The Chronic Consumer

I usually don’t get behind celebrity causes, but when I heard that Reese Witherspoon, as part of her duties as Avon’s Global Ambassador, was promoting this Women’s Empowerment Bracelet, I decided to lend my support.

According to a blurb on the official Avon website, the Empowerment Bracelet is “Avon’s first global charity product designed to save and improve women’s lives worldwide.” An additional paragraph notes:

Bracelet proceeds will be used to create a new Avon Empowerment Fund. The first $500,000 from bracelet sales will be matched by the Avon Foundation for a total donation of $1 million to UNIFEM, the United Nations Development Fund for Women, for projects that will empower women around the world.

I read somewhere else that part of the empowerment process includes providing help to female victims of domestic violence, which is something that I’m pretty passionate about. That sealed the deal and made it even easier for me to order a couple of bracelets to help support the cause.

The Avon Women’s Empowerment Bracelet is just a simple piece made of blue stretch cord. Each end of the cord is then looped around an end of a plastic silvertone infinity symbol. It’s available in two sizes (Adult Small and Adult Large).

I’ve been wearing my Women’s Empowerment Bracelet for a couple of days now and think it’s great! Sure, it’s just stretch cord and plastic, but I think it’s kind of cool — and it has even elicited a few questions from friends who noticed it on me. Plus, it was only $3, with 100% of the proceeds going to a worthy cause, so I can’t complain.

If you want to join this global movement and get a Women’s Empowerment Bracelet of your own, all you have to do is talk to your local Avon representative or visit the Avon website. I hope to see a lot of these blue bracelets on women everywhere I go!

We’re thinking about cashing in our frequent flier miles for a couple of tickets to Vegas later this year. We’ve never been to Vegas, but have always wanted to go, so this would be a perfect way to get there. We’ve got enough miles for two free round-trip tickets, which means we’d just have to pay for the hotel and rental car.

So while I was out shopping today, I picked up a Las Vegas travel guide to help us plan our trip a little better. Of course we’re going to gamble a lot while we’re there, but we might as well see some sights and take in a few shows or museums as well. The guide I bought is pretty comprehensive and offers tons of suggestions, so we’re going to need a few days to go over everything and decide what we’d most like to do in Vegas.

Hopefully we’ll actually get to our intended destination this year! It seems that for the past couple of years, we’ve ended up landing in boring places like St. Louis and the Wisconsin Dells instead of where we really wanted to go….

I have a generic, no-name PC that doesn’t have any bells or whistles to speak of. It’s currently three years old going on four, but since I don’t have the money to buy a replacement, I’m stuck trying to make do with the thing.

One of the most annoying problems I have with the machine is that there’s only one USB port on it! I take that back: there are actually two USB ports, one in the front and one in the back. But since I have to plug my mouse into the one in the back, that leaves me with just one free USB port to use for my iPod, external hard drives, and any other peripherals that I want to connect to.

Of course this sucks, so I’m currently looking at buying a multi-port USB hub. I saw a 7-port hub from Belkin for just $19.99 (after a $10 rebate) and free shipping over at Buy.com, which I think is an excellent deal.

Too bad this is shaping up to be a rough week financially, as both my estimated tax payments for the second quarter of 2008 and my monthly credit card bills are due on the same day (tomorrow). Those payments are going to wipe me out, so I doubt I’ll be able to buy a multi-port hub this week. Hopefully it will still be on sale when I get some extra spending cash, but for now it looks like I have yet another item to add to my wish list!

Even though I’ve had my cell phone for about a year and a half now, I haven’t purchased any of the accessories that I usually buy for my devices. For example, I always get a screen protector for my digital cameras, iPods, handheld gaming systems (Nintendo DS, PSP), and phones, but for some reason, I didn’t do it this time. No, scratch that… I did buy a screen protector, but it came off after a couple of months and I never bothered to replace it.

Anyway, I finally went out today and bought two new accessories for my phone since I still have a good 8 months left on my contract. The first item I purchased was a micro sd card so I can transfer my photos from my phone to my computer, and the second was another screen protector to prevent any further scratches.

Having these accessories has revitalized my interest in my phone somewhat. I was seriously thinking about ditching my current contract and paying the early cancellation penalties in order to be able to get a new phone, but now I think I can stick it out for the rest of the term!

I’m not much of a golfer, but I do have to say that I buy golf apparel all the time! I especially love golf hats and visors because they’re much more suited to my tastes than other headwear. Whereas most other companies produce flexfit hats, which I absolutely hate, golf companies still manufacture adjustable baseball-style hats — something I need so I can slip my ponytail through the opening in the back.

Recently, I decided I wanted a new hat for this summer, so I went to the local sporting goods store and came back with this white Mizuno golf hat. It comes with an adjustable velcro strap in the back, a sturdy bill, and an embroidered logo on the front.

Another thing that I particularly like about this hat is the the way that it keeps its shape in the front area and doesn’t slope too much — which is a problem with softer, floppier hats on the market. I hate the way those soft hats look on my head, so I always try to find a sturdier one like this Mizuno.

The hat also came with a logo clip and magnetic golf ball marker. The clip snaps onto the bill of the cap, and the magnetic marker can be removed and replaced easily when you’re on the putting green. I doubt that I’ll ever have to use this accessory, but it was kind of neat that the hat came with it anyway.

Overall, this Mizuno golf hat is a good-looking cap that will keep my head and eyes protected from the harsh sun all summer long. At a retail price of about $25, it was a bit on the expensive side as far as baseball-style hats go, but I’m willing to pay extra to avoid the flexfit trend!

I don’t know about you, but I always associate the summer months with parties. Between graduation parties, barbecues, wedding receptions, and even the Fourth of July, there always seems to be something going on!

We do our fair share of entertaining during the summer as well. But unlike other people who seem content to either phone their invitations or, even worse, send a cheesy “e-vite”, I prefer to contact my potential guests the old-fashioned way with real invitations delivered via snail mail.

I usually just grab blank cards from the store and fill in the details, but this year, I’m thinking about getting custom party invitations from VistaPrint instead.

I’ve known about VistaPrint for a couple of years now, as they’re world famous for offering a wide variety of custom printed goods (such as calendars, checks, business cards, magnets, and more) at rock-bottom prices. However, I’ve never had a chance to try out the company for myself — until now. Buying custom party invitations from them would be a terrific way for me to learn firsthand why they get all the rave reviews I’ve read!

I’ve looked over their custom invitation page, and was impressed by the selection I saw. VistaPrint sells invitations for birthday, holiday, graduation, wedding, and general parties, and all the categories have numerous designs to choose from. Of course, I can always upload my own images to use instead, so that’s another option to consider.

I love how VistaPrint gives customers complete control over the design process from beginning to end. For example, I can choose everything from the font size, style, and color to the actual text and layout of my invitation. In other words, I can get exactly what I want without having to settle for someone else’s idea of perfection. The design wizard is fast and easy to use, so I’m sure I’ll be able to come up with a fabulous invitation in no time.

If you’re planning a big get-together soon, check out the custom party invitations available at VistaPrint.com. I’m sure you’ll be as happy with their selection and prices as I was!

My husband and I purchased an expensive (close to $600) Dyson vacuum cleaner in April of 2006. Since we have two dogs in the house, one being a Beagle that sheds pretty heavily in the summer months, we have to vacuum every single day otherwise the floors get disgusting. So needless to say, our Dyson has gotten plenty of use in the past 2+ years.

Then last week, the cord unexpectedly shorted out. I was using the vacuum and the thing just suddenly died. I checked the cord and discovered the short, which resulted in part of the plastic coating melting to expose the wires. The vacuum was still under warranty, so we took it back to the store we bought it from, and they packed it off to Dyson for us. We were told that it could take up to 10 business days to get it back.

Well, we got it back yesterday (after 6 business days) and the thing is as good as new — probably because it mostly IS new! Not only did Dyson replace the broken cord, but they also replaced just about everything else!

We have a canister-style DC11 model, and the only original part that we got back was the canister that houses the motor. According to the work order (and verified by my personal inspection), Dyson replaced the head, hoses, motor, and telescoping handle. We didn’t request any of these replacements, Dyson just did it on their own!

I have to say that in a time where customer service is sorely lacking just about everywhere, Dyson really came through. I am completely satisfied with their products and the way they honor their warranties. I think it’s safe to say that I’ll be a Dyson customer for life!

With Father’s Day coming up this Sunday, there’s not a whole lot of time left to find a great gift for Dad. Since my father is retired now, the old standby presents of neckties, pen sets, and desk accessories are pretty much out of the question, but all of those things are boring anyway. I’d much rather get him something that he would actually enjoy owning and using, like a new watch.

As I was browsing around the Internet today, I came across some fantastic deals on Seiko watches over at BlueDial.com. For example, BlueDial has this Seiko SPC031 Men’s Advanced Alarm Chronograph Timer (pictured above) on sale for just $257.40, which is nearly $500 off the retail price of $725. This watch comes with a bunch of features that I know my dad would find useful, such as preset countdown timers, luminous hands and markers, alarm functions, a chronograph, push-button deployment clasp, and more. Plus, the brushed and polished black anodized stainless steel case and bracelet help make this watch look very stylish.

I’ve checked at other discount sites as well, but BlueDial has the best deal by far. What’s more, they also offer free 2nd Day shipping to the continental U.S. and a free gift message card, meaning that I can still get the watch in time for Father’s Day. Perfect!

A couple months ago, I mentioned that my husband was interested in buying this 2008 Rockstar Pipestar Hoody from One Industries. We hesitated back then because of the price ($58), but since Father’s Day is coming up anyway, I figured this would be as good a time as any to splurge a bit. Yes, I consider this particular $58 purchase a splurge — because normally, we’d never dream of paying that much for a sweatshirt!

Fortunately, this Pipestar hoody is of surprisingly good quality. The fleece is thick enough to provide warmth on cool days and nights, but not so thick that it makes the sweatshirt big and bulky. The design is great, as the red piping around the hood and shoulders provides a nice contrast to the black and yellow elsewhere in the material. And the embroidered logos ensure that the sweatshirt will retain its sharp looks no matter how many times it goes through the washer and dryer.

Other noticeable features include rivets at the ends of the hood drawstrings to prevent unraveling; a leather “One” logo tag on the left pocket; zip-up front with “One” logo on the zipper pull; and ribbed cuffs and waist to provide a better fit.

Overall, the 2008 Rockstar Pipestar Hoody is one of the best sweatshirts I’ve ever purchased. Yes, it’s expensive, but I have the feeling my husband will get our money’s worth out of this product. Check it out for yourself!

(Click photo to enlarge)

My mom is as much of a bargain hunter as I am, and one of her favorite money-saving strategies is to buy clothes out of season. As a result, she recently purchased a fall/early winter/spring jacket for my son to wear a few months from now. It’s called the Zero Xposur Midweight Hooded Jacket, and though it lists for $36, my mom got it for a mere $14.40 — a great price for a jacket like this!

The Zero Xposur Midweight Hooded Jacket is a very cool looking piece that my son immediately fell in love with. It’s reversible, with one side being a nylon weather-repellent shell, and the other being soft fleece.

With the nylon on the outside, the jacket is perfect for cool or cold inclement days. There are plenty of Velcro closures around the wrists and down the front zipper area, making it easy to keep out the cold, wind, and rain. There are also elasticized inserts in the hood and cuffs, which allows for a better fit in those places.

With the fleece side out, the jacket is perfect for spring or fall. There’s a fantastic design patch featuring motocross and skateboarding action, as well as a stitched logo at the left chest.

Kids love pockets, and the Zero Xposur Midweight Hooded Jacket has plenty of them. In addition to two slash pockets on the front, the jacket also has a pocket for an MP3 player (complete with headphone port), as well as a cell phone pocket — both of which close securely with Velcro.

Moreover, the jacket features a D-ring at the lower right side that can be used for attaching gloves.

As I said, my son fell in love with this jacket immediately. He usually doesn’t like the cold weather, but he’s already looking forward to the end of summer so he can start wearing his brand-new Zero Xposur jacket. This garment seems to be made of quality materials, has an awesome design and sweet features, and is ultimately a great buy at $14.40. Highly recommended!