Annual Metropolitan Bridal Expo Coming to The Carolinas

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The Metropolitan Bridal Expo is coming to the Charlotte Convention Center on June 12th, 2021, the Charleston Area Convention Center in Charleston, SC on April 25, 2021, the Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center in Columbia, South Carolina on May 2, 2021, and to  Savannah, Georgia on July 25, 2021. 

As a one-of-a-kind showcase cultivated for all brides, these shows are designed to be an impactful experience to help brides plan the wedding of their dreams.  The events will feature a hybrid of in-person and virtual elements to inspire ideas and safely introduce guests to area vendors for a wide variety of services ranging from decorations, catering and music to florists and full-service planning. 

Brides will be able to pick up everything they need to embark on their wedding planning journey, and they’ll enjoy a fashion show of 2021 bridal styles to fit any budget. Door prizes will be given away throughout the day including the chance to win a grand prize of the major giveaway for your special day or honeymoon. 

Last year’s events drew over 150 brides and 40 vendors from around the state and the 2021 showcases are anticipated to see even more brides and vendors participating.

Full COVID-19 precautions will be in place and enforced per state and local guidelines.

Admission tickets are just $10.00 each. Additional information can be found online at https://www.metropolitanbridalexpo.com.

Exhibiting and sponsorship opportunities are now available. Learn more at https://www.metropolitanbridalexpo.com/exhibitors or contact Raquel Felder at 1-800-566-3646 or metbridalexpo@gmail.com.

Governor Cooper Just Announced Covid Vaccinations Opening Up To Group 3

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Today Governor Roy Cooper and NCDHHS announced plans to open up vaccinations to “group 3” individuals in North Carolina, starting with anyone working in child care or in PreK – 12 schools, on February 24.

“I am grateful to all of our educators and school personnel for going above and beyond in this pandemic to care for children and help them continue to learn,” said Governor Cooper. “Starting with a smaller number of Group 3 frontline essential workers helps providers streamline vaccine distribution effectively and efficiently.”

In their press release, NCDHHS said that due to group 3’s large size (consisting of all frontline essential workers), they need to prioritize which people in the group can go first.

Under the new timeline, the state plans to move to additional frontline workers on March 10th.

“Vaccine supply limitations continue to impact how fast we can get all North Carolinians vaccinated,” said NCDHHS Secretary Cohen. “Keep doing the 3Ws. Wear a mask, wait 6 feet apart, and wash your hands often. And be sure to visit YourSpotYourShot.nc.gov for accurate information.”

Yesterday, Governor Cooper also signed into law Senate Bill 36, AKA the ‘Covid Relief Bill’

“This pandemic continues to strain communities across our state, and this investment of federal funds in critical areas will help us defeat COVID-19 and build back a stronger and more resilient North Carolina,” said Cooper.

Coming to Charlotte in Late 2021: The Independent Picture House

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The Charlotte Film Society has decided on a name for the non-profit community cinema it plans to open in NoDa later this year. It will be The Independent Picture House.

“We feel the name and the brand really speak to what we are trying to accomplish with the community cinema,” said Brad Ritter, president of the Charlotte Film Society. “We want to be the center of independent and foreign film exhibition in Charlotte.”

Ritter, the former general manager at the now-closed Manor Theatre, added that “being independent from the constraints of major theatre chains will also allow us to work with a vast number of local and regional filmmakers and film festivals, providing them an affordable home where they can express their art.”

The building housing the cinema will be ¼ mile from the LYNX Blue Line’s Sugar Creek Station.

In 2020, the Film Society launched a campaign to bring a non-profit arthouse cinema to Charlotte.

So far, a GoFundMe campaign has raised more than $105,000 thanks to over 740 donors from the community. With generous help from the Foundation For The Carolinas, the Film Society recently began a drive to raise an additional $500,000 from 100 foundations and families.

Movie lovers from the Charlotte area also responded to the Film Society’s request that they submit recommended names for the new cinema. The Independent Picture House combines the suggestions of a trio of persons from the community as well as the Film Society’s board. The three community members will receive “Independent” T-shirts as well as a one-year Charlotte Film Society membership as a thank you.

The new logo/brand for the cinema was created by Evan Plante, owner and designer of Docklands Design in NoDa. Alongside the development of The Independent Picture House’s brand, Plante will work with the Film Society on a full-scale rebranding process that includes the Charlotte Film Festival.

Stay tuned for more details about this exciting new addition to Charlotte’s cultural and artistic landscape.

About The Charlotte Film Society Founded in 1982, the Charlotte Film Society is a non-profit, 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to providing a choice in moviegoing experiences. The Charlotte Film Society’s primary mission is to bring foreign, classic and independent films to Charlotte that might not otherwise screen in Charlotte. For more information about the Charlotte Film Society, please visit our website, www.charlottefilmsociety.org.

Dozens of Chargers “Takeover” I-77 To Perform Donuts and Burnouts

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Over this past weekend, dozens of cars blocked I-77 to do burnouts and donuts in the middle of the street in what’s being called on social media “street takeovers”.

One of the largest incidents seen so far this year took place on Friday night at about 11 pm on I-77 near the Tyvola Road exit. Witnesses say that at least 2 dozen Dodge Chargers flew past cars, then lined up and blocked all southbound traffic.

Yesterday afternoon, CMPD held a press conference to discuss what they will be doing about the increasingly aggressive drivers on Charlotte streets.

“It’s particularly brazen. It’s highly reckless. And it shows a shameless disregard for public safety and for the rules of the road,” says CMPD’s Major Dave Johnson.

What do you think should be done?

Concealed-Weapon Permits Have Tripled in North Carolina

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With an unprecedented number of shootings happening around Charlotte, an increasing number of residents are turning to concealed weapons for protection.

According to North Carolina’s State Bureau of Investigations, concealed-carry gun permits  increased from 177,787 in 2010 to 647,553 last year. Current permit holders make up about 8% of our population – the 10th highest level in America.

All that is required to obtain the permit is an 8-hour course, a gun firing test, and a criminal and mental health background check.

The permits allows the owner to conceal their firearms in all places guns are not prohibited. It also allows NC residents to buy an unlimited number of guns with no additional background checks required for each new purchase.

What do you think about concealed carry laws in our state? 

5 ways die-cut stickers can help grow your business

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Are you hunting for different ways to grow your business? Or, are you on a tight budget and need the highest ROI possible, with little risk?

We’re here to help give you some ideas for growing your business in 2021, all focused on the humble, die cut sticker.

What is a die-cut sticker?

The term die-cut refers to a sticker’s shape. Importantly it does not define the size or material of a sticker. A die-cut sticker gets individually cut in a custom shape around your artwork, not on sheets or rolls. The most helpful way to think of die-cut stickers is as custom-shaped stickers.

Why are stickers a good marketing tool?

Here are 3 simple reasons you should add stickers to your marketing plans.

  1. Their low-cost: Low costs = low risk. Low risk = easy to try and easy to iterate. Testing and iterating mean better & better results over time, resulting in higher ROIs.
  2. Perceived as a gift: Giving a premium sticker to a customer or influencer in the right circumstances will be perceived as a gift. We’ll explain how powerful this is a little later.
  3. They are simply…cool: There’s no better word for it. A beautifully designed, premium sticker brings a smile to our faces when we see it, creating emotion and positive associations for our brand.

Before we get into the ideas for using custom stickers in your marketing, we want to explain why giving gifts is powerful.

The power of gift-giving

Psychology’s rule of reciprocity is the reason giving gifts is so powerful. Reciprocity states when someone receives a gift, they feel compelled to return the favor.

This favor can mean buying products from you. It can also mean an Instagram post or by sticking it on their phone or laptop. All of these can be super powerful, so for such low costs, you should try it.

Using die-cut stickers to help you grow

Here are 5 top ideas on how stickers, particularly die-cut stickers, can help your business grow in 2021.

1. Put stickers in with your product.

Apple uses this very effectively and has done for years. It helps to get your brand in the hands of your most loyal fans (your customers). Because they are such a low cost per unit, this is a cheap way of ensuring they see your brand over & over.

2. Give stickers to influencers

Find micro-influencers in your space and send them some of your products along with some custom stickers. If you find the right people who share your brand’s audience, there is a high likelihood they will give you a shoutout. 

3. Try guerilla marketing

Guerilla marketing is when you use unconventional methods to communicate your brand. A good example is when Puma paid Pelé $120,000 to tie his shoelaces on the pitch, in front of millions, in the 1970 soccer World Cup final. You can use this inspiration to create wild ideas using stickers. Or have a Google – there are lots of ideas out there.

4. Brand your packaging

Branded packaging can be super powerful. It gives your customer an incredible impression when your package arrives at their door. Leaving your customer with a beautiful unboxing experience is something brands like Apple have gotten so right – maybe we can all learn something from them.

It is better to trust the whole packaging process from design to manufacturing to professionals in the field. This will not only ensure your product has high-quality packaging, but also make your job a lot easier. When you find reliable packaging manufacturers, they’ll provide you access to their top suppliers, internationally-certified facilities, and skilled manufacturing teams.

5. Stand out with floor graphics

Large custom floor stickers applied to your office or outside your coffee shop are common since Coronavirus. Why not try turning your social distancing floor graphic into a remarkable experience with your brand? If you’re already getting floor graphics, a little more design effort to stand out can go a long way.

And there we have it. We hope you’ve enjoyed these 5 ways die-cut stickers can help you to grow your business. If you have any other ideas or want to know more, please comment below.

Insulated Bags

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Insulated bags will keep your food at the right temperature, whether cold or hot. They are becoming more popular and offer a solution to how people are carrying food items. The bags are ideal for someone who spends a lot of time on outdoor trips. They need somewhere to store food and keep it at the right temperatures. Also, the bags may be useful for day-to-day activities like grocery shopping. You can use an insulated bag in the place of thin grocery bags, and they will keep you grocery cooler as you head back home. The bag will give you ample time if you buy perishable groceries because you will not have to worry about where to store them. You can enjoy your trip back home and even look for some other things because you know that your groceries are safe.  

Maintaining temperatures is not the only advantage of the insulated bags. They have many other benefits, which include the following:

They are Environmental Friendly

The environment is precious, and everyone is trying to take care of it. That is why most people prefer using products that are not harmful to the ecosystem. Ecofriendly products are therefore becoming more popular. The insulated bags are eco-friendly and do not pollute the environment like plastic bags, and you can reuse them over time. They also last longer. 

They Provide better Insulation than Cooling Boxes

When someone buys a cooling box, they expect it to serve them satisfactorily. However, cooling boxes do not guarantee you the ability to keep your food items at the right temperatures. You will need to fill the boxes with ice but still, doubt whether they will keep your food items cool. It means that buying a plastic cooling box is more or less like a waste of money. 

On the other hand, an insulated bag will provide you with a 100% guarantee to keep your food at the right temperature. The bag is not made of plastic, providing it with no chances of not serving you as intended. The bag offers more insulation and is ideal for every event where you will carry packed food. 

They Occupy Less Space

One big area of concern with carrying your food items is the space they will occupy. If you choose to carry them in a plastic cooler box, they will occupy too much space. The issue gets even more problematic if you have no room to put the plastic cooler boxes and end up carrying them in your hands. An insulated bag offers you the best solution. The bag does not take too much space, giving you the benefit of ease of transport. If you do not have somewhere to place them, you can carry the bag on your back. The good thing with insulated bags is that when they are empty, you can easily fold them and put them in the car’s dashboard. This means that anytime you go shopping, you have storage bags on the ready.

The Bags are Lightweight

A lightweight bag will not get you tired and will be easy to carry around. It makes your hiking or picnic experience enjoyable. That is precisely what an insulated bag does. The lightweight bag gives you a chance to carry it around like a backpack and given its esthetic appeal, it is a great way to carry your items when going hiking or on a picnic. 

The Bags Prevent Spillage

It will be an awful experience if your food items spill while you are carrying them. The case can be even worse for someone who is delivering food because the other person expects to receive the food intact. The insulated bag provides you with enough space to pack the food for safety when carrying them. Additionally, in case of any spillage, the bag has enough protection to keep the other foods dry. You can easily clean the bag get it ready for next time. 

Bottom-line

Buying yourself an insulated bag offers you a solution to the problem of carrying food items. Many food companies use the insulated bags for food deliveries. They ensure that the food remains at the ideal temperature, whether cool or hot. The bags function based on an older idea – ice coolers. The insulation in the bags acts as a layer of protection against the outside temperatures and that the temperature remains at the needed levels. You can use the insulated bags for grocery shopping or when packing food for a picnic. Also, for someone with kids, you can keep the kids’ food in the insulated bags. The good thing is that they come in different sizes and styles, and you can choose your preferred one.

Is an option to buy Instagram likes still legit in terms of decent promotion?

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Some people still underestimate the power of nicely developed social media pages that can actually not only widen your audience sufficiently, but also build you a reputation and an image from scratch. It happens even to the owners of Instagram pages: they think that they won’t be able to sell anything through this platform and postpone the start of their content promotion there. 

Social media marketing is a thing that everybody should do: as well as taking on a chance to buy instagram likes, cooperate with a professional promoter and take care of a content plan. These are obvious things to people who are already deep into the process, but novices still have difficulties with starting off and organising things correctly. In this article we’re going to tell you about the main points that you should keep in your mind while trying to develop your profile on social media. 

But at the beginning of this text we’d like to accentuate that even if you are on Instagram to sell and advertise, keeping informational, entertaining and “thoughtful” posts in your feed is necessary. You can use Instagram bots to boost it up easily. People won’t perceive your profile as something humanly, appealing and interesting to follow. People are here for information, for trends, for laughter. So whatever you can bring to the table, bring it and make people stay with you because of how authentic and unique your content is. The worst thing you could do is filling your account with advertising posts only and thinking that this is it: always mix things up in your content plan and keep your subscribers engaged and interested in what you’re posting about. 

Engagement and interaction is super important as well. Putting forward high quality stuff and answering the comments, replying to people in your direct messages and making sure that all the main information about your brand or your blog is up to date is your first place priority. Without that people will quickly unfollow you and forget about what you’ve been trying to sell or advertise as no one cares about a product if this product’s creator isn’t there for the buyers or clients. 

And now back to why promotion is important. Even gigantic corporations care about their “face” that is their social media pages. They are trying to share their ideology, their ideas and their plans for the future – policy if the companies are changing as the time goes by, and slowly social issues and global problems are becoming a part of any brand’s or any influencer’s life. There is nothing surprising in it, and if you aren’t already in, you definitely have to join, certain communities are interested in certain types of content and you can always try to go with the flow and increase your likes count because of sharing a certain thought or idea in your profile. 

So, do paid likes still work?

Yes, if those are real. And if you have already organised everything in a decent way, meaning visuals, content, bio, main photo etc. Why can paid likes be efficient? Some people are pretty sceptical about purchasing paid options for account’s promotion, but why? Today the most well made websites might appear as scam, as an indecent resource that’s selling bot delivered likes and is just trying to take your money and leave you with nothing as a result. 

But bot delivered likes still increase your likes number, you might say, why is that bad? Sure, but you shouldn’t forget that bots are currently being deleted by each and every social media system that’s trying to make its environment people friendly and comfortable for influencers who need live audiences. 

Choose the company that provides likes using the help of real Insta users. You can do so by checking out comments and reviews of previous buyers, by talking with their staff, the managers who should be waiting for your questions in chat on the website of this company. These specialists can also give you helpful bits of advice about how you can organise your promotion in the most efficient way, for example, by combining several promo options from their website. 

If you are new to the whole online promotion thing, check out Viplikes.com as this is a website that provides only highest quality services, has completely free trials of their promo options and also has a constant technical support team working on their website and solving all the problems before these even occur. They have the widest base of regular clients who don’t want to go choose any other company to work with – and this fact says it all. 

Ensuring Your Loved Ones are Cared for During Uncertain Times

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Perhaps you worry about what would happen to your loved ones if you had an incapacitating illness or died unexpectedly. The good news is there are steps you can take now to protect those closest to you. Whether it’s naming financial beneficiaries or creating a health directive, you can create a plan for your estate.

Set Up Life Insurance

One of the best ways of providing for your loved ones is to secure a life insurance policy. It isn’t a replacement for you, but it might replace a bit of the income you bring in. The payout is also helpful for covering debts and funeral expenses. In the long-term, it might help with housing, food, or clothing. And if you have dependents, your beneficiaries might use the payouts to help cover college educations for them. Getting a policy now can enhance your loved ones lives. There are many coverages amounts to choose from, allowing you to pick something that can help your family live comfortably. When shopping around for policies, you’ll want to do your research. For instance, you should learn about viatical settlements. It involves selling your policy for more than the cash surrender value. If you want to get cash out, you can review a guide to understand what a viatical settlement is

Create a Health Care Directive for Physical Care

If you’re unable to care for yourself, you can let your loved ones know what you desire by creating a health care directive. The document lets the healthcare provider know what you want when it comes to treatments designed to prolong your life. These treatments might include artificial hydration or the use of breathing machines. A healthcare directive will apply if you are permanently unconscious or have a terminal condition. 

Ensure You Have Primary and Secondary Beneficiaries for Financial Accounts

When designating beneficiaries for financial accounts, like brokerage and retirement, you’ll dictate who receives the money if you pass away. For instance, perhaps you don’t want to leave the money to a past spouse. In that case, you could name one or more beneficiaries. Just make sure you review each account regularly, especially if there has been a death, marriage, or divorce in your family. Updating your online will is not enough to keep you safe from an outdated beneficiary. Remember, if the will and beneficiary designations contradict each other, the beneficiary designation will often prevail.

Ensure Minor Children Are Cared For

If you have underage children, one of the most critical things to ensure their future is under control to pick a guardian to raise them if you are unable to. The individual needs to be an adult who is willing and able to have the responsibility. It’s best to have a backup plan if the first individual can’t handle these responsibilities. Just ensure you communicate with the potential guardian first. You’ll want to explain the financial aspects, like whether there would be funds to support the children. Suppose you have a preferred way of raising the kids, like following certain religious traditions. In that case, the potential guardian needs to understand those.

Charlotte’s Broadstone Lemmond Farm: Modern Farmhouse Apartments’ Master Plan Preserves NC’s Outdoor Heritage

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Once a farm that was part of the Helms family for generations, Alliance Residential Company strived to create a nature-friendly, intentional community when designing Broadstone Lemmond Farm, a newly opened luxury apartment community tucked between Charlotte and Mint Hill. The finished result honors and preserves the spirit of the property with both the design and the branding. With design elements that draw from the property’s history as a cattle and horse farm, Broadstone Lemmond Farm features rustic apartment units that deliver sophistication and a modern farmhouse feel. And with unique outdoor-centric amenities, including a Lakehouse community lounge, Broadstone Lemmond Farm continues the vision the Helms family always had for this property.

Part of something larger, Broadstone Lemmond Farm is a piece of the master planned project in Lemmond Farm, which is being developed by the Helms family and Stanchion Asset Partners. Once complete, the master plan will consist of 45,000 square feet of commercial space and 5,000 square feet of arts and / or cultural space, in addition to Broadstone Lemmond Farm’s 336 apartment units. 

Broadstone Lemmond Farm consists of 336 luxury one-, two- and three-bedroom apartment units averaging 924 square feet. Rustic charm blends with the latest in modern conveniences to create homes that appeal to the growing population of young professionals seeking the lifestyle offered by the fast-growing southeast Charlotte suburbs of Mint Hill and Matthews. Units feature stylish granite countertops; designer lighting packages; two designer finish schemes; stainless steel GE appliances; built-in mud stations; and top-of-the-line Moen kitchen and bathroom fixtures. Sustainably built, Broadstone Lemmond Farm will receive the National Green Building Standard (NGBS) Green Certification, providing residents with energy efficient homes.

“As Mint Hill has become an increasingly popular destination, our goal was to create a community that offered residents a sophisticated development with a strong sense of community combined with unique amenities and lifestyle conveniences that are accessible to the areas where they work and play,” said Alliance Residential Company’s Carolinas Managing Director Donald Santos. “Broadstone Lemmond Farm is truly unique as it blends indoor and outdoor luxury, and we are excited to open our doors to the community as part of the Lemmond Farm master planned project.” 

At home, residents can enjoy unique community amenities, including the Lakehouse community lounge, a gathering space designed for entertaining by the lake; an open entertainment area with TVs; outdoor firepit; outdoor cabana lounge; onsite grilling stations with a Big Green Egg; clubhouse library; resort-style saltwater pool; pet park and spa; state-of-the-art fitness center; private offices; and, electric car parking.

Located at 12009 Lemmond Farm Drive, Broadstone Lemmond Farm and the larger master plan community offers year-round opportunities for adventure. From forested hills and wide-open spaces, to charming farmland and lakeside living, this neighborhood is in close proximity to nature. Traverse the bike trails at Sherman Branch or stroll along the walking paths at the 50-acre Mint Hill Veterans Memorial Park. Explore all the restaurants, shops and entertainment in Waverly and Matthews, discover quaint Mint Hill, commute to Uptown or University City, and easily access the entire Charlotte area from our prime location near I-485.

With all that Broadstone Lemmond Farm offers, it’s clear the finished community continues the vision the Helms family always had for this property.

For more information, visit https://www.broadstonelemmondfarm.com/ and follow Broadstone Lemmond Farm on Facebook and Instagram.