Greeting cards (2 for $1)
Gift bags
Pregnancy tests
Diaper disposal bags
Multi-purpose lighters
Seasonal decorations & party supplies

How about you?

Frosties and animals, two of my most favorite things From the SPCA blog:

For the second year in a row, our wonderful adoption partner Wendy’s has launched their key tag fundraising campaign to benefit the Richmond SPCA. Participating Wendy’s locations and our Lora Robins Gift Shop are selling $1 key tags good for a chocolate or vanilla Jr. Frosty with every Wendy’s food purchase through December 31, 2010. All proceeds from the sale of the key tags go directly to the Richmond SPCA to help homeless animals! Get yours today!

Welcome to the first edition of Home Grown Deals, highlighting the sales & specials of local businesses!

It’s First Thursdays in Carytown tonight. Shops stay open later, and many offer special discounts. Unfortunately, the Carytown website doesn’t get updated to show businesses doing specials; you have to go store by store. ShopTalk has the report on Eurotrash, which is giving 25% off one spring item. (3009 W. Cary St., Richmond, VA 23221). Pink will also be offering 30% off selected flats (3158 W Cary St)

Get your deal fix at children’s consignment sales this weekend: Ring Around the Rosy (probably my favorite; it’s HUGE) opens to the public tomorrow, and runs weekends through the end of March. Fancy Pants Richmond is tomorrow and Saturday, and Richmond Moms of Multiples is Saturday morning.

Megan also posted about Frances Kahn’s Consolidation Sale, starting today and running through Sunday. Designer clothes up to 90% off (6229B River Road, Richmond, VA 23229)

Ben Franklin’s 6-Day Sale Thursday through Tuesday – $1.44 Tshirts, $1 frames, and FICUS! ($29.94)

The Cordial Cricket is having a Mom’s Morning Out sale next Wednesday morning from 9:30-11:30 for mothers of preschoolers. Receive 15% off and free coffee & donuts, plus the store will be giving a donation to the preschool with most participation. (3524 Festival Park Plaza, Chester, Virginia 23831)

On the subject of shopping locally, mark your calendars for the weekend of March 20-21. Locally Owned Richmond, Saturday Stroll, and Shop RVA will be kicking off campaigns, and I’m sure there will be some interesting events and promotions then, and in the upcoming months.

I expect to have more tips through the weekend, and will post in the comments. Please share if you know about a local business having a sale!

Thanks Rachel for passing this along!

Make your appointment now for Spa Days next week, March 8-14. $50 treatments (such as facials, manicures/pedicures, and Swedish massages) are available at a number of local spas, including Nesbit, La Bella Donna, Face Works, Ava’s, and Aura at Hilton.

There is also a similar Spa Week coming up April 12-18th, offering $50 treatments. Mark your calendar for March 15th to check for local participants and make your appointment (or just call the spas now to ask if they are participating!).

I hear about dozens of deals a day. Out of respect to everyone’s clogged inboxes/Facebook pages/Twitter feeds, I generally try to limit the bargains I share to the very best of the best, from which a lot of folks might benefit.

But all the assorted deals like “20% off curtains” deserve a home too, and Home-Grown Deals is my answer, as well as my way of supporting Locally Owned Richmond. The objective is to provide a venue for locally owned businesses to share special sales and discounts with Richmond.

Every Thursday, I’ll post all the RVA good stuff with very minimal gatekeeping. All I ask is that businesses be Richmond-owned (local franchises OK by me) and the sales be legitimate (I still reserve the right to publish at my discretion).

If you are a Richmond business having a sale, special, contest, giveaway, etc., please drop me an email (richmondbargains at gmail dot com) by Wednesday evening, including sale particulars and address of your website or Facebook page. Weekly or ongoing deals are also welcome, but will just be posted once. I’ll also contribute any intel I’ve garnered from my bargain sources.

And if there’s a special sale you’d like to have featured, contact me about weekly sponsor opportunities!

Stony Point Gap sale Friday through Sunday – All adult men’s and women’s tops (regular priced AND sale) will be “Buy one, get one free.” (Does not include coats, jackets or blazers) There’s also a coupon for 20% off, good at all locations through Saturday

Huge sale at Dillard’s today through Saturday – All clearance items (many currently 70% off) will be an extra 40% off lowest marked price. Thank you Summer for the tip!

Once Upon a Child West End has moved, with Grand Opening specials this Saturday – 20% off entire stock of gently used apparel, drawing for giveaways held every hour and visits from Fairy Tale characters. (The 20% discount also in effect at the Midlothian location)

9127 W. Broad St
Tel 346-5552
TJ MAXX Shopping Center

50% Off at the Clothes Rack this Friday & Saturday. Save on everything in the store except: White Tags (Hot Label) at Cary Street, Furniture at Stratford Hills (2618 W. Cary St., 6780 Forest Hill Ave.)

Old Navy $5 graphic tees for the family today through Sunday

Ruby Tuesday – Buy One, Get One Free entrees or 25% off entire check, valid through March 3

Tomorrow is National Pancake Day!

Join IHOP to celebrate National Pancake Day on Tuesday, February 23, 2010. From 7 a.m. to 10 p.m., we’ll give you one free short stack (three) of our famous buttermilk pancakes. All we ask is that you consider making a donation to support local children’s hospitals through Children’s Miracle Network, or other local charities.

9820 W. Broad Street
GLEN ALLEN, VA 23060-4171
804-346 5424

7714 Midlothian Turnpike
RICHMOND, VA 23235-5226
804-327 1650

7401 Sandy Lane
MECHANICSVILLE, VA 23111-3533
804-730 5764

12321 Chattanooga Plz
MIDLOTHIAN, VA 23112-4867
804-763 4199

12251 Bermuda Crossroad Ln
CHESTER, VA 23831-2353
804-768 9077

A relatively new option for family discount dining in Richmond: KidsDineFree.net

KidsDineFree.net is the fun, affordable way for families to eat out. Simply use the card and receive one free kid’s meal with every purchased full price entrée. The more you eat out, the more you save!

The $19.95 fee gets you a card valid for 3 months of free kids meals for a child 11 or under (Each child must have their own card).

If your family goes out to eat frequently, this could be a good deal. A few factors to consider in your cost-benefit analysis:

Do you dine at the participating restaurants? I counted over 150 in the greater Richmond area, so there are a lot of options.

Could your child dine free anyway? Many restaurants have promos for kids to eat free certain nights when an adult meal is purchased (Some examples)

Do you have other coupons or discounts for the restaurant? Since the adult meal has to be full-price for free kids meal to apply, you might lose the benefit of a “Buy one meal, get one free” Entertainment book coupon, for instance.

With the exception of Entertainment books (which I haven’t bought this year!), I’m always reluctant to pay for a discount. But if you decide it will save your family money, follow KidsDineFree on Facebook to hear about $5 or $10 off discount codes.

Free Pretzel Day – On Saturday, February 20, from 10am to 3pm, enjoy a free original or cinnamon pretzel at any Auntie Anne’s location. (In Richmond- Short Pump Town Center and Chesterfield Towne Center)

Busch Gardens is launching a new Twitter account: BuschGardens_VA that will share deals and discounts. Become a follower by 3/1 to be entered to win two Platinum passes, which includes entry to all locations and a free flight on Southwest to visit one!

Ben Franklin 4-Day Sale: Get big jar Yankee Candles “Buy One, Get One Free” (reg $24.99), and vine wreaths or hot glue guns for under $1.

Whole Foods Short Pump One-Day Sale (Friday only): Kombucha is buy one, get one free ($3.29 ea), New York Strip Steaks $9.99/lb

Printable coupons:

Free Fresco Taco at Taco Bell (via Money Saving Mom)

Free cup of Seattle’s Best coffee at Borders (with free Borders Rewards Membership)

20% off your purchase at Big Lots on Sunday between 5 and 9 pm

$10 off $25 purchase at JCPenney, expires 2/27

Kate Hall of Richmondmom.com runs a great resource for local mommies, including discounts available with the 2010 Savvy Saver Card. Sign up online and print the page (‘10 cards aren’t printed yet) to get your savings at local retailers, from now until until December 31, 2010.

There are a ton of offers, but here are some of my favorites:

20% off at Great Wolf Lodge’s lowest room rates and spa ONLY using the discount on the Richmondmom.com Savvy Saver card.

The Science Museum of Virginia is an amazing world of science, wildlife, the human body—and more, all under one roof. And of course, let’s not forget the Imax Theatre. It’s just too much to experience in one day! Buy One, Get One Free Friday

After a long day of working and raising kids (ok, those things are one-and-the-same) every mama needs a good glass of vino. We’ve partnered with the brand-new Wine Loft Richmond to offer 20% off Mom’s Nights Out with the Savvy Saver Card! [Note: These are Mondays, not sure if it's every Monday]

Theatre IV is known for their incredible shows for kids (of all ages!) One 1/2 price child’s ticket for each show in 2009-2010 Season. Limit one 1/2 child’s ticket per show. Not valid with any other offer.