When we were younger my husband and I would go for a drive through the Blue Ridge Parkway during the fall months. Now living in Charlotte, NC again and the autumn months quickly approaching the memories come flooding back.

If you have time and you’re visiting during peak leaf-changing season, head a couple hours west to the Blue Ridge Mountains (you can do this anytime of year, it’s beautiful year-round). You’ll run into Black Mountain, a funky art town with unique shops, coffee houses, etc. Keep going and you’ll hit Asheville, home of the Biltmore House and numerous bed and breakfasts. Or, if you’re an extreme outdoorsperson, keep going west until you hit Brevard. There are some 200 waterfalls in Brevard, in addition to extraordinary hiking trails.

Living in Charlotte is great because you are in the middle between the mountains or the beaches. The Outer Banks, known as the gateway to beautiful Atlantic beaches, are a short three-hour trip from Charlotte. You must visit Nags Head or Cape Fear for a little beach fun. North Carolina’s beaches are so clean and beautiful.

JRS

Charlotte NC Real Estate, Charlotte Real Estate, Charlotte North Carolina Real Estate

I am terribly enthusiastic about our political system…rights to vote, chances for people to live out their dreams, our FREEDOMS…and I think often in amazement at the blessing at being born in this great nation.

This post is NOT about my personal beliefs or about who I will vote for in the upcoming election but rather something I hope will make you think and possibly inspire someone to get involved (or maybe even vote for the first time) or at the very least, pay greater attention to the single point of solidarity for every citizen of the US - our Presidential elections!

So…

This morning John McCain announced his running mate, Sarah Palin. Governor Palin is a 44 year old Mother of 5! As you are probably aware Barak Obama also announced his running mate (Joe Biden).

Here are the possibilities:

An African American President OR
A Woman Vice President
Both from more modest backgrounds than most other Candidates have been.

At the risk of sounding dramatic…this election will, without a doubt, change the landscape of American politics; for better or worse we are making history!

I am excited to see how this election plays out and how the next 4 years will be for our country. As I said, we are on the verge of making history and in doing so, will become a more progressive version of our former selves.

No matter your political leaning or lack of…this is a truly a moment to watch and get involved if you are inspired to do so.

Exercise your right to vote this year; do it for all of those before you who did not have that right and worked so hard to earn it for us!

JRS
Charlotte NC Real Estate, Charlotte Real Estate, Charlotte North Carolina Real Estate

Charlotte At Play is a hands-on children’s museum geared towards preschool aged children located at 10504 McMullen Creek Parkway in South Charlotte. I am always looking for new and fun things to do with my four year old in the Charlotte area, so I was excited when I found out that there was a children’s museum right here in my backyard.

Charlotte at Play is full of various exhibits or “stations”. There is the grocery store area where the kids got a child sized grocery cart and wheeled it around the grocery area and shopped. There were posters and charts that explained what foods make up a healthy diet etc. After the kids are finished shopping they can go to the check-out area complete with kid cash registers and bag their groceries in paper bags. After they finished with all that grocery shopping they took their groceries over to the diner and cooked a well balanced meal for all the parents.

The next area was the race track area. It was just a large loop with ride-on toys.

My son’s favorite area, was the veterinarian area. It had cages with stuffed animals and vet equipment. The children could bandage, feed, bath, brush, and play doctor to animals.

The smallest exhibit by far was the dino dig. The campground area and music stage area were fun for the kids. The campground area contained a tent, a grill, campfire, and all kinds of tools that the kids can use to pretend to have a camp-out. The music stage had a drum set, a microphone, guitar and piano. The kids loved playing all the different instruments.

My son especially loved the construction area. This area contained tools, blocks, and the children could pretend to lay bricks and install siding. They also got to wear hard hats and goggles to complete the experience.

The art area was also a hit. My son got to paint on easels and play in different craft areas. He also got to take his masterpieces home after letting them dry.

JRS
Charlotte NC Real Estate, Charlotte Real Estate, Charlotte North Carolina Real Estate

Another rainy day in Monroe, North Carolina. The sound of rain is such a wonderful thing with the dry year we have had thus far. There were tornado warnings for the western parts of Union County in Waxhaw and Weddington. My older son enjoyed playing outside despite the heavy downpours we had at times. Since it is still warm the rain wasn’t too cold to be concerned about causing him to get sick. He was a mess when he came in though. Boys love dirt and puddles!

By dinnertime I was antsy to get out of the house instead of cooking. We all went out to dinner at Chic-Fil-A which is my husband’s favorite fastfood restaurant. We got up to the counter and I asked my son, “Do you want chicken or chicken?”. Being silly of course, he thought for a moment and said “Brownie”! (They were sitting on the counter, which actually worked as a sale since I went up and ordered a brownie a la mode for hubby and I to split while Son played at the playground).

After eating our dinner, Son played on the indoor playground with the other children. The fun was shortlived though when one of the little girls peed on the stairs. Oh well…

A quick plug for CFA…Labor day (September 1) if you go in with any football logo you get free chicken strips. Wahoo!!

Chic-Fil-A always has excellent service. I love how they have trained their employees to say, “My pleasure” when you say Thank you.

JRS
Charlotte NC Real Estate, Charlotte Real Estate, Charlotte North Carolina Real Estate

Rainy days and Mondays always get me down…A famous songwriter wrote. Not to me. I love rainy days. Listening to the rain is so peaceful. But today, I had the urge to get out and do something with my boys. I had a gift card for Sears that had been burning a hole in my pocket! So I decided to drive to the Carolina Place Mall in Pineville, NC. Yes, the thought did cross my mind about the cost of gas. But hey! It’s gone down about 40 cents in the last few weeks so I decided to go for it. I am so glad I did. I got some wonderful bargains at Sears thanks to my sister-in-law’s generosity for my birthday.

The mall was peaceful. The hustle and bustle of shoppers has settled down with school back in session today. There were several moms with tots. That’s about it. What I really enjoyed was having a place for the kids to play after mommy went shopping. On the first level outside of Sears was a play place and arcade rides. Mom gets to rest while the kids get to stretch their legs.

The ride home was nice. The boys fell asleep as the rain came pouring down.

JRS
Charlotte NC Real Estate, Charlotte Real Estate, Charlotte North Carolina Real Estate

The roadways are going to be extra busy tomorrow. School starts for the Charlotte-Mecklenburg School District Monday, August 25, 2008.

In 1790 the Sugar Creek School House opened as the first school building in Mecklenburg County (a parochial school). The building still remains at the corner of North Tryon and Sugar Creek Road in Charlotte, NC.

In 1882 the public school system was organized in Charlotte, NC. The first superintendent of the city school system was T.J. Mitchell.

The CMS system is the second largest school district in North Carolina and the twentieth largest in the nation according to the Wikipedia source. CMS has 19 high schools divided geographically into 4 areas. CMS has 94 elementary schools and 32 middle schools.

JRS
Charlotte NC Real Estate, Charlotte Real Estate, Charlotte North Carolina Real Estate

Back in high school we students were required to come up with a current event for history class. It was an easy task. Just read the newspaper and write about a news story that you were interested in. That simple assignment was beneficial. It kept me as a young american involved in our news that soon would be history. As an adult, I’ve gotten away from that habit. Now more than ever it is important that every American stay informed in what is going on in our country.

The news of the hour is the choice for the Democratic vice-presidential nominee being Joe Biden. Mr. Biden is currently the senator of Delaware and chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. Being a woman myself, I was interested in the family life of Senator Joseph Biden.

Doing some research, I read that Mr. Biden was married in 1966 to Neilia Hunter. Sadly, the first Mrs. Biden along with their third child were killed in a car accident shortly after he was elected to the Senator’s office in 1972. His two older sons were injured in the accident. Five years later Mr. Biden married Jill Jacobs and had a daughter. They live in Delaware, a “short” commute by Amtrak, 80 minutes from DC.

Running mates typically are opposites to appeal to a diversity in the same political party. Should Obama be elected would Biden be the right choice to stand in the gap if something should happen to Obama during his term? I guess America will decide in November.

When choosing a realtor to find your next home you want a “running mate” who is on your side 100%. The Charlotte Home Team is on your side should you “elect” their services.

JRS
Charlotte NC Real Estate, Charlotte Real Estate, Charlotte North Carolina Real Estate

A dear friend called me today to say she was taking her children and a group of friends to a fun place in Matthews, NC.

Monkey Joe’s is an indoor inflatable playground. There are 6 locations currently open in North Carolina: Lake Norman, Pineville, Cary, Wilmington, Matthews, and University. There are 2 being constructed, one in Raleigh, the other in Asheville.

In Matthews, NC, Monkey Joe’s offers a great place for kids to let out some steam! It is monitored by the Matthews’ Monkey Joe’s employees so if parents wanted to relax in the parent lounge they can. There is a wide screen tv and massage chairs that require some motivation monetarily.

With kids there is always chaos, but all in all it was a great day in Matthews, NC. The Monkey Joe’s is located off Hwy 74 in Matthews in the Burlington Coat Factory Shopping Center behind Office Depot in Matthews, NC.

JRS
Charlotte NC Real Estate, Charlotte Real Estate, Charlotte North Carolina Real Estate

We went to Charlotte, NC to have some family fun. We went to Zuma Fun Center located on Cadillac St. in Pineville, NC easily accessible from I-485. It is about 25 minutes from Monroe, NC.

The rides & attractions at Zuma Fun Center include Miniature Golf, Go-Karts, Bumper Boats, Video Arcade, Batting Cages, Kiddie Rides, and Rookie Go-Karts. Our son had a lot of fun riding the train and little amusement rides as well as watching Daddy hit home runs in the batting cage. Playing mini-golf with preschoolers is a hoot. Their method of golfing is hit once then pick up and put in hole. There are hours of fun with all the arcades as well as a pizza restaurant.

Their prices per activity/ride are decent but they also offer hourly/daily packages. A good reason to go back is what they call Fellowship night. The next one is September 26, 2008. From 4:00pm until close, you get unlimited use of Go-Karts, Bumper Boats, Miniature Golf, and Kiddie Rides. The cost is only $10 per person with advanced group reservations or 15.00 at the door. What a great deal!

You can visit their website for more info http://www.zumafuncenters.com/charlotte/attractions.php

JRS
North Carolina Real Estate, Charlotte, NC Real Estate, Real Estate in Charlotte, NC

The Monroe Mall sent out postcards to select individuals in Union County to receive a FREE $10.00 gift card for back to school shopping. I went to pick up my FREE money and was pleasantly surprised at the renovations that had taken place. The Monroe Mall was bought by a new developer company some time ago. They required the stores and businesses that were there to update their store fronts. It was reported that Peebles Department Store and Sam Goody were not able to do so, so they had to leave. When you walk inside you can notice the brightness of the new lighting and skylights that illuminate the marble flooring. I am sure the total renovations project will take a long time.

There are several store spaces available. So I am very curious to see what mall stores will come in to the newly restored Monroe Mall.

To help lower costs Hibbett Sports also sent out 10.00 off your 20.00 purchase. I was able to find an awesome pair of running shoes for my husband on clearance and use the gift card and coupon to save a bundle.

JRS
North Carolina Real Estate, Charlotte, NC Real Estate, Real Estate in Charlotte NC