Edition:
November 13, 2009
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Columnist, The Friday Flyer
Dont get me wrong: Im no shopaholic. I am actually quite thrifty and I try to buy carefully and use up what I have before I buy more. However, when that moment comes when the bottle runs dry or the box is empty and it is time to buy more, I relish the moment I get to purchase something new and exciting. Even a new formula of window cleaner is enough to get me going, and dont get me started on mascara and all the wonderful new variations that seem to hit the market on a daily basis.
I blame it on all the magazines I read. They are always raving about the latest and greatest products on the market, and I am such a sucker for something new! I pour over the ads and testimonials and make a wish list for future purchases so that when the toothpaste tube is empty, I know exactly which new extra-whitening with Power Strips formula I am going to try next! Shop-aholic? No. Magazine-aholic? Most definitely.
Office supplies and cleaning products are my guilty pleasures, and I am the first to admit I have too many. Luckily, most of my magazines offer coupons, so I get my shopping fix on the cheap and Post-Its and Comet have long shelf lives! I go into a dreamy trance when I peruse the Sharpie display at Staples, and the cleaning product section of Target is a favorite hangout. I love smelling the new scents, discovering new products and hunting down coupon bargains I can brag about later.
I am also a big fan of websites like www.startsampling .com, because there is nothing better than getting a little taste of a new product sent right to my door for free! I am fond of calling up manufacturers of products I love just to let them know that there is someone out there who is a big fan and wants to see their product on the shelf for eternity. Often, they are so delighted that I am not calling to complain that they reward me with coupons to buy more! My husband calls it a vicious circle; I call it a win-win!
Ever since junior high, I have kept a running list of things I love. My tastes have changed greatly, though Johnny Depp movies are still at the top of the list 20 years later, and I still love bubblegum ice cream. In the last few years, I have added many baby-related items to the list, like nursing pillows by Luna Lullaby and a particular formula of baby wipes. I have also added to the list simple things that make me happy like those tall trash cans that courteous restaurant owners put next to the drive-thru line so I can toss yesterday’s latte cup and replace it with today’s.
A local morning radio show recently featured a segment in which each person on the show listed his or her top 10 favorite things. Since I, too, am fond of keeping track of such things for myself, I loved hearing the lists of others. I thought it might be fun to share my own favorite products and websites here.
A few of my favorite things:
• Evolution of Smooth (EOS) lip balm: It’s a darling chunky ball that encases a substantial orb of fruity balm that is free of petrolatum and loaded with shea butter. I am a lip-goo addict and I love that I can find my EOS in the dark when I wake up at night with dry lips. Find it at Walgreens with the other lip care products.
• Twinnings Lady Grey Tea: This is black tea scented with bergamot and the essence of lemons and oranges. I don’t know what bergamot is, but all I know is that I love this sweet-smelling, mild tea. I found mine at Target for around $4.
• Knitted dishcloths: The hand-made variety that you see at craft fairs for a couple bucks are marvelous for countertops. I am hoping to pick up a few at this weekend’s Holiday Boutique!
• Vita Fusion Gummy Vitamins for Adults: I no longer have to sneak my kids’ yummy chewy vitamins and calculate the number I need to get the proper nutrients. This company also makes Omega 3, Vitamin C and calcium gummies for adults. Target carries them for about $8.
• Youmail.com: This free voicemail service allows you to create personalized voicemail greetings for callers, and my friends get such a kick out of hearing me personally greet them when they call my cell phone. It also e-mails me when a call or voicemail comes in, and I can listen to messages right from my computer.
• Redbox movies: Renting any movie for a dollar is a dream come true! If you register at redbox.com, you can receive a text every Monday with a free movie rental code. You can also reserve a movie and pick it up at a chosen location. Walmart in Elsinore and Walgreens on Newport Rd. are close to home and convenient.
• Pandora.com: It’s a free online music service that allows you to create your own “stations” that play only music you love. It makes suggestions and lets you remove any songs you don’t like.
• Kids-Eat-Free Nights: Dinners out don’t happen as often as they used to for us, and free kid meals really make me smile! Tuesday nights at Lone Star and Chick-Fil-A are free for kids, and Denny’s just started to serve kids free every night from 4 to 10 p.m.
• Angel Food Ministries: This low-cost food program available through Canyon Lake Community Church is a great deal, and a fantastic non-profit organization. We tried it out and got a week’s worth of quality groceries for $30 and we’re putting the money we saved toward holiday expenses! Call the church at 244-1877 to find out more.
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