Sometimes I need a bit of inspiration when shopping. I have had quite a dry spell recently and now I realise it's time to shop. Anyway, it's the global economic crisis thingy and we all need to spend money to keep things afloat. Well, that's my excuse and I'm sticking to it! As I have mentioned in previous posts, I have been building up my cookware collection for some time now. I still need a number of items to complete the collection so using a shopping search engine I will be hunting for bargains on food processors - perfect for making home made hummus and olive tapenade (yum!).

I also need some whitegoods -I like those washing machines that can be installed in the kitchen so you can put in a load of washing and take them out when you've finished cooking a meal. Also, I have an unnatural fear of laundromats so that would be perfect. I especially like this GE massive capacity front load washer - I intend to own a lot of clothes!

High on my list is a vaccum cleaner, a hand mixer and some outdoor plates for picnics. There are some great specials on at the moment so it's a good time to buy and save some dollars!

technorati tags: shopping washing machine food processor kitchen appliances

I have been thinking lately that it might be fun to do a giveaway, so this is the first official contest for SaveSaveSave.

By the way, this is the easiest contest in the world to enter. All you need to do is enter your email address in the "subscribe to SaveSaveSave" box and click "Subscribe Me!". You will be automatically entered in the SaveSaveSave Macy's giveaway contest in which the lucky winner receives a $20 Macy's card for use throughout Macy's stores or online.

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You might also be interested in this offer, it seems that the guys at MyShoppingJobs.com are now paying people to go shopping and giving away a bunch of free stuff as well. The Free E-Guide "Get Your Purchases Free" is now available for download.

The great digital television revolution. Ah, the choice, the channels, the unending variety. Or so we thought. This morning Ten HD presented Round 1 of the Accenture Match Play Golf Championship.

Tiger's comeback after months of injury was much anticipated. The coverage began at 6am. The excitement of seeing Tiger back in action and playing against Brendan Jones from Australia was a recipe for a brilliant morning's viewing.

And then... outrage. The coverage of play was cut short to make way for the highly time-sensitive (note sarcasm) "David and Kim" morning show.

The same bloody mind numbing and banal David and Kim morning show that is being shown on the other Ten Digital channels. Obviously Ten HD found it imperative that it be shown on Ten HD just to make sure that nobody misses the extremely missable David and Kim show. All us golf tragics were expecting full coverage - many other groups were set to come through, including little known (note sarcasm again) players such as Ernie Els. It was not that the official coverage had finished, it's just that Ten HD decided not to show it anymore. Surely, Ten HD you can spare one little channel to see the coverage through to its conclusion.

Important note: I have discovered that the coverage begins again at 4:30pm today, which is a welcome relief. Hopefully this coverage includes the wrap up as well.

It's truly amazing that we are getting 15 new channels this year, unfortunately it seems that some of the content has so far been duplicated. With any luck, this will be sorted out throughout 2009.

technorati tags: Ten HD Nine HD Seven HD Digital HD Digital TV 15 new channels 2009 Accenture Match Play Golf Championship Tiger Woods

In these tough economic times, we tend to shrink back from spending. It's understandable, but perhaps there is some hope. You've heard of bailouts and stimulus packages, well this is a wardrobe bailout. We must not let this financial crisis affect our sense of style. On the 30th of January, 2009, Mandee launched a brand new store complete with full sized runway to create a fully interactive fashion / shopping experience. To celebrate the opening, and their 60th anniversary, Mandee are offering a special discount code to use when purchasing from their online store.

For a 20% discount on all purchases, enter the code: BAILOUT at checkout.

The following comes from the official press release:

New Mandee Store hits the runway with Grand Opening.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Totowa, NJ 1/24/2009 Mandee is proud to announce the opening of their new flagship location in Clifton, NJ. Mandee, a women's clothing chain primarily targeting the teenage and young adult market, is unveiling a fresh look in its Grand Opening of a 7,000 square foot store. Tricarico Architecture and Design PC headed up the project, creating an interactive experience that allows customers to feel as though they have stepped into their own fashion show, including a full size runway in the store.

This new concept is a key part of Mandee's long-term strategic plan, which aims to incorporate the Fashion Runway theme into every location. They wanted to create a fun and sexy atmosphere utilizing a runway format and graphics to preview the latest in fashion styles. From the fixtures to the color palette to the lighting, the Mandee 'runway store' is designed to make the customer feel like a true 'fashionista.'

And the time couldn't be better for the grand opening, as Mandee celebrates their 60th anniversary of bringing trendy fashion to consumers at affordable prices. Mandee was founded by 3 brothers 60 years ago on Brooklyn's Brighton Beach Boulevard. They knew the importance of building a brand long before people started writing books on the subject. Nothing was more important than getting the hottest fashion and the proper fit and delivering it to the customer at a great price. The new store is located on Route 3 in Clifton.
It is scheduled to open January 30, 2009.

The store will be offering for a limited time $7 flat rate shipping for ups ground domestic deliveries.

Mandee is geared towards a teen and young adult market so if you know of anyone who may benefit from this discount, please feel free to pass it on.

technorati tags: mandee mandee's coupon code discount wardrobe bailout

These gorgeous emery pincushions are hand made by dottyral.

Egg - Sunny Side Up!


Peas - for the raw food enthusiast!


Please don't write in or contact the RSPCA, this is not a voodoo bunny, I repeat, no black magic here!! According to dottyral, it is in fact receiving acupuncture and requires regular treatment. No bunnies were harmed in the making of this pincushion.

Strawberry - Good enough to eat!

The emery inside the pincushions serves to sharpen the pins so they never get blunt. They are made from felt material and since they are hand made, each one is different!

technorati tags: sewing pincushions emery cute design dottyral hand made

Q: What to get for the geek who has everything?

A: Giant earbud speakers!!














This concept is very Escher. Or Dali. Or both. Whatever the origin, they would look great on your desk and could be useful during late night drinking sessions to confuse people ie. "go get my headphones". Fun and hilarity will ensue. All we need now is a giant iPod.


What's that, you say? There is such a thing?

The giant Google Earth iPod. Now, where do we plug them in?



But this was just an April Fool's joke created by Apple - there was no bet between Steve Jobs and Kerry Packer ... it's actually a Western Australian tailings storage facility. Perhaps iPod's are actually made out of tailings...

Maybe I can make a giant Steve Jobs that can be seen from space... but then I'd have to make a giant Bill Gates as well. But I'd have to use Microsoft Virtual Earth... In fact, we could take up the entire earth with advertising space... Dang this, I'm off to design my own system: LJP Earth. Advertising starts at Google dollars...

technorati tags: giant ipod bud earphone speaker google earth giant ipod steve jobs bill gatesmicrosoft virtual earth

Congratulations to Laura Davies, who won her second Australian Open this week. She is a deserving champion and her swing has to be seen to be believed. Many of the commentators have all but written off the more experienced players, expecting the younger players to automatically win because of their age. Wrong!! You cannot write off players like Laura Davies or Karrie Webb, and you certainly cannot underestimate their ability, creativity and ingenuity to recover and mount a winning charge.

Karrie Webb was visibly disappointed with her performance but she is still Australia's best golfer and no doubt we will see her winning again in no time. She was gracious enough to give me her autograph, even though she probably would rather have been somewhere private to reflect after the game.

During the presentation, I was glad to discover that all proceeds from the Australian Open ticket sales will go straight to the Red Cross Bushfire Appeal. The haze from the fires was still visible throughout the tournament. It was a proud moment and I commend the organisers of the event for their generosity.

A small but important note to the Australian Open organisers: Please set up the will call office/tent at the MAIN entrance to the golf club. This will ensure that people can actually find the entrance and get in. It would also help if the attendant at the main gate had a clue where the other entrances were located so he doesn't send people off in the wrong direction, down the wrong street and headed for nowhere.



Were it not for the extremely kind guy in Car Park B who gave us a lift after we had been walking for at least ten minutes in the wrong direction in hot sun, we would not have found the entrance, which was a poorly marked, unlabeled side street leading to a long dirt road between a football oval and a primary school, at least a couple of kilometres walk from the front entrance. How anyone expected people to find this secret hollow is beyond me. Thank you Car Park B guy, you know who you are and you are a legend.

I received a great lesson from one of the Golf Pros from Drummond and found out much about my swing and the appropriate clubs to use. I didn't realise the importance of club fitting and consultation.

When I swung a hybrid Callaway Diablo for the first time, I realised what I could actually achieve with the right equipment. I was suddenly hitting the ball further than I have ever done in my life. I have always been curious about hybrids for some time, now I realise why they are so popular. It's simple - they are so easy to hit. I also discovered that because of my height and strength, I should not be using standard womens' clubs. Instead I fall in between the male and female clubs categories and I need taller clubs to make them easier for me to hit. I now realise that many of my clubs are probably too short for me. But I can't complain, I got them for $5-$15 each!

I will be shopping for new additions to my set, including the new tour Callaway x-22 and possibly one of the new Diablo drivers. The prices are reasonable at the moment - they can be found for $80-$100 each (excluding the driver!) on sale. I will be checking Drummond Golf and House of Golf for new specials and be sure to check the "Hot Specials" page for new deals this week.

technorati tags: Laura Davies Australian Open 2009 Karrie Webb golf callaway diablo x22

The Red Cross Bushfire Appeal urgently needs blood donations to assist the burns victims injured in the terrible fires throughout Victoria.

If you are between the ages of 16-71 and weigh over 45 kilos, you may be able to donate blood. The process of giving blood takes from 5-10 minutes, not including time for filling out a questionnaire and recovery time.

Please check the Red Cross Blood Service site for further conditions. If you need more information on eligibility, check the FAQ section or take their quick quiz.

technorati tags: give blood donate blood red cross bushfire victoria appeal 2009

Victoria's bushfires have been all over the news but we cannot begin to understand what these people are going through. If you feel the desire to help (as many Australians do!) please donate to the Red Cross Bushfires Appeal 2009. Please be wary of email scams masquerading as this legitimate charity organisation.

According to the Red Cross website:

• Australian Red Cross DOES NOT send unsolicited email to the public requesting donations.
• If you receive an unsolicited email alleging to be on behalf of Red Cross or collecting for Red Cross, immediately delete the message and do not forward or otherwise circulate it.
• Do not respond to these messages or provide any personal details to unsolicited email that you may receive.
• Only make an online donation to an Australian Red Cross Appeal at www.redcross.org.au.

Go to the official Red Cross Website to donate or call 1800 811 700

Please do not call 000 if you are worried about relatives / loved ones. The information line for the Country Fire Authority Victoria is 1800 240 667. Please do not visit the areas just to drive by and look. You will be in the way. Firefighters and investigators need to do their job without interference and the people of these devastated areas need to be left respectfully to grieve and rebuild their lives. Please do not donate clothing or other items to the Red Cross at this time - a cash donation is the most effective way to help during this appeal.

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Photo credit: Shanghai Daily.com

Maybe it was because I was feeling patriotic after Australia Day. Maybe it was because the camera was handy. Or maybe there are some signs you come across that are just too silly to ignore...

Australians all let us rejoice for we are young and free,
With golden soil and wealth for toil...




And in honour of the Australian Open this week...

technorati tags: silly signs funny billboards

At some time or another the time will come when you look at your old Hanimex 35mm and say "well, old buddy, I'm afraid you're obsolete." It will be a sad day, for many that day has already come. For me it came two years ago when I realised that photography and photos were changing so rapidly and that I had to keep up or get left in a big cloud of dust kicked back from the 21st century.

So then you have to go through every catalogue, megapixels screaming at you and confusion racking your tired brain. Let's face it. We could all use a little help. You need to do some heavy-duty research before purchasing a camera. 42nd Street is a digital camera store that reviews and recommends various digital cameras and helps the digital camera shopper to decipher the myriad of options available to them. With concern to safekeeping digital pictures there is a handy section on camera care, warranties and storage. Their prices are reasonable and some savings can be found on many of the models discussed on the site. The range includes cameras for the holiday snapper right up to the serious photographer.



This post brought to you by 42nd Street Photo.