The Costco Brand Sampler is up and live again!  This is for Costco members, you must have your membership ready. Samples available are pictured above.

Click here to order your samples. 

🙂

Thanks Frugette and Caroman for the heads up using the suggest a deal form.

Ruffles Canada is offering a coupon for a free bag of chips when you enter “The Man Cave” on their Facebook page. It is sent through the mail says can take 2-4 weeks. Only redeemable at Mac’s, Couche-Tard and Circle K convenience stores in Canada. While supplies last. Limit one coupon per household.

Get it here

We use a large amount of water in our house.  With two small children and two adults we wash a lot of dishes, piles laundry and need to shower and bathe; additionally my wife runs her own in-home daycare.  Water and electricity is a bill that can be quite expensive at this rate and so I’ve compiled some ways to help the average Canadian save on their water bill.

While we practice a few of these things ourselves I did find in the process of researching a few tips that seem quite simple and I can’t believe I didn’t think of them before; obvious ideas and some small things.  I hope you find some of the following tips useful.

• Use your Dishwasher.  It actually takes more water to wash dishes by hand than to run your dishwasher when it is full.
• Don’t pre-rinse dishes.  Scrape food from the plates and let the dishwasher do the rest.
• Keep drinking water in the fridge.  If you keep your drinking water in the fridge not only will it be cold when you want it but you won’t have to waste water waiting for it to run cold from the tap.
• Heat water on the stove or in the microwave. Same as for the cold then you wont have to waste water waiting for the tap water to run hot.
• Install an Aerator. It attaches to the bottom of your faucet to reduce water flow without reducing water pressure.
• Fix leaky faucets.  A leak of one drip per second can cost $1 a month.
• Wash clothing in cold water.  Unlike  dishwashers clothing washers do not require an ideal temperature for cleaning therefore you can wash your clothing in either cold or warm water.  Cold water is the most cost effective but certain things do require washing in warm water.
• Install low flow fixtures. Such as shower heads and faucets.
• Purchase energy efficient dishwashers and clothing washers when possible.  I’m not saying run out and buy new ones but if you are in the market for a new dishwasher or clothing washer than consider getting an energy efficient one.  They are fairly easy to come by these days.

There are ways of saving water outside the home for yard/garden use that I did not cover here either which can really help out. Let me know any tips you might have for outdoors.

Any other tricks or tips on how you conserve water at home?

Since chilly weather accounts for the majority of the Canadian year, one of the quickest ways to transition your wardrobe is with a great pair of boots! So here are some inspirational looks for the upcoming season…

Over-The-Knee Boots

I’m always conflicted about this trend as I’m under 5′ tall. A couple of years ago, I did own a pair of FLAT over-the-knee pirate boots, but a heel probably would’ve helped to lengthen my legs.

These laced-up, heeled Dior boots look KILLER…in a good way. What I do like about this particular pair is that they’re jeweled-toned which is much better than black all over!

Mary-Jane Boots

From Prada’s F/W2011 RTW collection, this is more of a personal entry than a fashion trend as I doubt many people would be able to afford $2400US+ (snakeskin) or even a measly $1500US (suede).

I love the ultra-feminine style, colour combination, and use of different textures of leather! Actually, there’s nothing that I dislike about them. 😉 The only thing that I can think of is that they aren’t as practical as they are fashionable, especially on wet days.

Click here to ogle at the various colour/leather combinations.

Riding Boots

a.k.a. Field Boots, they’re traditionally flat, although some designers have decided to put a twist to the look – and torture for the feet of fashion slaves – by adding a high heel, most of the time stiletto. 🙁 Ouch!

I’ll trade in the stiletto heels for these other details: nice, metal harness around the ankles, partial lace-up, Spanish Cut, or a classy buckle around ankles or calves.

Aside from the rigid leather, Riding Boots look fairly easy to wear.

Booties

(Ignore the pump on the bottom right-hand side.)

Forgoing the lace-up stiletto booties, these sleek, lower-heeled booties are more my style! Think Acne, Alexander Wang, Jil Sander, or the chocolate brown ones with studs, zebra print ponyhair, or black pull-on ones, etc.

Simple, easy to walk in, and hopefully won’t make my legs look frumpy-stumpy!

So ladies, before the first leaf hits the ground, can you please place all those UGGs, Hunters, faux fur moccasins in an incinerator?  Notice how none of them made it onto my list or these…

Vibram FiveFinger Boots

Nasty. Unsightly. Who were these intended for??

Harveys is offering their Great Canadian Cheddar Ringer again and for a limited time you can show this printable coupon to upgrade your combo to a 32oz drink and frings for only 99 cents!

I have never tried this burger but it looks greasy delicious lol. Coupon is valid until October 31st 2011.

It appears Sport Chek Canada is having a Spend and Get Event.  When you spend $100 you get $20 in promotional cards or online coupons to use towards your next purchase.  Spend $250 and get $50 back. Promotional codes are redeemable until October 31 2011.

Here are some other Sport Chek deals.

Mens and Womens footwear: Buy one get one 50% off.

Mens, Womens and juniors, Hoodies, tees and track jackets 25% off.

Backpacks and Bags 25% off.

Select hockey supplies such as skates are on for up to 50% off.

NHL Jerseys 25% off.

Click here to visit Sport Chek Canada Online.

Right now, Vichy Canada is offering a $3 off printable coupon on their Capital Soleil line of sunscreen. All you have to do is take this mini-quiz about your skin and at the end, they suggest a particular sunscreen to meet your needs.

Sorry, this is a deal through Facebook! 🙁

Click here to get started on the quiz!

Today only, Cheers, the full series (all eleven seasons) is on sale over at Amazon.ca for $97.49. It’s a 45 DVD set and probably will set out before the day is out, so if you want that show, go for it. Maybe Frasier will be later in the week? 🙂

From August 16 – September 11 Bonnie Togs Canada is having a sale on Denim.  Boys and girls denim that was $12.50 is now $10.

Click here to find a store near you.

Ladies – today only Suzy Shier’s online store is 30% off every item! Go go go!!

Click here to shop

Thanks to Thor9 for the heads up

The Childrens Place is having a back to school sale in store and online.  Some of the deals include short sleeve  graphic tees for 4.99, Big boy and baby boy Polos and shorts for 5.99,  Girls active wear $10, Basic denim $12 and up.

Click here to visit The Childrens Place Canada website and to check out the other items included in the sale.

GameStop Canada Door Crasher today is Ratchet & Clank: A Crack In Time for PS3.  At only 4.99 I picked one up for my girls for Christmas.  It is one of the older Ratchet & Clank games but these are really popular and enjoyable to play.

Click here to get GameStop Canadas Daily Door Crasher.

There is a shipping rate of $4.99 but still a great deal for a PS3 game.

The fall clothing line is now available for purchase and to celebrate 1-plus.com is offering an extra 20% off on all orders until August 17th.  Simply enter the code “AE20Pre” at checkout to receive your discount.  Penningtons has a ton of $5 $10 $15 dollar deals in their sale section.  Shipping is $7.50.  If you happen to miss this discount you can still save 10% by entering “10PENN” at checkout.

Click here to check out the deals.

Stratford Festival is offering $10 tickets for the Titus performance on August 16th and 17th

We’ve got a  good deal on Aug 16 & 17, 2pm performances of Titus. Use online promotion code 40055 to get yourself $10 tickets. Don’t miss the show everyone has been talking about!

Click here to order your tickets. But hurry, they’ll go fast.

Until August 17th Motherhood Maternity Canada is having a Buy One Get One 50% off on select items.  Some of the items include tees and tanks ( select styles), jeans,  and nursing tops.

Also available online only save 20% when you buy two or more bras.

Click here to go to Motherhood Maternity online.