My Amazon.com order came yesterday…the UPS tracking said 10/19, but it arrived a full 10 days in advance, which is how it should be. There’s no reason a book, a movie, and a CD should take 2 1/2 weeks to be delivered, so I’m clueless as to why that was the delivery date indicated by Amazon and UPS.

The CD I ordered will be going back. I purchased the new Bruce Springsteen CD for Jim, intending to give it to him for his birthday next month, but he already bought it for himself. I hate it when that happens!

I ordered a book (A Thousand Splendid Suns) and a DVD (Lord of the Rings - the first one) a few days ago using an Amazon.com gift certificate I received. I got an email yesterday saying my package was on the way, so I logged in to track it tonight, so that I could figure out when UPS would be dropping it on my doorstep. The status says that it’s been received by UPS, with an estimated arrival date of 10/19. Um…almost 2 1/2 weeks from now.

Amazon.com - now shipping via Pony Express to save YOU money!

What did you receive from your guests when you got married?

We got a lot of cash (yay!), quite a few things off our registry list (yay!), a few things that weren’t on our list, and were OBVIOUSLY regifted (boo!), and an assortment of those lame crystal gifts people seem so fond of giving for wedding gifts. You know what I mean - picture frames, a weird clock…things that you ONLY give to people at weddings. I think I regifted the picture frames and I don’t know what happened to the clock.

I came across a wedding gift that reminded me of those crystal items I got, but this Steuben Glass Signature Bowl is WAY cooler. Using a special pen with a diamond tip, your wedding guests can sign their names on the bowl, giving you a beautiful keepsake and a one of a kind way to remember your special day. At $2000, it’s not a gift I’ll be buying for anyone soon, but it certainly is spectacular.

It’s school fundraiser time again! This week, I got hit with a fundraising packet from the middle school and the elementary school. I went through the catalogs for each and wrote out a check for one school, and realized that the other school was offering online ordering. Online? Well, that’s for me! They had a neat system set up where parents could register and send out emails to friends and family, and the student would get credit for the sale. I did all of that, and then logged in two shop, and selected two items, which totaled $15. When I proceeded to the online checkout, I noticed the shipping card was $10. To ship $15 worth of merchandise I didn’t really want.

I left my card and put in my order the old fashioned way, and paid no shipping at all. It may not be as easy, but it’s definitely cheaper.

I’ve never been a purse person, but after seeing the Coach bag my coworker had this week, I’ve decided I must have one. In fact, 3 of my coworkers had Coach bags (which makes me wonder how much they’re getting paid, LOL!). I should mention that 2 of the 3 were small clutch type bags that are a fraction of the cost of the big purse. I’ve looked at Coach purses before, but I’ve never seen one that grabbed me until this week. I may just put it on my Christmas lift, but I’m going to have to educate Jim on the cost of a Coach bag and why they’re so pricey in order for him to buy me one.

Actually, it’s probably easier to just shop online for it and find a deal using AutionShark.com, buy it myself, and tell him thank you at Christmas. HA! I just visited AuctionSHARK and popped in “Coach bag” as my search term, selected the “clothing & accessories” category, and came up with a list of stores selling the bags, and auctions for the bags as well. The cool thing is that you can compare buying retail versus bidding on your item via an auction side by side. I found Coach bags from stores like Amazon, and hot auctions ending in the next 10 minutes! It made it easy to see what was available buying retail versus going the auction route, and while I’m not ready to buy just yet, I’ll keep the site in mind for other pricey items…like the iPod my 8 year old asked for!

There’s a certain website I use for e-greetings that allows you to schedule cards in advance. I’ve used it several times to send out cards to people and that scheduling feature was really handy! Given the choice, I’d rather be on time with a card, than belated, wouldn’t you?

The GreetQ Card Company is taking that concept one step further. Instead of scheduling an e-card in advance, you can select a paper greeting card, have it personalized, and mailed for you in advance. Like the site I use for e-cards, they allow you to schedule cards in a queue months in advance, and they take care of mailing the card when the birthday or anniversary date rolls around. Talk about a time saver for a busy person!

So here’s the question - would you be offended if someone sent you a card from this service? Some people may not like it, saying that it’s not as personal when someone else is responsible for signing and mailing the card. I disagree - if I took the time to select a card specifically for you, and to craft my own message - why does it matter who licks the envelope?

This site would be an amazing time saver for anyone, from the busy executive to the stay at home mom. How about an employer who has 20 people at his company? All he needs to do is spend an hour selecting cards and providing names and addresses, and his employees will be impressed that he took the time to remember them for months to come. Or even me! I often WANT to send cards, but sheesh, I’m lucky to remember to get milk and bread at the grocery store, let alone picking up a card!

The cards are all unique - some even handmade, and you can personalize them with a handwriting font or they’ll be handwritten by a member of the GreetQ staff - much like a card when you send flowers.

Never forget a special event again!

This is a sponsored review.

It may only be August, but my son is already thinking ahead…to Halloween! He’s considering his costume choices very carefully. Right now, being Captain Jack Sparrow from Pirates of the Caribbean is at the top of his list. Have you seen how expensive that costume is though? I priced it in the Disney store at the mall and it’s $50 for the whole thing - more for the accessories. Sheesh! So of COURSE I’m going to be looking for Disney costumes online and hoping I can find a cheaper version of what the Disney store is selling. There are bound to be a few stores cheaper than Disney! Being able to shop online is definitely a time saver for Halloween costumes. (Of course, my son will probably change his mind about his costume choice 10 times between now and October 31st!)

Would you like to buy a new house and get a rebate from your real estate agent on the commission?

Would you like to earn free gas because you purchased your car from a certain car dealership?

Heck yeah, I would! And that’s the concept behind ePERKS.com - they give you rewards for using the the businesses you’ll find in their service marketplace. The business owners get exposure, and a happy customer, and you get some perks for being willing to try what they have to offer. Some of the current perks available are savings on a new car, saving on real estate commissions, or even saving 50% when you hire a contractor to take care of your next home improvement project!

You can search their site using your zip code to find the perks and business owners willing to offer perks in your area, or just ask questions about things like the current real estate trends, and be answered by a pro who knows.

On a recent trip to Busch Gardens, I stopped at a small store in the park to check out what appeared to be some wind chimes and wood cuttings in an African style. I was this close to buying what appeared to be a really unique wind chime for my lanai when I noticed the tag - Made In China. Argh! Why is it so rare that we see products from true artists made in Africa or South America? Happily, I’ve found that there is a place where you can buy goods made in Africa, Asia, or Latin America, by 3rd world artisans, and it’s called 7 Loaves. When you shop at 7 Loaves, you’ll find things that were created by hand, instead of mass produced in a factory or sweat shop. Over 80% of the artists that 7 Loaves works with are women supporting their families with that income. These products are making a difference in their lives by giving them health care options, and giving their children educations at schools that these families couldn’t otherwise afford.

Currently, the site offers items for the home, ceramics, accessories, and baskets. Take a look at these handbags and purses from 7 Loaves:

Hard to believe that someone made them from hand, isn’t it? It’s the kind of thing people pay big bucks in a department store, but the quality is much, much higher than some mass produced product. How about this jewelry from 7 Loaves? I guarantee you’ll have a one of a kind look when you show up to a party with items from this site!

This is a sponsored review.

Buying discount pens imprinted with your business name and number can be a great way to promote your business. I did it once for a business I owned several years ago, and it’s a cheap little freebie you can give to someone that will probably result in a call to your business, or a visit to your website.

If you lived in my neck of the woods, you’d know how limited I am if I want to buy lingerie or sexy costumes. My choices include a few stores in the mall that are overpriced, and other stores that are kind of sleazy. I’m personally not buying my lingerie from a place that also shows adult movies in a 25 cent booth, but hey - to each his own, right? Maybe you’ve got a little sports fantasy going on, and you want to dress up like a Dallas Cowboys cheerleader? Why try to shop at a local store when you can hop online and shop safely from the privacy of your own home? You’ll find a great selection, better prices than the mall stores, and a much nicer shopping environment than the local stores!

I just took a quick break from my work to order music books for my son. What a pain in the rear! I found them on half.com and all from the same seller, but the shipping was going to run $13! I used Froogle, but all I kept coming up with were used books. I finally found what I needed on Sam Ash, and the shipping was only $5. Good deal! Now, off I go, back to the world of telecom consulting, deference contractors, and EMI shielding manufacturers…

Has this ever happened to you? You’re waiting in a long line at the store, and it’s finally your turn. But…just before the cashier starts to ring you up, she’s got to change out the cash register ribbon or change the tape for the receipt. It ALWAYS happens to me! When I worked in retail, I had my method for changing out the receipt tape down, and I could do it in a matter of seconds, so as to not make anyone wait any longer. And speaking of cash register ribbons, Office Supply Outfitters has a huge selection of those, as well as toner cartridges, printer supplies, credit card paper, and copier supplies - everything you need to make money in your store. They caller laser toner and inkjet ink for major brands, and a few you can’t find anywhere else. The prices are low, the shipping is quick, and the customer service is the best.

I came across a new shopping site this week called Grande Portal. The site bills themselves as “your portal to great values” - that’s a big promise…can they deliver? The following is my paid review.

Upon first glance, the site appears to be just like any other catalog and gift site on the internet. Clean design, nice layout, not too cluttered looking. I’m intrigued by the shop by price feature - I’ll need to come back to that. There’s a nice selection of featured items on the site’s main page, including Easter decor for the upcoming holiday. Seeing as how I’m currently on a home decor quest, I visited that category first. You only see 9 items on a page at a time, and I’d like to see more, but I don’t see a way to change that. (Other sites usually have an option - view 10, 20, etc)

The items in home decor range from the truly tacky (a dog figurine to hold your remote control) to the useful (First Alert nightlights and safety products). I didn’t see much decor in the home decor category, which was disappointing. What was there was a little tacky and reminded me of the ABC Catalog. Where are the sconces? Plaques? Wall decor? The First Alert products probably would do better in a kids or baby category, because I’m sure most people don’t think of that item as “home decor”.

In short, while there are good prices at Grande Portal, there’s not anything there I want in my home. They don’t have any products that appear to be unique to their site, and nothing that stands out. Can they improve? Definitely so. They have a great foundation, and with the addition of new products that will make them different from the other sites on the web, this site can really go places.

One of my favorite parts about flying is peeking into the pouch on the back of the seat in front of me and pulling out a SkyMall catalog. It’s a shoppers dream…because it includes products from hundreds of stores. I love it, even if I’ve never ordered from them! I’ve found some great stores in there that I wouldn’t have heard of otherwise. You don’t have to wait for your next trip to shop at SkyMall - just visit their website!

The new sneakers I ordered off eBay finally came yesterday. I think the seller sent them via Pony Express I didn’t get the chance to try them on yet, but considering they’re the exact same pair I wore in the 3-Day walk last year, I’m sure they’re fine.

Speaking of eBay - I love selling on there. Love making that money for clearing out clutter! I hate, HATE, hate packing the stuff up and trucking it to the post office. And I really hate the impatient buyers who are pestering me a week after their auction ended for a status.

“Where is it?”

“When did you mail it?”

“What’s the tracking #?”

Uhh..it’s been a week. I didn’t charge you for shipping, so I am not wasting my money on tracking and that nonsense. And most of the items are going parcel post. Sheesh!

Are hookahs making a comeback? Until I reached adulthood, the only hookah I had ever seen was in the movies. Alice In Wonderland, to be exact, with the big caterpillar smoking from a hookah. I’ve seen one in real life now - we have a friend who travels quite a bit and he has a hookah he bought on one of his trips, in his living room on display. It is for display only, because he’s not a smoker.

But for those of you who may be smokers…why use a hookah? One reason is that you can smoke things other than tobacco in one, for example, herbal fruits. Many cities with large Arab or Middle Eastern populations even have public hookah bars where you can stop in for a smoke. If you’d like to give this ancient art of smoking a try, you can stop by a hookah tobacco in person, or online. One such online store is CustomHookahs.com, and they not only sell the tools needed (hookah tobacco, charcoal, hoses, bases, stems, and bowls) but they also support the hookah bar community by listing the locations of hookah bars in the United States.

Ever since we got new furniture for our bedroom, my husband and I have been eyeballing new TV’s. Isn’t it funny how one purchase leads to another? Part of the reason is the wardrobe cabinet we have. My husband uses the bottom drawers for his clothes, but the middle section is made for a TV, and our 20 inch hand me down from my mom looks downright pitiful in there. And when I’m hogging the TV downstairs, Jim enjoys watching hockey upstairs, but it’s not in high def…which he’s gotten quite used to!

Anyway, the point of all this rambling is to share the deal we got. Jim spotted a TV in the Staples (the last place I would have gone for a deal on a TV!) ad for Presidents Day weekend, and after calling the local stores, we discovered there were none left in stock. I found it online, grabbed a code for free shipping from CouponCabin.com and we were good to go. Probably the first time I’ve bought a TV without seeing it first, but I know we can return it the local Staples if we don’t like it. It’s a nice wide screen HDTV that can even be wall mounted, if we so desire. And it arrives on Friday!

Technorati Tags: Staples, HDTV, wall mount TV, wide screen TV, Presidents Day, coupon codes, Coupon Cabin

I’m not ashamed to admit I purchased art at Target. I can’t afford an original Van Gogh or Picasso, and I liked what I found at Target, so I plunked down $100 and now I’ve got a lovely framed floral print hanging in my family room. I attempted to find it on the Target website to show it off, but alas - I can’t. What I did find was ten times the amount of art in the store though - there were literally 200+ pages of pictures to choose from! And art for every budget as well, from reproductions of famous art, like Starry Night to $500 landscapes to $20 prints for a child’s bedroom.

Technorati Tags: Target, art, framed art, florals, landscapes, home decor

My husband and son brought home flowers for me earlier this week For the first time, I actually took care in trimming them and arranging them just so in the vase. I followed the instructions on the little packet and used warm water - and it paid off. My flowers are still alive! I picked up those little tips, and a few others, at the FlowerShop Blog - see, blogging can be educational! FlowerShop.com isn’t just a blog about arranging flowers either - they sell flowers and gift baskets on their site, from something for your sweetheart to funeral flowers. They’re a family owned company with almost 35 years of experience in the flower industry - that’s a lot of flower power! And you can send across the country with FlowerShop too, because they’re members of FTD and Teleflora.

Technorati Tags: Flowers, send flowers, Flower Shop, FTD, Teleflora