Why I'm MIA

Yes, I haven't posted anything since Dec 2008. I've thought about it, but just fell into a lull. My life has been consumed by preschool, evening classes and focusing on my jewelry line (see right). So, I apologize and hopefully soon I'll post fabulous shopping deals before Dec 2009 rolls around. Until then...

Win a $500 Gift Card to WalMart!

Share your best money saving holiday tip and you could win a $500 gift card to Wal-Mart compliments of Nickelodeon. All you need to do is visit one of Walmart's Eleven Moms, read their blog about the contest, and post your best holiday tip for an entry. You can start here with Being Frugal.net , an awesome money saving blog that you should seriously consider adding to your blog reader list.

And in the spirit of the contest, here's my best money saving holiday tip. If you're a little strapped for cash this season to buy holiday gifts, but want to give at least something, consider making a small donation to charities such as March of Dimes. You can donate as little as $1 in someone's name and it will help that charity tremendously. You can also printout a receipt that shows the gift recipient's name and the name of the charity (the amount will not show). This a beautiful, priceless gift that will make you and the gift recipient feel good. It really embodies the holiday spirit of giving.

We are Family...and Friends! Discounts Galore!

Now sing along if you know this Pointer Sisters song:

We are family (and friends),
I've got all my discounts with me,
We are family (and friends),
Come on everybody, let's spend!

Hee, hee! Well, seems like major retailers are spreading the love with their friends and family discounts before Black Friday hits. Take advantage of these special discounts to get your holiday shopping under control. Don't forget to check out the clearance section for extra savings. Also, please make sure to read the fine print of all offers for exclusions, exceptions and expiration dates.

Bath & Body Works: Pamper yourself with a 20% discount valid only online using promo code 20FRIENDS. Expires 11/16/08.

Bloomingdales: Designer brands are a tad more affordable with Friends & Family code FANDF. Pair the savings with Bloomie's current sale of 20% off Fall Favorites for Women and you'll get a runway look for less. Promo ends 11/16/08/.

Calvin Klein Underwear: For an intimate gift, click over to Calvin Klein's online store and use promo code FRIENDS2 to save 30% off your purchase. You can also save up to 50% off on select clearance items. Sale ends 11/18/2008.

Charlotte Russe: Print out this e-mail coupon and bring to your local store to save 30% until 11/18/08.

Chicos, White House|Black Market, Soma Intimates: Save 25% online through 11/16/08 with the following codes:
Chicos: 6321
B&W House: 8750
Soma: 7113

Eddie Bauer: Use online promo code HOLFANDF to save 30% (except clearance items) from 11/14/08-11/16/08.

Gap, Gap Outlet, Banana Republic, Banana Republic Factory Store, Old Navy: According to these popular retailers, it's "Give and Get" time with this special Friends & Family code that knocks off 30% off your purchase. Please note that this code can be used multiple times in-store; the online code shown is a one-time use only. Valid 11/13/08 - 11/16/08.

Harry & David: Stock up on these popular edible gifts with this printable coupon that takes 30% off your purchase through 11/16/08.

KB Toys: Use this in-store Friends & Family coupon to save 20% your purchase on either 11/17/08 or 11/24/08.

Janie & Jack: I have never seen this type of discount from Janie & Jack - save 25% from 11/14-11/16 with their friends & family promotion!

Restoration Hardware: Get 20% off your online purchase with promo code FFR2008.

Free Holiday Shipping

Save yourself from the stress of holiday crowds with free shipping offers from the following online retailers. Pair the savings by going through Ebates or other cash back sites (see list on the right) and you'll have a little extra cash to get something for yourself!

Fisher Price: Purchase $50 or more from their online store and get free shipping until 11/14/08.

HSN: Purchase from hundreds of select toys available at HSN and you'll get free shipping. Try using promo code C79238 to save an extra 15% (supposedly works on orders over $50). Expiration unknown.

KB Toys: Enjoy free standard shipping here on thousands of toys until 11/17/08.

Roxy: Get free shipping on orders over $49 (no code required). Expires 11/16/08.

Toys R' Us: Take advantage of small and big ticket items with its free shipping offer on orders of $49 or more. Expiration unknown.

Free Food Network Magazine

Attention cooks and food lovers! Get the premiere issue for free through this link from Hearst Magazines. Make sure you read the fine print - you'll be sent a bill for $15 if you like the magazine; if not, just write "cancel" on the bill and you will not be charged.

Sizing Up Shampoos

Need to switch up your shampoos? Then try these free shampoo samples listed below. Also, read here for an interesting answer to the question of whether it is beneficial to periodically change up your shampoos. I have always wondered about that!

Nexxus -Get a FREE sample of Nexxus Therappe Luxurious Moisturizing Shampoo and Humectress Ultimate Moisturizing Conditioner.

Salon Secret Sample from WalMart: Your sample will ship 11/24/08, and the name of the "secret" product will be revealed as well.

Pantene - Enjoy a free sample of Pantene Collections Shampoos.

Victoria's Secret - Get 2 Bras and Panties Under $20!

Originally this post by $20 for Charity was on how to score 2 sweaters, 2 bras and 1 panty for under $30. Unfortunately, the sweater deal has expired (darn!), but you can still get 2 bras and 1 panty for less than $20. Just follow the steps in her post (excluding the sweater deal). Also, when selecting a panty, make sure it is white, buff or ivory. The code will not go through if you select other colors. My grand total came out to $17.98 -I spend that on one bra alone! Have fun stocking up for yourself or others (i.e. Christmas gifts)!

More Free Eats on Election Day

Here's a supplement to my previous post on free food offered by national food chains on election day. All the info is from The Orange County Register (see full article here). Seems like more eateries are really trying to encourage people to get out there and vote! Also be sure to check out your local restaurants for any freebies or promotions on Nov. 4.

Starbucks: Voters will receive a free tall coffee on Nov. 4. For more details, see the ad at http://www.youtube.com/starbucks.

Pizza Hut: Pizza Hut will give a 20 percent discount to all online orders scheduled for delivery or pick-up on Nov. 4. NOTE: Valid for new online customers only.

Daily Grill: Enjoy a free appetizer rom 4 p.m. to 11 p.m. For locations, check here.

Pat & Oscar’s: Dine in after casting you vote and receive 20% off on Nov. 4. Pat & Oscar’s locations listed here.

Vote & Get Free Food!

Given the rumors that the lines at the poll will be longer than previous elections, you'll probably miss a meal just to get your vote in. So thanks to The Bargainist for this great post on select restaurants that are rewarding your civic duty (and patience) with free eats on election day. Here is the post from the website:

"A few restaurant chains are doing their patriotic duty by giving away free food on Election Day this November 4th. Start the day with a free star shaped doughnut with patriotic sprinkles from Krispy Kreme. Each customer that shows up with an "I Voted" sticker will receive one. Then head over to Shane's Rib Shack where they'll be giving away a free "Vote America Meal" that consists of three hand-breaded chicken tenders, fries and a 20 oz. drink. Here again you must show your "I Voted Today" sticker. Chick-fil-a is also fulfilling their patriot duty with a free Chicken Sandwich for all voters. Finish up the day at your local Ben & Jerry's between the hours of 5-8pm, and you'll get a free scoop of ice cream. All offers valid on 11/04/2008 only. [Thanks, Everyone!]"

Hot Weekend Deals

Here's a few deals from around the blogosphere:

6pm.com: All RSVP shoes for women are marked down to $9.99. Just type in RSVP in search box. I found lots of sandals, pumps, dressy heels and even kids shoes for $9.99. Check out these awesome floral adorned shoes that are on sale! If you purchase through CashBaq (similar to Ebates and FYI Ebates did not have a cash back option for 6pm.com), you'll receive 5% back of your purchase (plus you'll get $5 for signing up). (thanks to My Bargain Buddy)

Bev Mo: Buy one bottle of wine, get the second for a nickel! Some 150 wines are eligible for the discount which ends December 7, 2008. (thanks to The Bargain Hunter!)

Fashion Bug: Save 50% sitewide on women's apparel through Nov. 3. Check out this plaid babydoll jacket now reduced to $15.98!

MAC Cosmetics: Free shipping on any purchase this weekend with promo code 3DAY. (thanks again to The Bargain Hunter!)

$10 off $10 or more online purchase at JCPenney's - TODAY ONLY!

It's one-day sales galore! Here's another from JCPenney that cuts $10 off a purchase of $10 or more online with promo code DOOR39. Valid today only! You still have to pay for tax and shipping, but it's still a pretty good deal. To make this deal even better, use the coupon on merchandise you can find in the $9.99 clearance section or their Wednesday deals (can be found under Clearance section, then scroll all the way down on left). Thanks to the Bargainist for alerting us of this fantastic find!

E.L.F. Mineral Makeup is 50% off - ONE DAY ONLY!

If you're interested in hopping on the mineral makeup train, check out the 50% off sale (on purchases over $25) on all minerals at E.L.F. (acronym for Eyes, Lips & Face) with promotional code EGMINERALC. I added lipsticks, kabuki brushes, blushes, and oil-stopping mineral sheer all slashed to $2.50 each to my shopping cart. For mineral makeup virgins, the starter kits, which include foundation, concealer, blush, two brushes and makeup case are a steal for $10. This is my first time testing out E.L.F.'s mineral line, so I'm crossing my fingers that the products are good. Most of the products received 4 out of 5 stars which is a positive sign. Also, if you spend more than $25 (after discount), you'll receive a free subscription to Glamour Magazine (note: there's also a refund of $9.99 if you don't want the magazine - see website for details). According to my e-mail alert, this is a 24-hour sale - I received the e-mail this A.M. (10/28) so order fast!

Shop Early and Save Big

When I was younger (i.e. before kids), I used to love shopping the day after Thanksgiving. I had enough energy to wake up at 4 a.m., enough patience to brave the frenetic holiday shoppers, and enough time to wait in line to get that deeply discounted sales item.

With child in tow and a busy schedule full of school activities, playdates, errands and birthday parties, I have neither the energy, patience or time to entertain Black Friday. But that doesn't mean that good deals can't be had beforehand. In fact, better deals are sprouting way ahead of the highly anticipated post-Thanksgiving sales. Just shop early and you'll probably save more money! Here are a few deals to kickstart your holiday shopping - I'll keep posting more holiday deals under the heading "Shop Early and Save Big" so be on the lookout!

TOYS, TOYS, TOYS
Toys R Us: Get free shipping up to $15 by signing up for their free rewards program here. The code is valid 10/28/08 through 11/11/08.

Amazon.com: Currently, Amazon is offering a free 2-year subscription to Cookie Magazine with any toy purchase of $25 or more (see details here). You can opt to get a refund for the subscription, thereby recouping $15 (the value of the subscription). Also, check Amazon's Monday markdowns, where several random toys are discounted. Sign-up for their e-mail newsletter to stay on top of the sales.

LeapFrog.com: Save up to 70% selected toys, plus get free shipping on orders over $50 through 10/31/08.

RESTAURANTS
Restaurants.com: This website is slashing 80% off $25 gift certificates, bringing the cost down to a mere $2. These make great Christmas gifts for family or friends who enjoy dining out! Enter code TREATS. If you check out through Ebates, you'll get 15% cash back to boot.

I've Been Tagged!

Denise from "The Centsible Sawyer" tagged me this week to share 7 random things. So here they are:

7 Random Things About Me

1. If you saw me, you’d never guess that I was born and raised in the South. (I’m Filipino-American!)

2. I LOVE shopping at flea markets and thrift stores for clothes and shoes better than going to the mall. It’s like finding hidden treasures, and you can be sure that what you’ve bought is unique.

3. I wanted to be an actress when I was little girl. I used to rehearse my Oscar speech in the bathroom over and over again!

4. I enjoy all kinds of music, but I have a penchant for rap and hip hop.

5. I am a big foodie! I just love to eat! When I have time, I like to cook for my family and friends. I also enjoy going out to eat to try different restaurants.

6. I love watching corny, funny movies that make you laugh so hard, you can hardly breathe! My favorites are The Nutty Professor (with Eddie Murphy) and Anchorman.

7. I would love to own a boutique one day, filled with lots of beautiful clothes, shoes, purses, jewelry and other accessories every woman would want!

So, let's tag the following bloggers to learn some interesting things about them (I don't know many...) :

Afrohemian Eclectic
Crazy Coupon Mom

Free Sample of Dunkin Donuts Coffee

Extra 50% Clearance Items at Wilson's Leather

Leather is much more affordable with this sale at Wilson's Leather, offering an additional 50% off clearance items. I found this leather shopper (pictured left) for $29.94* and this chic briefcase for $39.94*. Men's leathers coats were as low as $79.94* and wallets were down to $17.44*. There's a couple of non-leather items such as this all black trench coat by Guess for $99.99* and this belted trench coat by Nine West for $59.94*. (*All prices include 50% off discount). I don't know when the sale ends, but if you're a leather lover, check it out now.

Food Savings

First of all, I want to apologize for not keeping up with my blog lately. I thought life would be easier once my daughter started preschool, but it only has seemed to have become busier! At any rate, I'm back and hopefully will be better at posting deals!

I know saving money, especially on food, has become a priority for many given the current state of the economy. Here's some money saving coupons and deals from around the blogosphere that should help you stay afloat.

FOOD DEALS
- Get 14 hamburgers and a cutting board for $1.98 (includes shipping) from Omaha Steaks, thanks to this post by My Good Cents. If you prefer to get all meat (no cutting board), you can get 20 hamburgers for $1.98 by tweaking her directions slightly as follows:

1) Go here and click on “Register and Save with Omaha Steaks”. This is for Geico Privileges and it is FREE to join and you do not have to be a member. You will receive a code in your email for $25 off at Omaha Steaks – I waited overnight for mine to show up in my mailbox, but some people say that it will take about two hours.

2) Once you get your gift certificate, click on this link http://www.shareomahasteaks.com/k/NzcsMgUYGikBFoYKBCkDCQoFBgs=/143747/trtmnt/11860/. This link will get you 12 hamburgers for FREE, but only when you click through it. (PLEASE NOTE: this link offers me a bonus when people order; if you'd prefer not to do this, use this link instead www.shareomahasteaks.com)

3) Go to the “Burgers” section and add the eight (8) 5 oz Omaha Steak Burgers for $12.99 in your cart.

4) Go to “Checkout” and you should see the 8 burgers you ordered, plus the 12 for free.

5) Enter the $25 gift certificate code from Geico.

6) Your grand total, including shipping, will be $1.98! That’s about 10 cents per burger!

FREE/ALMOST FREE COFFEE
- Get a free sample of Folgers coffee via WalMart
- Get a free cappucino from Barnes & Noble with this coupon
- Check out this post from The Bargain Hunter about getting a 5 cent cup of coffee for the entire month of October at your local Walgreens

COUPONS
- Whole Foods: Save $5 off a purchase of $25 or more with this coupon.

Hot Online Sales for Fashionistas!

Ann Taylor - Take an extra 25% off already reduced clearance items when shopping online. Take advantage of wardrobe staples such as cardigans as low as $22.49 (includes discount), suit jackets for $74 (with discount) and wool pants for $52.50. You can also indulge in trendy separates such as this silk stretch medallion print halter (pictured right) for $22.50.


Express - Express continues to lure fashionistas with a promotion for $15 off $30 or $30 off $75 with code 5882. Pair this coupon code with their current sale featuring Buy One, Get One 50% off select items, $10-20 off sweaters, and 40% off jackets and skirts and you'll score big!


Wet Seal - Save an extra 30% off select online clearance merchandise ending in .99. You'll find cute underwear as low as $1.99, lotion gift sets by Miso Pretty for $9.99 and tops for $9.99. My picks include a black mini military skirt for $9.99 (good for Fall paired with funky tights) and this Vermillion striped belted blouse for $9.99 pictured right. Use code 1107WLCE for free shipping to boot. Make sure you like what you buy as all sales items are final!

Arden B. Sale - 65% off Select Clearance Items!

If you're a fan of Arden B.'s contemporary clothing line, check out their current sale where you can take an additional 65% off the lowest marked price on select styles. There's not a whole lot to choose from, but I did find an Ikat Knee Length Skirt for $17.50 (with discount and reg. $58), baby doll camis for $7 (after discount) and shorts for about $14 (after discount). Sizes are limited, so hurry fast! All sales are final.

Food & Drink Deals of the Day

Check out these appetizing deals:

McCormick & Schmicks: Get a $20 gift certificate when you make an online reservation by 9/30/08. Follow the 4 easy steps and you'll be on your way to a seafood feast.

Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf is celebrating its 45th anniversary throughout the month of September with various offers outlined below. Not free, but paying 63 cents vs. $3.50 for a cup of tea is a bargain these days!

Tuesday, Sept. 9th: 63 cent brewed coffee
Tuesday, Sept.16th: 63 cent hot tea
Tuesday, Sept. 23rd: 20% off one pound of house blend coffee
Tuesday, Sept. 30th: 20% off any 20-count tea bag tin
Tuesday, Oct. 7th: Add a FREE espresso shot to any drink