One of my responsibilities here at DealTaker is adding merchants to the site. For years we stayed around 1500 total active merchants on the site. At the beginning on 2009 I took on an initiative to get to 2000 merchants by the end of the year. I am happy to report that this week we have surpassed that 2000 number!
I hope the result of adding more stores is that people who come to DealTaker will better be able to find what they are looking for with our increased variety of merchants. Moving in to the holiday season, I hope everyone will be able to find exactly what they want, at the price they want, starting right here at DealTaker.com!
Of all the things that DealTaker users have expressed interest to us about over the years, printable grocery coupons would probably be the top of the list. It’s a natural connection to make from saving money online to saving money in the grocery store.
Well, we heard you, DealTakers! We are proud to announce that DealTaker.com now has a printable Grocery Coupons page! From here you’ll be able to search among a huge collection of grocery coupons. Just find and check the ones you want, then print them up from the convenience of home!
Best of all it’s free.
Now you can save even more money with DealTaker than you did before!
I am well aware that the holidays are right around the corner. It’s almost November. Normally, this time of year I’m floating in that glorified state of knowing that I’ve conquered the majority of things that cause the usual holiday stress. I can breathe easy with the sweet reassurance that what’s left over (baking, holiday cards, gift wrapping, etc) will be smooth sailing. There will be plenty of time to tie up the loose ends. No worries.
That came to a screeching halt about a month and half ago. Mom’s health took a turn for the worst and she now relies on us financially as well as for some daily assisted living. We made the decision to move into Lori’s house next door and Mom will be living with us. We had planned on moving there down the road after we made some renovations, but, under the cirsumstances, we have to do it sooner rather than later. It was our only choice.
My glorified state has now turned to organized chaos. Although we don’t anticipate being fully moved in until mid January, there is an endless amount of work that needs to be done. Not only do we have to contend with the hassle of moving, but we need to renovate the two rooms upstairs in the other house before the move, Okay, I can deal with that. I’m always up for a good challenge.
I had to seriously rethink the holidays this year. Time is of the essence. Every hour of every day needs to be productive. I’ve drafted up timelines. If everything goes as planned (knock on wood) we should be okay. This meant deducting a good chunk of time I usually devote to the holidays.
Do I really need to send out 40 (give or take a few) holiday cards this year each with a few handwritten paragraphs? Most of these people I haven’t heard from in years. This task takes me an entire day. In a day I can apply a coat of joint compound to the walls of both rooms and strip the hardwood floor. Is it necessary to spend three days baking for everyone we know and have come in contact with? No. The possibilities are endless as to what I can get done in those 3 days.
Why is it that many cannot live in the here and now? What is built or trained into our society that makes us look towards tomorrow instead at looking at what is right in front of our face? The best advice I was given while I was pregnant with my first child is to enjoy everyday with them. To take in every bit of their tiny baby smell, beautiful tiny smiles, each little coo, and every ‘baby’ step thereafter. After watching my two oldest grow so quickly, I am very glad that I have enjoyed them to the best of my ability each day.
I have come to realize that tomorrow is just going to be tomorrow, not the day I receive a large inheritance from a distant relative (although that would be nice, he he he). I have a choice in what everyday will bring me. I have a choice to be in a good mood or a bad mood when I wake up. I have a choice to get up 15 minutes earlier so that I am not yelling at my kids to get ready or eat faster. I also have a choice to make changes so that my life continuously improves. Everyday there is a choice to make it a successful day!
This knowledge has helped me to enjoy each day for what it is. I have learned to see the good in the days that I wish never happened. I am not saying I don’t lose it or break down, but for the most part, I look for something to make my day easier. I hope that I can teach my children to look for the good in life and to be able to keep their chin up even when life seems to be crumbling around them.
I have the privilege of writing a column for our parent company’s publications that gets into several of our newspapers each week. OK, so I have written two columns so far and this week’s just got out online at GoDanRiver.com. It is in tribute to the Avon Walk that I did, but also goes more broadly to this month – October (which I will now always consider to be “Pinktober” for the numerous reasons mentioned in previous posts) – THE awareness month for Breast Cancer. Please read and consider ways you, too, can participate.
It was five weeks ago yesterday that our Affiliate Marketers Give Back Team completed the 40 mile Avon Walk for Breast Cancer in Los Angeles. Our team of Missy Ward, Chris Pearson, Brook Schaaf, Lynette LaPlante, Melissa Salas, Brian Clark and myself raised over $50,000 in the fight against breast cancer. The video is about 11 minutes long (as short as I could get 16 hours of walking) but shows our fortitude to not only give, but participate.
If you are from O-H-I-O or anywhere around there then you know what I am referring to. For all you others who don’t, let me explain. The term Buckeyes or Bucks is used to refer to Ohio State University sports teams and refers to all residents of the state of Ohio. Buckeyes are shiny dark brown nuts with lighter tan patches. They are poisonous nuts that grow on trees along rivers and streams and in floodplains.
Growing up my Mom taught my Sister and I how to make the edible kind of Buckeyes which are super yummy peanut butter balls dipped in milk chocolate. I remember gathering around in the kitchen before Christmas making these treats with them for hours. They are quite a chore to make but if you ask my family are worth the hard work once you get to pop one in your mouth. I wish I could say the more you make the less of them you mess up but that was never the case with us. We never could make them as perfect as what we would find in the store. We had lots of fun and made great memories though! Fortunately for you, I have found some Peanut Butter Buckeyes for you to enjoy without the time spent making them and a 25% off coupon to purchase them with.
By definition the word ugly means very unattractive, unpleasant to look at, offensive to the sense of beauty and displeasing in appearance. As a society we tend to keep our distance from the ugly and gravitate towards things that tend to be appealing to the eye. People take great lengths to surround themselves with beautiful things regardless of the cost or consequences. After all, who wants to be the brunt of any comment that would include the word ugly?
If you were to ask my Mom, who is a frequent traveler, what her biggest travel tip is she would tell you one thing, “Buy the ugliest and most hideous strand of wide ribbon you can find and tie it to your luggage.” My Mom has traveled to places like Mexico, the Caribbean, Puerto Rico and Jamaica and this is the only bit of helpful information she has to give? I thought she was out of her mind.
Here are some new stores that you can find on DealTaker!
Portero(coupons): The leading curated marketplace for buying and selling pre-owned authenticated luxury goods. They provide unprecedented access to more than 450 of the world’s top luxury brands at exceptional values.
Abazias Diamonds(coupons): They have been selling diamonds, engagement rings and jewelry online since 2001 and have the largest selection of loose diamonds available anywhere online, and an ever-growing selection of fine jewelry for every taste and budget.
Untangle(coupons): Enable small business owners and parents to take back control of the Internet. Their Untangle software installs on a single PC in the office or home, and intercepts all Internet traffic in and out of the network giving people the ability to monitor who is doing what online, and control whether to allow it or not.
Branders.com(coupons): The World’s Largest Online Seller of Promotional Items: Promotional Items, Promotional Products & Corporate Gifts for Your Trade Show Promotions from Branders.com
Apex Battery(coupons): Sells practically every battery for every need. They offer over 200,000 replacement batteries and accessories at up to 70% off retail prices.
Cooking Enthusiast(coupons): Specializes in essential tools for the cooking enthusiast. Products are chosen for their quality, value and special features – not fancy packaging or popular brand names and all are fully tested by their own professional chef to ensure the customers complete satisfaction.
Costume Kingdom(coupons): At Costume Kingdom, you’ll find a wide range of Halloween costumes that will suit your taste. They have one of the best and largest inventories of adult, sexy, couples, children’s, infant and pet costume ideas that will help you get started.
Outletbuy.com(coupons): One of the largest sites on the Internet focused on discount footwear, bags and apparel from over 350 top brands. They also offer free shipping, free returns and a 100% pricing guarantee.
Product Express(coupons): A leading retailer focused on all categories of footwear and related apparel for the shopper that needs it now. ProductExpress offers free overnight shipping on all purchases from over 200 top brands.
My Punchbowl(coupons): Helps you plan a party that your guests will always remember by bringing your party to life with ideas, invitations, favors, gift registries, photo/video sharing, and more.
1st Wishes(coupons): Your source for first birthday party supplies offers a wide selection of themes to make your child’s 1st birthday a memorable occasion.
DealTaker had its first “leaked” Black Friday ad posted this week (Half Price Books). Here is the press release announcing the start of the 2009 Holiday Shopping Season -
FIRST BLACK FRIDAY AD OF THE YEAR NOW ON DEALTAKER.COM
Premier Coupon & Deal Site Features Most-Anticipated Sales of the Year Well Ahead of Schedule
PLANO, Texas—October 7, 2009—DealTaker.com today announced the official start of the holiday bargain shopping season with the first Black Friday ad now at www.DealTaker.com/blackfriday.html.
“It’s a great day for bargain hunters everywhere,” said Kevin Strawbridge, President of DealTaker.com. “With pent up demand at an all-time high and retailers eager for consumer dollars, sales will abound and organization will be the key to sorting through myriad opportunities. Perusing the ads well ahead of Thanksgiving makes it easier for deal takers to optimize their time and money, and for retailers to ensure traffic to their stores,” Strawbridge said.
There are 50 days before November 27 which could be the biggest shopping day of the year. To prepare, consumers can quickly and easily find the most up-to-date Black Friday deals, coupons and sales at DealTaker.com. The popular site also features a countdown calendar, a handy downloadable Black Friday Organizer ® exclusively available at DealTaker and a searchable list of free shipping codes for consumers who also take advantage of the online deals every day and on Cyber Monday.
Besides sales from nearly 2,000 merchant partners, more than 225,000 DealTaker.com members actively post deals, ads, coupons and offers on DealTaker.com every day, saving consumers millions of dollars over the past 5 years. Historically, members have posted Black Friday ads directly to the Black Friday forums. But some retailers have balked at members trying to help each other. Already, one major retailer has made a pre-emptive strike with a cease-and-desist letter, insisting DealTaker.com police the forums and remove ads that members post.
About DealTaker.com
DealTaker.com is the premier destination for consumers looking to spend less and get more. A free coupon site for members to share and take deals, DealTaker.com makes it easy to save on merchandise and services including food, travel, electronics, home furnishings, jewelry and pet supplies, among others. Founded in Plano, Texas in 2004, DealTaker.com works with more than 1,900 stores, nearly 19,000 followers on Twitter and more than 225,000 deal-sharing members to provide over 8,000 active coupons and deals every day.
A friend of mine shared this on twitter. I love things like this that inspire awe and wonderment. What can we each do to encourage creativity? (Click the picture to see the video)
There are lots of new stores that have been added to DealTaker over the past week, come and check out what’s new with us.
eXpansys(coupons): A leading retailer of smartphones and handheld devices with wireless connectivity and has been operating in the USA since 2001. They carry over 20,000 products, covering Laptops, Unlocked Cell Phones, Digital Cameras, GPS, Accessories, and much more.
Linksys(coupons): LINKSYS by Cisco is the global leader in Wireless and Ethernet networking for consumer and SOHO users. They are dedicated to making networking easy and affordable.
Perricone MD(coupons): Offers a line of revolutionary skincare products and dietary supplements created by Nicholas Perricone, M.D., a board certified clinical and research dermatologist. Dr. Perricone is regarded as the Father of the Inflammation Theory of Aging.
My Shape(coupons): A fashion-forward apparel company established to solve one common problem shared by women of all ages and sizes: finding clothes that both fit well and flatter our body shapes. They offer latest styles from over 250 designer brands and a free Personal Shop filled with clothes that match our members’ measurements, styles, and fit preferences.
Chrome(coupons): They produce men’s Bags Apparel and Shoes that last. Chrome started in Boulder, Colorado 14 years ago when a couple of guys needed bags and couldn’t find anything that met their standards. So they got the toughest materials they could find, headed into their garage and started sewing.
Le Gourmet Chef(coupons): Provides the consumer with a fun and entertaining shopping experience by presenting a wonderful assortment of gourmet foods, cookware, bake ware and home entertaining products.
Prep Me(coupons): Is a leading provider of online test preparation services for middle school and high school students. They offer a complete portfolio of online services for the SAT, ACT, PSAT, PSAE and more.
Hatley(coupons): Hatley has something for everyone in the family. Pajamas, boxers, puddle stompin fun raingear and now Snow Gear to boot! Hatley pairs great fabric design inspired by nature or wildlife with a clever spin on everyday sayings and popular culture to bring out the “pun” in everyone.
microGreen Oil Filter(coupons): The microGreenTM oil filter is the most advanced technological leap in engine filtration in 30 years. It replaces a conventional oil filter assembly without requiring any modifications to the engine or filter housing.
Bidcactus(coupons): An exciting auction website where you can get huge discounts. Bidcactus sells brand new top name electronics and gift cards at incredibly low prices that start at $.01 with no reserve. Penny Auctions are auctions in which you have to purchase bids before you can bid on an item.
maurices(coupons):Started in 1931 as a small women’s fashion shop in Duluth, Minnesota, has grown to over 700 stores in 43 states across the country. maurices is the leading small town specialty store and authority for the savvy, fashion conscious customer with a twenty-something attitude.
Marine Depot(coupons): Is an industry leader in saltwater and freshwater aquarium supply sales and carries 7,500 popular and hard-to-find items.
Pet Store(coupons): Is a full-service online pet shop that carries 25,000 products for dogs, cats, fish, reptiles, birds, small animals and ponds/water gardens.
A little after 4pm Mountain Time on 10/01/09 the Colorado Rockies officially earned their spot in the baseball postseason (only the 3rd time in team history)! We still have a 3 game set against the Dodgers and if we sweep them, we will win our division (and possibly the National League if a couple key losses happen). This was our 91st win of the season which is a club record!
So, get ready for Rocktober (and hopefully in to November too)!!!
Now I have always thought it was polite to let people know when you’re about to step up on your soap box. Consider this fair warning.
Last weekend my husband got run off of the road while he was on his motorcycle. Fortunately he wasn’t hurt very bad. But, and here’s where the preachin’ begins, the really really sad part of all of this is – NOT A SINGLE PERSON, NOT ONE stopped to ask if he was okay. Even the person who ran him off the road didn’t stop. He lay there in the ditch on the side of the road and not one person stopped to see if he was okay. It wasn’t like he was on some road that no one ever drives down. He was on a two lane highway and lots of people passed him. I shudder to think what might have happened to him had he been seriously hurt. But this incident brings up some questions in my mind.
Here are some great new stores that have been added to DealTaker over the past week.
ARIA(coupons): A Las Vegas hotel Designed by the firm Pelli Clarke Pelli. The hotel consists of 4,004 guest rooms, meeting and pre-function space, three primary pools with 50 cabanas, 16 restaurants and 10 bars and lounges, spa and salon, deluxe fitness room and a 1,800-seat theater.
Grand Pineapple(coupons): Consists of Grand Pineapple Beach Negril and Grand Pineapple Beach Antigua. Colorful accommodations nestled amidst lush flowering gardens. Abundantly delicious food served up beneath the deep blue tropical sky. Truly these two all-inclusive resorts in Jamaica and Antigua are among the most value-laden getaways in the entire Caribbean.
Telescope.com(coupons): Offers Orion Telescopes & Binoculars. They have been serving amateur astronomers & outdoor adventurers since 1975 & excel in great customer service. Check them out and see why they are the best!
Kitchen Source(coupons): Is the leading online retailer of kitchen, bathroom, patio and home accessories since 1996. Time and experience have allowed them to select some of the finest quality merchandise from top manufacturers around the world.
Bunny Berry(coupons): Since it’s start in 2005, BunnyBerry.com has been a premiere destination for baby gifts, baby showers, and registries. Founded and operated by active parents, BunnyBerry.com is the one-stop-shop for all of parenting needs.
SuperBiiz(coupons): A premier global online retailer offering customers a wide selection of PC components, software, networking products and consumer electronics from top brands. Whether you’re a hardcore gamer, a small business, a reseller, a gadget junkie, or just a PC-building enthusiast, they are sure to meet all your needs.
iSkin(coupons): Designs and delivers an inspired line of superior products, accessories and enhancements for the iPod, iPhone, Macintosh, BlackBerry and other exciting digitial lifestyle solutions. Setting the standard for cool since 2002, iSkin gives its customers around the world an unmatched blend of design, technology, quality, fashion, selection and service.
MiNeeds(coupons): Provides an open marketplace for shopping local services, putting more power in consumers’ hands than ever before. When it comes to hiring local professionals such as wedding coordinators, attorneys or movers, MiNees is your place…
Handlesets(coupons): Is a part of Improvement Direct’s Network of Stores that was designed to meet the needs of the many people who could not find the product they needed in the models or finishes matching their décor when shopping at their local supply store.
Improvement Direct(coupons): Part of Improvement Direct’s Network of Stores that was started inorder to help people find the product they needed, in the color or model they needed, to finish their project from their local supply store.
Venting Direct(coupons): They strive to carry the largest selection of residential ventilation brands and products such as range hoods, bath fans and indoor air quality products as well as a wide selection of major home appliances, stoves, and skylights.
Hourglass Angel(coupons): Offers fashionable shapewear, girdles, and other figure enhancing garments.
Scentiments (coupons): Provides you with an online perfume store with an enormous collection of brand name fragrances for your shopping pleasure. Their goal is to provide you with a convenient shopping experience and the best prices for discount brand name fragrance along with great customer service.
TheraBreath(coupons): A revolutionary premium oral care system created byDoctor Harold Katz at the California Breath Clinics. The exclusive, original formula went on the market in 1994 and has been used by over 1,000,000 people world wide to solve the problems of bad breath and unpleasant mouth taste.
The cold and flu season is upon us and, with the N1H1 virus roaming around too, it’s going to hit us twice as hard. I have come across articles and heard general information on TV on how to avoid the flu. It’s repetitive. Wash hands, cover your mouth when you sneeze, stay home if you’re sick, etc. We all know this. I’m sure this is the same stuff we heard back in the day when we were in school. Most of us adhere to the preventative measures and even get the dreaded flu shot, but we still get sick.
Truth is, there is no way to completely avoid getting sick. Germs and bacteria that make you sick are everywhere…on every surface and in the air. In my many years of working with kids, from the infant years all the way up to 21, I’ve had to attend a great deal of classes on general health and wellness. I’ve worked in daycares, preschools and group homes and these classes weren’t for those who had weak stomachs. They didn’t do the sugar coat song and dance about washing hands and using a tissue when we sneeze. The people who conducted these classes went to public places and homes to get samples of the bacteria and germs that are on everyday surfaces. The results were mind blowing. Most of us lost our appetite by the time lunch hit.
I don’t know how many of you are like me and spend a lot of your evenings with a laptop in your lap while you watch tv, but if you are then you’ve probably found yourself finding ways to waste time online.
Well have I got a site for you.
Kongregate is a huge, community-driven website full of flash games. There are 1000’s of games on this site. Some of them are terrible, some of them are awesome.
What’s cool about this site is that a lot of times it’s just amateur game-makers putting their games out there for people to comment on and sometimes they come up with some beautiful, intricate ideas. There are also plenty of more professionally done games as well.
My son turned three this past week. It was the first time I have ever missed one of my kids’ birthdays (made the first 18 across my three kids) due to work. I wanted to make it special for him, so I turned to DealTaker to find something small and meaningful; and most importantly a good deal
I have been very pleased with Proflowers ever since I met some of their senior management about 6 years ago when I was with JCPenney. With an amazing business model that delivers top quality products very quickly, I knew they had to have something that would put a smile on a 3 year olds face. I found the “Beary Happy Birthday Box“. It was 7:30 pm PT the night before the birthday, yet I was able to order it and get it shipped for delivery the next day. The excitement and smiles were awesome and I am thankful that Proflowers had a solution for me to make it happen.
It was 9 years ago this month that my husband asked me to be his high school sweetheart. Wooo wooo!
He is the epitome of integrity, love and hard work. A sense of humor is definitely not lacking in this man. There are many times he makes me laugh so hard my cheeks hurt. Although there have been trials in the last 9 years (which we have conquered) his ability to make us laugh was ongoing and one of the things that helped us get through those tough times. He has overcome so much and is truly a miracle several times over. I am very proud of all he has accomplished and so proud to call him my husband. I love you more than I could ever put into words, so you’ll just have to settle on me showing you for the rest of our lives.
Tonight is the premiere of The Office and I can hardly contain my excitement! Check out the sneak peak below. Make sure you get your swag at the NBC Universal Store, right now there are items up to 40% off.
I am well aware that the holidays are right around the corner. It’s almost November. Normally, this time of year I’m floating in that glorified state of knowing that I’ve conquered the majority of things that cause the usual holiday stress. I can breathe easy with the sweet reassurance that what’s left over (baking, holiday cards, gift wrapping, etc) will be smooth sailing. There will be plenty of time to tie up the loose ends. No worries.
Why is it that many cannot live in the here and now? What is built or trained into our society that makes us look towards tomorrow instead at looking at what is right in front of our face? The best advice I was given while I was pregnant with my first child is to enjoy everyday with them. To take in every bit of their tiny baby smell, beautiful tiny smiles, each little coo, and every ‘baby’ step thereafter. After watching my two oldest grow so quickly, I am very glad that I have enjoyed them to the best of my ability each day.
If you are from O-H-I-O or anywhere around there then you know what I am referring to. For all you others who don’t, let me explain. The term Buckeyes or Bucks is used to refer to Ohio State University sports teams and refers to all residents of the state of Ohio. Buckeyes are shiny dark brown nuts with lighter tan patches. They are poisonous nuts that grow on trees along rivers and streams and in floodplains.
By definition the word ugly means very unattractive, unpleasant to look at, offensive to the sense of beauty and displeasing in appearance. As a society we tend to keep our distance from the ugly and gravitate towards things that tend to be appealing to the eye. People take great lengths to surround themselves with beautiful things regardless of the cost or consequences. After all, who wants to be the brunt of any comment that would include the word ugly?
A little after 4pm Mountain Time on 10/01/09 the Colorado Rockies officially earned their spot in the baseball postseason (only the 3rd time in team history)! We still have a 3 game set against the Dodgers and if we sweep them, we will win our division (and possibly the National League if a couple key losses happen). This was our 91st win of the season which is a club record!
Now I have always thought it was polite to let people know when you’re about to step up on your soap box. Consider this fair warning.
The cold and flu season is upon us and, with the N1H1 virus roaming around too, it’s going to hit us twice as hard. I have come across articles and heard general information on TV on how to avoid the flu. It’s repetitive. Wash hands, cover your mouth when you sneeze, stay home if you’re sick, etc. We all know this. I’m sure this is the same stuff we heard back in the day when we were in school. Most of us adhere to the preventative measures and even get the dreaded flu shot, but we still get sick.
My son turned three this past week. It was the first time I have ever missed one of my kids’ birthdays (made the first 18 across my three kids) due to work. I wanted to make it special for him, so I turned to DealTaker to find something small and meaningful; and most importantly a good deal 
It was 9 years ago this month that my husband asked me to be his high school sweetheart. Wooo wooo!
