Okay, yes, of course I’m excited about my new website — proud, even. Mostly, I’m delighted to find how often I use it. Now, when I’m not sure if I have time to make it to a store on my way home, I don’t bother to call — I check my website! Need a store address? I’ve got those too! But I’m not the one who counts. Which is why I can’t resist sharing this most gratifying email from local publicist Laura Oakes who I SWEAR I did not pay off:

"I just wanted you to know that my husband and I are putting AliShops.com to good use.  Every year we take a day off together without our son to shop and have lunch – usually we end up at mass-produced places or the MOA.  This year, we’ve plotted out our day (Friday) thanks to the great info on AliShops – Corazon, Two 12 Pottery, Gather and Wyrd Sisters so far. Thanks for the great resource -now we just need to pick a lunch spot!"

Sounds like a delightful shopping day, if I do say so myself. Oh, but wait, there’s a p.s.:

"Do you know anything about the gift shop at the Weisman Art Museum?"

Indeed I do — it’s a great place for interesting items large and small, from pottery and carved wood to handbags and jewelry. Museum gift shops are a category I intend to add to AliShops soon, so stay tuned.

Thanks to the many, many shoppers who have been checking out AliShops and telling me what’s good, what could be better, and what I’ve gotten altogether wrong. (Yes, dear reader, I promise to take another look at My Sister’s Closet. Perhaps I didn’t do this consignment/vintage shop justice, but I swear, from what I saw last time I was there, "moderate sportswear" was a fair description.)

The shopping never ends.