Free Book Friday

Free and Friday - two of my favorite things and one of the more popular marketing strategies these days. First, there were free doughnuts on National Doughnut Day, then free chocolate as part of Mars Chocolate Relief Act, and now, free books! That's right, a free book giveaway every Friday.

Each week, Free Book Friday features a new author, does a book review involving the author's current publication, an interview podcast or written Q&A , and hosts a drawing to win free signed copies of the featured book. One entry per IP address. Winners selected randomly every Friday. Great way for a thrifty reader to save money. Site created by Jessica Brody, author of The Fidelity Files.

Note: I think this is much better deal than Harliquin Free Book Friday offer. Buy two or more of their books on Friday and they'll give you their weekly featured book absolutely free! But I guess it all depends on what kind of brain candy you like to read on the beach.

FireFly Turns Bottles into Lights

Shopped the aisles of Eastern Mountain Sports (EMS) this morning and discovered my new favorite gadget. It's called FireFly. It's a bottle lid that allows you to convert any standard wide mouth water bottle into a lantern. FireFly's unique lid design includes an LED light that spreads light throughout the bottle. I'll be saving time, money and effort today because I'm buying several FireFlys for 2009 Christmas season at the EMS 20% off one item sale going on now through July 14th

FireFly includes variable light settings so you can have a nightlight for stormy nights, a trail mark for an outdoor adventure, or a reading light for enjoying your latest good read the control is at your finger tip! Net, net, it makes a long lasting lantern for anywhere (i.e., camping, dorm room, apt., car. etc.). Takes 3 triple A batteries. Waterproof. Costs $20. Perfect for your favorite camper, night time runner, college student, or someone like me who reads in the dark while her spouse blissfully slumbers.

Available at EMS, REI, and Dick's Sporting Goods.

Save Money With a Fun Daytrip

Here's a great day trip for those of you out there trying to saving money and still maintain a sense of fun and a lust for adventure. Great time, a variety of activities, and a tasty lunch for $10. Fun way to spend an afternoon.

After dropping off the suitcase donations for foster children, here's how the day unfolded.

Yard Sale. Stopped at a yard sale along Main Street, West Newbury. Snagged a nice terra cotta wine cooler for $.50 (retail price = $30!). Yard sales are a great way to treasure hunt for odds and ends and save some money in the process.

Maudsley State Park. Walk, bike, horseback ride, or informal picnic through this historical site. Enjoy its 19th century gardens. Use your Massachusetts ParksPass and park for free; Otherwise, pay $2. Great way to get some fun exercise.

UpperCrust Pizza, Newburyport, MA. Grab a slice of award winning thin crust pizza and an icy soda. Enjoy streetside or head to the waterfront to eat while you watch boats come and go. ($10 for 2)

Oldies Marketplace, Newburyport MA. Wander this indoor/outdoor marketplace along Newburyport's waterfront. The place is filled with gently used items, antiques, and collectibles. I always feel like I'm treasure hunting in someone's attic when I come here. Fun place. You can find some really gems there.

Crowd-pleasing brownie recipe

Listing a brownie recipe today that will make your mouth water while you squeal with delight once you realize that by modifying 1 recipe 3 ways you can save time baking and effort when creating a crowd pleasing dessert. Served these brownies up on Father's Days to rave reviews. And actually, I was rather embarrassed because these brownies are so easy to make!

Using either Baker's One Bowl Brownie recipe or your favorite box of brownie mix (Note: I recommend Ghiradelli's Double Chocolate brownie mix, )prepare according to directions. Then, add another ingredient or two to give your basic brownie a flavor boost. Let them think you slaved in the kitchen for hours to prepare these desserts. Little do they know, a few key add-in ingredients is all it takes to great brownie flavors. Save yourself some time. Save yourself some effort. Check out these recipes.

Espresso Brownies. Add 2 Tablespoons of Maxwell Instant Coffee to your mix. Delicious!

Cranberry White Chocolate Pistachio Brownies. Add 1/2 cup of dried cranberries, 1/2 cup of Hersey's White Chocolate Baking Pieces (aka morsels), and 1/2 cup of Pistachio nuts (shelled, of course!). A bite of these brownies silences the crowd.

Peppermint Brownies. Unwrap 16 York Peppermint Patties. After baking your brownies according to direction, place the York Peppermint Patties on top of the batter. Place brownies back into oven for an additional 3 minutes of cooking. The patties will melt during this time in the oven. Spread the melted patties over the brownies. Cool 30 minutes. Yum!

Suitcase Donations for Foster Kids

Read about a sad problem with a happy "feel good/do good" resolution in today's Boston Globe. Displaced foster children come and go , carrying their belongings in a sad black trash bag. I also learned foster children, on average, move 4 times. Sad. Very Sad. Think about it - if you were a kid and all your belongings were carried in trash bag, wouldn't you feel sad, worthless/not valuable, disposable like trash? Wouldn't it be good if they could have something of their own to carry their belongings in? To give themselves a sense of ownership, permanency, home?Thankfully, there is a Suitcase Donation Initiative for Foster Children that supports this need. Great way to pay forward alittle kindness and help with little to no effort.

Locally, this initiative is being organized in Haverhill. A suitcase drop off is being held this Saturday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. with three drop-off points coordinated at Triton Regional High School, Pentucket Regional High School, and Masconomet Regional High School.Haverhill not convenient? Consider working with one of your own community groups or employer and launch an initiative within your own community. Starter Kits and Guidelines are available online.

Time to clean out the cellar, attic, and closets of old suitcases, gym bags, and duffel bags. Put them to good use by donating to this cause and help put a smile on a kid's face.

Grand Slam Getaway For Cheap

Crazy mascots, great stadiums, budget friendly tickets, between inning entertainment, and giveaways galore (e.g., bobble heads ,anyone?) make minor league baseball one of the summer's best entertainment deals. It's a chance to see great talent, since many a minor league player today becomes a superstar tomorrow. And at most parks, tickets cost less than $10.

Best kept secret? Buy one ticket, get one free on Tuesday Nights at participating minor league stadiums. Simply bring a Kraft singles wrapper to the ball park box office for a steal of a deal.

So, gather up the family, put on your favorite team's colors, and head to minor league park for some fun. Find more information, including schedules and team stats, check out minorleaguebaseball.com

Wardrobe Malfunction Kit

Act like a surgeon. Be efficient, effective, and ready to act upon the unexpected. By adopting this mantra (and living it out when necessary), I think you'll can save some time and effort when dealing with a problem, and reduce some anxiety & stress. And figure out ways to adopt the mantra in everyday life. So, every once in awhile, I'm going to write about how to apply this mantra to everyday life.

Hence, today, I present you with The Wardrobe Malfunction Kit. Stash these supplies in your car's glove comparement, purse or briefcase, the gym bag, or the office top drawer. Avoid ruining your day with coffee stains, pantyhose runs, and lost buttons but using these wardrobe survival essentials.

Club Soda and a small wash cloth. Pretreat small spills immediately so they don't become permanent stains. Pour the club soda on the stain. Gently blot out the stain. Buy the smallest bottle possible. Once its open, it goes flat and does not good.

Safety Pins. Keep things together when your button pops, the bra strap comes undone, or the arm of your eyeglasses disconnects with the frame. Stash a small assortment(e.g, small gold, black, larger silver) in a tin.

Button Pins. Skip the task of sewing of a button. Avoid threading a needle. Slip a button pin into your buttonhole. It's like an earring for your buttonhole.

Nippits. Save yourself the embarrassment of "high beam" moments. Let your winning smile stop traffic instead. Agree. Awkward to talk about, but easy to address and nice to know there is a solution.

Party Feet. Rescue your feet when your workday shoes give you blisters or burning soles. Nice!

Instant Stain Remover. Eliminate tougher, dried on stains (e.g, coffee, ketchup, chocolate, and ink). Try a Tide To Go pen or Shout wipes.

Garment Tape. Say goodbye to fallen hem lines. Avoid tripping on your pants.

Sewing Kit. Be ready for bigger clothing diasters like a torn hem.

Clear Nail Polish. Save a doomed manicure, stop a run in your pantyhouse, or save your shoelace from further unraveling, with a quick dollop of fast drying nail polish.

Pain Reliever. You'll be everyone's best friend if you can alleviate pain and suffering from a cold, headache or aching muscle.

National Donut Day is June 5

National Donut Day is Friday, June 5. Stop by your local Dunkin Donuts for a free donut with the purchase of any beverage while supplies last. (Note: check last Sunday's coupon flyers for a coupon on ice coffee and tea.) If you're lucky enough to live near a Krispy Kreme donut shop, you can snag a one free doughnut per customer on Friday. No purchase required.

National Doughnut Day started in 1938 as a fund raiser for the Chicago Salvation Army with the goals of raising money for the needy during the Great Depression and to honor the Salvation Army "Lassies" of World War I, who served doughnuts to soldiers behind the front lines in France. Learn more...


Between Free Donut Friday and Free Ice Cream Saturday, if you don't see me waiting in line for a freebie, I'll be at the high school track running laps to burn off the carbs....

Free Ice Cream Cone

Don't forget to swing by your local Friendlys for a free scoop (or dish) of your favorite ice cream on Saturday, June 6th between Noon- 5PM. It's the second annual Free Ice Cream Cone Day. With the economy down and the harsh winter behind us (hello... anyone remember the December Ice storm?!), kick off your summer right with a sampling of your favorite flavor. See you in line on Saturday. I'll be the gal taking licks of the Hunka Chunka Peanut Butter Fudge cone. Yum