Shop.com: For Your Hassle-free, One Stop Shop Site

November 23, 2008

SHOP.COM is a comparison shopping site specifically designed for women that allows you to shop from over 2,000 merchants all in one place. Purchases can be conveniently made using one universal “shopping cart” to buy everything at one time or by clicking over to participating merchants’ sites.

Since I do most of my holiday shopping online, this site is like shopping Nirvana.  I love a good deal and I love simplicity.  Shop.com is the best of both.

Just to test it out,  I searched for a kid tough digital camera.  There is more than one version by different manufacturers.  Using Shop.com I was able to find the best deal on the best product by going to the sites and reading reviews and really comparison shopping.  (Found a great deal on the perfect camera at digitalfoto.com) All with just a few clicks of my mouse.  And?  When I found the perfect camera, I was able to get it right then and there for my nephew.  No lines.  No waits.  And?  I was in my pajamas the entire time.  That is what I call a good shopping experience.

SHOP.COM gives busy Moms an opportunity to ease the stress of holiday shopping with tools to help us figure out what to buy, find recommendations, and pinpoint which stores have the best price. With a combined total of over 20 million products, we can stop running from store to store to find the best deal or the perfect gift for the impossible-to-shop-for relative. Additionally, SHOP.COM provides expert advice, shopping tips, and articles, while giving easy ways to save money via price comparison tools, coupons, and rebates.

This review written in partnership with Mom Central.

Posted by Jenn @ 11:09 am | Comments   | |

Kodak Picture Movie DVD

July 31, 2008

So many milestone celebrations feature photos and music. Everyone enjoys seeing a photo slide show set to music.

I am big on taking pictures. Of the kids, the world around me, of the kids. (Though without a camera since mine has met its untimely death), I am relying on the kindness of other’s photostreams.) There have been many times I have seen amazing slide shows and wished I could do something like that. I want to be able to send a DVD of pictures to my Dad and my sister. They don’t live close and it would be nice to share the big moments with them.

Now, I know just how to share these moments. Kodak has introduced the Kodak Picture Movie DVD.

And trust me when I say, it is so easy to do. If you go to a Kodak Picture Movie DVD kiosk in select CVS Pharmacies, you simply insert the medium (CD, memory card, memory stick, USB flash drive) with your pictures on it and just follow the simple instructions. It is so easy *I* can do it!

1. You can choose up to 60 photos and arrange them on the touch screen in any order
2. Choose title words or a brief opening description
3. Choose a song from one of the popular songs in their database from categories such as energetic, happy, inspirational, relaxing and romantic.
4. The DVD is created and your pictures are set to music with transitions

That’s it! Now, you know you can do that! I have smart readers. You are one of them!
The Kodak Picture Movie DVD is a quick and easy way to bring your pictures to life with music and share with others.

From July 27-August 2, 2008, when you order a DVD, you’ll get the same value back in “extra bucks” that can be used towards anything at CVS/pharmacy.

DVDs are $14.99 each after the promotion is over. (But that is still so worth it for the ease of creating something so wonderful to share with family and friends!)

I know that bloggers are huge on picture taking. This takes it one step further. Try it out. What do you have to lose?

Nothing. And so much to gain! I am glad I did it. My family will be, too.

Try it and let me know how you like it. I think it is a great idea and a great service.

Posted by Jenn @ 1:47 pm | Comments   | |

GameStop is my First Stop

July 27, 2008

I am no stranger to Game Stop. In fact, when my kids start in about wanting the latest and greatest, that is out first stop. I joke that GameStop is a second house of worship for my children. (And they range in age from 7-15.) We love GameStop not only because they have an amazing selection and great prices, but it their customer service is outstanding.

Shortly after the Nintendo DS lite was released, I went to GameStop to purchase one for my son. For some reason, it was defective (through no fault of the store), so I called the store and was told to come back immediately and they would fix the situation. Not only did the manager himself help me, he asked for my permission to open it and make sure it was working. Then, not only did he guarantee that it worked, he gave me a discount of a game for my troubles. What other store does that? None that I know of.

So when MomCentral asked if I would like to do a review of GameStop, I couldn’t answer them quickly enough to please pick me and make me the hero of my kids.

I went to a GameStop where we don’t usually shop. I parked the car and stood a store away and sent in my son. He is almost 15 but could definitely pass for 17. I told him to go in and pick out a rated M (for Mature) game and try to buy it. He went in, looked around, chose a rated M game and went to the counter to buy it. The salesperson would not sell it to him. He said it contained mature content and he was not going to sell it to him. I watched from outside and came in about that time.

The salesman was so kind to explain to me about the game and that he was not trying to be rude but that it was their policy to not sell games with that rating to minors. I just smiled knowing that would be exactly what would happen. Then, we I told him that I would buy it, he went on to explain to me in great detail why the game received a Mature rating and wanted me to be quite sure that I understood what all was in the game that could be inappropriate. You have no idea how much this mom appreciates that.

GameStop is more than a place to buy the latest releases as well as buy and sell used games, it is a store that insists that they are doing right by the people who shop there. I would never hesitate to send any of my children into GameStop to buy a game because I know that without my presence, there is no way they will come out of there with an inappropriate game.

They really saved me when I returned from a recent business trip where I forgot to pick up “souvenirs” for the kids. Before they could even begin to pout or gripe, I pulled out a GameStop gift card and all was forgiven. It was a beautiful moment.

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This review brought to you courtesy of a partnership with MomCentral.

Posted by Jenn @ 7:14 pm | Comments   | |