The title’s a line from a Friends episode which i really like. I miss the carefree days, when i could watch like 10 episodes a day on DVD. Now it seems like i’m going to be routinely happy in the day and a myriad of emotions at night.

That’s why i’ve been procrastinating for so long. My huge opening of this blog’s supposed to be like, really magnificent but i’m just finding it hard being coherent at night nowadays. So I’ll do it now. The Singaporean version of twilight.

The past few days were full of well wishers and fun with the gang. I really really missed playing Mahjong! But Cass wasn’t there so we had to do 3 player which i hate because i always finish my own wall first and i have to stretch to make the extra wall. And it just doesn’t feel right without all of us! But yeah, New Year’s Eve plans made, they shan’t escape now!

Wednesday was a day of Firsts for me.

First time speaking to Matt, Guowei-style (lmao)

And etc. I feel like a criminal entering the world again after a long term in prison. 

I spent Thursday cleaning my room and i really really wanna show you all what i dug up because it’s so approriate for this Starting Anew thing:

It was some sort of workout tying these stacks of papers and books up with raffia and bringing them downstairs. But the whole accomplished thing was there. BUT i’m not even done with JC stuff. My Dad saw them and went, Oh My God! you studied so much ah?

Hahaha Highlight of this post is…. Yesterday!

It was soooo cool, i spent most of the day at the salon getting this done:

Pardon the vacant expression. I have very little experience in taking self-shots. REALLY. gosh i hate it when people whom i’m not so close to, like Z., say stuff like, ‘Xinying, i know you like to camwhore.’ Double-U-Tee-Eff.

Cass has my full body shot and only when i got home did i realise how much my clothes looked like some Korean girl’s. Coz of the balloon sleeves! and O.L. skirt. and pumps. Aaaah i dno luh go see Cass’s blog (if she posted it) and review it yourself!

But Omg i felt so grown up and cool! Even if it was just for a day. i’d originally gone to the salon for a haircut and highlights session but i couldnt resist asking Michelle (the nice helper) blow dry my hair into waves. Cool change huh! If i had the skills and proper hair texture i’d make it permanent.

I promised to show how i kept my Online loots in my previous blog, so here it is!

I bet you’re thinking, wth is this weird box with that cheena looking device? Its actually my laptop cooler which my Dad had bought from (where else?) China. But that’s not the point!

Wahahahahaha:

All still in bag for preservation of it’s original quality because washing and stuffing into my drawers is such bad treatment. Gonna have fun unpacking and dressing up

I am still gonna shop online because 1. it’s so much fun and 2. it’s convenient and 3. why shop outside when you have great brands like Bonito Chico? BC’s hiring and i sooooo want a job working with them but it seems so hard-to-get! and if i applied i would be up against those people way past their A levels or Diplomas and probably have already had their first jobs. But it really really suits me given the immense amount of time i spend online and my love of organisation! Aaaah. See if i ever get the courage to type up sthg and send it to them luh.

Now for reminiscing..

I find that the A levels had not been as huge a deal to me as it was to so many others. There was no MOOD to study on any day i remember. i didn’t have the so-called Pia stage and i must confess that i really really believe that i’m not going to do as well as i probably appear to. It’s like, i spent alot of time trying to distract myself from a particular emotion by shopping online and staying away from a period of study longer than 2 hours. I had this feeling that all that we needed was probably already in our heads and that like, we could just, go ahead yeah? But of course we still needed that refresher thingy.

The A levels revealed to me, the most, how people could change tremendously within a span of what, 2 months? I saw the people too weak and cowardly to face the challenges in the future, i saw the people who ignored others’ wishes and prated on about their own, i saw the people who truly truly cared how others were doing and tried their best to make up for blanks. For the latter, i thank Naomi and Surong who’ve been great confidantes.

I think Surong’s probably the only person who knows me better than i know myself, and Naomi’s (like what Mr Ali said) like my teddy bear who’s always ready for a hug and a ranting session. i love them both!

I also began a Meteor Garden II roll, which was okay for my studies because i already knew it so well and i could do work with it in the background.

Here’s my favourite scene from it! True Friendship. Especially Lei’s recording at the end.

Ahhh, After 4 years of blogging on the same ground, this change feels good and manageable. I’m going to let xy-choo stay open for a week or so, for my fans (HAHA) to read my old posts and reminisce. Then i’m going to close it and those memories will be mine alone! Lol. Yup so, if you did like the way i blogged in the past, just take the chance to read it now because you won’t be able to read it again!

So arrogant of me but whatever luh.

_______________________________________________________

My review of WordPress: So far the attached captions on the photos look really turn-off. They throw off the proportions for all words! I’m warned.

There’s this thing where i can put Twitter updates in the column on the side but aiya i don’t think i’m cool enough for Twitter. HAHA

And i can’t upload multiple photos at once. But i guess it’s alright..

And so….. WELCOME TO MY NEW BLOG!!!!! and Happy birthday VERA!! Leave comments please!!! And those people i’ve not linked, it’s not that i’m de-friending you but like most of you have either changed address or have been on such a long hiatus that i dno if the address is correct anymore. So just ask me to relink!

Deutscher Paketdienst

Das Wichtigste im Versandgeschäft ist und bleibt die Versanddauer. Gerade in der Weihnachtszeit spielt es für die Kunden eine wesentliche Rolle, dass die bestellte Ware auch rechtzeitig beim Kunden eintrifft. Da wir von Beers n Bears bisher die besten Erfahrungen mit dem Versender DPD gemacht haben, werden wir die Zusammenarbeit mit diesem Versand-Spezialisten weiter ausbauen. Wenn Sie mehr über DPD erfahren wollen, dann klicken Sie hier.

WAGW RECESSIONISTA FILES

Make the most out of your wardrobe by using a few basic pieces to create a whole new look!

PLACE YOUR ORDERS HERE

Model: Ienne Estuart
Hair and Make Up: Pops Capul
Photography: Jackkaye Photography
Remember; buy it before it’s gone!

Happy shopping!
WAGW Team

p.s.

If you have any questions, check out our TERMS AND CONDITIONS

Mini Collection Of Dollies, Ribbons
and the Little Wooden Horse
by Queenbels

Mini Collection of Dollies, Ribbons and the Little Wooden Horse

Dollies Knit Cardigan

Dollies Knit Cardigan

Dollies Knit Cardigan_close up of Dollies

Dollies Knit Cardigan_close up of Fine knit

Dollies Knit Cardigan_close up of smocked wrist

Dollies Knit Cardigan_complimentary little wooden horse

Close up of Little Wooden Horse

Specially imported by Queenbels!

INCLUSIVE of Non registered Local mail
Registered Local mail – SGD2.24 per package

Ribbons Knit Cardigan

Ribbons Knit Cardigan in Off White

Ribbons Knit Cardigan in Off White_left view

Ribbons Knit Cardigan in Off White_close up of smocked hem

Ribbons Knit Cardigan in Off White_close up of smocked wrist

Ribbons Knit Cardigan in Baby Pink

Ribbons Knit Cardigan in Baby Pink_close up of smocked wrist

Ribbons Knit Cardigan in Baby Pink_close up of smocked hem

Specially imported by Queenbels!

A very cheery and ribbonz number!
Made of Premium Quality thin knit
Unique delicate sewed on cheery ribbon
Smocking at the wrist and hem adds definition
Completed with pearl finished buttons
Adequately keeps you insulated from the cold rainy season
Suitable for wear in office or with your favorite demin

INCLUSIVE of Non registered Local mail
Registered Local mail – SGD2.24 per package

Working with Moxsie has been a dream, but I need to get a strait jacket for my wallet. In honor of not touching my credit card on Black Friday, here’s a roundup of what I want to round out my wardrobe.

FYI: Our Thanksgiving discount offer is good through Tuesday! Discount code “THANKSGIVING” will get you 15% off on your purchase! I’d like to point out that a portion of the proceeds go to the Moxsie charity of your choice, and this is actually how Moxsie runs all the time, not just a holiday special.

I present: the Necklush, Hellz Bellz Straight to Hellz jacket, Dimepiece Fish Net hoodie, Dimepiece Napoleon vest, Hellz Bellz Taxi jeans, Dimepiece Tiger Mesh jodhpurs, and Heyday Super Shift sneaks.

Do you have disc golf gear on your Christmas shopping list this holiday season?? If so please stop by our family friendly disc shop. Disc Golf Pro Store is offering extended holiday store hours. We will be open on Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 11am-5pm starting on 11-27-09 thru 12-20-09. We are located in Garland at Jupiter and Kingsley inside Vikon Bazzar. You can even call us for a special appointment Monday-Thursday if you cant make it on the weekends. Also, be sure to find us on Google to print out special holiday coupons. Happy Holiday’s from www.DiscGolfProStore.com

Do you have disc golf gear on your Christmas wish list this year?? If you answered yes, then you have to stop by our family friendly disc shop. Disc Golf Pro Store is offering extended holiday hours. We will be open on Friday, Saturday and Sunday starting 11-27-09 thru 12-20-09. Our hours will be 11am-5pm on all 3 days.  We are located in Garland at Jupiter and Kingsley inside Vikon Bazzar. As always you can also call us for a special appointment on Monday thru Thursday. Be sure to find us on Google for special discount holiday coupons. Happy Holiday’s from www.DiscGolfProStore.com

It’s that time of year again. The holiday shopping season has shifted into full gear, and so have the economists, analysts and retailers who wring their hands over things like Black Friday sales figures. Or those of its fake, and widely mocked, online counterpart, Cyber Monday (which is far from the busiest shopping day on the web — online sales at Amazon, for example, typically peak in mid-December).

Overall, a modest improvement over last year’s dismal performance is expected. Forrester Research projects an 8 percent rise in holiday sales online, up from the 5 percent growth rate last year. comScore sees growth at 3 percent, all but erasing the 3 percent drop last year. But while online retailers are sure to see stronger sales than their offline rivals, the desperate discounts happening across the board threaten to erode any profits they may have once hoped for this season.

For my money, the best indicator is the average consumer shopping budget. Despite all the hot items for sale, we’re still feeling the pinch of the economic downturn, and as such, budgets are back in vogue. A Gallup poll showed consumers plan to spend an average $638 per household this season, up $22 from last year. But a survey by the National Retail Foundation said they will spend $683 dollars, or a decline of 3.2 percent, following on the heels of an 8 percent drop in spending last year.

Think about that. The NRF — the trade group pushing the annual Cyber Monday charade — expects consumers to spend even less than last year. And with respected analysts publicly predicting a double-dip recession, such caution on the part of consumers is more likely to grow in December than abate.

To that end, retailers are responding the way they did last holiday season — with ultra-steep discounts early on. The price war that Wal-Mart is waging against Amazon may stretch consumers’ dollars, but it’s hell on other retailers, who must either match discounts or risk losing customers. Already, 2009 is shaping up to be a repeat of 2008, when retailers desperately slashed prices to entice wary consumers.

That is undoubtedly worse news for brick-and-mortar stores than it is for online stores, where operating costs are lower. Many big retailers like Wal-Mart and Best Buy are responding by pushing deep discounts on their web sites, but in doing do, they risk cannibalizing sales from their offline stores, while the costs of running those stores remains the same. Which means that even if overall holiday sales figures do increase by a few percentage points, profits at many retailers may decline or be eliminated entirely.

The Black Friday deals tracked on Twitter aren’t just a stream of bargains, they also measure the desperation retailers are already feeling. Gap’s site was offering sweaters at 50 percent off. Betsey Johnson took 40 percent off everything in its online store. Even Apple is getting into the deep-discount spirit.

Discovery-oriented sites like Twitter are helping to spread news about bargains, further boosting the appeal of online shopping among consumers, as Colin noted earlier this week. In Apple’s iTunes store, the second best-selling paid app last week was RedLaser, which scans barcodes and offers instant price comparisons with online sites.

As with last year, there is likely to be one outstanding success story in this bleak retail environment: Amazon. In an environment where penny-pinching consumers are driving down retail profits, Amazon – the master at thriving on razor-thin profit margins – is thriving. Goldman Sachs and Piper Jaffray recently raised their revenue estimates for Amazon, citing a rise in unique users and overall traffic.

As long as the economy remains weak, the progression of the retail industry remains clear: All retailers must become more like Amazon – low prices, tiny margins – or suffer a slow death.

Last week, I encountered a situation that every college student has (or will) at one time or another: I accidentally signed up for a credit card. When the (sneaky) sales girl at Nordstrom asked if I’d like to sign up for a rewards card, I cheerfully yelped, “Sure!” I thought this card MUST be similar to my (now defunct) Blockbuster rewards card, which wasn’t actually used for purchasing, but gave me points to earn free popcorn instead.

I was wrong.

Miss Nordstrom had swindled me into signing up for the real deal. Luckily, I only charged a good $110 to my new card (that’s sarcasm), however, in an effort to ensure that I never get myself into this kind of debt debacle again, I decided to stick to buying from people who understand what it means to be a struggling artist (er, writer, whatevs). So, I turned to the online shopping portal Etsy – my favorite place to spend time (& cash) on the internet.

For those of you who have been living under a rock (or without an internet connection or penchant for online purchasing), here’s some quick Etsy 411:

“Etsy is a website that provides the general public with a way to buy and sell handmade items as well as vintage items and craft supplies.” (Thanks, Wikipedia!) Basically, the site is chock full of handmade/eccentric goodies – from vintage handbags to hand sewn dresses, created by regular people like you (or the craftier version of you). A lot of the designers on Etsy keep it eco-friendly, too, which def gets a thumbs up from me.

But, if you’re a first time Etsy-peruser, it can be a little intimidating. So I’m here to break it down for you & showcase five of my favorite E-fashionistas. I found five sites that not only offer swoon-worthy threads, but are safe for your wallet (or Mom’s Visa bill).

1) Every Little Counts . Okay, okay. Screen-printed tees are a dime a dozen. But I’m a sucker for romance, and I lurrve the creative sayings that adorn these breezy tees & tanks, like “Feel Like Making Love,” “A Violent, Sensual, Sensitive Girl” and “I can’t fight this feeling.” Adorbs.

2) Sandmaiden. Sandmaiden is a little pricey, but the designs are unique and are made from all-natural fibers. Plus the clothes are SO. UNBELIEVABLY.COMFORTABLE. Not kidding. Just check out these little beauties and imagine how wonderful that organic cotton jersey blend would feel draped over your achy bod the morning after a night of heavy drinking. Even better? You’ll be the only girl on campus with one, since most pieces on the site are one -of-a-kind designs.

3) Maiden Rapture Vintage Okay, the goods in this shop aren’t all handmade, but who doesn’t love vintage cardigans, dresses, blazers and accessories? This site makes it easy peezy to find the perfect unique piece from the 50’s, 60’s or 70’s to add to your wardrobe. I’m obsessed with blazers and plaid lately, and I found plenty in this shop. And the prices are totes affordable.

4) Sarah Seven Made from recycled vintage and natural fabrics, Sarah Seven concocts clothes worth coveting (and saving beer money for). The shop offers dresses, skirts and shirts in “vintage-inspired” designs with a modern spin. Each piece is custom designed (you provide your measurements and bra size), so you know you’re getting a perfectly unique, tailored fit every time. Even if you don’t snag yourself a darling dress, the site is totally worth checking out just for the awesome photography. I want to believe that Miss Sarah Seven herself is the girl in the nerdy (yet somehow chic) green glasses, but I think that’s just because I’m sitting here wearing my coke-bottle glasses & feeling lonely. Oh — and 5% of each purchase is donated to charities. Cool.

5) 75Rabbit For the patchouli-applying hippie that exists in every college student, enter 75Rabbit. With “far out” designs & duds made from recycled pre-used fabrics, what’s not to adore? The only catch: The shop lists only one page of items at the moment. But the prices are reasonable & where the hell else are you going to find a flattering and totally unique dress with John Lennon’s face on it?! Nowhere.

I’ve shared some of my faves – now it’s your turn! Where do you shop on Etsy?

Hello all!

If you shop Amazon.com for amazing deals on everything from electronics to potting soil to DVDs and, oh right, books! . . . please use my link

http://www.eva-colo.com/Amazon.html

Click on any Amazon.com logos on the page and you’ll navigate to their site to begin your shopping experience.  It is the real Amazon.com with all of the same pricing and special deals, but they give me a little monetary kick-back for sending them high quality shoppers.

Right now, you will find crazy deals for Black Friday and Cyber Monday.

Let me know if you have any questions!
Thank you so much!

Jan

Charles will once again be offering collectors and fans of his illustration work a Christmas holiday special.  This year, the special will include a free print of your choice.  In addition, the artist will include a free limited edition pastel print of the Joseph Horne Co. Christmas tree.  The lighting of the Horne’s Christmas tree has been a long-standing family tradition in the city of Pittsburgh.

The Joseph Horne Co., often referred to simply as Horne’s by Pittsburghers was an iconic regional department store located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.   It was one of the oldest department stores in the country after being founded by Joseph Horne (1826-1891) in 1849.   The department store chain operated for nearly 145 years until it ceased operation in 1994 after it merged with Lazarus, a division of the Federated Dept. Stores, Inc.

Joseph Horne was born in Bedford County, Pennsylvania.  He moved to Pittsburgh where landed his first job in the retail trade with Christian Yeager.   At age of 23, he bought F.H. Eaton store and eventually renamed it the Joseph Horne Co.   It became the leading department store in Pittsburgh, along with Kaufmann’s lasting for generations.   In 1879, a new central location was built at the corner of Penn Avenue and Stanwix Street.   The building was a 7-story landmark and the first department store in the city’s downtown district.   The annual lighting of the Horne’s Christmas Tree at their flagship store was a long held family Christmas tradition.   The Christmas tree display was six stories high and erected on the building’s corner.  Although the store ceased operation, it remains a tradition with Pittsburgh’s annual Light-Up Night festivities.   Crowds would also gather during the Christmas season to view the Christmas display windows, which often were very elaborate and included animated moving characters.

Charles thanks the many people from around the world who have visited his website at http://www.steelcityartist.com  and continue to be wondered by the artist’s incredible artwork.   Charles would like to wish you and your family the blessings for a Merry Christmas and Happy Holiday.

I love a bargain just as much as the next person, in fact, I have a hard time paying regular price for anything. But somehow the lure of extra special “Black Friday” deals has never enticed me out of bed at 3 a.m. to go stand in line in front of a store. I do however, LOVE shopping online.
Enter the web mall where you can shop thousands of merchants, AND earn rewards points to use again at the same stores. Kinda like frequent flier miles, except you can use them at any store on the webmall. Pretty cool!  All the same stores I’d be battling  for parking at:  Target, Macy’s, Old Navy, The Gap, WalMart, just to name a  few.

Free shipping?  Yes, please!   Check out our web mall-  create an account for free and you’re on your way to some of the best deals online.  And save yourself some time  to relax with the family–priceless, right?

‘Jockey’ Chelsea Boots, Topshop, £55.

I have been lusting over these lovely little red shoes (to replace my very tired and worn out little red shoes no less) for about 2 1/2 months – IF NOT LONGER! But woe is me, they are NEVER available in a size 3. VERY ANNOYING.

I’ve actually never even seen them in stores, they probably sold out very quickly I imagine. If you ever see them in a local (London) store or online in  UK 3 (EU 36) please do let me know as I will be all over them like fuzz on a peach! TA!

Cx

There are tons of sales happening right now, as you may very well know.  Let’s get down to the nitty gritty…  Who is this Encarnacion?

Oops, my bad: good movie (Nacho Libre), wrong timing.

Here are some of my fave sales happening so far:

DSW’s $20 off sale and $29.95 boots

Express.com has a 25% off Everything sale

Kenneth Cole’s 41% off Black Friday Sale

Gap’s 50% off Sweaters sale

Armani Exchange’s $50 off every $150 purchase in-store or online

Nordstrom.com free shipping on orders of $100 or more (use HOLIDAY09 code)

Saks.com free shipping with HOLIDAY9 code AND 60% off Thanksgiving sale

Steve Madden: 30% off entire order plus Free Standard Shipping with code MADDEN30 at checkout! (Expires 12/7).  15% off orders of $50 or more plus Free Shipping! Use code SHOPIT15N at checkout.

I’m sure there are more happening, but you get the drift.  Enjoy the sales!

With “Cyber Monday” approaching and online shopping expected to be more popular than ever this holiday season, shopping search engine Sortprice.com has compiled the “9 for ‘09” Tip Sheet that every shopper should follow to ensure a successful shopping experience as they comb the internet for gifts this year:

#1 Use Multiple Sources: Take advantage of all the resources on the internet including Comparison Shopping Engines and Customer Reviews on websites.

# 2 Get social: Facebook, Twitter and all your social networking resources are the perfect tools to help you this Holiday Season. You can use the Facebook Application called The Wishlist, to tell everyone what you want and to make sure you don’t get socks and underwear again! Communicate with friends via social networking so you know exactly what everyone on your list is hoping for.

#3 Be Safe:
a) Update your home computer’s anti-virus software and security tools before you start shopping. Make sure your wireless connection is encrypted with a password.

b) Only disclose your personal information—including phone numbers, addresses and financial information—when you are  sure you are on a Certifiably Secure Website.  Look for the https:// before the url, to ensure a secure connection.

c) Update your online passwords or create new ones that are unique and difficult to steal—avoid pet names, birthdays, etc. and incorporate numbers and characters.

d) Use credit cards instead of debit cards—you’ll be better protected from fraud and face less liability in the event of your card number being stolen.

e) If it seems too good to be true, it probably is. Never give out financial or personal information in response to an e-mail from someone you don’t know, and if you feel that something just isn’t right, you can always find the product on a different website!

#4 Check Return Policies Before Buying: Many retailers modify their return and exchange policies for the holidays. Before you buy, make sure you don’t get burned by reading up on the site’s policies.

#5 Check Dates! Most sites have an “order by” date, which tells shoppers when they should order their gifts by for ensured delivery by Chanukah and Christmas. Make sure you order in time!

#6 Keep Order Confirmations: Keep any and all confirmations in case your order needs to be cancelled, modified, returned or exchanged. This will also help you if your items are damaged or if there is a problem with billing.

#7 Get Tracking Codes for Your Packages: This way, you can just look online (depending on what method they are using) and track your package, instead of having to call when that blizzard delays your package by a day. This will also help you in the event that something mysteriously goes missing.

#8 Get the Best Deal (not always the lowest price): Check if there are special deals such as free shipping or discounts if you buy multiple items. Even if an item is slightly more expensive than another site, free shipping may lower the overall cost of your transaction. In addition, you should search for coupon codes for the site you are shopping on to use at checkout!

#9 Don’t Procrastinate: Prices change easily online, and items go out of stock quickly during the holiday season. So order early to ensure all your packages will be under the tree!

The world of online shopping is looking a lot more sophisticated of late, with two major labels heavily investing in their online future.

Alexander McQueen, I’ve heard via AnOther, will be kicking off 2010 with the UK launch of their online store, following a successful launch previously in the US.

The site already features an archive of footage of runway shows and other video content, but I think the store is another step in the right direction, and judging by the US store, it will be extremely well executed.

Roberto Cavalli has also recently branched out into this area, splitting their existing site into the fashion site and the online store. The store accomplishes the feat of being not just aesthetically pleasing but well functioning and intuitive.

I love the scroll function that allows you to browse entire collections rather than breaking it down into pages as most stores do. The thumbnail views of outfits are a decent size, and product pages give all the essential information without appearing cluttered.

These sites are proof that high fashion has a place online just as much as the high street does, and set a great example to other designer labels.

Question Fifteen

This week our assignment is about web personalisation. We have to take a stand on personalisation and decide whether we are for it or against it. We have to explain our decision and provide evidence to back up our opinion. We have to use our own arguments and thinking and illustrate our points with images and examples and links to websites showing good and/or bad practice.

Web personalisation is a strategy and marketing tool. It is the process of tailoring the presentation of a website’s content to match a specific user’s instructions or preferences. This custom tailoring is accomplished either by the user choosing from a menu of available alternatives or by tracking his or her behaviour (such as which pages the user has accessed and how often) on the website.

Web personalisation models include collaborative filtering. This shows relevant material to customers by combining their own personal preferences with the preferences of like minded others. Collaborative filtering works well for books, music and DVD’s etc, this would therefore work well for my e-commerce business Play.com.

Both of the websites Play.com and Amazon.co.uk use personalisation. They recommend products to shoppers on their sites based on their previous purchases. Amazon makes extensive use of collaborative filtering in its personalisation technology. This can be seen in the screenshot below. When a customer purchases a product from Amazon they will recommend products that other people with similar interests bought.

The next screenshot shows another example of web personalisation. It shows that when you visit Amazon’s website it says “Sign in to get personalised recommendations”, so as soon as the customer has signed in they will be provided with recommended products.

After researching about web personalisation I personally believe that it is a good idea and a very useful tool. There are several advantages with a company using personalisation on their website.

• It tailors the website to the customer’s interests, this can therefore help increase sales for the company.
• Recommends products that customer may be interested in but not know about. For example if a customer bought a CD by a certain artist, the website could recommend another CD by the same artist or a different but similar artist.
• Saves time for the customer. It eliminates repetitive tasks and remembers transaction details. This will help encourage customers to return to the website for more purchases by making the transaction as easy for them as possible.

Don’t fancy shopping in the miserable rain?  Fed up with the hustle and bustle on the high street?  Well don’t worry.  There’s still plenty of time to purchase all your Christmas gifts online.   Armchair shopping has got to be the least stressful method of shopping, so go on – pour yourself a ‘hot toddy‘ and relax in front of your computer.  Feeling better now?

I’ve purchased all my Christmas gifts online this year and most have been the ‘vintage‘ variety.  If you want to give a unique gift this year, buy vintage!  It’s all the rage darling!

Love Vintage - A Christmas gift from my husband!

I’ve bought a range of goodies including vintage scarves, cuff links, jewellery and a couple of special treats for myself.  My husband has bought me the book, Love Vintage, by fellow Vintage Fashion Guild member Nicole Jenkins of Circa Vintage Clothing.  Nicole’s based in Melbourne but I secured myself a copy of this spectacular book online, and so can you!  Just click here for information on how to buy.

Why not join my Facebook Page?  Fans hear first about promotions and special offers.  Order from my Etsy boutique BEFORE the last day of posting for Christmas and receive FREE WORLDWIDE SHIPPING.  You must be a facebook fan to qualify.  Please contact me via my Etsy boutique and confirm which items you’d like to purchase.  I’ll reserve them for you and remove the shipping charge.  Simple!

Below I’ve shown a handful of party attire now available from my Etsy boutique.  There’s nothing like black and gold to make a dramatic statement and get you in the festive mood!

For anyone that’s not used Etsy before, signing up is free and very simple.  Non UK residents must pay Catwalk Creative Vintage by PayPal.  You don’t need a PayPal account to pay by this method but you do need a valid debit or credit card.  It’s fast, safe and secure.   Click here for information on how to pay on Etsy.

1970's Brocade Jacket by Vera Mont and Black Cocktail Dress by Melbray of London

1980's Sequin Dress by Rina Z and 1970's Gold Satin Brocade Dress with Rhinestone Buttons

THERE’S STILL PLENTY OF TIME TO SHOP ONLINE FOR CHRISTMAS 2009!!!

Last Posting Dates for International Airmail from the UK:

Friday 4th December: South America, New Zealand and Australia.
Thursday 10th December: Japan, USA, Canada and Eastern Europe.
Friday 11th December: Western Europe.

UK Last Posting Dates:

Second Class: Friday 18th December 2009.
First Class: Monday 21st December 2009.
Special Delivery: Wednesday 23rd December 2009

At the beginning of my cloth-diapering journey, I decided on using Drybees Pocket Diapers and searched for retailers in Singapore and Malaysia. Babe Hause offered an attractive Newborn Package, which I took up and became its customer. Since that first purchase, I have made many more orders at Babe Hause and referred a few good friends who also became happy cloth-diapering mothers.

I love shopping at Babe Hause (owned by Abby) for many reasons. There is a huge array of pocket diapers, inserts and diapering accessories to choose from. This was where I built my stash of Drybees, Happy Heinys, Knickernappies, LoopyDos, various inserts and where I bought Drybees AIO Hybrids as baby shower gifts to introduce new mums to cloth diapers.

Then one day, I got hooked to shopping for the personal care products available too and bought the heavenly-smelling Burt’s Bees shampoo and conditioner. With a fussy baby to look after, the convenience of online shopping and goods delivered to the door-step was simply irresistible!

Pros:

• Wide range of pocket diapers, diapering accessories and personal care products
• Honest retailer
• Efficient delivery
• Low shipping costs

Cons:

• For cloth diapers: only pocket diapers  available (I hope fitted diapers will be offered in future.)
• Inventory may not be updated online (Tip: email Abby directly to check stocks availability)

i was really supposed to go to office today to work on my project, but i decided to stay home n do some online shoppin. n then i spotted this watch on asos.com:

yup. u’re right. the brand IS cheapo. hahaha. thot tt was really crappy. the cheapo watch indeed looks pretty cheapo, but i thot e brand name was cheesier.

** and then 5 min after i posted this entry, i saw this:

seksy (sexy) watch.

wahaha. trashy leh.

—

You won’t find me out packing the parking lots today. Oh hell no. I can think of any number of other activities I’d rather be doing instead of participating in the Black Friday madness. (Send a prayer to my brother and father who both work retail and are both working today.) A few years ago, my mother came out to vist and we tried Black Friday on for size. It was awful. The crowds, waiting, pushing, shoving, and all sorts of displays of outrageous human behavior. Never again. It was not for the weak of heart.

I’d much rather be at home, sipping a nice drink, cuddling with baby and playing on the computer. Ahhh…its a welcome Friday day off.

Good luck to everyone that is going out. Be safe! And believe me, that tv, toy or game isn’t worth fighting over! Cyber Monday is probably more my speed.

I know we’ve seen these before, but the latest version seems more interesting; although having said that despite the media coverage it doesn’t actually appear to be live just yet – maybe a case of the PR release going out a little too soon.

Going under the name NearLondon, a new web site will offer a virtual shopping trip around central London, apparently consisting of Oxford Street, Bond Street and Regent Street in a slimmed down SecondLife style.

It appears that a number of major retailers have signed up to NearLondon already, which will allow browsing ahead of any real visits to London, as well as actual purchases to be made online. Interestingly, there is some talk in the media of replacing the traiditonal shop layout with more interesting interfaces: catwalks for fashion and stadiums for sports.

Wer die an sich ja recht segensreichen Dienstleistungen des Versandhandels des öfteren in Anspruch nimmt, kennt es: Die Freude, die der Zettel auslöst, dass man sein Paket beim nächstgelegenen Depot abholen könne (geliefert wird ja prinzipiel nir, wenn man zu Hause ist), weicht schierem Entsetzen, wenn man die Verpackung sieht, die nur noch mäßig intakt war.

Der üblichen Ausrede (“das war schon so”) hat man wenig entgegenzusetzen – wie will man den Schuldigen finden? Zum  Beispiel mit Hilfe von SenseAware.

Das ist ein unauffälliges kleines Gerät, das ins Pakte mit eingelegt wird, und in Echtzeit vermeldet, wie der Lieferung tatsächlich mitgespielt wird. Dank Accelerometer, GPS, Lichtsensor und Sender gelangt die furchtbare Wahrheit schnell und unbarmherzig in die Hände aller an der Sicherheit der Sendung Interessierten.

Der Dienst, der einstweilen nur in den USA für 120 Dollar im Monat zu haben ist, ist vor allem für die Medizin gedacht (das Lebertransplantat möchte man ja weder geschüttelt noch gerührt); hoffen wir mal, dass es das bald auch in billiger und bei uns gibt [dieter]

[via OhGizmo!]

Well we’ve survived another Thanksgiving, this year.  While the rest of the family was all snug in their beds, I was still wound up and wide awake when midnight rolled around.  I decided to venture out into the scary world that is known as Black Friday.  I thought to myself, I live in a small town there shouldn’t be too many people out… right?  WRONG!  Boy did I get a wake up call.  Not only was our Walgreens not open (is ours the only non 24 hour walgreens?), but Toys R Us was like insane.  I drove around and around in the parking lot, which was packed to the brim to find a spot.  I finally found one about 1 block away, parked and started the hike up to the store.  I swear the entire town was packed into that TRU.  When I walked in, there was a line of people waiting to check out, that line wrapped from the door all the way to the back of the store and then around again to the front.  The wait was more than 1.5 hours just to check out!  I couldn’t believe it.  I couldn’t even get through anyone to be able to shop.  I somehow made my way back out of the store, but not before getting practically run down by two people with shopping carts.

Before I went to TRU I had looked at their ad, and there really was nothing so terribly exciting that everyone was packed in there so bad!  Most all of the advertised items could still be had online via their website, or amazon and even walmart.  It is so not worth it to save a nickel and dime and have to fight those crowds.

If it was this bad here, I hate to think of what it’s like in a City atmosphere.   I learned my lesson and won’t be venturing out later today either.  I’ll enjoy shopping in my pajamas without the headache!

Take my poll and share what you’re doing this Black Friday: