It’s not another meme; it’s an interview with Bargainista

When I first noticed Hope Robertson had tagged me in a meme, my first reaction was “Oh no! not another one”. I just did one a month ago. But this time it’s different. This one is more of an interview about the blog itself than information about me.

I’ve been asked these questions a lot lately so I thought it would make sense to participate. And for those of you unfamiliar with Hope’s blog, take a look. She’s a former ballerina with exquisite taste and a wonderful fashion sense.

1. What is the story behind the name of your blog?
I decided to launch a shopping blog but I didn’t have a name. Around the time, there was a whole lot of hoopla about customer service and Starbucks in the blogosphere. A Starbucks employee is called a Barista. Bargainista immediately came to mind, so I did a Google search and Bargainista it was!

2. Why did you start blogging in the first place?
I’d been lurking around social media circles for a while and was tired of being on the outside. I wanted to get hands-on blogging experience and learn more about the culture. Although my background is communications, marketing and web production, I wanted to do something different and something I could be passionate about. A light bulb went off in my head and Bargainista was born.

3. What is your best blogging experience? Your worst?
Best: The people I’ve met and the support I’ve received from readers as a result of blogging. I also enjoy when companies and authors participate in discussions.

The biggest surprise: Being mentioned in the same breath as Mitch Joel and Seth Godin by Mario Parisé on Happy Pixels.

Worst: Dealing with another blogger who is using my brand and is dismissive of trademark and copyright laws.

4. What do you think will happen to your blog in 2008?
I try not to think to hard and let it all happen organically. Good things come to those who wait. ; )

Now I want to hear from you: Mario Parisé, A.C. Riley, Henna Singh and Chris Thompson

Weekly Wish - MacBook Air

This week I’m doing something a little different. I’m giving a member of the community a chance to share his wish. Mario Parisé blogs at Happy Pixels, publishes Second Slice and is currently conducting a job search experiment.

For as long as Mitch Joel’s been bragging about his tiny long-lasting Vaio, I’ve been wondering when Apple would come out with something similar (but with OS X, not Windows, of course). Well now Apple has come out with MacBook Air and my dream is close to coming true. Check out these mouth-watering specs:

At its thickest, Air is only 0.76 inches thick.
• 80GB hard drive
• 2GB RAM
• 1.6 GHz Intel Core Duo processor
• Up to 5 hours battery life
• Plus the usual iCam, back-lit keyboard, 13.3" display

Many people have criticized that it doesn’t have its own CD/DVD drive. You need to either:
(a) buy an external one; or
(b) wirelessly connect to the drive of another computer.
This to me is a feature. I love the idea of carrying only what I need, and the truth is I rarely use discs. Beyond installing basic software (a one-time thing), I don’t carry CDs around with me as I work. Heck, most of my files are stored online.

In short, as the name suggests, the MacBook Air takes full-advantage of wireless technology. It’s built with people like me in mind: those whose primary concern is with getting rid of the extras. And yet it does this without sacrificing speed, memory, or battery life. It’s brilliant.

On top of how cool the Air is, my wonderful 2 1/2 year old daughter spilled a whole glass of cranberry juice on what was once my laptop. Which means I have more than a simple desire. I have a need.

So my first (perhaps not the last? Eden?) Weekly Wish here at Bargainista is for a new MacBook Air. Because this is a HUGE wish, I’m completely willing to reciprocate somehow to anyone who grants if for me. For example, I’m not averse to trading ads at Happy Pixels and/or in Second Slice (hey, I publish it for free), sponsored guest posts, product reviews (honest and transparent), consulting, or whatever else might appeal to your tastes.

Any takers?