Happy Memorial Day 2011!

Happy Memorial Day y'all! We were blessed to be UNplugged high up on a North Carolina mountaintop! We loved the HighHamptonInn.com and all it offers! I adore this Travel Writer's assignment. Look for more details soon! Check them out on Facebook!

Here was out center piece from the awesome Memorial Day Picnic yesterday! How was your Memorial Day!?!

The UPS Store Toys for Tots Literacy Campaign North Carolina

The UPS Store Toys for Tots Literacy Campaign invited us to participate in their campaign.  We were thrilled to participate and share reading with other children.  We were honored that Mr. Gary Hahn, 
"The Voice of the NCSU WolfPack!" accepted our invitation to read to the children!  Recently, Mr. Hahn was also named "NC Sportscaster of the Year 2011!"  Thank you for sharing with the children Mr. Hahn!

We made Invitation Flyers!



Homemade art....! :)

My Tigers still love art and drawing!  And parties! :)


Then we met our friends, One Moms World and girls at The UPS Store.    A party is being planned and it is more fun with friends!


The UPS Store is known for their lollipops for the children.  So they enjoyed a lollipop while xeroxing their invitations to the literacy party. 



We had some help from the awesome Owner Donna! 


Making copies! 


Now the children are ready to share their invitations and have a Toys for Tots Literacy party with 
Mr. Hahn! 


We made donations to the Toys for Tots UPS Campaign, too!  



 And the Moms are excited and proud of our children for wanting to participate!



Inviting friends and neighbors...!


Then we bought Party Snacks!  What's better than Box Juice, Mini Cupcakes and Gold Fish.


Now for the fun, Mr. Hahn's reading to us! 


He was great with the children!  He read, and read and read,


One of his buddies from the Carolina Hurricanes dropped by! :) 


Then the children ate their party foods and MORE READING! :) 


Pictures ....



The UPS Store staff was so helpful to us and they were happy we had the 
Toys For Tots Literacy Reading there! 


Take a listen at Mr. Hahn's voice to the children. They could have listened for hours!




Mr. Hahn, and Jen my event buddy and friend. 


Thank you The UPS Store for hosting us.  And to Mr. Hahn for your generosity and kindness to read and read to the children!  You can follow The UPS Store on Facebook here.

Warmly,  Carolina Mama

*This project has been compensated as part of a social shopper insights study for Collective Bias #ToyforTotsLiteracy. Feel free to add any additional words such as "all opinions are my own."  

Joplin Missouri Aid Support


GourmetBaskets are determined to help Joplin in the wake of the tragedy on Monday.  In fact, they banded together to create a super-sized gift basket which will be delivered to relief workers today in Joplin Missouri.  You can check out more  http://bit.ly/igElg0.

Below are some ways to help that:
This is via Brian Ratzker GourmetGiftBaskets.com

Gourmet Baskets sponsored the NC MomBloggers Conference. Thank you Brian!

NC Storm: 10,000 Cary, NC Residents Lose Power

Flash Flooding in effect in Raleigh/Durham, North Carolina.  The Durham Bulls Baseball field is flooded. :(  They are attempting to drain the field for the tournament.  10,000 Cary, NC residents have lost power.

Check out these cars in Chapel Hill!  One thing, flooding happens quickly.  We were at Starbucks when the clouds got black!  Crazy black.  Then we got home and it started really coming down...




WRAL has a lot of coverage.  We were hoping to have great weather this weekend for Memorial Day. We're watching it now. Be safe out there!

Warmly,  Carolina Mama

Isn't She Lovely - FORD TheEDGE

FORD delivered this today.... the EDGE ... isn't she lovely!

We're excited to be spending time with her through June 1st! :) The Tigers have programmed the "KeyLess" lock, the
FM stations, the Garage opener, and synced it to my iPhone! All at the touch of a button or two! :) Oh, and folks about
town are totally noticing the new Candy Red Apple in town! We'll be sharing our ride stay tuned!

>
>

Rayovac and Six Flags GO Big and Donate to Storm Victims

Rayovac and Six Flags Go Big by celebrating National Storm Preparedness Week.

Now two awesome companies share and give back by helping storm victims.

Rayoac and The Salvation Army team up with Six Flags to help victims of severe storm damages and to aid in natural disaster.



May 22nd - May 31st Donate a new, unused, and unopened package of Rayovac Batteries at the ticket booth of any participating Six Flags Theme Park and receive one free children's ticket for the price of one paying ticket. 


Follow the Rayovac Facebook Page for more details and opportunities.  And Win a Mother and Child Bike!  Go to the Go By Bike Contest by TrekWomen and Rayovac.

Thank you Rayovac and Six Flags for caring!  


Warmly,  Carolina Mama

*I am a Rayovac Power Blogger.  This is a sponsored post.  However, I chose this topic to write about because it is near and dear to my heart. I am proud of Rayovac for giving back to the storm victims.

Lands' End Swimsuit Confidence Link Up List and GIVEAWAY

We're all doing it!  We're all revealing our Lands' End Swimsuits for the National Lands' End Confidence Week!  And it's a whole lot of fun.  You can learn all of the beautiful colors, styles - literally for every body type - and print imaginable.

Here is my perfect style for this year:  CarolinaMama Lands' End Swimsuit Reveal



Now, we would love to see your Swimsuit Confidence Reveal! :) Just link up below so everyone else can see your fun! :)

And we have a Lands' End Swimsuit GIVEAWAY!  You can enter the Giveaway whether you link up or not. :) Yes, Lands' End is giving one lucky Carolina Mama reader/viewer a $100 Gift Card to purchase your own LE Swimsuit.  Someone is going to go home in high MomFashion.

ENTER TO WIN:

1)  Leave a comment telling us your "must have" swimsuit feature.
2)  Join the Lands' End Facebook for more LE fun;
3)  Join the Carolina Mama Facebook page for more great deals and information;
4)  Tweet out this Mr. Linky and Giveaway link! :)
5)  Link to this Link Up List & Giveaway link in a Blog post on your blog.

*Enter a comment for each step from 1-5 you complete.  All the best!  The Contest Closes goes until 9pm June 1st!





Warmly,  Carolina Mama

Lands' End invited me to join the Swimsuit Confidence Week!  I decided a long time ago that Lands' End Swimsuits are my absolute favorite! :) 

New Styles, New Savings - GlassesUSA Sale

Last year, I reviewed the glasses from this awesome company Glasses USA! I loved the chic and fabulous look of these glasses. And can I tell you the quality is awesome too! They are still very comfortable and fashionable! That works! Check out their new sale!
New Styles, New Savings - GlassesUSA Sale
GlassesUSA.com is the premier online glasses retailer that millions of people trust with their vision. Haven't heard of them? Well, now's a great time to check out what they have because they are having a great sale!

If you're new to buying glasses over the Internet and you're afraid that you "get what you pay for" - don't be. All orders from GlassesUSA come with a 100% satisfaction guarantee and a 110% lowest price guarantee. They're not happy if you're not happy and their customer service team will work hard to answer any questions you might have.

Still not convinced? Did you know you can use their Try-It! virtual mirror to try before you buy? That's right, you can try on the eyeglasses you've had your eye on and then send the picture to your friends and family for their input.

The next time you order glasses, you can save BIG you act before May 31st because they're having a big sale:
  • Take 10% off any order of one pair of glasses. Code: 10New
  • Take 20% off any order of two pairs of glasses. Code: 20New
  • Take 30% off any order of three pairs of glasses. Code: 30new


This post was paid for and sponsored by GlassesUSA.com. I accepted this post because I adore their glasses- both pair! You will too!


Warmly, Carolina Mama

Land's End National Swimsuit Confidence Week: I'm a Lands' End Swimsuit Confidence Blogger

Summertime in the South means cold water, watermelons, fire flies, moon pies, sandy beaches and getting into dreading last years swimsuit.... not really.  There is Mom Fashion help here.

Enter Lands' End!  This year "I have Swimsuit Confidence Thanks to Lands' End!"  Here I am ready to go Boogie Boarding in my new Beach Living Floral Print Bandeau!  I adore it!  Boulder Mountain Man picked it out (thank heavens it was my "body type" suit!" because I love this pattern and style).




One of the things that sets Lands' End apart is their quality!  And they have every size and style swimsuit on the planet!  There is literally a style and color for everyone!  Remember my favorite LE swimsuit last year?! 

Lands' End Swimsuits are so amazing and perfect for every body type, you are carefree. No worries, Lands' End has you covered - literally. :)   I am one of 100 MomBloggers Joining the "Lands' End Swimsuit Confidence Week!"  I'm in!  And guess who else is....

Psssst!  And so is Boulder Mountain Man! :)  Talk about handsome!  Seriously, he said, "This suit and rash guard feels great!" We all recognize the quality.



He's got Swimsuit Confidence!  No matter that he has always had "swimsuit/body confidence!"  Nonetheless, it's different for men, that's okay, he's Confident and I like it!

Honestly, Thank you to Lands' End for the best fit, most quality and fashionable swimsuits ever, I am not afraid of swimsuit season.  In fact, I'm looking forward to our pool opening this weekend!  Lands' End swimsuits have do not move - they stay in place and they are comfortable and classy and beautiful all at once!

Here is my swim skirt in the "Shirred Mini Skirt" and it is for every body type. I love the fit and comfort and it is so cute with the ruffle.  This style looks great on everyone!  And I adore the feminine look.  I always wear swim skirts and I love this new style that is chic and trendy and comes in extra long! :)

Lands' End has swimsuit confidence for every body type!






Join Lands’ End each day May 23 – 27, 2011 from 12:00 – 1:00 p.m. CDST and participate in a series of National Swimsuit Confidence Week events on Twitter. This weeklong movement is created to celebrate women of all shapes and sizes as well as educate and inspire them to embrace their swimsuit beauty and have fun this summer. 
*Each day Lands’ End will give away 10 Lands’ End Swimsuits, 10 Lands’ End Beach Towels and announce exclusive swimsuit promotions!
Date: Each Day – May 23 – 27, 2011
Time: 12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m. CDST
Location: #landsend
Follow: @

Join me and say I have Swimsuit Confidence! – Get the Twibbon – Here is mine: 



You can go to http://twb.ly/j2GmLn to get yours. Click the link and display the “I have swimsuit confidence!” Twibbon on your Twitter profile photo. Send a tweet to @ proclaiming “I have swimsuit confidence!” #landsend for a chance to be entered to win a $500 Lands’ End gift card. Send now through May 27 – winner announced at 5:00 p.m. CDST May 27, 2011.
Schedule:
5/23 – Swimsuit Coverage @, @
5/24 – Swimsuit Trends for Real Women @, @
5/25 – Swim Slenderizers @, @
5/26 – Bring Your Confidence to the Beach @, @
5/27 – Ultimate Swimsuit Confidence Celebration @, @
Maybe you will win!  And hey join the fun on the Lands' End Facebook Page!   

Warmly, Carolina Mama

*I am a Blogger for the Lands' End Swimsuit Confidence Campaign.  The fab fit and comfort are courtesy of Lands End and I love it and have shared my own opinion here! 

The Cove with Shaun Groves

We have been blessed to be invited to this heaven on earth http://TheCove.org with http://ShaunGroves.com The Cove is truly out of this world. A quiet place to focus and connect spiritually - body, mind and soul!

Here is Shaun Groves' guitar waiting for the concert to begin. We got a front row seat!! More soon. God bless!

Friday Fashion: Glam with the Greater Raleigh Convention and Visitor's Bureau and Friends


Raleigh knows MomFashion! So this Friday Fashion, we're thanking Visit Raleigh who got local Moms glam for Mother's Day. Just look at all of these smiling faces, One Chic Mama, Aventuroo, Heather Rook, Amy Hodges and Erin Lane and more.


Mother's Day has come and gone - that's okay, we Raleigh Moms got to Celebrate in Style. Early May brought an inspirational event for Moms in the Raleigh/Durham North Carolina area!



The Greater Raleigh Convention and Visitor's Bureau and GoMom, Inc. hosted a Mom's Nite Out - a pampering and spoiling event for Moms at the chic Solas Restaurant in Raleigh.

What a treat! This locale was hip and trendy. The food was fab. We had tasty Hors d'oeuvres. The company was spectacular.


Primp Salon dolled us up with hair, makeup, nails and some even had a mini-massage. I went for the hair help :) (my color was overdue so I thought a little hair help would be a good thing!) and I got a mini-manicure and loved both. Talk about make a Mom feel special.

You can see it in my Charlotte friend, Lisa Frame of Mommyality 's eyes and mine! Thanks to Raleigh's All Things Fadra for the fun picture. (other photo credits shared on my FB go to One Moms World and A Tale of a Marketing Mama. )




Then we were on to visit - all of us social media moms "connecting" in real life!




It was a pleasure to meet and visit with Jennifer from the NC Museum of Arts. We love this Museum




They, along with the prestigious Umstead Hotel and Spa, donated an awesome door prize. My friend from Winston-Salem, Jennifer of Beauty and Bedlam WON!! If anything speaks to Moms, the Umstead Hotel and Spa does! Our family often enjoys a weekend retreat and dinner out :) lovely and serene bike ride or hike on the amazing property at the Umstead. :) Mr. Umstead had lovely North Carolina in mind when he planned his philanthropy/parks.

More fun with friends, Jennifer from Jael's Designs in Durham (and her sweet sister joined her) made it here and the awesome Maricris from Charlotte!




Our sweet friend from Winston-Salem, Jennifer of Beauty and Bedlam WON!! Perfect since she mentors all of us on the fine art of frugal living! :)


Because in the South we love to leave you with a little something to remember, the amazing
and renown in her own right Moon & Lola Jewelry gave us a dazzling pair of
earrings to look glam any day!

Look at these gold plated filigree dangle earrings. Feather light with all the look you want!

North Carolina's own Handbag maven, Holly Aiken -

I just love that Every one of Holly's bags is made in the USA (aka: Raleigh, NC)
and has been lovingly constructed with precision and care to
withstand the daily grind.

Holly wanted to show her love and support of Moms by
filling our handbags with one of her signature, best iPhone cases.... :)



After this lovely, walk down memory lane/reminder of our glamorous Mom's Nite Out, I wanted to once again Thank You Visit Raleigh and Molly Gold for all the good times! And remember, you too can enjoy the fun! If you are local, enjoy these great Raleigh, North Carolina businesses! They all made North Carolina proud!


Warmly, Carolina Mama

*Thank you Visit Raleigh Convention and Visitor's Bureau for including me. I am writing this because I adore all the companies who entertained and spoiled us, Thank you!

Great Wolf Lodge 48 Hour Sale - Save Big!

Great Wolf’s 48 Hour Sale – one of their biggest sales of the year – is LIVE for the Charlotte-Concord lodge NOW!



The Sale Runs until 11 am EST on May 20th so take advantage of the sale to save up to 20% on dates now through July 21 – just in time for your summer vacations.

We love the Great Wolf Lodge Concord, North Carolina! It is everything a family would want and more. We love the simplicity of being in one locale and having everything we need for an awesome water get-away just like this past Winter!


Look how fun for the children with the tubes! :) Double - just like Twins! Great Wolf Lodge thinks of everything! :)


Look how awesome the lodge looks at Christmastime.


Here are the Evening Snacks of Cookies they left us!


At the GWL, you play hard and sleep hard! Look at my Cherub after a big day in the water, a
sighting of Santa Claus, Cookies in Bed and more...!


BOOK YOUR Trip Today! :) I think I want to go again in the Summer, too! :)




They LOVED their Cabin! It was like Camping in a Tent with 1st Class accommodations! :)


I wanted you to be among the first to know. You’ll be able to find the deal here right now: greatwolf.com/value.

As a tip for you, if you book online through greatwolf.com/value you can avoid high call volumes and delays.





Warmly, Carolina Mama