Charlotte - next American Girl Doll Store location!

 

It was actually before I was even a mother when I learned about American Girl Doll® and it’s “brand.”  My daughter is 3 and has turned very girly over the last year- wanting to be a princess, wear jewelry and have “pose offs” with strangers in Target like Barbie does in “Life in the Dreamhouse”, so I know it is only a matter of time before she becomes obsessed with these $100+ dolls with accessories like $12 footless tights (for the dolls)! 
In the state of North Carolina, we are required to take 90 hours of post licensing classes and one of the classes is on commercial real estate.   My friend and I signed up together four years ago expecting a lot of lecturing and some stories from the teacher’s experience.  What we got instead was a project on American Girl Doll®.  We were to research the company, scout all of Charlotte looking for the ideal location based on demographics, anchoring stores and even traffic flow and parking.  Then our team was to give a presentation to the head of American Girl Doll® (aka- our instructor) as to why American Girl Doll® should select us as their commercial real estate agency to represent them in moving into the Charlotte market.  Almost every team was clear that South Park was the obvious choice….I don’t know how many of these presentations our instructor heard (but I know my husband’s class two years later had the same project)…hmmm, conspiracy theory…Now American Girl is coming to Charlotte- SouthPark in 2014.   Great for Charlotte, Great for American Girl, and Great for the Girls of Charlotte!

Halloween - Fun for Everyone!

This weekend kicks-off Halloween festivities in the Lake Norman Area!  Check-out our list below and let us know where you are celebrating!

Downtown Davidson offers its Halloween March on Friday, October 25th.  Kids can enjoy games starting at 4:00 pm on the town green, followed by the Halloween March at 5:00 pm.  Children can wear their costumes and march down Main Street - while merchants pass out candy.  The Halloween March begins at Town Hall and progresses down Main Street to the College Bookstore.  After the march, there is a concert on the town green.

The Lake Norman Mommies Network is hosting a Trunk-or-Treat on Saturday, October 26th in Cornelius.  Join the LKN Mommies Network to learn more information about this event.  We will have a bobbing for apples booth there, so come and see us!

Huntersville's Carolina Raptor Center is hosting a Hoot and Howl on Saturday, October 26th from 10am-3pm.  The festival includes science experiments, games, face-painting, and jack-o-lantern contests.

Trick-or-treating in downtown Mooresville happens on October 30th from 3pm-5pm.  Kids can wear their costumes and trick-or-treat down Main street.

Concord's Candy Crawl will take place from 3-5 pm on Halloween on Union St. in Downtown Concord. Here, children can enjoy trick or treating by going to all the shops and restaurants. Family friendly activities such as bean bag toss and basketball are also on the streets for some more fun!

Birkdale Village offers a scavenger hunt on Halloween from 5-7pm.  You can find clue sheets at the fountain that will lead you on a Halloween themed hunt!

Also, The Speedpark at Concord Mills transforms into The Scarepark every evening. Take a shot at “18 Holes of Horror Haunted Mini Golf," ride the Haunted Hayride, climb the spiderweb, and more! Admission is $5 per person, or free with purchase of Haunted Mini Golf or the Hayride.

Happy Halloween!!

 

 

Government Shutdown Ends

Government Shutdown Ends

October 16, 2013

Late Wednesday night, the House of Representatives passed a bill ending the shutdown of the federal government. The bill was passed by the Senate earlier in the day. President Obama has signed the bill into law.
Under the agreement reached, a continuing resolution funding government operations through Jan. 15, 2014 is enacted. The measure also raises the debt ceiling to a projected date of Feb. 7, 2014. The Senate will also consider another separate proposal to instruct House and Senate negotiators to reach accord by Dec. 13, 2013 on a long-term blueprint for tax and spending policies over the next decade.
Although the legislation reopens the federal government immediately, there could be residual delays in programs as workers address issues caused by the 16 day lapse.
REALTOR.org will keep the shutdown information available over the next several days as government operations return to full capacity.

Copyright NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®. Reprinted with permission

Houzz: Living Room Lay-outs - how to maximize your space!

Lay Out Your Living Room: Floor Plan Ideas for Rooms Small to Large

Architects, interior designers, and more ∨

Consider a versatile murphy bed when looking for guest beds, find the perfect office chair, and work with a contractor in your area to create a fun yet functional home office.
Work with a home decorator when choosing area rugs or hanging new window treatments in your home.

The Carolina Renaissance Festival Celebrates 20 Years!

The 20^th season of the Carolina Renaissance Festival opens this Saturday October 5^th, and is located near the intersection of Highway 73 and Poplar Tent in Huntersville, NC.

With over 20 acres filled with shops and vendors, entertainment, food, and hundreds of costumed characters roaming throughout, this festival has something for everyone.

There are 11 stages spread throughout the festival. Dancing, music, and comedy shows play all day long, and most of them are interactive. Of course, one can not leave until seeing the jousting knights at the King’s Tournament Arena.

The Renaissance Festival is lined with over 100 charming little shops. Here, vendors showcase their unique handmade items such as leather goods, jewelry, and the popular lotion candles. You can even watch an artisan make blown glass! Various homemade rubs and spices are also sold, and quite often make great Christmas gifts.

With all the interactive entertainment and shopping, you are bound to get hungry! Giant turkey legs are a big hit, as well as the various soups, stews, and chowders served in bread bowls.

Some of the special events taking place this year are “Two Tickets for the Price of One Weekend”, “Kids Free Weekend”, and “Brewfest Weekend”. For a list of all the special events taking place, click here.

The Carolina Renaissance Festival will be open every weekend from October 5^th – November 24^th, 10am – 5:30 pm – Rain or Shine!!