Work-Time-Fun

Recently, I wrote about the joy of giving gifts.  Watching your family member or friend open up their present is always the joyful part and the culmination of your hard work, frustration, sweat, and sometimes…tears.  People are crazy when they shop at department stores, malls, and outlets.  Online is the way to go.  So unless you feel like waiting in line to be first in the store, only to be tazered by an over-exuberant mother trying to buy an Xbox at Wal-Mart…try shopping on the internet. 

Men are easily the hardest people to shop for…unless you are me.  Buy me anything Redskins and I am happy.  It could be an ornament, a toaster that puts the Skins logo on your breakfast treat, or even a Redskins Snuggie.  But what about that guy that doesn’t love the Redskins or God forbid…doesn’t like sports…well check this site out.

www.jackthreads.com

JackThreads is a company owned by Thrillist, another awesome website.  It caters strictly to Men’s fashion.  Each day they have new sales listed from different companies.  The prices are affordable and the fashion is trend-setting.  When I take a gander at their selection, I really enjoy the accessories that are on sale.  Things like Flud watches, throwback sneakers, creative iPhone cases, and fashionable travel bags.  If you are lucky, you might hit that special sale, like the one the other day for clothing featured on “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia.”  The shirts and sweatshirts were even being modeled by none other than Charlie and Mack.  So if you still haven’t found the gift for that guy in your life, treat him to a fun present you wont find anywhere else.

Christmas time should be an enjoyable one.  A time where we reflect on the true meaning of Christmas and the gift we were given on that special day many many years ago.  Our culture has transformed the holiday into a profitable commercial time, which in its entirety, is not necessarily a bad thing.  The gift giving has become the most profound and nostalgic part of the Christmas season.   It is not the gift that is the important part, it is the motive and intention behind it.  The act of exchanging gifts promotes a selfless nature, espescially when it is done without the thought of what you will receive in return.  Therefore, I say enjoy the gifts you give, enjoy the reactions of those you bought the gifts for, and find joy in putting a smile on someone else’s face. 

Shopping for presents can sometimes be the most stressful part as you try to find the perfect gift that fits within your budget.  The mall can be an absolute nightmare with crowded stores, long lines, and that awful awful sea of asphalt lying outside.  Be smart, buy a truck so you can park on the grass cause there is nothing more blood boiling than trying to find the one spot that suits your spouse’s liking.  Due to these annoyances, a lot of people have been turning to online shopping. 

One great place I like to shop online is Etsy.  For those of you unfamiliar with the site, it is basically a virtual marketplace that brings together the collaborative creativity of countless artists, moms, shop owners, and everyday people.  Anyone can list their products on the site in their own “store.”  The site itself is an ingenious idea and it is enabling normal people to share their ideas and creations with others.  For Christmas shopping, this site has it all.  The best part is that you will be able to find a unique product that isn’t necessarily in the Sunday newspaper.  You can find something for everyone on your list; whether it is framed art for your Aunt, custom jewelry for your sister, a handmade guitar pick for your husband, or a handcrafted purse for your Mom.  They even have stuff available for your pets like my personal favorite…Kitten Mittens for Jinxie Cat!

“Does Your Cat Make Too Much Noise?”

(check out the following link for an unsponsored advertisement for Kitten Mittens)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SSOrbV7ILrc

Anyway, if you are still in the market for some more presents, head on over to Etsy and find that gift for that special someone.  Make this the year you are more excited to watch your big brother open the gift you got him than you are to open your own. Merry Christmas!

The internet today has endless sites aimed at entertaining anyone who is willing to spend some time on their site.  The real trick is being able to come up with that one idea that can capture an audience as well as build a suitable platform for open source material.  A couple of weeks ago, a friend of mine turned me on to a site previously unknown to me, whenparentstext.com.  It is a site that capitalizes on the humor of an older generation and its clash with modern technology.  I can remember when my Mom first began to text, it went one letter at a time and even when you were on the receiving end, you could tell that the effort she had invested in writing it was immense.  Months of practice later, my Mom is proficient in texting and she loves it.  Most of her texts are simple and inquisitive, but every now and then, I get that one that just tickles my innards.  

If you know what I am talking about then check out this site and read some of the funny examples from some very funny parents.  

www.whenparentstext.com

Here are a couple quick examples:

#1

 #2 

#3

MOM:	Hey honey, what’s up?
ME:	Eating sausage. Requires both hands. I’ll talk to you later
MOM:	IS THAT A EUPHEMISM, YOUNG LADY?????

In the past, we have made posts encouraging everyone to try and devote a part of their day to help make someone else’s just a little bit better.  It can be anything from offering to pick up lunch for a co-worker, holding the door open for a stranger or helping a family out at Thanksgiving.  A little deed coming from a good heart with sincere intentions can do more for another person to give them hope or lift their spirits that nearly anything on the planet. 

With all of the crap that we see in the newspaper or tv about the terrible things that take place in our society, it is always a breath of fresh air to see a story like this one.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/time/20110116/us_time/httpnewsfeedtimecom20110113pilotwhocaresthemostheartwarmingairlinestoryof2011xidrssfullnationyahoo

This is a story of a pilot who went out of his way, took on some risk, and made a heartfelt gesture for a man who was having a very rough day.  Without this pilot’s help, the man’s day could have been much worse.  It has hard to foresee the outcome of an action.  You never know if your selfless act will go unnoticed, if it will immediately impact that person in a positive way, or if it will drastically change that person’s life.  You will definitely never know unless you make the effort. 

Enjoy the story.  Make a difference in someone’s life today.  And tomorrow.

As we try to cater to the working class of America, we strive to provide you with ways to stretch your hard earned dollars so that you can enjoy the finer things in life at a fraction of the price.  In the past, we have introduced you to Restuarant.com, various sites to save money on electronics, and ways to save a dime during lunch time.  Now, to add the list, we will give you a quick introduction to Groupon.com

While at work, the only way I can stay sane and make it through my day is to have my headphones in with some good background music entertaining me.  One day, while listening to Pandora, I accidentally clicked on one of their banner ads and I was wisked away to a site called Groupon.com.   Groupon sounds like coupon, so I was intrigued.  After learning more about the site, I signed up and now am alerted everytime a new deal is available. 

Let’s find out how it works:  Groupon begins the process by negotiating with local businesses to allow the site to offer huge discounts on products, services and events.  Once an appropriate deal has been agreed upon, the deal is offered to Groupon subscribers through an email.  Here is the catch…the deal is only activated once a minimum number of people agree to buy. 

Let’s look at a quick example:

• You Pay $55…FOR…A round of golf for (2) people plus a cart rental
• Without the groupon, this would retail for $120! A savings of $65.
• Deal becomes active once 50 people purchase the offer

So in reality, the catch isn’t really that big of a catch, because pretty much every deal that is offered tips the scale on its minimum customer level that it must reach.  Also be sure to check and see if there is an expiration date on the groupon and make sure you will be able to use it before that date. 

The benefits of this site:

• It can be personalized to your location, so that the deals that are given are for events or businesses in your area.
• It enables the customers to save a lot of money by taking advantage of great deals
• It supports local businesses by attracting a wave of new customers
• It allows you to experience your city at a fraction of the price
• It introduces you to new products or events that you may not have been familiar with before

Be sure to check it out when you get a chance.  Even if the first deal doesn’t necessarily interest you, you never know when that one deal will come along that will really hit the spot.  Finally, if you read the featured groupon and you think, “Man, that would be perfect for my buddy at work,” well then purchase the groupon as a gift. 

Hope this was informative.  Here is the link.  www.groupon.com