I love watching my daughter sleep. I think babies are at their cutest while sleeping, and she’s no different. She’s sitting right beside me as I type this, snoozing away.

Network and Self-Marketing: Meet the Thriving Introvert The writer here recommends How to Win Friends and Influence People; I’d add Never Eat Alone as a follow-up. Good advice here, though. (@ queercents)

10 Negotiable Ways To A Fatter Wallet I often negotiate for prices at a farmer’s market – if I buy several items, I usually ask for a reduction in price. I often walk out with a “buy two, get one free” unlisted special. (@ wise bread)

Where Exactly Is The Pressure To Spend? A lot of interesting thought here on consumerism. (@ money, matter, and more musings)

The Simple Dollar Retro: Consumer Reports, Total Cost of Ownership, and Why I Buy What I Do I don’t mind paying a lot up front for an item if it’s going to be a high quality item – efficient at its job and highly reliable. I usually attempt to figure out the cost of an item over its lifetime – and I usually find that the “high end” items provide the overall better value.