Mom’s Nite Out

comes to Boone
By Scott Nicholson

Boone-area mothers are getting royal treatment as an advance on Mother’s Day.

A local event is planned for May 7 as part of a national celebration of motherhood, part of numerous Web sites, broadcasts, and activities in both the virtual and the real worlds to share the joys of motherhood.

Sarah Pinnix of Fleetwood is co-hosting the event at the Broyhill Inn & Convention Center. She is the founder of High Country Mom Squad, which is also connected to the “Mom’s Nite Out” celebration.

The event will be featured on about 200 blogs and 50 Web sites, simulcast across the country and “celebrating motherhood and kind of like a pampering night,” Pinnix said. It’s a chance for mothers to focus on themselves before Mother’s Day on May 10, when they will be busy being recognized by others.

“We are having fabulous door prizes and we’re featuring a makeover from one of our fabulous moms,” Pinnix said. There will be refreshments and goods, including an advance version of a much-anticipated workout program. There’s also a children’s area for play.

Pinnix is a co-founder of Wii Mommies, a group that meets online to encourage one another to stay in shape using Nintendo Wii games and programs, and the Web site helped conduct a test run of a new EA Sports fitness game. EA Sports is conducting a 30-day trial of the program, and a copy of EA Sports Active will be demonstrated at the event and a copy will be given away as a prize.

There will be a chair massage, make-up locations, and other opportunities for moms to be spoiled. Other friendly-friendly Wii games will be exhibited at the site.

“I think it’s going to be a neat night, with moms coming from Charlotte, Hickory and Asheville,” Pinnix said.
Pinnix will feature the event on her Real Life and High Country Mom Squad sites, as well as the parent site, www.Momsniteout.com.

“There’s no more important job than raising our children,” said Maria Bailey, Mom Talk Radio host. “Of course, Mother’s Day is coming up but most of the moms I know spend that day taking care of the other mothers and grandmothers in their lives. So we wanted to dedicate a special night of the year where mothers from across the country can share a ‘nite off’ either virtually–or in person–where we can celebrate motherhood and come together as a community.”

The evening will consist of more than 400 local events held across the country, as well as mom-organized parties and virtual activities. A number of companies and corporations are offering national discounts on products and services.

The celebration in Boone will feature special guest Julie Maloney of momspective.com, who received national attention after losing 60 pounds using the Nintendo Wii Fit virtual fitness product and is co-founder, along with Pinnix, of the Wii Mommies Web site and forums.

Julie will be giving a live demonstration of the upcoming fitness product, EA SPORTS Active, which was created in collaboration with Bob Greene, Oprah’s personal trainer. Game Stop of Boone will be on hand to assist people wishing to pre-order the product, which launches May 19.

Door prizes will include: two free Sunday Brunches at The Broyhill Inn’s Jackson Dining Room; a pair of tickets Pair of Tickets for a Blowing Rock Stage Company Production May-September 2009; a body work session from Appalachian Therapeutic Bodyworks; a Suddenly Showing Maternity & Nursing Boutique gift certificate; Grandfather Mountain passes; Bald Guy Brew Coffee; Mystery Hill Family Pack Admission for two adults and two children; Makoto Japanese steakhouse gift certificate; Mast Farm Inn Bed and Breakfast packages; Watauga Wellness Center gifts; a Wyndam Spa certificate; and swag bags for all moms that attend.

The Broyhill event is from 6:30 to 9 p.m. Admission is free, with food and drinks available for purchase. For more information, visit www.highcountrymomsquad.com. Those who RSVP to sarah@highcountrymomsquad.com will get an additional door-prize ticket.