For as long as I can remember, my Nana always had a candy bowl. It was our first stop:) Fond memories. So, when came across this site, couldn't help but order Nana some personalized m&ms.

They're two shades of pinks. One side reads: Nana Candy. The other side: XOXO

She -- deservedly -- now has her own candy line:) Hope she is pleasantly surprised when they arrive ....

If you feel like a wine novice, look no further than The Epicentre complete with wine tasting lessons & culinary tips. It's less fattening than the real thing & might help impress someone at your next soiree.

www.theepicentre.com/Entertaining/tastewin.html

Am a BIG fan of Ziploc bags -- Get the freezer strength & use them to store makeup (that's a lot of bags). Fell in love with the gallon size & the super XXL for storage of things of all sizes. Now -- thanks to tip from reader of this site, am head-over-heels for chic decorated storage bags from Mobi.

And, look, just in time for Halloween:

Everyone gets a few good shots & only one person seems to ever do anything with them. Am making this up, but you get the idea ... We can all trade photos online, but it gets messy -- you have some from your sister; you've got your own; someone sent some you couldn't open; another person who had a camera at the event, never sent them .... All of this is why Mixbook is a refreshing approach. You can collaborate online with all of your friends and family to collectively create a comprehensive album. Someone should still take the lead (some things never change), but it's a great way to get to the finish line faster & making sure you're capturing "all the good ones."

I was with the most well-behaved dogs you'll ever meet this w-end. One is a white lab & the other is a chestnut brown golden retriever, in a deep chestnut you've never seen before. They are both gorgeous. I didn't exactly bond with them & am kind of bummed about it. It's my fault. They know when you're focused on them & when you're not. These dogs miss nothing. It's interesting, they don't have a lot "stuff," but they seem perfectly content. It amazes me the amount of "stuff" you can get for a dog. This catalog just arrived. inthecompanyofdogs.com

Am thinking I'm best suited for the Sculptural Breed Topiaries, though I'd probably forget to feed & water them:(

The kids are back at school & it's back to work post-Labor Day. Personally, am trying to be extra focused. A few work- & home-organization accessories inspires me. This site is a great find, combining form & function. Love almost everything on it. Now we'll see if I actually use it. Think the 8-days-a-week is particulary appropriate. Perhaps you can relate:)

Welcome to See Jane Work

8 Days-A-Week Pad - Agendas & Calendars - See Jane Work

PRODUCT DESCRIPTION as listed on site:

What do you do when 7 days in a week just isn't enough? Add another day of course.

The 8-Days-A-Week Pad gives you room for scheduling the stuff you have to do Monday through Sunday, and an extra column for scheduling the stuff that you'll get to Someday.

You fill in the dates each week, so this desk top planner is ready to start whenever you are.

Great for students, teachers and others whose schedules change daily, weekly, or sometimes hourly.

Worried about organizing and collecting money for the next birthday gift, soccer team outing or charity event? Chip-In.com can help make the task less awkward. This automated service collects money for group purchases so you don't have to. A clever start-up, it even takes care of reminders, processing and keeps a tally. And there are no fees -- yet -- , so you'll have 100% of the pooled funds to work with.

College-age students spend almost $28 billion a year on food, clothing and entertainment according to Alloy College Explorer, a college marketing research program run by Harris Interactive.

Purchase a student advantage card for $20.00. Cardholders save up to 50% OFF at more than 20,000 discount locations across the country including: Amtrak, Greyhound, Target and Linens & Things. Might be worth looking into if you fequently do -- or could -- use some of the participants ...


www.studentadvantage.com

Works as much like a yearbook as it does an online catalog of designer threads from the past 80 years. They have an amazing collection of vintage clothing, from designers including Gucci to Valentino. Check out the Great Gatsby inspired dresses from the 20's and 30's or the interesting numbers you might have worn in the 80's. Don't miss their collection of patterns, you could break out your vintage sewing machine & recreate some of these classic pieces.

This is my current favorite designer. Her stuff is everywhere at the moment, but still unique. First discovered at Bergdorf Goodman in NYC on 5th flr during one of my emergency need-to-get-something-before-store-closes-in-time-for-6 am-TV-appearance blitz night-before shopping sprees. Not ideal. Am working on better shopping strategy ... This site will help. Who is your favorite designer? Do tell.


www.toryburch.com

If you need a little last-minute or end-of-summer vacation (I do!), search for a flight that won't kill your budget. There are soooooooooo many travel sites, it can be difficult to determine which has the best prices. cFares is a neat option & kind of like the Costco or Sam's Club of travel. They purchase in bulk & pass the savings along to customers. So, next time you to head to your destination maybe you can afford two seats, one for you and the other for the 40 gallon jug of olive oil from Costco;)

Need a little help deciding which digital camera to buy before that end-of-the-summer vacation? Or maybe it's time to upgrade your old cell phone. If so, consider logging on to Switched.com. It's a new site tracking the latest buzz on today's high-tech gadgets, but with a "less filling, tastes great" kind of appeal. It's Consumer Reports meets InStyle Magazine. A refreshing combination. Switched cuts to the chase & doesn't include a lot of tech jargon which can leave consumers feeling a little lost. Be sure to check out features like: "Hype Check" and "Just Tell Me What to Get".

Don't know the difference between Chardonnay and Cabernet? Pay a visit to Wine Library TV and you could become quite the connoisseur. Wine enthusiast Gary Varynerchuk tackles the complex subject in his video blog-- in each episode he tastes and rates wines, taking time to explain the basics. Even if you're already into wine, there's a lot to learn from this guy.

We have all heard about people making a fortune on Ebay, but where do they get started? If you don't have the sales experience like a lot of these Ebay retailers, learn from the best at Found Value. They handle the whole transaction so that you can get familiar with virtual retailing. They also have information on how to become a good salesperson online including tips on what sells & great titles, descriptions and photographs.

www.foundvalue.com