Boy, am I glad we didn’t buy a house. We’d been looking since August and were scrambling to beat the first-time homebuyer’s tax credit deadline of Nov. 31st. For the record, it takes 30 days to close on a house in the best of circumstances, but the average is closer to 45-60 days. Just before Halloween we found out that my wife would be losing her job at the end of the year.
A couple of days before we found out this distressful bit of info, our realtor brought to my attention that we’d been shown 137 houses in three months. We’d made five offers, all of which had fallen through in negotiations. Her tone conveyed that we were running out of options if we wanted to beat the deadline.
Negotiations. If there was anything during these hard times I’d heard over most of 2009 with regard to home buying, it was: “It’s a buyer’s market”. “If a seller can’t pay your closing costs then they’re being unreasonable”. “NO ONE pays list price on a house nowadays”. None of these suggestions came directly from our realtor, but she also didn’t disagree with them. And so we approached our offers with these jewels of advice in mind.
It just never worked out the way we heard that it would. On two of the houses, the sellers were insulted by our offers of a few thousand below list and closing costs – so incredibly insulted that they considered not even counter-offering. Hey, we were just entering the negotiations expecting the seller to counteroffer, not trying to lowball them. But on all of the five houses, there was just no compromise. We’d been told that paying list price was just ridiculous, yet any time we entered negotiations the sellers seemed unwilling to come much off their list price even if their home had been on the market for 30, 60, 90 or 180 days!
I’m so glad we didn’t jump into a mortgage just to beat some deadline. Was our negative first-time homebuyer experience in this economy just a result of an unfortunate series of unreasonable sellers? Or was word of mouth wrong about it being a “buyer’s market”?
If you are from O-H-I-O or anywhere around there then you know what I am referring to. For all you others who don’t, let me explain. The term Buckeyes or Bucks is used to refer to Ohio State University sports teams and refers to all residents of the state of Ohio. Buckeyes are shiny dark brown nuts with lighter tan patches. They are poisonous nuts that grow on trees along rivers and streams and in floodplains.
Growing up my Mom taught my Sister and I how to make the edible kind of Buckeyes which are super yummy peanut butter balls dipped in milk chocolate. I remember gathering around in the kitchen before Christmas making these treats with them for hours. They are quite a chore to make but if you ask my family are worth the hard work once you get to pop one in your mouth. I wish I could say the more you make the less of them you mess up but that was never the case with us. We never could make them as perfect as what we would find in the store. We had lots of fun and made great memories though! Fortunately for you, I have found some Peanut Butter Buckeyes for you to enjoy without the time spent making them and a 25% off coupon to purchase them with.
A friend of mine shared this on twitter. I love things like this that inspire awe and wonderment. What can we each do to encourage creativity? (Click the picture to see the video)
Tonight is the premiere of The Office and I can hardly contain my excitement! Check out the sneak peak below. Make sure you get your swag at the NBC Universal Store, right now there are items up to 40% off.
Back in the day there was a time when bragging about how much you spent on something was cool. I can recall dozens of moments where I was amidst a conversation that began with, “Aren’t these shoes the bomb?!?! I spent a fortune on them…more than I should have, but when people see me in these!” I usually faked a smile hoping that it was enough to give the impression that I shared the same excitement. I would mentally sigh, shake my head and look down at my casual thong sandals that I had happily bought on clearance for under $10.00. I was proud that my sandals didn’t require monthly payments and an obnoxious interest rate.
Where I lived, there weren’t too many places to shop and serious bargain hunting required me to travel to the malls in the larger cities. I knew precisely which stores to hit and what time of year to hit them. It was a science…a well planned out calculation of codes, numbers, dates and lists. To go or not to go. To buy or not to buy. Should I grab it now or wait? It was a game of chance. It was a shoppers Russian roulette. In the end, I save. I win. And, to those who would listen, I would brag.
Down the road something changed. People woke up and realized that the area I lived in was a heavy tourist attraction in the Summer and Fall. The tourists wanted something more than chain restaurants to eat at, a pretty lake to look at, overpriced lake house rentals and the usual New Hampshire souvenirs. They wanted to shop. It was then that the Tilton Factory Outlets was born; a huge shoppers paradise that offered nothing but outlet stores…and lots of them. It was like taking all of the stores at the mall on the best day to shop for deals and putting them into one place. It was a bargain hunters haven for year round deals.
I remember my first visit there and the amazement of how large this outlet plaza was. I got out of the car, sucked in my breath and just stood there with my mouth hanging down to the ground. Time stood still. My eyeballs shifted from one end of the outlet to the other. Where do I start? There must have been at least 50 stores. Breath in. Breath out. I shivered at the excitement. People starred at me. Is she okay? Yes. I was having a moment. It was better than…okay, you get the picture.
The trend quickly spread and outlet malls and plazas were popping up everywhere. The malls were a thing of the past. I no longer needed to cling to that fine science. It became simple. I could get great deals all the time at the outlets. Conversations shifted too. It was no longer cool to brag about how much you paid for something. People were no longer impressed. They didn’t care. They shifted their attention to those that bragged about how much money they saved. I could finally, with enthusiasm and no fake smiles, participate in these conversations.
With time, and a large dose of modern technology, came the ease of online shopping and retailers got the hint that people wanted to save money and get the some killer deals online that were offered in the stores. We love the sales and the online clearance pages, but how about those year round deals that didn’t require the hit or miss threat? They listened. Over the past couple of years more and more of the online retail stores are now offering outlet pages…a bargain shoppers dream!
What does that mean for you? It means you can get amazing deals year round on just about everything while saving up to 95%! Which stores have outlet selections? A lot of them do. Don’t have the time to click on your favorite stores and find out? Well, we’ve done that for you. DealTaker has over 1800 stores and searching for the stores that have outlet pages takes time, but so far, we’ve found 100 of them for you! It’s an ongoing project, but we are determined to find them all! And, we will. So, while we’re searching, why not check out what we have so far. Happy shopping my friends.
We have been busy adding new businesses to DealTaker, check out all the new stores that are available.
Bird.com(coupons): They carry the most comprehensive selection of bird supplies online, at the lowest guaranteed prices. By listening to customer feedback, they feel that they have developed a broad product base where owners can find everything for their pet, whether it’s a Parakeet or a Macaw.
Ferret.com(coupons): Carries the most comprehensive selection of ferret supplies online, at the lowest guaranteed prices. By listening to customer feedback, they have developed a broad product base where owners can find everything for their fuzzy friend.
Fish.com(coupons): Is proud to carry the most comprehensive selection of aquatic supplies online, at the lowest guaranteed prices. By listening to customer feedback, they have developed a broad selection of products where you can find everything for your aquarium, whether it’s a freshwater wonder or a remarkable reef.
Harry and David(coupons): Delicious since 1934. Harry and David offers an extensive collection of gourmet gifts designed to delight all, including gift baskets filled with gourmet foods, Royal Riviera pears, chocolates, and much more.
Beyond the Rack(coupons): An online shopping club that provides members with exclusive access to private sales of coveted designer apparel and accessory brands at prices up to 70% off retail!
101 inks(coupons): Is the leading provider of high quality ink cartridges and laser toners online. They have been in business since 2000 and have set the standard for online sales of printer supplies.
VRBO.com(coupons): They are the largest for rent by owner website connecting travelers with great vacation rental accommodations.
Kidrobot(coupons): The world’s premier designer and retailer of limited edition art toys and apparel. Kidrobot merges urban street trends, fashion, and pop art to produce limited edition, collectible toys and apparel.
UseNeXT(coupons): Offers very fast, anonymous and uncensored access to the Usenet – the mother of all file sharing services. With UseNeXT’s unique software you get an easy-to-use access to the Usenet, which used to be so complicated that only internet experts could use it – until now.
Poster Brain(coupons): Is the easiest and best way to create archival quality poster prints and not spend a fortune doing it. Simply upload your digital print, select from several sizes and you’re done.
Total Pet Supply(coupons): One of the biggest and most affordable pet pharmacy online. We provide over-the-counter and prescription products safely and directly to your door. Their prices are the most competitive online, which translate into savings of up to 60% for the customers. They also offer 125% price match guarantee.
Wrangler(coupons): Offers an entire collection of jeans, pants, shirts and jackets for the whole family with products for all occasions: rodeo & riding, workwear & safety and more.
Haute Look(coupons): Brings the thrill of shopping back to the consumer with exclusive, limited time, online shopping events featuring the hottest fashion and lifestyle brands. Free to join, HauteLook gives all its members access to savings of up to 75% off retail prices on top designer name brands.
Blinds Express(coupons): Is one of the largest and most affordable Blind, Shade and Shutter company in the world. They sell only the biggest and best brand names in the industry.
Brace Shop(coupons): Provides one of the largest selections of extremity braces, therapy products & accessories on the internet. Braceshop.com represents some of the most recognized manufacturers in the world of orthopedic braces and supports.
Exclusively Weddings(coupons): Since 1992 ExclusivelyWeddings.com has been serving discriminating brides. With the addition of our Web site ExclusivelyWeddings.com, brides can now see our extensive selection of upscale wedding accessories, invitations, wedding party gifts, and favors.
Great Big Canvas(coupons): Premium provider of canvas wall art and panoramic canvas photos. Here you’ll find an amazingly eclectic collection of beautiful and LARGE canvas prints. You can also use a personal photo and have it made into a Great Big Canvas.
Lighting Catalog(coupons): An online leader in Home Lighting, Chandeliers, Pendants, Wall Lighting, Lamps, Lighting Fixtures, Ceiling Fans, Outdoor Lighting, Landscape Lighting and accessories.
Lydias Uniforms(coupons): A top retailer of scrubs, medical uniforms, nursing shoes and medical supplies for over 40 years. They feature our own signature scrubs, as well as top names like Katherine Heigl, Urbane, Landau, Cherokee & Dickies.
As the Affiliate Marketers Give Back team fast approaches the halfway point in our fundraising efforts, it is time to pull in the big guns – a “not so silent Silent Auction” hosted by Missy Ward on the site she runs for AMGB. More details will be available next week. DealTaker is excited that one of our great merchant partners – Sandals - has donated a fabulous six night, all inclusive stay at any of their Caribbean Sandals or Beaches destinations. I would like to see many of our DealTaker community members make a bid to win this great item. The value of it is $4,995.
We have three weeks and two days until the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer. We want our team to beat the $50,000 goal that has been set and we want to raise all the awareness we can. Please help us in this endeavor.
Earlier this week I attended Affiliate Summit in NYC. DealTaker has worked online with B&H Photo – Video – Pro Audio for a long time. Rarely do we get to actually meet with one of our merchants offline, let alone get a personal tour of their store. However, B&H is the consummate consumer experience and the gentleman that runs their online affiliate business invited us to tour their store and made sure that Alan and I understood, from top to bottom, exactly what B&H stood for and how they do business. At B&H, the motto is “we don’t make sales, we make customers”. That is apparent in all that they do. They have one store (yes only one store for the whole company) at 9th Avenue and 34th St. in the heart of NYC. When you walk in the door, the place is buzzing with thousands of customers (and it was a “slow day” when we were there) complete with conveyor belts to move items to the checkout, associates in every aisle to always answer questions, and every kind of imaginable product right there to be touched, tested and understood. Check out this video they have produced that shows their store - B&H in NYC.
Meanwhile I am reading a book called Word of Mouth Marketing by Andy Sernovitz (save 40% through buy.com). As I am reading it I realize time and time again that B&H is the embodiment of a concept that feeds word of mouth marketing. They provide service people want to talk about. They sell products people need that then tell others where to find it. They have free candy on their counters. They close for ten days at a time to celebrate holidays – and people respect them for that. They make customers – not sales. It is no wonder they are successful – not just in their one store in NYC; not just online in the US, but world-wide.
“Impressed” does not begin to describe how I feel about this valuable partner with whom we have the privilege to work; nor does “amazed”, “proud”, or “awe-inspired”. I am glad that DealTaker.com gets the chance to help B&H make customers.
Here are a few new stores that have been added to DealTaker this past week.
Yola(coupons): One of the leaders in browser-based website building, their easy-to-use tools and exceptional support has led to over 1.5 million sign ups in under a year.
Candy.com(coupons): They have fast delivery, the largest selections of candy on the web and guaranteed quality ensuring you the best tasting candy experience around.
Disk Doctors(coupons): Their labs have designed and developed several PC Recovery, Optimization and Security applications and they are committed to providing more innovative applications in the time to come along with frequent updates to support the ever changing tech world.
Joma Shop(coupons): Provide a wide variety of luxury, fashion and sport watches as well as a broad selection of luxury designer handbags, all at the deepest discounted prices. All of their items are brand name, 100% Authentic and brand new.
A2 Hosting(coupons): Offer a wide range of highly regarded Linux Hosting products include shared hosting, reseller hosting, VPS hosting and dedicated hosting.
Here are some great stores that are new to DealTaker.
philosophy(coupons): From skin care to bath and body products, they manufacture and sell the best products online that are endorsed by doctors, celebrities, their customers.
Vivid Seats(coupons): One of the nation’s largest independently owned and operated ticket marketplaces that buy and sell tickets to Sports, Concerts and Theater events nationwide.
DEB Shops(coupons): They specialize in junior and plus-sized apparel and accessories for women aged 13 to 25.
Rock.com(coupons): Offers the most amazing collection of licensed logo band merchandise available online. At Rock.com you will find men’s and women’s t-shirts and hoodies, posters and fabric posters, infant and toddler apparel, hats and caps and much more.
Other than the four kids I have it’s the community garden. I was too embarrassed of my personal garden to take pix. Tuesday is my day off so yesterday I thought I would clean on the house and do a few things online. Well no. Took one step outside and was called to the garden. I picked corn and jalapeños yesterday. So I “jarred” 11 pints and one quart of jalapeños. Froze 19 quart bags of corn. I tell ya, corn is an all day thing. You have to shuck it, silk it, cut it off, and then partially cook before you put up. The corn stalks don’t agree with my lovely skin either. My arms are broke out from being in the garden. Now don’t get me wrong I love to garden and the food is so worth it. It just takes so much of your time. I already work 40 hrs a week and then the rest of my time goes into the garden. Soon they(my family) will be doing tomato juice. I will need to help with that if I am off that day. Next week the potatoes will be dug so I will be gathering those then.
Come checkout these new stores that have been added to DealTaker this past week.
Game Zone(coupons): A PC and Video Game Connection with a list of features (far too long to list in one sentence!) that covers every facet of the gaming world and seeks to provide the PC and video gamer with an easy and enjoyable way to access and navigate those facets.
Automotive.com(coup0ns): Provides new and used vehicle pricing requests to our nationwide network of dealerships as well as auto loans. Its the leading information source on the Internet for the New & Used car shopper consistently ranking in the top 5 of all automotive related websites.
Moo.com(coupons): A printing company that print beautiful products, using images you’ve uploaded directly, or designs from their designer galleries. They specialize in printing custom Business Cards, mini Business Cards, Postcards, NoteCards, Greeting Cards and StickerBooks.
Skinit(coupons): Allows consumers to personalize their favorite electronic devices from the largest available collection of unique, branded designs. Personalizationsinclude NBA, MLB, NHL, MLS, universities, fraternities and sororities, musical artists, major movies, fashion designs, comic book characters and more.
Chickdowntown(coupons): The premier online women’s contemporary clothing & accessories retailer featuring over 150 leading fashion designers.
Desktop Smiley(coupons): Allows the user to create and place Glitter, Smileys and Cursors on IM, email and Social Networking Sites. They also have free games, wallpapers, screensavers… all kind of goodies on the net!
Dropbox(coupons): Offers file sync, sharing and secure backup in one software application that integrates seamlessly with the user’s operating system and is also accessible from anywhere via the Dropbox website.
JibJab(coupons): A digital entertainment company that helps people BE FUNNY with its offbeat eCards to personalized videos and irreverent viral videos.
Quality Bath(coupons): Provides high end kitchen and bath fixtures throughout the United States by catering to building contractors as well a private residents remodeling their homes.
Toll Free Forwarding(coupons): Provides International Phone Lines to businesses that want to attract more international customers, and better serve existing ones. They offer Toll Free and Local Phone Lines in over 75 countries and 800 cities, including the USA. The calls hitting these international phone numbers are routed straight to the customers existing offices, or call centers.
Voices.com(coupons): An online community for voice-over professionals and companies looking to hire skilled voice-over talent.
Jump Start(coupons): A leader in developing award-winning educational games, selling more than 15 million games. The JumpStart Learning System™ games are internationally renowned and have received over 500 awards.
Shopp Marriott(coupons): Offers exclusive bed and bedding collections, rejuvenating bath and body products, and inspirational home décor items from the Marriott hotels worldwide.
Surf Fanatics(coupons): Sells licensed surf merchandise for Arnette, Element, Hurley, Lost, Matix, Nixon, Oneill, RipCurl, Rusty, Spy and many more. They also have a huge selection of Tee’s, Tanks, Board shorts, Jeans and much more.
Canvas Press(coupons): Can expertly craft your treasured photos and artwork into the highest quality canvas prints and turn lifeless photos into vibrant wall hangings.
Examiner.com(coupons): Is the insider source for everything local. They are the fastest-growing local destination site on the web with city editions in over 90 major markets across the U.S., and millions of visitors.
Inkjet Superstore(coupons): The premiere destination for online printer supplies where customers can purchase original and aftermarket ink cartridges, laser toner cartridges, copy toners and drums, photo papers, cables, blank media and so much more.
Tool Barn(coupons): Has a large selection of power tools, air tools and hand tools, as well as fasteners and accessories available at guaranteed lowest prices with Free shipping on orders over $199, and a 30 day return policy on most items.
World Market(coupons): A destination for those who crave original and handmade items from around the world.
Here are some recently added stores along with their descriptions. Happy shopping!
Hanna Andersson(coupons): Soft quality clothing for kids and families, inspired by Swedish Heritage. Outfits that are made to last with butter-soft fabrics and energizing colors, comfy shapes. They also have a uniform selection with school appropriate clothing.
The Limited(coupons): An iconic fashion retailer that offers high-quality, private-label apparel for young professional women.
FetchDog(coupons): Has products for your dog that are sturdy, practical, yet beautiful to look at including toys, bedding and accessories. They also sell naturally healthy food, treats, and health care products free of chemicals and byproducts. Its a great place to shop for dogs or to connect with dog experts and other dog lovers online.
Graphic Mail(coupons): One of the leading email and mobile marketing services on the web. Offers and on-demand email marketing solution that is affordable and easy to use.
Haircare Discounters(coupons): Gives you the best quality salon products at the lowest prices. They handle only the best products from the best brands that you know and trust.
Discount Tires(coupons): America’s largest independent tire dealer since 1960. Discount Tire offers the largest selection of tires including leading brands. Find the best selection of tires and wheels, plus enjoy free shipping in all 48 continental states.
Course Smart(coupons): A new way for students to save an average of 50% on textbooks by buying digital. All titles allow search, printing, highlighting, note-taking, and copy and paste capabilities. Students who buy an eTextbook at CourseSmart gain instant access to their book and then have access anytime and anywhere they need it.
drop.io(coupons): Online collaboration and file sharing service that provides users with a simple, real time and private way to chat and share images, video, audio, documents and other digital content.
Golf Discount(coupons): Carries the most current golf equipment from industry leaders like TaylorMade, Callaway, Titleist, Nike & PING and they run countless number of manufacturer promotions as well as in house offers and discounts thought the year including always free shipping over $50 and no sales tax.
Fuze Meeting(coupons): The premier Web conferencing tool that allows you to conduct online meetings rather than travel to far off places. Some unique features include the ability to present and collaborate in HD including mobile devices.
My Tee Spot(coupons): An online retail store that specializes in officially licensed, pop-culture t-shirts. Shirts span both modern and retro, cartoons, movies, TV shows, video games, and much more.
Pixxlz(coupons): Specializes in eco-freindly, customized, sustainable printed products for home, office, dorm, or condo. Uses customizable templates will help you design that perfect greeting card, note pad, business card, letterhead, invitation, baby announcement, poster and so much more.
Here are some great new stores that have been added to DealTaker last week.
Phone.com(coupons): Offers affordable VoIP phone services for small business that lets you get a local or toll-free 800 numbers (including vanity numbers) for your business and manage them however you want. Services include custom greetings, auto attendant, voicemail, Internet fax receiving and call transfer all supported by a 24*7 customer support team at a very affordable cost.
ESPN Insider(coupons): As the World Wide Leader in Sports, ESPN is the leading multinational, multimedia sports entertainment company and one of the most respected names in sports. ESPN Insider is ESPN’s premium sports subscription service that allows sports fans to stay one step ahead of the game.
Hockey Monkey(coupons): HockeyMonkey (Hockey Monkey) is a one-stop resource for Hockey Gear at the best prices. Since 1999, they’ve offered top ice and roller hockey equipment: top brand hockey skates, protective gear, sticks, bags and more for everyone from the beginner to the professional.
Avast(coupons): Is the multi-award winning antivirus product line from ALWIL Software a.s., which is ICSA Labs and Checkmark certified (for both antivirus and anti-malware). They work to provides powerful protection across a range of platforms and operating systems including Mac, Linux and MS Windows 95 to Vista 64-bit. avast! antivirus has strong self-protection built-in as well as anti-spyware and anti-rootkit technology, while at the same time delivering a high level of performance.
Bit Defender(coupons): A well-established brand in the software industry, gaining world recognition for the quality of both its products and services. Bit Defender provides security solutions with state of the art proactive protection against viruses, spyware, phishing attacks, hackers, and more.
VMware(coupons): The global leader in virtualization solutions from the desktop to the datacenter—bringing cloud computing to businesses of all sizes. Customers rely on VMware to reduce capital and operating expenses, ensure business continuity, strengthen security and go green.
Here are some great new stores that have been recently added to DealTaker along with a brief description of the services they provide. Clicking on the store name takes you directly to the website and selecting the coupon option will bring you to the deals we already have for the store.
Just Answer(coupons): The largest online Expert Q&A site where people come when they need a doctor, lawyer, mechanic, vet, tech support, tutor or 20,000 other Experts in 100+ categories to answer their questions.
Movie Goods(coupons): With over 350,000 unique products its the world’s largest selection of movie and television memorabilia, including posters, photos, and custom frames.
Doba(coupons): Provides a place where suppliers can list their product inventory, and you can find items to sell. These different suppliers will drop ship products right to your customers, so you never have to handle or ship products.
Century Novelty(coupons): Specializes in party supplies, favors and decorations, offering a wide variety of themes including Graduation, Luau, Patriotic, Pirate, Breast Cancer Awareness and Oktoberfest.
Discount Office Items(coupons): Office Supplies company with over 40,000 items, offers the lowest prices on quality office supplies, technology items, janitorial supplies, office furniture & more. They even show how how their prices compare to other top competitors (even the big brands!) on every product page of the website.
Horse.com(coupons): Also known as Country Supply, has been the leader in the horse supplies industry for decades and specializes in horse supplies, both english and western tack and also offers a wide variety of horse blankets and sheets, riding apparel, gifts for horse lovers, and much more. They also have a lowest price guarantee where they will beat any other online price.
Paula Young(coupons): The world’s leading retailer of wigs, hair pieces and add-ons offering a number of brands and exclusive celebrity endorsed lines from Jaclyn Smith, Patti LaBelle and Diahann Carroll.
Heels.com(coupons): The hottest women’s shoes from sellers like Guess, BCBGirls, Naughty Monkey, and Chinese Laundry and celebrity lines like L.A.M.B., Jessica Simpson Shoes, JLo Shoes, Harajuku Lovers, Paris Hilton Shoes, and Fergie. They have a unique selection of the most coveted women’s shoes, without any unstylish distractions.
ArcSoft(coupons): The industry-leading retail imaging solutions for desktop enable consumers to capture, edit, create, print, and share their photo memories through such software applications as Print Creations®, PhotoStudio®, and ArcSoft Panorama Maker®. They allow consumers to author, edit, and playback various high-definition formats such as AVCHD and Blu-ray with titles such as TotalMedia® Theatre, SimHD and ArcSoft ShowBiz®.
Derm Store(coupons): A health & beauty ecommerce site that was created by a board certified dermatologist who saw the need to provide accurate skin care information and qualified, healthy skin care product solutions on the web. They offer a range of more than 300 skin care and cosmetic brands along with expert advice and esthetician recommended regimens.
A few years back my hubby and I took a trip to Minnesota. I had planned quite the itinerary – Mall of America, trip to Fargo, brief stop in Alexandria to see a small historical museum, then back to St. Paul to stay at a Casino for the night. But the brief stop in Alexandria turned into a day long event as we learned more about the Kensington Runestone recovered nearby in 1898.
The story is that a Minnesota farmer named Olaf Ohman unearthed the Runetone while digging up a tree stump. Roots were wrapped around it and could have given experts a very good indication of how young the stone wasnt. But Mr Ohman removed it and turned the stone over to the University of Minnesota. A debate over its authenticity began.
We are always adding new, top quality stores to our site in order to get more deals out there for you. Here are some great stores we have added recently along with a description of their services.
Dimdim(coupons): Meetings start with a single click in a web browser – no software is required to host, join, even record a Dimdim Web conference.
Day Spring(coupons): A leading manufacturer and distributor of Christian cards, gifts, jewelry, art, decor and more with over 1100 products.
Zenfolio(coupons): Offers photography hosting and selling solution for professionals and enthusiasts making it easy to upload, present and sell photography online.
Buyz(coupons): A jewelry superstore offering everyday low prices on brand name jewelry and watches.
Overstock Drug Store(coupons): Specializes in brand name diabetic, over-the-counter and health and beauty care products direct-to-the-consumer.
Ellusionist(coupons): Creates best-in-class magic, magic tricks and Shop top magic supplies, magic DVDs and videos, magic tricks and playing cards.
World Class Nutrition(coupons): Supplying sport nutrition products at rock bottom prices and providing the latest in training and diets.
Supplements To Go(coupons): Providing customers with the ability to purchase the best supplement products on the web and seek the advice of professionals that know how to get results.
Apothicia(coupons): An online beauty boutique, which carries the finest selection of skin care, body care, aromatherapy, and cosmetic products.
Guitar World(coupons): Lessons in guitar style and technique of the greatest songs in rock, metal, blues, punk and more for professional and beginning players alike.
<Water Warehouse(coupons): Family run business offering Discount Pool Supply Fulfillment with 8 giant warehouses full of the best quality supplies and equipment.
Quality Smith(coupons): Bringing customers and contractors together by setting appointments for homeowners with pre-screened, reputable contractors for their home improvement projects.
iFloor(coupons): Stocks premier flooring and rugs at great prices while giving advise and flooring information.
Home Decorating Company(coupons): An online bedding superstore that carries luxury bedding and decorative products from some of the world’s best-known designers.
People that know me will tell you that at any given time, without rhyme or reason, I will break out in a silly dance if the mood strikes. I could be in a grocery store sniffing cantaloupe for ripeness and I’ll hear Barry White’s deep voice plastered on the overhead and I’ll break into a funky groove of some sort. I’ve been in JC Penney during the Holiday season and Rockin’ Around The Christmas Tree starts playing and I drop what I’m doing to break out in dance. Even at home when I’m at my computer working a good song will come up and I take a few seconds to get my groove on. Sometimes people do tend to shoot me a weird look, but for the most part I hear giggles or they join me in my crusade to get my dance fix in for the day.
I’ve always been this way. Years ago, in my early 20’s, I worked for my Mom, who had a professional home daycare/preschool, full time. I spent my days with anywhere between 7-13 kids between the ages of 18 months all the way up to 7 years old. There were many days that we were stuck inside due to weather and the kids would be restless and cranky regardless of how many activities we had planned for them. My remedy for these days was to turn on some silly music and start dancing. The kids would laugh, jump up and down and eventually break into their own style of dance. I’ve learned throughout the years that kids think it’s cool when an adult dances and acts silly.
I’ve held onto this for my entire life. I’ve learned that adults think it’s cool too when another adult acts silly and breaks out into a Brady Bunch style dance in the middle of the local grocery store. I look at these people and I know deep down they want to drop their loaf of bread or gallon of milk and join me, but this little alarm goes off in their heads with that cautionary message: What Will People Think?
My most memorable moment was at a mall back when I was in my late 20’s. There was a vendor selling audio equipment in the center of the mall and swing music was playing. The vendor was trying to demonstrate that music from the 50’s and 60’s could sound just as good as modern music today on the speakers. Out of blue, in a loud voice, I asked, “Who wants to dance?” An older gentleman, who reminded me of my Grampie, stepped forth and said, “I will Miss.” He took both of my hands and led me into a dance that was probably popular back in the era of the music. People watched and smiled. When the song was done he told me that his wife had passed away two years ago and hadn’t danced like that since then.
A few days ago a friend of mine sent me a video to something called, “Where The Hell Is Matt?” I sat there watching the video completely intrigued by this man dancing a silly dance in various areas of the world. In some portions he danced alone, but in most of the footage a large group of people are dancing with him. Everyone, regardless of the location, appear happy and they are smiling. There is something about this concept that moves me and I am completely inspired by this.
I looked into it a bit further and there have been accusations that the “Where The Hell Is Matt” videos are some sort of marketing hoax. I had a hard time believing this and watched a video of Matt himself confronting this issue. His response was exceptionally brilliant and, with the use of gentle sarcasm, he addresses this to the skeptics who have made these claims. At the end of the video Matt asks if there is anyone that wants to dance with him. People get up and the dance begins.
To Matt and to all of us who sporadically break out in dance, keep doing what your doing! Dance I say! Dance!
I have noticed more and more laptop stickers, and stickers in general, recently. Even Ken (one of our developers – the one who eats EVERYTHING) said something yesterday about DealTaker stickers. So, I decided that we needed to get some laptop stickers that we can use and giveaway to our users. As part of an initiative we have here at DealTaker – “DealTaker on DealTaker” - we always turn to our merchant partners first looking for deals and the best prices available . In this case (and with a great referral from Shawn Collins) we turned to StickerGiant.com. The process was easy and the prices are great (especially with Sticker Giant coupons). Now, soon, we can all have laptops that look like this -
If you want one, send us your name and mailing address by reaching out through Contact Us - be sure to put “Laptop Sticker” in the Subject line. Send us a picture with your laptop sticker in place and we will create a montage to be posted at a later date (mail to moderators (at) dealtaker (dot) com.
Our dog Zephyr for one thinks only about herself. It usually starts first thing in the morning with her clawing at my hair to wake up. Who needs an alarm clock when you have a Zephyr? As far as she is concerned she is the “queen” of the house. After wake-up call, she makes her way through the house barking at anything… could be as little as a leaf blowing across the porch in the backyard. Then she goes outside an eagerly awaits breakfast in her doggie bed. YES… she wants it in bed. Did I mention she’s a princess? While I’m working she is constantly battling for my undivided attention. She climbs on me, the laptop, brings me toys, and fights Gizmo our other dog for prime position for mommy time. Zephyr translates to “a gentle breeze” let me tell you… she is a windstorm. She gets a wild hair and amuses herself and us by running circles full blast. She weighs just about 4 pounds and is constantly trying to pick fights with the neighbors (big) dogs. She thinks she is big too!
All the while, she picks up everything in the house or outside and chews it to pieces. Gross, she had escargot for lunch recently. You would think things on a desk or tables were safe. Not with her she is a climber, and a sneaky one at that. On rare occasion she will cuddle up to you, lie on her back and want her tummy rubbed. She reminds me of an alligator when she does this. While not assuming the duties of a dog, she prances around like a little princess finds the biggest pillow on the couch curls up into a little ball and watches her evening television. Things finally begin to die down for the night. Until the next day when the vicious cycle starts all over again. Don’t get me wrong, we love her and would be lost without her. She brings much pleasure to our house.
Moral of the story: Don’t spoil your dog into thinking she is the owner and rules the roost.
If you are from O-H-I-O or anywhere around there then you know what I am referring to. For all you others who don’t, let me explain. The term Buckeyes or Bucks is used to refer to Ohio State University sports teams and refers to all residents of the state of Ohio. Buckeyes are shiny dark brown nuts with lighter tan patches. They are poisonous nuts that grow on trees along rivers and streams and in floodplains.
Back in the day there was a time when bragging about how much you spent on something was cool. I can recall dozens of moments where I was amidst a conversation that began with, “Aren’t these shoes the bomb?!?! I spent a fortune on them…more than I should have, but when people see me in these!” I usually faked a smile hoping that it was enough to give the impression that I shared the same excitement. I would mentally sigh, shake my head and look down at my casual thong sandals that I had happily bought on clearance for under $10.00. I was proud that my sandals didn’t require monthly payments and an obnoxious interest rate.
A few years back my hubby and I took a trip to Minnesota. I had planned quite the itinerary – Mall of America, trip to Fargo, brief stop in Alexandria to see a small historical museum, then back to St. Paul to stay at a Casino for the night. But the brief stop in Alexandria turned into a day long event as we learned more about the Kensington Runestone recovered nearby in 
People that know me will tell you that at any given time, without rhyme or reason, I will break out in a silly dance if the mood strikes. I could be in a grocery store sniffing cantaloupe for ripeness and I’ll hear Barry White’s deep voice plastered on the overhead and I’ll break into a funky groove of some sort. I’ve been in JC Penney during the Holiday season and Rockin’ Around The Christmas Tree starts playing and I drop what I’m doing to break out in dance. Even at home when I’m at my computer working a good song will come up and I take a few seconds to get my groove on. Sometimes people do tend to shoot me a weird look, but for the most part I hear giggles or they join me in my crusade to get my dance fix in for the day.
