Photo Books & prints

I always need a little motivation to put my digital pictures into a photo book, and a good deal usually does the trick. Check out the savings below.

Snapfish: Use code: CELEBRATE1 and you can buy one photo book and get two for free. Visit Snapfish to start making your books today. Offer expires on 4/1.

Kodak Photo Gallery: Get 100 prints for free when you sign up at Kodak Gallery. It's free to sign-up, and it's a great place to store and share pictures.

Plum Deals

Plum District offers moms incredible deals on mom time, family time and kid time. This week they are having some incredible mom deals. These savings won't last long.

Plum Steal: $359-$495 for Two LEGOLAND® California Two-Day Hopper Passes + Two Nights at The Grand Pacific Palisades Resort - $599-$815 Value.  Get Lego Land Deal.

50% off My Blankee hooded towels, blankets and crib sets. Get My Blankee Deal.


Plum Steal: $13 for a One-Year Subscription to Natural Child World Magazine - $40 Cover Value. Get Natural Child Magazine Deal.

$16 for $32 Worth of Children's Squeaker Shoes, and More from Sneak A' Roos. Get Sneak A' Roos Deal.

Designer Consignors Sale

Designer dresses, shirts, pants, skirts, shoes, handbags and jewelry--it's a woman's dream, but it can be your reality. Designer Consignors offers gently-used designer clothes at affordable prices. Shoppers will not only save lots of $$$, but also a portion of the sales will support The Bucket List Dream Foundation. The sale starts Thursday, March 29-31. It will be held at Cary Towne Center in a space between Kay Jewelers and Foot Locker.
Can't wait till Thursday? Then you can come to the preview sale on Wednesday evening from 7:30-9:00 pm. Admission is $10 and goes directly to THE BUCKET LIST DREAM FOUNDATION. It's a Win-WIN!!!
Visit www.CarySale.com for more information.

Downtown Cary weekend fun

Cary is having their first car show this Saturday, March 24 from 9 am - 5 pm in downtown Cary on Academy Street. Wheels on Academy will showcase classic and nostalgic cars and motorcycles. Kids will enjoy "touching" and seeing police cars, fire trucks and Cary's new hybrid trash truck. There will also be an art exhibit of cars and works crafted by car parts. Festivities also include food and musical entertainment. Visit Wheels on Academy for directions, parking and other information.

While the boys are checking out the cars, maybe mom can escape to The Purple Polka Dot  at 114 S. Academy Street. This store resembles a cute cottage filled with Southern charm. You'll find unique home decor, art, jewelry, gifts, baby stuff, and affordable boutique clothing. Step inside and you'll fall in love with this girly gem of a store. Be sure to share, link and comment on their Facebook Page and be eligible for their 1000 fan give-away!

Veggie Tales Live

Oh where is my hair brush? Oh where is my hair brush? Oh, where, oh where Oh where is my hair brush? I can almost imagine Larry the Cucumber singing this tune while looking at the one piece of hair in the mirror. I sing this song too, but's also where are my keys, your shoes and my cell phone? Oh well, you might not find those things, but the kids will love it when you "find" them tickets to the Veggie Tales Live show. Plan a family trip to Wilmington, NC (beach) or Franklin, NC (mountains) and see all your Veggie friends live on stage. The Wilmington show is on March 31 and the Franklin show is on April 1. Visit Veggie Tales Live for ticket sales and more information. Ticket costs $15-25.

Morrisville Carters Moving

Eleven years ago when  I first moved to the Triangle, Morrisville Outlet Mall (then Prime Outlets) was a thriving shopping venue. They had a Levis store, KB Toys, a home decor store, a bookstore and a Body Shop. Now they are just about empty save some churches and Carters, but in May, Carters will be moving to the Brier Creek shopping center in Raleigh next to TJ Maxx. Morrisville Outlet Mall will be closing shop for a new hot-spot-- China Town. It should be interesting. So don't worry, Carters is not closing, but just moving.

Book Sale & Festival

Did you know that the easiest way to create a love of reading for your kids is to read to them? Yep, it's that simple. Allowing them to choose the books is another easy strategy. Load up the kids and head over to the NC State fairgrounds for the annual Wake County Library book fair in the Jim Graham building. The sale starts Thursday, March 29- Sunday, April 1. Let the kids pick-out some books, and maybe you'll find a good read too.

Sale Hours

Thursday, 10:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m., Opening Day
Friday, 10:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m., Musical entertainment
Saturday, 10:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m., Family friendly entertainment
Sunday, 10:00 a.m. till 6:00 p.m., Bargain Day

Prices
Thursday & Friday: $4.00 hardbound books; $2.00 paperbacks and children’s books
Saturday: Half Price Day with $2.00 hardbound books; $1.00 paperbacks and children’s books
Sunday: Bargain Day with a bag of books $2.00 and a box of books $5.00

Cash, checks and credit cards will be accepted. Customers may bring carts and/or book trucks as none will be provided on site.

St. Patty's Day Savings & Fun

This St. Patrick's Day lets promise to keep our spending local and our fun fabulous. Raleigh is having their annual St. Patrick's Day parade and festival on Saturday, March 17. The festival will be held at Moore Square from  10 am- 9 pm. The parade starts at noon. Visit St. Patrick's Day Parade for more information.

Brilliant Sky Toys and Books is also celebrating the green day by  offering customers Wearing green at both of their locations (Stone Creek in Cary and Brier Creek in Raleigh) a scratch off card for a surprise 10-40% off percentage off one item.

Beleza, a fair trade boutique, in Cameron Village offers customers a unique selection of jewelry, art, and scarves. Tomorrow everything in their store is 20% off.

Need more local shopping ideas then visit ShopLocalRaliegh.org.

Twice as Nice

My youngest son is growing like a weed and with this summer-like weather I'm having a hard time clothing him. Thank goodness for all the consignment sales swooping in and saving the day. Yesterday, I was at the Twice as Nice consignment located in the former Dorcas Thrift Shop location in Cary. I snagged some great deals on onesies, t-shirts, shorts, and nice polo shirts too. I even found Cars books and toys. My oldest son loves anything Cars. Today and tomorrow are the last days of the sale, but there are plenty of things left-- clothes, toys, infant/toddler gear and toys, puzzles, boys and decor. Saturday is their 50% off day, so you can score even bigger deals. Did I mention I got t-shirts for only $1! Plus when you check-out, they give you a bag full of coupons. Inside I found a free Chick-fil-A sandwich for the Apex location, BOGO for a $1 at Yolo in Morrisville, a 20% off coupon for Plum District and more. Visit their website at Twice as Nice and get the details and directions.

March Madness

College basketball. It's one of those Southern things that goes hand-in-hand with Bar-B-Que and slaw. Our favorite teams might be different, but we all agree it's better than the NBA. It wouldn't be March without filling-in your bracket picks. Check out Rocky Top Hospitality's bracket game at March Madness Game. Use Group ID #: 115253 and Password: goacc to enter. Rocky Top Hospitality is a Raleigh based restaurant company that owns Tribecca Tavern, Rockwell's, Draft, and Twisted Fork. Visit these non-chain restaurants and enjoy excellent food while supporting local businesses and farmers.

Tell the Truth earn 5 Plum Dollars

Tell Plum District the truth about Mother's Day, and they will give you 5 Plum Dollars to be used on a variety of their special daily deals. Offer expires March 18. Visit Tell the Truth and get your 5 Plum Dollars.

Baby Sale

Carters is having a 50% off baby clothes sale, and Today Only they are offering Free shipping on all orders. Use code word: SPRING to enjoy the savings. Visit Baby Sale to start shopping today.

Shutterfly Specials

Shutterfly is having a sale on their picture books this month.  They are offering 25-40% off until March 12th.

 They are also offering a free hard cover 8x8 shutterfly photo book (free up to 20 pages). This offer expires on March 28. To get this deal visit  www.shutterfly.com/surprise   (you need to be a new customer, so may have to be creative), then enter promo code:  CT675BGPB8YFPTCFCC, and then choose an 8x8 hard cover photo book and start your project.  When you go to the checkout, it will deduct the cost of the book and the first 20 pages).  Don't forget to enter "SHIP30" at the checkout also, under promos.  You'll get free shipping too! My cousin just made one. It was 54 pages long, probably about 120 or more pictures in it, and it cost her only $27.00!

Weekend Shopping Sales & Events

Today is the last day to save at the Upscale Resale 4 Kids in Cary. From 9 am- 1 pm, shoppers can save 50% off selected items. They offer boutique kids clothes, wooden toys and trains, decor and toys from Pottery Barn Kids and more. Visit them today at Waverly Place 302 Colonades Way, Suite 201  Cary, NC.

Style on Salem is offering 25% off all regular priced merchandise this weekend. Style on Salem is a unique women's clothing and accessories store located in Historic Downtown Apex, NC. They carry juniors, misses and plus sizing.

The Streets at Southpoint Mall in Durham is turning 10 this year, and to celebrate they are having a birthday bash. Today, from 10:30 am- 9 pm the party will include a Kids are Music concert, Spring Kids Fashion show, Kids Party, Big Bang Boom and RubberBand. Visit Birthday Bash for a complete listing of times and locations of events. The mall is also offering $10 mall gift cards when you spend $100 in mall purchases. Keep your receipts and redeem your purchases during the following times:

Saturday: 11 am – 7 pm

Sunday: 1 pm – 3 pm

Offer while supplies last, 1 per customer. Must be 18 or older, ID required.Only same-day receipts accepted. Redemption Zone located in Center Court.

Happy Shopping :o)

Weekend Fun

Still unsure of you weekend plans? Check out some of my suggestions below:

Saturday, March 10:

Crosspointe's Flea Market & Food Truck Rodeo- Food and fun all for a good cause. They are raising funds to send two teams to Kenya this summer. 10% of all food sales goes to support their teams.

They are also having a  flea market with everything you can imagine. All proceeds from the flea market go to help get our teams to Kenya.

Featured Food Trucks:
Will and Pop’s
Klausie’s Pizza
Dang Good Dogs
LocoPops
Lo Yo on the Go
Old North State BBQ
Don’s Classic Italian Ices

Time: Noon - 4 p.m.

Location:

Crosspointe Church
6911 Carpenter Fire Station Rd, Cary, NC 27519


For more information on the community we will be serving: http://www.410bridge.org/change-kenya/where-we-serve/michura/.

Kite Festival

Saturday, March 10, 2012
Fred G. Bond Metro Park, 1 p.m.

Bond Park's Annual Kite Festival is a great way to spend the afternoon. There will be an expert kite flyer on hand for stunt kite demonstrations, and certificates and special awards in a variety of kite flying categories for those who choose to participate. Free and open to the public, the fun will begin at 1 p.m. in the multipurpose field adjacent to Bond Lake.

Schedule of Events

12:30 p.m. - Registration begins
1 p.m. - Stunt kite demonstrations
1:45 p.m. - Shotgun start for all kite flyers with awards for quickest take off
2 p.m. - Demos will take place at various time depending on the wind
2:30 p.m. - Announcement of award winners


Award Categories

Quickest take-off (First above the tree-line)
Best crash (2)
Best Tangle (2)
Oldest Flyer
Youngest Flyer
Most unique kite
Best homemade kite
Most generations flying a kite
Most un-flyable kite
Flyer from beyond
Longest kite tail
Largest kite
Smallest kite
Kite Farthest out

Freedom Cruizers Car Show

The 55+ community at Carolina Perserve in Amberly will hold its annual classic car show. You can also tour the neighborhood and its amenities.

Date: Saturday, March 10th

Time: 10:00am-2:30pm

Location: Carolina Preserve at Amberly

107 Arvind Oaks Circle Cary, NC 27519

                                                     

5 friends = 5 Plum Dollars

Help me reach 100 Likes on my Facebook page and I will give away a free purse. In the mean time for each person that invites 5 friends to like my page you will be placed in a drawing for $5 worth of Plum dollars. Post your name on my Facebook page to be entered into the drawing.

Parent's Night Out & Dinner Discount

Need a night out sans the kids? You need to check-out the up and coming Cary Mom's Morning Out new parent's night program. Your child will enjoy dinner, crafts and fun! Their next parent's night out is Saturday, March 17 from 4:30 p.m. - 8 p.m. $30 for the first child, 1/2 off for the second child and your third child is free! Email momsmorningout@yahoo.com to reserve your 
spot. Parents' Night Out is open to anyone. You do not have to be a current member of their program.

While you're enjoying an evening without the kids, head over to Peak City Grill in Apex and take advantage of their early Daylight Savings Special. Place your order between 4:50 and 5:50 and receive 20% off all regular priced menu items. No coupons required! (But of course, no other discounts apply). The special is available Monday- Saturday.

Food Lion Doubles coupons & more

Food Lion stores in the Triangle and Fayetteville areas will start a new promotion- doubling coupons. Coupons with a face value of up to 99 cents will be doubled. The double-coupon promotion will last 2-weeks.  Food Lion has also cut prices on 6,000 items, reorganized shelves, added shopping carts, increased staff and made efforts to improve customer service.

March Mompreneur- Amy Brooks

Brooks Boutique

Have you ever searched for a particular item and couldn't find it in the store or it cost too much? That's the dilemma busy mom of three, Amy Brooks faced. "When I had my first child, I wasn't able to find cute boutique items that I liked and also that I could afford," said Brooks. "So, I decided to try to make them myself." She received many compliments and many people asked her "where did you get that?". She started Brooks Boutique six years ago selling whimsical, fun and funky gifts. You can find a colorful assortment of bibs, hair accessories, retractable ID badge holders, pacifier clips and key chains at her Etsy shop.


Brooks has her hands full taking care of her two girls and one boy, all under the age of six and one is less than a year-old. However, she finds time to her to do her crafting and business managing while the kids are a sleep. "So, mainly at night," Brooks said. "I try not to work on weekends so I can spend time with the family and hubs--he is so supportive."

 Brooks encourages inspiring momprenuers to "stick it out". "It takes a while (a couple of years) to really get started and steady," Brooks said. "Also, love what you do." Brooks apparently loves what she does; you can see the love that she puts into each of her products. You can see more of Brooks products at Brooks Boutique. Make a purchase in the month of March and you can receive 10% off your purchase when you enter "momspackedpurse" on the checkout screen.

Amazon Mom

Amazon has reopened their very popular Amazon Mom program. Sign up at Amazon Mom and you can start saving 20% off diaper and wipes subscriptions, free two-day shipping with Amazon Prime and exclusive deals and discounts. You can sign-up free for 3 months. Have your diapers and wipes delivered to your door. It sure beats carrying those huge boxes from the wholesale club to your car and then to your house plus you'll saving some money too.

1/2 off Easter pictures

Pre-order your Easter pictures from the Streets at Southpoint mall and save 50%.


 For $13, you get the popular Daisy Package, which includes (1) 5”x7” portrait,
(1) 4”x6” portrait, (2) 3.5”x5” portraits, and (4) Wallet Size Portraits.
Plus, with this special offer you will receive a $10 online coupon
from MyAlbumPics.com. That’s ‘8’ professional portraits (a $26 value) for
only $13! Buy this deal today, and then “HOP” on over to The Streets at Southpoint to
create a photo keepsake that will last for years.

Visit 1/2 Off pictures to purchase your pictures. Offer ends March 5, 2012.

*There's a misprint on the voucher. The Easter Bunny will be at the mall on April 7.The voucher will still be accepted.*