Nice Nails

Buy a bottle of Sally Hansen Complete Salon Manicure from Walmart and you can get a $10 Walmart gift card. Mail your receipt, name, address, phone number, and e-mail address to:

SHAPE- Sally Hansen GWS

PO Box 1919, Murray Hill Station

New York, NY 10156

(*while supplies last... allow 6 to 8 weeks for delivery)

Not So Scary Treats

Shape Magazine shared a few 150- calorie treats that won't be too frightening this Halloween. Snacking on 6 mini 3 Musketeers will only cost you 146 calories and 2 fun-size packs of M&M's only has 147 calories. The same is pretty much true with 5 snack-size Twizzlers (150 calories).

Cupcake Holder

Here's the perfect invention to transport individual cupcakes without them getting smashed. Cup-a-cake Cupcake Holders do just that. You can find them in places such as The Container Store, and right now, http://www.fredflare.com/ has some still left in stock for $.99 each. (The color selection is limited, though.)

The Great Pumpkin

Nothing says Halloween like Charlie Brown and the Great Pumpkin. Join Bass Pro Shop as they celebrate Halloween with Charlie Brown and friends. Both weekdays and weekends October 21-31, enjoy free desserts, crafts, coloring sheets, and a 4x6 photo. You can even trick-or-treat there! Check out http://www.basspro.com/ for more information.

Silly 'Stache

There's something about a fake moustache that makes me chuckle. Jot oh-so-serious notes on this chalkboard moustache. It's magnetic so you can find a perfect home for it on your fridge. Check out www.reformschoolrules.com to order. ($18)

Valuable Rebate

Proctor and Gamble is offering a rebate that keeps on giving. When you spend $50 on any Venus, Olay, Secret, Cover Girl, Clairol, Pantene, Safeguard, or Ivory items, submit your receipts to receive a $10 rebate. In addition to you earning the $10, they will donate $10 to the National Breast Cancer Foundation. Receipts must be dated 9/1/11 to 10/31/11 and accompany the form available at: www.pgpinkrebate.com. You can also find the mailing information through this link.

T.G.I. Friday's

T.G.I. Friday's has a promotional menu for a limited time that offers an entree and your choice or either an appetizer or dessert for only $10. Celebrate the weekend for $10!

Sad News...

Local radio personality Bill Bevins announced yesterday that Friendly's restaurants will be closing. The company is moving forward with bankruptcy proceedings. The irony is that there has been more advertisement than normal for their new "High 5" promotional menu (with 5 classics for just $5 each). It will be a sad day if/when this comes to fruition. For more than 70 years Friendly's has taught us that: Reese's Pieces + vanilla ice cream + chocolate + peanut butter = HEAVEN. Personally, I will greatly miss the iconic Cone Head Sundae.

Chic Teethers

Chewbeads makes non-toxic (BPA free) necklaces and bracelets for adults with teething babies in mind. The jewelry comes in a rainbow of colors and are made of 100% silicone, which can easily be cleaned with a mild soap and water wash. Moms can accessorize with chic jewelry and it's safe for baby should they decide to gnaw on it. Check out www.chewbeads.com for countless fashionable options.

Reusable Labels

These reusable labels could not be any cuter! The 12 cards are laminated and ready to use as labels, gift tags, or for quick notes. The colorful patterned cards come with a dry erase marker and envelope to keep everything together. A set of 12 is $20 and can be purchased from www.anyrandomjane.com.

Chesterfield Berry Farm

Next weekend, October 1st & 2nd, grandparents can get FREE admission to the Chesterfield Berry Farm... just bring the grandkids. Regular admission normally costs $11.95 and includes the following:

Hayride to and from Pumpkin Fields
8 acre Corn Maze
Corn Cannon
Pig Races
Wagon Train Ride
Barrel Train Ride
Scary Fun Barn
Animal Corral
Picnic Area
Pirate’s Cove
Straw Play Area
Dino Dig
Hay Tunnel Jump
Shelled Corn Play Area
2 Fun Slides
Moon Bounce

I'm not sure that some of these general admission activities would pertain to grandparents (i.e.- the Moon Bounce), but knock yourself out!

Drawstring Saver

Don't you hate it when the drawstring on clothing mysteriously comes out in the wash? There's not much sadder than a sweatshirt with the entire drawstring on one side of the hood. Enter the Ezstringer. A handy pack of 3 promises to effortlessly re-thread the string in seconds. The pack should cost somewhere around $10 and there's a small, medium, and large threader (depending on the job). Check out www.theezstringer.com for more information.

Home Fragrance Event

Today Bath & Body Works is hosting a one-day Home Fragrance Event. Stop by any store to sniff some of their new scents and get a special FREE gift with any home fragrance purchase!

You'll get a cute little tote and 3 mini candles (one of each- Candied Sugar Plum, Marshmallow Peppermint, & Gingerbread).

The offer is also good on-line (while supplies last) and you can get shipping for $1 with any $25 purchase.

Breakfast's on Chick-fil-a

Make your reservation now to get a FREE breakfast compliments of Chick-fil-a next week (September 6th- 10th). Go to www.chick-fil-a.com/Home/Breakfast to place your reservation. You will need to choose which location, the time frame, and the meal you'd like. It's pretty specific, but it is a scrumptious breakfast, after all! Saturday is included in the participating dates (just in case a weekday morning isn't conducive!).

Reward Cards

I created these nifty little cards to use as a behavior incentive for my babies this year. Vistaprint.com is a fabulous resource for cheap (or FREE) goodies! Once you create an account, (it's free) be prepared for your inbox to be inundated with almost daily messages enticing you to create a masterpiece. I waited until I got an offer for free business cards that included "loyalty cards". I picked from one of their designs and tweaked it to personalize the message.I just paid for the shipping/handling. I picked up a small hand print hole punch at Michael's for $1 that I'll use to punch a box when I catch my kids "being good". When they fill up the card, they can trade it in for a trip to a special treat box and start working on filling up another card.

Bookcases

Jason and I both got these bookcases from Target to use in our classrooms. They were on sale for $13 at the time, so we figured if they didn't hold up all that well, it would be worth the price. They come in several different colors (including black, white, and espresso) and are very simple to put together. I even assisted with a power tool!

So far, they are surprisingly sturdy and a decent size (almost 3 1/2 feet high). The shelves can be installed at varying heights. They're $19.99 now and available in store and on-line. The only downside is that the board that goes on the back of the frame is little more than cardboard, but as long as you have the shelves in and/or the back is against a wall, you won't notice it.

We also got some of these adorable baskets from Ikea. A set of 3 is $7.99.

Shortcuts

Perdue Shortcuts are ideal for quick salads, sandwiches, and even pasta. The fully cooked chicken saves time and money. You can get a package on sale at Kroger for $4.49, and pair it with a $1 off coupon.

Target CLeArAncE

While stocking up on some last minute hurricane supplies, I made sure to browse the clearance section at Target. I'm glad that I did!! My favorite find was L'Oreal Lipstick that normally retails anywhere from $9 to $12. I got mine for 12 cents!! I found the package on one of the clearance shelves and scanned it to find out that it was on sale for $2.12. I had a $2 off coupon, which made this deal too good to pass up.

Crest toothpaste was marked down to $1.68. Each box came with a regular sized tube, a travel tube, and a trial size Glide floss. I had two $.75 off coupons, as well as two $.50 off coupons, so we stocked up. AND... there were $10 worth of coupons inside the box!! There was a limit of using "4 like" coupons, so we kept it to the 4 boxes.

It might take a little extra time to look through the clearance items, but it can really pay off.

Also worth noting is Wishbone salad dressing being on sale for $1.66. Using a $1 off manufacturer's coupon made the bottle just $.66. The Wishbone "spritz" bottle was on sale for a little less (I think $1.48), but this bottle was about 1/2 the size of the other.

$1 Toothbrushes

I shamelessly love these toothbrushes! They might be aimed at a slightly younger demographic, but I can appreciate their small size and the fact that they have a suction cup on the bottom so they stand upright. They are perfect for travel. A pack of 2 is normally $3.19 at Kroger, but right now they are on sale for $1 each. It's like getting 3 packs for the price of one! Brush happy!

String Cheese Deal at Kroger

Frigo String Cheese is on a nice sale at Kroger. A 16 pack usually is a whopping $7.19. It's on sale for $3.99 and a $.50 off coupon (that doubles to $1) makes it only $2.99!

Applebee's Kid's Night

Grab the kids and head to Applebee's on Tuesday nights so they can eat for FREE! Participating restaurants allow kids (12 and under) to dine at no cost when an adult meal is purchased. Up to 2 children can get the deal for every 1 adult, so that's a plus (as long as they order off of the Kid's Menu).

Breakfast for Dinner

Have you heard that kids (12 and under) eat for FREE at IHOP every day from 4 to 10 pm until August 31st? The kiddos have to order from the "Just for Kids" menu and there must be an adult entree purchased.

Cheap Crayons at Office Max

Office Max has Crayola 24 pack crayons on sale for 15 cents! This is the cheapest I've seen them this year. There's a limit of 2 per person. Get them while you can!

You can also pick up 1 subject spiral notebooks for a penny (limit 5) or composition books for $.50 each.

Diaper Deal(s)

I believe that there will be a decent deal on Huggies Little Movers diapers at Walgreens starting Sunday (8/21). They're going to have a coupon in their ad for $8.49 (with this coupon and your card). There's a Walgreens $2 off coupon that was in the paper a few weeks ago that you should be able to pair with a manufacturer's $1.50 off coupon, making the total $4.99.

There could be another potential deal on the new Huggies Little Movers Slip Ons if you can use that Walgreens $2 off coupon with a manufacturer's $3 off coupon (only good for Little Movers Slip Ons). They are supposed to be $9.49, then take away $5 in coupons and you pay $4.49. PLUS with this purchase you get a $2 Register Reward. It would be like paying $2.49... that is IF the Walgreens coupon is valid on the "Slip Ons". A friend just told me though that the Slip Ons are overrated.

Free Toilet Paper Roll Cover

Score a free Cottonelle Toilet Paper Roll Cover simply by buying one 12-pack (or larger) of Cottonelle Clean Care Toilet Paper. Take your pick of 1 of 3 designs and enter your UPC code and mailing address at: https://www.cottonelle.com/respect-the-roll/roll-cover-offer.aspx . It's a cute little accessory to an everyday necessity!

Staples Teacher Appreciation Event

Here's another Teacher Appreciation Event... This Saturday, August 20th from 9 to noon, Staples is hosting a Teacher Appreciation Day. Get a FREE gift bag, valuable coupons, and a sneak peak at essentials for the classroom.

The Help

The Help, based on the novel by Kathryn Stockett, brought in $26 million at the Box Office in it's opening weekend. The movie is a must-see and the book is a great read. Pick up the book on sale this week at Target, available (in paperback) for just $10 in stores and at http://www.target.com/. It's definitely worth seeing what all the hype is about.

Moneymaker at Walgreens

Here's a deal available at Walgreens that is too good to pass up!

Buy any 1 Revlon nail enamel (not Top Speed or any type of "nail treatment") for $3.99 and get a $3 Register Reward good on your next purchase. To make the deal even better, there was a Walgreens coupon in the paper a few weeks ago for $2 off a Revlon cosmetic item. This would mean that for paying $1.99 out of pocket, you still get $3 to use next time. As an added bonus... there was a manufacturer coupon for $1 off a Revlon cosmetic item (and there was nail polish in the picture), which you should be able to pair with the Walgreens coupon making your potential profit $2.01!

A deal that they had running a few weeks ago on Edge or Skintimates Shave Gel or Cream is back again. Use the coupon in their ad for each product being $1.99 each. There are several coupons out there for Edge and Skintimates Gel or Cream. The Skintimates Cream usually has coupons for $1 off any one, making the purchase price 99 cents.

A pack of 6 washable Expo dry erase markers is only $.99 with a $3 off Walgreens coupon (available in their August coupon booklet).

$5 IMax Movies

The Science Museum of Virginia is offering a nice way to get in out of the heat and take in a reasonably priced (not to mention educational) show. They are showing $5 IMax movies on Sunday afternoons until Labor Day. You can take your pick of either: Hubble or SeaRex . They show alternately each hour starting at noon, and the last show begins at 5 PM.

Check out the following link for more information about specific show times:

http://www.smv.org/showtimes.html

Paris Amour Launch Event

Today only, in-stores and on-line, Bath & Body Works is hosting a launch event for their new fragrance, Paris Amour.

With any signature collection purchase, you get a free cosmetic bag and full-size lotion of Charmed Life. Not to mention that if you go the on-line route, you can get the same deal and get shipping for $1 when you spend $25. Enter the code: PARISGIFT at check out.

Michael's Tote Giveaway

Tomorrow (8/13) from 10 AM to 2 PM, Michael's will be giving away free totes to all teachers (with a valid educator ID). Nowhere in the fine print does it say that there's anything that comes with the tote or any additional discount, but you never know.

Also tomorrow from 10 to noon, they are going to be offering a "Make-It Take-It Clay Pot Bookworm" craft for ages 3 and up (with the purchase of a clay pot).

Flip Flop Wines

Flip Flop wines are on an unadvertised sale this week at Kroger for $4.99 a bottle. The nice thing about this company is that they donate a pair of flip flops to those in need with the purchase of each bottle.

2 Five Star Notebooks for $1

Here's another deal at Target this week:

Mead Five Star one-subject notebooks and composition books are on sale for $1 each. Use a $1 off any 2 Five Star notebook coupon from Sunday's paper and get the 2 notebooks for 50 cents each.

Free Lysol Wipes

Get some FREE Lysol Wipes (with a little work for a mail-in rebate)!

What you need to do:
1. Purchase any 3 Lysol products, and 1 of those products must be Lysol wipes.

2. Save the original receipt(s).

3. Complete the rebate form available at the following link:

http://www.lysol.com/healthy-families/healthy-kids/back-to-school

4. Copy your receipts and completed form to keep for your records and mail the originals to the address provided at the link above.

5. Wait 6 to 8 weeks for your rebate.

Other fun facts:

1. There are several Lysol coupons in the paper this week.

2. Target has the 35 count wipes on sale for $2.19 and the 75-80 count on sale for $3.99 this week. This includes their Dual Action wipes, which I love!

Walgreens Deals

I'm not quite sure how, but I saved $44 at Walgreens yesterday. The Walgreens savings system is a tough code to crack. Perhaps it is because our store is new, but often what's advertised in their ad does not match the price tags on the shelves, or the products are simply not carried in the store. My advice to you is to grab a weekly ad when you walk in the door (or bring one from home) so you can have it for reference. Because the coupons in their ad are not reflected on the prices on the shelves, so it's nice to be able to refer back to the ad to see what the original prices of items are to be sure you're getting the right ones.

Also, stay level headed about "Register Rewards". Register Rewards are the little tickets that print out on the machine next to the register after your transaction. Normally their ad will say something to the effect of "$9.99 - $5 Register Reward= Like Paying $4.99!". Keep in mind that in reality you are still paying $9.99, but will get a $5 voucher to use on your next purchase.

Remember you can combine manufacturer's coupons and Walgreen's coupons (either from their coupon books or weekly ads) to get maximum savings.

This week is stocked up on some Progresso soups. There is a coupon in the weekly ad for 4 for $5, plus there is a $1 off any 4 coupon from the paper this week. That means for $4 you get 4 cans of soup. I wouldn't normally get canned goods from a drug store, but for a $1 I will! Be sure to check the cans for appropriate dates.

Speaking of soups... there is Walgreen's coupon for either Campbell's tomato or chicken noodle soups for $.69 each (limit of 4) and another coupon for Green Giant canned veggies for $.69 (limit of 4).

They have these cute little mini composition books that would be perfect to keep in your purse/bag, and will make nice little goodies for my treasure chest for $.20 each thanks to a coupon in the ad.

You can use one more coupon and snag some Chapstick or Carmex lip balm for $.99 each (limit 3).

Back-to-School Bargains

That time (we do not speak of) is upon us. Might as well save a little cash while shopping at Target this week:

- RoseArt 10 ct. markers (broad or fine line) and 12 ct. colored pencils are only $.50 each. Get a FREE box of RoseArt 24 pack crayons with your purchase of markers or colored pencils.

- RoseArt 2 pack glue sticks and washable school glue are on sale for $.20 each. Nothing beats Elmer's as far as school glue goes, but the glue sticks will get the job done.

- Mead single-subject notebooks are on sale for $.50 each.

- Bic Shimmers Mechanical Pencils (8 ct.) are on sale for $.90. There was a coupon in the paper last week for $1 off any two Bic products, making 2 packs only $.40 each!

- Several sizes of Ziploc bags and storage containers are on sale for about $2.39 to $2.50. Pair that with a manufacturer's coupon (for any 2) and print a $1 off any 2 Ziploc products coupon from www.target.com.

Smooth Operator

I tweaked a recipe for a delicious strawberry banana smoothie that packs lots of protein.

Ingredients:

- 1 cup plain Greek yogurt (I cheated an used an individual 6 oz. container instead.)

- 1 medium banana

- 1 and 1/2 cups ice

- 1 teaspoon honey

- 1 cup frozen strawberries

Directions (could not be easier!):

- Put ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth! You may need to defrost the strawberries in the microwave for a few minutes if you are using a larger container. Just save the rest in the refrigerator in an air tight container.

- Enjoy!!

Turning the Big 3-0

The Baltimore Aquarium is turning 30 this year! (What else did you think I was going to say?) If you happen to share the same birth year (1981) as the Aquarium, you can score a $5 admission on Monday, August 8th. Regular admission is $24.95, so this is quite a bargain!

$1 Family Night at CMoR

If you couldn't take advantage of the CMoR's 30 cent admission day, then pencil in this offer. Target is pairing up with the Children's Museum to host $1 Family Nights on the 3rd Friday of each month. This might be even cheaper than the 30 cent admission days, because everyone pays the special $1 price. However, the museum is only offering this from 5 to 7:30 PM (hence the Family Night). The next night will be Friday, August 19th, and they'll continue through November.

(This offer is also not valid at the Short Pump location.)

Calling all Dave's... David's... etc...

If your first name is Dave, David, or even Davy, you're in luck! Sunday, August 14th is "Dave's Day". Anyone with that name gets an entree (up to a $15 value) at Famous Dave's for FREE. If it's your middle name, then your meal is 1/2 off. If it's your last name, you're out of luck. Just show a valid ID to participate.