Deal of the Day: California Pizza Kitchen Adventure Card

Cheap and Cheerful love to dine together at California Pizza Kitchen. We usually split the chopped salad and a Tostada pizza. Lemonade for me. Diet Coke for Margaret. This summer at CPK, you can try some of their new menu items for 20% off. Click here to claim your Adventure Card. It is valid until September 15th. Since we share a September birthday, I think a little birthday lunch is in order. Right? I want to try the new BBQ Chicken Pizza with Applewood Smoked Bacon. Pizza and bacon. Bring it on.

Retail Therapy: Green Cotton Pajamas at Garnet Hill

Let's say I have $100 of "fun money". First stop, pedicure. Second stop, a new pair of Asian Wrap pajamas by Green Cotton. At $68 a pair, this soft sleepwear is certainly spendy, but it's worth every penny. I adore my pair; I've had the same pair for almost 4 years and the jammies are still extra cozy. The color is fading a bit so the search for a new pair begins. Three styles are available: long sleeved shirt and pants, short sleeve shirt and shorts, and a gown. Just thinking about a new pair makes me feel a little sleepy. Maybe I will just lay in bed with my Garnet Hill catalog and dream of which fabric choice I'll select.

Deal of the Day: West Music

If you love music or have any music lovers in your life, check out this website. West Music offers high quality items like Remo Drums, Boomwhackers, Hohner percussion instruments and more at fantastic prices. The Remo Drum pictured here is just $19.15, over 40% off the usual retail price. I've ordered from West Music several times and the friendly service and fast shipping can't be beat. No pun intended.

Favorite Things: Paul Frank for Target

Small Paul has arrived at Target. Rain gear, t-shirts, hoodies, and sleepwear are available at great price points. Click here for a link to a coupon for $2 off any Paul Frank for Target item. The coupon is valid until August 29th. Small Paul stuff always puts a smile on my face. Let's face it -- life is too short for boring t-shirts. If you find a good stash of the Small Paul items in store, post a comment here. From what I've heard, the clothing is flying off the shelves.

Deal of the Day: 20% Off Gap Fall Preview

I post a lot of good deals for the good little boys and girls in our lives. But what about getting a nice discount on something for yourself? I don't know about you but I could certainly use a fresh sweater or two, maybe a pair of jeans, and some long sleeved tees. For the next four days, use the code FALL to get 20% off adult styles. Go ahead, live a little. Tell them Cheap and Cheerful said it was okay. Offer ends on Sunday, August 23rd.

Cheap and Cheerful Challenge: Costco Costumes

Bargain alert! Jody from Gilroy spotted furry, full body style Halloween costumes at Costco for just $9.99. She reports that there were all different animals (lion, tiger, elephant) plus pumpkins too. Sizes range from newborn to 4. Get them while they're hot! (And if you stop in, would you get me some pita chips and Sabra Hummus? Yum.) Just 11 more days remain for the August challenge! Who's next?

Cheap and Cheerful Cooking: Orzo Salad

Orzo Salad

by Giada De Laurentiis

Ingredients
1 pound orzo pasta
3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, plus 1/4 cup
2 cups fresh arugula (about 3 ounces)
3/4 cup crumbled ricotta salata cheese (or feta cheese)
1/2 cup dried cherries
12 fresh basil leaves, torn
1/4 cup toasted pine nuts
3 tablespoons lemon juice
1 1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

Directions
Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil over high heat. Add the pasta and cook until tender but still firm to the bite, stirring occasionally, about 8 to 10 minutes. Drain pasta and put the pasta on a large cookie sheet. Drizzle the pasta with 3 tablespoons olive oil, toss, spread out, and set aside to cool. Once the orzo is cool, transfer to a large serving bowl. Add the remaining ingredients and toss gently to combine. Serve.

Time: About 10 minutes

Serves 4 to 6

Favorite Things: Personalized Toddler Apron

My kids love to bake! It is really cute how excited they get to dump the flour, measure the water, pour in the chocolate chips and, of course, lick the spoons. Having a toddler sized apron on hand makes the whole process more fun because I don't have to worry about changing their clothes once we're done. I found this adorable apron on Etsy and had it personalized for my daughter. It is the perfect size and she loves the pocket -- it's just the spot for measuring spoons or a place to hold her lip gloss until she's done helping. Baking is a great cheap and cheerful activity too; for less than $8, you can have five dozen freshly baked cookies at your fingertips.

Deal of the Day: Circle of Friends at Gymboree

From August 20 to 23, you can save 30% on all of your purchases at Gymboree. The online code is GYMFAMILY and in store bar codes are widely available. Their full Fall line and adorable Halloween costumes are already in store so you can score some cute sweaters, jackets, and pants at a great discount. Plus, you can earn Gymbucks through September 27th for redemption starting October 1st.

Deal of the Day: $1 Off Jamba Juice Flatbread

Click on the image above for a printable coupon for $1 off California Flatbreads at Jamba Juice.
They look tasty. Not every location stocks these new goodies so check here before you go.

Cheap and Cheerful Cooking: Mediterranean Summer Salad

Mediterranean Summer Salad
Helen F. Newell

(as published in Sunset Magazine, August 2009)

8 ounces orzo pasta
2 cups halved cherry or grape tomatoes
1 cup fresh basil, chopped
1 tsp. minced garlic
1//4 cup toasted pine nuts
1/2 Greek olives, pitted and halved
4 ounces feta cheese, broken into chunks
2 cups baby spinach leaves
1 tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil
2 tbsp. balsamic vinegar
Salt and freshly ground pepper

Cook orzo according to the package directions. Meanwhile, in a large bowl, combine tomoatoes, basil, garlic, pine nuts, olives, feta, and spinach. Add cooked orzo. In a small bowl, whisk together oil, vinegar, and salt and pepper to taste. Toss with salad.

Serves 12

Prep time: 25 minutes

Favorite Things: Children's Place "Place Perks"

All year round, for every $75 dollars you spend at The Children's Place, you get a $10 coupon. I received a coupon last month and got my son a pair of shorts ($6) and a t-shirt ($4). So essentially, I got a free pair of shorts and a free t-shirt for spending $75 at their store. You can sign up online or at any store. Your purchases are automatically tracked online and you simply swipe your keychain membership card for in store buys. Children's place denim, polo shirts, and khakis are staples for my little guy. Right now, buy any two regular priced denim items and get a free t-shirt, in store only. Denim for boys is already regularly priced at 2 for $28 so this is a sweet deal indeed. It ends on August 26th. Their adorable Halloween collection arrives in store tomorrow so you can grab a costume with a 10% or 15% coupon, easily found in Parenting, Martha Stewart and other magazines this month. Cheap and Cheerful wants to know: What deals have you scored with points or membership rewards?

Retail Therapy: Nordstrom Will Not Be Undersold

Have you ever taken advantage of a store's price match guarantee? I was hesistant to do so but found the Nordstrom "We Will Not Be Undersold" pledge to be a great way to get an item I needed from a store that I love at the best price I found. Here's my story: My sister-in-law and I were selecting a flower girl dress. We had found the style we wanted on various online bridal stores for $86.00. However, the online bridal stores did not offer refunds or exchanges. Nordstrom.com had the same dress listed for $110.

On the Nordstrom website, it says:

You'll never pay more. At Nordstrom, we are committed to offering you the best possible prices. If you ever find one of our items priced lower somewhere else, please call 1-888-282-6060 and we will gladly meet that price.

So, after a quick and pleasant call with a Nordstrom employee, the dress was en route to me at the price I provided them. It took just a minute for the employee to visit the web address to the better price that I provided and I was on my way to saving! With the money saved on the dress, I was able to buy my little flower girl's ballet flats and hair bow!

Cheap and Cheerful wants to know: Do you have any price match success stories?

Beg, Borrow, and Steal: Loving Your Local Library

I'm always amazed at the wonderful, brand new books that I am able to check out at the library. Just last week, I picked up two novels for myself that had never been checked out before. Who needs Borders when you can get hot-off-the-press books to enjoy for free?

I also utilize the library to preview books that I might like to purchase for my kids or as gifts. My children recently enjoyed these two well written and beautifully illustrated books:

A Fine, Fine School by Sharon Creech
A funny story about an overly enthusiastic principal and a little girl who sets him straight!

An Egg Is Quiet by Dianna Aston
Perfect for any budding scientist

Both books come in hardcover editions and can be found for under $14.

Cheap and Cheerful wants to know: What do you love about your library?