Lawn Care 101: tips to keep your yard looking fresh

We’ve all driven by those houses with the calf-high-brown grass, lack of flowers, and dead garden beds. We’ve also all seen those pristine envy-inducing lawns with their lush grass and gorgeous gardens.   Whether you’re trying to sell or add curb appeal to your home or are just making sure your neighbors don’t get angry, lawn care is important to maintaining your home’s curb appeal.

By spending a little bit of your time fixing your lawn this summer, you can create a stress free oasis on your own property. It just takes a little effort to attain the perfect look. Here are some tips to make the transformation from drab to fab a little bit easier. 

Know Your Grass

First thing’s first, you should know what breed of grass you have, as there…

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stay cool this summer with recipes and activities

Anyone who has lived in North Carolina knows it gets hot in the summer. With temperatures regularly reaching into the 90s, and humidity to match, it can be tough to stay cool during June, July and August.

To help you keep cool during the sweltering summer, here are some ideas for fun treats, activities, and places to go.

Cold Recipes For Hot Days

Here are a few homemade recipes to keep you cool in the North Carolina heat.

  • Homemade healthy fruit pops - Take some of your favorite fruits, puree them in a blender, and pour them into either an ice tray or popsicle molds. Let them freeze overnight.

  • Homemade mint ice cream - Nothing beats homemade ice cream. Follow this simple recipe for some delicious mint chocolate chip ice cream…

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baseball teams in the triangle reagion

“Batter Up!” Summer is here and there is no better way to spend it than outside under the beautiful North Carolina sunshine. The Triangle offers many outdoor activities that are sure to entertain people of all ages. One of the many activities is America’s Past Time, otherwise known as baseball. The Triangle is home to a few minor league baseball teams all within a short thirty minute drive from Chapel Hill.

Durham Bulls

 The Durham Bulls are perhaps one of the most famous minor league teams in the country  due to the movie, Bull Durham. Come and enjoy a night with the bulls in a new stadium  that has infinite amenities, including free Wi-Fi throughout the stadium, and inflatables and  games for the children at the Chick-Fil-A Wool E. World…

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Downtown Cary's revitalization

Downtown Cary’s revitalization is nearly complete and has transformed what had been a relatively ho-hum town center into a vibrant cultural center with much to do for the whole family. Since the beginning of the downtown revitalization project, many unique restaurants and businesses have opened their doors and much has been done in terms of beautification.

The Beginning

One of downtown Cary’s first renovations was the 2011 transformation of the former Cary High School into the Cary Arts Center, where a variety of classes and performances now take  place. Pieces of artwork were placed around the downtown area  as well, giving it a sense of character. The Jones House, a  property originally constructed in 1896, was purchased and  renovated by the…

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3 Best International Restaurants in Cary, NC

Although largely known for its great master-planned communities, Cary is also home to an abundance of restaurants offering up savory flavors from around the world. In part due to its diverse population, you can find everything from handmade Italian pasta and fresh sushi, to mouthwatering briskets and spicy samosas.

If you're eager to mix things up for date night or are eager to try something new, here are a few of my personal favorites:

Sushi-Thai

Every Friday and Saturday night, Sushi-Thai is packed with families and friends enjoying great food and company. Staffed by some of the most genuine and personable people I have ever met, dining at Sushi-Thai is always an excellent experience.

In addition to sushi, which is sometimes served in…

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3 best day trips in North Carolina

Now that the children are out of school, it is time to find new and interesting ways to entertain them. Here are three day-trips that are must-do in North Carolina. The State provides many activities that are perfect for the whole family. Being centrally located, the Triangle provides an ideal location to explore everything that North Carolina has to offer.

Explore the Mountains at Great Smoky Mountain Railroad

Located approximately 5 hours from the Triangle in the beautiful North Carolina mountains is the Great Smoky Mountain Railroad.

Known for its astounding views and outstanding food, the experience is one-of-a-kind. While riding miles of railroad surrounded by mountains, passengers will be able to view the hundreds of different trees and…

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Gardening tips for your home in Durham, Cary, and Chapel Hill

Maintaining a garden in the Triangle can sometimes be a bit tricky. Whether you just want to grow a few tomatoes, or are planning a full vegetable garden, here are some tips for people whose thumbs aren't quite as green as they'd like them to be.

Add Topsoil

The most important part of any garden is the soil, yet it's something many  take for granted. Unfortunately, the soil in many residential  neighborhoods around the Triangle isn't the best for gardening.

Beneath a thin layer of topsoil—just enough to support a lawn—is clay.  Lots of it. It traps water and contains virtually no nutrients that plants need. If you're planning a garden in your backyard, you'll need to build up a bed of topsoil so your plants and vegetables will thrive.

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 Family-friendly groups in the Triangle area.

The Triangle area is consistently recognized as one of the best places in the country to raise a family, and one of the biggest reasons for that is the Y Guides program which helps make the Triangle family-friendly.

What Are Y Guides?

Sponsored by the Triangle YMCA, the Y Guides program was created to build father-child relationships. It accomplishes this by facilitating opportunities for fathers to spend time with their kids camping, volunteering, creating crafts, learning new things, or just having fun.

By spending this one-on-one time with their kids, the fathers naturally become more engaged and involved in their lives, which has well-documented benefits for kids, including achievement at school, social behavior, and self-esteem.

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Day at the Beach in North Carolina

One of the best things about North Carolina is its world-class beaches. Some of the best in the world lie along our Atlantic shores, and a number of them are just a short drive away.

Load up the car with your beach chairs and Boogie Boards on Friday night, get up early on Saturday, and you'll have your toes in the sand by 10:00 am. Enjoy a full day at the beach and be home by dinner.

Here are three beaches that are a two-hour drive or less from the Triangle area:

Relax On Topsail Island

The first thing you need to know is "Topsail" is pronounced "Tops'l." That's about the only thing that's particular about this laid-back area. Located just north of Wilmington, Topsail Island is an easy drive down I-40.

Once you're there, you'll find…

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Briar Chapel Community Information

It’s rare for a new home community to hit the nail so squarely on the head when it comes to delivering a high-quality, convenient, luxury development. For Briar Chapel homes, homeowners not only get the amazing benefit of living in a premium new construction home, but they also gain access to the incredible amenities and features that come with living in Chapel Hill.

The Neighborhood

We know Chapel Hill as an idyllic little big town, home of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Scattered throughout city are gems and hidden hot spots that make the city such a great place. Additionally, Chapel Hill is known for being a nature lover’s dream come true. With exceptional parks and green space, you will never run out of things to do in…

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