Freebies on Facebook!     5 comments

Facebook  is a marketing mecca for thousands of companies and it is also a source for coupons, freebies and samples.Â
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Nordstrom Beauty’s Facebook page was recently featured on The Today Show.  Every week Nordstrom has what it calls Free Sample Saturday in stores,  and you can log on to the Facebook page to see what each week’s freebie will be.   This week it’s Smashbox Cosmetics Photo Finish Primer.

Also on Facebook,  free Cheez-Its.     All you need to do is vote for your favorite kind on the Cheez-Its page.

 If you’re headed to the Georgia Home and Garden Show in Gwinnett County  next weekend, here’s where to get free tickets: sign up on the home improvement website Networx.com and get a voucher for a free ticket.   The Home and Garden show is February 11th through the 13th.

Michael’s Craft stores have a free event on Tuesday February 8th. From 10 am to noon, they get to make free one of a kind Valentine’s day hand puppets.  It’s open to children age 3 years old and up.

Bank of America and Merrill Lynch cardholders get free admission to the High Museum of Art and the Atlanta History Center on the first weekend of the month, February 5th and 6th.

And Fulton County residents get free admission to the High Museum of Art on the first Saturday of the month.

    1 comment

 Black Friday is over, but the shopping isn’t.   Cyber Monday is the official kickoff to the online shopping season.

Here are some ways to save money while shopping online:

Register at Swagbucks.com to earn points that appear on your computer randomly as you search the internet.  The points can be redeemed for prizes and gift cards.  450 points qualifies you for a $5 Amazon gift card.

Compare prices at pricegrabber com.  Once you find the item you are looking for, check ebates.com and shopathome.com for rebates.   Both websites offer rebates that vary from one to 12 percent and vary by the store and by the day.

Before checking out go to retailmenot.com and promotionalcodes.com to find codes for additional discounts and free shipping.

Another way to get free shipping on many items is by joining Amazon prime.  It’s $79 but right now amazon is offering a  free one month trial membership.  

Many retailers will be posting their cyber monday discounts at cybermonday.com.  It’s the national retail federation’s official Cyber Monday website.

Toy Bargains Not Always in Toy Stores     5 comments

If you want to save money on toys sometimes you’re better off staying out of the toy stores. 

Aldi is a German based no frills grocery store chain that stocks a small assortment of gift and toy deals in limited quantities every holiday season.

This year Aldi has the popular kids’ toys Bakugan, Star Wars Lego and Barbie accessories at rock botttom prices.

For example, the Lego Star Wars Freeco Speeder set is $18.99 at Aldi.   That is at least three dollars less than at Amazon.com or Walmart.  Pricegrabber.com also didn’t find a lower price on the Lego items.

Another place to check for popular toys is at  Tuesday Morning, which carries overstock and liquidated items or items that may have undergone logo or packaging changes. 

Consignment stores can also be a gold mine and gently used toys aren’t encased in difficult to remove plastic packaging and wires!

Also keep in mind that Walmart stores will usually match a competitor’s price if you bring in a current ad.  The Aldi sale runs through Tuesday November 9th.

Wow, Some Great Deals This Week!     2 comments

Saint Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital is holding an online Halloween sale.  Children’s costumes are as low as  $5.00 and some baby items are $1.00. The sale also includes decorations and party supplies.

Restaurant.com is having an 80 percent off sale. $25.00 gift certificates for local restaurants are available for $2.00 when you use the code “TOUCHDOWN” at checkout.
Most restaurants require a purchase of least $35 dollars worth of food,   so out of pocket expenses  will be $12.00  plus tip for a 35 dollar meal.

Buckhead Life Restaurant Group is giving away thousands of $25.00 gift cards.   Like them on Facebook and provide your address to get the card.   The gift cards are good for dinner only at Buckhead Diner, Blue Pointe and many other restaurants in the Buckhead Life corporation.   Bistro Niko is not included.   This offer ends on  Tuesday, September 14th. 14th.

Cobb County Restaurant Week continues through next Saturday. Participating restaurants will provide fixed price lunches and dinners for $20.10.Those restaurants include The Grape and Soho on Paces Ferry, The Marietta Fish Market and Shillings On The Square.  For the full list go to the Cobb Convention and Visitor’s Bureau website.

B.J.’s Wholesale club has another free trial membership available. Customers can activate the card any time before December 31st, 2010 and use it free for sixty days.  Click here to get a BJ’s temporary membership.

5 Different Discounts at Georgia Aquarium     7 comments

Read, Shop Repeat: This Week’s Bargains     1 comment

On Sunday April 18th, participating Target stores are giving away FREE reusable shopping bags. A purchase may be required. (How about a pack of gum?)

Scotia Salon in Roswell is having a Cut-A-Thon Sunday April 18th from 12 to 5 pm to benefit the Foster Care Support Foundation. Wet haircuts are $10.00.  Scotia is located at 1055 Canton Street, Suite 120, Roswell, GA 30075. (770) 645-0811 

Oxxo Dry Cleaners in Buckhead will offer a 60 percent off coupon on Scoutmob.com this week.  The store is located at 3165 Peachtree Road, Suite C, Atlanta, GA 30305 (404) 660-0023

Other Scoutmob deals this week:

Monday: 50% off Luckie Food Lounge (Downtown) - 

Tuesday: 50% off Fuze Burger (Midtown)

Wednesday: 50% off Tavern 99 (Buckhead

Thursday: 60% off OXXO Cleaners (Buckhead)

Friday: 50% off The Village Jerk (East Atlanta)                    

Global Freight Liquidations in Norcross has a new shipment from a local warehouse club store. The stock includes baby items and clothing. Global Freight Liquidations has changed the pricing on its clothing: men’s and women’s clothing that retails for $50 or less is all priced at $6.95, kids’ clothing is $4.95.

Thursday, April 22nd is Earth Day. Customers who bring a container from their current facial care products will receive a full size facial cleanser FREE at participating Origins counters in local department stores.  For details go to Origins Facebook page.

April 17-24th is National Park Week. and entrance fees are being waived in National Parks across the U.S.  In metro Atlanta the Chattahoochee National Recreation area is normally $3.00 but it is free this week.

Eco-Friendly Freebies!     1 comment

Target Stores are kicking off Earth week with a free reusable shopping bag.  The bags will be available in stores Sunday, April 18th while supplies last. Some stores may require a purchase. There will be other Earth Day events at participating Target stores as well.

Evos Restaurants in Atlanta are serving FREE organic milkshakes in biodegradable cups on Earth Day. The restaurant specializes in fresh, healthy food and has 3 metro Atlanta locations including one at the Prado Shopping Center.

Participating Pottery Barn Kids have Earth Day activities for kids at 11 am and 3pm Tuesday. The festivities include a free giveaway item kids can plant while supplies last.

The Salvation Army is giving away gift cards:  Donate some gently used clothing or household items by May 31st and receive a $10.00 gift card to use at Van Heusen, Izod or Bass retail stores. For dropoff locations go to satruck.org

On Saturday April 17th and Sunday April 18th the Boy Scouts of America Adventure Base 100 will be at Piedmont Park.  Kids can try out a ropes course and other scouting activities.

Buying Stolen Stuff: Killer Deal or Karma Killer?     1 comment

Having avoided crime reporting like the plague throughout  my reporting career, I had never been inside the Atlanta Police Department’s Property Control Unit until Thursday.  It is a warehouse ( in an undisclosed location)  packed with televisions, computers, clothing, cell phones, tools and thousands of other items that have been stolen or are being held as evidence in pending court cases.  There were even a few ATM’s!

Some of the items are later claimed by their rightful owners but thousands of others are auctioned off on propertyroom.com, a website started by a former police officer in 1999. The site, which is based in California,  features items from thousands of law enforcement agencies across the U.S. 

Propertyroom.com is similar to EBay but the payment system is different. Those who bid must register a credit card number first and the high bidder’s credit card is automatically billed. The website keeps a portion of the proceeds and returns the rest to the law enforcement agency.

Browsing through the site, I saw some pretty amazing deals on jewelry in particular as well as electronics and tools.  But I also felt a little bad; I mean, most of this stuff was stolen from people who, for whatever reason, never got it back.  It reminds me of the old “it fell of a truck” type of  sale we used to see before internet sales became popular.   Still, buying on propertyroom.com is perfectly legal;  a judge has to approve each sale.  And Lt. Van Hobbs, who oversees the unit,  tells me Georgia law prohibits donating evidence items to charity (like the thousands of kids’ bikes stolen each year.)

The stolen property is sold at auction  only after it has been in the property unit for 90 days and all attempts to contact the rightful owner have been exhausted, including a public notice in a local newspaper.

Each listing on propertyroom.com indicates the condition of the item. Some fine jewelry pieces even have appraisals. Sales are final in most cases.

Hobbs said if a crime victim spots their own stolen property on propertyroom.com and can prove it, it will be returned to them. The website also has a section where people can register the serial numbers of their computer, television and other household items. That way if their items are stolen and later end up on propertyroom.com the company will match up the serial numbers and  return them to the original owner.

I wonder if many of the crime victims whose property is on the site got their insurance money and moved on? 

Anyway, buying stolen property is legal and can be a bargain.   (Buyer beware obviously) It is a bit icky, perhaps, but I’m tempted to browse and check it out.  Before the story airs at 11pm.

What do you think?

Low Cost Healthy Recipe and Bargains Too!     5 comments

Whew!

It’s my “Friday night” since my days off are Monday and Tuesday after anchoring 11Alive Weekend Morning News at 9am. 

I made it home by around 2 this afternoon (GOOD day), then researched the grocery sales, played with the boys and headed out for some shopping by 4. 

At CVS I took advantage of the Cover Girl Makeup Sale to try out the Cover Girl/Olay foundation which is normally $12.00-$16.00 but was down to $6.00  after coupons and Extra CAre Bucks.  It was a hassle.  The cash register didn’t want to accept my Buy One Get One Free Coupons from the February Proctor and Gamble Sunday Coupon Insert (BOGO).  Still, it worked out with a little patience on my part.  I’ve heard it is the best selling foundation in the country right now, so we’ll see how I like it.

Viewers a few weeks ago gave me a hard time on the the Morning News Live chat when they could see I was drinking not my usual Diet Coke, but Pepsi Max.  When it goes on sale.. what can I say?  I bought 4 12 packs today at Rite aid for $10.00. That’s $2.50 instead of the $4.00 Diet Cokes at most stores right now.   Diet Coke is my favorite but I’d rather save a few bucks! The Max also has extra caffeine, I hear.

My friend and co-worker Kathy started raising chickens and when “The Ladies” are laying, she brings eggs to work! This is fabulous! The first week they eggs were $1.00 a dozen due to being a little small; now they are up to $1.50.  For FARM FRESH eggs! They can cost $4.00 in some stores!

Our family had already started having omelettes or frittata every once in a while beacuse its quick and easy, you can pack it with healthy vegetables, it’s inexpensive and healthy. Eggs are an inexpensive protein and if you’re concerned about cholesterol you can eliminate one or more yolks.

Here’s a recipe from my email inbox from BJ’s Wholesale Warehouse.  I have never shopped there through I’ve heard they accept coupons (always a plus!)

 

 

I have had memberships at some of the other clubs in the past and for me personally,they were best for Bulk Spices,  Olive Oil, Artichoke Hearts, Olives, Fresh Salmon and sometimes, kid’s pajamas and sleepers.  Most don’t accept coupons.

Angel Hair Frittata – Recipe courtesy of BJ’s Wholesale Club

A solid brunch item – or for brinner (breakfast for dinner)

Serves 4 at $1.72 per serving

 4 Tbsp. Extra Virgin Olive Oil

2 small Zucchini, sliced

1 Tomato, seeded and chopped

1 Green Onion, diced

4 cloves Garlic, finely minced

2 Tablespoons Black Olives

½ tsp. McCormick® Basil Leaves, crumbled

4  Eggs

Salt and Black Pepper

½ cup Grated Romano Cheese

6 oz. Angel Hair Pasta, cooked al dente 

 

1. Heat 2 Tbsp. of oil in skillet over medium-high heat. Sauté fresh

vegetables and garlic until tender, about 3 minutes. 2. Stir in olives and

dried herbs. Set aside to cool. 3. Preheat broiler. Beat eggs and cheese in

large bowl. Stir in vegetables and pasta and season with salt and pepper.

4. Heat remaining oil in large oven-proof skillet over medium heat. Pour

egg mixture into pan and spread with spatula until veggies and pasta

are evenly distributed. 5. Cook until eggs are set and golden-brown on

bottom. 6. Immediately place skillet under broiler. Cook until top is set

and golden-brown, about 2 minutes. Carefully remove pan from oven.

7. Loosen edges with butter spreader. Carefully invert pan over large

plate and slide frittata out. 8. Cut into 4 wedges and serve immediately.

The Storm Before the Calm     No comments yet

It’s four days till Ted Hall and I depart for Vancouver.

And right now is the worst part.

(”Worst part” is, of course, strictly comparative; even the worst part is still a heckuva lot of fun …)

I have had the privilege to travel quite a bit for my job, and the most stressful time isn’t the travel itself — it’s the prelude to the travel. It’s making sure you have all the necessary equipment, all your bases covered at home, and all your collective ducks in a row before your bags are packed and there’s no turning back.

And that’s usually for a 2-3 day trip to another state; this is for three weeks in another country.

It all gives a somewhat uneasy feel to these next few days. For the past few weeks, even though the trip has been drawing near, I have been so jam-packed with work that I honestly haven’t had much time to think about it. Now it’s time to focus and prepare — I’m Santa-like in my making of lists and checking them twice, and I have already marked roughly 20 different errands I need to run before Wednesday.

But amidst the housekeeping, there’s also extraordinary excitement.

There’s the anticipation of all the great stories I’ll get to cover; there’s the desire to explore the Vancouver area, which so many folks have told me is absolutely beautiful; and, of course, there’s the exhilaration of knowing we’ll be right in the center of the extravaganza that is the Olympics.

There’s also a certain non-work assignment that I am looking forward to fulfill: the request submitted by friends, family, and co-workers to “pick me up something from the Olympics”. A few days ago, one of my co-workers cornered me in a dark crevice of the newsroom and took out his wallet; as I stood there perplexed, he started thumbing through his cash and finally snared a $20 from the pack. He then gave it to me and said the following:

“This is for pins.”

Pins?

“Yes, Olympic pins. I want as many as this will buy.”

I will do my best.

And of course, I am looking forward to keeping everyone informed throughout the Games. Ted Hall and I each have Twitter accounts (@tedhallnews & @MattPearlWXIA11), and we’ll be blogging all month long. It should be terrific.

In the meantime, Santa’s gotta get back to his lists …

tweeting the Silver Comet trial     No comments yet

These tweets are from when I was covering the Silver Comet Trail trial. They’re in reverse time order. If you want to follow me on Twitter, click here. I’ll post more tweets a little later in the day, too.

***

Michael ledford will go to crime scene, since it’s part of his trial. Will not be on trail w/ jury. Defense said he’ll stay in car.
about 1 hour ago

School bus is waiting to take jurors to crime scene after lunch break. Defense atty tells me he really wants to do closing arguements today
about 1 hour ago

Jury going home to get shoes, etc. For trip to comet trail. Back in court at 11:35.
10 minutes ago

Trip to crime scene will show where body was found, were items (clothing, etc.) were found, where trail meets nearby dirt road.
21 minutes ago

Media pool camera will go to scene with court & jury with limited access (50 to 100 feet from jury- will not show jurrors).
24 minutes ago

Judge: Jury WILL go to scene of silver comet trail murder.sheriff’s dept. Getting site ready right now. Removing memorial for jury’s trip.
30 minutes ago

1991 rape victim testifies for state in silver comet trail murder case. ‘he grabbed me and lead me into the woods’ she says of Ledford.
35 minutes ago

Lawyers conferencing with judge on request to take jury to site of silver comet trail murder where 53 yr. Old jennifer ewing was killed.
about 1 hour ago

Silver comet murder trail: judge ‘mulling over’ state’s request to take jury to crime scene. DNA expert on stand now.
about 1 hour ago

driving users AWAY from the product is not the intended result     1 comment

Over the past year, popular social networking sites Twitter and Facebook have both undergone changes. Twitter increased their security and made the site a little more user-friendly in terms of finding things, and even now they’re working on improving their search feature. Facebook is in the throes of an extremely unpopular change to users’ pages — their “what are my friends doing” pages, not their profile pages — after taking a major hit a few months back when they simply shifted stuff around without really changing the functionality.

The point of a website, when you get right down to it, is to provide compelling content so advertisers’ ads show up on the page and people (maybe) click on them*. Facebook has very non-intrusive ads on their site, and Twitter doesn’t have any (at the moment).

Now, I’m a power internet user — as most of my colleagues at 11Alive will attest. Instead of going to Facebook.com and Twitter.com whenever I want to know what’s going on with my friends, I go instead to my RSS application, Google Reader, and open a folder that has all of my friends’ status updates in both Twitter and Facebook.

At least, it used to. But in a single day, both Twitter and Facebook have made changes to their sites that prevent me from doing it this way. From a business standpoint, this makes perfect sense — now I actually have to go to Facebook’s site or Twitter’s site to see what’s going on.

Or do I?

Facebook and Twitter both make a big deal out of the fact that they’re great for people on the go — you can update your status and upload your pictures from your mobile phone with relative ease. I do it all the time. And, unlike their on-the-internet counterparts, the Facebook Mobile App and the TwitterFon app for iPhone have not changed their interfaces at all since I downloaded them.

So instead of going to Facebook.com, I’ll hit the little blue-and-white “F” on my phone to see what’s going on on Facebook. Instead of going to Twitter.com, I’ll hit the little blue-and-white “t” on my phone to read and reply to my friends’ tweets**. I won’t see any Facebook ads, and as for TwitterFon… well, that’s free to begin with, but it’s such a useful app to me that I’d probably pay the programmer 99 cents if he started charging.

There are a lot of ways to consume web content — going to sites, reading or watching video on your phone, aggregating everything into an RSS reader (my preferred method). But no matter what, companies should never do anything that makes their web-based consumers go somewhere where ads can’t be seen. Facebook? Twitter? You just pulled that off marvelously.

* Don’t lie. You know you’ve clicked on a few ads this month. We all do it.

** A “tweet” is a status message on Twitter, like “Josh is posting a blog on 11AliveBlogs.com”.