Groupon Body Shop $20 for $40

Plus a special offer by May 30!! Click the logo ——->

 

Good Luck Finding Turbotax Coupons

So many people search on the term Turbotax Coupons. However, there is no way to input a coupon code on their site. The best way to save is to go to sites like DealNews or Offers.com and look for Turbotax coupon codes.  That said, Turbotax is still far and away the best software on the market for DIY tax preparation.  I got my return done faster this year.  With less “found errors” at the end of the process, I felt that Turbo Tax did a better job of walking me through than last year.

 

The New jcpenney Logo

JCPenney came out and announced their new logo during the Academy Awards this year.  Overall, it is not a bad upgrade.  The look and feel is bold, crisp and certainly highlights the way they have been trending toward using jcp.com.  I had seen the logo on paper and in digital form.  Proportionally, it looked great.  When I was at the mall across the street from their HQ in Plano, TX this weekend, I got a first hand look at the signage on the outside of the store.  IT IS HUGE on that facade.  That really makes it bold.

 

Texas Unclaimed Property – Looking for Money?

Last week I was given the opportunity to be on TV with KXAS NBCDFW to talk about Spring Break deals and discounts.  While I was there I got into a discussion with one of the anchors about a story they had run earlier in the day talking about how Texas’ unclaimed property system works and some of the perils of getting property back (the perils are trying to reconcile former names to new names, deaths in the family, partnerships, etc.)

That led me to go to the Texas website for unclaimed property to see if perhaps there was something I had forgotten about or not been refunded before moving away from one of my many addresses in Texas.  This includes forgotten bank accounts, uncashed checks, utility refunds, deposits, and more.  After all one in four Texans has unclaimed property on the books.  Sadly, there was nothing in my name.  However, I did a quick check of many people I know and lots of people had various amounts of money by their names.    The process to look up unclaimed property in Texas takes less than a minute to see if there is forgotten property.  The recovery process may take a little time.  The next step is for everyone to go check and collect that money.

By law, when companies end up with money or property from individuals or companies and cannot find them to return it, they are required to notify the state of the unclaimed property.  This includes unused gift certificates through a process called escheatment.  The state then enters this information into a publicly accessible database (in the case of Texas it is called “ClaimItTexas.org”).  In Texas, people can check the website or even call (1-800-654-3463), e-mail (unclaimed.property@cpa.state.tx.us) or mail:

Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts
Unclaimed Property Claims Section
P.O. Box 12046
Austin, Texas 78711-2046

I believe all 50 states have similar processes for finding unclaimed property – http://www.unclaimed.org/ is a single website with access to all those that participate.  In this economy, every dollar counts.  Go see if you have some “forgotten” treasure.

 

Do More Faster – Feld & Cohen

Thanks to a new friend and entrepreneurial discussion partner TK Stohlman, I received a copy of the book Do More Faster: TechStars Lessons to Accelerate Your Startup.  The book was produced by Brad Feld and David Cohen – the two co-founders of TechStars; a start-up accelerator started in Boulder, Colorado in 2007.  It is a great collection of insight, stories, and advice from entrepreneurs, investors and advisors to start-ups that covers all the key aspects to getting a new business off the ground.

“It’s about doing. Do more, faster” is a rally cry within the TechStars program – but what does that really mean?  Through seven themes: Idea and Vision, People, Execution, Product, Fundraising, Legal and Structure, and Work-Life Balance; this book cover everything one needs to know to get from nothing to “step 1″ and beyond when it comes to starting a business.  In reality, it is also a general basis for just getting motivated , in general, to be successful.  Most start-ups do not make it.  Sad but true.  However, getting insight on missteps and successes from those who have “been there and done that” underpins that work, effort, and fortitude gets things further along than just sitting and waiting.

I know I am now inspired.  Time to put things into motion.

 

Art-Filled Fun With a Child and Therapy – Color Me Mine

Both my daughters are creatively artful.  My older one loves to draw (and is awesome at integrating themes and stories into her work).  My middle daughter loves to roll up her sleeves and get into paints and other mediums.  Together the middle daughter and I have bonded on one particular discipline where she gets to express herself creatively and I get to do something therapeutic.  That medium is painting ceramics.  In the city where we live, there is a franchise concept called Color Me Mine.  The concept is so simple – walk in (no appt. necessary), choose from about hundreds of pre-cast ceramic items, select your colors; then just paint.  While I am not an artist, I am creative.  I love to mix the paints, try ideas, and in the end produce something like I would have probably made in 2nd grade.  My loving wife is gracious enough to tell me it looks great, and so completes a cycle of relaxation and therapy.

It does take a week to get the finished product back.  After the painting is done, the store lets everything dry, dips the item in a coat of  glaze and then “fires” the product in a kiln.   Easy peasy.  The cost is about $20-$40 per person depending on the item selected.  But the few hours “checked out” that is provides is amazing.  Plus, you get to take home a souvenir.  While a massage is nice, I still use my cereal bowls, mugs, etc. all the time and it reminds me of my time with my sweet girl.

 

We Will, We Will, Roku

I just saw that my colleague, and esteemed technolgy content coordinator at DealTaker, Josh post about his experience with the Roku player that he got just before the holidays.  It reminded me that I never did post my experience with one I received as a present in the middle of 2010.

Why this thing is flying under the radar is beyond me.  It is small, simple to use, relatively cheap ($60 – $100 depending on features and specs) and as Josh mentioned, the streaming picture quality for Netflix is great.  I have yet to venture off to other channels available because there is such a breadth of movies available on Netflix.  Not to be to salesy, but my 4-year-old has matered using it and we occasionally find him sitting there watching his favorite Ironman or Justice League movies.

 

The New Starbucks Logo? – Spring 2011

It must have been a long week because I totally missed the announcement of the new Starbucks logo that is set to roll out this spring 2011. I remember the original logo from my time growing up in Seattle (both, in fact, before the current logo). It made a nice evolution to its current state. However, the new logo has gone past the point of a good evolution and has been changed too dramatically, IMO.

What do you think?

 

What Do Chrome and Cheers have In Common

What is Albania’s chief export?  Well, I don’t know it to be true that chrome indeed is (Wikipedia doesn’t list it).  However, I do know of a Chrome that everyone should know about – Chrome Bags.  Why do I want to share that?  I always see  the large city bike couriers use their messenger bags.  Also, I have seen quite a few people with these bags as I have been traveling a so much this year (I cannot believe I was on 60 flights and over 72,000 actual flown miles in less than 12 months).  I had been asking these people about their stylish bags and learned how much they were liked.  So, I decided I needed a new laptop bag and went for the Soma in Black/Red.  The one thing I liked the most was the “seatbelt” clasp that is used to strap the bag over one shoulder.  When it arrived, I knew this was not just another bag.  The materials are strong, the stitching is solid, and the design is unique and appealing.  I do wish there was a little more space inside (but that is because I basically carry around a portable office – which I shouldn’t).  However, I wouldn’t trade it for any other bag I have had to this point.

For nostalgic sake, watch this video (every time I see the Chrome logo, I think of this episode) -

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Toys R Us Express Comes to Town

I noticed this morning that a Toys R Us Express has quietly opened in the Shops at Legacy in Plano, Texas. This area is a high traffic shopping spot and the “express” nature of the store is great for the strong corporate profile around the location. I have noticed more retailers adding these “express” concepts to malls and lifestyle centers. I wonder if this a fad or a trend.