Get Creative With Deliveries: Tip-of-the-Day #295

Yesterday a colleague asked me how she could get a case of wine delivered to the office by Friday. I suggested calling a few local wine shops (K&L and JJ Buckley) but then my mind started working outside of the obvious constraints....

I reminded her that TaskRabbit is great at simple tasks like pickups and dropoffs. In fact, not too long ago I had TaskRabbit send someone to pick up a BBQ I had purchased on Craigslist and deliver it to my sister's place in Marin. For $40 I saved myself the trip and a mess in my car.

TaskRabbit could easily pick up the wine and drop it off at the office. It wouldn't be very expensive and ironically, I had JUST received an email from TaskRabbit offering $15 off my next task with code HOLIDAY2013.

I also ran through the other delivery options in the area, including Google Shopping Express and new Amazon Fresh. Plus, I'd just learned about yet another delivery service called Lassoit, offering great looking cheese, meats, wines and gift baskets and all delivered free in/around SF. There's a 50% off offer on Gilt City right now that I just took advantage of. Woot!

She ended up going through Amazon Fresh because they pick up wine right from the wine shop in the SF Ferry Building (minutes from the office) and deliver for free - she signed up for the 30-day free trial mentioned two blog posts ago.

Need a last minute gift? There's ALWAYS a way to get it. :)

Create a Gift Cupboard: Tip-of-the-Day #294

I have found that the best way to prepare for holiday gift giving is to already have a surplus of gifts saved in a "gift cupboard" and earmarked for specific recipients. That way you aren't pressured to buy everything all at once (putting a serious hurt on your pocketbook) and you aren't stressed to find the perfect gift for that hard-to-shop-for friend or family member.

What I do is keep my eyes peeled year round for smart or creative gifts for the people I love most. Then I'm never at a loss come birthday, holiday or gift exchange.

A great time of year to stock up on gifts for the gift cupboard is NOW! The holidays. I've seen some amazing online sales (post Black Friday and Cyber Monday) that I couldn't pass up. One of my favorite sites, Fab.com, has twice offered 50% off of all gifts for four hours at a time. I stocked up on tons of cool stuff which I may or may not give away entirely this Christmas.

It's hard to hang onto something exciting that you really want to give your recipient now, but think about how good it will feel to surprise them with the perfect gift at the right occasion.

Always be on the lookout for great stuff and you'll be surprised how much easier gift giving will become year round.

Save a Trip to the Apple Store: Tip-of-the-Day #293

Sometimes even the savviest computer users screw up and experience that moment of panic. I had one such moment this morning when I inserted a mini disc into my Macbook Pro disk drive thinking somehow that it would read it. No such luck. And worse, the disc wouldn't come out.

I tried everything I knew to do and Googled it right out of the gate. Nothing. I shut down and restarted, pressing the left side of the mouse as one blog instructed, and my Mac responded NOT AT ALL.

The idea that I would have to call my IT department to tell them what I had done was not something I was willing to do. I was even considering taking a trip down to the Apple store for some "Genius" advice. Then, I Googled my situation one. last. time. and lo and behold there was a discussion about using a business card with a piece of tape. It sounded very MacGyver but I was willing to try anything.

I affixed a piece of tape, sticky side down, onto a rigid card and started fishing in my disk drive. The first couple of attempts proved fruitless but on try three, I hit the jackpot. Out came that pesky CD.

The next time you yearn to stick something in a slot that you're fairly certain can't accommodate your item, save the curiosity for the kitchen and bake a fruit cake.

Relief.

New to SF - AmazonFresh: Tip-of-the-Day #292

Amazon has introduced their newest "Prime" membership, which includes free same-day and early morning delivery of more than 500,000 Amazon items, including fresh grocery and local products.

I was sent an email alerting me to the fact that AmazonFresh is now available in the San Francisco area in select zip codes as a free 30-day trial and it includes all the benefits of Prime (free 2-day shipping, streaming movies, etc.)

Here's an overview of what's included:

Free Same-Day & Early Morning Delivery
Free delivery on orders over $35. Place your order by 10am and have it by dinner, or by 10pm and have it by breakfast.

Huge Selection, From Milk to Electronics
More than 500,000 everyday essentials, delivered at the time slot of your choice - from apples to shampoo, to digital cameras.

Local Shops & Restaurants
Amazon will deliver your city faves to your door - from baked goods to ethnic foods to gourmet meals. Order up fresh salmon from San Francisco Fish Company, a tasty apple pie from Three Babes Bakeshop, or a crisp salad from Square Meals.

Time-Saving Tools
Shop anytime, anywhere from their site or the mobile app. Save your lists, see your past purchases, find one-click recipes, and get your shopping done in minutes.

All the Benefits of Prime
As mentioned above, Prime Fresh membership includes unlimited Free Two-Day Shipping on millions of items on Amazon.com, unlimited access to over 41,000 videos and TV episodes, and over 350,000 titles to borrow from the Kindle Owners' Lending Library.

IMHO: This is sounding a lot like eBay Now and Google Shopping Express and I'm not yet sure it's worth the $299 price tag after the trial is up - but it's definitely worth exploring!

Toilet Seat Cover as Tissue Paper: Tip-of-the-Day #291

Intrigued? Grossed out? Marveling at the sheer brilliance of it all? Yeah, me too.

If you're in a pinch for tissue paper and you're wrapping a very special gift - what better substitute than a toilet seat cover?

Toilet seat covers are no different from any other kind of tissue paper on the market, except they may contain a small amount of wax. Generally constructed from 100% white wood pulp paper which is quick-dissolving tissue; all tissue is 100% biodegradable.

The manufacturing process may vary slightly from company to company, and the name will vary according to the marketing of the product, but it's all basically the same thing as what you get from retail stores when they pack shirts or wrap your gift for you. It's all just paper!

So, the next time you're at a restaurant or at the office and you've forgotten that final accent to your otherwise perfect gift bag, grab a seat cover and you'll be covered. :)

Flowers in Varied Vessels: Tip-of-the-Day #290

Sometimes I like to get creative with how I arrange and present flowers. After some trial and error, I've found that the best place for fresh cut flowers is a vessel you might be using for something else.... 

In this picture, I am using my sangria pitcher to hold two bunches of tulips. A glass pitcher is a great way to display something beautiful in a very unique way (also a good place to layer candy or display fruit). 

That said, other unusual and artistic vessels include empty vodka or bourbon bottles because the shape is conducive to long stemmed flowers and you can either leave the label in place or remove it with a spot of windex.

You can also line a bag or satchel with plastic and place fresh flowers in there. Why not get creative and save a few dollars the next time you're in need of a vase? Your only limitation is your own creativity. :)

Affordable Holiday Gift Exchange: Tip-of-the-Day #289


This year the "fun committee" at my office decided that instead of the typical "white elephant" or "secret santa" we'd have a holiday mug exchange.

What I love about this is that it's 1. easy 2. inexpensive 3. useful! Because who doesn't need a mug around the office?

I know that another option is to put a max spend on general gift exchanges, but having a theme takes the brainwork out of the equation. No more wondering if you should buy the "as seen on TV talking parrot" or something classier.

Our instructions were simply to get as silly or serious as we like - the mug can be a holiday mug, or not!

Clearly I went with the holiday theme and my mug happens to come with candy. Bonus!

Next time you need a quick gift exchange idea, consider mugs. Or, something else that everyone uses and is always useful....Toothbrushes! Scented candle! You get the idea....

Single Servings Save Time & Money: Tip-of-the-Day #288

Single servings are the name of the game. Why make more of something than you're going to consume, right? Today's single serving tip is about coffee. Specifically, the nifty single serving coffee maker, known as the Melitta

Most of us only have time for one quick cup of Joe before rushing out of the house to work each morning. So why make a whole pot when 80% of it will go to waste? And, why suffer through a Starbucks Via single serving packet when you can choose your favorite beans to start your day off right? With the Melitta, all you need are some #4 coffee filters, your favorite ground beans, a mug, and access to hot water. 

It's not complicated in the least - in fact my conference call this morning was running about two minutes behind and that was plenty of time for me to whip up a cup, from prep to pour. 

You only need a couple of tablespoons to make yourself a good steaming cup - and you'll be amazed how much longer your pound of coffee lasts when you're using it sparingly. Note: I use one filter and 2-3 tablespoons of coffee for myself and a cup for my bf. Meaning, you can easily make more than one cup per setup. 

I strongly encourage you to buy one and experience the difference for yourself. I have the porcelain variety, but there's a plastic version too that's only $5.

Beautiful, Disposable Table Runners: Tip-of-the-Day #287

A friend of mine turned me onto the idea of using gift wrap as a holiday table runner. She picked up a roll of heavy weight craft paper with vintage images of knives, forks and spoons on it for the table decor at a recent dinner party. It was great looking and the best part is that when we spilled all over it (that's how we roll) she could just throw it away and not worry about a dry cleaning bill. 

I picked up a roll of the "French Farmhouse" for myself, but I also got this gold chevron pattern (pictured) as a nice complement to the gold ornaments on the tree (sitting just behind this table out of view).

For $8, you too can buy 6 feet of durable paper - to be used as wrapping paper, cut into place mats, or as illustrated here, a fun and festive runner. 

Check out OurVintageBliss on Etsy to get yourself one of the patterns described. Or, get creative and make your own runner with butcher block/craft paper. You can buy it in giant rolls - my office bought some to decorate the massive glass windows of one of our conference rooms at Halloween. Find it on Amazon - and if you're a prime member, it ships for free. :)

Netflix Over OnDemand: Tip-of-the-Day #286

Netflix just paid for itself for the next two years. Here's why. A couple of weeks ago I decided I wanted to see what all the fuss was about when it came to the successful, yet recently discontinued series, Breaking Bad. My first instinct was to look for it through OnDemand, Comcast Xfinity's pay-as-you-go access to prime content. Listed at $1.99 an episode, I was annoyed that I had to pay up (especially when I subscribe to all the premium channels) but I bought an episode to check it out.

Quickly realizing (47 mins later) that this was to be my new obsession, I crossed my fingers and toes that I'd find it on Netflix. Lo and behold, there it was, all five seasons INCLUDED in my streaming subscription. There are 62 episodes of Breaking Bad over the life of the series, multiply that by approximately $2 a show, and and I would have been looking at paying out $124 through Comcast! And that's on top of my monthly $200+ bill. Oy.

Before renting any movie or TV show through OnDemand, always scope out Netflix or Amazon Prime. I subscribe to both, so this is as much a reminder for me as it is for the rest of you folks.

Watch on!

Buy Travel Insurance: Tip-of-the-Day #285

I have never been one to buy into travel insurance. In fact, most people I've talked to about it believe it to be a complete rip off--similar in nature to buying car rental insurance or the extended warranty on electronics. I was of the belief that if push came to shove, the credit card I used for the transaction would cover me in case of emergency. But here's the rub, folks, "emergencies" aren't universally recognized in the same way. My emergency may be very different from my credit card legal team's version of an emergency, AND if you read all of the fine print, your trip may be insured if you meet the criteria but only up to, say, $1500.

So, I'm updating my thinking given a recent experience I had in which I had to cancel a trip at the last minute due to illness. It was much tougher than I thought to get my money back. And, I didn't actually end up getting my money back (because I didn't buy the insurance), I got a credit for future travel. LUCKILY. I very well could have been out the money altogether.

Travel insurance isn't all that expensive. And yet when booking a trip, if you're anything like me, you likely think to yourself "there's NO WAY I'm not going to take this trip"... but things come up. That's just life. So here are some options.

1. If you're booking your plans on the internet and using a site like Expedia or Travelocity or Kayak, the insurance will come up as an added option before checkout. Strongly consider buying it. It's often as little as $39 pp and for peace of mind, I now think it's worth it.

2. If you missed the boat on buying it up front when you were making your plans, explore sites like TravelGuard, Allianz and Travelex. You can add the insurance on, after the fact.

3. Check with your American Express card. Amex is known to be fairly robust when it comes to included services. When I book travel with my Amex Gold I automatically get charged a fee of $9.99 that is supposed to cover the unexpected. Unfortunately I didn't use my Amex on this last trip and so I was unable to explore that option.

The older I get, the more inclined I am to practice the old adage "better safe than sorry." Note: if you have to learn it the hard way take comfort in the fact that it's good preparation for the next time around.

Go Ahead, Make Your Kids' Day: Tip-of-the-Day #284

My friend Jen has two (adorable) kids, Finn and Camille. They both love the typical toys created for their gender and age. Finn, age seven, has a true love of Legos. Whenever I spend time with him he tells me all about his (new) favorite set. I recently asked if he had his eye on something special for Christmas and after disclosing his first choice, I quickly Googled it to see what it might run his mom. That box of Legos which may keep him entertained for a month (or two) at best is $100! There's no way most people can indulge their kids' whims especially when it comes with that price tag. Even "Aunt Carrie" couldn't pony up for that one. So I kept my eyes open for Lego promotions on the internet.

That's when I discovered Pleygo. Known as the "Netflix" for Lego sets, kids can choose from 100s of the most popular ones - from Batman to Harry Potter to Star Wars and Chima and Friends.

How it works:
1. Sign up
2. Create a wish list
3. Get your Legos in the mail, play with them and then return them when you're ready using the pre-paid shipping label

Now I'm not a mom, but the kinds of questions I'd have are along the lines of "Are they cleaned after use?" and "What happens if my kid loses a piece?"

I was downright giddy (exaggeration for the sake of a good story) for all the moms out there when I read that each set is cleaned and sanitized after use and there's no charge if pieces go missing!

You can exchange Lego sets as often as you like -- there's no limit to the number of sets you can exchange per month and how long you can keep them. Like Netflix, it takes between 2-3 days to get a new set depending on the USPS delivery schedule in your area.

And, if your child loves the set and wants to keep it, you can easily purchase it from the My Account page. You're charged a discounted price from the retail price of the set and will get the next rental set in your Wish List right after your purchase.

The website is currently offering a FREE 30-day trial and then it moves to a subscription service of $25/mo. I found a deal on Plum District offering two months for just $15.

Jen was pretty excited when I shared this find with her and I'll bet there are a few more moms out there that will feel the same way. :)

A New Way to Wash Your Duds: Tip-of-the-Day #283

I just discovered Washio, a "green" laundry service that sends laundry ninjas to your door to pick up your dirties and return them to you cleaned and folded in 24 hours. And, all for the same price as your local dry cleaner. Sound too good to be true? Read on.

Similar to the grocery delivery model, you choose a 30-minute window when you'd like your ninja to arrive. You may include any special handling instructions in the "notes" section of your order (all of this can be managed from the comfort of your iPhone or Android). And, for a mere $1.60 per pound for wash and fold, you can get your heaping 20 lb. soiled sack washed and folded with non-toxic, scent free detergent for only $32 (there's only a $20 minimum, fyi). And, tipping is totally unnecessary.

Washio launched in Los Angeles and is now available in San Francisco. Just enter your zip code during the set up process to find out if your home is in their service area. Note: my home address was outside of the zone but my office address is a-ok, so I'm using that.

Wanna save $10 on your first order? Use coupon code: CarrieGives10

Bonus Employment Opp:

Interested in becoming a ninja? You'll earn $18/hr! Here are the deets:

  • Punctual, responsible, smart and friendly.
  • Own your own vehicle (4-door and year 2000 or newer) and proof of registration.
  • Have a valid California drivers license, current insurance, clean driving record.
  • Own an iPhone or Android phone.


Make Your Own Cards: Tip-of-the-Day #282

There's never a better time than the holidays to get in the swing of making your own cards. I've been making mine for years--why pay someone else for a picture of a cute cat under the mistletoe when you can snap that shot yourself? Sites like Snapfish and Shutterfly will develop prints of your favorite pic for .09 cents per print and volume delivers price breaks.

When a box of holiday cards can run up to $15 for a set of 10 and you have to buy five boxes, you're looking at $75 and you haven't even added postage to that equation.

Here's an idea: create a holiday postcard using your favorite photo and mount it on colorful construction paper! Or, upload your digital file to any site running the best promotional offer (Zazzle is great and always has some special running) and knock out your entire order for half the price of boxed card sets. Plus, postcard stamps are a fraction of the cost of a standard letter or holiday card.

Savings aside, it's so much nicer to receive a custom card in the mail. And, creativity counts! Last year I developed an interactive card with a survey tied to it on the backend. I incented participation with the promise of a sweepstakes. I loved watching friends and family weigh in on whether I'd been "naughty or nice."

Lastly, be sure to sign your cards! I can't tell you how many photo cards I get over the holidays without so much as a signature included. A personal note goes a long way. 

Happy holidays!

Long Live Latisse!: Tip-of-the-Day #281

I started using Latisse, the only FDA approved product designed to lengthen and darken one's eyelashes, about a year ago. Not usually one for products of this kind (side effects include spots in the eye and blindness), a colleague of mine was using it with great success. She literally walked in the office one day with eyes that resembled a new born doe. Long, lustrous, eye framing lashes that would make Kim Kardashian jealous. When I found out that she was using Latisse, a prescription product that I could easily get my hands on courtesy of my bf's parents (both docs), I was sold.

After a couple of months of use, I too had eye catching lashes. People noticed. And, asked about it. I wasn't witnessing any side effects and was recognizing the full benefit of the product. Success!

Here's the only drawback. In my experience the little vial (pictured above) doesn't come with nearly enough applicators. I always run out much sooner than I run out of solution. Add to that, my ophthalmologist told me that she too uses the product and you can recognize the exact same benefit if you use it every other night versus every night. That just doubled the life of my bottle! (And, by bottle, it's the size of a Barbie bottle).

So, here's what I did. I went to Walgreen's and found some one-time-use "flocked applicators" probably designed for lipstick or eyeshadow or something. When I ran out of my Latisse applicators, I started using my new throw-away applicators and it worked! All I needed was a vehicle to carry the solution to my eyelid and this did the trick perfectly.

Now I have a product that lasts two times longer than expected and a set of applicators to help extend the life.

Not saying Latisse is for everyone but if you're already using it, you can use it less often and with alternate applicators and save yourself a nice chunk of change. (It runs around $120 a bottle).

BEST (Proven) Stain Remover: Tip-of-the-Day #280

As seen in other posts, I'm a master at covering, camouflaging and sometimes even removing stains. My stains are largely of the red wine and cat vomit variety. Both, gnarly and nearly impossible to remove. I've tried everything from Shout to Resolve to Wine Away to Nature's Miracle and while some are able to remove the immediate stain, all tend to leave some kind of residue or "circle" of evidence that a stain once lived there. 

Then, I bought a Bissell Steam Vac. I was ready to take serious stain removal into my own hands. And, while the initial out of pocket was high (like $500, high) I decided it was worth it long term because each time I called an expert carpet cleaner to the house it ran us $150. So, three or four cleanings and I'm already in the black.

The biggest reveal was not the miracle of the steam vac, which does remove the stains quite nicely. But, the cleaning agent that arrived WITH my Bissell. Known simply as "Bissell 2X Professional Deep Cleaning Formula" this miracle worker stands on its own. Recently faced with bloody cat vomit (one of my sweet girls has IBD), I was horrified to find it streaming down our beige hallway runner. I was also not inclined to bring out the steam vac which, while effective, is an undertaking. And so instead I filled up a glass with hot water and added just a little bit of the 2X Professional Cleaning Formula, found a kitchen towel that I could sacrifice and went to work on the stain manually. Within moments it was gone. GONE. Too good to be true (it seemed) I backed away from the crime scene and waited for it to dry to see if the "ring of evidence" would appear. It didn't! 

I've since used the cleaning solution on spilled coffee, more cat barf, a smidge of turkey gravy and all to the same result. Pure, perfect, stain-free bliss. Not even a mark of where the accident might have once been.

If you can't afford the steam vac right now, just buy a bottle of the cleaning solution. It will be the best decision you've ever made (er, related to stains).

The Best Boot Shapers are FREE: Tip-of-the-Day #279

For a long time I treated my boots like I do all my other shoes - thrown in a big heap in the closet destined for dust and debilitation. But then my bf built me a shoe closet for Christmas last year and I was given an opportunity to revive my beloved boots and extend their lifetime dramatically. How? With boot shapers! Boot shapers hold the shape of your boot (as if your leg were in it) and eliminates cracks and creasing which over time will kill the leather.

I assumed I'd have to buy a pair of shapers for every pair of boots I own (which generally hovers around a dozen) and they aren't inexpensive. The Container Store sells a pair for $10, so for 12 pairs of boots, that's $120.

Whilst complaining about this cost to a colleague, she (a millennial with vast online shopping and research experience) told me about a little-known trick to accomplishing the same goal. Instead of a rigid plastic shaper, take a sturdy magazine, like a Nordstrom Christmas catalog, roll it, and achieve the exact same benefits - FOR FREE.

I was awed by the idea. It was downright brilliant. And so, I saved myself $120 by doing just that. And, it's the perfect season to employ this tactic because all the retailers are sending out their biggest, beefiest catalogs at the moment and given the deals on boots (Black Friday and Cyber Monday are not be missed) it's a perfect moment for new boots to meet their new friend.

Enjoy!

West Elm Holiday Help: Tip-of-the-Day #278

There's nothing like a little help over the holidays. Especially when it's free design help!

Right now, West Elm is offering holiday design services, gratis, through their Design Lab. I'm picturing elves and Will Farrell in tights...but I digress.

Similar in nature to my earlier blog about Pottery Barn design services, West Elm is able to assist you in measurements, furniture choices, color schemes, holiday table decor, etc. but they are also taking it a step further and promising to help trim your holiday tree, pick the perfect gift for a friend or hostess, or plan your holiday party! And, it seems, it's all... free?? I'm inclined to try this service out so that I can tell you first hand that I had a West Elm Elf over to trim my tree - but....I don't have my tree up just yet.

How about you try it out and let us Smart Women know about your experience! Just make an appt online and have the West Elm designer meet you at your house, at your local West Elm store, or chat with you over the phone for a planning session. If anything, it sounds downright therapeutic.

Gotta love the love this holiday season!

Save $15 On Your Next Uber: Tip-of-the-Day #277

Through 11/28/13, get $15 off your next ride when you pay for your Uber ride with PayPal! 

New to Uber?
Download the Uber app for iPhone or Android, sign up and use your PayPal account as your payment method. The discount will automatically apply to your first ride.

Need to add PayPal to your Uber account?
  • Update your Uber app to the latest version
  • Select “Payment” from the menu in your Uber app
  • Tap “Add Payment”
  • Tap “PayPal” to add your PayPal account
  • Select PayPal as your payment method and take a ride. The discount will apply automatically.
HOLIDAY SMART MARKETING ALERT: Uber is making it easier for you to get your friends and family home safely during the holidays. Throwing a party? Let Uber know. With a few details like expected attendance and event location, they'll ensure they have extra cars waiting to get your dearest home in one piece. 

Like!

Dress Up Your iPhone: Tip-of-the-Day #276

I discovered Casetagram about a year ago - it's a social design service that lets you create custom cases for your mobile devices (iPhone, Android, tablet, etc.) from your Facebook and Instagram pictures.

With more than 10 design templates to choose from and multiple case colors, getting started is as easy as signing into your Instagram or Facebook account, importing your photos and dropping them into your chosen design template (or choosing from hundreds of existing designs that the design team and community have created).

The only barrier to purchase, IMO, has been the price. At $40 a pop, these cases aren't inexpensive. However, I just discovered a few ways to save a few bucks on what I consider the best iPhone case on the market today (I've ordered from Skinit and Vistaprint and can tell you the differences are astonishing).
  1. Casetagram is now offering a monthly plan so that you can switch up your iPhone case as often as your outfits. ;) This deal isn't for everyone obviously, but for those who are constantly taking new photos or like to give personalized gifts, this deal knocks 60% off the normal price, and gives you the opportunity to memorialize photos, twelve times a year.
  2. There is a terrific offer on Gilt right now (available until 12/6/13) to get an iPhone 5s case for just $25, normally $39.95 (or a 5c, 4/4s for just $21). You can also get a $50 credit toward anything on the site for just $30. This is an awesome deal - given I just paid $40 for my case - and, you can buy extras as gifts. I've purchased these cases for myself, my bff, and my sister and as I mentioned above, the quality far exceeds any other I've seen. Even my high tech CEO noticed how "cool" my case is and asked where he could get one. And, I've knocked mine around, had it tumbling in my purse with keys and coins, and out and about with me on just about every adventure I've taken and have endured not so much as a scratch.
  3. Gilt City has been offering a 30% off promo for several months now. USE PROMO CODE 30TURKEY TO TAKE AN EXTRA 30% OFF your already discounted Casetagram case. I just tried it and got two cases for $35, which is less than half the cost of one.

'Tis the season to be merry (and spruce up your iPhone)!

Rewards for Relief Efforts: Tip-of-the-Day #275

Earlier I posted an entry on how to get bonus miles in exchange for unused gift cards. My colleague just forwarded me an email from United Airlines that encourages people to join in helping to support AmeriCares, the American Red Cross and Operation USA in providing aid to those affected by Typhoon Haiyan in exchange for award miles.
  • Receive 250 bonus miles when you donate $50-$99 USD
  • Receive 500 bonus miles when you donate $100-$249 USD
  • Receive 1,000 bonus miles when you donate $250 USD or more
United has committed to awarding up to 5 million total miles to members for contributions made before November 30, 2013, to support this initiative. In addition, the United Airlines Foundation will provide up to $100,000 in total matching donations to these partner organizations.

Here's a great way to do something that will help people who really need the help right now, and you'll be rewarded for your generosity.

Visit this page to donate now.

If you're not interested in getting miles, here's another place to donate and all of the funds go directly to the people:  http://bit.ly/SaveTacloban


Profit Through Referrals: Tip-of-the-Day #274

At least once a week I'll receive an unsolicited email from a recruiter, or "talent agent" as they commonly refer to themselves, looking to fill a position that has nothing to do with my skill set. While I'm generally inclined to ignore it and move on to something more rewarding (shopping), I'm finding that more and more, recruiters are now providing an incentive for me to forward the email to a friend who might prove to be a "better fit."

Today I received an email that promised a $500.00 Visa gift card upon the 121st day of my referrals’ employment. Earlier in the week I was offered an iPad for a referral that gets placed.

And, it's not just external recruiters that make interesting offers around candidate referrals. My company offers $10,000 to anyone that refers a candidate that is consequently hired and remains employed for the requisite 120 days outlined above.

Start looking for these opportunities to help out your friends and professional network (tap LinkedIn for 2nd and 3rd degree contacts if you can't think of anyone right off the top). You'll be helping a friend/colleague find a new gig and you'll benefit from it too!


BONUS! Gift Cards for Miles: Tip-of-the-Day #273 part 2

An email from United Airlines this morning gave me pause. The primary call to action (the offer) is to purchase miles in the next 3 days to receive an extra 30% "bonus miles." If you need miles, that's actually nothing to sneeze at because the cost of miles is downright ridic. But, it's the secondary offer on the page that was more interesting to me: Trade your unused gift cards in for miles. That grabbed my attention because I sit on gift cards all the time and could probably benefit more from the miles than the credit at stores I don't frequent. Let's put this in perspective: buy 2,000 miles (the smallest increment available) on UA.com and it costs $75.25 plus 7.5% excise tax, whatever that means. Trade in a gift card, and receive the following in return:


You'll get more miles by trading in a gift card than if you were to buy the miles outright! (Note: the 30% bonus offer on buying miles directly only kicks in at the 10,000 mile level and you can only get that offer through the link in the email I was sent).

Plus, there's a fairly exhaustive list of acceptable retailers open for trade - from Zappos to UA theaters, to Pottery Barn and Four Seasons hotels!

It's unclear how long this gift card/mileage exchange will be occurring. However, the 30% extra bonus miles on the gift card offer is only good until 11:59 p.m. central time on November 18 (this Monday!). So if you've been waiting to wrangle some extra miles, the time is....NOW.

Buy Beans, Bag a Beverage: Tip-of-the-Day #273

There are two good reasons to buy your coffee beans at Peet's.

1. With every bag of beans, you get a free drink. A pound of French Roast is $14.50 and my medium, non-fat latte costs around $3.50. That right there brings the cost of that pound of beans down to $11!

2. When you buy beans you get to circumvent the long line of people waiting to order espresso drinks. You can march right up to the employee dedicated to beans, and order your bag of coffee and your espresso drink at the same time.

I'm not suggesting you buy a pound of coffee every day to beat the system because that would be A LOT of coffee - but it makes far more sense to buy your beans at Peet's than to pick them up at the supermarket. (My local markets carry Peet's and Starbucks by the pound).

Bonus!: I also got a free drink when I bought my friend a $25 gift card.

The savings are everywhere!

Price Adjustments Pay Off: Tip-of-the-Day #272

When I was in my twenties I was downright vigilant about making sure I got the best deal possible and I would go to just about any length to ensure it. Now, I've become more thoughtful about how I spend my energy and I consider the return on my time and energy investment. For instance, does it make sense for me to drive all the way back to Cost Plus to get 20% off the $60 lamp I just purchased? Probably not because I'll spend about the same in gas just getting there and I could use that time far more wisely (paying bills, catching up on laundry, etc.). See my point?

That said, I recently purchased a Restoration Hardware sofa and days later, was alerted to their Friends & Family sale. On a big ticket item, that 20% back can mean hundreds of dollars returned to you! In my case, the only effort required was a quick phone call to customer support. I gave them my order number and in under a minute I was credited back hundreds of dollars. Most retailers have some kind of 30-day policy in place whereby items may be returned, exchanged for store credit, or adjusted if the price drops, etc.

I was able to use that refund from RH to buy a much-needed console to put behind the new sofa and could then reasonably justify the buy.

Nutshell: keep track of what you buy and when it goes on sale, especially now during the pre-holiday period and after!

Price adjustments make it possible to indulge in other much-"needed" goodies. Save on, friends!

Take That Luxury Vaca at 65% off: Tip-of-the-Day #271

I recently booked a trip to Cabo and I tried to do it on the cheap. I booked my ticket on Alaska Air and I used my companion certificate that comes with using the Alaska Air Visa card. The companion certificate enables the second traveler to fly wherever the primary traveler is flying for just $99. (Check out my blog about different points and airlines programs that are worth your attention).

Then, I started researching cute boutique hotels in the quaint, quieter town of San Jose Del Cabo and found a great deal right in the heart of the town.

My bf decided he wasn't comfortable staying in town and would feel "safer" staying in one of the luxury resorts outside of the town - gated and secured by guards. I reminded him that there are no travel advisory warnings for Cabo but he's watched too many episodes of Breaking Bad and is convinced we'll run into cartel at the coffee house.

All by way of saying, he did not want to go on this thoughtfully planned, economic trip I'd booked. He wanted luxury. But, luxury costs money. We stayed at Las Ventanas for my 40th birthday (AMAZING) but it cost thousands of dollars and isn't a stay-every-year kind of place unless you're earning the really big bucks. Or, so I thought. That's when I discovered Luxury Link, a website dedicated to luxury experiences and at less than half the price. There are two ways to buy their hand-picked packages - auction and fixed price - both extending very deep discounts off of the open market pricing.

I found a package at Zoetry, a luxury property right next door to Las Ventanas, and booked five nights for the cost of two. Airport transfers and all taxes were included. No weird strings attached, just a unique opportunity that happened to be available during the timeframe I wanted to travel.

Because Luxury Link vacations are created detail by detail, no two are alike. And, they are available only in limited quantities. This exclusivity means that you will be among the very few who can experience a property and a destination at this level. It also means that you will find these deals only on Luxury Link. You can book your vacation on their website or over the phone with a travel Concierge.
I actually had a Concierge call me about a property I had "bid on" and lost. She's the one who locked in Zoetry for me at the price I wanted.

I'll update my post to review Zoetry once I get back - but for now, I'm incredibly pleased by Luxury Link's offerings, their customer support, and the overall web experience.

Go somewhere fun this holiday season and do it for waaaay less. :) I am!

Bonus: get $50 off your trip when you register using this link.

You Can Buy That Rental: Tip-of-the-Day #270

I remember someone telling me a few years back that I should explore rental car returns for my next auto purchase. I can't remember why I didn't end up doing it. Sheer laziness, most likely. Then, last night I saw an Enterprise commercial on TV that reminded me about this not-often-thought-about technique to getting into the car you want at a really great price.

So I started diggin around online, and sure enough there's been a bit of research that supports peoples general satisfaction around buying used rental cars. Obviously, like buying any used vehicle, if you find a car you're interested in buying, take it to a mechanic and have it inspected. It may look great, but you'll want to confirm there isn't anything wrong under the hood. Once you get a clean bill of health there, ask the rental car company if you can test drive it for the day (not just 20 mins). It's no skin off their back and it gives you the opportunity to give it a good drive and get a feel for it.

Some bennies of buying a rental car:
  1. They are well maintained. While in service they go through regular checkups and service maintenance, and in the case of Enterprise, vehicles move from the rental fleet to the sales lots when they are one- to two-years old and have between 15,000 and 30,000 miles. That's not much time on the road.
  2. Cars are inspected by an independent, certified tech before being put up for sale. 
  3. The price is right. These rental cars are often priced less than comparable models sold at a dealership or through a private party. That inventory is constantly accumulating and needs to move.
  4. You can find luxury cars among their fleet, not just the low-budge, run-of-the-mill rides you and I tend to rent when we go to Vegas for the weekend.
Just a reminder to do a little research when buying your next car because you may end up saving a lot of money and getting a great ride too.

Foster a Furry Friend: Tip-of-the-Day #269

Spoiler alert! This post is about feeling good (petting cats is proven to reduce stress by 56%) and doing good (volunteer work makes a wonderful line item on your resume and great chest-thumping conversation at cocktail parties).

Have you considered fostering a cat? I happen to work as foster coordinator for a local non-profit cat rescue organization in the Bay Area, and I just finished writing a post for them about the great reasons to foster. "Why not share the word here?" I asked myself.

Top reasons why fostering an animal (I'm partial to cats) is a smart idea:
  1. It's a nice way to help children learn how to care for and respect a pet
  2. It can help one ease back into loving a new pet after losing a beloved one
  3. It's a wonderful way to feel out whether long term pet ownership is for you - no strings attached
  4. The rescue organization pays for food, litter, toys, medicine, etc. so you're not out a penny!
If you've ever thought about taking in a stray animal, why not do it now while we ease into the holiday season and everyone is merry. Work typically slows (unless you're in sales and then Q4 goals are hellatious) and the soft glow of white lights mixed with the potent smells of cookies and eggnog delight humans and felines alike.

If you happen to live in the Bay Area and you're reading this post, and you like what I'm saying, but more importantly, you like cats, reach out! You can become a foster, or even adopt if you're ready! Or, if you don't want to get involved in that way at all, but you do have a few extra bucks in your pocket - donate! It's tax deductible and again, you look like a totally caring citizen. Points!

Maximize Liner Life: Tip-of-the-Day #268

Eyeliner. Good eyeliner. Is not easy to part with. I've been addicted to Bobbi Brown's long wear cream shadow stick (that I use as a liner) for about a year now. Once it's on, it doesn't budge. It stays put all day. And, it looks fabulous. You can create a smokey eye or keep it more precise by using the edge of the stick instead of the full flat surface.

Anyhoo, I digress because the reason for this post is to tell you how to maximize the life of your liner - be it eye or lip. I should caveat by saying that because I use the retractable liner, I assume everyone does. Who wants to carry a sharpener around or deal with messy shavings?

When I open a fresh new liner there's nothing like the promise of weeks of uninterrupted use. But then, there is that dreaded day, when you reach for your beloved liner and you've run out of runway! No more twisting! It happens to retractable deodorant too, folks. You know that day when it just doesn't roll up anymore. It's terrifying.

So it happened to me on Monday morning. I knew all weekend long that I should get some more liner, but Sephora doesn't carry this one for some (stupid) reason and thus I had to order it online. Monday hit and I. Was. Out. In an act of desperation (and sheer genius), I pulled apart the sleek case that the heart of the liner resides in and there it was! Something that resembles a ballpoint pen mechanism. Lo and behold, there was a good 1/8 inch left of eyeliner just under "see" level! There was probably enough to get me through another week or even two! This picture says it all:

And so, once I tapped that buried treasure I could relax, order myself some more booty on bobbibrowncosmetics.com and wait. My new stick arrived a mere two days later.

This story is to remind you to tap the treasure that always hides inside the case. Even if you need to use a brush to get to it - my lipstick is a good example - you still have merchandise you can use.

Don't get me wrong, if I'm eyeliner-rich and I don't feel like performing surgery on my old friend, I'll skip it. But, if you're in a bind - this'll do ya.

Your Own Interior Designer!: Tip-of-the-Day #267

Whenever I pass a Pottery Barn, I can't help but wander inside the warm, inviting space that reminds one of a Rockefeller Christmas - everything in its place. That perfectly appointed Thanksgiving table and artfully assembled living room could be mine - if I could just have the design sensibility to recreate it for myself. 

And that, is where things go tragically wrong because I can't recreate the look or feel with just a toss of a chevron pillow and an artistically draped throw. And so,  as I slowly backed out of my recent fruitless venture, the greeter (and also fareweller?) asked casually "nothing inspired you today?". I shook my head sadly and said no. But her expression made me wonder if she thought I was dissing on PB which is sooo not my style. So I quickly corrected that statement with "everything in here is inspirational but I can't figure out which pieces will complement my home in an inspirational way." 

She nodded sagely and asked if I'd be interested in learning more about their in-home design services. My face likely registered fear (of huge sums of money quickly exiting my checking account) and hope, so she quickly qualified that by saying "it's free." 

FREE???

"Free?" I asked. "Seriously?" Yes. One of Pottery Barn's in-home design experts will travel to your home, walk through your living space room by room and then help you with anything from paint color ideas, to party planning advice, installing window hardware or a complete room makeover!

I was so excited I told Jennifer that I'd blog about it right away! While I'm not certain I'll be having someone visit my home today, I may very well take PB up on that service in the near future for some better staging. I think I have most of the right stuff - just not in the right places. And, a fresh coat of paint and some accent pieces couldn't hurt.

All my smart women out there: take advantage of this stellar free service. After all, most interior designers charge a fortune for this - and work by the hour. Woot!

Buy/Sell Furniture in a New Way!: Tip-of-the-Day #266

Heard of Move Loot? Neither had I until just a few minutes ago!

Very cool start up in the business of "moving" your furniture FOR YOU. Goodbye Craigslist, hello Move Loot.

Move Loot began as four friends united in the mission to make buying, selling, and moving used furniture an easier and more enjoyable experience. Moving, cohabiting, downsizing or changing one's furniture style shouldn't be a torturous experience. And, Move Loot has done something about it! Working on a consignment basis, Move Loot takes your furniture off of your hands so you can move onto bigger and better things and handles all of the promotion and consequent sale, for you.

Their goal is to give us all peace of mind and cash in pocket while simultaneously diverting landfill waste. Love the green angle.

Online registration is a few simple fields and selling your furniture is as easy as this:
  1. Upload and submit pics of your furniture using Move Loot's website
  2. Confirm details of your items (price, condition, short descrip) and schedule a pickup. Moot Loot comes to you!
  3. Sit back and relax while Move Loot does the rest
You get 50% of the final sale price, and Move Loot does all the heavy lifting. Literally.

Buying is just as easy and I can't wait to explore the marketplace once the site is officially launched October 1.

I'm all for supporting new businesses and this is one great idea. Hope it takes off! 

Don't Buy a Bike - Borrow One!: Tip-of-the-Day #265

A colleague just turned me on to The Bay Area Bike Share. It is the first formal bike sharing system in the San Francisco Bay Area, with 700 bikes and 70 stations across San Francisco, Redwood City, Mountain View, Palo Alto, and San Jose. The fleet of specially designed, heavy-duty, very durable bikes are locked into a network of docking stations located throughout the region. I just found one such station three blocks from my office but they are ALL over the financial district. Bikes can be rented from and returned to any station in the system, and bikes are available for use 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
How cool is that??

To use the system, you have to become a member; options include an Annual membership for $88 (I've spent more on a cab, fyi), a 3-Day membership for $22, a 24-Hour membership for $9, or pay-by-month for an Annual membership for just $99 paid in installments of $8.25/month.

This is neat for so many reasons. I've been considering buying a bike for a while to see if I would enjoy commuting to work in that way. But, I was worried if I bought a bike and didn't like riding it, I'd be throwing out hundreds of dollars. Problem solved, now!

Check out bayareabikeshare.com and give it a whirl! I'm gonna. Wheeeeee!

Audit Your Cell Phone Bill: Tip-of-the-Day #264

I've been a Verizon Wireless subscriber for nearly two years. I made the switch from Sprint in 2011 and if memory serves, the catalyst was a migration from my Blackberry to an iPhone.

For two years, I've been paying nearly $200/month for my text/talk/data plan. That includes 1400 minutes of talk and text and 2GB of data. Oh, there's also an extra $9.99 in there for a dummy phone line that I had to set up when my first iPhone was stolen, and there's $9.99 for insurance, also in the mix.

Any time I would mention to a friend, colleague or family member what I'm paying for monthly service, I would get the same reaction. Jaw drop, widened eyes and some sort of proclamation of surprise, like, "What?! I'm only paying $100!". I always assumed they were using some spotty carrier like AT&T (unreliable on the west coast, just sayin'). So I chalked it up to a willingness on my part to pay more for reliability.

Well, yesterday I phoned "611" on my phone and was patched through to someone in Verizon Customer Support. I explained that I was simply tired of paying $200 a month for my cell phone service when I'm not a power user and everyone I know is paying half that. The somewhat sympathetic support agent promised to look into the details of my billing and "see what she could do."

Turns out I'd been paying for a data plan associated with my Blackberry that I hadn't owned in 2 years! It was $45 extra a month. $45! Before hysteria could set in, Ashley (we quickly got to a first name basis) told me that I would have been paying $30 for 2GB of data so really I was only overpaying $15 a month for two years. Well, that's $360! Nothing to sneeze at! I asked how it could have gone unnoticed by Verizon that I was overpaying on a plan that didn't even suit my device. Why don't they audit the accounts of long-time customers? She had no explanation for that. I then learned that if I were on the "Share Everything" plan which launched just over a year ago, I would only be paying $100 a month. FOR EVERYTHING - TEXT, TALK, AND DATA. At this I nearly did let the hysteria upend the conversation. Why hadn't they "shared everything" WITH ME??

Turns out, we, the people, are charged with auditing our own cell phone service providers and ensuring that we have internalized all of the latest plan structures. Add to that, we must conduct our own usage analysis, proactively phone customer support (wait on hold indefinitely) and insist we be migrated to the plan that only costs HALF of what we're currently paying. Oy.

Let me sum it all up by saying: In the end, I was credited $90 for six months worth of overpaying for a data plan I shouldn't have been on in the first place. Verizon was unwilling to go back the full two years. Whatev. And, I was moved over to the "Share Everything" Plan and will now be paying significantly less each month.

Folks! It's worth it to check yourself every now and again because no one will have your back like you do. Happy Friday!

Lose Weight, Save Cash: Tip-of-the-Day #263

Somehow I made it through the summer without crash dieting but am now faced with the sudden realization that I must address the extra lbs before it gets out of control. That said, I have participated in the Jenny Craig program (with some success) in the past, but found it to be fairly expensive. I was spending @$200 a week on frozen foods for myself and still had to buy fresh fruits and veggies on top of that! I mentioned to a colleague that I was gravitating back in that direction and she suggested Weight Watchers. Beyond the glowing reviews about the program and the choices and the success rate, she also mentioned that the cost is much lower. Seems that unlike Jenny meals, which can only be purchased from Jenny Craig, Lean Cuisines, Smart Ones and Eating Right are all available for purchase at most supermarkets and sell for around $2 a piece (coupons, twofers and rewards memberships bring the cost down low). All of those lines subscribe to the WW program and feature points right on their box front.

So, I thought, why not? I signed up for a WW membership online. For $65 I have a 3-month membership that gives me access to their tools, tips and online community. And, I just bought a week's worth of food for myself and my bf, including fruits and veggies, all for $180. On Jenny I would have spent 2.5X that for both of us!

I'm excited to be on a program that makes me totally accountable for everything I put in my mouth. But I also love the flexibility - last night I made fresh tilapia, chard and brown rice. Cooked it all up with vegetable broth instead of butter or oil. So low cal and so good and had points left over at the end of the day!

Spend less money and try Weight Watchers if you're ready to jump on the weight loss train. It's a long term win given the program's structure. I'll keep you posted on my experience!

Uber Cool Way to Get Around Town: Tip-of-the-Day #262


This week I had a sales meeting at the Hyatt Regency downtown and it was scheduled for three days. Parking at the Hyatt is prohibitively expensive and so a colleague mentioned she'd be using Uber - an app for your iPhone or Android that connects drivers with people who need rides. When I explained the concept to my sister, she said "Oh. You mean, gypsy cabs?" Seems that's what it was called when she lived in New York before the dot com boom. Whatever it's called (and there are a few competing players in the space now; Lyft, Uber and SideCar to name a few) it's the best invention since..er, taxis.

But, here's why my experience with Uber was so darn good. For one, I live out in the "avenues" of San Francisco. There aren't taxis in my neck of the woods - especially in the early a.m. or late at night. Uber gave me the option of searching for a taxi, what they call UberX (an average Joe like you or me most likely rocking a hybrid), a black car or an SUV. On Monday morning the only available service was a black car. It sounded expensive, so I quickly requested a fare quote to get a sense of what it would run me. $34 from the avenues to the fidi. Not bad considering that it included gratuity and surcharges. I accepted the fare and requested the service. The car showed up in 6 mins flat. Best yet, I could actually watch its progression on the app, from where it had started to where I live. (Yes, a little car icon moves across your screen in real time). And, upon arrival, I was texted that my car had arrived.

I went ahead and used Uber for the next three days and after trying UberX (just as speedy and nearly half the cost) I never looked back.

Affordable, convenient and friendly technology. Loved the experience and highly recommend it in place of a. parking downtown b. taking a cab (long wait and inflated pricing with a side of guilt when tipping comes up c. public transport (not suitable for my needs when I'm time constrained).

Thanks, Uber! (Treat: Use code T9r18 to get $10 off your first ride).

Kilim Rugs Hide Wine Spills Best: Tip-of-the-Day #261

After much trial and error, I've finally concluded that Kilim rugs are truly the best at masking stains - be it wine, hair balls, or pepperoni pizza.

I was fairly certain of this before, but now that I witnessed my boyfriend drop a full glass of red wine on my new(ish) chevron rug and ruin it, I'm done. There's never so much as a hint of his tomfoolery on the living room or bedroom room Kilims - and so I finally had the aha moment.

Aha! I can only own Kilim or very dark rugs in my house from this point forward. It's not fabulous news for those of us who once dreamed of living in an all white escape. Isn't it Jennifer Lopez that has all white furniture, rugs, walls, etc.? Wonder if that changed when she had twins.

Anyhoo, just figured I'd confirm once and for all for anyone still thinking they might give that natural jute one more look...or, God forbid, consider a flokati for even a second.

It's Kilims for life. Not that that's a bad thing but it does mean that you'll be spending more time at Pottery Barn. Sigh.


Cheap and Cheerful Cat Toys!: Tip-of-the-Day #260

I am completely hijacking these tips from Catster.com, one of my absolute favorite kitty sites, but these DIY cat toys were too good to not re-share.

So often I get trapped into believing that my kitties need super fancy, expensive(!), designer cat toys and when I get them home they are promptly ignored!

They absolutely have the most fun with stuff like plastic wrap, ribbons, tp rolls, golf balls, balled up newspaper or wrapping paper, etc..

So, when I saw Angie Bailey's article on four easy DIY cat toys created from empty toilet paper rolls, I had to pass on the love. =^..^=

Simple rings.

You'll need:
  • An empty cardboard TP roll.
  • Scissors.
Instructions:

  • Mark four, 1/4-inch (or finger width) marks on the side of the cardboard roll.
  • Use scissors to cut each ring.


Ring Ball.

 You'll need:
  • An empty cardboard TP roll.
  • Scissors.
  • Treats (optional, but highly recommended!).
Instructions:
  • Mark four, 1/4-inch (or finger-width) marks on the side of the cardboard roll.
  • Use the scissors to cut each ring.
  • Insert the first ring into the second ring, then continue with the third and fourth, until you've formed a ball.
Sunshine Toy.

You'll need:
  • Empty cardboard TP roll.
  • Scissors.
Instructions:
  • Cut the ends of each end of the roll, creating tabs.
  • Fold tabs back, creating a "sunshine" look.

Treat Rattle.

You'll need:
  • An empty cardboard TP roll.
  • Treats.
Instructions:
  • Fold one end of the TP roll inside, creating a semi-closed end.
  • Place several treats inside.
  • Fold the other end of the roll, creating another semi-closed end.







If you love your cats the way I love mine, this will provide the whole house with hours of cheap entertainment. Meow!