Great savings on pumpkin patch & family fun

I was very excited to see this deal in my in box a couple of days ago and jumped on it right away. Apparently, I wasn't alone. They've already sold more than 3,000 deals! The deal is still on through the end of today 9/9.

Head to Groupon for 66% savings on admission to Oakes Farm in Corryton, TN. We've been every year for five years, and we wouldn't miss it. Now that the kids are getting older, the corn maze should be even more fun.

So here's the deal: For $11, you get three admission tickets by October 15 or two admission tickets after 10/15. Admission includes the hayride, corn maze and entrance to the "back 40"--lots of traditional games. I believe pumpkins are $5 each extra.

General admission is $10 for ages 11 and up, $8 for ages 3-10 and under 3 are free. Normally our family would have to pay $36, but with this deal, we'll only pay $19 (one groupon and one kid at the door). What a great idea to go during fall break.

For a few more tips for getting the most of your trip to Oakes Farm, check out my post from last year. My, how Brooke has changed! Ahh, fall activities. I'm ready!

FREE family movie night 8/25

My kids have been talking about this for days since we got the email from Redbox. Today, August 25 is "America's Movie Night." Search "Redbox" on Facebook and click "America's Movie Night" on the left. You're just a few clicks away from a free code. I know the movies are just a buck, but isn't it fun to get it for FREE?! What good movies have you rented from Redbox lately?

Eco-friendly scotch tape: get it FREE!

When I can score a deal that's a green product and I get it for free, I wear a smile all day. Yes, I'm that nerdy. I just stopped by Staples to get all the extreme deals on the front of the flyer for myself and my church. They still had plenty of everything, and the notebooks rang up $.09, not $.19--even better.

My favorite deal was for Scotch magic eco-friendly tape, made from 75% renewable or recycled materials. The dispenser is made from 100% recycled plastic, the back-card is from 100% renewable materials, and the tape is made from over 53% renewable plant-based materials. I'm not sure how they do that, but that's cool. You can also reuse the dispenser and buy refills separately or recycle it through Terracyle. Since our school has just started collecting for Terracycle, I'm jazzed about this idea, which pays the school $.02 for each item. Love it!

So here's the deal: You pay $3.99 and get $3.99 back in Staples rewards to use on a future purchase. Voila: FREE. Limit 1 per customer. Go green, save green, give green!

Decent Staples deals this week

If you happen to be near a Staples this week, there are a few good deals to pick up. You need a rewards card for some of them. I will probably be picking up deals for myself and my church by using both Staples cards and I won't have to pay tax on their purchases. There's a limit per account; not per customer. The deals are either in Staples rewards; pay now, save later through store credit, or Easy Rebates; pay now, they send you a check. Rewards are usually good for 2 months. Here are the deals:

1 Scotch Magic Greener tape: $3.99, get $3.99 in SR=FREE

1 Staples pack of pastel paper 500 sheets: $8.79, get $8.79 in SR=FREE

1 8 pack of Staples writing pads / steno pads: $10.79, get $10.79 in SR=FREE

1 3 pack of Scotch moving & storage tape: $13.99, get $13.99 in SR==FREE

1 5 pack Bic Mark it permanent markers: $3.00, easy rebate: $2.75=$.25

1 4 pack Pentel Wow retractable pens: $2.99, easy rebate: $2.74=$.25

5 2 pocket ply folders: $.25 each

5 Really Useful storage boxes: $.25

2 Staples 70 sheet notebooks: $.19 each

2 Staples memo books: $.50 each

What deals do you think are worth the trip?

I just picked 3 gallons of glorious blueberries!

First, the bad news: I called Falls Blueberry Farm in Maryville yesterday and they said that would be their last day. Say it isn't so?! There were just no more berries on the trees. I went the same time last year and they were dripping with berries; last year they had them well into August; so I was VERY disappointed. Between trips, camps, and VBS, we haven't had a single day to get there til now.

Second, the good news: I had heard the Blueberry Hill Farm in Norris was great. The answering machine said they were open for picking every day, sun up to sun down and they should have berries til the end of August. This farm was actually closer to me; so I piled all three kids in the car and off we went.

I was delighted to see they had PLENTY of blueberries and they were delicious! And I had the added surprise to see a friend had brought her kids there too. So we got to pick and visit at the same time. In an hour and a half, we had filled 3 gallons. I would have kept picking but the kids were done. The berries seemed nice and plump after yesterday's rain, but I did get soaked by the drops falling off the leaves. We all cooled off in the creek near Norris Lake not far away.

I am pleased with my berries, but their pricing is much higher than in Maryville. $16 a gallon--cash only (more than twice what I paid last year). I respect that they work on the honor system. You put your money in an envelope and slip it between two slats in a barn! Despite paying more, it's still much cheaper than any market's sale, they don't spray pesticides on the berries, I'm supporting local agriculture, and I've ensured I should have enough fresh berries to get me through to next summer. Very happy! Sorry I have no good pictures; I was too busy harvesting blueberries! ;-)

Details:

Blueberry Hill Farm

Brian & BJ Baxter, owner/operator

101 Reservoir Rd

Norris, TN 37828 (Anderson County)

Phone: (865) 494-7903

E-mail: info@tnblueberries.com

Web: http://www.tnblueberries.com

Couponing for Charity 7/10 - 16

Maybe it's just a summer thing, maybe we're in the midst of a slow sales cycle slump, or maybe TLC's Extreme Couponing has changed the couponing scene for everyone. Whatever the cause, I'm lamenting that lately there just aren't as many great deals as I'm used to seeing. Fewer deals for my family and fewer deals for the charities I've been supporting.

However, I have found a few deals I'll try to pick up this week.

CVS:

For all the savings, check out Southern Saver's match-ups.

For a pared down list, check out Coupon Katie.

Here's my plan:

• 1 Complete Multipurpose solution 12 oz ($7.99, get $7.99 ECB=FREE); limit 1
• 1 Balance Bar ($1.69, get $1.69 ECB=FREE); limit 1
• 2 Raison Brans ($2.50 each, $1 ECB wyb 2; use 2 $.70 printables =$1.30 each); limit 1
• 2 Colgate toothpastes 4oz ($1.66 each, use $1.50/2 CVS kiosk coupon and 2 $.75 MC=$.16 each. If I can find the $1 coupons, they're free.)

WALGREENS:

Here are all the Southern Saver match-ups.

Here is a pared down list from Coupon Katie.

I doubt I'll go into Walgreen's this week, but if I did, here's what I'd get:

Transaction #1:

• 1 Hyland's natural teething gel--a great gift for a baby shower ($5, get $5RR, use $1 printable=$1MM)

OOP: $4 + tax

RR earned: $5

Transaction #2:

• 1 W Womens 6 Blade Razor System ($3.99, get $3.99RR=FREE)
• 1 GUM 200 yards floss ($2, get $2RR=FREE)
• Use $5RR from previous transaction

OOP: $.99 + tax

RRs earned: $6

KROGER:

Click here for all the match-ups from Southern Savers.

It's another mega-sale; so lots of deals other than what I've noted here, but these are the freebies I see.

• Colgate ($.99; use $.75 - $1 MC=Free to nearly free). Tip: If you don't want to deal with ECBs and RRs, this is a great way to get free toothpaste.
• Pringles ($.85, use $.50 MC, doubled = FREE)
• Mars & Nestle bars ($.50, use $.50/2 MC or $1.19/2 e-saver=FREE)

What are your favorite deals?

FREE 8.5x11 classic linen photo book 7/9 only!

If you're looking to create a photo book for a special occasion, this looks like a great deal today. But since these aren't done in stores, you will have to pay shipping; not sure how much.

At Walgreen's the 8.5 x 11 classic linen photo book starts at $19.99, but is FREE today only. You upload your pictures and rearrange them from your computer. You can get between 10 and 75 double sided pages. Not sure how many pages are free with this offer. I have discovered that to use a free coupon code for deals like this, you need to get EXACTLY what it's offering. Don't choose another size and don't choose leather. At check-out, use the promo code "CREATEBOOK"



Offer good through Saturday, July 9 only! If you decide to get this deal, let me know what you think.