For generations, Lego blocks have been a source of enjoyment for kids all around the world. The innovative design was the first of its kind, providing an easy but secure snap-together process that allowed for much more advanced building at any level of experience. Since the late 1950′s, that interlocking system has made Lego the most popular building block of all time, unmatched by any of their competitors.

I think that every kid can look back and remember the first time they were given a Lego blocks set. Whether it was one of the giant tubs of bricks with a builders manual like I had in my time, or the specialty sets with Star Wars or Harry Potter figurines that my children play with now, that is a shared experience between people of all ages.

But Lego has inspired more than nostalgia. They have also managed to launch thousands of different products from companies that use the block design for new purposes. Here is a list of the top ten (in my opinion) of Lego-oriented items that are on sale right now.

1. Lego Ice Cubes

Want a way to spice up the old scotch on the rocks? Looking for a little more playful touch for the ice tea you are serving your friends at this year’s summer block party?

You can purchase ice trays from the Lego store, Amazon, or anywhere that sells Lego products that make ice cubes in the shape of blocks. The trays are dishwasher save and made of a flexible silicone base that makes it easy to twist out the cubes without snapping it in half like a plastic holder.

If you would prefer to make your own, Geek Dad on Wired did an excellent DIY demonstration.

2. Lego Brick Bag

While it isn’t so easy to find at this point, there is an excellent Lego brick bag that has provided both fashion for the geek chic chick, and functionality. Finding the two is a rarity, especially when it comes to handbags (or traveling), and so I was thrilled when I saw this. It comes in a blue color similar to the classic Lego shade.

Each “stud” with the logo is a separate compartment with a zipper. The top has two types of handles: one for a clutch, and one for over the shoulder.

3. Lego Sofa

I personally love any kind of furniture that is adaptable. It makes it so much easier to change up your look without forking out too much cash to do it. This is easy remodeling 101, which is why I was thrilled to find a sofa literally made of rubberized foam Lego blocks. These can be broken apart and put back together into new shapes.

This is great for changing the look of your living room, or just opening up more space or creating seating. It is also cheap for a sofa, priced at less than $500.

4. Lego Soap

I love Etsy, and I frequently shop from their sellers. Anything unique makes me intensely happy, so even though this soap has been sold I thought I would share it with all the builder geeks out there.

As you can see, each piece was crafted to look like a small block. Every color has an individual scent to match it. They have red, yellow, green, blue, and for some reason a light beige.

5. Lego Candles

These are a bit pricey for my taste, but the idea is cool. They are basically Lego brick candles that measure about 7” x 3” x 3”. This makes them a decent size, but they cost $48 a piece, which might not be worth it for anyone but the more avid collector.

They do make a pretty good decorating item for a game room, though.

6. Lego Desktop Calender

Looking for something for your office, or maybe your study at home? Perhaps your kid needs something to spruce up the desk in their room? This calender is fantastic, made of three different Lego bricks with the month, day and numerical date.

They can be stacked, removed or changed around, just like real Legos, and they come in three different colors. You can buy them for under $30 here.

7. Lego Magnets

If you want something Lego for the fridge, make yourself a brick jello mold. If you want something for the outside of the fridge, check out these awesome magnets.

They come in multiple colors and are strong enough to hold a couple of pieces of heavy paper without sliding. They also come with several per pack, though sadly you can’t build with them. Wouldn’t that be cool?

8. Lego Star Wars Alarm Clock

Saving the best for last, this is the coolest alarm clock I have ever seen. Featuring a Wookie and a Storm Trooper over a retro styled Star Wars theme clock, it comes with a standard Lego top for building or just setting the figures. The face also features a cartoon rendition of the two characters.

It is a great gift for any geeky Star Wars fanatic you know, or for yourself if you remember the days of playing Jedi Knight in your room with your action figures.

9. Lego Radiator

What an awesome addition to one’s geeky interior! They say, those LEGO-like projections work great spreading the heat with their enhanced surface area.

10. Lego Star Wars Football Table

The whole table is made of LEGO bricks: how cool is that?!

Many More!

Lego is one of the most influential cultural phenomenon of the last several decades. Still a best seller, it is no wonder that so many products have been made in its image. But this is only the tip of the iceberg. A quick Google search will bring you dozens, maybe hundreds, more. Check it out for yourself, and keep the tradition alive.

Are you addicted to Amazon? Sometimes I think I am. Every time a smiling box shows up at my door I simultaneously jump with excitement and then cringe with fear knowing that more money has leaked out of my wallet. It’s even worse now with the advent of instantly downloadable Kindle ebooks. Instant gratification has never been easier for bookworms like me.

Over time that little One-Click button has become the bane of my cash flow. If this sounds like you, here are some ideas to help you curb your Amazon or other online shopping addiction so you can still enjoy the occasional purchase without feeling post-purchase guilt brought on by conspicuous consumption.

Many financial counselors advise getting away from the Internet altogether and making purchases in brick and mortar stores, but it’s not so easy for the growing population of remote workers who make their living online. For them the Internet is constantly available, so it’s important to learn to manage the situation from wherever you spend the bulk of your time.

Turn Off One-Click Now

The first step is to intentionally make it more difficult to buy stuff online. Right now One-Click may be all that stands between you and more outgoing cash, so try turning it off for a while. As convenient as the One-Click function is, it is the cornerstone of most impulse purchases made online.

Turning off One-Click ordering will prevent you from immediately saying yes and force you to reconsider whether or not you really need that latest book or gizmo. And if you’re lucky, the hassle of having to manually enter all of your purchasing details might even prevent making an unnecessary purchase.

Plan Your Needs Ahead Of Time

Another way to avoid impulse purchases is to think about what you need ahead of time. Sit down and plan any upcoming purchases up front. This will help you separate true needs from impulsive wants. Then later, If something catches your eye that’s great. Instead of buying it on the spot clip the web page with a tool such as Evernote. That way you can evaluate whether or not it fits into your actual needs later, when you can also think about the big picture.

Set A Specific Amount For Online Shopping

Just like the rest of your finances, set aside a specific monthly budget amount for online shopping. This goes hand in hand with planning ahead and is really the only the only way to ensure you’ll have enough funds to pay for the desired items. First take care of your immediate needs, such as rent, food, bills, and other debt if you have it. Once those items are covered then you can reward yourself with an online goodie.

Use Paypal or Similar Services

Paying for purchases Paypal or a similar online service is the online equivalent of always paying with cash. Make sure your account is set to draw funds directly from your bank account instead of a credit card. This way you can only buy stuff if you have real money.

Use An Internet Filter To Block Your Favorite Shopping Sites

Most browsers have parental controls with the ability to allow you to block undesirable web sites. You can use these yourself to temporarily (or permanently) keep from visiting your favorite online e-commerce sites. This way it’s literally out of sight, and hopefully out of mind.

Get Help

If all else fails and you can’t personally curb your online shopping impulses, perhaps it’s time to get help. Internet addiction is truly a type of compulsive disorder. The Center for Internet Addiction is a wonderful resource for people who need help. They have a variety of resources to help you understand what actually motivates you to constantly shop and can help you get a handle on things before it’s too late.

Credit: BigStockPhoto.com

I love fall. The leaves change colors. The temperatures cool. The whole atmosphere of the season seems ideal for doing more cooking. For me that means stews, chowders, and roasts. If you feel the call of the kitchen this time of the year too, maybe you’ll benefit from some of my favorite (even if sometimes simple) kitchen tools that make fall cooking a breeze.

Here are five cooking tools I consider essential in the fall months:

1. A Crock Pot / Slow-Cooker

Crock pots come in various shapes and sizes, but I’m a big fan of my 6-quart oval variety. Crock pots are seemingly one of fall’s most popular kitchen gadgets, and for good reason. As the air gets colder there’s just something wonderful about coming in from the nippy outdoors to a hot meal waiting for you. Make your favorite stew, chicken, pot roast (or anything else you can stick in a crock pot), and have it cook on low while you’re away at work all day. Come home to a piping hot home-cooked meal. Yum!

2. A Roaster Oven

Credit: BigStockPhoto.com

My roasting oven is actually one of my more recent kitchen gadgets, purchased last fall. Now I don’t know how I could do without it. While I might not use it daily, it’s wonderful for those end-of-the-year get-togethers. It was always a challenge to schedule my turkey in with other cooking that required my oven. Now I can cook the bird in the roaster oven and cook my casseroles, biscuits, and other dishes in the main oven.

3. Stock Pots

One of my signature dishes is my recipe for chicken corn chowder. Stock pots make life much easier when you’re cooking chowders and soups for a cool fall day, letting you brew up as big a batch as you want. No spills. No fuss. Just delicious chowder and homemade soup every time.

4. Casserole Dishes

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Fortunately casserole dishes can be used for so much more than casseroles. And mine get an extra workout every fall. Not only do I regularly make green bean casserole (often double batches because I send some home with a brother who adores it), but I also use my various-sized casserole dishes to cook things like scalloped potatoes or even oven-baked pot roast when I don’t want to wait on the crock pot. Another favorite use this time of year is cooking up some nice soft yellow squash and zucchini or even spaghetti squash.

5. A Good Meat Thermometer

This might sound basic, but in my kitchen a meat thermometer is an absolute must in the fall. I don’t worry about meat thermometers so much with beef dishes because I know exactly how I like each to look inside, and I can easily determine if or when they’re done. However, I cook much more poultry in the fall months, especially turkey. And when it comes to poultry perhaps I’m just a wee bit paranoid, but I prefer letting a trustworthy meat thermometer determine doneness over my eyes any day.

Well, those are my must-have kitchen tools in the fall. What are yours? Do you make certain dishes this time of year that require special tools or gadgets? Tell us what your favorite fall meal ideas are and what tools you like to use when preparing them in the comments below.

Credit: BigStockPhoto.com

Halloween is quickly approaching. If you haven’t bought the perfect costume for your yearly costume party or your kids haven’t found one they love yet for trick-or-treating, you’re running out of time. No need to fear though. There are plenty of options for last-minute Halloween costumes. Today I’ll share a few of those last-minute Halloween costume-snagging ideas with you.

Here are five places (or ways) to get last-minute Halloween costumes.

1. Make your own costumes.

If you have a knack for sewing (or can come up with creative ideas, no sewing required), homemade Halloween costumes are a good standby option. Need budget-friendly options that are quick to put together at home? Budget101.com has a wide selection of do-it-yourself Halloween costume ideas that will save you money. Need ideas for last-minute costumes for your kids? Disney’s Family Fun site has a good selection of kids’ costumes you can make at home in their last-minute costumes collection.

2. Hit the local Halloween store.

Halloween stores are notorious for charging a bit too much (at least where I live) compared to other options. But “options” is the key word — you’ll probably find plenty there. And since you’re shopping this close to the holiday, you might be able to snag a deal as they try to clear out their inventory.

3. Look for consignment shops or local costume exchanges (or set one up).

This time of year you might be able to find some gently-used Halloween costumes at your local consignment shop. For something you might only wear once, it makes sense to buy costumes used (especially if you’re on a budget). Another option for kids is to get parents together and exchange old Halloween costumes kids have outgrown. What’s old to one child is new to another, and many costumes are “evergreen” in nature and will be good for years to come without going out of style. Don’t have a network of other parents to trade costumes with? See if your community has a larger exchange put together, or trade with family.

Credit: BigStockPhoto.com

4. Shop online.

This option is a bit riskier than running to a local costume shop, since last-minute ordering means you probably won’t have time to make an exchange if something doesn’t fit. But if you’re completely sure of your size, you can order a costume online. You can look for costume-specific sites, go to trusted larger retailers like Amazon.com, or find the online version of your local Halloween store, like Halloween Adventure. That last case is a great option if you found a costume you loved in-store and they simply didn’t have your size in stock.

5. Visit your local toy store.

If you need a last minute Halloween costume for a young child, visit your local toy store (or even major retailer that has a decent-sized toy section). Toy stores often have “dress up” clothes for little girls, such as plastic princess slippers, tiaras, wands, and even little dresses. Sometimes they’re character-themed. You might also be able to find makeshift costumes for boys — think fireman hats, character masks, and toy swords as starting points.

Finding your dream costume for Halloween at the last minute might be tough, but you do have options. Maybe you’ll find that you enjoy the last-minute rush of making your own costume and it will become a tradition. Or perhaps you’ll take this year’s rush as a learning experience and shop early next year. Heck, if you know your size won’t likely change you might even buy another costume post-season this year to save some money and be well-prepared when next Halloween rolls around.

Have you ever had to get a last-minute Halloween costume? Did you make your own? Did you buy one somewhere? Where did you find one (or at least find your idea)? Share your tips and stories in the comments.

Credit: BigStockPhoto.com

Sex is a great thing. But do you know what can be even better? No…. not chocolate (well, okay, that too… sometimes). I’m talking about shopping! And do you know what? That doesn’t just apply to my shopaholic gal pals either. Whether you’re a regular at the mall or an in-and-out type of shopper, it has some perks even sex can’t compete with. Let’s take a look.

Here are five reasons shopping is better than sex:

1. Instant Gratification

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Sure, you might still have to go through the pursuit if you’re looking for that killer pair of shoes or that perfect deal. But when you really want something right now, you can just go out and get it. No begging or pleading. No excuses. No waiting around on someone else’s interest to be piqued. With shopping you can often get what you want when you want it. Are you as lucky in your sex life? (For your sake, I’ll hope you are.)

2. Generous Return Policies

Are you just not feeling that new pair of jeans the day after buying them? Not the perfect fit after all? Thank goodness for generous return policies! You can just hop in the car, take it back to the store, get your money back, and no hard feelings. Sex not so hot? Yeah. Good luck “returning” your lover with that kind of ease.

3. Consistent Strenuous Activity

They don’t say “shop ’til you drop” for nothing. A marathon shopping session with laps around the mall or your favorite stores (carrying heavy bags no less) might be far better for your health than a marathon sex session. Need an excuse to go shopping? You’re welcome.

4. Less Guilt

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When you go shopping you don’t have to worry about things like hurting people’s feelings and all of the drama that can come along with sex (at least not usually) if it doesn’t work out or if you’re having a bad day. Sure, you might occasionally suffer from buyer’s remorse. But if you do, see #2 again.

5. Eye Candy

When you go shopping you can check out all the competition you like. Nobody’s going to call you out or get pissed off if they catch you drooling over that pair of pumps or the latest tech gadget you just can’t live without.

As you can see, shopping definitely has its perks. I don’t know about you, but I can tell you I won’t be giving up one for the other. Still, it’s nice to know your options.

So what about you? Can you think of any other things shopping has over sex? Or are you the type who can’t get into shopping (and why)? Which is better in your book?

Who doesn’t know the world’s dominant (and many people’s favorite) soft-drink Coca-Cola?

Ok, that was a rhetorical question. I guess the drink is known by everyone as well as most of the company’s stupid fiascoes like New Coke, for example.

That fail was not funny at all. This post lists only funny ones instead.

So enjoy: Coca-Cola’s top funniest fails:

Coca Cola Truck Fail

Another Coca Cola Truck Fail

Concept Fail

“You are what you drink”:

Coca-Cola Manhole

Always Coca-Cola

More Ads, Please…

Coca-Cola Bottle Fail

Coca-Cola Earrings

Coca-Cola Banner Fail

Coca-Cola Win!

Guess which ones were photoshopped!

Shopify is a hosted e-commerce software solution that enables people without web design experience to setup online stores in literally just a few minutes. For $24 a month plus 2 percent of transactions, it’s possible for just about anyone to enter the world of e-commerce.

While there are many e-commerce platforms to choose from, Shopify gets high marks from Tim Ferriss, author of the best-selling book “The Four-Hour Workweek”. Earlier this year Ferriss conducted an informal Twitter survey of more than 50,000 people who recommended it almost unanimously.

Apparently celebrities including Pamela Anderson, Foo Fighters and organizations such as Pixar and Amnesty International depend on it for their e-commerce needs.

So how does the average Joe or Jane setup shop? The first step is to signup for a free 30-day trial of the Shopify service, which takes just a few minutes. You will need Visa, Mastercard or American Express to setup your account, and your card will be charged at the end of the trial period. When you signup, your online store is automatically created on the system with its own URL. If you want, you can later customize your URL to point to your own domain.

Keep in mind Shopify does not provide access to products – you’ll need to arrange your own agreements with wholesale suppliers and/or drop shippers in advance. But once you get that piece in place the shopify.com backend system has a full set of tools that lets you customize navigation, upload product images, and specify pricing and checkout options.

While PayPal is the default payment processor, you can also use Google Checkout and a variety of credit card payment gateways or create your own custom payment method, such as COD or Money Order. To get your products out to customers, Shopify integrates with a number of fulfillment services, including Amazon, Shipwire, and Websgistrix. You can also setup custom fulfillment with individual drop shippers.

The basic plan also includes marketing tools to help you track site stats and get started with Google Adwords, Yahoo and MSN. You can also take advantage of viral marketing partners Text Link Ads, King of the List, and ReviewMe! Shopify also has tools to help you promote your site through digg, StumbleUpon, Twitter, and other social media platforms.

With its myriad tools and user-friendly interface, Shopify has everything you need to get setup as a merchant on the web. So what are you waiting for? Setup your Shopify account and get selling today.

It is a widely-spread (maybe even universal) stereotype: women love shopping, men hate shopping.

This stereotype has even been tested and proved by Stanford researcher S. Christian Wheeler who found that women were nearly three times more likely to “browse” before buying anything while men just go and buy what they need:

- Women eagerly go shopping even if they actually don’t need anything in particular while men only visit stores when then need to buy something;

- Women browse until they have seen most of the things in the store while men just quickly buy what they need and leave.

In other words, men shop as hunters, women shop as gatherers. Or women shop while men buy.

Now, let’s see how this gender gap is (humorously) reflected in store signs:

Shopping with Your Husband Is Like Hunting With the Game Warden

by Wesley Fryer

Men Working…. Women Shopping

by Antony Pranata

Danger: Women Shopping

Shopping Gives My Pointless Life Meaning

by monkeydoc

Seat for Bored Husbands

Husband’s Resting Area

by Lizz Trudeau

Husband Parking Only

by vurple

You Can Bring Your Drinks, Pets … and Husband

by one/million

Licensed Husband Creche

by jbimages

They say that “a good name is to be more desired than great wealth” and many people believe that a name determines your character and success in life.

In business a good name is crucial: this is what people will remember and this is what make them go to the place again.

However, some business owners choose so strange names that you can’t but wonder “What were they thinking?”

Baby Dump

What? Dumping babies? Is that some wicked new service or something?

MacStore what?

It probably is meant to be “The MAC Store” but reads nothing else but “WTF MAC Store”…

Stolen

Well, at least they are honest:

Hand Job…

I think it is pretty clear what they were thinking about:

Sissy Boy

An embarrassing place to shop?

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Diarrhea

Anyone has any idea what the name (and the image) are meant to represent?

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Fartown

To make things worse, that’s a DIY fartown…

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Arse

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LadBROKES

It’s a betting shop actually, how ironic: you’d definitively won’t bet in there unless you won’t to become one of those “brokes”

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Happy Crack

Oh what a combination: it’s happy and it’s crack!

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Today’s consumer is smarter than ever before. With the mercurial nature of this economy, everyone is on the lookout for the best deals around. Thankfully, there are several websites that make it easy to get a bargain. With these 9 website for bargain hunters, you can feel confident that you’re getting the best deal with just a few short minutes of shopping.

1. FatWallet—The website for savvy consumers, FatWallet.com helps you find all of the latest deals and coupons from thousands of different retailers. You can often find leaked ads for sales that haven’t even been published yet. This really comes in handy when you’re trying to prepare for grabbing up the best Black Friday deals before everyone else.
2. Woot—The concept of Woot is simple: One great deal each day. These deals are typically for electronics, but there are other Woot websites where you can find daily deals on wine, T-shirts, and other products.
3. Slickdeals—Slickdeals.net is a community-driven website that publishes all of the latest deals from hundreds of different retailers. From promo codes to price comparisons, the Slickdeals website has everything you need to save big bucks on your next purchase.
4. DealCatcher—The DealCatcher community is committed to helping you find the best deals so you can make well-informed purchases. With updates all throughout the day, you can find coupons, sales alerts, product reviews, and rebates at DealCatcher.com.
5. AntiRebate—If you’re like me, you hate the hassle of mail-in rebates. When you’re looking to get instant savings, check out AntiRebate.com. You’ll find coupons, instant rebates, deal alerts, and more all designed to help you find the best bargains without the hassle or problems that come with mail-in rebates. The website features a simple layout, and it’s easy to use.
6. Overstock—The leader and most well-recognized bargain website, Overstock.com offers great savings by selling brand-name products at discount products. The website is able to provide these great deals because they sell excess inventory from other retailers. It’s kind of like the online version of Ross, Marshalls, or TJ Maxx.
7. CurrentCodes—Many online retail websites offer the option of entering a discount code in the shopping cart during checkout. CurrentCodes.com is your one-stop shop for all the latest coupon codes from retailers such as Barnes & Noble, 1-800-FLOWERS, American Eagle, Staples, and more. Always check this website before making your purchase online.
8. Shnoop—Okay, so Shnoop is basically a Woot knockoff, but it still usually publishes a worthwhile deal each day. I recommend subscribing to the RSS feed so that you’re alerted of each day’s new deal as these offers are obviously time sensitive.
9. Dealitem—At Dealitem.com, new coupons and deals are added to the website each hour. Dealitem.com makes it easy to search for the best deals and to compare prices. You can also submit deals and coupon codes that you’ve come across.

Tips for success:

• Subscribe to the RSS feeds of these websites to get the latest alerts as many deals expire quickly
• If you know what you’re looking for, use the search feature and price comparison features to save time on finding the best deal
• Pay attention to the details of the deals as sometimes the products are refurbished

Are there any great deal-finding websites you would add to this list? Leave a comment with your favorites.