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).