Charlotte Smarty Pants

Jen Plym

March 10, 2014

The CSP Impeccable Pig Private Shopping Party + a Giveaway!

Smarties, we are super excited to tell you about a FAB private shopping party that we’re hosting with one of our favorite local boutiques, The Impeccable Pig in the Shops at Morrison in SouthPark. We are so lucky to have this great little gem of a boutique here in Charlotte! They originally hail from Dallas, TX and now have local shops here and in Charleston, SC.

Whenever I have an event to go to and want something new that is going to make me feel hip and beautiful, I head over to The Impeccable Pig. They are just fantastic at putting together amazing outfits that will not break your budget. All their clothing (with the exception of their jeans) are made for their own private label. They carry all the latest trends and are constantly getting new fabulous frocks in weekly. Whenever I am near the Shops at Morrison, I swing by and take a look – just in case I see something that I absolutely need in my life! Read More →

CSP Team

Smarty Giveaway: 1 Week of Jr Camp @ Camp Highlander, a $1,225 value!

Smarties, we are kicking off our Camp Season with an amazing giveaway as a part of our 2014 Smarty Camp Guide! Our Smarty friends at Camp Highlander are giving away one week of camp – Junior II session, June 15-20 (Sunday – Friday) for campers K-4th grade. This is a value of $1,225 – pick me, pick me!

Camp Highlander, located in Mills River, NC, near Asheville, provides a magical summer experience for girls and boys, ages 5-16. The South Mills River runs through the gorgeous 240 acre campus. The well-maintained facilities include a post and beam rec hall, a pristine lake with slide, an Olympic-size outdoor pool, a rifle range, a ropes course and climbing wall, extensive trails and a top-of-the-line horse stable and ring.

Junior Camp, for boys and girls, K to 4th grade, is the best of the best at Camp Highlander! With lower camper to counselor ratios, Junior Camp is a great introduction to camp life for new campers and their families. The six-day session is designed to foster independence and build confidence while away from home. Campers can try the most popular adventures and activities, such as canoeing, riflery, archery, horseback riding, climbing, sports, crafts, the zip wire and swimming. Read More →

discoveryplace

To: CSP readers, Fr: Discovery Place, Re: Discovery Place Education Studio

Charlotte Smarty Pant Readers -

Does your child have a teacher they look forward to seeing every day? Then tell them about the new Discovery Place Education Studio! Discovery Place Education Studio is a new facility in uptown Charlotte dedicated to bringing wonder to the teaching of science, technology, engineering and math by providing educators with ongoing inspiration, experimentation, support and collaboration.

There will be a mix of educators from public, private, parochial and charter schools plus from educational settings like museums, science centers and zoos, all working towards enhancing their own understanding of STEM topics and finding new ways to instill a love for learning in the children they teach. Let your teachers know applications are now available for the STEM Fellows program at the new Discovery Place Education Studio in the Bank of America STEM Center for Career Development. Read More →

Guest Blogger

March 9, 2014

SUNDAY SMARTY SHARE from SHARE Charlotte

By Kimberly Paulk, Senior Connector at SHARECharlotte.com, a free, easy and local website that makes it easy to learn about and engage with our local nonprofits

“We cannot accomplish all that we need to do without working together.” – Bill Richardson

Sometimes it’s just really fun to do things together. Next month during National Volunteer Week (April 6-12) one of our nonprofit partners, Hands On Charlotte, is making plans for a lot of us here in Charlotte to do something together – volunteer!

This is Hands On Charlotte’s signature annual event, and we’re excited to help them spread the word! This year they’re planning for over 1,000 Charlotte residents to participate in a variety of volunteer projects around the city all on one day, April 12th. This is a great chance for you to try something new – with your family, with a friend – together!

Get information about Hands on Charlotte Day here. Or, to jump in and volunteer right now check out their other available opportunities on SHARE Charlotte.

Wendy Bentien

Smarty Cooking School: Coconut Crème Date Bars

“MOM MOM, Can I have a snack?”

How many times do you hear that in your house? It is a constant echo around mine. I just want my girls to have something healthy. They would love to walk around with Cheeto stained fingers if I let them. I don’t want them to glow in the dark when they go to bed so I often opt for a healthy snack instead.

Ok kids just go have a date bar. Date bars you ask? Who eats dates? Aren’t dates just the more glamorous cousin to the dreaded old lady prune? Dates just haven’t quite committed to the Centrum silver and reverse mortgage yet. Dates should be cool again because they are TASTY.

My friend Lucy Williams (super smarty, healthy cooking and once tried out for Martha Stewart’s Apprentice) dropped a few of these off the other day and I couldn’t believe what I was eating. They tasted just like Larabars. You have seen these in the protein bar section of every health food market and grocery store. They aren’t cheap. But they are good. Their slogan is “Just fruit and Nuts”

But the homemade version that I made was WAY better. I could not stop eating them. They have the most wonderful flavor. You will love these. Read More →

Jennifer Voorhees

March 8, 2014

Smarty Mom: Kristin Worley Beamer

Charlotte Smarties, we have a real treat for you today. I’m proud to introduce Kristin, a new Smarty Mom of a beautiful baby girl. Not only is she a new mommy, but she’s a working mommy. We wanted to get to know how she’s getting by as she just recently returned to work. She has some really helpful tips for you expecting mamas, too!

Let’s get to know Kristin! Read More →

Guest Blogger

March 7, 2014

Women Deserve Clarity on Mammograms

By Dr. Matthew Gromet, Charlotte Radiology

Here we go again. The confusion about mammograms reached new heights last week with the recent publicity of a Canadian study that questions their value. As a doctor who has had to deliver painful diagnoses and watch patients struggle with breast cancer, I want to set the record straight for Charlotte women: mammograms save lives. Women must not let media hype of a flawed study prevent them from getting this critical annual exam.

Here are the facts:

The early and accurate diagnosis of breast cancer is key to survival, and mammography is widely regarded as the gold standard for early detection – and the only test proven to save lives. A mammogram is capable of detecting breast cancer up to two years before it would be picked up by a manual breast exam.

Since 1990, when mammography came into widespread use, the mortality rate from breast cancer has dropped by 30 percent. Breast cancer survival, in other words, improved when we started testing for it regularly. With regular screenings came earlier diagnoses and this facilitated more effective and less disfiguring treatments. When breast cancer is detected before it has spread to the lymph nodes, the five-year survival rate is over 95 percent. Read More →

Zack B

I believe I can fly!

All kids watch birds and superheroes and dream of flying one day. When they are little you give them a cape and let them try to fly with it. They run around with their arms up, trying to fly, and eventually they realize that they do not possess the ability to fly. It’s fun and amusing. Life goes on.

What do you say when your fourth-grade child tells you about their dream of flying? No, not in a plane but by building wings and flying!

That’s crazy! What is she thinking? I should stop her before it gets out of hand and my wife will not be happy if she gets hurt! How am I going to handle this one?

Day One (planting seeds of doubt)

“So you want to build flying wings?”

“Yes, they will be stored in a backpack and I’ll press a button, they will pop out, I’ll flap my arms and starting flying.”

“Are you worried you might get hurt if it doesn’t work or breaks in flight?”

“No I’ll be safe and wear my bike helmet along with my elbow and knee pads.”

“Ok, good thinking, but I’m not sure they will do much good if you are twenty to thirty feet off the ground?”

“I’ll wear thick clothes just in case.”

“Great.” Read More →

CSP Team

Smarty Top 5 Pinterest Pins of the Week

A few recipes and interior design ideas for you this week, Smarties! Enjoy!

1. Here’s a great idea for a kitchen remodel – add outlets and docking stations underneath cabinets.

2. Put this on your pool menu this summer: lemon cilantro avocado pasta salad.

3. Yummy green smoothie recipe.

4. This chicken pot pie soup looks like a good alternative to the traditional dish.

5. We just love this colorful room – wouldn’t it make you so happy everyday?

There you have it! To stay up to date on the latest Smarty news and tips, follow us on Pinterest, Twitter (@charlottesmarty), Instagram (@charlottesmartypants) and Facebook.

CSP Team

March 6, 2014