Over the weekend I did a little virtual shopping. I thought I’d share my order with you so you can live and shop vicariously.
First, based on Jenna’s post about this book being the “best book she’s read all year” (and that woman reads tons of books), I knew I had to pick it up.
One of my Intentions & Goals for 2011 was to read more. I would say that falls under Item #7 even though I didn’t specifically say it, I have mentioned before that I really want to read more books!
Hopefully this book will help tear me away from my computer screen, my google reader, and my email and steer me onto the couch in the 3.6 minutes each day that I have that isn’t accounted for and do some good old fashioned pleasure reading.
The next item in my order was this USB hub.
My Mac desktop computer only has 3 USB ports:
One port has my keyboard plugged into it. I don’t want to pay to upgrade to a wireless keyboard right now. Not to mention, batteries are expensive so being wired isn’t a bad thing.
One port has my external backup drive plugged into it.
And that only leaves one more port.
But, I have my new iPhone to be charged and a card reader for all the photos I import daily or multiple times per day.
I needed more easily accessible USB ports so I wasn’t fumbling around on the back of my computer plugging and unplugging. Trivial, perhaps. But I like to streamline things and be as efficient as possible.
Now, I’m all set!
Ports ‘o plenty with two to spare
Plus the gadget is tiny. Palm-sized which is perfect. I don’t need any space hogs! Worth 9 bucks in every sense of the word.
iPhone Update: Yes, I am loving my iPhone. Totally worth it, I adapted to Touchscreen within a couple days, and if you’re even thinking about getting one, get it. You’ll love it.
Finally, I got this portable lighting studio per Kath’s recommendation.
As I said the other day, I am really enjoying photography and it’s become a new found passion. I want to take beautiful photos and that requires taking tons of them and seeing what works and what doesn’t work.
Natural sunlight is great and works beautifully for photographs, but sometimes that’s not possible and although the overhead lighting I have in my kitchen and living room is fine for day to day living, it’s not always doing my photography any favors.
Enter this:
3 lighting stands with light bulbs and umbrellas that I can move around to get the lighting just as I want it.
I probably won’t use these all that often but when I need it, I’ll have it because after creating “the perfect” recipe and being ready to photograph it, if it’s cloudy, dark in my kitchen, or later in the day, it can blow a photo shoot. Not anymore. Let there be light.
There are many different ways to insert the bulbs, and so many ways the lamp heads adjust and tilt, and the stand heights are adjustable. Tons of ways to customize!
I am also excited about these because although lightboxes are all the rage in the ‘sphere right now, I like how I am not confined to a little box with this setup.
And it all stores neatly and takes up minimal space. I should expect no less from Kath and her Neat Home series posts since she’s the queen of neat and efficient spaces and organization.
From my last post on the Potato Themed Recipes, I know, holy tater overload. Hopefully you saw something that will help you take plain spuds to va-va-voom and gave you some recipe ideas. As much as a potato can ‘voom, of course.
Dessert in honor of St. Paddy’s Day: No Bake Chocolate Coconut Snowballs (Vegan, GF, Freezer-Friendly)
Questions:
1. Any great product finds lately? Online or otherwise? Anything that has made your life better, easier, more streamlined?
Between lights and a USB hub and a book, I’m set!
2. What do you order online?
As I have posted about before, I order all my bulk spices, nooch, stevia, probiotics, supplements and more from iHerb.com Enter code AVE630 at checkout and you’ll save $5 off your order.
I know many people also use Amazon for their day-to-day bulk goods like hemp seeds, almond flour, or body wash.
If you know what you like, you know what brand you want, and are okay with buying in larger quantities (usually) and are planful enough to order in advance, you can definitely save lots of money by ordering online.
And I also save not only money, but time! I can put 6 items in my virtual shopping cart faster than I can drive to the store, park, get Skylar in and out of her carseat, and repeat at the next store because I find I need to go to multiple stores to get the products I want at the best prices so if I can eliminate that and shop online, I gladly will!
Plus, many times, my iHerb or Amazon orders are to me within 48 hours and the shipping is free or is just a small nominal charge, and no sales tax at almost 9% in CA rocks. All I have to do is click-click.
Of course, I don’t buy everything online. The grocery store is my second home. Fresh produce always needs to be replenished but I do what I can with online ordering.
What do you order online? Can you plan out your shopping orders and needs in advance or does lack of planning end up costing you time and money?
I order books, food products, supplements, clothes, etc. on line. Pretty much anything!
I unfortuanelty do not read much, do not have the time. One day I hope to read more!
Hope you find some peace and quiet time to read :)
And yay for photography!! Something I am loving…still have a lot to learn though
Oooooh! You got the best loot!! :D VERY cool lighting equipment! I’m sure it will help you out a ton.
Funny, I just hooked up an external USB hub to my computer last week! I have so many USB plugs that I have them spread out on 2 computers and still need more, haha.
Even just 3 minutes a day can really work your way through a book. I work on them on half hour chunks unless they are really good I get glued to them and stay up later to read. That one sounded a little sad but sometimes those can be good, but I have to be cautious about reading books that might make me too sad. I look for funny or uplifting in some way mostly.
Wow total scores. Please keep us updated on how you like the lighting system. I need to buckle down and learn more about my camera (that I’ve had for a year and a half now!) before I invest in anything else, but it’s on my radar.
Can’t wait to see what you think about that book! I’ve heard good things and might add it to my list too :)
oh I love ordering online! its like a little fun package arriving atyour doorstep! sometimes its more satisfying than actually going to the store!
I order from GAP and banana quite often when they are having online sales, and victorias secret and I do order from iherb too! (vitamins, nooch, protein etc)
OH and amazon…books and random things!
OOOOO! I love the lighting package!!! Thanks for the deal at iherb.com too, I was looking to buy a few things, so any $$$ saved will be helpful!
yes get that deal at iherb girl :)
AVE630 is the code
I one day will hopefully explore the world of photography. the nicest camera I’ve ever had is a digital and it wasn’t that nice lol
I actually have found quite a few wonderful places to shop online that have saved me money, which is very important when there are two students living under one roof! I would love to explore photography one day! Hubby is taking a class right now in photography so he’s always going out exploring to find beautiful/unique pictures. Its so much for to review his “field trips”.
Interesting on the book, I may need to add it to my “to read” pile. And I had to get an 8-port USB hub for my laptop between iPod cable, printer, doc scanner, camera cable, keyboard, thumb drives, external hard drives. :-P I never understood why it took Apple so long to add a built-in card reader to MacBooks, but Windows laptops has had them for years. Hubby complains about not having one on his MacBook Pro all the time.
Interesting on the lighting studio, I have a Cowboy Studio pop-up tent that folds up like a car sun shade and it’s fun, but I haven’t used it in awhile because it takes up a lot of space and I just don’t have time to get it out on weeknights.
1. My new cheap and awesome camera strap which I will be reviewing soon, glad to have one that doesn’t make me look like a tourist. :-)
2. Tons of stuff – food, books, shoes.
that’s good that im not the only one who needs more usb ports..you need 8…I don’t feel so bad with 4 extra :)
not wanting to get something out, unfold it, etc on weeknights…totally agree! This is for special photographs for my better recipes…I keep getting denied from certain websites when i submit my photos due to underexposed lighting…so i hope this does the trick :)
cant wait for the cam strap review!
I don’t buy much online anymore… I used to buy a lot of bulk food when I was cooking for my family, but now it’s pretty much just me and my habits have changed a lot.
The biggest things I buy online are cameras/photography equipment
camera equipment…yes, me too :)
I am always nervous when it comes to ordering on line. But it can be alot cheaper and easier! I just need to try it :)
I was expecting that set up to be way more than $70! Wow, that’s a pretty sweet deal; is it kind of chintzy though or are the tripods sturdy?
I buy a lot online, mainly because I can’t get a lot of stuff nearby. I used to do a TON of online shopping for clothes, but I ended up returning so much stuff that I have cut back a bit on that. I am going back to Old Navy today to get more pants, after I bought 2 sweaters, 2 shirts, and a dress just this weekend. Tis the season to shop apparently.
I’m going to check out that book too. You know me and reading. :)
i mean it’s decently sturdy for 70 bucks and for indoor use it would be ALL you’d need. i wouldnt take it outside on a windy day but to photography desserts and salads on the countertop, more than adequate :)
Averie, I am so impressed by all that you accomplish! You are a motivation to me, for sure! Your camera equipment is beautiful and your photos really do look wonderful on your blog!! Especially all the sweet things! haha :-)
I order from iHerb regularly and the Derm Store for all my skincare products. I also order almost all clothing online for myself, hubby and my boys. I know the stores that have clothes that fit me TTS and what works well so that I don’t purchase and then have to send back (although, that does happen from time to time). All grocery shopping is done at the store because I go nearly every day to replenish all the fruit and veggies that we go through like there is a football team living in my house! :-)
thanks so much, Michele for the compliments :)
And thank you for the package…it arrived today in perfect condition, well packed, and it will be well enjoyed…thank you!!!!!!!!!!
Derm Store, yes, i use them too sometimes :)
Yayay! It arrived! Super!!! It is my absolute pleasure, Averie! :-)