Whether you’re gearing up for an Alaskan cruise, attending a conference or just dropping by for a movie in IMAX 3D, Vancouver’s Canada Place is where you want to be.

Stay just steps from this waterfront hotspot when you book a Vancouver hotel near Canada Place.  Make your reservations through Orbitz to land the guaranteed lowest rate online.  Plus, take an additional 10% off the cost of your hotel stay with Orbitz coupons!

Days Inn Vancouver Downtown

• Coffeemaker, safe, wireless internet & umbrellas in every room
• Free shuttle service around the downtown area
• About a 5-minute walk from Canada Place

Fairmont Waterfront Vancouver

• Luxurious guest accommodations feature marble bathrooms, climate control & opening windows
• Extensive fitness facilities with heated outdoor pool
• Adjacent to Canada Place

Pan Pacific Vancouver

• Flat screen TV, marble bathroom, private bar & sweeping views of the city, harbour or mountains
• Full spa treatments available, plus access to the gorgeous outdoor pool
• Located in Canada Place

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32nd Annual Vancouver Folk Music Festival (July 17th to 19th)

No festival thrives for 32 years unless it draws big performers and bigger crowds.  This year’s Vancouver Folk Fest promises to live up to its proud past, with over 70 hours of music across 8 outdoor stages.  Visit Jericho Beach Park for 2 days and 3 evenings of songs, poetry, dancing and more.

I love it when tips on saving money also help you save the planet! Hurray for dual-purpose tips! Thanks to Bekah of Motherhood Moment, a blog with a collection of tips and tricks to save money, time and the environment. I hope you enjoy! Fi

Everyone knows that going green is a good thing, but a lot of times it’s expensive to look for all organic and natural products. There are a lot of ways to save money while you’re saving the environment – bonus for your pocketbook and for our planet! Most of these are very easy to implement as well, and require very little adjustment or effort.

Replace incandescent bulbs with CFLs. It is true that they have mercury, but the health risks are minimal – even if the bulb breaks. Plus, they can be easily recycled. You’ll save about $3 per year per bulb, even with the higher cost at the outset.

Recycle aggressively. There are a lot of things that can be recycled with very little effort, including plastics besides #1 and #2, shoes, styrofoam, and much more. Earth911.com provides a great place to start looking for recycling things in your area. This can help you cut down your garbage service to a lower volume, which can save $10 a month or more depending on your service cost.

Compost, especially if you garden. You’ll save money on garbage disposal and on fertilizers for the garden. Setting up a rain barrel will save on your water bill (although water isn’t expensive in most places, this is still a worthwhile savings and a savings of natural resources).

Line dry your clothes. Depending on your dryer and energy costs, you’ll save $50-$100 per year on average. Wash clothes in cold water. It reduces fading and energy use.

Please come back tomorrow for part II of Saving “Green”!

Losing weight shouldn’t feel like pulling teeth. It also shouldn’t feel like the only thing that’s getting lighter is your wallet.

With the help of NutriSystem, get on a diet plan that involves delicious, convenient, and affordable meals delivered right to your door. And for a limited time only, take advantage of the NutriSystem coupons to get 3 free weeks of food when you choose Auto Delivery!

Browse the Success Stories section and see how tons of people just like you used NutriSystem to help them lose 20 to over 100 pounds! The results are remarkable, and you’ll see both women and men of all ages.

Why Does NutriSystem Work?

There are over 170 different weight-loss meals to choose from, so you’ll never be stuck eating the same thing day after day, week after week. Plus, each meal is high in fiber. Not only is that vital for optimal health, but fiber keeps you feeling fuller for longer.

What’s even better is that you won’t have to sacrifice those things you love to eat – like Fettucine Alfredo, chocolate cake, and pizza! It might even be the tastiest diet you’ve ever been on.

Use your free NutriSystem coupons today, and get on the track to a healthy lifestyle that makes you feel and look sensational!

Unfortunately, I can’t make laundry fun. But I’m very pleased to introduce Rachel of Our Frugal Experiment, a blog dedicated to helping you take baby frugal steps. She’s got some awesome advice on being greener (money-savvy and environmentally friendly) in the laundry room!  -Fi

I don’t have a laundry room. It’s a laundry closet. I discovered that even in a small space I could make changes.

1. Clean out lint trap. It keeps your dryer efficient and can prevent a possible house fire. Dryer sheets can leave an invisible layer of residue across the mesh in your lint trap. This can cause your dryer to run less efficiently and have a shorter life. Just use a toothbrush and some soap and it should clean it right up.

2. Don’t use dryer sheets or make your own. I never use dryer sheets. But if you use them a simple way to make one is soak a washcloth in fabric softener. Lay it flat and let it dry completely before you add it to your load. You can use it anywhere between 8-12 times!

3. Make Your Own Fabric Softener. This is simple.

1. Start running water into your washer
2. Put in 1/2 – 1 cup of baking soda
3. Add clothes and detergent
4. Pour about 1/4 cup white vinegar into a Downy ball & put it on top of the laundry

4. Hang your clothes to dry. This is a great energy saver. We don’t have much of a yard, so my husband and father-in-law hung a clothes line right over the washer and dryer. Now I try to hang everything, except for towels. If you have an inside line for a larger family, you may just hang some clothes, but you will be able to do this year-round.

5. Make Your Own Detergent. A friend of mine gave me a recipe for detergent and a few samples. It worked great, it’s cheap, lasts for a long time, and has no harmful chemicals. Here are the details:

• 12 cups Borax
• 8 cups baking soda
• 8 cups grated ivory soap (about 9 bars)
• 8 cups super washing soda

1. Mix together ingredients very well and crush all clumps
2. Only use 1/8 cup (about 2 Tbs) per load (will not suds-up or bubble)

Tips:
Freeze soap before grating to make it a little easier & faster
Use 1/4 c. white vinegar as a fabric softener in the rinse cycle

These are things that I have found to be effective. Do you have any other ideas to add to my list? I would love to hear about it!

Boston is home to the original House of Blues, but the chain’s flagship club moved to an upgraded venue in February 2009.  The bigger-and-badder House of Blues stretches 50,000 square feet and features VIP boxes!

If you’re gearing up to see a show at Boston’s premier venue, save money by booking a Boston hotel near House of Blues.  Party as hard as you like – your hotel’s just blocks away!

Get the guaranteed lowest rate online by making your reservations through Orbitz.  And take an additional 10% off the cost of your stay with Orbitz coupons.

Howard Johnson Inn Fenway Park Boston

• Cable TV, internet, coffeemaker & hair dryer in all rooms
• Outdoor pool
• Parking available on-site
• 5-minute walk from the House of Blues

Hilton Boston Back Bay

• Luxury accommodations with marble bathrooms, spa-style amenities, coffeemaker & on-demand movies
• 24-hour indoor pool
• Room service available
• About 1 mile to the House of Blues

The Midtown Hotel Boston

• Affordable rooms with AC, hair dryer, coffeemaker & cable TV
• Outdoor pool
• On-site parking
• Only 1.5 miles from the House of Blues

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Tracy Chapman at Boston House of Blues (July 31st)

She came up singing at coffee houses in Cambridge, and now Tracy Chapman’s returning to the Boston area!  See her soulful stage presence and listen for classics like “Fast Car” and “Give Me One Reason.”

Missing some of Tracy’s albums?  Not a problem – check out her entire discography on Amazon.com.  Shop for all of her CDs, from her critically acclaimed debut all the way to her latest studio album.  Get FREE Super Saver Shipping on orders $25 and over with Amazon.com coupons!

Confession time! I’m a former mall rat – my best friend and I would comb every store for trendy clothes at least twice a week. I swear we even knew when they moved shelves a few feet over! But that was then. This is now. Online shopping is the way of the future…and you can get some of the best discounts! Plus you’ll never have to wait in line for a cashier.

Try this on for size – free Urban Outfitters coupons. Take a whopping 10% off your order until June 30! Oh, lookie, it fits your wallet like a dream!

Start building your cute summer wardrobe with these key pieces, ladies:

• Nom de Plume YaYa Sweetheart Dress - This versatile solid dress in your choice of purple or yellow looks fantastic alone or under a blazer
• Silence & Noise Bodysuit Tee - For an elongating effect that highlights those feminine curves, pair this with high-waisted skirts
• Kimchi Blue Ruffle Ballet - Make ballet flats do a pirouette with sweet ruffle detailing for a look that’s anything but ordinary

The men out there should look into these:

• Volcom Bob Barker Shorts - The style is right & the price is right for these plaid Bermuda shorts
• Paint Splatter Plimsoll - Bring out your inner abstract artist with these unique canvas shoes that have flicks of paint
• Levi’s 510 Rigid Super Skinny Jean - Get the edgy, hipster look with an industrial, dark color

Wake up your wardrobe this season. Shop at Urban Outfitters – your source for trendsetting fashion!

LA is the perfect setting for baseball.  With plenty of sunshine and a beautiful stadium right downtown, Los Angeles is a baseball fan’s paradise.

Whether you’re a visiting Dodger fan or you’re following your favorite team to the city, save some cash by booking a Los Angeles hotel near Dodger Stadium through Orbitz.  You get the guaranteed lowest rate online every time you travel.

Plus, now you can save even more.  Take an additional 10% off the cost of your stay with Orbitz coupons!

Best Western Dragon Gate Inn Los Angeles

• Premium cable TV, refrigerator, hair dryer & internet access
• Underground parking available
• Around the corner from Dodger Stadium

Comfort Inn Los Angeles

• All rooms feature microwave, fridge, climate control, coffeemaker & safe
• Indoor parking on-site
• Just 1 mile from Dodger Stadium

Kawada Hotel Los Angeles

• Rooms offer kitchenette, internet & electronic key card locks
• Blocks from Civic Center station
• Dodger Stadium only 2 miles away

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Dodger Baseball (Now until the Fall)

This is what you came to see – the LA Dodgers on the diamond!  It’s shaping up to be an exciting season for the Dodgers, so check out the summer schedule, pick a few games to see, and plan your trip.

Once you know which games you want to watch, visit RazorGator to get your tickets for less.  Get $20 off $125 or more with RazorGator coupons!  And if you’re looking for Dodgers gear, stock up on hats and jerseys at Eastbay.  Get 20% off with Eastbay coupons!

Giving gifts can sometimes give you a headache. Did you get the right size? Is it the color (s)he likes? Did you pick the right edition? The Fruit Company makes it so much easier to please anyone. Choose from an extensive array of delicious fresh premium fruit baskets!

And if you place your order by June 30, be sure to use The Fruit Company coupons – they’re absolutely free, and you’ll get 15% off your order!

You’re the Apple of My Eye

Honeycrisp Apples are always a favorite because of their sweet flavor and undeniable crunch. These ones are grown in the Hood River Valley with volcanic soil so rich, it’s no wonder these apples are so juicy!

I’ll Be Blue without You

Who doesn’t love the taste of blueberries? I love sprinkling them on cold cereal or just eating them plain. But for something new, try the Chocolate Covered Blueberries. They even come in a woven-reed basket for easier gifting!

Show Your Navel

Seedless Navel Oranges round out any fruit salad with just the right amount of sweetness. While there’s the whole debate about whether you should slice or peel them, there’s one thing we can all agree on – they’re downright yummy!

Shop today at The Fruit Company with your free coupons, and give the gift of health!