The Pink Heals Tour

Hot on the "heels" of my "Fight Like a Girl" post from earlier this month, here is another very cool event I couldn't wait to share with readers. Many thanks to Ashton for passing it along!

Via a Raleigh Fire Department email:

On Sunday October 4, 2009, The Pink Heals Tour, formerly The Pink Ribbon Tour, will be appearing in Raleigh during their country wide journey.

The Pink Heals Tour is a nonprofit organization founded in Phoenix, Arizona by firefighter Dave Graybill that drives Pink Fire Trucks across the United States to support women in their fight against cancer and inspire men to get involved. This year’s tour includes three pink fire trucks and the sculpted Ribbon of Hope. It is a unique opportunity to dress in the Tours pink turnout gear and helmets and sign the fire trucks in memory or honor of loved ones.

The Raleigh Fire Department is hosting this year’s event with The Pink Heals Tour to raise cancer awareness at Triangle Towne Center between Dillard’s and Macaroni Grille from the hours of 12:00 noon to 4:00 pm. We extend an invite to your department to be a part of this community event. Please spread the word to your family and friends and come join the fun for this very important cause.

For more information about the Pink Heals Tour visit www.pinkheals.org. We look forward to seeing you there.The group's goal?Pink Heals: Confidence building activities in a supportive social setting to help young Survivors during the post-treatment transition.Amazing, humbling, and inspiring - all at the same time!

Please feel free to re-post - hope to see some of you there! If you're not local, I hope there's an opportunity for you to experience this in your own area.

You can Become a Fan on facebook, follow on twitter, and shop for really cute merchandise to support the group!

Vegas - Round Two

Remember Round 1? That was bachelorette party style.

Round 2 this past weekend was "couples style", if you will.

	Hotel: Mandalay Bay. They pump a smell into Mandalay Bay. Whatever it is, I'd like to buy it... by the gallon! {Image: About.com travel}
	Hotel Pool: Beach at Mandalay. 99 degrees F, no humidity!
	Dinner #1: 9 Fine Irishmen (at New York, New York). Good, but way too much food went to waste. (Portions are out of control in Vegas dining.)
	Show: Ka. If you do anything in Vegas, go see Ka at MGM Grand! {Image: Ka official site.}
	Daily Distraction: Auto Collection at the Imperial.
	Dinner #3: VooDoo Steak & Lounge. Kick ass view of the Vegas Strip from the rooftop bar at Rio (That's for you, Ashton!). Rivals the view from Mix at THE hotel at Mandalay Bay.

A few pics on facebook, mostly of cars from The Auto Collections at the Imperial.

By the way, a lady won $700,000+ on a slot machine at Monte Carlo while we were there. It wasn't this girl. I lost $2.00 on slots - playing a whopping two times. Bummer.

PS: I'm sick now (thank you crappy recycled air on the 5-hour flight home), another bummer.

Ok, someone take me back to Vegas!

Be There!

I mean, what sounds better for a Monday night?

SO pumped that I'll be back from Vegas (leaving Thursday AM out of Charlotte!) in time for this! I haven't been back to the Brewpub since the first time Nick, Adrianne, Joey, and I tried it just after opening, so this is a great reason for me to return. (And give them a chance to recapture me as a customer. The lackluster service, boring food, and scant beverage selection for the non-beer drinker didn't do it for me last time.)

I'm all about a second chance though! (The first few weeks can be awkward for a new establishment with a new staff.)

Here's the map, for anyone who may not be familiar with the area that I drive past multiple times a day. I know, I'm a lucky girl.

Fight Like a Girl

I've always loved that phrase and I think it's perfectly appropriate for the campaign for the fight against breast cancer. I was thrilled when Bomshel came back to mainstream country radio with their newest single, "Fight Like a Girl".

Click here if you can't see the video above!
Here are some ways that you can Fight Like a Girl right now!
PinkFest 2009: Pampering, Friendship, Celebration, Hope
October 4th, 1:00pm-4:00pm
Renaissance Raleigh Hotel at North Hills

Survivor recognition and award at 2:30 To nominate a survivor for the Spirit of Survivorship Award, click here!

Gather your friends, come indulge yourself and celebrate how far we’ve come in battling breast cancer. Eight local spas will be providing massages, nail, hair, skin and make-up services. There will be plenty of drinks and hors d’ oeuvres as well as door prizes and give-aways from participating spas and sponsors.

Funds raised will provide screening, education and treatment programs for uninsured women in our community. Everyone is welcome, but tickets are limited and going fast so get yours now!

Online Ticket Prices: Survivor - $5 | Adult - $10

For more information visit: http://www.komennctriangle.org/events/pinkfest.php
Busy October? Well then how does next Tuesday look?Get a Massage for the Cure at Massage Envy!
September 15th, 2009
All Triangle area Massage Envy locations

Book a one-hour massage for $35.00 and Massage Envy will donate $10 per massage to Komen NC Triangle. Nationally, Massage for the Cure has raised over $800,000 for Komen programs, services and research!
I just booked my appointment for a $35 massage (of which, a very generous $10 donation goes to Komen)... so why not treat yourself, your mom, your sister, your best gal pal... ANYONE for that matter to a little pampering for a great cause?

As the song says: Kick (cancer's) ass, take names.

Local Raves: Lemon Poppyseed Scones from SBSTeas.com

At a recent Chix in Business Marketing Committee meeting, Barb, the owner of SBSTeas.com, brought us some of her yummy inventory: loose leaf teas and scones.

Right now, I'm enjoying the Lemon Poppyseed Scones and a lemonade and it's pretty much about the best thing ever.

They were super easy to make - just add buttermilk, lemon juice, and butter to the scone dry ingredients, mix well, spoon, and bake! 15 minutes later, you're enjoying! They really don't even need anything added to them, but anything from apple butter to jelly to honey would be delicious.

Perfect for any breakfast tailgates this year? I think so! (You can tell it's football time when I'm deciding which kinds of foods would be tailgate appropriate.)

Local Round-Up: North Raleigh

For a DTR (Downtown Raleigh) and South Raleigh kid, trips to North Raleigh (especially North NORTH Raleigh) can often be a haul.

Nick and I ventured out a few months ago after a laser appointment and really enjoyed stumbling upon a restaurant we'll be sure to try again next time we're out that way: Buffalo's Southwest Cafe.

Their website, Buffalos.com (wow - they did great to snatch that one up, but the logo is different, so who knows... they may have lost it), doesn't really offer anything (other than "under construction"), but I was reminded of the restaurant when Sue Stock posted about a great deal on wings there today. Every Wednesday in August, they're doing 10 wings for $1.60. For whatever reason, wings are not cheap, so that's a great deal being offered by a restaurant (below what they're paying for them, I'm sure).

I had a wrap of some sort and chips and loved it. I can't for the life of me remember what Nick had, but I do remember he also really enjoyed it. And it was less than $20.00 for the both of us, including drinks and tip.

The main reason for this post? I also just finished a long write-up on my fashion blog about one of their neighbors: GiGi's Boutique.

So there you have it, the North Raleigh adventure in a nutshell.

Buffalo's
7504 Creedmoor Road
Raleigh, NC‎

Phone: (919) 676-0332‎


{Image: Taking Stock blog}

Local Legends: Don't Give Up. Don't Ever Give Up.

Raleighites, those who appreciate a good cause, cancer-haters, and college basketball fans... I invite you to enjoy Dana's definitive 2009 Jimmy V Tourney post to get the low down on the legendary (locally and nationally) event coming back home to Raleigh this weekend!

The GoGoRaleigh.com author does a fantastic job of putting together the full details, so I won't even bother paraphrasing the great post.

And remember:

Don't give up. Don't ever give up.

Anyone heading out Sunday to check out the event for a bit? If so, see you there!


{Image: GolfClassic.org}

Zac Brown Band Coming to Cary

It's a little messed up that they backed out of the State Fair, but I guess I won't hold a grudge... and will still put their next local show on my calendar.

Via ZBB email today:

The Breaking Southern Ground Tour 2009
Kicking off September 24th in Cary, NC.

Tickets on sale August 14th, 2009
(Thanks for the advance notice guys... *insert sarcastic look here*.)Thank goodness it's a Thursday concert and doesn't interfere with weddings (Nikki and Randy's that weekend) and wait for it... college football (NCSU vs. Pittsburgh)!

It's Time to Paaaaaarty!

I hope everyone (well, at least those of you locals who it's feasible for) will come celebrate the opening of Sauced Pizza with me tomorrow!

This is another of the many distractions that's kept me from blogging much lately, but boy it's a delicious one. Between the pizza by the slice, the caprese salads, and the Hayes Barton Dessertery desserts... you're going to be lookin' at one chubby girl here before too long. (Not because any of it is particularly bad on its own, but it's the fact that I have no desire to go anywhere other than Sauced Pizza, lately. Hah!)

The New York-style pizza restaurant / NC pub has been open for about a week now (benefiting from working out some of the early opening kinks - a "soft opening"), but tomorrow is the official grand opening party. Come anytime, it's open until 3am on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday nights... so the party will go on as long as folks want to stay!

Here's a few ways to keep updated on Sauced Pizza as I try not to blog about clients too much!

Website: http://www.SaucedPizza.com
twitter: http://www.twitter.com/SaucedPizza
facebook: http://www.facebook.com/SaucedPizza
eNews: http://www.SaucedPizza.com/email


PS - Big "thanks!" to Barefoot in the Park for the Sauced Pizza love on her blog today... totally unsolicited (and authentic!), but very much appreciated. :-*

Southern Giveaway

Just a quick post here:

A Southern Accent is hosting a cute *super southern* giveaway on her blog this week - check it out!

She's giving away the following books:
Suck Your Stomach In and Put Some Color On!: What Southern Mamas Tell Their Daughters that the Rest of Y'all Should Know Too

Puttin' on the Grits: A Guide to Southern Entertaining

Enjoy!

Calling All Local Readers with a Cause or Two

Here's a quick PSA, because I like to pay it forward and I know that lots of my local readers have some great causes to share! :-)

Last year, the Swagger Gifts Holiday Open House Preview Party raised over $1,500 for the Leukemia & Lymphoma society, and now your very own favorite cause could be featured this year!

If you are involved in a worthy organization, cause, or non-profit, please tell my friends at Swagger about it!

Email Mandy (at) SwaggerGifts (dot) com with the story behind your cause and why you think it would benefit from being featured as this year's Holiday Open House Preview Party charity!

Nominations will be accepted until August 1, 2009.
Swagger will choose and let everyone know in August who has been selected.

The 2009 Holiday Open House Preview Party (possibly benefiting YOUR favorite charity) will be held on November 5th, 2009.
The 2009 Holiday Open House will be held on Sunday, November 8th, 2009.

PS - If you do email a suggestion to Mandy, please drop me a comment or an email to let me know! I'd love to hear that one of my reader's suggestions was selected and have the chance to support you and your favorite cause at the annual party.


{Image: SwaggerGifts.com}

Quick Poll: Vinegar Cucumbers

Quick Poll: Vinegar Cucumbers

Is this a southern thing or have those of you to the North and West been served these on a regular basis, too?


{Image: Apples & Butter blog, which is also a great new read!}

Houseguests

In my last post, I mentioned having a scheduling conflict with the Wine to Water event at Amra's, but if I could do both, I for sure would.

Here's my scheduling conflict: Houseguests.

But not just any houseguests, these are a group of 20-somethings (not unlike Nick and myself) who are bicycling across the country to raise money for childhood cancer research.

How amazing is that??



Visit them online at http://rallyfoundation.org/index.php/rallyacrossamerica and check out their blog, too!

Here's a little of their backstory:

Magan, a recent college graduate, is a novice cyclist who is about to depart on a journey. As this summer’s Rally Foundation intern, Magan will push herself to the max by biking across the nation to raise money for childhood cancer research.

Kicking off in Atlanta, Ga. and ending in Greenwich, Conn., Magan and her support team hope to reach their goal of 1,000 miles riding together for childhood cancer research. Their goal is to raise $75,000 for childhood cancer research.
They've been invited to join in a bike trip around Raleigh and are then arriving here around 8pm or so. I think we're going to take them to Tobacco Road for dinner and then out around Downtown a little more, if they don't have an early departure time tomorrow.

If you're in the area and want to meet them (and maybe drop by a little donation? Even just $5.00!), come join us at Tobacco Road! Shoot me an email or leave me a comment if you want more details.

Here is the website for the ride itself, with all kinds of extra details.

A Different Breed of Fundraising

As many of you long-time readers know, I'm already a big fan of Amra's and their other establishment, Tobacco Road. This is SUCH a very cool event they're hosting this week.

I have some other commitments on Thursday (that post coming soon), but if I'm able to do both, this is totally making my to-do list:

The charity organization called Wine to Water, as seen on Larry King, raises funds through wine tastings to be able to help 3rd world countries find healthy clean drinking water sources for their villages.

On Thursday July 23, come to Amra's after work or around 6:30 to help support this awesome and worthy cause!

• There will be free wine. (Yes, a full tasting and free full glasses, too.)
• There will be free light appetizers.
• There is no cover charge, no ticket price and no suggested donation.
• There may be a silent auction.
• There will be friends new and old.
• The event will last 2 or 3 hours.
• Stay as long as you'd like.
• And feel free to bring people with you!

Wine To Water is a 501 (c)(3) non-profit aid organization focused on providing clean water to needy people around the world. Over 1 billion people in the world today lack access to adequate water and sanitation. We are devoted to fighting this epidemic.Wine symbolizes fortune in our society. Our goal is to give the fortunate population an opportunity to fight for those who can’t fight for themselves.
Amra's
106 Glenwood Avenue
Raleigh, NC
(919) 828-8488

PS - I was reading up on the Wine to Water bio webpage, and the founder is a former Raleigh, NC bartender who came up with this concept. DOUBLE awesome.


{Image: Wine to Water official website.}

Love & Theft at 1am

I haven't had much time for keeping up with my love of country music and sharing some quality music with my faithful readers lately (boo!), so I'm hoping it's crystal clear that if I'm posting this video at 1am, then it's obviously on my current Top 10 list!

Love & Theft (YouTube)
"Runaway"





View it on facebook in HD quality.

Hope y'all enjoy!