When families start planning vacations, many look beyond hotels and turn to VRBO properties or timeshare rentals because hotels just don't work as well for their needs. Vacations can be expensive for families, especially when you are eating out for every meal and scheduling activities to keep everyone entertained all day. You know I love a hotel more than anyone, but I have never stayed longer than five nights in a hotel with my family. And by night five with all us in one space, we're ready to come home.
Vacation ownership resorts, or timeshares as some refer to them as, have come a long way through the years. Brands like Marriott, Ritz-Carlton, and Disney all offer vacation packages for families to buy into for several weeks a year. I would check into any Marriott, Ritz-Carlton, or Disney timeshare in a heartbeat. I've also now discovered that I've checked into a resort in North Carolina and didn't realize it was a timeshare property until I began researching this piece. I found a website called SellMyTimeshareNow.com which has an inventory of over 45,000 timeshare rentals and timeshare resales in its database, and so I decided to begin my research there.
The inventory on this site is amazing. Some are really high-end like the Ritz-Carlton St. Thomas, whereas some resorts are just average and budget-friendly. My #OutaboutNC community on Instagram is for all travel budgets, and below are some that are available for rent in North Carolina to help plan your stay. I personally really like the Chetola Resort.
Wyndham Resort at Fairfield Sapphire ValleyThis resort in the mountains near Cashiers, North Carolina is great for mountain living. I adore the nearby town of Highlands and the Old Edwards Inn and Spa if you want a spa excursion while staying here. In the winter, this is a great ski hotel and in the summer, it has a resort pool.
. Wyndham Resort at Fairfield Harbour New Bern, North Carolina is a charming waterfront town. It has quaint shops and fresh local cuisine. New Bern is North Carolina's first state capital, and there are some beautiful homes along the Neuse River. This resort offers tennis, swimming and boating.
Barrier Island's Ocean Pines BeachDuck, North Carolina in the Outer Banks has a lot to offer the vacationer. You can read our OuterBanks guide to learn even more about this area. This particular resort has an indoor pool, a private beach, and other recreational amenities.
Peppertree Atlantic BeachThis part of North Carolina is considered the Southern Outer Banks. I passed this resort just last weekend, but I was staying in a hotel instead. It is oceanfront and has a resort pool. The area around it is quite nice. The Crystal Coast has so much offer. Check out our guide in our North Carolina section. And be sure to go to Beaufort, North Carolina and book a tour with Port City Tour Company. They will offer Pirate walks during the day and have ghost tours at night. They also offer trips to Shackleford. I think it would be great fun for the family.
Here are some other vacation planning links to help you plan your North Carolina vacation.
I woke up this morning very happy. The boys went camping this weekend and when Will is gone, I let Liza sleep in Daddy's spot as you soon as she goes to bed. Unfortunately, she ends up in bed with us when he's here practically every night about 2:45 a.m. on the dot, but that's another story for another day. I looked at her little face and just felt at peace with life. You see, my bloodwork says I'm officially at menopause. I told a friend that last night who is under 40, and she said, "I'm sorry!" I said, "Don't be sorry! I'm happy. I welcome it." You see. I get it now. I was probably in perimenopause when my son was born at 37. My hormones have been off for ten years, and I didn't understand what was wrong with me. It is hard to explain. I would go to my OB-Gyn, and she would dismiss things. The response was, "It happens. A lot of women feel this way." But, there was never a why.
I have battled cystic acne that came on very seasonally for over 14 years now in my chin area. I've been on medication off and on. I used cleansers that were once only subscribed by doctors. But, in February when I was under a writing deadline, it went like out of control crazy. Because I'm a hypochondriac at heart and worry about health, I have practically every physician's numbers in my favorites on my phone. I went to see my dermatologist. She listened. She helped me. She tested my hormones. I had to walk out with a prescription that is known to help block androgen production. I'm not happy about that because my goal is to get off less prescription medicine. Not add more. She said, "We're seeing more and more women in their 40s developing this hormone acne now." I am certainly not an expert on this issue, but as a journalist, my education taught me to learn how to connect the dots. If this is more common now then something is causing it. I have worked to become more educated about my health. I've read things. We have hormones in our food. We are eating processed foods too much. We are slathering things on our skin, our largest organ of our body, and it is absorbing chemicals that are known to cause hormone disruption and other issues. There are more than 80,000 chemicals on the market today. Many don't have any safety data. This is particularly true of ingredients in the skin care and beauty industry. The Personal Safety Care regulations have not been changed since 1938, and only 11 products known to cause health risks are banned in the U.S. Europe has done more studies and have banned 1400 ingredients in personal care products. Companies are allowed to use known toxins--ingredients that been linked to cancer, reproductive issues, hormone disruption--without telling the consumer. Even everyday facial cleansers can be a problem. Baby products, too. I encourage everyone to download the Environmental Working Group's Healthy Living app. When you are at Target. Scan your products. Look for safe products with "Green" listed as ingredients. It's kind of like a stoplight. Green is the target. Yellow, you may want to use caution. And Red, well, there are some things in it that are known to be health risks. And many of that is with the undisclosed chemical make-up behind the word "Fragrance" Yes, I'm menopause. My boobs sag, my stomach pooches, and I have lines on my face, but I have many years ahead of healthy living. I have switched my anti-aging (clinical results are proven behind this line) skincare and cosmetics to Beautycounter because they work for me and I know they are safe. I tried more eye creams than you can imagine through the years and I tried rejuvenating line and was sold within a week of using it. I saw more results with this than what I was buying from my Dermatologist's office. I also now do not have to worry about parabens which are known to cause breast cancer and hormone disruption. Beautycounteris the only game in town who has built its whole company around our health and changing legislation so that safe products can be in the hands of everyone at some point all price points. Not everyone can afford Beautycounter which is why legislation has to change. I talked to a mom yesterday who has a child with severe allergies. He is allergic to almost everything, and because she wants the best for him to help him, it impacts her family budget and she has had to go without herself. We need to change legislation so being healthy doesn't cause financial sacrifices. Budget-friendly Food Lion is already making changes to put organic and hormone-free meats and produce in their stores at a lower price point. I've been hearing the ads on the radio. They know that consumers are caring. There is also Aldi and Trader Joes. We're doing better on our food side, but we still have a long way to go with personal care products.
I use safe non-toxic cleaners, soaps, and other household items, and supplements through a Young Living membership. Young Living sells safe skincare, too that people love plus you can make your own. For me, Beautycounter eye cream worked better. You do what works best for you. What I buy with Young Living gives me points back for more savings. This company is not FDA-regulated, but their products are natural essentials oils and other natural oils/safe ingredients to make natural, chemical free products. Each time I buy my Super B vitamins at a membership of $19.75 for a three-month supply. I earn reward points that will either buy me another bottle for free or another product. I do my homework. I've shopped Whole Foods and I cannot get it cheaper there for a comparable quality product. Same thing with Thieves household cleaner.A little bit goes a long way when you make your own. I paid $22, earned points back on that purchase, and have used the same bottle for eight months now. I'm almost out and reordered this month. I am still doing baby steps in my lifestyle but I want my children to have a healthy start. I started reading food labels years ago, but now I'm always thinking about things before I buy. If you want to talk to me about what products I use now and why and how I use them. I'll be happy to help you and talk. Just contact me via email, Facebook. And be sure to subscribe to my Healthy Email Blast that can be found on my sidebar. I am not perfect. I do baby steps. Folks, I ate a Dunkin Donut yesterday. That's life. I am not superwoman. But, I just try to buy and eat smarter on most occasions.
Disclaimer. These are my own opinions. Revenue may be made on some purchases off my site.
With summer coming up, your skincare needs are going to change. Instead of layering on the product to protect your skin from stinging cold rain and wind, you’re going to need to protect yourself from the sun and the heat. So how do you do that? We are big sunscreen people in our house now because my husband was diagnosed with melanoma last year. He's in remission, but we take no chances any more.
1. Hydrate the Skin Properly with the Right Oils
In the winter, you may need to use more oil-based products for hydration. In the summer, you need to use the right type of oils.The wrong type of oil-based products could cause acne, but it is important not to eliminate oil in your skincare routine.Beauty experts recommend some type of oil as part of your nighttime routine to help balance the skin. Jojoba oil works great. Beautycounter has three oils on the market with oil with ylang ylang and wild chamomile as the best to balance and calm the skin. I personally use Beautycounter Radiance Firming Serum and I also use some Young Living essential oils. A little bit goes a long way. Great essential oils to help with oily skin are Lavender, Bergamot, and Ylang Ylang. Frankincense is for dry and anti-aging. Learn more about Essential Oils here. I also suggest a great matte powder for finishing and a bronzerfor summer. Remember to drink over 64 ounces of water a day. I keep a 20-ounce stainless steel bottle by my desk flavored with dietary essential oils like lemon, lime, or grapefruit in the Young Living Vitality line.
2. Use multi-faceted products
The fewer things you put on your face and skin, the better for your health. This means that you want to look, for example, for a tinted moisturizer with sunscreen in it. It allows you to accomplish three goals (moisturizing, evening out your complexion and preventing sun damage) with a single layer. We recommend Beautycounter Dew Skin.
3. Zinc oxide is important
If you’re going to be spending a lot of time outdoors, at the beach or at the pool, go for a sunscreen that contains zinc oxide (for you and your kids). Zinc oxide is a great protector against the sun. You’ll also want to find something that is waterproof so that you don’t have to slather your kids with it every twenty minutes when they run out of the pool for a snack. We recommend Beautycounter SPF 30 sunscreen.
4. Use Natural Ingredients
Your skin is already dealing with an onslaught of products during the day. Use natural ingredients in the evening for cleansing and toning. This replaces nutrients that have been lost to makeup removers and chemical cosmetics. We like Beautycounter cleansersfor its transparency and the fact that they ban 1500 ingredients that are known to cause health concerns from its products. Another great product isYoung Living's Satin Facial Scrub with Peppermint Essential Oil. Young Living also has its own all-natural skincare line called, ART, with Lavender essential oil as the main ingredient along with some luxurious essential oils such as Royal Hawaiian Sandalwood, and Frankincense. The entire skin care system includes a cleanser, toner, and moisturizer.
5. Don’t Let Your Sunburn Sit Untreated
As soon as you notice some pink (in you or your kids), take action. Get out of the sun for a while. Apply some aloe vera or Young Living's LavaDerm Cooling Mist. If the sunburn looks like it might become extreme, plan to spend the rest of the day indoors. Set your kids up with a movie and the air conditioner to keep them from complaining about being cooped up and take it easy. The sooner you treat sunburns, the quicker they heal themselves.
HinesSight Blog recommendsBeautycounter Sunscreen Products.It has a great EWG rating and has been listed as one of the safest sunscreens on the market. Beautycounter offers an SPF tinted moisturizer, an SPF 30 sunblock stick, a lip balm, and an SPF 30 sunscreen lotion. Learn more about EWG verified products.
Disclosure: I've been using Young Living products through a membership for over a year and I have bought Beautycounter products for seven months. To keep this blog ad-free with a strong editorial section, there are affiliate links. However, any commission does not influence my opinion here. I would use these products regardless and am very passionate about Young Living's Seed to Seal quality and Beautycounter's #BetterBeauty movement to get safe products into the hands of everyone by changing legislation. Take a few moments to view this video.
All About Small Victories Sunday Linkup
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* Follow your hosts. * Grab the Small Victories Sunday button and place it in your sidebar or the post you are linking up * Share up to 3 of your favorite blog posts you want to share. Enter your link below and let’s celebrate our small victories together! Please refrain from linking up posts with mature themes like erotica, new adult or offensive language. * Please comment on 2 posts for every link you enter. This linkup only works if we support one another, your visits are crucial to encourage fellow participants as you want to be encouraged too. * By linking up, you are giving the hosts permission to share your post and post images on their social media pages and our Featured Blogger collage. * By linking up, you are giving the hosts permission to email you notifications when the linkup is open. Your email addresses are not shared and you can unsubscribe to emails at any time. * Stop by our Small Victories Sunday Linkup Board on Pinterest and like and repin the posts to your boards. * Spread the word! The more you share about the linky, the more visitors you will get to your content too. Please use the #SmallVictoriesSundaylinkup hashtag so we can find your posts and share them too!
My love affair with English/Tudor/Craftsman style homes goes back to my childhood. This style is truly my dream home. I was invited to attend the official unveiling of Raleigh's HGTV smart home tour, but with kids home on spring break and my not feeling 100 percent well, I was able to get the scoop for your virtually. And honestly, their photos will be a lot better than mine anyway. I never claim I'm a photographer. I'm a writer. Are you ready?
Constructed by locally owned builder, Homes by Dickerson, the home is part of a grand prize package valued at more than $1.2 million that will be awarded this summer. In addition to the home and all its furnishings, the grand prize package includes a 2016 Mercedes-Benz GLC and $100,000 from national mortgage lender Quicken Loans®. The three-level traditional craftsman home is approximately 3,300-square-feet, with four bedrooms and five bathrooms, cleverly constructed with tech gadgets and smart solutions to enhance entertaining and everyday living.
“When we look for locations for the HGTV Smart Home, we are challenged with finding a neighborhood and a city that has the combination of technology and culture that makes it a great place to live. Following the homes in Nashville and Austin, Raleigh was a perfect choice,” said Ron Feinbaum, General Manager, and SVP, Home Promotions, HGTV. “As a hub for technology and a vibrant destination for those seeking family fun, it was a ‘smart’ selection all around.”
HGTV Smart Home 2016 host and interior designer Tiffany Brooks brought touches of rustic oak, metals and stone to this year’s home and combined them with a cool color palette that provides an unexpected contrast of traditional materials juxtaposed with modern and eclectic touches. In addition, she sourced art and sculpture from many of Raleigh’s local talent to further extend the custom flair of this stunning home.
The home is near Research Triangle Park and is very close to Briarcreek. It's in a new community called, Haywood. If you do a quick real estate search, the homes on the market in this new neighborhood average about $850,000 as the asking price.
Let's go inside. The Living Room is open
Photo by Sarah Dorio/Flynnside Out Productions/ 2016 HGTV./Scripps Network, LLC All Rights Reserved The Kitchen:
Photo by Robert Peterson/Rustic White Photography/2016 HGTV/Scripps Network, LLC
Photo by Robert Peterson/Rustic White Photography/2016 HGTV/Scripps Network, LLC This is a pantry with an organized office space.
Photo by Robert Peterson/Rustic White Photography/2016 HGTV/Scripps Network, LLC The Mudroom
Photo by Robert Peterson/Rustic White Photography/2016 HGTV/Scripps Network, LLC
The Master Bath
Photo by Sarah Dorio/Flynnside Out Productions/ 2016 HGTV./Scripps Network, LLC All Rights Reserved The Master Bedroom
Photo by Sarah Dorio/Flynnside Out Productions/ 2016 HGTV./Scripps Network, LLC All Rights Reserved
The Media Room
Photo by Robert Peterson/Rustic White Photography/ 2016 HGTV./Scripps Network, LLC All Rights Reserved
I love that the dining room is open to the living room and kitchen. That's a great house for entertaining.
Photo by Sarah Dorio/Flynnside Out Productions/ 2016 HGTV./Scripps Network, LLC All Rights Reserved
The home features three levels that provide plenty of room to either spread out or gather for family fun. The main level features a master bedroom suite, open kitchen, dining room, living room and screened porch. Downstairs, the home includes an additional bedroom suite as well as a media room and exercise room. Completing the layout, the upper level houses a home office and two additional bedrooms.
The fully furnished HGTV Smart Home 2016 is Energy Star 3 certified and Bronze-level Green certified and features products provided by national advertising partners including Bassett Furniture, Mercedes-Benz USA, Quicken Loans, Bush Brothers & Company, Daikin, LiftMaster, Farmers Insurance®, Gorilla Glue, HGTV HOME by Sherwin-Williams, SimpliSafe, Sleep Number®, ICON Health & Fitness, VELUX, and Simonton Windows & Doors.
During the giveaway period for the HGTV Smart Home 2016, which begins at 9 a.m. ET on April 12 and runs through 5 p.m. ET on June 2, 2016, eligible viewers can enter twice per day on HGTV.com and can sign up for daily email reminders. HGTV Facebook and Twitter fans can check in for ongoing updates and new details (#HGTVSmart).
You can view additional photos on the HGTV website. All photos used today were in partnership with HGTV. and as a media member, I was given permission. All Rights Reserved.
Disclosure: Thank you to HGTV for inviting me as a media guest. This post is editorial only and this blog continues its editorial content through the support of my socials and sales with Beautycounter. I do not do ads on this site and occasionally will write a sponsored post if it aligns with my brand. I am passionate about the movement to get safe personal care products in the hands of everyone. If you would like to have an online social like this one, contact me. Take a moment to watch this video. It will cause you to think about the beauty products you put on your skin.
Let's face it. The days of paper maps are getting scarce. I have to admit that I like paper, but we're in a new technology world. My husband says he can never reach me on my phone. We have our biggest arguments ever when we are in the car and he's left me to be the navigator. I can't stand looking at that little dot moving so happily along. I like to read what streets are coming up next. Trust me, you don't want to be in the car with us during these time.
I'm a little late on this news because I've been working on some deadlines but downtown Raleigh has a new app. It was released a few weeks ago, which means the kinks are now worked out in time for me to share the news with you.
The Downtown Raleigh Alliance released the Downtown Raleigh App, a personal guide to having a great time downtown. This means it can help you navigate all those one-way streets. Parking is not really fun now in downtown. I've gotten a ticket trying to get a cup of coffee, but this app will eliminate that.
The app displays downtown’s ample parking options, gives pricing for decks, and even allows users to set a timer to let them know when their meter runs out. To alert users of upcoming road closures, the app sends push notifications when streets within downtown close for events or construction and provides a graphic display of all downtown street closures.
“We really did our homework when it came to developing this app. We looked at similar applications from other cities and saw that ours was really a one of a kind application. It’s free, easy to use, and is truly a one stop shop for all things downtown,” said Downtown Raleigh Alliance President and CEO, David Diaz.
The app caters to all demographics from the occasional visitor to the downtown resident by featuring downtown’s amazing dining, retail, and nightlife options as well as upcoming events and unique specials. Whether a user needs to find directions to his destination, park a car, or track the R-LINE in real time, the new app holds the answer.
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