Pierce County Queen Bee readers – Let’s help fill the bowl!
Thanks to all the items I get FREE and inexpensively with coupons, my family has a decent stockpile and a well-stocked pantry. I feel blessed and grateful for my couponing adventures and for the peace-of-mind that a stocked pantry provides. It’s important to remember that not everyone has that peace-of-mind or the food they need to feed themselves and/or their family. Did you know in Pierce County more than 140,000 people seek emergency food assistance EACH month!?
To combat hunger in Pierce County, Northwest Harvest, Emergency Food Network and other community leaders have planned the world’s largest food drive to “Fill the Bowl” at Stadium High School in Tacoma, September 18. In an attempt to break the last Guinness World Record for food drives, the goal for the Fill the Bowl event is 1 MILLION POUNDS OF FOOD! We can do this!
I’d like to rally all you amazing Queen Bee readers to carefully consider what you might be able to donate to this food drive. I’d love to meet up with Queen Bee readers on September 18 at the Stadium Bowl to deliver a donation from Queen Bee readers. Wouldn’t it be amazing to help our community AND be part of a world record? Who wants to join me?
There are few ways you can participate:
- Bring food to the site – I plan to be there with my family. I’d love to meet up with other Queen Bee readers and take a photo of our donation. We can even calculate how little we spend on our total donation – which I think will be impressive! Start collecting non-perishables now – you have TWO WEEKS!
- Drop food off at a designated pre-event pick up site. Drop your donations off at any of these drop-off locations. The food will be delivered to the pick up site and be counted toward the total. If you’re going to do this, maybe take a photo of you and your donation beforehand and e-mail it to me at heather @ queenbeecoupons.com and I’ll post all our donations!
- Text “HUNGER” to 85944 during the food drive to donate $10 toward the record. This $10 will show up on your next phone bill. The funds collected are accounted for in real time and will be used to purchase pre-ordered food to be delivered to the pick up site within the time frame. This purchased food will then be added into the totals for the record. (But we know how much food we can get for $10 when there are coupons involved!)
They are looking for non-perishable foods and these are some of their favorite items – peanut butter, canned meat and fish, canned fruits and vegetables, chili, soup, stew, baby food and formula, pasta, rice, cereal, dried fruit and shelf-stable milk.
Here are some ideas for coupon deals this week that would make good donations:
- Albertsons – Any of the Kellogg’s products would be great to pick up, especially the cereal. Or the pasta. See Albertons deals for this week.
- Fred Meyer – Ronzoni pasta, Bubble Bee tuna, Bush’s baked beans, Wheat Thins. See Fred Meyer deals for this week.
- Safeway – Hidden Valley salad dressing, Best Foods mayo, Lawry’s marinade, Progresso soup. See Safeway deals for this week.
All you have to do is pick up a few extra things from the coupon match-ups each time you shop and within a couple weeks I’d guess you’d have a few bags of donations for very little out of pocket.
Read a News Tribune article on the event here: World-record one million pound food drive started in Pierce County.
So who is in? Start collecting non-perishables now, you have TWO WEEKS. If you’ll meet me at the Stadium Bowl September 18 (not sure on time/location just yet) – leave a comment on this post and let me know. I’m going to be doing something special for the people who participate!
Don’t worry, for all you Thurston County readers, I’m partnering with the Thurston County Food Bank to have a local event – so stay tuned and start collecting donations!
If you live elsewhere, take a load of donations to your local food bank or shelter. If you take a photo of you and your donations, I’ll post it on the blog. . .let’s see how many other people we can bless with our couponing!
No coupons this weekend (9/5), put your papers on vacation!
With this weekend being the Labor Day holiday there won’t be the traditional coupon inserts. There will probably be some good sales and lots of ads, but no scheduled manufacturer coupon inserts that I know of. If you subscribed to multiple Sunday papers through the News Tribune or Olympian, I recommend putting your papers on vacation this weekend – no reason to get multiple copies of nothing
When you put your subscription on vacation you have two options – request them to be dropped off on your next delivery day OR have your subscription extended at the end. I am going to opt to extend my subscription, as I don’t want the papers for this weekend. 
To put your News Tribune papers on vacation, just call subscription services at 1 (800) 289-8711.
If you haven’t subscribed to multiple Sunday papers – you should check it out! It’s very rare that we get NO coupons in the Sunday paper (mostly just holiday weekends) and I’ve found my savings easily pay for the subscription – which is only $1 a copy! Check out the special Queen Bee News Tribune/Olympian subscription offer!
FREE Tacoma coupon class September 15, RSVP
I’m SO excited to announce that I’m offering another FREE coupon class up in Tacoma on September 15 from 5 to 7 p.m. Sponsored by the News Tribune, the class will be completely FREE and the Tribune is offering an awesome promotion on Sunday subscriptions where you can get multiple Sunday papers delivered to your home for only $1 each (this deal is currently available if you want to sign up now)!
Ravenous – Get $30 in food, wine for only $15
Hey all you Tacoma-area readers, this is an awesome deal! TODAY only, 8/31, through Groupon, you can get $30 worth of fresh bistro cuisine and wine at Ravenous Restaurant and Wine Bar for only $15! I LOVE this restaurant and ate here on occasion when I worked in downtown Tacoma.
Limit two per person, may buy multiple as gifts. Limit one per table. Dinner only. Tax and gratuity not included. Not valid with other offers.
Here’s how you get this deal:
If you are NEW to Groupon, head over here and register (it’s FREE)!
Then select “visit more cities” and select Seattle, WA. If you don’t see it, look to the right side of the screen for the Tacoma deal.
If you have used Groupon before, head over here, click on “visit more cities” and select Seattle, WA to see the offer. If you don’t see it, look to the right side of the screen for the Tacoma deal.
Tacoma Weekly contains P&G insert!
I was up in Tacoma for lunch today and grabbed a Tacoma Weekly newspaper from the restaurant lobby. I was excited to find a P&G insert tucked inside! The Tacoma Weekly newspaper is FREE and comes out every Thursday. The P&G insert has $117 worth of coupons in it – definitely worth picking one of these up! It did not contain the other coupon inserts (Smart Source and Red Plum), but I’m guessing they regularly carry the P&G, which comes out monthly.
Last chance for 80% off at Restaurant.com
Only two more days for 80% off at Restaurant.com! This means you can snag a $25 gift certificate for only $2 until Tuesday, August 31! This is the stock-up price! Just use the promo code CLEARANCE at checkout.
Here’s how it works:
- Visit Restaurant.com and enter the zip code for where you want to dine.
- Browse the restaurants in your area
- You pick the restaurants you want and add them to your cart
- You enter the code CLEARANCE at checkout, to save 80% on your total! ($25 gift certificates normally sell for $10 on Restaurant.com, so 80% off that is only $2)
- After you’ve purchased your gift certificates they just hang out in your account until you print them and you want to use them. They last an entire year. So you can print them when you buy them or print them as you use them, your choice. Print out the certificate, bring it to the restaurant and give it to your server.
- Read the small print for your restaurant. Most require a $35 purchase and an 18% gratuity on the original bill total (which you really should be paying anyway).
Here’s a dining scenario:
Spend $35 on dinner – $25 gift certificate = $10
PLUS 18% gratuity on $35 = +$6.35
TOTAL out of pocket at restaurant = $16.35
PLUS the $2 you paid for the gift card = $18.35 for a $42 meal (that includes a $7 tip!)
So it’s not a bad deal, especially if you are going to be eating out anyway.
We use these a lot! If you aren’t sure if your favorite restaurants apply, you can visit Restaurant.com and search by zip code to find out which restaurants participate. You’d be surprised – not many corporate restaurants, but really more of the mom-and-pop restaurants in your community.
Read the fine print for each restaurant, as it can vary slightly. If a restaurant is sold out, check back at the beginning of the month. Check it out!
FREE Tacoma coupon class September 15, RSVP
I’m SO excited to announce that I’m offering another FREE coupon class up in Tacoma on September 15 from 5 to 7 p.m. Sponsored by the News Tribune, the class will be completely FREE and the Tribune is offering an awesome promotion on Sunday subscriptions where you can get multiple Sunday papers delivered to your home for only $1 each (this deal is currently available if you want to sign up now)!
SOLD OUT – Seattle/Tacoma area – Half-off hot air balloon ride!
BUMMER! This sold out.
If you’ve ever wanted to go on a hot air balloon ride, check out the Seattle/Tacoma Groupon offer of the day today! For only $99 you get either:
- $99 for a morning flight ($189 value). Upon landing, enjoy a light meal, such as a fruit tray and coffee, and a traditional post-flight toast.
- $109 for an evening flight ($210 value). Upon landing, enjoy a fully catered Italian buffet-style meal, including fare such as lasagna, salad, and bread sticks, and a traditional post-flight toast.
Each Groupon is good for one person, and a maximum of two Groupon customers will be allowed per balloon (smaller balloons hold four to six passengers, and larger balloons hold eight to ten; Groupon customers will be paired with other flying partners). Budget around three-and-a-half hours for the entire experience.
Here’s how you get this incredible deal:
If you are NEW to Groupon, head over here and register (it’s FREE)!
Then select “visit more cities” and select Seattle, WA.
If you have used Groupon before, head over here, click on “visit more cities” and select Seattle, WA to see the offer.
Expires in 1 year. Limit 1 per person, may buy 1 additional as gift. Valid only for flight purchased. Reservation required, subject to availability and weather. 48-hour cancellation policy or Groupon is forfeit. Must be at least 5 years old. Gratuity not included.
Holy cow! What a deal, sounds like fun. I went on a hot air balloon ride when I was about 14 and it was an experience I’ll never forget!
One coupon insert coming this weekend, Aug. 22
Looks like there will be only one Smart Source coupon insert in the Sunday paper (August 22). The Sunday Coupon Preview lists out the coupons that are available, although keep in mind these vary by region.
These are the coupons I think will make for some great deals:
LAST DAY – Restaurant.com 80% sale ends today!
Today, August 16, is the last day to save 80% off at Restaurant.com, this means you can snag a $25 gift certificate for only $2! This is the stock up price! Just use the promo code BIG at checkout.
Bath & Body Works – FREE item, with $10 purchase (Tacoma Mall)
This is a great offer for you if you shop at the Tacoma Mall Bath & Body Works store. To celebrate the newly remodeled location at Tacoma Mall you can get a FREE item (up to $13 value) with any $10 purchase, with coupon.
Offer valid through September 9, 2020 and is limit one per customer. Just print this coupon and bring it into the store!
Note: Tacoma Mall location only.
FREE Tacoma coupon class, August 25 – it’s FREE, please RSVP
I’m SO excited to announce that I’m offering a FREE coupon class up in Tacoma on August 25 from 5 to 7 p.m. Sponsored by the News Tribune, the class will be completely FREE and the Tribune is offering an awesome promotion on Sunday subscriptions where you can get multiple Sunday papers delivered to your home for only $1 each (this deal is currently available if you want to sign up now)!
Restaurant.com – Get $25 gift certificate for only $2
Through August 16, save 80% off at Restaurant.com, this means you can snag a $25 gift certificate for only $2! This is the stock up price! Just use the promo code BIG at checkout.
I LOVE Restaurant.com – one of the greatest features, besides $25 off your meal is how easy it is! This summer we were headed up to Seattle to see a ZooTunes concert. . .I put in the zip code for the Woodland Park Zoo at Restaurant.com and found a whole list of restaurants in the area that were offering $25 Restaurant.com gift certificates for only $2. I was able to order the gift certificate, pay for it with PayPal and print it off all within five minutes. We were using it at the restaurant that evening! We found a new restaurant, saved $25 and it was super easy and fast.
This is also great if you are going on vacation somewhere!
FREE admission to museums September 25
Get FREE admission for two people to any participating museum September 25, 2010 thanks to the Smithsonian Magazine Museum Day! All you have to do is visit the Smithsonian Magazine Museum Day Web site and complete the form to request your ticket. Your ticket will be e-mailed to you. You’ll need to pick the museum you want to visit when you request your ticket and the ticket specifically says it’s for that particular museum.
There are a TON of participating museums in Washington – including the Olympia Children’s Hands on Museum, which I didn’t expect to see in the list.
One ticket per household. A ticket will gain entry into only one museum and only participating museums. Only an official Museum Day ticket is eligible for free entry. I’ll remind you again as we get closer to the date!
(Thanks, Dallas Mommy!)
Chevys Fresh Mex – $2.99 combo, 20% off any entree
Print two great coupons for Chevys Fresh Mex!
- Buy any Fresh Mex Combo and receive a second combo of equal or lesser value for $2.99.
- Buy any entree at regular price and receive 20% off
Both offers end 8/28/10. Present coupon to server prior to order. Offer valid at participating locations. Good for dine-in only. One discount per coupon, per table. Not valid on holidays. Print your coupons here.
Restaurant.com – Get $25 gift certificate for $2 (80% off)
Reminder – only four days left for the Restaurant.com 80% off sale!
Through July 31, you can save 80% off at Restaurant.com, this means you can snag a $25 gift certificate for only $2! This is the stock up price! Just use the promo code PLATE at checkout.
I LOVE Restaurant.com – one of the greatest features, besides $25 off your meal is how easy it is! A couple weeks ago we were headed up to Seattle to see a ZooTunes concert. . .I put in the zip code for the Woodland Park Zoo at Restaurant.com and found a whole list of restaurants in the area that were offering $25 Restaurant.com gift certificates for only $2. I was able to order the gift certificate, pay for it with PayPal and print it off all within five minutes. We were using it at the restaurant that evening! We found a new restaurant, saved $25 and it was super easy and fast.
This is also great if you are going on vacation somewhere!
I just have to say, Dinners Done Right rocks. . .
Do you remember back in May when I told you about the super deal on Dinners Done Right through Groupon? I snagged the deal right up with the baby on the way and I heard from quite a few readers that also took advantage of the one-day sale. Anyhow. . . I finally went and made my meals tonight and I have to tell you how fun and easy it was!
Get two Entertainment coupon books for $10, free shipping!
Check out this awesome deal on the Entertainment Book – get two books for only $10, shipped! The coupons are good through October – so you still have plenty of time to use them! Go in on this with a friend or get two for yourself, $5 per book is a great price.
I already have three copies and this is how I use them. . .
Restaurant.com – 80% off, get $25 for only $2
Last day for 80% off at Restaurant.com! Get a $25 gift certificate for only $2! This is the stock up price! Just use the promo code FUN at checkout.
I LOVE Restaurant.com – one of the greatest features, besides $25 off your meal is how easy it is! The other day we were headed up to Seattle to see a ZooTunes concert. . .I put in the zip code for the Woodland Park Zoo at Restaurant.com and found a whole list of restaurants in the area that were offering $25 Restaurant.com gift certificates for only $2. I was able to order the gift certificate, pay for it with PayPal and print it off all within five minutes. We were using it at the restaurant that evening! We found a new restaurant, saved $25 and it was super easy and fast.
This is also great if you are going on vacation somewhere!
Entertainment Book – Only $7.99! Only $1 for new Ebate customers!
Check out this awesome deal on Entertainment Books! For one week only you can score it for $7.99 (these were originally $35!) with only $1.99 shipping. Or. . .as low as $1 (plus $1.99 shipping) if you are new to Ebates, an awesome cash-back online shopping Web site ($6 if you are already an Ebates member).
