*  Don’t pay for your next bottle of body wash—get one for free. It’s a sample of Olay’s new Total Effects body wash, which fights seven signs of aging while making your skin super smooth.

*  Even if you’re not suffering from colds and allergies now, why not stock up on something that will help the next time you are congested? Sign up for a free sample of Breathe Right strips—they aren’t just for those who snore!

*  Freshen up your home with a free trial kit from Febreze; it includes Febreze Air Effects, Febreze Fabric Refreshener and a Swiffer Dry Cloth.

*  Snap up a free sample of Downy Ultra fabric softener, courtesy of Sam’s Club (but no membership is required).

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I don’t know about you, but the organizational task I dread the most is wrangling my kids’ toys. Over the years they have accumulated a lot of playthings (mostly from grandparents, one particularly doting aunt and birthdays). Occasionally I weed out toys that are no longer age-appropriate, but still they seem to multiply.  The result is a jumble of board games, one-piece-missing puzzles, half-done craft projects, headless dolls, a billion Lego pieces, and my personal nemesis—stuffed animals. Needless to say, my periodic meltdowns at the mess in our family room, where most of these toys reside, are now legendary in our household.

In researching ways to control toy chaos, I’ve found dozens of very expensive (and very cute) storage options. But I’m not interested in spending a lot of money on organizers. Instead I’m using a few frugally priced or FREE ways to whip our toys into shape:

*  I love this bendy hamper, which holds about 25 of my daughter’s plush toys (scarily, only about half her collection). At $5, it’s a steal.  http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/90182294

*  Keeping game pieces and puzzles together is a challenge for my kids, even when there’s a sturdy box involved. So I wash and reuse the plastic insert bags that come in cereal and cracker boxes and use them to corral pieces within the box.

(more…)

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Check out Target’s printable coupons for great pet deals. For example, right now they’re offering coupons for $1 off Temptations cat treats, $2 off Pedigree dog food and $1 off Cesar dog treats.

Posted by Emily Hendricks Turnier, Associate Editor

SEE ALSO:
Surprising ways to save on pet health care
What’s the best pet advice you’ve ever received?
Save money on pet care

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As you might have seen our book club has started up again and is currently reading The Summer Hideaway by Susan Wiggs. (Don’t have a copy yet? You can pick one up at your local Walmart.)

I’m going to be posting my thoughts on the book here for the next three weeks and hope you’ll join the discussion. I’ll also be drawing questions from our discussion guide. It has some great questions that really make you think—not only about the book but this about life.

This question in particular caught my attention so let’s make it our topic to talk about for this week! (See question after the jump!) (more…)

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Lounge in style with fine sleepwear, underwear, active apparel and more from Soma Intimates.

Deal: $50 off orders over $150 at Soma

Coupon code: 7494

Expires: 3/21/10

Get more coupon codes!

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Bring any old denim you want to clean out of your closet to a participating Gap store now through March 14th and you’ll get a 30% off coupon (in stores)  towards the purchase of new jeans. The donated denim will be made into cotton housing insulation and given to needy communities.

SEE ALSO:
Spring dresses under $80
Exclusive Kohl’s coupon: 10% off orders

Posted by Althea Guss, Fashion Editor

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Welcome to the All You book club!

Our latest selection is The Summer Hideaway by Susan Wiggs. We hope you’ll pick up a copy at Walmart and join our discussion by posting a comment below.

Prologue, Chapters 1-2

What did you think of the first two chapters of The Summer Hideaway? I’m really enjoying it. I’m eager for Ross to come home so he can get back to his life and spend the limited time he has with his grandfather. I would also like to learn more about Claire’s past—the details of the murder she witnessed and why it “was so dangerous she couldn’t even trust the police”? Even in the first few chapters I think The Summer Hideaway’s author Susan Wiggs has done a great job of drawing us in to want to know more about Ross, Claire and George. They’ve each each taken such different paths in life so far, I’m interested to learn how it’ll be for George and Ross to pick up where they left off and how the romance between Claire and Ross is going to unfold! What do you think of the book so far?

Posted by Lindsay Benjamin, Assistant Editor

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Sometimes you just need to make your great escape, and a relaxing bath is the perfect place for it. In Cucumber Melon, Romantic Strawberries, Fresh Peach and Vanilla Cream, Avon’s Bubble Bath collection leaves skin softly scented for the super affordable price of $6 (reg. $8). Bonus: Products won’t leave a bathtub ring.

Deal: Free shipping on orders over $30 at Avon

Code: Savings30

Expires: 3/11/10

SEE MORE DEALS!

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Check out these freebies and coupons for your furry friend:

*  Get 30 percent off on pet photo gifts at snapfish.com (http://bit.ly/bkCan3). Put your favorite pictures on pet food bowls, greeting cards, calendars, stickers, stationery—the list goes on. Use coupon code PETSTORE; this deal expires TODAY, so hurry!

*  How cool is this? Bruster’s Ice Cream gives away free “doggy sundaes” to each pup that visits their stores. Learn more at http://bit.ly/cKaQZa. Thanks, mypetsavings.com!

*  Pick up a free sample of Joint Oats 4 Dogs supplements at http://bit.ly/994bzq. Thanks again, mypetsavings.com!

Posted by Emily Hendricks Turnier, Associate Editor

SEE ALSO:
Surprising ways to save on pet health care
What’s the best pet advice you’ve ever received?
Save money on pet care

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Tonight is Freezer Dinner, an occasion for celebration in my house. I celebrate because I don’t have to cook anything, and my family celebrates because they can enjoy my company instead of watching me run around like a crazy woman trying to pull together a healthy, cheap meal (relaxed mommy = relaxed dinner). My frugal self celebrates, too, because Freezer Dinner knocks a chunk off my weekly grocery bill.

So what exactly is Freezer Dinner? I essentially throw open the doors of my freezer and defrost all the leftovers within. Doing so on a regular basis (more…)

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