Raleigh Kid Post

I want to go here soon!



The details:

Raleigh City Museum

Address: Located in the historic Briggs Building at 220 Fayetteville Street in Raleigh, N.C. 27601

Hours: Tuesday-Friday, 10am-4pm | Saturday 1pm to 4pm | Open First Fridays 6pm-9pm | Closed Sunday & MondayDarn, I feel like Sunday afternoons would be the PERFECT time to spend an hour (or more) catching up on my Raleigh history.

The best part?Admission is free and no tickets are required for entrance to the museum. For information, please call 919-832-3775.Yay for fun (and free) stuff to do!

eCycling

Electronics are probably some of the nastiest things that could end up in a landfill, so if you need to get rid of anything, here's a great *free* opportunity from Fox 50 and Creative Recycling to do so!

Our landfills are filling up with things that won't ever go away. Specifically, old, outdated electronic equipment which take up space and pose a hazard to our environments.

That's why FOX50 created "E-Cycling" Day:
Saturday, June 27th from 10am - 2pm at all 3 locations.

Come out and see us - rain or shine - in the parking lots of three Best Buy locations:

* Durham - Renaissance Center
(7001 Fayetteville Rd, Durham, NC 27713)

* North Raleigh - Capital Blvd.
(6101 Capital Blvd, Raleigh, NC 27616)

* Cary - Crossroads Plaza
(237 Crossroads Blvd, Cary, NC 27518)

It's so convenient. You won’t even have to get out of your car! Volunteers will unload your electronic items

And there's countless number of electronic items you can drop off.

Equipment Accepted: All electronic equipment is acceptable with the exception of manifested hazardous waste, radioactive waste and/or biohazardous waste.
Read the full info and see the list of what's ok and not ok to bring here!

Please pass this along or encourage your local media and Best Buy to model something in your area after this program!

I Shouldn't Tell You This...

...because I'd like to keep my odds of winning high, but... 518 West has a Facebook Page and they're giving away a $25 gift certificate.

I know right - awesome!

I have been there at least once a month for the last six months: it's where all but the most recent skirt! After Work events have been, Amber and Daniel had their rehearsal dinner there in September '08, and E. Riley just hosted our bridal luncheon there two weeks ago.

If you haven't been, you've missed out.

For lunch, get the Grilled Pear Insalate - I swear by it.

Grilled Pear Insalate

Grilled Bosc pear with field greens, walnuts, gorgonzola and a honey-walnut vinaigrette...

small... $5.50
large... $8.75 I'm hungry just thinking about it! And such a good deal for only $8.75 for the largest portion.

PS: They have a blog, too.

PS #2: If you win, you have to take me to lunch. Sound fair?

PS #3: The boys who valet are the nicest ever. (It's complimentary and you should tip them. They do an excellent job.) Note: I valet when it's cold and when I'm running late. Duh.


(Images: 518 West's website.)

Why Didn't Anyone Tell Me About This Before??

During one of my previous posts directed at XM Radio (and my current lack of satisfaction with the constantly increasing rates handed down to loyal customers), Gracie left me a comment encouraging me to check out Pandora.

I'm. In. Love.

Why didn't any of y'all ever tell me about this before?????

It is the definition of amazing.
(Click to enlarge.)All I did was create a nice little account, start with my first "station" by typing in the country band "Lady Antebellum", and it keeps building songs from there. The navigation and tips it gives you along the way are SO polite with a little snarky worked in - just the way I like it.

So far, I've only "X"ed one song (Carrie Underwood's "Just a Dream" - I don't do songs about soldiers who don't make it home) and it promised it'd "never play it again". I've even discovered some great country songs I've never heard before - songs that haven't been released as singles!

I can't wait to create a station based on the following two artists: Jason Michael Carroll and Flo-Rida. I think it'll be very interesting to see where that one leads.

For those of you who are in my Gmail contacts, who I didn't think would mind the invite, you got an invite from me yesterday. (Sorry - I forgot to include the personal message.) Another sweet feature is that it shows your friends who are members and you can share you favorites, etc.

Long story short: Goodbye XM!

The only thing I need to figure out now is how exactly to hook it up so that I can do Pandora in the car and on the boat :-)

Feel free to add me if you're on Pandora - I'm ncsulilwolf by way of ncsulilwolf@gmail.com.

Local Rave: Alter Ego Salon

I'm in love.

A second story Downtown location (with a view that many would kill for) and prices that make it possible to keep you looking good without having to take out a loan.

Alter Ego Salon - Mary-Taylor did my recent cut and rocked it out.

Video courtesy of the Triangle Blvd boys:



Sign up for their email newsletter (just create an account on their site), that's how I found out about their January special which snagged me a free manicure with my haircut.

One of my favorite things about this salon may not have been the cut at all but the fact that they emailed me an appointment reminder that also included my upcoming scheduled events, including bridal updos for a friends wedding. Apparently, they speak my language (email-based and organized) :-)

{Double Post} The Shop with a Conscience

I can't believe this is another thing I've never remember to blog about, because it's one of my Cameron Village favorites - Beleza: A Fair Trade Boutique.

Described on their website as a place where:...you will find unique and extraordinary textiles and hats, jewelry and art that catch your eye and touch your heart.

Beyond offering beautiful things, Beleza exists to provide hard working people from countries around the world – and here in the US – essential support to provide daily necessities for their families.

While the store is fair trade, the major emphasis of Beleza is to treat people as they should be treated, and assist in global economic development.Beleza is owned and operated by two of the most wonderful people I know: P. Dail and his wife Sara.

I received the following email today from Sara about a new addition coming to their store that I am really excited about:Recently we met Audias from Honduras. Born without arms, he paints with his feet. We will have his work in the store very soon and encourage you to come see this work. Audias has no other means of support. We plan to host a special event for you to meet him.I'll be sure to update when I hear more details!

In the mean time, go check out Beleza and become an addict of their amazing selection of goods with a heart, too.

Starting the Year Off Right

I'm not really one for New Year's resolutions... trust me, I can find a million ways to improve myself and life around me any darn day of the week.

In that spirit, I'm still going to share some good vibes to start 2009 with... might as well set the bar high for a good year ahead with some good news, events, and buys from all over place (no rhyme or reason to the following list):

Heart-warming Headline: Highwoods Properties Donates $10,000 to Homes for Our Troops

Style Report: Green koozies that won't break the bank

Green Reads: for parents, grandparents, aunts/uncles, nannies, etc. - Green Babies, Sage Moms

Less is More: Cleaning out? Here's a few uses for household items that help our furry friends you might not have thought of otherwise.

This Might Hurt a Little: Spend Saturday mornings with Paragon Crossfit for free bootcamp workout sessions when you need a swift kick in the butt to get going.There you go. A green, simple, healthy, and karma-positive start to 2009.

Note: Adrianne and I (and possibly some other Raleigh girls) will be going to bootcamp tomorrow morning... it's gonna be interesting for sure.

Keep Your Eyes Open!

I know there are a lot of moms (and dads!) who read this blog (including my own - Hi Mom! Hi Dad!), so I was really excited to see that our friends in law enforcement have harnessed the power of technology when it comes to Amber Alerts.

Many thanks to Lisa S. for sharing!

Amber Alert Text Site

"Statistics show that the first 3 hours after an abduction are the most critical in recovery efforts. By signing up for free wireless Amber Alerts you could play an integral role in the recovery of an abducted child." -From WebsiteBe sure to read her post as she gives you a good run-down of the features of the program!

NC ABC(C)

Since my previous post on FireFly Sweet Tea Vodka has inspired so much interest, I thought I'd offer some clarification based on the easy to find info on the NC Alcoholic Beverage Control Commission website.

(I also did this because there's always so much adult beverage industry gossip and 9 times out of 10... it's just people who *think* they know the law... but don't.)

1. This was new to me: You CAN actually buy FireFly from your local liquor store... it just takes a little bit of work. It takes a while though and you've got to order a lot (no worries here!).

"The Commission will approve special orders of products not on the approved price list when a local ABC board has a request from a customer. This merchandise must be purchased in full case allotments and be paid for in advance. After the product is paid for the Commission will order it from the proper vendor and when received at the state warehouse ship it to the local board where the order originated. The special order process normally takes 6-8 weeks."
2. If the product is actually approved for sale in the state, it will only be added on a quarterly basis. The earliest it would be considered (it it has not been this past year) is in February '09."The ABC Commission at its annual meeting each year in February considers product(s) for listing. New companies, who wish to sell distilled spirits in the State of North Carolina, must be represented by a resident North Carolina Broker . The broker (chosen by you) will make the presentation of your product(s)."So read up on the site a little - I was amazed at how well it's written to provide info to the general public.

I expected lots of legalese and no clarity, but I believe if I started bottling something today, I could have it on the shelves next spring because the commission has done a excellent job of providing clear and complete information for buyers and businesses alike.

Sweet Tea Vodka

You heard it here first folks.

I'd like to thank my dear e-friend, Antoine, for returning from Charleston to tell me about this wonderful phenomenon that has taken over the bars in the Low Country (who, by the way, I finally got the chance to meet in person for the first time at the Triangle Entertainment Industry Professionals Mixer last week at Deep South).

Little did I know that the drink that I knew would be a hit here too, had already been smuggled back into NC for an engagement party the following Saturday for the BFF and her husband-to-be for our party's enjoyment. It bewildered me to no end that you cannot legally buy this in the state of NC... yet. I'll see what I can do.

Ok, enough anticipation... here's what you'll all be driving to SC to purchase until it's available in our closed-state liquor stores:



By itself, cut with a typical bar beverage, or my personal favorite: added to a bit of Simply Lemonade, it is the most amazing thing to grace our southern drinking habits since... well, maybe sweet tea itself.

I will be venturing south to round up a few (cases) of their newest addition - handles - before the first official football tailgate of the season that is quickly approaching. Hmmm... how much can you buy in SC without needing a permit?

Let me call in Brandon for a definitive answer on this one...

Trust me - I will figure out a way to get this into this state so that I can sell a "Little Lisa's Firefly Sweet Tea" at Buckhead Saloon for $6.00(?) each.

PS - Check out my 8/22 post on how to special order this at your NC liquor store!

Another Reason to Love Capital Bank

If you read my first post about Capital Bank, here's another winning reason why you should dump your dud of a bank if they're not working for you: my debit cards showed up today and clearly noted on the back of all of the envelopes was this message -

"Biodegradable. Compostable. EarthFirst PLA film made from corn."

See Kermit... it actually can be easy to be green. ;-)

I'm in Love...

...with Capital Bank. Betcha didn't see that coming did ya?

After fighting the never ending battle with First Citizens Bank on their awful practices and absurd way of posting some of my most basic transactions (plus, not earning a freakin' penny of interest), I've dumped those losers.

Since then, I've opened a Bank of America account (which is nice because of their Keep the Change program which forces me to save without thinking about it) to make payroll at my company free and easy - and most importantly - the BF and I have moved all of our personal banking to Capital Bank.

We each have our own Smart Checking accounts (you should really make your money work for you at 5.01%) and then we have a free joint account which we only use to transfer our own funds to for paying things like the mortgage, utilities, etc... you know... all the things we split.

So why on God's green earth am I posting about a bank? Because you'd be silly not to have a CB account if you're in Raleigh right now - and here's why:

Capital Bank's Smart Checking
5.01% APY* on your balance!

* A high interest yield on ANY Balance up to $25,000 (upon meeting “reward requirements")
* No Minimum Balance
* Free ATM Usage
* Free Online Banking and Bill Pay
* Free QuickCheck Debit Card
* Free e-Statements
* No Monthly Account Maintenance Fees

Earning these rewards is simple... just use the services we’re giving you with the account:

1. Use your debit card at least ten times per cycle. (Sorry, ATM withdrawals do not count as debit card transactions.)
2. Establish at least one regular direct deposit of a payroll or government check, or set up an automatic debit.
3. Receive Electronic Statements, known as e-Statements.Even the best online-only banks are not even paying anything close to 5.01%... and I tell you what, if those "requirements" aren't the habits of Gen Y anyway (ie: electronic statements, use your card 10 times per month, set up a dd/auto-draft)... then I don't know what else would be.

So there - go to CB and make your money work for you.

PS - I'm not getting a referral bonus or anything, I just wanted to make sure everyone knows about this great little bank... where everyone is also SO much friendlier than at FCB. Plus, who wouldn't want to make 5.01% on their freakin' FREE checking account? Also, both BoA and CB have mobile banking where I can instantly transfer money between accounts.... FCB doesn't.

A Little Variation on "Talk Southern to Me"

Continuing my mini-series from quite a while ago (more to come soon... for sure), I hope you all enjoy another installment of "Talk Southern to Me" - with a twist.

PS - Big thanks goes out to Google Reader for recommending Miss LiLi NC to me. While I made my way over to check out her layout (for the first and presumably last time since I'll now catch her updates in G Reader), I found this awesome southern quote in her adorably preppy header:"If I had it my way, I'd have every girl sent to Carolina to learn that smile and to talk with that accent that drives me wild." ~ Hank WilliamsWell said.

I Don't Care Who You're Votin' For...

...the fist bump is STILL hilarious - regardless of your political affiliation (or in some cases, lack of).

The look like they're enjoying themselves... good for them.

Get well soon, Mikey!

Watch the video in the link above, in case you missed it the first go around.

Update: All I Want is a Good Moisturizer...

My May 18th post on wanting to find a nice moisturizer that is animal-friendly drew an email from a reader who was searching for the same all the way from Portugal! How cool is that?!

Rita, from Portugal, wrote to ask if I had any luck in finding a moisturizer to do the trick as she was growing frustrated with the same issues I was having:

"I also have trouble finding reliable companies... every single one of them claims not testing on animals, but behind closed doors, it's impossible to know...
I laughed, reading Bobbi Brown's answer... check out Aveda's answer (also an Esteé Lauder company)."The info she quoted was word-for-word the same with only a few brand names changed. Lame-o!

I replied to Rita that I am currently using a product I found at none other than Harris Teeter of all places! Nature's Gate Organics - have a vine day - Chardonnay Hydrator for daytime goes on day and night and although it does have a obvious scent, it doesn't bother me... and isn't noticeable a few seconds later... it's actually kind of refreshing.

Here's what hooked me: clear as day on the box the manufacturer notes that the product is "made in the US", "cruelty free", "made with certified organic botanicals" and "paraben-free". For $15 or so (way cheaper than advertised on their own site), it's done the trick so far!

Independent Retailers Week

As always, keep it local... there are SO many great choices... there is really no reason not to!

If you need suggestions on where to keep it local - for anything - my good friend Mandy @ Swagger (fellow independent retailer, wooh!) is divulging all of her staffs' favorites this week on her blog in celebration of National Independent Retailers Week - which started this past Sunday and runs through Saturday!

Check Swagger's blog out here and add it to your daily reads for not only the local recommendations, but also the special sales that are only for Swagger's blog readers (which... get excited... is moving to Blogger SO SOON!).

PS - You'll even catch me blogging there from time to time, too. So if you enjoy reading my blog now, just imagine it with a monogrammed-spin on it.

Congrats and More...

First things first, I have to say congratulations to Allison Davis, owner of Sandfoot Photography (I highly, HIGHLY recommend her beautiful work), on her engagement this weekend in quite a fabulous fashion!!

Her darling fiancé surprised her with a backstage proposal at the Brad Paisley meet-n-greet in Charlotte... HOW COOL! Check out the picture and a bit of the story online - Brad's face is priceless as Allison got the surprise of her life! (There is also a great story about how Brad and his team managed to make another young girl's night very special - he truly makes me very proud to be a Brad fan today.)

Also, a big thank you goes out to Dave and Andy at Deep South the Bar for having Parmalee's "Carolina" playing on their homepage... I am now ADDICTED to the song and hope that you all will enjoy it as much as I do!

PS - Don't forget to sign up for your membership and stop in and say hello to the Deep South folks soon, too.

Avoid CBW Like the Plague...

I've never experienced such poor retail management and customer service as I have with Carolina Bridal World in Smithfield (Wal-Mart included... and I hate that place)!

I wish I had read some of the reviews on local websites (CitySearch, etc.) since the issues my BFF bride-to-be is having now with CBW seems to be their M.O.

Once we have the bridesmaid dresses in hand and they're not conveniently "lost" or "damaged", I'll divulge the full dirt... but I just wanted to warn as many locals as I can ahead of time. Don't make the drive to Smithfield just for this place!

(I should have known we were at the wrong type of store when I saw a girl trying on a prom dress that looked like it'd be the dress of choice for any contestant in the Miss Ghetto pageant.)

What I Love...

...about the South.

Thank you Rodney Atkins for a song that pays tribute:

"What I love (what I love)
About the South (about the South)
If you need a Dixie Fix just a' come on down
It's what I love (what I love)
About the South (about the South)
Southern Belles with a drawl make you stop and drop your jaw, come on y'all, shut your mouth...."And thank you Adrianne for a late-night blog post that was AWESOME to start my morning with:"So my Yankee boyfriend is consistently reminding me of what a Southerner I really am. Maybe I should to a blog miniseries on this...

Anyways, today's reminder of our regional differences: summer beverages.

Apparently, north of our nation's capital, they drink unsweetened crap tea and black coffee year round. Well not down here, thank goodness. There are a few things that every Southern needs in the summer:

* BBQ (the food, not the action, I'll have to share the language barrier we had based on that word some point in the future)
* Watermelons, peaches, and strawberries
* Some time at the beach/lake/sprinkler/your local body of water
* Potato salad
* Porches
* And of course, lemonade (Country Time, Chick-Fil-A, or freshly-squeezed. Pink or Regular. I'm not picky.)

Here's some recipes from RealSimple.com for some summer lemonade for my fellow Southerns who will really appreciate it (aka Lil Lisa.)

And if you love lemonade and you happen to live in Raleigh then I'm going to tell you a secret. The city's best lemonade (and maybe the best BBQ) is at Cooper's Barbecue. It's downtown on Davie Street (across from Progress Energy) and you can get a BBQ sandwich, Lemonade, hushpuppies, and a side for $5. They only take cash but it's TOTALLY worth the trip to the ATM. That's my local endorsement of the day. :-P

P.S.: If you want your summer beverage done up grown-up style then remember, citrus vodka can always go in lemonade, no matter what flavor it is. :-)"See there, she even graced everyone with a great BBQ joint recommendation!

"Recipes for Research" Now Available!

News from Mrs. Tammy with an update on great (and delicious) way to support Brittany's Battle:

We are thrilled to announce that our cookbook, Recipes for Research, is now available!

This exciting cookbook features recipes from some of your favorite NC Celebrities so you don't want to miss out on this exciting offer!

Two versions of this dynamic cookbook are available:
You can purchase a "download" version or order the hard copy!

For every cookbook sold, BBI receives a donation from the publisher, LuLu.com.

You can order using the links above, or you can go to BBI's website and order it from there.

Thank you for your support and remember,
No One Deserves Cancer!
We miss you Britt! I can't wait to get this great cookbook... there will be many, many copies ordered as gifts for some very dearly loved ones.