Ginny from the Blog

Raleigh blogger Brandy found this hilarious confection yesterday when she went to Wal-Mart. Her blog “Girl on Camera” is filled with random nuggets like this. Thanks to her, guess what all my friends are getting around Easter time.

I haven’t been to A Southern Season in Chapel Hill since I moved back to the Triangle. For those of you who have never been, it’s a gourmet market that you can easily spend hours in if you’re hungry and love to shop (it’s so fabulous that I have a girlfriend who actually shrieks every time you say you went without her). You can take cooking classes there, sample wines on the weekends, dine in its restaurant (the Weathervane) and shop for delicious candies, coffees, housewares and oh so much more. OK, I’ll stop now, I’m starting to sound like a commerical.

I bring this up because I found out today that A Southern Season is teaming up with the Triangle Land Conservancy for a day-long fundraiser next month. On Tuesday, March 17, the market is giving the conservancy 5 percent of all retail sales. The conservancy works to protect open space and other natural areas in Durham, Wake, Orange, Chatham, Johnston and Lee counties. The nonprofit is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year, according to a news release I read today.

Anyway, if you haven’t been to the market in a while or *gasp* not at all, this might be a good excuse to check it out.

Here’s a reason why you might want to think twice before picking up free furniture you occasionally see sitting curbside: Bed Bugs.

The National Pest Management Association (NPMA) reports a steady increase in the number of reported bed bug infestations, while local pest management professionals are finding residential infestations are becoming more common.

According to Terminix Company of North Carolina President Jim Haugh, the bed bug infestation is here to stay. “We’re only going to see more and more cases of bed bugs in the future, especially in people’s homes,” says Haugh.

Haugh indicates:
* Most people do not realize they have bed bugs until after waking up with red, itchy welts, and by that time it’s too late to prevent infestation. When bedbugs bite human skin they inject an anesthetic-like liquid that numbs the skin and allows the pest to bite undisturbed.
* Some Hampton Roads residents, have had to toss out thousands of dollars worth of furniture, clothes and luggage because of bed bug infestations. Unlike mice and roaches, there is nothing sold in the grocery store that can eliminate bed bugs.
* Once the bugs make it into the home, eliminating the pest is a taxing process as the nocturnal creatures can hide in cracks and crevices, carpet, peeling wallpaper, and light fixtures, making detection and removal difficult.
* The infestations have been most common in hotels, hospitals, and college dorm rooms where large congregations of people are found, allowing the pests to migrate from person to person. Recently however, the hitchhiking pest has started moving into suburban homes and neighborhoods.
* Haugh indicates that there are several measures people can take to help prevent infestations. “Make sure your new or existing mattress and box springs are wrapped in plastic,” says Haugh. “You should also pay attention to your surroundings when you travel, check the mattresses and sheets, and behind the headboard of the bed in your hotel room. Just to be safe, it’s also not a bad idea to have all of your clothing dry cleaned upon arrival from vacation, business travel, or college.”

What pesky critters creep you out the most?

It was Valentine’s Day 2003, and my then-boyfriend and I failed to make reservations early enough to snag a table a decent restaurant. So after being turned away from several packed places, we noticed there was plenty of parking at Hooters.

I had never been to the wings and boobs joint before, and I blinked back a few tears when he suggested we give it a try. Talk about the epitome of unromantic. But it turned out to be my best Valentine’s Day yet, because that was the day I fell in love … with buffalo wings. Ever since then, I’ve had no qualms at looking past the waitresses in orange hot pants, suntan pantyhose and scrunchy socks to get my hands on some of their crispy wings.

This trip down memory lane was prompted by a stupid statistic I found out today: The average consumer will spend $122.98 on Valentine’s Day this year, up from $119.67 last year. That’s according to the National Retail Federation, which reports that 61 percent of consumers plan to celebrate the holiday and will spend a collective $17 billion. Since I’m single, the thought of spending that much money on Valentine’s Day seems absurd to me (unless, of course it’s for a new pair of shoes, because as Carrie Bradshaw so aptly once said: “It’s hard to walk in a single woman’s shoes, that’s why we need really special ones — to make the walk a little more fun”).

If you’re not single, and you’re looking for ways to save money on Valentine’s Day that don’t involve taking your date to Hooters, consider these tips from Greg Karp, who just released a book called “Living Rich by Spending Smart.”

• Move the celebration to the following weekend when securing reservations and a babysitter will be easier, and post-Valentine’s Day markdowns are in effect.
• Consider dining alternatives such as making a favorite meal at home, a Valentine’s breakfast, or dessert only at an elegant restaurant.
• Instead of dinner and a show, check out free, fun alternatives such as a trip to the art museum, the aquarium, zoo or a public concert. In warmer climates try a romantic picnic and in colder regions, try ice skating, snowshoeing or cross-country skiing.
• Plan ahead for gift shopping to avoid the last minute scramble that almost always results in higher spending.
• Cut down on the candy and purchase just one or two pieces of fancy, gourmet candy – satisfy the sweet tooth and forego the excess calories.
• Buy fake bling. Diamonds may be a girl’s best friend but the look-alike gemstones are nice too.

Or just save your money and give the best free gift ever: Write your significant other a good old fashioned love note (but please be sure to spell check).

Auntie Anne’s, the pretzel chain located in malls across America, is giving away pretzels on Saturday to celebrate its 20th anniversary, according to a news release I spotted this morning. Locally, you can snag your free pretzel from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at The Streets at Southpoint, Triangle Town Center and Crabtree Valley Mall.

The pretzel makers also will be launching a new feel-good campaign:

“Free Pretzel Day” will also mark the beginning of Auntie Anne’s What a Difference a Family Makes: A New Twist on Giving Back, a grant program that will recognize 20 families who volunteer together to make a difference in their communities, and reward them with grants of up to $20,000. Interested families can nominate themselves or be nominated by others at www.aTwistOnGivingBack.com.