Orient Automatic Watches

Top of the line watches in a relatively affordable price bracket is hard to find. If you are looking for that one gift that will get an oh and ah out of your favorite person on your list, then check out the Orient Watch Company. You can find everything from Elegant watches to Diver watches. Just check out this Mako watch CEM65004M. Gorgeous watch.

Widely cherished in Asia, Europe, and South America, Japan’s largest producer of automatic watches

is finally available in the United States.

With more than 50 years of history and an annual production of over 2 million timepieces, Orient could quite possibly be the largest watch company you never knew existed.

With beautiful watches to choose from for both men and women, and with the added benefit of a 1 year warranty on your watch, you can shop through for an Orient and be happy with your decision. There are only certain places you can purchase an Orient brand watch and be sure that you are getting the real thing. You can find a list of all the stores that sell Orient automatic watches on the site.

One of the most classic watch styles on the site is the CEV09002W-Orient Classic.Price points on the Orient Automatic Watches are form $130 to well over $1,000. Orient has been highlighted in The New York Times, Men's Fitness, People, and more, and guess what...

Paul McCartney and Wings: Band on the Run

Oh yes the legend is back. With Christmas right around the corner, we are looking for that perfect gift for our dads. I know mine would love love love this new re-release of the original Band on the Run. Featuring

1.  Band on the Run                                                                     

2.  Jet                                                                               

3.  Bluebird                                                                      

4.  Mrs Vandebilt                                                              

5.  Let Me Roll It                                                               

6.  Mamunia                                                                      

7.  No Words                                                                    

8.  Picasso’s Last Words (Drink to Me)                                          

9.  Nineteen Hundred and Eighty Five        

And Bonus Tracks:

1. Helen Wheels

2. Country Dreamer

3. Bluebird [from One Hand Clapping]

4. Jet [from One Hand Clapping]

5. Let Me Roll It [from One Hand Clapping]

6. Band on the Run [from One Hand Clapping]

7. Nineteen Hundred and Eighty Five [from One Hand Clapping]

8. Country Dreamer [from One Hand Clapping]

9. Zoo Gang 

All the songs digitally re-mastered and brought to the best that they could possibly be. I am not a huge Paul McCartney fan, but even I can't help signing along with Band on the Run. LOL Seeing the kids faces as I am bebopping around the living room to the Band on the Run CD was priceless. 

 

The musical achievement of Band on the Run is nearly matched by the amazing story behind its creation. Intrigued with recording abroad in the summer of 1973, McCartney searched for a list of studios around the world.  Spotting one in the remote location of Lagos, Nigeria, he became enthralled with the idea of recording in Africa. Days before departure, lead guitarist Henry McCullough and drummer Denny Seiwell quit the band leaving the entire project to the three core members, Paul, his wife Linda McCartney and band-member Denny Laine (along with recording engineer Geoff Emerick). Recorded in August and September of 1973 (with further work done at AIR Studios in London in October 1973), they persevered through a tumultuous, yet creatively invigorating 2 month recording process battling difficult studio conditions, oppressive heat and a dangerous mugging at knife point. The thieves made off with the demo tapes (among other valuables), forcing the band to record the entire album from memory. 

Band on the Run triumphed both critically and commercially.  The album topped the US album chart 3 separate times, won a Grammy and went on to sell more than 7 million copies.  Upon the release of Band on the Run, then Rolling Stone reviewer Jon Landau famously gushed, “The finest record yet released by any of the four musicians who were once called The Beatles.” 

Paul is currently playing five songs from the album on his ‘Up and Coming Tour’.  Live favorites over the last 8 years of touring have included “Jet”, “Band on the Run” and “Let Me Roll It”.  In 2008 when Paul played a free outdoor show to over 500,000 people in Kiev, a Ukrainian poll listed “Mrs Vandebilt” as their all time favorite Paul McCartney song. It’s been included in the set ever since.  At the start of this tour Paul added “Nineteen Hundred and Eighty Five” to the set. 

Band on the Run marks the first release from the Paul McCartney Archive Collection, an ambitious reissue program that encompasses 40 years of cherished, classic material from the most successful songwriter and recording artist in music history. It’s also the initial physical release of the recently announced agreement between McCartney’s MPL and Concord Music Group to globally market and distribute McCartney’s venerated solo and Wings catalog.

Band on the Run can be purchased for as little as $8.99 (digital only) up to $89.99 (Deluxe Edition with 4 discs and digital).

Affordable Scarves

You know before I moved to the North, I always thought scarves were pretty, but we didn't have a use for them in Florida. It never really got cold enough to warrant scarves. But since moving up here, I have indulged in my new found love of scarves. Well, I wouldn't say new found. When we lived in Alaska, I had like 25 scarves. LOL Now I only have like 6. But I am still finding new ones. It helps, maybe Donnie wouldn't agree, to have a site like Affordable Scarves to be able to find really pretty, useful scarves on.

One great thing about a scarf is that you can really show your personality with a great scarf. If you are wild at heart, take a peek at their animal print scarves. If you are a gardener, or shopping for one, then try the floral scarves. Me personally, I love the infinity scarves!

With rock bottom prices on amazingly sturdy products, you will be a repeat customer again and again. Kinda like me. There are a couple that I am eyeballing to wrap from Santa to myself. I did receive a gorgeous scarf to review from Affordable Scarves. It is a really long wrap style scarf called the Lyn Floral Wrap. I received it in black. The girls are trying to steal it from me constantly. The reason I choose a wrap instead of a regular scarf was because I wanted something that I could sit at the computer at, and be comfy and warm at the same time. It is so pretty that I have even worn it outside of the house. LOL It has a cute ruffled edge, and a barely noticeable rose pattern on it. The fabric is so soft that you will want to stay curled up in it. When I was sick last weekend, I did just that. I was running a fever so I wrapped up in my wrap, and then curled up in bed with more covers. The cost for this gorgeous wrap is only $42.46. If that is more than you want to spend, don't worry! Products at Affordable Scarves start at less than $20!

I can't close this without mentioning the Scarves.net site that is associated with Affordable Scarves. It is a site dedicated to showing you all the different ways to tie a scarf! So if you are a newbie or want to learn a new trick or two, then be sure to check out Scarves.net. You can follow Affordable Scarves on Twitter, or Like on Facebook, to keep up with sales, new styles, and contests for you to win. And for even more fun, check out the Affordable Scarves blog!

disclosure: I have a material connection because I received a gift or sample of a product for consideration in preparing to write this content. I was/am not expected to return this item or gift after my review period.

Eden Fantasy's

If you are more on the adventurous side or want to just surprise your significant other with a really special gift, then you might want to check out Eden Fantasy's. They offer a wide range of products for the more intimate side of life. They offer everything from romantic mood setting items to sex toys.

If you are looking for something to wrap yourself up in, then check out their selection of negligee's. Maybe you are looking for something that has the promise of a deep tissue massage, then check out their selection of oils and massage creams.

Eden Fantasy's is a great alternative to the normal Christmas gifts, and is a great way to show the person you are spending your nights with that you still find them attractive. And if you have a more adventurous friend on your list, then grab a gift card. This is not the gift for everyone, but there are a few who would see the fun in a gift card from Eden Fantasy's.

Playmobil Advent Calendar

The PLAYMOBIL Advent Calendar is an innovative and inexpensive way to build excitement during the 24 days leading up to Christmas, and allows children ages four and up to continue playing with their new playsets long after the holiday season comes to an end (each day reveals a new toy and by Christmas the child has a complete playset).

New for 2010 are PLAYMOBIL Advent Calendars with Pony Ranch and Dragon’s Land themes. With a total of five different play worlds in all, each advent calendar is as unique as the imagination of the child who plays with it.  Please click on the following link to see all of the 2010 themes: http://bit.ly/dbv7iP

Advent Calendars from PLAYMOBIL retail for $18.99 and are available at specialty retailers nationwide.  

We were sent one of the Playmobil Advent Calendars to review, and I was really happy with the surprise package on my doorstep. I had seriously wanted to do an advent calendar this year, and this is a great way to introduce the kidlets to one.  Unlike the traditional advent calendar, where you get a piece of candy or a little trinket from the opened window, you get a little Playmobil piece to go with the city scape. The one we were sent was the Advent Calendar "Police". Each spot contains a little person, pieces for the person, pieces for the city (like a toilet!), and when you have all your pieces are out, you can open up the cityscape and play! I foresee a lot of fun opening this advent calendar during the holidays.

Gourmet Gift Baskets

If you are looking for a gift for a teacher, a neighbor, a friend, well, anyone, then one of the best things to get is a gift basket. You can get one that is sure to please even the pickiest person! One of the places I know of that has really great gift baskets is Gourmet Gift Baskets. They offer a wide selection of baskets for every occasion. And Christmas is no exception. Holiday gift baskets vary in taste, size, and price. You can go all out with an Executive Suite Christmas Gift Basket that costs $249, or you can go smaller with a Mini Christmas Gift Basket for $29. Either way you will receive quality products perfect for the situation needed.

Not only does Gourmet Gift Baskets offer Holiday baskets for Thanksgiving and Christmas, but they have the perfect basket for that new mom, graduation, Easter, or even just because. If your intended recipient isn't a chocolate lover, then you can go with a fruit and nut basket, or maybe a wine and cheese, or how bout a Around the World Beer Bucket.

Gourmet Gift Baskets has sales often on different baskets and you can keep up with all the happenings by following them on Facebook or Twitter. You can also keep up with them through the Blog Basket.

SodaStream

If you have a soda lover in your house, and you are tired of paying the prices to purchase all their favorite flavors, how about making it at home. Only want your kiddos to have soda on special occasions or as a special treat, make it at home. That's right. Make your own favorite flavors of soda at home. Thanks to SodaStream you can do just that.

SodaStream offers you a convenient alternative to purchasing the soda from the grocery store. Thanks to their small easy to store fountains, all you need extra is the flavor mixes and the carbonator bottle. Really simple to make. You just twist the CO2 canister onto the fountain, add water to the bottle, attach the bottle to the machine and then add your carbon. Then just add your flavors. We have been using a SodaStream Fountain Jet for a year now, and have just run out of carbonation in our bottle. Time for a refill. And that part is easy as well. You order your new CO2 canister and return the old one. Easy peasy.

At SodaStream you will find a variety of flavors for your sodas. From Grapefruit to Diet, Energy to flavored water. They have all your bases covered. Including the diet flavors. Our kids loved the Orange and the Root Beer flavors the best, and I personally think that the Diet tasted pretty darn close to the name brand ones I buy from the grocery store. Prices start at $99.95 for a Fountain Jet, which is your basic model and perfectly fine, and goes up to $299.95 for the Penguin Value Kit, which is really cool looking!

Not only are saving a bundle but you can feel good about being a little eco-conscience as well. You won't be throwing out those pesky plastic bottles or aluminum cans. You simply re-use the bottles you get with the Soda Stream. You can also purchase extra bottles for $14.99.

You can make all your SodaStream purchases directly from their website. Connect with SodaStream on Twitter and Facebook to keep up with the latest news. You can also check out their YouTube channel.

Okabashi

If you have someone you know that really loves comfy easy to slide on shoes, then you will want to add Okabashi to your Christmas Shopping List! Okabashi is a company that makes 100% recyclable shoes. They offer spa quality sandals as well as great clogs. They also have a boutique brand for those who want an eco-friendly shoe with style written all over it.

I was sent a pair of the Okabashi clogs to review, and instantly fell in love. I have had the shoes for about two weeks now and I can honestly say that I wear them EVERY. SINGLE. DAY. Whether it is just around the house or running quick errands, these shoes stay right out in the living room. The only problem I have had with them is I tried to wear socks with them, but they were to tight on my feet for me with socks.

The Okabashi shoe line is endorsed by the American Chiropractic Association, and why you may ask. Well, because insole of every sandal is carefully crafted with arch support and massage beads. The placement is based on the study of reflexology, to encourage better circulation to the foot and vital organs. Your feet will thank you for wearing these shoes. I know mine do.

And unlike the other well known brand of clogs out there, these shoes won't cost you an arm and a leg. Okabashi costs just $14.99 and up! Yep, AHH-some! The Okabashi clogs would be a perfect gift for a nurse you know and love, a gardener that plants you beautiful flowers, or even for someone you know that just loves comfy shoes. They have men's as well as children's sizes available as well. Be sure to check out the sizing guide to make sure you order the right size for you.

You can connect with Okabashi via Facebook to keep up with sales, contests, and news concerning the brand.

Unique gifts from Novica

Yes I am totally aware of the fact that awesomeness is probably not a word. But you know what, when there isn't a word that will work, you make one up! I am thrilled to be still talking about the sponsors I was fortunate to have for Blogmania. One of the big sponsors was Novica. They gave away a $100 gift certificate in the Enjoy and Indulge prize pack.

When I was approached about working with Novica on a promotion I had never heard of them. Have you? Well, now I am really glad I know about them. Novica is partnered up with National Geographic, and they work hard to give artisans from around the world a spot where they can get their art seen and sold. You will find everything from home goods to jewelry at Novica.

When it comes to decorating your home with one of a kind beautiful pieces, you will find it on the home decor side of Novica. You will also be pleasantly surprised to know that you will not have to break the bank to get a beautiful piece. Paintings, bowls, and even decorative dolls are found on the site. Prices start under $50 and do go up. You can find that one accent or find a splurge item to make a statement. I am telling you, Novica has it all! Talk about Christmas gift smorgasboard!

Not only does Novica offer some gorgeous home decor accessories but they also have some absolutely stunning jewelry! You can find everything from bridal jewelry to mens jewelry. All made by some pretty extraordinary artists. The jewelry offers you a wide price point to work with. From well under $50 to well over $100.

Novica offers you so many reasons to like them. I don't know if you recall, but last year I wrote a post about ways to lend money to help others. I talked about Microloans. Well Novica is involved with offering artists loans to help them get their passion out there and seen. It is a great way to give back and know EXACTLY who and where your money is going.

When it comes time to shop for some of your favorite people (or even just people you want to impress) be sure to check out Novica. Anyone lucky enough to receive a gift from Novica will be thinking that you are one generous individual and that you have exceptional taste. Of course shopping through Novica does make you both of those! LOL