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.

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

Credit: BigStockPhoto.com

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

Credit: BigStockPhoto.com

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?

One of the best things we now have due to the Internet is the ease with which we can research anything, including any shopping-related questions.

There is no reason to ask all your friends and relatives for advice: all you need is sit in front of your computer and find if your question has been asked already (or, if not, ask it yourself and get plenty of replies from real people and experts).

This is why Q&A sites are so popular: they connect you to people who know how to solve your problem.

This post looks at 15 Q&A sites that answer shopping- and saving-related questions:

1. AnswerBag/ Shopping

• Shopping thesaurus terms and definitions
• Shopping images;
• Shopping blogs by members;
• Shopping Tweets;

2. Wiki Answers/ Shopping

• Wiki style (each question and answer can be edited and discussed)
• Each contributor has a popularity and trust score

3. Yahoo Answer/ Shopping

• See top Answerers in Yahoo! Shopping
• See open or resolved questions;

4. Askville/ Shopping: created by Amazon, Askville has a very strong shopping focus and unites very knowledgeable shoppers. Generally you’ll find the site very similar to Yahoo! Answers.

5. Fluther / shopping

• A huge variety of shopping related tags to browse: food, deals, price, gifts, etc;
• Fluther learns the type of questions you like to answer as you use the site and directs more relevant queries your way.

6. Grupthink/ Shopping

• “Open-ended topics”: answers form lists, e.g. Weird names of products
• Thumbnail photos and comments on each answer

7. Dizzay/ Finance

• A forum-like interface;
• The site has a few useful features but is generally stuffed with ads (and sometimes spam)

8. CashMoneyCommons

• A money-saving community;
• Every question and answer can be voted up or down

9. Guruza / Shopping

• Rather basic and limited in features
• Allows experts to earn money by asking the questions/

10. FunAdvice / shopping

• Shopping related photos;
• Shopping groups.

11. Fixya: a tech related shopping community discussing gadgets and computer hardware:

• Each member can have expertise in certain products and/or brands;
• You can ask a general question or a direct question to the expert that best fits your needs.

12. Ask.MetaFilter/ Shopping: a very basic and simply implemented q&a site (much like forum) with very useful and detailed advice given.

13. MothersClick / Fashion and Beauty

• Community by and for moms;
• Very detailed and useful answers for any question

14. Mamapedia / money

• Community by and for moms;
• Interesting discussions on a variety of money-related topics: budgeting, kids and money, saving, etc

15. IMshopping

• Earn money by answering shopping questions;
• See related products;
• Vote answers up and down:

Okay boys. Your girlfriend or wife just asked you to hit the mall with her for the afternoon. Maybe panic strikes (or should we call that feeling dread?). Maybe your instinct is to tell her to forget it. Maybe you feel tempted to get on her case about spending money so she won’t want you with her all day. But hold on. It doesn’t have to be all bad.

Sure, men and women often shop differently. You guys might know what you want, go into a store, and pick up the first one you see — wham, bam, in, out, done! Your gal, on the other hand, might like to meander around the store (or a whole lot of stores), looking for great deals or that perfect pair of jeans that fits just right (which you probably appreciate, so cut her some slack). Shopping differently doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy shopping together.

The next time your significant other asks you to go shopping with her, don’t let images of being saddled with her bags get you down. It’s really all in how you look at it. Here’s why you should give it another thought, how you can get something out of it, and some tips on handling the sometimes-terrifying issue of what she really means when she asks “does this make me look fat?”

What’s in it For You? – Strike a Deal

I honestly can’t blame men for not wanting to shop with a woman sometimes. After all, there’s probably not much in it for them (and let’s face it, when you have time off you’d like to enjoy it). Here are few things you could ask your gal the next time she asks you to go shopping, to make it more palatable:

1. Can we stop at [insert your favorite store here]? Think about things that you might want or need, and let her know you’d like the trip to be about both of you and not just her. It’s only fair. Even better, if you need to make some kind of purchase as a couple (like furniture), bring that up. She’ll get her shopping fix, and you can feel like you’re accomplishing something that you had to do anyway (even if you only look around). Either she’ll agree or she’ll opt to go alone.
2. Okay. But how about we stop for lunch at [insert a restaurant here] after? Make sure it’s your choice. If she’s choosing how you’ll both spend your time shopping, then she should be willing to stop for lunch (or dinner) at one of your favorite restaurants, even if it’s not one she particularly likes. Here’s the deal: you’ll shop with her (without complaining about it), and then she’ll go to lunch with you (without complaining about that either). Everyone gets something they want, and you agree to keep the tension to a minimum.
3. If I go shopping with you, will you do [insert activity here] with me? Let’s be clear here. When I say “activity,” that isn’t without limits. Keep it fair and relevant, and don’t get into the “you owe me” mentality. For example, maybe you want to go out and see a horror flick. Or perhaps you want to catch a ballgame next weekend, and you’d like her to go and do something you enjoy. Make it a trade. Then, even if you don’t love shopping with her, you’ll get something out of the effort — the next day out together doing what you want. And if she says “no,” then you’re perfectly justified in doing the same.

Surviving Woman-Speak: What She Really Means When She Says…

It’s easy enough to find ways to make shopping with your partner work for you with a bit of bartering. But how do you survive the shopping trip itself? Women aren’t always easy to put up with — I’ll be the first to admit that. We don’t always say exactly what we mean, because we assume you’ll understand us (or it matters to us that you understand us so we just expect it — hey, men have their quirks too). To help you safely navigate the conversational front, here’s what your gal might really mean (and want to hear) when she says:

1. Does this make me look fat? Uh oh. She dragged you to the fitting rooms. You’ve been sitting patiently in the “man chair.” She comes out in an outfit she tried on, and asks the dreaded question. It comes in various incarnations, from “Does this make me look fat?” to “Do you like it?” How should you respond? First, understand what she’s really saying.This question could mean a couple of things. For example, she might just be fishing for a compliment. Should you give it to her? Maybe. It might be her way of saying you really don’t compliment her enough. Do it from time to time. It makes her feel good (and if you keep her happy, she’ll keep you happy). On the other hand, you also shouldn’t feel like you have to throw compliments her way constantly, especially if you don’t really mean them. In that case, don’t.

   That question could mean something else entirely though. It could simply mean she liked the outfit, but maybe didn’t like it as much on her. She really just wants another opinion.

   Answering this question is easy. If you love the outfit on her, tell her so. Better yet, tell her why you think she looks great in it. If she’s fishing for a compliment, she’ll get it. If she just wants your opinion, she’ll get that too. Even if you don’t like the outfit on her, it doesn’t have to turn into an issue. Just put it in perspective. Put a positive spin on things. For example, if she showed you other options first, say something like “I really liked that cute black number better.” Again, she’ll get a compliment (you liked her in the other outfit), or she’ll have the opinion she wants. If it’s the first outfit she’s showing you, it gets a bit trickier. But even then you have an easy way out. Just tell her that you’d like to see a few of the others so you have something to compare it to. That’s fair, and she knows you’re not just ignoring her.

2. Honey, can you carry my bags for me?While I understand that men might sometimes feel like pack mules when shopping with a woman, you shouldn’t. If anything, you should feel flattered! When your girlfriend or wife asks you to carry things for her, what she’s really saying is that she’s grateful to have a “big, strong man” by her side.Look. We rarely need you to carry our bags for us. We’d be getting along just fine and dandy carrying them ourselves if we were out on a shopping trip with the girls. (Don’t say that unless you’re looking for a fight though!).

   Also look at it this way. Women can be stubborn. You might only have two (non argument-inducing) options: 1. Help her carry her bags, or 2. Make constant trips back to the car to drop things off (meaning a longer trip overall). So take the compliment and make her happy. Is it really so difficult to do? In most cases, probably not. Yet those little things will go a long way towards keeping her happy. It will make her appreciate having you around, and that’s a good thing. Consider this a “Yes dear,” moment.

3. I’ll be quick. I only need one thing. Okay. This is a lie. A flat out dirty little lie. But we don’t mean it. Honest! The truth is that we’re lying to ourselves when we say things like this as much as fibbing to anyone else. We really do only want one thing. But then we see other things. And other things. And more!
   

   Women are natural hunters when it comes to shopping. We like to compare things. We like to find deals. And sometimes we really don’t know we want or need something until we see it (with an attractive price tag attached). Don’t like it? Well, then remember that when your birthday comes and she’s spent hours picking out the perfect gift or finding a good deal so she could get you exactly what you wanted.

   When you hear this line, just quietly nod your head and smile. Then brace yourself. If you know going into the store that you won’t be out in a minute or two, you’ll get less agitated (and when you get agitated, it’s going to upset her, which is going to upset you more, and then you risk a screaming match followed by the silent treatment on the way home). Know that one thing doesn’t mean “see it, grab it, go,” like it might mean for you. “One thing” means she’ll see a few options, compare them, and browse along the way. And don’t blame your woman. At one point I worked in retail marketing, and let me tell you something. Stores are designed to make her do that. Retailers (from malls to grocery stores) are setup in a way to make her pass infinite other items to get to what she probably wants most (it’s why the staples like milk and bread are often towards the back of grocery stores — to make you walk through aisles of other “unnecessary” things in order to tempt you).

   If she really only wants one thing, and if it’s not something she’d need to try on or absolutely pick herself, be a gentleman (and save your sanity). Offer to run in and get it for her while she sits outside and takes a load off. Who knows? It might work.

The next time your gal asks you to go shopping with her, don’t be too quick to brush her off. She wants to spend time with you. You can get something out of it by going (getting her to do something you want to do next time or getting her to leave you alone while you watch the game later). You can take care of your own errands while you’re out (kill two birds with one stone so you don’t have to go back out another time). And you’ll keep her happy (without having to worry about being romantic or coming up with some great idea of your own). In the end, it doesn’t have to be that bad. You may even make it out alive.

The big day is fast approaching, the day every young girl dreams of and looks forward to. Along with the excitement of all those dreams taking fruition, the feeling of being the most special girl in the world and wanting to look the best is common to every bride-to-be. Every girl wants to look special on her wedding day and the first thing they imagine is that of looking breathtaking in a beautiful and gorgeous wedding dress.

A wedding dress is the highlight of the special day and will be forever remembered, captured in the photographs and video as well as etched in the memory.

There are so many different kinds of bridal dresses in the market as there are brides. Most girls tend to get bogged down by the whole thing and eventually end up wearing a dress they are not completely satisfied with.

Everything can be just as dreamed with a little planning. The first thing is to have an idea of what it is that one is looking for in a wedding dress; whether it is going to be a full length dress or a simple looking teal pantsuit. What sort of a wedding is it going to be? If it is going to be a traditional wedding, then a mental note of the type of traditional dress must to be made. The idea is not to get confused with the maze of wedding gowns in the shops. More than anything else, the budget has to be decided too.

Ordering a gown at least six months in advance is the best way to go about it, which means, shopping for the wedding dress should begin a few months before that. For people that do not have that much time, they just have to go ahead and get a dress they like, within their budget.

The idea is not only to look great but feel comfortable too, which is very crucial. The mistake most often made is that brides try to fit into a gown just because it looks great. But get realistic; it is your wedding day! The bride should feel good and comfortable, otherwise it becomes difficult posing for all the pictures, laughing, dancing and generally enjoying the moment, when there is something hurting the ribs, the nagging fear of some knot giving way or the fear of tripping and falling.

Weddings nowadays come in all shapes and sizes and a wedding dress must be one that fits into the surroundings. For example, if it is going to be a beach wedding, then a shorter dress would be more appropriate. Other choices, such as dresses with removable straps or sleeves could also be looked at.

No single wedding dress looks good on all brides. Each person has a different body structure and it is important for brides to know what sort of styles go well with their body and make them look good, and decide on one along those lines.

A good tailor, based on the budget, should be booked much in advance along with the fitting schedules and time for adjustments. If there is money to throw around, opt for designers, who will ask for several fittings to ensure the wedding dress is a perfect fit.

Do not be under the false notion that an expensive wedding dress is the best. People on a low budget do not have to splurge and can get a beautiful gown within their budget. There are several bridesmaids’ dresses in both white and off-white that are usually much cheaper and pass off perfectly as a bride’s wedding gown.

EBay, sample sales and thrift stores have thousands of dresses that one can select from and these are priced reasonably too. Alternatively, collecting pictures of exotic wedding dresses from magazines and showing them to the tailor also helps is a good bet. Clearance sales are other good places to hunt for bargains on wedding dresses, as the designers clear their old dresses for unbelievably low prices before getting the latest designs. For people living in a metropolitan area or close to one, the shopping experience can be great as designer clothing is sold for extremely low prices.

It helps to include the family and close friends in the search for a wedding dress and it is also possible that one of the cousins or friends would still have their wedding gown and they may even offer it.

Enjoy your wedding dress shopping and wear whatever makes you feel like a princess and you are comfortable in. This happens once in a lifetime, take full advantage of it and pamper yourself.

Mystery shopping is a dream job for many. The benefits are easy to see – you get paid to shop and most of your purchases are free. The downfalls, however, are a bit harder to find in the clever dialog on websites urging you to sign-up. In truth, mystery shopping is a great gig if you can get your foot in the door. But even then, it’s a better hobby than career.

Mystery Shopping

A mystery shopper is an individual paid to visit a store and who must answer a very detailed questionnaire about her experience. She doesn’t get to share her actual opinions very often, however. Instead she answers pages of questions such as “How long did it take before you were greeted?” The shopper is often compensated for a small purchase so that she can experience the full shopping spectrum of the establishment.

The mystery shoppers we envy are those that are invited to partake in resorts, cruises and airline travel so that they can analyze the experience. Even the shoppers invited to spend time in fine restaurants and who are allowed to buy trinkets in designer stores are worthy of envy from those eager to begin their own mystery shopping career. Unfortunately, like professional sports or acting, only a few get the glory – the rest have to find part-time jobs to support the habit.

The Truth of Mystery Shopping

In truth, mystery shopping is a great opportunity for those who have the right connections and experience to land the big jobs. Granted, you have to spend years and have more than a bit of luck to find those connections and gain the right kind of experience. There are thousands, if not millions, vying for mystery shopping opportunities, so the likelihood of being asked to fly to Barbados to report back on your resort stay is slim to none.

That’s not to say you never will have your chance to experience Las Vegas for free and be compensated for your time and travel. You simply must work your way up the ladder and do more than a little independent marketing and public relations to get to any job beyond reporting serving times of the local fast food restaurant.

Making it as a Mystery Shopper

If you sign up with a company as a prospective mystery shopper, you have some likelihood of being offered a job down the road. The first gig or two might make you the equivalent of minimum wage for the hour you invest. And while some people simply get lucky, the rest of the mystery shopping community waits endlessly for their big break only to find themselves doing the same sort of odd jobs once a month or so.

If you want to truly find success as a mystery shopper, you must gain valuable experience and get to know major industry players. Contact local businesses in your area and offer to shop their establishments for free just to gain experience. As you get to know the owners and, of course, do an excellent job of reporting, your experience will grow and so will your references. Eventually, you will become a major player in your own right. However, to reach that level of success, you must invest as much time and energy as you would starting any business.