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Archives for July 2008

Book of the Month Clubs

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What Is A Book Of The Month Club?

Are you an avid reader that just can’t wait to get to your next book? Does it seem like you spend more time at the library digging through stuff you have read rather than getting to read something new? Maybe a Book of the Month Club is what you need!

Originally started in 1926, the very first Book of the Month Club was a way to sell new books from new authors or authors that were not well known so that the public would learn more about that author. Today, there are many different clubs that specialize in all sorts of genre. Depending on what you enjoy you may find anything from clubs dealing primarily with romance to clubs that only carry one author’s works. With an enormous selection of works to choose from, you are bound to find a club to suit your tastes.

How Does It Work?

Most Book of the Month Clubs use a system called a “negative response” system. They will offer you a monthly selection that will be mailed to you unless you decline it by a certain date. You then will have the option to order another book instead.

Usually the terms set forth in the club agreement will specify a certain number of books that you will be responsible to purchase or a number of months that you must remain active. In return for agreeing to join that particular Book of the Month Club many times they will offer you a very tempting initial shipment of books that you can choose yourself. This can be any number of books offered at a very low price such as “First 6 books only $6.00!”

Today there are a few clubs that will actually allow you to build a queue on the net of what books you are interested in and in which order you would like to receive them. This type of club is beginning to gain a good deal of interest. Obviously, it allows club members to have more say in exactly what they want. Unfortunately, this could lead to some members never experiencing authors that they may never have heard of or given a chance before. Which club to join is a personal choice that you must make according to your taste in literature.

No matter which Book of the Month Club you join, make sure you get one that is right for you. Be careful to read any fine print so that you do not get stuck in a situation where you have to pay for books that you really don’t want or care for.

The best source for information on what gift of the month clubs are out there is the Internet. You can search from many different clubs and pick the perfect one. If you feel that the club you are considering may not be honest you can check it out. See if it is set up with the Better Business Bureau. This is usually a pretty good indicator of what kind of service you can expect from your new club.

Book of the Month Clubs can be very enjoyable. Finding a new author that you haven’t heard of can be a wonderful experience. Remember to pick your perfect club and go for it. You will have many hours of enjoyment ahead. Happy Reading!






Edible Fruit Baskets Make Great Gifts

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Giving an edible fruit gift basket is always a great gift! Hey, it could save the recipient money on their food bill at the very least.  In addition, most of us usually only buy one or two kind of fruit during our weekly grocery trip.  Who can afford to get a bag of different kinds of fruit with the food prices today? So if you decide to give some one a fruit basket as a gift you’ll be providing them with a variety of nutritious and tasty fruit – perhaps some that they don’t eat often.

Providing baskets of fruit is also a nice way to give a gift to a person that you do not know very well. There are countless reasons why we might want to bring a gift to those we are not familiar. For instance, teachers at the end of the school year often need a gift. Or perhaps that person who has done work on your home, maybe even a summer lawn worker or a pool hand might be deserving of something once the job is complete, and especially if it was done well. Have you ever thought that your mail will come every day, no matter what? If you like to give your mail carrier a gift once a year; the holidays are a great time for this.

Image by sweet mustache via Flickr

We definitely do not like to think about this, but we all know of at least one person who has lost a loved one. You definitely want to express your sympathy and offer your assistance to the person in mourning. Instead of bringing a casserole or a pie, why not just bring them a nice fruit gift basket? They most likely will not feel much like eating a big meal anytime soon and would probably rather reach for a piece of fruit to get them through until the next mealtime.

The neat thing is that you can send edible fruit baskets to anyone across the country. You do not have to go out and buy the basket yourself at the local store and then worry about delivering it, although you could if you would like.  You can simply order them from a florist or even go online and schedule a delivery a thousand miles away if you wish, a local company will fulfill your order and your gift recipient will get only the freshest fruit basket available.

So the next time you need to give a gift, think about giving fruit gift baskets. After all, they are healthy, taste great and a wonderful gift for any occasion.

What To Look for When You’re Buying Luggage

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Great luggage is an invaluable accessory when it comes to making traveling easy and convenient. It’s important that you look beyond fashion when choosing your luggage and search for functional and dependable bags. Your luggage should be well made to serve you for many years. Cheap bags can easily get ruined, usually when it’s least convenient.

Look for bags that are lightweight and easy to wheel around. But they must be tough. Be aware that your luggage won’t usually be handled with a lot of care while being transported. Heavier bags might be piled on top of yours during transportation or in the baggage compartment. So you need to pay close attention to toughness and durability.

Purchase luggage with well made, durable straps, wheels and handles. Check to be sure that they are securely fastened to the bag and try them out for ease of use.

Examine the wheels on the bottom of your luggage. With a high quality product, these will be made out of a durable material. If the bag’s wheels are made from cheap plastic, it won’t move as easily and will be in danger of tipping over as you wheel it along.

The handle is another important consideration when purchasing luggage. If it’s a retracting handle, check to see that it moves smoothly and slides into place securely. If not, it might become bent if it pops out while going through baggage processing at the airport.

Pick luggage that has strong, durable zippers. If the zippers on your bags are of cheap metal construction, they’ll be more likely to pull apart at an inopportune time. Anything that puts pressure on the bag can cause the zipper to rip apart.

Examine the material the luggage is made of. Can it resist scratches and is it waterproof? Will it tear easily?

Before you buy any luggage consider your traveling preferences. Some people commonly check their baggage, while others prefer to pack light and use a carry on bag. Also pay attention to weight and size, since there are restrictions on both of these for air travel.

Features that help keep you organized are important when looking at luggage. An expandable bag is useful for longer trips or for bringing home any items you purchased while away. Bags that attach to each other with a strap are also practical if you’re carrying more than one. Look for lots of pockets and compartments and organizers that will keep your outfits free of wrinkles.

Your luggage can be fashionable, but it doesn’t have to be the latest style. Pick classic colors and avoid trendy patterns. Luggage is typically used by more than one person in a household, so pick a style and color that everyone is comfortable with.

Designer Handbags That You Should Know About

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The Louis Vuitton Boulogne Purse is from the famed lanvin handbag and leathergoods company’s 2007 catalog. There are four styles available to the Boulogne, with each having different fabrics depending on the chosen bag.

The Boulogne collection with their two largest purses measure 10.8″ x 11″ x 3.5.” The basic designs of the bags are the same, but are very different because of the details. One of the Boulogne bags is linen canvas and black monogrammed Mini Lin cotton. The fabric on this Louis Vuitton Monogrammed Boulogne purse is very elegant and rich. The bag is lightweight and perfect for summer. Brass hardware and black leather strap and corner reinforcements only add to the look and make it a well rounded bag. This one bag would dazzle with just about anything.

The other Louis Vuitton Monogram Boulogne purse of the same size (11.8″ x 11″ x 3.5″) in this collection is more of the classic Louis Vuitton style. This bag features the notable gold monogrammed LV insignia on rich dark brown leather. This bag is very similar to the above mentioned, but instead of the canvas and linen is made of leather. This style features a light tan leather strap and matching corner reinforcements. The bag also has brass hardware.

The next bag of the Louis Vuitton Monogram Boulogne purse collection is the Monogram Mulitcolore bag. This bag is smaller than the first two measuring at 12.2″ x 10″ x 3.9.” The bag gives the ever popular Louis Vuitton design an updated look. Instead of the tan and brown color combination this bag features a black background with multicolored LV insignia’s. This bag has a very nice outside zippered pocket, which would be great for credit cards or cash on the go. The corner reinforcements and straps are made from tan calfskin.

The smallest bag of the Louis Vuitton Monogram Boulogne purse collection is the Little Boulogne. This bag is much smaller than the others in the collection at 7.5″ x 5.9″ x 2″ but is very versatile and great for on the go. The LV monogram pattern is featured in black jacquard satin. Black leather strap and reinforcements make the bag very elegant and usable for many occasions. The bag is also the only one of the collection to feature silver hardware, which looks great next to the black on black styling of the bag.

As a side note, you may be on the lookout for a discount Louis Vuitton handbag for some deals.

The collection is versatile and quite modern for just about everyday use or a night out on the town. The little Boulogne could be paired with jeans or with a little black dress. A walk in the park or a light lunch would be a perfectly suited style for the larger bags. This bag is a classically designed Louis Vuitton and could be used for years to come. It is perfect for any age or taste. The Louis Vuitton Monogram Boulogne would also make a great gift. These traditional styles will be a timeless addition to your collection.

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