Organization is everywhere right now.  The IT thing.  Everyone is doing it.  So...what happens if you are a born organizer and then all of your friends begin to notice how organized you are and, one by one, ask you to come and help? Organization Essentials hatches.

Liz deVore, owner of Organization Essentials, has a knack for getting (and staying) organized.  Liz helps her clients implement a system for filing and for maintaining tax records with labeling systems that help you to know what you need to save.  I recently decided to tackle organizing my kitchen and asked Liz for a few tips. Here’s what she had to say:

We thought we'd post an email from one of our readers - we think this is a great thing Pepsi is doing and hope you will help vote for this grant that will ultimately make a difference in the lives of your neighbors in the Sandhills...

Dear fellow sandhillsDig.com readers,

I have been involved, over the years, as a volunteer in a number of capacities at Penick Village, a retirement community in Southern Pines where my mother now lives.  It’s a wonderful place where residents and their lives are celebrated daily in every possible way.  My mom absolutely loves it.

Last week we took Nina to Dave's Dirty Dogs, a new (and brilliant!) business in Pinehurst. Dave, who also owns the laundry mat next door, renovated the other half of the building into a save-your-home-from-the-mess place for people to actually have FUN washing their dogs! We sure did. And Nina was thankful for the free bones and head scratches. The rates are reasonable and if you don't want to roll up your sleeves, the friendly staff will wash your dog for you.  We'll let the pictures (and a short video) show you around...

Step one: bring in your dirty dog

Step two: walk the plank (just the dog) 

Looking for a fun place to watch the big game? Check out what these local spots have going on!

O'Mahoney's in Southern Pines is offering an ALL YOU CAN EAT BUFFET (loaded with bar food & hor d'oeurvres) for $10.  Plus, you can watch the game on any of their 24 HD LCD's.  Interactive games are planned as well. 

Mister P's, near Bill Smith Ford in Southern Pines, has specials that include $5 for any sandwich or burger & buy any appetizer and get the 2nd one at half price.  Don't miss a minute of the game on one of their 12 HD flat screens.

Email your favorite "Sandhills Snow Days" photos to contact@sandhillsDig.com and we'll post a gallery of the best on our blog! Best photo wins a $15 gift certificate to Swank Coffee Shoppe & Handmade Market in downtown SoPines! We'll announce a winner next week.  Let's see 'em!

On a frigid Tuesday evening Anna and I decided we needed a little Southern Comfort, so we headed for the Magnolia Inn Pub for the best tomato bisque and grilled cheese you’ll ever taste (a.k.a. the Southern Comfort). It all just hit the spot - the cozy pub, catching up with our friend and one of Magnolia’s finest Ann Marie, and of course the meal itself. Doesn’t a grilled cheese sandwich always taste better when someone else makes it?

Southern comfort is also the staple for the way you’re treated at the Magnolia Inn. Call innkeepers Dan and Jackie Berry for room rates, dinner reservations & for seasonal specials.

Does this new year have you hard at work trying to figure out what your resolutions will be for 2010?  If you're like me, you're getting organized, making notes and pondering ways to make 2010 the best year yet.  Although, it all starts with New Year's Eve and that means celebrating this Thursday night.  Start making your plans of where you want to be when the "pinecone" drops.  Downtown Southern Pines will be alive with it's First Eve celebration.  Broad Street will be blocked off from 6-8:30pm with a variety of activities and entertainment for all ages.  Call your friends and family & watch the "pinecone drop" at 8:30!

Going over my list this week (& checking it twice) I realized that with all the Christmas and New Year's celebrations ahead that I needed to go see Tad at Uncorked to stock up on a holiday selection of wine & champagne.  Located off Linden Road beside Elliotts in Pinehurst, Uncorked offers customers the opportunity to sample wines before you buy.  Too long of a "to do" list?  Uncorked even does home delivery within the Sandhills.  Here are some more facts sandhillsDig.com has learned about Uncorked:

• Over 200 wines & 100 different beers to choose from
• They can special order any wine
• 90% of their wine & beer labels you won't find anywhere else in the Sandhills

Check out these upcoming events at Uncorked:

Last Minute Shoppers (Free tasting) - Saturday Dec. 19th - Noon to 4pm - All wines will be 10% off, 15% off all case purchases.  Santa says you may mix and match.  Call 910.295.3663 for the details.

We couldn’t help but to tell you about one of Nina’s doggie friends who is in need of a very special home. Meet Popcorn…

Popcorn is a beautiful black lab mix discovered by Moore Co. resident Cassie Willis when she was visiting the Sandhills Cinema 10 for a movie. After 4 attempts, Popcorn was captured and brought in. Popcorn is already house trained, loves to walk on a leash (we wish she could teach Nina…) but is painfully shy and needs to find a cat-free home with a family who can give her lots of love and special care. We were so enchanted by Popcorn’s story and hope that her story will continue on with a new home.

If you don't visit Popcorn this weekend at the Animal Center of Moore County, she will be co-hosting the Top Hat & Tails event this Monday, December 7th at the Fair Barn in Pinehurst.  The festivities begin at 5:30pm with heavy hors d'oeuvres, wine and beer, a silent auction & an adoptable pet parade! This is a benefit for Animal Advocates of Moore County.  For event info & tickets please call Sue at 910.245.7446 or Maureen at 910.295.7587.

So if you’ve got room in your heart and your inn this Christmas season… go and rescue Popcorn.

Wow. Thanksgiving has come and gone…as well as the leftovers. All the fried turkey, stuffing, collards, casseroles and pies have finally disappeared. As I write, I’m reminded that the next few weeks leading up to Christmas always seems to get busier and busier. Therefore, I’m going to get ahead of the game this year starting with my dinner reservations. For instance, we are headed to the Village of Pinehurst Tree Lighting this Friday evening and want to enjoy a delicious dinner with friends afterwards. Where should we go?

Browse our local restaurant guide and make your holiday reservations ahead of time!

This week has what I will call a "cornucopia" full of local events that you should mark on your calendars.  Don't be a turkey, get out and be local this weekend!

Check out huge "Black Friday" savings at Donna Lane & Pearly Girl in downtown Southern Pines.  The word is that Michelle has marked down most items 40% off including jewelry, make-up and accessories when you stop by between 10am-12pm.  Plus, take advantage of 10% off all spa services.

Last night, we decided on Ten-Ya in the Village of Pinehurst.  Ten-Ya has a new menu so we took our time to see what would catch our eye.  We started by sharing Edamame and for our meal, I went conservative with the authentic Hibachi Chicken and Anna picked out a roll from their new sushi menu which has a motto: "Never Try, Never Know." Our server recommended the Kabuto Roll which was delicious - spicy tuna, white tuna, cream cheese & caviar flash fried with spicy sauce.

Our favorite thing?  Enjoying creative sushi rolls (like a meal you might find in Raleigh or D.C.), and then stepping out the front door into the quaint Village of Pinehurst - home.

Ten-Ya is running a sushi special for the month of November - Buy one, Get one half off.  Enjoy any sushi roll at the regular price and get a second roll of equal or lesser value for half price. 

FYI - Ten-Ya has another location in downtown Southern Pines

Head over to the Carolina Hotel at Pinehurst Resort for 2 more days of events, trees, fundraising and Christmas cheer to benefit the Sandhills Children’s Center children with disabilities.

Saturday, November 14 10:00am - 10:00pm Admission by any $ donation at the Door
9:00am Breakfast with Santa Event
Cardinal Ballroom, $30 per person in advance at 910-692-3323

7:00 - 10:00pm Festival of Trees Finale Event - A Salute to the Designers
Sponsored by Surgery Center of Pinehurst
Desserts from area bakers, Entertainment by House Call and Cash Bar!
All silent auction bidding ends during Finale

Sunday, November 15
10:00am - 3:00pm Admission by any $ donation at the Door
Family Day Event sponsored by Southern Pines Women's Health Center
10:00am - 2:00pm Visit with Santa

3:30 - 6:30pm Auction Item Pickup

www.festivaloftrees.org

Which tree at this year's festival is your favorite?  Tell us at sandhillsDig.com. 
For more info on upcoming events in the Sandhills, visit our calendar! 

In preparation for some out-of-town guests (when you move back to Pinehurst and everyone wants to come and visit!) we decided some of our area rugs needed cleaning. Where do you go to get an area rug cleaned? After a few phone calls, we found Victor at Neighborhood Cleaners on Hwy 5 (next to Sandhills Bowling Center). His dry cleaning business not only takes care of your clothing, outerwear, linens and bedding but also cleans area rugs. Victor will give you a quote based on size and thickness of the rug and the cleaning takes about a week.  Neighborhood Cleaners continues to impress us with their friendliness and customer service.

Got a question about where to go for something in the Sandhills? Let sandhillsDig.com investigate for you.

Two local organizations are set to host wine tasting events at Elliotts on Linden in Pinehurst.

*The Junior League of Moore County's 6th annual wine tasting fundraiser is this Thursday, Nov. 5 from 6pm until 8pm.  Festivities include a silent auction, raffles and a cooking demo.  For ticket and event information, click here.

*Communities In Schools has planned its wine tasting fundraiser for Wednesday, Nov. 11 from 6pm until 8pm.  For ticket and event information, please call 910.295.1072 or click here.

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It is true.  Beautiful flowers can make a person's day.  While driving around the Pinehurst Traffic Circle this week on my way to Richmond Rentals, it was a pleasure to see all the planted flowers that are now in full bloom at each turn.  Throughout the past few weeks, hardworking and diligent folks have planted and landscaped all around the circle in Pinehurst.  I know with all budgets being trimmed these days that it was a chore finding and raising the money for this ongoing beautification project.  Thanks to all of those that made this happen.   It made my day.

For more info about everything Sandhills, go to www.sandhillsDig.com!

The USGA announced Monday that Pinehurst will host 14 days of championship play in 2014, with back to back U.S. Open and U.S. Women's Open Championships.  The legendary Pinehurst #2 course, designed by Donald Ross, will challenge the world's best golfers (including Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson, Paula Creamer and Lorena Ochoa) in successive weeks for the first time in golf history.  Adding the US Women's Open Championship marks the 11th USGA championship played on course #2.  Plus, Pinehurst Resort and Country Club is now the only site in America to host all five USGA majors.  

For more info about everything Sandhills... go to www.sandhillsDig.com!

Official USGA Release

2014 Celebration Video

On the way home after leaving The Village Fillin' Station last week (I was picking up a take-out, steak and cheese and a sweet tea) my eyes lit when I saw baseballs sailing through the air at Cannon Park.  Yes.  The game played by Ted Williams, Cal Ripken and Chipper Jones in living color.  I had to stop and soak in a few innings.  With two games being played on adjacent fields, it was a perfect evening to get my fill of America's pasttime.  These promising prospects, boys and girls ages 5-7, put on quite a show.  The only thing that could've made things more perfect was if I could have been playing with them.