Origins is ready for holiday shopping in October. The beauty and skin care company is offering free shipping through Saturday (Oct. 19). Just use the offer code FREESHIP at checkout.

It may have taken a while but Belk has finally beefed up its online presence with a relaunched Belk.com.

What that means for most people who don't live near the top Belk stores at Crabtree Valley Mall in Raleigh or SouthPark mall in Charlotte, is access to big-name fashion and cosmetics that aren't in all Belk stores.

For instance, the relaunched Belk.com now has cosmetics by Bobbi Brown, shoes by Donald Pliner and BCBG Girls, Belk's exclusive Kristin Davis line and clothing by Tahari ASL and Lucky Brand Jeans.

So far, the site has about 50,000 items. Expect that to double by the end of the year, according to the company.

You'll also be able to check out the bridal registry online with some new enhanced tools. Shoppers can return online purchases to their nearest Belk in addition to shipping them back to Belk online fulfillment center. And you'll still be able to get items gift wrapped, free, of course, if you are a Premier or Elite card customer.

The most adorable wristlets arrived in the mail today from the fall collection by MadieDeluxe, a High Point-based handbag company owned by Meredith College graduate Rebecca Nash.

One is an chic houndstooth cloth bag with a silver wrist bangle ($28) and pink cloth lining, and the other is a black pleated cloth bag with a rhinestone ring wrist bangle and interior pockets. It sells for $48 on MadieDeluxe Web site.

Of course, by sending them, it did the trick. I'm definitely going to check out more of her work this weekend at the Junior League of Raleigh's A Shopping Spree! ($10 for a four-day pass, which goes to improving the lives of children in Wake County) at the new Raleigh Convention Center. She's one of the vendors.

PS ... speaking of Spree! vendors ... found the cutest clutch by Beijo last year at Spree! I hope they're at Spree! this year as well!

One of the best things about shopping online, especially around the nutso holiday season, is finding someone who will ship it to you for free.

I live for it.

But this year? Advertising Age is reporting that because of the increase in fuel prices, fewer retailers are going to be offering it. Or at least, they'll offer it, but there will be more strings attached than usual. Some are boosting the amount you'll have to spend. Others will only offer free shipping to those with store credit cards. While others are planning to offer free shipping, but you have to pick it up at the store.

Stayed tuned. It should be an interesting holiday shopping season.

The market is back in business Saturday at 9 a.m. in the parking lots of Ornamatea and Purple Armchair at North West and Johnson streets.

If you haven't been, it's worth the trip.

Organizers are expecting nearly 50 crafters, designers and artists to be at the market selling handmade, handcrafted goods. Among the fashionable items, look for jewelry, clothes, belts, purses and even accessories for the baby.

The market winds down at 3 p.m.