Consignment Mommies

Are consignment sales your thing? Then you got to visit this website Consignment Mommies. It is the HQ on all consignment sales, pricing, resources and contests. Currently they are giving away free "early" passes to a sale of your choice. Today is the last day to enter. Be sure to "Like" this mommy friendly site on Facebook and show them your support.

A win win for food cupboard

You can help the Food Cupboard and WIN some $$$$!!

The Holly Springs Food Cupboard is having their annual RAFFLE Fundraiser!
Tickets are $20.00 each and ONLY 400 tickets will be sold. ALL raffle donations will help us help those in need in our community. The drawing will be held on May 5th. To purchase your tickets and help feed others, contact Tony Perna at fund@hsfoodcupboard.org or call 919-552-4830.

Prizes: 1st prize- $1000.00 - 2nd prize- $500.00 -3rd prize - $250.00

Dinner Time Chimes

The winds of March are blowing in, and wouldn't it be nice if the wind created beautiful music on your porch or stoop. You can make that happen by purchasing a handmade dinner time wind chime. Visit www.dinnertimechimes.net and be sure to use the coupon code "momspackedpurse" to receive your free gift. Better hurry because this deal expires on March 6.

Brilliant Sky Toys & Books

Be sure to visit the best toy and book store in Cary and Raleigh-- Brilliant Sky Toys and Books. I love shopping at this locally owned store to find unique toys and gifts for my kids. My kids love it because they have many toys to try and play with while I shop. They have a loyalty program and free gift wrapping. In March, they are offering several adult shopping nights, story times and a princess party. Check out the schedule below:


Thursday March 1st-LADIES NIGHT from 5-8pm

Bring your friends and join us for our first Ladies Night of 2012 at the Brilliant Sky Toys & Books at Brier Creek. We will have adult beverages,snacks, wine tasting, in-store specials and prizes. Stop by and enjoy the fun!!

 "All Aboard the Train" storybook time.
Bring your preschool children to the store for storytime,crafts and snacks. Our train themed activites will be fun for all. Playdates are complimentary, but please call the appropriate store or email carync@brilliantskytoys.com to reserve your child's spot. Adults must remain with children throughout the program.

Tuesday March 6th at the Brier Creek location from 10-11am or 11-12 noon

8531 Brier Creek Parkway
Suite 107
Raleigh, NC 27617
919-361-0423

OR

Wednesday March 7th at the Cary location from 10-11am or 11-12 noon

Stone Creek Village
313 Ledgestone Way
Cary, NC 27519
919-465-3866

Thursday March 8th-LADIES NIGHT FROM 5-8pm

Bring your friends and enjoy the fun at the Cary store. As always, we will have adult beverages, in store specials, and prizes galore!!

PRINCESS PARTY: put on your tiara's and princess clothes and join us for our princess party. Story time, jewels, crafts, and snacks for all!

Tuesday March 20th at the Cary location only from 10-11am or 11-12 noon. Please call 919-465-3866 to register

OR

Wednesday March 21st at the Brier Creek location only from 10-11am or 11-12 noon. Please call 919-361-0423 to register

Our program is complimentary, but please call or email carync@brilliantskytoys.com to regsiter. Adults must remain with children throughout the program.

Saturday March 24th-Easter Basket Party and Adult Shopping Night.
Adults only..Please join us from 8-11pm at both the Cary and Brier Creek locations

Bring your own Easter Baskets, choose your items and let us put together your entire basket.We will be offering, in store specials, discounts, giveaways throughout the night.

Enjoy adult beverages and snacks while we help you prepare your bunny treats. We will provide your Easter grass,cellophane bag and all the ribbon to make it spectacular!

Girl Scout Cookies

Did the Girl Scouts miss your house this year? Or did you eat your stash already? Well, you can still buy some cookies. Visit Buy Girl Scout cookies to find where the Girl Scouts are selling cookies. All you have to do is enter your zip code and you'll find cookies by date and distance closest to you.

Did you know that when you buy Girl Scout cookies you are supporting a local chapter of girls? Cookie funds help girls learn leadership skills and support activities.

Good old fashioned deals & fun!

Deals:
FREE- 6 issues of Thriving Family magazine. Visit Free Thriving Family to order your subscription now.

A.C. Moore Craft store has all Crayola and Melissa and Doug items 40% off this week.

Get some great mom reads at super low prices. Momology: A mom's guide to shaping great kids, only $2.99- visit Get Momology for your copy and The What's for Dinner Solution for only $9.99- visit Get Dinner Solution for your copy; the e-book version is available for $8.99.

Harris Teeter is offering their online shopping service free of fees for orders over $25. Offer valid February 22-28.

Plum District is offering an extra 25% off their special deals through February 29. Use code raleigh25 when purchasing your Raleigh savings voucher. Visit Plum District deals to find your deal.

Scentsy the hottest new candle product is having a 10% off sale this month. Scentsy is all about a warmer (no flame, no smoke, etc), just a light bulb, a plug and scents. The scents are awesome. They work wonders in my house where I'm always changing a poopy diaper, but you don't smell poop instead it smells like fresh baked sugar cookies. Check out Scentsy and order through local consultant Laura's Scentsy shop.

Fun:

Playnation Morrisville kicks off it's $5 Fridays this Friday, Febuary 24 from 5:30-8:30 pm. Visit Playnation for more information.

Cary Towne Center Child Identification Program-(Thursday) This will take place on the fourth Thursday of each month from February to June. You'll find them in the food court next to the Cary Police Department service center. The first event is from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m., Feb. 23. It's also scheduled for 4 p.m. to 6 p.m., March 22, April 26, May 24 and June 28.

Free Mosaic Sunday! Kidzu Children's Museum in Chapel Hill- Sunday, February 26, 1:30-2:30pm: Join us for a fun and active mosaic-making experience. The workshop, lead by mosaic artist, Jeannette Brossart, will take place 1:30-2:30pm and then the art studio will remain open for other fun paper mosaic crafts. Free Program and admission is free every Sunday 1-5pm. Visit Kidzu for more information.

Coming soon at the Streets at Southpoint

The Streets at Southpoint mall in Durham is celebrating their 10th anniversary this year. I remember when they first opened their doors. Hechts (now Macy's) was the first to open its doors the day before the rest of the mall opened. It was new, it was glamorous, and I couldn't wait to start shopping! It was the first mall in the Triangle to boast a inside/outside shopping experience. Stores have come and gone since it's grand opening, but this year the mall plans to open 15 new stores and remolding 30 existing stores. My favorite store slated to open this year is Vera Bradley, a handbag and accessory shop. Also schedule to open this year are Sperry Top-Sider, Lululemon Athletica, Charley’s Grilled Subs, Frozia, Zumiez and Chipotle.

Family Fun

Yesterday was one of those unusually nice days in February were it feels like spring, and you get the urge to take the family to the park. So we packed some snacks for us and bread for the ducks and headed over to Bond Park in Cary. It's been awhile since I've been there, and this time we didn't visit the playground. We checked out the fishing boardwalk and watched the kids and parents digging out worms and placing them on their hook and casting their reels into the water. I'm not sure if the fish were biting, but the quality family time was apparent. There's a sandy beach area that leads right up to the water which is perfect for feeding the ducks. My son and husband had a grand time feeding the ducks and they ate right out of their hands. While my 3-year-old was occupied, I enjoyed taking some priceless pictures and feeding my baby pureed bananas.

I did a little exploring too, and found a lady hula-hooping and using baton like wands. She had an assortment of hula-hoops-- big, small and colorful. She let me try her biggest one. Apparently the larger the hula hoop, the easier it is. I'm not a very coordinated person, but I was actually able to keep the hula-hoop up. It was so much fun. I felt like a kid again. It turns out the hula-hoop lady is Lois Magee of Cary, and she makes and sells the hula-hoops. She even sells an awesome LED light hula-hoop. She has a website www.hoopsinmotion.com and she's on Facebook and Twitter too. When she's going to be out in the community like when I saw her at Bond Park, she posts it and invites all her followers. I enjoy meeting such creative people. I can't wait to meet up with her again and do some hula-hooping.

www.hoopsinmotion.com

Jewelry Sale

Brandee at Just Jewelry is having an end of the season sale. Check out her specials at Brandee's Just Jewelry.

Friday Feb 17, 2012 last date for sale! Must contact Brandee and pay by credit or debit card by 7pm Feb 17!

Moms- jewelry, gifts and doula services

I love writing and sharing about my fellow Mompreneurs. They are moms just like you and me, and they are juggling many things (which is a lot) to follow their dream and passion to own their own business. Not only do I love writing about these women, but I love supporting their businesses too. When you support these women, you're not only full-filling a dream, but putting shoes on their kid's feet, helping pay for preschool or just letting a mom feel special with a manicure. Celebrate being a mom and check out these Mom businesses.

Jewelry lovers beware. Brandee Solomon a consultant for Just Jewelry has some lovely deals for the month of February. Just Jewelry offers a wide selection of jewelry and accessories for under $30. Brandee offers a loyalty card for her valuable customers.  Interested in hosting a party this month- have friends over and stock up with these great incentives: Receive a free pair of hostess exclusive earrings just for booking a party, 10% of your qualifying party sales in free jewelry, half-price items based on the sales from your sales, and the monthly Hostess jewelry item for just $8!

 

On top of those great deals, Brandee has also added her own special:

If your party totals to at least $100 in sales and you book before February 18th, you will get a free hostess stretch pinky ring and mystery prize! 

Book a party in February and you get double half off items on orders of $100 and up!!!

If your party total reaches $600 and up in sales you and the 4  highest orders will a free pair of earrings!

PLUS

If your party total reaches $800 and up in sales you and the 3 highest orders will get a $10 to use on a future date! AND...All February hostess will be entered into a drawing to win a Brandee's Just Jewelry tote!

Visit Just Jewelry-Brandee to contact Brandee or book a party.

Amy Brooks at Brooks Boutique offers a colorful selection of kid accessories. Her whimsical, fun and funky gifts come in a variety of patterns, but if you don't see exactly what you're looking for then she will customize an item just for you! Talk about service! Her collections include: burp cloths, bibs, nursing covers, ID badge reels, strap covers, arm pads, hair accessories, bags, check book covers, key chains, mitten clips, pacifier clips, and. stethoscope tape/pen. You have to visit her shop at Brooks Boutique to see all she has to offer.

April at Branching Out Doula Services is offering some specials this month-- $50 off for home births, $25 off for birth center births, and  a free cloth diaper tutorial.  April is also willing to work with you based on your financial situation. April has a special interest in supporting women who suffer from Anxiety, Depression, Bipolar, or other mood disorders as well as those who have had or are having a generally rough and stressful pregnancy.

April is a DONA trained Birth Doula and experienced Mama offering informational, emotional, and physical support to mothers and their partners prenataly, during labor and birth, during breastfeeding and postpartum. This is achieved this through acupressure, massage, visualization, positive positioning,  encouragement and nurturing.               

In addition to the "standard" services provided, she also offers the following upon request:

 

Prenatal Cloth Diapering Tutorial/Demonstration

Postpartum Cloth Diapering Support (including laundry)

Attending Doctor Appointments

Prenatal Preparation For Baby/Shopping/Organizing

Non-Professional Photography/Videography

Baby's Hand/Foot Impressions

 

Visit April at Branching Out to get more information about her services or contact her directly.

For a limited time...

Here are some great deals, but there only available for a limited time.

Aveda Institute of Chapel Hill- Get $30 worth of services for only $15. Get all the details to purchase this amazing deal at Aveda Discount.

The book that started it all- The Vow. Inspired by a true story; you can get it for only $8.99. Get your copy today at The Vow special.

Scout & Molly's of Cary, Raleigh & Chapel Hill is offering an incredible discount-- $20 for $40 of merchandise at their store. Get some cute designer clothes at half the price. Visit 1/2 off Scout & Molly's to get your voucher to save.

A cold snap is moving into the Triangle. Take the kids to the Rainbow Room at Tot to Teens, an indoor playground in Raleigh. They're open Monday- Friday, 10 am - 3 pm. You can get 4 open play sessions for only $10, that's 1/2 off the usual price. Get your voucher today at Rainbow Room discount.

Looking for the perfect Valentine's Day gift for your kids or the young at heart? You need to check out the best toy store in the Triangle- Brilliant Sky toys and books. They have 2 locations- Cary at Stone Creek Village and in Raleigh at Brier Creek. They have a great selection of crafts, toys, books, dolls, puzzles and so much more. They even have a 50% off rack to save you a little extra money while still getting something special. They offer free gift wrapping everyday, and have some pretty Valentine wrapping paper to make your gift incredible! Learn more about this amazing store at Brilliant Sky.

Designer Consignors

Do you like designer clothes, jewelry and accessories? Does the designer price tag hinder your shopping experience? If you answered "yes" to the questions above, then Designer Consignors is the place for you.  Designer Consignors is a 3-day consignment event held at the Cary Towne Center mall (located between Kay Jewelers and Foot Locker) on March 29-31, 2012. They'll have all the must-haves for your spring/summer wardrobe from tops to shoes and purses and accessories. They'll even have maternity clothes!
Need to do a little spring cleaning and organize your closet? Then bring your gently used clothes and accessories and earn some extra cash! Consignors can earn up
70% of their total sales.

You might wonder if this sale could get any better, but it does. Designer Consignors Spring/Summer sale of 2012 will be donating a portion of the proceeds to The Bucket List Dream Foundation.  Funds will be designated to a woman with ovarian cancer.

To learn more about the sale or about becoming a consignor visit their website at Designer Consignors.

Sale dates: March 29-31, 2012.

Location: Cary Towne Center  (located between Kay Jewelers and Foot Locker).

Mompreneur of the Month

Dinner Time Chimes

Meet Erin Thompson owner of Dinner Time Chimes. Erin creates beautiful sounding chimes from everyday utensils. She makes the ordinary into something extraordinary. Erin got her start 15-years ago at her father's urging. She started searching for silver plate at flea markets. She hand polishes each piece. "I do find it relaxing to examine the unique patterns on the handles," says Erin. "I love finding unique messages engraved on silver-plate and trying to think of why it was created." Erin creates more than wind chimes; she has unique fork easels for recipe cards and transforms butter knifes into book marks.

 

This 31-year-old mom from Clinton, a town southeast of Raleigh, carves out time in the evening after her 18-month-old son is in bed to work on her crafts. "My crafting time is slowly dwindling away," says Erin. "My little dude loves to “help” too, it makes the projects take a little longer though!"

Erin advises moms interested in starting their own business to "Follow-up your heart, but remember that family comes first!"

Visit her website at Dinner Time Chimes or her Etsy store at Dinner Time Chimes-Etsy shop for more information or to get your own chimes.

 Erin is offering us an exclusive special. Mention “Momspackedpurse” and get a free gift with purchase.  Expires 3/6/2012.