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Sears Coupons: Get an Extra $20 Off $200 Patio and Grills

ernani — Mon, 09 May 2011 18:59:20 +0000

When I think of spring and summer, one of the first things that comes to mind is warm temperatures and the perfect time to uncover the barbeque grill. The thought of having grilled ribs, burgers, hot dogs, fish and pretty much anything edible is like a party for my taste buds.

With barbeque season being well on its way, what better way to start off the season than with a brand new barbeque grill to go along with a new patio set? But before you get too excited and head out to the store right away, visit Sears.com to browse through some of their great offers on barbeque grills and patio sets that will have you saving big!

Choose from top selling grills including the Kenmore 4-burner LP Gas Grill and Weber Genesis 3-burner LP Gas Grill and then take a look at all the outdoor dining sets, patio umbrellas, benches, loveseats and more great outdoor patio furniture.

You can also get an extra $20 off purchases of $200 or more (Patio and grills). Just use our Sears coupon and your discount will be applied when you check out. But you better hurry – this discount is only valid until May 15, 2011!

With Sears.com, you’ll definitely start off the season the right way!

How to Deep-Fry a Turkey

brock — Thu, 11 Nov 2010 17:48:37 +0000

Deep-frying a turkey is serious business and has led to more than one fire. That’s definitely not how you want your Thanksgiving remembered. You are using a whole lot of oil, adding fire and throwing a giant bird into the mix, so for the love of Pete, don’t start drinking until AFTER the bird is cooked.

You are going to need the tools of the trade to properly fry a turkey. The easiest thing to do is actually purchase a turkey fryer. These self-contained fryers contain everything you need to fry the turkey, but for the sake those who don’t want to shell out the bucks for a one-time turkey fry, we’ll go the basic route.

You will need a LARGE cooking pot (one that can hold a turkey and several gallons of oil). You will need a thermometer for the meat and the oil, a propane tank and burner, a small turkey (less than 15 pounds) and seasoning or marinade. You will also need a frying basket or hook big enough to handle the turkey. You might also want to keep a fire extinguisher nearby. If a fire does erupt, DO NOT use water. It’s an oil fire, so water will just spread it around.

Take the pot, stick in the turkey and add water until it’s about two inches above the turkey. Take out the turkey and measure how much water is in the pot. This is how much oil you will need to cook the turkey. Pour out the water and dry the inside of the pot thoroughly.

Frying should be done outside in a flat, open area, preferably nowhere near anything flammable. Put the oil in the pot, place the burner under it and begin heating the oil. While the oil is heating, you should be patting down the bird to remove any moisture. Moisture + hot oil = fire. Inject the marinade into the meat and add any outside seasoning rub that you want.

When the oil reaches 325 degrees Fahrenheit, place the turkey in the basket or on the hook and lower it into the oil. Any moisture on or even in the turkey will cause the oil to splatter, and that can cause injury. So, be very careful lowering the turkey into the fryer.

It takes about three minutes per pound to fry a turkey, and the internal turkey temperature should be about 180 degrees. Once again, be careful taking out the turkey, and enjoy a perfectly fried and juicy bird.

Frying a turkey can be a fun and enjoyable experience, but only if it is done safely. I cannot stress how important it is to take turkey frying seriously. If you don’t, it could end with a trip to the emergency room.

Image Source: flickr.com/photos/nukeit1/66530600

Four Tips to Save Money on Summer Items

jessi — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 16:59:23 +0000

Have you been craving some new patio furniture or a grill with all the manly frills? Get in the shopping frame of mind. Now that stores, both physical and online, are gearing up for the “Back to School” season, they’re trying to create space and the summer goods are starting to be go on clearance.

Start looking around for good deals on big ticket items now. Even if the particular item you’re looking for hasn’t been red-tagged yet, it will be soon. You can save a load of cash by buying “out of season.”

Many shoppers wait for their big tax refunds, and buy summer items in the spring, sometimes spending two or three times what they’d spend mid-summer. You might not have a ton of time to use these items before autumn sets in this year, but you’ll be all set for next season.

Here are some thrifty tips to get more bang for your buck:

Cruise the Internet: Check out your favorite stores online once a week. Sales are constantly changing and if you’re vigilant, you’ll be surprised by the deals you’ll find. Sometimes you can even score free shipping either to your house or to a store near you. Also take advantage of coupons and comparison shopping websites (like Smarter!)

Window shop: When you’re at the store for something mundane, browse other aisles. Many big box stores have clearance end-caps or aisles tucked away all over the place. You might come up lucky or get an idea of something you’d really like to grab when you have a little more dough in your purse. Check out the garden center, too. Good deals have a way of hiding out there, because plants aren’t selling out, so they have extra space that the store can‘t afford to waste. You never know what you’ll find out there.

Don’t forget grocery stores: Most grocery stores have a seasonal aisle. Their summer gear can range from plastic tumblers to grills. Because they have limited space for seasonal items, they clearance things rather frequently. Check it out on your weekly shopping trips.

Ask questions: If you spot a must-have item that’s not on sale or has a sale price that’s still a touch too high, pull an employee aside and ask when the price will be lowered. They won’t mind a chance at conversation and you could save yourself some big bucks by planning ahead. Also, ask if the online price is lower. Often times, you can get even better deals on the Web, because they need space in their warehouse. By now, big stores are packing in Christmas shipments.

Put feelers out: Tell your friends what you’re looking for. More shoppers in a variety of areas find better deals. Swap must-have needs. “I’ll keep an eye out for a large Igloo cooler on wheels, if you’ll look at

If you’re a thrifty shopper, you can really save big on hot items mid-summer. Keep your eyes peeled for good deals and you’ll update your patio in time to hold a smashing Labor Day soiree.

Image Source: flickr.com/photos/richardberg/255295720

Reclaim Your Backyard!

brendan — Tue, 13 Apr 2010 16:38:09 +0000

So the snow has melted, and you are looking forward to finally being able to use your deck, patio, porch space, and backyard. You’re not alone. Why don’t you take this opportunity to clear out the old junk and use some of the following ideas to enjoy the outdoors all spring and summer long?

Redo the Front Porch: The Country Classic

Seating: Think classic pine or wicker rocking chairs with a matching wooden loveseat and simple pine or wicker table. Don’t forget the lanterns or the mosquito candles. You can always add some outdoor lamps for your evening card games.

Spruce up the Patio & Grill. Take the time to grill your dinner outside. It’s healthy, easy, and festive. Stock up on your bbq supplies.

If you don’t have any yet, consider getting some outdoor eating area. There are so many things you can do with your table arrangement. You can go for a classic table and umbrella combination, though these tend to not seat that many people, which is a minus if you ever do any entertaining. You could go with a larger square table that will fit more seating, and cover it with a sun shade or standalone patio umbrella. Or, if you live in a humid, buggy area, you may just want to go for a netted tent.

For by the pool, spring for some new lounge chairs. You know your old ones are in need of replacement. I prefer cedar, though you can go with anything from canvas to wicker.

Deck lighting can go several different ways. Of course you are familiar with path lighting, but you can always hang Japanese lanterns overhead on your porch or patio to give your backyard a festive air. You can also recreate your living room outdoors, complete with outdoor floor and table lamps.

Whatever you decide to do, make sure that you’ll use it. That is the point after all. Don’t buy new chaises if you won’t go tanning. It is, however, completely acceptable to buy things that will lure you back outside. Perhaps my favorite item in this category is an outdoor telescope. There’s nothing like a little stargazing on a warm spring evening. Also excellent is an outdoor fire pit. Nothing says summer is coming like some s’mores. Also: get a hammock. It’s never a bad decision.

Let me know what you do with your backyard! Until tomrrow, happy designing!

Image Source: flickr.com/photos/exalthim/337922724

Get Creative on a Budget: Throw a Valentine’s Day Party

colleen — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 18:19:13 +0000

We all want to save a little money during the holiday season, and if you’re anywhere north of Philadelphia and it’s sub 10 degrees outside, you probably want to stay inside as much as possible. Even walking a few blocks to the corner market, or struggling to unfreeze your car lock takes too much effort and risks hypothermia. So how are you supposed to celebrate a sexy holiday like Valentine’s Day when the winter and your budget are keeping you holed up at home? Pair up with a few friends this holiday season and throw yourselves a Valentine’s Day party!

If you are lucky enough to be living in the tropics, maybe some spicy outdoor furniture or garden decor sprucing is what you’ll need: maybe a little barbecue or S’mores around a fireplace? If you’re getting hit hard with the weather of winter, maybe some standard indoor party decorations are better. No matter what, make sure you have the essentials: sexy decadent desserts and flirty drinks. Try out some of the Food Network’s holiday recipes. By splitting the cost with friends, you shouldn’t have to worry about the cost!

Image Source: flickr.com/photos/ciana13/2294688119

Do it Yourself: Grilling a Healthy Meal

colleen — Mon, 18 Jan 2010 15:00:39 +0000

I heard a great New Year’s resolution this year: make home dinners more enjoyable. The woman thought that by vowing to make home dinners more enjoyable, she would cook more often for her family and would have fun again in the kitchen. We all want to make our families healthy meals without slaving away, so make sure that you give yourself the gift of some quality tools: try a grill!

Grilling is not just for the summer: with small, flame-less grills that can be used inside the house, you can whip up a panini or grill some burgers in no time. You can use a grill outdoors in the wintertime too: this can bring a fresh and tasty reminder of summer to your frostbitten tastebuds. What’s great about grills is that you can prepare all of the foods on one cooking surface: grill some corn on the cob or veggie kabobs next to some burgers or steaks. Throw a little barbeque sauce or delicious marinade to make the meal spicy. Everyone will be excited by this meal!

Image Source: flickr.com/photos/rysac1/3579027232

Discount Table Linens for Outdoor Parties

colleen — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 18:31:55 +0000

It’s almost time for the 4th of July, and that means picnics, barbeques, and the beginning of a lot of outdoor parties for the rest of the summer. Make sure you have all the necessities, such as outdoor patio furniture, lounge chairs, rocking chairs on the front and back porch, trash cans, recycling bins, and umbrellas to shield your friends and family from the inclement weather patterns. But once all of the brawn of the outdoor party is obtained, it’s time for a little finesse. Tiki torches to wield off mosquitoes and flies are essential later in the summer, if not already. Maybe some nice ropes of lighting around the patio or porch railing? Think classic for general use, with white lights and wood design, but for the 4th you can go a little overboard in the patriotism of red, white and blue. Smarter.com features some special deals on discount tablecloths to get your family ready for the holiday and the rest of the season: look for durable fabrics that can withstand rain and heat, and pick a color that won’t show stains easily.

Top choices in Table Linen Savings:

Jason Majestic Pineapple Placemats: Set of 4 for $39.50.

Seamless 132″ White Rounded Tablecloth on sale on eBay for only $39.00, this 100% polyester tablecloth will protect your table elegantly and tastefully, and will be the perfect backdrop for any red and blue accessories for this Saturday’s party!

Find at Smarter.com: Shop for more affordable tablecloths and placemats.

Check Out These Garden Bargains

colleen — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 20:53:53 +0000

Why look for one bargain when this website does it all for you? GardenBargainsOnline.com lists all the best, up-to-date bargains to keep your garden fresh and save you money at the same time! Look no further than their easy-to-use interface, which hosts tried-and-true brands as well as new ones to add to your network of garden suppliers.

The easy to use interface of GardenBargainsOnline.com hosts product reviews, garden articles and tips for going green as well as the latest coupons, discounts and special offers.

Here are some bargains you can’t afford to miss:

10% off all seasonal products from Arbico Organics Online. This is a great place for you to stock up on all-natural fertilizer or bug repellent for your garden, like the McGeary Organics Side Dress Fertilizer 8-1-1 – Large Jug, cut down from $19.95 to the sweet deal price of $17.80. This product is recommended especially for corn or lawns. Natural fertilizer helps your lawn look especially healthy, and it won’t harm your pets or children like artificial fertilizers might.

Another great product you don’t want to miss is the Mosquito Barrier- 1 Quart. It may not be mosquito season just yet, but it’s always good to be preventative. You will be thanking yourself later for investing in this long-lasting and affordable product. The application lasts for up to 4 weeks, knocked down to the stellar price of $23.50.

The other great bargain you don’t want to miss is happening at Plow & Hearth.com. Make sure you click on the red-highlighted “Outlet” tab on right side of the top banner–that’s where all the deals are, and they are unmissable! Everything from Adirondack chairs to bird feeders to chalkboard organizers are right here, and all at bargain price!

Some highlights:

Bamboo Serveware, hand-crafted and eco-friendly, bamboo plates are available for $5.99, cut down from original $12.99 price. Unfortunately the salad bowl and servers shown in the photo are no longer available–but if you’re a savvy shopper, I’m sure you can find a complimentary salad bowl for the bamboo plates at bargain price!

Best of luck with your bargain hunting! Remember, for the best deals the product may not be completely in stock, (like the bamboo serveware) but if you’re a savvy shopper, finding the perfect complimentary assemblage of items is all part of the fun!

Enjoy!

Find at Smarter.com: Shop for more bamboo dinnerware and fertilizer.

Summertime, and the Grilling’s Easy

colleen — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 17:05:26 +0000

It would not be summer without the promise of family barbeques, the smell of the all-day smoker grill, and the juicy taste of that perfectly blackened steak or burger. While no family should be without a household grill, there are two additional trends this year to make your summer even more memorable: Green grilling and portable grills.

Green grilling starts, just like every good grilling experience, with the perfect food selection. While you may pride yourself on buying the best cheeses and organic tomatoes, try going green this year by shopping at local farmer’s markets for some fresh, tasty produce, or maybe even try growing some vegetables of your own. Swap lighter fluid for charcoal and chips. Start a compost heap in the backyard instead of throwing away the leftover veggies. It is always a good idea to use ceramic or reusable dishes and silverware for barbeques and for general meals to eliminate waste. All these little things do add up.

The second trend in grilling that can not be overlooked for the summer are portable grills! While it is always fine to have the annual barbeque in the backyard, why not change it up and bring the grill to a local park or beach? Your family will love the change of scenery, and it will make for some great pictures and even some new food selections. If you are going to grill by the sea, try some tuna steak or shrimp on the grill. Wrap the tuna in some aluminum foil (recycled, if you can!) and put the shrimp on a kabob for a nice seafood taste.

Best portable grills on the market: European Outdoor Chef City Grill ($149.95). It is small and lightweight, and boosts superior heat distribution that gives it enough firepower (excuse the pun!) to sear a steak! One downside, the grill does not come with connected side tables or handles.

Don’t miss the special Father’s Day sale going on right now for the Weber Q 220 Portable LP Gas Grill: If you decide to puchase it from RAC-Enterprise before June 10, 2009 you will get almost a $79.02 discount! A beautiful, compact design with foldable side tables, built-in thermometer and spacious grill top for only $199.98.

Remember, grilling is all about variety. Change up family favorites with a new marinade, or try kabobs instead of the traditional burgers and dogs. Invite the family on an outdoor picnic and really get the fun started!

Find at Smarter.com: Shop for more portable grills.

Outdoor Cooking Deal – Summer Fun – Discount Grill Accessories

evette — Fri, 01 Aug 2008 18:24:09 +0000

Summer is winding down, but that doesn’t mean backyard boogies should end! One of the few family fun time traditions we partake in at my parentals abode is Lobster Sundays.

This began because my Dad was too cheap to pay for fresh seafood for all of us. The solution was simple. Visit our local Asian market where they sell fresh crabs and lobsters, buy our own and make our own mini-seafood fiesta at home.

Again my Dad “borrowed” our neighbor Lou’s lobster cooking kit. We learned the hard way that when you drop a LIVING lobster into scalding hot water, well life saving instincts kick in and the little bugger made a leap for his life! For my Dad’s birthday I decided to buy him his very own kit, (also so he could finally return Lou’s! – No wonder our neighbors hate us)

There is currently a great deal at BarbequeGrillsandMore.com on this Bayou Classic Fryer Kit!

This 32 Quart Turkey Fryer Kit is perfect for outdoor cooking! Now you might wonder, Michelle I thought you said “LOBSTER” to which I answer: “Well duh! You can use it as a Turkey fryer as the name implies or you could cook fresh seafood like I mentioned.” Of course boil water not oil for the seafood option. Either way it’s a great deal and an awesome kit for any outdoor cooking you have in store for warm summer nights.

Features:

* 32 quart stainless steel stockpot
* Vented lid
* Perforated steam/boil basket
* Perforated poultry rack/grab hook
* 12″ thermometer 50° F – 750° F
* 1 oz. trial seasoning injector
* 3-piece detachable skewer set
* 36″ stainless braided hose
* 10 PSI adjustable regulator
* Black steel outdoor patio stove

Price:

Sale $125 (Originally $~~178.57~~) You Save $53.57 (30%)

If you want to give the Bayou Classic Kit a try, click here!

Bonus: Hassle Free Returns and Free Shipping on all Orders!