Margie's Books Beauty and Baubles

Bi-Rite Creamery: Best Ice Cream in San Francisco

2008-08-23T20:17:00.000-07:00

After reading a review about the best ice cream places in the U.S., my family and I decided to take a little drive to Bi-Rite Creamery in San Francisco. "How special can this place really be?," I wondered as we waited 20 minutes in line just to get in the door. The answer, VERY SPECIAL! If you are near San Francisco, it is definitely worth a trip! I had the toasted coconut and the coffee toffee on my first visit, and salted caramel and malted vanilla on my second visit. All I can say is...WOW!!

Ummm...Free Sample of Dunkin' Donuts Coffee

2008-06-28T21:10:00.000-07:00

Why don't we have Dunkin' Donuts here in Northern California? Their coffee and doughnuts are THE BEST! Oh well, at least we can get a sample of the coffee to brew ourselves at home (even though it just isn't the same)...

Margie's Books Beauty and Baubles Most Current eBay Listings

2008-05-17T21:16:00.002-07:00

Coburn skated with the team on Thursday morning for the first time since the injury

2008-02-14T19:16:00.000-08:00

For all you Braydon Coburn fans, good news! From the Philadelphia Flyers website:

Coburn skated with the team on Thursday morning for the first time since the injury.

“I think that initially it was going to be a couple weeks but I don’t see it being that long. There is speculation there was a chance he could play today, but if not today then hopefully by the weekend,” said the coach. “There’s nothing that can be done that would set him back long-term, so as soon as the soreness goes away and he feels like he can play, he’ll get back in and play.”

Love Braydon Coburn and Philadelphia Flyers hockey?

2008-02-11T20:01:00.001-08:00

Love hockey? Love the Philadelphia Flyers? Check out my Squidoo pages.

Braydon Coburn

Mike Knuble

Danny Briere

Peter Forsberg

more to come...

Do You Squidoo?

2007-12-25T13:52:00.000-08:00

I kept hearing and reading about Squidoo but really didn't understand what all the chatter was about. When I finally got around to creating a lens to promote my eBay store I found out.

The buzz is true. A lot of people do Squidoo, and not only do they Squidoo, but they actually do visit other Squidooers lenses as well. As a result, my store traffic increased dramatically. Are those people buying? Well, I don't really know for sure, but it seems that when I take the time to update my Squidoo lenses and create another one or two, I do notice a slight increase in my eBay store sales.

If you have an eBay store and haven't created a Squidoo lens to promote it yet, I highly recommend you give it a try! Squidoo is definitely more search engine friendly than your typical blog (including this one) and it never hurts to get more attention from folks doing searches on Yahoo and Google.

Give my main lens a look and try creating a lens for yourself!

http://www.squidoo.com/margiesbooksbeautyandbaubles

Vote for MIKE RICHARDS ~ 2008 NHL All-Star Game

2007-12-22T10:32:00.000-08:00

Hey Flyers Fans ...

2007-11-29T21:37:00.000-08:00

For all of you Philadelphia Flyers fans, the Flyers website has just posted a new video. This one features Behind the Scenes of the Fathers/Sons road trip and is narrated by goalie, Martin Biron. You can find the video at:

Fathers/Sons Road Trip

After you enjoy that video, you can watch more Flyers TV clips as well - including commercials, interviews, press conferences, and cribs segments where some of the players show you around their homes. The Flyers in Whistler team building videos are two of my personal favorites.

Part 1 of Flyers in Whistler

Part 2 of Flyers in Whistler

GO PHILLY!

Kung Pao Chicken Recipe

2007-09-27T22:18:00.000-07:00

This is a good recipe, but perhaps a bit on the mild side.

Ingredients:

1 1/3 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into 1/2 inch pieces
5 tablespoons soy sauce
2 tablespoons sherry
1 tablespoon cornstarch
2 teaspoons sugar
2 tablespoons white-wine vinegar or rice vinegar
2 teaspoons Asian sesame oil
2 teaspoons cornstarch
1/3 cup water
2 tablespoons cooking oil
1/2 cup peanuts
4 scallions, white bulbs and green tops cut separately into 1/2-inch pieces
1/4 teaspoon dried red-pepper flakes

Cooking Directions:

In a medium bowl, toss the chicken with 1 tablespoon of the soy sauce, 1 tablespoon of the sherry, and the 1 tablespoon cornstarch.

In a small bowl, combine the sugar, vinegar, sesame oil, water, and the remaining 4 tablespoons of soy sauce, 1 tablespoon of sherry, and 2 teaspoons cornstarch.

In a wok or large frying pan, heat 1 tablespoon of the oil over moderately high heat. Add the peanuts and stir-fry until light brown, about 30 seconds. Remove from the pan. Heat the remaining 1 tablespoon oil. Add the white part of the scallions and the red-pepper flakes to the pan and cook, stirring, for 30 seconds. Add the chicken with its marinade and cook, stirring, until almost done, 1 to 2 minutes. Add the soy-sauce mixture and the scallion tops and simmer until the chicken is just done, about 1 minute longer. Stir in the peanuts.

Yield: 4 servings

Amish Sour Cream Apple Pie Recipe

2007-09-16T10:21:00.000-07:00

On to a far more fun and cheerful topic than the San Jose Sharks ...

I found this delicious recipe on the Internet a little over a year ago and it quickly became a family favorite. I like to add pecan pieces to the topping for a little extra texture and crunch. Ummmm!

Amish Sour Cream Apple Pie Recipe
Serves 8

Ingredients:

• 1 cup sour cream
• 1 large egg
• 3/4 cup sugar
• 2 tbsp all-purpose flour
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 2 1/2 cup apples, peeled, diced
• 1 9 inch pie shell, unbaked

Crumb Topping
• 1/2 cup brown sugar, packed
• 1/3 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/4 cup butter
• 1 tsp ground cinnamon

Instructions:

1. Use dairy sour cream for this recipe-not a sour cream substitute.
2. Beat sour cream and egg together; add sugar, flour, salt and vanilla.
3. Mix until smooth.
4. Stir in apples.
5. Place mixture into pie shell and bak in preheated 400 degree oven for 25 minutes.
6. Meanwhile mix topping ingredients until crumbly. Remove pie from oven and sprinkle the crumb topping over.
7. Bake 20 minutes longer.

San Jose Sharks Never Fail to Let Their Fans Feel Unappreciated

2007-09-07T19:09:00.000-07:00

I was a San Jose Sharks fan from Day 1. The Good Ol' Cow Palace Days. They were awesome to the fans back then, they really were. Sadly, as the years passed, the organization forgot how to care about the fans. Let me point out, I am NOT talking about the players themselves. I am referring to management. All management. At every level. I can go on and on and on listing examples of why I feel the way that I do, but I will only share the latest experience.

My sister is a Patrick Marleau fan. She has been since the first day he skated onto the ice wearing teal. She has been a loyal and devoted fan as well as a season ticket holder since Day 1. She received an e-mail from the Sharks organization about a Marleau autograph session at the store in the HP Pavilion. This e-mail stated that Marleau would be signing from 4:30-6pm. It went on to say that depending on turn out, he would be able to sign one or two items. Okay, cool.

Even though I am no longer a Sharks fan (I converted my allegiance to the Flyers a couple of years ago.) I offered to take the train from the San Francisco area to San Jose to meet my sister for the signing. I left my home around 2:30pm and spent the horrific sum of money on the train ticket. (If anyone reading this is familiar with CalTrain, then he/she knows how expensive tickets are for the train.)

My sister and I were in line by four o'clock. The line didn't even appear outrageous. Let me just say, as the minutes, quarter hours, and even half hours passed, we wondered if Marleau had ever made it. NO announcements were made to the fans waiting in line. Why was the line moving so slow? Who knows for sure. Maybe it is because the first people in the line got several autographs per person, plus photos of themselves with the player, plus they we allowed to stand there and chat while others stood patiently in line waiting their turn.

Wow, I thought. This is nothing like the San Francisco Giants. I just went to a Bengie Molina signing at the Giants Dugout a few weeks ago. The Giants were so organized. They made announcements all the way down the line. They passed out tickets limiting the number of people. Once tickets were gone, they notified anyone showing up for the signing that the supply of tickets was exhausted. With their well-planned out system, there was no way for anyone to cut in line or cause problems. No one was disappointed because they stood in line and didn't get an autograph. They announced the picture taking policy and explained to everyone in line how it would work. They closed the store so that there would be no confusion as to who was there for autographs and who wasn't. There were a large number of Giants employees present to watch the crowd. I cannot praise the San Francisco Giants enough for making the signing a pleasant experience for all.

Back to the Sharks who desperately need to look to north to a more sophisticated organization for a clue ...

after two hours of standing in line for the autograph, the first and only announcement was made, "NO MORE. HE'S DONE." What???!!! At the door were a few small signs. Apparently you needed to be at the store at 1:30pm to receive a ticket for the signing (no, this information was NOT in the e-mail to the season ticket holders). Nobody could see the notes on the windows from the middle of the line. Employees passed us and took pictures of us and NEVER ONCE had the decency to tell us about tickets or that we would not be able to get an autograph. They did not even offer an apology to those who stood in line for hours with the belief that they would receive an autograph.

In all, I gave up 5 hours of my day plus enough money on a train ticket to buy myself a really nice dinner. I ended up with yet another reason I am totally and completely disgusted with Sharks management, or their lack of it. This is supposed to be a professional sports franchise. I have witnessed better organization in a kindergarten classroom. Sharks staff, I know that you do not care a bit about the fans. You prove it over and over and over again, but do you have to be so darn blatant about it? SHAME ON YOU!

Tomato Tart Recipe

2007-09-01T15:11:00.000-07:00

I found this recipe in a San Francisco newspaper a couple of years ago and it quickly became a family favorite. I thought that I would share it like the tomato lovers out there.

Tomato Tart Recipe:

Ingredients:
Olive oil cooking spray
Dough for 1 pie crust
2 tablespoons olive tapenade
2 large red tomatoes, thinly sliced
2 large green tomatoes, thinly sliced
Salt & freshly ground black pepper
1 tablespoon fresh thyme
1 tablespoon fresh basil
Optional: 1-2 tablespoons parmesan cheese shreds

Instructions:
Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Lightly spray a 9-inch tart pan with removable bottom with olive oil cooking spray.

Place the dough between two sheets of parchment or wax paper and roll out to a 10-inch circle. Gently set the dough over the tart pan, then press it into the edges and up the sides, pinching off and discarding any extra. Lightly spray the tart shell with olive oil. Bake for 10 minutes. Let cool 10 minutes. Increase over to 425 degrees.

Spread the tapenade evenly over the bottom of the tart shell. Using a circular pattern, place a single layer of tomato slices, edges overlapping, over the tapenade. Season with salt, pepper and the herbs. Sprinkle the top with parmesan cheese shreds, if desired.

Bake for 20 minutes. Let rest 10 minutes before serving.

Makes 6 servings.

The Musee Mecanique San Francisco

2007-08-30T20:47:00.000-07:00

If you ever visit San Francisco Fishermen's Wharf, be sure to drop into The Musee Mecanique near No. 9 Fishermen's Grotto Restaurant. (And, if you love crab, be sure to check out the menu at No. 9!)

The Musee Mecanique used to be located at the beach, near The Cliff House, but was relocated about ten or so years ago. This museum houses many photographs from the Sutro Baths and Playland at the Beach as well as many mechanical toys, some are even made piece by piece from hand! The top photo is Laughing Sal from Playland. She now has a home right inside the front door of the museum. Put a couple of coins in her and she'll laugh just like she used to!

Admission to this museum is free, but plan on spending a lot of coins on the mechanical attractions! There is something for all ages to enjoy, from pressed pennies, to pinball machines, to photo booths. Personally, I just enjoy looking at all of the old pictures.

I Was There ~ Barry Bonds, the new Home Run King # 756

2007-08-08T21:17:00.000-07:00

I was hoping that Barry was going to break the record during the last homestand when I had a ticket for every game. When it didn't happen I figured I'd have to see it on television. Lucky for me, Barry broke the record on Italian Heritage Day at AT&T Park and it was one of the two games I had a ticket for during the week!

What was it like to be there? It was the single most incredible sports moment I have ever experienced! Fireworks were going off everywhere, streamers were flying, people kept saying, "Oh my God! Oh my God! Oh my God!" It was absolutely AMAZING!

And if that weren't exciting enough, Barry's family was out on the field to congratulate him, there was a brawl in the bleachers as fans scrambled for the valuable HR ball, a looney hopped the fence and ran onto the field where he was tackled and arrested by police and, of course, there was the special message from Hank Aaron.

Once again, the San Francisco Giants were able to perfect a moment for all to remember for the rest of their lives. For those of us who were present to witness the homer, it is something we will never forget and a memory we will always cherish.

On behalf of the Italians sitting in the View Level on Italian Heritage Day ... GRAZIE, BARRY!

Barry Bonds Home Run #754 July 27, 2007

2007-08-03T22:26:00.000-07:00

Well ... still waiting for number 755 to tie and number 756 to break the record, but we hope to see it at home! Here is Barry Bonds trotting into home after hitting home run #754 at AT&T Park in San Francisco on July 27th.

The Cliff House, San Francisco

2007-07-28T09:15:00.000-07:00

After purchasing a vintage black & white photo of The Cliff House from 1958 on PoshPoints, I decided that I wanted to make a trip there to compare 1958 to 2007. The Cliff House has been in existence since the 1800s, but there seems to be a discrepancy as to whether it has been rebuilt three or four times depending which historical account you read.

No, my camera isn't broken, the sky was in fact gray. It was just a typical San Francisco summer day with thick marine layer present. Some of us think of it as "natural air conditioning." (Hey, it is much more fuel efficient than electric powered air conditioning systems! Plus it doesn't harm the environment. You just need to put on a jacket. And a beanie. And a scarf. And a pair of gloves. And some thick socks. Well, you get the picture!)

While there, we decided to dine at one of the two popular restaurants, The Bistro. I ordered the "Ben Butler Sandwich," which is Dungeness Crab Meat on grilled Sourdough with melted cheddar cheese and is served with mixed greens. Yum!

I ate half there and took the other half to go. The picture below shows the "to go" half the next day. The salad was a little wilted, but still delicious eaten with the crab! My only complaint was that the chef put too many chives into the crab meat. Why would anyone want to overpower the delicate flavor of the crab with chives?! Maybe somewhere else where the crab comes out of a can, but not in San Francisco where the crab is always fresh and tasty!

I'm glad I purchased that picture. I've been to The Cliff House and Ocean Beach many times before, but I think that the last time I went was well over ten years ago. Pretty sad considering I live less than a half an hour away. That picture convinced me I was long overdue for a trip to the beach. So, to the lady in Arizona that purchased the picture at an estate sale and decided to swap it on Posh, thank you!

Get a free $20 Borders gift card from gather

2007-07-23T15:44:00.000-07:00

Just thought I'd pass along this great offer. Refer 5 people to gather.com and receive a $20 gift card for Borders. Pretty please use my referral link to register. I spend a ton of money on books and could really use this freebie! :)

Cheesesteak Review #3 ~ Jake's Steaks, San Francisco

2007-07-20T22:52:00.000-07:00

I have been to Jake's Steaks in San Francisco twice before this visit (the first was excellent, the second was terrible), but this review will focus on only this third sandwich. I didn't place my own order because I just had a rather intense eye exam and could not see a thing. Ordered for me was a 15 inch chicken with American cheese, sweet peppers and hot peppers. (Each pepper ordered was an additional 50 cents.)

Jake's chicken is cut in chunks and they melt the cheese on the meat so that you get an even proportion throughout your sandwich. They use my favorite, Amoroso's rolls. Although I love hot peppers, they overpower the flavor of everything else, so I ate those first so that I could actually taste the other ingredients. Jake's loads heaping helpings of meat onto the rolls. I wish I had put this thing on a scale. It was ENORMOUS and felt like it weighed a ton! I only chowed down half of it and saved the other half for another meal.

The onions were nicely cooked. The hot peppers were too overpowering and the sweet peppers had little taste. (Jake's uses banana peppers rather than bell peppers.) The chicken wasn't dry, but lacked that "something" I experienced with the sandwich in my first review.

This sandwich was definitely better than Jersey Joe's, but not as good as The Cheese Steak Shop. I give this cheesesteak a three and 1/2 star rating. Careful if you go to Jake's though, as the quality of the food doesn't seem to be consistent.

Almost forgot to mention, my party also ordered a side of the waffle fries. Ummmmm. I'm not really a French fry fan, but these were really good! Must be the shape ...

All-Star Souvenirs in my eBay Store

2007-07-13T22:44:00.000-07:00

Naturally, I do have a few souvenirs from the 2007 All-Star Game listed for sale in my eBay store. I will probably add a few more in the next couple of weeks. I just haven't had the time to sort through all of my stuff to decide what I want to keep and what I am willing to pass along to someone else. If you enjoy collecting baseball memorabilia, be sure to take a look!

So How Crowded Was McCovey Cove?

2007-07-12T20:49:00.000-07:00

Okay, so I didn't have a ticket to the All-Star Game itself ... BUT I went to FanFest, All-Star Sunday (Futures and Legends games), All-Star Workout Day (better know as The Home Run Derby) and the Red Carpet event before the All-Star Game. Four days of festivities. Whew!

How were the events? THEY TOTALLY ROCKED! San Francisco knows how to have fun! I can't even tell you which thing was the most fun because there were so many things going on each and every day - autographs, games, giveaways, entertainment ... it was amazing!

Here is a picture of Barry Bonds as he passed by on the Red Carpet. He was all smiles for the fans on this day!

How crowded was McCovey Cove? PACKED! The boats were touching each other out there. It was a truly awesome sight.

It is hard to see, but if you look at the bottom right hand corner of the water, you can see the crowding of the boats as they wait for the Home Run Derby to begin. Too bad they didn't get a chance to fight over any splash hit home runs on this night...

MLB All-Star Week in San Francisco

2007-07-05T20:23:00.001-07:00

Well, my next cheesesteak review will have to wait a little while. It is Major League Baseball week in San Francisco and I will be at FanFest tomorrow, the Future Stars game on Sunday and the Home Run Derby on Monday. All festivities except the All-Star game itself (which is probably the most boring event of the week).

Here are some pictures from San Francisco. The first three were taken inside The Giants Dugout store, AT&T Park location. The two huge banners were hung in Union Square right on The Westin St. Francis Hotel. (Sorry about the watermarks. I hate having my photographs "borrowed" without my permission. You can take 'em, but they'll be kinda ugly with my eBay store mark across the middle.)

Cheesesteak Review #2 ~ Jersey Joe's, San Carlos

2007-07-04T16:47:00.000-07:00

Cheesesteak number two was purchased at Jersey Joe's in San Carlos. I learned of this shop over ten years ago when I read a review of the hoagies in a local newspaper. Back then it had locations in Redwood City and San Mateo, which have since been closed and the new location in San Carlos opened. Remembering the mouth-watering hoagies, I had very high hopes for their cheesesteak.

After that glorious cheesesteak from The Cheese Steak Shop, it was almost inevitable to find this one inferior by comparison. I ordered the same thing - a chicken cheesesteak with onions and sweet peppers. The chicken was chopped, but some pieces of meat were tiny and some were left big. No big deal, but I do prefer more uniform size morsels of meat.

Here the cheese was more evenly distributed in the sandwich (a big plus in my opinion), but the meat wasn't very tasty and, although I could see the peppers in the sandwich, they had absolutely no flavor whatsoever. Big disappointment there.

Jersey Joe's does give you a very large sandwich for your money. I ordered mine to go and when I got it home I placed it on my postage scale. It weighed in at a whopping one pound! (And that pound was mostly meat.) I know that's a big plus for most people, but I would rather have less meat and a better sandwich.

I'm not sure what rolls are used at Jersey Joe's since it isn't mentioned on the website or inside the restaurant, but they aren't as good as Amoroso's. These were very chewy - a little too chewy if you ask me. I like a little crispness to the crust of my bread.

Not all was bad. The onions were cooked to perfection and the sandwich was still much better than other less "authentic" ones. (And it is probably one of the most attractive looking cheesesteak sandwiches I have seen!) I give this cheesesteak three stars out of five. Next time I'm going with the hoagie! Hopefully they are still as good as I remember them from years ago.

One thing that I forgot to mention about The Cheese Steak Shop is that they do not charge extra money for hot or sweet peppers. Most other places I have been to, including Jersey Joe's, charge more to add peppers. Jersey Joe's probably shouldn't charge extra since you can't even taste 'em ...

Cheesesteak Review #1 ~ The Cheese Steak Shop, San Francisco

2007-07-03T19:22:00.000-07:00

Okay, with selling being slower than slow, I have decided to have a little fun this summer. Anyone who knows me can tell you that I was born on the wrong coast. I have an obsession with everything Philly. Being inspired by the AHL Philadelphia Phantoms and their "Summer of the Steak", I decided to do my own little cheese steak taste-testing here on the West Coast.

First trip, The Cheese Steak Shop located at 1716 Divisadero Street in San Francisco. THIS PLACE ROCKED! I stopped eating beef in 2003, so I ordered the 7-inch chicken with onions and sweet peppers. I also tried an order of the curly fries.

They chopped the chicken and the onions very fine and they placed a couple of the sweet peppers on the top. These were THE sweetest tasting peppers I've ever had and they added a wonderful flavor to the sandwich. I think that I'll probably have dreams about this sandwich - yes, it was that good!

The chicken was cooked to perfection, not at all dry, and was very tasty. The onions were also perfectly cooked and did not dominate the sandwich. My only gripe is that the cheese (I had the American) was placed on the roll before the meat and was not mixed with the meat on the grill. I felt a little cheated on the first bite because it was all chicken. I prefer when the cheese is more evenly distributed throughout the sandwich. This, however, is only a minor complaint and certainly wouldn't prevent me from going back for more!

I should also mention that The Cheese Steak Shop uses Amoroso's rolls, which are a bit crunchy on the outside, and chewy inside. Yummy!

The seasoned curly fries were also excellent and not at all greasy. They were perfectly crispy and made a nice compliment to the chicken cheese steak. I dipped mine in just a bit of ketchup and mustard. Delicious!

Overall, I give The Cheese Steak Shop four and 1/2 stars out of five. Not a bad rating at all! Next time I'm going to order the 10-inch!

PoshPoints Purchased by Bored.com

2007-06-18T22:35:00.000-07:00

The PoshPoints saga continues ...

It was announced today that the swap site PoshPoints (which I have mentioned in several previous posts) has been purchased by Bored.com. For now, it will probably remain a free trading community. It would be smart to develop the site more and provide better customer support before they start charging fees. Although many "sellers" on the message boards say that they will happily pay any and all fees charged to remain on the site, I'm not sure how long they would really last if it was the same ol' stuff being offered for trade without any new items and new sellers being introduced. I mean really, think about it for a minute and a half! Even eBay allows buyers free access to the site with some free customer support. (It may not be the greatest support, but at least there is some!)

For those of you who want to check out the site, here is a link for ya:

eBay Stores To Go ~ Some of My Current eBay Store Listings

2007-06-15T22:31:00.000-07:00

CLUB99 Auctions & Thoughts About The New eBay Feedback System

2007-06-11T20:48:00.000-07:00

Well, it is once again time for CLUB99 bargains! Be sure to view my listings the week of June 9th - 16th to find deals starting at the low opening bid of only 99 cents with no reserve. This month's specials include a new plus size dress, two like new designer silk garments, fashion jewelry, sports memorabilia, toys and more!

I also want to take one moment to share my take on eBay's new stars feedback system. First, this is NOT ANNONYMOUS! Perhaps it is difficult for PowerSellers who receive dozens or hundreds of feedbacks each day to know who leaves what, but for a small seller like myself who receives maybe one buyer feedback each day, it is very easy to follow who gives you low and high star ratings. For example, when you have a 5.0 stars in one category to start the day and received one feedback which drops it to 4.7 stars, obviously you know which buyer gave the low rating in that category. For this reason, I do not like to use the stars system when I leave feedback. Be aware of this when you give stars ratings, especially if you like to buy from the same sellers over and over. Just my thoughts ...

PoshPoints Backtracks on "VIP Program"

2007-06-07T11:34:00.000-07:00

The PoshPoints SWAP saga continues ...

It was announced yesterday that the "VIP Program" (a.k.a. the pay or be screwed program) has been postponed for an "undetermined amount of time" while the powers that be "reevaluate alternative options."

I guess this means you can still trade for free and get some support (points refunded) when a seller doesn't send your item.

I decided to relist some small items and see how it goes. I can't say I was too surprised by the announcement. After seeing the listings drop from over ten thousand items to less than six thousand items - well, let's just say that the community sent the dudes in charge a message loud and clear. It's good to know that somebody, somewhere out there listens.

Be sure to view my eBay auctions this week. I have several flat rate priority boxes filled with goodies for self or home priced to sell!

PoshPoints Announcement & New Auctions

2007-05-30T14:46:00.000-07:00

PoshPoints made their formal announcement today - absolutely NO SUPPORT (nada, zip, zilch, zippo) in the event that a "seller" does not send you your item or if they send you garbage UNLESS you pay the site a $30 year subscription fee. I don't think so! Although I had a lot of fun on the site, it is definitely NOT worth that money! I would not recommend paying that kind of money for the very limited supply of quality items, flakey sellers and the poorly staffed support team.

On to happier things ... just listed an awesome priority box of beauty goodies, vintage roller skates, a Barry Bonds homerun pin with ticket stub and several other items on eBay. Drop by and take a look. PLEASE! I need to clean house so that I can find my bed again! :)

Margie's Books Beauty and Baubles eBay Store

Margie's Vintage Treasures

New eBay Auction Listings

2007-05-24T15:11:00.000-07:00

I have listed many new items on auction today. Be sure to check them out before the listings end on May 31st. Items include: Plus Size Womens Clothing, Misses Size 10 Silk Dresses and Other Clothing, Vintage Toys, Collectibles, Sports Memorabilia, Accessories, Fashion Jewelry and more!

Stock up on gifts and goodies and remember that I offer a multiple item shipping discount.

Great Shipping Deals on Auction Lots

2007-05-21T10:53:00.000-07:00

I am taking advantage of USPS priority rates. Find many products grouped together in large lots to save $$$ on shipping. Current bundles on auction include beauty products, jewelry and technology books. Don't miss out on these great deals!

eBay ID: marasco2001

eCrater Store Grand Opening

2007-05-17T21:47:00.000-07:00

Welp, PoshPoints will become a pay to play site starting June 1. You can have a "free" membership to trade on the site, but with absolutely NO support whatsoever. This means if you spend your points for an item and the seller doesn't ship it you are S.O.L. Basically, you will have to buy the membership because there are a lot of flakes over there that just don't deliver.

Anyhow, I now have a ton of small stuff gathered up and need a new way to get rid of it. eBay is good for the big stuff, but it is way too expensive for the small trinkets. I just opened up an eCrater store to try it out. I'm having some trouble figuring out pricing, but eventually I will have a bunch of stuff on the site at bargain prices. It is taking me a little longer to figure out how cheap I can put the stuff thanks to the new USPS increase, so the prices are still on the high side right now. Give me a few weeks to work on it. I want my junk to become your junk (I mean, treasures!) :)

Here's a link to the store (oh, the name is Margie's Vintage Treasures, by the way!).

USPS Rate Increase

2007-03-30T20:28:00.000-07:00

The United States Postal Service will once again be raising postage rates, and this time it looks like a DOOZY. Items relisted in my eBay store will reflect this increas. New listings will soon begin to reflect the higher cost. I will also be forced to raise points on my PoshPoints ads to cover the higher shipping costs.

Be sure to shop now to get the best shipping deals!

View Margie's Books Beauty and Baubles SALE items

New Swap Site

2007-02-19T14:24:00.000-08:00

Just discovered this site which is wicked fun! It has an eBay feel, but you don't deal with money. You buy and sell with points! When you sign up, you are given 15 points to make purchases on the site and when you sell your unwanted items, you receive points to buy more stuff. So far there are NO FEES! (tip: one point = roughly one dollar)

February Club99 Event

2007-02-11T13:15:00.000-08:00

The Club99 sale event for February is running! Be sure to drop by the week of February 10th - February 17th to find items starting at 99 cents opening bid with no reserve! This month you will find fashion jewelry, toys, beauty items and vintage treasures.

One Day Beauty Sale

2007-02-11T13:11:00.000-08:00

All cosmetics in store inventory will be reduced 5% for one day only - Sunday, February 11th. This includes makeup, makeup bags, fragrances, bath & body products, manicure & pedicure items, and skin care.
Drop by and take a look!

View the sale now!

One Day Womens Clothing Sale

2007-02-05T22:11:00.000-08:00

On Tuesday, February 6th, Margie's Books Beauty and Baubles eBay Store will have all misses, juniors and plus size clothing in store inventory on sale. Be sure to drop by and check out the deals!

View the sale now!

Superbowl Sunday Sale!

2007-02-03T22:46:00.000-08:00

Margie's Books Beauty and Baubles will host a one-day Superbowl Sunday Sale on February 4th. All sports souvenirs and apparel will be discounted. Don't miss out on these deals!

One Day Fashion Jewelry Sale

2007-01-31T23:35:00.000-08:00

One day only - February 1st - Margie's Books Beauty and Baubles eBay Store will have all fashion jewelry in store inventory on sale! Be sure to drop by and check out the deals!!

View the sale now!

HUGE Auction Sale Going On Right Now!

2007-01-21T12:36:00.000-08:00

Be sure to view my big auction sale going on right now! Lots of different items to choose from ~ from Valentine's Day gifts to antiques to sports apparel. Don't miss out because almost all of my listings are "one only" and when it is gone, its gone.

Upcoming Club99 Sale

2007-01-07T21:37:00.000-08:00

HAPPY 2007 TO EVERYONE!

Be sure to view my auctions the week of Jan. 13-20 to find bargains starting at only 99 cents opening bid with no reserve! Just look for club99 in the title.

Year End Clearance Sale!

2006-12-15T15:04:00.000-08:00

Margie's Books Beauty and Baubles eBay Store will be clearing out inventory before ringing in the New Year. Be sure to visit my auctions starting Sunday, December 17th to find lots of great deals starting under a dollar with no reserve!

Happy Holidays from
Margie's Books Beauty and Baubles
eBay Store!

December Club99 Event

2006-12-05T13:07:00.000-08:00

It is that time once again! From Saturday, December 2nd - Saturday, December 9th you can find terrific bargains starting at only 99 cents opening bid with no reserve. Don't miss out on these hot deals!

November SD98 Event

2006-11-26T21:57:00.000-08:00

The November SD98 sales event has started and runs from Sunday, November 26th - Sunday, December 3rd. Be sure to take a peek at my auction listings to find some fun stocking stuffers starting at only 98 cents opening bid with no reserve.

Also on auction right now are a few coats and jackets to help you keep warm during these chilly winter months!

Why fight the crowds in malls when you can do all of your gift shopping from the comfort of your own home and have the packages delivered right to your front door? What could be better?!

Happy Holiday season from Margie's Books Beauty and Baubles!

November CLUB99 Event

2006-11-12T15:48:00.000-08:00

The November CLUB99 event runs from Saturday, November 11th - Saturday, November 18th. Be sure to check it out to find deals starting at only 99 cents with no reserve!

What To Collect

2006-11-02T20:00:00.000-08:00

Collections are a great way to decorate your house or office. The key is to choose something that you love and be creative!

If you love sports, find unique items that are sure to get attention. Cards that are given away to fans at sporting events can be placed in a mat and framed to create a nice wall hanging. Bobble head dolls, autographed items, and stadium giveaways can be grouped together for an eye-catching display. Pins can be attached to a vintage baseball cap and tossed on a little used chair for a nostalgic look.

Vintage toys make attractive decorative pieces on mantels and entertainments centers. Large plush animals or dolls can sit in a child’s chair in the corner of a room. A stack of old games are not only fun to look at, but a fantastic way to liven up a boring party! Old yo-yos in a glass bowl make an unusual decoration in the center of a coffee table.

In my six years of selling, I find that vintage and rare items are so much more appealing to my buyers than new items. (And by rare I don’t necessarily mean expensive antiques or gold coins!) I sold a vintage 1970s Yellowstone coloring book to a former Park Ranger and I can’t tell you how many e-mails I get telling me that the old toy purchased from me was a childhood treasure thrown out many years ago while cleaning house.

Pick something that has special meaning to you and use your imagination. Just about anything can be found on eBay and used as decorative pieces at home or work. Life is short. Surround yourself with things that make you smile!

October Sunday is Savings Day Event

2006-10-30T09:26:00.000-08:00

The Sunday is Savings Day event for October is now running! Be sure to view my auction listings with the special code sd98 in the title to find bargains starting at only 98 cents with no reserve. This event runs Oct. 29th - Nov. 5th. The club99 theme event is currently running as well.

The theme for October is holiday items. I have one item included in this event. You can find the vintage 1981 Wilton Santa Claus Cake Decorating Kit I listed by looking for hol99 in the title.

About Margie's Books Beauty and Baubles

2006-10-26T10:32:00.000-07:00

Margie's Books Beauty and Baubles eBay Store was opened on August 1, 2004. This store is my hobby and my passion. I sell anything and everything my family forks over. It is amazing to see what treasures can be found in closets and drawers, in the garage, and even under the bed!

Taking a peek at this blog will give you a chance to see what store specials will be coming up, what new trinkets and gems have been uncovered, and an opportunity to find discount codes to use on your purchases.

UPCOMING SALE: sd98 auctions the week of October 29th - November 5th. Be sure to view my sd98 listings to find a variety of bargains starting at the low opening bid of only 98 cents with no reserve!

SAVINGS OFFER FOR MY BLOG READERS: Just for viewing this post, I am offering a discount of $1.00 off the shipping cost of any single buy-it-now store item. I'm sorry, but I cannot extend this offer to auction listings. Please mention offer code 1BLGSVG when paying for your item. (You can write this code in the message box when sending payment via PayPal, or you can write this code on a note or your money order when mailing payment.) This offer will expire on December 31, 2006.

Be sure to check out my current 99 cent specials and my book, movie, software, and music offerings at half.com.