The shop-aholic

For those of you who don't feel that gift cards have what it takes to be the ultimate gift, there is another online tool that you can use to get your shopping done locally. Don't forget about Local.com you can find great places for gifts. Have an idea? You can plug key words in to the local search bar and it will come up with local places to shop. By using some online tools when making your shopping rounds, you can save time, and energy which are usually in short supply this time of year. When you need a break from shopping you can also find local restaurants. It is your source for the local yellowpages!

I miss my thrift store

Finding a local thrift store is easy. Finding one that has a constant supply of vintage fabric, sheets, and pillowcases is not easy. I do miss my favorite Salvation Army from back in Homewood, IL. Every time, usually once a week, I went there they had a new selection of vintage drapery, vintage pillowcases, the perfect makings of a reusable bag. I am using the Internet to do a local search for thrift stores in my local area Shalimar, but so far, they don't hold much promise for my "go to" store. The ones that I have visited are too neat, or too expensive, or don't have the salvageable fabric that I am looking for. Local yellowpages can be a good lead but until you set foot in the store you don't know if it is going to be the one! Local antique shops are another group I will look at so there are about 40 stores that I need to check out. That will keep me busy for now. Unless of course anyone out there knows of any near by shops that would be worth looking into!

A night at the Theater

The other night we went down to the local college and watched their production of Disney's Beauty and the Beast. The performance was put on by Fine & Performing Arts Division of Northwest Florida State College. I had never seen the movie so I thoroughly enjoyed the play. The actress that played the leading character Belle did a fantastic job. Her voice in both her speaking lines, and songs carried through the auditorium. The Beast was also well done. He was so gruff I was certain that he was not going to come around, but as you all know how the story ends, he played his part wonderfully!
The crowd at the play was a mix of adult and children. There were a few girls dressed in there yellow Belle gowns, it was a sight to see!
The Mattie Kelly Arts Center has a full schedule of events for the up coming season. Thanks to our neighbor for giving us the schedule we will now be able to take full advantage of this venue!

Finding my Way

I have been researching my new town of Shalimar, Fl. Once we get down there I can explore the area on my bike, but for now I have to rely on the internet. Since pizza is a necessity when moving, I have been searching for local restaurants, so I know where I can order it from once we are down there. Pizza is one way to bribe people into helping you too. If the pizza is out of this world, the more likely you are to get your friends to help! A local search of Shalimar, Fl brought up so many different things. I found some great thrift stores (which I will frequent) and my favorite section of the Local Favorites. This is very helpful, and the reviews provided by real people are great. This will let me know in advance whether or not a place is worth trying!

Setting up a move and working with businesses that are over 1000 miles away is difficult. It is important to have a local yellowpages available. The internet is great for that it is easy to look up all the local businesses that I will need, and set up services before I arrive. I am not sure what people did before the internet. I for one rely heavily on it for so many things.

Local is Best

I recently had someone purchase from my shop because it was local! I am very excited that more and more people are shopping local. There are many blog entries that talk about the benefits of shopping in your community. It is better for the environment and supporting local businesses is a good way to boost the economy. When you use Local.com you can find places nearby that you could even walk to, saving you more gas, which means you save money. If you like to search for places on the internet before you get in the car, a good place to start is Local.com. You can type in your location and they provide you with the local weather (so you know what you are going to go out in) and with local shops from restaurants to businesses.
This page is like a one stop shop, they also have classifieds, and if you have a local business you can list it for FREE on there site. That is one thing I will take advantage of, it is a great way to get your name out in your local area. Since it is similar to your local yellow pages, just easier to use, you might just find something new in your own town. Searching for local restaurants is what I like best. From big city to small town your search results will come up with plenty of places to try. For me searching local is a great way to beat the winter doldrums, I love looking for a great small business that is just waiting to be discovered! Try local, it is eco-friendly!