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November 30, 2006

Holiday Shopping Web-Style

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With Christmas less than a month away, the race is on. The shopping, the cards, the baking--how is anyone supposed to keep ahead of it all? In this age of dynamic, feature-filled web sites, the old slogan "Let Your Fingers Do the Walking" is more appropriate than ever. If holiday prep's got you worried, try some of these sites on for size. You'll be glad you did.

For the hottest technology gifts, check out CNET's shopping blog, ShopGrok. You'll find quick access to hot online deals on all types of electronic equipment.

For those non-tech items on your list, try The Find.com. "The Shopping Search Reinvented," this site allows you to search for everything from shoes to soccer balls and provides links to online vendors. If you create a free account, you can save your searches and email them to friends and family. A great site for creating holiday wish lists!

And here's an idea for all those holiday cards you have to write. Why not send an e-card to some of your tech savvy friends. The British Library offers free electronic Christmas cards in both religious and secular designs. Just select a card, fill in your email address and the email address of the recipient, write a personal message, and click on "Send." No stamps, no visits to the Post Office.

Ready to try your hand at a little holiday baking? Check out Cook's Illustrated Holiday Survival Guide. The companion web site to the popular cooking magazine, this is a wonderful site for recipes, how-to instructions, and cookbook recommendations.

For a little holiday music while you send your e-cards, try Web-Radio's Christmas music page. The site provides links to radio stations across the country, offering all styles of music in a variety of formats, including Windows Media Player, Real Player, and MP3 files. You'll find multiple channels of holiday music alone, ranging from Elvis to the Mormon Tabernacle Choir.

So, take a deep breath, flex your fingers, and hop online for holiday shopping 2006! Happy Clicking!

Posted by JudyS at 11:59 AM | Comments (1)

November 27, 2006

Online Holiday Shopping Tips

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Experts predict that consumers will spend almost $17 billion shopping online this holiday season. Before you join the masses on this Cyber Monday, pick up some consumer-friendly advice from one or more of these sites: