February 2009 Archives

If you've followed my blogs at all in the time I've been here, you know I'm obsessed with graphic tees. I have more than I can count or remember at the moment, and I'm always looking for more. Today just so happens to be my birthday, and I have an annual tradition of unveiling a new shirt that I've never worn to celebrate the occasion when I go out. This year, I've dropped the ball in a major way, and the shirt I wanted was on a two to four week delay in shipping, so now I might have to comb the local stores tomorrow to find something new and fantastic. Had I planned ahead better, though, one of these two shirts would be on my person tonight, and the two would have earned me about a dollar in cash back.

         

Rock and roll and space chimps, that's all I need to make a birthday happy...

Both shirts are available at Urban Outfitters, where you will earn 2% cash back on all your purchases from clothes and accessories to books and home goods.

Let's be honest with each other for a moment. You're not reading this because you think I'm the world's wittiest writer, or because I make your day a little brighter. You're reading this because you like cold hard cash. Well guess what; so do I. Although I fantasize about having a secret Deal Hunting Diva fan club, I'm perfectly happy being a soapbox for money saving (or earning) tips. In that spirit, below are some ways to earn big Cash Back through Ebates.

Shoes
To every woman's surprise, one of the best ways to earn big bucks is to indulge in some serious shoe shopping. Perhaps it's for this reason the highest cash back merchants in apparel happen to be shoe stores. At ShoeMall you'll earn 13% cash back through Ebates on shoes for the entire family. ShoeBuy offers 10% cash back through Ebates, and has everything from designer shoes to handbags and accessories. If that weren't enough, Mason Shoe, Masseys, and Maryland Square all offer 12% cash back through Ebates. With all this cash back, say "so long" to shopper's remorse!

Get more cash back in our Shoes and Accessories category

Over the last few days, we've mentioned a few different ways to save big at Ebates and make sure you get the most out of your cash back. While this is a great way to save, you just can't beat shopping around for a great deal on the 'net. Even though everyone has long turned to Apple for all of their iPod and Mac related needs, Ebates is host to a few different Mac merchants that can really stretch your dollar if you look in the right places, and today we're bringing you a sweet sale from one of the best alternatives to Apple out there - MacMall.

Over in our coupons section, you'll find many a grand thing. One such source of sweet savings is this week's MacMall coupon worth over $1194 in combined savings on MacBooks, iMacs, Mac Minis and more! Instead of paying the stock retail price of $1299 for the sleek new aluminum MacBooks over at the Apple store, MacMall has them on special for $1149; saving you $150 in the process. This is only one such example of the sweet deals awaiting you over at Mac Mall - one of the biggest and best Apple specialists out there. so take a peek at their sale section before they expire on March 1st, and enjoy all that cash you'll be saving by shopping around!

And of course, if you're looking for other great deals on PCs, HDTVs, and more, our Electronics Category will get you what you need with all kinds of cash back to keep your wallet happy!

With terms like "Wardrobe Rejuvenation" and "Recessionista" being thrown around left and right these days, it is interesting to take a moment to consider what they actually mean, beyond just being pop culture catch phrases. Long before the economic crisis, frugal fashionistas were adding a few of-the-moment pieces to their existing wardrobe to stay both in style for the season and on top of their finances. This manner of shopping requires the belief that less is more as far as the wardrobe goes. Most women should invest in classic, timeless pieces that are made well and will last forever. Then, add a few trendier items per season.

Most importantly, the true key to keeping a streamlined wardrobe is purging the closet often. Not only will you be able to more clearly know what you actually need (versus want, which makes purchases not only necessary abut usually more fulfilling), you will work with what you have and get more wears out of the clothes you hang on to.

They are typically low-cost and can be added seamlessly to an existing closet full of clothes. Accessories are truly the wardrobe's unsung hero and have a tremendous impact on the way an item of clothing looks. Take this skinny leather belt from J.Crew as a great example. Its priced at just $29.50 with 1% cash back, so it definitely fits the criteria of being budget-friendly. Even better than the price is the fact that it is a great way to add Spring's ladylike trend to your wardrobe. It is sophisticated, simple, and classic. Also, it is presented in an array of candy-colored hues that are a great way to tap into the key colors of the season. My favorite color is the bright spearmint, a vivid minty-green that I would wear cinched at the waist of last year's little black dress, with a flowy printed frock or with a cardigan and slouchy jeans.

Get the Skinny Leather Belt From J.Crew for $29.50 with 1% cash back here.

Despite the fact I've dubbed myself the Deal Hunting Diva, there are things even I can be taught. Perfect example: magazine subscriptions. Being a magazine fanatic for over a decade, I am fully aware that subscribing could save me a boatload of money. However enticing the offers, the idea of waiting two or three months for my first issue is something that has always kept me from filling out those pesky cardboard inserts. As far as subscribing online, I never really gave it a thought. Well I should have, because my monthly magazine habit of $25 adds up to three hundred dollars a year! For someone who passionately hates math, all it took was a simple equation to sober me up.

Just thinking of the hundreds of dollars I've wasted was enough to give me a sick feeling in my stomach, so after popping a pepto-bismol, I jumped into the Books and Magazines Category in search of relief. When it comes to glossy goodness, I routinely reach for Elle, Lucky, Vogue, Nylon, and a GQ for the bf. Thank goodness Ebates offers 26% Cash Back at Magazines.com, because my bill was going to be steep.

Or so I thought. 

One way to make shopping for life's necessary, albeit mundane, items more exciting is by seeking out the best deal for those little things we all hate to buy. I will speak for myself here, although I am fairly sure that most people will agree, that contact lenses are probably on the list of the least exciting things a person is forced to buy. Nothing seems worse than shelling out money to see my eye doctor, and then handing over even more money for lenses (that I have to come back to pick up at least a week later). I really like my eye doctor, he's a nice guy, but seeing him and paying him once a year is enough for me.

So being able to purchases contact lenses online, for a vastly cheaper price per box, with exclusive coupons and cash back really makes the entire lens procuring experience much more pleasurable. And on top of savings, you can add the irreplaceable convenience of the the lenses showing up at your door in just a few days.

Ebates offers eight contact lens retailers from 1-800 Contacts with online coupons only to Vision Direct, Lensmart and Coastal Contacts who all offer 7% cash back and special savings coupons to boot. With 7% cash back and a bevvy of money savings coupons, you can really rack up the savings and the cash back! Find an entire list of health and beauty coupons on our category page and a comprehensive list of contact lens retailers (and the coupons offered for each merchant) here.

It's time for a good old fashioned Daily Deal, and no one does it better than Newegg! For one day only - and only until it's gone, people - you can nab a sleek Logitech Cordless Desktop and Mouse Combo for only $37.99. That's 20% off after $10 mail-in-rebate (along with 2% Ebates cash back), and is one of the best prices for this sleek and sexy keyboard you'll be able to find on the 'net. I've had one of these exact keyboards for almost a year now, and let me tell you that it's just a wonderful thing.

So, how exactly can I call a keyboard "sleek and sexy?" Slightly silly, sure, but the Logitech S520 is one of the cleanest and well-designed keyboards out there today - especially for the price. It's less than an inch thick, features a host of media and internet control buttons on its left and right sides, and even has a connection range over ten feet, which works great for just about anything you can throw at it. At $38, the S520 is a no-brainer for anyone with a gaming console, media center, or laptop/computer that they use to watch videos, play games, or otherwise do functions from afar. It's so thin it will easily fit under your coffee table or beside your couch, and can easily come out to play whenever you need to type away or access a program. It's one of the few keyboards out there that will actually make your front room look nicer, so if you ever need to type anywhere that's not two feet from a computer, the Logitech S520 Cordless Keyboard & Mouse combo is a perfect fit. Get it before it's gone!

Fantasizing (prematurely, of course) about what I would buy with my tax refund, I thought of everything: that pair of shoes that I don't need, those jeans that look like everything I have but I swear are different, or the new beauty product that I will cram into my overflowing medicine cabinet. I tried but could think of nothing that stirred the excitement I typically expect from frivolous, guilt-free purchases. Mid-fantasy, whilst waiting for my tarnished dinosaur of a tea kettle to finally whistle, I realized that my answer was staring me right in the face. I was in desperate need for a new kettle. That thing takes forever to boil and with all my french-pressing and tea-making in a hurry, I need something that is much more efficient than what I have. Furthermore, it is crucial that I speed up my morning routine because, quite honestly, I would rather spend time consuming my coffee than preparing it.

If you think finding the right vessel for boiling water is an easy task, think again. I quickly learned that a tea kettle has the amount of options as features on a new car (or strollers, as I am learning from my pregnant friend), and combined with my requirements of the kettle, I needed to put in some serious time finding the right one for me. I have a small San Francisco apartment with a kitchen that is more like a galley on a boat rather than a proper kitchen, so I need something that is both compact and aesthetically pleasing because with a small kitchen, nearly everything is on display all the time. And, as I mentioned before, I need something efficient - I want to decrease the amount of time without coffee in the morning, because quite literally, I cannot function, whatsoever. Capitalizing on an early morning caffeine buzz (that I waited entirely too long for), I found this Capresso Electric Kettle from Sur La Table and knew I had happened upon my kettle match. Available for $59.95 with 4% cash back, this kettle has it all: it is pleasing to the eye and compact enough even for my kitchen. Plus, its safety features like auto-shutoff, heat resistant glass, and cool touch handle all reaffirm that I am a danger and a menace in the morning without caffeine, so those kinds of features are important. Suffice to say, this kettle is a smart choice.

Have you ever wanted to have some sort of cool personalized item? Wanted to get matching tees for a family reunion? Wanted to find a way to make a small batch of shirts with a great design you made? How about a coffee mug with a picture of you on it? How about sexy undies with your sweetie's name or picture?  Well you can get all of those things and much more at CafePress.com. They are a great site providing mostly user-supplied graphics for clothes, posters, home goods, and much more.

Take a peek, browse their great selection of merchandise from various designers or design something of your own.  Seeing how my birthday is coming up this weekend, anyone out there who loves my blogs and the person who writes them might spice up my life by buying me this shirt. 

It's just $22.99, which means with 10% cash back from CafePress, you'll be earning yourself over $2.00 just for buying your ol' pal Bill a gift.

If giving gifts to your fave blogger isn't on your radar, you can certainly clean up with 10% cash back on all your purchases, whether they be gifts for your family, your friends, or yourself. Check it out! We have been trying to pair with this site for a long time, and we couldn't be happier to offer you cash back on purchases from them.

Like most things these days, furniture seems to be losing it's personality. Over-consumption and mass marketing have done to furniture what fast food did to the waistline. The days of mom and pop furniture design have been replaced with mega warehouses selling build-it-yourself dressers and Swedish meatballs. It used to be the only way to find furniture whose purpose went beyond merely function, was through extensive searching, or random luck. Thanks to eBay (3% cash back), luck has been replaced with a search function, and extensive traveling to antique stores has been replaced with a few clicks. While I would never give up my weekend antiquing, I will say there are some things better done at home.

American's today purchase their furniture in the same fashion they purchase milk. Both have an expiration date, and neither is considered especially important. I must admit that I too could once be accused of buying disposable furniture, and I suppose this isn't such a bad thing for those living with roommates who have yet to grasp the concept of cleanliness. No longer being subjected to other people's ideas of design has allowed me to create a home that reflects my personality as much as my clothing.

When it comes to furniture design, I tend to prefer simpler styles such as Mid-Century Modern. The credenza pictured above illustrates the simple lines and organic finish that characterized this movement. Although copies of this style are abundant, the craftsmanship cannot be compared. I've seen pieces from this era selling in antique shops for thousands of dollars, however the current bid on this piece is just $500. While browsing eBay I came across bed frames, chairs, tables, and more, all from this era. While some are on the higher end of the price tag, most are extremely reasonable. Your home is an investment not meant to be filled with less than par furniture. No matter what your taste, the selection of eBay will cater to it, and, chances are, for much less.   

When you're living with nearby neighbors, children, or a significant other, you can't always count on your schedules syncing together perfectly. Sometimes you just have to stay up late or wake up early - boom goes the dynamite. For those tricky times, we've long been stuck with one of two choices: annoy the neighbors and/or your loved ones, or pretend like you've long been blessed with the hearing of a German Shepard. Thanks to the advances of science and wireless technology, however, you now have a third choice: Sennheiser RS Wireless Headphones!

Instead of being stuck between a rock and a silent place, a nice pair of wireless headphones frees you up to enjoy TV and music at any level, at any time of day, while still keeping your volume private. Longing to listen to your stack of N.W.A. records at your grandmother's house? Pop on a pair of Sennheiser RS130s, and you're soon be cursing to the crystal-clear oldies wirelessly -  over fifty feet away from the included charge station!

It seems everywhere you turn, someone or something is taking a more natural approach. Such was true even at last night's Academy Awards. With the world going green and using less energy, my favorite celebs seemed to be channeling this very idea with minimal styling and primping. Glam goddesses such as Jennifer Aniston went back to basics working in a pretty braid, and a few hot rollers. Beyonce opted for a fresh take on the ponytail, and Sarah Jessica Parker lowered her carbon footprint with a simple part down the middle with some tousled curls. Hollywood is going au naturale, and I'm loving every second of it.

The key to getting a no fuss look, is all in the tools. No matter what your hair type, your hair dryer is the first line of defense against frizzy, unruly hair. Now at Folica Beauty Supply (6% Cash Back) you'll enjoy an extra $20 off all Sedu hair products, including my must have the Tourmaline Ionic Hair Dryer. While conventional hair dryers blast heat into the hair shaft causing it to break and frizz, this hair dryer uses tourmaline crystals which when heated, seal the cuticle locking in moisture and shine. The ion setting allows for static free styling, and the six heat settings guarantee you'll look amazing no matter how what look you're going for.

With reports that the Academy awards would be scaled back this year due to the economy, it certainly didn't feel like the fashion choices worn by the stars were anything less than totally glamorous and absolutely stunning. One of the biggest trends gracing the red carpet was lavish, statement jewels and embellished details. My favorite jewels of the night were spotted on Heidi Klum and Angelina Jolie. Both wore bold jewelry that totally popped and stood out against their dresses. Angelina's paired her simple Elle Saab Couture gown with stunning 65-carat Colombian Emerald ring with 115-carat matching earrings by jeweler Lorraine Schwartz. The jewelry looked magnificent with her partial up-do and simple-old Hollywood style dress, resulting in a simple,chic and absolutely Oscar-appropriate look every woman can lust for. The look is something anyone can achieve, when you go for a neutral, monochromatic outfit and contrast the look with a bright and bold accessory. When done well, like with Angelina, the look can be nothing short of gorgeous. Find emerald adornments of your own at Ebay, where you can get the most bang for your buck, on genuine vintage emerald jewels with 3% cash back.

Friends, I'm going to let you in on a little secret: all similarly-sized monitors are NOT the same, despite what conventional logic might suggest. While you could easily go out there and grab a fine 22" widescreen monitor for around $150, you'd be missing out on a load of sweet features and the outstanding picture found in an exemplary monitor such as the Asus VH226H 22" Widescreen monitor. Why? Well let me fill you in on a few of its sweet, sweet features.

First, this beast of a monitor features an outstanding resolution and response time that makes older monitors cower before it's mighty prowess. With a 3ms response time, and a contrast ratio that ranges between 1000: to 5000:1 (depending on your scale), it's perfect for all your HD video needs. And did I mention it's stylish exterior, and spacious 22" widescreen work space? You can practically do the work of two monitors on your one sceen!

When it comes to entertaining there are two types of people: those who attend parties, and those who throw parties. I'm of the latter crowd, and although planning a party can be rather stressful, it keeps my mind busy, something not easily done. That's why I'm excited to be hosting my first Oscar party. The Oscars are all about elegance, and every Oscar party should make your guests feel like they're a celebrity. With the tube doing all the entertaining, all I need is great atmosphere, good food, and, of course, amazing gift bags.

Candles are a great way to set the mood but a crowded house runs the risk of spilling hot wax, and yikes! Fires. Party Brights (5% cash back) carries everything from LED flameless candles to paper lanterns and string lights. If a chic atmosphere is what you desire, this site has you covered.

When thinking about Spring clothing, Gap typically comes to mind. When thinking about Gap, I think pastel hues, flowing fabrics and classically chic clothing (I also think about socks; they have great socks, by the way). This Spring is actually no different. This year, more than ever, the Gap captures the essence of Spring 2009 with their loosely tailored menswear-inspired pieces, wide leg-slouchy trousers, pastel-striped cardigans and floral printed tops, all of which are layered and mixed and matched to perfection, seen left in runway photos. And, good news for anyone who missed out on last Spring's major hit: the Pierre Hardy-designed Gap sandals that sold out almost immediately are back and available in several hot hues. Get them  here, for just $98 with 3% cash back.

It's almost March, and do you know what that means? Tax time is almost upon us once again! Beat the April rush now, and make sure you get the most cash back by using Ebates to get your taxes done easily and efficiently! By taking matters into your own hands with tax software from Staples, Newegg, H&R Block, and any of other great electronics retailers, you can make sure your taxes get done just right - without all the hassle and high costs of your own tax representative!

... That today is the mandatory first day for Spring Training. Pitchers and catchers have been trickling into camp all week, and World Baseball Classic players have been making their flights into Spring Training compounds in Arizona and Florida, but February 22nd is the true "First Day of Spring Training." In honor of this, it is now officially time to stock up on your team's apparel from MLB.com, your official place for all your official baseball memorabilia and gear
while earning 3% cash back.

I can't say just how excited I am at the prospect of another baseball season starting, especially with my Oakland A's poised to have such a great season (or at least a winning one). If, like me, the soles of your feet tingle at the words "Spring Training" then run out and pick yourself up a jersey, hat, or even underpants of your favorite team so that no matter how little or how much you happen to be wearing at any given time. Also, through the end of February, you can get an extra 10% off official team jackets with this coupon. For someone who has spent quality time in the bleachers here in SF, you know how much it comes in handy to have a warm jacket that also helps support your team.


I always think of it this way: Spring Training lasts just long enough to turn that new team apparel into "perfectly broken in team apparel." 

Every four months (give or take a few days) the Ebates office is buzzing with the sound of thousands of checks rapidly being printed, folded, and stuffed into an envelope for shipment to the smartest shoppers in the world. Check time is a guilty pleasure of mine because it allows me to spend money on things that I would otherwise shy away from. With the economy like it is, purchases that are not considered a necessity have been all but forgotten. Well, maybe not forgotten, but you get the idea.

This coming weekend, we'll find out the end of that sentence time and time again. As Oscar season dawns upon us again, there are folks like Allie and Poppy who are all abuzz over what the latest in red carpet fashion will be, while others like myself are most interested in what movies come out on top.  When I first decided to write an Oscars blog, I was hoping to feature most of the movies nominated this year; however, there's one problem with that: most of those movies are currently in theaters, and I can't think of any Ebates merchants that offer discounts on movie tickets.

So, instead, I thought we could take this moment to look at some past successes, so we can see what this year's competitors will be stacked up against through the lens of history. I took a little time scouring some merchants to find the lowest possible prices on DVDs of previous "Best Picture" winners. So here we go:

One of the must lucrative aspects of being a beauty junkie is scoring some double digit cash back through Ebates. When you shop the health and beauty category you will find up to 15% cash back from some of the top health and beauty retailers around. Not to mention the beauty junkie's creme de la creme: free samples. Nothing brings me as much joy as earning money and saving money on the things I would normally buy. Plus, a girl could really live on some free product samples, or at the very least, extend her makeup lifeline for an extra couple of weeks. Recession-proof your beauty routine by snagging some free samples and getting some major cash back. Here is how:

When you shop at the Best Bath Store, not only will you earn 15% cash back on your entire purchase (that's like 15% off of retail!) you can also get up to five free samples of their products before you buy anything. Find samples sizes of everything from nutrient-rich eye creams to bath salts and shampoo, all yours for free.

Want more samples? Currently, Bobbi Brown is offering an entire lip set, complete with three separate glosses with a minimum purchase of $50 when you enter code LIP9 at checkout. Sephora and Beauty.com offer three free samples of your choice with any and every purchase and both have a free shipping promotion and deluxe sample offers for a limited time. At Clinique you can get a free high impact mascara and free shipping with a minimum $35 purchase. Bliss is offering a free 'Love Handler' toning cream (a $36 value) with any purchase, no minimum! Benefit, e.l.f, L'Occitane and Origins are all offering free samples with minimum purchase as well. Find all here.

Every woman can be defined by three things: their drink of choice, the car they drive, and their greatest pleasure. These three things make a triangle of one's personality, with each point relating to the next. For example, a woman who enjoys a fancy $15 drink will most likely drive a sports or luxury car and derive the greatest pleasure from buying something expensive. My personality triangle consists of Stella beer, a used Ford hatchback, and finding amazing deals, in particular finding things that look expensive yet are not.

This may seem an easy enough task, but having been in the fashion world for nearly a decade, I have developed quite the trained eye. When it comes to what looks designer and what does not, two things need to be taken into consideration: fabric and cut. A great cut can be undermined by cheap fabric, and vice versa. It used to be that if you wanted to look designer, you had to pay big bucks. Thanks to Bloomingdale's (3% cash back) in house label Aqua, high fashion is now available at low prices.

Please, be patient, folks. We know that it is incredibly unlike us here at Ebates to be late on your payment, but due to a handful of merchants not paying us we don't have the money to pass on to you right now. We assure you that you will be paid for all credited purchases you've made - there is never a question about that; we are just experiencing a lag time in payment to us, and therefore payment to you. I am re-printing a letter from Kevin, our CEO, that most of you should be receiving in your inbox some time later today:


Dear Ebates Member,
 
You may have noticed that your cash back payment from Ebates has not yet arrived - but please rest assured that your payment is in process.
 
Given the challenging retail climate, a large number of our retail partners have been slow to pay our commissions for purchases you made in November and December, and these commissions are what allow us to pay your cash back rebates. To ensure the largest possible payout, we have delayed processing your payment until the last possible moment. We will complete processing and send a payment this week that reflects all purchases for which we have received payment from the retailer.
 
Any payments not received by Ebates as of today and paid this week will be sent to you in a special payment as soon as we receive them. You will still see these orders as cash pending in your Ebates' account.
 
Our goal remains to pay members cash back as quickly as possible and we apologize for this inconvenience.
 
Kevin H. Johnson
President and CEO


Again, I just ask that you bear with us - you are not alone, you will be getting money as soon as it is available to us, and if you have any questions, please contact our customer care department.

I doubt that I'm really introducing anyone to Barnes & Noble. They're one of the biggest and most recognized book sellers in the nation, a notoriety they have earned through years of striving to bring you the biggest selection of books, DVDs, CDs, and all sorts of other media at an affordable price. What I am writing about today, actually, is a feature even I was unaware of, despite my years of visiting bn.com. I'm talking about "The Barnes & Noble 100".

What this unique feature adds to the website is hourly updates on what people are buying at Barnes & Noble. Don't you hate when people talk about a book, only to reply "Oh, no, I've actually never heard of that one..."? Well, this is your chance to find out what everyone around you is reading, get it first and say "Actually, yes, I read that about a month ago" which, believe me, feels wonderful.

Have you ever seen that Chevy car commercial where the woman is driving along and suddenly it starts raining shoes and all the women on the street frantically try to grab any shoe they can get their hands on? The woman driving, she's lucky because she has a car with lots and lots of trunk space. She proceeds to stop the car, seamlessly open the back hatch as she fervently shovels shoes into the back.  Meanwhile, the commercial cuts to a man, eating a hot dog and shaking his head, you know, because women are so silly.

While I have always been slightly offended and majorly annoyed by this commercial, it is the first thing that came to mind when I saw the shoe sale at Nordstrom. Yes, I thought about a mildly sexist car commercial because I wanted to go nuts and buy tons of shoes. The moral of this long-winded prelude is that there is a pretty exciting shoe sale happening at Nordstrom.

Obsessions are like dirty habits. Everyone has them, yet no one likes to talk about them. Like most normal people (and I use the term normal loosely) I too have a handful of obsessions that dictate my life. From coffee to Roxy Music, if you ask me, life isn't worth living if you're not passionate (obsession's friendly cousin) about something. Lately I've been loving the latest rendition of clothing from the era of excess, also known as the eighties. Being a child of this time period, I'm well aware of the effect that trends such as pleated pants, shoulder pads, and the infamous power suit had on the way the world got dressed.

This year Spring fashion is ridden with modern takes on the eighties silhouette. Ray Ban sunglasses are once again all the rage, and the menswear-inspired blazer has made a huge comeback. While most retailers are selling these designs for hundreds of dollars, I can get the original on eBay (3% cash back) for a fraction of the cost. The above jacket is currently at twenty bucks, making it $250 cheaper than the jacket I was looking at in one of those high end department stores. From secretary dresses to oversized cardigans, I could easily shop the eighties section on eBay, and still be current with today's trends. With such significant savings, it's no wonder millions of people use eBay. Do you?

 

When today's Tech Tuesday top pick first debuted at CES a few weeks back, it caught almost everyone off guard. It was just a little too small, a little too portable, and a little too amazing to be true. A paper-thin laptop that you can actually type on, with a remarkably high resolution and Windows Vista? Yeah right! But to the surprise of many, it's both real and available at the Sony store right now. Behold! Sony's new "netbook that's not a netbook," the Vaio P notebook!

While we've all seen our share of minuscule laptops around the Ebates blog, the Sony Vaio P takes the cake when it comes to portability and features. Most comparably-sized netbooks fall behind full-sized notebooks in a few recurring areas: keyboard size, screen size, total power available, and their overall weight. Thankfully, the P-Series looks to combat most critics qualms with a spacious keyboard that's almost the exact same size as the laptop itself, and an intelligent design that lets it be as sleek as it is powerful. The massive 1600x768 display (which is wider than most notebooks) is great for displaying multiple pages at once, and even has a "instant-on mode" that lets you magically skirt past all the boot-up mumbo jumbo and head straight to your email, pictures, and more. How convenient!

I don't know about most of you folks, but I am always on the lookout for new musical gear. This could be why my garage tends to resemble the equipment closet for a recording studio, but it's something that's become ingrained in my being. I always check sites like Musician's Friend for their Stupid Deal of the Day, hoping that somehow a nice piece of gear will be selling for some stupidly cheap amount of money (aka an amount someone like me could afford). However, most people don't know that we have a vast array of music retailers on our site, that can keep the deal hunting musician occupied for hours on end.

However, we also (as I'm sure you all are well aware by now) have recently added eBay to our site, and are currently offering 3% on purchases made with them. I don't know about you folks, but I am obsessed with vintage gear, and eBay is really the number one stop to shop. Whether you're looking for a Moog Synth, a 60s Les Paul, a classic Fender Twin Reverb, or a hand-hammered crash cymbal, it can all be found on eBay.

Still, you don't have to be a musician to take advantage of all the great deals on music savings from Ebates, you can save on all your CD and mp3 purchases as well, so even the "professional appreciator" of music can earn cash back on their passion.

Like all things in life, city dwelling has its ups and downs. Although urbanites enjoy conveniences such as easy public transportation, most of us lack the luxury of doing laundry at home. An apartment with a built in washer/dryer is as hard to find in the city as a decent parking space. Laundromats are a commodity here in San Francisco, and they can range from the mundane to the ostentatious. My favorite is located a few miles from my house where there's live music and a full service coffee shop. Just another reminder that laundromats are as much a part of the community as the local dive bar. Coincidentally they're also pick up joints, filled with single people carefully eying each others dirty clothes searching for signs of a significant other.

If you wanted to choose one update for your Spring wardrobe, I would recommend getting your hands on a freshly-shaped blazer. Whether you crave the "boyfriend style" or prefer to go with a more classic silhouette in a modern fabric, you can instantly update what you already have and be stylishly ready for Spring. Pair a blazer with flowy dresses, cool jeans and t-shirts, or a relaxed pant and heels, and you have an apropos outfit topper for when temperatures have not yet warmed.

I was instantly inspired when I saw Alexander Wang's interpretation of the blazer trend in his Spring Collection. It is double breasted, fabricated in a stretch wool with three quarter sleeves, and lined in a gorgeous silk. What you don't get from the image is that the stretch wool actually has a subtle sheen to it and the result is an absolutely perfect garment that makes me literally drool every time I visit it at Shopbop.

I know I know, it may sound too good to be true, but you'll have to trust me on this one. For a limited time, Expedia is offering prepaid $50 MasterCard debit cards to anyone making a qualifying purchase. You can choose from tens of thousands of participating hotels, book a four night stay almost anywhere, and if you want to save even more, book your flight through Expedia as well. Not only will you be getting a $50 gift card, you'll also get 1% cash back just for using your Ebates account. Just make sure that you book by March 1st (that means two weeks, you procrastinators) and travel through March 30th.

I don't have to tell you folks what a great deal this is - if you are a globe hopper, you already know that Expedia is one of the premier destinations to get the lowest prices on your travel plans. They've literally got everything you could hope for: flights, car rentals, vacation packages, hotels, activities, even cruises! So if you're traveling for business, pleasure, or just to see the family (a mix of both, in my book) you can now do all your traveling for a whole lot less and get $50 to spend on absolutely anything you want.

Valentine's Day isn't just around the corner, it's here. Hopefully you've booked your dinner reservations, picked up all your flowers, and found the perfect gift for your special someone. If not, you're in some serious trouble - but there's still hope! Why not get something special for your sweetie that will keep on giving for weeks, nay, years to come? Something special like... a Kodak ZI6 Pocket Video Camera?

Yes, that's right, a pocket-sized video camera. While you may scoff initially, this Kodak camera is a little piece of the future, today. Instead of recording all your "home movies" on your digital camera or (!) a camcorder, the Z16 looks to take your amateur videography to a whole new level with their dedicated "pocket video camera" that stores hours worth (up to 32GB with an SD card) of High Definition (720p) video at a fraction of the cost. The videos can be easily uploaded to YouTube with the included USB cable, and it even comes with Kodak's own video editing software to bring out the inner artist in you. It may be simple, sure, but what's not to like about a pocket-sized 720p camera that's so easy even a child (or a grandparent) could use it?

Even though you might not have thought a tiny camcorder like the ZI6 to be the perfect last-minute Valentine's Day gift, it's hard to pass up simple pick that says "I want to make memories together." And, best of all, it's both on sale ($30 off at Abes of Maine) and pink! How can you say no to something like that?

Although today is meant to be filled with high fructose corn syrup, overbearing perfume, and depressed singles, I'm going to step outside the box and not succumb to the frenzy that is Valentine's Day. After spending two years in overpriced and overcrowded restaurants, the bf and I gave up on going out for a special night. Like a true couple, we now stay home and get everything delivered. As far as my clothing is concerned, let's just say my attire has more flannel than frills this year.

Being that this is a long weekend, I took off to my parents house located in far far away. Besides making s'mores, ignoring my wine intake, and hoping I don't get mauled by a bear, I also have cash back to think about spending. In keeping with today's love theme, I'm going to show some serious love to the most important person in my life: me. I'm taking my cue from the original self-love guru, Ms. Piggy. No other woman loved herself with such passion. She never thought twice about spoiling herself, and neither will I.

If your schedule is open for the long weekend, or if you are otherwise engaged, make time to check out some of these great Presidents' Day Sales where you can outfit yourself, your home, and virtually the entire family for a lot less. Here is a list of the top sales for the long weekend, and, to add good news to good news, most of them have already started, so let the savings begin!

- For any Twilight-ers out there who can't wait to get their warm hands on the movie, you can pre-order your own copy now, exclusively from Borders, and have it delivered on or before April 13th. Plus, you will get 4% cash back and free shipping.

- We are pleased to welcome Express to Ebates. Get 2% cash back on all your purchases and until February 16, you can take $15 off every $60 you spend with coupon code 2709 at checkout.

With hard drive prices sinking to historical lows, there's never been a better time to stretch your legs a little and back up all of your important documents. Nowadays, there's simply no excuse for not having a backup drive of some sort or another. If you are still playing Russian roulette every day with your data, it's time to make a change. After all, why chance losing a single file when you can pick up a 1TB Fantom Hard Drive for only $79 from MacMall? That's less than half of what a similar drive would have cost you almost six months ago!

I know I've mentioned it around here a few times before, but when it comes to the biggest bang for your buck, it's hard to beat the Fantom drive. Normally $120+, this drive currently has a pair of $20 rebates to bring its mildly high price point down to a ridiculously cheap $79 - an outstanding deal. The 1TB Fantom Drive hooks up to your PC or Mac via lightning-fast USB 2.0 or eSATA, and will easily back up most (if not all) of your computer with it's huge capacity. I've only seen an external drive stay at this price for 24 hours before, so hop on this sweet steal before it's gone!

I thought I would polish off my V-Day coverage with a special installment of Health and Beauty Thursday. Regardless of what your plans are for the special day, the pomp and ceremony of the holiday can be whittled down to just remembering the importance of putting your best foot forward. Look your best. Buy your loved one gifts all year round and eat lots of chocolate. Wear sexy lingerie for no reason. Then we can avoid the barrage of Valentine's Day for the rest of our lives and get back to talking about more important things like fashion and beauty products.

In light of this revelation, it seems important to consider changing up the beauty routine to make it more Valentine's Day ready all year round. I say wear red lipstick once a week. Not only is it empowering, but it will also make you feel sexy and a little special, even on the most unimportant day of your life. The toughest part of pulling off red lipstick is choosing the right shade for you skin tone. It's mostly a game of trial and error, but fair skinned women should stick to variants on cherry red, olive complected women should look in the direction of fire engine reds, and for those with darker skin tones, deep reds work best.

Once you have the right shade picked out, its important to make sure you are picking a lipstick that is long-wearing, moisturizing and will not not feather. Clinique's Long Last Soft Matte Lipstick is perfect for the job because it is specially formulated to prevent feathering, staining, and drying out. Get your hands on your right shade directly from Clinique for $14 and enjoy 4% cash back. Plus, take advantage of a free trial size High Impact Mascara (because nothing goes better with red lips than high impact lashes) and free shipping on orders of $35 or more with coupon code FEBHM at checkout.

Unfortunately for me, Valentine's Day is full of complications. From straitjacket-inspired lingerie to indecipherable menu options, there's more time spent trying to figure out what something is made of, and less time enjoying its flavors. Being a simple girl with simple tastes, there's only one thing I desire this year: Chocolate.

The world of chocolate has changed greatly over the past five years. Much attention has been paid to those who grow cocoa beans, with many businesses pledging fair trade practices, and livable wages for farmers. Alongside this new awareness has come an onslaught of new flavors from around the world. From exotic green tea, to traditional milk, your taste buds will never get bored. My search for new and interesting chocolate brought me to ChocolateSource.com (6% cash back). Not only do they carry everything chocolate (baking needs, bars, fudge, etc) but they house some of the most exotic flavors I've ever heard of. One bar that caught my eye was by famed chocolatier Dolfin. Their Dark Chocolate Infused With Earl Grey Tea sounds absolutely delightful, and the milk chocolate with cinnamon bar is sure to be a household favorite. Each pack of five is only $16.95. Considering most health food stores sell a single bar for almost ten bucks, the savings really add up.

I'm going to be blunt here folks; you know Valentine's Day is this weekend. At this stage of the game, you should know whether or not you're going to have a special someone to share this Valentine's Day with. I can also say without hesitation that this year, much like last year and the year before (and maybe even the year before) I will be spending the big V-day with me, myself, and I. Quite honestly, I'm fine with it. I really enjoy the Valentine's Day traditions I have honed over the past years of singularity.

Still, as a single person who doesn't necessarily want to spend the rest of my Valentine's Days single, I have to be aware of what options are available to me; and as an Ebates blogger, I need to know which of those options can save me money in my hunt for love.

(Image courtesy of corbis.com)

Mid-February is upon us and therefore, we can officially say, without jumping the gun, that Spring is right around the corner, even if it seems more like Spring is at the bottom of a three mile winding driveway. But it is there, and that's enough incentive for me to start fantasizing about Spring clothes. Because I already fantasize about outfits for a life I don't have (or for events that have not yet occurred in the foreseeable future), fantasizing about Spring wardrobe additions, in my book, is not only rational, but recommended.

Bloomingdale's is here to help give you something tangible to dream about. They have launched a Spring preview of their most coveted, hard to find designers, including Pencey, Larsen Grey, Tucker, and Loeffler Randal. To add more excitement to your Mid-February Tuesday, we are pleased to announce that Bloomingdale's has increased their cash back to 3%. So your dream Spring wardrobe can now earn you some more money. 

The culture of the phone call seems to have all but died, with nothing in it's path but obnoxious ring tones, and people yelling "Can you hear me now?" What once was the center of a household is now an annoying toy that is either beeping or having a seizure. Phones today are a far cry from the wall fixture whose receiver lingered with the scent of my grandfather's aftershave, and whose cord was perfect for twirling while I talked to my crush. 

Ever wonder what happened to the phone?

By the time I was in the midst of teenage angst, there was a cordless phone in just about every household except for my best friend's. Her house hadn't been remodeled since the seventies, and the phone (just like the rest of the kitchen) was avocado green. Made by Stromberg-Carlson, her phone resembled the model above, and it's sturdy weight gave every incoming call a sense of importance. In a family of six, fights would ensue if someone didn't get their turn. My house had an AT&T 5500 cordless phone exactly like the one below. The receiver was wide enough to land a Boeing 787, and the metal antenna (who's range barely made the next room) was almost a foot in length.

A few weeks back, I blogged about the Logitech Harmony 880 and how revolutionary it could be to anyone's home theater setup. Considering that every electronic device that needs a remote generally comes with one, I can understand your trepidation with the product in question. However, after a week or two of using one myself, I can wholeheartedly say that there's no going back once you've experienced the power of an awesome remote.

When I first received the Logitech Harmony 880 in the mail, I have to admit that I was a little intimidated. It purported to do practically everything and anything relating to all of my electronics components at once - and wasn't shy about it. With so much power in one tiny, button-laden remote, it had to be a huge mess to setup, right? Wrong. Gone are the days of complicated button combinations and mystery remote codes, as the Logitech Harmony 880 hooks up to your computer via USB and allows you to type in the model numbers of your devices to get your codes right the first time, every time. After typing in model numbers for a handful of my devices, I assigned a few basic functions for my TV and  electronics equipment: "Watch TV" (which turns on the TV & receiver to the right channel), "Play Games" (turns on everything and changes the input to my game system) and "Watch DVD" (turns everything on and to the right input, including my DVD player). Even though I was skeptical about it all at first, having my TV, receiver, and cable box intertwined in one masterful device is a godsend, as all I need to do is navigate to the "activities" to have the remote do exactly what I want it to. What a novel idea!

Ladies, I'm going to let you in on a little secret: men have it much easier than women when it comes to Valentine's Day gifts. A dozen roses, some chocolates, a teddy bear, some jewelry, or all of the above, and we're pretty much set. For you ladies, finding something for your fellas can be a lot more daunting, and that's where Ebates comes in. You have two male bloggers working here who not only are wonderfully talented at expressing themselves textually, they also love to get presents!

I'm going to give a couple of recommendations of what I'd like to get if I had a valentine to get gifts from this year. Then again, perhaps these choice are why I don't have a Valentine... because I'm outlining the finer parts of food and drink gifts.

If there is one thing that almost all the gents I know clamor for, it is beer. However, on a special day like Valentine's Day, you don't just want to bring home a six pack of whatever you could find at the store to be consumed from a bottle or can. This Valentine's Day go the extra mile. Nothing says "I love you" like a custom-etched beer boot from Bier Boot Haus. (except maybe the fact that you'll earn 4% cash back on that boot) I know I'd want to hang on to the cutie who'd buy me something that would unite my two great loves - her and beer. But what good is a giant glass boot if you don't have something good to drink from it? No good at all; and that's why you should also visit Mr. Beer, where the amateur home brewer can craft his own personal ales. If you play your cards right and heed my advice, you could have a custom beer named after you by this time next month. Plus, you get a whopping 10% cash back just to make tasty beer. I love it!

The world of unmarried people can be split into two groups. Those who co-habitate and those who have their freedom. The number of unmarried people sharing a household is steadily climbing as traditional views of marriage change with the times. Living with a significant other before getting married is a litmus test for whether or not a relationship is meant to be. Regardless of how well two people know each other, co-habitation is like opening the Pandora's Box of single-people issues. He thinks there's only one way to fold a towel, and she never realized this was a 5-star hotel. When it comes to living together, the difference between breaking up, and blowing up can be summed up in one word: space.

When everything is shared, a little selfishness goes a long way. For those who live in already cramped quarters, it's important to make the most out of what little space you do have. After moving in with the bf, I lost a space where I could paint, draw, make jewelry, and be alone. I realize the latter was part of co-habitation, but I desperately wanted to have a spot for the things that mattered to me. I've previously mentioned the elfa storage system as a way to maximize closet space, but did you know that elfa can also help maximize space in the office, kitchen, garage, and laundry room? In fact, there isn't a part of the house (or apartment) that elfa can't organize.

Declare your love with RedEnvelope's delectable edibles, which are a nice compliment to flower giving during the Valentine's season.

If you have an adventurous spirit, like Chinese tradition, and need a great Valentine's Day gift, then you're in luck. These Chocolate Fortune Cookies make a great gift for your sweetie. This is a great combination of chocolate, good fortune, and a little who-knows-what. Currently selling for $24.95.

Weekends are always a delight for me, as it's my favorite time of the week to bring you what I feel is an extra-special, interesting, or otherwise noteworthy product that you should know about. Today's top pick is not only noteworthy, it's downright fascinating! Behold: the Axion 7" Dual Widescreen Portable DVD Player.

Now, before you ask me "Why does that exist?" ask yourself just how much more awesome your life would be with a second screen. Go on! Do it! The correct answer is "far more", in case you were wondering, as this little Axion Dual-Screen DVD player brings twice the fun to any occasion. Stuck facing someone at a lunch table you'd rather not deal with? Pop open your DVD player! Afraid of an oncoming assailant? Make him/her laugh with one of your favorite movies - while you watch at the same time too! Amazing!

Hyperbole aside, this little gadget would likely prove invaluable to anyone looking to entertain a gaggle of children, a round table full of bored friends, or anyone in just about any other situation where one display isn't enough. While each tiny 7" screen may not be much on its own, the fact that the player can accurately power two LCD screens (that can practically display 720p visuals) is an outstanding feat in its own right. Scoff at it all you want, but I'd bet cold hard cash that this little Dual Widescreen portable DVD player has come in handy in more than one occasion. If you're ready to find out just how great the dual-screen life is, head on over to Newegg and pick one up for just $129 (that's $20 off!). Only then will you be able to see how wonderful two simultaneous screens of awesome truly is.

Chocolates, jewelry, wine... the gift list for February 14th goes on and on. It's no wonder that men (and women) can get frazzled when trying to do something nice for the special someone in their life. Commercials bombard with overpriced truffles, diamond necklaces, and skimpy lingerie, but is this really what Valentine's Day is about? The origin of lovers' day comes from Saint Valentine. After being rejected by his mistress, Saint Valentine sacrificed his heart and sent it to her in a dramatic show of undying love. Luckily for you, modern times call for less bloodshed, with a heart-shaped card replacing the body's strongest muscle.

The point of this day is to show loved ones the true feelings that everyday can hide. While dinner at a nice restaurant is one way to celebrate, cooking a meal together can be much more intimate. Sur La Table (4% cash back) offers classes encompassing a world of flavors, including a Valentine themed "Date Night" class. For the cost of a fancy meal for two, both you and your partner can enjoy the satisfaction that comes with preparing your own unique meal taught by world class chefs.

If you did not know that Valentine's Day is approaching like the Midnight Train to Georgia, then (a) consider yourself a lucky and (b) consider yourself single. In just about a week, Valentine's Day, the day where we all unwillingly celebrate love, commercialism, various shades of pink and red will be upon us. If you want to avoid sympathetic looks from your spoken-for friends, I recommend taking steps to un-single yourself and to fill up your schedule for February 14th.

A great way to deter unsolicited sympathy for your single status is to sign up for a dating site, such as Match.com. Nothing will stop people from treating you like a social pariah (read single) quite like announcing that you have signed up for Match.com through Ebates, and have received 15% off with an online coupon, 10% cash back, and even the chance to try it free for three days before you commit to anything.

Men are fickle creatures, and I should know. I am one, and readily admit to being both fickle and a creature. Because of this, women often times have the trickiest job of finding something, anything for their loverboys. While very few guys will turn down a bunch of chocolate (after all, who would?), chances are your (literally) sweet gifts are getting a little stale year after year. Why not try and spice things up a little bit and get him something that he won't just masticate? Even though they might not be for every man, one of these electronic gifts are likely to make your special someone smile when V-day finally approaches.


Gift Idea #1: JBL OnStage iPod Portable Loudspeaker

It's gratuitous generalization time: All men love music! As such, they probably have some sort of portable doodad to go along with it; likely something from Apple's iPod line (if not, get him one!). Another thing men like to do is rock, and that's exactly what this JBL Loudspeaker Dock is designed to do. It's small in size, but big in power, and lets him hear his tunes loud and proud in any room he takes it to. Better yet, it's $10 off right now at Sears! What's not to like about that?

In a time when even "The Donald" needs to squeeze an extra few weeks in between trims or root touch ups and color appointments, its best to make sure we are using products to make that extra time full of good hair days rather than a stale mix of hats, pony tails, deep side parts, and headbands. So what does a girl need for a time when even your hair is on a budget?

Make sure you are getting the most out of your shampoo and conditioner. Enlist a product regime that provides many results; you want shine, moisture, and volume in a formula full of ingredients to improve the long term health of your hair. Generally speaking, that sounds like a lot to expect from a single product. This list of demands may sound very similar to your list of traits for your dream man, although I promise this one will be much easier to find. I had given up on finding the perfect shampoo (and dream man, for that matter); one that provided the results listed above without costing me over $25 while being good for both the environment and my hair. That was until I found a dream man of sorts (actually a man and woman team, LA-based stylists Amanda George and Neil Weisberg) Neil George.

Most everyone who "needs" a bluetooth headset has one already. But recently one headset has set itself apart from the pack, and that is the Jawbone 2 from Aliph. Here's a little investigation into what sets this particular model apart from the rest. If you want, you can find your own at Cell Phone Shop, and you can earn a massive 10% cash back. I know when I was searching for mine, they had the lowest price, and that through the end of today (February fourth), the black Jawbone 2 is on sale for $84.99.



So, as I have pleaded before, don't go bluetooth-crazy like so many people around the country have, but if you want the highest-performing bluetooth headset on the market, make sure and stop by Ebates beforehand to earn up to 10% cash back on your bluetooth purchase.

As a new season approaches, I look forward to creating a new look and a new me. I believe the past trends of suck-in-your-gut jeans, and nose-bleed-section heels have ultimately cost me both too much money, and too many sprained ankles. This season I'm looking forward to wearing my favorite outfit of t-shirt and jeans.

Wearing simple outfits calls for un-simple jewelry, and being a fan of the bold and bright, I naturally turned to HSN for help. A guilty pleasure of mine for quite a few years, HSN never ceases to amaze me with their extensive selection of jewelry at affordable prices. I'm not talking "rich girl" affordable, I'm talking "two kids and a dog" affordable.

February has never been my favorite month. To be quite honest, I loathe February. If it weren't for the fact that March is February's sendoff buddy, I don't think I would survive. In essence this month is a teaser, a haha it's still cold out, torture fest. As much as I would love to dive head first into Spring fashions, wearing gloves everyday assures me I would be jumping the gun if I did so.

Despite my mental marathon toward Spring, I tend to forget the first weeks are still rather chilly, and warrant a sweater most of the time. By now, most retailers are selling off their remaining winter goods at deep discounts, meaning it's possible to pick up great pieces perfect for the first few weeks of Spring. Nothing says Spring better than this Cashmere Cowl Neck Sweater from Shopbop (6% cash back). Lightweight and warm, this sweater has two front pockets that lend a playful vibe, and at 50% off it's a great deal. 

If you heeded my advice from last week, you had a wonderful Super Bowl with an outstanding new HDTV. Congratulations! You're officially the talk of the town, and now able to experience HDTV heaven. However, no HDTV is complete without a high-def video source. That's right; I'm talking Blu-Ray. A Blu-Ray player is absolutely essential to any HDTV  or home theater setup; especially if you'd like to finally see what your TV is truly capable of. Just about any Blu-Ray player will do the trick, but some shows are better than others at putting the "HD" in HDTV.

Not since the Chia Pet, has an infomercial-born pop culture beast taken over our sensibilities quite like the Snuggie.  For those of you who do not know what a Snuggie is, refer to the the picture at left. A Snuggie, (depending on who you are asking), is essentially an over sized blanket with arm holes, so that one can be warm and snuggly whilst eating, answering the phone, giving enthusiastic high-fives at sporting events, eating ribs, working out (not recommended), knitting, playing board games, checking blood glucose levels, and much, much more. Or, for other people, it is nothing more than a bathrobe put on backwards or a warm and fuzzy hospital gown. Regardless of which group you fall into, the Snuggie has arrived and is enjoying every second of its fifteen minutes of fame. According to a USA Today article from January 27th, Snuggie sales have skyrocketed, and a reported four million Snuggies have kept people warm and mobile already.

Today Punxsutawney Phil saw his shadow, thus predicting another six weeks of winter. As much as I love the movie Groundhog's Day, I don't love having to spend another six weeks feeling trapped in the same routine. When Spring is so close, yet so far away, boredom sets in. Quickly.

Much like winter clothing can seem tiresome at this point, so does a winter household. Coming home day after day to throw blankets, heavy down pillows, and dark colors is making me as depressed and lifeless as Bill Murray's character Phil Connors.

It's Monday morning, day after the Super Bowl, and unfortunately that means that today is the beginning of the longest wait you'll have until you see football again. There will be celebrating in Steel-town, free agent rumors, head coach hirings (and firings), and all sorts of other fun that goes along with the off-season. 

Today is also your chance to bid the 2008-2009 season farewell by getting geared up for next year. Whether you want to get the first ever Super Bowl Commemorative Towel to celebrate the Steelers' victory, or if you want an officially-licensed Arizona Cardinals NFC Championship Sweatshirt to remember your team's rise to the top (even if that meant beating the 49ers to a playoff berth).

I'm not sure if you missed it last week, but the big Digital Conversion switchover was almost pushed back a few months to help last-minute switchers get government-sponsored converter vouchers. Even though the Senate thought pushing back the deadline would be a good call for the many unprepared people who haven't watched a primetime television show in the last nine months, the House of Representatives shot down the deflection like it was a joke. As such, the deadline still holds, and those of you who still get their daily dose of TV through the literal airwaves are going to need to assimilate. Resistance is futile!

Or fertile! With the impending switchover coming in just a few weeks, there's never been a better time for you to take advantage of all the sales and discounts to get a brand new HDTV. Virtually all HDTVs manufactured nowadays feature digital tuners that will work like magic on February 18th, and your LCD/Plasma picture will undoubtedly be far crisper and clearer than anything you're used to. Because, let's face it, if you don't have cable, an HDTV, or a digital converter box already, there's a 90% chance you're not watching TV on half as good a set as you could (or probably should).

If you're finally ready to take that plunge, head on over to our HDTV page for some blogtastic top picks from myself for the HDTV season. I've even included a few places to nab a digital converter box in case you (or a friend) doesn't need to spend the big bucks today. For any and all Digital Transition questions, head on over to DTV.gov and learn all you need to about the switchover that will be happening all across America February 17th. As for now, go grab a great HDTV and get tons of free cash back with Ebates!