5 Good Reasons To Shop On Ebay

Am not going to lie, it took me a while to really give Ebay a shot.  Having done so though, I am thrilled to say the least.  I never imagined that I could reach power seller and top rated status in less than 3 months.  But I did.  Yay me!  I am no guru yet but I am having fun learning and figuring it out.

Here are some of the reasons that drew me to Ebay.

1.  Bargains!

Hello! There are bargains to be had by all.  From negotiating a lower price directly from the seller to finding that perfect deal, it is all possible on Ebay.  And here is my favorite part, the bargains never stop.  They are 24/7.  Gotta love that.  

2.  Vast Product Selection

One of the things I absolutely love about Ebay is the vast selection of goods that they offer.  You can literally find anything there.  And I do mean Anything.  I have bought books, records, computers, designer handbags, vintage jewelry, collectibles, stuff for my dog and so much more......and I still haven't scratched the surface of the merchandise they offer.  My favorite items to buy on Ebay is vintage jewelry and Art.  I find that there are lots of people selling Estate pieces and one of a kind items that I have never seen any where else.  At unbelievable bargain prices I have never seen.  Ever.  I love that!

Here are a few things I purchased this week.  I collect Cameos so this made me really happy. 

3.  Easy Check Out

No long lines to stand on or tedious filling out online credit card forms.  Ebay connects with Pay Pal so you can check out in seconds.  No worries about being jacked on the net as Pay Pal is one of the safest ways to send and receive money without providing your personal information.  I personally enjoy having that peace of mind.  So far my experience has been all kinds of wonderful.  (Knock on wood.)

4.  Fun!

I know this may sound strange but I have a blast bidding on stuff.  It really feels good to snatch something up in the last few seconds from 10 other hungry bidders.  Kinda like blocking a shot in basketball.  (In my best Matumbo voice) No No No, Not today!  Ha ha ha ha............

5.  Positive Feedback

Since Ebay sellers and shoppers buy from people they trust, positive feedback is like gold on your  Ebay profile.   The more you have, the more confidence people have in you.  Good business etiquette goes a long way.  It is very simple. Ship in one or two days if you are a seller and pay for items promptly if you are a buyer.  Before you know it, you will have great reviews which  =  cha ching!  

And there you have it.  Hope I inspired you to give Ebay a try, trust me, it is well worth it.  I would love to hear from you on this so leave me some Ebay stories or comments.  Have a good one lovelies!

Cherio!

Goodwill Hunting - Bargains For All!

When it comes to bargain shopping, I am like a lion on the Serengeti, I can stalk, hunt and negotiate with the best of them...........plus I totally enjoy the whole experience.  It is a great feeling to see your hard earned money go farther and accomplish much more than you expected.  It never gets old.


A few weeks ago, a very dear friend of mine sent me a link to www.shopgoodwill.com and as the saying goes "the rest is history".  I am obsessed with this site.   It is not just "a" goodwill shop, it is ALL of the goodwill shops in the US combined and available online.  Imagine that and I dare you not to get happy. 
From collectibles to Art, Sports memorabilia, vintage jewelry and so much more, you can find it all there on the site.  All you you need is a little patience to sort through the extensive listings.  Trust me, it pays off big time so take your time and have fun!


Once you find what you want, you can go ahead and bid on it. Just sign up/create an account which is a very easy process and you are ready to bargain!  After that, if you are the winning bidder on an item, once it is paid for, your purchase will be shipped to you.  Easy, peasy. This is perfect for anyone with an ebay business since you can buy collectibles for a good price and sell them over.  Check it out, it is so worth it.

All of the pieces shown in this post are items that I am bidding on or won already.  What do you think?

This is a very old oil painting, it is signed by the artist and worth a lot more than I paid for it. Cha ching!

This piece is a vintage necklace, the stones are glass set against a gold tone base.

This is a vintage still life I fell in love with, the colors are exquisite in this piece.

 

    And finally the piece de resistance, a Vintage Xinling Gorge Watercolor Scroll. I adore this piece. 

Cherio!

Gingham......This check will never bounce

Christian Louboutin shoes

There is something about Gingham that is so sweet and nostalgic that you just fall in love with it.  And trust me, once you buy a piece of this fabric, you'll want it in every color.

 Now, I know that this look is not easy to pull of but if done right, gingham can be very chic and even trendy.  Its all a matter of how you accessorize and style it.

Here's some beautiful gingham fashion and decor pieces that I really like, enjoy!

Gingham is a great way to introduce pattern to your wardrobe or decor.  It is a true classic and because of its neutral two color palette, it is easy to integrate into both your closet and decor.  Gingham is very reasonable and versatile.  It has been around since the 17th century and I would venture to say, its "here for the long haul."

threadart

One of my favorite things about this fabric is that it is so light and airy, which makes it perfect for Spring and Summer.  

The first lady in a beautiful gingham skirt.

ablondeandabrunette

I love this whole look, the shorts are uber stylish!

gingham headboard

How ingenious is this.  Use gingham fabric to cover your head board and sew some tiebacks at the side (could be ribbon if you choose) and viola!, you have a new look! What's really great about this is, you can swap out the fabric whenever you like.  (please note: works best on rectangular and square head boards)

Anthropologie

Just imagine this blouse with skinny jeans and heels.......

www.jcrew.com

I absolutely adore this jacket.

forever21

This dress is all kinds of fabulous!

J.Crew

This blouse is on my list of things to purchase.

 nicolknappen

Even if you are not a gingham fan, its hard to resist this head board.  Its simply divine.

Lol, I think Dorothy was on to something.........dont you think?

To see more gorgeous gingham products check out these links:

www.bananarepublic.com

www.jcrew.com

www.urbanoutfitters.com

And These Are A Few Of My Favorite Things....

I don't know if any of you caught the "Oprah Favotite Things" show that aired recently.  If you did then you're probably still in traction from laughing so hard.  It was absolute madness!!!  People were screaming hysterically, jumping up and down, gasping for air, clutching their chest, I am pretty sure a few of them even passed out.  Oprah is hard core folks!

Well, after watching this I was inspired to share some of my favorite things as well.  I cannot give you cars like Oprah yet but what I can give you is really nice gift ideas that will save you time and money.  So, lets do this!

First up these gorgeous emerald green earrings inspired by one of Angelina Jolie's red carpet looks.  These earrings are incredible looking and they are under $80.00.  Not bad at all for something that you can wear for years to come.

Next is one of my absolute favorite gifs to give, holiday gift baskets. You can personalize these to meet every personality under the sun.  Just fill the basket with your friend or family member's favorite things and you have a gift that will not only be appreciated but remembered! (Tip: some the filler items can be very inexpensive, like a particular chocolate bar or a favorite book but together all of these things make a wonderful gift for the recipient) Also it does not have to be a basket, it could be any good looking container, be creative!

And what would Christmas be without some sparkle?  This bib necklace is perfect for the woman who is not afraid to shine......yes, the pun was intended.

If you have girl friends who likes fashion like I do, makeup is a great gift to buy.  Trust me she will love it!  There are so many trends in makeup right now and you certainly can be as tame or daring as you want to be.  The best discovery for me however is the fact that I can now buy organic makeup that was made with my health in mind. How fabulous is that. Here is a great brand called Afterglow whose pieces range between $16.00 and $18.00 per piece.

Tip: Nail polish, eye shadows, neutral lipsticks, eye pencils and bronzers are a good choice since they work with lots of skin tones and are not as specific as face powders. If you are not too confident stick with neutral palettes.

This list would not be complete or realistic without something technological, after all technology is now a vital part of our daily lives. So here is a little beauty that stole my heart.  The Canon IXUS 105 digital camera, as advanced in function as it is stylish. The question is, who wouldn't love this digital camera?  (Retails for around $165.00) 

These dinner plates from Delfina Dinnerware really caught my eyes in more ways than one.  I just love the pop of color!  Imagine how marvelous this would look on a table. Of course you can mix and match  with other pieces or buy the whole set, whatever you do, its bound to look spectacular!  A great gift for mom. (Retails for $51.80 for 4 dinner plates) 

Now this is not something you should do on a whim, however if you have a child or special love one who adores animals, wants one and could take proper care of it, you cannot go wrong with a pet.  Its common knowledge thats a pet loves its owner unconditionally and thats something we could never have too much of.

Tip: visit your local animal shelter first before buying a pet.  There are many animals waiting to be loved and given a good home.  Also, in most cases it will cost a fraction of the cost to adopt than it would to purchase a pet.

No Fear Holiday Glamour

Christmas hands down is my favorite holiday! How could it not be? Once a year I get a free pass to:

• Decorate my home like a palace or mini toy land, no questions asked
• Eat all my favorite foods in ridiculously large portions of course since its Christmas
• Have fun with family and friends......tell off said family and friends, no worries since its the wine! 
• Get days off from work
• Have people shower me with gifts while looking exceptionally fierce in my new outfit.  

As you probably can tell, I totally enjoy just about every aspect of this season, even the crazed panic shopping that occurs when we forget a gift a day or two before Christmas.  As you know, if you've ever braved the "stampede" at your local mall on Christmas eve, this is not for the faint of heart. 

One of the reasons we all shop so much is to buy the items we need to create the look and feel we want for our home or residence.   This look and feeling or AMBIENCE is vitally important.  From the front door to the back you want your guest to feel welcome and full of holiday cheer!  One of the easiest ways to accomplish this is to think of the 5 senses.  Hearing, Tasting, Touch, Smell, Sight. This is what stimulates the average human being and enables us to enjoy an experience.  

SMELL:  Vanilla candles, fresh flowers, cinnamon sticks, and fresh apple pies are all distinct aromas that foster a sense of well being and welcome in a home.

TASTE:  Freshly baked cookies, wine, turkey, ham and all the trimmings are definitely a favorite on this special occasion.

SIGHT:  From a wreath on the front door to the Christmas tree and other festive decoration inside your home, nothing says Christmas better than lights, sparkle and fresh pine!

HEARING:  Classic Christmas  music, I personally love anything by Nat King Cole

TOUCH:  There is nothing better than a good welcome hug!

Holiday decorating does not have to be complicated, it could be as simple as arranging a few candles on a table with some holly leaves or fresh pine.  Now how easy is that, in the end its all about the ambience.

Here are a few links to inspire your holiday decorating:

http://hellobeautiful.com/special-features/holidays-2009/deborah-bennett/how-to-decorate-your-bedroom-this-christmas/

http://curbly.com/diy-maven/posts/7596-fresh-christmas-decorating-ideas

http://www.marthastewart.com/