A Fun Guide to Vacation in Uptown Charlotte

Charlotte, NC is such a great place to plan the perfect vacation. Uptown Charlotte in particular is full of tourist attractions, parks and restaurants. I recently visited Charlotte, NC and stayed at the Hyatt Place Charlotte Downtown Hotel. It was perfectly located in the heart of the city and conveniently located within walking distance to so many places I wanted to visit. Special thanks to the CRVA for giving me some great suggestions, complimentary tickets to the NASCAR Hall of Fame and being awesome hosts.

The first thing we did once we checked in and got settled was head up to the rooftop so that we could see a beautiful sunset over the city. We were also able to visit Fahrenheit rooftop restaurant and check out the menu to see all their offerings. I’ve been to Fahrenheit before and enjoyed an appetizer and cocktail. You can also order from Fahrenheit and get it delivered to your room at the Hyatt Place Charlotte Downtown. I think that is a nice added bonus if you don’t want to head out and want a quiet evening in your room.

NASCAR Hall of Fame was next up on the list of places to see. I learned so much from watching the movie upon entry in the high octane theater. It gives you the history of NASCAR from Daytona Beach to current day on a 64 ft. wide projection screen with surround sound. You can customize your hard card at a kiosk and it gives you an all-access pass to fun activities as you walk through the NASCAR Hall of Fame. I enjoyed seeing all the car exhibits on Glory Road and experiencing the simulator. Hands down, it was the BEST!

7th Street Public Market was our next stop for a variety of food options. There is a little bit of everything there allowing you the convenience to eat, drink or shop. I can appreciate all the different vendor choices because we all ate something different. I shared a pepperoni pizza with my son from Pure Pizza. My oldest daughter had sushi from Bonsai Fusion Sushi and her sister had a Sweet and Sour Kicking Chicken Sandwich from Local Loaf. Needless to say our taste buds were all satisfied and it was a great lunch. I must thank Theresa from Being Reese and Lil J for meeting up with us Uptown. It was a FUN day!

Lots of sunshine and nice temperatures call for ICE CREAM! We headed to Pike’s Old Fashion Soda Shop for some traditional treats! I had my first Coke Float and it was YUMMY! My son had a scoop of vanilla ice cream. My daughter had an Oreo malt milkshake. Theresa had an ice cream soda and Lil J had a strawberry milkshake. We ordered up some appetizers to snack on while we enjoyed our treats. The old-fashioned décor is pretty awesome. We sat at a table and as we left I felt like we should have sat at the counter. Next time…

We discovered the Red Eye Diner in the EpiCenter which is open 24 hours. Xavier from Hyatt Place recommended that I try the Shrimp & Grits and it was DELICIOUS! I love that there is a 24 hour diner within walking distance from the hotel. The EpiCenter has a variety of dining choices, nightlife, Movie Theater and bowling alley. So much FUN all in one place! We popped into the Carolina Ale House to catch part of the game and enjoy some appetizers. I also had a Carolina Hurricane Cocktail. Yum!

There were a few parks that we visited but, my favorite so far has been Romare Bearden Park. It’s the perfect location to take photos especially if you want the city as your background. The cute park right outside of imaginon was nice. I liked the seats that looked like retro typewriter keys. There were also awesome quotes all over the place. We popped into Google Fiber since they were conveniently located right across the street from where we were having fun! We enjoyed crème brulee and macaroons from Amelie’s French Bakery and Café. I can’t wait to go back. The décor is super artsy.

Overall, Charlotte Uptown has so much to offer. There is still so much I want to do and see. I’ll save that for my next trip. Visit Charlotte! You won’t be disappointed. I loved the views and my foodie adventures.

Tip: If you don’t feel like walking everywhere or taking your car, you can catch the Lynx Railway which will transport you back and forth. It’s super convenient!

Thank you to the CRVA for hosting JenOni, Inc. and all your suggestions of where to explore in Charlotte. All opinions expressed are 100% honest and completely my own. #CLT #CharlottesGotALot

The Ultimate Hyatt Place Charlotte Downtown Experience

I recently had the opportunity to visit Charlotte, NC during Spring Break and stayed at the Hyatt Place Charlotte Downtown. We had a standard two Queen Beds (with sofa bed) guestroom with a city view. It was very spacious and I really loved the chic décor. My three favorite features hands down were the Free Wi-Fi everywhere, stylish bathroom with granite counter tops (shower in particular) and the Hyatt Grand Bed. It was so comfortable! I slept very well!

Our room had so many conveniences like the desk area to get some work done. I like having a work space in the room in addition to the hotel business center. It was the perfect size. My nine year old is home schooled and we were able to complete his lessons in between activities. I also like the 42” wall mounted flat screen TV with Hyatt Plug Panel. The Hyatt Plug Panel is equipped with audio/video, audio/PC, HDMI and USB connections. We love to travel with our tech devices and will connect a video game console, Chromecast, Roku or Amazon Firestick in a minute! You also have access to Direct TV.

When the Sofa Bed isn’t in use you can put it away and it gives you a nice sitting area. There is a divider between the sitting area and bed. It gives you some privacy. You have a closet area as well as drawers to store your clothes. You also have a mini refrigerator, pantry and coffee maker with ice bucket etc. There is a free breakfast Kitchen Skillet served daily with a variety of items to choose from. I had Belgian waffles, scrambled eggs, bacon, pink grapefruit and orange juice. It was filling and then I was ready for an eventful day.

The Kitchen Skillet is opened for breakfast, closes after 9:30 a.m. and then you have access to Grab N’ Go Sandwiches, Salads and Snacks from the gallery menu. You also have access to beverages, Starbucks Coffee, Beer, Wine and Spirits. We went down for drinks after hours, and they had us covered! Take advantage of the 24-hour StayFit Gym with Lifetime Fitness Cardio Equipment. You have such a great city view from the fitness center. It’s so beautiful to see.

One of my favorite places to hang out is the hotel rooftop! The view of the city is so beautiful. You feel like you are on top of the world! The pool is also outdoors on the rooftop with lounge chairs and pool furniture. It’s definitely a great spot to relax during nice temperatures. I can’t forget to mention Farenheit which is also located on the roof top area. It’s a restaurant with really awesome food, full bar and some of the best cocktails. Visit after hours and catch an amazing sunset from the rooftop!

Charlotte, North Carolina is the perfect getaway destination with so many things to do right in the heart of the city. It’s great for all ages and there’s definitely something for everyone to enjoy while visiting. It was like playing tug of war with my son because he didn’t want to leave the hotel. He was content with the great service and all the amenities the Hyatt Place Charlotte Downtown had to offer. We had to compromise so that I could soak in some Queen City Scenes and enjoy a variety of foodie adventures.

Hyatt Place Charlotte Downtown is conveniently located in the heart of the city and within walking distance to many local attractions. We walked to the NASCAR Hall of Fame, Amelie’s French Bakery and the EpiCenter. We also visited the 7th Street Market, Pike’s Old Fashion Soda Shop and Romare Bearden Park. The city is filled with so much art and is rich in history. You also have the Lynx Railway available if you want to minimize walking or driving your car.

Fun Fact: Even though you are downtown Charlotte it is referred to as Uptown because it’s the highest point in the city. Do you know why Charlotte is referred to as the Queen City? Take a few guesses and I’ll answer in the comments.

Visit Charlotte, It’s definitely got a lot! We had a wonderful time!

Thank you to the CRVA and Hyatt Place Charlotte Downtonw for hosting JenOni, Inc. All opinions expressed are 100% honest and completely my own. #CLT #CharlottesGotALot

Family Dollar Fabulous NC Event Recap

I was beyond excited when I was recently invited to participate in the Family Dollar Fabulous Charlotte, North Carolina Event. The event was familiar to me by seeing some of my blogging peers in other states take part in similar themed Family Dollar events prior to me attending this one. Social Media allowed me to follow the hashtag and support them online. I was fortunate to be able to visit the Family Dollar Headquarters in Matthews, North Carolina before the event officially kicked off. I was in great company with local bloggers Ashley Carter of FabEllis, Theresa Sutton of The Importance of Being Reese, Kimberlee Postell of Naturally Fashionable and Cantu Brand Ambassador Melissa Chanel.

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We had a planned itinerary for the day that started at 10:30 a.m. and the event was scheduled to end at 6:30 p.m. After a light breakfast and introductions, we headed to a local Family Dollar location to do a store tour. Cantu Beauty and Body Fantasies were the host brands along with Family Dollar. Just in case you don’t know… Cantu Beauty is an affordable hair and skin care line. They have great natural hair care and styling products free of sulfates, silicone, parabens or mineral oil. Body Fantasies is a fragrance line with a variety of amazing scents to choose from. They also have travel sizes available for when you are busy and on the go! Both of these brands are available at Family Dollar. The tour was very insightful and allowed me to shop and see all that Family Dollar has to offer.

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I’ve been a Family Dollar customer for years and I like the convenience of being able to have a variety of products in one place. You can go in for dish washing detergent and also find plastic and paper products for when you don’t want to wash dishes. You can find hair and skin care items along with makeup and gift sets. There are toys, tech, clothes and grocery items for your convenience. I can’t forget seasonal items, baby care and at some locations beer and wine are available. It was so surprising to learn that in the location we visited. It was my first time ever seeing beer and wine in a Family Dollar location. You get ALL this convenience at affordable prices.

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smart-coupons

While we’re talking about convenience I can’t forge to mention that you can now sign up for smart coupons allowing you to clip shop and save in no time! Text SMART to 28767 to sign up for Smart Coupons. I am always looking for additional savings on my purchases, this is a winner! I can appreciate the savings as a mom of four with two children in college, one in high school and one in the second grade that I am currently homeschooling. If you haven’t visited your neighborhood Family Dollar, you should. It’s a one stop shop for all your beauty, health, housewares, seasonal, tech and grocery needs. It’s nice to be able to grab and go, especially when you’re having a hectic day.

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Once our Family Dollar tour was complete we had a scheduled lunch at Luciano’s Ristorante Italiano. The location was great and the food was delicious. My 1st course was a Caesar Salad and I opted for the Chicken Parmigiana for my entrée and topped it off with some Tiramisu for dessert. It’s an understatement to say that I was stuffed! We had great conversations during lunch and then got ready for our next event which took place at the daily details Beauty Bar. Once we arrived to the Beauty Bar I immediately felt a sense of calm. I was ready to learn more about Cantu Beauty Products and Body Fantasies before I prepared for a soothing pedicure.

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body-fantasies

It was very exciting to learn about the current hair care product line in addition to products that will be available in the very near future. The Men’s line is a game changer! Every woman that is sharing her hair products with her spouse will be rejoicing. The 3 in 1 Shampoo, Conditioner & Body Wash in the Men’s Collection is a great addition. The cocktail cards are awesome! They tell you which products to use together, what the products are used for along with the product names, benefits and how to use it. I’m looking forward to trying the Cantu Moisturizing Curl Activator Cream along with the Come Back Curl next day revitalizer. A Wash N’ Go is my hair style on any given day so this will be my go to cocktail that was suggested by Melissa Chanel.

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Keep an eye out for the Cantu Beauty Refresh Apple Cider Vinegar Collection. It will consist of Apple Cider Vinegar Root Rinse and Apple Cider Vinegar Dry Co-Wash. Coming Soon! The Cantu Beauty line has so many great products. Be sure to visit the website to get a glimpse of them all. Next… we moved on to Body Fantasies and played a cool game where we had to smell the scent in an unmarked bottle and guess the fragrance. I had a few favorites after playing the game. I fell in love with Japanese Cherry Blossom, Coconut Fantasy, Fresh White Musk and Sweet Sunrise plus a few more. Check out all the fragrances offered by visiting the Body Fantasies website. They make great holiday stocking stuffers!

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After we were able to get up close and personal with both brands and explore the products being showcased, it was time to relax and get a pedicure! I’ll be honest I couldn’t really unplug so as I was getting my pedicure I was on social media posting and responding to comments. I felt like I was being productive while getting my pedicure. The last stop of the evening was Fahrenheit Charlotte. We ended our evening with great roof top scenery, cocktails, small plates and more great conversation. It’s not surprising we didn’t end at 6:30 p.m. as planned, it was more like 8:30 p.m. The Family Dollar Fabulous event was very intimate and allowed us to spend quality time with the Brand Representatives. It was perfect! Thank you for a FABULOUS experience Family Dollar, Body Fantasies & Cantu Beauty!

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It’s time for twenty questions with Jen… What’s Cantu Beauty Product do you want to try? What Body Fantasies Scent sounds good to you? Are you a Family Dollar consumer?

Bonus: Enter to win a Cantu Beauty & Body Fantasies Gift Bag full of Swag! Do you see what I did there?!?! Lol! This Giveaway will end on December 23rd at 11:59 p.m. Good Luck! #FDFabulous

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Bands, Brews & BBQs at Carowinds

Disclosure: I’m a Carowinds Brand Ambassador (Caro Blogger) and received complimentary season passes to give you an all access experience to Carowinds. All opinions are 100% honest and completely my own.

Bands, Brews & BBQs

If you love music, a good brew and some good ole’ southern BBQ then you’ll want to be at Carowinds for their second annual Bands, Brews & BBQs event. The food and beer festival event starts on Friday July 29th and will be held every Friday, Saturday and Sunday until August 14th from 11:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Attendees must be 21 and to purchase or consume alcoholic beverages.

Added Bonuses: Visitors can try their luck at Beer Pong and Beer Slides and take notes as representatives from Cabela’s show grillers how to smoke meat at home. To purchase beer or food for Bands, Brews and BBQs, guests will need to buy tokens from a token booth inside the park located near Harmony Hall. *Referenced from Carowinds PR

Your park admission will allow you to enjoy the Bands, Brews & BBQs event however you will need to purchase tokens from a booth inside the park located near Harmony Hall. You will love the variety of available smoked meats to choose from that will be paired with Chow Chow. You can get a taste of beef brisket, turkey wings or duck. You also have some sweet and tangy sauces to add a kick!

I think dessert is my FAVORITE! You get to have some good ole’ homemade banana pudding! Can you say YUM!!!!! You can relax on the patio right outside Harmony Hall and enjoy some local bands play tunes. If this isn’t one of the most perfect summer experiences to have then I don’t know what is. Don’t forget you can also enjoy everything else Carowinds has going on inside the park.

From the Executive Chef… “We’re so pleased to bring back Bands, Brews and BBQs for another year at the park,” says Kris Suita, Carowinds executive chef. “We’ve brought together three favorites under one roof- food, brew and music. Mix that with world-class rides and attractions, and you’ve got the perfect recipe for fun.”

To find out more about Bands, Brews & BBQs, see a complete band line-up for the event, or to purchase Carowinds tickets, visit Carowinds website.

Carowinds for Spring Break Anyone?!?!

TODAY is the opening day for Carowinds and I couldn’t be more excited. It’s also the first day of Spring Break for many students. I can definitely see Carowinds being a Spring Break destination for families. I had an opportunity to preview the NEW Plants vs. Zombies 3Z Arena earlier this week at the media event. Here’s what you can expect…

Carowinds 2016 Preview

Press Release: Charlotte, N.C. (March 23, 2016) – Carowinds and PopCap Games – creator of one of the world’s most beloved video game franchises, and an Electronic Arts (EA) studio – announce the biggest, baddest battle in the universe as the world’s first intra-active 3-D digital experience, Plants vs. Zombies™ Garden Warfare: 3Z Arena, debuts to the public on March 25.

This state-of-the-art attraction, designed exclusively for Carowinds, is based off the Plants vs. Zombiesâ„¢ Garden Warfare franchise – a hilarious and over-the-top video game series that includes the critically-acclaimed Plants vs. Zombiesâ„¢ Garden Warfare 2, now available in stores and for digital download on Xbox One, the all in one games system from Microsoft, PlayStation®4 computer entertainment system, and Originâ„¢ for PC.

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The fate of the world hangs in the balance in Plants vs. Zombies™ Garden Warfare: 3Z Arena, as the evil genius Dr. Zomboss (the leader of the zombie horde) makes his newest attempt to collect all of the world’s brains. Having secretly overheard Crazy Dave, heroic horticulturalist and sometimes-brilliant nemesis, mention “golden gnomes”, Dr. Zomboss decides he must seize the mysterious power of the gnomes for himself via a challenge to Dave and the plants! Players will step into the biggest, baddest battle in the universe as Team Plants and Team Zombies go head-to-head in a quest to collect the most golden gnomes, while traveling through time and space, and theme parks.

“We are thrilled to bring the world’s first intra-active 3-D digital experience to the Carolinas,” said Brad Marcy, vice president and general manager, Carowinds. “With digital attractions becoming an increasingly popular part of the modern amusement park, partnering with a renowned electronic games company like EA makes great sense. Plants vs. Zombies™ Garden Warfare: 3Z Arena creates larger than life entertainment that our guests are sure to embrace.”

Plants Vs. Zombies

Players will mount up on one of the 68 motion-based seats, which rock forward and backward nearly eight degrees in each direction, all the while shooting from a hand-held laser device at a 14’6” x 26’ screen. 3-D glasses provide an enhanced reality and added effects for players. The stakes are high as the respective teams attempt to overtake their foes. Plants vs. Zombies™ Garden Warfare: 3Z Arena is located in the newly renovated Action Theater in the County Fair section of the park.

“Creating fun memories from unique moments is what the Plants vs. Zombies™ franchise is all about and the 3Z Arena is another way people will get to take part in the eternal struggle between the plants and zombies,” said Jeremy Vanhoozer, senior creative director, Plants vs. Zombies franchise. “We’re thrilled to partner with Carowinds, and can’t wait for people to dive into this innovative digital experience.”

#PvZArena Game On

Can we just talk about the 3,000 Sq Ft. Starbucks for one moment! I think that it’s one of the things I’m most excited about. I’m notorious for heading to Starbucks in the morning for my Hot Chai Tea Latte. It’s how I start my day and it’s so tasty! In the afternoon I’m ready for a Venti Chai Frappucino frozen with no whip cream! The fact that I can now get my fix at Carowinds is EPIC! My family has the tendency to spend all day or the weekend at Carowinds.

Season Passes are the way to go! I have a family of six and I end up saving in the long run. You can experience this epic season with a 2016 Gold Season Pass that provides unlimited visits to Carowinds and the all-new Carolina Harbor Waterpark, as well as free parking, free admission to SCarowinds and more! They are currently available for as low as six easy payment of $16.50 on the Carowinds website.

Plants Vs. Zombies Score

Bonus: The Carowinds Mobile App has been updated. I’ll give you my thoughts in a separate post. I will tell you that I like it, it looks good, it’s user friendly and is convenient for a busy mom like me. I like anything that I can do with ease! Reminder: Carolina Harbor Waterpark opens on May 21, 2016. Feel free to take a look at my related posts to see all you can expect from Carowinds in 2016!

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