coupon

Spend $2.99, Save $20.00 or More…

May 26, 2013 By Lena

After posting my Disney Social Media Moms: Frugal Fashion Recap, many readers wrote in to inquire about the 20% off coupon I used at the Banana Republic Factory Store. Here’s an excerpt from the post:

“With an abstract floral print and a figure-flattering empire waist, the dress was originally $110 – on sale for 40% off. Thankfully, I read In Touch every week – and always remember to save their GAP Factory Store and Banana Republic Factory Store coupons. Hence, I was able to receive an additional 20% off, making the dress only $52.80 after discounts.”

I know it sounds far fetched that an American magazine would contain a coupon that can be used in Canada – trust me, I was just as surprised the first time I read the fine print (over a year ago)! Since then I’ve redeemed at least four (4) coupons for 20% off my purchase of $100 or more at the Banana Republic Factory Store.

Here’s what you need to look for:

Exhibit A: In Touch Magazine. I picked up this issue yesterday while paying for groceries at Loblaws. Truth be told, we buy one every single week; I love keeping up with the drama in the world of entertainment (In Touch is somewhere between US Magazine and People on the smutty scale), and my husband is a closet celebrity-watcher too (though I may have just outed him). The magazine retails for $2.99 plus tax.

Exhibit B: About 1/3 of the way into the magazine, you’ll find right sidebar ads for Banana Republic Factory Store and GAP Factory Store. The ads feature a fashion ensemble you can find in-store, and of course, the coupons: 20% off your purchase of $100 or more at the BR outlet, and the GAP outlet coupon will take 15% off your entire purchase (no spending limit) excluding clearance.

The coupons also have a nice, long redemption period – in this case, the above coupon is valid from May 24th to June 24th. So… I know there are several comments on my Frugal Fashion post of readers wanting to check out the BR Factory Store… be sure to pick up this week’s copy of In Touch before you visit!

GAP Factory Store: What a Haul!

August 31, 2012 By Lena

Warning: Please do not attempt to duplicate this haul at home. It’s pretty much a grab of epic, “Start the car!” proportions. However, if you would like to try your hand at the savings, here’s what you need to do:

1. Find a copy of In Touch Magazine. Lately, around the 8-10th page, they’ve been including coupons for an additional 20% off your $75 purchase at GAP Factory Store. BONUS: the coupon is valid in both the US and Canada – so awesome.

2. Cross the border and visit a GAP Factory Store in the US, preferably when they’re offering an additional 30-40% selected items. Yes, I know I just stipulated that you can use the coupon in Canada, but c’mon, we all know that we Canadians are treated most unfairly when it comes to pricing. Hence, a sale/coupon combo in Canada is rarely the same dealio as in the States.

3. Have a child that you can load up on clearance clothes in one size bigger. After all, what good is an end-of-season sale if you can’t stock up for the next season?

4. Patience, my shopping Jedi-in-training. You’ll need about 20 minutes to sort through a messy clearance rack to uncover the best deals for the cutest clothes. Remember the first rule of clearance cruising: grab now, sort later – especially if you come across anything with Star Wars or a licensed character.

So, if you’re following me, here’s the math: GAP Factory Store Sale + An Additional 30-40% Selected Items + An Additional 20% Coupon = Something Like This:

Now here’s where I usually rub my hands together in glee, and try to explain to my husband just how awesome I am… but he’s not really interested because he wants to go to the food court to grab a slice of pizza. So, I thought I’d save my excitement and share the deets with people whom I know will appreciate it:

Total Cost Before Discounts: $224.88
Total Cost After Discounts: $58.26
Total Savings…. 74%!!!

Wooo hooo! I’ve pretty much got Ryder’s summer tees all stocked up for next summer, at 1/4 of the price I would have paid had I shopped at regular price, plus a few extras for this fall. And THAT is what I call a HAUL!

Chocolate Cheerios! (YES! CHOCOLATE!)

June 21, 2011 By Lena

EDIT: Redeem Your Coupon TODAY Peeps!

It’s no surprise that Cheerios + Chocolate is a winning combination. In fact, Ryder – who regularly shuns every breakfast cereal imaginable in favour of his beloved O’s – literally fell off his chair when I placed a bowl of the chocolatey goodness in front of him.

(In case you’re wondering, one of the perks of being a Life Made Delicious Connector is advanced enjoyment of General Mills treats – therefore we’ve been enjoying Chocolate Cheerios chez Lena for the last few weeks!)

Just a few reasons your mouth should be watering:

– Naturally flavoured with real cocoa, whole grains, and only 9g of sugar per serving
– Is a source of fibre and is low in fat
– Tastes Delicious!!! (of course)

Want to try them for yourself? Of course you do! For a limited time, try Chocolate Cheerios for FREE through WebSaver.ca. You’ll have to sign up for a free account and choose at least three (3) coupons (won’t be difficult, I’m sure!)

Then, for ONE DAY ONLY – June 21st, 2011 – everyone will be able to redeem their coupon for a free box of Chocolate Cheerios.

And, don’t forget to check out Life Made Delicious for easy recipes your whole family will love.

I am part of the Life Made Delicious Blogger program and I receive special perks as part of my affiliation with this group. The opinions on this blog are my own.

This is Yummy: Dole Fruit ‘n Crisp

June 11, 2011 By Lena

I love receiving goodies to review, especially when they are of the snacking variety. Normally, I’d post a picture of the product, my feedback, and details for how you too can enjoy the yummy goodness.

But this review is slightly different. Today, I’d like to take you through a series of events.

Day #1: Received three varieties of Dole Fruit ‘n Crisp: Apple Cinnamon, Peach and Apple Pear.

If you haven’t had the pleasure of trying them yourself, Dole Fruit ‘n Crisp bowls feature juicy Dole fruit in a fruit sauce, each with its own crispy, crumbly topping made with whole grain oats and brown sugar. You can enjoy them at room temperature, chilled from the fridge or heated briefly in the microwave (definitely the most droolicious way).

Since I love Dole fruit cups (and indulged quite heavily during my pregnancy with Reid) it was a no-brainer for me; I was quite certain I would enjoy this product.

Day #2: I tried my first Fruit ‘n Crisp (Apple Cinnamon). Okaaay… this is a fruit cup? It seriously tastes like DESSERT. And not just any dessert – like sinful Apple Crumble Pie dessert. Can it be true? Have I found a delicious, low fat option for my favourite guilty pleasure?

Let’s do the math:

1 slice Apple Crumble Pie: 400 calories, 18g fat
1 cup Dole Fruit ‘n Crisp: 160 calories, 3.5g fat

It is immediately evident to me that I can have two cups without doing too much damage.

Day #3: Hubby calls me from home, where he is watching the boys while I run a few errands.

“We’re hungry,” he moans.
“We just ate dinner!” I reply.
“I know, but I could use a little snack,” he says with a sigh.
“Try the new Dole Fruit ‘n Crisp bowls, they’re in the pantry,” I suggest.
“I don’t think so.”
“You’ll like them! Just leave one for me, so I can take pictures for the blog,” I warn.
“No thanks, I’ll find something else.”

I shrugged. The husband isn’t a fruit-dessert kind of person; Ryder hates soft textures and Reid can’t open a bowl by himself. Whatever, more for me.

Day #3 – LATER: I arrive home to find the countertop littered with this:

A very apologetic husband explained: “Those were the best fruit cups I’ve ever had! Ryder had two all by himself, and Reid kept crying for more! The topping is delicious!!!”

“But what about leaving one for a photo?” I inquired.

Hubby thought about it. “Well,” he reasoned, “surely the fact that we ate five in one sitting should prove they’re pretty awesome?”

I concur.

Dole Fruit ‘n Crisps are a convenient anytime snack. A must try! And, for a limited time, Canadians can save $1.25 on any purchase of Dole Fruit ‘n Crisp with this coupon from Save.ca.

If you’d like to read another recent review of Dole Fruit ‘n Crisp, link on over to my bloggie buddy Toronto Teacher Mom.

I received a selection of goodies courtesy of Dole and Matchstick.ca. The opinions on this blog are my own.

Reno-cation: Main Bathroom

May 20, 2011 By Lena

My Reno-cation wrap up continues with my main bathroom. This was perhaps one of the hardest rooms to makeover, specifically because:

a) It was orange before. Yes, orange. Like a bright, happy, Home Depot orange.
b) I liked it orange.
c) No one else liked it orange.

BEFORE

Now I’m not exactly sure what drove me to paint the main bathroom in such a vibrant shade, but it just screamed “Lena!”. For contrast, I used stripes and circles in blue, green and white.

(In case you’re wondering, that’s a storage case filled with beauty products to review. I don’t actually own that much makeup!)

Alas, there was no middle road for this bathroom – visitors either loved it or hated it (curiously, those who vehemently disliked it were generally born before 1960. Just sayin’.) So when it came time for a reno-cation, I grudgingly agreed that it would be best to grab a more bathroomy colour from PARA Paints. A soothing mint green, anyone?

AFTER

Paint:
PARA Paints Big Girls Don’t Cry, #P5031-24

NOTES

Here’s another shade that can look slightly off in different lights. As you can see, the candlelight in the first shot makes the room look more bluish than green, but the second picture depicts what I believe to be the true colour – mint, pistachio, seafoam… whatever tickles your fancy. I picked up black Umbra accessories from Kitchen Stuff Plus (use this coupon to save 25% off one item until May 31st) and hung a framed photo depicting the vineyards of Sonoma, California.

(Hubby was watching an episode of The Nate Berkus Show where he insisted that your home decor should incorporate your most vibrant memories – hence a picture of our honeymoon destination beside the toilet, where I spent three months throwing up thanks to the honeymoon baby.)

I’m also pretty excited about my new shower curtain. Purchased from Sears during their recent White Sale, it features a gorgeous black and sateen silver damask pattern. It pairs perfectly with the milkiness of the light green, and as I’d been lusting after it for ages, I just couldn’t resist. Word on the street is that there are coordinating bath mats too… perhaps I’ll let my Visa take a breather before I explore that option ;)

Only a few rooms to go!

la Vie en Rose… Mother’s Day Gift Ideas

May 1, 2011 By Lena

As a mom, I can officially let y’all know that I don’t want a photo frame (got those, lots of ’em), chocolates (straight to my hips, no thanks) or flowers (they’ll just die anyways). I want a homemade treat – something that is unique and personal. Failing that, just go to la Vie en Rose, please.

This Mother’s Day, check out these super sweet looks (click to enlarge):

And, since I’m a HUGE fan of la Vie en Rose Aqua, you can bet I was drooling over their swimwear (shown here in the MIAMI collection):

Yes please! I’d love any of these designs.. complete with a pair of tickets to a sunny destination, of course!

Now if you’re shopping today, la Vie en Rose members can grab 35% off your entire purchase with this coupon. (Regular priced items only.) I normally would direct you to sign up for their mailing list, but sadly, it looks like the site has been up and down the entire weekend. So I’m crossing my fingers that you’ll be able to print it off and/or shop online, but if not, here’s a screen shot – simply click, print and present.

Happy Shopping!

Everyone Needs Ziploc Bags, Right?

March 21, 2011 By Lena

Sure we do! And, if you’ve got a No Frills grocery store close by, you can get them for… FREE!

This week, the No Frills Ontario flyer advertises Ziploc sandwich bags (100’s) and freezer bags (15’s and 20’s) for just $2 – a savings of $1.67 off their regular price.

(It’s also their $1, $2, $3 Sale – they’re got some awesome name brands on sale for cheeeap!)

Visit Right at Home and you’ll find a coupon for $4 off when you buy any two (2) Ziploc brand products… making the bags absolutely free. To access the coupon, you’ll need to create a free profile and be connected to a printer.

Now there has been some concern about No Frills not accepting printed coupons, but I did some research and made a few calls. You should know:

It is No Frills policy to accept manufacturer’s coupons, including those printed on the Internet. However, from time to time, a location is hit with an influx of fraudulent coupons (easy to fake if they’re printed from a computer) and will temporarily disallow Internet coupons for a specific product. BUT, No Frills cannot turn away a printed coupon for a product that is not currently under scrutiny.

I received this information from the No Frills Customer Service line this morning. The rep then transferred me to my local store so that I could confirm the location was accepting Ziploc printed coupons – I was told they were. I took down the name of the person I spoke to and printed 5 coupons :) That’s 10 bags free for me!

I know it seems like a lot of effort for plastic bags, but I went through the extra steps so that I could blog this deal with peace of mind that readers should not be turned away for redeeming the coupon. Don’t forget: if your local No Frills is sold out, you can grab a flyer and price match the deal (and use the coupons) at Wal-Mart.

Sales! Sales! Sales!

September 9, 2010 By Lena

Hitting the mall this weekend? (OR shopping online?) There are TONS of great sales goin’ on, so be sure to stop by the following stores:

Buffalo Jeans – Enter code FW10 and save 15% off their new fall and winter 2010 collection online, valid until September 12, 2010. Click here to shop at Buffalo Jeans.

GAP – Men’s and Women’s pants are on sale for $45.00 (regularly $59.50-$69.50).

Jacob – Save 25% off the entire regular priced fall collection on September 9th and 10th. It’s their annual Birthday Shopping Blitz!

Northern Reflections – Save 40% off your entire purchase on Friday, September 10th only. Click here to print your coupon.

Please Mum – Save 50-70% off the entire store until Sunday, September 12th. This sale is already live online, so check out their website for a deal or two.

TABI – Save 30% off your entire purchase on Friday, September 10th only.

The Children’s Place – Save 15% off your entire purchase until Sunday, September 12th. Click here to print your coupon.

Toronto Zoo – Free Admission & Zoomobile for Seniors on September 13th, 2010.

I’ll update this post as I come across more hot dealios. Happy Shopping!

Teething Bling!

August 19, 2010 By Lena

It’s 10:18pm and I just punched the air with glee over the purchase of a teething necklace. Ahem, such a wild life I lead, I know.

Perhaps I should back up – you see, I’ve wanted to grab a Teething Bling necklace ever since I discovered baby Ryder liked to grab at my jewelry and put it in his mouth. The product was profiled on Celebrity Babies and other urban mama sites, and I thought they were a cool way to be both fashionable and give junior something to gum at as well. Unfortunately, by the time I got around to looking them up online, Ryder was out of his gnawing phase.

FYI – Teething Bling is the original patent-pending teething jewelry. Made from the same material as most teething toys, the pendants and bangles look great on the adult wearer but are safe for curious babies to handle and chew. The products are non-toxic, phthalate, BPA, PVC, latex and lead free and all pendants come with a breakaway clasp as an added safety measure.

So I figured that Reid would be the lucky beneficiary of a more organized mommy, and I visited a few local stores that carried the product. Impressive? Sure. Not so impressive was the $24.99 price tag. I know, I know, it’s “jewelry”, but it’s also a teething toy, dammit, and I refused to pay $25 for a teething toy.

Then, months ago, I saw them on Babysteals.com for just $9.99. But urgh! I was too late – by the time I checked in at 11:26am – just 26 minutes after they went on sale – the site was sold out. I made a promise that I would stalk Babysteals like an animal until they came up for sale again.

And they did. Last week. And I was out for the day, running errands. FML.

This morning, Reid spent about 10 minutes sucking on his hands; a veritable pool of baby drool. It was time to buy the damn Teething Bling. I jumped online, shamefully ready to pay full price.

And then the heavens parted. On the home page, I saw this glorious ad:

I like! I like! I was so happy because the Bronze pendant was at the top of my wish list! I was down $10 from what Canadian retailers sell the product for. Not bad at all.

Shipping to Canada was a paltry $3, so I was prepared to spend $18 US total ($18.40 CDN) and considered it a deal. BUT, then I remembered good ol’ Google Search for “teething bling coupon code” and was able to come up with code S-SMJ, which offered 20% off my purchase! So, the total cost including shipping? $15! Woot! Woot!

Resume gleeful air punching.

If you’d like to grab one yourself, visit Smart Mom Jewelry’s website and poke around.

Changes…

August 10, 2010 By Lena

I hate change. I am officially not tolerant of ambiguity. I’d rather watch movies I’ve already seen, re-read favourite books than crack open a new one, and order the same dish at a local restaurant. However, I’ve learned over the last few years that change is not only to be expected; it is constant.

So I’m coping, probably better than expected. And although I really haven’t learned to welcome change, I am certainly embracing it on a weekly, daily, and sometimes hourly basis (those are usually bad days).

When I started Listen to Lena!, it was simply a central place to post some sales that I thought my girlfriends would be interested in. The deals were specific to the likes and consumption patterns of the circle, and generally featured makeup, fashion, and some parenting deals.

Then, through word of mouth, the blog grew in readership (nice). All of a sudden I had readers e-mailing me with tips, questions, and praise for my efforts. It was gravy, and I pushed to publish more deals, established a review component, and pretty soon, a giveaway feature as well. And that’s how things have been for the past year or so.

Well, a lot has happened in the past year. And without going into the details of my daily responsibilities (Google “Mom” and you’ll figure it out) I’ve decided that I need to relax some aspects of my blogging life so that I can find more time for myself. On the chopping block? Daily deals.

Now I’m not abandoning this aspect totally, because as a frugal mama, I live for the sales, coupons and freebies. But I’m reverting back to the original Listen to Lena! format, which includes posting only those deals that I wanna chat about; the sales that make me want to write a story. How I love writing stories! So here’s fair warning: going forward, you’ll see far fewer deals and more personal entries for the ones that I do showcase.

Does that mean you won’t get your daily fix of sales? No way. I’ve been sourcing out websites over the past few weeks that I feel comfortable referring my readers to. Of course you’ve probably heard of Red Flag Deals and Smart Canucks, and while they’re a valuable resource for deals, the layout can be very busy. So unless you’ve been waiting for a sale on Raid Ant Traps (and have a coupon for it that would make it $0.39!) it’s not always pleasing to navigate through them.

Then I came across Canadian Daily Deals, an awesome new blog that takes the best deals and dishes them out in an uncomplicated, simple to read format. A bonus? The author, Justine, posts the kind of sales that interest me and talk to the shopping habits of many of my readers. I’ve been following her for a few weeks, and noticed that her sales are posted before RFD and SC get a hold of them – which makes me confident that she’s got the scoop on how to save you money! And, be sure to tune in throughout the day, as she updates her blog as the deals roll in.

So once again, this isn’t the end of Listen to Lena!, nor will I cease to post some of the hottest deals. But you will see changes – a different direction if you will – and I’m taking it back to Blogging 101. You’ll see more personal accounts, reviews, random rants, tips for saving money, etc. You know, more reasons to Listen to Lena.

In my next post, I’ll introduce you to Justine and Canadian Daily Deals. In the meantime, why not link over to her site – today she’s already posted some pretty sweet deals!

Click here to visit Canadian Daily Deals.

p.s. Show here some love by following her!