Free Nature Valley Trail Mix Bar and Granola Clusters

Nature Valley is offering a crunchy deal. When you sign up to receive their Eat Better America newsletter, they'll send you a FREE sample of their Chewy Trail Mix Bar and a pouch of New Granola Nut Clusters. You'll also receive "coupons for healthy savings," and ways to "healthify" your favorite recipes. Everyone can use more nature. Click here to sign up! Please note, you will have to verify your request through your email account once you register. I did it, and it's easy...

Scope Outlast Sample

For your FREE sample of Scope's NEW Outlast Mouthwash, you'll feel 5x as fresh (woo hoo)! Click here to receive your fresh feeling from Scope. This new product will enter Walmart stores starting September 1st.

27 Road Trip Tips for Traveling with Kids

1) Get a portable DVD player (no brainer). Obtain lots of DVD's from the local library (for FREE) or hit up your own stash for family favorites.

2) Have fun snacks the kids don't normally eat.

3) Color books, Leapster, lap/activity trays, books...

4) Metal cookie sheets with lots of magnets provide endless fun. You can also use the cookie sheet as a desk, so that the kids can manipulate small parts on it (such as Mr. Potato Head, etc.)

5) Play the license plate game (find all the States), play car bingo, sing lots and lots of songs!

6) Download podcasts. Bring your iPod.

7) Chew gum and mints. Especially bring some peppermint to stave off nausea after long amounts of driving.

8) Books on tape or CD (this is a problem for me, as our car stereo is busted)! Boo.

9) Take requests of toys the kids would like to bring, so that they feel a part of it all.

10) www.momsminivan.com also has some great ideas for road trip travel.

11) Dry erase boards.

12) Clean the minivan (or family car) first, top to bottom. Have a fresh canvas before you go.

13) Line the seats with sheets, before you buckle kids down or put the car seats in (easier to clean up after in case of messes).

14) Have trash bags handy in each "aisle" to keep things neat.

15) Keep Clorox wipes, paper towels, and face wipes handy in the car too, for easy clean up!

16) If necessary, have a "carsick" station. Maria uses a gallon-sized ice cream bin, lined with a plastic grocery bag, in case someone becomes ill in a hurry.

17) Get each kid a small bag with toys from the Dollar Store etc., and wrap them! Once every hour or two [depending on how long the trip is] they get to open one up! It keeps them looking forward to the next leg and acts like good incentive to stay patient/quiet. If it's brand new, you'll be surprised how cool it is for them and they will normally be satisfied for a good long while. You can wrap them in gift wrap, or use foil. The foil is faster and shiny too!

18) Pack an extra shirt for everyone.

19) Truly consider a port-o-potty. (I would not dream of going without one, and can't believe I did last year on our road trip). Maria says, line it with a cheap diaper, wrap it up and toss. No clean up.

20) Avoid melty snacks or drinks that spoil. Offer juice boxes or water (no milk).

21) Offer little incentives for good behavior - choosing a song, choosing the next movie - quarters for a vending machine at a rest stop - etc etc. BRIBERY=SANITY.

22) Wear comfy clothes (cotton, elastic waist work best).

23) Make sure the kids bring their special blankies, pillows and comfort items.


Some of my thoughts:

24) Stop as often as you need to. We plan to make some "pit stops" at playgrounds or at a park, so that the kids can get some fresh air and get some of their energy out.

25) Take a GPS (beg, borrow or steal). It will save you time and money if you know where you are going and can find places (such as a park) to rescue you when you are in the "middle of no where."

26) Pack most of your own food, drinks and snacks. We plan to picnic most of the way along the trip. This takes up room and planning at the beginning, but it will keep costs low in the end.

27) We also pre-planned our accommodation stops, based on our per day goals. It was more cost-effective to book this in advance, rather than "wing it," as we did last year. Last year our kids ended up "fried and miserable" after a long day of driving, and we ended up settling for a dive in a horrible part of a city. It was one of the worst nights of my life! A nice hotel (with a pool) in a decent section of town is sooooo worth it after a long drive.

Free Lava Crunch Cake at Domino's

This month, IF you are lucky enough to have a Birthday in August (and can prove it with a Birth Certificate or Driver's License), you can receive a FREE Lava Crunch Cake, a fresh new dessert from Domino's Pizza. What great way to celebrate your special day, but with chocolate cake! I think I'll be off to find someone with an August Birthday and tag along for a bite! ;)

Free Soft Soap at Target 7/26 - 8/1

When you combine/stack a Target store coupon and a manufacturer coupon at Target, you can get a FREE Soft Soap Ensemble product this week.

To print the Target coupon, click here. Then click on "Get coupon." A pop-up box will ask you to select the coupons you want. Check off the appropriate box and print!

To find the Manufacturer coupon, click here. Wait for (or skip) the intro ad, then scroll down to the bottom center to see a place where you click on a "Save $2 Now" button. Follow the instructions, and print!

Free Chef Boyardee 15oz Can

When you print this coupon for Chef Boyardee from the Simple & Delicious site, you can use it to receive a FREE 15oz. can.

Most Walmart stores (and other grocers) have this product running at $1 or under, so while prices may vary, this product will most likely be FREE with this printable coupon!

Note: While your at it, print the other coupons for the products offered as well and see if you can find a good deal!

Target Markdown Schedule

Year-round: (note: this may vary from store to store, but this is the general rule)

Monday -- Infants department, Kids clothing and Electronics (maybe food also)

Tuesday -- Women's clothing, Domestics

Wednesday -- Men's clothing, Garden, Toys, Health and Beauty

Thursday -- Lingerie, Shoes, Housewares, Sporting Goods, Luggage

Friday -- Cosmetics, Hardware, Auto, Home Improvement and Jewelry

Holidays:

All holidays except Christmas follow the 3-3-2 rule:

The first 3 days after the holiday are 50% off.
The next 3 days are 75% off.
The next 2 days are 90%.
After that it goes to salvage.

Valentines 3-3-2

Easter 3-3-2

4th of July 3-3-2 (since it's always on July 4, the schedule stays the same)
July 5 = 50% off
July 8 = 75% off
July 10 = 90% off

Halloween(since it's always on Oct. 31, the schedule stays the same)

Nov 1st = 50% off
Nov 4th = 75% off
Nov 7th = 90% off

Thanksgiving 3-3-2

Free Huggies Pure and Natural Sample

I'm a Huggies girl through and through. If you or anyone you know is expecting a baby here soon hop on over to the Huggies Pure and Natural website to sign up for a free sample of their latest diaper.

The Pure and Natural diapers are made of organic cotton, are fragrance free, hypoallergenic, and still have the same unbelievable Huggies leakage protection! Available in sizes Newborn-3. I'm sold, now if only I had a baby small enough :)

$.99 Sonic Chiller printable

Enter your email address here to receive a $.99 (reg. price $2.49) coupon for a Limeade Sonic Chiller™.Refreshing limeade blended together with creamy vanilla soft serve
Choose one of our SONIC CHILLERS™
Cherry Limeade, Strawberry Limeade, or classic Limeade
All with whipped topping and a lime!

10% off P.F. Changs until 12/31/09

Click here to view the ad a little better :)

Target Coupon Policy

Feel free to print out a copy for your coupon binder or bag. You are also encouraged to contact Target on your own and request a policy specific for your store location.

Because of the variety of coupons available to our guests, we do have some guidelines for how coupons can be redeemed at Target:

-We accept two kinds of coupons: Target-issued coupons and manufacturer-issued coupons.
-We'll accept one Target coupon and one manufacturer coupon for the same item, unless either coupon prohibits it.
-We can't give cash back if the face value of a coupon is greater than the purchase value of the item; in that case, we'll adjust the value of the coupon to equal the price of the item.
-We can't accept coupons from other retailers, or coupons for products not carried in our stores.

All valid coupons should be presented to the cashier at the time of sale.

The store has right to limit the number of items a guest buys with coupons and that store has determined their limit is one. We reserve the right to limit purchases to reasonable family-size quantities.

Have questions or want more information about using coupons at Target? Check with a Guest Services Team Leader at your local store. You can also give us a call at (800) 440-0680, or visit us on Target.com. Either way, we're here to help!

Kraft Back to School Calendar and Coupons to Boot!

Hop on over here and sign up for your free calendar! Not only can you keep track of your days, you can save away throughout the year!!

Baking Soda- Cost Saving Household Item!

Baking soda (or Sodium Bicarbonate) has been around for centuries since ancient times. It not only is cost-efficient and great for culinary purposes to this day— but it also provides wonderful advantages for household cleaning or hygienic purposes as well. The Arm & Hammer site reviews some of great solutions for cleaning and relieving on a dime. Some simple and effective uses for baking soda include:

-Jewelry cleaner

-Bug Bite reliever

-Dandruff remover

-Mouth washing agent

-Pest deterrent

-Heartburn fixer

-Appliance shiner

-Weed killer

-Kitty Litter maker

-Drain unclogger

Sun*Maid Recipe Booklet

Sun-Maid is offering a FREE "Taste of Tradition" recipe booklet. Click here to sign up. One per household. "A dazzling array of 45 kitchen-tested recipe ideas!"

Expired Coupons for Troops

Who said you can't make a difference for the men and women who serve our country? While expired coupons cannot be used by us civilians, US troops can redeem coupons overseas at their commissionaires up to 6 months after the coupons' expiration date. So, instead of tossing them, sort clipped coupons into food/non-food items, fill out a simple Customs Form at the post office and send them to:

Volunteer Coordinator
Navy FSC
PSC 811
FPO AE 09609

This is a small way we can serve those whom have served us well.

Free Herbal Candle from Beauty Boutique Herbal Spa

If you're like me and you love candles then check out Beauty Boutique Herbal Spa. This link says they'll send you a cute herbal candle. Smells good to me!

Free Quaker True Delights Sample

Click here to get your FREE sample of Quaker True Delights. There was an offer previously on this, and it was sold out. But now it's baaaaaaack!Woohoo!

Free Guitar Pick Holder and 5 Picks by Prodlix

Prodlix Custom Guitar Works is offering a FREE Prodlix Pickholder and 5 Black Picks, 88mm.

Free Kashi Cereal at Target

When you buy this SINGLE serve bowl of Kashi Cereal this week at Target, it should be FREE when you use this Target printable coupon. From the link, click on the red Print button. A list of items will pop up. Check off the $1 off of Kashi Cereal coupon (and others that you desire) and go! This is a great find, for an on-the-go healthy treat!

Free Sampler Platter at TGI Friday's!

Check out this link, because when you plan in advance, you can print a coupon to receive a FREE Jack Daniel's Appetizer Sampler Platter at TGI Friday's with a minimum of 3 guests. The platter includes chicken strips, golden fried shrimp with dipping sauce and marinated baby back pork ribs.

Free Airborne Supplement Sample

Click here to sign up for your FREE sample of Airborne, cause "Everyone's immune system could use a little help..." (including mine)! Click on the orange "FREE Sample" button on the top right on that screen.

Tax Free Weekend!

Mark your calendars!!! Whether your kids want to face the facts or not, the fall school season is quickly approaching. So perhaps you can just buck up and cut yourself another summer break by taking part in your state's (or a neighboring state's) Tax FREE Weekend for some of your Back-To-School needs.

Check out the list below to see which states are participating, and when, and then identify the dollar limits on each item so that you'll know what and how much of it will be tax FREE when you shop. Before you head out, make a list... and be determined to fly in like an early bird to get the best selection of deals. Be sure too, to preview the sales ads in your area and break out your coupons to optimize your savings. Be happy and go get lucky!

Alabama's Tax Free Weekend: Aug. 7-9, 2009

Applies to:

Clothing under $100

School supplies under $50

Books under $30

Computers/computer equipment under $750

Connecticut's Tax Free Week: Aug. 15-22, 2009

Applies to:

Clothing under $300

Shoes under $300

Georgia's Tax Free Week: July 30-Aug. 2, 2009

Applies to:

Clothing under $100

Computers/computer equipment under $1500

School supplies under $20

Iowa's Tax Free Weekend: Aug. 7-8, 2009

Applies to:

Clothing under $100

Shoes under $100

Louisiana's 2009 Sales Tax Holiday: August 7-8, 2009

Applies to:

Purchases under $2,500

Excludes the purchase of taxable services, automobiles, and meals

Mississippi's Tax Free Weekend: Jul 31-Aug. 1, 2009

Applies to:

Clothing under $100

Shoes under $100

Missouri's Tax Free Weekend: Aug. 7-9, 2009

Applies to:

Clothing under $100

School supplies under $50

Computer software under $350

Computers/computer equipment under $3,500

Note: Some cities and counties in Missouri elect not to participate.

New Mexico's Tax Free Weekend: Aug. 7-9, 2009

Applies to:

All clothing and shoes under $100

School supplies under $15

Computers under $1,000

Computer equipment under $500

New York:
Shoppers are now exempt from the 4% state sales tax 365 days per year.

Applies to:

Clothing under $110

Shoes under $110

North Carolina's Tax Free Weekend: Aug. 7-9, 2009

Applies to:

Clothing, footwear, and school supplies under $100

Sports and recreation equipment under $50

Computers under $3,500

Computer equipment under $250

Oklahoma's Tax Free Weekend: August 7-9, 2009

Applies to:

Clothing and shoes

Priced under $100

South Carolina's Tax Free Weekend: Aug. 7-9, 2009

Applies to:

Clothing

Accessories

Footwear

School supplies

Computers

Computer equipment

Tennessee's Tax Free Weekend: Aug. 7-9, 2009

Applies to:

Clothing under $100

School supplies under $100

Computers under $150

Texas' Tax Free Weekend: Aug. 21-23, 2009

Applies to:

Clothing and footwear under $100

Includes backpacks under $100 for elementary and secondary students

Includes layaway items

Washington D.C.'s Tax Free Week: Aug. 1-9

Applies to:

Clothing under $100

Accessories under $100

Shoes under $100

School supplies under $100

Includes layaway items