Coldwatercreek.com is one of my favorite go-to stores for clothing online. They have categories that make the shopping experience more convenient.  Like “best sellers”. Don’t you always want to know what everyone else is getting? My favorite search is under outlet, because it gives you the ability to search for items listed in your size.  Last thing you want in an outlet section is to find something you love, only to find out they don’t carry your size.

There is always a sale and there is always a coupon, so don’t you dare pay full price. You can find great clothes for work and play on this site. Once, I purchased a special occasion dress, and they sent me a letter with a $35 gift card, stating that the dress was not up to the quality that they wanted so they pulled it. Oh and here’s $35 for your inconvenience. How is THAT for customer service? And so I used that $35, with the $25 coupon, and got something else.

I purchased a similar shirt in black last fall.  It is so beautiful.  I love it so much.

This is an example of a complete outfit that Coldwater Creek has put together for you.

These leggings are currently on sale for $22.99.  Previously $60.  You can thank me later.

Don’t even get me started on their clearance sales.  I have a friend, Sally-Gally. Perhaps you have heard of her from her yummy recipes in the Consumer Cafe. If you ever go shopping with Sally-Gally, she has the ability to sense a rack with something great on sale, go right to it, and come back with a $200 item for $2. It is unbelievable. Her husband teases her that her name is misspelled and really should be Sale instead of Sally. I used to never have that kind of luck. Until once I was with Miss Sally-Gally at Coldwater Creek and she zeroed in on a gorgeous sweater for $9.99.  Since then I constantly go to the Coldwater Creek clearance section online and look.  Last summer I got two outfits and two separate tops for less than $75! I was so proud.  Sally would have been so proud!

They also have really cute purses, earrings, and some other stuff for the home.

I hope you are happy because while looking through the site today for my dear readers, I found some must-haves in the outlet section. I am totally telling my husband it was your fault.

Happy Shopping!

What will they think of next?

You can find these three lenses at photojojo.com for $49. You can buy them separately for $20-25, depending on which one you purchase. They claim to work with any camera phone, but only feature photos of the lenses with the iPhone.

They also carry this 8x telephoto lens with accompanying equipment for $35, and is specifically for iPhone 3 or 4.

Have you started relying more on your smart phone for photos instead of bringing your camera along? Listen, I’m ancient, as we all know. I’m from the day when you used to actually have to purchase film to go into the camera.  And, you won’t believe this, but it didn’t even have a zoom! In scanning my old photos recently I realize how important the zoom feature is now. Some shots of my son at school events, etc., you can barely make him out.  Anyway, back to the point. So even though cameras now are all so teeny tiny, and fit in a pocket, most of us just keep our handy smartphone around. The set of three shown above could easily go in your pocket, purse, etc., and would be really handy to have as an accessory to the iPhone.

There are multiple apps in the iTunes store for photo lenses also. In looking at the reviews, it appears they do not work very well, but at .99, it may be something you want to consider. Certainly more convenient to have it as an app than an attachment.

Did you know that you can actually zoom a photo you have saved on your iPhone and then save it as a screen shot? Okay, if you knew this remember not to tell me because I like to think I’m being helpful here. Oh, and when I shared this tidbit with my son he mocked me. He likes to do that. He should be called Mockyou instead of Matthew. That’s funny. I just made that up. I crack myself up. Okay, back to my tutorial. Open photo you have on your iPhone, and then hold the home button and the power on/off button and it will make a sound like a camera taking a photo and there you have it.

You may have heard that I am a finalist for “Most Valuable Blogger in Dallas/Fort Worth” under both the “lifestyle” and “everything else” categories. I want to take this opportunity to thank those of you who nominated me and those who have voted for my blog. In case you haven’t heard this from me too much, or if you are new to the blog or just passing through, you can vote once a day until September 9th. You don’t need to register or give out any personal information, just click the icon I have included on the right of this page.  See it? The thing that says “Vote for Me”.  It will take you right to voting for The Average Consumer. Once you have voted, if you are not pressed for time, you can also click on the “everything else” tab on the top of the Most Valuable Blogger page and vote for The Average Consumer under that category also, because I am a double nominee. You know, in case you haven’t heard. I sincerely appreciate your support and encouragement. It truly is enough just to be nominated.

But you know, just in case I have a shot of winning, go vote. Please. I have my acceptance speech all ready.  You know, just in case. . .

I love the crock pot.  Best invention ever.  I especially love stuff i can just toss in and leave for the day and then come home to a home cooked dinner.  You know, kind of like having a wife.  It doesn’t get easier than this recipe.  And I have it cooking right now as I type!

Crock Pot Mexican Chicken

• 8 thin sliced chicken breasts, (or 4 regular size.  I love buying the thin sliced, you know, because I’m so thin)
• 1 can black beans
• 1 can rotel
• 1 10 ounce bag of frozen corn (you can use a can of corn, but I prefer frozen)
• 1 8 oz. package of 1/3 less fat cream cheese