May 26, 2008 | Contests

Goooood Memorial Day morning! Boy, there sure are a lot of you who stayed home this weekend. 362 of you entered the contest to win the Barenaked Ladies kiddie CD, but I only have one to give away.

That sort of bites. Well, for everyone except the winner, I mean.

And that lucky winner is… number 33, Cheri! Congratulations, Cheri—I hope your family enjoys their new tunes. Please look for my email and respond with your mailing address so that I can get this shipped out to you.

Thanks to all for playing, and to Special Ops Media for donating the prize.

Don’t fret if you didn’t win! More contests are coming up!

May 25, 2008 | Hot Hot Hot!

I have no idea if this is any good or not, but it’s an interesting deal and it almost made me smile, today, when I am having a really cruddy day. (Long story short: Computer go boom.)

Anyway, I hear this wine isn’t just for housewives, but, well, take a look for yourself. (Can only be shipped to certain states, by the way. But maybe it’ll give you a giggle.)

Sort of awesome, no?

May 24, 2008 | Contests

I’m not going to go on and on about kids’ music that parents can tolerate without stabbing forks into their eardrums; we all know that the intersection between toddler joy and parental tolerance is a magical one, indeed. But did you know that another group you may already love has jumped on the kiddie entertainment train?

I have a CD here I bet you’ll like. I have a CD here I bet your kids will like. And if all else fails, I guess you could just have a snack. That’s right, it’s Snack Time by Barenaked Ladies, 24 wacky tunes suitable for car trips, impromptu dancing in your kitchen, and whatever else you can think of.

Wanna win it? Just leave a comment on this post by 11:59 on Sunday, May 25th, 2008. One entry per person, make sure you have a valid email address, etc. One winner will be chosen via random number generation and the hokey pokey.

But Mir, you may be thinking. This is a holiday weekend—won’t a lot of people be out of town and missing this contest entirely? Why yes, probably so. That just means you pretty folks who stayed home have a greater chance of winning. Lucky you!

Hot Hot Hot!

Good morning! Here’s a few deals to kick off your Memorial Day Weekend right:

Buying something big at Overstock this weekend? Get $30 off your $450+ purchase through Tuesday, May 27th, with that there link.

Stumped for Father’s Day? Say it with sugar! Erm, I mean, cookies! Shop now at David’s Cookies and save 15% with coupon code DAD15C on your $39+ order. (I have had David’s Cookies and I don’t know what they put in them… crack, maybe, because I am here to tell you that they didn’t last very long. Yum.)

If Dad’s not the cookies type, how about some carnivore indulgence? Check out the clearance deals at Omaha Steaks, because nothing says I love you like a freezer chest full of meat. (Um, unless Dad’s a vegetarian….)

The Children’s Place is having a Memorial Day event, plus you can use coupon code S2A58 through the end of the month to save 15% more.

Don’t forget about the big Memorial Day Weekend sale at Buy.com! Free shipping on select items in addition to the big savings.

There’s also a big sale over at SmartBargains for the weekend. I’ve got my eye on those zero-gravity lounge chairs….

Maybe you need a little something for yourself—right now at Monterey Bay Clothing Company you can get 50% off clearance items and $5.99 flat-rate shipping for the weekend. Need a little more incentive? Okay: combine that with coupon code 941088 to save $25 off $100+, $60 off $200+, or $120 off $300+.

Now go enjoy your day, and don’t set your deck on fire. (I am full of useful advice.)

May 23, 2008 | Hot Hot Hot!

Well, I guess just that one guy at the entrance to the Amazon Friday Sale is mostly naked, but don’t let the fact that “men’s body thong” are three words that should never go together distract you from the rest of the sale.

Wasn’t I just saying the other day that Weber grills never go on sale? I stand corrected.

How much do you love your pets? Enough to buy them their own seatbelts?

I’ve started container gardening on my deck, this year, so of course now they decide to put the Earthbox on sale. (If you are considering container gardening, this is supposedly the gold standard—great reviews.)

The refurbished Cuisinart Duet (blender and food chopper in one) is back, and this week it’s $5 cheaper—just $44.99. If you bought it last week, be sure to request a price adjustment. If you were on the fence before, now’s the time.

Father’s Day gift alert: How about a charging station valet?

You know me—the only thing I like better than a deal on a KitchenAid mixer is a deal on a really shiny KitchenAid mixer.

Yowza, they’ve marked down the Breadman TR875 2-pound breadmaker to just $59.99, again. Go, go, go! Get ‘em before they’re gone! (Great gift, by the way. Say, for your favorite bargain blogger? Heh.)

Organic sunblock!

Mr. Eraser, how do I love thee? Let me count the ways while I just get this little bit of magic marker off the wall….

Have a great Friday, folks!

May 22, 2008 | Hot Hot Hot!, What to Wear

Hey, it’s nearly holiday time, again, and by that I mean that store prices are dropping fast. Through May 28th, 2008, take an extra 10% off the top May products at Sierra Trading Post (the savings should be automatic through that link, but if not, use coupon code AC58B).

Or, use coupon code ASUM8 for 20% off Spring and Summer wear!

Or, use coupon code AC58A for free shipping on orders of $100+.

And if that’s not enough choices for you, I give up. (Did I mention that this is the first day of summer vacation? The children are already claiming boredom. I have to find these codes for you inbetween duct taping them to the floor to teach them about actual boredom.) (I’m kidding. I already had the codes, of course.)

Hot Hot Hot!

Got a kiddo headed off to college or first apartment? Need another pot for yourself? Check out the Kitchen 101 Pasta Set at Linens N Things; it’s marked down to just $9.99 with free shipping today, and you can use coupon code 26620000008 to take another 20% off. That’s a nice pot and accessories for just $8 shipped, no?

Contests

The time has come, and the random number generator has spoken. With 264 valid entries into the contest to win the Hiya Kids DVD set (do not enter the contest after the deadline, people—I delete your entries), it seems that many have a soft spot for the Saturday morning shows of yore. I’m not sure when yore was, exactly, but I’m certain I didn’t have all this gray hair, back then.

Anyway! Our winner is—drumroll, please!—commenter 195, Maura! Congratulations, Maura! Please check your email and get me your mailing address so that I can send you this fabulous set.

Many thanks to Special Ops media for donating the prize, and to everyone who played. More contests are coming up, I promise, so don’t fret if your number hasn’t come up so far. I’m just like the Publisher’s Clearing House, only without the giant checks and balloons. And, um, with more winners.

For the kids, Hot Hot Hot!

Need a baby shower gift that’ll make a big splash, or a classroom gift for a preschool or kindergarten teacher you adore?

I’ve got you covered.

Amazon has the oversize gift editions of The Little Engine That Could and The Ugly Duckling marked down to $17 apiece. These are gigantic hardcover books with gorgeous illustrations—take a look at the customer images to see just how big they are.

I wouldn’t give one to the mom-to-be who lives in a New York City studio, but for someone who has the space for it, this is a unique and striking gift.

Because what kid doesn’t love a big as big as he is?

May 21, 2008 | Hot Hot Hot!, Product Talk

Ooooh, I must really need to get a life. I know this because it’s nearly 10:30 at night and instead of doing something interesting or sleeping, I am sitting here working, and I just saw this silicone spoon marked down to just $1.99 and I got all excited. Plus! It’s on the 4-for-3 promotion, so you can get four of ‘em for under $6! That’s exciting. When you’re me.

Question: The original price is $12, which I think is accurate (if you look along the side for “more buying options” you’ll see it’s the same from Cooking.com), but who spends $12 on a spoon?

None of you pretty people, I’m certain, but really: Who?