Ah Vistaprint. How I love thee. But how I love thee more when you are offering free goodies! Especially *good* free goodies. This means that I love you a ton today because you are offering so many *good* free goodies that I can hardly stand it!

Here are just a few of the free items you can request at this time:

Free products:

• Photo Wall Calendar
• Business Cards
• T-Shirt, Photo Flip Book
• Folded invitations
• Mug
• Postcards
• Banner
• Car Door Magnet

Click here to see the entire list of *good* free goodies.

My favorite is the set of folded notecards:

You will still need to pay shipping, which at least to my neck of the woods is ringing up for $4.73 and that’s for slow {21 days maximum} shipping.  I recently placed an order for work using “slow” shipping and received them the next day… go figure!

You CAN order as many free items as you want, though only one per category.  For instance, you couldn’t order more than one free photo book at one time.  But you might be able to place multiple orders and then just pay shipping for each book.  You can see below my faux order for note cards and business cards.

Both items would ship for only $5.99 … not bad at all!

Vistaprint’s latest free sale might be a good time to think about the still far off holidays, or birthday presents.  I know quite a few moms who use the Vistaprint business cards as calling cards {mom cards?}  And who couldn’t use note cards?

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Yesterday, Groupon quietly released Personalized Deals in Chicago, Los Angeles, New York City, San Jose, San Francisco, and Seattle. They’ll be rolling out more cities over the coming months.

The way personalized deals will work is that you provide Groupon with a bit of information and they then provide you with more personalized deals.  While I haven’t had any personalized deals sent my way yet {at least I don’t think I have…} I did provide them with my personal info, which consisted solely of the year I was born, gender, and zip code.

Here is how the personalized deals will work, according to the press release:

Each subscriber’s deals will get more relevant over time as they share information and form buying patterns, and as Groupon’s deal offerings expand. Subscribers will see no change to their Groupon interface. They’ll still receive a deal per day via email, available for a minimum of 24 hours.

Customizing deals allows Groupon to run more deals for businesses that are located outside of city centers, that cater to niche audiences, or that aren’t seeking the heavy volume traditional Groupons deliver. Sending different deals to different users also helps address the overwhelming demand from merchants to be featured on Groupon.

“Interest in Groupon is so high we can only feature one out of eight businesses that contact us,” Mason said. “Personalized Deals opens Groupon up to more merchants, who until now have been forced to look elsewhere to find new customers.”

I read through the comments on the blog post where Groupon announced this new plan and it seems that most people are mixed on how they feel about this new platform.  While most acknowledge that it would be nice to whittle out some deals that would never be used {such as sushi restaurants for non-sushi eaters}, pretty much everyone agrees that the best part of Groupon is being exposed to new businesses.  There is worry that with deals being personalized to someone’s previous purchases and interests that they could miss out on learning about new opportunities.

I must admit that I agree with most of the comments I read.  While I love Groupon for the great deals {obvi!}, what I really love is that since the site opened up I’ve greatly expanded the range of activities and restaurants I’ve tried in Chicago.  If Groupon personalizes my daily deal based on my previous choices then I will be receiving offers for a lot of Mexican restaurants, steak houses, and ghost tours.  Yikes.  I also find it a bit alarming that the press release states that they want to make this change because interest is so high on the business side of things.  Is the real impetus behind this change so that Groupon can feature more businesses and thus make more money?  They’ll be able to feature more businesses and by personalizing the deals they are probably hoping that consumers will be more inclined to purchase more Groupons.  I have to admit this is a smart business decision, but as a consumer, well, I have my doubts.

Here’s hoping they keep it open ended enough that we can keep enjoying many deals, and not just those that the system thinks we will like.

What do you think about this new change for Groupon?  Yay or Nay?

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Origins is again hosting one of their best promos of the year … FREE Mini Facials!  The free facials will be available only from July 30 – August 1, 2010, so call to book yours now!

No purchase is necessary to get the free mini facial, though they will of course tell you which Origins products would work best on your skin.  You will get a consultation, cleansing, and a skin calming mask.

I did this a couple of years ago and while it was short it was also super relaxing.

Click here to find an Origins store near you and call immediately to book so you don’t miss out!

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So here’s a question for you.  A girl can never own enough handbags, but what about designer sunglasses?  You can find designer sunglasses almost every day at one sample sale or another and they all start to run into one another a bit.  But I’m really looking forward to today’s sale at RowNine because they’re featuring a brand of specs you don’t see everyday – McQueen!

Below you’ll find all of the sales happening at online sample sale sites around the internet.  If you’re not yet a member of any of the sites below click on the name of the site and you’ll be able to register – and shop – immediately.

Any boutique you see bolded below is my personal pick for one of the best of the day.  Happy *Discount* Shopping!

Sales Opening at 9 a.m. ET

Enviius: Hannah Joe

Sales Opening at 10 a.m. ET

Beauty Story: Giella Cosmetics

Editors’ Closet: Dolce & Gabbana, Going, Going, Gone Sale

Modnique: Ralf Tech Watches, English Laundry Men’s Shirts, Tom Ford Sunglasses, Ravon by Von Vonni Dresses

VoyagePrive.com: Stylish Ireland Hotel, Spanish Marvel, 5 Star Westin Valencia, Literary London

Zulily {For Moms & Kids}: Baby Nay, Oobi Baby, Hot Milk, JB Original Vintage, The Piggy Story, The Little Seed

Sales Opening at 11 a.m. ET

Beyond the Rack: Premium Watch Event, Deco Moda, Michael Kors Sunglasses, Cabrelli & Co., Designer Footwear Event, Nathan & Moe and NDR Jewels, Ava Gray and Truly B., 525 Homewear, Monster, Taverniti So Jeans,

Billion Dollar Babes: Multi-Designer Scarves (Prada, Armani, Valentino and more!), Jami Rodriguez, Sama Baby

Biva: Dior Handbags, Oscar de la Renta, Invicta Men

Hautelook: DEPT Blowout, Shoes Under $100, Right Bank Babies Blowout, Bernhardt, Josh Brody Blowout, Biotherm, Skin by Alison Raffaele, My First Shades, Ariane Arazi

Ivory Trunk: Fendi Sunglasses

One Kings Lane: Home Environment, Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams, Marcella Echavarria Photography, Momeni, Airedelsur

RowNine: Cool Summer Shades including Gucci, Tom Ford & McQueen, Tuleste Market, Ultimate Handbag Sale

Rue La La: Register now and receive an automatic $10 account credit! K A S, Quiksilver, Quiksilver – Men’s, Roxy, Devon Leigh, Portmeirion

Swirl: Gola, Twelfth Street by Cynthia Vincent

The Mini Social {For Moms & Kids}: Lil’ Bettie Beachwear, Dr. Robin, Splendid Littles

Sales Opening at 12 p.m. ET

Gilt: Angel Sanchez, Naeem Khan and More, Camilla Skovgaard, Jil Sander, Alejandro Ingelmo, Donna Karan and More, Jewelry by Carelle and David Harris, Linea Pelle, Magaschoni, Nomia, Pratesi, Yelo Spa

Gilt Home: Boulevard by Four Hands, Home Office Essentials: Graphic Image, Lunt Silversmiths & Vellum, Pratesi

Gilt Men: Bern, Chrome and Rudy Project, Diesel, Luciano Barbera, Mondrian Los Angeles, Oakley, Reebok Pump, Seize sur Vingt, Steuben Barware

Jack Threads {For Men}: Initium, Accessories

Ideeli: julie brown, votre nom, magid, havaianas, cc couture, Boyd’s Cosmetic, orit schatzman design, frenzii, nicole, melissa beth

PLNDR: Coal, Keep

Reebonz: Bvlgari, Prada

TheSampleSale.com: Gal Pal

SeenON!: Secret Collection of Project Runway Winner Seth Aaron

Sales Opening at 3 p.m. ET

Jetsetter: Hotel Burnham – Chicago, Moonrise Hotel – St. Louis, Hotel Palomar – Washington DC

Sales Opening at 9 p.m. ET

Totsy {For Moms & Kids}: Agoo, Hooligan’s Kids

Ongoing

Gomatta Girls: Melie Bianco

——————-

Am I missing a sample sale site? Would you like to see your sample sale site listed here? If so, shoot me an email! Lisa@fantabulouslyfrugal.com

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Tomorrow – July 29, 2010 -only, you can get a slice of delectable cheesecake from The Cheesecake Factory for just $1.50!

How, you ask?  You must “like” The Cheesecake Factory on Facebook and then you will be able to print out a voucher that you will be able to redeem tomorrow for a half price slice of deliciousness!  You will not be able to walk in and get the cheesecake “to-go.”  Offer is only valid if you’re staying at the restaurant to eat.

Click here to “like” The Cheesecake Factory now and get a slice for $1.50! If you don’t have the voucher you will not be able to get the cheesecake for this price.  {I know.  Sad face.}

Thanks to Saving Money & Living Life for posting about this fab deal!

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Here’s a great Philosophy freebie that you can currently get through Facebook – Purity One-Step Facial Cleansing Cloths!

Click here to request yours now!

Thanks to NYC Recession Diary for posting this fab offer!

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Right now receive 4 FREE beauty minis plus FREE Shipping with any $40 clinique.com order! Enter promo code CLASS at checkout to receive the free goods.

You’ll receive a travel-size hair brush, eye liner, lipstick, and cream eye shadow. Not a bad haul if I do say so myself!

This offer is only valid while supplies last and none of these offers seem to last longer than a day or two.

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Just a quick note to thank all of you that have emailed me with great national Groupon deals in the past!

I’m on quite a few Groupon mailing lists but with the rate they’re growing it’s impossible to be on all of the lists.  If you see a great Groupon deal in your area that is good at a national level please send me an email! {Lisa@fantabulouslyfrugal.com}  I’d love to post the deal and give you credit!

xo,

Lisa

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Did you miss out on last week’s fab Shabby Apple sale on Groupon Cleveland?  No worries because the same deal is back today over at Groupon Baltimore!  $40 will get you $100 to Shabby Apple, which will easily cover the cost of one dress, if not 2 if you get two of the cheaper dresses.  This is such a fab deal!

Click here to go directly to Groupon Baltimore to purchase this deal.

Thanks so much to Erin from The Life of Ann James for sending this my way!

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Hours: Monday-Saturday: 12:00PM-8:00PM, Sunday: 12:00PM-7:00PM

Closest Subway: F, M at Lower East Side-Second Ave.; J, M, Z at Essex St.

Oh, Yumi Kim.  How I love thee.  And how I wish you were in Chicago.  Or that I was going to be in NYC this weekend.  Alas.

For all of you New York dwellers, Yumi Kim is having an End of Season Sample Sale this weekend, and the Spring/Summer Collection will be marked down anywhere between 50-80%!

I was able to take a sneak peek at a couple of items that will be available, and they are so lovely!

Sari Maxi in Abstract Rose
The Sari Maxi Dress is our most feminine and flattering maxi silk floral print dress with a built-in underwire bodice. The dress features a racer back adjustable strap detailing and side pockets make this a must have summer maxi dress. The abstract rose print features geometrical shaped roses consisting of various shades of blue.
Original Price: $230.00
Sale Price: $98.00

Love Dress in Violet Juniper
The Love Dress is a silk short-sleeved mini dress has a cross-over neckline and belt around the waist and a tie detailing at the shoulders. This dress has larger bust measurements compared to our other styles and runs narrow at the hips. The violet juniper print is a deep purple color accented with white, turquoise flowers scattered throughout the print.
Original Price: $204.00
Sale Price: $102.00

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