Several upcoming events that folks should be aware of and support.

This Saturday, January 30 from 4:30-6:00 pm, the Union Mills Learning Center will sponsor a spaghetti dinner complete with salad, bread, drink and dessert - all for just $6 for adults and $4 for children age 12 and under. There will also be entertainment by STAND - the home-schooled children of the area.

If you didn't have the opportunity to attend last year and want to have a great fruit and vegetable garden this year, be sure to reserve your spot in the 2010 Sustainable Horticulture School, which begins Saturday, February 6th. The Spring semester runs through March 27th (8 consecutive Saturdays) with classes from 1-5 pm each day. The cost is $80 per person with some scholarships available for unemployed and displaced workers. Call TODAY - 828-288-6150 or e-mail anna@foothillsconnect.com for complete details. A sure sign Spring is around the corner!

The new conference center will be the center of attention at Hospice on February 12th. The goal of this fundraiser/marketing event is to raise money for Hospice as well as to make the public aware of their new facility. Tickets are presently available at the Center for only $10! You will be treated to a wonderful meal prepared by the Hospice chef, along with music to dine by. This event is open to the public!

Be sure to double check your events for this weekend before you leave the house; with the weather "experts" predicting a rather wintery mix for Saturday, many events may be cancelled and rescheduled!

If you have to run out and stock-up on food for the predicted snow - you may want to take your coupons and head to Ingles! This week they are offering triple couponing, which means a 50 cent coupon now becomes $1.50!! This offer runs through Saturday, so check their ad and use your coupons for all those Super Bowl snacks!

Happy Shopping!

Now that everyone has had time to put away the Christmas decorations and the weather has warmed up, it's time to start de-cluttering your life! An expert on the addiction to stuff says "Clutter keeps us from living the lives we want", so why not adopt a few of the tips listed below and start the New Year off right with a new clutter-free lifestyle!

*Start small, tackle something like a kitchen or dresser drawer. Dump the contents of the drawer into a box. Every time you use an item, transfer the item from the box to the drawer. At the end of a month, see what items you actually use. Those you don't, put in a bag or box for charity.

* Tired of all those catalogs that come in the mail? - Go to catalogchoice.org and cancel them for free.

*Each time you buy a new book, give one away. Look for local bookstores who offer book trades - bring one in and take one home with you. This works for CDs, kids' toys and other collectibles.

*I thought this idea was particularly clever - hang all your clothes with the hangers facing one way. After weraring a garment, replace it with the hanger turned the other way. This trick will help you what clothes are worth keeping.

* Get the family involved with your project - set aside 10 minutes each evening and give family members two trash bags - one for trash & one for items to go to charity; have them go room to room and fill those bags up!

*We all love to hang on to sentimental things because they remind us of special people, events or accomplishments. Find ways to remember without the clutter - keep pictures and articles in scrapbooks or albums, use shadow boxes to show off theater tickets or corsages, or keep your memories alive by keeping a written journal of your memories!

Just remember Mess is Stress!

After a long hiatus from the blog, the Savvy Shopper is back to work! Hope everyone had a great holiday and spent lots of time shopping in Rutherford County!

If you're like me, you probably received gift cards as gifts from friends and relatives. With all the current sales going on this month, it's a great time to use them. January is traditionally the month to find great buys on linens, winter coats and left over Christmas decorations. It has also become the month to purchase many household items such as washers & dryers, vacuum cleaners and other appliances. Many manufacturers are debuting their latest models and older models are being discontinued and clearanced.

I've also noticed that the home improvement stores such as Lowes and Home Depot are now offering great deals on installation of items such as carpet, due to the slump in new housing. Figures show that people are starting to update or remodel their existing homes, rather than buy or build new. So.... take advantage of $97 entire house carpet installation, plus cash in on the

discontinued carpeting at low prices. It's sure to be a win, win situation!

For those of you who got engaged over the holiday, be sure to visit the Bridal Shows being held in the local areas. There is one scheduled for Saturday, January 9 at the new Carolina Event and Conference Center on Hudlow Road. Doris Cute, event coordinator of Fresh Start Wedding and Event Services, is putting on the Blue Ridge Wedding Show. The show will begin at 10:00 am with a Mother/Daughter Brunch. Participants include Joy's Bridal of Forest City, Staley Clothing of Spindale, Tuscany Italian Grille, Foothills Bridal Magazine, Bostic Florist, First National Bank, Larkins on the Lake, Carolina Chiropractic Plus, Honeymoons, Inc., Chad's Video Services, Belk and Bruce's Fabulous Foods, as well as other vendors from Rutherford and surrounding counties.

For more information, contact Doris at 447-2674 or visit http://www.freshstartwes.com/

Make plans to stop by Fireside Books & Gifts Friday evening. Nicole Seitz, a native of Hilton Head Island, SC, visits the area on Friday, January 8, with a stop at Fireside between 5:30-7:30 pm to share her latest literary gift Saving Cicadas. The book follows the revelatory and haunting journey of a struggling single mother from South Carolina. Refreshments will be available for you while you browse the bookshelves and visit with this renowned Southern author!

And don't miss the live radio interview Friday morning at 8:35 am with Nicole Seitz during the Jim Bishop Morning Show on WCAB 590 AM.

Be sure to stop by your favorite shops in the next few weeks. With Christmas decor being put away, new shipments of merchandise for Spring will be arriving! Happy shopping!!