Oh, Sparkles!

I love things that shine and sparkle. Put Swarovski crystals on something and it is mine. When I have time to myself I like to create fiber art and beading and embellishing are a big part of it.

If you are like me and like to create with fiber, thread, beads and crystals I have a website to share with you. It's called WholesaleVintageBeads.com and they have an outstanding selection of wholesale beads. I especially love the huge collection of vintage Swarovski crystal beads. There is so much to choose from I don't know where to start. As an added bonus shipping is always free in the US. You all know how I love free shipping! I also signed up for their newsletter that keeps you informed of deals and discounts.

The Guy You Love to Hate

I think of Billy Mays as the guy you love to hate. There was no mistaking him on a commercial, that voice and those gestures were unmistakable. In one way I hated his carnival barker pitch but in another I found it weirdly fascinating. I was sad to hear that he died this weekend. Whether I loved his act or hated it, he was a young man. Dying at 50 is way too young. Sad to see you go, pitch man.

Help Is Available

Modern medicine can do many wonderful things. People like my father, who would have been confined to a wheel chair in the past, can walk. Both of his knees were so bad that he could barely walk. After two knee replacements he is walking fine. My grandmother had a hip replacement that did wonders for her.

The problem comes when these devices fail us. The issues on Zimmer Durom cup are an example. These hip replacement cups are failing and people are suffering. There is a Durom lawsuit for people who are affected. If you are one of them, you can find a Durom lawyer to help you join the lawsuit against them.

Coupon Heaven

I have a new favorite coupon site to share with you. It is called BestOnlineCoupons.com. The whole site is dedicated to coupons and discounts for online shopping. They have codes for lot of things like computers, clothes and toys but they have an awesome section that focuses on online shoes. We all know that shoes are my next favorite thing after purses.

The selection of brands and stores that it covers is mind boggling. They have everything from Steve Madden to Finish Line Coupons. If there is a shoe coupon, discount, promo code or shipping discount on the web they know about it and have it posted. If you're in the mood to be sporty they have the latest scoop on discounts at Foot Locker. If you are looking for inexpensive shoes they have information on Payless promotions. My personal favorites are the cash discount coupon offers and free shipping. Shipping can add up so quickly it really eats into the shoe budget. I think I'm off to check out the Finish Line coupons. At least, that's what I want to buy first, after that who knows where I'll end up. If you are planning to do any shoe shopping be sure to check them out.

My New Favorite Spot

My husband and I went to Mexico Beach, FL for a quick trip this week and I am in love with the place. It is old style Florida and very quiet and laid back. We found a bar right on the beach that we loved, they had great fresh oysters on the half shell. It is only about an hour and a half away so I think we will be going back often.

Shopping for My Husband

My husband's birthday is coming up and I am shopping for a special birthday present for him. He has had a difficult year. He has already had one surgery and has another one coming up on his back. He will not buy nice things for himself, he is always buying things for everyone else, so I am planning to make this birthday special. A surprise trip is already in the works. I think I have decided to buy him a watch, his last one broke and he has not replaced it. He will think the trip is his present so he will be especially surprised by the watch.

I have been looking at watches at BlueDial.com. The watch selection is great, they have everything from Movado Watches to Seiko and the prices are even better than the selection. I think I am honing in on the Citizen watch that I included a picture of. He likes chronograph watches, his last watch was one and stainless steel is ideal for him. He is very much the outdoor type and he needs a rugged watch. If you are shopping for watches stop by BlueDial and check them out, they have some great deals.

I Think I'm Jealous

Maternity clothes have gotten so cute I think I am jealous. I was helping a friend of mine shop for clothes for her growing belly and there are some darling outfits. Since we live in Florida she wants things that will look beachy and I think we found some. We were looking at KikisFashions.com and besides having cute stuff the prices are awesome. I haven't been in a maternity shop in a while but she says the prices on the website are much lower than in the stores at the mall. If you are looking for maternity clothes you can use the coupon code "blogfriends" at check out to get 20% off your order. Have fun.

I'm Conflicted

I'm conflicted as to what to say about Michael Jackson's death. One side of me remembers the music and how it has been a part of my life since I was a child. The other side of me thinks about what a strange man he was and all of the allegations about his sexual preferences. I think about the little boys that he probably harmed and my heart hardens against him. Then I hear Billie Jean, or PYT or a hundred other songs and I am caught up by the music...

Sometimes You Need a Little Help

I'm still waiting for the economic recovery to begin. At least it seems like we aren't in total free fall like last year. I'm just glad there are places that can help you over a bad spot with payday loans when you need it.

What I really like is that you can go online and get a cash advance over the internet. I think the privacy of doing it that way is great. You don't have to worry about who sees you going into the cash advance store. Sometimes you need fast cash and it is not your nosy neighbor's business. Even people who have credit problems need help sometimes and they can apply for a bad credit loan on the web too. The internet has made so many aspects of life easier to deal with.

Now That's Smart

I love it when people come up with ideas to make things easier anywhere, especially on the internet. It can be annoying to have to look ten different places to find what you are looking for especially things that used to be found in the local yellowpages.

Doing a local search for things in my area has always been a problem. I could go to websites like Yelp.com, Yellowpages.com or SuperPages.com but it takes to much time to visit them all. There is a new one called Local.com that works with them and has information from all of the sites. I love getting directions or reviews of local restaurants all in one place. It is a real time saver.

The Beginning

I live in Florida so I am very aware of hurricanes. Hurricane season began the first of June. Now there is a tropical storm brewing in the Pacific off the Mexican coast that has the possibility of strengthening into a hurricane. I realize it is in the Pacific and I am on the gulf, but it's scary to see one forming this early in the season. Hurricanes are fairly uncommon in the early summer and generally get going from late August on. I hope this isn't a harbinger of things to come.

Ceiling Fans

My shopping mission for today is a new ceiling fan for the family room. The old one is making some weird noises. I've never liked it so that makes me happy. :)

The first website that came to mind was Farrey's so it was my first stop. They have a great selection of ceiling fans. The selection locally isn't very good and I wanted to see some other manufacturers. I found a couple of Fanimation ceiling fans that I love. But there are also a couple of Craftmade ceiling fans that caught my eye as well. The style is perfect. I think I'll wait and show my husband this afternoon and let him help me select one. Any of them would work well.

I Shop for Credit Cards Too

I know I do a lot of shopping, that's why I write this blog, right? I not only shop for accessories, I also shop for credit cards.

I am of the belief that I should get the most out of my credit cards. They are making money from my transactions and it is only fair for me to switch to one that works best for me. I recently looked for a new low interest credit card on CompareCards.com. You can go there and compare credit cards to find the lowest rate. I found one that was better than the card I had so I switched. I don't want to give a credit card company any more of my hard earned money than I have to.

What's Up with Cruise Passengers?

All of a sudden we are hearing about cruise ship passengers falling overboard. Have people gotten more stupid or have cruise ships just started reporting it?

Just this week two passengers on two separate Carnival ships fell overboard. One is still lost in the Gulf of Mexico and presumed dead. No one saw him go over but a cruise staff member heard a big splash. In the other case the passenger climbed up on a railing for a better view and fell overboard. He was rescued. If they keep this up all of railing and balconies will be replaced with floor to ceiling bars like cages.

Shopping for Speakers

I have been shopping for speakers. It's not the kind that you are probably thinking of, I am talking about keynote speakers for an event that I am helping to organize.

I didn't know anything about the subject of hiring Celebrity Speakers or any kind of speaker for that matter but that was my assignment so I went for it. It was fun to read the list of celebrities that are available to speak. You can hire anyone from Dan Aykroyd to Anderson Cooper of CNN. Personally I think Stephen Colbert would be fun to listen to but I don't think he would fit this crowd. There are also many corporate speakers as well as motivational speakers that you can hire. The info I found on hiring a speaker was enlightening, to say the least.

I So Need a Vacation

I really, really need a vacation. My husband was ill last summer and we did not go on one. Between that and everything else this past year I am dreaming of a vacation to a beautiful Myrtle Beach Resort.

I know I live in Florida but the atmosphere is completely different there. Even the Myrtle Beach resorts look and feel different than ones here. There's a good possibility that we are having a family reunion there and I have my fingers crossed that it works out. If the reunion falls through I plan on booking something at one of the Myrtle Beach hotels or resorts myself.

Someone Must Be Really Bored

The past couple of days I have been hearing about the chances of another planet hitting earth. The way they're reporting it you would think we were in imminent danger. First, this is just some scientist's idea of what might happen. Second, it's supposed to happen like 3 billion years from now, and third there's only like a 1% change of it happening. Besides all that, at the rate we're going we will have managed to mess things up so bad by then there won't be anyone here. Let's move on to another story.

I Love Video

I love watching videos of people and places. Maybe it comes from watching too many of the hidden camera and documentary shows when I was a child. In my opinion, videos of real people in real scenarios out do scripted ones with actors any day.

The internet feeds my love of video. I'm thrilled when I visit a site and it has great video to go along with the text. There are even some sites with videos like people stock footage and travel stock footage from award winning film makers for sale. I may have to start a travel blog or something so I can start using them. Unfortunately there's not to many videos available of purses. Guess there's not enough action. LOL

Interesting Blog

In my other life when I'm not thinking about purses and other accessories I run a couple of websites. Yes, I do have a serious side even though I don't show it on this blog often. As a person who is actively making money on the internet I am always looking for places to learn more about marketing online. There is so much to learn, I don't think anyone can say that they know it all.

I visited a blog recently with a lot of good information on internet marketing and wanted to share it with you. It's called The Reciprocal Consulting Blog. There are lots of good blog posts to help you realize better results from your search engine marketing efforts. Isn't that what we all want?

It discusses subjects such as pay per click, social media optimization, and reputation management. Actually, it discusses practically every topic related to internet marketing. Not only does it discuss them, it explains how to use them together for maximum effect. These are all things that can help you improve your return on investment if done correctly. If you are involved in internet marketing or are wanting to start, stop by and start reading. You will probably learn something useful.

The World Is Ending

No, really. The world must be coming to an end. Neiman Marcus had decided to do the discount thing. Instead of the ritzy catalogs with out of this world gifts they have decided to sell discounted goods and go the promotional route.

While they like to think of themselves as catering to the upper class, rich customer, the truth is that the middle class really supports the stores. Now that everyone is looking to save money Neiman Marcus' bottom line is hurting. Some of those older society ladies in Texas must be stroking out over the news.

Flashback To My Youth

It's funny how the simplest things can give you a flashback. I was recently reminded of my childhood by a walk past a Candy store window. I saw some of my favorite candies that I ate back then and it took me directly back to being a little girl.

When I was very young, my grandfather owned the grocery store in a small town in Mississippi. It was one of those little stores that had everything, including a candy counter. When I went for a visit I was allowed to grab a little brown bag and fill it with whatever I wanted. I took the selection of my treats very seriously and even planned ahead.

My favorites included Rock Candy and Bazooka Bubble Gum. I still like them both. I have to smile when I see the rock candy sticks in coffee shops used to sweeten coffee. I'd rather suck on them like I did when I was a child. I love the grainy feel and crunchiness of chewing them. Do you remember the strings of rock candy? I do. I would make a necklace out of them and suck on them as the day progressed. That was one of the simple joys of childhood.

I Really Need to Do Something

I make my living on my computer. Everything that I have related to my business is on one of my two desktops or on my laptop. Now here's the scary part, I don't have them backed up. I know, that is pretty dumb. There is no excuse for it, but I seem to keep pushing it to the bottom of my to do list.

I have decided to do something about it and I am looking at IBackup.com. They offer Online Backup for small businesses like me. They also work with medium sized ones. I can backup more than one computer with their service, which is good since I have information on all three of mine. They have all of the usual things like being able to schedule the backups when I want them. Another thing that I really like is the browser based access so I can go in from anywhere.

They have won awards from trusted places like PC Magazine so they are not some fly by night company. If you'd like to check out their subscription fees follow the link, they are pretty reasonable. And if you have a Mac they can back that up as well. I'm feeling better about my situation already.

So Sad

I am so saddened by the news of the two American journalist in N. Korea being sentenced to 12 years of hard labor. They are treating them like they were some sort of terrorists instead of journalists. Speculation says that they are doing it in order to use the women as pawns to gain some sort of political concessions. I just know that I feel for the two women and their families.

Event Tickets

Do you love attending events as much as I do? I was just talking to old my college roommate who lives in California. She was telling me that she just bought Petco Park tickets for an upcoming concert.

I think that a venue has as much to do with a concert or sporting event being a memorable outing as the actual event does. When you get Chastain Park Amphitheatre tickets you know you are going to a great place and will have good seats. When you buy Beacon Theatre tickets you can't help but feel glamorous. It's a stunning art deco theatre in New York. There's so much history involved in the Beacon that you can feel it oozing from the walls.

Perfect for Anyone

Gift giving can be difficult. Since I'm known as a shopper I get asked for advise on gifts frequently. I think gift baskets are under rated and under used. They can be the perfect gift for just about anyone, male, female or child. It can be tailored to reflect the recipients interests. If you are the handy sort you can assemble them yourself. If you aren't creative or don't have the time you can order them.

You can order baskets online that are appropriate for almost any occasion. Holiday gift baskets are the most commonly purchased kind. They are idea for Mother's Day or Christmas. But there are many other kinds. New baby gift baskets are an ideal way to welcome a new addition to someone's family. There are golf themed baskets for the golfer in your life. A basket filled with toys will light up any child's face. I like to give movie gift baskets to couples for occasions like anniversaries or to say thank you for a special favor. A spa basket is a great way to thank someone for their hard work on a project.

A thoughtful gift basket will be appreciated by anyone. The next time you need a gift think about giving one.

End of an Era

It's sad when something that has been around our whole life is gone. It was announced that Max Factor cosmetics will not be sold here in the US after this year. It is sold in many other countries and will still be sold in most of them. It's one of those iconic names that I grew up with. I always see it in the drug store and at Walmart. Sad to see it go.

They Sing

Have you ever heard of a singing bowl? It is a Tibetan bowl that makes a beautiful singing sound when you run a striker around the outside rim of the bowl. They are used in meditation and healing. They are also used in music. I first heard one at a yoga studio. The instructor had several beautiful Crystal Singing Bowls that she used to promote a soothing atmosphere.

I am shopping for one and found a great site called SilverSkyImports.com. They import singing bowls directly from the Himalayas as well as other items from the area like prayer flags, silver jewelry and gongs. The crystal singing bowls that they carry are made from pure quartz crystals. I can't wait to have one of my own.

I'm Glad I'm Not a Teenager

I am thankful that I am over my teenage years. They were fun at times but you have to go through so much. It can be a real roller coaster.

My niece, in addition to going through all of the growing pains of a normal teenager, has developed acne. I feel bad for her because I remember how cruel teenagers can be to each other, especially girls. Her parents have been searching for an acne treatment that will work for her. They have tried one acne product after another in the search for the right one. Fortunately, it looks like her dermatologist may have hit on the right acne solution this time. Her skin is looking much better. I hope this is her answer.

You Never Know

You never know what is going on in a person's mind. David Carradine was found dead in his hotel room in Thailand. It looks like he hung himself. He was 72 years old at the time of his death. He seems to have a good life, his acting career was still viable. He was in Thailand for a movie role and has appeared in commercials recently. Obviously something was going wrong with him personally. So sad to see it end this way.

Bargain Shopping

I always like to share my new shopping finds with my fellow shoppers. I recently found another site that is a great place for finding deals, discounts, promotional codes and Online Coupons. It is called Plaza101.com.

The site offers price comparisons on retailers that carry just about everything. You can use the site to find information on electronics, accessories, clothing, toys, beauty and health products or anything else that you are shopping for. Plaza 101 lets you search for the retailers that carry the merchandise that you are looking for. They not only tell you who sells it but they also display the selling price from each seller. I find the price comparison feature to be very useful and time saving.

Creating an account on Plaza 101 is easy and free. Once you have signed up you can review products and read reviews from others. The product reviews are very useful when making buying decisions. You can also use the wish list feature. The beauty of a wish list is that you can share it with others and they know exactly what to buy you for a special occasion. The next time you plan on buying something online be sure to check them out first.

Which One to Pick

Another friend called me today for advise on selecting a hosting service. She was very confused by all of the different offers available. Her first inclination was to go with the cheapest one she could find. I told her that she needs to take some other things into consideration.

I suggested that she should look at reviews of web hosting sites and see what customers were saying about them before she made a commitment. I sent her to the site that I go to when I want to find the Best Web Hosting Reviews. RateYourWebHosting.com is the best site for reviews from people who have actually used the services.

My Kind of Gardening

A man in Cape cod was digging in his yard to install a garden and dug up an old coin. It turns out that the coin is 313 years old and from Britain. It dates from the rein of King William II. The coin is one of the oldest recovered in the area. Now that's my kind of gardening. I wonder how much it is worth. I could probably buy a lot of purses with that.

Reliving Childhood

I love toys. I especially enjoy it when I need to shop for a child because I get to relive my childhood. Looking at classic kids toys takes me right back to when I played with them. Whenever I need to shop for toys my first stop is ShopWiki.com. They list every retailer, not just companies that pay to be on their site.

I had a whole family of dolls and Barbie was my favorite. It's fun to see that she is still popular today. Trust me when I say that I keep my nieces supplied in everything Barbie. My nephew isn't left out either. My brother was a huge fan of anything mechanical and loved robots and remote controlled cars. I'm helping him make sure than my nephew continues the tradition.

A Beautiful Smile

It is amazing what a smile make over can do for a person. It can not only change someone's whole look, it can give them a huge boost in self-esteem. A friend of mine recently saw a cosmetic dentist and the change in her is amazing.

If you are looking for a good Las Vegas Dentist who specializes in cosmetic dentistry try checking out Dr. Byron Blasco. The atmosphere is relaxing and the staff is friendly and caring. The office is well appointed and you will feel like you are in a spa rather than a dentist's office. He treats patients of all ages. If you'd like to know more about him and his staff they even have a blog.

Heard of Gumblar?

Wow, I was just reading about the new worm to hit PC's. It is far worse than the conflictor worm that was a problem recently. Supposedly this one makes conflictor look like child's play. Even the security software companies are saying it's very hard to detect. And one you do detect it you have to reformat and start from scratch with your computer. Scary!

Planning a Vacation

My husband has the RV bug again. We used to own a motor home but sold it a couple of years ago. To satisfy his urge we are planning to rent one for vacation this summer. It's much cheaper than buying one! :)

I am letting him plan it all and he wants to do some PA RV camping. We always enjoyed it when we went to PA. Gettysburg camping can be a great learning experience and we have always come away with a better understanding of history. RV camping Gettysburg can be a great way to spend time there and really get to know the area. There are wonderful Amish communities in the area that you can visit. The bakeries are to die for! I had better lose a couple of pounds before we go.

Trophy Hunting

I am trophy hunting today. No, not for myself, I am hunting for golf trophies to be given out at an event. I am on the committee for it and they know how I love to shop. Since I have never shopped for trophies before it is a new experience for me.

I was looking around the TrophySales.com site. I had no idea how many different kinds of trophies there are available. I noticed that they have a good selection of academic awards. Those are always a great way to reward a student's hard work. Everyone likes to be recognized. They also have some very cool looking soccer trophies. Now I know where all of those soccer trophies in my nephew's room come from.

What Were They Thinking?

I was just reading an article about two convicted murderers who escaped jail by putting on guard uniforms and walking out. That is bad enough. What got my attention was how they got the uniforms. Did they knock someone out? No. Did they raid the guards locker room? No. The prisoners MAKE the uniforms. Yeah, the prisoners. Didn't they think that someone might figure out a way to steal them? I think they may need to rethink that.

Great Selection of Outdoor Clothing

I have been having a difficult time helping my father find the Outdoor Clothing that he wants. He has very specific ideas about what he likes and needs when it comes to outdoor clothing.

I finally scored this morning when I found the Hanks Clothing site. They have a great selecting of clothing from reliable manufacturers. The best part is they carry the Filson Clothing line and it is perfect for what he wants. They even carry a wide selection of muck boots.

While I was there I couldn't help looking around at everything they had. I loved the wildlife t-shirts, I am making note of them for gifts in the future. If you have any outdoor enthusiast in your life, the site is worth checking out.