I love finding new toys to put on my blogs  This widget is something I am hoping to incorporate over at my travel blog shortly.  However, I wanted to make sure that anyone who was interested in travel checked out this widget first!

This is Flash travel map that is very easy to embed into your site.  You can display flight route information and is free to to download too.  You can fully configure it so that you can show your readers a fixed departure point, fixed destination point, fixed departure and destination, or an ‘anywhere to anywhere’ open search.  There are 20 languages to pick from, and it can also be added to added to iGoogle Netvibes, and your desktop.

Even though Skyscanner the most powerful and flexible flight search engine in Europe (which provides instant online price comparisons on over 300,000 flights and over 600 airlines), this maps tool widget works for the United States also.  I used it to map all of the trips I took this year without any problems.  When I typed Chicago into the Maps Code Wizard, I was able to pull up all three airports here (Midway, Ohare, and Rockford).  This is a great way to show your readers where you are going when leaving for vacation.  If you do live in Europe or have a big European readership, this is a great way for them to check prices for trips. (see Cheap Flights Map Widget)

Head over to Skyscanner and check out their maps tool widget!

Image via Wikipedia

This was my favorite newspaper.  I think we have been subscribing to it since we have moved here.  However, about a week ago, they changed their format.  Now, I have went through several format changes with them already.  However, this one, I cannot stand.  I cannot stand it to the point that I will be leaving them and getting a subscription to another area newspaper.  (The advantage of living in Chicago is that we have quite a few to pick from).

This  makes me sad.  However, the changes that have been made this time around I just cannot stand.  The majority of their articles completely blend with the ads for things like fat burners and real estate.  As a blogger, we got a lot of slack for not disclosing what is paid and what isn’t.  However, it doesn’t look the print media has to have the same standard.  The majority of the articles have huge pictures and less content.  I know it is not just my eyes playing tricks on me either.  It actually takes me quite a bit less time to read the paper everyday.  A lot of the articles also look like blog posts with the amount of stuff on the page.  If I wanted to look at something that looked like a blog, I would read my news online.  I personally love having a print paper in my hand.  I like the style and how informative a paper is.  If I want a synopsis, I go to the internet.  If I want to read full articles, I look for my local paper.

As soon as I find my credit card, I will be canceling my Chicago Tribune subscription and signing up for the Chicago Sun Times.  Hopefully, their paper will be less tabloidy and more news.

My favorite store ever online (the one that I order everything from for my businesses) is now selling t-shirts!  I wish they were doing that when I was selling lia sophia, because I would have been a huge customer for that.

However, enough about why I think this is cool.  Let me tell you why you want to use VistaPrint.  First, they are cheap.  I order my business cards from them, because I only have to pay for shipping.  If you want a custom picture on your cards, it is an extra $5.  Another thing I love about Vista Print is that they have anything and everything you need for a business from t-shirts I mentioned before to business cards to stampers.  They are always have sales.  Once you get on their email lists, you will find that whatever you need to order is usually on some sort of sale.  For example, if you use TShirts25 you can get 25% off any T-shirts that you order!  I have also always been impressed with the quality of their products.  I have yet to receive a product that I did not like!

I can only say lots of good things about Vistaprint.  I would highly recommend them for all your personal and business needs.

In the market for Window Treatments, Drapes, Valances, Swags, or Roman Shades? If you are, Fabric Workroom is definitely a place you should check out. I personally found their selection awesome and found several window treatments I would definitely put in my living room. They also have my favorite: free shipping. Shipping is always an obstacle for me to shop online, so when it is free, it makes me want to buy all the more. You can even get free swatches! I also like that everything is made in the US and that there are live specialists to answer any questions that I may have (it’s from 9 - 5 EST). Unless you live in CT, there is also no sales tax (which is awesome when you live in places like me who have 10.25% sales tax). Lastly, they have a Satisfaction Guarantee and a refer a friend program.  I know I will be checking out Fabric Workroom the next time I am looking for window treatments.

MarioKart for the Wii has been a great addition to our games. It is a game that both kids and adults can play. The game comes with a steering wheel, but you can also play it with the controller (which at times I actually prefer. There are several races that you can play. You can play against the machine, against up to 4 players, or in a battle.  Using the WiFi connection, you can even play with up to 11 online characters!  You are able to play using your own Mii character or play using some of your favorite Mario characters!  There are so many tracks to do that you can have hours and hours of fun with this game!  Have no worries, you don’t need a Garmin GPS to figure out these tracks either. There are a couple I struggle with myself, but I am looking forward to playing online against some other others when I get really good.  If you have this game, let me know your thoughts, but we are truly enjoying it here!

If you are in need of a bathroom sink vanity, Premiere Vanities should be a place you stop and check out. They have everything from contemporary bathroom vanities to double vanities. They have a style for everyone there.  You can pick from something like this:

all the way to something like this:

The first thing you notice when you visit their site is that it has a very clean design.  Everything is laid out so it is pleasing to the eye.  Navigating the site is super easy too.  If you look in the left sidebar, you can sort their vanities by type, style, price, and size.  You can even run a sort on just clearance items!  Another good thing that they do is that they have free shipping.  I can only imagine what the other online companies charge for shipping.  These vanities have to be pretty heavy and that could cost a bundle to ship.  They also have a 100% satisfaction guarantee.  If you get your product and decide you don’t like it, you can send it back.  You can even track your order right from their site!  If are able to use Paypal also to make your purchase.  I personally like companies that allow me to pay using that service.

If you are in the market for some new bathroom sink vanities, make sure you check out Premiere Vanities.  You will be able to find something that will look awesome in your house for a good price.  Who knows, when you go to sell it, it may make the sale or be an awesome talking point for your house.  You always want something good that makes your house stick out from the rest, and one of these vanities will definitely do that for you.

My family and l luck out.  We have plenty of credit cards at our disposal when I want to do some online shopping.  However, not everyone can get a credit card, or if they have one, it is only for emergency purposes.  What do you do when you want to shop and not use a credit card?

EBillMe comes to the rescue and allows you to pay cash online by using the bill pay portion of your checking account. I personally tried out this service yesterday, and it is super easy to use. First, I went to Tiger Direct to order a Wii game.  You click on the add to cart just like you normally would.  Then click on proceed to secure check out.  Fill in all your information and where it says “submit order” pick eBillMe.  That’s it!  You now have ordered using your checking account!  Now, on the screen you will have what you need to set up payment through your bank.  You also will get an email too!  Everybody’s bill pay is different, so I won’t go through how to set that up, but they make it super easy by giving you everything you need.  I didn’t take me any longer to buy my game  this way verses using a credit card (that is because it usually takes me a while to find my purse and wallet that has my credit card).

If you prefer not to shop online using your credit card, I highly recommend EBillMe.  This is also a great way to shop if you don’t want to be handing out your credit card number too!