Bliss soaps: Double your order for free, help a small business out.

This offer is for everyone, but Seattleites especially may know of Bliss Soaps, the cute little gay-owned soap shop on Capitol Hill that sells Lush-esque fancy bath products. Evidently they got scammed on a fraudulent order by an evil couple of Lying Lyersons, and while they're lawyering up, they're still concerned they may not have enough $$$ to make it through the holidays. They're trying to recoup some cash with a big sale this weekend, in-store and online, so do a good deed AND knock out half your holiday gift list! (More info below.)

***********

10/29/2009

Dear Valued BLISS Soaps Customer;


BLISS Soaps has unfortunately fallen victim to a fraudulent business
deal. Many local customers may recall a large soap, lotion, facemask
and eye cream order that we were working on as they came to visit the
store. The order was made, delivered and distributed to the Cruise-
line executives ahead of schedule. Emperors Essentials, the company
that commissioned BLISS Soaps to fulfill this contract fraudulently
reversed ALL of the payments that were made to us. After researching
the company, we discovered that the couple who own Emperors
Essentials; Robert Friend, Jr., and Shao Mei Wang operate 4 charities
in Gig Harbor, Washington. 1) National Association of Disabled Police
Officers. 2) American Veterans Coalition. 3) (Childrens) Cancer
Assistance Network. 4) Disabled Firefighters Foundation. All 4
charities are fictitious and an estimated $5,000,000.00 was raised for
the charities and around 2 cents per dollar was used as assistance. If
you hear of these in the future, DO NOT DONATE.

The devastating to BLISS Soaps came at such a time that we may not
recover the funds in time to maintain operations.

In an effort to make this a win-win situation for both of us, we are
offering this 4 day only Internet, call-in and walk-in special in an
attempt to earn pre holiday revenue.

All orders over $50.00 will be doubled and the next 5 future orders
over $50.00 will be given a $15.00 credit.

All orders received in the next 4 days will be filed and a VERY
special future offer will be offered to you in our Dec E-mail.

ALL orders place in the next 4 days EVEN orders under $50.00 will be
given the Special December offer.

To call in your orders, please call 1-206-322-SOAP 7 days 4-10 Pacific
Time
Internet orders, please only order ½ of what you would like as we will
simply double the order received.

Thank, you for your past and continued patronage and hope to hear from
you soon.

Phil & Chuck
BLISS Soaps

50% off Payless shoes, today only!

Evidently Oprah is giving away a bunch of Payless coupons, good today only, through her show. Somehow I doubt Oprah has ever set foot into a Payless in her life, let alone worn their discount shoes, but it was a nice thought, I guess.

50% off Payless shoes, good October 30 only. Print the coupon or text OPRAHSHOW to 242424 and get a mobile coupon that you can show the cashier at checkout.

Free Noah's and Einstein bagels today until 11 am!

Free bagels? Yum! Too bad I don't have a Noah's or Einstein Bros. bagel chain near me... otherwise you bet I'd hustle over there for Free Bagel Friday. Take the coupon in before 11 am and enjoy!

Cost Plus: Free tote with $10 purchase, 10% off.

Cost Plus is looking out for you this Halloween... they want to provide you with a free trick-or-treat bag, free with a $10 purchase (scroll down to the bottom of the first page of the ad). Also, get 10% off in-store or online using this printable coupon or promo code WELCOME2009.

Tote bag offer good through Oct. 31, coupon good through Nov. 29.

Free Taster's Choice sample pack.

Taster's Choice doesn't want Starbucks VIA hogging all the attention, so they would like to remind you that they exist by offering a free sample pack of many flavors of instant coffee. I tried this offer the last time it went around, and what I learned is that I do not like Taster's Choice at all, but if you're curious, go on and give it a try.

Update: The KodakGallery $15 gift certificate totally works.

Last week I posted about a KodakGallery offer where they're giving out 100,000 $15 gift certificates every week through November 13. I tested it out myself, and just received my order today, which was fairly quick for a custom photo gift, I think.

I ordered the porcelain filigree ornament, which turned out to be very pretty and delicately patterned in real life. The photo quality was clear (albeit a bit darker than the original image), but the big thing was that it didn't crop the same as the onscreen tool pictured it. Mine is a head-and-shoulders close-up of two people, and it cropped the top of one person's head completely off, which is not how it showed onscreen. You'd think whoever was manning the machines would figure that a customer wouldn't want the subjects' heads to be lopped off and tweak it accordingly, but no.

This may not be such an issue for items like mugs or mouse pads where there's a larger printing area, but if you're doing a very small item like the ornaments, make sure to give yourself a generous margin on all sides. Still, since I got it for free and paid $2.99 shipping, I'm pretty satisfied with the result. If you've always wanted an ironic photo mug, here's your chance!

Borders: 40% off one item.

This is as good as the Borders coupons get, so don't hold out if there's something special you've been looking at. Even better, this is 40% off any item, not just books - so you can go wild with DVD boxed sets, CDs, gift sets and what have you. My Borders has a lot of Burt's Bees beauty products and fancy soy candles, so keep that in mind - it's not just bargain books and puppy calendars.

Also good online with promo code BRE1129H.

Bath & Body Works: Free tote with $25 purchase, free shipping.

Bath & Body Works has some offers for you... they'll give you a free cute black-and-white tote with a $25 purchase, and free shipping with a $50 purchase. And not to worry, they've already stocked their online store with plenty of holiday gift sets and items, so you can easily knock out a few gifts to hit that minimum purchase limit - and then get one more gift, the tote, free! I mean, not that you would give someone a freebie as a gift. But maybe you would. I would.

Free YoCrunch yogurt when you send in a candy wrapper.

Okay, well, I know this flyer looks so cheesy that you probably think it's fake, and I would have thought that too, except it's hosted on the yocrunch.com site, so it has to be real, right? I mean, doesn't it look like something that a national brand would spend money having an expert designer create? No?

Well, whatever. MS Paint Frankenstein and wavy 3-D banner text aside, the offer stands: send YoCrunch an envelope stuffed with trick-or-treat candy wrappers (or, you know, any candy wrappers you happen to have lying around) and they'll send you a coupon for a free YoCrunch candy-topped yogurt. You know, for a healthier lifestyle. For your kids.

Think of the children!

Free Betty Crocker potatoes, perhaps.

The offer sounds straightforward enough: sign up for the Betty Crocker e-newsletter and get a free sample of their mashed potatoes or potatoes au gratin. However, it seems to me that I signed up for this freebie last time they offered it... and never got my potatoes. So if you sign up, do so at your own risk, and don't be crushed if your potatoes never come.

Free Garnier Anti-Sun-Damage daily cream sample.

It's been a little while since I've seen a sample offer from Walmart, but they're back now with a new Garnier product to try: Skin Renew anti-sun-damage eye cream. I don't know that I've seen tons of sun damage around my eyes... they seem more prone to puffy bags and circles, actually, which I blame on poor life decisions. But if I get enough of this eye cream, maybe I can inject it directly into my eye bags and bring the swelling down? It's worth a shot.

Southwest "4th Quarter" fare sale.

Well, here's an offer I'm guaranteed not to understand, since it uses a football metaphor. But Southwest is currently having a fare sale for travel Dec. 2- 16, 2009, and Jan. 5-Feb. 10, 2010, and the fares range from $25 to $100 depending on how many miles the trip is. So tickets are $25 for trips up to 374 miles, $50 for trips from 375 to 549 miles, and so on.

Not to worry, you can click through to see fares displayed by price and destination, so even non-football fans can figure this one out. Thank goodness.

Seattle: 50% off EVERYTHING at Salvation Army, Oct. 31.

It turns out that sometimes reading what comes in those junk-mail flyer bundles is actually useful after all... I was sorting through mine today and a flyer for the Salvation Army fell out. Evidently they're having a big Halloween sale at the following Seattle-area stores, at which everything will be 50% off:

• Seattle (1000 4th Ave. S)
  
• Burien (16033 1st Ave. S at 160th St.)
  
• Renton (411 S. 3rd St. at Whitworth)
  
• Kent (26401 Pacific Hwy. S)
  
• Puyallup (19204 Meridian St. at 128th St.)
  
• Sumner (1201 Main St.)

If you don't have a costume by now, I don't know that this will save your bacon, but if you just want to root through some old clothes before going out on Halloween, why not save some cash at your local Salvation Army?

1-year Parents subscription for $5.

This may not be your demographic - it certainly isn't mine - but in case you've got some anxious new parents (or parents-to-be) on your holiday gift list, consider the 1-year Parents magazine subscription for $5 at Amazon. Or, if you DO happen to be an avid subscriber, remember you can always tack on the year to your existing subscription and enjoy the savings yourself. Cha-ching!

Personally, I'm waiting for Highlights to go on sale. I wonder what Goofus and Gallant are up to...

Fazoli's: Free small spaghetti with purchase of drink.

I wish we had Fazoli's here in Seattle, or even Washington, but some lucky reader will have to enjoy this offer for me. Print this coupon and get a free small spaghetti with the purchase of a drink... and I believe if you dine in, they circulate with baskets of free breadsticks. What's not to like?

Boston Market: $1 Real Chicken meals.

Attention, fans of chicken, Boston Market, and/or getting a meal for a buck: Boston Market is offering $1 Real Chicken meals through November 1 with this coupon. That includes a quarter white meat, 3-piece dark meat, with mashed potatoes and cornbread. I think I'd rather have that for a dollar than a piece of KFC for free...

Target: No sitting free and free 8x10 at portrait studio.

Well, maybe your fancy Target has a portrait studio, but mine barely has a food aisle, so I guess I'll have to drive across town if I want to take advantage of this offer. Still, it could be worth it - no sitting fee plus a free 8x10 print at their portrait studio, and portrait packages starting from $8.99. Get a jump on those photo holiday cards!

Halloween: Free Black Jack taco at Taco Bell on October 31.

OK, I admit I'm pretty out of touch with things going on in the world of fast food, since I don't really dine at Taco Bell ever. But this new Black Jack taco is especially perplexing. Why is it black? Is there a special kind of black corn that's somehow more awesome, or is it just spooooky for Halloween? I have questions.

Perhaps my burning questions will be answered on October 31, when anyone can stop by their local participating Taco Bell for a free Black Jack Taco. Doesn't look like a coupon is required, or even a costume, so you should definitely plan a stop on your trick-or-treating route.

Free Kashi bar sample.

This is an unusual one, courtesy of HeyItsFree.net... you have to jump through an extra hoop to get to it, but Kashi bars are pretty good, so it's probably worth it.

1. Click on the link.
2. Click on the banner ad that appears at the top.
3. Proceed to the giveaway page!

Hmm, maybe this link will work too... let's give it a whirl.

Halloween: Free Mattel toy at Sears for costumed kids.

Normally I don't keep my eyes peeled for kid-friendly freebies, but this one is too good to pass up: on Halloween, take this printable coupon to Sears and receive a free Mattel toy. You also get a coupon for $5 off a $20 toy, but if I were you, I'd let them get all excited running around and choosing their favorite... then inform them that that's their Xmas present and they'll see it again in two months. I guess that's why I don't have kids.

Thrifty: Use every last scrap of that pumpkin!

After picking up a pumpkin at the corn maze last weekend, I'm ready to do some carving, and I was already planning on roasting up the seeds. But it turns out you can do so much more than that with your Halloween squash! WiseBread shows you how to make the most of your pumpkin this year:

• Roasted pumpkin seeds
• Homemade pumpkin puree
• Recipes for milkshakes, casseroles, soups, and more
• Pickle that pumpkin rind

No wonder the pilgrims carved jack o' lanterns for Halloween! They're practically a cornucopia of good eatin' all on their own.

Borders: 30% off any item.

There once was a bookstore called Borders
That grew desperate for customer orders.
With 30% coupons
And deals you won't poop on,
They cater directly to hoarders.

Good through Oct. 25, in-store or online with promo code BSA9683B. Thank you, I'll be here all week.

Free $15 gift certificate for Kodak Gallery.

So I guess this is a promotion with the Ellen Degeneres Show, but there will be 100,000 free $15 Kodak Gallery gift certificates given away each week through November 13. You give them your email, they send you a promo code, and then you go shopping in the online store. Upload your pictures to create photo gifts, and you're done!

I tried this out myself to confirm it, and in case you're wondering, $15 is enough to get a hilarious photo mug, a touching porcelain photo ornament, a mini photo book with 14 double-sided pages, a dozen photo cards, or a photo mouse pad. The $15 is not good toward shipping, but I ordered one item and the shipping was $2.99, which I figured was reasonable for a delightful photo keepsake.

Knock someone else off your holiday list with a photo gift and never look back! Or dazzle your friends with an amazing photo card.

Are you ready for your Mystery Box?

This site is new to me, but I am a sucker for a grab bag, so the Midnight Box is sounding quite intriguing. If I understand this correctly, how it works is you can order up to 5 mystery items at $1.49 each, plus $3.99 shipping. They'll box up random items from out of their warehouse, with a much higher retail value (they display a sample retail value that's an average total-retail-value for a 5-item box), and you wait and see what you get!

Judging from their list of past boxes, it looks like it's mainly tech gadgets and video game accessories, with the occasional Citizen watch and digital photo frame thrown in. If that sounds like your bag - er, box - and you're feeling lucky, give it a spin! Then tell us what you get in the comments.

Barnes & Noble: Free hot chocolate and cookie Oct. 24.

Well, this is an interesting development... is Barnes & Noble trying to steal away my loyalty by picking up Borders' free-drink-coupon slack? B&N has this printable coupon for a small hot chocolate and a cookie, good October 24 only (this Sat.). It doesn't look like you have to be a member of their rewards program or anything, you just have to show up with your coupon and a sweet tooth. Nice!

Now to print out 20 copies and plan a route to all the B&Ns in the area...

Buy 2 General Mills cereals, get a free movie ticket.

Now this offer seems like a wholesome, nutritious deal. Buy two boxes of specially marked General Mills cereal, enter the codes on this website, and you'll get a printable certificate good for one movie admission. You can check for participating theaters here - Seattleites, we have plenty to choose from, including the downtown Meridian 16, Pacific Place, Cinerama, Uptown Cinemas, and more.

I'm going to buy two boxes of Reese's Puffs cereal, take it with me to a weepy romantic drama, and spend the whole two hours loudly crunching my way through them. Nothing ruins a tender moment like the plink-plink of chocolately cereal balls skittering down the aisles.

KFC: Free chicken on Oct. 26. No, really!

Here we go again, people... if you can get past the cutesy-fakesy tone of this news release, the gist is that on Monday, October 26, KFC will once again supposedly be giving away free chicken at participating restaurants. That's one piece of grilled chicken per customer, no coupon needed. I would have liked it better if they had showed some humor and humility by gently poking fun at their last attempt, but nope, just a lot of dumb advertising-speak about something called the "Grilled Nation."

Last time, as you may recall, resentful franchisees dragged their heels by claiming they'd already given away their allotment or pretending that the free chicken would be ready, ohhh, 20 minutes from now (while cheerfully serving paying customers their food). If you don't want to get caught in the crossfire this time, make sure to call ahead to your local store and find out if they're really offering free faux-grilled chicken.

I can't wait to see what mocking response-campaign Del Taco runs this time...

Free bronzer or mini lip gloss at Sephora inside JC Penney.

It's another makeup freebie! Print out this coupon and take it to any Sephora counter inside a JC Penney for your free sample of either LORAC’s TANtalizer Baked Bronzer, or a Mini Couture
Shine Liquid Lipstick in Glam.

Sorry, Seattleites, the closest one to us is in Silverdale. Only you know whether it's worth a 17-mile drive to get a free mini lip gloss.

Free crockpot cookbook, in PDF form.

It's definitely comfort food weather here in Seattle, which means it's time to haul out the casserole dishes and crockpots. I do have my standby recipes (ask me about my world-famous chicken and corn chili!), but I also like to try some new ones each winter, because, honestly, there are only so many ways to serve falling-apart meat in broth.

Recipe Lion has come to the rescue with a crockpot cookbook PDF, full of 33 recipes to warm up your kitchen! That chicken-and-rice-soup recipe sounds pretty good right now. Or, you know, 9 hours from now.

Facebook: Free eyeshadow for fans!

Here's another Facebook freebie for the ladies... or anyone who likes mineral eyeshadow, I suppose. Become a fan of glominerals by October 26, and if they get at least 1,800 total fans by then (doubling their number of fans), everybody gets a free eyeshadow! How that works is, on October 26, there will be a special tab on their Facebook page accessible only to fans, where you can sign up with your mailing info.

They've already got 8,000+ fans, so I'd say it's pretty much of a shoo-in that you'll get your free eyeshadow... unless they claim to be overwhelmed by demand or something. So get in line now!

Avon: Fall savings spree + free shipping.

Avon calling! Apparently they're having a "fall savings spree" that includes savings of up to 65% off, plus free shipping today only with coupon code 1020FSD.

I feel like I'm cheating on my Avon lady by ordering through the website, but I'm only human! How am I supposed to resist 65% off and free shipping?

Virgin America fare sale + free wi-fi.

I like Virgin America to begin with, but I especially like them when they're offering deals on airfare! Check out their holiday sale, details below. Plus, they're offering free in-flight wi-fi from November 10 through January 15, which normally runs $6-13 per flight.

Travel must occur between 11/10/09 and 01/15/10. Blackout dates are 11/25/09, 11/28/09 to 11/30/09, and 12/17/09 to 01/05/10.

from $39 each way TO/FROM San Francisco
Orange County
Seattle
San Diego
Los Angeles
Las Vegas

from $59 each way TO/FROM Seattle
Los Angeles
Orange County
San Diego
Las Vegas

From $99 each way TO/FROM San Francisco
Boston
Fort Lauderdale
New York (JFK)
Washington, D.C. (Dulles)

From $99 each way TO/FROM Las Vegas
New York (JFK)

From $99 each way TO/FROM Los Angeles
Boston
Fort Lauderdale
New York (JFK)
Washington, D.C. (Dulles)

Borders: 30% off any item.

Hmmm, Borders seems to be cracking down on their coupons a bit. This one for 30% off any item is only good today and tomorrow, rather than the five-ish days they normally give you. Well, that probably just means there will be another one out later this week, then. No cause for alarm, my thrifty friends.

Also good online with promo code BSD6772C.

Reminder: Free Jack in the Box grilled sandwich today!

Just in case you forgot, today is Jack in the Box's free grilled sandwich promotion. Buy a soda, get a free turkey bacon cheddar or deli trio grilled sandwich. Of course, the real question is, will all the franchise locations be prepared for the onslaught of freebie-demanding hordes, or will it be another Oprah Chicken debacle? Find out today!

1-year Sunset subscription for $5.

I'm really liking Amazon's "Magazine Steal of the Week" offer, where a different magazine goes on sale each week at $5 for a one-year subscription. Yeah, some of them are more interesting than others, but given that many magazines cost $5 per issue, it's an excellent deal.

This week's offer: Sunset! This may not be quite so relevant for my non-home-owning, non-gardening readers, but just think of the holiday gifting possibilities for the renovation enthusiasts on your list...

Land's End faux-shearling pull-through scarf, $3.99 + free shipping.

All the soft fluffy sheepness without the price tag... Land's End has a faux-shearling pull-through scarf for $3.99 and free shipping, in a variety of colors. Use promo code OCT20 at checkout through, yep, October 20 (PIN: 1242). A lovely little cozy holiday gift for the ladies in your life... and on your gift list.

4GB Kingston flash drive, $9.99 + free shipping.

I love these little flash drives! They're getting cheaper and cheaper, so there's really no excuse for not stowing one in your bag to quickly and easily transport photos, music, homework, stolen CIA secrets, or whatever data you may wish to keep handy. $9.99 for a 4GB flash drive plus free shipping is a pretty darn good price. Stuff those stockings, tech elves!

Jack in the Box: Free grilled sandwich when you buy a soda, October 20.

Oh, that Jack, he is a clever soul with a knack for catchy ads. This latest promotion offers you a free grilled sandwich with the purchase of a soda (on October 20 only - that's tomorrow!). Your choice of turkey bacon cheddar or deli trio. It doesn't look like a printable coupon, but I guess it couldn't hurt to print this page out and take it with you to ensure that you get your free sandwich.

$9.99 Express clearance, plus 20% off.

Sure, I shop at Express... out of their $9.99 bins, that is. Now you can recreate the bargain-hunting thrills without the annoyance of pawing through unsorted, messy heaps of clothes shoulder-to-shoulder with a ton of other women! Check out the Express $9.99 and up sale (for men and women) and get an extra 20% off at checkout.

Free e.l.f. 27-piece makeup collection with $1 purchase.

Do you know of e.l.f.? No, it is not cosmetics for fairies and sprites - it's a brand of super-cheap (most are $1) makeup, sort of the Wet 'n' Wild of the twenty-first century, if you will. They often have promos and special deals, and the current deal seems pretty sweet: a free 27-piece makeup kit with ANY purchase. Use code LOYAL and you'll just have to pay the usual $7 shipping - kinda high, yeah, but think of all you get!

27 Pc Mini Includes:

• 9 eyeshadow shades
• 1 cream eyeshadow shade
• 1 blush
• 1 bronzer
• 10 lip gloss shades
• 1 brow powder
• 1 eye liner pencil
• 1 dual ended eyeshadow applicator and brush
• 1 face brush
• 1 lip brush

Get yourself a fun little eyeshadow quad or some nail polish and let the savings begin!

Borders: 30% off any item.

Yes yes, I know this doesn't impress you any more, but maybe there's somebody out there somewhere who needs a 30% off one item coupon at Borders this week. Good in-store or online with promo code BSA6576K through October 19!

Amazon: Buy 2, get 3rd video game free.

Amazon is having a sale on video games for a variety of platforms: buy 2 and get the 3rd free. I just checked out the Nintendo DS section and it looks like they have some new and good titles like Scribblenauts, so it's not just a case of them trying to unload their dog games for cheap.

If you have some video game lovers on your holiday list, now might be the perfect time to knock some of those gifts out...

Burt's Bees Premium Grab Bag is back!

Burt's Bees must really love clearing out their warehouse of backstock, because they're doing yet another $25 gift bag special. You get 4 lip products, a 4 oz. spearmint lime body wash and a 3 oz. nourishing body lotion; 12 mini-size products; and 4 special gifts, plus a Replenishing Lip Balm as an extra bonus.

Here's what they're saying comes in this one:

6 Regular-Sized Products:

• Lip Shimmer Merlot
• Lip Shimmer Toffee
• Replenishing Lip Balm
• Beeswax Lip Balm
• Spearmint & Lime Body Wash (4 oz)
• Nourishing Body Lotion (3 oz)

12 Mini-size:

• Baby Bee Buttermilk Bath
• All-in-One Wash
• Lip Gloss Red
• Lip Gloss Nude
• Natural Skin Care for Men Soap
• Peppermint Soap
• Citrus Spice Soap
• Baby Bee Buttermilk Soap
• Orange Essence Facial Cleanser
• Peppermint Foot Lotion
• Rosemary Mint Shampoo Bar
• Therapeutic Bath Crystals

4 Special Gifts:

• Bamboo Poof
• Burt's Bees Gardener's Gloves
• Red Wristlet Bag
• Lip Balm Clip-On

Items may vary. All sales final. No returns or replacements.

Free shipping on any Avon order.

Calling all Avon ladies... you can get free shipping with any Avon order, using promo code SPECIAL. I just tried it and it looks like there's no minimum order, so go nuts! Order one 69-cent lip balm and stick it to The Man!

Free Stayfree sample.

Ladies, this offer is for you: a free Stayfree sample when you sign up for their newsletter.

I think I might need to create a new junk email account... mine is totally overrun with newsletters from offers like this - whenever I actually dare to sign in and shovel through the six-foot-deep crap in my inbox, that is.

7-11: Free hot beverage through October 31.

Usually I don't pay much attention to billboards, but I have been noticing the "99-cent coffee in a Domo cup!" 7-11 ads scattered around town lately, and I admit, I am not immune to the appeal of that little sawtoothed chocolate slab of a creature. So if he wants me to have the coffee, I'll have the coffee.

Even if you're not a coffee drinker, though, fill up with a free 12-oz hot beverage at a participating 7-11 location through October 31. Coffee, cappucino, hot chocolate, or tea - there's got to be something that will appeal to you on a chilly fall morning... and bonus points if it comes in a screamin' brown monster cup.

Seattle: Win tickets to Goodwill Glitter Sale Preview Party!

Seattleites, I'm taking it for granted that you know all about the Goodwill Glitter Sale, that annual festival of all that is sparkly and sequined, coming up on November 14-15. But did you know they also have a super-secret Preview Party on Friday, November 13? You can enter to win two tickets to the party and get a sneak peek at the glittery goods before they open it up to the hoi polloi.

Check out pics from last year's Glitter Sale and get pumped!

Sony Cybershot 10.1MP digital camera for $99 after rebate.

Normally I don't post techie gadget sale notices, because there are plenty of other sites out there that do it better, but this one caught my eye because a Sony Cybershot is the same camera that I have (well, except mine is a lot older and lamer, obviously). At Staples, you can get a 10.1MP Cybershot for $149, and then you'll get a $50 rebate gift card from Staples.

Of course, one of the biggest factors in me buying this camera was that mine came in pink, and this sale one only comes in boring silver. But you could always gussy it up with a pretty case and enjoy the color of green in your pocket instead.

Buy 3 Kellogg's cereals, get a $10 gift card.

Here's an intriguing cereal offer... buy 3 boxes of specially marked Kellogg's cereals, go online and enter the promo codes you find inside the boxes, and get a $10 gift card good at all these exciting places.

You have until September 2010 to get your codes and cash in, so that should be enough time to eat three boxes of Raisin Bran, right? Or maybe not, since I've never managed to eat an entire bowl in my life, let alone three boxes. But maybe all that will change now.

Dress like a burrito, get a free Chipotle burrito on Halloween.

Haven't figured out your Halloween costume yet? Well, not to try to sway you, but if you dress up as a burrito or anything burrito-related, probably involving foil, you can get a free burrito at Chipotle on Halloween after 6 pm. Actually, you can also get free tacos, a bowl, or a salad, not just a burrito. So dress as the Mexican fast-food ingredient of your choice and get free dinner! What other costume can promise you that?

Old Navy b-day sale and $10 off $50.

Old Navy is turning 15, it seems, and to celebrate, they're having a big ol' sale where many items are $15 and under. Plus, some coupon codes:

• $10 off $50 with code BG7R1CKRXHGL
• 15% off your purchase with code ONBDAY15

Looks like a lot of it is unloading summer clearance stuff, but who knows, maybe you do need some tank tops and polo shirts. In which case Old Navy has you covered.

Cooking Light: 2-year subscription, $14 after rebate.

While I'm at it, here's another magazine deal from Amazon: $14 for a two-year subscription to Cooking Light, after rebate. That is, the 2-year subscription is $24 and then you get a $10 Amazon gift certificate back. Which, come on, you know you'll spend anyway.

Normally this one costs more than $14 for just a one-year subscription, and I've found it's pretty full of good, tasty-sounding recipes that don't look fiendishly complex or call for ingredients you've never heard of. Or get a jump start on Xmas for that strapped-for-time chef on your list...

$5 one-year subscription to Yoga Journal.

What can I tell you, the freebies are mighty thin on the ground this morning... but at least you can gift the flexible hippie in your life with a one-year subscription to Yoga Journal for a mere $5. Actually, I think Flexible Hippie would be a much better name for a yoga magazine, don't you? Or maybe some sort of Seattle-based sustainable-living eco-blog printed on hemp paper with compostable soy ink.

B3G3 at Bath & Body Works for Columbus Day.

It's a little known fact that when Christopher Columbus discovered America, he was actually searching the globe for exotic florals and herbal essential oils to infuse his new line of bath products with. Bath & Body Works hasn't forgotten, and they're commemorating the occasion with a Columbus Day sale!

• Stock up on their signature collection fragrances with a buy-three-get-three-free special
• $6 Wallflowers
• $3 Room Sprays
• $6 Signature CLASSICS
• $8 Aromatherapy CLASSICS
• $10 Ile de Tahiti
• 2 for $12 Socks
• 2 for $6 Bath Sponges
• $6 Mani Pedi Kits
• $3.50 Aromatherapy Hand Soaps
• Save on Halloween Accessories
• Clearance - Save up to 50%

It's already practically mid-October, so if you have a big holiday shopping list, now may be the time to start knocking out a few of those generic teacher or great-aunt gifts...

Free Herbal Essences full-size 'poo.

Here's a pretty good giveaway, but you have to be quick. Herbal Essences is giving away a total of 75,000 free full-size bottles of 'poo or conditioner, or 18,750 every day from October 8-12. The giveaway starts at 11:30 pm each night, so you'll have to hover over your computers and wait.

I'm sure you have nothing else to do with your Friday night, right? Unless you told someone you couldn't go out because you "had to wash your hair"...

Free eggs from the egg farmers of America.

I'm not entirely clear on this one, but it seems that the egg farmers of America have banded together to donate eggs to the egg-needy. For everyone who takes the pledge of "eating good, doing good everyday," they'll donate one egg, plus the first 20,000 to sign up get a coupon for a free dozen eggs (with purchase).

I like hard-boiled eggs, and I think everyone has a basic constitutional right to eat eggs, so why not? I'll pledge that pledge.

Free quart of Glidden paint.

They did this promo a few months back, you may recall, but it looks like the Glidden free-quart-o-paint offer is back again! Pick your paint color and register between October 9–11. Oh, and you have to include the brand label off a can of paint for some reason. I guess so they can enjoy their triumph and know exactly whose customers they're stealing? Well, anyway, dig out an old paint label from your basement and get yourself a fresh new color.

Borders: 40% off one book.

A day without a Borders coupon is like a day without sunshine, so let me brighten your morning without further ado: 40% off one book, in-store or online (use promo code BSA1671X).

It's good through October 12, but you just know there will be another coupon out by then.

PF Changs: Free lettuce wrap app today, 10/8.

Looks like PF Changs is having an odd little Twitter promotion, today only... when you order a regular entree, say "I acknowledge the craving" to your server and you'll get a free order of their beloved lettuce-wrap appetizer.

Dine-in only, one appetizer per table, so it's not exactly something to go out of your way for, but if you were planning on eating there anyway, these would be good words to know for today.

Free sample of Green Mountain Fair Trade Coffee, first 100 every day.

Green Mountain Fair Trade Coffee is giving away "coffee care packages" (i.e., samples) to the first 100 people who take their quiz every day. The clock resets at midnight each night, so fix yourself a pot of coffee, hunch over your monitor, and settle in for the loooong wait.

What? You have better things to do than stay up till midnight for a free coffee sample? Well, never fear, take the quiz and you'll still be entered into the Fairest Trade Prize drawing at the end of the month to receive 12 months of Green Mountain Coffee's Fair Trade Certified Coffees.

IKEA: Free breakfast October 10-12.

Going to IKEA is an all-day project, so you should start off by fueling up so you'll have enough energy to stagger through the endless displays of 99-cent spatulas and bath rugs. IKEA is there for you with a free breakfast October 10-12. (Scroll to the bottom and click on the "Free Breakfast" ad for details.)

Looks like the offer is good for bacon, eggs, potatoes, and a cup of coffee, and it doesn't look like you need to print out a coupon or anything. Check your local store for details on the offer and the hours they're serving, though, as that often varies from location to location.

Free rental at Blockbuster Express kiosks.

I haven't seen any of these Blockbuster Express kiosks around, but I understand that Blockbuster is closing a bunch of its loser stores and going to these little DVD-rental booths instead. If you can find one, then you can get a free rental with coupon code DT99A.

White Castle: BOGO sliders.

Man, I wish I lived somewhere that had a White Castle. If you're lucky enough to do so, you can get a BOGO slider with this coupon through October 31. Halloween sliders!

50% off Halloween costumes, today only.

If you're a dedicated Halloween celebrant, then you've probably had your 2009 costume idea dreamed up for months now, and have been working on it diligently for some time. For the rest of us, there's last-minute costume sales! I've never heard of Shindigz, but they're having a 50% off costume sale today only. Use coupon code SZQYAJ and become the sexy pirate wench, sexy nurse, or sexy drum major you've always dreamed of.

Borders: 25% off one item, in-store and online.

You know, this started out as a joke, but I'm really not kidding anymore: it seems like Borders literally puts out a new coupon every day of one sort or another. Today's is 25% off one item, either online or in-store with promo code BSL6688C.

All right, let's move on to something else, shall we?

40% off everything at Coldwater Creek.

In case you're not familiar with Coldwater Creek, it's one of those mail-order women's clothing catalogs... a lot of it is somewhat weird old-lady-cruisewear, but sometimes they have genuinely good stuff, and often their jewelry is nice. Anyway, if you know the place I'm talking about, you can save 40% off your order through Tuesday with coupon code WKH6745. That includes clearance and outlet stuff, so hurry over before all the best things get snapped up! Old ladies can be vicious when it comes to final sale.

Free sample of Oregon Chai.

It's definitely hot-beverage weather out there now, which means you should really sign up for this free sample of Oregon Chai. I'm not a huge chai fan, but this is the brand I buy when I do get it - although I buy the powdered mix packets, I hear the concentrated liquid stuff in the cartons is even better.

Either way, it's a nice treat for a (yawn) slow, uninteresting Monday at the office... not that any of us are having one of those.

Yankee Candles: BOGO large jar candles.

Often, I start to feel like a theme develops for the day's freebies, and today's theme (if only in my own mind) seems to be "get ready for cold weather." Free hot coffee beverages, BOGO soup buffets, and now cozy candles to fill your home with the fake scent of fake baked goods, or maybe fake fruit or fake flowers. Your choice.

BOGO large jar candles at Yankee Candles with this coupon, good through October 4. I know shipping tends to be horrid on these super-heavy glass jar candles, though, so it's probably better to get them in-store - plus the instant smelly gratification!

Sweet Tomatoes: BOGO adult meal or breakfast.

It really bums me out that we don't have a Sweet Tomatoes near here, because they seem to offer these BOGO coupons pretty often, and I like all-you-can-eat soup/salad/baked potato extravaganzas. Especially now that it's clearly soup weather again.

Good through October 8, so if you're feeling the chill, go and get your soup on! (Or if not, get your pasta salad on, I guess.)

Peet's: BOGO beverages, print or mobile coupon.

These mobile coupons seem to be all the wave... unfortunately, I won't be able to use them until I get a cellphone that is actually capable of displaying them. You don't even want to know how bad mine is, really. I'd take a picture, except it's not even a cameraphone.

Anyway, Peet's is trying to steal Starbucks' free-coffee thunder with this BOGO coupon good through October 11. And yes, if your phone is better than mine, you can save a tree and just flash them the coupon in-store to get the discount.

Free Garnier Fructis 'poo and conditioner.

Now that I think about it, it's been a while since I was able to offer you some free 'poo. Well, I'm not going to let it happen again, do you hear me? Try some Garnier Fructis Triple Nutrition 'poo and conditioner, on me. Well, really it's on Walmart, but whatever.

Normally I'm not one to pay attention to magazine ads, but I've been noticing these Garnier Fructis ads featuring women with lustrous, shiny, braided hair tsunamis, and it's very intriguing, given that we're headed into frizzy cold/humid season here in Seattle. Just something to think about...

Borders: $5 off $20 in-store.

I know, I know, a Borders coupon is nothing new. But here it is anyway, just in case you need it: a coupon for $5 off a $20 purchase, good through October 4. Of course, that works out to 25% off IF you keep the total exactly at $20, so if I were you, I'd wait for the next 30% or 40% off coupon... but that's just me. Maybe you need some reading material for cozy couch times on this weekend of rainy weather, and I'm not going to judge you for that.

Starbucks: Free 12 oz. coffee when you take the VIA Taste Test.

Don't forget, starting today through October 5, Starbucks is offering the VIA Taste Test at all its locations. Take a taste test of their new VIA instant coffee vs. their regular Pike Place Roast, and you'll get a coupon for a free tall 12-oz. brewed coffee. What's not to like?

I just poured some coffee on my lap, in fact, so obviously I like it so much that I want to douse myself in it. Off to Starbucks!

Free wi-fi at Borders starting in October.

Not to be outdone by Barnes & Noble, Borders has just announced that it will be rolling out free wi-fi in "nearly all" of its stores later this month. Hooray! Borders, I will reward your generosity by plunking my ass down in your chairs and settling in with my iFaux for the long haul of online shopping and blog reading.

Borders.com: BOGO 40% off, free shipping over $10.

Meh, I'm not too impressed with this one, but you can buy one item, get one 40% off with promo code BAF1013B. Good through October 13. Box sets count, so if you were looking to stock up on some TV on DVD before the cold weather comes, this might be for you.

UPDATE: Borders is also offering free shipping with a minimum purchase of $10, through October 4. Use promo code BFS674STAN for standard shipping or BFS674BOX for shipping to P.O. boxes.