Sprenzy Shopping Blog

It’s December 22nd and next day shipping isn’t an option anymore. If you still have holiday shopping to finish, you have two choices: 1) brave the real world, hit the streets/traffic and actually go to a crazy brick and mortar store or 2) procrastinate a little longer, relax with your favorite beverage and buy an online gift certificate.

If you chose option 2, here are a few suggested stores where you can send a gift certificate via email.

• Amazon.com - get anything from books, electronics, household items and groceries. No matter who the recipient is, he or she will find something on Amazon.com.

• REI - for the outdoor enthusiast: cycling, camping, hiking, climbing, skiing, boarding, if it ends with an “ing” and you can do it outside, you’ll find the right gear here. REI has great customer service and return policy if you aren’t satisfied with a product.

• iTunes - for the music aficionado. I love my iPods and iTunes software but I’m not a fan of DRM music and the low bit-rate you get when purchasing music from iTunes. Nevertheless, you procrastinated and this is an easy way to give music to iPod owners.

• Netflix - introduce movie buffs to renting DVDs through the mail and the movie queue concept.

• Zappos - perfect for the shoe fanatic. Zappos offers free shipping/returns and 365 days to return an item. Order 10 shoes of different styles or sizes, try them on at home and return the ones you don’t want with no hassle. This site is dangerous for the shoe obsessed.

• Charitable Donation - if you can’t decide on a gift or know someone who has everything, then make a charitable donation in their name. Check out Charity Navigator to help you decide on an appropriate charity organization.

Let me know if you have any other good last minute gift ideas. And Happy shopping to all of you still looking for gifts!

Chantal Cookware Corp. recently released a line of LIVESTRONG tableware. LIVESTRONG is a trademark of the Lance Armstrong Foundation (LAF) which “inspires and empowers people with cancer.” From the Chantal website…

“Having survived cancer for more than 18 years, Chantal’s Founder & CEO Heida Thurlow believes in living strong every day. Because of her belief in the education for battling and coping with cancer, Chantal Corporation has partnered with the Lance Armstrong Foundation. We are proud and honored to be the only housewares manufacturer to offer this opportunity. We have designed an exclusive line of ceramic items featuring the LIVESTRONG logo. A portion of every sale goes directly to the Lance Armstrong Foundation.”

10 percent of sales of Chantal LIVESTRONG products goes to LAF, except for the teakettle (only 5 percent). Yellow is not one of my favorite colors but the tableware looks really nice and will help a great foundation. I think the tableware could be great gifts for friends and co-workers during the holiday season. The Chantal product line includes:

• Loop Teakettle
• Teapot
• Tea Mug with Infuser
• Coffee and Latte Mugs
• Extra Large Plate
• Snack Bowls and Snack Plates (not offered by our merchants yet)

According to the American Cancer Society (ACS), in 2006 “about 564,830 Americans are expected to die of cancer, more than 1,500 people a day. Cancer is the second most common cause of death in the US, exceeded only by heart disease. In the US, cancer accounts for 1 of every 4 deaths.” These statistics are very grim but the good news is “of adults diagnosed with cancer today, 64% will be alive five years from now” up from 50% in the 1970s. This is partly due to the work of non-profits like LAF and ACS.

I’ve been wearing a LIVESTRONG bracelet every day for over two years. Sometimes I forget I have it on but the cancer stats from ACS are a quick reminder of why I still wear the bracelet. It’s a scary thought that “one in three people will be diagnosed with cancer during their lifetime.” My extended family has been impacted by a cancer death and I’m sure your family has been too.

If yellow tableware isn’t your thing or doesn’t match your decor, you can help fight the battle against cancer by donating to LAF. And if you are not a Lance Armstrong fan, then donate to the American Cancer Society.