Car Shopping Made Easier

My husband has been driving the same SUV since 2004.  I have been driving mine since 2001.  But since he had more mileage on his, we decided he'd be the first to get a new vehicle.  It was hard to shop for and one website would lead to another and another but in the end it really didn't do us any good.  We were able to get specs and add-on information but that was about it.  In the end we did okay with our purchase, though it wasn't without some frustration.

Now it's my turn to shop and I've just been introduced to a website that will help.  The Car Connection is so detailed that I can't help but be impressed.  So what kind of vehicle am I looking for?  My friend, Jennifer says I should go for a convertible like a Mazda Mx-5 Miata or a Volkswagen Eos.  Those are nice vehicles but they aren't really my style.  I'm a mom and I'm just starting the whole "transport your kids to ball games" thing so I'll need something a little more practical.  The Ford Focus looks alright but with two boys, I believe I'm going to need something a bit bigger, like maybe a Chevy Tahoe.

Whatever I end up deciding on (I'll be waiting until this fall to make my purchase when the best deals are), I'm sure I can find all the information I'll need like reviews, news, and more.  PP

Learning About Osteoarthritis

There's a gene in my family where our bones and joints are susceptible to osteo- conditions.  My grandmother has been bedridden because of osteoporosis and osteoarthritis and just recently, even my father was diagnosed with the same.  Knowing that women are more susceptible than men, it concerned me greatly that it was so prevalent in my family that my father was afflicted.

Being that I'm centered between being considered young and being considered middle-aged, I wondered if I was showing any osteoarthritis symptoms.  I wanted to learn more about it, find out what works, what doesn't, and how to prevent it.

As a result, I've been researching the latest health news on osteoarthritis and have found some interesting things.  Did you know...

• ...taking Vitamin D hasn't shown any sign of lowering osteoarthritis risk?
• ...osteoarthritis actually has to do with cartilage degeneration as opposed to bone degeneration like osteoporosis?
• ...knee pain is often higher in people who also have other joint pain?

Arming myself with knowledge is the best first step I can take to preventing myself from getting osteoarthritis. PP

Save a Drive, Buy Ink Online

I live in a rural area where the mountains and fields are broken only by dots of small towns, most 2,000 or less in population.  Up until a few months ago, my area didn't have any options in buying inkjet cartridges.  Now, the county has one refill shop but for most people around here (including me) it is over a half an hour drive.  As much as I work online, printing my writing submissions and invoices for clients, I despise having to drive down all that way just to get one item.

I've just been introduced to a cheap ink site called InkGrabber.com.  In trying to determine if it would be worth buying from them, I searched out the cartridges my HP printer uses.  I was surprised at the sheer number of selections available.  You can search by brand or you can type in the search box.

We all know printer ink isn't cheap when you have to go to the store to get it.  So how does the site measure up?  In comparing the prices online to the ink cartridges I usually by, I saw where with the remanufactured cartridges, the prices are very reasonable.  For new ones, the prices are about the same as what you'd find in any store.  But for either one, it saves a 30 minute drive! PP

The Steam Team: Not just for carpets

In Austin, Texas, there is a place called the Steam Team which boasts being the only locally owned complete service cleaning and restoration business in Austin.  Impressive.  Even more so is that they've been in business for almost 30 years.  They have to be doing something right to have that kind of longevity.

Beyond steam carpet cleaning service austin, which is an obvious one, they are also experts in many other kinds of services.

One that surprised me when I visited their website was hardwood finishing and cleaning.  I don't live around Austin, Texas, but I found their website useful in that they offer hardwood floor cleaning tips austin.  We have the hardwood ready to install in our house and one thing that has really concerned me was the cleaning of it.  I've never had hardwood before.  After reading some of the information provided by the site, I feel better about it.

And we've recently had an issue with a leaking roof that's left those ugly water stains on our ceiling.  You know what?  Repair water damaged ceiling austin is just another in the long list of services this company provides.

I urge you to check out their site.  You'll find just what you're looking for. PP

Remodeling with Glass Tiles

For the last two years, I've lived in a construction zone.  There seems to be an ongoing remodeling project in one or more areas of the house (right now it's the bathroom floor and building walls in the basement).  While that's enough to drive any mom slightly insane, it's not a completely negative experience.  Shopping for the new items to decorate with is one of the fun aspects.

I was sent a link to Glass Tile Store.  They have beautiful tiles of all kinds.  Case in point, I'm having small fits over the verde diamond glass tile.  I can see that making a beautiful backsplash in my kitchen when we get ready to tackle that room.  There are also great choices for bathroom tiles.  Unfortunately, we're already in the grout (which, btw, they carry grout, too) stage of the bathroom so we'll have to pass on that.

They also have subway tiles which is great for bathroom, kitchen, walls and more.  This is certainly a site I'll be bookmarking in our "Remodel" folder.  PP

All About Multiple Sclerosis

I don't know much about multiple sclerosis or otherwise commonly known as MS.  I know that the percentage of people who have it isn't very high and I know that it is debilitating.  That's the extent of my knowledge.  I don't have it and I don't know anyone who does.

But what if someone I care about was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis?  How would I find information that would tell me what it was?  How would I know about MS treatment or symptoms? 

If you find yourself needing to learn more about MS, then you should check out the website allaboutms.com.  I never knew there were so many topics that focus on MS.  There is everything from living with MS tips like how to keep cool during the summer, sexuality issues, traveling with MS, and info on multiple sclerosis diet.  It looks like a good site to keep up with news, too.

If you have MS or know someone with MS, this site may be exactly what you are looking for.  PP

Century 21 in Wilmington, North Carolina

Century 21 has been around for years and is the world's most recognized name in real estate.  The folks up in Wilmington, North Carolina at Sweyer & Associates have been around for 23 years.  Anyone looking into Wilmington NC real estate should check out their website. The first thing that catches my attention is the beautiful pictures on the front page.   We're talking beach front here.  If anything, at least go check out those pictures.

Another thing I noticed about the site was within a few minutes of my arrival on the first page, there was a "ding!" and a chat window opened with an offer of assistance if I needed it.  Curious, I typed a polite response and mentioned how beautiful the pictures were.  I was astonished to find that the chat was with a real live person and not some chatbot program!  Thumbs up.

Heading to the listings, if you're searching for Wilmington NC real estate, you can enter your own criteria such as what kind of dwelling you're looking for, what your price range is, and more.  You have the option of a quick search, which is ideal if you're not exactly sure what you're looking for yet, and then you have more detailed options such as school zones, what kind of lot you're looking for and more.

You don't just have to be looking for Wilmington NC homes to live in, you can also find a vacation home.  If the pictures are any indication, this looks like a peaceful place to get away.

Happy home searching!

PP

Another Option in Purchasing Tickets

There's not too many wide range ticket sellers online.  People automatically go to the one they've heard of most.  But is it always the cheapest?  Where else can you go to get a good price on many different events?

I don't know how long ACheapSeat.com has been around but from the looks of things, they certainly know what they are doing.  They have theater, sports, concerts... any kind of event you want to see, they seem to have it.

I haven't bought a ticket from them yet but the next time that something comes along that I would love to see, I'll definitely try them out, especially if it can save me a few bucks.  And you don't have to just browse by event.  You can search for your local arena, browse through the schedule of upcoming events and choose whatever you'd like to see.  They have everything from Georgia Dome tickets to Cowboys Stadium tickets, to Arrowhead Stadium tickets.

If you've ever bought a ticket from them before, I'd be interested in hearing your experience.  Feel free to comment below.  PP

Shopping for the Perfect Car

Guest written by our friend Sergio Chaney

I recently found myself having to move due to a new job position. I was hoping that I would get the position; however I knew that some things would have to change before I moved. One of the biggest things that would have to change was the car that I had. The car was not going to be able to continue to get me to places and was becoming increasingly unreliable.Besides I was in the mood for a new car to go along with my new position. With my huges net satellite internet service I was able to start searching for different dealers in my area and see the many cars that they had available at that time. I knew that it was something special that I was looking for and I would know it when I saw it. Sure enough I found the most beautiful, black car that provided me with the sleek look that I was hoping for. I was so happy that I found the car that fit my budget. Also the car dealership allowed me to do a trade-in with my previous car; so I received a great deal. I am overjoyed with my satellite internet in Allendale Michigan, my new job and my new car. PP

The Best Choice in Car Repair and Information

Not long ago I came across RepairPal.com while writing an assignment for another client.  This site is so huge that there's no way I can go over the whole thing in just one post so I'll try to show you the various uses of it instead.


First, let's say your stranded in San Diego and you need to find the nearest auto repair shop.  You can go to RepairPal.com and search for San Diego auto repair and there you go.  Or you can search for an auto shop anywhere.  After hitting "search", you have a Google map that comes up marking the nearest shops to your location.  You can also see the shop's rating in the listing.

Second, let's say you're considering buying a Ford F-150 and you'd like to read up on customer reviews, ratings, any recalls on parts, or really anything you can think of before you buy it.  Look it up on the site and there you go.  You have everything on one site that you can possibly want information on.

Third, say you want to know what that little click in your engine is or what it means when your check engine light comes on.  That information is there, too.  The great part is if the article misses anything, you can scroll down to see user comments which is often helpful as well.

This site is impressive.  It has everything about automobiles that you can possibly imagine.  From repair to shop locations to technical information to reviews, everything you need, even if you are in a bind, is there for the browsing.  I've recommended it before and I do so again.  PP

Computer Shopping

I'd never heard of Become.com before.  Apparently, they are a shopping site and not too shabby either.  They sell everything from clothes to computers.  For me, I'm always in the market for a computer.  After all, as a content writer, much of my life is online so I've got to have reliable hardware at a price I can afford (even on a content writer's pay).

So far, I like the site.  The layout is simple and not to crowded.  It's very easy to use, too.  All you do is just click on something you're interested in to see the product details, read reviews... and what's better is that many of the listings have price comparison for different sites.  Take for instance this MacBook Pro Notebook listing.  What could be easier then that, right?  In addition, you can put in your email address in order to get an alert when the price drops.  Pretty impressive.

So it's not everyday that I go out looking for a new computer or laptop.  But computers and laptops is not all they carry.  They also have accessories... tons of accessories.  If you look at this category here for computer accessories, they have over 20,000 items listed.  This tells me that they might just have anything you may need.  And if you'll take a look at the left column, you can easily search by brand, ratings, and more options.

If you're on the lookout for computers and accessories, maybe you should head over to the computer side of Become.com. PP