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Raleigh Outdoor Newborn Session | Erica Courtine Photography

The first time I saw an image of a newborn sleeping in a basket in a field, I was hooked.  There was something so beautiful, so serene, so natural about a baby outdoors.  My own two sons, when they were tiny babies were almost instantly lulled to sleep when placed outdoors in the fresh air.  I know that when I …

Tackle Two Months of Holiday Prep with Ease

Believe it or not the holidays are just around the corner. If you think the comment pre-mature, take a peek at the countdown: • 17 days until Halloween, • 44 days until Thanksgiving, • 65 days until Hanukkah, and • 72 days until Christmas! The holidays are a time to be with family and friends, enjoying the things that are most important to us …

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When the world says you can’t, shout “Yes, I can!”

Here we are in the last part of 2014, which has gotten me thinking. At the end of every year, we tend to reflect on the good, the bad, the beautiful and the ugly moments of the previous 12 months. We make resolutions and often pick a “power word” for the upcoming year, and for the first six weeks or …

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Work It, Girl: Announcing Pre-Illuminate Events

WORK IT, GIRL!  Alright. You’ve got your ticket, you’ve cleared your calendar for Oct.3, you’ve checked out the breakout sessions, your stack of business cards is ready to go, and you’ve even picked out a chic-yet-comfortable power outfit to wear to Illuminate.  You’re itching to get to Illuminate (I am too), but it’s a bit away. What do you do …

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Are you juggling or balancing? Find “Success from Within”!

The Illuminate Planning Committee is delighted to introduce this year’s Illuminate Conference Keynote Speaker Mary Michele from Style FinderID.  Michele will not only answer these questions but she’ll also share her insider secrets about finding that  “Success from Within.”  Tweet this: Get insider secrets to finding that “success from within!” This is the click to tweet link!  Just in case! Calling all Mompreneurs …

September is National Preparedness Month: Are You Ready for Natural Disasters?

In 2011 the natural disasters started on January 26th in California with one of the worst winter storms, causing flooding and debris and mud flows, but that was just the beginning of Mother Nature’s furry. According to FEMA’s Natural Disasters of 2011, to date the USA has been hit with severe winter storms and snowstorms, tsunami wave surges, tornadoes, flooding, …

Back to School Back to Work

Most families are gearing up for the 2014-2015 school year. As a year round parent we started back in July. I have found that business people gear up the same way families do this time of year as well. Some are a little further than half way through their fiscal year and gear up for the last quarter. Now that …

7 Tips to Help You Pack With Purpose

Ah . . . dreams of sitting shore side and listening to the waves crash on the beach or cooling off under the cascading shade of the mountains. Wherever your vacation leads this summer, the one thing that I can guarantee is that you’re going to have to pack! No one loves this task: remember trying to stuff that last …

Appreciation for All

On the heels of Administrative Professional’s Week celebrated April 20-26, 2014 and Mothers’ Day on May 11th, I wanted to give you some tips on how to appreciate people without giving them clutter. It is so easy for us to think about tangible gifts to give others. There are other great ways to show someone you care that will not …