Meet Me at McGillin’s

A happy coincidence – New Year’s Eve this year will coincide with the 150th anniversary of McGillin’s Olde Ale House – and that translates into a fun, affordable celebration this year.

To start the party – and their anniversary year – off right, the good folks at McGillin’s are serving up open a limited quantity of its very own beer, McGillin’s 1860 IPA. They’re also resolved to serve 150 brands of beer in the new year, so stop in between the comics and the string bands to make a dent or two in that number.

Can’t make it this week? Well, the celebrating will be going on all year, so check out their site and follow ‘em on Twitter or Facebook.

The Eye of the Buyer

Hey everyone,

I had to stop blogging for a while – life just got in the way. But I’m planning to relaunch this site with the New Year, so watch this space. Good things will be happening in 2010.

And to warm up, I’ll be drinking raw eggs, smacking sides of beef and running up the Art Museum steps….okay, mebbe not. But I’ll be posting here from time to time to get ready for the launch. Stop by and get a head start on some great, POTC deals.

In the mean time, head to the Macy’s shows, visit a live Nativity, make some gingerbread or do whatever it is that makes you feel all warm and Christmas-y. I hope you all enjoy the blessings of the season….and stick with me to help you with your “budgetary resolutions” next year!

Beauty on the Cheap: Free Make-Up Sample

Okay, I’m not much of a make-up person. (My attempts at “high glam” come off as “Happy the Clown,” so I stuck with the natural look.) But I love Bare Escentuals, with their simple application process, their natural coverage (no more clown face!) and the lightness of their foundation – no heavy mask feel! And for a limited time (until they run out, natch), you can pick up a free sample of bareMinerals Matte SPF 15 Foundation & a free brush. It’s a cheap way to try out their make-up – or to stock up before your tan fades and you really need it!

Of course, there’s a catch – you can’t use this offer online. So head on over to a BareEscentuals boutique and put your best face forward! Click here to find a location in our area.

Local Coupons, Big Savings – thanks to Six

“Move closer to your world, my friend, take a little bit of time…”

Am I the only one who remembers the words of the old channel six Action News theme song? Well, okay then. My age is showing.

But even the older generation appreciates a bargain, and thanks to Channel Six and Action News, there are several to be had in the Delaware Valley area. Click on this link to find a bevy of clickable coupons from our favorite ABC affiliate, including a $10 off Sesame Place coupon and another that offers a free McCafe coffee at McDonalds when you purchase a sandwich. So move closer to your world, my friends, and have a a closer grip on your wallet, thanks to our buddies at Channel Six!

Free Food At Mickey Dee’s

I’ve never been a huge fan of McDonald’s. It all stems from my childhood, you see. I was such a picky eater that I would only eat plain cheeseburgers – no ketchup, no onions, no nothing. In the days before the “have it your way” craze (or microwaves, for that matter), that meant waiting…and waiting…and waiting for my burger while the rest of the family’s food got cold. “Mary, you defeat the whole purpose of fast food,” my father told me, and he eventually stopped buying us fast food altogether, earning me the disdain of my siblings who were stuck eating bologna and cheese when my parents needed a quick meal.

Anyway, that’s just a rambling intro. My kids love Mickey Dee’s, so we’ll probably try this one, which I found on our main site:

Download & print this coupon for free medium fries & a free medium soft drink or tea with the purchase of a third-pound Angus burger at McDonald’s. Per the fine print, the coupon is valid at participating locations only, and it expires on August 31, 2009.

Eat It Up – Free Cereal Samples

We’ve all heard that breakfast is the most important meal of the day. Now, I’m no doctor so I can’t say if it’s so, but I do know one thing – at my house, breakfast is the longest meal of the day. My kids choose cereal for lunch, dinner, snacks and before bed, too. Hey, if it worked for Seinfeld…

So that’s why I was happy to see these offers. The good people at Cheerios are offering a free sample of their Honey Nut Cheerios and a $1 off coupon here. Honey Nut Cheerios, for those who haven’t been stung by the bee, are great tasting and good for you, as they help lower cholesterol. So check them out…for free! (And, since we’re already fans, I just picked up a really big box at Wal-Mart for under $4. Can’t wait to get that $1 off coupon!!)

For those of you with more exotic palates, Total is offering a free sample of their new blueberry pomegranete cereal if you sign up here.Now, we haven’t tried these, but knowing that just one bowl will provide 100 percent of the daily recommendation of at least 11 vitamins and minerals makes it worth a try. And you can’t beat the cost!

Summer Reading: Free Harlequin E-Books

Hey, how can you beat reading material as hot and heavy as an August day at the shore? Make it free, that’s how!

If you just love a steamy romance, the kind with a lot of heavy breathing and fervent glances and flushed checks, the kind with a woman in a tight corset embracing Fabio on the cover, then this is the deal for you.

Harlequin, the queen bee of the genre, is celebrating 60 years of romance by sharing 16 different e-books with its readers – absolutely free! Check out the list here, then download your favorite titles – or all of them – for a great summer read.

Music on the Mall – Free this Thursday

Music on the Mall, the city’s free summer concert series, which runs the first Thursday of each month, concludes this week with a special presentation of World Music on August 6. The event will feature the stylings of Paprika, a Brazilian-influenced girl group, from 6 to 7 pm and Casplash, a Carribean band, from 7 to 8. So put on your boogie shoes and come on out to Independence Mall.

And save this date – on September 3, the series will close out the season with a “Battle of the School Bands” right before the first bell rings. Find more info here.

Garden Supplies on the Cheap

Well, the recession is costing us another one….all Smith and Hawken stores, including the four in the Philadelphia area, will be closed by the end of the year. And, though we hate to see any establishment close its doors, we have to point out that this means great bargains for the rest of us who can take advantage of their all-sales-final prices on lawn furniture, live plants and pagodas.

Right now, all furniture is slashed 40% off the original prices. Ditto the live plants, while the rest of the store is at least 20% off. These prices will undoubtedly plunge as the closing nears, but so will the selection. Get out there now for the best choices.

To find the nearest Smith and Hawkens, check the site here. Then head over and dig up your best buys, before the doors shut permanently.

Day Tripping – Battle The Bug Exhibit at the Zoo

Just in time for back to school (and the classrooms full of germs!), the good people at Kleenex have launched their “Battle the Bug” campaign. This weekend at the Philadelphia Zoo, you and your crew can check out the interactive exhibit, “Battle the Bug,” which will provide you with all sorts of great tips on fighting colds and flu this fall. There will also be some fun games for the kids (Max can’t wait for his chance to “Whack A Bug”) and an opportunity to get your picture taken with Achoo, mascot of the new Kleenex Anti-Viral Tissues. (Sounds like a must-have for every backpack this year.)

All this fun will be going on from 10-12, so stop by early to get in on the festivities before enjoying our nation’s oldest zoo (150 years young this year!).  If you can’t make it this weekend, you can still pick up the bug busting tips on the Kleenex’s web site.