Halloween Freebies

Here is a list of places to bring the kiddies (or not) throughout the day tomorrow.

Bring your children in costume to the Sears Toy Shop (I am assuming this is the toy department in the store, usually near the hardware department) and they will receive a free Mattel toy. There is also a coupon for $5 off a $20 toy purchase.

Michael's will be hosting a Halloween Event from 10AM-2PM. Kids will receive a free Trick or Treat pail, balloon, and candy. There will also be a free coloring activity, a Crayola Model Magic pencil topper demo and a Make and Take frame.

Toys R' Us will have a parade and "trick R' treating" through the store from 12PM-3PM. Kids 3 and older will receive a re-usable bag that they can use to collect goodies and giveaways as they parade through the store with Geoffrey.

Looking for a costume for yourself? Dress up as your favorite burrito, bowl, taco or salad and stop by your local Chipotle. If you do this from 6PM-close, you will be rewarded with a free Boo-rito burrito.

If you don't feel like dressing up like Mexican food, or even if you do Taco Bell is offering a free Black Jack Taco to everyone from 6PM-midnight.

I am sure there are plenty of other free activities going on out there, but these are the "national" ones that I am aware of. I know one of our local Wal-Marts (the Brockport one, for local readers), is also having a Halloween activity tomorrow. I do not have all the details for that right now, and I do not know if all Wal-Marts are doing this (I don't think they are). We are also participating in a local church's trunk-or-treat tomorrow night. They are supposed to have a mile of cars, about 300 of them, for the kids to "trunk or treat" at. They will also have a huge outdoor movie screen and a huge inflatable fun park. This should be a fun day, all day, for the little ones. Please feel free to share any "free" plans you may have come across.

This week Thursday

Be sure to enter my giveaway for a Fiber One Yogurt Meal Pack and to vote for my video on Verizon FIOS to be entered to win a webcam.

Freebies

-Wisconsin Cheese is offering a free Kitchen Kids Cookbook.

-Be sure to get your free sample of Honey Nut Cheerios and a coupon for $1 off.

-There is a free sample of DentaBurst available to the first 250,000 that sign up. These are portable toothbrushes you put on your finger.


Giveaways


- Be sure to stop by Organizing With Sandy for a chance to win a $500 Wal-Mart gift card to re-do your teen's (they actually can be as young as 8, no older than 17) bedroom with Wal-Mart's Your Zone products. (ends 9/10)

- Pinch That Penny 'Til It Screams is giving away a Jessie Steele Designer Apron. These aprons are very cute! (ends 8/31)

- Saving Money for a Wedding currently has a giveaway for a 5-pack of tickets to see a movie at any Regal Entertainment Group theater. (ends 9/3)

- icefairy's Treasure Chest has a cute 5-in-1 Tasty Baker by Pop Art Toaster, as a giveaway prize. (ends 9/5)

- Here is a great prize for those who know a little one. Jolly Mom is giving away a Stork Craft wooden rocking horse. I would love to give this to my little guy at Christmas.


Cool Things I found this week

- Check out how Erin at Sutton Grace turned an old entertainment center into this cute play kitchen:


- The Suburban Jungle shares how to get a great workout, without having to join a gym, pay for a personal trainer, or buy expensive equipment or a Wii.

Free Oscar Mayer Beef Franks

Be sure to request your coupon for FREE Oscar Mayer beef franks. Visit the Oscar Mayer website to fill out a short form. This is available today only from 9AM until 11:59PM EDT. Coupons take 4-6 weeks to arrive.

Be sure to get your free chocolate today

In case you have not heard, the Mars Company is giving away free chocolate every Friday until September 25. It is part of their Real Chocolate Relief Act. The way it works is: every Friday from May 8th until September 25th, they will award a coupon good for 1 free single-sized Mars brand chocolate bar (Twix, M&Ms, Dove, Snickers, Milky Way, or 3 Musketeers) to the first 250,000 people who register on their website. These are not internet printable coupons. They will mail them to you, so allow about 6 weeks for delivery. You must complete your registration within 5 minutes of being asked for it. There is a limit of one coupon per e-mail address each Friday and a limit of 4 coupons per household throughout the entire promotion. I was able to get in last week, but the site was very slow and I had to refresh my page several times. Since you are limited to 4 coupons per household and this will be going on for several more months, if the site is being fussy and you have other things to do, do them, there is always next week.

UPDATE: This week went much smoother AND they have upped the number of coupons for this week to 500,000!

All Bran Promise Pack

I just signed up to receive a free All Bran Promise Pack from Kellogg's. It will include: $4 in coupons, a sample of Strawberry Medley Cereal, a Strawberry Drizzle Fiber Bar, and a Red Raspberry Fiber Drink Mix. It sounds yummy and I can't wait for it to arrive. Do you want one? Visit the All Bran website and register for your own.

This Week Thursday

I am going to attempt to post for the days I missed (at least some of them), but no promises. I apparently have some ongoing medical issues right now so my blogging may be a bit more sporadic, but I am working on it. I love blogging and I love hearing from all of you. Thank you for your heartfelt concern and thoughts and most of all, thank you for your continued support.

Freebies
-Quaker Dark Chocolate Raspberry Almond True Delights granola bar

-Hansens's Junior Juice

-Boost Kid Essentials

-Another sample of Rachel Ray's Nutrish dog food


On the Web
-If you missed President Obama's Inaugural Address, you can view it (or read it) on the Inaugural Blog.

-Amber, from Because Babies Grow Up, has a guest post on Operation Playtime today. she shares a recipe and helpful tips for cooking with little ones (her daughter is 2 1/2, so it includes really little ones).

-Mummy Deals shares her tips for getting the best deals at thrift stores.

Giveaways
-Thrifty and Chic Mom is giving away a cute Lunch Tote from Spring.

-Cutting Coupons in KC is giving away a subscription to All You magazine

This Week Thursday

Freebies
- Orville Redenbacher Natural Gourmet Popping Corn from Kroger's (Kroger Plus membership is optional)

- A packet of Cream of Wheat cereal (your choice of flavor: original, maple brown sugar, cinnamon swirl, apples & cinnamon, or strawberries & cream)

- Wal-Mart.com is offering samples of Rachel Ray's Delish Dog Food and Soy Joy bars. (Side note- Soy Joy bars are free this week at CVS. You buy a 6 pack for $6 and get $6 back in Extra Care Bucks. Use a Soy Joy coupon and you "make" money.)


Interesting Things to Read (from the past few weeks)
-Cooking on a budget(winter edition) at allrecipes.com

-Safely Gathered In shares their adaptation of an English Muffin recipe that is made entirely from food storage (non-perishable) items and also a great pesto recipe.

-Amy from Let's Explore shares how to make file folder games over at Blissfully Domestic.

-The Thrifty Mama shows how to get 2 packs of Huggies diapers and 2 packs of Huggies wipes for $4.36 this week at Rite Aid.

-Are you interested in learning how to weave or make your own loom? Unplug Your Kids shows how to make your own loom for less than $5 and teaches some weaving vocabulary along with it.

Giveaways
-A Wrestling Addicted Mommy is giving away a mini-baking kit from Sassafrass. These kits are so cute and they have them geared for boys and girls.

-My Little Patch of Sunshine has a Superbowl party package from Pepsi valued at over $250 to give away.

-STL Mommy is giving away a makeup bag from Bagladymomma. Bagladymomma has some very cute purses at reasonable prices.

-Mummy Deals has a $50 gift card to e.l.f. They have decent make-up that is really well-priced (several items for $1 each).

This Week Thursday (a day late)

I apologize for the late posts this week. I have been ill and trying to catch up with housework as well as my blogging. I have not been online a lot this week, but here is some of what I have found.

On the Web
-Picky Palate has a recipe for White Chocolate Dipped Cinnamon and Banana Bread Biscotti. They look so good!

-Speaking of food, Thrifty and Chic Mom has some cute ideas for some Halloween-ish snacks.

-Simple Mom has a great article to get and keep your e-mail under control.


Freebies
-Child Safety Kit from ADT

-Sample of Vaseline Intensive Rescue from Costco (no membership required)

-Halloween Ghost Stories (online)


Contests/Giveaways
-Wolverine is giving away many prizes, with the grand prize being $25,000 cash.

-$20 Challenge 4 Charity is giving away a LODIS Ballet Wallet.

-Moms By Heart have 3 Woodland Creature prints by John W. Golden.

-Be sure to check back here later today/tomorrow morning to see what I am giving away and to enter the drawing.

This Week Thursday

Freebies
-Degree deodorant through Sam's Club (no membership required)

-Free coffee at Barnes and Noble


Giveaways
- Thrifty and Chic Mom is giving away a Mystic Wonders Laundry System. We have a similar set of dryer balls and love them. No more fabric softener for us.

-Frugal Mommy of 2 Girls will be giving away a $25 Home Depot gift card. To enter, just help spread the word about a new Home Depot contest or, better yet, enter the Home Depot contest. What is the contest, you ask? Make a video showing how you are saving money and helping the environment by improving the energy efficiency of your home and then upload the video to the Home Depot contest site. The winner of that contest will receive a $5,000 Home Depot gift card and up to $2,000 for installed insulation or radiant barrier products from The Home Depot.

-CoolBabyKid has a giveaway for 25 Doodlebug photo cards from Doodlebug Dezigns.



On the Web
-Safely Gathered In has a post about the hows and whys of a 72-hour kit.

-The Good Apple has a recipe for yummy pumpkin cookies. While you're there, check out some of her great cakes. So creative!!

This Week Thursday: just a little

As I stated earlier this week, I have not hadmuch time to be online this week, so today wil be a "light" edition.

Freebies

Join Harper Collins First Look for the chance to read and review books before they are released to the public. They also have a First Look for Kids.


Giveways

Ford and House Party are giving away a special edition Ford Mustang as part of their Warriors in Pink campaign.

Indie Fixx is hosting an Autumn Cornucopia Giveaway. The only way to enter is through a blog or other posting about the giveaway. The prize is a great variety of items.

MomDot is giving away a Bissell ProDry Cleaner.

Chefdruck Musings is giving away a 3,2,1 Penguins DVD.

On the Web

Mummy Deals shares 7 Ways to Save Money on Gifts

This Week Thursday: A change

In an effort to diversify my weekly postings, I am changing Thursdays from Thrifty Thursdays to This Week Thursdays. I figure between Money Monday and Save-It Saturday, there are tons of thrifty ideas being posted. On Thursdays, I will post links to various things I have found on the web, mainly what others are blogging about, contests, and freebies.



What Others Are Talking About
-Meal plans made exclusively from items bought at Aldi's

-The Happy Housewife (no relation to the Happy Wife) blogs about differentiating between needs and wants

-There is a tribute to Erma Bombeck over at A Homemaking Journey.

-Bill Schmick, of A Few Dollars More, blogs about the safety of bank deposits

Freebies
Free Mr. Clean mini-eraser
Reach Access Flosser
Huggies Supreme Diaper (Wal-Mart freebie)
Lego Club magazine
Free TTY service without using the relay service. No need for a phone line either, just an internet connection.


Contests
Enter to win a Cakes by Me decorating set at Did You See That?

Win a game from Rix at Sassy Fraz

A Wrestling Addicted Mommy is giving away a Frog Pod by Boon.

Get $60 to spend at RS Designs through Thrifty Mommy.

Win a Lil' Sis Bowband from Cary Hairbows. I was fortunate to win her Cat in the Hat bow this month, and can attest that her bows are beautiful and well made.