Deals & Steals – 9/4/09

Here’s the information I’ve come across this week and want to pass along to you! 

Note: Many of these are not in my own words, but taken straight from the e-mail or press release that I received. I have re-worded or re-written where I thought it was necessary or helpful.

Now through September 8th at 10:00 pm EST, you can save 25% on the new girls’ apparel at LittleMissMatched! Just use the code ‘APPAREL25’ at checkout to receive the discount. And receive free shipping on all orders over $75 (see site for details).

Are you ready for some serious shopping & savings? 6pm, the one-stop, online source for brand name shoes, apparel and accessories for women, men & kids – all at up to 75% off retail prices, is offering AMAZING sales over the Labor Day Weekend! Pull out the credit card, because on Tuesday, September 8 (the day after the holiday!) 6pm is offering ALL UGG footwear at 80% off the MSRP! Can you believe it!?

Here is a quick overview of what will be on sale!

Friday, 09/04/09

• Vaneli Footwear, Select Styles $24.95
• Patagonia Apparel – 60% off
• Chinese Laundry Footwear – $19.95

Saturday 09/05/09

• Steve Madden Footwear – $27.95 Select Styles
• Nine West Footwear – $29.95 Select Styles
• Baby Phat Eyewear – $14.95
• Roxy BLOWOUT: Apparel, Footwear & Accessories – Select Styles 60% off

Sunday 09/06/09

• Nike Apparel – Men’s, Women’s and Kids – All Apparel 50% off
• Vaneli – $24.95 Select Styles
• Gretta Footwear – $14.95

Tuesday 09/08/09

• 80% off MSRP all Uggs!

Happy Shopping!

The Jim Henson Company’s new series, “Dinosaur Train” is premiering on PBS KIDS® (check local listings), Monday, September 7, 2009.

The new series features Buddy, an adorable preschool age Tyrannosaurus Rex. Each of the 40 half-hour episodes includes two 11-minute animated segments, which follow Buddy and his adoptive Pteranodon family, on their adventures with all kinds of dinosaurs, creatures and reptiles. Young viewers will join the travelers on a whimsical journey through prehistoric jungles, swamps, volcanoes and oceans as they learn how to compare and contrast different dinosaurs. The series continues Henson’s legacy of quality children’s entertainment and joins Henson’s successful series Sid the Science Kid™ which also airs on PBS KIDS.

Click here to watch a full episode http://pbskids.org/dinosaurtrain/videos/index.html

And also on September 7th, a new episode of the popular show, Word World will debut on PBS. Visit here to see a special sneak peek clip of the new episode!

Just about now, we have already done all of our back to school shopping and after the book bags, sneakers, school supplies, and new clothes, there is little left over for anything else! Starting this week, Mom Central will begin their Back to School Giveaways for some of those items that may not have made the cut, but families would still love to have.  Each week they will post new giveaways, such as:

1. Lexmark Printer: Print out your student’s book reports, history essays, and science labs with this top of the line Lexmark printer. Turn in those assignments in top form. Mom and Dad might also appreciate this giveaway as well!
2. Gymboree Gift Card: Keep your little one looking stylish this school year with a gift card to Gymboree.  Gymboree carries adorable clothing from newborn sizes all the way up to age 12.  As for one of my favorite holidays, their Halloween shop does not disappoint with some of the cutest costumes around!
3. Shred Sled: A great way for your kids to enjoy the autumn weather, the Shred Sled combines the movements of skateboarding and snowboarding together for a unique, fun, and healthy activity for the young—and the young at heart!  With four inline wheels and a concave foot deck, the rider also has much more control than a traditional skateboard.

You can make your home design dreams come true!  Just visit www.ScotchBlue.com to enter the Renew Your Space Instant Win Game for a chance to win $10,000 and a design consultation with Scotch-Blue Painter’s Tape design expert Amy Matthews of the DIY Network’s “Sweat Equity” and “Bathroom Renovations.”

If you have big design dreams but are working with a small budget, no fear – you don’t have to sacrifice style and professional-looking results.  Try these budget-friendly decorating tips from designer and contractor Amy Matthews to help get you the priceless design you’ve always wanted without breaking the bank:

• Shed a little light: Give your kitchen an instant and inexpensive makeover simply by replacing outdated fixtures like faucets, lighting and hardware. You can also add a tile backsplash or under-cabinet lights to really dress up your kitchen.  Not only are these functional and design-oriented, they really help deliver a big bang for your buck.
• A little dab will do: Before you commit to a paint color, buy samples and try them out on the wall. See how the color looks during the day, at night and under various types of lighting. Also, be sure to have painter’s tape on hand, such as Scotch-Blue Painter’s Tape for Delicate Surfaces. Whether you’re painting one accent wall or tackling the whole house, masking trim, baseboards, and other areas with painter’s tape lets you avoid a mess and achieve clean, sharp paint lines.
• Something old, something new: Add one special piece in the living room that makes a great conversation starter. This could be a lighting fixture, a piece of furniture or a unique rug – something signature to your style. You can find great pieces by shopping at designer sales and discount showrooms, or uncover treasures in your own house. Rummage through the attic or basement to rediscover pictures, vases or your grandmother’s antique chest. You’ll be surprised with what you may find.
• Accent on accessories: Fancy towels aren’t just for your guests’ bathroom – treat yourself to new towels in the master bathroom and quickly transform it into an updated and inviting space. For your living spaces, changing couch covers seasonally will keep your décor fresh and make it look like you purchased new furniture. Try brown microfiber for fall, white linen for summer and sage green in the spring.
• Bring the outdoors in: Take a hint from nature and get inspired by the seasons and the beautiful hues outside. Once you’ve decided on one or two colors, buy pillows, lampshades and other accessories to place throughout your bedroom. Experiment with patterns, warm colors like red and orange, or calm hues like moss greens and sage. Branches and flowers are inexpensive and can also add instant charm to any living area.
• Soak up the sun: When landscaping, buy smaller and younger plants that need time to grow.  They’ll be ready in a couple of years when you’re ready to sell your house. Fresh cedar mulch or rock landscaping are other great ways to improve curb appeal – they’re inexpensive and will really make your yard pop.

Are your kids fans of the television cartoons Ben 10 Alien Force, Dragon Ball Z, or live-action, motorcycle-charged Kamen Rider Dragon Knight?

The folks at Bandai America, the makers of the Ben 10 Alien Force, Dragon Ball Z, and Kamen Rider lines of toys, would like to share with you three special Friends and Family Coupons that you can use for saving $ on toys from these popular collections.

Here are the details:

• Dragon Ball Z: One of the most most popular anime properties and cartoons of all time. Get $1 off any purchase of $9.99 or more of any Bandai America Dragon Ball Z product with this coupon: http://www.bandai.com/blog/news/save-1-00-on-kr-dbz-toys
• Ben 10 Alien Force: Ben 10 Alien Force is the hit Cartoon Network show about hero Ben who transforms himself into various super cool, super-powered alien allies to save the day! Get $2 off a Ben 10 Chromastone 4”inch toy by downloading the following coupon: http://www.bandai.com/blog/promo/b10_summer09/B10_Summer_Promo.pdf)
• Kamen Rider Dragon Knight. In a parallel dimension on the other side of your mirror, the motorcycle-riding Kamen Riders fight to save the planet from evil General Xaviax. Print out the following coupon to get $1 off any purchase of $9.99 or more of any Kamen Rider Dragon Knight product: http://www.bandai.com/blog/news/save-1-00-on-kr-dbz-toys

Please note the various expiration dates for each offer as listed on the coupons, which can be redeemed at participating retail locations (a partial list can be found here).

The ‘Hope is in the Cards’ Campaign was started by small business owner Russ Haan to help lift the nation’s spirit by encouraging people to send 300 million greeting cards by mail. His goal is to spread optimism during our tough economic times by sending messages of encouragement to friends and loved ones during The Week of Hope, September 1-7, 2009.

To help in the campaign, Cardstore.com is offering customers one free personalized card from September 1-7, 2009! Customers can choose a greeting card from the Hope Collection, add their own message and photos, then Cardstore.com will print and mail it to anyone they choose, worldwide, all for free (use code: SENDHOPE by 9.07.09 midnight PST).

With back to school on all of our minds, we anticipate the return of yearly rituals such as homework, tests and PTA meetings. But as teachers ready their classrooms for students’ return, they must also prepare for the upcoming flu season. This school year, the National Education Association’s Health Information Network and The Clorox Company will offer a coupon for a free canister of Clorox Disinfecting Wipes to teachers nationwide to help them welcome back their students, but not the germs and viruses that often come with them.  Through September 5th, teachers can sign up to receive a coupon for their wipes at www.cloroxclassrooms.com, while supplies last.  At the Web site, teachers can also sign up for a free “Clean Up the Classroom” kit, which features lesson plans, games, and other tools to help reduce the spread of germs.

Committed to reaching 5 million girls globally by 2010 with self-esteem building programming, the Dove Self-Esteem Fund has collaborated with Jess Weiner, best-selling author and self-esteem expert, to create 10 tips to help parents tackle some of the toughest subjects teen girls face today.

The tips can help address tough questions and can help make the transition back into the school year a smooth one.  Here are a few excerpts:

• What is this new “super girl” syndrome trend and why do so many girls feel pressure to do it all?
• How do I help my daughter set realistic goals?
• What actions can I take to encourage a positive body image?
• What type of girls are prone to bullying – online and offline?
• How can I convince my daughter to find her true friends and deal with “frenemies”?

Canon’s Creative Park for Creative Minds is a free, online resource that can help bring fun, easy craft projects into your home.

The Creative Park Web site offers ideas and templates for any lesson plan with projects ranging from 3D Paper Crafts, to scrapbooks and calendars and even tips on digital photography! It is a simple and interactive way to help teach your children about geography, history, social studies, sciences and more. These smart ideas are both an easy and affordable way to turn your home into a creative, educational environment. Canon also offers a range of solutions to take these projects to the next level.  To learn more, please visit http://www.learningtocreate.com.

Learning to think creatively is an essential part of a child’s development and can be integrated into your everyday activities at http://cp.c-ij.com/en/, whether you are printing up your favorite photos or working on a Creative Park project.

Whole Foods Market  and Chef Ann Cooper, have just joined forces to transform lunch in schools across the country with the “School Lunch Revolution” campaign. This national effort, aims to enable schools to improve the way children eat. The free, first-of-its-kind Lunch Box Web site – thelunchbox.org – will provide the necessary resources for food service directors to make tangible changes in their cafeteria menus.

As well, on Sept. 8th Whole Foods Market is launching a video contest in which people create a 1 minute video speaking to why their schools need lunch reform.  Ann Cooper will go to the winners school or district offices for a presentation and fact finding explorative. Ann will then deliver a limited custom document that supports next steps for the school or district to move forward in making the school lunch program healthier.

That’s it for this week, happy Friday and check back next week for more ‘Deals & Steals’!