Specialty Archives » Shopping

What Would Be Your Ideal SMS Plan?

Archivist — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 22:16:06 +0000

SMS, the real name for what we usually call text messaging, is something that most of us use now and then. Some of us use it daily. This may be changing for people who have smartphones and who can use email, IM and mobile social networking to communicate instead of using SMS. Each person uses SMS differently. What would your ideal SMS plan include?

My ideal SMS plan would include unlimited text messaging at a low cost. I don’t have a smartphone yet. I still use text messaging almost every day to communicate for both personal and professional reasons. I need to make sure that I have a premium sms plan that does not charge me when I send and receive a lot of text messages.

Other than that the only thing that I really care about is that my text message plan is reliable. I want to make sure that I receive all of the messages that are sent to me. This is especially important now that I’ve switched a few of my monthly bills over to sms billing and receive notices about them via text! I’ve had phones in the past that didn’t always send my messages through so this is an important one. With just those few things, I’m a happy texter.

Technorati Tags: premium sms, sms billing

Don’t Get Oversold on Wedding Supplies

Archivist — Sat, 18 Jul 2009 17:03:53 +0000

People spend a fortune on their weddings. Many people end up regretting spending so much money. That’s because they get suckered into spending more than they wanted to by savvy salesmen who know that you’re open to paying a pretty penny to make this day special.

Follow these tips to avoid getting oversold on wedding supplies that you don’t need:

Have an idea of what you’re looking for. If you know that you only want to look at Celtic engagement rings then you won’t be suckered into looking at other designs that might be pricier.
Create a budget. If you know how much you can afford to spend on the wedding then you can make smart choices about what is worth buying and what isn’t.
Talk to your spouse. So many couples leave the spending up to one person (usually the woman). Talking about the purchases helps you to make better choices about what to buy.
Remember what really matters. Set some goals for after the wedding so you can remember what you’re working towards together. It isn’t a big wedding that really matters!

Be smart about how much money you spend on your wedding. You don’t want to get stuck starting a marriage with a lot of debt between the two of you.

Technorati Tags: Celtic engagement rings

A Closet Full of Halter Dresses

Archivist — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 20:12:20 +0000

I am one of those girls who really loves to wear dresses. I am also one of those girls who likes to get new clothes frequently because I like to always have a different look. So imagine my surprise when a friend said to me the other day:

“Your dress looks really cute. But I have a question. Not to be rude, but why do you always get the same kind of dresses?”

At first I had no idea what she was talking about. I feel like I always choose really different dresses. The dresses that I have are really varied in terms of colors, patterns and materials. But when I went home after that conversation and looked into my closet, I knew what my friend had meant. Every single dress I own is a halter top dress.

The reason for this is that I know that this style always looks great on me. I don’t even have to try dresses on in the store because I can see that this shape will suit me. I haven’t had nearly as much luck with other types of dresses. For the most part, I think it’s okay for me to stick with what I know. Still, I might need to change it up just a little bit since my friends are starting to think I look boring!

Technorati Tags: dresses

Home Comforts

Amanda7787 — Tue, 26 May 2009 20:29:21 +0000

I was sitting at my home bar sipping an iced tea when Oprah appeared on the television. Her guest for the day was Simon Cowell and they opened the show with a discussion on his latest discovery, Susan Boyle. I couldn’t believe my eyes when they cut away to a clip of a frumpy, forty-eight year old woman (who looks to be about sixty-eight) and she appeared on the screen wearing a hair do that expired in the early 80s and a dress that my mother’s housekeeper wears.

Susan made some simple conversation regarding her cat Pebbles who likes to nap on the day bed and eats tuna fish in the kitchen. Then she moved on to some sassy hip moves and comments how she would like to sing as great as a Celine Dion equivalent.

I poured myself another tea while the Scottish audience rolled their eyes, but when that woman started singing a lick from Phantom of the Opera I set my cold glass down on the counter and stared at the television set in awe. The audience, like me, was instantly won over. It was humbling to realize I was judging this woman in one instance, and staring at her in awe a split-second later. Everyone was against her until she sang, then everyone was on their feet applauding.

Technorati Tags: day bed, home bar, Oprah

Buying Premium Cat Furniture

Archivist — Sun, 17 May 2009 20:51:09 +0000

If you’re in the market for furniture for your cat then you should look at spending a little bit of cash on the purchase. You will find a lot of different options across a broad spectrum of prices when you’re looking at cat furniture but if you look closely then you’ll also find that only premium cat furniture is really worth it for your cat.

Premium cat furniture is made better. This means that it lasts longer. When you’re dealing with things like scratching posts and climbing trees, you really need to get something that’s going to be durable. But it’s not just the long-lasting features of this furniture that makes it worth the cost. Premium cat furniture is also far better for your cat and your home because it’s made with healthier materials.

As you’re looking at cat furniture with an eye towards durability and quality of materials, you’ll rapidly begin to see that there’s a big difference between what you get at the cheap end of the price spectrum and what is available if you’re willing to pay a little bit more. It’s not as though cat furniture is something that you buy frequently. It’s the type of investment you only make a few times in your life so it makes sense to spend a bit more in order to get the best cat furniture available.

Technorati Tags: premium cat furniture, scratching posts

Smart Items to Buy in Bulk

Archivist — Sat, 16 May 2009 02:48:39 +0000

The key to saving money is knowing the right areas to save and the areas that aren’t worth trying to create savings. One important part of this is learning to determine whether it’s worth the value to buy items in bulk or whether it makes more sense to buy smaller amounts.

Some of the items that are generally smart to buy in bulk include:

Household paper products. Items like toilet paper and paper towels are smart to buy in bulk. They never go bad and you’ll always use them eventually. The only exception is if you really don’t have room in your house to store these items.
Clothing that gets worn out quickly. There are a few clothing items that you may need to replace frequently. Socks, underwear and T-shirts are common examples. If you always buy the same style anyway, you might as well buy it in bulk.
Pet needs. Your pet’s basic needs stay the same so you should get what you need in bulk. Cat toys are an example; bulk cat toys are cheap and that’s an item that needs to be regularly replaced. Pet food is another example.

You should buy in bulk whenever you are getting an item that is non-perishable and that you need to replace frequently. Otherwise, just buy what you need as you need it.

Technorati Tags: bulk cat toys, cat toys

Looking for Soho Bedding

Archives — Sat, 28 Mar 2009 22:46:35 +0000

A few years ago my boss had a baby and she received a Soho baby bedding set. Her nursery looked so sparkling and comfy and I loved the details of the bedding. When I found out we were having a baby I called my boss and asked her about the set. She had since gotten a different set now that her twins are in a single beds and she no longer had the set I had had my eye on years earlier.

She gave me the website that had the whole Soho collection. There were even more unique sets than the last time I looked at the line. Soho has everything from sports themes to pink toile but all of the collection is more high-end then the usual crib bedding found in most baby stores. Most of the sets are embellished with hand embroidery and are 100% cotton so they are easy to take care of and are very soft. They even come with a set of valances.

The nursery is the room my baby will spend the most time in so I really want to make sure it is a comforting place. I found the set I had been looking for and I know it will make my nursery complete.

Technorati Tags: baby bedding, crib bedding, nursery

Preparing Dogs and Kids to Live Together

Archi — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 18:54:37 +0000

You have to be really careful when preparing to bring a pet into a home with children, or vice versa. I personally know people whose dogs have bitten their toddlers so badly that they had to be taken to the hospital. So the first thing that you definitely need to do is establish boundaries for both dog and child. And the best way to do this is with a child dog gate. The animals would have a clearly marked territory and so would the child.

I also believe that a PetSafe dog crate is very helpful. Dogs like to snuggle in dens, and you can put the crate right by you while protecting the dog from the abuse of small children and toddlers. Dogs actually learn to love their crates. Kids will want to get in there and play even when the dog is out, but it must be taught to respect the dog’s space.

When you find a nice place to buy discount pet supplies, just be sure that any toys and supplies don’t have small parts that can come off and choke the child. Even some kinds of dry dog food are a danger-they can choke a small child.

Finally, don’t allow the dog to lie above the child in any way, and discourage the child from crawling around on the floor below or at dog level. This is just liable to trigger the alpha male pack instinct, and the dog will try to dominate the child.

Technorati Tags: alpha male, buy discount pet supplies, child dog gate, PetSafe dog crate

Where to Find Antique Jewelry

Spaycial — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 18:43:25 +0000

I adore antique jewelry, but sometimes it can be hard to find — and expensive to buy. Here are some tips for finding antique jewelry, preferably at a good price.

Avoid the usual suspects. Jewelry stores, even antique jewelry stores, tend to mark up their prices considerably. You are paying for their name and their specialty nature as well as for your jewelry.
Haunt the pawn shops. It isn’t unusual for people to sell gold for cash at a pawn shop. Every once in a while you will get a truly unique vintage or antique piece at a pawn shop, usually for considerably less than an overpriced antique store would charge, since their prices are typically based on the value of gold.
Check garage sales and thrift shops. Again, it is unusual for these types of places to sell something truly valuable, but the way you find a treasure is by searching often. The good news about finding something in one of these places is that the price tag will most likely be extremely affordable!
Shop online. Online community boards and auction sites such as eBay can be great places to find antique jewelry. Oftentimes you will find sellers here who want to sell gold jewelry, but for whatever reason (usually a need for some fast money) prefer to sell it quickly without the hassle of going through a consignment shop or a pawn shop. Of course, there is some risk involved with buying jewelry you have never set eyes on, which is why you should always buy from reputable sellers or via sites such as eBay that offer buyer protections.

Part of being able to get really good prices on antique jewelry is being able to recognize a piece when others don’t. Here is a page on the history of antique jewelry that will help you to learn about the different styles that were popular over the years.

Good luck and happy hunting!

Technorati Tags: antique jewelry, sell gold for cash, sell gold jewelry, value of gold

Picking out your wedding invitations in plenty of time

Archi — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 22:15:00 +0000

If you are getting married and you have decided to do all the planning yourself, you want to make sure that you get everything done ahead of time, so that you aren’t scrambling the day before the wedding making party favors or still deciding on your bouquet. Fortunately two of the most important elements of your wedding take place well ahead of the big day.

Some people put their wedding announcements in various local newspapers when they get engaged. This is perfect if you are having a short engagement. If your engagement is going to be a bit longer, you may want to wait until a few weeks before the big day to make the announcement in the paper. Either way, it is one thing that you can check off of your to do list before your wedding day.

The other thing that needs to be done ahead of time is the wedding invitations. These typically go out three or four months before your wedding, so give yourself plenty of time to pick out the perfect ones for you! There are a huge variety of invites out there from very classic frangipani wedding invitations to whimsical, fun butterfly wedding invitations. Once you pick the style that is perfect for you, don’t delay in addressing them and mailing them out! It’s always better to send them out early, especially if you are expecting out of town guest.

Technorati Tags: frangipani wedding invitations. Butterfly wedding invitations, wedding announcements