These are a few of my favorite things…

My friend Shannon suggested I write a blog entry about some of the websites I use a lot that others might like too! So, here are a few of my favorite…websites!

• www.reasors.com

Yep! A grocery store website is one of my favorites! Why? Because I am now doing all of my grocery shopping online! It took a little getting used to how to use the site, but now that I know how to use it, I’m convinced it is going to help me keep my sanity! I am now buying groceries only twice a month and making my dinner menus for two weeks at a time. It is working out great! We still have to stop for milk or something occasionally but that is way easier than shopping with two 3-year-olds a jillion times a month!

I go on their website anytime and add things to my cart. The site saves your cart until you are ready to check out. You can buy groceries, produce, toiletries, paper goods, stamps, etc. I add them to my online cart and when I am ready I just submit my order and drive through their pick up area and they load the groceries in my car and I drive away!

The main reasons I like it are:

• I save money by not buying impulse items.
• I check my recipes and pantry and don’t end up with things I don’t need or without things that I do.
• It only costs $5 for the service and they don’t allow tipping of the person that loads them in my car.
• I do not have to grocery shop with two 3-year-olds or during my rare alone time.
• You can watch your total as you shop and I don’t overspend.
• You don't even have to get out of the car! Last time I went "grocery shopping" my kids didn't even bring their shoes!
• They call you on the phone if an item is out of stock and offer replacement options.
  
• You can enter coupons and now I’m finally using coupons (I never had time for those before.)

• www.vistaprint.com

This is the site that I’ve used to make postcards, calendars, magnets, address labels and more. They allow you to upload a photo (I use my kids, of course) and use it for all of these products. The best part? You can make all of these items for FREE! You only pay a one time fee to upload a photo (so I use the same one for everything! It is either $2.50 or $5 to upload depending on the current “sale.”) Then you only pay shipping for the stuff you buy.

In order to get the free stuff, you sign up for their email list. They will send you emails with links to free items. Do not buy anything that costs! Everything is eventually free! The shipping can be expensive (like $10ish) but if you pack your cart full of note cards, pens, address stamps, etc. it is definitely worth it. You can make your projects and save them in your account until you have several things ready to buy.

I use this especially at Christmas for fun stocking stuffers, thank you notes, and more. Just don’t blame me for their annoying weekly emails. Just hit delete instead, ha ha!

• http://cakewrecks.blogspot.com/

This is just a funny blog that I like to look through when I need a laugh. She features pictures of funny cakes gone wrong. It just gives me a chuckle!

• www.ebates.com

This is one of those sites that gives you cash back for shopping online. You just go to their site first and see if the place you are shopping with is on there. If it is, you just click on it and continue like normal. You will be directed to the regular website for gap, walmart, etc. Once you check out, your ebates account is credited with a percentage of your purchase (usually 2% to 10% of your purchase). It isn’t much, but if you are going to be shopping anyway you might as well use it. I get my photos through snapfish and sometimes shop at walmart.com so I just go to ebates first and then shop. Then once a quarter ebates just sends you a check. My checks have always been like $10 or $15 but hey, free money. If you do want to sign up you can do it through this link: http://www.ebates.com/rf.do?referrerid=APMzjh2kgcjAhVkkyviqfg%3D%3D and you get a $5 starting bonus.

• http://www.google.com/reader

Google Reader is a great thing if you read several blogs! Several of my friends have blogs so this is great for me. You just enter the address of the blog you want to follow and it keeps them all in one place. Then when you go to your Google Reader page, it will tell you which blogs have new entries and you can read them right there without having to go to every different blog. Private blogs won’t work with this, though, so you still have to go to those separately. Definitely a big time saver!

• http://picasa.google.com/

If you don’t already have a way to organize your photos online, I love Picasa for this! It is free and easy to use. You can edit and store your digital pictures. And best of all, there are buttons at the bottom that allow you to email photos, purchase photos through walmart or anywhere, blog photos, or send photos to facebook with one click of one button!! That is my favorite part! (The facebook button has to be installed, but it is still free.)

• www.hulu.com

Nathan didn’t want me to post my list without adding one for him! So, here is one for Nate. He loves this site! On Hulu you can watch tons of free television programs and movies on your computer. You’ll be amazed at some of the old series shows we watched as kids that are on there. And there is current stuff, too, of course. Nathan says it is a great way to spend a lunch hour. Of course, I don’t know what a lunch “hour” is. I’ve always been a teacher or stay-at-home mom so I’ve been lucky to get a lunch “ten minutes” but I’ll take his word for it!

Well, that’s it for now! Now in the comment section, please leave some of YOUR favorite sites! I want to check them out!!!!