When All Else Fails...eBay!

Is that Shaun Cassidy album from the 70's eluding you? Just have to have that Han Solo action figure in mint condition? Perhaps you're not looking for either of these, but for that certain something new at a great price. If you're one of the three people in this country who've not yet tried eBay, now's your chance. Go on: Do it. You'll soon be addicted like the rest of us.

Santa, Baby!

Take care of all your baby needs in one place. Need a gift for a new little one or parents-to-be? Here you go!

The babycenter store is offering free shipping. Get your gifts here in time and shop now!

One Stop Shopping Was Never So Fun

Imagine this: Christmas is weeks away, and you're done shopping for presents. Your friends are jealous, of course (yet so in awe of you) as they scramble for gifts at the last minute. You, on the other hand, are getting a manicure, and smiling at the memory of having paid only $5.99 for shipping.

This can happen...but how ever will you do it?

Let me introduce you to my new favorite shopping site: Wrapables.com. The great folks at Wrapables have put together a Holiday Gift Guide to help you with your holiday shopping. At a loss for ideas? No more! You'll find the presents you need for the hard to please, not-so hard to please, and even yourself, just by clicking on the box below.

Get a cup of eggnog and your list of all those people you just have to buy for, then get ready to have some fun!

Christmas Cards are a Snap(fish)!

Let me introduce you to my favorite online photo storage and developing website: Snapfish.com. I've used Snapfish for at least a couple of years now, and their value is hard to beat. One reason I love these people is the ability to store my photos online. Think about it -- if your computer crashes or is attacked by a virus, you could lose all of the special photos you've stored on your hard drive. That's a risk you just can't afford to take! Snapfish solves that problem for you by offering convenient storage and also the ability to edit your photos on their site.


Then, at your convenience, you can order as many prints as you like and have them sent directly to you via snail mail. Or, and this is a great option, you can have them printed out at a nearby Walgreen's for you to pick up.


Snapfish.com also offers a big selection of photo gifts and cards. With the holidays upon us, it'll be time to send those cards sooner than you can say, "Leftover turkey sandwiches" (or something like that). For a limited time (really limited -- just until November 30), receive 20% off your holiday cards.

Also, receive 20 free prints when you upload your digital photographs. That's like getting a whole pack of pictures free!

Make it extra easy on yourself this year by ordering your cards directly from Snapfish (they can even send them for you!). Need postage? See my earlier post about a great deal from Stamps.com.

'Tis the Season to NOT Run Out of Postage

It seems to be an annual tradition for me to run out of stamps before I run out of Christmas cards! I am determined that this year will be different.

If you, like me, don't want to be stuck making an inconvenient run to the post office to pick out some darling holiday stamps (or settling for the boring ones at the grocery checkstand), try something new.

With Stamps.com you can print postage 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.


Right now you can get $25 in free postage, which is a huge help, as we all know how quickly it adds up. An added FUN bonus to this is the ability to upload your own photos to customize your stamps. How cool is that?

Do You Have a Cute Kid?

If you think your little one is the cutest kid around, you'll want to enter the 2007 "theCuteKid" of the Year Contest. The Grand Prize winner will receive a $25,000 scholarship and press exposure as the "2007 Cute Kid (tm) of the Year". The CuteKid is also giving away $1,000's in monthly prizes, and everyone who enters gets a free 1-year subscription to Parenting magazine.


All CuteKid members receive access to:

• Casting calls
• Parenting advice articles
• Everyday discounts and savings
• ...and much more.

So, come on! You know your kid's cute -- enter now!

HOP to it!

If your child is struggling with reading, it's time to relieve the suffering! Not just your child's, but yours: It's hard to watch your youngin muddle through his school work, especially when you know there must be a remedy.

Hooked on Phonics is one such remedy. Your child can learn to read, and have so much fun doing it that he won't realize any learning has taken place.

Take advantage of HOP's current 20% special by entering your coupon code "SAVE20" at checkout. Do it for your child; do it for you.

Which pushes me out on a tangent: Hooked on Phonics also has programs for adults dealing with illiteracy. If you're reading this, it's probably not you, but maybe it's someone close to you. Take a look, and don't forget the 20% discount at check out.

Take a Scholarly Walk Down Memory Lane

When I was in elementary school, I remember being so excited when the day came for my teacher to hand out the new Scholastic fliers. Maybe it was the budding shopper in me, drooling at the thought of buying a new book.

Fast forward 15+ years. For a while now, I have been the Scholastic contact person (the one who hands out fliers, takes the orders, and distributes the books after they've come in) for the homeschool moms group I attend. I still loving looking at the fliers, but now I'm circling and checking off the items I'd like to purchase for my own kids.

But...if you're ever on the lookout for ways to stem to constant stream of paper into your home, Scholastic has now made ordering easier for parents (however their children are educated), with the advent of The Scholastic Store. Not to mention they now sell so much more than just books.

Scholastic is the largest global children's publishing and media company, with more than 80 years experience reaching parents, kids and teachers.

The Scholastic Store offers parents the best products to extend their child's learning outside of the classroom. They carry award-winning books, toys, games, software & more. Not to mention new and classic characters loved by kids all over the world.

Many of Scholastic’s popular brands including Harry Potter(TM); Clifford The Big Red Dog(TM); I Spy(TM); Captain Underpants(TM); The Magic School Bus(TM); and Dear America(TM) are available through The Scholastic Store Online.

Go take a look. It's a great time to shop for those holiday presents...or to at least take an e-walk down memory lane.

So, What Are YOU Going to Be for Halloween?

Costume City is an industry leader in costumes, mascots, wigs, masks, makeup, accessories, and props. With Halloween screaming in like a banshee on a locomotive, there's no time like now to buy your family's costumes. Costume City offers great prices and a huge selection. Whether you're looking to transform your child (or yourself) into Captain Jack Sparrow, Spiderman, Sponge Bob Squarepants, Cinderella, Elmo, or one of the Bratz, you can't beat Costume City.

Oh, Baby!

Baby Center is having a BIG sale for Labor Day! Many things are 50% off. Whether you’re expecting or are looking for items for your baby or toddler, this is the time to get them. BabyCenter is also offering FREE SHIPPING on all orders over $49. Use coupon code FREESHIP49. Check out BabyCenter today!

Foreign Language

I have tried in the past to teach my children Spanish. I never succeeded at it, because I tried to do it on my own. This year will be different, as we'll be using the #1 rated language software, Rosetta Stone. The best part is, I'll be learning, too.

If you have a child who will be taking a language class in school (or has, but struggled with it), this may be just the thing to help them "get it," and get that A, as well.

Rosetta Stone is currently offering 10% off in their Back to School promotion. I recommend (highly) that you take advantage of this offer quickly, as it ends on August 28.

THE FASTEST WAY TO LEARN A LANGUAGE. GUARANTEED. Rosetta Stone is the world’s #1 language learning company, acclaimed for its success in helping millions of people learn a new language through easy-to-use software programs. Our software effectively teaches all 4 language skills: listening comprehension, reading, writing, and speaking. Our 30 languages are offered as CD-ROM and Online Subscription in up to 3 proficiency levels.

~ Rosetta Stone

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Gardening

August in the Pacific Northwest is one of my favorite times of year. We still have some higher temperatures, but then there are the days when it just feels like fall is knocking. The way the breezes blow, the angle of the sun...it all makes me think of pumpkins. I even look up, expecting to see changing leaves. Today I actually saw some golden maple leaves, though everything is still mostly green.

It's when I start experiencing these harbingers of fall that I remember planting time is just around the corner. Now's the time to order the bulbs to plant next month. To me, that's the easiest method of gardening: dig a hole, plop in the bulb (right-side up, of course), and be pleasantly surprised by crocuses, daffodils, and tulips in the spring. And don't forget those heavenly-smelling hyacinths.

Gardens Alive! has a great promotion going on right now (yes, I will be taking advantage of this myself): Spend $40 or more, and receive $20 off! That's getting $40 worth of bulbs (that's a lot of bulbs) for half price. You're not going to find a deal like that in your neighborhood garden center right now.

The best part is, you place your order online and it's delivered to you. You save time, gas, money, and your feet. How easy is that?

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Homeschooling: Alpha Omega Publications

Alpha Omega Publications provides Christian curriculum for grades K-12.

AOP offers several exciting product options, including:

• Switched-On Schoolhouse,
• LIFEPAC, Horizons,
• Horizons Preschool,
• The Weaver Curriculum,
• Power-Glide,
• Drawing Basics with Thomas Kinkade,
• the very funny Drive-Through History videos with Dave Stott
• and much more!

Currently, you can save 12% on your AOP curriculum purchases by using the code SAVEBIG at checkout.

To save 30% on Power-Glide, use code SPEAKTODAY.

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Miscellaneous Services (Sitters, Etc.)

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As America's leading sitter site, Sittercity has more great sitters, background checks, parents' sitter ratings, tools and resources than any other service.

Their four-step screening process has helped hundreds of thousands of parents and sitters nationwide find each other quickly, safely and easily.

Whether you're looking for a babysitter, housesitter, or petsitter, your search is almost over!

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I have found a new favorite hangout on the web: Organize.com. I could get lost here. This place has everything (it seems) to get you organized, and probably some things you don't have to have but are so really, really cool that you just can't pass them up.

Head over and take a look yourself. While you're there, enter the contest to win $1,000.

Fabulous offer: Spend $125 or more and receive 12% off. Coupon code needed at checkout: A4564.

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