happykatie :: katie rocks out the interwebs

Thriftster: 6 ways to shop and save moolah online

As much as I used to love shopping, I don't really dig it so much these days.  Too much to do.  I hate parking lots.  Houston summer heat is obnoxious.  I have a 3 year old that is still conquering her fear of public restrooms, etc.  <<Enter other random complaints here>> In fact, sometimes even getting to the grocery store can be a challenge in itself.

Sooooo....  that's where copious amounts of online shopping (or at the very least, OCD price comparisons) come in.  Muy importante to this familia - we save time, money, energy and best of all -- no parking lots.

Here are 6 different spots to hit online to keep you sane and save up some cash:

Milo (www.milo.com) - shop for it online, buy it offline
Use this great search site to learn about updated inventory at your local brick and mortar shops.  This means that you won't waste your time driving to some place that is out of stock, but can still support your local economy.

Yokel has a similar local shop search engine, except they offer paid features for store owners to refine the way their products, specials and promotions appear online.

Alice (www.alice.com) - stock it up, baby
You know those things you just always kind of need - detergent, soap, tissue, snacks, diapers...  It's annoying to run out of them, so Alice let's you order basic essentials (divided up by room for easy finding) with automatic coupons, free shipping, reminders to re-order and bargain prices.  I can't say enough for the functionality and divinely gorgeous user interface this site employs.  I heart you, Alice.  Friend them on Twitter at www.twitter.com/alice.

Ebates (www.ebates.com) - money back shopping, awww yeah
Qcait showed this to me a few months back and I've been addicted every since.  This is a free site that lets you login and go to your favorite stores from their site (or search for products and go from there).  Ebates has relationships with these retailers and deposist a certain percentage of your purchase back into your Ebates account - sending you a check when it reaches a certain amount.  Wonderful.

CutesyGirl (www.cutesygirl.com) - deals, deals, deals
If you've ever wanted to go crazy on funky, strappy sandals and wedges - but didn't want to pay boatloads for shoes you wouldn't wear more than one season...  meet your shoe nirvana.  Prices are typically $13 - $20 for some very cute shoes.  Free shipping for over $50 orders, great (and interesting) options.  Check out the cheap accessories and clothing as well.

ZenniOptical (www.zennioptical.com) - helping you see a great deal (nyuk nyuk)
Never underestimate the power of having more than one pair of prescription glasses.  I recently lost my only pair of remaining glasses - big trouble when you're as blind sans contact lenses as I am.  Thank goodness for Zenni Optical - I ordered 3 pairs and paid about $10 per pair.  INSANE!!

Purse Focus:  (www.pursefocus.com) + Watches Wow (www.watcheswow.cn)
It's like your favorite knock off purse and watch dealer in Harlem got all high tech and geeky.  If you are a designer purse and/or watch junkie, these sites are for you.  You'll pay around $180 to $200 a bag, but the quality looks amazing and the inventory seems very true to their, shall we say, "inspirations".

Thanks to Flickr user ChristyFu for the hip hop Abe image

Breaking the bank: Origins meets Target

All right, who's the jerk that came up with the bright idea to bring select Origins products to Target anyway? 

Now not only do I have to talk myself out of ridiculous Hello Kitty-themed purchases in the dollar bins, talk Adam down from the Transformers section in the toy aisle and steer Ella away from... well... pretty much anything that's ball shaped, has glitter on it, is related to cats or looks (in any teensy way) 'SOOO cute!!!!' I get to completely and altogether avoid the soap aisle in Target.

Meet my commercial face-related addictions (that now SHAMELESSLY reside inside the doors of Target as well, wankers):

Never a Dull Moment Face Polisher ($23.50)
For years I was addicted to this stuff.  Only broke free from it's faintly apricot-y smoothing and brightening grip after I got hooked to Dr. Bronner's peppermint products and the occasional Lush awesomeness.

Checks and Balances Face Wash ($17.50)
This is skin crack -- as in, crack for your skin.  Every time I use this soap my face gets all silky and un-shiny and happy.  For a randomly oily and dry skin gal, it just doesn't get any better.

BUT!  We are living in BudgetLand in our house...  so I'll keep rocking my Dr. Bronner's (can use for body wash, face and hair -- even toothpaste if you're feeling adventurous) and yes, keep digging for Origin's coupons until my old friends can come back and visit my beauty regiment.

You suck, Target.  And I say that completely with great respect and admiration, as you know how much I love you.  Don't you?  :)

More MOO happiness - keychain card holders!

The moo.com MiniCard holder from Moo Cru on Vimeo.

For once waiting an incredibly long time for a beer paid off.  At SXSWi 2008 I caught the tail end of the People Powered Party and managed to snag a MOO MiniCard Holder while standing, standing, standing, standing in line trying to get a bartender's attention.

Completely worth it, although I had no idea I can attach it to my keychain too until watching the nifty video above.  I just re-ordered more MOO cards so the holder won't be lonely.  Say it with me now, cool free stuff = good for everyone.

Mimobot of my heart

One Love Mimobot, originally uploaded by courtneyp.

At SXSW this weekend, the uber-lovely Mimoco-ites had a booth at the sxswi trade show displaying their various Mimobot USB pals.

I've been a longtime fan (see 2005 post here) and was excited to get a peek at some newer Mimobots and meet the brains behind the extremely functional cuteness.

The Mimoco gang was quite nice, looking beyond my excited flailings to see a true advocate for the Mimobot world domination movement.  In then end, they sent me off with a Mimobot USB Flash drive, protohoodie, vinyl toy and stickers (2 of which are already gracing my latest Moleskine and iBook cover) and a whole lot of love.

If you're a Mimobot junkie as well, be sure to post your pics to the spanking new Mimobots will take over the world Flickr group.  Mad props to the Mimoco gang (especially Scott and Evan for taking the time to care and connect)!

Hybrid-licious

Because the world wasn't beautiful enough already - I give you the Vespa Hybrid.

Delightful Tord - the latest Hkatie fave

I'm semi-obsessing over Tord Boontje (the uber-fab Dutch designer who is now being featured at more affordable prices in our beloved Target). 

Specifically I'm dying to get my dinner on some of his Tord multi-color dishware as they would match so very well to our old-skool Sundance Franciscan Ware dishes.

Tord, of course, has a bazillion other drool-worthy items on the market:  dainty vase covers, paper lamps, Until Dawn curtains.  *sigh*  But no one seems to love Tord as much as this newly tattooed girl does.

What are you wearing this winter?

So the budget is just not there, but I really need a new winter coat this year.  My Harold's pea coat (ever the nice soft gray standby) will continue on, but man am I looking ratty otherwise.

I like this Liz Clairborne quilted coat (always such a huge fan of those knee-length numbers) as an everyday item and desparately want this Puma Pique jacket for more casual outings.

What are you wearing this year?  Staying warm is good, even if it is in a semi-balmy Houston winter.

Dalek Supersampler Space Monkey Happy Pink

Super fast post, but super cool news - there is now a Lomo Dalek edition Supersampler package for sale.  Love the happy pinkness, space monkey graphics and cool Urbanize book included.  Very hip.  Very space monkey.

Pretty shiny things for your personal adornment

Every girl needs a few glittery baubles to accent the sparkle in her eyes and the shimmer in her smile.  Or maybe it's just that ladies have racoon tendencies and get easily absorbed by shiny things??

Regardless, here are a couple of *affordable* handmade jewelry boutiques that you really should frequent: (note: This also goes for any handsome boyfriends that I know who are just dying to buy their loving moms-to-be something simple, yet significant. </hint> )

• We Dream in Color - Designer Jade Gedeon lives what appears to be a charmed life raised in Trinidad, creating jewelry and living it up in Australia.  *sigh*  I also stalk her on Flickr where she regularly posts pieces of Lomo-esque goodness.
  
  So get something pretty sent home and check out this amazing vintage crystal and brass necklace, hammered brass Olympia necklace or the Lucite pendant.  There is nothing on this Web site that would not look amazing on you.
  
  
• My Precious Studio - Tattoos and religious imagery are major creative drivers for designer Tere Hernandez-Bonet.  I really dig all the flaming sacred heart necklaces, sweet angel wings and the funky red epoxy resin milagro heart pieces as well.   

Really cool combos of pretty, funky, unique and artistic - I love creative jewelry artists who aren't afraid to be different.  One day, I'd also like to be in touch with Tere about some custom pieces - she's just seriously that damn cool.

Tags:  we dream in color | Jade Gedeon | My Precious Studio | Tere Hernandez-Bonet

Wall stickers make white paint less traumatic

We adore our little 100-year old house, but the landlord says NO to painting the walls and this is a sad thing.  The lack of color is devastating to me, although we probably more than make up for it with our velvet orange couch, Tibetan prayer flags and various rainbow-spectrumed wall furnishings.

With tiny happykiddo on the way in late August, we're cleaning out, changing up and moving around everything to prepare for our girl.  This means new wall art pronto.  PRONTO!!

Solution 1:  Cool, funky Blik wall decals.  I like the Blik Heads, but feel weird about having other peoples' silhouettes on my walls.  I think we'll just make our own - to create a sort of shadow family gallery.  I'm still a ginormous fan of the robots and Flock designs though.

Solution2:  Wall Words is another cool option for adding a little oomph to your rooms.  Neat phrases (or create your own) with cool fonts - great for word junkies like me.  Gives a whole new meaning to 'if these walls could speak'.  So many choices, so few walls.

Tags:  wall decals | Blik | Wall Words | happykiddo