E-Readers Vs. Actual Books/Magazines

So I know I haven't written anything in quite a while...but I'm hoping to start this blog back up now that I have finally settled into a job and a condo. Hopefully my life will be a little less hectic in the coming months. Anyways, onto the first topic that comes to mind: E-Readers vs. Actual Books/Magazines. 

Most people I talk to seem hesitant to make the change over from hardcover books to e-readers, yet I see so many people using e-readers on my way to work. I myself was resistant to make the change but I finally made the leap and bought a Kindle Fire earlier this week. And let me tell you, I hate it! However, at the same time it seems to draw me in. In my head, I have come up with numerous reasons why I like actual books better and also numerous reasons why I like e-readers better....so here it goes:


Why I Love E-Readers

• You can buy books instantly at the touch of a button, without having to leave your house
• Some e-readers, including the Kindle Fire, enable you to read in the dark, without turning any lights on. This especially comes in handy if you're in the same room as someone that's trying to sleep. Also, if you want to read in bed right before going to sleep, and there's no light switch next to your bed, you don't have to get out of bed to turn the light off. 
• Books for purchase are usually slightly cheaper than actual books
• E-Readers usually weigh less than most books 
• You can bookmark pages without leaving actual bookmarks that look messy (don't ask...I'm OCD, remember?)

Why I Hate E-Readers/Love Actual Books

• E-Readers can run out of batteries, meaning you always have to keep them charged
  
•  You can't use an E-Reader on an airplane until the plane reaches a certain elevation, like most electronics. 
• Carrying around an E-Reader over an actual book increases your odds of getting robbed
• Being able to buy books at the touch of a button also has its drawbacks: compulsive buyers may end up spending more money even though the books are generally cheaper
• E-readers give you instant access to book reviews before purchasing. This can greatly influence your decision making. I used to go into bookstores and choose books by their cover (no lie, ask my friend Christine). Most of the time, I ended up loving the books I chose. However, now...if I see that a book got horrible reviews, I'll think twice before buying it and take hours to decide...maybe missing out on a book I would have loved. Very annoying.
  

So which one wins out? The verdict is still out...but I hate the fact I'm supporting E-Readers. I want Barnes & Noble to stay in business!! I love that store. 

The MBTA sucks!!!

Okay, so I haven't written anything in a while. Why? I've been busy with a new job. I am now working as a life insurance specialist at John Hancock. Love the job, HATE the commute. And the commute just so happens to be what inspired me to write a new blog entry.

The MBTA sucks and the GM, Rich Davey must be fired!!! Every single day for the past three weeks, there have been incessant delays and cancellations on the commuter rail, busses and the T. Sure, it's understandable that busses may be delayed in a huge snow storm, but we live in Boston people!!! The MBTA should be better prepared for this kind of weather when it comes to trains and subways. I've heard every damn excuse in the book these past few weeks for the delays: disabled trains, draw bridges being stuck open, switching problems, medical emergencies, inclimate weather, etc.

The thing that sucks even more than the delays themselves is that by the time a  train finally arrives, there are way too many people waiting for it, meaning that not everyone gets on the train and half the people that do make it, have to stand. One day last week, I was told to get off the commuter rail because there wasn't enough room and this was after waiting in the station over an hour because of delays!!!

This morning, my train was 45 minutes late due to a draw bridge being stuck open in Beverly! By the time I got to North Station, I heard there were 40 minute delays on the Orange Line. Luckily it hapened to show up not too long after I got there, but the train was so packed I could barely even breathe!! Coming home tonight was another adventure. Again, the orange line was packed considering it was delayed yet again. However, this time, the conductors spent 10 minutes at each stop yelling at passangers trying to get on the train, telling them to step back behind the yellow line. I don't blame those people for trying to get on, after all i'm sure they had to wait 40 minutes. Come on though, the MBTA really needs to step up its game.

I am aware of the fact that the MBTA is hundreds of millions of dollars in debt. However, they need to hire a GM better equipped to raise money so that they can make necessary repairs on existing trains. Its also inexcusable that the Newburyport/Rockport line has been delayed over 3 times this month becaue of the draw bridge being stuck open in Beverly. Something needs to be worked out with the people in charge of that bridge. What boats need to leave the harbor during rush hour in the middle of the winter anyways!? I mean seriously!!!?

Rich Davey has been quoted saying, "You're only as good as your last rush hour...so perfection is always what you're shooting for." Ha...the MBTA is further than Antarctica from being perfect. Actions speak louder than words, buddy! Maybe we should nominate Davey for being the next boss highlighted on "Undercover Boss" (You know, the show where CEO's and GM's go undercover as an employee in their company to see what it's really like). He needs a hardcore reality check.

I would demand the $163 I paid for January's comuter rail pass back, except I'm the MBTA could use every penny they can get their hands on!!! This is one mess that I do not see being fixed anytime soon.

50% Off Domino's Pizza through December 19th!

Order Domino's Pizza online for carryout now through December 19th and get 50% off pizzas!! Just use Coupon Code 50OFFPIZZA at checkout!! I know where I'm getting my dinner tonight...mmmm!! Can't wait! Nothing like eating pizza while watching the Celtics kick some ass against the Knicks on tv.

Stocking Stuffer & Gift Ideas

With the Holidays right around the corner (Hanukkah starts tonight!!!), I thought I would suggest a few stocking stuffer & gift ideas. Obviously all gifts aren't for anyone, so pick and choose wisely.

Custom Printed M&Ms for the Recipients Favorite Team
http://www.mymms.com/

This is the perfect gift for any sports fanatic (brother, father, boyfriend, or even a female). A seven ounce bag for any team costs $10.99. However, shipping can be a bit pricey ($9.95 for 1-2 bags) since it has to get delivered in a styrofoam box to prevent melting. Tip: order two bags for different people. Since shipping is the same price for two bags as it is for one, you would be reducing the shipping cost per gift. You could also order a bubble gum like dispenser with 3 bags of the m&ms for $59.99 plus $17.95 shipping.

Paddywax Candles

http://www.paddywax.com/public/pag1.aspx

These are my absolute favorite candles! They smell amazing, unlike a lot of candles from Yankee Candles. Whenever I walk by that place, I feel sick. Anyways, the cute little tins pictured above are on sale for $4 each through December 10th (normally $5). Paddywax's holiday boxes are also on sale until the 10th for $8 (normally $12). The holiday boxes contain a candle in a nicer, glass holder and come in delicious scents such as Fresh Pine & Clementine, Cocoa & Vanilla Bean and Clove & Tangerine. These candles would be great as stalking stuffers or as a little gift to those you're not extremely close with (your teacher, real estate agent, therapist, etc..)

Juicy Couture Pajama Pants

http://www.juicycouture.com/

Juicy Couture Pajama pants are the most comfortable things every and they fit really well too. They're perfect for female college students because they can wear them around the dorm without feeling too shlumpy. Most of them cost around $58 but they can occasionally be found at Nordstrom Rack for around $30.

Sephora by O.P.I Nailpolish

http://www.sephora.com/

Sephora by O.P.I nailpolish is even better than the original O.P.I nailpolish. It's a bit thinner and therefore seems to apply a lot smoother. These make an awesome stocking stuffer for any girl and they come in tons of colors. $9 each.

Northface ETIP Gloves

http://www.thenorthface.com/catalog/index.html

This is the perfect gift for anyone with a touch screen phone. Almost everyone who has a touch screen phone gets super annoyed when having to take their gloves off in the middle of the winter just so they can use their it. With these gloves, they won't have to deal with that hassle anymore. Available for both men and women. $40 per pair.

Cooking Apron & Pot Holders from Williams-Sonoma

http://www.williams-sonoma.com/

These are great gifts for anyone that likes to bake and/or cook. The apron is $19 and the pot holders are $7 each. If you choose, you can even get the apron personalized with someone's name for $10 more. The thing I love about the pot holders is that they are nice and thick, making it very hard to burn yourself. Also, they are like an oven mit in that you can stick your hand inside, but its a lot easier and quicker than sticking a full oven mit on. These would also make a nice gift for relatives.

Baily Button Tripplet UGG Boots

http://www.uggaustralia.com/

Okay, yes! A lot of people think that UGGs are ugly. That's why they're called UGGs, right? However, they are super practical especially with leggings/jeggings being in style. I used to wear sneakers all the time but they look rediculous with these types of pants and I'm sorry but I don't always feel like wearing high heels or flats. They're just not comfortable. That's where UGGs come in. Plus, this particular boot is actually kind of cute. They can even be rolled down to make a shorter boot. I would suggest the color shown above (chocolate) because it matches with a lot. Although it is a shade of brown it wouldnt even look that bad with black in my opinion. Anyways, the price is $180.

White Chocolate Peppermint Truffle Gems Tube from Godiva

http://www.godiva.com/welcome.aspx

So I haven't actually tried this but the packaging is super cute and it would make a perfect stocking stuffer at $10. Godiva may be a bit pricey for chocolate but most of what I've tried from there has been well worth it.

Season(s) of Dexter on DVD

www.amazon.com

Almost everyone who has seen this show loves it! I didn't think I would considering it's about a serial killer, but wow. I watched the entire first seasons in two days. All four seasons can be found on Amazon and are in the $22 to $27 range.



Fragrances from Victoria's Secret for Her

http://www.victoriassecret.com/

Victoria's Secret is constantly coming up with new frangrances. My two faves right now are NOIR and Chiffon Pheony Fresia. Go into the store and take a whiff of these to see which one you like. Giving someone a fragrance can be tricky though if you don't know what they like. Just remember to ask for a gift receipt. That way, if they don't like the particular scent, they can go back and find a fragrance they do like. NOIR costs $29-$49 depending on the size and Chiffon Pheony Fresia costs $45. There are also numerous scents, including NOIR available in miniature sizes for only $10 in cute ornament like boxes, as pictured above.

Chrome Cologne for Him

www.walmart.com

www.macys.com

This scent is perfect for any guy that wants girls all over him. It's amazingg. Everytime I walk into a store that has it, I just have to go and smell it. It can be found anywhere from Walmart to Macy's. At Walmart, a 1 ounce bottle goes for $23 and a 1.7 ounce bottle goes for $33. At Macy's they're obviously more expensive.

Softlips Lip Balm

http://www.softlips.com/index.php

This is the perfect lip balm and is great for a stocking stuffer. They are sold individually in drugstores all over the place but online they are currently offering a winter holiday pack with 5 different flavors online for $10. The thing I love about this lip balm is that it smells really good and it doesn't clump like most chapsticks.

Starbucks and Dunkin Donuts Gift Cards

www.starbucks.com

https://www.dunkindonuts.com/

 This is the go-to gift that is good for everyone!! What else can I say?

Express Ties for Men

www.express.com

Express ties are uber sexy. All of the ties are $39.90 except for a few that are on sale. Get these for your boyfriend/husband ahora!!

Scrabble Diamond Anniversary Edition

http://www.amazon.com/

This is a great gift for the whole family and/or friends. This edition is great because each square has raised guides to prevent tiles from shifting. Also, the board rotates so each player can see the board in the right direction on their turn. The game costs about $35 on Amazon. It can also be found at Barnes & Noble and several toy stores.

I hope everyone has fun doing their holiday shopping!! 

Pumpkin Cheesecake Recipe

I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving! Here's a recipe for a pumpkin cheesecake I made that I found the recipe for on the Food Network Website. I know it's probably a little late to post this considering Thanksgiving is already over but I didn't want to post it before I tried it. I must say, it came out pretty well for my first cheesecake. Enjoy!

Bath & Body Works Anti-Bacterial Foaming Hand Soap

Ok, so my mom is a little crazy and buys almost 20 Bath & Body Works Anti-Bacterial Foaming Hand Soaps at a time. I love the soaps just as much as her. The only problem? Ever since they changed the packaging a few months ago from the older translucent bottles, the soap has been a lot harder to pump. Instead of pumping easily onto your hand, the soap shoots out, sometimes missing your hands. The new packaging also prevents the soap from foaming properly.

As you can see in the photograph I have taken, the foam that comes out of the new pumps is very watery. I am not writing this to prevent any of you from buying this soap. The soap itself is amazing. Rather, I would appreciate it if other fans of the soap would complain to Bath & Body Works so that they will come up with newer, better packaging...or better yet, just go back to the old packaging.

Think Before you Reduce the Price of Your Home

Many people who are selling a home for the first time make the common mistake of assuming their realtor wants to sell their home for the highest price possible since their pay is based on commission. However, this is not always the case and here's why:

Real estate agents are in business for themselves and the company they work for. Just like any other business, they want to make as much profit as possible. The best way for them to do this is by selling homes quickly so that they can have more time to sell more homes. Think about it: Would they make more of a commission if they spent several months trying to sell a home at $500,000 or instead trying to sell the same home more quickly at $400,000 and then having more time to sell another similarly valued home at the same price? Ding ding...the second option would give them more of a commission.

We all know that the economy is bad right now and homes aren't selling that easily. Since the realtors still need to make a living, they're going to want to lower the prices on homes they're representing so that they will get sold sooner rather than later. This may be espeically true if the home is in a prosporous area but is not worth as much as other homes in that same area. Why would a realtor want to waste their time trying to sell a $500,000 home in a bad economy when they can focus more time and energy on the numerous other homes in the area that are worth $1 million+. Instead of focusing their effort on the $500,000 home, they'll try to practically give the thing away by lowering the price considerably.

If you are trying to sell a home, don't let the realtor convince you to lower the price without first doing your research. Get an appraisal. If the realtor is telling you to put the home on the market for much lower than the appraisal price, realize that they may not be looking out for your best interest. Also, be patient. Homes arent selling as easily right now but does that mean you're willing to let your home go for tens of thousands of dollars less than its worth? If you can, wait until the market picks back up.