Archive | October, 2006

Play with trains, without tracking a mess

by Mir at 2:21 pm on October 31, 2006 in For the kids, Hot Hot Hot!

Once upon a time my toddler son became enamored of Thomas the Tank Engine, and like the sucker I was, when Christmas rolled around I got him a train table and about seventeen miles of wooden track and a dozen trains.

I cannot tell you how many times I stepped on errant pieces of track that weren’t needed for his favored configuration: a great big circle. Yes, his trains preferred to go around in circles. While talking to each other.

We shall refrain from wondering what this says about my son.

Instead, we shall focus on the fact that this awesome train table is not only on sale and has free shipping, it has a built-in track configuration and therefore does not present a hazard to your naked toes. I wouldn’t recommend it for an older train enthusiast, maybe, but for a toddler/preschooler it’s perfection.

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Shopping for furniture: a twofer

by Mir at 10:21 am on October 31, 2006 in Product Talk, Questions Answered

I’m pretty good about tagging my email appropriately when it comes in, but sometimes I miss something. So if you send me a question and a lot of time goes by? You might want to send it again. I just realized I never answered this one, for example:

Dear gorgeous, smart, practical Mir,

My husband and I built and moved into our dream house almost a year ago. We have waited and waited to purchase new furniture. I am paralyzed with fear. How can I be sure I’m not getting ripped off? How can I be sure I’m buying quality furniture? We need a couch, entertainment center, and formal dining table, chairs, and china cabinet. Do I buy from a chain store like Haverty’s or do I try to go a big furniture outlet?

Do you have any suggestions? Thanks so much for trying to tackle this.

–Micki

Dear Micki: Probably you have not only bought your furniture by now, but moved several times as well. I’m sorry I missed your email before. Please forgive me, because you are so pretty.

Also, I then got this email:

(more…)

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One year of Family Fun for $3.93

by Mir at 8:23 am on October 31, 2006 in Hot Hot Hot!

Best Deal Magazines is at it again—this time with my favorite mommy magazine. Get a year’s subscription to Family Fun magazine for just $4.79. Use coupon code SPOOKY18 for an additional 18% off. Family Fun is available at this price until midnight tonight; the coupon is good through midnight on November 5th.

This magazine also makes a great gift for anyone with kids. Or anyone who wants to know how to make cupcakes in a billion different thematic shapes.

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Buy 1, get 1 free on DVD

by Mir at 6:15 am on October 31, 2006 in Hot Hot Hot!

Through November 9th, you can Buy 1, Get 1 Free on over 150 different DVDs. Quite a few titles with kid appeal are available, as well as many favorite TV series.

Deep Discount DVD always has free shipping and low prices; BOGO deals like this just make it that much easier to justify stocking up.

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Smell good, for less

by Mir at 3:35 pm on October 30, 2006 in Hot Hot Hot!

Right now at Ulta you can use coupon code 61561 to take $5 off of your $10+ order. Coupon expires November 30th, 2006.

They have lots of things on sale; need a gift? Check out the back to school sets.

The site is hard to navigate if you’re looking for deals (and we’re always looking for deals), but a bit of perserverance may pay off. Let me know what you find.

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Free accounting software

by Mir at 12:17 pm on October 30, 2006 in Hot Hot Hot!

Microsoft wants to give you a free copy of Office Accounting Express. No strings attached!

That slightly shameful, dirty feeling of using MS products is included absolutely free. (Perhaps you can wash it away with the soap featured in the previous post.)

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Think of me. . . in your crevices

by Mir at 9:30 am on October 30, 2006 in Retail gone wrong

I don’t care that it’s on special, there is something extremely creepy about this right here.

(“I love you! I’m… melting….”)

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Need shoes? Of course you do!

by Mir at 8:10 am on October 30, 2006 in Hot Hot Hot!, What to Wear

Check out Shoes.com—where they always have free shipping and free returns—and take 30% off your total order with coupon code CHEER2006. Expires November 13th, 2006.

They carry a huge assortment of brands, including Heelys, which I know are on a lot of Christmas lists this year.

Don’t forget that Shoes.com has a 365 day price guarantee. Their big Saturday Sale will be on November 11th; buy now and check back then to see if the price dropped. If it did, they’ll refund you the difference.

That’s even better than just buying now because, well, they’re shoes.

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Gifts on clearance

by Mir at 6:15 am on October 30, 2006 in Hot Hot Hot!

Thanks to Kris of Wonder Mom for pointing out that Reader’s Digest has an online store. Who knew? (Not me!) And there’s a huge clearance section!

Poke around a bit if you have time. I know my son (or any of his friends) would be thrilled with this Pokemon set (and the price certainly is right). I was also thinking that this tote would probably make a good teacher gift.

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Awesome and unique gift

by Mir at 10:25 pm on October 28, 2006 in Hot Hot Hot!

I love this. So unique, so beautiful to look at (and, according to the reviews and also what I’ve heard, delicious to drink), and yet functional. If you need a gift for someone who has everything—or for a tea lover—look no further. And now only is it already 53% off, it’s part of the Grocery section, so you can use code GROCERY3 to take an additional $10 off of your order when your total is $49+. Pick up a few or just get one and buy some groceries you needed anyway.

(Seriously, if you’ve never seen this before, click through the link and have a look. You get to watch a flower unfurl in your teaport. How cool is that?)

Kit contains glass teapot and 9 different varieties of flowering teas. And hours of entertainment!

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