The Last Splurge of 2013

I went shopping today, December 31, 2013 and boy did I splurge. I bet you all thought I didn't know how to live it up. I know how to have a good time. Like take this new fancy glass butter dish I got.
This is quite an upgrade from the $1 plastic butter dish I had. It was ALMOST $4.

I also bought some stainless steel measuring cups and spoons, total cost about $8 And a really nice $3 wooden spoon (maybe I should dip the handle in paint and make it worth $20). I can't believe what a wild spender I was today.

This, this was the real splurge. A foot bath that bubbles, heats water and has a spinny, scrubby thing. It might have been expensive, but today it was half price and just under $10.

I bought a $1.50 Santa hat for one grandson and some poppers for New Years Eve. I spent $7.50 on a case of 12 pint jars to put my bagged bulk spices in to get them out of my cupboards and on my bakers rack with the smaller jars of spices. I have a few left over to make some food in too.


My favorite purchase of the day though is the new $5 back brush. Now I won't have to fight so hard to clean my back in the shower, although I must admit, It does help to keep me flexible. Not a big deal though, even at 60, I'm like one of those rubber bendy dolls. Guess when you're double jointed, they still kinda stay that way even when you're old. Now I'm like a normal jointed 20 year old. Not so bad.

TMI? Well I'm in a good mood tonight. After all, I just splurged on myself.

Have a Wonderful 2014 and a prosperous healthy future for 2014 and beyond.

Holiday Shopping (and all online shopping) Review

This could very well be the last post of 2013. Been an interesting year for me. I thought you might like a review of some of my online shopping experiences, like who ships the fastest, who uses the best shipper and has least cost. I don't have a car, so I get a LOT shipped to my house and almost all of my Holiday shopping and even some groceries are bought online.  I also buy fabric and sewing supplies online, but I think that should be a separate post. Also I usually use my secure PayPal debit card. Make sure you use dither a secure protected card for online purchases, or a refillable card that is not linked to any of your accounts.

Some of my past favorite places to shop have seriously dropped in ranking. I also buy where I can get things shipped quickly and for less money. Here is where I shopped, ranked in order of preference and why.

#1 Amazon - #1 and #2 were close to a tie, Amazon won, because of the variety of merchandise you can get there. They offer the most fantastic deal. For $80 a year, you get free 2 day shipping, free kindle rentals and free video streaming. I buy birdseed, cases of tofu and almond milk monthly and have furnished about 1/4 of my new house from them. And with the many other miscellaneous things I purchase, I am sure they are not happy with me as a customer. I do know UPS does not like me much. Amazon uses UPS most of the time for shipping, which has been a bit of a problem this holiday season, but everything came on time eventually. Some of the other sellers on Amazon use other services. I try to buy from Amazon direct when I can. Some prime items are a little higher to comp for the free shipping, some are not. You just have to do a little research. Amazon almost always wastes box space. You will get a tiny item in a HUGE box.

#2 World Market - This has become one of my new favorite places to shop online. They always seem to have a sale and they sell a variety of items from furniture to food, and their shipping is amazing. Usually shipping is free over $50 but sometime less and you always get a coupon or two with purchase. They pack eco friendly and fairly compactly. I reuse their waffle cut papers in my own gift basket, which I bought from them.

#3 Etsy - Even though all the shops are independent, sellers are mostly honest and as quick as humanly possible. Items are usually wrapped nicely with a little note and often a story. I have never been disappointed with an Etsy purchase. (same for Independent sellers on Artfire and Storenvy, not Asian factories selling as indies)

#4 Walmart - OK so you don't like to buy from Walmart, well I do. their shipping is great and their prices are low and honestly have you ever been to one? Some of those low paid employees wouldn't have a job at all if not for Walmart. But I digress. Walmart has low prices and seriously, most of that they have in the store is available online. I have purchased, canned and boxed food, vitamins, shampoo, soap, furniture, towels kitchen ware and containers. All at a great price, and over $50 gets free shipping (sometimes less) and some items automatically have free shipping. They also have other retailers on their site, just click the Walmart button to see only Walmart items. Shipping can very from the other sellers, but in most cases Walmart shipping is stellar and almost always arrives far sooner than stated at purchase. They use a variety of shippers, mostly Fed Ex and USPS.

#5 KMart - Yes they really do ship quickly. The offering is not so great, but what they do have ships quickly. I think that as Sears is the same company, it would be good too. You can buy from both on their website, although that is a bit confusing. I usually only buy cheap knock around the house clothing from KMart, but I am pleased with the quality and as I've said, shipping is not just great, but amazing. I'm sure kids toys would be great to buy there too.

#6 Target - I used to really love Target and I have purchased several items for my home there. Online is not the greatest experience and of course someone out there is probably selling my data. but I usually buy with my PayPal Debit card and I will be protected. My experience with Target online is just OK. Not the same sales as in the stores (I really don't get this) You can get much better deals in the store. Shipping is OK, but the online experience is just not the same as in store experience.

#7 Ebay - A few years ago Ebay would have been at the top of my list. There have been changes at Ebay that have really disappointed me and honestly ruined my shopping experience. However there are some things that I can only find on Ebay so I continue to shop there. Ebay no longer has the lowest prices as they charge an arm and a leg in fees. So you will not get the best prices on Ebay. They have instituted a one day shipping policy for sellers to get discounts and higher ranking, but sellers have learned that they only have to PRINT the shipping label to qualify and some sellers don't put your package in the mail for a week or more. Some even just mark the items shipped and print labels through another service days later. I bought an item that was marked shipped in one day, it was drop shipped by another retailer and I received it 17 days after I purchased it. Ebay unfortunately is so hungry that they are eating their own foot off.

Tips on Life - Do What I Say, Not What I Do

I have a favorite dish sponge. It's like the one pictured. I get mine at Aldi. I love to shop there, the prices for EVERYTHING are great. Here's the thing. I just bought a new pack of 3, even though I've needed a new one for over a month. They kind of disintegrate after a while. The thing is, I'm so disorganized, I never remember to add it to the list, or buy one when I pass them at the store.

I'm really not organized like some people I know. Yes, you know who you are. My mom was obsessively organized. Maybe that turned me off to the whole thing. I am a bit more organized than some people. I make spreadsheets for everything (except shopping lists). I'm sure it's all byproduct of my ADD. You know, the lack of organization, and over compensation.

Anyhow, If YOU know a way I can remember to buy supplies (I've finally figured out that I have to buy dog/cat food once a week, regardless. BEFORE they run out). Give me some tips. Although you would have to know how my scrambled mind works first.

I am very happy to have the new sponge, not the shredded tiny piece of sponge I was cleaning with.

Cyber Monday Deal

Stop by the shop for a great deal on shipping through the end of the day cyber Monday. I've even discounted International shipping. There's even a $5 discount on chef's aprons for your guys.

Poppy's Garden Gate 

Your #1 shop for handmade Genre and Geekery

Traveling in China - Guilin Part Two

Another day in Guilin and we were treated to a wonderful treat, seniors doing their morning exercises in the center of town. After breakfast we set out to find the local markets.

Buying from Chinese markets can be a challenge. At least for me. All prices are up for negotiation, everywhere, with maybe the exception of Walmart and McDonalds. And many brand name stores are fake, like the Apple store I read about recently. Fake store, fake product. If you find an incredible deal on name brand product, chances are, it's a fake.

I'm not great at the bargaining thing, especially where the sellers are so much poorer than I am, and I can afford their already reasonable prices.

I helped out my traveling companions by teaching them how to say too expensive in Chinese. One of the first Chinese expressions I learned. That and chicken without bones, although the Chinese still don't know what that means.

Sometime though, you will get bombarded with little children trying to sell you things like this one who was selling flutes. They are sure that "round eyes" have more money. And they are probably right. But you can't buy from everyone.

Of course it didn't help that we told the little girl that our friend in the picture had all the money. She followed him around the whole time we were there, whining at him to buy, until he finally broke down and bought one of her flutes. Then she chased after another in our group.

 My traveling companions had a blast. They spent the day seeing how much they could talk down the locals, and feeling like they got great bargains. I had a feeling they were still paying more that another local would.

I think this young man did the best actually. He was so proud of his skill. I'm not sure what the camel was for. It might have been for rides, but the whole time we were there, no one rode it. I'm sure the woman in the picture was explaining, but who knows what she was saying.

Shops I Like - World Vintage - Jen's Closet - Callooh Callay

Today we're going into the past. I finally figured out how to post shops I love in a quick and easy way. These are shops and people I love. Today I'm focusing on Vintage, because I really love old things, being one myself. And I think these shops are so often overlooked. Each shop has it's own distinct tone.


World Vintage on Etsy is an awesome shop full of bright, fun, eclectic finds. There is a lot of kitsch going on in this shop, and I for one, could shop here all day.

Jen's Closet on Etsy has a more subdued elegant tone. She has so much lovely China and jewelry. You have to stop by and take a look at her wonderful selection.

Callooh Callay on Etsy has an Earthy feel to her selection. She also has a fantastic selection of vintage buttons and she assembles some of them and other vintage finds into lovely jewelry.

Please take a moment to click on the links and visit them. You won't be sorry you did.

Shops I Like - Autumn Leaves

I loved Last Weeks collection so much I had to do it again. Autumn that is. But this time It's Autumn Leaves.

For those of you that don't live in the North and have never seen the beautiful Fall colors. You should take a trip sometime. It's wonderful when the trees look like fire and the leaves crunch under your feet. Our school yard was surrounded by Maples. In the fall we would make house floor plans of them and pretend we were living in those huge rooms.

 
    ellemoss                Peaseblossom Studio             Tea Party Hats

     
                                                           Amber


  Lena's Boutique       Pesky Cat Designs      Rough Magic Creations

Please stop by these shops and see what other wonderful goodies they have to offer.