Looking for a baby stroller? Have a friend who’s looking as well? Netherlands-based stroller company Mutsy is giving away an Easy Rider stroller (the company’s lightweight, basic model; normally $169) when you buy a 4 Rider or 4 Rider Light (more elaborate models, $599 and $569, respectively). The fine print: to get the free Easy Rider, you need to have both strollers in your shopping cart at the same time, have them shipped to the same address, and use the code “freerider12” (case sensitive) at checkout. The offer ends May 31st. Find more details here.

If you're looking to spruce up your wardrobe -- or just get out with the family -- Wellesley’s Linden Square will be a good place to be on Saturday. There will be activities including free face painting and music for kids and a sidewalk sale with lots of good deals from participating stores. Here's a rundown:

--Ceri will have tops, pants, dresses priced at $25-$100 (originally $100-$500);
--Staccato will take up to 40% off clothing and accessories;
--Kenzie Kids/K*Girl will be starting its spring clearance sale with up to 60% off on select items;
--National Jean Company will be offering 25 percent off storewide;
--Sara Campbell will have spring items and new samples marked down up to 50 percent;
--Salon Maleah will offer 20% off all products;
--Magic Beans will have clearance baby gear and toys marked down up to 50 percent.

Happy shopping!

If you're still wondering what to get mom for Mother's Day, you might do well to get advice straight from the source. Plum District, a flash-sale site powered by moms around the country who scout out good deals, has discounts of up to 80 percent on everything from jewelry and beauty products to kids' decor to artisan wine and vacation packages. Deals running right now include a 16-by-20 canvas print of a favorite photo for $27 (normally $87), and an 8-piece mineral makeup set from Bellapierre for $29 (worth $150). Deals last up to 6 days.

It may be off-season, but it is Patriots' Day -- and a good time to pick up a new piece of Pats wear. The Patriots ProShop website has most apparel and gifts at 20 percent off through tomorrow. Shirts, caps, photo frames, novelty items (like the toaster, at left). Use the code "Save2012" at checkout.

Stellabella Toys is running its semiannual sale through Sunday. Games, dolls, builder kits, art supplies, puppets, and more are marked down 20 percent. (Lego, Playmobil, Stokke, and Ergo items excluded.) Sale is in-store only; find locations here.

There will be plenty of good bargains in Andover tomorrow and Saturday, as many of the downtown shops band together for the "Andover Boutique Blowout." Participants include Lyn Evans Potpourri Designs, Izzy’s Emporium, Chic Consignment Closet, Dresscode, and First Date Boutique; find the complete list here. A pop-up boutique both days at 44 Main Street will feature additional good deals from some of retailers (along with Wellesley’s Kenzie Kids and K Girl). Downtown restaurants including Andolini’s, Yella, and LaRosa’s will be offering special menus or discounts throughout the weekend.

If you’re looking to prune the kids’ closets with spring around the corner -- or could just use some clothes and gear —- mark your calendar for next week’s Children’s Drop & Shop consignment event and sale in Manchester. From Monday (the 12th) until Wednesday (the 14th) at 2 p.m., you’ll be able to drop off gently worn spring and summer kids’ (and maternity) clothing, strollers, sports gear, furniture, and more. (First, see the event website for a list of accepted items and instructions for registering as a consignor and entering items into the online system; there is a $5-consignors’ fee.) The sale with all the consigned items happens next Friday through Sunday (March 16th-18th) and is open to all, whether or not you’ve consigned. Both the drop-off and sale happen at Brookwood School, One Brookwood Rd., Manchester. For more information, see the website, call 978-290-2336, or e-mail info@childrensdropandshop.com.

Looking for something the whole family can do over school vacation this week? Bina Farm is offering 45-minute weekday horse-riding sessions (normally $65) at its Sherborn location. The sessions support the farm's programs for kids and adults with a range of disabilities including autism, cerebral palsy, Down syndrome, and multiple sclerosis. Time slots between 9 a.m. and 11 a.m. (also on weekdays) are $40. E-mail info@binafarm.org or call 508-651-2462 to book; fill out the required paperwork here. The Sherborn location is at 34 Great Rock Rd.

The Red Wagon in Beacon Hill has ladies' samples (size 6) from British brand Joules at 50 percent off through Monday. The store has also just kicked off its winter sale, with clothing and shoes from brands including Deux par Deux, Catimini, Zutano, and others marked down 40 percent. The Red Wagon is at 69 Beacon St., Boston, 617-523-9402.

More than 50 Salem businesses will be offering specials tomorrow evening as part of a Salem Open House event. Albatross is offering 15 percent off one item, Ben & Jerry's will offer free cocoa and ice cream samples samples; Rouge Cosmetics will give a free gift with purchases of $50 or more; Roost and The Beehive and will offer discounts on boxed holiday cards, ornaments, and stocking stuffers. Find more deals and details here.
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Looking to finish your holiday shopping and get a good dinner while you're at it? You're in luck: The South End Holiday Night Out happens tomorrow 4 p.m. to 8 p.m., with lots of deals at neighborhood shops and restaurants. Stores including M. Flynn Accessories, Hudson, Boomerangs Special Edition, Lekker Home, J.E.M., and others are offering discounts of at least 15-20 percent; Reside is offering 10 percent off and will have a jewelry trunk show with three jewelry artists. Restaurants including Gaslight, Masa, Myers + Chang, and others will offer prix-fixe menus or other specials. Free parking at 500 and 540 Harrison Ave. Find a complete rundown of deals here.

[pictured: necklace from M. Flynn Accessories]

Neighborhood strolls are in high gear: Along with the Beacon Hill Holiday Stroll and a Shop by Moonlight event in Inman Square (both tonight), South Boston will be holding its own stroll tomorrow from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. with caroling, a shoppers' shuttle provided by Boston Duck Tours, the Mix 104 Street Crew, kids' activities, a tree lighting, and of course, an appearance by Santa. Shops and restaurants along East and West Broadway will have special one-night deals; the following is just a partial list (thanks to Ku De Ta for sending these details):

Ku De Ta (663 East Broadway) will offer 20 percent off all full-price and 30 percent off sale-rack pieces;

Habit (703 East Broadway) will offer 20% off, excluding hand made jewelry;

Nurture Salon and Spa (127 L St.) will have special discounts on products;

Karen's Boutique (647 East Broadway) will give a $10-gift card with a purchase of $50 or more;

The Cranberry Café (704 East Broadway) will offer strollers a free large coffee or mint hot chocolate;

Local 149 (149 P St.) will have free bar bites;

The Playwright (658 East Broadway) will offer a $3-specialty cocktail;

South Boston Running Emporium (341 West Broadway) will have all clothing at 20 percent off and sneakers at 10 percent off;

Salon De Cheveux (661A East Broadway) will offer 15 percent off all products and beauty gift baskets and will have a drawing for a free makeup application;

Stapleton Floral (635 East Broadway) will give out a free Christmas wreath with bow with a $20 purchase;

Norman Crump Studio Gallery (628 East Broadway) will give up to 20 percent off artwork (a few exceptions);

Baystate Physical Therapy (377 West Broadway) will offer a free wellness screening consultation;

The Paramount (667 East Broadway) will have festive holiday treats and will offer a $10-gift card for every $50 spent on gift cards;

Spa Christine & Boutique (699 East Broadway) will offer 20 percent off all retail products and jewelry and will offer $50-gift cards for $35.

The annual Beacon Hill Holiday Stroll happens this Thursday from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. (Charles Street closes to traffic at 6), with Victorian carolers, a strolling brass quintet, horse and buggy rides, and refreshments and discounts at some of the neighborhood stores. Blackstone’s of Beacon Hill (46 Charles St., Boston, 617-227-4646) will have Vineyard Vines ties marked down 50 percent and drawings for Vera Bradley prizes; Crush Boutique (131 Charles St., Boston, 617-720-0010) is offering 10 percent off of purchases; and Charles Street Supply Co. (54-56 Charles St., Boston, 617-367-9046) will offer 10 percent off purchases for people wearing a Santa hat (sold at the store), just to name a few. Find a video of last year’s stroll at www.beaconhillbusinessassociation.org.

Barneys has just kicked off a designer sale, with select clothing, shoes, and accessories for guys, girls, kids, and the home marked down 40 percent. There's lots to choose from now, with designers including 3.1 Phillip Lim, Alexander Wang, Givenchy, Band of Outsiders, and others well-represented. Shop the sale here or visit the store at Copley Place, 617-385-3300.

Mapping out your Black Friday shopping strategy? Here's what's planned at area shops both big and small:

Stel’s starts its fall sale at 11 a.m. Friday, with most fall items marked down 30 percent. Brands include A.P.C., Robert Geller, Gary Graham, and Rachel Comey. In-store kids’ boutique Monkey and the Bug will also have most fall items discounted 30 percent. Stel’s is at 334 Newbury St., Boston, 617-262-3348. (The sales will be online as well).

Cynthia Rowley is taking 30 percent off all Fall 2011 styles including velvet dresses, silk blouses, and other soiree-ready pieces. If you can’t make it in on Friday, you can get 20 percent off Saturday and Sunday. Cynthia Rowley is at 164 Newbury St., Boston, 617-587-5240.

Lots of Cambridge stores are offering deals as part of an annual “Plaid Friday” celebration tomorrow. Just a few: Didriks is offering $20 off orders of $100 or more in-store or online with the promotional code “harvard2011” (through December 31st); the Harvard Coop is offering 20 percent off titles from its “Best Books of 2011” list and 25 percent off all JanSport items; Oona’s Experienced Clothing is offering 15 percent off purchases of $50 or more. Find a complete list of deals and store addresses here.

Hudson is offering 15 percent off all in-stock items and new custom upholstery and casegood orders (Friday only). Find lighting, textiles, furnishings, tabletop items, vintage pieces, and more. Hudson is at 12 Union Park St., Boston, 617-292-0900, and 61A Central St., Wellesley, 781-239-0025.

Home consignment store Eddigan’s is offering 10 percent off storewide Friday through Sunday. The selection includes furnishings, lamps, linens, crystal pieces, vintage posters, and more. Eddigan’s is at 416 Salem St., Medford, 781-219-4927.

Newton Centre boutique Duchess is offering 25 percent off any one item Friday and Saturday. (For purchases of more than one item, the discount applies to the higher-priced item). Spend $125 or more and be entered in a drawing for a black frame clutch from Shiraleah and a pair of JoJo Loves You “Bling” earrings. Duchess is at 77 Union St., Newton, 617-964-0054.

Lyn Evans Potpourri Designs kicks off a sweater sale with selections from Desigual, Qi, Left on Houston, 525 America, and others marked down 25 percent through Dec. 11th. Store locations include 8 Church St., Wellesley, 781-235-0096 and 9 Main St., Andover, 978-269-0266. Find others here.

Salem sister stores Roost, the Beehive, and Scrub are giving out $20-gift certificates with purchases of $100 or more on Friday. Find a fun mix of home accessories, bath and body products, cookbooks, cards, and more. The stores are at 40 Front St. (Roost), 38 Front St. (the Beehive), and 230 Essex St. (Scrub), all in Salem. Contact at 978-744-4663, 978-744-0663, and 978-594-8391, respectively.

77kids by American Eagle is offering 40 percent off storewide and giving a $10-gift card with any purchase or gift card purchase through Sunday. Starting Monday, pick up a gift box under the holiday tree with a scratch card for the chance to win an Xbox Kinect, an iPad, Nintendo 3ds, movie passes, and other prizes. (Ends Dec. 13th.) 77kids locations include the Natick Mall, 508-647-5109 and the Burlington Mall, 781-272-2678. Find others here.

Disney Store is offering 20 percent off all items between (just after) midnight Friday and 10 a.m. Select toys, gifts, and stocking stuffers will be on offer from $10-$20. Disney Store locations include Square One Mall in Saugus, 781-941-8001, and South Shore Plaza, 781-380-7700. Find others here.

Roll out of bed, leave on your pajamas and get 20 percent off at select stores in Marblehead tomorrow. DS Designs, Babe, Bus Stop, Marblehead Outfitters, Spirit of '76, and others will be opening at 7 a.m. and offering markdowns on clothing, home accessories, and more until 10 a.m. (There will be coffee and donuts, too.)

Bloomingdale’s, The Outlet Store opens in Wrentham on Thursday, with around 25,000 square feet of women’s, men’s, and kids’ clothes and accessories at wallet-friendly prices. Thursday through Sunday, pick up a scratch card for the chance to win an extra 15-25 percent off purchases; there will also be a drawing each day through Sunday for a $500-shopping spree at the store. Bloomingdale’s, The Outlet Store is at Wrentham Village Premium Outlets, Suite 5, The Plaza (near Restoration Hardware), One Premium Outlets Blvd., Wrentham.

Costumes, arts and crafts, puzzles, stuffed animals, and other selections from Melissa & Doug are 20 percent off at Magic Beans through Sunday. (If you shop the sale online, use the coupon code M&D20.) The Hingham and Cambridge stores are hosting a carved pumpkin contest on Sunday; bring in a carved pumpkin between 11 a.m. and noon, and get a set of Melissa & Doug surprises if your pumpkin wins. Find Magic Beans locations here.

It's a good time to stock up on fall frocks, as Hanna Andersson's annual Dress and Sweater sale is running now. Find cable-knit rompers for babies, holiday-themed (gasp) dresses and tights, sweaters and sweater vests for boys, and more, most around 30-40 percent off, all pretty adorable. The sale ends Oct. 23rd. Hanna Andersson locations include Burlington Mall, 75 Middlesex Turnpike, Burlington, 781-221-1333; Derby Street Shoppes, 92 Derby St., Hingham, 339-200-7083; and the Natick Mall, 1245 Worcester St., Natick, 508-647-3711.

Sad to hear that Greenward in Porter Square will be closing its doors at the end of October after four and a half years in business. Final markdowns have begun: Through Friday, everything is 15 percent off, and starting Saturday, will be 25 percent off. Find everything from eco-friendly cleaning products and organic cotton baby clothing to stylish tote bags, change purses, and jewelry made from recycled skateboards, bottle caps, and reclaimed knitting needles. More sale details are on the store's website. Greenward is at 1764 Massachusetts Ave., Cambridge, 617-395-1338.

Flash sale site Rue La La now has stylish offerings for kids and families through its newly launched Little Rue section. Brands on sale now include Nicole Miller, Freckles + Kitty, and Tommy Bahama. New sales launch every Tuesday night; each lasts 48 hours. Like the website’s sales for grown-ups, the discounts are steep. Until the end of the month, all net profits from Little Rue go to children’s charities. If you’re not a Rue La La member, you can sign up at www.ruelala.com/key.

Stellabella Toys kicks off its semi-annual sale today in stores, with 20 percent off most items including games, dolls and dollhouses, science and nature toys, and more. The sale runs through Sunday. Stellabella has stores in Cambridge, Burlington, and Dedham; find directions here.

Stride Rite is running a baby shoe sale through next Tuesday (Sept. 27th). Select Robeez (pre-walkers) start at $19 (normally $22-$40), and select Stride Rite SRT shoes (baby sizes 4-8) start at $39.99 (normally $46-$49). Styles include booties, sneakers, Mary Janes, and others. Select toddlers’ and kids’ sneakers sizes 8.5 and up are marked down 20 percent, also through next Tuesday; use the code FALLSNEAKERS if shopping online. Stride Rite locations include Natick Mall, 1245 Worcester St., Natick, 508-651-9800; Burlington Mall, 75 Middlesex Turnpike, Burlington, 781-272-7994; and South Shore Plaza, 250 Granite St., Braintree, 781-843-8651. Find others here.

There will be discounts galore in Coolidge Corner this weekend, as businesses set out marked-down wares for a neighborhood-wide sidewalk sale. Just a small sample of deals: Mint Julep will have summer and past seasons’ dresses, denim, handbags, and more from Milly, Nanette Lepore, and others for $10-$80; The Pear Tree will have select jewelry marked down 50-70 percent and all beads, clasps, and stringing material (for jewelry-making) marked down 20 percent; Magic Beans will have Britax car seats at 25 percent off, along with a table of sale items. Find more info here.

Though it feels like the summer just started, the countdown to a new school year has already begun. To mark the occasion, a few Simon Malls will be hosting a "Back At It!" back-to-school event Friday through Sunday with discounts (for kids and grown-ups) at select stores and activities on Saturday. Here's a list of what's confirmed as of now:

Atrium Mall (pictured) will have free arts and crafts and a character artist for kids and free samples from Bertucci's from noon to 3 p.m. on Saturday. Discounts include 25 percent off most items at Ross-Simons (all weekend) and 20 percent all desks at Pottery Barn Kids (through Sept. 21st).

At South Shore Plaza, Patriots cheerleaders will be signing autographs at Dellaria Salon from noon to 3 p.m. on Saturday. A fashion show at center court at 1:30 p.m. will include clothes and accessories from 77kids by American Eagle, Newbury Comics, GapKids, and others. Look for floor clings in front of stores that are offering discounts Friday through Sunday.

Square One Mall will also have Patriots cheerleaders signing autographs at Dellaria Salon from noon to 3 p.m. on Saturday, fashion shows at 12:30 p.m. and 2 p.m., and discounts at select stores (marked by floor clings).

Liberty Tree Mall will have kids' activities including book cover decoration, trackless train rides, caricatures, face painting on Saturday, and two fashion shows at center court between noon and 3 p.m. Characters from The Adventures of Scuba Jack and the Pet Express mascot will make an appearance, and Bed Bath & Beyond will be hosting dorm room demos. Look for signs in front of select stores offering discounts.

There will be plenty of bargains from Wellesley Center businesses tomorrow as part of the town's annual July Jubilation, happening from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Isabel Harvey (41 Central St., 781-237-3038) will have a half-off table and a $20-dollar table; Footstock (33 Central St., 781-431-1655) will have discounted shoes from Eric Michael, Cordani, Dankso, and others; and Abigail's (93 Central St., 781-235-3333) will have Lilly Pulitzer clothing and bathing suits at up to 30 percent off, other spring and summer merchandise at up to 50 percent off; and a selection of Christmas wares at up to 70 percent off. (Find a partial list of other participating stores here.) Central Street will be closed to traffic to make room for music, a petting zoo, a family photo booth, and other kids' activities; Elmo and Smokey the Bear will be on hand as well. Find the complete schedule of events here.

Magic Beans celebrates its seventh anniversary tomorrow with cupcakes, Elmo appearances, and a seven percent storewide discount all day in-store and online (use the code BIRTHDAY7 to get the discount online). The stores have also begun their yearly July giveaways, with a different prize each day; today's is an UPPABaby Vista stroller (pictured), which sells for $679.99. Enter each day's drawing on the website. Magic Beans is in Brookline, Cambridge, Hingham, and Wellesley. Find addresses and store hours here.

Flat of the Hill has big markdowns on most items through July 31, as it tries to clear out before renovations in August. Scout by Bungalow bags, Suburban Silk photo frames, Mariposa napkin boxes and nautical pieces, candles, costume jewelry, and more are 60 percent off; Kooba, Botkier, and Rebecca Minkoff bags and Lauren Merkin clutches are marked down 75 percent. New sale items will be added daily; follow the store’s Facebook page for updates. Flat of the Hill is at 60 Charles St., Boston, 617-619-9977.

The Red Wagon hosts a Primigi sidewalk sale tomorrow through Sunday, with lots of spring and summer styles for $35 (valued up to $110). Sizes start at 3 (first walkers) and run up to women’s size 7 and boys’ size 4 (big kids). The store’s semi-annual sale also kicks off tomorrow, with spring and summer clothing and shoes from Joules, Toobydoo, Catimini, Appaman, Room Seven, and others marked down 30-40 percent. (Clothing sizes run up to 14 for girls and up to 10 for boys.) The Red Wagon is at 69 Charles St., Boston, 617-523-9402.

Gap has started its summer sale, with select clothing and accessories marked down up to 50 percent. There's a good selection of tops, jeans, dresses, and maternity wear online (sale selection varies in-store), and as of yet, no end date has been announced.

Original Penguin at Wrentham Village Premium Outlets hosts a guys' evening out event tomorrow from 5-7 p.m. There will be a DJ, food and drink from Narragansett Beer and Whole Foods, and drawings for $50-gift cards. Arrive by 6 p.m. and get extra discounts. Original Penguin is at suite 730 at the Outlets; find directions here.

Baby and children’s footwear outfit pediped cq is running a “Purchases with Purpose” fundraising sale on its website, with select shoes marked down up to 50 percent. At the time of this writing, the selection included adorable Mary Janes, sandals, sneakers, and boots (sizes limited in some styles). Half of the sales dollars will go to the pediped foundation cq, which in turn donates all proceeds to children’s charities including the Make-A-Wish Foundation. The sale ends July 3rd. www.pediped.com

With cooler weather expected this weekend, it should be pleasant browsing at Marblehead's town-wide sidewalk sales, which happen Saturday and Sunday. There will be plenty of bargains all over the town's business district; just a few of the stores participating are DS Designs (158 Washington St., 781-639-2336); Pawsitively Marblehead (63 Atlantic Ave., 781-639-0449 and 9 Pleasant St., 781-990-0081); Shipshape (128 Washington St., 781-631-7477); and Arabella Lingerie (59 Atlantic Ave., 781-631-1299). Head to Washington Street or Atlantic Avenue to find the bulk of the action.

The Thrift Shop of Boston celebrates its 85th birthday today with a 50 percent storewide discount. Find housewares, men’s and women’s clothing, artwork, books, games, and more. All of the shop’s proceeds benefit The Home for Little Wanderers. The shop is at 17 Corinth St., Roslindale, 617-325-5300.

The Red Wagon hosts a Morgan & Milo trunk show tomorrow through Sunday, with spring and summer shoes and clothing at 40 percent off original prices. Hours are 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. today through Saturday and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sunday. The Red Wagon is at 69 Charles St., Boston, 617-523-9402.

Hanna Andersson has started its semi-annual sale in-store and online, with markdowns on clothes, swimwear, and more. Sale items seem to be going quickly online; selection seems best in hoodies and sweaters, summer dresses, and boys' and girls' tees.

Old Navy has its women's dresses starting at $15 and girls' dresses starting at $10 through June 12th, and men's clothing starting at $6 through the 19th. Polo and Madras shirts are $12, tees are $7, and shorts and swim trunks start at $10 online. (In-store prices may be different.) Find store locations here.

If you're looking for things to do this Saturday, you might head over to Needham, where the annual street fair will happen at Memorial Field from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. (rain or shine). There will be pony rides and other kids’ activities, singers, dancers, and capoeira; you'll also be able to pick up "Shop Needham First" rewards cards for $10 that will give you discounts at participating businesses. Meanwhile, some businesses in town will be hosting sidewalk sales, including Perennial Designs (silk flowers, vases, candles, candleholders); Taylor’s Stationery (stationery and paper goods); Pollywogs (children’s clothing and accessories); and The Grey Goose (clothing, accessories, gift items). There will be free trolley service between the street fair and the MBTA bus stop on Chapel Street (near the sidewalk sales mentioned).

Second Time Around is taking 30-50 percent off storewide (including spring and summer pieces, jewelry, and handbags) today through Monday. Find store locations here.

Wrentham Village Premium Outlets runs its annual Memorial Day sale through Monday. Deals include 40-60 percent off storewide at the Banana Republic Factory Store; 30 percent off already marked down spring merchandise and half off already discounted clearance merchandise at Karen Millen; and 15 percent off purchases of $150 or more, 20 percent off purchases of $250 or more, and 25 percent off purchases of $350 or more at Elie Tahari. Find more deals here.

Off Broadway Shoes (off-price designer footwear; sandal pictured) is taking $10 off purchases of $39.90 or more through Monday. Find store locations here.

Nordstrom's Half-Yearly Sale for women and kids starts in-store and online today, with markdowns on clothes, shoes, and handbags from BCBG, Elie Tahari, Free People, Nike, and many others. The sale runs through June 5th. Find store locations here.

National Jean Company is offering 20 percent off storewide now through Monday. Find denim and other duds from J Brand, Paige, Hudson, Beyond Yoga, Three Dots, and others. (Guys, there's plenty for you, too.) Store locations include 34 Langley Rd., Newton Centre, 617-969-2888, and 180 Linden St., Wellesley, 781-489-3500.

Here's hoping for an improvement in the weather by mid-week: Shops in Wellesley’s Linden Square will be celebrating a new outdoor courtyard with sidewalk sales Wednesday through Sunday. Look for deals on clothes, accessories, and more from CERI, French Lessons, Kenzie Kids/K Girl, National Jean Company, Sara Campbell, Magic Beans, and others. There will be family concerts and kids’ events over the weekend, and Qdoba will be offering a free kids’ meal with entrée purchase on Saturday. Find a full list of details here.

A week from Sunday (May 15th), salons in Boston and beyond will be snipping locks with a minimum $40-donation as part of the second HAIRraising Cut-a-thon to benefit Children’s Hospital Boston. Salons include Bradley + Diegel, G20 Spa and Salon, James Joseph, Salon Capri, Mizu Salon, Stilisti, Patrice Vinci Salon, Salon Mario Russo, Avanti (Newbury St.), and Michael Labrecque Salon; find the full list of participants here. Many of the salons are taking appointments (though many will accept walk-ins that day, too). Some salons may also have a higher minimum donation. All proceeds benefit the hospital.

The former Queen Bee in West Newton will be the site of a clearance sale this weekend. Women's clothing, swimwear, and accessories from Milly, Shoshanna, Diane von Furstenberg, Rebecca Taylor, Manuel Canovas, and others will be up to 75 percent off, we're told. Baby and toddler clothing, handbags, and handmade tablecloths and cushion covers in the mix. The sale happens from until 5 p.m. today and from 10-5 tomorrow at 15 Spencer St., West Newton.

The eco-friendly Greenward is hosting an Earth Day/fourth birthday sale on full-price items Saturday and Sunday. Spend $25-$49.99 and get 10 percent off; spend $50-$99.99 and get 15 percent off; spend $100 or more and get 20 percent off. (If you're shopping online, you can use the coupon codes edaybday25 for orders of $25 and up; edaybday50 for orders $50 and up; and edaybday100 for orders $100 and up.) The store carries organic baby clothing, eco-friendly tote bags, jewelry made from recycled skateboards, and other fun, functional, and unexpected wares. Composting-related items are 15 percent off through the end of the month; on Saturday, the store hosts a free worm-composting workshop (find more information on the store’s Facebook page). Greenward is at 1764 Massachusetts Ave. (Porter Sq.), Cambridge, 617-395-1338.

Sad to hear that Andover Center lingerie shop Night & Day will be closing its doors at the end of the month after more than seven years in business. The entire store (bras, panties, sleepwear, and more) is now 30 percent off; it's open Tuesday through Saturday from noon to 6 p.m. Night & Day, 63 Park St., Andover, 978-475-0343.

Swedish clothing brand Polarn O. Pyret is hosting a sample and warehouse sale tomorrow from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Along with stylish, well-made duds for little ones, there will be swag bags filled with Baby Bjorn, See Kai Run, and The Laundress goodies for the first 50 customers. The sale happens at The Scandinavian Living Center, 206 Waltham St., West Newton.

It's a great time to pick up shoes for the kids: The Red Wagon is hosting its semi-annual Primigi sidewalk sale tomorrow through Sunday, with more than 500 pairs of spring and summer shoes for $35 each (up to a $110-value). Sizes start at 3 (first walkers) and run up to women’s size 9. (For boys, they stop at around big kids’ size 4.) The selection in past sales has run the gamut from sandals to dress shoes to sporty styles, with lots for toddlers. As a bonus, there will be current Little Joule dresses, fleeces, rugby shirts, and Ts for 40 percent off (sizes range from 3-12). Stop in early for the best selection. The Red Wagon is at 69 Charles St., Boston, 617-523-9402.

Games, dolls, puppets, and lots more will be 20 percent off beginning tomorrow at Stellabella Toys' four locations. The stores have sales only twice a year, meaning it's a good time to shop. Only Playmobil and Lego products, baby strollers, Ergo baby carriers, and Stokke chairs are excluded. Sale ends Sunday.

77kids by american eagle, which set up shop last week at Burlington Mall and South Shore Plaza, has some nice deals through next Wednesday (April 13th): Spring sale items including tops, bottoms, and dresses are up to 60 percent off original prices; brand new Ts and shorts are $9.95 and up; 3-D T-shirt/glasses/sticker sets are on offer for $7.77; and girls' jewelry and accessories are buy-one, get-one-half-off. The stores carry children’s clothing sizes 0-14 and have kid-friendly features including a free candy and goodie station and a free photo booth where kids can decorate their pictures before they’re printed out. Find 77kids at the Burlington Mall, 75 Middlesex Turnpike, Burlington, 781-272-2678, and South Shore Plaza, 250 Granite St., Braintree, 781-843-0926.

If you happen to be in the market for erasers -- or are looking to do a good deed -- iParty is now donating all profits from its Japanese-made erasers (cute, collectible numbers modeled on panda bears, donuts, McDonald's hamburgers, and other animals and foodstuffs) to the tsunami relief efforts in Japan. The erasers cost anywhere from 99 cents to $9.99 (for a set) -- so it's a good way to make a small contribution. Find locations here.

When you signed up for your first sample sale site, you thought it would be easy to slip in some online shopping during your lunch break. Now that you’ve joined 10 others, keeping up with them all has become impossible. Enter MyNines, which allows you to monitor what’s on sale on any given day from sample sale and discount sites including Gilt Groupe, Rue La La, The Outnet, and others. MyNines displays products currently on sale at select sites (including The Outnet, Modnique, and Peppermint Park) and offers a detailed calendar to help you keep tabs on all the sample sales happening within the next few days. You can sign up to receive alerts when your favorite designers go on sale, and find helpful mini-boutiques curated by fashion bloggers and stylists.

... here's a heads-up: Magic Beans is hosting a "blue bag" sale starting at 3 p.m. today, where you'll be able to buy all the clearance items you can fit into one of the store's blue shopping bags for $40. Once you've bought your bag, if you happen to spot something you won't fit (that something must be clearance toys or games, not baby gear), you can get it for 65 percent off. Items up for grabs include Hatley pajamas, a Playmobil police copter, a Thinkfun 36 Cube puzzle (pictured), and more. Find Magic Beans locations here.

Harvard Square will be a good place to be to save some green today: TistiK is offering 15 percent off green jewelry, mirrors, picture frames, and more (through tomorrow); Hootenanny is taking 20 percent off full-price and sale items for those dressed in green; Curious George Books & Toys is offering 25 percent off St. Patrick's Day-themed books; and Faron Salon has its conditioning treatments marked down 10 percent (walk-in or by appointment; the special runs through the end of April). Cardullo's, Grafton Street, and Russell House Tavern are serving up holiday fare. Find a complete rundown of deals and food specials here.

The Pashmina Store is offering 10 percent off all orders of $40 or more through March 17th. Find soft wraps, scarves, shawls, and baby blankets made from pashmina wool (a fine grade of cashmere), and wispy, lightweight pashmina-silk blends suited for the warmer months. The site's pre-discount prices are modest: roomy, pure pashmina shawls sell for $69.99-$79.99, for instance. All items are handmade in Nepal. Use the checkout code GREEN to get the discount.

Looking to clear out some kids' clothes, toys, or gear? If so, you might want to gather your no-longer-needed wares for Consign My Closet’s spring/summer sale, which happens March 18th-20th at the Boxborough Holiday Inn. A few details: Consignors get to keep 60-70 percent of their sales, though there's a 30-item minimum; leftover items can be donated to Cradles to Crayons or another local charity. The deadline for consignments is a week from tomorrow (the 15th); find more details here.

If you're not interested in consigning, you might want to mark your calendar for the sale anyway: More than 10,000 items for toddlers through teens including strollers, cribs, bassinets, bicycles, games, apparel, and more will be on offer for up to 70 percent off original prices. Find sale details here.

If you're looking to get some shopping done this weekend, Andover will be a good bet: 17 of the downtown shops will be hosting sales Friday and Saturday for their annual “boutique blowout.” (Some spots will be open on Sunday as well.) Just a short list of markdowns: Soirée, Andover will be offering 20 percent off storewide, excluding orders (selection includes stationery, invitations, fine gift wrap, and frames); dresscode will have fall, winter, and holiday merchandise marked down up to 75 percent and discounts on select spring and resort pieces; Night & Day will have select bras, panties, robes, and sleepwear marked down 60 percent; and Metamorphosis Art & Design will be offering 20-55 percent off on decorated furniture, handmade art, home accessories, and more.

Restaurants including Casa Blanca, Yella, Dylan's Bar and Grill, and others will be offering specials for shoppers; find these details and a complete list of participating boutiques here.

[Pictured: Torn by Ronny Kobo pleated cami, available at dresscode]

Magic Beans has markdowns on some of its car seats, toys, clothing, and gear right now. Online, sale items include a BOB Revolution Single 2010 stroller, originally $389, is $330.65; a Sunshine Kids Monterey booster seat, originally $149.99, is $119.99; and Ravensburger Turbo Twins racing cars (pictured), normally $29.99, are $20.99. Find a larger selection in stores.

Twelve Marblehead shops will band together for an indoor sidewalk sale with steep discounts on Sunday. Among them: Babe will have girls’ and women’s clothing and accessories marked down at least 50 percent; DS Designs will have jewelry, scarves, hats, and handbags at 50-75 percent off; and The Sea Gull Gift Shop will have discounted sterling silver, Swarovski crystal, and sea glass jewelry from Winthrop-based DCK Designs. Other participants include Arabella Lingerie, Bus Stop, Hestia Creations, Hip Baby Gear, Madam Had’em, Moran Studios, O’Rama’s, Rags to Riches, and Suitable. The sale, hosted by the Marblehead Chamber of Commerce Retail Committee, happens from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Philanthropic Lodge, 62 Pleasant St., Marblehead. Cash or check only. Call 781-631-2868 for more information.

[Pictured: multi-colored bead memory wire bracelet from DCK Designs, available through The Sea Gull Gift Shop]

Businesses in downtown Salem are hosting a holiday shopping event tomorrow evening from 6-9, with sweet treats, libations, and lots of discounts. Crunchy Granola Baby is offering 15 percent off storewide; J. Mode has select fall and winter clothing marked down 20-50 percent and is giving a free copy of "Crave Boston: The Urban Girl's Manifesto" with buys of $50 or more; Roost and sister store The Beehive are offering 10 percent off if you wear a holiday sweater or something similarly festive (think reindeer, snowflakes... menorahs?); Modern Millie (pictured) is offering 15 percent off purchases up to $99 and 20 percent off purchases of $100 or more. (Here's a full list of participants and more deals, courtesy of Crunchy Granola Baby.) Shoppers will be entered to win a basket of goodies from the participating businesses.

If you've still got holiday shopping to do and are looking to avoid the malls, mark your calendar for next Wednesday (Dec. 8th), when lots of South End retailers will be offering discounts of up to 20 percent from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. as part of the neighborhood's annual holiday stroll. Some restaurants, too, will be offering one-night deals; the list of participants (courtesy of Washington Gateway Main Streets) includes 570 Market, Aquitaine, Aunt Sadie's, Bark Place, Bead + Fiber, Boomerangs Special Edition, diseño | bos, Flock, Flour, Foodie's Urban Market, Galeria Cubana, Gallardo Works, Gaslight, Gifted, Hudson, J.E.M., Kiwi Baby, Lekker, Looc, M. Flynn Accessories, Metropolis, Michele Mercaldo Jewelry, Michelle Willey, Mohr & McPherson, Motley, Myers+Chang, Patch NYC Shop, Polka Dog Bakery, POPS Restaurant, Posh on Tremont, Restoration Resources, Sara Campbell LTD, Skoah, Sooki, South End Athletic Company, South End Buttery, Stephen Baumbach, Stir, Tadpole, Turtle, Uniform, Union Bar and Grille, Upper Crust, Laura Preshong, D Scale, Charles Tersolo, Face Facts Healing Spa and Escape Salon & Spa.

With four short days before Black Friday, you might already have some sort of shopping plan in place. If you want a real head start, many of the stores at Wrentham Village Premium Outlets will be opening at midnight (as in, don't even bother cleaning up from Thursday's meal) and will have their best deals in the pre-dawn hours. Among them: Converse will be marking down total purchases 40 percent until 6 a.m. and then 25 percent until 10 p.m. (up to $400, with the discount); DKNY will be offering 60 percent off until 8 a.m. and then 50 percent off through Sunday; and Restoration Hardware will take 30 percent off until 8 a.m. and 20 percent off through Sunday. See the complete list of Wrentham outlet deals here.

Newton shop Brussels Sprouts has lots of its merchandise marked down 50 percent through Saturday. All women's and girls' pants (jeans, cords, jeggings, yoga pants) and select tops and dresses from Flowers by Zoe, Plum, Erge, Wild Mango, and many others are included. As a bonus, anyone who signs up for the store's email list in-person or on the website gets a coupon for $20 off purchases of $100 or more. Brussels Sprouts is at 855 Washington St., Newton, 617-244-9832.

Photo credit: Rick Bern

Nordstrom's big sale for women and kids began yesterday, with markdowns of around 25-50 percent on lots of clothing, accessories, and shoes. Ladies, find BCBG, Elizabeth and James, Enzo Angiolini, James Perse, and others; for the little ones, find Adidas, Juicy Couture, and Merrell, to name a few. Sale ends on the 14th. Find Nordstrom locations here.

Sunday night will no doubt be all about the little ones, but tomorrow night is reserved for the parents -- at least at Magic Beans in Brookline. The store will host a soiree from 7-9 p.m. with cocktails, mocktails, appetizers (from neighborhood bistro Regal Beagle), a master class in face painting, and 50 percent-discounts on select toys. If you can't make the party, you can stop in at any of Magic Beans' four locations Friday through Sunday for markdowns of 30 percent on hundreds of toys. (There will also be an Orbit Baby stroller promotion; find the details here.)
All next week (Nov. 1st - Nov. 7th), bring in at least a pound of trick-or-treat leftovers to any location and get 20 percent off any one toy. (The discount must be used the same day.) If your kids aren't thrilled about giving up their candy, they (or you) might be glad to know it will be donated to U.S. troops at home and abroad. Find details about the candy buy-back here.

Arlington kids' boutique Wild Child has most items marked down 20 percent off most items today through Sunday. Find clothing and shoes by Zutano, Tea Collection, Deux par Deux, Laughing Out Loud, and others. (Clothing runs to size 6/7). Although car seats and strollers will not be on sale, stroller accessories from BOB, Phil & Teds, UPPAbaby, and others will be included. Wild Child is at 5 Medford St., Arlington, 781-483-3566.

British import AllSaints has select duds marked down up to 25 percent as part of its mid-season sale. Find dresses, tops, denim, and more. The sale is online and at 122 Newbury St., Boston, 617-517-0894.

If you could use some kids' clothes or gear, mark your calendar for October 8th, 9th, or 10th (next weekend), the dates of Consign My Closet's fall/winter event. More than 10,000 gently used items for toddlers through teens including bedroom furniture, strollers, some skis, and lots of clothes (from Oilily, Catimini, Abercrombie, and others) will be on offer for up to 70 percent off original prices. Why the early heads-up? If you have children's items you want to consign, you have until next Tuesday night to do so. (There is a 30-item minimum; find details here). Consignors get to keep 60-70 percent of their sales; if you consign more than 100 items, you get to attend a pre-sale that happens from 9 a.m. til noon on the 8th. The sale will happen at the Boxborough Holiday Inn, 242 Adams Pl., Boxborough. Learn more about the event here.

(Pictured: Consign My Closet's spring/summer sale last March)

If you can make it over to Stellabella Toys today or tomorrow, you'll find most things marked down 20 percent for its semi-annual sale. (Exceptions include Playmobil and Lego, baby strollers, Ergo Baby carriers, Stokke chairs, and special orders.) The sale is at all four of its locations.

On Monday evening, Roost and sister store the Beehive (pictured) host an open house with refreshments, T-shirt giveaways, free chair massages, a 10 percent discount store(s)-wide, and a drawing for a $100-gift certificate. The fun happens from 5-8 p.m. Roost and the Beehive are at 38-40 Front St., Salem, 978-744-4663 (Roost) and 978-744-0663 (the Beehive).

If you're looking for something to do with the family this weekend and aren't too far from Marblehead, you might want to try the town's annual Fall Festival, where there will be horse-drawn hayrides, an artisan craft fair, mask decorating, and sidewalk sales. Around 40 businesses are participating as of now, including Bus Stop, Hip Baby Gear, Madam Had'em, Marblehead Toy Shop,and Chet's Video, just to name a handful. Find a complete schedule of events here.

The Toy Shop of Concord begins its annual sale tomorrow, with most of the store marked down 25 percent. (Exceptions include Lego and Duplo items, which will be 15 percent off, and Lego Star Wars, Harry Potter, Cars, and Toy Story goods, which will be marked down 10 percent.) The store has something for all ages, including board games (classics and newer ones), magic sets, a good selection of Corolle dolls, paint-by-number kits, stuffed animals, and lots more. The sale runs through Saturday. The Toy Shop is at 4 Walden St., Concord, 978-369-2553.

Nordstrom has select women's and kids' shoes on clearance. As of now, there are nearly 900 pairs of women's shoes online, including everything from Converse and Puma sneakers to Stuart Weitzman snakeskin booties. (Lots of sandals, too.) In the kids' shoes, there are mainly sneakers and sandals, though there are some cute Mary Janes and ballet flats as well. The sale is online and in stores.

Need some camping gear for the fall or looking to save on a new bike or canoe? REI has markdowns of up to 30 percent as part of its Labor Day sale, which runs through next Monday. Find tents, backpacks, sporty clothing, Chariot carriers, bikes and biking gear, canoes, kayaks, paddling gear, and more. (We found this selection online; you may want to call your nearest store if you're thinking of shopping in person.)

It looks like clear skies for this weekend's sidewalk sale in the South End, which starts tomorrow. Stores including Lekker, Diseno, Tadpole, Boomerangs: Special Edition, and Turtle will have big markdowns on home accessories, clothing, toys, and lots of other goods. Turtle will have bins of items priced at $39 and $49, along with markdowns of up to 75 percent; Tadpole will have clothing, furniture floor models, toys, slings, decor, and more at up to 75 percent off; Lekker, like last weekend, will have tabletop items and other accessories marked down 50-90 percent. Find a complete list of participants here.

If you don't have plans tomorrow night (and if the weather holds out), you might want to take a blanket or a lawn chair to Inman Square's East Cambridge Savings Bank parking lot for the neighborhood's annual Movie Night & Neighborhood Social. Activities start at 7 with a free yoga session from Kundalini Yoga Boston followed by a balloon show from Jungle Jim's and then the movie at 8:15 (hint: it includes a DeLorean and a flux capacitor). Area businesses will be offering discounts, including Boutique Fabulous (10 percent off everything in the store with a Movie Night flyer); Lorem Ipsum Books (15 percent off books that have been made into movies); Inman Oasis (10 percent off gift certificates); Franco's Hair Studio and Spa 163 (20 percent off services for new clients); and others. This isn't to mention the free chips and salsa, popcorn, lemonade, candy, and bottled water at the movie, thanks to another group of Inman businesses. Find other participants and the rest of the details here. Rain date is August 26th. (If light rain, though, the event will still happen tonight.)

If you don't shrink from bold colors and patterns, you might do well with the spring and summer markdowns at In the Pink, the Massachusetts-based Lilly Pulitzer specialty stores. On a recent visit to the Newbury Street shop, kids' summer clothing was marked down 40 percent (pretty frocks, boys' and girls' polo shirts, swimsuits). Men's summer polos and dress shirts and women's sweaters were also marked down. I'm told the stores' sale items change frequently this time of year, but that the kids' wares should remain discounted through the end of the month. In the Pink locations include 133 Newbury St., Boston, 617-536-6423; the Derby Street Shoppes in Hingham, 781-740-3133, and various spots on the Cape. (Details here.)

Just when fall is likely the farthest thing from your mind, Nordstrom is offering special prices on new fall clothes, shoes, and accessories for men, women, and kids during its two week-long anniversary sale, which started today. Find Guess, Sam Edelman, Nike, Rag & Bone (some stores), Trina Turk, Kooba, and many more. Come August 2nd, the prices will get yanked up. Find Nordstrom locations here.

If you live out near Framingham and could use a Savers fix, you're in luck: The newest Mass. addition to the thrift chain opened its doors there last Thursday. The store has well-organized racks of men's, women's, kids', and home wares; sample prices include $3.99-$8.49 for most men's button-down shirts; most women's shoes for under $10; women's summer dresses for $3.99-$9.99 (a few go for a bit more); books for $0.69-$2.99. Clothing-wise, Gap, Old Navy, and Banana Republic are amply represented; spend some time in the racks, though, and you might come away with some good surprises. (There's also a donation center on site; for each pound of clothing or other items given, Savers pays the Epilepsy Foundation.) Savers is at 500 Cochituate Rd., Framingham, 508-875-0225.

Abigail's Children's Boutique has most of its spring and summer clothes and accessories marked down 30-50 percent. The store carries E-land Kids, Little Joule, Kissy Kissy, Susanne Lively, and more. Girls' sizes run from 0 to 14; boys' run from 0 to 7. The sale should continue through the summer. Abigail's is at 93 Central St., Wellesley, 781-235-3333.

In Newton, Brussels Sprouts Kids has most girls' spring and summer merchandise at 50-70 percent, and women's clothing (tees, tunics, sundresses, more) marked down 50 percent. Brussels Sprouts Kids is at 855 Washington St., Newton, 617-244-9832.

Neighboring stores Wild Child and Helena's of Arlington will be setting out lots of clothing and accessories for half off tomorrow from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. There will be babies' and children's clothes (up to size 7) from Patagonia, Wes and Willy, Tea Collection, Catimini, Imps & Elfs, and others, and women's selections from Tulle, Velvet, Christopher Blue, Jules & Jim (maternity), and more. Wild Child and Helena's are at 397 Massachusetts Ave., Arlington, 781-483-3566 (Wild Child) and 781-483-3055 (Helena's).

Hanna Andersson's twice-yearly sale is on now, with dresses, shorts, swimsuits, sleepwear, and more at up to half off. Online, there's plenty of colorful tops and sundresses along with hoodies, windbreakers, socks, sandals, and clogs (the company's roots are Swedish, after all). The sale is also at the Natick Collection store, 508-647-3711, and the Burlington Mall store, 781-221-1333.

In case you missed it, today is National Donut Day. (Not a concoction of the snack food industry, it turns out, but a day designated by the Salvation Army more than 70 years ago to raise funds and honor volunteers who'd served donuts to soldiers during World War I.) To celebrate, Smolak Farms is hosting a Donut Day weekend today through Sunday, filled with free and almost free family activities and, of course, donuts. There will be half-priced hayrides ($2) and half-priced cider donuts today until 2 p.m. Tomorrow and Sunday, there will be a bounce house ($3), batting cages ($3), face painting ($2), a free petting zoo, and more. (There will also be a slew of donut-centric activities, including a donut-eating contest and a donut ring toss.) A portion of the weekend's proceeds will go to the Salvation Army. Smolak Farms is at 315 South Bradford St., North Andover, 978-682-6332.

If you have the gumption to drive out to Wrentham, Off 5th (Saks's outlet store) has everything marked down an extra 20-40 percent until June 8th. Kids' clothing, denim, and contemporary sportswear are 20 percent off; shoes, handbags, dresses, and men's sports coats and dress pants are 25 percent off; jewelry, watches, and men's dress shirts and ties are marked down 30 percent; and men's suits and women's designer sportswear are 40 percent off. Saks Fifth Avenue Off 5th is at 1048 South St., Wrentham (in the Wrentham Village Premium Outlets), 508-384-9309. www.saksfifthavenue.com

Nordstrom's Half-Yearly Sale for women and kids starts today, with markdowns on clothes, shoes, handbags, and other accessories. (Guys get their sale in June.) Online, most things seem to be marked down anywhere from 33-50 percent, and, as the sale is in its early hours, there's lots. The sale is online and in stores (except the new South Shore Plaza location).

Daily deal sites and all the other web coupons out there have shown that you rarely have to pay full price for anything anymore, whether it's a hair cut, a meal at an upscale restaurant, or even Botox treatments. You can now add to your daily browsing The DealMap, which aggregates current and soon-to-be-offered deals from Groupon, Goldstar, Eversave, and Restaurant.com, along with discounts from individual stores. Deals are searchable by zip code or city, and though you might find a few repeats (the site is brand new), the variety is broad (discounts on theater and comedy club tickets, self-storage, acupuncture). Those who share deals on the site get points toward gift certificates and freebies.

I'm a fan of J. Crew, but find some of its prices to be farther out of my range than they perhaps need to be. But the website has lots marked down right now as part of its spring sale, and until Sunday, the checkout code EXTRA20 will get you (as implied) an additional 20 percent off. Items include dresses, tops, men's polo shirts, sweaters, shoes, and jewelry; kids' clothes is included, too.

(At left: silk tricotine hope dress, originally $195, now around $80 with extra mark down.)

Babies"R"Us has just begun a "Fill-A-Bag" clothing sale, for which shoppers can get 25 percent off all the regular- and sale-priced clothing they can fit into a reusable shopping bag. The bag is provided by Babies"R"Us; to get one (and to get the discount), bring in a Fill-A-Bag coupon, which you can find by becoming a fan of Babies"R"Us on Facebook (see www.facebook.com/babiesrus). Some licensed-character apparel clothing (SpongeBob, Transformers, etc.) is excluded. The sale is in-store only and ends April 22. Babies"R"Us locations include 450 Grossman Dr., Braintree, 781-356-0475 and 300 Andover St., Peabody, 978-532-0400. Find others here.

For all of those trying to boost their eco-karma, World of Green is hosting a daily giveaway of earth-friendly products to mark Earth Day's 40th anniversary. Sign up on the site and you're free to enter each day's drawing. Prizes run the gamut from women's yoga apparel to a baby's hat with fold-down sleeping mask (pictured) to an indoor composter, worth $399. (This will be given away on April 22, the last day of the drawings.) Find the complete list of giveaways here.

The Red Wagon is hosting a Primigi sample sale from Thursday to Sunday. The word is 350 pairs of spring and summer shoes (250 girls', 100 boys') will be $35 each, and on Saturday and Sunday, there will also be 144 pairs of fall and winter styles (96 girls', 48 boys') for $40 each. Sizes run from 2 to women's 9 (or, EU 18 to EU 40). The Red Wagon is at 69 Charles St., Boston, 617-523-9402.

Target.com is having what it calls its "biggest sale of the season" until March 27th, and while the markdowns aren't so steep (up to 20 percent), a lot of categories are included (home decor, toys, electronics, more). Some of the bigger markdowns seemed to be in furniture (the Dolce five-piece dining set, pictured, is $287.99, originally $359.99) and toys (the Zhu Zhu Pets starter house is now $19.99, originally $24.99; the JumpStart trampoline is $64.99; originally $79.99). 

Lord & Taylor has markdowns in a number of categories now. Men's dress shirts from Black Brown 1826, normally $59, are two for $60; select women's spring dresses are 25 percent off (choices online included cute numbers by Calvin Klein, Lauren by Ralph Lauren, and Max & Cleo). Ladies' spring suits, originally $280-$360, are $149.99 (online, the selection is rather small, but nice); and kids' spring playwear is 35-55 percent off. Use the promo code BIG on the site to save 15 percent off regular-price items.

Oldnavy.com is offering what it says are its lowest prices of the season on staples for kids and adults. Pocket Ts for baby girls (six months to 5T) are marked down from $6.50 to $4; kids' jeans are down from $19.50 to $12; women's V-neck Ts are marked down from $12.50 to $2.99-$6.99; men's Ts are down from $8.50 to $3.99-$5. Sale ends March 4. The site is offering free shipping for orders of at least $75; use the code ONFREE75 at checkout. 

Here are a few President's Day deals for you, whether you're free to hit the stores or will be spending the day at the computer: Banana Republic is offering 25 percent off full-price merchandise in stores and online (use the code PRESDAY25 at checkout online); Ann Taylor is taking an additional 40 percent off sale items and 40 percent off one full-priced item (in-store and online); Gap is taking 15 percent off regular-priced adult items (online only); and Baby Gap is taking 20 percent off of purchases (online only) with the checkout code D2B8CG9PGCL1. 

If you're up for a trip to Wrentham this weekend, the outlets will have plenty of Presidents' Day sales on. Lucky Brand Jeans will have all denim at $49.50 and tops at buy-one, get-one-half-off (tomorrow until Monday); Liz Claiborne New York has new spring arrivals marked down 40 percent now through Feb. 17. From Friday to Monday, Cole Haan will have everything marked down 50 percent, and Puma will take 40-50 percent off of lowest ticketed prices. From Friday until Feb. 22, the Brooks Brothers Factory Store will have basics and new arrivals at 25 percent off and remaining fall and winter clearance at 70 percent off. Find a complete list of outlet sales here. Wrentham Village Premium Outlets are at One Premium Outlets Blvd., Wrentham, 508-384-0600. Get directions here.

ThredUp, the Internet-based clothing exchange that launched last year, is getting ready to kick off a service for parents to swap their kids' duds. Once it's active, you (as in parent, aunt or uncle, or extremely precocious child) will be able to browse basic information about other kids' clothes (including color, brand, and season) and post details about kids' clothing you're wanting to swap. (To start, the service will be for clothes sizes 0-12; you'll be trading boxes of clothing -- meaning you'll be sending and receiving groups of items.) Sign up at www.thredup.com/kids for updates and to find when you can begin using the site (we're told late February). The first 1,000 people to list boxes of clothing get their first swap free. (The cost will normally be $20, which covers shipping and a small service fee.)  

Natick Collection has posted a handy list of post-holiday deals, which include an autumn/winter sale at Burberry (ends on the 31st); a semi-annual sale at Clarks (up to 40 percent off on select styles, until the end of the month); Nordstrom's half-yearly sale for men (ends on Sunday); and Zara's semi-annual sale on fall/winter items (ends on the 26th). New deals are added as they're scheduled, so check back in.

A few deals that are on today (because, hey, 'tis the season): OldNavy.com is taking 20 percent off all purchases with the checkout code ONSAVE20; JCrew.com is taking 30 percent off women's tees and knits (mostly shirts, but a few sweaters and dresses as well). Jos. A. Bank has most of its items at half-price today (except shoes and gift cards); online, we saw cashmere scarves and select merino wool sweaters for $29 and cashmere sweaters for $69 and $99. (Sale is online and in stores.) 

For the outdoors lover on your list, the online REI Outlet is taking an extra 20 percent off any one item until Thursday. The outlet has ski and snowboarding jackets and gear, camping equipment, footwear, kids' gear and clothing, and more. The Komperdell kids' ski set, with the discount, is $39.93 (compare at $99.95); a men's Burton Traction shell jacket (2008 closeout) is now $63.93 (compare at $179.95). See www.rei-outlet.com.

If you're not completely fatigued from Black Friday -- or if you simply prefer to shop away from the stores -- there's no shortage of "Cyber Monday" deals to peruse. A sampling: Macy's "web busters" include a Mia 24-piece room-in-a-bag bedding set for $99.99, an Anolon 10-piece cookware set for $129.99, and select men's and women's coats at big discounts; Amazon.com has announced a TomTom ONE 140 3.5-inch portable GPS navigator for $109.99 (list price $179.95), a Livespeakr Ultra-Portable speaker system for an iPod/iPhone for $39.99 (list price $79.99), and a Samsung 52-inch LCD HDTV for $1,399.99 (list price $2,899.99); Target.com's deals of the day include a Garmin Nuvi 255W GPS bundle for $186.99 (normally $249.99) and a Jonas Brothers one-gigabyte MP3 player for $17.99 (list price $69.99).

Gap.com is offering 50 percent off all men's and women's sweaters and 50 percent off all kids' and babies' fleeces (hoodies, pants, hats, scarves, gloves) until Sunday. Some shirts, pants, and outerwear for men are 30 percent off, and all women's outerwear is 30 percent off. Sister site Bananarepublic.com has 30 percent off all men's and women's sweaters and outerwear until Sunday.

L.L.Bean is taking 20 percent off all men's, women's, and kids' sweaters today until Sunday (online and in-store, though not at outlets). L.L.Bean is at Legacy Place, 950 Providence Highway, Dedham, 800-650-6358, and at Wayside Commons, 6 Wayside Rd., Burlington, 781-505-1460. Find other locations at www.llbean.com.

In case you plan to hit the stores on Friday, here's a sampling of additional deals on clothes, home goods, and more to help you start planning your shopping strategy. Happy Thanksgiving, and happy shopping!

Filene's Basement hosts its annual Black Friday scratch card promotion between opening time (5 or 6 a.m., depending on the store) and noon. Take a card upon entering, and once you check out, find out what you saved. Discounts range from 10 to 50 percent, or, if you're very lucky, your entire purchase will be free. See www.filenesbasement.com for locations.

Kenneth Cole stores are taking 41 percent off prices for the first four hours they're open on Friday. For the rest of the weekend, items will be 31 percent off. Kenneth Cole is at Copley Place, 617-867-9580 and 128 Newbury St. (men's only), 617-867-0836. (Both locations open at 9 a.m.) www.kennethcole.com

Brooks Brothers will offer 15 percent off purchases until noon Friday and Saturday. (Shoppers using a MasterCard or Brooks Brothers Platinum MasterCard will get an additional five percent off.) Brooks Brothers
Factory Stores are taking 40 percent off all items until Sunday, and an extra 10 percent off Friday and Saturday until noon. Find locations at www.brooksbrothers.com.

Kohl's opens at 4 a.m. with early-bird specials on clothes, jewelry, kitchen items, board games, and more until 1 p.m. All Fisher-Price, Playskool, Barbie, Littlest Pet Shop, Hot Wheels, Matchbox, Tonka, Little Tikes, Crayola, and Play-Doh toys will be 50 percent off; select games, including Candy Land and Chutes and Ladders, will be $3.99 each (normally $9.99). Find Kohl's locations at www.kohls.com.

JCPenney stores will have "doorbuster" specials from 4 a.m. (when they open) until noon. Deals include a Wii/Xbox gaming tower for $48.88 and a Lionel Santa Fe battery-powered train set for $99.88 (normally $199.99). Good deals on clothes, shoes and boots, kitchenware, and more as well. See details and store locations at www.jcp.com. (Check the website for "Cyber Monday" deals on Sunday and Monday.)

Cowboy boots and vintage clothing spot Rick Walker's will be taking 50 percent off select items on Friday. As a bonus, there will also be live music and free hot drinks and biscotti. Rick Walker's is at 306 Newbury St., Boston, 617-482-7426. www.rickwalkers.com

For its post-Thanksgiving sale, vintage stop 40 South Street is offering 20 percent off all clothing and buy one item, get the second one half-price. 40 South Street is at -- you guessed it -- 40 South St., Jamaica Plain, 617-522-5066. www.fortysouthst.com.

Web store Olive Green Apparel will be taking 15 percent off its eco-chic, fleece-lined mittens (normally $65) Friday until Dec. 3. Use the code BlackFriday during checkout. www.olivegreenapparel.com.

Andover boutique First Date is offering 30 percent off all black merchandise and 20 percent off everything else Friday and Saturday. (In-store only.) Hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. First Date is at 28 Chestnut St., Andover, 978-247-8999. Get a taste of what the store carries at www.shopfirstdate.com.

Ku De Ta is taking 15 percent off its prices (except for designer jewelry) on Friday. Ku De Ta is at 663 East Broadway, South Boston, 617-269-0008. www.kudetaboston.com

Home Depot's Black Friday deals include good buys on washers and dryers, such as an LG washer and electric dryer pair, normally $1,198, for $798; a Ridgid wet/dry vacuum for $19.88 (worth $99); and a buy-30, get-30 deal on Rayovac AA batteries (60 total for $9.99). Find Home Depot locations at www.homedepot.com.

Lowe's has deals on tools, kitchen and Christmas items, and more (in-store and online) Friday until Monday. The Saugus store will have a Skil 4-piece, 18-volt cordless combo tool kit for $59 (originally $129), a 12-cup programmable coffeemaker for $49.84 (originally $99.84), and a 400-light Christmas tree for $38 (was $98). Find locations at www.lowes.com.

Along with its slew of Black Friday deals, we're told Best Buy has already lowered prices on some of its televisions: 32-inch Dynex LCD HDTVs are now $299.99, 40-inch Dynex 1080p are $499.99, 32-inch Samsung 720p LCD HDTVs are $397.99, and 50-inch Samsung plasma 720p HDTVs are $697.99. www.bestbuy.com.

There are yard sales, and then there is Swap-It, the annual mega-sale at the Milton Academy ice hockey rink. Now in its 59th year, the sale, which runs this coming weekend, will have designer clothing, sporting equipment, baby gear and apparel, home goods, bicycles, and more at bargain prices. (There's really no swapping involved; the name has just stuck over the years.) Hours are Friday night from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.; Saturday from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. (during the latter slot, items will be half-price); and Sunday from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. (items will be $1 each) and 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. (pay $5 for a huge bag). Proceeds benefit Milton Academy’s K-8 classrooms, and some of the goods left after the sale are donated to a church in Haiti and to local charities. Milton Academy is at 170 Centre St., Milton, www.milton.edu. For more information, call 617-898-2516 or see www.milton.edu.