Thursday, November 27, 2008

Black Friday Online Ads - shop online or pre-shop

If you are going to take advantage of some of the deep discount sales on Black Friday (the day after Thanksgiving and possibly the biggest sale day of the year rivaled only by the day after Christmas), then here are three sites that will help you snag the biggest bargains.

bfads.net
black-friday.net
blackfriday.gottadeal.com

These sites, devoted to Black Friday sales, are there to help you prepare for the best sale day of the year.  Of course, the sites are worth their virtual weight in gold, the day before Black Friday. You can use the links to sales flyers to help you map out your shopping route.  Remember, you will most likely get your best bargains at the first store you go to, so you must prioritize.

Typically, the very best deep discounts occur early in the morning.  There are usually a very limited number of the deep discount items on hand and once they are sold out, there are no more.  So, if you see a REALLY sweet deal that you just HAVE to have.. consider camping out in front of the store (WHAT?  Bobbi, are you CRAZY?) or grabbing some Starbucks and standing in line a couple of hours before the store opens (usually around 6:00 am).

I spoke to the Manager of our local Staples to get his view on how Black Friday usually rolls out. He told me that normally, when he gets to the store, one hour before the opening, there are already at least 25 people in line.  That gives you an idea.  He also told me that for the best sale item for the Black Friday Sale - a very low priced laptop - he had only 6 in stock to be sold.  So, you do the math.

Alright, all you bargain shoppers... ready, set, bargain hunt!

Friday, November 21, 2008

Free Dr. Pepper for everyone in America - November 23rd, 2008

Direct from the Associated Press - LOS ANGELES – Dr Pepper is making good on its promise of free soda now that the release of  Guns N' Roses' "Chinese Democracy" is a reality. The soft-drink maker said in March that it would give a free soda to everyone in America if the album dropped in 2008. "Chinese
Democracy," infamously delayed since recording began in 1994, goes on sale Sunday.

"We never thought this day would come," Tony Jacobs, Dr Pepper's vice president of
marketing, said in a statement. "But now that it's here, all we can say is: The Dr Pepper's on
us."

Beginning Sunday (November 23rd) at 12:01 a.m., coupons for a free 20-ounce soda will be available for 24
hours on Dr Pepper's Web site. They'll be honored until Feb. 28. Dr Pepper is owned by Dr Pepper Snapple Group, Inc.

So.... this means... YES... they WILL make good on their promise, but you have to grab your coupon within the 24 hour period.  Mark your calendars, set your alarms so you don't forget to go to drpepper.com on Sunday, November 23rd, 2008 and grab your coupon for a free Pepper.

Monday, November 3, 2008

Create a Compact Calendar

 A compact calendar?  What the heck is that?  A helpful little calendar that you can tape to the side of your monitor or other convenient spot so that you very easily check on dates.  Yes, I know... THAT is what a calendar is, Bobbi.  But this little strip of paper taped to the side of my monitor has just been very useful.

My 2008 calendar was designed by David Seah and was meant to help you track projects over time.  You can read more about the original calendar here.

Now, Yoshiomi Kurisu has created an Online Compact Calendar Generator based on the David's original design.  Pretty slick.  You can make a calendar up to 2020 with the Holidays indicated.

Playing with Yoshiomi Kurisu's site is fun... I do like David Seah's version better.  He has expanded his calendar templates to include many countries - perhaps even yours.

So, toss out your cute little kitten calendar and get yourself a nifty compact calendar.

Sunday, November 2, 2008

Keep Rocking: 30+ Sites for Free Legal Music

I'm kind of backward when it comes to music. I am especially backward when it comes to listening to digital music. So, when my daughter decided that she HAD to finally (please, mommy, please, please, please, I am tired of living in the dark ages) get an MP3 player... I had to figure out how to legally get music for the darn thing without it costing a fortune.

Thankfully, someone else has already done the work for me and I am passing this on to you.

Happy listening.