I was just checking out the happening on Facebook and Old Navy Canada had an interesting new post.  They are taking an additional 50% off all clearance merchandise.  They don’t have a date for the sale, it just says “Hurry in today”.  I would suggest going early for this sale as styles and sizes tend to go quickly.

Well one of our contests recently came to a close.  The confirmed winner is Caryn! Congratulations! 

Didn’t win but still would like to purchase a painting? Save yourself $15 by using the code: smart0456can

Thanks to all those who entered, and Onepaintme.com for sponsoring this awesome contest.

Amazon has a new dvd/blu ray sale going on right now.  You can save up to 60% on movies and tv shows for your dads and your grads.  There are lots of movies to choose from and shipping is free on all orders of at least $25.  There are some pretty good deals, even if you’re thinking about birthdays and Christmas or a date night movie!

Click here to check out the sale selection at Amazon.

TODAY ONLY from 5pm – 8pm EST Banana Republic is hosting a 40% off sale on all full priced tops and shorts. Sale is valid in stores and online (but not at Factory Stores)

I love these sales, and I don’t know about you but I’ll definitely never pay full price at Banana Republic after seeing the amount of sales and incentives they have!

Click here to shop online and enter code: BRCHAPPY at the checkout!

Happy Shopping

Today only save yourself 20% off extra on your order from Old Navy.  Simply enter the code “ONWATER” at checkout.  Don’t have time to shop tomorrow? Thats ok on May 25th you can still save 15% by entering the code “ONWATER” at checkout.  Remember shipping is free on orders over $50. Once your online theres also an option to print off the coupon to use in-store tomorrow.

Offers valid on Old Navy merchandise only from 5/24/11 at 12:01 am ET through 5/25/11 at 11:59 pm ET in-store and online in Canada only. The 20% Off offer expires at 11:59pm ET May 24, 2011. The 15% Off offer expires at 11:59pm ET May 25, 2011. Not valid on Old Navy Jeans and Baby/Toddler merchandise. Not valid on international purchases. Qualifying amount applies to merchandise only, not value of gift cards purchased, packaging, applicable taxes or shipping & handling charges. Online code is limited to one time use only. No adjustments on previous purchases. Not valid for cash or cash equivalent. Cannot be combined with other offers or discounts including Gap Inc. employee discount. Gap Inc. is not responsible for lost or stolen coupons

Click here to shop at Old Navy Canada.

Knorr is offering a buy three get one free printable coupon via Facebook right now.  The coupon is valid on equal or lesser valued item and expired December 31 2011.

Click here to take advantage of this offer.

Unfortunately at this time I do not have a Facebook free link.

If at all possible, I avoid dining in large groups ’cause come cheque time, it’s all sorts of awkward! This is especially true when some knob suggests on splitting the bill…”evenly”.

If my avoidance tactic has failed, and I can’t get out of the dinner, I usually come up with a plan of attack. Since math is not my strong suit, I have even snuck off to the washroom, called my bf to be my own personal “tip calculator”.

(Yes, somehow even with advances in technology, i.e. the tip calculator feature on my cell phone, I have managed to get screwed over on the whole group billing thing!)

One incident that I will never forget, and will hold as a lesson learned, is when B, a friend of mine invited me out for dinner with her group of friends. One of B‘s friends was celebrating a birthday.

Backstory: B was a good friend who was constantly travelling for work, so this was a rare occasion where she was back in town for a bit. At the time, I had chosen to be unemployed to focus on my writing, full-time. So needless to say, money was tight.

After doing some pre-ordering online, I knew that it wouldn’t break the bank to order a $10 sandwich, so I told B that I’d tag along!

Anyway, on the way there, we hit some traffic and since the rip-off restaurant was downtown, we had to find parking. By the time we met with the rest of the party, they had already started eating (and drinking) as we were a bit late.

Snag #1: Foiling my strategy of ordering a $10 sandwich, someone suggested we order off the tapas menu. 🙁 Btw, if you don’t know what tapas are, they are small dishes of food, like dim sum, but more expensive!

With my limited math skills, things didn’t seem to be getting that out of hand. Fast forward to the bill arriving…

Snag #2: Someone, probably the same person who suggested the tapas, shouts out, “Let’s split the bill!” Are. You. Serious? And of course, the birthday person was excluded, fine.

Snag #3: The food that was ordered before I arrived was included on this Even Steven bill. And if that wasn’t bad enough, someone, probably same person as #1 & #2, had a $40/glass of wine and never stepped forward. So as per Snag #2, I ended up paying for food I never ate and some guy’s expensive choice in spirits! Tacky.

In order to pay my portion of the bill, another friend had to spot me…under the table. How humiliating.

After the bill was settled, someone suggests that we head to Chinatown ’cause the majority of the people were still hungry. Great. Since I hitched a ride with B, I was at her mercy to rejoin everyone at yet another restaurant.

Since there was nothing left in my wallet ‘cept pocket-lint, I lied and stated that I was utterly stuffed from the limited tapas that I indulged in. So I didn’t order anything. I just sat, silently fuming, at the Chinese restaurant, growing sick and tired of the company.

When the measly $15 bill arrived at the table, $40-Wine-Guy insisted on picking up the tab ’cause he felt “bad” at the tapas restaurant. A bit late, don’t you think, bud?

So unless you enjoy getting rypped, do what you can to avoid these awkward group dinners OR ask for separate bills!

Here are these weeks Costco coupons for those of you that would like to plan your shopping trip.  Thanks to couponlady for posting them!

East:

West:

Today is Victoria Day. Yes we all know to celebrate a past Queen, but how many of us actually know some history about her? For many May 2 4 has become a “party weekend” the first weekend to camp and drink beer, or perhaps to stay at home and get the yard and planting done.

 I’ve put some quick fact together about Queen Victoria.

Alexandrina Victoria; 24 May 1819 – 22 January 1901

She married her first cousin in 1840 (ummn ew)

She had 9 children. 26 of 42 grandkids married into the royal family

She held the longest reign of any British female Monarch, 63 years and 7 months

She set the world wide trend of the “white” wedding dress. Still honoured to this day

Her first language was German but she also spoke English, French and Hindi

She survived 7 assassination attempts ( I do believe thats a few more then fifty cent)

Want more info? Check out Wikipedia

Happy Holiday!

Today only save yourself 15% off online orders. Simply enter the code “15VICTORIA” at checkout.  I haven’t ordered online with People’s before so I’m not sure how their customer service is but I’m sure it’s the same as in-store.

Click here to shop online.

Here’s a nice little coupon for a half priced salad from McDonald’s.  You have to print the coupon and present it to the cashier when you’re paying to get your discount.  Some people are also getting this coupon in the mail, but if you don’t just click here to print one.  Offer is valid from May 17 to June 13.

Thanks to couponlady for posting this coupon.

Bumping up

Amazon.ca has some great markdowns on Paderno again. These are even cheaper then what our Home Hardware offers them when they do a Paderno truckload sale.

Small Eco Pan $29.41

Medium Eco Pan $35.29

Large Eco Pan $41.18

Click here for other Paderno items on sale at Amazon.

I love Paderno, I have a few of their pans and bowls and I really am impressed with their performance.  We just bought my father in law a set and he loves Paderno now too.

Thank twitch for the heads up on this sale.

From now until June 19, you will get a $25 savings card for every $50 you spend at Reitmans.  Savings card is redeemable on future purchases of $75 (pre-tax) from August 7th to September 4th 2011, in-store only.   If you shop at Reitmans a lot this is a great promo for you.  I have a friend that loves Reitmans because they sell pants in tall sizes.  And if your in the market for some new shorts, they have some on sale for $20.

Thanks to couponlady for posting this sale for us!

Magnum is  a new ice cream bar that’s just been introduced recently in Canada. They are offering free sampling events throughout the summer.

Caprice – Vancouver: May 28th 2011 967 Granville Street
Maison – Toronto: June 4th 2011 15 Mercer Street
Espace Griffintown – Montreal: June 11th 2011 1314 Olier
Holts – Vancouver: June 11th 2011 737 Dunsmuir Street
Barcelona – Vancouver: June 17th 2011 1180 Granville Street
Holts – Toronto: June 18th 2011 50 Bloor Street West
MMVAs – Toronto: June 19th, 2011 82 Peter Street
Dolce – Toronto: July 2nd, 2011 647 King St. W.
Boathouse – Vancouver: July 16th 2011 1795 Beach Avenue
La Mouche – Montreal: July 16th 1284, rue Saint-Denis

Click here (Facebook)  for more information on this event.

Thanks Sunshine88 for the heads up.

Here are your weekly Wacky Wednesday IKEA deals valid only Wednesday, May 25th …

AB, Calgary

AB, Edmonton

BC, Coquitlam

BC, Richmond

ON, Burlington

ON, Etobicoke

ON, North York

ON, Ottawa

ON, Vaughan (oh not the ugly chair again!)

QC, Boucherville

QC, Montreal