Office Depot is asking customers to submit their most unique photos showing support for the # 14 Office Depot/Old Spice Chevrolet Impala SS and driver Tony Stewart.

The grand prize pacakge comes from Hewlett-Packard, and includes an HP TouchSmart Desktop Computer, HP Mini Notebook computer, HP Photosmart Premium Fax All-in-One Printer, HP printer/photo ink packs and HP Premium Plus Photo Paper. Everyone who enters the "Show Us Your 14" online photo contest will receive an Office Depot coupon for 14 percent off their next qualifying purchase.

You can find the contest here... 

It's Friday, which means it's time for freebies!

*This is a great one... Tide is offering a $1.50 coupon on its new Tide Stain Release. Go to this Web site and click the button to get the coupon. When you do, it will bring up a screen for P&G Everyday Solutions. Log in if you're registered, or register. And once you do, you get a new screen with a number of samples and coupons available, including Charmin wipes and Tampax. Be sure to answer all the questions in the drop down menus or the page won't take...

*I think I might have mentioned this one before, but there are Aveeno hair care samples here. 

*And, not quite a freebie, but when you sign up for the DQ Blizzard Fan Club, you get a coupon for a BOGO Blizzard deal...

Last weekend I was at home in the Philadelphia area visiting my family. I am trying to convince my non-couponing sister to start clipping, so I went to the store with her, binder in tow.

In all, we saved about $28, and she was very impressed. But the funniest part was when we got to the register...

The cashier scanned her store card and then my sister declared, "We have a TON of coupons!" The cashier just smiled and said, "OK." I laughed out loud because I thought it was so funny (we actually didn't have that many coupons, at least by my standards). But it is a good reminder that you should actually talk to your cashier. Especially if you have a rain check to redeem or some other coupon that may be out of the norm, they really appreciate the heads up. Plus, most of them are super nice folks...

I've said it before and I'm saying it again: one of the greatest things about couponing is that you can then be generous to others. With things like toothpaste routinely FREE after coupon and/or rebate, there's really no reason to be stingy!

So if you have a glut of items clogging up your pantry or closet, here's a good opportunity to purge for a good cause. The BJ's clubs in Raleigh (6301 Plantation Drive) and Garner (255 Shenstone Blvd.) along with the USO of North Carolina are collecting items including toothpaste, toothbrushes, bar soap, protein snack bars, gum and lip balm through the end of July. Collection bins have been placed in both stores. After the drive, "welcome home" care packages will be assembled for troops.

Remember that many of the area's malls and stores will hold special hours this weekend because of the July 4 holiday. When in doubt, it is always best to call ahead to make sure the mall or store is open.

Saturday seems to be the day when there are the most changes to normal hours of operation. For your convenience, here are a few:

Cary Towne Center: 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Crabtree Valley Mall: 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Northgate Mall: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. 

Streets at Southpoint: 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. 

Triangle Town Center: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. 

Retailers continue to aggressively promote their one-hour photo services... I'd expect a few more deals in the sales fliers on Sunday with July 4 being such a big photo-taking holiday...

Through Saturday, July 11, Walgreens is offering 10-cent prints when you use the coupon code JULY4.

Rocky Top Hospitality is offering BOGO entrees this weekend at its restaurants, which include Michael Dean's, Bogarts, Hi5, Red Room and the Twisted Fork. As with most BOGOs, the cheaper of the two items will be free.

The promotion is good today through Sunday. You will need the coupon below. That's a good deal, but do be aware of the fine print: "18% gratuity added to pre-discount total."

If you have a favorite family recipe and it's good enough, it could win you $25,000 from French's.

You can check out the contest and make your entry on the Web site here. 

Nation's Restaurant News is reporting that Long John Silver stores will be giving away free Baja Fish Tacos (new product) until 2:30 p.m. on July 14. According to the story, the taco "consists of Long John Silver’s classic batter-dipped fish layered inside a soft flour tortilla mixed with "crunchy crumbles," lettuce and a special Baja sauce." Normally it retails for 99 cents.

Food Lion has issued a recall due to possible salmonella contamination.

The affected product is Food Lion Instant Nonfat Dry Milk, SKU 35826-03577, 9.6 oz.

Consumers are being asked to return the product to the store for a full refund.

You can find information on Food Lion recalls here.