Credit: BigStockPhoto.com

The economy might not be great right now for a lot of people globally, but that doesn’t mean you can’t still take a break and enjoy a vacation. You just have to look for deals — and in the fall you can often find great flight deals to a wide variety of destinations.

Keep the following tips in mind when you’re booking your trip, and you might just come across a flight deal this fall that you can’t pass up!

1. Use online comparison sites.

Online flight and hotel comparison sites can be great tools for finding flight deals not only in the fall, but year-round. While you won’t always find the best deals, the point is that you can compare offers from multiple airlines in one place. With deals changing rapidly, you could miss out on a decent flight deal if you tried to compare the same sites manually (and much more slowly).

If you do find a decent deal on a comparison site, you can always quickly give the airline a call to see if they have any better offers available if you book through them directly.

Credit: BigStockPhoto.com

Here are some flight comparison sites you might want to try:

• Expedia.com
• Travelocity.com
• Priceline.com
• Orbitz.com
• CheapFlights.com
• CheapTickets.com
• Vayama.com

2. Make sure it’s the off-season at your destination.

If you try to travel during peak tourist season at your destination, chances are good that you’re going to get a lousy deal. When more people are competing for a limited number of seats, airlines can charge a premium for them.

I’ll give you a personal example. I’ve been toying with the idea of taking a trip to the U.K. (from the east coast of the U.S.) for a while now. I’ve tracked flight prices among other things to determine the best time of the year to go. Here’s the gist of what I’ve come across.

When I tracked flight prices through the fall and winter (just basic economy seats for a non-stop flight from New York to London) you could get tickets pretty easily in the $400-500 range round trip. Just two years ago a family member managed to get a deal for even less than that for a similar flight. Then in the spring into the summer, I watched the rates go up, up, up. They stopped around $750 for the same flights (on the low end based on price comparison sites — you could certainly find higher prices if you were a glutton for punishment).

It was all about the off-season. If you can still do the things you want to do when most tourists aren’t visiting the area, then do it even if it might be a little cooler out. Sometimes the off-season will surprise you. You might not have to wait until the weather’s awful, but just until people are done with the bulk of the summer rush or when students go back to school.

3. Look for last minute deals.

Credit: BigStockPhoto.com

Sometimes the best deals offered are last minute deals. That’s because airlines want to fill as many seats as possible. If the flight date is approaching and there are still a bunch of unbooked seats, it’s in the airline’s best interest to get someone on board for $300 let’s say than to have an empty seat, even if other passengers paid twice that by booking earlier.

You can try to get last minute deals in person at the airport, but a better option is to set up email alerts with comparison sites or even the airlines themselves if they offer them. You’ll get an email featuring several last minute deals. This is a great option if you want to go away but you’re not really fussy about where or when (think of it as an adventure when a deal comes up that you just don’t want to pass up).

4. Check multiple departure points.

You might be surprised to find out that the airport you depart from (or even fly into) can play a big role in the price of your plane tickets. For example, I live about an hour from Philadelphia. I initially started researching ticket prices from there. Then someone recommended to me that I check Newark (northern New Jersey — about a two hour drive for me). I did, and was astonished to see how much lower the fares were for practically the same flights. I could save $100 or more round trip in some cases.

Then I thought “what about leaving from New York?” It’s not that much further than driving to Newark for me, and I have family up there (meaning I could leave my car safely with them and have them drop me at the airport). Some of the tickets were cheaper still! I was shocked at the difference between leaving from JFK and leaving from Philadelphia.

I compared a few other hypothetical flights to compare departure points. JFK didn’t always beat Newark (in fact Newark seemed to have the lower prices more often). The fact that it varied though is just a testament to the fact that you should compare airports every time you want to fly. Comparing airports could even be a bigger money saver than comparing airlines!

5. Don’t travel over the holidays.

Credit: BigStockPhoto.com

While you might not have a choice (if you need to fly over the holidays to see family), avoid it if you can. At the very least, try to avoid the busiest holiday travel days. Why? Because getting a good deal isn’t just about the money you lay out. It’s also about the experience. Even if you could save $50 on a ticket, is it worth it if you’re in an overcrowded airport for hours with delayed flights and cranky passengers all around you? I’d say “no.”

At the same time, some airlines have even been known to charge premiums on busy holiday travel days (meaning your ticket might be slightly marked up if you want to travel on “premium” days). The easiest way around this is to schedule carefully. For example, while a lot of people are traveling home the Sunday after Thanksgiving in the U.S., you might be able to get a much better deal (and less airport stress) if you can go home on the following Monday or Tuesday instead.

Finding a good flight deal this fall might take a bit of leg work and looking around, but they’re definitely out there! Being flexible in your travel plans can go a long way towards saving you some money. And who knows? That off-season trip might just prove to be one of the most relaxing and enjoyable holidays you’ve ever taken (minus all the other tourists of course)!

Credit: Eric Bartholomew via Flickr

It’s that time of year again — that dark, cold, creepy, crawly time of year. Halloween is sneaking up on you. Boo!

The kids will be dressing up in their Halloween costumes. Cute little princesses to scary little monsters, they’ll all be knocking on your door. “Trick or treat!” Will you be ready? Do you have what it takes to have the coolest house this Halloween — the house all the kids will be talking about the next day?

While I can’t imagine why you’d want the best house this Halloween (after all it just means more money spent on candy and more time spent decorating), if you’ve got that competitive spirit here are a few tips for you. Don’t have just another house this Halloween. Have the coolest! Here’s how:

1. Forget those “fun size” candy bars.

Credit: Kelly Gifford via Flickr

Come on. You know it. I know it. All the little kiddies know it. There’s nothing “fun” about a miniature candy bar. Halloween, for kids, is like the ultimate treasure hunt. On one hand it’s a challenge to see how much they can get, and on the other hand it’s about which kid gets the best stuff! You know they sit around comparing their loot later. What will they have to say about your house?

The solution? Go full-size! Yep. Hand out full-size candy bars on Halloween and you’ll be the talk of the town! So few people do that anymore — you’ll be certain to bewitch the hearts of children all around your neighborhood. Yes it can get expensive. Then again, this is a holiday and it’s all for the kids! If you can’t cut it no one’s going to blame you. After all, the economy sucks. We all get it. Then again, bingeing a bit on Halloween can still be more affordable than doing the same on other holidays. If you have to choose one to go all-out on, this is the more affordable option.

Here’s one thing to keep in mind: unless you plan to give out those full-size candy bars next year too, you might want to skip them. You might be the coolest house this year if you give it a go, but you’ll be the biggest disappointment next year if you get the kids’ hopes up and then let them down. Then again, I guess they do ask for a “trick.”

2. Don’t skimp on the Halloween decorations.

Credit: Shane Gorski via Flickr

Kids don’t approach your average McMansion with a porch light on expecting it to be the coolest place on Halloween. Even if you happen to give out great candy, your house might still be pretty forgettable. How can you get around that?

It’s all about building suspense. You want kids to slightly fear you as they approach your home, but still be filled with anticipation. You want a lump to form in their throat. You want them clinging to mommy or daddy’s arm just a wee little bit. The more challenging it is for them to approach your home, the more they’ll feel like they’ve “earned” those goodies you’re giving out — and the less likely it is that they’ll forget you.

How can you spook out your place for Halloween? Certainly don’t neglect the basics — spider webs, grave stones, and some ghoulish (but not too corny) haunted house sounds echoing from around your entry way. But go beyond that if you dare. Consider a realistic (but old fashioned) coffin. How about having someone sit on your porch dressed like a fake scarecrow to turn their hair white with fear when they suddenly “come to life?”

You get bonus points if you have a naturally creepy old house that frightens the locals year-round. In that case, no decorations needed. Creaky front steps and a single dim light on the porch might be more than enough.

3. Play dress up!

Credit: Andrew Beierle via sxc.hu

Is there any bigger let down on Halloween night than when you’ve finally built the courage to approach that incredibly scary house your friends won’t go near, and then the door opens… slowly… slowly… and what do you see? A sweet little old lady in a flowery gown and fluffy slippers saying “Awwww, aren’t you just the cutest little thing?” What?

Don’t be a buzz kill. It’s Halloween people! Dress up. Have some fun. It’s the one night of the year where you can be anyone (or anything) you want to be. The last thing you should want to be is yourself. Let loose. Keep to the theme of your house decorations. If you went for something really scary, play it up and dress up as a ghost, witch, vampire, or other monster guaranteed to incite fear in the younger children and awe in the older ones.

Having the most popular house on Halloween doesn’t have to be difficult. All it takes is a little bit of planning (and okay, a little bit of money). But you can do it! After all, you do want to be the envy of that obnoxious neighbor across the street, don’t do?

Beyond hunting for that perfect deal, companies know that every now and then women just want an excuse to spoil themselves. There are more bath, beauty, and other “girly” products out there than we could ever possibly try — and believe me, we’d love to try an awful lot of them! But every once in a while I stumble across a product designed for women that leaves me scratching my head and thinking “they can’t be serious, can they?”

Here are five of the absolute craziest products for women I’ve ever seen advertised. Have you ever used one of them?

1. GoGirl

Go ahead ladies, admit it. For years you’ve secretly been jealous of a man’s ability to urinate standing up. Go ahead. Say it. I promise I won’t tell.

You can finally drop the penis envy thanks to GoGirl — a portable funnel-like product that serves as a makeshift shaft to let you pee standing up. Yes. You heard that right. You are now officially eligible to enter all the pissing contests you please. Watch out boys!

But seriously, why would any company assume this product was a good idea? What kind of freakish focus group told them this would be the next big thing in women’s hygiene products? I have to imagine they were kidding, and the joke went over someone’s head.

For a moment (and just a moment!) I even thought “well, maybe” when I saw it mentioned on Go-Girl.com that the GoGirl could be ideal for women who like to go camping. It almost sounds plausible, no? Then common sense came wandering back from the woods and it said “you must be friggin’ nuts if you think I’m going to clean this thing around other human beings on a camping trip!” After all, that would be more humiliating than squatting to piss in the surrounding brush while everyone gathered around cheering you on.

I don’t know. Maybe it’s just me, but the GoGirl seems like a mess waiting to happen. And really, who wants to be bothered with washing their phallus-like funnel every time they want to take a quick leak? More power to you if you have the time or ambition to be bothered, but it’s just not for me thanks!

Credit: Go-Girl.com

Credit: Go-Girl.com

Credit: Go-Girl.com

2. Mooncup Menstrual Cup

I can’t remember exactly where I first came across menstrual cups like the Mooncup other than remembering that it was in a magazine. Just the thought makes me cringe. I mean really — I have a disgusting wave of “eww” come over me when I think about the Mooncup.

What is it? Basically it’s a substitute for pads and tampons during your menstrual cycle. Rather than using disposable products during your period, you can now shove a little cup-like product up inside of you to collect the blood and tissue. Then you get to remove it and clean it all up. Yay.

Look. I’m all for giving Mother Nature a hand with environmentally-friendly products — just not when it comes to my more “delicate” areas it seems. The beauty of a tampon is that you use it, it does its job discreetly, and then you make it go “poof” when you’re done with it. Who in their right bloody mind (pun intended) wants to be bothered with washing out a disgusting tissue-filled cup when they’re already feeling like crap during their period anyway? Not me. And come on. The cup really does look kind of scary! I envision poking.

Credit: Mooncup.co.uk

3. Tinge Razor

Let’s take a look at one more incredibly strange product for women, designed to be used “down there.” This innocent-looking razor is anything but (okay, it is really a razor, but it doubles as a vibrator). It’s exactly what I’ve always wanted — a way to masturbate with blades! How about you?

When I first came across the Tinge razor / vibrator, I was flat out confused. Could a woman really have come up with this idea? I almost felt like the creator had betrayed her sex… had betrayed me! But then I found out the Tinge was developed by a guy. Ah, that makes more sense.

Don’t get me wrong. I completely admire the fact that a young guy out there truly cared enough about getting women off to try to create a product to help (or was it just because men are too lazy or incompetent to do it, so they’d rather we deal with it ourselves?). But at the same time I almost have to wonder if this product stemmed from a true desire to be helpful or from deep-seated mommy issues meaning there was a subconscious desire to see blades all up in our personal business (and to be serious for a moment, I’m not actually accusing the guy of having ill intentions — I’ll give him the benefit of the doubt).

But look ladies — safety features and all, this just isn’t something to take chances with. First, get yourself a decent vibrator if you want one — one designed solely for that purpose. Second, if you’re that concerned about being discreet, either buy a little purse-sized model (you can get them to look like lip stick containers for goodness sake — it’s not that hard!). Or here’s a thought. Just leave the toys for the privacy of your own home where they can be safely stashed away when not in use, and you’ll never have to worry about what they’re masquerading as. I can’t imagine you’ll have an easier time explaining to the kiddies who walk in on you what you’re doing with an upside-down razor down there than if you were caught using a more traditional vibrator anyway.

Credit: MyTinge.com

4. LATISSE®

What woman wouldn’t love longer, thicker eyelashes? After all, we’ll spend a small fortune on constantly buying mascara or even fake lashes for special occasions. So why not use a new prescription-only product like LATISSE to grow better lashes of our own, no makeup needed?

I first came across the product through a commercial airing on Hulu.com (sidenote: great site if you’re in the U.S. and want to catch up on a show you missed). On the surface it really didn’t sound like that bad of an idea. Brooke Shields was the spokesperson, and she wouldn’t lead us wrong, right?

Then I noticed something. Shields’ eyes looked oddly strained and watery in the ad. They didn’t have a bright, beautiful look to them — what we go for when we use makeup to perk up our lashes. That made me second-guess the product. Why on earth would we want to use something that’s supposed to make our eyes look prettier only to have them look watery and / or bloodshot? Isn’t that counter-intuitive. But I stopped myself. “Maybe she just has allergies or something,” I thought.

Then we got to the part of the ad where they start reading off potential side effects. (And let’s face it, that’s the best part of any prescription product’s advertising!) LATISSE apparently “may cause eyelid skin darkening which may be reversible, and there is potential for increased brown iris pigmentation which is likely to be permanent…. The most common side effects after using LATISSE solution are an itching sensation in the eyes and/or eye redness.” Ah, so maybe it wasn’t allergies after all.

Look. LATISSE is designed to treat a condition called eyelash hypotrichosis — not having enough eyelashes. But that’s not how the ad I saw came across. While, yes, it’s clear that it’s a prescription product and that you’ll need to see a medical provider first, it seemed to be more or less marketed as a beauty product for women in general. That concerns me. It concerns me a lot.

In the end, I’ll stick to mascara. The application procedure isn’t that different anyway, and at least if my mascara screws around with my eyes, I can just switch brands — no high costs, doctor’s appointments, or other hassles necessary.

Credit: Latisse.com

Face Slimming Mask

Leave it to the Japanese to put the emphasis on getting smaller, and smaller, and smaller, no matter what we have to do to get there. This face slimming mask is a somewhat eerie example of what we do as women to try to impress men. (Why do we endure one torture device after another for people who openly scratch themselves in public again anyway? I think I missed a memo somewhere!).

I’m not even sure where to start with this face slimming mask. Okay. Yes I am. How about being able to breathe? Is it just me or does this rubbery sac over your head scream “potential suffocation?” Sure, there are air holes, but it still looks pretty restrictive to me.

Now let’s be realistic. I’d hope no woman honestly believes that strapping on a mask will actually melt fat away. While the products for women above might be equally insane in this gal’s opinion, at least I have little doubt that they can actually do what they claim to be able to do. This face slimming mask on the other hand is nothing but a waste of money (and since I still can’t figure out what company released it or where you can actually buy it anyway, you won’t have to worry about that for now).

I guess it does have one redeeming quality though — Halloween is coming up!

Credit: Geekologie.com

Disclaimer: All images and other material used in this article are believed to be covered by fair use rights under U.S. copyright law, being used for the purpose of identification in the context of reviews or critiques.

Okay boys. Your girlfriend or wife just asked you to hit the mall with her for the afternoon. Maybe panic strikes (or should we call that feeling dread?). Maybe your instinct is to tell her to forget it. Maybe you feel tempted to get on her case about spending money so she won’t want you with her all day. But hold on. It doesn’t have to be all bad.

Sure, men and women often shop differently. You guys might know what you want, go into a store, and pick up the first one you see — wham, bam, in, out, done! Your gal, on the other hand, might like to meander around the store (or a whole lot of stores), looking for great deals or that perfect pair of jeans that fits just right (which you probably appreciate, so cut her some slack). Shopping differently doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy shopping together.

The next time your significant other asks you to go shopping with her, don’t let images of being saddled with her bags get you down. It’s really all in how you look at it. Here’s why you should give it another thought, how you can get something out of it, and some tips on handling the sometimes-terrifying issue of what she really means when she asks “does this make me look fat?”

What’s in it For You? – Strike a Deal

I honestly can’t blame men for not wanting to shop with a woman sometimes. After all, there’s probably not much in it for them (and let’s face it, when you have time off you’d like to enjoy it). Here are few things you could ask your gal the next time she asks you to go shopping, to make it more palatable:

1. Can we stop at [insert your favorite store here]? Think about things that you might want or need, and let her know you’d like the trip to be about both of you and not just her. It’s only fair. Even better, if you need to make some kind of purchase as a couple (like furniture), bring that up. She’ll get her shopping fix, and you can feel like you’re accomplishing something that you had to do anyway (even if you only look around). Either she’ll agree or she’ll opt to go alone.
2. Okay. But how about we stop for lunch at [insert a restaurant here] after? Make sure it’s your choice. If she’s choosing how you’ll both spend your time shopping, then she should be willing to stop for lunch (or dinner) at one of your favorite restaurants, even if it’s not one she particularly likes. Here’s the deal: you’ll shop with her (without complaining about it), and then she’ll go to lunch with you (without complaining about that either). Everyone gets something they want, and you agree to keep the tension to a minimum.
3. If I go shopping with you, will you do [insert activity here] with me? Let’s be clear here. When I say “activity,” that isn’t without limits. Keep it fair and relevant, and don’t get into the “you owe me” mentality. For example, maybe you want to go out and see a horror flick. Or perhaps you want to catch a ballgame next weekend, and you’d like her to go and do something you enjoy. Make it a trade. Then, even if you don’t love shopping with her, you’ll get something out of the effort — the next day out together doing what you want. And if she says “no,” then you’re perfectly justified in doing the same.

Surviving Woman-Speak: What She Really Means When She Says…

It’s easy enough to find ways to make shopping with your partner work for you with a bit of bartering. But how do you survive the shopping trip itself? Women aren’t always easy to put up with — I’ll be the first to admit that. We don’t always say exactly what we mean, because we assume you’ll understand us (or it matters to us that you understand us so we just expect it — hey, men have their quirks too). To help you safely navigate the conversational front, here’s what your gal might really mean (and want to hear) when she says:

1. Does this make me look fat? Uh oh. She dragged you to the fitting rooms. You’ve been sitting patiently in the “man chair.” She comes out in an outfit she tried on, and asks the dreaded question. It comes in various incarnations, from “Does this make me look fat?” to “Do you like it?” How should you respond? First, understand what she’s really saying.This question could mean a couple of things. For example, she might just be fishing for a compliment. Should you give it to her? Maybe. It might be her way of saying you really don’t compliment her enough. Do it from time to time. It makes her feel good (and if you keep her happy, she’ll keep you happy). On the other hand, you also shouldn’t feel like you have to throw compliments her way constantly, especially if you don’t really mean them. In that case, don’t.

   That question could mean something else entirely though. It could simply mean she liked the outfit, but maybe didn’t like it as much on her. She really just wants another opinion.

   Answering this question is easy. If you love the outfit on her, tell her so. Better yet, tell her why you think she looks great in it. If she’s fishing for a compliment, she’ll get it. If she just wants your opinion, she’ll get that too. Even if you don’t like the outfit on her, it doesn’t have to turn into an issue. Just put it in perspective. Put a positive spin on things. For example, if she showed you other options first, say something like “I really liked that cute black number better.” Again, she’ll get a compliment (you liked her in the other outfit), or she’ll have the opinion she wants. If it’s the first outfit she’s showing you, it gets a bit trickier. But even then you have an easy way out. Just tell her that you’d like to see a few of the others so you have something to compare it to. That’s fair, and she knows you’re not just ignoring her.

2. Honey, can you carry my bags for me?While I understand that men might sometimes feel like pack mules when shopping with a woman, you shouldn’t. If anything, you should feel flattered! When your girlfriend or wife asks you to carry things for her, what she’s really saying is that she’s grateful to have a “big, strong man” by her side.Look. We rarely need you to carry our bags for us. We’d be getting along just fine and dandy carrying them ourselves if we were out on a shopping trip with the girls. (Don’t say that unless you’re looking for a fight though!).

   Also look at it this way. Women can be stubborn. You might only have two (non argument-inducing) options: 1. Help her carry her bags, or 2. Make constant trips back to the car to drop things off (meaning a longer trip overall). So take the compliment and make her happy. Is it really so difficult to do? In most cases, probably not. Yet those little things will go a long way towards keeping her happy. It will make her appreciate having you around, and that’s a good thing. Consider this a “Yes dear,” moment.

3. I’ll be quick. I only need one thing. Okay. This is a lie. A flat out dirty little lie. But we don’t mean it. Honest! The truth is that we’re lying to ourselves when we say things like this as much as fibbing to anyone else. We really do only want one thing. But then we see other things. And other things. And more!
   

   Women are natural hunters when it comes to shopping. We like to compare things. We like to find deals. And sometimes we really don’t know we want or need something until we see it (with an attractive price tag attached). Don’t like it? Well, then remember that when your birthday comes and she’s spent hours picking out the perfect gift or finding a good deal so she could get you exactly what you wanted.

   When you hear this line, just quietly nod your head and smile. Then brace yourself. If you know going into the store that you won’t be out in a minute or two, you’ll get less agitated (and when you get agitated, it’s going to upset her, which is going to upset you more, and then you risk a screaming match followed by the silent treatment on the way home). Know that one thing doesn’t mean “see it, grab it, go,” like it might mean for you. “One thing” means she’ll see a few options, compare them, and browse along the way. And don’t blame your woman. At one point I worked in retail marketing, and let me tell you something. Stores are designed to make her do that. Retailers (from malls to grocery stores) are setup in a way to make her pass infinite other items to get to what she probably wants most (it’s why the staples like milk and bread are often towards the back of grocery stores — to make you walk through aisles of other “unnecessary” things in order to tempt you).

   If she really only wants one thing, and if it’s not something she’d need to try on or absolutely pick herself, be a gentleman (and save your sanity). Offer to run in and get it for her while she sits outside and takes a load off. Who knows? It might work.

The next time your gal asks you to go shopping with her, don’t be too quick to brush her off. She wants to spend time with you. You can get something out of it by going (getting her to do something you want to do next time or getting her to leave you alone while you watch the game later). You can take care of your own errands while you’re out (kill two birds with one stone so you don’t have to go back out another time). And you’ll keep her happy (without having to worry about being romantic or coming up with some great idea of your own). In the end, it doesn’t have to be that bad. You may even make it out alive.

Of course, the first and most obvious thing to do is to turn to your friends and relatives. After that you can do some online research and actually ask questions right at the mall. But still, very often that turns time-consuming and even ineffective.

Luckily, we’ve got free online tools that can make your life easier and this post is featuring one of the best web based shopping helper you are sure to find awesome: Hunch

The tool is designed to help you make decisions based n the smart algorithm which combines user-generated knowledge with mathematical framework:

Hunch is designed to soak up collective knowledge and then organize it in a useful way to help you make smart decisions. Hunch proposes custom decision results for you that it wouldn’t necessarily give to somebody else. But at its core, Hunch’s decision making algorithm is just a mathematical framework. It’s the users of Hunch who give the algorithm proper training and personality by contributing to it and making it clever, funny, and nuanced…. but most of all very useful in helping everyone to make smart, efficient decisions.

Now let’s see what it can do:

Find Answers Which Are Right for You:

Let’s follow the whole process:

Let’s say you are planning to buy an mr3 player but can’t decide which one is right for you. So start by typing the question in the search box:

Which mp3 player is right for me?

Now:

>>> Choose your budget:

>>> Decide which one you prefer: the look or the features:

>>> Define which one is more important for you: the budget or the features:

… And you get it! All the options you may want to consider:

Get More Research on Each Result:

Besides the photo and the detailed description, you will be impressed to see even more in-depth research for each choice:

• User-lists it was included into;
• User-added pros and cons of the product:

Find More Questions and Answers Related to Your Product

Hunch offers a cool as-you-type search suggestions that help you find at a glance what questions related to the product you are considering other members ask and answers:

Now, how great is that? Plenty of way to help you make a decision right at you finger tips! Are you aware of any other similar tool? Please share it!

Post image by Roby Ferrari

Now, don’t get me wrong: I love creativity and don’t mean to say these things are bad or useless. In fact, even the sellers call them weird and creepy: that’s what makes the products cool.

15. Love Vulva Products

Description: The whole collection of various items all styled as vulva.

Foster understanding and appreciation of Vagina

Example: Uterus Lovin’ Menstrual Cup Pouch

Price: $7.99

14. Siamese Twins Doll

Description: 2 headed baby pillow person that looks both strange and somewhat creepy.

Price: $34.00

13. Newborn Baby Sea Snail

Description: Creepy? – yes! Cute? – ummm, not really…

Price: $35.00

12. Bubble

Description: An odd toy for your extra-ordinary child – do you think he will prefer it over the old good teddy bear?

4 snouts, 6 eyes and two ears is bubble. Quite fetching. Photos cannot do it justice.

Price: $36.00

11. White Deerman

Description: An odd-looking sculpture to match your weird interior.

Price: currently sold out

10. Pansies Pet Hood

Description: Who would have thought this is said about DOG’s hood:

Delicate pink fleece petals frame the face on an apple green hood background. Delicate ties under the chin keep this hat ON.

Price: $16.00

9. Undead Shadow Puppet Set

Description: Shadow puppet sticks are intended for supervised play with ages 4 and up. Please play responsibly.

Price: Currently sold out

8. Ochibos World

Description: Little Ochibos are all unique and not made from any pattern.

Price: about $5 per little unique creature

7. Holding Hands Necklace

Description: Before you actually read what it is, your imagination can picture various creepy pictures in front of your eyes. And then you sign with relief: oh, these are just cut-off hands on a string!

Price: $395.00

6. Toilet Paper Earrings

Description: earrings that look like toilet paper placed into the roller.

Price: currently sold-out

5. Hand Soap

Description: Wash your hands with hands – how awesome is that?

Price: currently sold out

4. Jaw Dropping Soap

Description: More creepy soap to amaze your guests.

Price: $8.00

3. Juicy Brain Bowl

Description: a cool bowl covered with juicy brain texture and lined with a lovely blood red color.

great for eating cereal or serving your favorite salty or sweet treat

Price: currently sold out

2. HOPE on a ROPE

Description: a bright eye-catching oddity on the rope that is advertised to give hope and to be vegan friendly:

We made him purple, because we here at dugshop feel that he’s a true uniter, there are no red or blue states, we’re all purple.

Price: currently sold out

1. Gay Superhero Cigarette Case Wallet

Description: a steel case with the funky image inside:

After the image is inserted the top is filled with a crystal-clear, waterproof, UV-resistant glossy polymer. This makes the image amazingly vivid and virtually indestructible. The case is perfect for a driver’s license, business cards, coins, bills, credit cards, cigarettes (long or regular) or nearly anything else.

Price: $9.99

Post image via

The owners of this store seems really picky about who is buying from them:

“If you are:

• Racist;
• Sexist;
• Homophobic;
• or an asshole

Do not come in” (source)!

And this owner seems really sick and tired of stories: “Do not bore the shopkeeper to death with stories of your collection” (source)

No “wheely shoes”??? (source)

This one is really friendly: no babies allowed (source):

A similar one: no children? No pushchairs? Are these guys ever sued? (source)

Very clear shopping hours: is it open right now? (sources: 1 and 2)

I do love irony in general, but people please mind your language (source):

This one probably belongs to a restaurant rather than a shop but I couldn’t help including it here for the beautiful shopping-deals concept: no fewer than 7 dishes, if you take 7-10 dishes you will obviously be allowed to spend 20 minutes there (source):

This shopkeeper probably couldn’t wait to close the shop (source):

Brilliant: “If we are closed, just shove your money under the door” (source)

Which one is the most polite?

Post image by nunui

Compare the Cost of Living:

CNNMoney has just released a new tool allowing to compare prices in two cities and define the new cost of living in another city.

• Enter your current salary;
• Choose your current location (state and the city);
• Select the destination (the place where you are moving to or traveling).

Step 1

Step 2

Compare Local Gas Prices

GasBuddy.com is USA national gas temperature map (there’s also the Canadian version) which allows you to see what gas prices are around the country at a glance. Areas are color coded according to their price for the average price for regular unleaded gasoline:

• Click and drag to move the map around (or use arrow keys) ;
• Double-click to center the map on your mouse pointer and zoom in.
• Right click on a county or zip to retrieve its average gas price.
• Roll the mouse wheel upwards to zoom in one level, and downwards to zoom out one level (or use + and – keys).
• Generate and email any location URL to a friend to show them the exact same spot on the map you were looking at before clicking the Link to Map button.
• Use the search box to search by city, state or zip.

Find Most Affordable Cities

Based on the Housing Opportunity Index (released by the National Association of Home Builders) LifeHacker has created the housing map where you can see most affordable cities throughout America:

Ten Most Affordable Cities:

1. Indianapolis-Carmel, IN
2. Warren-Troy-Farmington Hills, MI
3. Youngstown-Warren-Boardman, OH-PA
4. Detroit-Livonia-Dearborn, MI
5. Grand Rapids-Wyoming, MI
6. Syracuse, NY
7. Dayton, OH
8. Akron, OH
9. Cleveland-Elyria-Mentor, OH
10. Scranton-Wilkes-Barre, PA

Local Prices Directory

SalesCircular is a great place to find local prices and deals. Just click-through various states and then browse the necessary categories.

ShopLocal is another huge local pricing directory allowing to browse through local deals:

• See the index of top cities;
• Search by city or zip code.

The great thing about summer is that it is hot. This means less energy spent on heating and cooking, yet more energy spent on cooling. Let’s see how we can save some money (and become more green and frugal!):

1. If you can’t do without fans and air-conditioners, use them wisely: adjust the air conditioning throughout the day to meet your needs. And of course, look for the ENERGY STAR® label.

2. Replace filters in your air conditioner – this will make it work more efficiently and thus spend less energy.

3. Cook outside: getting your whole family together for evening barbecue will be both fun and refreshing experience for your relatives. Make it your new family tradition and you will notice how much closer you become!

Image by oskay

4. Dry your laundry outside: OK, this one works for the suburbs only but if you are happy enough to live outside the city, imagine how good your linen will smell if it dries in the fresh air.

5. Use cold water more often: hot summer is a great time to start taking cold showers, for example. It is both good for your health and saves your energy on heating the water.

6. (Obvious) Keep your lights off during the day: it is sunnier during the summer than during the rest of the year, so don’t forget to take advantage of that!

Save money by saving other Nature resources

7. Save on watering your lawn: Summer heat makes you water your lawn much more often, try doing that early in the morning to prevent the water from evaporating so quickly.

8. Save gas by switching to the bicycle! Really, sometimes it is both refreshing and energizing to take a quick ride to your work instead of idling in traffic jams – and this saves your money too!

Keep updated of summer sales and deals

9. Make sure to subscribe to sites alerting you of the hottest deals and sales. Summer is the time of greatest sales ever. I don’t mean getting obsessed but keeping an eye on best summer deals can considerably help your budget.

by jenn jenn

Save money on summer entertainment

On top of all, summer is the best time to take some rest and relax to get ready for the next working season. Who says you can’t have a good rest on a budget?

10. Keep an eye on summer travel deals;

11. Take advantage of fresh-air summer events: free concerts, theater events, movies, art shows;

12. Get more flexible and smart about your summer travel: consider these 5 tips for example;

Save money on food

13.Growing your own vegetables and herbs is a great way to save money!

Photo by superbez

14. Switch to farmers markets: unlike supermarkets pricing, product prices at markets are often negotiable. Also, you can save a fortune by buying from same sellers daily or weekly and thus having great bargains from them.

Save on your other bills

Use any opportunity to take advantage of opportunities summer can offer! For example:

15. Stop paying for the gym and start jogging: take a leave of absence from your gym membership and enjoy your exercises in the fresh air! Grab your camera to take photos of the morning scenes for more fun!

Any more tips on saving money during the summer? Please share them!

Post image: Pink Sherbet Photography

Do-it-yourself is an awesome option if (1) you have no money to buy gifts, (2) you have plenty of unwanted stuff at home you want to recycle, (3) you love unique things, (4) you enjoy doing things with your own hands, (5) you are eco-friendly…

Well, there are plenty of reasons you may want to consider the following tips:

1. Recycle a Phone Book into a Pen Organizer

An awesome, simple and genius way to make use of an unwanted phone book: it won’t take you more than a few minutes to make it! (via chicaandjo.com)

2. Recycle Floppy Disks into a Pen Holder

Another pen organizer: turn your floppy disks (is anyone still using them???) into a pen and pencil holder (via The Gadget Blog):

3. Recycle a Floppy Disk into a Notepad

Another way to re-use your old floppy disk: create a stylish notepad of them (via MAKE)!

4. Recycle a Paper Clip into an iPhone Stand:

Very easy and very usable: no excuse for not trying it out:

5. Recycle Pringles Can into an iPhone Dock

Another geeky holder:

The entire project cost around 5 dollars and was quite fun. The project requires nothing but the can itself, a set of speakers, hot glue, ipod cable (if you want), and an exacto knife

via neatorama.com

6. Recycle Milk Bottles into Home Lights

These lights made of milk bottles will be the most famous thing in your neighborhood. Both the instruction and the video below also detail how far you can go configuring it!

7. Recycle Cassette Tapes into a Lamp

Here is another stylish hack for your interior: glue old cassette tapes together and fashion them into a lamp (via Boing Boing).

The color of each cassette’s plastic shell and the half-rewound spooling of the magnetic tape itself will determine the kaleidoscopic pattern cast upon the walls.

8. Recycle Glass Bottles into a Coffee Table

I am not sure if it is safe for kids (as they tend to break everything) but it is rather reliable: it can hold upwards of 200 pounds (via Instructables).

9. Recycle Water Bottle into a Juicer

This one could come in handy when, for example, you are out of town or away from home and really want some home-made fresh juice (via wired.com):

10. Recycle Light Bulbs into a Xmas Tree

You still have more than 6 months before Christmas – quite enough time to find a number of light bulbs for this eco-friendly Xmas tree. But here are two incentives for you: (1) your tree is going to rock and (2) you won’t have to “kill” a real green tree to decorate your holiday home (via Instructables):

Post image by oskay