If you've been in a electronics store lately, you've probably noticed HDTV prices stabilizing before the big holiday rush. Thankfully, the Internet is still a great source for rock-bottom deals, and this one-day special from Second Act is no exception. For a limited time only (read: today), grab this brand new 47" 1080p Philips Flat Panel LCD HDTV for only $999; almost $600 off what you'd normally pay in stores!

Many readers know SecondAct.com for their phenomenal section of refurbished and open-box items. What some don't know, however, is that SecondAct actually features brand new products in addition to their array of reconditioned and discounted items. This Philips HDTV is one of those "specially-discounted" new items, and is a superb deal considering all of its features. For starters, the Philips 47" LCD HDTV displays full 1080p HD resolution that leaves rival plasma HDTVs shuddering in their stands. It also features Philips' special "Digital Natural Motion" technology that smooths fast-moving pictures much like 120hz HDTVs, giving you a great picture at half the price.

In addition to its trio of HDMI inputs for all your high-def needs, the Philips 47PFL5603D has been dubbed the "Eco TV" thanks to its low power usage and special "power saver mode", which drops its average usage to one third that of its competitors. For the environmentally conscious, there isn't a TV that compares. Take a peek at CNET's breakdown of the Eco TV's yearly cost:

In default picture mode, we estimate it will cost just $28.69 in electricity to run the 42PFL4603D for a year--about $6 less than its closest competitor--while power saver mode brings that cost down to $21.28. That estimate assumes a cost of 10.6 cents per kilowatt hour and a picture-on time of 8 hours per day, both national averages.

With such drastic differences in power consumption, the Eco TV is a great choice for anyone wanting to save a few bucks and help do their green duty. One thing you might want to keep in mind is that it may not be the perfect companion for extremely bright rooms due to its moderate black levels, so you might want to look elsewhere if you're planning on shoving it in your sunroom. But if you're like most people who have a TV taking up a corner of their dimly-lit den, this 47" beauty should do wonderfully and save you tons in the long run. On top of the $600 savings, SecondAct packs one of the biggest Cash Back percentages among its competition (4%), so you can sleep tight knowing you got the absolute lowest price on the internet - only $960 before shipping. There's nothing better than that!

Every morning around 8:15 I can be seen standing in a mass of disgruntled commuters about to pack into a dirty bus like sardines in a can. Ah, the joys of public transportation. Although I do prefer to drive, I think it is better for myself (and everyone else on the road) to let someone else take the reigns. I'm sure my blood pressure could use the rest, and riding the bus allows me to people watch, which is one of my favorite activities.

Years of observing people and their habits have led me to find two products that make commuting easier, the first being this Beau Pouch from Shopbop. Perfect for the individual who rummages for change and subsequently spills coffee on themselves, this canvas pouch is the perfect size for change, lip gloss, and keys. At less than $13, this soon-to-be-favorite gets you organized, and less time spent on change recovery means a better chance of grabbing a seat.

If you're ever lucky enough to find a seat, it is most likely covered by someone else's coat, who will then rip it out from underneath your bottom as if you have a secret vendetta against long coats. If only everyone could own a chic jacket like this trench by Juicy Couture. Hitting right below the hips, you don't have to worry about this becoming a seat warmer for the charming individual next to you. No, in this adorable trench you'll be sitting pretty, and enjoying savings of 30%. To add further delight to your mornings, take 3% Cash Back and treat youself to a cab from time to time. Heck, you deserve it.

Having one or two LBD’s, or Little Black Dresses, is as crucial to the vitality of a woman’s wardrobe as care instructions. The little black dress is a wardrobe workhorse that can make getting dressed for any function simple and chic. I recommend investing in one classically styled LBD that is just a tad dressy, and then going for a trend inspired, casually elegant number.

The really important thing to remember when shopping for the classic LBD is to pay attention to the cut and fabric of the dress. The key here is longevity and mileage. Pretend you are shopping for a car that you’re planning on having for ten years. Also, make sure that the dress fits you perfectly and that the cut is appropriate for your body type. 

I like this Helmut Lang Belt Dress, available at Shopbop. It sells for $450 with 3% Cash Back and is a wonderful multi-tasker. It boasts a classically elegant cut; it fits close to the body and is fabricated in a wool, lycra, and silk blend. The fabric content is ideal; the wool and silk enhance the overall quality, and the lycra aids in the fit and keeps the shape of the dress, no matter how many times you wear it. The great thing about this dress is it can become quite formal with the change of shoes and accessories or it can be worn with tights and a slim fitting cardigan for work. 

    For a trendier LBD, this JNSDS Self Belt Dress from Target is this season's LBD du jour, and is an amazing $39.99. Plan on getting 4% Cash Back too! This fab LBD strikes a great balance between trendy feminine details and body-conscious tailoring. It’s a fun take on the iconic shirt dress, and will be a great addition to a fall wardrobe. Plus, it's cotton and machine washable, so it is about as easy to wash as it is to wear. I probably wouldn't recommend pairing it with those tights; black or subtle hues usually do the trick according to the Tao of Poppy.

For more info on tights click here. Ah, unabashed self-promotion... Shop on!

For most women, the road from college to adulthood is often a bumpy one, filled with emotional ups and downs as self-discovery rears its head. The fashion road from college to adulthood is usually disastrous and filled with such debacles as ultra low rise pants or cropped shirts. Luckily there are stores like Banana Republic to make the transition a smooth one, and I can singlehandedly thank them for making me look like a lady, which is why I am happy to relay the good news that today only, you can receive Double Cash Back! My favorite pick? This Silk Blouse with tie neck and side button. At under $80, not only is it a great wardrobe staple, but it's a great steal as well.

One of my guilty pleasures is laying in bed and watching QVC. For those of you Sex And The City fanatics out there its my S.S.B (Secret Single Behavior). I derive great joy from this act and find it equal parts soothing and entertaining, even if I never actually buy anything. There is something about a call center that puts me off, probably because for me QVC is secret (not after this post) and anti-social.

That was until I realized that the world of QVC is available online, and with 3% Cash Back from Ebates, which kind of makes me want to call in and tell my story about how much I love QVC. I can hear it now: "We've got Poppy here from California". My fondness for home shopping television might explain why a few weeks ago I received a mailer addressed to me from AARP explaining all the benefits (true story!).

But QVC isn't just for AARP, especially when it comes to beauty products. They have amazing deals on great beauty products from Smashbox, Bobbi Brown, Yves Saint Laurent, Bare Escentuals and Philosphy and many more. Also, beauty brands put together packages and specials, often featuring QVC-exclusive colors that are only available to QVC shoppers. Like this ten piece Smashbox "Past, Present & Future of Beauty Collection". The retail value of this set is $166. QVC's price is usually $84.50, and now it is only $76.82, plus 3% Cash Back! This collection is filled with every standout product from Smashbox, and even includes brushes! Hurry, this deal will not last long and is only available at this price for a short time. Now I can enjoy the fruits of QVC from the comfort and solidarity of my own computer, although I will never give up watching all the people on television -- it is far too entertaining!

Do you have a desktop computer lurking in a corner of yours at home? Whether yours is still a staple of your everyday routine, or a simple relic collecting dust, desktop computers still pack a serious punch for the money. If your desktop or laptop is running a little slower than you'd like, and you'd rather just spend a few hundred bucks for something that is guaranteed to blow it out of the water, take a peek at this dirt cheap Dell Optiplex 330 MiniTower PC.

For only $419 shipped (including a 17" flatscreen monitor), it hardly even matters what's under the hood of this Dell Optiplex PC. If you're looking for a cheap desktop, you can't go wrong with something that's almost $400 off retail price. Thankfully, the Optiplex 330 actually has a respectable amount of power in its tiny chassis, packing a 2.0ghz DualCore Intel processor, 160GB of hard drive space, and 2GB of RAM to open all your Windows Vista programs swiftly. Best of all, if there's a little something that you've been wanting in your computer, like a DVD burner, ATI Radeon graphics card, or a 250GB hard drive, you can add it onto your computer for just a few dollars extra. Personally, I'd drop he extra $18 on the DVD burner and the 250GB hard drive upgrade, but the Dell system configurator gives you the power of choice. Either way, $419 for a complete computer shipped to your door is hard to beat. Hop on it before the price hops back up to $800!

As women, there are certain guidelines by which we live our lives. Our mantras, if you will. Just as each woman is different from the rest, so are their mantras. For some women, this means swearing off white after Labor Day, for others it may entail a certain dietary regimen. Personally, the one motto I live by is "a pleasant home equals a pleasant mind."

Over the course of many years and apartments, I've found that a cluttered home often leads to my being lazy or forgetful. I'm sure this is not normal behavior, and could land me on Oprah as the woman who hoards, yet I've taken steps to remedy the problem. I've stopped creating walking paths through mountains of laundry, or allowing junk mail to grow into a massive pile of credit card offers and val-u-packs.

Despite all my efforts, being a jewelry designer means a constant purchasing of gems, chains, and beads, which can send me straight back to clutterville. I usually store these items in plastic containers and call it a day. My problem, however, is storing the finished product. Until recently, I solved this issue with hundreds of Ziploc bags. That all changed when I discovered this Jewelry Armoire at TheFurniture.com, which I can credit with saving me from trinket overload. This piece features seven drawers and two side compartments, making it perfect for storing my entire collection. Besides free shipping and 3% Cash Back, this item is priced at $100 off the retail price, making it affordable for a struggling artist such as myself.

Alas, the weekend is upon us again, and with the week I've had, I'd like little more than to kick back, relax, and do some pleasure reading.  I may be alone in this feeling, but when I hear the words "pleasure reading", I don't necessarily think of a critically-renowned book, or a classic work of literature; I read enough of that for school, or just when I'm reading on the bus every day.  Honestly, when I think about reading for fun, especially on the weekend, my mind jumps to graphic novels.  For those of you who are unfamiliar with the concept of the "graphic novel" allow me to explain: in layman's terms, a graphic novel is just a big, elaborate comic book. To refine that just a bit more, it is a longer, much more developed story (aka, a novel) that is told with the combination of both pictures and words (hence "graphic") and more often than not is a bit more "mature" than your standard comic book.

I am aware that most of you don't know much about graphic novels, so I thought I'd just give a couple of recommendations and give you a quick synopsis of what they're about.  Hopefully you find something that tickles your fancy....

- Watchmen: Simply put, this is probably the most critically acclaimed graphic novel ever. It's like the War and Peace of graphic novels, but better. In March, a movie adaptation is coming out. It's almost too hard to explain beyond that.

- Batman: The Long Halloween: I am a Batman fanatic. I own about forty Batman graphic novels (read: almost every one ever released) and this is hands down the best of them. It's drawn beautifully, written better than most major novels, and is so suspenseful that you'll want to do nothing until you finish this book. It encompasses nearly every Batman villain as Batman tries to find a killer known only as "Holiday". But that's all I'll give away....

- Ghost World: Chances are, you might know the movie. The comic is better. The style is markedly more "graphic novel" than comic: it is all black and white with blue tones. There is nothing super-hero or special powers-related in this book, it's just life and the peculiarities that make it so, especially for the teenage girl who is the protagonist of the story.

- Sleepwalk: It's realistic and somewhat of a downer, but this beautifully-drawn black and white collection examines the delicate details of what happens behind closed doors, when people are alone. The characters are highly realistic, flawed people struggling to connect with one another. I agree, it sounds bleak, but there are moments in there that are simply transcendental for their narrative beauty.

- The Left Bank Gang: The author, Jason, takes expatriate Paris in the 1920s, examines the collection of literary giants that were living there at the time (folks like Hemingway, Fitzgerald, James Joyce, Ezra Pound, and Gertrude Stein) and anthropomorphizes them into animals. The characters examine life and discuss literature; they also decide to rob a bank, which gives the book a somewhat absurd turn. It sounds crazy, it kind of is, but it's crazy served up just the way I like it.

Have a great weekend, hopefully you find a book (graphic or text, your choice) and enjoy a little relaxing page turning before heading back to work on Monday; I know I will!

Urbanites, or "city folk" as we have been called, spend a huge part of our lives trying to stand out. We take great care in knowing where to eat, what to wear, and where to find the best scene. Despite our attempts to be different from others who inhabit our zip code, we all share the same habits, one of which is apartment hopping. San Francisco is one big apartment swapping fiesta full of roommates, landlords, and overpriced rentals. The city never sits still, and neither do we.

Such was the case six months ago when I left my beloved neighborhood for a much quieter address. While I enjoy the peace of not being woken up at three in the morning to sirens and the like, I do miss the great restaurants, bars, and vintage stores that were mere blocks from my front stoop. A vintage shopping spree followed by sushi isn't as enjoyable when it entails taking a crowded bus or spending forty five minutes looking for parking.

The end of these excursions always found me plopped on my favorite chair, sipping a margarita and cringing at the financial damage done. Something about that chair, which I nicknamed "boyfriend", gave me peace and relaxation. Maybe it's the oversized wooden arm rests, or the rustic leather cushions that trick me into thinking I'm in a country cabin. Or maybe it's just that I'm lazy and like to sit... a lot. Either way, my favorite chair has seen me through ups and downs, and after nearly a decade, it's falling apart. After a very thorough search, I came across this dead ringer at Target, and immediately fell in love. All those mornings spent curled up with "boyfriend" and a cup of joe came rushing back. After seeing the 4% Cash Back and free shipping, I was quick to make a purchase. As if that wasn't enough, I also managed to get this animal-friendly version for just $270! I'll use this Cash Back to soften the blow of those shopping trips that go awry.

Working in retail, one gets pretty inventive when it comes to getting substances off clothes after they have been tried on. The bane of any retailers existence is getting deodorant marks off delicate fabrics (oh and it was always there before someone tried it on...). The last thing you want to do is take a wet cloth to a $600 silk chiffon dress. Let me also say that rubbing the fabric together doesn't work very well either; it can strech out fabrics and cause obvious puckering in place of the stain. Baby wipes suck too. So, whoever created these magical little deodorant removing sponges should be patted on the back, bought a drink, and deeply rewarded. Made by Gal Pal (trust me, they are pals of anyone who wears deodorant and clothes), these resusable disks are sold at Beauty.com for $11 with 6% Cash Back. They make an amazing stocking stuffer, thank you present, item in a gift bag, or just something to buy for yourself to make life a little easier. Take my word on this one, they are worth every penny and last forever.

Welcome to yet another installment of Free Shipping Friday here at the Ebates blog. When I sat down earlier this morning to start this blog, I did it as I always do: I went to our coupon page and pulled up the list of Free Shipping coupons that were about to expire. Then I remembered: September ends this week. 

While the simple flipping of a page on my calendar isn't that big of a deal, what it means is that there are a TON of coupons that are about to expire.  So I did a little research, and here are the results: there are exactly 84 free shipping coupons that expire on September 30th.  Let me spell that out again, just for good measure: eighty four coupons.  In other words, if you want it shipped for free, there are more options than most of us could dream of. Looking over the course of the upcoming week, there are ninety-six free shipping coupons before I come back to write this blog again.

So, with the realization that it would take me the rest of the day to write up all these great free shipping deals, and even the task of whittling that epic list down to a more manageable number would be too daunting, I'm going to let you set out on your own. 

All you have to do is click this link, and you will to go my list, pre-sorted, of coupons that are about to expire that offer free shipping.

It's really that simple.  Check it out for yourself; you never know what you might find.

For years now, families everywhere have been forced to preserve their memories in fuzzy images produced by inadequate video cameras. These archaic camcorders that can hardly make out Uncle Joe from the shrubbery on their front lawn, turning most home videos into a two-hour game of Where's Waldo. If you're still toting around that direct-to-VHS camcorder you bought back in '82, take this golden opportunity to upgrade to the latest in digital technology. Blu-Ray is not only the future - it is now. Hop aboard with the Hitachi HD Blu Ray Digital Camcorder!

Normally you'd want to wait to grab emergent technology like this, but with such a massive sale on this camcorder, you'd better act quickly! The Hitachi HD camcorder is currently on sale for $579 - over $700 off the regular price at Buy.com. Most camcorders nowadays allow you to either copy your recordings directly to a disc, or save them to a tape to be recorded to your computer. This high-def beauty gives you the power of choice: you can either record videos directly to its 30GB hard drive and transfer them to your computer, or copy what's on your camcorder directly onto Blu-Ray discs that will play in any Blu-Ray player.  Recording is as simple as pressing start, and you can save up to eight hours of quality video (or four hours of HD) on a Blu-Ray with the touch of a button. Your home movies will look as crisp and clear as your favorite high-def movies in no time!

Normally I would link you directly to the camcorder so you could pick it up in just seconds, but unfortunately Buy.com is having a bit of a problem making links today. Instead, just click here to head over to Buy.com and type in "Hitachi Camcorder" and click on the first result (Hitachi DZBD7HA Camcorder) with free shipping. It's as easy as that! On top of your $700 savings, you'll also get your usual 1% Cash Back just for passing through Ebates, so grab this phenomenal deal before it's gone!

Most people around my age don't think much about entertaining.  Generally speaking, for myself, "entertaining" consists of making sure there is beer in the refrigerator and double checking that the TV works. I'm a guy, my friends are guys; we don't concern ourselves with throw pillows, area rugs, or place settings.  I'd much rather spend my "home accent" money on wall art, bookshelves and clocks (my two fetishes),  or on upgrading my home entertainment setup.  However, I'm reaching a point in my life where I'm employed, getting older by the day, and beginning to realize that I might have to go somewhere other than the thrift shop to pick up home decor. 

Rather than following the trend of so many of my contemporaries, I am trying to find furniture at places other than a certain Swedish home furnishing store.  I love 'em, and am always glad to support the economy of my homeland, but I think I've seen the same lamp in about twenty different friends' apartments. 

So after a little searching, I stumbled across this beautiful dinette at a price which still allows me to go out this weekend.  This Five Piece Dinette Set from JCPenney is just the right size for an apartment or smaller kitchen space, and at the crazy low price of $159.99, won't break the bank either. Finally, I can put the folding chairs and card tables back in the garage, where they belong, and have people over for dinner that doesn't involve my couch!

With 60% off of this beauty, you'll have saved enough to buy two weeks of groceries to make meals that you and your friends can enjoy on your beautiful new dinette set!

I had to pull you in with the headline because this deal, much like many things in life, can seem too good to be true. Skin Care Rx is currently having an Autumn promotion offering 20% off storewide with code Autumn20, entered at checkout. This includes savings on some of the best skincare lines: DDF, Peter Thomas Roth, Eminence Organics (which is amazing, by the way) and many, many more. I plan on picking up a luxurious candle because I am inticed by the combination of big savings and double digit cash back. Always a nice choice is the Tocca Stella Candela, already reduced from $36 to $23.40 plus an additional 20% off. It is also a great time to start thinking about potential holiday gifts; remember, nothing says I love you quite like a candle or a new skincare regimine. So pamper yourself and the ones you love with 20% off!

In fashion, there is something known as "effortless dressing," which means, quite literally, dressing without any effort. The look is always basic yet chic, and fashion magazines seem to devote countless articles to attempting to dissect the haphazard style. Femmes fatales such as Kate Moss or some Parisian woman can be photographed wearing simply a t-shirt and jeans, yet they look glamorous and pulled together. To the untrained eye, effortless dressing may appear an easy feat to pull off, but it is actually much harder to do. Looking as if less than five minutes was spent getting dressed involves having a few key pieces, without which the look would not be able to be achieved. Some of these necessary staples are a black blazer, a dark skinny jean, and a proper fitting white t-shirt. The t-shirt is actually the hardest thing to find, since it must be the perfect balance of fitted and loose. 

A few accessories are needed to sophisticate the effortless look in order to keep it from seeming frumpy. These are a drapey scarf and a chic but nerdy pair of glasses. Think of the local coffee shop fashionista pouring over her novel while sipping a cappuccino. She is refined but quirky, and in no way uptight. Her scarf seems to be carelessly swung around her neck, but rest assured there was nothing careless about it. This fringed scarf from Tobi is made from Italian linen (aka: the most comfortable fabric imaginable). At $85, this scarf is easily 50% less than what other retailers charge. This style of scarf is Versatile without being boring, and can either be worn over a sweater on those mild Fall days, or tucked into a warm winter coat. While you're at it, save 5% Cash Back. Now that's something you can't get from a magazine.

Now as far as the glasses go, you might want to check with your optometrist first...

I can equate my relationship with articles of denim in my wardrobe to my first friendships in grade school: short in duration and I pick favorites. I will have a favorite pair of jeans for a month or two that I tend to wear just about every day, and then I rediscover another pair or purchase something new to throw into the rotation. This is the cycle of my denim relationships.

Lately I have been noticing a void in my arsenal of denim wear. I need a denim jacket. I am not willing to buy something that looks brand new; that would require committing to making it worn-in and like a second skin. I want a denim jacket soul mate that is just right from the start, something that feels as if we have been together for years. I found a remastered vintage jacket from Urban Outfitters. It is part of their Urban Renewal line and is “created from denim jackets and every one is unique”. It is not love at first sight, but I feel hopeful about our future together. I like the wash of the denim and the cut looks similar to what I have in mind. The jacket is $58 dollars with 2% Cash Back. I plan on keeping it in mind while I check out a few other stores.

At Shopbop, I found this Current/Elliot Shrunken Jean Jacket. It is pretty much perfect. I like that it has longer sleeves, because I am a habitual sleeve roller. The wash is great and I also like that the denim is mixed with a little polyester for extra softness and a little give. It retails for $239 with 3% Cash Back. It is definitely worth the investment, I think we could have a long relationship together. Now all I have to do is wait 5-7 business days for my new B.F.F. to arrive while I enjoy the new deposit of Cash Back to my Ebates account. If only real relationships could be so simple...

Today marks the launch of another great retailer to Ebates, Tech for Less. While Tech for Less may look like every other electronics website with their great deals and low prices, they have a hidden ace up their sleeves: refurbished items.  Refurbished products are "like new" products that have been serviced to work even better than the majority of "new" items out there. Since they've been reconditioned, they're almost always sold at a discounted price that can rarely be beaten anywhere.

Afraid of dealing with "refurbs," dear reader? Allow me to retort! Refurbished items are a great value for multiple reasons, but the biggest draw for most is their rock-bottom prices. Quite frankly, no deal on the internet matches up to huge savings you can find on refurbished electronics. You're guaranteed to save hundreds of dollars on laptops, HDTVs, and cameras. Tech for Less has hundreds of these items on sale at closeout prices, which almost guarantees you can get a great deal for less than you'd expect.

Additionally, refurbished products are practically guaranteed to work. Some people stray away from them, worrying that they might have unfixed problems lurking underneath their shiny exteriors, but this couldn't be further from the truth. New products sold everywhere else were the ones that went bad; these refurbished items have been looked at twice to ensure that they'll work when they arrive on your door. Plus, if anything does happen to get knocked around en route, you can return your malfunctioning item within 30 days free of charge, no questions asked. Since the majority of problems with electronics will be noticeable within the first 72 hours of use, this is ample time to ensure your refurbished goodies work even better than those "new" ones that cost so much more.

Unconvinced? Chances are you should still be able to find a great deal. Tech For Less sells many brand new and "open box" (not used) products in addition to their army of refurbs, and often have sales in addition to their everyday low prices. They have a wide selection of goodies ranging from HDTVs for your home to Point of Sale (POS) systems for your booming business, so take a peek and save some money! With an extra 3% in Cash Back just for using Ebates, you can surely get some phenomenal electronics deals.

Technology is a fickle thing. I remember buying my very first flash drive almost five years ago. It was a thing of beauty - a clear SanDisk mini thumb drive with a cool 128MB of space - all for a seemingly-reasonable price of $35 after rebates. I was the coolest kid on the block, and could shove almost sixty of those outdated floppy disks on my tiny little drive. Boy was I happy.

With that said, if there's one single piece of gadgetry that demonstrates how ridiculous technology gets with time, it's flash drives. Once coming in incremental amounts for exorbitant amounts of money, you can now get a flash drive that can hold almost four DVDs for under $30. That's right, this little rugged vessel aside my words holds 16GB of data and it's only $29.99 after rebate from Newegg.com. Plus, not only is it dirt cheap, but the Corsair Flash Voyager is also one of the most durable and dependable flash drives on the market. Sure, it may look like a poor man's mini-torpedo at first, but it's curious rubber housing actually gives it unparalleled protection for your data. While you probably shouldn't try it, this little drive has been frozen, boiled, and run over without a single lost file. Try doing that with four DVDs or 888 (!) floppy discs.

Either way, this 16GB Corsair Flash Voyager is a great deal on a great product from Newegg. Toss in free shipping and Ebates' 2% Cash Back, and you've got a deal that no self-respecting nerd can turn down.

I often like to fantasize about being whisked away from my daily life to some luxurious getaway. Lately, I have been thinking I should have the "if you build it, they will come" mentality.As such, my new mantra is: "if you buy it, it will happen". 

My new outlook on my own destiny had me thinking about getting some new luggage for my anticipated travels. I would love to purchase a chic little 'weekender' tote that would hold all my stuff for a last minute getaway to Rio, or Paris; always Paris. For instances of an unexpected getaway, this Yves Saint Laurent "Downtown" Large Tote would be perfect. Right now it's available at Bluefly for 20% off and with 3% Cash Back. This bag is chic, understated, and big enough to hold all of the essentials. Really, nothing says jet-setter quite like Yves Saint Laurent.

And when my travels take me somewhere a little more rustic, this Tumi "Voyager" Weekender will be a suitable companion. Priced at $450 at Bloomingdale's (save 20% on purchaces of $250-$499, as an Insider), this bag is stylish, practical, and ideal for any voyage near or far. So whether I am traveling to the British countryside or to a cabin in Nova Scotia, I will be stylishly prepared for anything, equipped with my faithful weekender tote and Cash Back in my pocket.

Well known beauty brands are now jumping on the Target bandwagon and selling makeup collections exclusively for Target. Think Jemma Kid, Napoleon Perdis, and Pixi. Contrary to the usual "designer for Target" protocol, these collections are presented at prices comparable to the original brand. This was somewhat surprising to me, as I was hoping to score some great deals on designer makeup. What you can look out for if you are a beauty addict fiending for deals are weekly specials and great everyday prices on certain items. For instance, you can save on the brushes and tools, which cost less than the collections offered at department stores. Take a peek at this Jemma Kid professional brush set for just $35. You get a lot for the money, including four must-have, professional grade brushes in a sleek carrying case. All with the guarantee of 4% Cash Back. Love Target!

Seeing that it's Tech Tuesday, I just couldn't let such a stunning deal slide past my desk. For a limited time only (translation: RUN!), grab this Magellan Maestro 4040 GPS navigator for only $99 - over $150 off regular price! It's an absolute steal for such a great GPS, which includes a 4.5" touchscreen, preloaded maps and destinations, and an SD card slot to pre-load your maps and itineraries before you set off. While other GPS systems over-complicate things by adding in music or other nonessential features, this Magellan Maestro GPS does exactly what you need it to: deliver you safely from place to place.

In other words, if you're in the market for a little something to finally get you to Grandma's on time, you're in luck. It even includes speech recognition technology for hands-free operation, as well 4.5 million included Points of Interest for you to discover and enjoy. This Magellan 4040 GPS system comes factory refurbished, and even includes a suction cup mount to attach it to your car windshield. Best of all, you'll get 3% Cash Back from TigerDirect just by using Ebates. Either way, it's a great GPS system at a closeout price, so grab it quick if you need one!

One of the many things I find amusing about our culture is the dedication of entire weeks for random causes. We've all heard of National Secretary Week, National Small Business Week, or my favorite, National Singles Week. It's as if some married CEO thought of a list of things he or she wouldn't want to be and dedicated one week to each of them. While I'm all for praising people, a string of questions come to mind: are these special weeks meant to raise awareness, or are they meant to be some form of pity? If they are meant to raise awareness, isn't that then just a form of pity? As if to say "Hey secretary, you'll never be CEO, so here's a week for you", or "Hey unmarried person, feeling lonely? We gave you a week!" The whole thing just seems rather odd, but like I said, amusing in a cynical way.

Being that this week is National Singles Week, and I am one of the estimated 82 million singles (oh my!), I thought "What better way to celebrate, than with the joy of buying nice things for myself?" After all, isn't the best part of being single the ability to be totally selfish? What better way is there to show your self-love than with buying a nice piece of jewelry?

So, after looking to the skies for a fairy tale and realizing Prince Charming must have missed his flight, I created my own "happily ever after" and purchased this diamond ring from where else? Diamond.com. Not only do they list fine jewelry at up to 50% off when compared to the big retailers, but they also offer monthly payments. Remember, being single should not equal being broke. I love how this ring is delicate and rich looking, but has the flair associated with costume jewelry. It's one part fine, one part flair, all parts me. Nothing can describe the joy from waving my right hand and seeing the stares of envy and confusion. With the 2% Cash Back, I treated myself to a fancy manicure, too.

Hey, beautiful jewelry calls for beautiful hands.

As the resident tech dude, I'm prone to regular questioning about the latest electronics upgrades. With that said, there's one question I receive almost daily: "What laptop should I buy?" Even though so many different brands and models are out there on the market, few people really have a clue what they're looking at, or what they might need in a new laptop. For me, the three biggest factors in a laptop are power, speed, and price. Does it have enough hard drive space for all your files? Will it run everything you can throw at it? Most importantly, can you pay it off in a few paychecks or less? Those things are ultimately up to you, but if you're looking for something that surprisingly exceeds my staunch budget laptop expectations, this Acer Extensa Notebook is an excellent choice for almost anyone.

Featuring a super-fast 2.0ghz dual-core AMD processor, 2 gigabytes of RAM to load all your programs swiftly, and 120GB of hard drive space for all your movies, music, and games, this $450 Acer's impressive spec's belie its simple exterior and bargain price. Adding to its value are an included webcam and an ATI Radeon X1250 IGP graphics card that will play HD movies and many of yesterday's games with ease. While it's not a "true" gaming laptop in that it won't run the newest games on the highest settings imaginable, it should do better than many other sub-$800 notebooks thanks to its dedicated ATI graphics card. Since your laptop will probably be used for work and internet 90% of the time, this Acer Extensa laptop should be able to handle practically anything you throw at it, and look good while doing it.

Acer's laptops have been steadily getting better and better every year, and are among some of the best "value" laptops currently on the market. With an additional $150 off of their already low prices, this $450 Extensa is a downright steal. If you need a computer for less than $500, and appreciate little luxuries like free shipping and 2% Cash Back, I can't recommend this bad boy enough.

The famous store now has a home here at Ebates! Known for their fashion-forward designs without the fashion forward prices, it's no wonder bebe is a favorite of women everywhere who seek ultra femine, and flirtatious style. The collection offers a diverse range of clothing from suiting to their athletic line bebe Sport. Fashionistas flock to bebe for latest trends and hottest accessories, with 3% Cash Back, you'll be flocking to bebe too.

Their fall collection is looking great, they have a ton of refreshing, of-the-moment pieces that will add a little flair to your fall wardrobe without breaking the bank. Plus, many new fall pieces are now up to 40% off!




I like this Black plaid popover dress, originally $58, now just $44.99. I love plaid and I also love an easy dress that you can throw on with tights and boots to feel put together even if you don't have time. Also, I am fond of these Zippered ankle jeans, on sale for just $54.99.

And you can always count on gap to keep you in good basics, like this Stretch fitted shirt for only $39.50. Its not on sale, but it is offered at an amazing price for a wardrobe staple.

So make a stop at the Gap today and advantage of fall sale items and a big gulp of Cash Back.

My standard weekend night involves coming home from work, standing in the kitchen like a moron trying to recall how to boil water, followed by plopping my butt in front of the TV. I'm not the "Let's go clubbing" type. I'm much more the "Let's watch Law and Order" type. In particular, let's watch the five hour marathon of SVU, and then pass out of the sofa, only to wake up and stumble half asleep to bed. Now that's what I call a great Friday night.

My friends, however, see life differently. I can usually count on them to call me with some enticing plan that is guaranteed to 1) change my life, and 2) give me something to tell my grandkids. So after I reluctantly agree to meet at some bar which tends to be located at the opposite end of the city, I end up faced with the problem of figuring out what to wear.

While I would love to wear my favorite cashmere sweater, I know I'll need something less grandma and more age appropriate. This Vera Wang Top from Bluefly is the perfect marriage of comfort and allure, and at 40% it is now irresistible. It's flirty and glitzy without looking like I'm trying too hard. The length is great for making sure my behind stays in line while I'm dancing the night away. Next time my friends drag me out, I won't have to stand in my closet while trying to think of what to wear. No, with this top I'll be ready in five minutes, which leaves time for more important things, like Law and Order. I'll also receive 3% Cash Back, which only sweetens the pot.

There are few products that I come across in my life that I think are so amazing that I feel it is my civic duty to spread the gospel to fellow women. It takes me some time to know if a product is worth this acclaim because I am usually excited about a product from the get-go. I am the perfect victim for gimmicks; I watch a lot of TV, read a ton of magazines, and am a sucker for great packaging. I admit this only because I know there are kindred spirits out there who feel the same way and spend the extra money to buy something just because it is cute. Let’s face it, life is too short.
Once again, I fell for the packaging and picked up Givenchy’s new Phenomen’Eyes mascara. I thought the bottle would look great in my makeup bag and couldn’t wait to try the innovative ball applicator. Let me say this in the most adamant and convincing way possible: This is the best mascara, ever. Believe me, I have tried enough to say that with creditable certainty. That little ball applicator gets into every crevice of your eye, reaching lashes no other brush could. It is a Sephora exclusive, and sells for $27 dollars plus the 4% Cash Back. Pick up a tube and enjoy! Also, enter code 10DAY at checkout and receive a special Bare Escentuals free 10-day sample plus brush.

About a month ago in the weekly newsletter we featured skinny ties, which I am a huge fan of. However, being a member of the "Big & Tall" set, the skinny tie isn't always flattering, especially if I wear one without a coat or suspenders. For such occasions, when you need a tie that will be stylish enough to stand free, yet subtle enough so that it doesn't look flashy, think of going with this black and gray windowpane tie.

The windowpane pattern is rapidly emerging in fashion as the new hot look: it's not as cut-and-dried as a pinstripe, but isn't quite as bold as a plaid or a paisley. This tie will stand out perfectly on either a black or a white shirt, as the shading creates an illusion of depth; also, because of the grayscale tones, this tie can be paired with almost any color shirt from a deep wine red to a lighter blue. Best of all, since Kohl's is today's Daily Double, you can get this tie at 40% off its list price, and get an extra 4% Cash Back.

If you're looking for the perfect complement to this tie, or any tie for that matter, look no further. I don't know exactly when the tie tack went out of fashion or why; all I know is that these little doodads are back in a major way. I will forewarn you, tie tacks are kind of dangerous for use in higher-end silk ties, but other than that, tack away!  This Emerald cut silver-tone tie tack adds just the right touch of flair to your ensemble, and gives a little extra freedom of motion to your tie. What makes the tie tack so superior to the tie clips that most men use is that while the pin holds the two lengths of the tie together, the attached chain goes into the adjacent button hole, allowing your tie to swing and sag as needed instead of the fixed location of a tie clip, which leads to bunching. $18 may seem a little steep, but with the buy one, get one half off promotion, you can get two of these for under $30, and they really do make a great gift. Plus, gift or not, you are the one who keeps your 4% Cash Back, provided you jump on this great deal by midnight tonight.

The top three easy updates are; a purple coat, seen pictured above from JCrew, a gorgeous, versatile dress of the same hue and a good-looking trouser that will rejuvenate older blouses and sweaters with a pop of purple. This JCrew Double Cloth Lady Coat sells for $330 with 2% Cash back; and it couldn't be more of a deal. It is made exclusively for JCrew by an expert Italian miller that has been producing wool fabrics for eighty years. It is truly an amazing quality for the price.

Next, this Alexander Wang Tank Wrap Dress is figure-flattering and of course, beautifully purple.  It is also on sale for 30% off at Shopbop, now only $366.80, with 3% Cash Back.   And the last insta-update for fall is a Corduroy Trouser from Banana Republic. This pair of pants represents the ideal union of modern and classic. Plus, they are only $89 and will seamlessly take the place of your perennial black pants this season. So welcome purple into the fall color palette and let the brilliant color have its time in the spotlight!

Earlier this week I posted about a huge vinyl sale over at J&R, and realized that many readers were in the dark about what kind of record player would work best for them. Even though turntables have been around forever, they've recently seen a return among many different circles of music fanatics, ranging from hardcore punk rockers to ritzy audiophiles with lots of money to spend. There's little better than throwing a record on the turntable and enjoying music the way it was meant to be experienced, so consider giving one of these players (or the ones featured next week) a try to experience pure relaxation.

Since I'll be breaking this up into two bite-sized features, I'll include a little bit of info along with each installment to bring newcomers (and returners) up to speed with some of the basic features and components of a record player that can factor into price. First, the quality and types of components used in the build of the turntable play a huge part in the sound (and price) of a turntable. The platter, the large, round area where records are placed, can be made of various substances ranging from plastic and metal, to fancy glass and even wood. Even though it's just a simple circle that spins records, platters can affect the sound of a system dramatically, especially when paired with a proper tonearm and stylus (the metal arm and "needle" that is placed on a record). While these "lower end" solutions may not be made of glass and gold, they'll undoubtedly play your records and even sound just fine doing it. Take a peek for yourself!

For the person who wants a dirt cheap turntable:  The Jensen 3 Speed Turntable

While I usually refuse to acknowledge "bundle" turntables with AM/FM radios, CD players, espresso machines, and whatever else an unheard company wants to tack onto a mediocre record player, this Jensen turntable is a downright steal. It allows you to play your records and listen to the radio on its two tiny speakers, or hook up a pair of your own for a much better sound. Considering it's only $39 shipped from Buy.com, it's hard to pass up on this turntable if you don't see yourself as more than a casual listener. However, if you have a home theater setup and want to have something that may work a little better with it, you'll probably want to pick up something more like the next player (or the ones next week).

For the full-featured beginner: The Ion iTTUSB05 USB Turntable

If you're new to the world of turntables and record players, you probably won't want to drop $900 on a pair of Technics SL-1200s and a cross fader to be a DJ overnight. For most of us, a simple turntable that rotates a record and plays music is all we really need. This Ion USB turntable is a great starter turntable for two reasons: first, it's only $100 and plays records beautifully. Secondly, it hooks up to your computer via USB, so if you ever want to make MP3s of your rare 45s, it's as easy as plugging it into your computer and pressing record with the bundled software. Since it will always be useful (as few high-end turntables include a USB out), it makes a great starter turntable for anyone.

If neither of these turntables seem to tickle your fancy, feel free to check out our electronics category to do some research yourself. I'll be back next week for the second part of our turntable assault, featuring turntables fit for a DJ and a king. Have a great weekend!

Ahoy Mateys!  It's International Talk Like A Pirate Day!  Yarrrr!

I might have some trouble typing with my eye patch on, but that won't stop me from bringing you the best in free shipping for the coming week...

Friday, September 19th
- If you love leftovers as much as I do, you don't want to miss this... today only, Food Saver is giving free shipping on all orders with code U8FAFREE.  This doesn't happen often, so take advantage while you can (in other words, in the next nine hours)

- Through the end of today Lancome is offering free shipping.  As a matter of fact, their free shipping has no limitations - all orders are shipped free today.

- Like a good deal? Well then, get this: Smart Bargains, your online destination for all things bargain, is offering free shipping on all orders over $75

Saturday, September 20th
- Got a paper to turn in on Monday? Want to make prints of all the photos you took this weekend? Then take advantage of free next business day shipping on all HP Ink, toner, and paper from HP Home

Sunday, September 21st
- Need diapers? Want a new binkie? Can't find the stroller? Then you need to take advantage of free shipping on all orders over $29 at BabyCenter

-Clinique has free shipping on all orders. Do you hear that sound? It's beauty knocking at your door, and it got shipped for free! Just use the code 4DAYS at checkout

- Jos. A. Bank is setting the bar a little higher for free shipping; here goes: they are offering free shipping with two business day delivery with no minimum or premiums. This is your chance to look a lot better for a lot less.

- Shu Uemura has free shipping on any order with code SHU09, so you can stock up on all your skincare and makeup needs and get them shipped for exactly what you paid for them.

Monday, September 22nd
- Your favorite and mine, Bloomingdale's, is offering free shipping again. Just spend $200 and they'll see to it that you get your product without paying for the transit. As I've said in the past, it isn't hard to find $200 in stuff you like at Bloomie's, so you should be able to take advantage of this great deal over the weekend with no problems.

Wednesday, September 24th
- Delia's is offering free shipping again. This isn't uncommon. However, what is uncommon is that they are offering free shipping on all products with no minimums. Just use the code DWLSHIP and every purchase from pins to picture frames, from bedding to boots will all get to your door with no extra shipping costs.

For all you designer denim junkies out there, I’ve got happy news; True Religion Store is now an Ebates merchant, offering  2% Cash Back! So get your denim fix for yourself, your man, and the denim junkie in training in your life. It has been a while since I have checked in with True Religion, and their product and site are both looking good. They have a wide variety of cuts and washes, from the modest Jaclyn high rise jean, $216  (pictured right) to the ultimate statement jean, the Bobby distressed flare, $240 (left). The minds at True Religion have expanded the brand to include mens, womens, and kids clothing, as well as shoes and accessories. I have taken a liking to their handbag line, which is full of finely crafted, classically bohemian chic handbags. I am especially fond of the Camilla Satchel, $499. The Camilla Satchel is presented in a variety of colors, all of which are made of Italian tumbled vegetable leather with stylish accents and optional shoulder strap for those days when you’ve got more cargo. The store is definitely worth a cruise by, so check out their wide selection and enjoy Cash Back! Welcome, True Religion! 
                                                               

My love affair with Urban Outfitters began in my early teenage years, when I would visit their Cambridge, MA store for indie labels and unique home goods. Many, many years later, I still count on them for fashion forward pieces without the designer cost. This Striped Sweater by Free People is $20 off, making it my new best friend. I plan on wearing it with my favorite skinny jeans and ballet flats. Looking like a chic Parisian is always in style, but spending my entire paycheck isn't. Earning Double Cash Back on top of everything, well, that's just too good to be true.

There are quite a few misconceptions about women who work in fashion. One of these is that we all run around in heels like Carrie from Sex and the City, gracefully jetting down busy streets in five inch stilettos. While I wish walking, or running, in heels was a piece of cake, it's actually nearly impossible. Any time I've attempted it, I know I'm definitely not graceful, and am bound to fall on my behind eventually. However, being only 5"2 means I need all the height assistance I can get, so despite the dangers, I too have a heel collection. Ranging in colors and fabrics, my heels sit in my closet, as pretty as can be. They should be, considering I never wear them. Really, they are just a constant reminder of money wasted and blisters suffered.

This year, all that changes, thanks to the season's must-have boot, which features a stacked heel. This pair from Smart Bargains is on sale for just $80, which already has me jumping for joy regardless of what shoes I'm wearing. With a little over three inches in additional height, I'll be able to prance around to my heart's desire knowing the thick heel will keep me sturdy. Choose from either dark brown (shown) or jet black, and pair them with everything from jeans to that mini you recently spotted, and get ready to actually catch the bus. When others are amazed at your ability to dash down the street in heels, just tell them "I work in fashion."

I absolutely love a good deal, but that's not my only love. I enjoy many of the finer things in life, such as walking across a freshly splashed beach, killing legions of undead soldiers in video games and, of course, saving the environment. While I wouldn't exactly recommend taking the Fantom GreenDrive on your next aquatically-themed romantic getaway, this little drive will certainly help you save money, our planet, and even TV shows in ways you'd never expect.

Loyal readers of our newsletter may recognize the Fantom GreenDrive, as its 500GB compatriot was our weekly pick this past week. It's a great little drive with a whole bunch of nifty features, and its 1 TB big brother is no exception. While most external hard drives rely solely on a comparatively slower USB 2.0 for file transfers, the GreenDrive kicks it up a notch by offering eSATA connectivity as well. This increases file transfer speeds five times from 60 mb/s to 300mb/s, and allows it to hook up to your compatible DVR or TiVo for an additional 150 hours of HD content, or 600 hours of standard definition TV. Wow! Add in the yearly savings of 60kg of carbon waste emissions thanks to its low power consumption, and you've got the equivalent of a perfect storm for an external hard drive.

While helping to save the environment and boosting your TiVo are reasons enough to grab the Fantom GreenDrive in a second, it also offers all these bonus features at a downright bargain price. For comparison, internal hard drives (which usually cost $20-30 less, depending on the drive) with a terabyte of space retail for somewhere around $130-$150, so for an external terabyte drive to cost around the same price of an internal is a huge savings. It's a great deal on a product with tons of fantastic features, so get on out there and upgrade your DVR or PC today!

In case you hadn't noticed the leaves changing colors or the fact that it's completely dark by eight o'clock these days, this might come as a shock to you: Fall is bearing down on us. Officially, the seasons change next Monday with the Autumnal Equinox, but for me, the first day of Fall is when I put aside my hoodie in favor of an actual lined jacket.

While the young and casual side of my personality loves the perfect weight and fit of the basic Dickie's jacket, there are times when situations call for something a little warmer, and maybe even a touch more formal. That is why I firmly believe every man should own at least one good overcoat. They're timeless, they're classy, and much like a well-tailored suit, almost anyone can look good in them. I'm also a firm believer that a nice overcoat can accompany almost any outfit: it looks perfect with a shirt and tie, it can be the perfect complement to a button-down shirt and a nice pair of pants, or even can dress up jeans and a t-shirt in a way that works surprisingly well. 

So, since we're creeping up quickly on coat season, I present to you the Calvin Klein "Plaza" Overcoat. It blends the warmth of wool with the softness of cashmere, and provides a classically-crafted touch of class that every man should have. Better yet, Macy's currently is offering this stylish piece of evening wear for 45% off the list price. Supplies seem to be a little limited, but you can find the coat that suits you best, whether it be in brown, charcoal, or black, for a whole lot less while supplies last with 4% Cash Back from Ebates.

If you’ve known me for five minutes, you probably have heard me mention the love of my life, Stephen. Stephen is the most amazing English bulldog that has ever graced the earth. He is pictured at left, if you wanted a point of reference. Look at his kissable jowls. I realize that I sound like a kooky animal lover who rolls her dog around in a stroller and spoils him with lavish gifts, imposing human qualities and emotions on the poor animal who will never live up to the human’s expectations. However, that is not true. Yes, Stephen is remarkably human-like and easy to talk to, but no, I do not spoil him with lavish gifts. So when I discovered the Ebates Daily Double for today is at PetSmart, giving an amazing 8% Cash Back, I got very excited; mainly because Stephen is turning one year old on Saturday, and I have been meaning to get him a gift. I love this Flexa Foam Bill Bull chew toy (just $5.99), probably because it bears a slight resemblance to Stephen, especially when he is sitting. So, pet lovers, do some shopping at PetSmart and earn double the Cash Back!

Saving some green and being green is usually not the same thing. In my effort to be green, I often find myself spending more money. But it is usually on food and products that are good for me and this little home of ours called Earth, so I feel as though it is money well spent. But fashion…fashion is entirely different.

Now, I may sound vain, and some people may hate me for saying this, but I have often associated green fashion with articles of clothing that are not-so-flattering and definitely not in line with my style philosophy. Well, green friends, the tide is changing. Shopbop has an entire section of green fashion from jeans to hot cocktail dresses and shoes. One of my favorite items is this Marc By Marc Jacobs “Save My Pole” hemp tote, a Shopbop exclusive. And if you're looking to save some green while being green, there is an entire section of earth-friendly sale items.

My pick is this Larsen Gray open side tank. Made of double layered sustainable silk-chiffon with soybean and cotton blend trim, it is fashionable, earth friendly, and 50% off! Also, let's not forget about putting 3% Cash Back into your account, so you can save a whole lotta green.

It is with great hesitance that I make the following admission: I'm not as young as I used to be. I know, it's hard to believe, but that's how these things go. Luckily, all hope is not lost. In a time when so much attention is spent on women's anti-aging or revitalizing or firming or what have you, we men can feel somewhat left out. That's where today's site comes into play.

LabSeries is a website devoted to men's skincare and toiletries. Whether you just want to get a closer shave, moisturize your face a bit more, get the most out of every time you wash your face, or just take care of your hair, LabSeries is the place to go. Their collection of creams, tonics, balms, and lotions may sound a little absurd to the average reader, but the results are undeniable. Plus, with gift sets starting as low as $27.50, you can start looking years younger in no time. Remember men, there's nothing metrosexual about looking younger or taking care of yourself, and women, the gift of a skin care product tells your man you care about him while making him a little easier on the eyes.

There are a number of gift sets, which are practical and great for those who aren't sure what suits them, but there are some individual products that really bear mention, particularly (and somewhat peculiarly) the ab sculpting gel and the hair tonic.

I haven't heard the term "hair tonic" in ages, so I had to find out what this is all about; turns out that this little bottle caintains a wonderful solution that will strengthen and thicken your damaged hair, while taking good care of your scalp as well. 

The ab sculpting gel generally does not apply to folks like myself (it's hard to "sculpt" what I've got), but apparently for those gents who are in tip-top shape, this is a firming gel used to tighten up the ol' six-pack after working out and after the shower.  Truth be told, I am tempted to buy a tube for myself just to try it out. 

Either way, LabSeries has some great deals on all you might need for your "man care" needs. You also get a sweet 7% Cash Back from Ebates on everything you could ever dream of from this site, and through the end of September, you can use the coupon code EBATESMA for a free multi-action face wash with any purchase over $35.  Looking good never looked better!

Do you need a new, cheap laptop? I don't mean "need" in the traditional, "yeah, I need to update my old laptop sometime," or the "I'll get around to it next week" kind of need. I'm talking about the "Oh man! I have $400 and need a new laptop so badly that I don't care if it looks like it was shipped overnight from the '80s" kind of need. If that sounds like you, and you don't mind sacrificing a little sexiness for stability, this reconditioned IBM ThinkPad will get you computing in no time.

If there's one thing missing from laptops nowadays, it's character. They all fit into a few different categories (netbook, laptop, gaming /performance laptop), come in a few standard sizes (8.9," 15," 17"), and only have a single trackpad/mouse combo. This beast of a computer throws all standards of normalcy out the window by featuring a slim, extra-portable 14.1" screen, and an additional set of trackpad buttons to help you maximize productivity with its included mouse nub. Sure, it's memory may be a bit on the lean side (512MB/40GB), but that's easily upgradable to push this baby to the limit. It also comes with Windows XP preloaded on it, which is certainly a huge bonus for some.

Keep in mind that this IBM ThinkPad has been "recertified" by IBM, which means that whatever errors that originally came with the laptop have been fixed, but it's not technically "brand new." Either way, it's still a screamin' deal, and would make a great second laptop or budget computer for practically anyone. At only $360 with free shipping from Buy.com, this is simply a no-brainer for those who really need a new, full-sized laptop at a bargain-barrel price.

I love Kohl's. To be specific, I am loving Simply Vera Wang for Kohl's. As my fellow blogger Allie may have noticed, I am often looking at the Vera Wang section at Kohl's, sending links and making references to how adorable and high-end the clothes and accessories are. Case in point: this Ponte Dress with embellished neckline. Now on sale for just $65.99, this dress hearkens back to classic feminine sophistication of days past.
Throw in this embossed structured satchel (now $41.99) and a pair of modern Mary Janes (now $48.99), and you’ve got a complete look composed of wardrobe-enhancing separates for about $150. Simply Vera Wang seems to exist right on the line of classic and modern, and proves that you don’t need to pay a lot to look great. The entire collection is now on sale at Kohl's. In addition, for three days only, Kohl's will ship your entire order for $4.99 plus the 2% Cash Back!

A woman's hair is either her worst enemy or her best friend. Honestly, I am not interested in those of you blessed with beautiful locks. This blog is for those of us who don't. This blog is for us women who cut, color, and primp. It's for us women who spend the occasional moment of doubt in front a mirror holding their boyfriend's electric shaver thinking of starting over from scratch. Ladies, I know what you're going through.
But it wasn't always like this for me.
No, I used to have that mane of long flowing perfect hair that I completely took for granted. When I became tired of my straight hair, I went so bold as to get bangs and added thousands of layers. Guess what? I still had amazing hair, although it was far less hippie that it once was. After about a year of growing bangs, my hair started to change; it became less manageable and just looked wrong, no matter what I did to it. In order to replace my dying self esteem, I tried the side-swept bangs, the tousled look, and even went so far as to dying it black. None of this worked, and I started to think that perhaps a drastic cut was what I needed. Maybe my long hair was becoming baggage, and I needed a fresh start. Someone should have stopped me there. The rest of the story involves getting four inches cut off, walking out of the salon looking like Robert Smith of The Cure, and finally having a mini nervous breakdown.

After this ill-advised trip to the salon, it was time for bobby pins, hair ties, headbands, and my favorite accessory, hats. I've always had an affinity for eclectic head wear, whether it's my mother's beret, or the vintage pill box hat I scored in downtown San Francisco. This Fedora by Grace Hats is refined enough to wear to work, and looks adorable with everything from tees to blouses. Considering it's only $39 at Tobi.com, I have the option of buying more than one style. Now that I have chic and stylish ways of hiding my mane, my next task will be waiting for it to grow back... which might take a while.

And now for something completely different. Records! Have you heard of them? Chances are you've probably owned a few in your younger days, but thought they went the way of the 8-Track, BetaMax, and Dreamcast. Much to many people's surprise, records are still alive and well decades after their presumed demise, living on in the crates of DJs and audio enthusiasts alike.

Now for full disclosure here: I'm a recovering record addict. While most were taking the digital plunge and downloading their albums from iTunes, I picked up my first turntable and never looked back. For me, the sound that comes from most records is simply brilliant. It's easy to hear the difference in the warmth and clarity that comes from a true analog recording. On top of the sound, a vinyl LP's presentation is second to none. From the full-sized (12"x12") artwork and liner notes, to gatefold LPs and colored vinyl, other formats can hardly compare. Of course portability is vinyl's biggest drawback, but how often do you use your portable CD player nowadays? If you like to relax to your music at home on a nice set of home theater speakers, possibly while sipping on a tasty beverage and enjoying the company of others, you owe it to yourself to get some of your favorite albums on vinyl.

Thankfully, J&R knows how awesome vinyl really is, and they're even nice enough to have all their records on sale! From the newest Led Zeppelin and Billy Bob Thornton records, to old-school favorites like Thriller and Master of Puppets, you should easily be able to find a little somethin' somethin' to fit your audiophilic needs. Just head on over to J&R and search for "vinyl" to see all their great deals. If you don't already have a turntable at home, check back later on this week, as I will be picking out a few different turntables that would perfectly complement your setup and needs. It's like a time warp, but with old electronics instead of DeLoreans!

I have a sad admission to make: for all the reading I do, I don't have a good lamp to read by. I have overhead lighting, and I have floor lamps, but I have no nightstand or desk lamp to speak of. As a literature student and an avid reader, this is disgraceful. Luckily, I think my problem may have been solved, thanks to this gorgeous piece of work from Target. It seems pretty perfect for me, and I think it just might be perfect for some of you.

Looking to make a subtle yet elegant change in your home or office? Have you been using the same lamp that's been sitting there gathering dust or tarnishing for years? Do you love a great deal? If you answered "yes" to any or all of those questions, then have I got the deal for you: the Polished Steel Desk Lamp from Target. This lamp combines the functionality of a three-way lamp with a dimmer, a sleek art-deco design, and the convenience of a touch lamp all in one sturdy package. Add a touch of class to your desk, end table, or nightstand with this great lamp, and get 4% Cash Back in the process. Plus, with free shipping, you can get this lamp on your table without going out of pocket. 

Better still, if you decide you don't like it, you can simply return it to any local Target location in your neighborhood. Go right over to Target.com and snatch one of these USA-made beauties up before they're all gone!

Much like Mr. Rogers, I have a fondness for cardigan sweaters; and if it was acceptable, I could potentially wear one every day. Today I am wearing my most prized cardigan, an Alexander Wang circa 2005. Each time I wear it, I become more aware of its fragile, lovable condition. But the reality that one day this sweater will become too lived-in and loved to wear out into the neighborhood is looming. I must find a suitable replacement. While looking at one of my favorite shopping destinations, Bluefly.com, I found a great deal on this CeCe Cashmere Cardigan for 48% off! My eager eyes then saw in huge letters, “Today only, take an Extra 10% off everything onsite” …Jackpot! This promotion is applied to items in your shopping cart. The extra discount makes the delightful little cashmere cardigan now just $125.10, nearly $145 off the original retail value.

The cardigan is available in five colors, including my personal favorite, the perennial cardigan color: charcoal grey. For those of you who want to give a fashion shout out to "the cardigan man" himself, it is also available in a sophisticated Cabernet (deep red). So, dear cardigan, it's such a good feeling to know we're neighbors.

If you're the kind of person who has always wanted to go spelunking to wear sweet construction hats with a giant flashlight on top, but are slightly claustrophobic and never really considered the idea of going into miles deep into an abyss-like cavern to be that great of a way to spend a weekend, I've got the perfect thing for you! Oh… you're not that kind of person? Well, this sweet LED Trail Cap from REI is still a helluva lot cooler than you'd think.

For starters, these caps aren't just an attractive way to cover up your Monday morning bed head. They stealthily include three bright LED lights to shine light on the darkest of areas. They're powered by two tiny batteries, and can easily be switched on by the press of a button under the bill. In addition to the light, this high-quality nylon/polyester hat is cool and breathable, and will fit comfortably with its CoolMax sweatband for hours upon hours. Whether you're poking your head under your bed to look for spare socks and lost siblings, or peacefully reading a book at midnight in the wilderness, this sleek LED Trail Cap will come in handy far more often than you might think.

Even if you're skeptical of the mildly nerdy design, this Trail Cap will only set you back $25 before the 3% Cash Back, so give it the ol' college try. I know that this little fashion gizmo would have been a lifesaver for me when I was searching for hidden treasure and diving headfirst into dark and scary places, and chances are you'll find all kinds of new and innovative ways to put it to good use yourself, too.

Now that I've got your attention, let me be brief. Until September 18th (hello-that's Thursday) Tobi is giving an additional 25% off all items. This includes all sale items, which means, you guessed it, extra savings. Now is the time to re-visit that adorable Grey Ant dress you've been eyeing all season, or pick up this Reyes Jacket from Tobi.com and save nearly $400 off the original! Snap closures and roomy pockets make this jacket too cute to pass up.

I have a dish on a table in my foyer that holds, well, lip gloss. Some people put important things in there like keys, mail, loose change, even Axe Deodorant Spray; mine is brimming with a vast, bordering psychotic assortment of lip color. I looked at that dish this morning whilst running out the door and thought, "I don’t need another lip gloss." Then I came to my senses and realized a girl can never have too many lip gloss options and I remembered that I need and love all of them in a special way.

For those of you who share that feeling or for any of you who need to spice up the lip gloss dish, Avon’s Glazewear, America’s #1 lip gloss, is now on sale for less than $2 a tube at an amazing 66% off!  Also, you cannot forget about Avon's 5% Cash Back, so pick up an extra tube, it is practically on us. Shop on!

Here at Ebates, our fashion specialists, Allie and Poppy, consistently bring you all the best in the world of apparel. They scour the internet tirelessly in search of not only the greatest fashions, but also in search of the greatest deals. This is great for all of those fashion-forward female readers we have. But the question has risen between myself and some members of the tech crew here as to what the rest of us are supposed to do? What about us guys who would rather spend some extra cash on a new pair of headphones or on the latest in techo-gadgets? Where can we turn for fashion advice?

That's what I'm here for, friends.  I am going to track down a couple of great deals on some clothes that might not put you at the front of the fashion trend, but will assure that you spend a whole lot less to look presentable.

Let's start where all good bargain-minded shoppers start: Wal-Mart.  As I've stated in the past, San Franciscans don't really have a Wal-Mart nearby, so we have to shop online, and with the Cash Back you get from Ebates, you might as well save gas and do your shopping online.  So what did I find in my quick and easy clothing search?  This short sleeved button down shirt.  It's simple, it's classy, it's three dollars. That's right - I hardly believed it myself, but this shirt and all of its little plaid brethren are just three bucks a pop. That means you can buy two work weeks' worth of shirts for less than $50. 

If you get a little chilly, just pull out your Fruit of the Loom zip-up hoodie, also from Wal-Mart, for just $10.84. You can go hog wild and buy all four colors for under fifty dollars. That way, if you're like me and spill coffee on everything you wear, you won't be heartbroken that the sweatshirt that cost you a day's salary was ruined by your morning cup of joe.  Instead, you can cut out that morning cup of coffee for a week and have enough to buy another one of these.

Finally, inspired by the members of the Geek Squad, I would be derelict in my duties if I didn't advise you to own a short-sleeved dress shirt.  I know that this look is frowned upon all over fashion, but I still love them.  Available in a wide range of colors with a quantity discount, JCPenny is the place to get one of these beauties for yourself. I speak from personal experience when I say that the Stafford Essentials short sleeve dress shirt is not only durable as can be, they are surprisingly comfortable.  Plus, they are wrinkle-free, so if you have an aversion to ironing like I do, they look pretty darn presentable right off the hanger.  Pair a short sleeved white dress shirt with black pants and a black tie, and complete strangers will come up to you and ask you to help them configure their hard drive.

While stopped at a red light last week, I witnessed roughly five hundred (not an exaggeration) children crossing the street in what must have been a school field trip. There I was sitting for nearly five minutes, staring blankly at the mass of uniforms and backpacks when the question popped into my head: What is going on with the youth of today? Kids don't even look like kids, they look like, they look like miniature adults. First there was the nine year old on her cellphone, followed by two boys playing on their mini computers. What does a nine year old need a cell phone for? Is she planning today's meeting in the schoolyard? Were the boys checking their outlook mail? Don't they get what it means to be a kid? You know, imagination?

Whatever happened to bringing dolls to school, or putting gum in each other's hair? You know.. the good old days? Am I even old enough to say "the good old days"? The days before computers ruled our lives, and when playtime consisted of running around outside. I used to spend hours making fantasy worlds with only a stick or a piece of paper, and when the temperature dropped I would pretend I was home on the range, building my homestead with Lincoln Logs. This set that I happily found at KB Toys is only $19.99, and it even comes with a horse-drawn wagon, not originally available found in the older version. While the famous wooden building "logs" have seen an upgrade, (window frames, one-piece roof) they remain the same memorable toy from my youth. KB Toys has four different sets to choose from, so if you're looking for a gift that will spark a child mind instead of numbing it, may I suggest this classic?

When it comes to city driving, I am a big fan of the horn. I find it tamer and more lady-like than spewing expletives out the window to my fellow driver. The horn gets a bad wrap, and it really expresses a variety of sentiments like, “Excuse me, you are in the way” or “Wow, you really can’t drive.” It can even be a handy tool in being a good Samaritan by telling someone “You left your latte on the roof of your car.” The horn can express interest, disinterest, and healthy, passive-aggressive American rage.  So one may ask oneself, with all the uses of a car's horn, why have just one?
Because it is opposite day at the Ebates blogging nucleus, I thought I would put fashion on the side burner (never on the back burner), and think about what other accouterments would fill my life with style and flair. I stumbled upon Stylin’ Trucks and found an entire page of air horns that I could attach to my vehicle. They are available at discount prices, plus 3% Cash Back, and most items ship same day. They have it all! From a Cavalry Charge Musical to a Tequila Musical air horn kit. The latter might present a problem if you are trying to stay under the radar after one too many tequila shots at the town saloon. However, there is a Star Trek musical air horn kit that will deter the cops but attract the ladies! It is really worth a look, especially if you want to put a little personality into your ride. Trust me; it will be worth the cruising ticket to show off your new horn and say excuse me to your fellow driver with the Godfather Theme. So, in light of opposite day, I encourage all of you to add some style to your vehicle with the help of Stylin’ Trucks and make the roadway a runway.

Good morning, readers. Today we are going to try a little social experiment.

Towards the end of last week, I was chatting with one of our engineers, and he was saying that he reads the blog pretty much every day, and it seems like for the most part Allie and Poppy are all over women's fashion (which they are), while Cole and I tend to favor your geekier things like external hard drives, digital cameras,  and bookcases. (which we do)

So, in the interest of having some fun and switching things up a little, all day today we will be celebrating the time-honored tradition of "opposite day".  This means that Cole and I will be bringing you all the latest in geeky fashion while Allie and Poppy will be supplying some tech or home care picks that will be a tad more helpful to folks who don't know what every letter in the acronym eSATA stands for.

Stay tuned.....

(image courtesy of Interesting Times)

I'll let you folks in on a little bit of personal information about myself: before I came to be the blogger here at Ebates, I'd spent the prior year and a half working on my Master's degree and doing freelance work out of my home. While most of you probably just think "big deal, he worked and went to school; lots of people do that" and you are correct in that, there are a select few who can see past the stats and realize what that means.

That's right, I spent a year and a half of my adult-ish life as a connoisseur of that beloved commodity we know as sleep. I know myself; I am borderline nocturnal. Given the choice, I will wake up sometime around noon, maybe a little later, and ease through my day until I finally return to my bed sometime usually between three and four in the morning. That was on a good day. If I had the opportunity, I could easily stay in bed twelve, thirteen hours a day. On a really good day, I could even work from bed.  But now that I've joined the working world (while finishing my degree in the evening), sleep is at a premium. The reason I chose this particular weekend idea is that it is what I would love to sleep all the time this weekend, but I have a chapter of my thesis to finish by the end of next week, so I'll be working non-stop much of the weekend. So, instead of just sleeping in using that same old sagging mattress on the threadbare bedding you've been using since I was an undergrad, treat yourself, and Sears is all about trying to help you make that happen this weeked.  Through tomorrow, they have a bedding and housewares sale that will keep you resting easy. All mattresses are 50% off with free national delivery and haul-away of your old mattress, plus, they have a 30 day comfort gaurantee, so if you are in love with your deep pillowy mattress but decide to get one that is firm as a board, you can return it in 30 days free of penalty.

Here are three items that are on sale right now that will help you get a great night's sleep.  First is a four hundred thread count sheet set that's currently on sale, and I tell you, a high thread count like that feels like you're laying on a little piece of heaven. From Land's End, you get brand name you can trust, and a thread count that will make you feel like a king or queen, even if you sleep in a twin bed.

The next is a Serta down comforter that will keep you warm in the soon-to-be-arriving cold months. I personally am always warm, so this has little appeal, but if you want to cozy up with someone, this provides the perfect amount of warmth do to just that. Plus it's half off, and you'll be saving enough to buy all the other products together.

Finally is the Personal Expressions memory foam pillow. I have one of these, and I will say that I never knew I could be so comfortable when I slept. Granted, the pillow I had been using prior to this one was probably about twenty or thirty years old, and I had never had a truly good quality pillow before it. Still, I never knew a pillow could make so much difference. My neck is never stiff anymore, and the custom contours allow for optimum comfort whether you sleep on your back, stomach, or side. Get one today and start sawing logs immediately.

There you have it - now treat yourself to a weekend free of alarm clocks. Or, if you have to set an alarm, give yourself a few reasons to hit that snooze bar just one extra time thanks to your friends here at Ebates.

Despite my love of vintage and all things quirky, one of my favorite designers is still none other than Mr. Ralph Lauren. His clothes are pure Americana, and convey a sense of distinguished living. Whether it's a black riding coat, or the classic polo, his designs are timeless, yet remain unpretentious. Through midnight tonight receive an extra 25% off the entire collection, including sale items. For those of you who can't live without his Black Label, this can mean savings of hundreds of dollars. Shop now for the best selection, as items are sure to sell fast. After your shopping trip, enjoy savings of 3% Cash Back. Yes, you may thank me later.

If you were on the fence about whether or not to buy that new pair of shoes you were coveting, today the Ebates Daily Double brings you a whopping 16% Cash Back at Shoes.com! This amazing promotion will hopefully inspire you to be on the right side of the fence, and it will put a pair of shoes on your feet to help with the landing. I am planning on taking advantage of this great deal by picking up a pair of new boots, like these Via Spiga ankle boots for 50% off, now only $129.  The best part is, not only is it a great deal, but I'll get enough in Cash Back to buy another pair of shoes for essentially nothing. So, set aside some time today to browse through the fabulous selection of men's, women's, and kids' shoes and bags, from Uggs to Belle By Sigerson Morrison and beyond. Shop right now and take advantage of double digit Cash Back - today only!

Greetings gentle readers, I can't believe it's already Friday again. Time flies when you're blogging for Ebates!

So with no further ado, I'll jump right into the great free shipping deals we have to offer for the coming week. There are a few expiring today, so I'll be quick as I can be...

Friday, September 12th
- Compact Appliance is offering free shipping on hundreds of items & 15% off select product categories so you can find some great deals on the appliances of your dreams that won't take up a lot of space, then get them shipped to your door for nothing.

- Fossil is ending their free shipping deal today as well. While you're here, I feel really inclined to recommend the Drew Driver Cap from them. While I realize this may mean they sell out before I get one for myself, I haven't seen a cap this good looking in a long time, so this is the perfect way to take advantage of your free shipping option.

Saturday, September 13th
- It may be a little limited, but Best Buy is offering free shipping on all Samsung TVs right now. You may not get it in time for this week's football games, but you'll get it soon, and you'll get it shipped free.

- Keeping with the football theme, Dick's Sporting Goods is offering free shipping on all NFL jerseys and apparel, so you can wear your team's jersey and impress all your friends with your loyalty to the team, even if you're a Niners fan.

Sunday, September 14th
- eLUXURY is offering free shipping on orders over $200. Some exclusions do apply, but those of us with high-end tastes know: it doesn't take long to rack up $200 in purchases at eLUXURY.

- Lee Jeans has free shipping on all orders over $25.

- YOOX has free shipping on everything. No minimums, no restrictions, no strings attached, just good old fashioned free shipping on anything and everything.

Monday, September 15th
- Joann Fabrics has free shipping on orders over $35, so for you crafty folks, jump on free shipping and get a head start on any and all gift making fun. Just make sure you use code AUGFSA835

Tuesday September 16th
- Kohl's will ship any order over $75 for free, so you can pick out some of the latest Fall fashions for a whole lot less.

- Protect your lips and save money: Benefit Cosmetics is offering free shipping on orders if you purchase benetint lip balm with SPF15 protection. Use code BALMBENE, and your lips and your pocketbook will say thanks.

Thursday, September 18th
- REI is promoting its eVent with free shipping on all orders. This is the outdoorsman's (or women's) dream come true!

Friday September 19th
- Enjoy free shipping on orders from SmartBargains over $75. With their wide array of products, it would be hard not to find something you wanted to get shipped to your door for free.

Finally... one last heads up.  Through next Sunday, September 21st, Saks Fifth Avenue is offering free shipping on all orders over $150 with coupon code WANTIT. Show how much you want it by going crazy on all the amazing fashion there is to be found at Saks, and get it all shipped for nothing.

Every day, I find myself faced with the same dilemma that plagues millions of Americans: I have nothing to wear. Today, I thought to myself, “What key pieces do I need to add to my existing wardrobe to spice it up?” I mean, it seems like I have clothes. My closet is pretty full and my laundry basket is always falling over with heaps of clothing begging to be washed. Then something occurred to me: I have clothes. I do not have a wardrobe. That's a big difference. So instead of simply buying something random to fulfill my need for instant shopping gratification, I decided to think about what I actually needed. Or, more simply, what pieces does a wardrobe make?
One. Blouses. A wardrobe needs blouses, much like… much like a tree needs water. Or better yet, much like The New Kids on the Block need to go on tour…oh wait.

I was more than excited to stumble upon this Ella Moss Black Label top for 60% off at Nordstrom. Don't mind the model, I am pretty sure she is an alien or a mannequin.

The blouse is made of silk, and features a modern tie waist and color block scheme. I love that the top is simple enough to wear under a blazer for work, but sexy enough for a night on the town. Plus, it is more than $130 off the original price! Now this is a great wardrobe builder.

Picture this: you've just moved into your own place. No roommates, no scary cats, no significant other who doesn't understand the appeal of a clean sink. It's just you and your belongings. After letting out a deep breath, you realize you've left behind your years of partying until five in the morning, chore lists, and finding out your new roommate is a complete psycho who uses all your shampoo; now it's time to take a look around and leave behind to your crappy furniture too. Tell yourself "No more questionable sofas found on the street." or "No more buying dressers from the same store you purchased your Halloween costume." Generally, those aren't vintage, they're crap. It's time to move on.

The first task is to determine what room you want to tackle first. For those of you who frequently entertain, a new sofa is a good way to start. This Komfort sofa from Furniture.com is the perfect hybrid of minimalism and modern. The clean lines and earthy color make this piece simple to build around. Plus Free shipping means more money to spend on future purchases. Interior design is exactly like fashion; find a few great basics, and then build around them. Although I love the deep brown of the sofa, I also love bright colors and bold prints. This is where accessorizing comes into play.

Accents such as candles, window treatments, and pillows can be changed as often as you change your shoes, so have fun and experiment. Remember, the investment is in the furniture, not the accents. Keep the pillows and throws cheap. This Frida pillow from Urban Outiftters adds a splash of bold color, and at $32, it won't break the bank. Toss in a throw blanket, some coffee table books, and your ready to impress others with your elite taste.

It seems like I always have a clear goal in mind whenever I pick an item to highlight here, but I'm just as prone to impulse buys as much as the next person. Sometimes making a detailed list of every single gizmo I want is the best way to go about deal searching. But sometimes you just gotta shop. Today is one of those days for me, but I think I'll be waiting until a little bit later in the evening. That's right; I'm going to take advantage of Sears' Midnight Madness Sale.

For no apparent reason, Sears wants to thank you for being a loyal electronics enthusiast by giving you an extra 5-10% on most electronic items from 9pm tonight to 6am tomorrow. According to an e-mail I received earlier today, the following items are on sale:

5% off

• All TVs (including LCD and Plasma HDTVs)
• All digital camera
• All camcorders (including DVD and HD camcorders)

10% off (not confirmed)

• Home audio
• MP3 Players (that aren't iPod or Zune)
• DVD/Blu Ray Players
• Printers
• "Car Electronics" (GPS Devices, etc.)

More items are probably on sale, but this was as much as I could ascertain from their cryptic e-mail. Might I suggest looking into deep-discounted goodies such as the Matsunichi 8 in. Digital Picture Frame and Altec Lansing's 1-Speaker 5.1 system? The Matsunichi frame looks great and easily displays all your pictures and slide shows from an SD card, and even doubles as a music player in a pinch with its included speakers and A/V out plugs. Of course, you won't really need any other music player if you opt for the Altec Lansing 5.1 speaker, which uses advanced sonic technology to simulate the 360-degree experience of a "true" 5.1 experience. It's a great value and a huge advancement in audio technology, especially for those of us out there with tiny rooms that can't really accommodate a full 5.1 system.

Needless to say, both would make great additions to almost any living room, and might be even cheaper when this 10% off sale hits at 9pm (don't forget to get your 2% Cash Back!). It's unclear whether or not the sales begin at 9pm Pacific or Eastern, so keep refreshing your browsers to get in on the sales before it's too late! If you score any sweet deals, feel free to leave me a comment below so I can find out what kind of secret sales you stumbled upon. Shopping is fun!

Ebates shoppers, I'd thought I'd seen it all. I thought that in my days of internet shopping and value seeking that I had managed to see every last product this side of "As Seen on TV" but apparently I am wrong. Just this morning, Poppy pointed out to me a product that I just couldn't help but write about. Instead of leaving you in suspense, I will just come right out with it: it's the "Sock Aid" from Fingerhut.

From all I can tell, it's essentially a terrycloth-lined chute that you put a sock over, then you lower it down for sock application. Truth be told, it's really quite an ingenious design. No doubt some tinkerer out there with a bad back came up with the idea, and hopefully is cashing in as a result, and that's what I love about the internet. This product did spark some debate here in the office: myself being the consummate humanist, I see Sock Aids being used widely by the elderly or the infirm, those for whom the act of bending over to put your socks on is actually a physical risk or strain, while some of my more cynical co-workers believed that it was just for the lazy who simply couldn't be bothered to bend over and pull their own socks on. Either way, it's an inventive and clever gift for the person who has everything. Plus, Fingerhut is currently selling these Sock Aids for 60% off, at just $5.88 plus 2% Cash Back. For under ten dollars, it's worth buying just to see how it works, in my humble opinion.

Now this next product I am happy to say that I own. I love them, and they have changed my life for the better. It's classic, timeless, comfortable, and completely unfashionable. I'm talking about Sock Garters.
You may think me crazy, and you may well be right, but these little beauties are a godsend to me. After spending years of holding dress socks up with rubber bands due to my massive calves, I finally found sock garters for sale at BeltOutlet.com. I bought a pair a few months ago, and use them all the time. All I'll say is that there is a reason that people have been wearing sock garters for hundreds of years. One piece of advice from a satisfied owner: spring the extra dollar for the double-clip model. It's worth every penny. I've bought a number of items from BeltOutlet, and they have always shipped ridiculously quickly, and have been incredilbly pleasant to deal with. Plus, they give 5% Cash Back, which is just the icing on the cake.

Now all you need to do is run over to the Shoes & Accessories category to find some pairs of socks to use with your Sock Aid and Sock Garters. Your feet will thank you!

When thinking of what to write, I kept coming up with the same lame metaphors of Fall being all about change. The change of seasons, the change of life, blah, blah, blah. Enough of that; let's get to the point: I need a new coat. I really need a new coat. It has finally occurred to me that despite the piles of jackets in my closet, not a single one of them is suitable for a young woman with a savvy sense of style. There are military bombers, vintage leathers, and deconstructed blazers just to name a few. They're all fit for a Sunday in the park, but none are appropriate for Park Avenue.

It wasn't until recently that the need to start dressing less like a hipster and more like a lady came about. Perhaps it was one too many nights of going out to dinner and realizing that my army-inspired fatigue jacket wasn't exactly formal dinner appropriate. A nice coat is like the icing on a cake, and no one eats cake without the icing. This coat by Alice and Olivia is sweet as can be, and it's available at Nordstrom for a whopping 40% off! The houndstooth print is funky yet classic, and the double button closure creates a streamlined, elegant look. I love that this versatile coat matches a simple black dress as well as a pair of jeans. Perfect for both fall and winter, the extended sleeve and overlapping collar are made from a heavy knit; which means you'll be nice and toasty while looking tre chic!

Lately, I have been attempting to get in touch with my fashion's feminine side. My modus operandi: skirts! Perhaps my obsession was born from the lack of skirts in mainstream fashion trends; it has been mostly about the dress, which means finding a good skirt requires hard work and persistence. I've moved on from my feelings of abhorrence for the itchy plaid skirt uniform I wore to school as a child, and have gladly welcomed the skirt back into my life.

Well, ladies (and gentlemen?), the skirt is back, and I am very happy about it.

Take a look at this Rachel Pally tiered knit skirt, pictured left. Available in black and brown, this hot little number will surely add some feminine appeal into the outfit rotation. Plus, it is 40% off, now just about 100 bucks. Even better, you don’t have to be a six foot tall stick figure to wear it, either; the modal and spandex material will hold you in while the subtle tiers sit low enough that they won’t make your hips look enormous either. 

For a skirt option with a longer hemline and a little movement, I like this printed pleat skirt from Chadwick’s.
The vivid jewel-toned print is totally current, and the black parent belt practically makes the skirt an outfit in itself. On sale for $29.99, and featured in two colors, this skirt has it all! Pair it with some good looking tights and you’ve got a femme-fatale look for under $40.

Let’s give an Ebates Cash Back-loving welcome to the skirt and do some shopping.

Before I even get going on this blog today, I will acknowledge: Busted Tees is not a particularly obscure website to a lot of people. You'll probably recognize some of their designs if you click through a little bit. You may have even seen banner ads for them somewhere if you're into any number of comedy or artsy websites and blogs. Even the name is fairly self-explanatory, so if you're looking through the Apparel category here at Ebates, it wouldn't take long to figure out that this is a t-shirt site.

At this point, you're probably asking "So Bill, if you don't think the site is especially unique or different, why is it on the 'Did you know' posting?" Simple, good readers: I am writing about it because it is just too awesome not to write about. See, for about three years or so now, I've been known as "that guy with the really clever/funny/interesting t-shirts". I won't go so far as to call it an obsession; rather I'd say it's more like a hobby of mine. It's a bit of a blessing and a curse at the same time: while it makes me easily identifiable, and often leads to some manner of conversation, I do find myself reading numerous t-shirt design blogs, cruising a seemingly-endless ocean of t-shirt websites, and frantically bookmarking the great designs that have to wait for another paycheck or two. Still, for someone who wears t-shirts to work about 80% of the time, the choice of "what tee best expresses my mood today?" is a welcome question most every morning.

While I doubt that most followers of this blog really have the die-hard interest in t-shirt design that I do, there are a number of tees on this site that really bear at least a looking at. I remember years ago when I first stumbled upon this site, I sent links to friends of mine far and wide with designs that had me laughing. And while they seem to have shifted the overall content of their designs to pop culture references and TV/movie quotes, they still have some of the classic designs that got me hooked in the first place.

Still, the best part of Busted Tees is threefold. First, they have now started printing all their designs on American Apparel made t-shirts. For those of you who only know AA by their emaciated models, I can say without hesitation, they make a much finer quality tee than most other manufacturers; they're soft, they are lightweight, and they are durable as all get out. They are a bit more fitted, but that is the trend these days. The second reason Busted Tees is amazing is their weekly "twelve for twelve" promotion. Every week, they feature twelve t-shirt designs at just $12 a shirt, which is significantly less than you'd pay for a blank American Apparel tee. You're basically getting money back to get a cool design on your shirt. The third and final part of why Busted Tees is amazing is that when you shop from them through Ebates, you get a whopping 10% Cash Back. There are a few random sites here and there that offer higher Cash Back percentages than that, but they're pretty few and far between.

Even though I love technology, sometimes it's hard for me to try new things. Take the most iconic aspect of computers in general: the keyboard and mouse. This dynamic duo has been hanging around since the invention of "personal computers," and no matter how hard I try, I just can't adapt to new setups. Ergonomic keyboards? Awkward. Space-agey trackball mice? Ridiculous. For the longest time I've steered clear of tablet pen micepads for two major reasons. One: I can't draw a stick figure to save my life, and two: I thought the only people cool enough to play with them were graphic artists.

While I don't expect my former reasoning to change anything in this lifetime, the latter is certainly false. Today I finally got over my irrational fears and played around with an old-school tablet pen and found out that it was not only intuitive and easy to use, but downright fun.  Even if you don't really care to doodle (or dawdle) much when using your computer, the tablet setup offers an extremely accurate and intuitive way to interact with your desktop. It was easy for me to drag and drop items, and since the tablet pad is the size of your entire screen, there no need to constantly pick up and move your pen to get to other parts of the screen. Wonderful!

Even if you are still a littlle torn on the idea of using a pen to control your computing, Buy.com makes taking the plunge a little bit easier by offering up the Genius Slim Tablet G-Pen for only $68.99. That's over 50% off the normal asking price of $130, and of course comes with the usual 1% Cash Back from Ebates. The Genius Tablet has a spacious 6"x10" work area with 29 "hot areas" that work as shortcuts for your favorite programs, and comes with a special G-Pen that has 1,024 levels of pressure sensitivity to illustrate strokes thick and thin. Best of all, as the name would suggest, it's also sexily slim and will make you look smarter than you already outwardly appear. If you've been curious like me, give the Genius Slim Tablet a try. For such a great price, why not?

The quest to find the right pair of tights is often difficult. It requires seeking an almost serendipitous balance in price and quality. While I fantasize about purchasing these Prada ribbed Lana Coste tights in, well, every color, I realized how unpractical that would be. As I would probably need to wear them just about every day while I eat stale bread and water. Still… I would feel pretty fabulous.

So, instead of breaking my bank and loyalty to the deal-loving cause, I found these comparable tights from my good friend Vera Wang, available at Kohl’s. They look quite similar and are on sale for an amazing $8.40 (originally $12). Also, if you have Kohl’s credit card, you can save an extra 15% (use code PICK15EXTRA at checkout), which would make the tights, well, practically free. Plus, they are made in the U.S.A, so one could assume that they could be a fairly good quality for eight bucks. I could even afford to get several colors and have enough money left to wear them to a special occasion, like dinner. With all the money I saved (roughly $146, per pair) I would feel pretty fabulous.

So if anyone asks me while I'm walking around Ebates, thinking about my newly acquired amazing deal, "Hey are those the Prada tights?" I will kindly say, "No, they're the Vera Wangs."

When you're in the market for a new computer, it's always important to take a step back and look at what you really need from it. I'd venture to say that 90% of us do little more than some word processing, a bit of music listening, some online shopping, and a whole lot of extra Internetting. If you're looking for a little something to throw in your bag so you can do your basic computing anywhere, you might want to take a peek at the next big thing in computing: "Netbooks." Netbooks are lightweight, extremely portable laptops specifically designed to do all your basic computing needs and get you on the internet wherever possible. They come in various shapes and sizes, ranging from the basic, barebones Asus EEE PC, to Samsung's hybrid tablet Ultra Mobile PC (UMPC).

Most of the netbooks come preloaded with a modified version of Linux, an open source, easily customizable operating system that is specifically designed to run speedily on simple hardware. They use low-power processors to conserve battery life and usually feature small-capacity solid state hard drives, which load faster and last longer than normal hard drives that contain actual moving parts. If this all sounds a little too weird and cramped for your tastes, don't worry! You can easily choose to have a regular, high capacity hard drive with Windows XP or Vista in your netbook for a nominal fee. Just remember that Windows XP and Vista require more memory to operate, so you might want to opt for faster processors and more RAM if you plan on doing a lot of work on your netbook. Each notebook/UMPC has their strengths and weaknesses, so let's take a look at a few different ones to get a feel for whether or not they're right for you.

Asus EEE
Price: Starting at $249 at Newegg.com

The Asus EEE was the first notebook to be labeled a "netbook" thanks to its low price, solid state hard drive, and emphasis on simple performance instead of power. It has one of the largest product lines of netbooks, ranging from the 8.9" EEE 4g Surf available at NewEgg for $249.99, to the $450 10" EEE 1000 that can be customized with a regular hard drive and an extended battery that'll last over seven hours.  Even though the 4G sports a tiny screen and smallish keyboard, it still has a decent two hour charge to let you 'net on the go. While the newer versions of the EEE hover around $600 thanks to larger, traditional hard drives and Windows XP, the original simple, solid state version is still one of the cheapest netbooks out of there if you can dig the keyboard.

Acer One
Price: Starting at $329.99 at Newegg

Acer's Aspire One netbook was one of the first true competitors to the Asus EEE, and with it came a few much-needed improvements that made it accessible to a larger crowd. Most notably, the folks at Acer reorganized the actual layout of the keyboard and touchpad, resulting in a keyboard that is considerably easier to use than the EEE or other similarly priced netbooks. Unfortunately they did this by moving the touchpad buttons from the bottom of the trackpad to the sides, which will certainly not please everyone. While many of their other innovations have been picked up by their competitors (such as larger hard drives, XP, and added memory card slots), the Acer One provides one of the most comfortable typing experiences for the buck if you can get with their nouveau touchpad stylings.

Dell Mini Inspiron 9
Price: Starting at $349 at Dell

Meet the newest netbook on the block: Dell's Inspiron Mini 9. Featuring a stock 8.9" LED display, 4GB solid state drive and Dell's special flavor of Linux for $349, the Mini 9 looks to be a serious competitor to both Acer and Asus. Early test reports say that the keyboard is a little on the small side (somewhere between the EEE 900 and the Aspire One), but the trackpad and quality of the included Linux OS is surprisingly high. Although the Inspiron Mini comes out September 16th, the Dell store is having a preorder sale with $25-$40 off normal prices. For those who are a little worried about trying a new operating system, $425 will net you an upgraded Mini with Windows XP and 1gb RAM, so see what setup works best for you. With Dell's strong reputation, a sleek design, and an attractive pricepoint, Dell's Mini 9 netbook just might be the hottest school accessory for this fall.

HP Mini Note - Great Deal!
Price: Starting at $399 at Newegg (after $50 savings and $100 mail-in rebate)

The HP Mini Note sits atop the netbook pile as the leader in price and features. Starting at a pricey, yet still affordable, $399 (after rebate), the HP Mini Note features a near-full sized keyboard and a sleek aluminum chassis that will look great for years to come. Unfortunately it appears to also feature a sideways touchpad like the Aspire One, but it seems to be the price you pay for a spacious keyboard. While the stock version at other websites come with a small solid state hard drive and less RAM, the $399 version offered at Newegg comes with a 1.2 ghz processor, 1GB RAM, and a regular 120GB hard drive that makes it much like any other "normal" laptop out there. On the whole, the HP Mini Note looks to be the netbook of choice for people looking to do extended typing, or for those who want a netbook that can do a little more than just jot notes and keep them entertained. And for $150 off of the normal price, it's hard to pass up this great deal.

Samsung UMPC
Price: $849.99 (after $200 instant rebate) at Newegg

Suspiciously lurking about the grey area between home computers and laptops comes the Ultra Mobile PC, or UMPC for short. Intended for mobile professionals on the go who need both a tablet PC / PDA and a netbook, Samsung's UMPC gives power users an interesting middle ground to traverse. You can write your notes, use the stylus to open/use programs, and even attach a larger Bluetooth keyboard for extended typing sessions. UMPC's are currently a bit more pricey and niche, but depending on how well the "mobile professional" crowd adopts the portable tablet, they could be the next hot business accessory.

Fijitsu LifeBook UMPC
Price: Starting at $899 (after $100 instant rebate) at Newegg

For those who like the Samsung UMPC's features but want a built-in keyboard and an even smaller form factor, the Fujitsu LifeBook seems to be a perfect match. Touting the smallest tablet touchscreen seen in any UMPC to date (5.6"), Windows Vista Home Premium, and 40 GB of memory, the Fujitsu LifeBook seems to take everything you might want in a mobile computer and puts it in an even smaller package. Obviously its microscopic keyboard and LCD aren't going to appeal to everyone, but this tablet UMPC should be seen more like a "super PDA" than a true netbook. The only thing really keeping this sweet little PC from taking the crown is its high asking price and tiny size, but it's a great choice for those torn between a laptop and Samsung's (usually more expensive) UMPC.

And there you have it! While these four "netbooks" aren't everything that's currently out on the market, they're a good introduction to one of the largest growing subsets of laptops out there. For commuters and professionals on the go, there's nothing more portable and easy to use than these little mini notebooks. Give them a look if you're on the go, or just want to save money on a computer that will do exactly what you need, and nothing you won't. On top of the deals listed here, you'll also get your usual  2% Cash Back just for shopping through Ebates, so get out there and find the netbook of your dreams!

The term "Cash Back" typically implies good things. This is particularly true when you receive 10% Cash Back on great deals. Take a peek at these sporty sling-backs from ShoeBuy. At 50% off the original price, now just $53.00, these leather pumps from designer Bronx will add some style to any outfit. Plus, if you are like me and you stagger like new born deer in high heels, the low-stacked heel is a great choice!

The handbag pictured below will surely inspire the question every woman asks herself to justify yet another handbag purchase: "Do I really need another handbag?" The answer-always "Yes." Now, enjoy 60% off and pick up this fancy L.Erickson Petite Silver Bullet handbag for under $30. With all the right sophisticated embellishments like the silver accented tassels and decorative multi-strap, this bag makes for one good-looking deal!

Nothing is sweeter than coming across that once-in-a-lifetime, you'd-be-dumb-to-miss-it sale. If shopping on a budget is all about the hunt, then this sale at Shopbop will turn you into a lion. From now until Thursday, receive an extra 20% off already marked down sale items. For those of you who know all about the rush that comes with a purchase (or even just browsing) from Shopbop, news of this sale may cause dizziness and shortness of breath. After coming across this amazing and extremely rare sale, I nearly yelped out loud, but decided to scream via instant messenger to my fellow fashion guru Poppy. If you previously had any questions on what I do here at Ebates, it pretty much entails finding amazing deals, having a mini heart attack because of said deals, regaining consciousness, and running to my computer to write a blog for all of you.

My first amazing find is this gorgeous silk blouse from Castle Starr that is now $300 off the original price! The intricate silk beading reminds me of garments from the 1920s, and the loose poncho cut creates a very pretty silhouette. For those of you who habitually wear your hair done up, this blouse comes with two straps that button on the collar. Pair this with your favorite pair of jeans and throw on some metallic heels for instant chic.

I have never, and will never, be a heels girl. After many attempts, it has become obvious that I should stick to boots and flats. It's for this reason that my next must-have item is this pair of ballet flats from Bloch. I love how they are so pretty, yet sooo comfortable. Made from patent leather, they are easy to clean, which means you can expect to wear them for multiple seasons. Reduced 50% to $85, they are now $68 through Thursday. There's not much else to say except "Get moving!" Items at this ultra fab website sell fast. Believe me, I know.

Few things in life are as fast and fickle as technology. It seems like whenever you finally commit to something new, the Technology Gods sneak up from behind and rip the rug right out from under you with the next "new and improved" thing. Even a technodude like me can get a little bummed out at the thought of buying something at full price when there's the possibility of something even better coming out tomorrow. So what's a person to do? Personally, I justify it by researching and getting great deals.

If you've lasted this long without a digital camera (or haven’t upgraded in a few years), it's hard to think things can really get much better than they already have. But believe me, things can get a lot better, and the Sony 7.2 MegaPixel CyberShot digital camera is a wonderful step in the right direction. It features a great 3x optical zoom lens and a big, bright 2.4" LCD screen that allows you to easily see how great your pictures look just seconds after you take them. Nerdier folk will rejoice at the CyberShot's 7.2 megapixels, high ISO sensitivity, and a fancy five-point auto-focus system; but all you really need to know is that all these things make your pictures turn out great.

While there are certainly more expensive and shinier digital cameras out there, the 7.2 MP CyberShot has them all beat when it comes to value and ease of use. Uploading your photos is as easy as snapping them and connecting to a computer, and you can easily review and delete photos and videos by simply pressing a button. For the low, low clearance price of $99.88 at Sears (before Ebates' 2% Cash Back), the Sony 7.2 MegaPixel CyberShot digital camera makes a great starter/upgrader camera for just about anyone. It's a clearance deal, so act fast before it's gone!

My morning routine consists of three major obstacles: 1) waking up, 2) obtaining my caffeine fix, and 3) struggling to find something to wear. Every day I spend at least twenty minutes staring blankly at the chaos in front of me (which I like to call my closet). Like most women, I have an expiration date for my clothes. Something that I once loved and felt pretty in will turn into something that makes me look frumpy. This all happens within four months, ultimately leaving me with a closet of... wait for it... "nothing to wear". My search for outward beauty had led me into a downward spiral of buying, then selling, and then buying again. So, after wasting enough money on the latest and trendiest items, I have come to a crossroads: it's time to invest in basics and rebuild my wardrobe.

My first goal is to minimize my time spent dressing, and this grey t-shirt from Urban Outiftters is the perfect way to fake an outfit. The sheer fabric gives a sexy twist, and the pretty color matches everything. At only $24 I recommend buying a white one and a black as well.

Now, as much as I want to go simple, I can't deny my love of all things colorful and wild. Instead of buying bizarre cuts or obnoxious prints, I have found a marriage of basic and bold with this Selene Top from Bluefly. The deep v-neck and gathered back are a dressier version of the basic tee. This is my grab-and-go top; the top that makes the difference between being on time and being unfashionably late. Now that I have my basics squared off, it's time to focus on shoes...

... and no, folks, I'm not talking about reading blogs and clicking on words to find great deals. Here in San Francisco, at least, the weather is setting records for heat; so what better way to spend the weekend than going to your local golf course and playing "fetch" for a few hours? It's great; you can dress up in silly trousers or wear plaid shorts and have no one look twice at you. You can let out your frustrations from the week on your ball when you tee off, and you can let out your frustrations at your tee shot by stomping around an letting loose with some choice profanity and next to no one will even bat an eye.

In all seriousness, when the weather is nice, playing golf can be a great way to get some sun, get a little exercise, and have fun with some friends. Until I started doing a little research for this posting, I didn't realize just how many resources we have here at Ebates for all golf enthusiasts, from beginners like myself to the more experienced players. There are, in fact, thirteen different stores that come up when you search for the word "golf" on our site. If you're looking for supplies, clothing, or colored balls (which come in very handy if you're as bad as I am...) we have got you covered. Check out great shops like Callaway Golf, Dick's Sporting Goods, Nike, Edwin Watts Golf, Pinemeadow Golf, ProGolf, Golfsmith, Golf Outlet USA, Golfballs.com, and many other great stores bringing you all of your needs from the fairway to the driving range, from the putting green to the club house.

So get out there, dust off the clubs, remember to stretch, enjoy nature and the crisp late Summer/early Fall air, and let loose with everything you have. Just live by my personal golf motto: you're only as good as your opening drive, so make it long and straight.

Good to see you all again for yet another thrilling installment of Free Shipping Friday.  Being the beginning of the month, there aren't really a ton of free shipping deals that are running out soon, but there are a couple that bear mention, plus there are a few that you've got some time to act on, but you'll want that time, because they're great deals.

Luckily for you, there are no free shipping deals expiring today, so you'll have at least 24 hours to act on anything I post today. So with no further ado, here we go...

Saturday September 6th
- For you computer-savvy folks, HP Home and Home Office is making printing a little sweeter. They are offering free next business day shipping on all HP ink, toner, and paper.

Monday September 8th
- Benefit Cosmetics is offering you the chance to take advantage of their employees' expertise, with free shipping on all of the staff picks products

Tuesday September 9th
- For the young reader in your family, The Scholastic Store is offering up to 75% off a number of their products in addition to free shipping on all orders over $39 with coupon code BTSFS08

Thursday September 11th
- Biotherm is giving you the chance to look years younger and feel even better with free shipping on all orders with the coupon code SHIP98

Friday September 12th
- Fossil has free shipping on all orders. I know this doesn't expire until next week, but it's not every day you get free shipping without a catch, and I am a big fan of a number of their products. Most people only think of watches and accessories when they hear the name "Fossil", but if you visit their online store, you'll see they have much more to offer beyond that. Also, make sure to use coupon code CJFREE08 to get that free shipping!

Sunday September 14th
- YOOX is offering free shipping on everything as well. They're even taking the ease of free shipping a step further: you don't even need a coupon code to get your free shipping! You just need to shop buy, and check out to get free shipping on everything, large and small.

Monday September 15th
- For our "crafty" users, Joann Fabrics offers free shipping on all orders over $30 with coupon code AUGFSA835. If you enjoy doing some craft work, or just want to get a jump on making your own Halloween costume, this is a great way to save some coin in the process.

There you have it -- I'll be back later this afternoon with my weekend activities pick, and I'll be back same time (give or take) next week with another installment of Free Shipping Friday!

Hello there deal newbies and enthusiasts alike! I've been waiting for a price break on this week's extra-special electronics deal for quite some time now, and thanks to Newegg, my dreams have finally become a reality. Behold! The Antec Performace One ATX Mid-Tower computer case!

While this sleek and sexy case may leave some of you scratching your head in confusion, the $65 price break will likely make those of us in the market for a cool and quiet case jump for joy. Inside this bad boy's cold steel chassis are six 3.5" hard drive bays for tons of storage and four 5.25" bays for more CD/DVD/Blu-Ray drives than you'll know what to do with. In addition to its mountains of storage space, the Antec Performace One Case is actually separated into two separate cooling zones with a maximum of five configurable fans. This allows it to deliver cooling power to the areas that need it most (motherboard, hard drives, and power supply), optimize in-case air flow, and ultimately keep all your important electrical components as cool as the arctic come sundown.

All of this might go a little over your head, but if you have the technical know-how to follow a wiring diagram and put together a computer, don't let this sweet deal pass you by. Sure, there are a ton of cases out there that may have more shiny lights, cool decals, and extra thermal cooling to make your computer totally "x-treme"; but for those of us looking for a quiet and classy case that will last for years to come, it's hard to pass up such a phenomenal deal. It's on sale for $69.99 ($65 off the usual price of $135) and, of course, includes Ebates' 2% Cash Back, which you can't get anywhere else. Quantities are limited, so grab this deal fast!

If you’re like me, and Fall wardrobe basically consists of last years of fashion re-runs and a few seasonal additions, then I’ve got good news for you: it is easy to revamp your look with a couple of key Fall accessories that will take that tired old coat and make it look brand new. Plus, these accessories are available through Ebates at exciting deals and with Cash Back.

Let us start with scarves. Scarves are perhaps the easiest accessory to throw on that will transform any outfit. Plus, this season, long, vibrant scarves are everywhere. I suggest this solid wrap scarf from Gap. Priced at $19.50 and available in an array of rich fall colors, this scarf is both fashionable and functional. Another fall must have is a menswear-inspired hat. I like this tweed bucket hat on sale for $14.99 at Urban Outfitters.

For instant glamor, pick up a pair of statement earrings like these at Bluefly. From the super trendy designer CC Skye, these gold braided mesh earrings are part bohemian, part vintage and totally fabulous. Selling for $27, an amazing 40% off original retail price, these show stoppers will surely sell out quick!

Finally, for good measure, pick up an everyday accessory that will defy trends. If you shop right now, you will save $695 on this Invicta Diamond Chronograph watch. Originally $895, it is now an astonishing $199.99. Plus, a two year service plan is available for under $20.

Until next time… shop away!

Shopping for denim is much like shopping for a boyfriend; it demands countless hours spent sifting through mediocrity until the clouds part, and you have found the one that makes you smile. Time spent in the dating world is as grueling as time spent in the dressing room, and both can end in disappointment and exhaustion. The perfect jean will make you laugh, make you cry with happiness, and even make the nicest girl, a tad off. (Well... maybe more than tad, I mean who am I kidding?)

My date with denim destiny came roughly a year ago when I learned about the denim house 18th Amendment. The Farrah Fawcett-inspired Colbert Jean made my jaw drop and my knees weak. The high waist and electric blue wash made me want to run out and shake my groove thing. I imagined wearing tight shirts tucked into the sexy waistline, and stacking my arms full of vintage bracelets. When I bought these jeans I paid full price, which meant I had to eat Ramen Noodles for a week. In the end though it was all worth it. The compliments, the digestion problems, the psychotic relationship with the UPS guy, they were all side effects that I would gladly deal with again, if it meant finding my true love.
Lucky for you, I found these on sale at Saks Fith Avenue for 40% off. Now that you have found the perfect jean, I strongly encourage you to go out and celebrate. As for the perfect man, don't bother with that search, instead let him seek you out.

As the seasons slowly progress from Summer to Fall, it is time to heat things up with some hot Fall accessories. Today I will highlight amazing deals on fall shoes that will be sure to add some flare to your wardrobe without breaking the bank. The first on the list is this hot wedge by designer Derek Lam, available at Shopbop. The vibrant purple suede and geometric heel transform this wedge into an avant-garde work of art. The shoe is reduced 70%, originally priced at $675 and now selling for $202.

To add some shine to your step, pick up a pair of Guess Cabana patent leather Mary Jane Pumps, available at Macy's and on sale for $82.50 (originally $110).

But this season's real must-have is a great pair of leather ankle booties, like these Apt.9 Jola boots, available at Kohl's. Priced at a reasonable $69 these leather boots, made with stylish and luxurious accents are a great deal, and nearly impossible to pass up.

Next, show your style with an "of the moment" oxford pump, like these from the Ralph Lauren Collection. Not your typical oxford, these hot pumps have a peep toe, stiletto heel, and side cutouts. Originally $416, the Adley Oxford is now on sale at Bloomingdale's for $238.00.




Snag these shoe deals before they're gone and be prepared to say "hello" to Fall the right way.

Good morning gentle readers! You all know me as your easily amused and occasionally witty blogger, but when I return home at the end of the work day, I have a whole other life. Don't worry, this isn't some great secret confession or anything like that; rather, when I return home, I pick up my life as a graduate student. Knocking on wood, I should have my Master's in Literature before the end of 2008, so when I go home, I return home to a floor littered with books, notes, articles, and note cards. These are kind of a badge of honor, but they are also an eyesore. Worse, stepping on books is sacrilegious, and I hate scrounging for a piece of paper I've inadvertently kicked under the couch.   

So it was with this unique problem that I decided I'd had enough, and that it was time to find a nice bookshelf that would help me clean up my life  a little bit. What I found was the Delano Large Bookcase. I like the look: it's black, made of sturdy pine, and has those classy-looking cross braces rather than solid planks on the sides. Most importantly for my needs, it has a pull-out drawer in place of the bottom shelf, so all of my note cards and loose leaf sheets of paper are stored securely. Plus, I will say that since this is an Ebates blog, and it focuses on deals, that you can't forget Target's great savings of 15% off any time you purchase anything over $125. On a $200 item like this one, you save $30, which is actually a better bargain than paying full price and getting free shipping. So if, like me, you once had to keep your books in boxes, or have them stacked up all over the place, this is just the thing for you. Or, if you just want to upgrade an old book shelf or finally throw out those shelves you made out of cinder blocks and boards, now is the perfect time to do just that.

My first official job working in the fashion world was as a salesperson for a San Francisco boutique by the name of Rolo. I was twenty when I started and had no prior knowledge of designer names or brands. My closet consisted of clothes from Old Navy, where I would load up on surfer inspired clothing despite the fact that 1) I can't surf, and 2) I lived in a city with zero surf or beach culture. Being older and no longer wanting to look like a So-Cal stoner, I now look for designers that are fresh and unconventional.

It's for this reason that I tend to navigate toward Martin Margiela, who is known for his anti-fashion designs and deconstructed clothing. This leather bag from his line 11, is simple yet completely original. There are no tacky embellishments that scream "I'm trying way too hard!" Rather, this futuristic bag will never go out of style, and with a savings of 75%, it would be in bad taste to not get one.

Over the past few weeks I have spoken time and time again about my love of whimsical garden gnomes.  Today, I am finally revealing an obsession that runs even deeper than that. This bizarre love of mine is even more pronounced than my love for all things Batman. I'm talking about my obsession with monkeys. Don't ask me why or how this came to be, but I just crack up on principal when I think of all things simian.

Planet of the Apes?
Love it.

Donkey Kong?
Can't get enough of that crazy barrel-throwing primate.

Mr. Teeny, the rollerskating monkey sidekick of Krusty the Klown? One of my favorite Simpsons characters.

I'm not just listing these famous monkeys for my own health.  Rather, I found a site this week who features monkey products and other assorted products with animal themes. This may well be the one merchant available through Ebates that offers you the chance to sort through their products by which animal print you want to see. If that isn't advanced, I don't know what is.


So, if you get a chance, check out The Jungle Store. It's a great site chock full of animal products. From greeting cards to stuffed animals, masks to mouse pads, they have all your gift giving or just plain fun needs. What's better is that at The Jungle store, the purchase of a number of their products (it seems like all paper goods, from what I can tell) donate a portion of their proceeds to helping global conservation and protecting animals in captivity, so you can help assure that future generations have monkeys to crack them up as well.

Of all the great products, I have two that I have to give personal recommendations on: the first is the Orangutan Journal. Who wouldn't want to pen the next great American novel on the face of this silly looking simian?

The other is the Orangutan Greeting Card, which
resembles me after a late night more than I'd like to admit.  Either way, it's just $2.50 for this blank card, and if you're anything like me, this card will have you smiling before you even read the note that's written inside of it.



So there you have it. Buy a stuffed rhinoceros, or an inflatable alligator for your pool, or even spice up the bedroom with a cheetah-print sheet set. Whatever your flavor, you can find it all at The Jungle Store while getting 5% Cash Back from Ebates.

I have a confession to make: I am obsessed with cooking. I don't do much of it, and that's probably why I remain so enamored with watching cooking shows, reading cook books, and hearing all sorts of fun "foodie" chatter. Recently, I've been lucky enough to find other people out there who share in both of my loves: cooking tricks, and music. This magical pairing goes together even better than peanut butter and chocolate, and thanks to the fact that many people have discovered how well the two interests mix, there are a few cook books that have recently been published celebrating the connection between music and food.

The first one I've been eagerly awaiting is Lost in the Supermarket by Kay Bozich Owens and Lynn Owens.

This book, which celebrates the pairing of food and music, also exists to provide a deeper understanding of how music and food tell everything you might want to know about a culture. In many ways, it's a cook book for the younger generations, featuring not only a number of recently hip recipes, but also specialties from a number of popular indie musicians.

So whether you're truly young and hip, or if you just want to prove to the world that you're young at heart and willing to adventure a bit in the kitchen, this book makes a great statement about how much fun it can be to crank up the stereo and get elbow deep in some great ingredients.

Don't let the title fool you; it shares a name with a song by British rockers The Clash, it isn't a value judgement on new chefs.

Similarly minded is the book Food that Rocks by Margie Lapanja and Cindy Coverdale.

This book takes a peek into the most hallowed of spaces for the music fan/foodie: into the kitchens of our favorite musicians. The authors spent a great deal of time interviewing all sorts of members of bands to get their favorite recipes at home and on the road. If you're an aspiring musician, you can eat the same food following the same recipes as some of your favorite musicians, and just maybe that special rock star diet will help you achieve all of your musical dreams.  But, more likely than not, you'll just be happy to have some interesting recipes from some unassuming sources that are easy enough for your average musician to handle.

Finally, there's I Like Food, Food Tastes Good by Kara Zuaro.

Again, don't be thrown by the title: it isn't supposed to be reflective of the thought processes of why you cook, rather it's from a song by The Descendents, the punk rock darlings of Manhattan Beach.

Unlike the other two titles, this book is a bit more low-brow in its recipes, focusing more on what it is that the musicians we admire eat when they're on the road. Speaking as a musician with some touring experience, your main focus is something that doesn't cost much, and your secondary focus is something that is quick and easy. When you're not eating fast food, you are throwing together unlikely packaged foods with the hopes of finding something tasty to get you through hours in a van or bus. 

While the recipes range from the simple and conventional (mixing Mac 'n Cheese with canned chili) to the gourmet (a Macaroni and Cheese recipe involving lobster and white truffles) this book lets you into the kitchens of all your favorite bands.  As an added bonus, there is also a whole section on custom cocktails, which goes far beyond plain old beer and whiskey.

If you're like me, you wonder how this whole "food revolution" came to be. In the past, I have wondered to myself "How is it that offhand I know that I love raw yellowtail and mackerel, or that I prefer smelt roe to salmon roe? Does it strike anyone else odd that someone like me can discuss the relative merits and differences between cooked eel (unagi) and fresh sea eel (anago)? Did people twenty years ago get their veggies drizzled with a cilantro-mango vinaigrette? Was aioli part of their daily vocabulary? When did all of this happen?"  I have found a book, recommended by a great friend of mine, that tries to tackle some of these burning questions. It's called The United States of Arugula by David Kamp. While it has no mention of music, it is a fascinating examination of how this emerging food culture came to be, and is a must-read for any self-proclaimed foodie.

All of the books I've written about today are available for order at Barnes & Noble but I will forewarn you, Lost in the Supermarket isn't being published for another month, so just do as I did and put it on your wish list. Plus, don't forget that in addition to the everyday great deal of free shipping on all orders over $25, you also get 4% Cash Back from Ebates, so spice up your meal and your cook book shelf today!