Moving to Charlotte NC? READ this First

 This is a sponsored post on behalf of Zumper.

If you are planning a move to Charlotte NC, you need to do some research before you move.  Whether it is for a job, school, or retirement, there are some things you should know before you pack up and move.

 Housing

Where will you live?  How much will it cost?  Well, those factors are definitely determined by your budget.  Let Zumper help you with that. So, what's Zumper?Zumper is used by millions of renters to find houses, rooms, condos, or apartments for rent. You can apply online. Just Submit the digital rental applications and credit reports with Zumper's screening service, powered by TransUnion™. Zumper has Quality listings

Their inventory is updated in real-time, so you'll always see new rentals on Zumper first. You can choose to get real-time alerts and filter by location, price range, bedroom count, pet-friendly, or amenity and set an alert to get notifications when a new listing is posted.

The median rent for a three-bedroom apartment is $1600.  This can vary based on the exact location.  What are your apartment goals?

Cost of Living

When I think of the cost of living, I think:  How much is a of bread or what are gas prices?  On a recent move, I had to pay a $500 deposit to the company that provides electricity to my rental.  In the city of Charlotte, Duke Energy will be your provider so make sure and contact them to see what type of deposits you will need before you can move in. The deposit I paid was the deposit for everybody. Some energy companies run a credit report and your deposit is based on your credit rating. This needs to be factored into your budget.  Will you need natural gas hooked up too?  There are many factors to consider before that move to Charlotte.

Crime Rates

This is definitely something to consider when you are making that move to Charlotte.  I know every major city has crime, but you can always find the safest neighborhoods to live I if you do the research first!   This information can also let you know what security measures you might want to consider before you move.  Do you need a security system or will a video doorbell suffice?  

Local Schools

No matter if your child is in elementary school or high school, you want to make sure they are in the best schools.  Charlotte NC has 126 public schools and 58 private schools. You will need to find out the student to teacher ratio and average test scores of the school your child(ren) will be attending.  That is a HUGE factor in choosing the right address on Zumper.  Call the schools your child might be attending, look on their websites, and see what is going on at that school.

Weather

Charlotte NC is located in the southern United States and it can get quite warm during the summer months.  If you are not used to the humidity, it might take some getting used to.  Winter is not that cold, but it does snow sometimes.  If you are moving from different climates, you will want to make sure you have proper clothing.  But, you can probably toss any snowsuits you might have.

Transportation

While most people in Charlotte commute by car, you may want to research public transportation.   Also, you need to check with your auto insurance company to see what average rates are for residents of Charlotte.  I know my auto insurance went down when I moved from Aiken SC to Charlotte NC, and that was a welcome surprise.

Local Happenings

While Charlotte boasts a beautiful downtown area, you will want to know how close you are to the grocery store and restaurants.  Charlotte has a lot of financial institutions, so finding a bank should be effortless.  The Carolina Panthers NFL team is based in Charlotte, so grab some tickets to go see a game.  You can also visit Corawinds amusement park, Charlotte Ballet, or many other local attractions.  The city is rich in culture and history, so make sure you check these out.  Charlotte is a fast-growing city with a population of over 800,00, so get ready to live in a big city. 

Job Market

More than likely you are making a move because you already have a job in Charlotte.  But, if your spouse will have to look for a job, check out the classified ads or call the local Chamber of Commerce to see what types of jobs are available based on your skills.  Being home to so many financial institutions, if you have experience in that area, finding a job should not be a problem.

After you have factored in all of the above elements, you will now be ready to make that move to Charlotte.  Let Zumper help you find the perfect rental!

Gifts for the college student

Are you looking for gifts for your college student?  Look no further.  Reviewz & Newz will be updating this list daily so be sure and come back.

Power Hub Ultra

Make sure your student is on time and has a fully charged device.  You can charge up to 6 devices with this Power Hub Ultra.

People's Choice Beef Jerky

Make sure your student has plenty of snacks for those late-night study groups.  People's Choice Beef Jerky has many gifting options your student is sure to love.

Acell Powermid

Acell Power Cutie

Make sure your student keeps all devices plugged and all charged up with these two items from Acell.  The Powermid comes in black and white and can handle all your electronics even during a power surge.  The Acell Cuties come in a variety of colors and are perfect to keep in your dorm room. 

Slickdeals Black Friday at GameStop

 This is a sponsored post on behalf of Slickdeals.

GameStop is one place I shop at all the time.  Or, I should say my kids shop at GameStop, I just pay for it.  So, when Black Friday hits, I will be ready because I am following all the deals and coupon codes from Slickdeals.

When you have teens and adults that are gamers, GameStop is a must stop for shopping year-round, as well as for Holiday shopping. This makes for easy gift giving ideas.  I am ALWAYS looking for a deal at GameStop and following Slickdeals means, I am getting the most bang for my buck. 

Slickdeals has the latest deals, coupons, sales, and other pertinent info when it comes to shopping online and Black Friday at GameStop is going to be awesome. Whether you are wanting to buy a new game console or buy games for the consoles you already have, check Slickdeals before you make any purchase.  There will be many money-saving offers available for GameStop this year.

I know the PS5s are being released soon and with new game consoles come new games. and accessories. Slockdeals is the place to look for percent off deals, free shipping codes, coupons code, and everything you will need to save money on shopping at GameStop on Black Friday. I think with a new console being released, there will be tons of deals on the existing consoles, whether it be for games, accessories, or your fave games' merchandise.  I know GameStop will have it all for all my gamers out there and the people who will be giving gifts to the gamers.

The great thing about shopping online is THERE are NO LINES TO WAIT!  You can shop from the comfort of your home.  So, put on your pajamas, grab a cup of coffee or your favorite beverage and shop all GameStop Black Friday deals at Slickdeals.

 Make sure to check ut Slickdeals NOW as ad scans are going up and Slickdeals will be the first place to look.  PLAN your shopping and know what times the online bargains will begin.  If you are budget savvy like me, you will want to be on top of what s going to be a deal and what time you need to be online to get for the huge discount.  

So, what deals are you looking for this Black Friday at GameStop?  I have my eye on a few things and Slickdeals is where I will be looking!  Prepare now and bookmark Slickdeals for ALL your Black Friday shopping.

Osmo Genuis Starter Kit

Thanks to Osmo for providing this awesome Genuis Starter Kit.  I am always looking for learning activities for my son, Zach.  Zach is autistic and non-verbal,  and loves his Ipad.  So, when I was given the opportunity to have my very own Osmo kit, I was thrilled.  He uses Osmo at school and loves it.   I want him to be able to learn and have fun doing so, so Osmo was my answer to that! 

Zach has so many games on his Ipad and that is okay.  But, I don't want him sitting around all day playing games on his Ipad.  Osmo is a fun way to learn and test your skills.  Although he is older, he enjoys Osmo so much.  How do I know, you ask?  Because he smiles when he is using Osmo.

Osmo provides him with reading, vocabulary, solving problems, solving visual shapes.  The best thing about Zach using Osmo is, HE CAN DO IT ON HIS OWN! His favorite thing to do on Osmo is draw.

I scour the internet looking for toys r games that can be geared to differently-abled children and I have a 100% positive rating for everything about Osmo.

You can buy Osmo kits that are compatible with Ipads or Kindle Fire and there are many different kits that you can add on.  I love that his screen time is spent learning and not watching videos or playing other nonlearning games. Comes with OSMO Base for iPad or Amazon Fire, Tangram pieces, Numbers tiles, Word tiles, Stackable storage for each game & 5 STEM-focused game apps (Tangram, Newton, Masterpiece, Numbers, and Words). Games are designed for beginner to expert levels. Parents can track a child’s progress on a parent app. Genius Kit for iPad is available from Amazon.com

Make sure to check out Osmo on Amazon and get a kit for your child.

 

Best Subscription Box: Chef's Garden Best of the Season

 

Thanks to Chef's Garden for this HUGE box of FRESH seasonal vegetables.  Now that summer has ended, you can get squash, cabbage, spinach, cauliflower, and much, much more in your Farmer Jones Farm Best of the Season Box.  Shipped the next day to make sure you receive the freshest veggies.  The lettuce was AMAZING!.  This box is packed full of your fave fall veggies.

The Chef's Garden supplies regeneratively farmed boxes of fresh vegetables, herbs, edible flowers, and microgreens to top chefs and restaurants around the country and world. And, they are now offering subscription boxes to home chefs, delivering them directly to them. 

This farm is family owned and operated by the Jones family. Farmer Lee Jones was honored to receive the James Beard Foundation’s award for Who’s Who in Food & Beverage, making him one of the first farmers to receive it. He serves on the boards for Chef Magazine, Chef Concept, and Modern Farmer. He has been profiled in conjunction with The Chef’s Garden in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Inc. Magazine, Entrepreneur, Bon Appétit, Gourmet, Food & Wine, Cooking Light, Newsweek, and The Washington Post. 

The Chef’s Garden has been chronicled by “The Martha Stewart Show,” “Roker on the Road,” “CNN Business Unusual,” and ABC World News, and Farmer Lee Jones was the first farmer ever to judge the popular Food Network show “Iron Chef America.” He appeared in an episode of the Food Network’s “Food Network Star” as well as “Restaurant: Impossible” along with First Lady Michelle Obama. Farmer Lee Jones has also been heard on “Fresh Air,” “All Things Considered” and “The Story.” Plus, in 2019, he was a Jeopardy question!

One of our lucky readers is going to win this box valued at $89. US entrants only.  The winner has 48 hours to respond to the email or forfeit.  The sponsor is responsible for shipping. Please note:  This is a seasonal box and products may vary from what is pictured above.  Please make sure you have some sort of picture on your social media profiles!

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2 Hearts Movie Review +Giveaway

It is cozy weather time folks! Nothing better than getting into your favorite sweater with a cup of hot cocoa and take yourself out to the movies. If you love movies that are romantic and inspirational this one is for you. It's the kind of movie that teaches us every moment in life is a gift. It is also about hope and generosity along with some humor and fun.

2 HEARTS is an inspirational true story about the future unfolding for two couples in different decades and different places in the world. A hidden connection will bring them together in a way that no one could have predicted. This romantic journey celebrates life, love, and the generosity of spirit. It will strengthen the belief that miracles still happen.

This movie will be released nationwide on 10/16/2020 from AMT Productions. It is rated PG13 and the runtime is 1:14 It is in theaters right now.

2 HEARTS stars Jacob Elordi (Euphoria, Kissing Booth) Tiera Skovbye (Riverdale, The Miracle Season) Radha Mitchell (Dreamkatcher, The Shack) Adan Canto (X-Men, Days of Future Past, Designated Survivor)

This movie will reach inside and turn your emotions over but you will be left with a smile. I love a movie that may make you want to shed a tear or two but ends reminding you that miracles are still happening. In this day we need some more true stories like this to keep our hope and faith.



Due to Covid 19 the movie passes will be replaced with $20. PayPal or Venmo so that you may enjoy 2 Hearts anyway you want to!

Must be 18, World Wide! Giveaway starts Tuesday, September 1st at 12:00am (EST) and ends September 15th, 2020, at 11:59 pm (EST). The winner must return the winning e-mail within 48 hours or forfeit said prize. Please give the RC a moment to load. While any one entry will enter you, the more tasks you complete, the higher your chances. Good Luck Everyone!
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Disclosure: Mom To Grandma and participating bloggers are not responsible for shipping or receiving the prize or any injury from said prize(s). Although, we will try to reach the sponsor on your behalf if you have not received your prize in 6 to 8 weeks. Fb, nor any other social networks, are in any way associated with this giveaway.

This cute little kitty will light up your life

 I received this product from Thames & Kosmos for review.  

With CREATTO, you can design and construct illuminated, three dimensional creations that literally light up your life!  The kit includes flexible yet durable interlocking plastic tiles and a string of LED lights that you can piece together to make animals, decorations or your own custom creations.  Each set includes an illustrated manual with easy, step by step instructions for multiple designs, but the building possibilities are nearly limitless using your imagination.  Suitable for ages 8 to adult.

Starlight Kitty & Cutie Crew has a retail price of $19.95 and is recommended for age 8 and up.  The kit includes 66 Creatto pieces and assembly instructions to build a kitty cat, mouse house, teddy bear and squirrel, but the possibilities are limited only by your imagination.  Add the string of 40 LED lights to illuminate your works of art from the inside out.

This little cat is so cute when lit up, and my 11 year old really enjoyed putting it together.  She is a collector of cats and is very creative, so this was a perfect gift for her.  The instructions were easy to follow and she was able to do this on her own.  It now sits on her desk, proudly displayed in front of the window.  If you have a child who loves to do crafts, one of these CREATTO kits would be an awesome gift idea.  Other varieties are also available including Magical Moose & Forest Friends, Moonlight Elephant Safari, Shimmer Shark & Ocean Pals and Sparkle Unicorn & Friends.