I went through a getting balanced “perfect health” instructional program last year. And the normal, pretty blonde girl that I sat next to and got to know, was Brande (with an “e”) Roderick. Little did I know last year, that she was an actress and had been 2001’s ‘Playboy Playmate of the Year’. And at the time I didn’t know her ‘celebrit-dom’, we talked about our families and I didn’t know then that she’s married to Glen Cadrez, a former Denver Bronco linebacker.

…so fast forward about a year, and she was on the NBC hit show last night as one of the celebrity apprentices. She really shined on this first episode and even put World Poker Champion star, Annie Duke, in her place. Brande was articulate and smart and was highly remembered for selling the last batch of 24 cupcakes for $9,000. The challenge was to sell the highest total dollar amount in cupcakes. The women’s team had the ‘best tasting cupcake’ where they got an additional $15,000 added to their team’s total amount and towards the Project Manager’s favorite charity if they won. They did win. And co-celebrity apprentice and Project Manager Joan Rivers even said something in the show about Brande, like ‘she’s a really smart girl hidden behind a gorgeous face and body.’

… I wish Brande all the best. She gave me a bestseller book as a gift and it’s one of my fav’rites (‘A New Earth’ by Eckert Tolle). And I never forgot that she gave it to me, not ‘cause of her celebrity status but ‘cause of her kindness of giving me that gift at the time.

Anyway…So the weekend is over. I spent the weekend trying to put together a desk with my husband. Yes ‘trying’ is the operative word. I’ve yet to find any piece of furniture that has good assembly instructions.

But today is a new day. It’s Monday, and it’s a snowy winter wonderland in Raleigh (and on most the east coast)! It always feels like Christmas a ‘lil bit when you wake up and you look outside and there’s this frosted white scenery wonderland with flurries blowing around, like a shaken-up snow globe. And then your rational thoughts kick in, like …snow in March?…that’s almost wrong!… but hey if that’s what Mother Nature wants, that’s what’ll be!

What are you doing today? …Are you staying home from work? With your kids who are delayed/staying home from school? At work where it’s like ‘ghost town’? Whatever it might be…what better thing to do today then to get inspired about your life and home, and find out where a SALE might be!

I can get you started…there’s one going on in one of my fav’rite furniture stores, the Ambient store.

There was an Ambiente coupon ad in Sunday’s News and Observer on the 2nd page.  With the coupon (or so it says…you might be able to like some places just tell ‘em about the coupon), you can get 20% off of anything in their Clearance Center and 10% off anything in the main showroom. For a $400 couch, that’s an $80 savings. The sale is good ‘til March 8.

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Mary Haddad is the Account Manager at Edge Office you want to call. She treats all her customers very well…whether they are the large IBM customer or the customer who just needs a home office desk. She takes the time and doesn’t pressure you and delivers a quote when she says she will. Well…now that’s what I call good service!

Edge Office is located in downtown Raleigh in Glenwood South. While the company represents many large furniture manufacturers, Teknion is the product they best recommend to large companies. For individuals like me looking for a desk, she recommended OFM which is a local Holly Springs furniture manufacturer. Edge Office is a dealer and also provides install service.

Furniture Land South Entrance

Well no furniture deal in High Point. We just got back from our Valentine’s Day weekend. In fact, the only deal you’ll find in High Point is an overpriced one. FurnitureLand South is our country’s largest furniture store with over 1 million square feet of space. Here’s a photo of a $55,000 table that sold at FLS.  Isn’t that crazy? But I guess if you have enough money just sitting around like that, then that’s okay. I’m being sarcastic of course. Even the Clearance Center attached to the Mart and Showroom was overpriced. I think they live in a bubble out there…don’t they know about our current state of economy? I mean a few years ago, you could  buy for $5,000 at Furniture Land South – a Lane living room set with tables, a beautiful King all leather sleigh bed AND top of the line Sealy/Simmons mattress. This time around, I’d be lucky to find a headboard!

FLS Martha Stewart Collection

So if you really want to find some furniture deals, you can find some right here in Raleigh. In fact, where the people are is the Furniture Market on Ebeneezer Church and Glenwood Ave, across from Carmax. It’s a low rise brick building. I know that describes just about every building in Raleigh. But once you find it, you’ll discover all kinds of furniture… chairs, dining room tables, hutches, bedroom furniture, and just about anything you need with reasonable prices for good quality brand new furniture. President’s Day which is today, if you didn’t know, is one of the best days of the year to buy furniture. They’ve got some good deals.

And speaking of good deals, even though I picked on Furniture Land South and its expensive furniture. …we did get a great Valentine’s Hotel Package Deal in High Point. Our disappointing furniture trip to High Point was salvaged!

Here’s a photo of us over a Valentine’s Day complimentary glass of wine. In fact we got a $199 Valentine’s Day weekend deal with a 3-course delish dinner and a beautiful Veranda room at the JH Adams Inn. The furniture in our room was Kincaid. But each room is designed with a different furniture manufacturer… that was neat. Oh, and the package deal came with a Continental Breakfast. So keep it on your radar next year.

And for you ABC “Bachelor” fans…. I don’t know who the current bachelor, Jason, is going to pick…maybe we’ll get some clarity on tonight’s episode… but my hubby had the final rose for me here. ‘will you accept this rose?’ Awww…

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