate  in this conference and press tour because had I planned my own agenda to Italy on vacation, I'm not sure I would have included the Marche area because I was not familiar with it. As always, opinions are my own. 
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Real Life Moms: They Make a Year Unstoppable

I wrote this post as part of my participation in a blog tour for The Motherhood on behalf of the makers of Children’s MOTRIN® and received compensation to thank me for taking the time to participate. However, all opinions expressed are my own.
For the past few months, I've enjoyed following The makers of Children’s MOTRIN®Facebook page. It has been extremely helpful learning different tips from other women who face the same challenges as I do as a mom.

Jack is almost 9 and Liza is 5. 

These real-life moms have offered great advice on how to stretch holiday dollars to how to keep the romance alive on a date night. For my final writing assignment for this campaign, I was given the task to share with you how I stayed unstoppable this year. The funny thing is that I don't really have a great answer for this question. I think I spend most of my days flying by the seat of my pants in this parenting world, and somehow it just all works out. Dinner eventually gets on the table, and the kids get in bed later than I hoped on most nights. The good news is that my kids are safe and secure at the end of the day, and I did my job as a parent. Some days I do this job better than other days. How I get to the end of the day just happens. I don't have a magic answer of how it becomes successful. Every day is different, some more challenging than others, but I get through it because that is my responsibility as a mom. When I look at other moms that I know, and see all that they are doing, I believe they are the ones who are actually unstoppable. They deserve the praise in this year-end post for what they are doing. Not me.

Moms are unstoppable
Print available here. 

Let's take Mary-Kathryn, for example. She's a mom of four kids under 9. She works out of her home and makes her own work schedule, like me. She works tirelessly to teach her kids the importance of making a difference in the lives of others. Each year, her kids host a hot chocolate stand in front of their Raleigh home. It started several years ago so that her kids would know that Christmas is not just about shopping and toys. The holidays are such a busy time of year, and yet Mary Kathryn becomes unstoppable through the craziness of it all, and directs this fantastic, community fundraiser. This year, the kid's hot chocolate proceeds from the Dec. 6 stand will go to Train a Dog Save a Warrior.


HinesSight Blog


Yesterday, I sat across from Julie at a PTA board meeting. Julie runs a household of three kids, and yet, despite how busy she is daily, she has taken on the volunteer role as PTA president at our elementary school.  This volunteer position mimics a full-time job. It really does. She is working to build a school community that thrives. In my opinion, she's an unstoppable hero for our education system.

Holiday Magic Tree


Then there is Melissa. She's a busy mom of two girls. She, too, has taken an active volunteer role as a PTA Vice-President, but she also finds the time to promote Lung Cancer Awareness throughout the year, which is an important cause for her.  During the holidays, she also coordinates a Holiday Magic tree at the elementary school our children attend. I saw her standing outside the school this morning collecting coats for the needy. She's unstoppable as she works to make the holidays brighter and healthier for many.

And finally, there is Ilina. She not only manages to cook a farm-to-table dinner for her two boys nightly, but she works diligently to make sure no other child goes hungry or is abused. She's active on the board of Safe Child, and she is one of the best child advocates that I personally know.

Holiday wisdom
Shared on Ilina's FB page via B.Conway-Zaleski (not sure if she is original source who created this great list.)

When it comes to helping other children, she's unstoppable.

As we celebrate the holiday season this year, I tip my hat to these personal moms in my hometown of Raleigh, N.C. The drive, passion, and unstoppable attitudes of moms like these women make our world a better place.

The greatest natural resource is our children


I'll be joining other moms for an unstoppable twitter chat at 1 pm EST on Dec. 4.  And be sure to check  The makers of Children’s MOTRIN® Facebook page for some great tips.

  • The makers of Children’s MOTRIN® are asking Moms to post their tips and tricks to the MOTRIN® Facebook page under each week’s Kelly Ripa question video and for every post, Children’s MOTRIN® will donate $1 to Safe Kids Worldwide, a global nonprofit that provides moms with the tips they need to help keep their children safe.  Moms could even win weekly giveaways of $100 gift cards just for posting.*
    • *NO PURCHASE NECESSARY, OPEN TO LEGAL RESIDENTS OF THE 50 UNITED STATES & D.C., 18 AND OLDER. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED. Promotion ends 11:59p.m. ET 12/28/14.  Sponsor will donate $1 for each approved Submission made as part of the promotion, with a minimum donation of $30,000 and a maximum donation of $50,000.  For Official Rules, and complete details, visit www.unstoppablemoms.com. Sponsor: McNeil Consumer Healthcare Division of McNEIL-PPC, Inc.  To learn more about Safe Kids Worldwide visit safekids.org.


Disclosure: This is a sponsored post and compensation was received for my time to craft this post.


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A Holiday Pottery Giveaway #NCMADE

Tis the season to be merry whether you are ready or not. I have a gift for you on the blog that will get you in the Christmas spirit. I'm excited to bring you a great giveaway with Farmville, N.C. potter, Margaret Wells, of Wiener Dog Pottery. 

N.C. Pottery, Wiener Dog Pottery Giveaway

I enjoyed learning more about this North Carolina native's talent over the Thanksgiving holiday. She is Will's first cousin so I was fortunate enough to spend the holiday with her. I have been so impressed with her pieces.She specializes in functional pottery, and we use her bowls for soup and chili in my own home. 

I convinced her to let me giveaway one of her pottery mold pieces that she does for the holidays. I thought it was charming, and would be a great entertaining piece for the Christmas season. I knew you would love it, too. 
N.C Pottery, Wiener Dog Pottery in Farmville, N.C.


Margaret has always had a love for traditional functional pottery. She was able to obtain hands-on instruction while pursuing her degree at Meredith College. While at Meredith, she learned the art of throwing and hand building while studying under John Givens.  

Upon graduation from Meredith College, Margaret put pottery on the shelf to work on her career. She still works full-time in her day job.  After many years, she met the owner of Double Diamond Pottery, Melanie Waters, at the Farmville Dogwood Festival. She signed up for classes and fell in love all over again with the art of pottery and has started to devote a lot of time to it. 

Last year, Margaret was able to study at Finch Pottery in Bailey, NC to learn and practice some new techniques. That helped put her on the path to branch out on her on with her own pieces. 

Margaret, who is a dachshund owner and lover, followed her passion and opened Wiener Dog Pottery. 

Wiener Dog Pottery is currently located in historic downtown Farmville, NC at 3700-B East Wilson Street. Her studio is open by chance or appointment only, but you will find Margaret there most evenings and weekends.


N.C. Pottery, Wiener Dog Pottery in Farmville, N.C. A HinesSight Blog Giveaway.


Margaret's Christmas tree platter retails for $25. One winner will be chosen at random via rafflecopter. A winner will be drawn on Dec. 10, 2014. 

 Good luck. I think you will love this gift from me and Wiener Dog Pottery.  Just enter in the rafflecopter. You can sign in via Facebook or by using your email. Be sure to click, "Enter" for each entry after you sign in. 


a Rafflecopter giveaway
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