GIFTS THAT GIVE

Victoria’s Secret Introduces the “Gorgeous” Collection for Valentine’s Day

Victoria's Secret Angels Celebrate Valentine's Day with Lots of Love. (PRNewsFoto/Victoria's Secret)

NEW YORK, Feb. 9, 2012 /PRNewswire/ — Just in time for Valentine’s Day, Victoria’s Secret launches the Gorgeous collection, now in Lace. The collection features a limited-edition push-up bra that adds 2 cup sizes as well as demi and unlined styles. All bras are available in beautiful lace, playful prints and classic colors such as pink, red, nude, white and black all sure to create endless ways to get attention. Also new for Valentine’s Day is the limited-edition fragrance, Bombshell in Love, a mix of pink grapefruit, luscious peony and sensual sandalwood. Offered in an eau de parfum, body lotion and mist, Bombshell in Love adds a dash of romance to an unforgettable night.

The 2012 Valentine’s Day collection is available for purchase at www.VictoriasSecret.com/ValentinesDay, in the Catalogue and at Victoria’s Secret stores nationwide. In addition to the new bra and fragrance collections, Victoria’s Secret has more ways to share the love this Valentine’s Day. Fans can create their own e-Cards at www.VictoriasSecret.com/ValentinesDay as well as share their “Kiss & Tell” story at the Victoria’s Secret Facebook Page.

Below are the links to two must-see Victoria’s Secret Valentine’s Day 2012 videos. These viral videos feature Supermodels Adriana Lima, Candice Swanepoel, Lindsay Ellingson, Erin Heatherton, Doutzen Kroes and Lily Aldridge dishing about their first kiss and all things love.

LINK OF THE VIDEOS: “Love Defined” and “Angel’s First Kiss” Videos

Love Defined
Love Defined -

Angel’s First Kiss

First Kiss -

New Friendgift Product Allows Consumers to Shop with Their Friends’ Money

FriendPay Enables User’s Friends to Collectively Chip-In toward Desired Product Purchases From Top Brands and Receive Rewards for Doing So

LOS ANGELES, Oct. 25, 2011 /PRNewswire/ — Abandoned shopping carts aren’t just a problem for supermarkets — online retailers find that approximately 60% of website shopping carts are abandoned because consumers who add products to their shopping carts cannot afford to complete the purchase. Social rewards innovator Friendgift aims to change this with a new product, FriendPay, which enables consumers’ friends to collectively chip-in toward the cost of a buyer’s chosen products while reaping rewards for themselves in the form of special discounts toward purchases of millions of products, vacation opportunities and exciting live entertainment events.

“It’s a classic win-win situation,” said Rob Carpenter, Friendgift CEO. “FriendPay gives shoppers the opportunity to obtain the consumer products they really want but either can’t afford or can’t make a top spending priority — hot items like the iPad 2 and Amazon Kindle Fire, the latest Android smartphones and Canon digital cameras, and other electronics, video games, movies and designer clothing and accessories. By alerting their friends to their chosen products through Facebook, Twitter or e-mail, these shoppers can collect multiple contributions from their friends, and the friends who contribute get instant rewards for the awesome products and activities they themselves want. It’s a social media version of ‘pay it forward’ that solves a major dilemma for both the consumer and the merchant.”

The new FriendPay product is the latest in a series of innovations and signals a return to the company’s social reward roots. With FriendPay, consumers can shop directly for more than 10.5 million products from their favorite brands at Friendgift.com. In addition, shoppers can also set up FriendPay as a portable, personal gift registry, enabling them to acquire the items they truly want for birthdays, holidays or any other occasion rather than receiving unwanted gifts from friends and family who are guessing at their preferences.

With the private beta launch of the new FriendPay service, Friendgift is offering free shipping on almost all purchases as well as a discount of up to $50 to early adopters in return for trying FriendPay. The company also plans to expand the FriendPay service, partnering with national retailers to offer FriendPay capabilities on merchant websites so consumers can enjoy even more purchasing options.

“FriendPay could completely transform the way people shop for themselves and their friends,” said Carpenter. “It provides advantages to everyone involved in the purchasing process: Buyers get contributions to purchase the items they really want. Friends who make contributions get instant rewards for helping out. And merchants get fewer abandoned shopping carts.”

To learn more about Friendgift, visit Friendgift.com.

Top Tech to Help Mom This Back to School 2011

Sep 23, 2011 08:00 ET

Brett Larson looks at technology to keep mom fit and organized

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla., Sept. 23, 2011 /PRNewswire/ — With Back to School in full swing for the kids, the early mornings, new schedules and lots of after school activities will have mom looking for ways that help her make the grade this year!

Brett Larson, Technology and Trends Expert and host of “Killer Apps”, offers advice on what technology mom will need by visiting the set of nationally syndicated “Better” TV series September 23, 2011. To check local listings or to view the segment online, visit www.better.tv.

Our top ideas for mom this Back to School 2011 are:
The SanDisk Sansa® Clip Zip™ MP3 player is perfect for active music fans looking for a feature-rich, affordable and easy-to-use way to enjoy music on the go. The sub-$50 player includes a large color screen, a memory card slot for extra storage, a stopwatch, an FM radio and other features. www.sandisk.com

TiVo Premiere is the world’s first Smart DVR, giving families access to all their favorite cable TV shows plus virtually endless web entertainment from big brands like Netflix, Pandora, Hulu Plus, BLOCKBUSTER, Amazon Instant Video and more. And all these choices are served up on a single, easy-to-use menu. www.tivo.com

The Keurig® Platinum Brewing System brews the perfect cup of Keurig Brewed® beverages including coffee, tea, and other specialty varieties in under one minute at the touch of a button. This brewer features a backlit LCD display that allows you to program water temperature, Auto On/Off and five brew sizes. www.keurig.com

Eye-Fi automatically organizes your photos & videos into date-based folders on your computer. Wirelessly transfer photos & videos to your computer right from your digital camera. No cables required. Get the Eye-Fi Connect X2 SDHC memory card. http://www.eye.fi

Shutterfly – Classroom Share Sites are free, safe and secure, password-protected personalized websites that make it easy for parents to stay engaged with classroom activities. Classroom Share Sites give parents and teachers a central place to connect with tools like a shared class calendar, contact list, pictures, and videos. www.shutterfly.com/connected

To find more information about these featured products, visit “Killer Apps” at www.killerapps.tv

Kindle Books Now Available at over 11,000 Local Libraries

Kindle the only e-reader to deliver library books wirelessly; read on any Kindle or free Kindle app
Amazon’s Whispersync technology automatically stores and synchronizes bookmarks, margin notes and highlights – all available the next time you check out or buy the book

SEATTLE, Sep 21, 2011 (BUSINESS WIRE) –

(NASDAQ: AMZN)-Amazon.com today announced that Kindle and Kindle app customers can now borrow Kindle books from more than 11,000 local libraries in the United States. When a customer borrows a Kindle library book, they’ll have all of the unique features they love about Kindle books, including Whispersync, which automatically synchronizes their margin notes, highlights and bookmarks, real page numbers, Facebook and Twitter integration, and more. For more information about borrowing library books for your Kindle or free Kindle apps, go to www.amazon.com/kindle/publiclibraries. To start checking out Kindle library books, visit your local library’s website.

“Starting today, millions of Kindle customers can borrow Kindle books from their local libraries,” said Jay Marine, Director, Amazon Kindle. “Libraries are a critical part of our communities and we’re excited to be making Kindle books available at more than 11,000 local libraries around the country. We’re even doing a little extra here – normally, making margin notes in library books is a big no-no. But we’re fixing this by extending our Whispersync technology to library books, so your notes, highlights and bookmarks are always backed up and available the next time you check out the book or if you decide to buy the book.”

Customers will use their local library’s website to search for and select a book to borrow. Once they choose a book, customers can choose to “Send to Kindle” and will be redirected to Amazon.com to login to their Amazon.com account and the book will be delivered to the device they select via Wi-Fi, or can be transferred via USB. Customers can check out a Kindle book from their local library and start reading on any generation Kindle device or free Kindle app for Android, iPad, iPod touch, iPhone, PC, Mac, BlackBerry or Windows Phone, as well as in their web browser with Kindle Cloud Reader.

“This is a welcome day for Kindle users in libraries everywhere and especially our Kindle users here at The Seattle Public Library,” said Marcellus Turner, city librarian for The Seattle Public Library. “We’re thrilled that Amazon is offering such a new approach to library ebooks that enhances the reader experience.”

When borrowing a Kindle book from their local library, customers can take advantage of all of the unique features of Kindle books, including:

Whispersync technology wirelessly sync your books, notes, highlights, and last page read across Kindle and free Kindle reading apps
Real Page Numbers let you easily reference passages with page numbers that correspond to actual print editions
Facebook and Twitter integration makes it easy to share favorite passages with your social networks
Popular Highlights show you what our community of millions of Kindle readers think are the most interesting passages in your books
Public Notes allow you to share your notes and see what others are saying about Kindle books

To start checking out Kindle library books, visit your local library’s website.

Give the Gift of Money Education

This pink pig is an infant toy that exposes babies to counting, colors, animals and sizes through the friendly role play of a piggy bank theme. In the Learning Mode, baby can drop one of the 10 colorful coins into the generous slot on the top to hear musical rewards as the Piggy Bank counts for each coin dropped. Press the “nose” for friendly sounds and a song about counting, colors, and big and small. In the Music Mode, each coin drop will play one of five short ditties. Press the “nose” for fun sounds and an additional song. In either mode, baby can open the clear door for music as the coins tumble out and the tail spins for additional play. Requires 3 “AAA” batteries (included).

[amazon-product image="41HQS21MHTL._SL160_.jpg" tracking_id="the390com02-20" type="image"]B000A88KOA[/amazon-product]

The classic game of Payday makes family finance fun as it reminds everyone just where the money goes. Players take turns along the game board, which is designed as a 31-day calendar. You could make a big profit or lose your shirt on a bad investment and have to take out a loan to pay the bills as they pile up. Don’t worry, you might win the lottery or hit the jackpot and pick up money. At the end of every month, you get paid. Play as many months as you like, pay off all your bills and figure out how much money you’ve got left. Whoever has the most money is the winner. Includes game board, four plastic tokens, one die, 64 deal and mall cards, savings and loan pad, paper money. For 2-4 players.

[amazon-product image="51yZRy5KeYL._SL160_.jpg" tracking_id="the390com02-20" type="image"]B00083HIJK[/amazon-product]

Life Practice makes perfect in the game of Life. Try marriage, kids, and more. Will you go to college and take out student loans? Or join the working force and collect on payday? Will you go bankrupt, or earn millions in stock and real estate? Anything’s possible with a spin of the Life wheel! A classic family game that can be a reality check–or just a fun time. –Margaret Quinn

[amazon-product image="517DZSX32EL._SL160_.jpg" tracking_id="the390com02-20" type="image"]B00000IWD7[/amazon-product]

Monopoly The Monopoly Electronic Banking Edition game combines the best of classic Monopoly with updated electronic transactions. As with the original version, players still operate with money, learn real-world economics, competition and strategy, try to stay out of jail, and try their best to get filthy rich. But this version has been updated to reflect changes in how the real world uses money: All transactions are conducted with Monopoly’s new banking card system. Anyone from age 8 and up will enjoy this updated version of one of the world’s most famous games.

[amazon-product image="51S0Mi9TKbL._SL160_.jpg" tracking_id="the390com02-20" type="image"]B000OOLNTY[/amazon-product]

Give A Stock

Buy a stock from a  company that pays a dividend and reinvests that dividend through a dividend investment program or DRIPS as they are called. One suchcompany  is Direct Investing (directinvesting.com). They publish a guide called the Moneypapers.  The principle is easy, buy stocks in solid companies that pay a dividend and the dividend is automatically reinvested in more stocks. The Economic Times recently reported that investors prefer “to steer clear of brokers” during these financially troubled times. It seems more investors are investing  directly into companies. The article goes on to say that more than 1300 companies allow shareholders to buy stocks directly from the company, thus avoiding broker fees. These companies include  Johnson & Johnson and Coca-cola McDonalds and Microsoft. There can be a downside to drips though, as some shares can take longer to liquidate and you must do your own research. Direct Investing charges $50  to join but $25 of that is for a subscprition to The Moneypapers.  You can even download a free special report entitled the 15 best Dividend paying stocks.

Stumped for Holiday Gift Ideas? Give the Gift of Giving with GlobalGiving

GlobalGiving offers a meaningful alternative to conspicuous consumption

WASHINGTON, DC (December, 11 2006) — Crowds, lines, retailers bombarding us with messages about all the things we simply can’t live without. Ah, the holidays! How about refreshing, thoughtful (even thought-provoking) world-changing gifts that you can buy as easily as ordering a book online? GlobalGiving, the leading online marketplace of high-impact, grassroots projects around the world, offers gift options that will satisfy just about anyone on your list – even the people who have everything.

Launched last month, GlobalGiving Gift Certificates allow gift givers to appeal to the hearts, minds, and passions of their friends and loved ones. The giver simply selects a dollar amount to give, and the recipient can use the Gift Certificate to donate to any of the 400+ community-based social good projects in 70 countries around the globe. Whether someone cares about girls education in Afghanistan, clean water in Ethiopia, or sustainable farming in Latin America – GlobalGiving Gift Certificates make perfect, personal, gifts

GlobalGiving Gift Cards allow the giver to choose any project on GlobalGiving and donate to that project in honor of someone else. For example, for someone who is passionate about health in Africa, you can make a donation to a project that will pay for mosquito netting, sparing a family in Mali from malaria. For the price of a DVD or the latest iPod, anyone can give a thoughtful, gift that will literally change lives around the world.

Both GlobalGiving Gift Certificates and Gift Cards are ideal for businesses or others who want to give meaningful gifts to employees, customers, and clients. For example, this year advertising giant Leo Burnett is including GlobalGiving Gift Certificates in the gift baskets it sends to top clients and others are giving them to employees as end-of-year gifts. Purchases of Gift Certificates and Gift Cards, like any other charitable contribution, are deductible in the U.S. for tax purposes.

Launched in 2002 by two former World Bank executives, GlobalGiving is a new, more efficient way to give, helping potential donors navigate the complicated world of charitable giving. GlobalGiving’s Web site, www.globalgiving.org, enables people to discover hundreds of worthy causes, give to ones they choose, and see how their money has been put to work and the results that have been achieved all from.

GlobalGiving has established itself as the trusted choice of thousands of donors, many corporate and organizational partners, and key funders. Since 2003, over $4 million has been directed to more than 700 projects, improving the lives of an estimated half a million people in more than 60 countries.

About GlobalGiving

GlobalGiving is an online marketplace for global philanthropy that enables individuals, corporations, and other organizations to find and direct their funds to high impact, grassroots projects around the world. By aggregating many donors, GlobalGiving is creating a new source of funding for people with innovative solutions to challenging world issues. GlobalGiving receives a nominal 15% fee — one of the lowest in philanthropy — to cover the cost of building a global marketplace, finding and researching credible projects, attracting donors, and building our website.

Corporate partners include eBay, Hewlett-Packard, Yahoo, Gap, Inc., and The North Face, among others. Major funding partners include Omidyar Network, the Hewlett Foundation, the Skoll Foundation, USAID, and the Sall Family Foundation. Additional funding has been provided by the WK Kellogg Foundation, the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation, and HP.the convenience of their computer.

GlobalGiving.com – 100% Tax Deductible, 100% Biodegradable, 100% Guilt Free Spending. Donate Today

GIFTS THAT GIVE