Holly's Golden Twig

Throughout the day yesterday, my Twitter and Facebook feed EXPLODED with links and posts about my buddy Marc Martel of the band Downhere who uploaded a video to YouTube a few days ago which went viral. And by viral, I mean more than 1.5 Million views in less than 3 days! The video he submitted is a recording of himself singing a cover of the Queen song Somebody to Love as part of the Queen Extravaganza competition. Queen drummer/songwriter/singer Roger Taylor launched the competition only a few days ago in honor of the 40th Anniversary of the band Queen and offers the opportunity for winners to tour in the Queen Extravaganza Live Tour in early 2012. Music fans worldwide have suddenly discovered what we downhere-fans have known for years: that Martel's Freddie Mercury impression and likeness are beyond stellar. However it's not just an impersonation - Marc's actual singing voice lends itself not only to Mercury, but in the early days of downhere, he was often compared to the likes of Bono of U2 and even former DC Talk member Kevin Max. (I really should dig up a copy of Downhere's cover for U2's Beautiful Day; my husband and I preferred it over the U2 version, but I know that's a bit sacrilegious to say out loud.) Marc has even ventured into singing opera in the past few years, which may seem a little farfetched for a rocker, but as one commenter stated, "This guy is the Swiss Army knife of singing!"

Though it may seem like videos go viral all the time, Marc stated in an interview with WGBL that the reporter he talked to from the Wall Street Journal on Friday said it truly isn't that common. Nonetheless, views today (Saturday) have grown to more than 1.8 Million total views, and strangely enough many fans including myself have noticed the YouTube counter seems to get "stuck" on the play count for several hours before jumping up again.

I have known the members of Downhere, Marc, Jason, Jeremy and Glenn, for about 10 years now, ever since a friend at Word Records introduced me to them and asked me to edit a promotional music video for their first album release. From the moment I first heard clips of their to-be-released debut until now, they have been my absolute favorite band. I've always told them that someday I expected them to get a big break like Christian rockers Switchfoot did in 2003 when their fourth studio album suddenly sold 2.6 Million copies after being marketed to the mainstream music industry. While this is certainly not the same story, Marc's new-found fame will certainly prove to enhance the awareness of Downhere. Over the years I have heard SO many new fans discover Downhere's music and say things such as "WHY aren't you all better known? This band has so much talent!" However, I also believe that God has used their journey to keep them grounded as the most down-to-earth set of performers that I have ever encountered. Not a concert goes by where they don't spend at least 30-45 minutes after the show in the lobby greeting every single fan who wants to meet and talk with them. This deep connection to their concert goers has established a grassroots fan base for them that has grown and sustained them as a band over a decade when many Christian performers have come and gone.

FINALLY an opportunity has arisen that will shine the spotlight on these guys who spent 9 of the past 10 years touring North America in a 15 passenger van. Media coverage by outlets such as The Wall Street Journal, CNN, Huffington Post, and the CBC to name a few, has just started. Whether Marc gets a chance to perform with Queen in early 2012 or not is yet to be seen, but many fans feel it would be a travesty otherwise.

Marc's Original Audition video:

(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dREKkAk628I)

Amazing "Mashup" video with Marc and Freddie Mercury singing simultaneously:

(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jPhkfk8EBsI

CBC interview:

(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gV1-9TeMS4w&feature=share)

GREAT Radio Interview out of Chicago: http://twt.fm/491745

Celebrity Values article: http://celebrityvalues.com/marcmartel.html

CNN clip: http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/tech/2011/09/23/ctw-han-viral-videos.cnn?hpt=hp_c2

Marc Martel Facebook Fan Page: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Marc-Martel/283556381655697

A few months ago, my husband and I had the opportunity to pre-screen a new movie that releases in theaters nationwide tomorrow (Friday, April 8, 2011) called "Soul Surfer." Made by Sony Pictures, it includes an all-star cast including Helen Hunt (whom I loved in Mad About You), Dennis Quaid, AnnaSophia Robb (from Charlie and the Chocolate Factory), and American Idol's Carrie Underwood in her film debut. The movie depicts the true life story about a thirteen year old surfer from Hawaii named Bethany Hamilton who endured an unimaginable tragedy when she lost her left arm in a shark attack on Halloween day in 2003.

I remember when the event happened in real life, as Rick Bundschuh, one of the writers at interlinc (where I worked at the time), lives on the same island of Kauai. I wasn't sure how Sony would depict this story of a girl who was so well known after the tragedy for her strong Christian faith, but I have to say that I was not disappointed. The pre-screening was introduced by a marketing rep, Bob Gordon, who asked the audience before the show started, "What if Hollywood decided to make a film about a normal Christian family?... Well funny thing, Hollywood decided to make a film about a normal Christian family and this is that film."

What impressed me most about the film was that the production quality was by far the highest standard that I've ever seen in a movie that focuses so heavily on characters with a Christian faith. This was not made by a cast of all volunteers, but rather has the same production quality of any other movie playing in your local theater this weekend. However, all of that being said, while it's a film about Christian people, it does not get preachy or have any kind of underlying conversion message. It just shows how this family leans on their faith to hold them together and deals with a very tough situation. Bethany did not allow the loss of her arm to stop her in anything that she wanted to pursue in life, despite the great odds that were against her to achieve those dreams. Perhaps my favorite part of the movie was the end credits, which showed real life home movies shot by her video-enthusiastic brothers that directly paralleled with earlier scenes from the film.

So it's been a while since I've compiled a list of all of the upcoming, local-to-Raleigh children's consignment sales. However many of you have been asking me about it, so I took a chance this past week to gather some updated sale dates and website links. I didn't get this blog post up in time for the big Kids Exchange sale at the NC State Fairgrounds as I had hoped; however I took plenty of photos this year to give you an idea of what will be there again next July 11-18, 2011.  Click on the photo below to see nearly 40 photos of the Kids Exchange.

If you haven't already read my previous posts on consignment sales, please do so to get the full scoop of how wonderful they can be for a parent's wallet! But first, before I get to the list of sales, I've got some photos from the Twice as Nice kids consignment sale that is going on THIS WEEKEND (public shopping starts Friday morning at 10 am; half-price shopping starts Sat. at 11 am). This is the sale where I sell all of my items, so I highly encourage you to go check it out! (Hint, hint!!)


Click on any of the photos above to see the full-size version or click here to see all 60 images from the Twice as Nice sale.

I have photos from many (most) other sales I've attended in the past, and if I can go back and find them all, I'd like to come back soon and edit this post to add a picture to each sale listing below to give you a better idea of what each sale looks like. In the meantime, here is the list of upcoming Raleigh-area 2011 Spring/Summer kids consignment sales. As always, if I've missed your sale, please add the details in the comments section below.

SALE NAME & DETAILS
Kids Exchange
January 19 - 23, 2011 (Public sale days: Fri-Sun)
Fall/Winter Sale: July 11-18, 2011 NC State Fairgrounds
Jim Graham Building & Expo Building
http://www.KidsExchange.net
Notes: With 2500+ consignors, this is the largest sale in the region, covering two buildings/123,000 sq. ft!
Twice as Nice Kids Consignment Sale
February 3-5, 2011 (Thu-Sat)
Hope Chapel
6175 Old Jenks Rd / Apex, NC 27523
http://www.twiceasnice4tots.com/
Notes: This is the sale where I sell all of my items. Come buy my stuff! ;-) {Happening this weekend!}
The Monkey Exchange
February 10-11 (Thu-Fri)
North Hills Club Ballroom
4824 Yadkin Drive / Raleigh, NC  27612
http://www.themonkeyexchange.com
Notes: upscale and boutique children's clothing and accessories. FREE babysitting across the hall on Thursday, Feb. 10 from 9am - 12noon
First UMC Cary Spring/Summer Sale
February 18-19, 2011 (Fri night/Sat morning) *Added 2nd day!
First United Methodist Church, Cary
117 S. Academy Street / Cary, NC 27511
http://www.consignwithfumc.com/
Kids Everywear
February 19-28, 2011
Morrisville Outlet Mall
1001 Airport Blvd / Morrisville, NC 27560-8935
http://www.kidseverywear.com
Notes: Voted Raleigh's Best Consignment Sale in 2010 by ConsignmentMommies.com. Also has early shopping days for Pregnant & New Moms (must pre-register). Has maternity, Juniors and Ladies clothing, as well as "Home" furnishings section as well.
The Friendship Closet Consignment Sale
February 25-26, 2011 (Fri-Sat)
Apex United Methodist Church
100 S. Hughes Street / Apex, NC 27502
http://www.friendshipcloset.com/dates-location
Notes: Accepts/sells maternity clothing. Digital barcode tagging for consignors
Just 4 Kids Consignment Sale
March 1-3, 2011 (Tue-Thurs)
Life Spring Community Church
501 Wake Chapel Road / Fuquay-Varina, NC 27526
http://www.just4kidsnc.com
Notes: Digital barcode tagging for consignors
WINGS Consignment Sale
March 5, 2011 (Sat)
Holland's United Methodist Church
9433 Ten-Ten Road / Raleigh, NC  27603
http://www.wingsconsignment.com
Chapel Hill/Durham Mothers of Multiples Sale
March 5, 2011 (Sat)
Yates Baptist Church (new location)
2519 Chapel Hill Road / Durham, NC  27707
http://consignmentmommies.com/CustomContentRetrieve.aspx?ID=2980069
Upscale Resale
March 10-12, 2011 (Thu-Sat)
Cary Masonic Lodge
1142 SE Maynard Road / Cary, NC
http://www.UpscaleResale4Kids.com
Note: Trunk Show, Boutique & higher-end consignment sale clothes up to tween sizes. Digital Barcode Tagging for Consignors.
Divine Consign Show - Raleigh
March 14-17, 2011 (Mon-Thurs)
Location: TBA
http://www.dcskids.com
Notes: Exclusive Trunk Show & Boutique Overstock and Consignment Sales; Also has a Grandparent Preview Show & New Mom Shopping (must pre-register)
Church Kidz Stuff
March 17-19, 2011 (Thu-Sat)
Hayes Barton Baptist Church
1800 Glenwood Avenue / Raleigh, NC 27608
http://www.hbbc.net/Ministries/ChildrensMinistry/ChildrensConsignmentSale/tabid/5922/language/en-US/Default.aspx
Notes: Digital Barcode Tagging for Consignors
KidCycle Sale
March 18-20, 2011 (Fri-Sun)
University Mall, Chapel Hill (former Kerr Drugs)
201 S. Estes Drive / Chapel Hill, NC 27514
http://www.kidcyclenc.com
Nearly New Clothing Exchange
Tentative: March 12-22, 2011  (Fri-Sun)
Location TBA
http://www.nearlynewclothingexchange.com
TMOTT Sale (Triangle Mothers of Twins & Triplets)
March 26, 2011 (Sat)
N.C. State Fairgrounds / Raleigh
Kerr Scott Building
http://www.tmott.org/sale.htm
Kidaround Kidsale
March 25-27, 2011 (Fri-Sun)
The Factory in Wake Forest (MVP Factory Sports indoor basketball court)
1839 US 1-A South Main St. / Wake Forest NC
http://www.kidaroundkidsale.com/
NEXT 2 NEW 4 KIDS
April 6 - April 10, 2011 (Wed-Sun)
Cleveland Gymnasium
8994 Cleveland Road / Clayton NC 27520
http://www.next2new4kids.com
Second Blessings Consignment Sale
TBA (Fri-Sat)
Greenwood Forest Baptist Church
110 SE Maynard Rd. / Cary, NC 27511
http://www.gfbccary.org/consignment/

***Chatham Kids Consignment (Chapel Hill/Pittsboro) asked me to let you know that they have closed up shop and will not be hosting a sale this year.

If you don't live in the Raleigh area, be sure to visit http://consignmentmommies.com for a VERY comprehensive listing of children's consignment sales all over the United States!

My husband often sends me links to articles from a blog he follows called bnet.com. I typically find the business hacks and tips they provide there to be very enlightening and usually very helpful. However, I stumbled upon an article on there this evening that completely lacked the insight that I have come to expect from Bnet.

In this article, Rick Broida touts that the new Hotmail interface is superior to Gmail, offering a variety of features that you cannot get in Gmail. My thoughts about his comments are as follows.

*First of all, Gmail lets you theme your account so that it looks like whatever you want it to look like. If your Gmail account is ugly, then that's your own fault.

*Labels are far superior to folders because you can apply MULTIPLE labels to one message and then archive it! I dread the idea of having to open and close multiple folders looking for a specific message. There's no mention here of Hotmail having a search feature as powerful as Gmail's.

*I already view YouTube videos directly in my Gmail every time I get a video link. As well as Picasa Album photos and other media too... it's called Google Labs! Does Hotmail have the track record of infinitely expanding its own features? The capabilities that are existant within Google Labs for Gmail are enough alone to wipe out any current competition for webmail, IMO.

*I have filters set up in Gmail to show me only messages from my Facebook/ Twitter/ eBay/ Craigslist/ YouTube (and many more) accounts already. In fact, they are color-coded labels, so they jump out at me easily when I scan my regular Inbox.

Oh and I was going to fire up my old hotmail account to log in and look at the new features before posting this (SkyDrive integration does sound cool), but after one attempt to log on with an incorrect password Windows Live told me I had tried to sign in too many times with an incorrect e-mail address or password. So I chose to reset my password and get reset instructions emailed to me. Hotmail then told me that they would send those instructions to, you guessed it, my hotmail account.

Enough said.

There's a new kids television show which you may not have yet heard about called "The Rusty Bucket Kids." Being dubbed as an "edutainment" series, it's filmed entirely in the Apex, North Carolina area and stars exclusively local and regional talent. In a "Back to the Future" meets "The History Channel" theme, the gist of the show is that two young siblings learn from their grandfather that they can travel back in time via an old steam train, so they begin to visit famous historical figures as teenagers before they became famous. Set in the small southern town of "Peak City," Roxanna and JohnColeman "Peakssen" (played by real-life siblings, Roxanna and JohnColeman Demers) travel on adventures that are both entertaining and historically accurate, not to mention safe for the whole family to watch.

I've been enlisted to be a part of the creation of this series working on staff as the Graphic Designer, creating posters, CD and DVD artwork, and a myriad of other tasks. It's definitely stretched my design skills to new boundaries, as I am originally a web designer and video producer by trade.

The first show, "Lincoln, Journey to 16," premiered on April 17, 2010 in three markets across North Carolina: Raleigh, Wilmington and Charlotte. We did a big launch for the Raleigh market station, WRAL, in conjunction with the CoolKidz Expo taking place that weekend at the new Raleigh Convention Center, but only a soft launch for the other two markets.

However, this weekend is the big push for Wilmington, NC, as the CBS affiliate, WILM, is re-broadcasting "Lincoln, Journey to 16" on Saturday, May 22 at 12:00 pm (noon). If you're in the Wilmington/Cape Fear area and can pick up WILM, I encourage you to set your DVR/VCR for the show this weekend! (There will be a re-airing of the show in Charlotte on WJZY at on noon on Saturday, July 10.) I have been asked several times about whether the show will re-air anytime soon in the Raleigh area, but I do not yet have an answer about that. Eventually we hope it will be airing nationwide on a regular basis!

This Saturday (5/22), from 4:00-6:00 pm, following the WILM broadcast of "Lincoln...", there will be a massive launch party at the Golden Corral in Monkey Junction (map) with live music by The Rusty Bucket Band, as well as appearances by many of the cast members and directors. Actress Irene Santiago, who plays the infamous "Carlina" in the show, lives in the Wilmington area and has appeared in "High School Musical," "Hounded," "One Tree Hill," and "Touched by an Angel." Sunny 104.5 FM will be on site at the restaurant doing a live remote as well, so it should be quite an event. If you live close enough, or just want to make the drive down to Wilmington, please come join us for the event!

If you live in the Raleigh area, be sure to visit the original location for the show's inspiration - The Rusty Bucket Store on Salem Street in historic downtown Apex. They have "Songs From and Inspired by The Rusty Bucket Kids" on CD as well as "The Rusty Bucket Kids: Lincoln, Journey to 16" on DVD available for sale.

Read more about the show at the (soon-to-be-redesigned) official website: http://www.rustybucketkids.com or just ask Google about it.

Well the Spring/Summer kids consignment sale season has already begun! I was hoping to get this post online before the big Kids Exchange sale a few weeks ago, but that didn't happen because I haven't finished sorting through the photos that I want to add from a bunch of the previous sales. Yet still I suppose it's better to go ahead and get this list published ASAP, so here it is below.


Kids Exchange
January 20 - 24, 2010
NC State Fairgrounds
Jim Graham Building & Dorton Arena
http://www.KidsExchange.net
With 2500+ consignors, this is the largest sale in the region, covering two buildings/123,000 sq. ft!

The Friendship Closet Consignment Sale
February 5 - 6, 2010 (Fri-Sat)
Apex United Methodist Church
100 S. Hughes Street / Apex, NC 27502
http://www.friendshipcloset.com/dates-location

Nearly New Clothing Exchange
February 6 - 14, 2010 (Sat thru following Sun)
Falls Village Shopping Center
6675 Falls of Neuse Road / Raleigh, NC
Former Great Outdoor Provision Store
http://www.nearlynewclothingexchange.com 

First UMC Cary Spring/Summer Sale
February 20, 2010 (Saturday morning)
First United Methodist Church, Cary
117 S. Academy Street / Cary, NC 27511
http://www.consignwithfumc.com/

Divine Consign Show - Raleigh
February 23 - 26, 2010 (Tue-Fri)
Falls Village Shopping Center / Next to Tookie’s Toys in the old Dilly Dally location
6675-127 Falls of Neuse Road / Raleigh
http://www.dcskids.com
Notes: Exclusive Trunk Show & Boutique Overstock and Consignment Sales; Also has a Grandparent Preview Show & New Mom Shopping (must pre-register)

Second Blessings Consignment Sale
February 26 - 27, 2010 (Fri-Sat)
Greenwood Forest Baptist, Cary
110 SE Maynard Rd. / Cary, NC 27511
http://www.gfbccary.org/consignment/

Church Kidz Stuff
March 4 - 6, 2010 (Thu-Sat)
Hayes Barton Baptist Church, Raleigh
http://www.hbbc.net/Ministries/ChildrensMinistry/ChildrensConsignmentSale/tabid/5922/language/en-US/Default.aspx

Kidaround Kidsale
March 5 - 7, 2010 (Fri-Sun)
The Factory in Wake Forest (MVP Factory Sports indoor basketball court)
1839 US 1-A /South Main St. Wake Forest NC
http://www.kidaroundkidsale.com/

Kids Everywear
March 6 - 15, 2010 (Sat-following Mon)
Morrisville Outlet Mall
1001 Airport Blvd / Morrisville, NC 27560-8935
http://www.kidseverywear.com/
Notes: Probably 2nd largest sale in the area & growing each year! Also has early shopping days for Pregnant & New Moms (must pre-register)

Upscale Resale
March 12 - 13, 2010 (Fri-Sat)
Cary Masonic Lodge
1142 SE Maynard Road / Cary, NC
http://www.UpscaleResale4Kids.com
Note: Trunk Show, Boutique & higher-end consignment sale clothes

Just 4 Kids Consignment Sale
March 16 - 19, 2010 (Tue-Fri)
Life Spring Community Church
501 Wake Chapel Road
Fuquay-Varina, NC 27526
http://www.just4kidsnc.com

Chatham Kids Consignment
March 19-20, 2010 (Fri-Sat)
Lowe's Foods Shopping Center, Cole Park Plaza
11312 US Highway 15 501 N
at Manns Chapel Rd.
Chapel Hill, NC 27514
http://www.chathamkidsconsignment.com

Twice as Nice Kids Consignment Sale
March 25 - 27, 2010 (Thu-Sat)
Crosspointe Church (new location!)
6911 Carpenter Fire Station Rd. Cary, NC 27519
http://www.twiceasnice4tots.com/

TMOTT Sale (Triangle Mothers of Twins & Triplets)
March 27, 2010 (Sat)
N.C. State Fairgrounds
Kerr Scott Building
http://www.tmott.org/sale.htm

NEXT 2 NEW 4 KIDS
March 31 - April 4, 2010 (Wed-Sun)
Cleveland Gymnasium
8994 Cleveland Road / Clayton NC 27520
http://www.next2new4kids.com

I also wanted to point out a few other resources for those of you not in the Raleigh area. I have a bunch of mom-friends in the Nashville, TN area, and there are a BUNCH of sales, starting in the month of February, for you all listed here.

Another really cool looking resource that I stumbled upon last week is called ConsignmentMommies.com. It's a site that lets you rate and discuss the sales that you've attended, so that new shoppers can get a feel for what it's like before even going! It also has a huge regional listing of sales in the NC, SC, VA and eastern TN areas.

Check back soon for my own evaluations and photos of each sale I've attended in the past 6 months.

Today I took 27 friends to go see a new movie that just hit theaters yesterday titled "To Save A Life." This was my second screening of the film, as my husband and I saw a sneak preview last fall. We went in expecting very little, but were both blown away by the quality and substance of this "indie release" film. The quality of the acting, screenplay, and technical aspects surpassed everything I was expecting. It's the story of a Middle-American high school senior named Jake Taylor, who "has it all"... he's popular, has a cheerleader girlfriend, a basketball scholarship to his dream college, and is living up his senior year. That is, until his childhood best friend Roger commits suicide in the school hallway and turns Jake's life upside down. He begins to question everything about himself and realizes there may be a lot more to life than beer pong and sex with his girlfriend. He learns to reach out to some new friends and finds ways to make Roger's death a legacy, not just a tragedy.

I don't want to give away too much of the plot, but I will say that this movie touches on at LEAST a dozen hot topic issues that modern teenagers have to deal with on a daily basis. This is the most realistic portrayal I have seen of a typical high school in a long time, and as one of my young friends said tonight, "It was TOO realistic." The movie is rated PG-13 for good reasons and I wouldn't recommend it to a younger crowd. However I DO recommend it to anyone in high school or older. It is an EXCELLENT movie that all teenagers need to see... It causes the viewer to reflect on the impact that each person has on others around them and how much difference one person can choose to make in the life of another who is lonely.

Though it's touted as an "inspirational" film, there's absolutely nothing cheesy about this movie. It portrays Christians in a very accurate light, with both good and bad attributes acknowledged (such as hypocrisy & imperfection). It's not preachy or pushy with its message, except to say that you CAN make a difference in the world around you. It's also not without humor that this movie entertains the audience, taking on several twists and turns throughout the plot. If you've seen it already, I invite you to leave a comment below regarding what YOU thought about it!