Price: $39.90 + free shipping! (regular price $63.75)

Sold by: HSN.com

Happy Shopping!

- Kristen

Here’s what not to miss before the end of the 2010!

1. Electronics

Lots of stores have great deals right now. Highlights include:

Samsung Blu-ray Player – $137.00 (regular price $349.99)

Apple 8GB iPod Touch – $209.95 + free shipping!2. Autos

It’s a great time of year to strike a bargain on a great used vehicle, and Bonus.com easily allows you to locate what you want, where you want it, at the price you’d like to pay. Don’t miss our easy tools to find a deal near you!

3. Appliances

LG Extra Large Capacity Electric Dryer – $494.99 (regular price $699.99)

Dyson DC28 Animal Upright Vacuum – $479.00 (regular price $599.00)

4. Organization & Storage

Welcome in 2011 by getting a few things in order.

Martha Stewart Fabric Drawer – $7.00 (many colors available)

Underbed Storage Containers (Set of 4) – $67.96 + free shipping to store

This time of year many stores such as Target, the Container Store, and hardware stores put “holiday” storage boxes on sale. Since they are red and green, they go on sale, but they’re the same great storage containers you can buy all year round, but for less!

Have any New Year’s bargains we shouldn’t miss? Be sure to share them in the comments!

Happy New Year & Happy Shopping!

- Kristen

So, we thought we’d highlight a few of Oprah’s favorites, but at *lower* prices all found here on Bonus.com!

Breville Panini Grill Maker

$49.99

Coach Patent Sophia Satchel

$335.00

Kyocera White Blade Ceramic Knife Set

$66.95

Herb Savor (Mini Edition)

$19.95

Miraclebody Jeans Denim Leggings

$68.00

Happy Shopping!

- Kristen

Price: $17.95 (on sale!)

Sold by: Cookware.com

Happy Shopping!

- Kristen

Ditch the traditional bottle of wine and give a host gift that they’ll really remember.  Here are some ideas to get you started and don’t miss the ideas at the end from our Facebook and Twitter followers, too!

Table

It’s always nice to have something beautiful for the table. This fall-themed table runner ($22.99) is great for autumn.

Other ideas along this theme: variety of candles, (set below on sale for $44.00) custom salt cellar or bread basket.

Kitchen

Great cooks and chefs alike appreciate new products to try. Vanilla salt ($9.25 on sale) is unique and is great for the rim of glasses for holiday cocktails.

Lemon-infused olive oil ($12.99) is also a gift cooks will appreciate, and they’ll think of you each time they use it!

Bar

Offer to bring an appetizer for Thanksgiving and accompany a yummy cheese plate with these beautiful knives ($29.95) as your gift to the host.

Give the host a break after Turkey Day. Movie tickets, spa gift card or even sending flowers a week after the holiday will all be appreciated! Our Facebook fans, Vicky and April Marie, had some great suggestions, too. Bring something for breakfast the next morning, or if you do bring wine, a set of glasses ($4.50 each – great daily deal through end of November!) or wine accessories are a good idea, too. Twitter followers vote to bring something they’ve made and cookies top the list! Have an idea yourself? Please share it here in the comments!

Happy Shopping!

- Kristen

Price: $107.96 (until 10/31 + Check the site for ways to save on shipping!)

Sold by: Meijer.com

1. Reefbreak Hoodie from Athleta – $49.99 on sale – cozy up for cooler nights!
2. Autumn Leaves Wreath from Target – $24.99 – great addition for your front door
3. Figural Apple Candle from Bath & Body Works – $12.50 – makes a great gift, too!
4. Mulling Spices from MySpiceSage.com – $14 for 16 ounces to last you past Halloween! Use the coupons to save 10%!
5. Martha Stewart Copano FirePit Set from Home Depot – $424.00 on sale + free shipping!
6. Fanci Fetti Autumn Leaves from PartyCheap.com – $1.72 on sale – decorate a table!
7. Hamilton Beach Slow Cooker from InstaWares.com – $50.65 + free shipping with Bonus coupon
8. Pumpkin Candles from Crate & Barrel – Starting at $4.95 – fun way to light up your home!
9. Totes Mini Automatic Umbrella from KMart.com – $11.99 – a bargain for not getting caught in the rain!

Hope this puts you in the mood for fall!

I thought I’d share a recipe for those cool autumn evenings (one of the many ways to use Mulling Spices and a Slow Cooker!):

Spiced (& Spiked!) Mulled Apple Cider

Ingredients:

1 gallon Apple Cider/Juice – preferably unfiltered, you can substitute any apple juice of your choice. Adjust the recipe according to the amount of juice.

1 whole navel orange

3 Tablespoons Mulling Spices, tied in cheesecloth, or contained in tea strainer

1 cinnamon stick

1/2 cup brown or turbinado sugar, use less or more according to taste

1/2 -1 cup Calvados, rum or brandy (optional!)

Put all ingredients except orange into a slow cooker on lowest setting. Zest the orange and slice; add zest and orange slices to juice mixture. Let simmer for 4 hours! Your house will smell great, too!

Happy Shopping!

- Kristen

It’s around Labor Day when I get inspired to throw a Goodbye to Summer Party. Gather the friends and neighbors, have one last big barbecue, and celebrate the last of the longer days.

So, Frugalgrrl makes it easy – here are all the things you’ll need for a great party, now just make out your invite list!

Menu:

• Burgers on the Grill (sliders for the kids!)
• French Fries
• Ina Garten’s Fresh Corn Salad
• Mac ‘n Cheese Salad with Buttermilk Dressing
• Watermelon Slices
• Homemade Ice Cream
• Fizzy Berry Cream Soda from Gwyneth Paltrow
  

Supplies:

Burger & Fry Baskets with Liners

On sale at Crate & Barrel starting from $1.95

Mini Burger Nonstick Grill Basket

On sale for $12.95 from Crate & Barrel

Cuatro Serving Platters

Starting from $1.95 from CB2

Drink Umbrellas!

$2.90 for package of 100 from CenturyNovelty.com

Frugalgrrl is throwing a party in two weeks, so I’ll let you know how it goes!

If you need more inspiration for ending the summer right, see more ideas here and here.

Happy Shopping (and party planning)!

- Kristen

So when this girl buys too much fruit, there is really only one thing left to do: Learn to can. Canning and preserving food seems intimidating, but it’s fairly straight forward and doesn’t need to be so complicated. If you want to learn how to start, here is an excellent online resource: Canning Across America

There are some great deals right now on canning supplies! If you’re wondering what you need to get started, here are four essential tools:

21 Quart Canner with Rack: $19.99 (Regular price $29.99)

Back to Basics Jar Lifter: $5.49 (Regular price $6.24 or more)

Taylor Classic Digital Thermometer & Timer: $14.49 (Savings from other stores offering $19.99)

Canning Funnel: $4.99 (Regular price $6.24)

Other deals worth checking out are canning kits and canning tool kits, which can be a bargain if you need all the essentials and are planning to store up for winter!

Of course, you may be asking why we’ve left out what seems to be the most important supplies: Jars and lids! These are available online for some good bargains. Another tip is to look for these supplies at hardware stores. Big name grocery stores will carry jars and canning supplies this time of year, but they are often marked up and the prices are not a bargain! Ace Hardware will ship any online order to a retail store for free! Be sure to watch out for similar deals!

If you need some inspiration, here’s a great recipe for apricot jam! I’ve been eating this on toast for a good week and it’s a good reason to get out of bed in the morning!

Apricot Jam – Courtesy of David Lebovitz

2 pounds (1kg) fresh apricots
1/2 cup (125ml) water
6 cups (1kg) sugar
1 tablespoon freshly-squeezed lemon juice
optional: 1 tablespoon kirsch

1. Cut the apricots in half and extract the pits. If you wish, crack a few open and put a kernel in each jam jar you plan to fill.

2. Place the apricots in a very large stockpot, and add the water. Cover the pot and cook, stirring frequently, until the apricots are tender and cooked through.

3. Put a small plate in the freezer.

4. Add the sugar to the apricots and cook, uncovered, skimming off any foam that rises to the surface. As the mixture thickens and reduces, stir frequently to make sure the jam isn’t burning on the bottom.

5. When the jam looks thick and is looks slightly-jelled, turn off the heat and put a small amount of jam on the chilled plate. Put back in the freezer for a few minutes, then do the nudge test: If the jam mounds and wrinkles, it’s done. If not, continue to cook, then re-test the jam until it reaches that consistency.

(You can use a thermometer if you wish. The finished jam will be about 220ºF, 104ºC.)

6. Once done, stir in the lemon juice and kirsch, if using, and ladle the jam into clean jars. Cover tightly and let cool to room temperature. Once cool, refrigerate until ready to use. Or, ladle jam into jars and proceed according to guidelines for canning.

Happy Shopping (and eating!)!

- Kristen

Price: $12.00 (regularly $48.00)

Sold by: Chiasso

Happy Shopping!

- Kristen