Some of my favorite things...(advertisers pay attention)

So I told my wonderful wife that I started a blog. "That's nice, dear" she said a little dismissively, which is fine. She then found an article which she promptly placed on my dresser about people making money on the internet by blogging. I love my wife and her new entrepreneurial spirit, so while I am convinced no one has read my blog yet in the three (3) days it has been in existence, that's not going to stop me from continuing to blog and maybe attract some advertisers in the meantime (especially if I pimp their products!).

A disclaimer before I make a list of my favorite websites: For the retail sites, I have purchased at least one item from the following list and if I was not completely satisfied with either the product, shipping time, service or general layout of the website, I did not include it in the list. The other sites listed are just personal favorites that give you an insight into my varied interests. Here goes:

1. http://www.shirtsmyway.com/index.php: I wear a shirt and tie to work each day. I have spend thousands of dollars on shirts over the years that while nice, were not custom made. That has changed. With prices around $60-$70 per shirt, this site is one of the greatest things on the internet. There are other custom shirt sites out there, but this one is extremely user friendly. Check it out.

2. http://www.foodnetwork.com/: One of my more recent hobbies is cooking. There are hundreds of cooking websites with recipes, but the Food TV website is the most user-friendly and has great recipes. Bon Appetit!

3. http://www.ebay.com/: Fairly obvious and everyone knows about ebay. I have purchased 100's of items and thousands of dollars worth of merchandise from ebay and contrary to popular belief, most sellers and buyers are reputable and honorable. If you are looking for something specific, I recommend starting with ebay and seeing what is available. Trust me, you will be glad you did and most likely will get it for less.

4. http://www.zappos.com/: Hands down, the greatest customer service anywhere in the world. FAST, FREE shipment 99% of the time. While not the cheapest shoes, clothing and accessories available, you cannot choose a better selling website. Check out the great selection of Uggs and outdoor apparel and shoes.

5. http://www.miniclip.com/games/en/: Need a mindless distraction from work? This is one of the best online gaming sites around, constantly adding new time wasters for those of us who need a break in our monotonous day. Careful...it can be addicting.

6. http://www.groominglounge.com/: I have a long history with the boys from Grooming Lounge. They are personal friends and I visit the retail stores once a month for haircut, hot lather shave and sometimes massage. The men's grooming products they sell on their site are outstanding in quality and shipping is fast. Keep yourself groomed, dude!

7. http://www.cryptomundo.com/: One of my stranger hobbies is Bigfoot. Bigfoot! You know, the cryptid. What's a cryptid?! (Sigh)...just go to the damn blog and read. Loren Coleman is the preeminent Cryptozoologist in the world and he reports on as yet undiscovered species on this planet. Trust me, you will get hooked and read his blog daily.

8. http://www.opentable.com/: As an aspiring "foodie," I like to eat out often and experience that latest and greatest restaurants in my area. This site will help you make online reservations at local area restaurants and provide "points" when you show up for the reservation. You can redeem your points for dining checks good at the participating restaurants. Try it, it's fun!

9. http://www.replicaexpert.us/home.php: Another hobby of mine is watches. I love them and I'm slowly building a nice collection. This is one exception to the disclaimer. I have not purchased from this site yet but plan to very soon. I think someone who spends over a few hundred dollars on a watch in this economy should have their head examined, but that doesn't mean you can't "look" like you do! It appears that these replica watches are very high quality. I'll write an update once I purchase.

10. http://www.dell.com/: A little boring, I know, but I have purchased a couple Dell computers and while not the cheapest you can buy, I really like the quality and service that Dell provides. As you know, I am a big fan of anything that you can customize for your personal tastes, and that is the founding principle of Dell.

That's enough for now. I'll do another top 10 site sometime next month. Ahem, all you websites I just mentioned, let the ads pour on it!!! Baby needs a new pair of shoes (from Zappos!)