Category: Blog

Photo of the Week: Better for You

Jasmin SessomsBlog, Photo of the Week, Restaurant PR + Hospitality PR, , , , ,

It’s time to turn up the taste while turning down the calories! Applebee’s, a Clairemont client, rolled out its Better for You menu that makes it easy for guests to eat healthier when dining out at restaurants. The new menu features seven bar and grill favorites made with wholesome, satisfying ingredients that are available for 640 calories or less.

The Better for You menu features:

  • Hot Shot Whisky Chicken (640 calories)
  • Grilled Onion Sirloin with Stout Gravy (600 calories)
  • Savory Cedar Salmon (540 calories)
  • Shrimp Wonton Stir-Fry (610 calories)
  • Pepper-Crusted Sirloin and Whole Grains (370 calories)
  • Cedar Grilled Lemon Chicken (590 calories)
  • Thai Shrimp Salad (340 calories)

Be sure to stop by your neighborhood Applebee’s and taste what is being prepared a little Better for You!

Want to learn more about our restaurant work? Read our blog posts here.

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Feasible Resolutions for Productivity

Clairemont InternBlog, Public Relations, Raleigh PR Agency, , , , ,

Today’s post is written by fabulous Clairemont intern, Rebecca Martin, as she shares her healthy living tips learned from the university scene.

I’ll straight-up admit: I ditched resolutions this year. It can be difficult to set rigorous goals for yourself with the start of the new year, even if you have every intention of completing them.

In a survey done by the Statistic Brain Research Institute, out of the 45 percent of people who make New Year’s resolutions, only eight percent are actually able to stick to their resolutions. It may seem valiant to want to stick to the same goals everyday, but let’s face it; between work, school, kids and a social life, consistency seems impossible.

Here are some of my favorite tips to help you set smaller, defined goals that will garner success.

Snooze Well

Try to be in bed between seven and eight hours every night. The average adult needs between seven and nine hours of sleep to function. This extra rest time will help boost your mood and give you increased energy the next day for work. My FitBit One has a special sleep tracker that links to my phone and tells me how many times I become restless during the night, helping me to set new rest goals. For example, if my FitBit tells me I’m usually restless for 30 minutes before falling asleep, I will try to go to sleep 30 minutes earlier.

Stay Hydrated 

When should you drink water? Every time you think about it! Tote a water bottle with you to work, leave one in your car and stow one on your nightstand. Hydration is key to controlling metabolism and maintaining energy levels. Dehydration causes fatigue and tiredness throughout the day, which can kill your focus and motivation.

Take the Stairs

We’ve all been told to take the stairs instead of the elevator. It may seem like old news, but it really is helpful. My FitBit keeps track of the number of flights I climb every day, and the number always surprises me. Scaling the stairs of school buildings, my apartment building and at work makes a huge difference — sometimes I end up climbing up to 25 floors in a single day!

What are some of your goals? Tweet us!

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On the Record: Proofreading

Sarah HattmanBlog, On the Record, Professional Development, , , , , , ,

Whether you are talking about public relations, human resources or small businesses, they all have one thing in common: proofreading. No matter the industry, it’s something all professionals should do. After all, there’s a lot at stake. If you are prone to sending out emails and preparing documents that are riddled with typos and grammatical errors, you are damaging your credibility.

Glenn Gillen, APR, is a senior account manager at S&A Communications and a master proofreader. He recently spoke at the Raleigh Public Relations Society’s monthly professional development lunch, and today he’s going On the Record to share some quick tips to improve your proofreading skills and your credibility.

 

 

What tactics do you use when proofreading? Send us a tweet!

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Oh Momma Monday: Leigh Hines

Tracy LathanBlog, Oh Momma Monday, Social Media + Influencer Engagement, , , , ,

Photo credit Allie Miller Photography

Leigh Hines is a master at juggling, and she jokes that she has more occupations than a magician has tricks up his sleeve. After 10 years of focusing on family as a stay-at-home parent, she is getting back into the workforce and following her passions. Leigh took some time to share with us what inspires her and how motherhood has changed her life.

What is your occupation?

I am a lifestyle blogger, travel writer, travel/social media marketer and journalist, and I am in sales. In short, I’m my own boss. I love it and would not have it any other way.

I’m also the founder of HinesSightBlog, a lifestyle/food/travel/hotel blog, and the founder of #OutaboutNC, a travel marketing business specific to North Carolina that I started last January.

What inspired you to start blogging?

For years I was a TV journalist and communications executive in state government before having my first child. I was told what to cover and what to write on a daily basis. Those jobs paid my bills, and I am forever thankful for the experience and livelihood, but the topics that I had to cover were never my passion. I used to spend every bit of my free time before my kids were born planning trips, picking out restaurants, writing hotel reviews on Trip Advisor, learning about spa treatments and looking at hotels online. I knew so much about the hotel industry that my personal friends started asking for my opinions. Bingo. I decided to start writing about what I liked to do for fun, which also enabled me to keep up a journalism portfolio while I stayed at home with my children.

How has your career/professional life changed since becoming a mom?Leigh hines 2

When I became a mom, I gave up going into an office and working for a weekly salary. I have flexibility now, which is so important, but I no longer have a steady paycheck. I love what I do at this stage in my life because it’s my passion, but I have had to build my business more slowly because the kids need to be the priority.

Most important thing motherhood has taught you…

You are no longer top dog. Your children’s needs and desires will always come first.

What makes a good blog post in your mind?

Most professional bloggers are planners. I happen to be a spontaneous person, so my blog posts are very rarely planned out. When I can find the time, I crank out a post, and often times my best posts are those that I whip out in 30 minutes. Why is that? It’s because they are raw and real. I’m not thinking too hard.

Go back to the questions that you learned in journalism school. Why should your readers experience this? What value does this hotel or product provide them? How do they get it? When should they go and why? Who does the hotel or product serve best?

What do you enjoy doing when you have down time?

My downtime is what I consider my work. Sounds crazy, I know, but I focus on travel and hospitality. I love researching hotels and destinations and answering people’s questions over coffee at my desk. It was my “hobby” before I started trying to make money at this gig, and it’s still my favorite hobby.

What are your favorite Raleigh hotspots?Leigh hines 3

If I were to pick three ideal evenings or things to experience, it would be relaxing at the Umstead Spa in Cary, afternoon tea at the Washington Duke Inn in Durham, N.C. and enjoying gourmet pizza and craft beer at Trophy Brewing in Raleigh.

What are three of your “faves” right now?

On Netflix, I enjoy Downton Abbey and Sherlock. Earlier this year, I wrote this post about my favorite discoveries in 2015, and I’m seriously driving all over town for that creamer I put in my favorite coffee, Larry’s Beans Cowboy Roast from Whole Foods. I also use this Young Living Tranquil roll-on before I get into bed, and it’s sweet dreams quickly. I never stay awake in bed now and think about all I need to get done. I also look forward to my weekly Papa Spud’s delivery. I love eating fresh and local food at home now.

If your kids could write a post for your blog, what would they say?

My son does write posts on occasion. And I set up Instagram accounts for my kids this year for their travels that I oversee since they are underage. If they were to write a post on the blog, it would focus more on the adventure side of travel, since I clearly just want to eat and be lazy.

Check out previous Oh Momma Monday posts for more inspiring stories!

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Photo of the Week: #WorldNutellaDay

Cherith AndesBlog, Marketing, Photo of the Week, , , ,

You caught us! We’re celebrating World Nutella Day … straight out of the jar!

And here’s our little gift to you today: want your own Nutella treat in just 10 minutes? Check out this easy (kid-friendly!) Nutella cookie recipe that Chef Teddy Diggs, executive chef at Il Palio (client), bakes with his daughters.

How do you eat your Nutella? Tweet us!

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