I don’t know how it happens but it seems like when I start out attempting to do a little Christmas shopping, I tend to get distracted by things that I love. My idea was to spend a little time after I finished working earlier to look for something in particular which will go unnamed here because I don’t want any Christmas gift ideas ruined by someone in the family who may happen to read the entry. Anyway- I was planning to look at one thing and I ended up looking at some amazing matouk linens that I was thinking would make a good Christmas present for our bed. Somehow I don’t think Marcel would agree with me, since his idea of a great Christmas gift isn’t 600 thread count Egyptian cotton, not that I’ve ever heard him complain about the ones we have on the bed right now. Speaking of which- it’s about time I switch to flannel since the temps are demanding it.
October 28, 2010
October 23, 2010
My Kind of Shopping
Probably one of the things I love most about this time of the year is that I pay close attention to the things people say when it comes to things they’d like to have. I’ve ordered a few Christmas gifts, plus taken notes for others and am waiting for the right deals on everything. I’ll be the first to say that I’ve found some great cyber Monday christmas gift ideas and have even found sales on top of sales when I can find coupon codes in addition to the sale prices. There have been times when I’ve even got free shipping to boot. That’s the kind of savings I can get excited about, PLUS I can do so in the comfort of my favorite pj’s.
October 19, 2010
Guilty Pleasures
I recently ordered another (yes another) new handbag from one of my favorite sites and I can’t wait to start using it. I’ve been wanting a bright yellow bag all summer and the one I had my eye on went on sale for a price I couldn’t resist. In fact, there was sale on top of a sale and I caved. Between handbags and shoes womens, I could shop all day. I am better about ordering shoes online though since I know some brands fit differently than others. I’d say those two are my guilty pleasures. What’s yours?
October 3, 2010
Lovin’ Those Stripes
I have been admiring this sweater for quite some time online but was hesitant to order it because I wasn’t sure if I’d like it once I did. I also hate the idea of paying full price for something, especially if I know the chance exists that I can get it for a better price, so I waited.
I was also hesitant about ordering it because horizontal stripes are known to make you look larger and if there is anything I don’t want to look- it’s larger. I went back and forth on that idea for a while, or at least until I got an email on Thursday that they were on sale. I ended up ordering this sweater, plus another one with the only difference being that it was blue and white striped. In addition to the sale price, I also received an additional 25% off. It was a deal I couldn’t pass up.
I really hope they fit and look great on me- but if not, I know I can always return them to the store I ordered them from. The great thing is that I can actually return them to the store as opposed to sending them back via the mail. I’m assuming that isn’t going to have to happen though.
October 1, 2010
Back to Basics
I was thinking not too long ago about how I used to send cards for everything. I think that I got out of the habit and switched to only sending birthday and Christmas cards when e-cards became so much easier, but I’ve started thinking that maybe it’s time to get back to basics and start sending cards more often. I used to send halloween cards every year to my family and a few close friends, and I think it would be fun to start doing it again. I know I don’t have to do it on the scale that I do when it’s Christmas, but a card every now and then to people that I care about is a great thing.
After all, I know how much I love seeing mail in the box that isn’t a bill, so why wouldn’t everyone else? I think as this year winds down I’m going to start making a list of things that I’d like to change and begin the process now so that when the first of the year comes, it will come easy. I see a lot of things that aren’t working the way I’d like them to in my life, and I know that it means it’s time for change. After all, the only person who can create change in my life- is me.
September 24, 2010
Shopping Deals
I am one of those people who love knowing I’m getting a great deal and when I do, I find myself wanting to share it with everyone I know. In the past two weeks I’ve found some deals on top of deals and thought I’d share with y’all how I happened to do that. It’s a simple thing and it ended up saving me quite a bit of cash.
I’m not sure how many of you shop online, but it seems that more of us are doing it than ever- especially when more often than not we can get the same or even better deals online and don’t have to leave the comforts of home. What I’ve learned is that there are some ways that you can save even more money at your favorite retailers simply by following a few simple steps.
- Sign up for online newsletters. What I do is use one specific email address for things that I sign up for and that saves the newsletters from coming into my regular email accounts. The reason why you want to sign up for the newsletters is for several reasons. Many sites offer a first purchase discount (of up to 15% from what I’ve found) just for signing up for their newsletter. Plus you also get an insider view on sales, plus often there are special discounts and offers that only those signed up for the newsletters receive. Trust me, it can be worth the little extra email in your box.
- Watch for Free Shipping offers. Many websites offer free shipping with a minium purchase, while others have free shipping specials from time to time. There are even a few that I shop at regularly that offer free shipping regardless of your purchase total. Make use of that whenever you can and trust me- those savings add up. I’ve skipped ordering from some stores in the past because I felt as though their shipping rates were just too high.
- Add items to your shopping cart and leave them. I know- this sounds a little crazy, but I actually did this not too long ago on a website on a handbag I wanted. It was on sale, and yet even at the sale price, I wasn’t sure I wanted to order it. I forgot about it, and a week later they sent me an email offering me an additional 25% off my purchase. Needless to say, I didn’t think twice and cashed in on that sale, plus got free shipping. I’m not going to say it will work everytime, but some places monitor your cart. Again, I think you may need to be signed up for emails on the site to get these kind of deals.
- Never buy anything without looking for coupon codes first. There are coupon codes out there that you may not realize. Within the last two weeks I was about to buy some clothing on a website. The items were on sale and then I received an additional 25% off the sale price (and free shipping) because I was signed up for the newsletter. Then I did a quick search for coupon codes and found one for an additional 25% off that worked with the current offer. I ended up saving yet another 25% off of the already low sale prices. I ended up with 3 sweaters that were regularly $40.00 each for less than $7.00 each and again, free shipping. The same thing was with a jacket at the same company- I had it in my cart- had completely forgotten about it and decided since it was red and on sale it would be great for Christmas. I paid $22.00 for an $80.00 jacket.
- I also had the same thing with some cards that I ordered online. I wanted them to be shipped to the person, and again, I looked for a coupon code and saved 25% off each card and the mailing of the card was free.
All it takes is a little smart shopping and you can literally save hundreds in no time. If you need any more information- please feel free to email me.
September 10, 2010
Making a List
I was on the phone with my brother last night while he was on his way home from work and one of us brought up the subject of Christmas. We haven’t spent the holidays together in two years and this year Marcel and I will spend two glorious months at home with my parents. He’s saved his vacation days all year so that it would be possible, and I can’t wait. Once we started talking about Christmas, the conversation turned to gift giving. I will be the first to admit that when we are home for the holidays, I tend to go a little overboard with the gift giving and Matt (my brother) said that one of his friends had just been given a really cool money clip with his initials and that he really liked it. I listened to him talk about it, and I made a mental note to check out engravable gifts to see if I could possibly get the money clip and add it to my brothers gift list for this upcoming Christmas.
I really love giving people things that I know they’ll like and even though gift cards can be nice from time to time, I have to say that I’d much rather give something a little more personal and I’ve seen personalized gifts that covers just about everything. My brother is also a huge fan of golf, so I’m seriously considering finding him something golf related that is personalized just for him. I know he’s going to love it and I’m going to love being home with everyone for the holidays.
Never Too Late for Change
I love it when I log in over here and I find a list of spam waiting to be deleted. It’s amazing some of the things that people think will actually get approved in terms of comments. While it may pass in some sites, it definitely won’t here. I guess they’ll never learn.
In other news- Things have been pretty busy here in the Land of Never. I have really been off kilter for a while and my to-do list has grown to enormous proportions. I need to find some 108r00727, plus some new shoes, and work on the two domains that I have bought and haven’t done anything with yet.
I have to say that I’m tired of that scatter brained feeling I’ve had as of late and it’s time to do something about it. It’s going to mean a lot of changes in my life, but I think I’m ready. All I can say is that it’s about time. I love the fact that it’s never too late for change. That makes me smile.
September 4, 2010
Rush
Samantha’s twins are going through RUSH this weekend at school and we are both so excited for them. At this point, it is up in the air as to which sorority they’ll end up going with, but it’s exciting to hear all about it. I’m thinking about ordering them engraved gifts once they are chosen. I know how much they’ll love having something with their new ‘Greek letters’, so as soon as I find out who they are with, I’ll have to see what I can find. I wish I was a fly on the wall to hear all that they are experiencing this weekend. I know they’re having a blast. I would be too!
September 1, 2010
Day Brightener
Yesterday I received a package from my friend Sarah. I knew she was sending it, but I’d forgotten about it, so when it arrived it was a definate day brightener. It was a belated birthday and Christmas gift and the box was filled with goodies that I fell in love with. Something she sent that I’d never tried before is some Bath and Body Works hand soap with Orange Ginger scent. It is absolutely amazing. It’s still sitting here on my coffee table and I haven’t used it yet, but I keep opening the lid and taking a whiff. I love the combination of the two and it smells good enough to eat- although I’m not about to attempt that one.