

Beautiful Headbands like these are a RARE & FUN FIND for sure in the Triad!!! Not only can they be found in two local stores downtown Greensboro, they are local made by a VERY talented chick, Jennipher O’neil. You can find her at the First Friday Indie Market as well. To see her goods in person, you can pop in Just Be or Mary Contrary on Elm St.


NOW for Today’s GIVE*A*WAY:
One LUCKY winner will receive a CUSTOM made hand-band for you or as a FABULOUS gift for a friend!!!
How to Enter:
1. Visit Jennipher, check out her fab goods, then leave a comment below telling us what you liked about her incredible talent.
{Maximum of 5 entries per person/e-mail account}
*Deadline to enter is 12 midnight EST, on Sunday, August 1.
*Winner to be announced sometime Monday or Tuesday following contest.
*A BIG THANK YOU to Jennipher O’Neil for sponsoring this fantastic giveaway.
More Give*A*Way Details:
1. No purchase necessary.
2. MUST leave valid e-mail address or participation will be disqualified. We also waive the right to remove your comment which we find distasteful, dishonest or is anonymous with invalid e-mail address.
2. Recipients chosen at random using Random.org.
3. Won something in the last thirty days? You must nicely wait your turn to win again.
4. Winner will be contacted via email and/or Facebook.
5. Winner is responsible to pick up prize after being contacted from Seek the Triad or sponsor of the Give*A*Way.
6. This Give*A*Way is on a voluntary basis. Seek the Triad and/or it’s sponsors of this Give*A*Way in no way, shape, form or manor force that you partake in our fun. If you do not like the rules of our Give*A*Way’s, PLEASE do not participate!!!
Please click here to see our LONG boring list of complete “Give*A*Way Terms & Conditions”
Note: To be eligible you must be a Seek the Triad subscriber receiving our updates via e-mail, or RSS, or Facebook Fan, and/or Twitter follower (tell us your Twitter name in your comment above).
Like this post? Print, fav or share:

I know your first thought is do the the words Entertaining and Vacation even belong in the same sentence? I believe that they can go hand in hand with a little thought, planning and a fun attitude.
I am blessed that each year my parents rent a fabulous beach house for our extended family in the Outer Banks of North Carolina. Just a few weeks ago 12 of us {8 adults and 4 children} gathered together to share a week together. One of my gifts each year is that I cook a few nights for my family. Besides being expensive, going out to dinner involves long lines, cranky children, and often noisy restaurants. We much prefer to stay at home and enjoy our beach view with some good home made food.

Often times rental homes can be lacking in dishes and decor. I scour the house, use what they have and make it work. Here you can see I have used the lighthouse cookie jar and matching salt and pepper shakers as my centerpiece. I dug up some hidden away place mats and set the mood to dine at the table.

Bring what you can from home.
I shopped for most of what I needed at Trader Joe’s the day before leaving. Great food at a great budget! I have to drive an hour to get to the one closest to me and I find it is well worth it. {Dear Trader Joe’s please open a store in Greensboro soon!} Bring some friends like I did and make it fun!
I also bring cooking staples from my own kitchen. Essential condiments like olive oil, seasonings, salt and pepper are easy to pack and save you money by not having to repurchase. {I always bring coffee from The Extra Ingredient!}
Keep the food simple!
This year I decided to go with roasted whole organic chickens. Whole chickens are cheaper and very easy to prepare thanks to my friend Kendra at My First Kitchen! I was blessed to attend one of her recent cooking classes were I learned how super easy it is to roast a perfectly succulent chicken each time. The leftovers are perfect for sandwiches too!
Here I am demonstrating the fine art of trussing a chicken! {Again, thanks Kendra for teaching me!} Note the only scissors available were from my kids craft supplies we brought! I should have added cooking twine to my bring from home list! No twine to be found in the near vicinity and I had to improvise with some kite string!
I also like to stop at Farm Stands on the way in to the beach. The best place to pick up fresh local produce.

Use all available help
While the chickens were in the oven roasting we took some time to chop our local produce and enjoy a drink together. I love when others get involved with the meal!

Keep it FUN!
It does not have to be perfect to be fun and enjoyable. If you need to just plop the pan on the table and serve from it….then go for it!

Wear a Cute Dress!
I got this one at Splurges!
Oh and my motto while on vacation…..The head cook does not clean up!
Today’s article was written by MJ and featured on the popular blog The Reluctant Entertainer….who by the way just published her first book! It is now available on Amazon.

Like this post? Print, fav or share: