The large downturn in real estate is leaving a record number of homes on the market ... Some frustrated sellers are getting creative, using sites like onlinehousetrading.com to connect with other sellers who might agree to "swap" -- or buy one another's property.
While the idea of trading houses temporarily for vacations has long existed, permanent house swapping is a new trend ... and www.onlinehousetrading.com is one of six such launched sites. The sites do not complete the transactions, they simply play matchmaker, similar to the role of an online dating site by aggregating a large number of properties & analyzing their "swap criteria."
Finding the right match is one thing, but finalizing the transaction can be a bit complicated ... OnlineHouseTrading recommends both clients agree to use one title company & recognize the deal's not done "until everyone signs off."
I've known Lindsay Martin for as long as can remember & have had privilege of eating some of her food this year .... Am thrilled to see she is opening a bakery in lovely Dorset VT. What a wonderful accomplishment. If you're ever there, am sure it's worth a stop ... I certainly plan on making one;)
You know cellphones have risen to new level when Madonna debuts a track form her new album as an exclusive advance. Switched.com has full story re: Madonna pre-releasing via cellphones. Leave it to Madonna to pave the way ...
As discussed on radio this week, if you've ever been around Disney stars & their handlers, you know they run a tight ship. So, THIS must be a calculated decision to let Miley be Miley along with her best friend Mandy Jiroux as she transitions from having a 7-9 year old following to maintaining & building pre-teen & teen fans.
The antics are pure 15-year-old. According to People Magazine, Miley does the editing. In other words, it's pretty much what every other teen girl you may know is doing -- except the beds they're jumping on are at the Four Seasons and the snacks they're pigging out on are on a private plane vs back of the station wagon. Otherwise, same, same.
Will say this ... Miley probably has 18 months tops before hanging out in bed with your girlfriend is going to have a whole different connotation & be the kind of viral video that cultivates the wrong kind of fan base. I hope she & everyone who works with her gets this & doesn't learn the hard way.
See what you think. As with the Hannah Montana concert, you may want to adjust the volume DOWN ...
Get Your Viewers Up-To-Date on This Month's Hot Topics: The March Madness Craze, Celebrating St. Patty's Day in Eco-Friendly Style, Making the Most of what's in Your Fridge without Spending a Cent, and Spring Break Insider Travel Tips
Regina Lewis, AOL Consumer Advisor, is available for satellite interviews on Wednesday, March 5th and Friday, March 7th, 2008 from 6am-1pm ET
The Online Buzz is an up-to-the-second report of the freshest online trends and activity. What topics dominate chat rooms right now? Whose hits are spiking or sinking on the online search charts? What is the hottest viral video? Fronted by Regina Lewis, Online Buzz keeps your viewers ahead of the curve on the best of the Web every month in a smart, upbeat segment.
Reginais available the first Wednesday and Friday morning of every month via satellite or tape from Dulles, Virginia. The Online Buzz currently airs in major markets including Atlanta, Detroit, Denverand Charlotteas well as on CNN Headline News.
Reginacan customize your segment to cover topics dominating your market, in a personal and localized fashion. Custom tags and introductions are available by request.This month's topics options include:
·Manage March Madness. It's one the year's most anticipated online events and Regina offers up online bracket tips, the scoop on watching the games online and helps you balance work with your March Madness cravings.
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Five Easy Waysto Go Green:With St. Patrick's Day just around the corner, Reginachecks in with the greenest folks around, the editors at GreenDaily, for tips on going online to green up your life.
·Get Ready for Spring Break. Easter is early this year- March 23- so Spring Break is just around the corner. For those traveling, Reginahas tips on getting through security fast, last-minute vacation planning and the most popular destinations. And, if your teenager is a Spring Breaker... Webcams so you can watch. How they work and why you might want to be careful what you wish for!
·Make the Most of What's in Your Fridge:Short on time at the end of the day? Reginatells you how to make the most of what's in your fridge or pantry to save serious time and money.
·Viral Video- See what everyone is watching this month!The cyberspace video we can't seem to get enough of. You won't believe the story behind the clip!
Regina Lewis, AOL Consumer Advisor, national TV contributor, tech-trend expert, knows the tips, tricks, secrets and shortcuts for making technology work.She is as an expert commentator for a wide range of national network and cable programs, including The Today Show, The View, Fox & Friends and weekly segments on CNN Headline News. The mother of three, she's been honored on Capitol Hill for her work in championing online kids safety.
To Schedule an Interview Please Contact
Alyssa Sullivan at212.599.1797
Interviews made possible by AOL.ReginaLewis is a national television contributor appearing regularly on network and cable news programs.Find out more about Reginaat www.reginalewis.com
You hear so much about PAC money & lobbyists. This site (www.opensecrets.org) has a giant database and breaks it all down into graphs & pie charts indicating where the money is coming from. From House & Senate Leadership to the Presidential candidates, it's all here in a round-up similar to something you might have for your own personal finances. They even grade the level of disclosure. Clinton & McCain seem to be piling up some serious debt.
This is not my mailbox. Mine is black, twice as big & always full. It's a big production for us to get the mail.
So, I went to the Direct Marketing Association (DMA) website and opted-out of a lot of mail. At least that's what I think happened. They're in the direct marketing biz, so this has to kill them. They even try to talk you out of it before you confirm your decison online by explaining you're going to miss 80% of all commercial offers & the environmental benefits of shopping from home vs driving to the mall. That one is bit of a stretch, but guess if we all shop ONLINE at home, we'll save trees AND gas. To verify your authenticity, they ask to charge your credit card $1. Here's hoping the kids can soon bring in the mail iwith one trip down the driveway ... Related: Cancel Catalogs.
I've been meaning to do this for months now ... Call & ask certain retailers to stop sending me catalogs. With full appreciation of their business model (I was -- admittedly -- a very good customer for a very long time), it's time to stop the printing press, especially since our area recycling doesn't accept glossy catalogs along with traditional newspaper print. All the more reason, using this site in on my TO DO list today. \Maybe add it to yours ...
Am all about more buttoned up personal finance these days. You too? It's the #1 story request am getting, so will be covering a lot upcoming, including on TODAY SHOW. Have noticed there's tons of related advertising & PSAs from the impressive Ad Council. This particular site/campaign caught my eye ... How could it not with a name like Feed the Pig?
There's some clever & revealing calculators re: how much you'll save if you bring your lunch to work. If you spend $6.50 a day (my daily soup & salad rings in even higher) vs bringing your lunch (estimated at approx $3.00), you'd save a whopping $3,793 over 4 years assuming a 6% expected rate of return.
Somehow, he just seems so comfortable in his own skin & you can't help but feel "in" (the ultimate goal of a host) on the "conversation" .. Danny is fun to watch. My vote: Bob Pittman up next .....
My dad has a great line about shopping -- "If you don't go to the store, you don't know what you don't have." Excellent point & it got me thinking, "What if there was only ONE store?" Perhaps this would be it ... The Vermont Country Store -- Purveyors of the Practical & Hard to Find."
After all, have everyday staples really improved that much over time? With the exception of electronics (as I type with iPhone at side), am thinking of going retro in 2008.
I recently ordered a few things from this site/catalog & enjoyed thumbing through the pages. Recognize any of these blasts from the past?
My dream is to own a stationery/flower shop ... In meantime, must live vicariously & this site helps .... In my mind, they're a supplier. If you can make it to one of their stores, it's worth a trip. If you can't, here's the site & telephone # to request a catalog, so you too can dream ... XO
Am taking kids to Hannah Montana concert tonight .... Apparently, parking can be tricky. So, my significant other & mobile guru, suggested reserving a spot in advance. Was piece of cake on www.parking.inticketing.com
They even have something deemed "Parking Made Easy As 1-2-3" The 30 Second Process: 1. Call (800-PARK-123) from your mobile phone. 2. Provide your final destination. 3. Our Operators direct you to the closest available parking space.
We'll see how it goes tonight. So far, am really impressed by the site's quick & efficient checkout process, link to driving directions & printable order confirmation. Will report back on my parking skills ... ;)
. In meantime, here's hoping this trick might be useful if you need to reserve a spot for something in your area.
Everything featured on www.etsy.com is homemade -- from handknit blankets to handpainted furniture & handcrafted jewelry. E-v-e-r-y-t-h-i-n-g. Warms my heart. High-tech meets hand-crafted.
Am going for good karma this holiday season & hope to do some holiday shopping on this truly unique site. They even have a "Geolocator" so you can search for & support local artists. If you're giving a gift, it might be especially thoughtful to pick something from the recipient's area.
Some of the headbands are amazing, though am partial to my friend Mary's ...
And, how cool is this wood block magnetic frame? I just need a cabin to put it in ...
Here's the link & some background pulled from their press area.
What is Etsy?
Etsy is an online marketplace for buying and selling all things handmade. We built it for those consumers conscious of the true value of handmade goods and their creators, as well as to give all independent artists the technology and information they need to make a living, making things. Our intention is to offer viable alternatives to mass-produced objects in the world marketplace, and to encourage consumers to be aware of the social and environmental implications of their purchases.
The connection between producer and consumer has been lost. We created Etsy to help them reconnect, and swing the pendulum back to a time when we bought our bread from the baker, food from the grocer, and shoes from the cobbler.
Our vision is to build a new economy and present a better choice: Buy, Sell, and Live Handmade.
We're talking with stations throughout the country today & the segment we recorded with RACHAEL RAY airs today .... Thanks to everyone from www.etsy.com for all your kind letters. It was a privilege to cover your site & all the talented artists featured. Continuing with our promise to salute & help with your respective causes & business ventures. Here are three people we'd love to see hit it out of the park ....
For starters, my friend Mary Lewis has partnered with a friend in making reversible headbands called "Ribbands" which look like ribbons, but are worn like a headband. See: tandme.com
She was kind enough to send me & my daughter tons of samples and even ask my daughter to model (thoughtful on multiple levels). They are truly terrific & well priced. Here is the site, some photos we took with our samples around the house & my personal favorite -- Bella ....
My best friend from college, Marion, is married to a fabulous guy named Jeff Wells. They live with their newly adopted daughter in the most precious cabin in Colorado. It is picture-book material. The kids & I visited last year on way to Vail. Hope to make trip again soon. In the meantime, Jeff has published a book with extremely clever title & cover. WHAT A GREAT GIFT IDEA FOR THE PET LOVER IN YOUR FAMILY. Marion's mother, June, did the illustrations: All My Patients Have Tales.
My daughter participated in a People to People Ambassador program this summer. She went to Alaska & had the time of her life. In advance of the trip, there were tons of parent/child orientation meetings. Long ones.
There was one couple who really lit up the room. They seemed incredibly happy, engaged & stylish. I don't hand out stylish comments readily, but they seemed to have it effortlessly (which -- of course -- is even harder). Turns out, she can help me & maybe you with this. Should add, they were also extremely kind to my teary eyed daughter when we said "good bye" at the airport. By the time the kids returned, she had seen me on TV & discovered this website.
We soon plan to meet for coffee to discuss her business:
Her name is Hillary Tattersall (hatattersall@adelphia.com). Haven't seen her home, but am sure it's amazing. Her site is in the works. Trust me, is worth waiting for & she's worth calling if you have personal shopping needs for your wardrobe or home decor, and/or special gift needs (men, this is you;) ....
WHAT IS YOUR STORY OR SITE YOU'D LIKE TO SEE AS SITE OF THE DAY????? POST COMMENT OR EMAIL US AT REGINALEWIS@AOL.COM LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING FROM MORE OF YOU ....
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