Archive for the ‘Shopping’ Category

Perhaps that’s how you would feel when you see all the shoes available for the taking at ShoeOcean.com. The web site features all kinds of shoes – boots, casuals, flat sandals, pumps, sandals, bridal shoes and prom shoes and wedges. They also offer men’s shoes – boots, casuals, sandals and loafers. This web site is proof that not all Cheap Shoes are made in bad taste. I have looked at the web site and they offer fashionable shoes in line with the latest trends.

One of their shoes were even featured at the O Magazine.

This is the Breckelles Wedge Wendy-06 Tan Women Sandal which retails for $17.99. It is the perfect wedge to use this summer season with its colors matching any outfit you might want to wear. It has 4 inch heels all over and an inch of platform heels under.

ShoeOcean.com’s shoes retail in the $10 range and they offer free shipping in the US for ordered over $100. It is definitely a web site worth checking out.

Here are some of the recommended products in their web site:

From Left to Right:
1. All New Qupid System-36 Blk/White Women Pump
2. All New Liliana Cherry Black Women Pump (Sexy and demure, these satin pumps are adorable. Heels 5" Platform 1")
3. All New Bertinni Moxie-40 Purple Women Sandal (Featuring a platform base with a tapered stiletto heel. Lace ruffle accent running along the side. Heels 5")

Now that Glee is done with its season finale (more on that post later), I am going to be busy catching up the latest season of Grey’s Anatomy. There was so much sensationalized twits about its season ender that I have decided to not watch it in full not until I have fully downloaded all episodes from the season. And it may take a while. I remember the first time I watched Grey’s they were on their third season already (Yes, I am a late bloomer) and I finished all three seasons in a week – I didn’t do anything but watch TV!

I love watching medical related drama shows. I loved ER. I also love how they have put a spotlight on medical scrubs and uniforms and make them look so glamorous! Not that the nursing profession isn’t look fashionable lately. ScrubsandBeyond.com recently came up with their new summer collection of Koi Prints and I am so impressed! I can bet that nurses wearing those nursing uniforms aren’t even mistaken for nurses when they are out – they look like they are going to a nice slumber party or a picnic! The usual nurses shoes even have taken a spin and became fashionable clogs! Look at all the lovely prints: It’s a great time to be a nurse!

I cannot wait to do some Grey’s marathon watching after I finish work this week!

While shopping for items in a dollar store is fun as a consumer (imagine all the things you can buy for a dollar! Everything is a dollar!), you sometimes cannot help but think of the store owner and if he is making any profit with the dollar store products he sells.

As with all stores, the secret of maintaining a dollar store’s success involves keeping the merchandise carried in the store to be of quality and variety. One must offer exactly the items customers want and need in order to make sure that they will come back. A dollar store item will always be better paired with another dollar store item too – think paint brushes and watercolor paint, stamp sets and ink pads, toothpaste and toothbrush. In all likelihood, customers would not refuse getting both when they only need one – after all, what is a dollar? (One must think the way customers think!)

You also need to get wholesale dollar items from dollar store suppliers which offer good wholesale prices. Your dollar store wholesale items also need to be the basic needs your customer usually shop for. These are the basic items consumers buy all the time. They include household cleaners, many health, beauty and personal hygiene items, paper products and more. Consumers must be able to depend on you to always offer these items. If not they will go elsewhere.

I often wondered why tobacco or cigar smoking is such a huge attraction for men. I got my answer – wine and cigars are like shoes and diamonds to women; the attraction and subsequent addiction is just unexplainable.

Cigars even are kept in a special box called a cigar humidifier. The box is commonly called a humidor because it keeps the humidity temperature of the environment cigars are stored in in control. Humidity is the key to keep the taste of cigars fresh and lasting.

Ashton cigars are the most popular cigars in the market. They are made using 3 to 4 year old Dominican tobacco leaves. They get their rich flavor from the golden Connecticut shade wrapper. Ashton cigars have three different flavors. The first is simply known as Ashton. The second and third are the Ashton Cabinet Selection and the Ashton Aged Maduro. All of them are wrapped in Connecticut Leaf, although the Ashton Aged Maduro is wrapped in broadleaf instead of shade.

If you have ever wondered where is the best place to buy cigars online, CigarPlace.biz is the best site to order from as they accept international orders and have the best prices in the market (even if you check them for yourself!)

It seems shopping for the baby is more enjoyable, convenient but more expensive than before. From baby furniture to breastfeeding equipment and accessories, bottles, carriers and clothes, there are just more choices, variety and stuff that makes you think you need it.

I am not baby expert nor a great one to ask for advice on spending and saving money, but I do know babies grow up fast, so I would rather not buy the adorable yet expensive outfit that a baby might wear for only three times before she outgrows them – babies grow fast! I would invest on on quality baby furniture like a baby crib that can be converted into a toddler bed. Not only should they stand the test of time and a baby’s destructive ways, it would be a smart move if they can last as long as you will be having babies so you do not need to buy every time.

You would need a crib, changing table, drawers and perhaps a rocking chair for you to rest and cuddle with the baby in her room.

You might also consider getting bassinets for your room or a busy place in the house where you might put the baby all the time while you are doing chores.

One of my dreams for our home is to have a home theater system. As I’ve mentioned before, our family are huge movie buffs and couch potatoes. We can watch TV all day – having a home theater will be a great experience for us!

I just do not which one would be better – a plasma LCD TV or a HD TV. I’ve read many home theater buying guides and found out the ff:

LCD HDTVs work by shining a light behind an LCD panel made up of a fixed number
of pixels. Each pixel is either red, blue or green and is switched on or off when a
voltage is applied to it. When voltage is applied to a pixel, it is switched off,
meaning that light can’t shine through it.

The main advantage of LCD vs plasma HDTV is that LCD panels don’t suffer from
what’s called burn-in. This is a feature of plasma TVs where they are used to watch
TV stations with logos permanently displayed on-screen or where they are used for
video gaming with games that have static images such as a cockpit on flight
simulators. The image literally ‘burns-in’ the screen meaning that even when the
image is not present you can still see a faint trace of it on screen. So for video
gamers in particular, LCD is a better choice than plasma.

Plasma HDTVs have over a million chambers which house one or a combination of
gasses. When a voltage is applied to one of these chambers the gas ionizes and
emits ultra-violet light. This light strikes red, green or plue phophors coated on the
inside of the chamber and a pixel emits this color light.

Plasma HDTVs tend to have better contrast than LCDs because, even when a pixel
on an LCD panel is switched off it doesn’t block all the light coming through and
therefore the pixel isn’t completely black. Plasma HDTVs also tend to have a wider
viewing angle than LCDs, as on LCD HDTVs the contrast and colour of the image can change when the screen is viewed from different angles.

It is safe to say that plasma TVs are the choice for screens 40 inches or less but as new technology comes in, this is bound to change!

Chances are, if you are in a relationship at this very moment you are thinking of that red-letter day in February called Valentine’s Day, which mind you, is only a month away.

You can panic now, especially if you are a man.

But calm down, consider getting something special for your girl. Toss aside the usual flowers + chocolates tandem. Your girl might be delighted but she won’t be jumping for joy.

She will certainly jump for joy if you give her jewellry. Jewellry remains to be one of the Top Valentine’s Day Gifts of every year. In fact, a certain percentage of men have this unique idea of proposing marriage to their special someone on Valentine’s Day.

And she might cry if you give her jewellry in a blue box – it is a perfect gift – Tiffany Jewellry for Valentine’s Day! 

Check out the Valentine’s Day Sale 2010 at TiffanyStore.org. You can take 10% off your entire order with the coupon LOVENEW. Act now!

And just in case Mr.Joe is reading this, I would very much like any of these, thank you very much. And I will cry, promise *wink*.

From left to right:
1) Paloma Picasso Loving Heart bracelet, 2) Engraved HEART TAG Toggle Bracelet, 3) HEART Link bracelet

If you are like me, you are extremely lazy when it comes to giving gifts this Christmas. Do not get me wrong – I think about them as early as September but I am a perfectionist and procastinator to the core. I want each gift to be well-thought of but I end up deciding to order them at a later date when it is no longer physically possible to make it in time from Christmas – so I end up not giving gifts this season. Again, for the nth year.

If I had known about the discount printing offered by PSPrint, I would have ordered calendars, post cards and greeting cards this Christmas. Calendars are 25% off, greeting cards 40% off (Maybe I should order in time for Valentine’s Day?) and postcards are 60% off. Their calendars would be the perfect gift to my husband’s colleagues at work – they have individual workstations and it will fit in nicely.

Their greeting cards come in different sizes and folds too – this will be perfect for people who send cards traditionally to all relatives and friends every season.

• 7" x 5" (folds to 3.5" x 5")
  8.5" x 6" (folds  to 4.25" x 6")
  10" x 7" (folds to (5" x 7")

The Swiss Rolex watches are famous throughout the world. Many people long to wear these watches as they look exquisite and have the capacity to win the hearts of the onlookers. Many connoisseurs and collectors are eager to possess the Rolex watches.

Out of the many designs of watches the Rolex Oyster watch has topped the sales. This has become the most popular watch because of its simplicity and the fact that it can be worn by anyone on any occasion. Though originally meant as a watch for deep sea divers it has gained mass popularity as a useful and perfect watch.

But the fact is well known that the original watches are extremely costly. Hence, anyone who wishes to wear a particular brand name such as Rolex can only hope to dream about it. But there is one route available and that is to wear a replica watch. Now a days good quality replica watches are designed and look exactly like the original ones. The main advantage of wearing the replica watch is that it is possible to get the same utility and looks, but at a much lower cost.

The Fake watch Rolex Oyster has become very popular among the modern class of people. This replica watch looks trendy and high-tech and is the first choice among the sportsmen. This watch is available in many designs such as the Oyster Daydate, Datejust, Airking and submariner etc giving you a wide selection choice. This watch can be worn during any season and on all occasions. Hence, many people, including women, instinctively make a selection of this watch.

A replica watch is a good substitute if you are crazy to wear a particular brand. A good replica watch can act as a perfect alternative to the original one and satisfy your urge. You can now wear the Fake watch Rolex Oyster and make your presence felt at any occasion or event.

Identified as a manufacturer of high precision luxurious watches, the Cartier brand has fervently lived up to this reputation. Established by Louis Francois Cartier in the 1900s, the company boasted of its sophisticated, stylish and extravagant designs which made it a very popular acquisition among the well to do. It can therefore be said that because of the characteristics of the original Cartier brand, the acquisition price of the watch is extremely excessive. Only the gentry could afford such luxury.
To make it more attainable the acquisition of this outstanding timepiece, replica Cartier watches were created. The affordability of the merchandise made it a viable choice for the low income earners.
Now, consumers get to purchase this wonderful timepiece for only a fraction of the price of the original brand.

The Cartier replica watch also has amazing components which contributed to the marketability of the merchandise. They are broken down into two:

Inner Components
The imitation is powered by the Japanese movements. Over the years, this mechanism has proven itself very reliable and efficient in time monitoring.

Outer Components
The casing is made of stainless steel with solid back covers. The markings and engravings at the back indicating the proper identification and information about that particular model were carved beautifully.

The facial component of the watch features amazing dials and sub dials for an accurate time recording. The glass cover is made of mineral crystal element which is resistant to scratches.

The band that secures the watch is made of either genuine leather or solid stainless steel depending on the model. In conclusion, acquiring this piece of magnificent watch is a shrewd undertaking considering the advantages that have been laid out. To add to these advantages, the durability of the replica is guaranteed.

Christmas is just around the corner and so far only our little princess is covered in terms of what she would be wearing for Christmas Eve and Christmas day – the girl has so many clothes she can easily cover every space in our closets if I let her! The big boy, who is turning 9 on Monday, has been growing like a weed that I badly need to buy new clothes for him soon.

Here is a list of what he urgently needs most, just in case his godparents who have been missing in action can read this

1. Pants – two sizes bigger, because he grows to one size larger in six months. Regular straight fit jeans, corduroy pants, track pants and slacks are most appreciated.

2. Jackets – Preferably in black or navy colors – one for formal events, one for everyday wear and one with a quirky design so he can look more like a 9 year old instead of a 15 year old man.

3. Shirts – Of any design and color. He is currently running on a size 10 medium but he can wear up to size 12 large as long as it’s not on the husky size.

You can check out the Spring Style Guide for Men’s clothing for inspiration. We live in a tropical country so no winter here!

Baby boom is happening year after year. I cannot believe how many of my close friends are pregnant! Last year, we had seven close friends and relatives who were pregnant – so imagine how many first birthday parties we went to this year. This year, as of the moment, I know five friends who are on the way! I am happy for them. I am so not ready to have a baby again so being them lets me live vicariously though their experiences. I am absolutely besotted with my new niece right now. I love taking pictures of her and carrying her and the best part of it is when she starts to get fussy, I just give her back to her Mom. She is such a pretty girl that it is so hard to resist not buying stuff for her. It doesn’t help that online shopping is so easy and that my money mainly comes from my Paypal account (an online account again!). My saving grace would be Free Coupon Codes I get online. Ever since a friend taught me how to look for them, I make it a point to look for coupon codes before I order anything online. Based from experience, I am always 95% successful in using them.

Baby Coupon Codes can be found at Shopaneer.com, if you love shopping for baby stuff like me! There are a lot of valid (and working) promotional codes at the site that it will really help you to save more.

Here are some of the stores that have coupons that you might want to check out:

Babies are so much tempting to shop for, most especially if it’s your first baby. I cannot believe how expensive having a baby can be these days. A stroller now ranges from $200-$800!! It can truly be classified as a baby’s car, that can only be used for five years maximum and he outgrows it again!

Everybody is getting into the spirit of the holidays! There is a  Make A wish holiday Giveaway in the Like It Win It blog where you can Win free stuff. They have Christmas Giveaways of products they love and you all have a chance of winning it! You need to become a member to participate but everything else is easy after that! Join now!

I have a slight obsession with sunglasses lately. Blame it on my newfound irritation of the sun. I have also been experimenting with various styles and no longer wear my rainman shades all the time.I am still scared to try the very cool Ray Ban Aviator Sunglassesas have insecurities with my nose still.I might just get it for my husband.He looks very handsome in any sunglasses he wears! I find it slightly unfair sometimes.

I remember the time when Rayban sunglasses were the coolest sunglasses in town – before the Oakleys were brought into the limelight.I would still prefer the classics though, who wouldn’t?

It came as a shock to hear about Oprah Winfrey’s announcement that her long standing show Oprah is coming to an end. Her show, spanning 25 seasons, have 6.8 million viewers, standing tall and above the rest among other talk shows. "Here is the real reason: I love this show. This show has been my life and I love it enough to know when its time to say goodbye," Winfrey said.

Not that Oprah Winfrey will be any less visible. It is expected that she will be opening a new show soon, under The Oprah Winfrey Network (OWN), and have more activities lined up for Harpo Productions – her multi-media outfit production company.

Oprah’s legendary sense of style and taste have clearly been seen in her show and her “O” magazine. It is no wonder that opening an Oprah store would come naturally. The Oprah Store, the official store of the Oprah Winfrey Show, houses 900 products that include souvenir items, loungewear, activewear, sleepwear, basics, O baby, and select South African arts and crafts.

It not surprising that is carries womens plus size clothing as Oprah herself has had to deal with plus-size issues all throughout her show. There are a lot of stuff on clearance that would make ideal Christmas gifts too.

Do not get misled though, that the store is only for women’s clothing. Things that Oprah loves are also there from blankets to umbrellas and baby stuff.

There are a lot of yoga clothing on sale, you might want to check them out too.

Some of the things that I love:

I have never been one to wear jewelry all the time. I prefer to only wear earrings, usually studs and my wedding ring everytime I go out. Sometimes, I just wear fashion earrings so that it will go well with my outfit for that day.

I know though that more than a fashion statement, jewelry is actually an investment in itself, especially gold. They have never been known to depreciate in value ever since and their markey has always been liquid – you can sell it as easily as you bought it, because everyone wants to invest on a classic set.

My next jewelry purchase though would be one of those aquamarine rings from Apples of Gold Jewelry, specifically this one:

Here are its specifications, according to the web site:
This is a beautiful aquamarine ring with a large 10mm x 8mm emerald-cut aquamarine center gemstone surrounded by 0.28 carats of diamonds.

Amethyst gemstone is approx. 2.75 Carats.

Gemstone Size: 10mm x 8mm
Gemstone Carats: 2.75 Carats
Gemstone Clarity: Eye Clean
Gemstone Shape: Emerald Cut

Diamond Carats: 0.28 Carats Total
Diamond Color: I
Diamond Clarity: SI

Metal Type: 14K White Gold

They offer free shipping and and have a coupon code “CYBERMONDAY” for 10% off until November 30th! What are you waiting for?

Four of my dear friends are expecting and all of them are expected to deliver at the second quarter of the year. As early as now, they have been scouting for the latest prices on baby essentials or what are considered expensive buys: the baby’s car (aka stroller), the baby’s crib, high chair, bassinet and cots.

Prams have never been as varied and diverse (not to mention expensive) as it is now. I read a review on the most recommended pram and my jaw almost dropped when I saw that it cost almost $700! (Truly, a pram is the baby’s car!!)

Then there are play gyms, exersaucers or convertible baby gyms (which are essentially playmats).

The highlight would be the baby cot or crib. I am quite partial to a convertible cot bed, one that would last until the baby goes into toddlerhood. As you notice it already has a changing station that can be converted into a bookshelf once the baby is done with diapers. If the baby is small, you might want to consider getting a bassinet too.

You might as well know that I am partial to convertible high chairs as well. I’m all for longevity in baby furniture.

I have a friend who recently gave birth a few days ago – she delivered at 37 weeks, so imagine their surprise (and panic) when upon her weekly OB visit, she was already 2cm dilated. Her labor and delivery was fast and painless and for that she is very thankful.

What is on top of her mind though is the things she was planning to get before delivery – the crib which is yet to be delivered and an infant travel bed as they will be travelling a lot especially during the upcoming holiday season.

She had no other choice besides getting the Eddie Bauer Infant Travel Bed:

Aside from the neutral color it had (she delivered a boy now but is hoping for another girl two years from now), she liked the collapsible feature it had, making it not bulky and perfect for travelling. It is multi-functional as well, serving as the baby’s sleeping station when out, diaper changing station and all around carrier. It comes with the two soft plush toys and large side pockets perfect for wipes and a fitted sheet.

This is a great alternative for the bulky stroller. You can have the baby in the baby car seat but no longer need to detach it from the seat of the car because you can use the travel bed – especially if you are just staying put and not walk around – ideal for picnics or visits to other people’s homes!

I don’t know if it’s just my age or there is really what you can call a baby boom. Every year, the people I know who get pregnant are getting bigger, not to mention younger (yes!) and I cannot help but think if there really is a need for the Reproductive Health Law in the country.

One thing I am thankful for though is that baby showers are getting popular and are considered tradition now. Back when I was pregnant with my firstborn (nine years ago), people found it odd and uncomfortable to throw me a baby shower as it seemed that it is tantamount for asking for gifts for the baby.

Now I go to baby showers of friends with the best gift that I can give. I usually even spearhead collecting money to buy THE gift, usually a nice stroller or a crib for the baby.  Baby Bedding Sets are usually bought in accordance to the nursery theme decided by the parents.

Baby bedding sets can be purchased at the Baby Bedding Palace because they are currently having a SALE! Their 12 piece 100% Cotton Nursery Baby Bedding Set is such a steal at $79.98!

Here is what you get:

* 1 Baby Crib Quilt (48 inches x 41 inches)

* 4 piece Baby Crib Bumper (2 long pieces: 55 inches x 9 inches and 2 short pieces: 27 inches x 9 inches)

* 1 Baby Crib Fitted Sheet (51 inches x 28 inches, can fit matresses from 4-6 inches deep)

* 1 Baby Crib Skirt (Dust Ruffle, 74 inches x 51 inches)

* 2 extra wide Window Valances (82 inches x 11.5 inches)

* 1 Diaper Stacker (27 inches x 14 inches)

* 1 Toy Organizer (19 inches x 12.5 inches)

* 1 Decorative Pillow (10 inches x 10 inches)

* *BONUS GIFT* Free matching high quality hand made zipper bag with handle

* (Fits all standard size baby and toddler cribs)

One very nice childhood memory I have was going to the mall every Sunday after mass to eat. After lunch, my Dad will give us a coin each so we can choose what to get from the candy vending machines. I would always choose to get bubblegum. If I am lucky, I would get the bubblegum in my favorite color – pink! I am amazed how simple things can make me happy back then.

Can you imagine all those candies? A friend will have her daughter’s first birthday soon and her theme is going to be CandyLand. Her invitations are even round candy vending mini versions. I can’t wait to get it! Vendstar offers you the best franchise business opportunity – that of candy vending machines. If you wish to benefit from a unique home-based business opportunity, Vendstar can help!

Christmas is just around the corner and soon, stores will be full of people trying to buy gifts for their loved ones. Plan now and do something different: shop online! Nothing beats shopping in your PJs right at the comfort of your home.

Since Christmas is always for the children, consider getting these unique items for them. I personally would want them for my own kids. Everything is from LouLousCorner.com, which offers FREE shipping for orders over $65!

I personally would wish for Petunia Pickle Bottom bags but here are other gift ideas":

The jellycat plush toys and activity books are the perfect gifts for babies (who are teething!). Not only will they find comfort and entertainment from the always soft plush toys, these are toys that can grow with them through the years – buddies! Get a jellycat plush toy now!

These barefoot dreams collection consists of luxurious blankets and throws for infants, toddlers, and adults. I personally would want one – I live in my PJs all day!

The barefoot dreams satin PJs are currently on sale from $120 to $31!

Meanwhile, the appaman number shirts are something I’d like for my kids to wear when we shoot family portraits. Too bad there isn’t a number 9 – my son is turning 9 in two months.

Well, for starters, let me clarify the title. It is entertaining guests at the bar at home. I wish we had one. It would make entertaining guests so easy. Most of the husband’s officemates usually round up dinner with a glass of wine (or too many beers). It’s their way to make sure their conversations are kept “alive.” I better buy a wine glass rack too, to make sure I’d have space for the wine gifts that are sure to come on Christmas.

Should I get a hanging wine glass rack though? It’s a convenient (and easy way to dry) way to store wine glasses, stylish too. (If I had a bar at home).

Imagine this installed in your bar at home:

Or if you don’t have a bar at home, the butler cart has bar glass racks and is convenient for entertaining guests anywhere at your home!

We all know how the First Lady, Michelle Obama, helped J.Crew boost its sales after being repeatedly seen wearing their clothes for work and play. Mrs. O, as she is fondly called, admits to liking shopping online.

First Lady Michelle Obama wears an embroidered cardigan and a pencil skirt from J. Crew, left, and an outfit from Talbots on the cover of Essence (Leon Neal / Getty; Timothy White / Essence Magazine / PRNewsFoto)

She was featured in Time Magazine as being someone who can save the fashion retail world, which has been in a slump due to the recession. J.Crew’s sales manager considers her a gift because whatever she wears will definitely be a sold out the next day, even having thousands of waitlist orders on queue.

It helps that what she wears is something that is very common-class. She doesn’t mind wearing $200 cardigans whereas women with her stature would be wearing everything designer. US News & World Report tells us that it is very good for her image, as the country is in a financial slump, that the First Lady is taking measures to conserve money as well.

She made fashion story headlines by wearing a toy watch to Paris. She wore the Plasteramic Neon UltraViolet you see below:

I am predicting this would be a hit gift for Christmas.

i happen to have 3 great quote books that i found a couple of years ago(in, of all places a j.jill store!) that are very inspiring to me.  the first one is called "live good".

as soon as i opened this book i was drawn in by it’s artistry and color with inspiring quotes and thoughts.

the second is called "she".

the encouraging words in this book very uplifting and empowering for women every where and of all ages.

the third is called "the little things"

this one actually inspired the name of my own blog, "because it’s the little things that make life so big".  it really is so true.

there is one more i want to mention.  i don’t have this one (yet) but it looks like a good one too!
"oh baby"

i was lucky enough to find the books i have while browsing for clothes at j.jill, but guess what?  i found them online too! the books can be found here.

The Umbrella Society emailed to introduce their shop, and I was in love. My black umbrella has now been replaced by some lovely orangeness. Browse the store! Get free shipping when you buy two. And best of all, money from the sale of each umbrella goes to help fight teen suicide in Japan and fund an orphanage project in India.