Awhile back I was checking out products over at VistaPrint who sell everything from business cards to stamps, to letterheads and pens. I knew that you could get free business cards from them so I figured “hey - why not?” While I don’t exactly run a business or run around promoting my blog other than the pings from new posts, I like something free as much as the next person.

While the free version of business card designs are somewhat limited, there are a number of designs available for the premium cards. I just went with a funky and cute design since it was just to get an idea of what their products are like and I hadn’t planned on handing them out in the first place.

Fun Business Card

VistaPrint also was offering a few other free products which I took advantage of including a rubber stamp with my return address and a pen with my domain, tag line and email address on the side.

Wallflower paraphernalia

For those of you who haven’t ordered from VistaPrint before you are probably wondering what the catch is. There really isn’t one. You only pay for S&H and the products are yours for free! On the back side of the business cards it has a small VistaPrint advertisement which comes off if you upgrade to the reasonable priced premium business cards that come in a sleek glossy finish.

There are tons of products available for free, and if you run a business they’ve got your covered for brochures and fliers as well. VistaPrint even offers logo designing now which makes in a convenient one-stop shop for your advertising and marketing needs. Now that I’ve got all these free goodies I have only one question….does anybody want my card? LOL!

This past weekend was tax free weekend here in Oklahoma. They’ve had it before, but I’ve never taken advantage until recently. I went to exercise my knee by poking around the mall which of course was absolutely packed. While it took me a good couple of hours to get through both stories, I scored a couple of things for my wardrobe.

It’s still way too hot for the cardigan, but it’s a great staple piece for a girl like me. I imagine it will be super comfy with a pair of leggings and some flip flops or Chucks. It also looks super cute with jeans.

In other news which has yet to be confirmed, the elephants (upstairs neighbors) may have moved out! I was taking the garbage to the dumpster when I noticed all of their balcony furniture was gone. A few hours later I heard the usual noise moving in and out so I tiptoed outside sneaking behind bush to spy. The elephants both had cleaning utensils in their hands when they were heading out and down the stairs. Could it be?! Oh lord I hope so!

I can say that last night is the best I have slept all year and I think a smile was splattered across my face as I was nestled safely under my blankets. The elephants were nowhere to be heard and I pray to my lucky stars that they have moved out or were finally evicted.

While I have very short one day weekends, I try to make the most of it. If you would’ve told me earlier in the week that I would get tax free goodies and relief of the elephants I would’ve called your bluff. Let’s keep our fingers crossed that this isn’t some evil ploy to psyche me out with my hopes up. So how was your weekend?

Thank you to everybody who joined in my most recent raffle. I am pleased to announce that the winner of the Flickr Pro account is……..

Nicola!

Congratulations! Please let me know what the best email address is to send your prize to

Just a quick reminder to everyone that the Flickr Pro Account raffle deadline is today at 6 p.m. CST, so if you haven’t entered yet there is still time! I will announce the winner no later than Monday at 6 p.m. if not sooner

After almost not happening, I’m relieved to say my knee will soon be back to normal. I am scheduled for surgery on the 15th and will be kicking the injury goodbye.

I like to believe that something good always come from a bad situation, and this is one of those things. Since I don’t have any family here, my parents are going to be coming down for a few days to help me out! That means no worrying about how I’m going to get home from the surgical center afterwards, and the best support of all!

As crazy as things are already going to be will everything, my boy A is going to be passing through town at the same time! Even though I don’t like being knocked out for operations and such, I think it is a small price to pay for getting to see my family and A. I can’t think of a better post-op medicine than that!

Since I will be on crutches I won’t get to do things we would normally do, but I definitely see some serious eating in my future! That’s one of the best things about having company visit is you have an excuse to dine places you normally don’t allow yourself to go. My dad loves a good steak, and mom and I just like our food in general

It’s been ages since I’ve had any sort of surgery, and while I’m sure I will recover quickly I can’t seem to remember how I made time pass while I was healing. What about you? Do you have any rituals for when you are ill or laid up and working to get onto the road of recovery?

This is quite possibly the funniest cookie commercial I have ever seen.

Dear Tulsans of Oklahoma,

While I admire your intent to stay safe on the road, I must argue that your driving well below the speed limit causes just as many accidents as those fiercely speeding. There is a stretch of road that I as a working professional travel several times a day back and fourth to work, and each and every single time there are a handful of accident-causing drivers.

While out on your next leisurely drive along side the river, please be sure to observe the speed limit signs posted on Riverside between 71st and 91st. You will see that the roads are clearly marked with a 50 MPH sign coming from both directions. This means when traveling either direction, the speed limit isn’t 40 MPH, nor is it 45 MPH. The correct speed to truck along at is 50 MPH.

I thank you in advanced for being law abiding citizens and keeping the safety of others in mind in your travels. Abiding by this speed limit is certain to save several people from flipping you the bird and other obscene hand gestures.

In Service of the People,

Urban Wallflower

The heat has been miserable the past couple of weeks. Yesterday it was 102 in South Tulsa and my gawd was it wearing me down. The humidity is ridiculous! I shouldn’t complain. When I use to live in Phoenix, the desert temps were equally brutal, the dry heat made my skin so thirsty for moisture. At least the humidity keeps it baby soft

Things have been crazy around here as usual. Work always is a handful, and has been even more so these past few weeks. All I can say to the world is if you get a bill in the mail - pay it. How hard is that to understand? Seems everyone is looking for a a break much less something for free. Nothing is free in corporate America.

After several months without a single channel I finally gave in and got cable! I know, I know. You are probably wondering how on earth I ever survived without it. No America’s Next Top Model, American Idol, Survivor, etc. Truthfully, even when I do have cable I do not watch any of those shows. When it comes to reality tv I’m more of an Extreme Makeover: Home Edition kind of girl. I suppose it’s hard for me to get into any show that involves competition because I am the polar opposite of competitive.

I must confess - I have been watching a lot of Tori & Dean since going digital. Ever since the early 90210 days I was a Tori Spelling fan, and I suppose old habits die hard. I also have high hopes for the new 90210 premiering in the autumn. Can you believe Jennie Garth, Shannen Doherty AND Tori are all going to be back?! I can just smell the drama! Don’t forget it’s on tonight at 9 CST!

Being true Tori devotee, I of course read her book when it came out as well. I am honestly looking forward to her second book though I’m not certain when it will be coming out. Tori & Dean forever!

You know what the best part about giving in to getting cable was? It’s not the 200 + channels, nor the DVR (though I really missed that!). It’s the fact that I can turn up the tv loud enough to block out the voices and stomping around of the elephants above me. Cheers to blocking out the loudest neighbors known to man! Now if they would just move out!

In closing I would like to mention that the raffle is still going to win a Flickr Pro account. The deadline is August 2nd, so you still have a few more days to enter! What better excuse is there to whip out your camera and start shooting?

Recently I started participating in ProBlogger’s Social Media Love-In experiment. The idea is basically to introduce new contacts through the different social networking sites we all use. I didn’t list all of my profiles, but a few none the less.

While it’s only been in the works a few days I can say that it is proving to be a success. I have met some lovely people and my buddies on both Plurk and Twitter have grown significantly. I haven’t had as much time as I would like to check out everybody’s profiles, but I will get through it as time allows.

If this is your first visit here please feel free to sign up for the raffle. The winner will receive a Flickr Pro Account or a year long extension to an existing one. Come on it’s free and fun!

So what about you? Do you participate in any blog type experiments? Which ones? What do you feel you gain from doing so?

I’m a heavy user of Amazon. I love that I can order nearly any book, new or used, and that my choices never seem to run out. I also sell books on Amazon that I have finished to pass on to the next curious mind. Only once have I ever had an issue with a seller, and Amazon happily stepped in and issued me a refund.

For a book junkie like me, it really is a reader’s paradise. In a matter of about four days I managed to clear of twelve spaces on my full bookshelf in Amazon sales. These are books that would’ve otherwise collected dust having been retired from my leisure.

While I am smack in the middle of this circle of life-like cycle, I see it from both sides. I know what it’s like to be a shopper ever so pleased with finding a book the bookstore did not have, as well as a book seller who gets excited every time an empty slot on the bookshelf becomes available.

One feature that I find invaluable about these types of sites is the feedback from others. You aren’t going to bid on something on you see on say, Ebay, if the seller of your desired item has a large amount of negative feedback. The same things goes for Amazon.

I recently received my latest book purchase in the mail from an Amazon seller offering my book of choice. The first thing I did upon opening the package and inspecting the book was leave that seller feedback. I think those testaments from customers are really what can make or break the sale.

What I find unsettling however is the lack of people who seem to do this. I know it can be a pain to get those emails saying “rate your recent purchase”, but really it’s maybe a few minutes if that, out of your time to do so. If I’m happy with my purchase I absolutely want the seller to know. It’s my way of saying “thanks for the great read”. The same can be said for the opposite end of the spectrum. If my book arrived in horrible shape and reeked of mothballs, I’d want everyone to know it. It’s how we say “do not do business with this seller”.

So maybe next time your long awaited package arrives from a marketplace whether it be Ebay, Amazon or another, maybe you can help out your fellow shoppers and sellers by taking a few minutes to leave that feedback. It’s easy and painless, and it could mean the difference between finding your next treasure or having a run in with scam artist.