Earn while you shop!!! ^_^

Calling all shopaholics!

If retail therapy is your all-time stress reliever - then the malls are your clinic and the bills are your prescription. I didn't say it is the only cure, but IMHO it sure works for me at times when I need it the most. I don't go out much, and I don't shop very often either. I tend to fall under the savvy shopper category, and always have the needwant in my head, "Do I need this or do I want this?". And if it falls on the want, then I shrug my shoulders and leave before I change my mind. On the other hand, if it is a matter-of-life-and-death-kind-of-need, (OK I am exaggerating) then I scour the internet and find the best deals. And that's how I found Ebates. Who says you can't spend & earn at the same time?

Whenever I go online, I make sure I log into my Ebates account. What is Ebates? Ebates is the pioneer and leader of online cash back shopping. It pays members cash back every time they shop online as well as provide them with the best coupons and deals online. Best of all, it is FREE to join!  For example, if you are a Macy's fan, you earn 3% cashback regardless of how much you spend. And sometimes if you are lucky, your favorite store might even give double cashback. Right now, Macy's is one of them so you earn 8% cashback. Cool, huh? Once you've earned $5.01 or more, they will either send you a check or thru your Paypal account. Or if you're feeling generous - you can even choose to donate your earnings to a charity of your choice.

I just got mine, and here's the proof:

For first-time registrants, you will get a bonus $10 gift card. Just make sure that you log onto Ebates everytime you shop online for you to earn cashback, otherwise you won't. Sometimes I tend to forget specially when I'm in a hurry and how I wish I could redo it if I could (darn!) but anyway, there's always a second chance.

Interested? Sign up through the link below and start earning!

http://www.ebates.com/rf.do?referrerid=Eb1eBUE6n96zV8Zutj2uXg%3D%3D&eeid=26471

They say it's better to give than to receive. In this case, you can do BOTH! Sweeeeeeet!!

A little pep talk

Again, it's Winter. When the days are dreary and warm, and bright but cold. When people take time to do those "backed-up" indoor chores. When I get soooo sad and homesick and can't wait to go home. But then, next month is Spring! And gosh, I am very much excited about the coming months as I jot down stuff on my "goal list" for things to accomplish this year. But I admit, sometimes I lack motivation. And then the procrastination happens. And next thing I know, the year's almost over (sigh).

That's it! I am getting over my fear and just gonna go ahead and do it! Maybe this will be my year. Maybe this time I can do it. Crossing my fingers and hoping for the best. Aja aja fighting!! ☺☺☺☺☺

Alone in My Big House

Authored by Rickey Combs

For the most part I like living alone, but sometimes it’s really difficult. I have to take care of the house alone, and it’s not easy to do all of the yard work and maintenance on my own. I like having my own space and not having to deal with a roommate, but lately I’ve been getting kind of scared at night. It’s funny because I’ve been living alone for years and this is a new development. I can hear little noises outside of my window some nights and if totally freaks me out. I know it’s probably just a squirrel or some other animal scurrying around, but it scared me enough to get an ADT Alarm Systems. I kept on thinking about all of the worse case scenarios and getting myself all worked up about it. I got a great deal on the alarm and it gives me peace of mind, so I know I made the right move. I wish I would have gotten one earlier. I’ve been sleeping much better since installing the alarm system. Now, when I hear a noise outside I know that no one can get in my house without an alarm sounding off.

Looking for a bargain?

Shopping can be a very exhilarating and exhausting experience at the same time. You can shop 'til you drop, but not until you get your hands into the best deals you could ever find - anywhere. May it be the mall, the bazaar, the flea markets, or online. Speaking of online, if you love eBay, then you might want to explore this website called nomorerack. It specializes on great deals which usually go as high as 80%.They have the Daily Deals which, of course, you have to check out daily to make sure you don't miss today's deal. And there's this Insanity Deal where they offer outrageous, insane (which is why they call it an insanity deal, of course) deals that rack up from 80-95%. But it doesn't last all day so make sure you look for that purple box and grab it while it lasts.

So, what's the catch? Why so cheap?

Ever wonder where those unsold, overstock, and closeouts go? nomorerack.com does the hunting for us and makes sure they get to it before somebody else does. And that's how we score these amazing deals. Which means we can also get famous brand goods in retail prices. Simply amazing! But before you can get your hands to these fantabulous deals, you have to be a registered member first. And you know the saying, "the more you share, the more you have"? You get 5 free $10 gift cards if you share the website to friends. Fan-ta-bu-lous indeed!

Checkout is also a breeze. They accept major credit cards and shipping is only $2 per item. What more can I say?

With the downfall of economy, even the not-so-bargain hunters enter the bargain frenzy. We want to get more out of our paychecks, and so the hunt begins. And who says shopping is just a snap? When your wives or girlfriends come home with bags and bags of goodies, instead of asking them how much they spent - ask them how much they SAVED. You'll never know a good deal until you see one. *wink*.

HOUSE SWEET HOUSE

Thanks to Olga Quinn

My house is my pride and joy and I just love spending so much time making it perfect. I had my mom come in and help me decorate because I had absolutely no taste at the end of the day and I knew I’d make the place look like a hot mess. I went to texas electricity providers to keep my energy rates down and I even planted some flowers in the front yard which has just been the best thing ever in terms of my morale and I’m actually planning a housewarming party (which I’m a little late for) very soon! I can’t wait to show this place off to all my friends and hopefully get a gift or two for the house. I really need to get a doormat and I also need some new lamps so you know, I’ve got a ways to go. My mom is coming back for Easter so hopefully by then I’ll have bought everything I need to get this place in the shape she wants it in!

Advertise that!

Advertising plays an important role for businesses to generate income from potential buyers. Without advertisements, the products go unnoticed and nobody would buy it. If you want to put your entrepreneurship skills to the test, then you are in need of an Advertising Agency that will handle all your advertising needs and make sure that whatever you're selling ( whether a product or service ) will be put up front for the mass to see.

Searching for an advertising agency can be tricky. They  have to understand your needs and make sure they know exactly who to target for what you're selling. Having the experience of working in an advertising firm years ago, I've understood the tough competition between companies in terms of their marketing strategies. Although I am not really an expert in the business management field, but as a savvy shopper, my keen observation really pays off.

Advertising comes in different forms: print ads, media, telecommunications, and now the internet. They may not be the same but they all share one goal - to gain your trust. It's amazing how even a social network like Facebook could generate income by placing ads on our pages. Everywhere you go, there's always ads. One thing's for sure - it's all about the strategy.

Swaddle your little one

Babies are the daintiest among us all and caring for them doesn't just take a lot of time, but a whole lot of patience as well. I may not have one right now but I could say I've had some experience in caring and handling babies when my cousin was born. I was the only girl and so far, the eldest in my family among my generation so I was given the hands-on opportunity by my mom and aunt to care for my baby cousin. 

Generally, it takes all the time, patience, and effort in the world to raise a child. But one of the most important stages in their life that a mom could treasure is when they are still babies. You feed them, give them a bath, change their diapers, hum a lullaby in their sleep, and give as much attention to them as you can ( even if it's 101 % of your life ). But there's something else aside from a mother's touch that babies need, specially when they're all by themselves in their cribs or sleeping - being swaddled. 

At this time of the year, you might want to provide more comfort and warmth to your baby. And I'm talking about baby blankets. If you're very particular in terms of your baby's needs, you always want to have a choice specially when it concerns your precious little one. If you are pro-organic, then you might prefer using an organic baby blanket. Organic stuff are perfectly safe for baby and gives you peace of mind knowing that no harmful substance will affect your baby's health. And if you are the creative type, then you might wanna go for the personalized baby blanket. Whatever you decide is clearly up to you. And remember, a cared baby is a happy baby.

Medical Scrubs

The medical field is currently popular among job categories. Most of the people I know are either nurses, pharmacists, or medical technicians. I couldn't relate though, because being in the medical field wasn't my thing back in my college days so I took an office-related course instead. But now I understand why it's always on top of the job-hunters nowadays because anything related to health will and always be a priority. That plus the overwhelming advancement in technology particularly computers, it just makes sense. 

If you or anyone you know are in the medical field, you might be on the lookout for medical scrubs. The first time I heard about the term "scrubs", I didn't know what it was until a friend of mine who's a nurse went to shop for scrubs. I asked her why it was called that way, she said it's just what they call their uniform. It took us a while to find a store that sells scrubs. But now that I found that this website http://www.blueskyscrubs.com/categories/Scrubs/ sells scrubs online, I can suggest this to her and to my other friends. They offer scrubs of all types and designs, surely you can find one that's just right for you. Maybe someday when I've decided to be in the medical field, I might have to buy one for myself too!

Zip it up!

Usually, it's the girls who get the chills easily... but how about the boys? Boys get cold too, you know. And just in time for the cold front to start saying "hello" to our bare skin, it's time to start zipping up!

I have a brother who, I might say, is a fashionista. He usually goes with the flow. But since he's way back home in the Philippines, I just send him stuff to fit his lifestyle. I may have spoiled him a bit, but he's my only brother and I love him to death. With him working come rain or shine, he needs something to protect himself from the nasty outburst of the typhoon. And that's where I come in. I love to shop, not only for myself, but specially for my loved ones. And one of my favorite stores offers these zip up hoodies which basically is the fad in teenagers and adults nowadays. Pretty cool and protective at the same time huh? He just loves wearing it not only for work but for play, too. The funny thing is, in Philippines, you will see guys wearing them even in the sunny weather! I guess you can pretty much say that's a fashion statement for Filipino guys there.

Fashion or no fashion, we need to shield ourselves from the excruciating effects of climate change. At this time of the year, we have to bundle up. Don't worry if you're wearing a bulky coat even if it's not winter yet. If you're feeling cold, I got three words for ya - ZIP IT UP!

A baby experience

Recently my husband and I have been invited to attend a friend's baby shower. It was actually a "surprise" shower and as far as I know, this is her 4th baby shower already. Some were given by her family, friends, and colleagues from work. It was a nice day for a first-time attendee like me. Yes, this is my first time to be in a baby shower and it feels good to be aware of what goes on in an event like this ( getting ideas in the future *wink*). Anyway, as soon as the opening of gifts came, I noticed that most of the guests gave them baby girl clothes ( it's a baby girl, by the way ) which I think is a smarter thing to give than toys. I mean, a baby can always use more clothes right? I didn't go with that idea though, since I figured that they'll probably be getting a lot of clothes so I went with the booster seat instead.

I remember when I was shopping for a baby shower gift, it took me forever to decide what to give. I was in the baby section for an hour and been walking back and forth from aisle with their baby registry in hand. Unfortunately, the baby registry wasn't updated so it got harder for me to decide. Oftentimes, when I shop for gifts I don't just grab it off the shelves. I always keep in mind if that person will like it or not, and if it's essential for his/her daily use. I don't know why, but I think gift-giving is not just a chore. It must be done from the heart.

So far, I am still eager for my mommy moment to come...

Fit for a King

I consider shopping to be my stress-reliever. You know the saying, "Shop 'til you drop"? That used to be my old adage. Until I got married - which means I am now shopping for two.

Every time I feel the urge to give something to my dear husband, I get blank completely. Just because men aren't as easy as women when it comes to gift ideas, specially since my  husband's a bit difficult. He's in the computer profession so he isn't one of those button-down-shirts-necktie-kind-of-guy. He's not a sports fanatic either, so that narrows it down to gadgets and/or clothes. And I'd usually go for clothes, because I believe it's more essential to him rather than the gadgets. And since he hates surprises so he's not fond of the idea of waiting for something he wants as a gift because he'd rather just buy it himself rather than wait. I know my husband's size so well, but as you know, clothes' sizes can be tricky sometimes. Either they shrink or they're just too loose. In that case, I needed help.

I usually go to the big and tall section when I shop for his clothes. Oftentimes I shop alone, which makes it even trickier to find something he'd like. I would stand in the same aisle for an hour deciding if I'd get it or not. Thankfully the stores here in the US offer returns for purchases so I am not extremely bothered by that fact. Don't get me wrong, I enjoy shopping for my  husband. It's just not as simple as shopping for my mother or a girlfriend you know? Tricky it is...

I give him the royal treatment, because he is my husband. And by royal that means with substantial respect and undying love and trust. But that doesn't mean that he can just wear whatever. I always make sure to find something that's fit for my King ♥