The Shopping Muse

Up Up Down Down B A B A Start

2006-05-04T23:13:00.000-05:00

That's right -- it's the cheat code for Contra. Some things just never leave you.

If you miss old school Nintendo, now you can have it -- on your PC. And I'm not just talking Mario on your computer screen -- I'm talking the whole experience, complete with the game controller.

RetroZone is offering USB Nintendo controllers for just $30:

"Classic NES controller upgraded to USB. Authentic gameplay unmatched with other controllers. No adapters needed, just plug and play!"

And what about the actual Nintendo games for your PC? You can download most of them as freeware or shareware online, including the site here -- or buy a whole bunch of them here.

Breakfast in the Bachelor Pad

2006-05-04T10:07:00.000-05:00

I came across a fantastic bachelor gift on the Uncrate blog today:

The 3-In-1 Breakfast Maker combines a toaster oven, a coffee maker, and a frying pan> Gadgety, economical (both in space and on the wallet), and built to satisfy a man's appetite -- what more could a guy want?

This would also make a unique graduation gift (hey, aren't high school graduations right around the corner?) or a great present for any college student or newly independent young adult (especially one living in a little apartment or otherwise cramped quarters).

The 3-in-1 Breakfast Maker retails for $40 and is available from Clever Gear.

Hot Deal: 30% off at Esprit.com

2006-02-14T08:19:00.000-06:00

Treat yourself this Valentine's Day...

Esprit.com is offering 30% off all new and regular items (sale items excluded) with discount code love06. This code expires on Friday (2/17), so shop now!!

New Favorite Kitchen Tool - The Dual Ended Silicone Spatula

2006-02-02T12:58:00.000-06:00

What's not to love about this? The Switchit Dual-Ended Long Spatula by Chef'n is a streamlined, fully silicone 11.5 inch tool with a wide end and a narrow end; the former, for "broad, sweeping strokes," the latter, "for more control and finesse." The fact that the spatula is a just a single molded piece of silicone means no food or sauce getting caught in between the head and handle.

The Switchit Dual-Ended Long Spatula is available from Amazon.com for $9.99.

Things I Covet - The Girly Laptop Case

2006-01-22T17:29:00.000-06:00

This is it ... the perfect, lovely, ultimate girly-girl laptop case.

It's the Marlo Women's Laptop Bag (available in eggplant or pink) by frances & grace.

Bubblegum pink (the eggplant, though more understated, is also gorgeous), black ribbon trim. It's fabulous. There's really nothing more to say.

The Marlo bag retails for (gasp!) $369 and is at present available only directly from the manufacturer.

Gifts for Guys: The Swiss Pen

2006-01-22T16:19:00.000-06:00

Last year, for the gadget loving man in your life, it was the SwissMemory ("USB memory with your choice of 128, 256, or 512MB memory stick and a blade, nail file, screwdriver, scissors, LED mini light, retractable ballpoint pen, and key ring"). This year from Victorinox: the Swiss Pen, a twist action pen featuring multitools, including the Swiss army knife, screwdriver, file, and scissors; in addition, the pen features a red light flashlight and pressurized ink (by Fisher Space Pen) that enables writing upside down and underwater.

The Victorinox Swiss Pen retails for $50.00

Keep it in your Trunk

2006-01-20T22:07:00.000-06:00

A great random buy -- the Safety Girl Roadside Emergency Kit ($29.95).

What is it? A sassy pink lunchbox filled with everything from chocolate to OxiClean® Instant Spot Remover Wipe to an emergency blanket and Instructions to Jump Start a Dead Battery. Every item is high quality; the Space brand emergency blanket, for example, " helps prevent hypothermia and trauma shock by reflecting and retaining body heat — and Space Brand is constantly relied upon worldwide in disaster relief and rescue."

Check it out on the SafetyGirl.com site.

Kitchen Gadgets - $3 well spent

2006-01-19T21:59:00.000-06:00

Simple, clever ... and just $3!

Check out the clever Over Boil Clip from Walter Drake.

According to the website, the clip raises one edge of the pot lid 5/8" to allow steam to escape, thereby preventing boiling contents from bubbling over onto the stove (and saving cooks from having to hover over the stove; set a timer and walk away!). The clip fits all pots and is dishwasher safe.

via KitchenContraptions.com -- one of my favorite blogs!

Yankee Candle Clearance

2006-01-14T12:39:00.000-06:00

Heads up on the Yankee Candle clearance sale going on now! I just checked it out, and while some items are beginning to sell out (so act quickly!), there are still some really good deals to be had .... I'm a big fan of the jar candles, and right now several of the 14.5 ounce jars (which burn 60-85 hours) are half off, marked down to $9.49 from $18.99; while "Amber Sunset" doesn't do too much for me, there are some delicious scents on sale, including Balsam & Cedar, Christmas Wreath, Macintosh, Macintosh & Peach, Spiced Pumpkin, and Pumpkin Pie.

Happy Shopping!

Yankee Candle's semi-annual Clearance Sale ends on Monday, January 16, 2005.

Introducing Jackson Park Wilkerson

2005-12-16T20:05:00.000-06:00

I have good reason for the lack of posts lately ...

I went in for an induction early on the Tuesday before Thanksgiving and, after six hours of active labor, delivered our first little one ...

We welcomed Jackson Park into the world at 3:07pm on the 22nd of November. He was 6 lbs, 14 ounces and 20 inches long, with dark blue eyes and a head full of dark hair.

Since then, the baby and I have been doing well and are adjusting to a few big changes, including enjoying two precious weeks with Daddy before his overseas deployment and moving across the country to stay with Nana and Gramps for the year that Daddy is away. Meanwhile, I'm also trying to catch up on sleep and establish a routine under these new circumstances ...

Posts will become more regular as soon as possible!!

Friends & Family Discount at Sephora.com

2005-11-20T16:09:00.000-06:00

Sorry!! I meant to post this earlier, but you still have another day to buy.

Sephora.com is offering a 20% Friends & Family discount from November 14 to November 21, and as far as I know, the discount is site-wide. This would be a good time to pick up some of my favorite Chanel products or to buy yourself something new from Benefit Cosmetics (especially if you missed out on the Benefit sale earlier this month - or even if you took advantage of it and want to stock up on a great new product that you discovered ... I myself found that I do love that Ooh La Lift eye de-puffer!).

Ready to go shop? Enter code FF2005 when you checkout from Sephora.com.

Great Deal: Benefit Cosmetics

2005-11-06T18:18:00.000-06:00

Heads up! Benefit Cosmetics is offering a Friends & Family discount on all orders until November 8.

I just love these fun and fresh products, especially the BAD gal Lash - mmmmmm - so thick and flirty! Discounts on these products are fairly hard to come by, so now is a good time to try out the ooh la lift eye de-puffer, the "HONEY...snap out of it!" scrub, or any of their dozens of other fabulous products. Use coupon code BCFF20 to save 20% on your entire order.

Enter coupon code BCFF20 when you checkout any order from BenefitCosmetics.com to receive a 20% discount.

Borner V-Slicer Plus

2005-11-03T12:29:00.000-06:00

I'm starting to get in a Christmas shopping frame of mind and, in the process of trying to come up with a gift for my new brother-in-law (who is apparently quite the chef), I've been thinking about the kitchen items that I find absolutely indispensable. One of my newer discoveries came immediately to mind: the Borner V-Slicer Plus by Swissmar.

This little plastic mandoline is amazing, not only because it easily outperforms every other chopping gadget that I've ever used (including a $200 stainless steel mandoline from Williams-Sonoma), but also because it carries a pleasant $20-$30 pricetag.

The V-Slicer itself comes neatly packed in handy caddy with three locking inserts capable of creating 1/16 or 1/4 inch slices and 1/8 or 3/8 inch julienne strips (which can be diced as well). For safety, the slicer also comes with a patented safety holder that firmly grips (but does not mash) food as it is runs back and forth across the slicer's German surgical-steel blades.

Given my love of vegetables, I pull out the V-Slicer at least once a day -- I can slice up two cucumbers in just a few seconds , dice onions or tomatoes for salsa, or julienne potatoes for french fries (and those blades are sharp - it can really julienne a finger as well if you use it without the safety holder ... you'll only make that mistake once). I guess you could say that this one really cuts prep time in half (or better) - literally.

The Borner V-Slicer Plus is available online at Amazon.com (from thegadgetsource) for $19.98 or in stores (including Bed Bath & Beyond) for about $30.

Flameless Scented Candles

2005-11-01T15:14:00.000-06:00

Now that the Halloween candy and costumes have been cleared out of the aisles, stores have quickly filled the space with red, white, and evergreen, a not-so-gentle reminder that the holidays are right around the corner (how many shopping days left? anyone?).

For me, there's nothing so cozy and comfortable as winter approaches as the soft light and - better yet - the warm, spicy scent of candles burning. Now, for the risk-averse, a candle without an open flame: Flameless Wax Sensor Candles from Brookstone.

The 6- inch high pillar candles have a scented wax body - in Pumpkin Pie, Apple Picking, Forest Walk, or Vanilla - and flicker gently thanks to dual alternating LED lights powered by four AA batteries. Even cooler, each candle will turn off automatically after two hours, or you can simply wave your hand the candle's hidden motion detector to light or extinguish the "flame."

Does Your Dog have Separation Anxiety?

2005-10-25T13:30:00.000-05:00

I came across a charming little gadget on Popgadget this afternoon: PeTalk, a cheerful recording device with playback that allows you to record a ten second message to be played to your pets at one, two, three, or four hour intervals. Apparently the product has been featured on Oprah (yes, this is a selling point for me), and customer testimonials claim that pets respond to the voice recordings than they do to simply hearing an owner's voice over the telephone. Ultimately, regardless of whether the playback actually reassures lonely pets, it may relieve some of the guilt that some owners feel about leaving animals home alone during the work day. I don't know if I'm actually going to lay out the cash for this one, but it certainly made me smile.

The PeTalk device is available from VoicePals! for $24.95 plus shipping & handling.

Custom Design Your Own Jeans

2005-10-20T10:50:00.000-05:00

Just can't find the perfect pair of jeans? Now you can make your own, thanks to mejeans.com, a site that allows customers to build the perfect pair of jeans, choosing among such options as fit style, fabric, waist, fly, stitch, pockets, trim, and accents in addition to painstaking measurements (waist, hip, thigh, knee, inseam, etc) to ensure a custom-made product down to the last detail.

Keep in mind, too -- custom jeans are not just for women; in addition to other tips (including caveats about high waists, tapered legs, and teeny tiny seat pockets), the site offers the following for their male and female clientele:

"Overall winner for men: A good relaxed-fit jean with good room always wins the comfort battle.

Overall winner for women: The best look for most is a boot-cut that sits naturally on hips and buttons a little below your belly button. A lower rise with a nice long rub on front gives legs more length and a leaner look."

Furthermore, the site offers a 100% satisfactions guarantee: If you find an error in manufacture, materials, or the options that you selected, the company will refund your charges (less S&H) or make a brand new pair at no additional cost.

Still not sold? The mejeans glossary will help you get your jeans lingo down (quick - what's the difference between cargo and carpenter styles?), and the site is worth checking out for its body type tips alone: Have big hips? Mejeans recommends avoidance of high waists and tapered legs (and, please, avoid tapered legs regardless of your body type!) in favor of "an exaggerated bootleg with diagonal seams." Full backside? Back pockets, properly sized and with vertical seams, are far more flattering than a pocketless rear, and a low rise waistline will also maximize (by minimizing!) your assets. There's plenty more tips to be found; check them all out at mejeans.com.

mejeans run from approximately $90-$150, depending on the options selected.

Free Sample - Schick Intuition Razor

2005-10-13T12:12:00.000-05:00

Who doesn't love free stuff? The Schick Intution is a triple bladed razor surrounded by moisturizing soap to lather and moisturize as you shave. Pretty great.

Get your free razor here.

Used Books - and 9 Other Things You Shouldn't Buy New

2005-10-12T11:06:00.000-05:00

Thanks to Lifehacker for this link to an MSN Money article by Liz Pulliam Weston entitled, "10 Things You Shouldn't Buy New."

The article discusses a handful of items for which you'll get far more bang for your buck when purchasing used, including timeshares, cars, and office furniture. Also included are books, DVDs, and CDs - a secondhand trend onto which I had already caught on (I always doublecheck for deals on half.com!).

When it comes to books, etc, however, keep this in mind: it's difficult to find good shipping deals from secondhand sellers (such as independent Amazon merchants or those selling through half.com), and most shipments are via media mail, which can be painfully slow. As a general rule, I only buy used if the book/video/CD is advertised as "Very Good," "Like New," or "New," and the price is marked down at least $5-$10 (since shipping usually runs $3-$4 per item). Even so, buying the book as a gift for another can be risky: I once purchased as a Christmas gift a "Like New" hardcover book marked down about 80%, and while the book appeared to be unread and in pristine condition, I subsequently found that the original buyer had handwritten a personal inscription of his own on one of the title pages. For the most part, however, I've had great luck with online purchases from secondhand sellers - just make sure you're really getting a better deal on a used item than you could have found for one that is brand new; my favorite comparison shopping site for new and used books is allbookstores.com, which compares prices - taking tax and shipping into consideration - on any given book at over two dozen new and used booksellers.

Free Gourmet Popcorn!

2005-10-10T20:56:00.000-05:00

It's National Popcorn Month, and Dale and Thomas Popcorn (one of Oprah's "favorite things") is offering free 4-cup bags of gourmet popcorn in yummy Peanut Butter and White Chocolate DrizzleCorn or Twice as Nice DrizzleCorn. For just the cost of shipping & handling ($2.95/bag), you can get up to six bags per household. Mmmmmmmm....

Get your free popcorn - I recommend at least one bag of each flavor - through this link.

Yankee Candle Sale This Weekend

2005-10-06T23:23:00.000-05:00

The Yankee Candle Company is having a sale October 7-10! Get 20% off when you spend $20; 30% off of $30; or 40% off when you spend $40 or more.

I'm not sure whether or not you can activate the deal with a coupon code, but the discounts should be automatic through this link.

Happy Shopping!

Allure Best of Beauty 2005

2005-10-04T16:39:00.000-05:00

In case you missed it, Allure just released its Editors' and Readers' Choices for Beauty Products of 2005. Nonetheless, even if you haven't had the opportunity to flip through the magazine itself, now you can review the top rated products on Amazon's website.

Better yet, through 31 October, you'll get a free subsription to Allure when you purchase $50 or more (not too hard to do) from eligible Amazon Beauty products (including the award winners). For more details, head on over here.

The Shopping Muse: Mommy Edition

2005-10-02T21:51:00.000-05:00

I'm afraid that this blogger has come dangerously close to developing total baby-on-the-brain, and in an effort to separate my baby finds from more mainstream shoppers' products and deals, I've made the decision to totally separate the two.

As such, I'd like to introduce ... The Shopping Muse: Mommy Edition. There may still be some overlap between the two blogs, but I can promise no more posts here about diaper bags (unless, of course, I'm recommending a diaper bag so stylish that it ought to double instead as a laptop case). Meanwhile, now I can happily post away over there about sleep soothers, onesies, cribsets, and picture books; and here I can escape the baby talk to discuss everything from gourmet foods to electronic gadgets to impractical new clothing trends.

Check out the new blog ... or, if you've already had your fill of the baby stuff, just hang around here for the next non-mommy shopping find.

Deluxe Gymini by Tiny Love - 50% off!!

2005-09-30T23:02:00.000-05:00

As I've prepared for the arrival of my new little one, The Deluxe Gymini was one of the first products to be placed on my "must-have" list of baby toys. Culling rave reviews on Amazon (probably my most-relied on source for honest consumer reviews), the Gymini has drawn, at present, an average of 4.5 stars from 334 purchasing critics. That's good enough for me.

... so imagine my delight upon finding this little wonder specially marked 50% off at the Discovery Channel Store - cutting the price to just $31; with email code EMAIL05 ($5 off any purchase $25+), the Gymini comes down to $26 -- an extraordinary steal!!

As of this post, the Deluxe Gymini is in stock and on sale for $31 (not including any discount codes or other offers) at the Discovery Channel Store.

For more discussions about diaper bags and other mom-and-baby oriented products, check out my new subject-specific blog at Shopping Muse: The Mommy Edition.

30 Bags in 30 Days

2005-09-28T20:47:00.000-05:00

Seems like everyone's talking about Bluefly/Lucky magazine's "30 Bags in 30 Days" contest. Each day, you (if you're 18+) can enter to win one of 30 bags, including a $4500 Hermes, a $2500 Fendi, and a $3500 Dolce & Gabbana (but I'd be quite content with the $700 little Burberry, thanks).

You can view all the bags on Bluefly.com, and when your register for the contest, you can request emails reminding you to play every day. Hey, for a chance at a free designer bag, what do you have to lose?

Diaper Bag Update

2005-09-28T12:17:00.000-05:00

... the quest for the perfect diaper bag continues ...

I came across another cute bag while watching Desperate Housewives on Sunday ... turns out Lynette was toting a Petunia Pickle Bottom "Boxy Backpack" in Lily. Normally, I'd never waste my time on a product called the "Boxy Backpack" (boxy? yuck. backpack? no thanks.), but this is actually adorable - much more of a messenger bag than a backpack, and the material is gorgeous. At $155.00, these are a little pricey for my current budget, but they're still worth a look.

Happily, I've also happened upon Kecci Shanghai bags, which look an awful lot like the Boxy Backpacks. I'm not quite as enamored of the fabric selections, but they're still lovely bags, and they don't have to be drycleaned like the Boxy Backpacks. Better yet, they're only $55.00.

The Lily Boxy Backpack by Petunia Pickle Bottom is available for $155.00 at retailers both online and in stores, including Nordstrom and BabyBrowns (the latter of which offers free shipping).

Shanghai diaper bags, by Kecci, are available online for $55.00 at Kecci.com.

For more discussions about diaper bags and other mom-and-baby oriented products, check out my new subject-specific blog at Shopping Muse: The Mommy Edition.

Heads Up: Sale at the Gap

2005-09-28T11:30:00.000-05:00

Just a little heads up for the sale hunters ... Gap is having a great SALE (in stores and online) - many items up to 40% off . One of my favorite versatile little tops is even marked down to $6.99-$9.99 (depending on color selected), so I'll be placing an order of my own this afternoon.

Fantastic Magazine Deals

2005-09-28T09:46:00.000-05:00

If you're resourceful enough (and some of us are better Googlers than others), you can often track down magazine subscription prices online for about the same cost as - and sometimes even less than - buying just one or two issues off the newsstand.

Now there's a site that does the leg work for you: MagazinePriceSearch.com not only compares subscription costs among twenty-four online magazine vendors, but it also takes into consideration discount codes available to find the best deal across the board. Results display the actual cost per issue among competing vendors, along with a chart showing how you can get the most bang for your buck depending on the length of the subscription that you're planning to order.

In a search for US News & World Report, for example, we can see that the best deals are currently found on MagazineForce.com, where a coupon (MPS80P) reduces the advertised price of $39.95 for a yearlong subscription to $7.99 - just $.15 per issue. This considerably beats out the next best deal on MagsforLess.com, which advertises a subscription price of $12.71 but is not further reduced by any coupons. Not ready to lay out the whole $7.99? If you'd prefer, advises the Results Chart, you could pay off a yearlong subscription in quarterly payments of $6.99 at AllZines.com. And take note: Ordering a subscription at BlueDolphin.com results in automatic renewals, and both MagazinesofAmerica.com and MagazineCity.com charge a $1.00 processing fee on top of the advertised subscription prices.

Overall, MagazinePriceSearch.com is a fantastic site - and one I refer to often.

My mailbox is monthly stuffed with the following subscriptions: The Week, Real Simple, Reader's Digest, Marie Claire, Allure, Lucky, Cargo, PC Magazine, Wired, Money, and Writer's Digest.

Diaper Bags ... again

2005-09-27T13:21:00.000-05:00

Honestly, I do not plan to turn this blog into a mommy shop guide, but lately I've spent practically every waking minute shopping (online and off) in preparation for my baby, so I may as well share some of what I've found.

Tonight I'm determined to make a decision about my diaper bag. I'm still loving the JP Lizzy line, and I just came across a discontinued Tan&Taffy print that I love and that - hooray - is on sale, since it's apparently been discontinued.

I'm also considering going the handmade/custom route ... Mimi's Sewing Boutique, while not a great website, has beautiful bags, and I'm also enjoying the custom diaper bag option at I'm Still Me, which is a little pricier.

Other great sites for unique/custom diaper bags:

Children's Cottage

Sommer Designs Handbags

(more updates as discoveries are made!)

For more discussions about diaper bags and other mom-and-baby oriented products, check out my new subject-specific blog at Shopping Muse: The Mommy Edition.

Things I Can't Live Without - Chanel Rouge Double Intensite

2005-09-21T22:56:00.000-05:00

In the overdone "if you could only take X items to a desert island, what would you take" hypothetical, mascara invariably tops my list of must-have cosmetics. Nonetheless, as I have yet to settle on the perfect mascara (L'Oreal Lash Architect and Benefit Bad Girl have been my most recent faves, but I'm not yet satisfied ... hopefully there will be updates forthcoming), I've decided to instead discuss the newest staple in my makeup collection: Rouge Double Intensite Ultra Wear Lip Colour by Chanel. The dual product (base color at one end; clear gloss at the other) bests any lip color I've yet to try. The brush allows color application so defined that the need for lipliner is totally eliminated; the color survives food, drink, and hours of wear; and the ultra-shiny, non-sticky gloss "imparts brilliant shine, superb hydration" (I'm sorry, but I just couldn't do any better than the product description here - funny when a product claim turns out to be totally ACCURATE, isn't it?).

My sister got married this past weekend (hence the lull in my posts), and her lipcolor - applied around noon - withstood the kiss at the altar, dinner and wedding cake, and plenty of kisses at the reception - which lasted until eleven at night. We did reapply a gloss over the base color a few times over the course of the day/evening (gotta stay shiny for the photo ops!), but the base stayed on all day long. Pretty spectacular!!

For me, this product is part of my daily routine; I don't need a special occasion to justify an all-day lipstick. I also love that I can apply the base and then use a tinted gloss (being a Chanel girl, I love my Glossimers) to get a little color variety; my favorite combination at present is the Ultra Wear Lipcolor in Sandstone with a Glossimer in Hacienda.

Chanel cosmetics are available at beauty.com, gloss.com, sephora.com, and most fine department stores, including Nordstrom, Saks Fifth Avenue, Neiman Marcus, and Macy's. The Ultra Wear Lipcolor is $30, and Glossimers run $24.50.

Product Review: Cherry 7up Plus

2005-09-08T16:40:00.000-05:00

In case you missed it, Cadbury Schweppes Americas Beverages debuted its "Supermarket Showdown" commercial last week to promote the new 7up Plus products; the spot features Desperate Housewives stars Marcia Cross and Nicollete Sheridan in a prissy end-of-the-aisle battle to out-shop one another at the 7up Plus display and ends with Cross manhandling a 7up stockboy into her cart. Admittedly, the commercial caught my eye, but for once it was actually the product features itself that struck me more; the soft drink, which packs just 10 calories per can, blends Splenda-sweetened 7up with real fruit juice and – yet more impressively – provides 15% of a woman’s daily calcium requirement.

Thus far, I’ve tried only the Cherry 7up Plus. The company’s also marketing a Wildberry and some sort of Tropical flavor, neither of which – to me – sounds remotely appealing; I think they should have gone with a citrus blend (I know, I know – 7up is already “lemon lime,” but throwing in some orange or tangerine juice would have been tasty), or maybe a white grape. Meanwhile, I thought the Cherry was delightful – good enough to make a repeat appearance on my shopping list. Check it out!

Totally Wired: Techno Kitchen

2005-09-06T13:07:00.000-05:00

Thanks to the fine folks over at Luxist for the constant reminder that no matter how much we have, there will always be something out there that could make life just a little sweeter.

Today, they have me wondering how in the world I've survived so long without Dacor's Digital Entertainment Center in my kitchen. This little wonder features a flip-down touchscreen monitor/television, FM radio, CD player, washable waterproof remote control, and washable waterproof wireless keyboard. With one of these in my kitchen, I'd surf on over to AllRecipes.com and pull up some amazing recipes for dinner tonight (God forbid I should have to actually print them up and read the recipes off of plain old paper while I cook).

While I'm dreaming, I'll also take one of Dacor's coffee systems, a 52" built-in outdoor grill, and an indoor/outdoor warming oven, which "even installs into your bathroom cabinets to heat robes or towels. "

I found the Digital Entertainment Center (DKEC24S), which retails for $2899, for just $2499 over at Cutting Edge Appliances.

A La Zing

2005-09-05T13:14:00.000-05:00

A little update on my Dinner Delivered post ... A La Zing has a fantastic deal going on right now; their "Splendid Sampler," regularly $74.98, is being offered for just $29.99.

The Sampler, comprised of three pairs of gourmet dinners, includes the following:

Top Sirloin Suite ($24.99): 2 (5 oz.) Top Sirloin, 1 (12 oz.) Roasted Garlic Mashed Potatoes, (8 oz.) Glazed Julienne Carrots, 1 package A La Zing Natural Seasoning

Boneless Pork Chop Platter ($24.99): 2 (5 oz.) Boneless Pork Chops, 2 Twice Baked Potatoes, 1 (7 oz.) Roasted Vegetable Medley, 1 package A La Zing Natural Seasoning

Elegant Chicken Feast ($24.99): 2 (5 oz.) Chicken Breasts, 1 (8.5 oz.) Red Roasted Potatoes, 1 (6 oz.) Asparagus with Hollandaise Sauce

I just ordered the sampler, along with a whole David Glass New York Cheesecake (they were, sadly, all out of the Chocolate Truffle Cake) as a belated wedding gift -- totaling just $56.97 for the whole thing, including the pricey $13 shipping fee.

The Splendid Sampler deal is available through this link, and I have no idea how long it'll be available.

Things I Covet - The Perfect Diaper Bag

2005-09-03T19:46:00.000-05:00

I’m expecting my first baby in less than three months (doctor says it looks like a little boy; we’ve dubbed him Jackson), and my ever-prepared mother tells me that now is the time to be working on my baby checklist. Being the compulsive consumer researcher that I am, however, a simple checklist will not do. I don’t need a bassinet, blanket, and sleep soother; I need the Baby Delight Snuggle Nest Deluxe, Koala Baby Satin Edge Fleece Baby Blanket, and Dreamscapes Soother by LeapFrog. Some of the baby necessities (okay, and indulgences) are more fun to investigate than others … Figuring out the best burp cloths – not so fun; shopping for a fantastic diaper bag – much more exciting. This brings me to the point of my post:

Today’s object of desire is the JP Lizzy Diaper Bag. It’s fashion redemption for any woman who had to hand over $89 for a potato sack maternity dress. I love, love the look of these chic microfiber bags and pattern-coordinating accessories (various bags include a changing pad, toiletry bag, and/or keychain coin purse), and consumer reviews indicate that they’re remarkably sturdy. At the top of my list are the Jackie (in a pretty pink), Sophia (in elegant black), Diana (preppy pink and brown argyle pattern), Grace (cheerful pink stripes), and Apple Blossom.

Aesthetic allure aside, the bags may not be quite as perfect in terms of functionality: the zippered opening looks awfully narrow when it comes to rummaging through an arsenal of baby supplies for a pen or a pacifier, and the bags lack the elaborate organizational appeal of, say, the Okkatots Diaper Shoulder Bag. The classic black Okkatots bag, while not as disarmingly delightful as the JP Lizzy bags, includes a plethora of interior pockets, wet wipes dispenser, pacifier pouch, insulated bottle holder, and changing pad. Ah – everything in its place; if a baby makes life as chaotic as I’ve been told, I’ll definitely appreciate this orderly little safe haven inside a diaper bag. Furthermore, while the JP Lizzy bags ring in at nearly $100, the Okkatots Diaper Shoulder Bag will set you back just $50.

So which bag to choose? For me, it boils down to this: I covet the JP Lizzy bag, but I need the Okkatots bag. Why settle for just one? I’ll order the sensible bag now – and I still have three months to save up for the splurge.

You can buy either – or both! – of these diaper bags at eBags.com.

For more discussions about diaper bags and other mom-and-baby oriented products, check out my new subject-specific blog at Shopping Muse: The Mommy Edition.

The Default Gift: Dinner Delivered

2005-09-02T17:38:00.000-05:00

I have a new favorite default gift - you know, the gift that you can send to anyone and everyone for whom you have no idea what to get. I still have a couple of old standby strategies ... I usually start my gift shopping by sifting through Red Envelope and - for the domesticated goddesses, goumets, and party planners in my life - the sale sections of Crate & Barrel and Williams-Sonoma. Failing this, I turn to Illuminations (who, after all, doesn't love candles?), and last year I added Penzey's spices to my gift-giving repertoire (this deserves a post of its own, so I'll save discussions about the bliss of quality herbs and spices for a later time).

Gift giving can be tough for any number of reasons ... so often it boils down to a realization that you really don't know a person at all - you have no idea whether they like to golf, or drink coffee, or enjoy artwork, or read historical biographies. Other times your problem is just the opposite: after years of picking out the perfect presents, setting a consistently high standard, you cannot imagine that your sister/grandfather/best friend/mother-in-law could possibly be in want of anything else (at least not within your budget).

Either way, I’ve happened upon a fabulous go-to gift: the gourmet pre-made dinner. Everybody needs to eat (obviously), and most people appreciate good foods; pre-selecting a home delivered dinner is a creative and more thoughtful alternative to a restaurant gift certificate. By and large, the companies that tender these services offer either full plated gourmet meals or allow you to create your own menu, selecting appetizer, entrée, sides, and dessert; the dishes are flash-frozen, elaborately packaged with dry ice, and shipped directly to your gift recipient. Love it! Okay, without further adieu, here’s a list of the best sites I’ve found for fabulous gourmet dinner gifts:

In consideration of both my budget and the freedom to select my own menu (including bakery breads, which most of the other sites did not offer and which really completed the meal), I went with Artiko for my parents’ 32^nd anniversary gift, and for just under $80 put together an amazing romantic dinner comprised of the following:

Asparagus Rollups: “Tender green asparagus spears rolled in flaky puff pastry and topped with Romano cheese.”

Artichoke & Spinach Tarts: “Chopped artichoke hearts, chopped spinach & melted mozzarella cheese fill this light flaky pastry with beautiful scalloped edges.”

Racy Ribollita Soup: “A basic minestrone but kicked up a notch…with haricots beans and a hint of pesto.”

Rustica Baguettes: “A warm old-fashioned Rustic baguette.”

Chicken Florentine: “Four grilled, boneless, skinless chicken breasts stuffed with spinach, parmesan cheese and pine nuts.”

Romanesco Stir Fry: “A blend of seasoned eggplant, mushrooms, red peppers, onions and romanesco seasoned with herbs and spices.”

Apple Tartlets: “Thin tartlet shell topped fresh granny smith apple slices.”

Chocolate Saucy Cakes: “A rich and moist chocolate cake is filled with an intense chocolate ganache center that melts when warmed.”

To top it all off, I found an online coupon for free shipping and a complimentary salmon-and-dill quiche with my order. I ordered it on Sunday night, and they shipped it overnight on Monday, arriving at my parents’ home on Tuesday afternoon. Does it get any better than that?