Ad-Vonage??

About four months ago, in response to the growing costs of maintaining a land line, my husband and I made the switch to digital phone service with Vonage. Though our cell phones bear the brunt of our telephonic communications, we still wanted to keep a separate number for our home. Just in case. My husband did a little investigation of our options and we chose Vonage for about $25 a month. The almost insurmountable upside is the super low flat rate for unlimited local and long-distance service, very tough to beat. The downsides are few yet a little strange. At times the service can be sporadic and elusive. It's a little like our phone is possessed.

Because Vonage uses our broadband connection, we occasionally experience similarly fickle service in our phone, cable TV and internet access. If it's a little stormy outside we might not get a dial tone or get online. No biggie. However, sometimes friends will call and the phone just won't ring. They'll reach us on our cell phones and tell us to check our house phone for trouble. We pick up the receiver and the hollow sound of the dial tone answers back as if there's nothing wrong at all.

Sometimes it will ring just once and then go silent. For the person calling, everything seems normal, they hear the ring and it goes to voice mail. No one would know that we were actually home.

We try to pass it off on a bad connection, trying not to let dark thoughts creep in...but? What if the phone was trying to muffle the rings, suppress the calls, cut off our link to the outside world?!

Sometimes when we answer the phone we can hear the other person, but they can't hear us no matter how loudly we shout. More troubling are the noises. Every now and then the ring tone will change completely without any outside interference. There's actually only one ring tone option on our phone, yet once in a while it will chirp strangely or ring continuously for a solid minute.

If the phone service is out completely, calls are redirected to my husband's cell phone. So, if I call our house to retrieve messages, I am instead connected to his cell phone. It's as if it doesn't want us to know who called.

Open the pod bay doors HAL.

Olympic Fever Strikes ShopLocal

Rampant Torino-mania is sweeping the office as we speak. Well, it's really only swept over my desk so far, but it's only a matter of time.

I love the "thrill of victory” and the "agony of the drunk", oh, I mean, "defeat". The lugers have razor sharp focus and the snowboarders are exuberant and rad. The skaters are poised and the skiers are daring. Emotions must run the gamut for these O.C.-aged athletes as they mingle in the Olympic Village, vying for their piece of gold, silver or bronze.

In the hopes of finding a sporty commemorative visor or cap emblazoned with Torino 2006, I checked ShopLocal.com for some merch with which to temper my Olympic fever. I think the above long sleeved t-shirt is my best bet. Donning it for the gym, I can celebrate the Olympiad and go for the gold as I chase the dream astride the stationary bike.

Mob (Shopping) Mentality

I spent last weekend with a bunch of girlfriends in Key Biscayne, Florida enjoying the comforts of The Ocean Club (which included 7 swimming pools, 5 hot tubs, a spa, and poolside drinks) courtesy of some friends with parents in high places (i.e. the 14th floor of Ocean Tower Two). The weather was hot, the sky was clear and the margaritas were plentiful. (Yes, I just came back from Mexico, but when a friend invites you to stay for free in a beach paradise you have to strike while the iron's hot.)

There isn't much shopping on Key Biscayne unless you want a leopard print pillow for your white leather couch or a set of serving tongs shaped like coral. But that didn't really stop us from trying. The closest shopping opportunity was the local CVS. We stopped in for things like sunscreen and magazines, but left with so much more.

At first I noticed a rack of beaded necklaces with shells in a variety of colors and lengths, and then suddenly I sensed a frenzy of activity by the front door. My cohorts were gathered around a wall filled with brightly colored sarongs and beach cover-ups. At first we were just pointing at ones we liked, and then my sister-in-law grabbed one and wrapped it around her waist. "I think this is cute!" She exclaimed. I felt inspired and a little bit jealous, so I reached for an orange one, but before I could touch it, my friend Kathy boxed me out and took it for herself saying, "Ooo, I love orange!" In an instant everyone was pulling at the rack like sharks at a whale carcass, things were falling on the floor and display started to rock a little. Then I saw it, the perfect color. It was a brilliant fuchsia sarong with little shimmery beads dangling from the hem. This time I would not be thwarted. I pretended to look a something else while I inched closer to my quarry. I saw my friend Anna out of the corner of my eye and panicked. I made my move, plunged my hand into the fray and felt the gauzy pink cloth with my fingers. Extracting myself from the melee, I stepped back and wrapped the cover-up around my hips, it was wonderful. It would be the perfect compliment to my turquoise bikini. I looked up to see the awed faces around me. "Oh, that looks great" chirped my sister-in-law. "&*$@!, I should've grabbed the pink one" mumbled Anna.

Buy the time we left CVS we had purchased 14 sarongs between the six of us. The young man behind the counter was speechless as he rang us up one by one. As we filed out of the store he nodded his head solemnly and exhaled heavily staring up at the ransacked display. A store circular fluttered and skipped in the breeze as the door hissed closed behind us.

We came, we saw, we shopped.

Breaking News

I was just in Target looking for snacks to take on my trip to Miami and I came across more pods for my Senseo coffee maker. They're actually tea pods. Just like the coffe pods, I place them neatly in Mr. Senseo, but this time out comes a steamy mug of citrus green tea, or a robust cup of Early Grey. What's next soup pods?

Music to Soothe the Savage Beast

Consumer Electronics might not say “I love you” to everyone. However, it really depends upon what you choose to give. A 12 pack of D batteries might cause a break up, but a handy little gadget will fill both boys and girls with love. The key to a good gift, no matter what the occasion, is finding something that the recipient might not get for themselves but nonetheless thrills them once they get it. Many people like a good surprise. My friend Brendan was surprised this past Christmas when his father gave him an XM Radio for his car with a six-month subscription. It wasn’t on his list, but he’s been raving about it ever since. He spends hours in his car traveling for work so he’s no stranger to renting books on tape or burning a CD of his favorite music. However, his weakness has always been musicals. Lucky for him, his satellite radio system delivers hours of non-stop, toe-tapping show tunes. I’ve never seen him happier. Maybe there’s someone in your life that would enjoy the rich music cache of XM radio!

Diamonds in the Rough

While looking through SL for zany yet thoughtful Valentine's Day gifts I came across some shoes from Payless that are absolutely fabulous! Cheap enough so you don't care if they won't last and trendy enough so you don't care if they make your feet bleed, these fantastic new styles mimic high fashion trends set by Michael Kors and Tod's.

First, there's the sexy slingback in a surprisingly versatile leopard print complete with a demure little bow at the toe. An animal print goes with a variety of solid colors. Wear them to add an adventurous flare to a girlish black dress, a fun twist to subdued wide legged pants or amp up a flirty red skirt. Just stay away from mixing prints unless you have a high fashion skill level. If you're more Survivor than Project Runway it's probably best to stick to the basics.

Next up is practically a rip off of the latest Micheal Kors shoe collection. These very resort 2006 white wedges will be all the rage as the weather warms up. With a solid wedge foundation you'll tower over your guests at the garden party as you flit around in your green and white tent dress. These might also go well with a crisp pair of sailor pants and a jaunty blue-striped long sleeved tee. Finish the look off right with a fire engine red pedicure.

Finally, for the office, Payless reveals these sweet flowered peep-toe pumps in black or brown. Spice up your work wardrobe by donning a pair of patterned tights with these shoes and a short skirt in an understated color to call the right attention to yourself.

Wow, Payless really pulled it off this season!

Good Luck and Good Shopping!

All Day with Ebay: The Dark Side of Shopping

I realize that Ebay is one of the greatest inspirations of our time and that it draws our global community together to bask in the glory of capitalism, however, it drives me nuts!

Page after page is filled with items waiting to be auctioned off, everything you could imagine. Do you need a lawn mower? Ebay has dozens. Are you looking for a vintage Gucci dress? Someone in Latvia has one from 1968 in blue. It's amazing, the possibilities are endless.

But, there's a catch. Actually, there are several catches. First, you have to bid. Then, you get the wonderful opportunity to wait anywhere from an hour to three weeks! It’s like begging to give somebody money. It’s like, breadlines in Russia. “Please, please pick me, take my money!” Oh they give impatient folks the option to "Buy Now", but it'll cost you. Even if you win the auction or break down and "Buy Now" (like you wanted to in the first place when you started searching online), you still have a few more hoops.

As with too many Web sites, you have to register. (I am so tired of typing my name, I'm thinking of changing it to "F" because it's the most convenient key to hit.) After registering, getting the proverbial "thank you for registering" email, going to the proverbial "go here" to "activate your account" link and then retracing your steps back to the item you were hoping to get (if you can remember that far back) you can finally "add the item to your cart". Now, you are ready to enter even more information for the Great Lord of PayPal so you can then answer the secret riddle, enter the Kingdom and get your coveted purchase in "1-9 days". Great. That was easy. I just hope I don't move before the package arrives.

Food Court Press

In yet another effort to get out of the office, I've decided to do a tour of food courts around the city Chicago. Unlike some major cities, you don't have to leave the county to go to a mall. They bring indoor shopping right to you in the very heart of the Windy City. My first stop is the Westfield Northbridge Mall at 520 N. Michigan Avenue.

Home to one of my favorite department stores, Nordstrom, I am partial to this particular mall. There's a lot of good browsing to be had at Northbridge. Sephora, with it's maddening array of creams and tints, on the first floor is a favorite stop as is, dare I say it, Forever 21 upstairs with its racks of slightly trashy trends.

But it's just in the last few weeks that I've discovered the food court. Though set in the glass and steel confines of a mall, the dining atmosphere is quite cheery and bright with lots of natural light. My first meal was at Cafe Typhoon a little sushi stand by the escalator. It was a cold day so I opted for a bowl of Udon noodle soup. It was pretty good, though bland and adorned with too many carrots. Diners next door were feasting on plates of pasta and oversized salads at Tuscany Cafe. I was a little jealous, especially when I caught sight of someone sipping on a glass of Chianti.

The next time I stopped in for lunch I left nothing to chance. I marched up to Potbelly's, that grand Chicago favorite, and ordered one of my favorites, a hot roast beef with everything, no hot peppers. Potbelly's definitely had the edge since I've been ordering that sandwich for close to 20 years, but the toasty little meal accompanied by the petite chocolate malt was the perfect compliment to the casual atmosphere of the food court.

The nicest thing about eating at Northbridge is that you feel like your having a proper sit down meal, instead of chowing down in a busy hallway. Stewards constantly clear and clean tables and seating is spread out so there is air of civility, an element of privacy. I give this mall dining experience a fork up!

Good Luck, and Good Eating!

Sugar Substitute

Sweets for your sweets is a tried and true Valentine's Day concept. Decadent goodies are a great way to shower someone you love with material affection. But what if your love is allergic to chocolate? Today on ShopLocal, I found a terrific solution Apple Dumplings from Hickory Farms. These adorable doughy balls are filled with cinnamon kissed apples and come with a delectable caramel sauce. Get them for your sweetheart and, if you're lucky, they'll invite you over for dessert, if you know what I mean.

Puppy Love

My cubby buddy is definitely a dog person. The walls of Lisa's cubicle are covered with photos of her dog Bailey in various poses. There's a photo of Bailey in a cowboy hat in the desert, one featuring the dog beside a Christmas tree wearing antlers, another one in a tutu with ballet shoes and, my favorite the trenchcoat and sunglasses. My coworker's devotion to her pooch is admirable and it struck me that a unique Valentine's Day gift for such an ardent canine fan might be a fashionable leash. I came across this one on ShopLocal and thought it was terrific. So, if you have someone on your list that loves dogs and has a faithful companion of their own, why not give them a really cool "new leash on life"!

How do I love thee? Let me figure out a new way!

Tired of giving your Valentine a box of stale chocolates? Do you cringe at the thought of wrapping up a teddy bear? Me too! I come across a lot cool products while at work so I thought, for the next week or so, I'd recommend some alternative gifts for your sweetheart.


This neat little appliance called the Back to Basics Coco Latte Beverage Warmer will heat hot chocolate faster than a micowave! Pair it with a cute red mug or a tin of gourmet cocoa, and - Voila! You have unique gift for anyone on your list of sweethearts.

Photo Op

While browsing the gadget blogs (this is part of my job, I swear) I came across this cool new appliance. It's the Plus Minus Zero Humidifier by Compact Impact. This sexy looking appliance emits a computer controlled stream of warm mist for up to 8 hours and is ideal for small rooms. At $300 it's not the most economical humidifier, but since it comes in such a fantastic aray of colors it's far and away the most fashionable. In fact, I liked the looks of this darling air moisturizer so much I decided to make its image the first to be included in my blog.

From now on I will be including images of some of my favorite products and perhaps even a picture or two of my co-workers. Who knows?! Stay tuned...

Good Luck and Good Shopping!

Special Bulletin: Coffee Kit Kat

Attention all Caffinatics: The Hershey Company has released a limited edition Coffee Flavored Kit Kat

Please proceed in a calm and orderly fashion.

Merch Report aka Weird New Stuff

Science fiction has always predicted cool medical innovations. On Star Trek, McCoy just carried around that remote control looking thing, pointed it at people and fixed them. In The Empire Strikes Back, Luke Skywalker is suspended in some bubbling medicinal liquid after his arm is ripped off in a fight with Darth Vader. In the Alien movies there are scanners that look like tanning beds that are just right for revealing slumbering parasitic monsters in chest cavities. It looks like the real world might finally be catching up. A company called EJK has unveiled the No-Contact Thermometer for $200. Just point and read. Predictably pen-shaped, the thermometer uses laser technology to read body temperature without the perils of germy tubes of glass filled with poisonous mercury.

The benefits of nuclear power shrink in the shadowy nightmare of a radioactive cloud. Electric cars seem better suited to the golf course. And gas, well gasoline carries a lot of baggage as well. But what if we could harness the wind? Windmills can power farms and small towns but can they be built to do more? SkyWindPower Corporation is developing Floating Electric Generators in the hopes of providing safe, effective alternative energy. These flying windmills with 35 foot rotors hover 35,000 feet above ground and feed off of the jet stream. Many of man’s greatest inspirations have come from the sky, why not better, cleaner energy. I’m just not sure how I can plug in my hairdryer.

Though I’ve always found a hot water bottle tucked in a cashmere cozy quite comforting, the new MegaChi Pendant might offer me a good boost. This powerful piece of jewelry emits 7.83 Hertz and apparently provides a “powerful healing affect”. Feeling, anxious, sad and lonely? A cranky co-worker getting you down? Buy the MegaChi for $250 and ward off those dark thoughts. Or maybe just take a vacation.

The German art of napping has finally reached our shores. Two products in particular caught my eye, the Napmospere (great name) and the Schlafgras (even better name). The Napmosphere is a layered cocoon that fits in a duffle bag so you can take it to work and nap when you’re feeling sleepy in the afternoons. Designed to create the illusion of an open space for the sleeper, you can tuck it under your desk and feel like you’re in a cloud. The Schlafgras or Sleep Grass is what I’d like to get for the office. Made of giant foam tubes, the Schlafgrass provides the sleeper with a “personalized nap landscape”. The photo of a guy in a shirt and tie draped over some Pool Noodles didn’t epitomize my idea of relaxation but maybe the Germans think differently.

More Coffee Talk

As you may have noticed already I am a bit obsessed with coffee. I like coffee served in a variety of ways. Somedays a sweet skim latte does the trick, somedays a robust Americano is what I crave. At home, my Senseo Pod Coffee Maker is my new faithful companion, always ready, always supportive, always home. But I think I've reached a new level of caffinated bliss. Now I can combine the convenience of my Senseo with my taste for Starbucks roasty goodness. While checking the ShopLocal Web site at work, I came across the Starbucks Espresso Roast Pods. The hits just keep on coming. Now all I need to do is get a sleeve of paper cups and plastic lids.

Good Luck and Good Shopping!

Special Bulletin: Luella Bartley at Target

After years as a fashion editor at Vogue and The Eveneing Standard, Luella Bartley started her own line and achieved great international success with her energetic designs that combine a punk rock sensibility with appealing girlish shapes and colors. Her clothes are the kind that entice the eye and terrify the wallet, until now. This weekend I happened to be at Target while they were unloading the first shipment of Luella , Bartley's new line of cheap and fashionable clothes. Wow! What luck! Unlike Stella McCartney's designs for H&M, Bartley's clothes are well shaped with flattering lines in lively colors and whimsical patterns. I couldn't wait to start trying on pieces and collecting my favorites. There was a little of everything, tops, bottoms, jackets and accessories. Pants were pretty straightforward, nothing too inventive, but there was a darling green tulip skirt and a checked, strapless dress with a full skirt that looked great with a black leather motorcycle jacket. Several items featured an adorable cherry pattern, a theme found in everything from jacket linings to canvas bags and wallets. The accessories were bold yet sophisticated in easy to wear colors like savory orange and inky black. My favorite was an elegant cuff that was just $12.99. Overwhelmed by so many good things I limited myself to one purchase, a little navy jacket with white stitching and that great cherry pattern lining. I’ll wait till after payday to go back for more. Hurry up and get to Target before it’s all gone!

Check out Luella at Target!

Back from the Riviera

Hurray! The sun finally showed up in Tulum and I was able to get appropriately tanned. The tip of my nose is a little red, but nothing a little moisturizer can't fix. I feel refreshed and very relaxed.

It was a bit challenging to wake up for work this morning, not because it was early, but because it was so dark and grey. We had been waking up early to a sun filled room every morning and enjoying a cup of coffee on the beach. There was no coffee on the beach for me today.

Once I pried my head off the pillow and found my way to the bathroom in the darkness of January in Chicago, I got in a hot shower and tried to figure out what to wear. My Senseo coffemaker offered me some comfort in the shape of a frothy mug of java. After a week in flip flops and shorts, I felt a pang of sorrow as I selected a turtleneck. With a sigh I checked my email before leaving the house. The little grey mailbox was stuffed with a dozen yellow envelopes. What could these be? Suddenly my screen was awash with emails heralding end of season sales from every clothing store imaginable, from J.Jill to the cute boutique down the street. Everyone is getting rid of fall and winter clothes to make way for spring fashions! This is how I can cushion the blow of returning to a Chicago winter. Defensive shopping!! A pair of boots at 70% off, a cozy jacket for half off , cashmere sweaters at two for one! The options are endless.

Follow my lead! Tough out these last weeks of winter by shopping for great deals on clothes. Picking out the perfect new summer sundress is fun, but you can find super savings on a lot of great winter clothes that you can wear right now.

Good luck and Good Shopping!

Still Raining

Since it´s been raining on and off since we got here, my husband and I have been talking about where our next vacation should be. We both love beach vacations (when there is some sun involved). But for our next trip I want to go somewhere with great indoor activites, like museums and shopping. Maybe we can plan a trip to Paris or Barcelona.

It looks like the sun might come out sometime today, but in the mean time I think I´m going to surf the net, maybe buy a cute skirt or a pair of pretty flats. That will cheer me up. Now if I could only order some sunshine online.

Good Luck and Good Shopping!

Tulum: Traveler´s Paradise

I´m blogging from one of the many internet cafes in Tulum, Mexico. For a little town with only one main street, access to the information super highway is cheap and easy.

It´s hot and humid and I love it! My husband and I are staying in a charming cabana on the beach shaded by palm trees and surrounded by the roar of the surf. It was rainy yesterday so we did a lot of eating, drinking and shopping. I bought a beautiful beaded cuff and a colorful necklace of polished stone. I also have my eye on a light linen sundress.

Even in the remote reaches of the Yucatan I can still shop in store or online. I love it!! Maybe ShopLocal can open an office in Tulum...hmmm...

Just 40 More Hours!

The minutes crawl by as I try desperately to stay focused at my desk. In two days I'll be in the tropical embrace of Mexico's Mayan Riviera, soaking up sun and sippin' on icy margaritas. I've been packed and ready to go for a week, stumbling over my luggage every morning, prepared like a colonial minute-man ready to charge to the airport when the time is right. My husband thinks I'm nuts. He waits to pack until the last possible moment. Amateur. I like to pack early and then take time to reflect on how I've packed, what I've packed and what I've forgotten. Sometimes I even take some things out of my suitcase. I'm trying to travel light on this trip, go with the beach bum theme. I've rolled up a few stretchy sundresses, lined my bag with flip flops and stocked about five bathing suits (they're small!)

What I never skimp on are toiletries and sundries. We're staying in a very rustic place, just a handful of thatched-roof bungalows powered by generators and wind, so in preparation, I went to Target and stocked up on everything. In addition to the usual mini- toothpastes and shampoos, I also found a small first aid kit, handi-wipes, travel size toilet paper (who knows how rustic it'll get), Kleenex, little candles (no electricity after 8pm), bug spray (someone said they saw a tarantula one year), lots of suntan lotion (SPF 1500), Imodium (it's Mexico you know), trail mix to snack on, and a waterproof camera. I'm bringing moisturizer but no make up, some color from the sun is all I'll need. Whoa! I almost forgot to make room for our snorkeling equipment. Whew.

Stay tuned because I'll be blogging from the Caribbean!

Good Luck and Good Shopping!!!