Always, Alli

I’ve been asked to review the website Jewels of Denial, so this evening I took some surfing time to check it out.

My first impression of the website is this: If I were just wandering aimlessly on the web looking for jewelry and landed on the website, I probably would have clicked away. The jewelry displayed on the front page isn’t my style at all. And the overall layout/ design of the site didn’t really give me the impression of high quality jewelry.

But, I did dig in further and found items I would actually like, such as this cute pendant (I’m usually drawn to the pendant category on any jewelry website). As I was browsing I was impressed by the section below called “Similiar Products You May Like.” And truly, I liked the suggested pendant more than the one I originally clicked on!

I also liked the feature they added where when you find something you want to remember, you can click the button to bookmark it, blog about it, or social network it. Die hard jewelry bloggers should like that.

The prices were comparable to what I would entertain when purchasing jewelry, so overall, I would recommend Jewels of Denial“>Jewels of Denial. If you sign up for their newsletter, you will be given a 20% off coupon which makes it even more appealing.

And if you do make a purchase, blog it and tell them you learned about it here!

Technorati Tags: jewels of denial, jewelry, online shopping

Shopping therapy can be a way to relieve some of the stress of depression. Since I don’t leave the house much, I tend to stick to online window shopping looking at things like handbags, shoes, etsy, and ebay.

When poking around Ebay, I like to stop and look at the unusual stuff too. I remember watching Ellen when she bought a potato chip with the smiley face from ebay. It was so strange, and now there is a rather large section in “Weird stuff” of potato chips for sale.

Like this one with a “buy it now” price of $1,500.00. It seriously boggles my mind what people will 1) sell and 2) buy on ebay.

I like to stick to the normal stuff. Ebay is where I purchased two of the clocks on my living room wall. One looks like a door knocker, the other is a pewter plate.

Our experience with selling stuff on ebay has been ok. We sold off the parts from our wrecked scooter, and almost every thing sold. I was happy to get it out of my house, but Damon had an interesting time figuring out shipping stuff.

Chattanooga doesn’t have an iSold It store, but the concept could have helped us with that project. We could have dropped off our stuff and they would have created the auction, done the photography of the parts, and ship the item(s) to the auction winners. They then mail a check to the person getting rid of their stuff. Or, you can ask that the check be sent to a specific charity, making it easier to auction things off for charity.

All the items that go through an iSold It store have to have a value of $75 or more. And because iSold It does the hard work, they get a cut of the final price. Your check will be anywhere from 55 to 75% of the final bid. I found a great FAQ on the website of one of the individual stores.

It all sounds fine and dandy, and for someone like me who doesn’t really want to go through the hard work of auctioning off her stuff, a store like iSold It sounds fine. If you have any experience with this type of business, let me know. I might want to see what this old camera of mine will go for.

Technorati Tags: iSold It, Ebay, auctions, shopping

If you travel this summer and plan on flying, how do you think you will get around town? Do you have friends to chauffeur you? Borrow a car? Or do you plan on renting a car?

We have only ever rented cars when it was part of our honeymoon package or after a car accident. But I can see how some folks might want to fly somewhere and then rent a car that might be smaller than their car at home. It could have better gas mileage, so they could save some money there. Or some car rental companies have hybrids, which is even more exciting to me. Save some money, use less gas… it all sounds good.

Advantage is a car rental company with an easy to use website. You can check rates quickly and have 34 types of cars to choose from (no hybrids though).

There is a specials page you should check out to see if you can find a good deal on a van rental (more space is pretty comfortable). One special allows you to rent cars from $19.99 a day.

The prices are comparable to other car rental companies, so I would make sure to include them when you are searching for a rental car.

Technorati Tags: car rental

While I was in Ohio, my mom and I went shoe shopping twice. McMom wanted to buy me some nice shoes, to give me a more complete look. I wasn’t about to turn her down because my summer shoes have been giving me problems with my feet and hip.

The first store we went to was in Kettering and it was soooo depressing. They had really nice shoes, but were really crappy about keeping in stock my size. I found cute shoes, but they didn’t fit. Too big, too small, or too narrow.

I commented to my mom that I prefer shopping for shoes on the internet.

For instance, Infinity Shoes, is a decent online shoe store. They have a good variety of brands like seychelles shoes , minnetonka boots, and tsubo shoes. But there aren’t a lot of shoes in each brand, which would probably lead me to go searching for more styles at other online shoe stores.

Also, the prices are much higher than I would want to pay. The shoes I did end up buying were Clark’s brand (which Infinity Shoes carries) and were $30.

But, if I were to buy my sister a pair of shoes for her upcoming birthday, I would be able to find the Eric Michael Bonnet shoes at Infinity Shoes online store. They are so cute and I think my sister would like them. I know I would! And maybe paying that much for a pair of shoes as a gift isn’t as bad as buying them for yourself. Right now they are offering free shipping on shoes over $59.98, which those shoes qualify for, so I wouldn’t get screwed there.

However, I think due to higher prices than I would normally pay, and being used to more options (especially in sizes, which I didn’t see a lot of 9 1/5 sizes on Infinity’s site) I wouldn’t pick Infinity Shoes as my first choice for online shoe shopping.

Technorati Tags: Inifinity shoes, online shoe shopping

When I planned to visit my mom I made the request to return to Jeffersonville, Ohio to check out the Prime Outlet Mall. We went there last year and found some really great deals at the Talbot’s and Eddie Bauer outlets.

Shopping in actual stores is not really my favorite past time. I prefer the online variety where I can browse in my PJs and smile pretty at the UPS driver when he delivers my packages. Also, online shopping means I don’t really have to wrangle a three year old asking him where he was, telling him to stop running, or demanding he stop hiding in the clothes racks (I can still see him!).

Thursday afternoon, when my mom got home from work, my request was granted. I had one objective- new bras from the Lane Bryant outlet since my recent weight loss had made my current bras useless.

Not only did I end up with my new bras ($9.99 each!) I bought a pretty pair of Clark’s shoes and a pink polo. And as a bonus of shopping with my mom, she bought me a pair of shoes, a $4.95 skirt (from Talbot’s), and a great yellow top. I’m so spoiled.

Now, to lose even more weight so I need to be spoiled again soon!

Technorati Tags: shopping, Prime Outlets

Our family frequents Wal-Mart at least once a week. I would prefer to make it less than that for money reasons, but it averages to about once a week.

I was checking out Wal-Mart’s website today and noticed this:

As part of Earth Month 2008, Wal-Mart and Kellogg’s will be partnering to give away one million custom-made reusable shopping bags on Saturday, April 19th at 8AM local time.

Plastic bags can take as long as 1,000 years to degrade. Wal-Mart sells reusable shopping bags every day made from recycled materials you can use instead, for just $1.

In my kitchen right now I have 40 or more of those plastic bags from Wal-Mart. I reuse them to package my recyclables and the other day I learned I can take them to our playground and put them in the dog waste bin. While I can’t recycle them, I do like trying to take the opportunity to reuse them at least once.

I keep seeing the reusable bags other stores are starting to sell for nickles or dimes, and maybe it is time to make an investment in the reusable bags. Starting with a free one on Saturday.

Technorati Tags: Wal-Mart, reusable shopping bags, Earth Month

Last week I got a new cell phone- the LG enV! I had the opportunity to pick out a new phone because the family plan I was on with my mom and sister changed to just me and my mom. The old LG phone I had was the basic model, with a camera and not many features.

Ever since I started twittering and using Utterz, I have been admiring phones with the qwerty keyboards. Knowing I would be faster at the finger typing than I would be flipping through 3 to 4 letters per key, I decided to pony up the money for the phone. I considering it one of my many blogging tools.

Besides the keyboard, I love the camera, which is 2 megapixels and better than the camera on the old cell phone. And it has video, which will be cool when I actually remember to use it.

I still believe I can live without a cell phone. But other people in my life seem to think in today’s day, especially with all the travel we do, a cell phone is a necessity. And if I have one, I like that fact that I can have the one I really want.

Oh, and it is orange, which is my signature color. This phone was made for me.

Technorati Tags: enV, LG, cell phone, mobile phone

Speaking of mother bribery, next month is the mother of all holidays- Mother’s Day. Since my anniversary was on Thursday and my husband’s birthday is next week and then I’m leaving at the end of the month… well, Mother’s Day hadn’t crossed my radar until yesterday when I stopped in the grocery store.

I have to start thinking of something Fuller can get me. In the past we usually go out for dinner (not lunch! lunch is tooo crowded!) or get ice cream at Cold Stone Creamery. But gifts, unless I am specific, are usually lacking. And I end up with the responsibility of getting the “loving and thoughtful” gifts for the grandmothers.

You know, I would even be appreciative of a gift of flowers. Since spring has sprung, I have enjoyed having pretty flowers brighten my home. If Fuller gave me some mother’s day flowers, I would be thrilled. If he was older, I would even encourage him to enter 1800 Flowers’ “Celebrate Mom for Who She Is” contest. (I guess I could enter for my own mother, duh).

By uploading a picture or video, along with a story or essay, your mom could win one of the prizes (all prizes together total $30,000). And 1 800 Flowers didn’t leave out dads, either, allowing a category for Mr. Moms (please don’t cringe).

I’ve received flowers from 1 800 flowers before and they are always gorgeous, and last quite a long time. I think seeing my little guy’s chubby little hand grasping a bouquet of flowers is just what this mom wants this Mother’s Day.

Technorati Tags: Mother’s Day, 1800Flowers, flower, Mother’s Day contest

I did some shopping yesterday. One of the things I wanted to do was go to this cute store on Fraizer Avenue and check out their jewelry. Damon told me to find a shamrock to replace the one that went missing, and I decided to buy a real shamrock instead of a gold version. I gave my SIL one of the four leaf clovers for her 40th birthday, and I wanted one too! Instead of replacing the broken chain, I have one I can use and just bought the clover. When D got home, I gave him the box, he said he liked it, then gave it back to me with a “Happy Valentines Day!”

While I was in Blue Skies I checked out their vintage typewriter necklaces but 1) the “A” wasn’t on a white background and 2) I just couldn’t spend the money they were asking because I knew there were cheaper ones on etsy. Then I found another necklace I figured would eventually be mine, so why not go ahead and buy it now?

It is a silver medallion and reads “What if the hokey pokey is what it is all about?” A few years ago I gave my little sister a similar one with a Mr. Roger’s quote, “You will never go down the drain.” The idea of pithy pop-psychology makes me giggle and feel a bit quirky, so I think I will wear my hokey pokey necklace often and with an extra wide smile.

Technorati Tags: hokey pokey, jewelry, pop phsychology

I received a sample of a new shampoo and conditioner on the market: Naked Naturals. I have a love affair with my hair, and care significantly about the products I use on my hair, but I am not set in my ways. When it is time for me to replace shampoo or conditioner I can usually be found musing what to try next, not necessarily reaching for the same products over and over.

The pamphlet I received with the samples told me the shampoo and conditioner were not made with harmful chemicals. I also learned about a Keravis, a main ingredient in the Naked Naturals made from plant protein and proven to make hair stronger, more flexible, and reducing breakage.

Maybe I am vain, but I already see my hair as flexible and strong. And since I have so much hair, if it breaks, I don’t really notice it or cry over it. But the sample was free and I thought I would give it a go.

The ultimate verdict was I like both products. I felt my hair was clean from the shampoo and the conditioner rinsed clean. When my hair dried, it was soft and manageable, which allowed me to let out a sigh of relief. I scrutinize conditioners a lot more than shampoo and I have used conditioners which left my hair feeling tangled and icky. Naked Naturals gave me the softness I love. And as a bonus, I really believe my hair was even shinier after using Naked Naturals.

I would like to say my hair was stronger after using the sample, but unfortunately I was unable to really. Maybe my hair really is super strong (and it isn’t just in my head) or maybe I just needed to be able to use it more on a daily basis to give a fair shake. But I would recommend this shampoo based on the natural aspect of it. Using a natural shampoo and less chemicals in my hair is healthier in the long run, so it would be for you too!

Technorati Tags: Naked Naturals, shampoo, conditioner, hair product