Holiday shopping tips and toys
Welcome Star 92.1 listeners of the Chuck Boozer morning show! 
Since Christmas is this Sunday and Hanukkah starts this Wednesday, you better get your gift on! So much to see and do and get it all wrapped up just in time for the big day.
Waited to the last minute? There is still hope for you! Just remember, the longer you wait, the smaller the selection of what you want.
FREE SHIPPING! Some websites continue to offer free shipping in time for Dec 24th delivery. (This Saturday!!)
Wal-Mart free shipping ends TODAY (12/20/11). They also offer site to store. Check guarantee on shipping arrival date just to be sure regardless of where you are buying online.
Zappos.com Free shipping ends THURSDAY 12/22/2011. Order before 1PM PST on Thursday 12/22 with Free Shipping for Guaranteed Delivery* before Christmas! That’s our very special gift to you for the holidays! Merry Shopping! And FREE SHIPPING ON RETURNS!!!
GIFT CARDS: Why run all over town looking for that perfect gift, size, color? Gift cards are available in any amount and at most grocery stores, target stores and the like. Do you have left over giftcards yet to be used? Re-gift them! (Check the balance before you give!) Also, you can use them to buy new gifts! Gift cards sometimes lose value if unused so check details. And watch out for convenience fees when purchasing. Check this site for gift card secrets and more savvy info!
COMPARE PRICES!! Use your smartphone and download apps like “Shop Savvy” or “Red Laser” (RedLaser.com) to scan the prices of items for best price. Smaller independent stores may be willing to discount unlike big box retailers…try either way.
(plus, supporting small businesses is great!) Wal-Mart will match prices of online merchants in their stores! (see store for details….)
Also, retailmenot.com is a great site for coupon codes. ALWAYS google online merchant you are shopping for coupon codes. Example: shopping Macy’s online? Google “Macy’s Coupon Codes” or “Macy’s Free Shipping” or “Macy’s 10% off promo code.”
RETURN POLICIES! The deal may be unbeatable, but what is the online merchant return policy? KNOW BEFORE YOU BUY! Example: Amazon.com varies their policy depending on what you buy. Electronics have one policy while clothing has another. Also, when you shop the world’s largest online retailer Amazon, you can usually get free super saver shipping anytime during the year if you buy over $25.00 in “qualifying” merchandise from Amazon itself. Amazon may sell the item you want, but so could many other retailers who list on Amazon and that could cost you additional shipping fees. Don’t remove item from package if you don’t like it! Retailers may not accept returns once opened.
Look for great deals on clothes and electronics after Christmas. Cars are always best bought at end of year to make room for newer models (and end of each month.)
Fun Gifts:
iMarker Digital Stylus and Crayola ColorStudio HD App from Griffin: Kids may want to chuck their 64 count crayon box when they get a load of this digital coloring book. Using an electronic marker, kids can simulate drawing, painting and coloring on an iPad. Of course you’d have to hang the ipad on the refrigerator. $29.99 and under.
iHome has the ihm 9 (kids) and ihm 16 (adults) that let you plug your mp3 player into small dock station that runs on batteries! $20 + under.
Skull Candy ear buds for your mp3 player in different colors. Great bass and treble for a big sound at a little price! $19.99 and under. 
iPhone Wide Angle, telephoto and macro lens for your iphone!
Attaches with magnets. $19.99 and under. Entire Kit $51.99 and under!
You may like this (if sold out)
Desk Pets Tank Bot cars! Control with your smart phone. Advanced Optical Navigation Technology
watch as it navigates without bumping into most objects Recharge With Your USB Port integrated USB flip out connectorThree Modes:
1. Amazing touchless navigation
2. Autonomous personality mode
3. BONUS – Smartphone Control
Light-up Eyes & Sounds
Control by iPod® / iPhone® / iPad® or supported ANDROID™ Smartphone
Download free app online and insert supplied iDeskPet Universal Remote into smartphone headphone jack to remote control Tankbot (mydeskpets.com /tankbot/)
Rice Paper Votives among the many decorative items at discount prices….any type of lighting online at LunaBazaar.com $3.50 each or less in quantity. Great for lining your dining table or sitting around the home for the holidays. Always be careful with open flame and never leave a candle unattended.
Discovery Kids Color Me Playhouse or Castle!! $14.99 Better yet, get a huge box from a store and recycle it into your own home or castle and save $15!
Barbie Zipbin Clutch has so much fun for kids at a small price! $9.79!! How does Barbie find the perfect look for every occasion? Every fashonista must be dressed to the nines for all occasions. This beautiful Barbie® ZipBin® Clutch is the perfect finishing touch for any outfit. With Barbie-pink woven designs on the front and a dreamy dressing room on the inside, the Barbie® ZipBin® Clutch lets every girl make a statement and never miss a chance to impress. Besides, it’s way easier to hand this to a guy than a huge purse or shopping bag while you try on that new outfit! BARBIE and associated trademarks and trade dress are owned by, and used under license from, Mattel, Inc. 
Columbia multi-tool with l.e.d. light!
Columbia readies you for anything. Always be prepared with this compact-sized multifunction tool from the renowned sportswear maker. Part of a full selection of handy gear at Kohl’s. $9.00 at Kohl’s!!
- Textured surface allows a firm grip.
- LED light stays bright for a long time.
- Details:
- Includes: saw, flathead screwdriver, phillips screwdriver, bottle opener, knife, LED light, wire cutters & batteries
- 3″ x 1.25″ (closed)
- Requires 4 “AG1″ button cell batteries (included)
- Stainless steel
- By Columbia Sportswear Company
Apple iPad Camera connection Kit. $29.99 and under. The iPad Camera Connection Kit gives you two ways to import photos and videos from a digital camera: using your camera’s USB cable or directly from an SD card. iPad supports standard photo formats, including JPEG and RAW.
i-TWIN. Access all of your files on any mac or p.c. anywhere in the world!
USB drives, thumb drives, hard drives…they’re laying around everywhere and represent a small fortune in cost. What if someone invented a way to access up to all the contents of your computer on another PC or Mac anywhere there was an internet connection? And have it encrypted?
Studies show that regardless of the amount of money spent on a gift, it’s simply the thought behind it that brings the same level of appreciation. So a subscription to TV Guide renders the same level of appreciation as a 47” flat screen TV!
Don’t stress this holiday, remember to breathe deeply a lot of fresh air in and then slowly exhale. Ahhhhh, Merry Christmas and Happy Hanukkah.
This may light up your holidays!! It did mine!
All prices and information presented here was accurate at the time of posting but may have changed.
Crepe Revolution
I have to tell you that Crepe’s have come a long way since I remember them years ago. A friend invited me to Crepe Revolution for dinner and I was a little hesitant to join her because I had this idea of what crepe’s were all about. Surprise! They’re Great!!
I started with Spanikrepita which is their take on the traditional greek pastry. It was loaded with spinach, feta cheese and layered between lightly buttered crepe and baked until crispy. The Tzatziki sauce was like icing on the cake!
I could have eaten five of these.
Next up: Roasted Butternut Squash soup. This was the first time I’ve ever had it served in a wine glass–and I loved it! No fooling with a spoon, just lift and sip like a fine wine (which pairs nicely with Cooperstown Beer I might add!) Rich and creamy with a subtle sweet roasted flavor just as the menu read. (Vegetarian and gluten free.)
Feeling a little adventurous, I ordered the Beef Bourguinon and Chipotle savory crepes. Tender braised beef with carrots, onions, mushrooms, burgundy wine gravy and the Chipotle crepe with chopped pork, roasted jalapeno’s, onion, tomato, monterey jack, sour creem and chipotle sauce. YUM! (I do prefer a good deal more heat than the average person so there was just a smidge of heat so ask the culinary team to bring it on!!)
Maybe I was getting carried away but I hadn’t had crepe’s in so long I ordered the Duck Confit over spinach with brandy mushroom. The duck was roasted until slightly crispy and the brandy mushroom gravy was AWESOME! I could have bathed in this stuff. When you go ask Executive chef Todd Wilczewski or Chef Robert Morneweck to fix you a crepe with this gravy (on everything!)
I thought I was done but my friends talked me into Crepe Revolution’s famous Bananas Foster Crepe. You know this crepe: banana, brown sugar, rum, cinnamon, candied pecans, whipped cream but melded together in a way that was OUT OF CONTROL! (I am not yelling.) Take a look:
When I was all done owner Neel Sengupta came by to see how I enjoyed everything and I loved what he said. Tom, we want to reset your palate with every course. I agree! I’ll be resetting my GPS to take me to Crepe Revolution more often. What a delightful surprise. Maybe I’ll try the brunch!
Hungry still? Whip up this delightful Irish meal in no time!
Thank you to Thomas James Spravka for some of the photos used in this review.
We Bought a Zoo
We Bought a Zoo sounds interesting enough but today I discovered THE feel good film of the year. (And to think that I almost didn’t go after watching the trailer and thinking it was just another cute animal film.) Directed by Cameron Crowe and starring Matt Damon, Scarlett Johansson, Thomas Haden Church, Colin Ford, and Maggie Elizabeth Jones as Rosie Mee (Maggie is from Georgia and lives next door to my buddy Ken who says she is the greatest kid!) Maggie is an absolute natural and lights up the screen. Scarlett Johansson is gold as Kelly Foster. The entire cast seemed as if they had been running the zoo for years.
Based on a true story, the movie just made me feel great. It was Joyous! The casting was perfect. For me, Matt Damon is best in this role. There is a scene when he is sitting with his computer and the camera comes in so close to only show his eyes the emotion wrapped itself around me. The cinematography was beautiful. (You’d never know it was during the winter season in California!) The lighting was brilliant. One of my favorite scenes shows Matt reflecting outside of the house with the sun dancing through trees whispering in the wind. The peacefulness and reflective song “Sun” by Jonsi captures what Matt’s character is feeling on screen and what I was feeling as a viewer. Another involves a character standing in the window during the rain and again every aspect of the scene from the acting, lighting and the music combine to pull at your heart. The score is truly the DNA of this film. Composed at the request of director Cameron Crowe, features music by Sigur Ros front man and leading light, Jon Thor Birgisson, aka Jonsi. I was lifted to a higher place through the emotionally empowering music of this beautifully brilliant film. As tears rolled down my face repeatedly during the movie I listened to the music and floated away getting lost in the moment. Every scene fluidly scored lifted my heart higher and higher and truly touched my soul. I’ve never felt like this from a movie or soundtrack. I guess the movie resonates with me because I was reminded of my mom and my dog Parker who both have passed on.
The film is so pure and filled with light. As one reviewer wrote “achingly beautiful themes…a series of themes that would reflect everything we’d hoped for.” The now discovered fact that Cameron encouraged the actors to listen to the music before a scene explains why their emotions are so beautifully expressed on screen. This music is a part of the films DNA ingrained in my memory, my heart and spirit. The music of Jonsi captures the light and the film shines like a joyous bright star discovered for the very first time. I not only downloaded this soundtrack immediately after seeing the film (I’ve only done this one other time) but I also ordered the c.d. as a reminder of the day I discovered Jonsi. And thank you Cameron Crowe for your vision in requesting the musical paint that covers the heartfelt canvas of “We Bought a Zoo.”
Here’s another feel good moment!
Before and After Photo Retouching
You’ve probably seen the amazing photos of celebs and most anyone in a magazine looking incredible. But when you see the magic of retouching by studying the seldom seen “before” images, you really get an idea of just how amazing photo retouching can be. Look at these before and after images:
How do these celebs look AFTER? Click here for all the photo retouching magic!
How about Peachtree street at The Fox Theatre transforming during a snowstorm? See the picture that is captivating Fox fans!
Michael Buble heckled by mom
A rather proud mom interrupts a Michael Buble concert recently to tell him about her 15 year old son who loves to sing. Michael seemed annoyed at first then what happened is great spontaneous magic!
Tom On Air Corporate event Host Corporate Emcee Master of Ceremonies Celebrity MC M.C. Atlanta, New York, Los Angeles, Las Vegas created by <vexcom> Atlanta Web Design.