Estate Sale Alerts Plus Full-Service Estate Sale, Appraisal and Liquidation Assistance

Are you someone who enjoys a good estate sale? If so, then please take a moment to check out this link from Estate Services. They advertise all their sales to a database of over 1,000 loyal customers! Of course Estate Services is also the company to call when you need assistance for your estate sale, appraisal and liquidation needs. They have been in business in the community for over 35 years. http://www.estateservicessd.com/

ALWAYS Use Discount Codes for Online Orders

Most of you know this already, but some still do not, so I am going to write about it. Whenever you go to make a purchase online, there is almost always a code you can apply for either free shipping or a discount to your order. Say you want to order something from Pottery Barn, but you don't know of any discounts available. Before you order, ALWAYS google "Pottery Barn coupon" or "Pottery Barn coupon code," or "Free shipping Pottery Barn." Up will come a list of codes that will tell you the particulars, the dates the offer is good, whether there is a minimum purchase required, etc. When you go to checkout, put the selected code in. Sometimes they work, sometimes they don't. If you put a code in that is rejected, just go back to the list and try another one. For instance, I was going to order a Christmas gift this last weekend, had no codes, so went to pull up some codes and it took me about three tries, but eventually i found one that gave me free shipping plus 20% off. Remember this especially if you plan to Christmas shop online. In most cases, at the very least, you should never have to pay for shipping.

Top Chef, Brian Malarkey's Burlap Now to Offer Weekly Specials

Many Around The Towners were excited to have Brian Malarkey's Burlap restaurant open in Carmel Valley. Now you can look forward to the "Asian Cowboy" restaurant's weekly promotions. During Sunday brunch, endless mimosas are available for $10. On Sunday evenings, a $25 prime rib dinner is offered with 12-oz rib, mashed potatoes and carrot cake (sign me up)! On Monday evenings, diners can bring in their own wine (no corkage fee) or Burlap signature wines are priced at $25. http://www.burlapeats.com/

Message to New Subscribers

First off, welcome! It is always great to have new subscribers. If you signed up to receive daily email updates but have not been receiving them, it is because you have not verified your account. When you sign up and provide your email address, an email will then be sent to you asking you to verify that you want to subscribe to Around The Town by clicking on the link. You must complete this process to begin receiving your daily updates. Thanks, Barb.

Cash In On Old Electronics at Best Buy

Now you can trade in your old electronics, from an old iPod to a Nook at Best Buy, and get some money or credit back. Does not matter where you bought them. Check out www.bestbuy.com/tradein to see what your items are worth. You can then ship them to the company with a prepaid label or you can also bring them to a participating store. You can either choose a rebate gift card or a check (worth a lesser value than the rebate gift card). This is a great way to score an upgrade or apply the money to new items.

Check Around The Town on Facebook for Last-Minute Bargains

The beauty of facebook for a blogger is that you can get the word out on a last-minute deal in a flash. I use my facebook page http://www.facebook.com/BarbAroundTheTown to do just that. If you have not signed up for Around The Town updates on facebook yet (by "liking")- please check it out. You will find very different content from the regular blog page, and it is very up-to-date with the freshest, most current offers, some only available that very day. So please join me there today!

Welcome New Subscribers...

Welcome to all our new subscribers! I hope that you are enjoying receiving your daily Around The Town update in your email inbox. Please be sure you have clicked the confirmation link (comes in separate email after you sign up) to activate your membership. Have you "liked" us on facebook yet? If not, please join us! Discover more original daily content there.

Free Valuable Grocery Coupons Available at Around The Town

When you check Around The Town's blog, are you in the habit of checking out the coupons.com offerings? I check back often, as they often change. Today when I visited, there were new coupons for Hormel chili, Butterball turkeys, Betty Crocker cookie pouches, Yoplait yogurt, Hormel bacon bits, Oregon Chai, Lloyd's BBQ ribs, Tone body wash, Pillsbury Grands, and many many more. I encourage you to go to the main page and click on the coupons.com banner ad often. Plug in your zip code and the most relevant coupons will pop up for you- simply click the ones you want and print.

Save Money On Your Energy Bill

Use these tips to save energy (and money), while staying warm:

• Have your gas furnace inspected at least once a year by your utility or licensed heating contractor. Some utilities offer this service for FREE.



• Replace or clean the furnace filter monthly or as recommended by the manufacturer.



• Keep your thermostat at 68 degrees during the day and 55 or lower at night.



• If you need to heat a small area, consider using a portable space heater instead of your central furnace. Don't forget to unplug it when you leave the room or go to sleep.



• Insulate properly, caulk where needed, weatherstrip.



• Close window coverings at night to help keep heat indoors and open them during the day so the sun can warm your house.

Get More for Your Money on Vacation with VRBO

Tired of fitting your family/friends into a plain jane hotel room without all the comforts of home? Try http://www.vrbo.com/ next time you hit the road. For about the same price as a hotel, sometimes even less, you can rent a fully furnished house, cabin or condo where you can spread out, cook, and feel at home. Sometimes they even offer things like bikes, beach chairs, etc. for renters' use. There are rentals available all over the world. One difference from a hotel is that they tack on a cleaning fee at the end of your stay, but it is usually under $100. Try it!

Refill Your Empty Ink Cartridges at Costco for Huge Savings

Why buy an expensive new ink cartridge when you can recycle and refill your current cartridge for a fraction of the price? Check it out. http://costcoinkjetrefill.com/

You Are Invited to Designer Shopping Discount Site

I have joined the FREE discount shopping site, Rue La La, and by personal invite, I am extending the same opportunity to you. Save big on designer goods and more. Enjoy boutique shopping at private sale prices. There are new deals daily, and only available for a short period of time. Check it out today- just click on the link above. If you don't have a separate free email account for daily deal sites and online shopping, you might want to consider it- so many deals coming through each day, it is a good idea to have a separate account for them- that way you can look at them only when you have time.

New Tea Room Opens in Downtown Escondido

After a slight delay, a new Tea House has opnened on Grand Avenue in Escondido. It is called The Grand Tea Room. It will is a full service tea room and gift shop located in the historical downtown district. It provides an elegant, cozy ambiance, the perfect setting for a private party or a nice relaxing afternoon. It is the only business of it's kind in the near area. Reservations are encouraged. Around The Town wishes The Grand Tea Room much success! http://www.thegrandtearoom.com/tearoom/

Waste Not/Want Not- Try freecycle

Have you heard of freecycle? If not, you might want to check it out by going to http://www.freecycle.org/. If you choose to join the group, you use your yahoo id, or create one if you don't have one. It's free. The concept is simple. You can give and get stuff for free in your own town. It's all about reuse and keeping good stuff out of landfills. Once you locate an item you would like to get, or if you have something you would like to give, items are arranged to be placed at the end of your driveway for pickup and there is no face-to-face contact involved. Fast...simple! Check it out.

Sneek Away with SniqueAway to Upscale Travel Destinations- by Invite Only

As a member of the TripAdvisor family, travel is SniqueAway's genes. They offer only premiere properties boasting the highest ratings in TripAdvisor reviews. Their team works diligently to secure surprisingly affordable rates. You can book either getaways for spur-of-the-moment travel or vacations to be taken at a later date. Understanding SniqueAway is easy. Once you're a member, you simply:

LOOK. Check out the site for jaw-dropping photos of current (and future) escapes. When a destination grabs you, read about all the details. Inside every SniqueAway Escape, you'll find TripAdvisor reviews, hotel amenities, room details—even local hot spots. Select the dates you desire on the accompanying calendar and the features and pricing of available room options.

BOOK. Make it yours! But act quickly. Their sales only last up to seven days or until the offer sells out—and they sell out fast. Within a few days of your booking, an email will arrive featuring your hotel confirmation number. That's all that's required for check-in at your destination.

SAVE. Their long-term partnerships with the top brands in travel assure you the best possible prices on prime rooms and accommodations at our most-desired hotels.

To join and get email updates on the latest and hottest travel destinations, simply log on and sign up. http://www.sniqueaway.com/invite/BarbAroundTheTown

Saving Big at Kohl's by Combining Multiple Discounts

For those who shop at Kohl's, you know how huge the savings can be. The best way to cut the total on your receipt if you shop at Kohl's a lot is to sign up for their store credit card. Now I do not recommend signing up for store cards (since they can affect your credit report) unless it is someplace you shop quite a bit and it will be well worth it. I also recommend that you do not collect too many and that you only charge what you can pay for in full when your bill arrives. When you have a Kohl's card, they send you coupons for 10-30% off your entire purchase quite frequently, and these coupons are reusable for dates specified. This discount is on top of sale and regular pricing. When you combine this discount with sales, other coupons (they often attach $10 off coupons to the front of newspapers), and Kohl's Cash you can save huge. Yes, it's hard to believe, but they let you combine ALL these discounts at one time. Something I just learned about Kohl's Cash that you might want to know...when Kohl's is offering this promotion (which is often)- you get $10 Kohl's Cash which can be used on a future purchase for time period specified with each $50 spent (after coupons, etc. applied). There are times when you will spend, but come up short of the $50 to earn Kohl's Cash. HOWEVER, I have recently learned, keep your receipt in your wallet, and should you shop again during that same campaign, they will happily combine the two receipts and issue Kohl's Cash if you then pass the $50 mark. Amazing, isn't it? For more information on Kohl's Cash, please see this link:
http://www.kohlscorporation.com/ecom/windows/Update/KohlsCash/10KohlsCash.html

Free Emergency Alert Service for San Diego County

Residents can register online to receive alerts on their cel phones and by email as part of a county program aimed at giving residents early warnings about emergencies or disasters. You can sign up and find more information at http://www.readysandiego.org/. Once a number or email is registered, it becomes part of the region's 911 database. Fire season is approaching, so might be a good time to register if you haven't already. You can also find additional emergency preparedness tips on this site.

E-books Now Available for Checkout in Carlsbad

The Carlsbad City Library added e-books which will be available 24 hours a day, seven days a week to their virtual shelves. Visit www.carlsbadlibrary.org and click on the OverDrive Download link. With your library card number ready, you will be all set to enjoy best sellers, classics, biographies, romances, business books, mysteries and more.

Analyze Your Cel Phone Bill for Big Savings

Have you heard of BillShrink.com? This free service calculates the best deal for your personal usage and cel phone habits. They will analyze your numbers and try to steer you toward a plan or carrier that will provide you with the best savings. The site also provides other money saving ideas...check it out!

Camp Pendleton Marine Memorial Golf Course Now Open to The Public

North County golfers can experience one of the area's best kept secrets and are now welcome to golf at the Camp Pendleton Marine Memorial Golf Course in Oceanside. It was built in 1947 to honor all of the Marines that served in World War II and sits on 220 acres with an incredible view. The course is open seven days a week, and you will enjoy not only a beautiful course that has recently undergone a major face lift, but also amenities like a driving range, practice greens, chipping areas, a pro shop, and a grill and bar. Lessons also available, as well as leagues and tournament play. www.mccsCP.com/golf.

New Printable Coupons Loaded!

There are some new coupons available at coupons.com including Dove chocolate (my addiction), Athenos feta, Edge shaving gel, Gerber Graduates and more. To print your coupons, go to my main blog page and click on the coupons.com banner ad. Select the coupons you want and hit print. It's that simple! Start saving today.

Join Kraft First Taste for Offers,Coupons and Freebies

http://www.kraftfirsttaste.com/default.aspx is the site to hook up with if you want to be the first to know about new Kraft Foods products. In exchange for your opinion, they will send you coupons, offers and free samples. I have been a member for years, and just love being a part of this. I love trying their new products for free!

Get Your Free Credit Reports

By law everyone is entitled to receive three FREE credit reports per year- one from each major reporting agency: Experian, TransUnion and Equifax. Go to http://www.annualcreditreport.com/ to get yours. It is recommended that you use a different one every four months so you can get a year-round snapshot of your credit health.

Grocery Rewards Programs

Have you taken the time to go to your favorite grocery store's website and sign on for their web/email program? If not, please take the time to do so. My favorite store is Ralphs, so I can only discuss the benefits I receive with them, check your store to see what they offer. I routinely receive offers that allow me to access personalized coupons, and offers that give me bonus points for purchasing certain products within certain time periods, and these offers are customized to my shopping list. I have found that participating in their rewards program, combined with taking advantage of these web deals has worked out quite well for my wallet.

Coupon Website Makes Saving Easy! Print Yours Today

Please take a moment to visit the coupons.com website today by clicking through my coupons.com banner ad on the main blog page. I just printed some coupons for family favorites like Sargento Cheese, Sarah Lee Deli Meat and Newman's Own dressing. So easy and convenient! Just select the coupons that interest you and print! Coupons are restocked all the time, especially at the start of each month. They also reach print limits, so check back often and print before limit is reached.

Save Money by Treating Your Car Right

Did you know that driving with less than a quarter of a tank of gas can damage your fuel pump, says one Auto Care Expert? He also recommends keeping your tires properly inflated and rotating your them every 3-5k miles to prevent excessive wear and extend the life of your tires. When's the last time you rotated your tires?

New Used Book Store Opens in Shadowridge- Have You Checked it Out Yet?

Check out Book Place in the Shadowridge area of Vista on South Melrose. It is a newly opened book store that sells used books. It is in the same center as Nucci's and Splendid Sentiments. Great for picking up an inexpensive summer read. Take your used paperbacks in to offset your purchase price! http://www.bookplacevista.com/.

Ways to Save at The Grocery Store

1. Always use the weekly sales circular and menu plan around it. 2. Combine sale items with coupons for further savings. 3. Shop somewhere that does double coupons (like Ralphs). 4. Always use a list and stick to it to avoid impulse purchases. 5. Never shop hungry. 6. Consider the 12-week sale cycle. Items typically go on sale at their all-time low every 12 weeks. Learn the prices of the things you buy and when they hit the low in the cycle, stock up (as long as the items won't perish before you get to them).

Getting The Best Auto Insurance Rates

When is the last time you reviewed your auto insurance policy with your agent to make sure you are getting the best rates possible? Depending on the company, the following discounts may be available to help reduce your rates. Check to make sure you are getting all the discounts you may be entitled to such as: Air Bag, Garage Parking, Good Student, Antitheft Device, Driving Skills Course, Multi-Policy, Multi-Car, Mature Driver Course, Persistency (long-term loyalty to your carrier).

Being Prepared with Your Coupons at The Register

Did you know there is a "proper order" to submit your coupons at the cash register to maximise your savings? Don't trust the cashiers to put them in the correct order, take matters into your own hands! Here are examples at three popular drug stores: Rite Aid: If you have a coupon for money off your entire order, present that to the cashier first, then hand over any other store and manufacturer coupons for specific items. CVS: Scan you ExtraCare card first to ensure you get Extra Bucks. Give money-off coupons next (such as $5 off $25 purchase), then store coupons, manufacturers' coupons and lastly, Extra Bucks. *Note from Barb- First thing you should do when you enter CVS, way before you get to the register is scan your card at the kiosk by the door for special coupons generated just for you- you might want to use them on your shopping trip. Walgreens: Most avid coupon clippers can not agree on the best order to hand things over at Walgreens. Try different combinations until you find the one that works for your particular store. Bet you did not realise there was such a science to couponing. I know I will be paying better attention the next time I hand mine over.

North County Bikers

Did you know that more miles were added to the bike trail by San Luis Rey last year? The trail now stretches nine miles from the west end of Neptune to North Santa Fe Road. The Class 1 bike trail sits completely separate from roadways and is used by cyclists, runners and walkers. Check it out soon!

If You Are Not Satisfied, Speak Up

Recently I have had trouble with two products that I routinely purchase. One was for a dishwashing detergent, and another was for a condiment. With both products something was clearly wrong with the consistancy and it did not meet my standards or match their usual quality. I took a moment to go to their company websites located on the labels, wrote to tell them of the problem I had encountered, and in both cases I was sent a coupon for a replacement product (up to a value of $10). It is important to most companies to keep their customers happy, so always be sure to speak up if not satisfied...it pays!

Travel Smart/Save Money

Summer is upon us. Before you go, consider unplugging appliances and lowering the thermost in your house and on your water heater. To save gas, fully inflate tires, locate the cheapest fuel on your route at http://www.aaa.com/ or http://www.gasbuddy.com/ and check http://www.traffic.com/ for congestion. Bring snacks for the ride, try to keep your speed to 60 mph and pack light for greater fuel efficiency.

Printer Ink Cartridge Refills at Costco

Have you tried refilling your ink cartridges, rather than paying for a brand new one? Costco has a wide variety that they will refill. They will need to examine your empty cartridge to make sure the facing is in good shape, and if it is still usable, refills are very nicely priced- between $8 and $10. As you can see, that price trumps the cost of purchasing a new cartridge by far and is a greener answer. http://www.costco.com/

Affordable Travel Sites

Many of you have asked me in recent days about my favorite travel websites as you get ready to plan your summer getaways. I have many. I love travelzoo- you need to sign up for their weekly top 20 deals which are perfect for spur of the moment travel. I also like Snique Away, who will give you the latest specials- they are for people that appreciate a higher-end property at steep discount. I would never take a trip without using Trip Advisor to do my research. They are an invaluable resource. I love reading other travelers opinions and ratings, and gathering their suggestions for each destination. For those that would rather skip the hotel and enjoy the comforts of home, try VRBO (Vacation Rentals by Owner). This site is great for people that want more space that a home affords and extras such as more bedrooms and baths as well as pools and other home comforts. Hope these suggestions help. Happy travels!

Experience The Civil War Life at Riley's Farm in Oak Glen

I took most of the day off of blogging today to go on a fieldtrip. Civil War buffs would love this place...Riley's Farm in Oak Glen. So much going on there, and a great restaurant to boot. All personelle in period costume/character. Order an apple pie or freshly baked bread to bring home with you. Check it out. www.rileysfarm.com

Bargains around San Diego

Check out http://www.thebigbay.com/ for current events and discounts around San Diego.

Huge Discounts at Vistaprint

If you need anything for your business, Vistaprint is your source for inexpensive, professional advertising items. I just created some updated business cards and they came out fantastic. I also just took advantage of their free Tshirt offer, so watch out for the gal in the "BarbAroundTheTown.com" tshirt and say hello! Vistaprint is also a great option for invitations, banners, stamps, notecards, announcements and so much more. Check them out and new customers can save up to 80% on your first order. Be sure to check out their "free products" tab. http://www.vistaprint.com/referfriend.aspx?tellapal.id=83b12f2f-8bad-4a49-bc0f-67cee9a824c8&GP=5%2f10%2f2011+4%3a12%3a01+PM&GPS=1544607853&GNF=1&GPLSID=

Review of New to Me Restaurant, Carlsbad Beach Grill

Because I purchased a certificate from one of the daily deal sites recently, I tried a new to me restaurant called Carlsbad Beach Cafe, located conveniently on the 101 last week. I have also noticed that this restaurant is one of the choices on restaurant.com, so you can purchase certificates at a drastic discount at any time (please use Around The Town's link located on our blog or web page www.barbaroundthetown.com. Carlsbad Beach Cafe has friendly owners and workers (shout out to Monica), a cheery sun-filled interior, and fantastic food. They offer tasty appetizers including calamari, fried zucchini and shrimp cocktail. Entrees include salads, soups, sandwiches and burgers (I had a super tasty burger with jack, avocado and bacon), fish tacos and more. Breakfast items are also available. They make a different soup every day. My husband tried the clam chowder with a onion and bacon base (he added a dash of Tabasco) and it was one of the best he has tried. Oh, and the 80's rocking tunes in the background did not hurt either! Try it out, I know we look forward to going back! www.carlsbadbeachgrill.com.

Check Around The Town Blog Page Daily

I hope you enjoy getting your daily email updates from Around The Town. Did you realize there is a link at the bottom of these emails to click into the blog, rather than just read from the email update page? I suggest you do this for a couple of reasons. For some reason, updates intended for publishing do not always publish on the email update, but they will appear on the blog page. Also, when you go to the blog page, you will see the current specials with my advertisers. For example, right now restaurant.com is featuring 70% off, coupons.com has fresh grocery coupons available, and snapfish has a special for you- 100 free prints with purchase. Just check the banner ads to find the latest as these deals change from day to day.

Benefits of Email Clubs

Do you join the email clubs of your favorite restaurants and stores? If you don't, you really should think about it. February is my birth month, and my inbox is PACKED with birthday offers- I am going to try to remember all that have come in so you can see how I will benefit this month. Swagbucks- 50 points added to my account, Chico's- $10 to spend, Rubios- free combo meal, McDonalds- free breakfast sandwich and medium McCafe coffee or hot chocolate, Claim Jumper- free meal (up to $18.00), Which Wich- Free Sandwich, Daphne's- free meal, Islands- free dessert, Chili's- free dessert, Buca di Beppo- free appetizer, Dennys- free Grand Slam, Baskin Robbins- free cone, Surf Ride- 20% off next purchase, Ruby's- Free Sundae, Cold Stone- free ice cream, Pat & Oscars- free Big Cookie Dessert, Boston's- free dessert, Mimi's- free entree up to $10, Starbucks- free drink of my choice. These are just some of the deals that come to mind- others have come in, and others will continue to roll in. So as you can see, there is great value to joining email clubs. You might want to consider an alternate free email account such as gmail to use for such things so your email inbox does not get cluttered up.

Discounts for Online Shopping

I have heard this one a few times, and just started doing it myself. When you go online to shop and find items you are interested in, put the items in your cart and then...wait. As in log out and forget about it for a day or two. More often than not, during that waiting period between putting items in your cart and actually purchasing, the vendor will send an email code for a discount that's anywhere from 25-40% off. It gives the customer incentive to complete their order. This tends to work about 50% of the time.

Freebies at Souplantation

At http://www.souplantation.com/ you can become a member of Club Veg which entitles you to $75 in savings throughout the year, a birthday gift and newsletters with coupons straight to your inbox. BOGO offers are frequently offered. This morning I received an email with 2 buy one get one free offers as well as a discounted lunch coupon.

Free Birthday Beverage at Starbucks

What do you have to do to get a free birthday beverage of your choice at your favorite Starbucks? Simply register for Starbucks Card Rewards at http://www.starbucks.com/. When you register your card you can also enjoy free wi-fi when you visit.

Snapfish Now Buying YOUR Photos

Word hit the street today that Snapfish is now going to be buying stock images. What does this mean for you? You submit photos for consideration, and potentially the right picture (s) will be purchased from you and make you some extra cash. Turn your hobby into a money-maker today! Please see Snapfish link for all the details. http://stockimages.snapfish.com/LSMarketplace/LogIn?ReturnUrl=/LSMarketplace/campaignName=stockimages_facebook_2011

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