2008-10-06T23:30:10Z tag:voices.washingtonpost.com,2008:/shoptoit/348 Copyright (c) 2008, WashingtonPost.Newsweek Interactive 2008-10-06T23:30:10Z tag:washingtonpost.com,2008-10-07:/shoptoit2008/10/shopping_for_campaign_gear.html

Revealing your presidential pick used to be as taboo as disclosing your salary. My grandmother died at 93 having kept her choice in presidents a deep dark secret. Not these days. Now we have bobbleheads, bumper stickers and baseball caps screaming our choice for president. You can even get a pair of thong underwear with your preferred candidate's logo printed on the front. There are plenty of places to buy this type of gear. Here...Please click on the title to continue reading this entry.

Tania Anderson 2008-10-03T00:06:33Z tag:washingtonpost.com,2008-10-02:/shoptoit2008/10/10_things_you_didnt_know_about.html

Ever wish you knew more about your favorite stores? Like when are their biggest sales and where do they get such great items? Those pressing questions will be answered in this blog in a regular feature called 10 Things You Didn't Know About (insert your favorite store here). E-mail me at shoptoit@washingtonpost.com if you want to know some insider knowledge about your favorite store. I'm calling the stores directly and getting answers you can't find...Please click on the title to continue reading this entry.

Tania Anderson 2008-09-30T01:17:28Z tag:washingtonpost.com,2008-09-30:/shoptoit2008/09/buying_native_cheaper_and_gree.html

I stood out in the rain on Saturday looking at plants. No, I haven't completely lost my marbles. I was drawn to one of the native plant sales that crop up every fall around my neighborhood. It was worth a little bit of wetness to catch some of the deals on native plants in Parkfairfax and Green Spring Gardens, both in Alexandria. Native plants, which are grown in the community, have become quite popular over...Please click on the title to continue reading this entry.

Tania Anderson 2008-10-03T00:07:05Z tag:washingtonpost.com,2008-09-25:/shoptoit2008/09/stores_will_hear_a_pin_drop_th.html

Looks like there's going to be a lot of space under our Christmas trees this year. And stockings will hang like sad, skinny socks from our fireplace mantels. At least that's what economists have said, along with a survey of 8,000 Americans. Consumers will be shelling out 2.2 percent more on holiday gifts this year than last, which means we'll be spending a mere $470.4 billion on gifts, according to a recent forecast by the...Please click on the title to continue reading this entry.

Tania Anderson 2008-09-22T21:01:41Z tag:washingtonpost.com,2008-09-23:/shoptoit2008/09/a_little_love_for_loyalty.html

I finally got my wallet to snap shut the other day. I haven't been able to do that for the last decade. I took out all the loyalty cards to count how many I've been suckered into signing up for. It was a whopping 15, which is why I could never close my wallet. Some of these cards are worth the space in my wallet and the small effort to whip out when I make...Please click on the title to continue reading this entry.

Tania Anderson 2008-09-17T21:42:35Z tag:washingtonpost.com,2008-09-18:/shoptoit2008/09/free_personal_shoppers.html

It's hard to be completely in the dark about store sales, between e-mail sign-ups and being inundated with advertising. But wouldn't it be nice to have someone gather all your favorite stores and brands in one room and point out what's on sale? That's exactly what Shop It To Me does. The free online personal shopping service has attracted 400,000 users since its launch in 2005 through word of mouth. Users sign up for e-mail...Please click on the title to continue reading this entry.

Tania Anderson 2008-09-15T23:04:56Z tag:washingtonpost.com,2008-09-16:/shoptoit2008/09/tuesday_tips_tackling_the_gara.html

The garage is one of those rooms that's meant for one thing but ends up being something else. Aren't garages for cars and lawn equipment? But we stuff all sorts of other things in there, including old furniture, broken appliances, boxes of paperwork and old magazines. There are many ways to transform the space, either as a liveable room or a place to park your wheels. I recently talked to some local experts for some...Please click on the title to continue reading this entry.

Tania Anderson 2008-10-03T00:07:56Z tag:washingtonpost.com,2008-09-11:/shoptoit2008/09/every_month_i_write_about.html

Every month I write about an area of the Washington region that's good for shopping but a little off the beaten track. So you won't see me writing about Georgetown or Old Town or any kind of mall here. Instead I've found places like Kensington, where you can buy furniture and home decorations from all over the world. Or Del Ray in Alexandria where you'll find art by locals. And there is Takoma Park where...Please click on the title to continue reading this entry.

Tania Anderson 2008-09-09T14:10:12Z tag:washingtonpost.com,2008-09-09:/shoptoit2008/09/tuesday_tips_buying_a_bike.html

Everyone seems to be talking bikes these days, whether it's to be more green or to cut back on gas. We've even started treating bikes like cars with new self-service bike rental programs like SmartBike DC and bank loans for bikes. Makes me want to run out and get my own set of wheels. So I talked to a local bike salesman on what to look for whether you're buying new or used: Tip #1:...Please click on the title to continue reading this entry.

Tania Anderson 2008-09-03T20:32:26Z tag:washingtonpost.com,2008-09-04:/shoptoit2008/09/ever_notice_how_retailers_make.html

Ever notice how retailers make our one-day national holidays last a whole week with their sales? Labor Day may have ended Monday but it's going on until at least Saturday in the world of retail. If only the rest of us celebrated with a week of no work. At least we can spend away our sorrows with some of these sale prices, which seem to be the most dramatic on appliances, electronics and other household...Please click on the title to continue reading this entry.

Tania Anderson 2008-10-03T00:08:36Z tag:washingtonpost.com,2008-08-28:/shoptoit2008/08/the_best_of_your_comments.html

Shop To It is about to celebrate its first birthday and in that time readers have posted lots of suggestions on many different topics, from how to update rooms in our homes to which grocery stores have the best deals. That's exactly what this blog is about. Sharing ideas about what works and what doesn't. So keep posting. You don't even have to include your name, just your wise advice. Here are my favorite reader...Please click on the title to continue reading this entry.

Tania Anderson 2008-08-25T22:43:43Z tag:washingtonpost.com,2008-08-26:/shoptoit2008/08/tuesday_tips_hiring_a_photogra.html

Don't panic, but Christmas is only four months away. It sounds like a long time but doesn't it always seem to sneak up on us? Aside from scrambling to get my gifts in line and my decorations in place, I always rush to get my Christmas cards ready, namely having a nice family photo taken by a professional. Mark my words: I will get it done this year. I sought the help of local photographer...Please click on the title to continue reading this entry.

Tania Anderson 2008-10-03T00:09:50Z tag:washingtonpost.com,2008-08-21:/shoptoit2008/08/going_for_the_cvs_jackpot.html

Have you ever played the CVS/pharmacy game? The one where you go in and get $30 or $40 worth of toothpaste and diapers for free? Bloggers write about this all the time. They do show and tell, posting pictures of all the stuff they got for free. They even get some press, like Chrissy Thompson in Atlanta, who got $140 worth of CVS/pharmacy stuff for under $10. The NBC station there did a story on...Please click on the title to continue reading this entry.

Tania Anderson 2008-10-03T00:42:50Z tag:washingtonpost.com,2008-08-19:/shoptoit2008/08/tuesday_tips_updating_closets.html

How many times have you stuffed an unwanted item in the back of a closet? Eventually those little rooms in our houses start busting at the seams and next thing you know, a simple outdoor excursion that requires a coat turns into a heap of stuff on the floor. So here are a few tips for updating closets without spending a ton of money: Tip #1: Tackle one closet at a time and take everything...Please click on the title to continue reading this entry.

Tania Anderson 2008-08-13T18:52:25Z tag:washingtonpost.com,2008-08-14:/shoptoit2008/08/finding_the_unpredictable_in_t.html

Most chain stores are pretty predictable. Home Depot: home repair stuff. Target: everything from toilet paper to furniture. DSW: shoes, shoes and more shoes. But don't you love it when you go into a predictable store and find something totally unpredictable? Say you go into Target to buy toilet paper and walk out with the coolest dress ever. Some people call this impulse shopping. I call it a good shopping day, especially if it's a...Please click on the title to continue reading this entry.

Tania Anderson