My family LOVES blueberries. Last year we enjoyed local blueberries all summer and then bought enough to freeze to enjoy during the off season. Last Wednesday in the News and Record I saw an article that listed all the local places you could pick your own blueberries in the Triad. I decided this would be a great activity to do with my kids. So, we picked a farm from the list and headed out to pick last Monday morning.

Since we live in Summerfield, we decided to drive up the road to Reidsville to Fairfield Farm, located at 226 Fairfield Road. Mapquest got is there in about 20 minutes! When we arrived at the address we were greeted by the most precious gentleman who gave us some buckets. He said we could just drive down into the field and get started!

My boys had a blast! There was no one else there. Just us and a field full of berries to be picked! We picked and laughed and even sampled a few straight off the bush. I also got to try my hand at my new camera! {Today’s photos are actually taken by MJ instead of Trish! I have had an excellent teacher this past year!}

We filled our buckets with the plump berries, vowing to return the following week to gather more! We hurried home to begin our blueberry feast of blueberry pancakes and cobbler! We will definitely be picking again so we can start stockpiling for the winter too!

Blueberry season is in full swing until mid to late August. It is a great activity to do with your kids. Here is the link for the Pick Your Own Farms in the Triad.

Share with our readers any places you like to get fresh fruit or produce this summer.

Image found at berger-bros.com

LUGGAGE:

*Choose a different color of luggage. There are thousands of black suitcases out there that look exactly alike.

*To set your luggage apart, purchase a luggage belt or you can make your own by tying a scarf or ribbon around the handle to quickly identify your bag.

*Always use a luggage tag. If applicable, use a business card instead of using your home address in case someone is watching to see if you won’t be home (ie: burglars)

photo by: berealet.wordpress.com

PACKING FOR THE AIRPORT:

*Whenever possible, try to only take a carry-on suitcase to eliminate loss of luggage or having to wait in baggage claim.

*If you do take a carry-on, pack essential items such as toiletries, sun block, makeup, change of clothes and a bathing suit in case your luggage gets lost or delayed.

*Put soap, hairspray/gels, toothbrush in 3 oz. containers and place in a quart-size Zip lock bag.

photo by: pamelabarsky.com

PACKING YOUR LUGGAGE:

*Line bottom of the suitcase with a garbage bag to prevent wrinkles and include a bag in between each layer also. Later use bag for dirty clothes.

*Pack heavy items on bottom such as shoes, belts, books and then layer additional items.

*Roll clothes into cylinder shapes to save space and reduce wrinkling.

*Roll undergarments and place them in the 4 corners of the suitcase.

*Put socks in shoes to help keep their shape and save on space.

photo by: mim-home-business.net

CLOTHING:

*Coordinate wardrobe around 1 color. Choose items that can be mixed and matched.

*Bring only familiar, comfortable clothes that you enjoy wearing and fit well.

*Jewelry: Rule of thumb: Don’t take any item that you would be devastated to lose.

*Use the jewelry organizer when packing.

*Do a trial run packing to help prevent over packing.

Article written by Stephanie Marshal with In the Clear Organizing.

We loved all your great responses when we asked, “What local business would you miss most?” We thought it was only appropriate to ask our fans what they like about SEEK.  We want to know why you read our blog and what keeps you coming back.   We would also love to know if we are missing something important to you or would keep you reading us more often!

We’ve recently added some guest writers to bring you even more great information about art, food, recipes, living green, clutter control and organizing, and planning a local wedding.

We want to know what you’d like to see more of… more food, more fashion, more tips on everyday life, more environmentally fun ideas, more art, more GIVE*A*WAYS, more WHAT?????

Okay Triad, here on Seek we are kicking off our SUMMER GIVE*A*WAY on Fun Find Fridays. We have a Give*A*Way every Friday the entire summer!!! That’s right, count em… Nine…9… you know, the number before 10 and who knows… we might even have a BIG #10 in store if you ALL play nice!!!

So make sure to check back here EVERY FRIDAY for the next two months and enjoy ALL the incredible LOCAL finds, local artists, local shops and MORE!!! “Seek Ya Later”, Trish & MJ

So here’s our first Give*A*WAY for kicking  SUMMER off… a day at Wet-N-Wild Water Park. These generous folks are giving you a family pack of 4 tickets to the park, that’s a $132 value!!! That’s right, one nice HOT day can turn into a COOL day in the water with your kids, your girlfriends, or even win it as a gift to give someone you know would LOVE it!!!

Here’ the rules:

1. Leave a comment here on Seek.
2. Leave a comment on our Face Book Page.
3. Leave a comment on Wet-N-Wild’s Face Book Page (you MUST come back here and tell us you did so!).
4. The MORE comments you leave…
the MORE ENTRIES you get, Got it?
5. Enjoy summer!!!

Here at Seek the Triad, we are kicking off “Fun Find Friday”, just in time for Father’s Day! Our goal this summer is to bring you simple, “Fun Finds” in the Triad with just a quick picture or three and their locations.

Do you know of a fun find here in the Triad??? E-mail Trish Naylor at trish@seekthetriad.com and maybe we can feature yours too!!! {please send 1-3 pictures, where to purchase and a couple sentence about the find}

“Fun Find Father’s Day”…

These incredible blocks are not just fun, they are custom made with your pictures and personal quotes to boot. And the BEST thing of all… they are VERY affordable, starting at $8 for the small blocks!!! {Yes, you read it right and the BIG blocks are an easy $20}

To get one for the Father in your life or for ANY other needs for a personal unique gift (ie: Graduation, Teachers, BFF), head to Total Bliss in Summerfield to get your order in today!!!

One of the best things about having been a part of this little thing we refer to as an “Online Magazine for the Triad” is all the wonderful people that we have gotten to know in the process. We started a wonderful partnership with Proehlific Park this past January when we started the Seek a New You Fit Club, which by the way is halfway through it’s 3rd 8 week session!

The other day I (MJ) popped into Ricky’s office with a burning question. I wanted to know his WHY. Why did he build Proehlific Park? Without a second thought he looked me straight in the eye and said “The kids!, I do this for the kids.” Ricky recalled his childhood days growing up in a New Jersey neighborhood where all the kids played together outside for hours on end. This was the place were self esteem, confidence, teamwork, and relationships were built. Kids were creative, they made up games and found ways to entertain themselves. I had instant flashbacks to my own childhood neighborhood and how kids from block and blocks away would come together to simply play.

Ricky explained that our environment has changed, but our kids have not. They still have the inherent need to play together and learn valuable life skills through the process. This factor drove Ricky to build Proehlific Park so that it could be that neighborhood for so many kids. In the two years that PP has been open, Ricky has seen some awesome things happen among the kids. He has witnessed increased self esteem and confidence in so many of the youth. I would have loved to sit and listen to all the stories he has.

Because Ricky knows that not all kids can afford to come to Proehlific Park, he started the P.O.W.E.R of Play Foundation to help sponsors kids who would not otherwise have the opportunity. If you are interested in sponsoring a child to participate in a Summer Camp, please visit the P.O.W.E.R of Play Foundation website.

PP has got some great summer camps available this summer! To view the schedule and registration information visit the Summer Camp on their website.

Check out this awesome video that the gang at Proehlific put together to show you a little bit about was goes on.

What are your thoughts on kids and their need to play these days?

Art Class with Katie Wall Podracky

Join the fun at The Art House located on Church St. in Greensboro , for summer art classes sure to thrill all emerging artists! Professional artist, Katie Wall Podracky will lead weekly projects for students age 5 to 13. She has a summer full of fun ideas for your budding artist and even has some things up her sleeve for special needs children as well!!! (please call for more details on class projects for the dates below)

Tuesday afternoons 4:30 – 6 p.m.

Art Enrichment (age 10-13)
June 8 & June 22
July 6 & July 20
August 3

Art Enrichment class is for kids who love art and want to expand their skills. Each class will introduce an art project along with a mini-lesson and demonstration geared towards the needs and interests of the students. We’ll learn about drawing, painting, sculpting, color use, shading, and secrets that artists use everyday! Possible project ideas include Chuck Close portraits, “Seurat and the dot” drawings, tessellation design, masterpiece copies, pet portraiture and individually directed art projects.

The Little Van Goghs (age 5-9)
June 15 & June 29
July 27
August 10

Come experiment with drawing, painting, sculpting, collage and even paper art! Activities will include kite-making, pet portraits, pop-up cards, stained-glass drawings, mosaics, crayon etchings and more!

Katie & a friend!

Cost:
$25.00 per class, all supplies included or
$112.50 for a punch card of 5 summer classes paid in advance of June 1 for a
10% discount.

To register contact Katie Wall Podracky
912.704.3637 or
Katie.Elane.Wall@gmail.com.
www.katiewallart.com

*Please make checks payable to “Katie Wall Art” and either bring them to class or mail them in
advance to:
Katie Wall
3315-1B Horsepen Creek Rd.
Greensboro, NC 27410.
{Pre-registration is required!}

Sample from one class project...Arrrrrt!!!

And now for the GIVE*A*WAY!!!:

Do you remember art projects from your childhood? What was your favorite art memory? The best answer will win a free Tuesday afternoon art lesson for their little one!

Article by Katie Wall Podracky, local artist. Find more of her musings at www.katiewallart.com.

Today we bring you Leigh Pearce, Wedding Planner, for Leigh Pearce Weddings. Leigh, a graduate from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, has loved weddings all her life. Most important to Leigh and her confidence in planning your dream wedding is her experience. She has coordinated social events, meetings, weddings, and more. Her eye for detail has helped her plan unique events at colleges, hotels, and specialized venues.

From Leigh…

Ok, so you’re out searching for the perfect space for your wedding. You’ve got your checklist of requirements and you’ve been hitting the pavement for weeks.

Where in Greensboro can you find such a place? Located in downtown Greensboro near establishments such as Mellow Mushroom, Table 16, and Elsewhere Collaborative is Studio B at the Broach. Tucked behind the iconic Broach Theatre, Studio B offers everything on your list and more.

Stylishly metropolitan with a chic 1920s charm and urban interior, Studio B has the look and feel of a New York City loft right in the heart of downtown Greensboro. With 2,400 square feet on the main floor for dinner and dancing and 800 more square feet on the mezzanine [perfect for your first dance or bouquet toss!], your guests will be wowed at every turn. Hoping to have an opportunity to be outside? There is an open terrace on the roof overlooking the cityscape.

Studio B is able to accommodate your ceremony and your reception. Worried about where you’re going to get ready? Studio B meets the needs of the bridal party by providing changing rooms. The bride’s and groom’s rooms are on two separate levels so there is no chance of them seeing each other. Go ahead and check that stressor of your list!

Another plus? Vendors won’t be taking up all the valuable floor space. Caterers have their own private prep area right off of the main floor so you don’t have to look at staff chopping veggies in make shift kitchen while you’re dancing the night away. The DJ has a blocked off area on the mezzanine overlooking the main floor so wires and equipment aren’t in your face. Studio B offers a full service bar that isn’t a major boozing eye sore. Guests can step up to the bar window and order their drink of choice.

Interested in Studio B but not getting married? That’s ok! Studio B is the perfect space for your next party, business meeting, fashion show, workshop and more!

Visit Studio B at 520 S. Elm Street in downtown Greensboro or give ‘em a ring at 336-373-0811 ext. 124.

If you are planning a wedding SEEK would love to know some great tips and finds in our local area!

Memorial Day, which falls on the last Monday of May, commemorates the men and women who died while serving in the American military. Originally known as Decoration Day, it originated in the years following the Civil War and became an official federal holiday in 1971. Many Americans observe Memorial Day by visiting cemeteries or memorials, holding family gatherings and participating in parades. Unofficially, at least, it marks the beginning of summer.

{All information found at history.com)