Earth Day Conscious Box Giveaway

It's been a few days since I've had the time to post anything really exciting... but I was contacted by Educents (details in a bit on them) to share a giveaway for a Conscious Box!  WooHoo!  Do we love giveaways or what?!  (Of course we do...)

So Educents is a fun new deal site for educational types of things, ranging from homeschool materials, to curriculums for various subject areas, craft kits (what I have ordered from them), and more.  I love that they're offering really great products, and at pretty great prices.  I know I prefer when my kiddos are doing something educational rather than watching another episode of a favorite cartoon...  (Or unfolding a basket of laundry, or spilling a box of baking soda onto the kitchen floor... or locking my keys in my car....  Maybe I'm just projecting here?!?)


I was super excited to offer this giveaway, since I'm always jazzed to offer up good things to others... but in the email I received from Educents was this little happy here:

PLUS, if you aren’t the grand prize winner, you can still get a 3-month subscription to Conscious Box for less than $12/month by heading over to Educents.com. For one week only, Educents will be offering the Conscious Box for 40% off!  In addition, ALL profits from the sale of this box will be donated to The One Fund, which will provide funds to help those families most affected by the tragic events that unfolded during Monday’s Boston Marathon. So enter to win, and then head on over to buy the Conscious Box for yourself or a friend to celebrate earth day and support our fellow Americans in Boston!

is giveaway is sponsored by Educents.com. Conscious Box only ships within the United States, including Alaska and Hawaii. They can also ship overseas to APO addresses, as well as US territories.

I've already done a review of Conscious box, and while I was initially less than thrilled, my kiddos seem to genuinely be enjoying the tiny sample sized things, so I may even try them again...  Not this month, but certainly possibly in the future.  They really do pack a ton of samples into a small box! 

I've never used Rafflecopter, so bear with me if it doesn't look as it should...  Enter--Go like the companies, check them out, share with friends...  If we get to 200 entries, I will draw for a second "runner-up" prize!

UPDATE:  Here is the link to go and enter for the giveaway:  http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/76b8be0/

3 Free Brueggers Bagels 4/25

Score!!

Go like Bruegger's Bagels on Facebook and snap up a coupon good for 3 free bagels on 4/25.  As a part of their 30th anniversary festivities and as a fundraiser for Children's Miracle Network (you're encouraged to give a donation in lieu of paying for your bagels), they're offering up this great deal.  I personally LOVE Brueggers bagels, so this is great for me!  (And it's on my way in to work...  Hooray for bagel lunch/dinner on 4/25!)

Enjoy! 

Review and GIveaway (!) NurturMe Baby Foods

Have you ever been out and about, and had your tot's container of baby food explode into your purse?  Yeah, that hasn't happened to me, either... but it COULD have! 

I've known about NurturMe foods for awhile now.  I thought that the world had more than enough infant/toddler food options out there, and would be lying if I said that I initially thought that the NurturMe products would be anything I would find myself saying I liked.  Freeze dried baby food?  Um...  I remember joking that they'd be perfect for little baby astronauts (what with their "freeze dried-ness".  Astronaut ice cream sandwiches anyone??)...

I was lucky enough to receive some great samples of NurturMe products awhile back, and I must say, I was pleasantly surprised.  The apples actually taste like apples (and not like mush--win!), the bananas taste great (although the texture is a little unique), the peas taste like peas (and the wee-est one liked his quite well).  What I love most about them is that they're SO darn portable.  I keep a few packets in every diaper bag just in case, as well as a few in the car.  My kiddos are old enough to not love purees now, but in a pinch, they work just fine.  Since every place I go will (most likely at least) have water/milk/something with which to mix up the purees, it's a win for me.

But my favorite part?  I can sneak fruits and vegetables into other dishes and make them healthy.  Spaghetti Sauce is a great place to hide veggies, in muffin batter or pancake batter is a GREAT place to hide fruits. 

The price on these isn't the absolute lowest price on baby food out there, but it's great, healthy, portable, and convenient, which is worth something--even to this cheapskate. 

Oh, and did I mention that I'm going to do a GIVEAWAY?!?

That's right!  All you have to do to enter to win a variety pack of NurturMe flavors is to jump on over to the NurturMe website have a little look around, and let me know (by leaving a comment) what flavor you would like most and/or how you would use the prize package if you received it. 

The winner will receive an assortment pack of NurturMe flavors, courtesy of One Cheery Cheapskate to enjoy! 

Review: April 2013 Conscious Box

I love getting stuff in the mail, and I love surprises. 

Thus, I kind of love getting boxes of surprises in the mail.   So when I saw a sweet promo a few weeks ago (possibly even before I started blogging... so don't feel too bad that I didn't share it!) that let me get a month's worth of the Conscious Box for about $2 shipped, I just couldn't pass it up. 

I received my Conscious Box the other day (same day I got my two "Be" Boxes from Vitacost) and decided to spread out the excitement and wait a day to open it.  We had a pretty jam-packed weekend, so I didn't have time to post what came inside until just now. 

Due to some technical issues....  I am only able to post a thumbnail of the box contents for now.  I'll try to post the full size picture later, but here's the general idea: 

While it was mostly single use packets, there sure were a lot of them!

As a rule, I tend to think that single use packets aren't really worth much--even if there are a lot of them.   I'd say that most items aren't ones I would have purchased (and to be honest I'm not sure I'd actually purchase most of these things...) so that's something.  There were some definite "hits" and quite a few "misses" for me with this box.

Hits included the GoGo Squeez Applesauce pouch, that the wee-est one gobbled up as soon as he caught a glimpse of it.  My kids LOVE the fruit puree pouches, and this one was no exception. 

Another highlight is the 4 ounce bottle of Ecos all natural laundry detergent.  While this is good for 2 loads, I think it'll be more convenient to pack along on a trip and wash something in the sink if necessary.  Smells like Lemon Grass (which smells great, but tastes terrible...), so that's a fun new scent in detergent for me. 

Also included was a packet of NurturMe Freeze Dried Peas baby food.  We've had NurturMe Stuff in the past and the kids like it.  Works great to mix in with other foods to sneak veggies in for non-veggie eaters (I blame my husband for that...!)  One packet isn't a super great value, but we'll certainly used them, so that's something.

The only other really nice item included was a Lafes all natural lip balm in a cute little tin.  I'd totally think of purchasing these on my own.  I just noticed that Amazon has a FIFTY PACK of these listed for $7.00 as an add-on for orders over $25.  I suspect that this is a pricing error...  But you *may* be able to score a ridiculously awesome deal if you need a TON of lip balm. 

Misses: 

Pretty much everything else...  I got some Spirulina capsules, two CoQ10 enzyme tablets, a glass bottle of something herbal and green (?), a couple individual packets of lotion, a tea bag, and a fish oil gel thing....  I will try to actually put up specifics of these, but in my mind, free samples that I could get from the company anyway (for free) don't make a great subscription box.  I like to think that I'm getting a great deal, and when I get one use of something, I tend to think "Meh" overall.

Since I only paid about $2 for this box, I think it was worth it for the lip gloss and applesauce alone... But I would not probably pay full price for this box again. 

Free Clothing at Sears Outlet **4/15 Only**

Woo Hoo!  This looks like a great freebie (and one that makes me a little sad that I don't live near a Sears Outlet...)

Today only go to a Sears Outlet with coupon (link here) and snag a free clothing item!  You don't often see freebies like this, so hopefully at least someone can pick this up!

I'm not sure where outlets are... But awesome if there's one near you!  :-)

Enjoy~

Tax Day Fries at Arby's

Head over to Arby's today and get a free "Value" sized fries in honor of Tax Day.  Not sure what the connection is with free fries and paying taxes....  but whatever the case,  I enjoyed a free snack of Curly fries on the way in to the office earlier today.  YUMMM.

Enjoy!

Hey local people... Go to the Drive In! :-) $7 for TWO admissions!

Hey there local folks! 

Got a hot tip from Jessica about a sweet deal to the Grandview Drive In Theater.  

For $7 you can get two admissions to the movie!  This weekend, they're showing "The Croods", which while it looks pretty un-awesome to me... has actually received good reviews from my friends who've gone to see it.  PLUS.... Each movie is a double feature!  What?!?  That's like paying $7 for FOUR movie tickets, since EVERY night is a double feature!  I went ahead and jumped on a couple of these--should make a great summer evening!

SO...  Click through this link HERE to get details on the deal!

Enjoy!

THANK YOU Jessica!!

In Today's Mail: Vitacost "Be Well" Box (Review)

I've mentioned that I like getting goodies in the mail.  Today was a red letter day for that--Two surprise boxes in one package!

I've already reviewed my "Be Pretty" box from Vitacost, which means next up is the "Be Well" box. 

Here goes... 

Mmm...  Apple Clusters...

Peeled snacks in Apple Clusters flavor.  0.63 Ounces.  I've heard that these are tasty.  Based on prices on the web, I'm calling this about a $1.50 value.

Minami MorEPA Minis Teen, Strawberry Softgels.  This is a full sized product... I'm just a little confused at the "Teen" formula.  I know that fish oil is healthy and all, but this one just seemed a little strange.  We'll use it, I guess... But seemed random, since there are not currently now nor will there be teenagers in our home for the forseeable future.  Sells for $25/bottle.

Natrol Melatonin 5mg dissolvable tablets.  I have *no* problems sleeping (save for the occasional shrieking toddler)... but I may pass this along and see if the husband may enjoy (is that even the right word?).  Based on online prices, I'm calling this a $0.40 value.

New Chapter WholeMega Flex Joint Fomula Softgels.  This is another full size product, that apparently sells for $36.  I was not aware how spendy the fish oil gels could be.  I'm actually sort of looking forward to taking these (as long as they don't taste terrible).  I descend from a line of folks who've needed joints replaced, so maybe an ounce (or at least 60 softgels worth) of prevention may be worth something?? 

Welesse Vitamin D 1000 IU drink/shot/something... This is liquid.  And it's in a small bottle.  It claims to be berry flavored, but I am a little hesitant.  I'm sure it's healthy, but I have a thing with liquid medicines.  (Too much cough syrup as a child, I think..)  I'm calling the value on this $1.75 based on the prices online. 

Total value for this box....

Approximately $65

I'm pretty "meh" on this one.  I guess it's stuff that we will use, but not stuff that I would normally buy.  I know, I know....  That's why you buy the surprise box....  To try new things... But I'm just not that thrilled with these things.  It's still a great deal at $13.99/box, don't get me wrong, just not sure it's a box I'd try again.  Maybe once more when  I run out of these fish oil gels--just in case.... A girl can only use so many fish oil capsules...Am I right?? 

Do you want to try out a Vitacost "Be" box?  (I recommend the "Be Pretty" one...)  Go here, join, and get a $10 credit on  your first order.  They have other great stuff (at pretty nice prices) besides the boxes, too. 

In Today's Mail: April 2013 Vitacost Be Pretty Box

I love getting packages in the mail, and surprise packages are extra fun for me.

I've ordered from Vitacost before, and have been pleased, so when I saw that they were offering a new monthly box service.  They were offering a nice promo when I placed my order, so I figured I'd try it out.

I ordered two boxes--the "Be Pretty" box and the "Be Well" box.   Details of the "Be Well" box are forthcoming... I was more excited about the "Be Pretty" box, so I will let you know what I received in that first. 

Pardon the toddler-palooza mess in the background...

And now for the contents:

1 two ounce bottle of Coral Actives Moisturizer for Acne Prone Skin.  I believe this is a full size product from what I can find online and retails from $9 to $25.

2 Bottles (3.4 ounces each) of Kiss My Face Peace Soap liquid castile soap in "Pomegranate Acai" scent.  Pretty excited that this is something I will use for sure.  Vitacost sells a 4 pack of this for $11.96, so I'm going to call this a $6 value.

2 Bars of Out of Africa Unscented Shea Butter bar soap, 1.7 ounces each.  While I'm not a huge fan of bar soap in general, I appreciate that it's not going to be an overly scented product to use.  This sells for $4 for a four ounce bar, making this about a $3.50 value.

Reviva Eye Gelee, 1.25 ounces.  While I've never known that I need eye gelee, and have not known my eyes to be dry so much (at least not my eyelids).  This is the full size that they sell online, making it an $11 value.

Deep Steep Chamomile Lavender Moisture Stick.  I'm not exactly clear on what this is... I initially assumed chapstick, but the website says it's for dry skin, so maybe more like a lotion stick?  I am intrigued, at least, so that's something.  This is full size, and sells for $6.

Juice Organics Healthy Beauty "PomPink" Lip Amplifier.  I'm actually pretty excited about this.  I like lip gloss, and have been wanting a new color for summer.  This is full size and sells for $6.

Two packets of Desert Essence Rejuvenating Face Serum and Two packets of Desert Essence Revitalizing Eye Serum.  I don't really think that little packets of stuff are a great value.. but this stuff is pretty pricy.  Based on amount in the packets and the selling prices, together the packets have an assumed value of approximately (!) $14.00.  Yowzers!  This stuff had better be good! 

All together, the items in this box add up to a retail value of...  <drum roll please>

$71.50

Based on retail value alone, I'd say that it's a great deal.  These boxes sell for $13.99 if you're paying full price (which I did not)!  I haven't had time to actually try out these products yet... but the value definitely seems to be there.  Would I pay that much for some of these items?  No flippin' way.  BUT, I am excited to try things that I wouldn't otherwise try, so it's a win in that regard for sure.  My favorite item from this box?  I'm betting on the lip gloss, although the practical liquid soap is a close second for me. 

Want to try out a "Be Pretty" box for yourself?  Click this link to get a $10 off of $30 promo code good on your first order.  I used a $10 code when I placed my order, and got TWO surprise boxes and some of my favorite countertop spray for only $25 shipped.  Woo Hoo!

Annnnnnd...  since I'm not really a "serum" kind of gal...  Here's a giveaway!  My very first one!

Leave a comment and let me know what kind of reviews/tips you'd most like to see, and be entered to win the Desert Essence Serum Packets (approx. retail value $14).  Go join the One Cheery Cheapskate group on Facebook for a second entry, just let me know that you did that.  I will draw for this prize using Rafflecopter on Monday, April 15th.

App Review: Wrapp

I love shopping and I love saving money.  Two things that usually don't quite go together. 

Enter Wrapp. 

Wrapp is a fun app that lets you send gift cards to your friends.   Usually the gift cards are pretty small, (or significantly larger for sites with heftier price tags).    You join through facebook, it imports your contacts, their birthdays, and you're off to the races. 

There are merchants who are always offering free gift cards of some denomination.  Some of the more recent ones I've seen are Office Depot (Free $5), Shutterfly (Free $10), MLB.com (Free $10), Sephora (Free $5) and more.  Even if it doesn't cost anything, it's nice to send a little something to a friend on a birthday (or just because). 

Since I started using this app a few months ago, I've received two $5 Gap cards (that I used to snag TWO $60 dresses on final clearance and some chapstick for less than $1 out of my pocket), a $10 MLB.com gift card that I used to snag a FREE baseball t-shirt (Oakland A's anybody?  I just liked that it was green), and a $5 gift card to Sephora that I used to order a small bottle of my faaaaavorite shower gel (and three pretty great perfume samples) for only $2 out of my pocket.  The free gift cards aren't huge, nor will they probably land you loads of free goodies... but it's totally worthwhile, and fun in my opinion. 

Let me know what good deals you snap up! 

Happy Surprises 4/11

So remember the sweet deal I posted a few days ago that I found for Stage stores?  No?  Mmmmkay.... well, that would be this deal.

I received my packages in the mail yesterday and the day before, and opened them and found them BOTH to include a $5 off of $5 purchase coupon good for in-store use!  WOOT!!  That was a great deal to begin with, but to add on another FREE $10 was a super great surprise! 

"Wow, Mom!  Great work!  Ooh... and presents for me?  Score!!!"

Then, a couple days ago I placed an order to WalMart for some clearanced bundle items (that I would have posted here except for people said that there were problems shortly after I placed my order...  D'oh).  I had ordered some really large fun cardboard things to color for my kids to do this summer.  Well...  I get the order and it says that only the bonus items (the markers or crayons to color said cardboard goodies) were being shipped.  I received two of the four bonus items yesterday (and was only charged for two of them), and decided to just wait and take the items back to my local store... until I checked my email this morning.  Not only did Wal-Mart say they'd refund my money since it was their mix-up, I get to keep the crayons AND they're sending me a $10 gift card for the headache.  I realize this isn't a huge deal--but that is some great customer service in my book, and I appreciate that!  I will pick up another birthday gift for Thing 2's birthday, and be pretty much set.  Yippee!

I'm also expecting a couple of new subscription boxes I tried for a one month shot this month and got great deals on... Hopefully reviews (and maybe promo codes if I can get them lined up??) will be forthcoming by the weekend. 

Freebie Alerts

I get lots of fun things in the mail and sign up for lots of freebie types of things... thought I'd give a rundown of some of my best mail from the past week (or so). 

Today I got a coupon and two packets of Yogi tea.  You can get a sample here, and send a couple samples to a friend.  I selected the Kombucha and the Ginger tea for myself.  I suppose you could just send them both to yourself... but friends enjoy freebies too, right??  I gave one of mine to a friend in the office, but am looking forward to the ginger tea with my dinner.  Comes with a $1 coupon on the back of the little card. 

I didn't get them this week, but did receive a nice box of Proctor and Gamble freebie samples last week, including some Finish dishwashing tabs, some Tide laundry pods, some Prilosec (that I'm not sure we'll use, but maybe?), and some decently sized samples of Pantene shampoo AND conditioner.  I did, however, just sign up for their current freebies (Dental Floss and baby wipes as I recall?) just today.  If you're not a member of the P&G sample site, I highly recommend it.  It's totally free, and they don't spam you with stuff--unless you tell them it's OK.  ;-)  Go here to sign up and get started.  Let me know what you get.

Back to the subject of tea... (Who doesn't enjoy a cup every now and then?)  You can request a couple free samples from Twinings of London here.  Just pick which two sound yummiest, and wait anxiously by the mailbox for them to arrive.  I ordered the fresh and fruity ones, and hope they'll be yummy.

Go get some free goodies.  :-)

*HOT* $40 off $40 purchase at Express

Promo code 2020 gets you $40 off a $40 purchase at Express.  You have to pay shipping... but still a smokin' deal. 

I just placed my order... and my total was less than $40, and it took the ENTIRE AMOUNT off, just had to pay $8 in shipping.

Here's what I got:

Men's Hoodie, Originally $69.90.  On sale for $29.99.  Minus an addition 30%...  $20.99 total.

Cute clutch.  Originally $34.90.  On sale for $14.99.  Minus an additional 30%...  $10.49 total.

Cute black hoop earrings.  Originally $16.90.  On sale for $7.99.  Minus an additional 30%...  $5.59 total.

That's well over $100 (retail) of goodies for $8 shipped!

Oh happy day!!

Now GO!! 

**Update... Various sources are now saying that either the code is invalid, or expired, or for VIP members... I am uncertain of what is actually true--but I will be following up.  I still haven't received an email confirming my order, although I did receive an order number.  I'll follow up a bit later maybe, although reports from these kinds of things in the past suggest that I may be just out of luck.  Let me know what you find out.

***Update 2.0:  Order Cancelled...  D'oh!  Can't say I'm not surprised, but still.  Bummer! 

Review: Footprints and Glitter Photography

Sometimes the universe just lines up and things happen for a reason.  It just so happened that one of my good friends has a sister... and by the grace of social media, I found out that she was starting her own photography business. 

There's nothing that makes a mama's heart go pitter-patter quite like the prospect of adorable "awww" inducing photos of her little ones.  As luck would have it, both of my littles were due to get their yearly "birthday" pictures taken.  And like I said about that whole universe thing, I saw Footprints and Glitter pop up on my news feed the very same week I was trying to figure out where to take them.  A couple quick message exchanges later, and we were set for our appointment.

Getting my two kiddos up and around in a timely fashion is no small feat...  But we put on our game faces and headed north to the big city (Cedar Rapids).  We found our location pretty quickly and easily, and even wound up being a few minutes early (which literally almost never happens.  EVER.).  Sarah's adorable boys served nicely as her welcoming committee, and were chatting us up in no time--talking about mutual acquaintances, toys, you know--the usual. 

After the introductory chit-chat, we dressed the kids up in their snazzy clothes and were off to the races. 

Everything had a very casual feel, and my kids were in heaven immediately.  Sarah said to expect a playdate kind of environment, and she wasn't kidding.  Lots of toys and the vocal stylings of Laurie Berkner in the background made for an ideal kid enviroment.  But she's a preschool teacher... so she knew that. 

She was engaging, and got real smiles out of the Queen with no problem.  Little Man, however, brought his poker face.  Or his serious face.  Or whatever you want to call it--there were no smiles to be found.  After many bribes with toy cars and airplanes, we were on track for a smirk or two.  It wasn't until after he caught sight of a step ladder in the corner that he dusted off the old smiler.  And Sarah, being a great sport, put the ladder in the pictures so that he'd flash his pretty smile.  Not her first choice for props (nor mine, to be honest), but the little one was happy, and that's what we were going for. 

How very much I love this!!!

And this little one?  Could he be any sweeter?!?!?

We even took a few outdoor family photos--since we like to get at least one new one per year...  And while we almost blew away in the wind, she caught a few great ones outdoors, too.

See?  We *do* love each other! 

All in all, a great day.  I would recommend her without hesitation to anyone in the Iowa City/Cedar Rapids area looking for some great photos.  She's offering $10 in print credit if you're referred... so tell her I sent you, and get $10 off of your prints.  :-) 

PLUS, she's offering some pretty special deals now to build up her portfolio, so you never know what sort of sweet deal you may score!!

Free Photos at Walgreens TODAY!

Today only, use promo code PICTURES25 to get 25 4x6 prints FREE from Walgreens!  Have them printed in-store and you don't have to pay shipping... Just pick them up whenever!  (Note, you have to order and have them printed today, but you don't necessarily have to pick them up today.)

I've done tons of photo freebies from Walgreens, and they're always great.  We have family out of state that we try to keep up with and this is a great way to share pics on the cheap.  OR... If you have family out of the area, have them printed to a store local to them to save on photo shipping that way, too!  (We've done both.)

Enjoy!  :-)

Great deal on Tide!

Hop on over to Amazon and snap up a great deal on Tide detergent. 

Go here and get 2 bottles of High Efficiency Tide (32 loads per bottle) for under $10 SHIPPED!!

There's a $1.50 coupon to clip on that page--Clip that!!

Then check out with Subscribe and Save (and cancel as soon as you receive the order) and save an additional % off, dropping the cost down to $4.45/bottle. 

I LOVE how Tide makes my laundry smell... 

High End Shopping for Less: Gilt.com Review

I love pretty things.... and I love to shop.  Thus--I love shopping on gilt.com .

Gilt is one of those websites with gorgeous offerings of high end fancy things.  It's great for holiday shopping, or for that special gift--or that's what I use it for primarily.   I've purchased baby shower gifts, diaper bags, shoes for both kiddos, toys, candles, decorative items, and other fun goodies at a fraction of retail cost. 

Here are a couple cute/fun things I noticed today while perusing the offerings... 

This cute blanket can be found here and retails for $85... Gilt's price is $24.  Would make a great "special" unique baby gift when you don't want your present to be just like everyone else's. 

Or for a practical gift that's from a great brand...  Try this bouncer out.  My kids loved these, and this one is especially pleasing to grown ups since it isn't printed with garish cartoon characters...  Or maybe I'm the only parent now wowed by that kind of thing...? 

At any rate, they have some fab stuff.  You'll need a referral to join, unless you want to be on the waitlist... so click here for my referral link, and consider yourself invited!  :-)

Enjoy!

Free Samurai Surf and Turf at Panda Express 4/17

I love Asian food... and I love Freebies.  Thus, I love this freebie, and am marking my calendar! 

Go here to pick up a coupon for a free serving of Panda Express's Samurai Surf and Turf!

Enjoy!!

A Few Tips for Birthday Shopping on the CHEAP!

My kids have birthdays within a week of each other, and I don't like to have the expense of buying 2 kids worth of birthday presents PLUS have the expense of a *great* party all at the same time, so I try to spread out my shopping over the year. 

Here are some of the deals I've found so far this year!

For the Queen Bee...

Barbie Squinkie 3 in 1 Playset... Regular price $45, Got on a clearance deal from Wal-Mart for $15 (with Free Site-to-Store Shipping).  Got this back in the first part of February. 

This cute Magna Pearls and Jewels 12" bike.... Found this over on Nobettterdeal.com for $15.99 way WAY back in August 2012, but just kept it for summer.  I just checked and found this same bike selling for $128 over at Sears now.  Seems like a pretty sweet deal to me! 

My girl loves tiny little toys that "do stuff".  These spring open with magnets, and are really small and portable to take on car rides and the like.  We'd received a couple bigger ones in happy meals that she loved, and these were right up her alley.  I picked up FOUR double packages at Walgreens right after Christmas for $2 per DOUBLE pack.  That's $1 per package...  These sell from $6.50 to $10 for ONE pack.  I ended up with a couple doubles, but these will make great gifts for the gift closet, too.

Moral of the story...  Buy big ticket items if and when they're marked down!     Bikes for example will be marked way down at the end of summer, and you're likely to find some great deals after the holidays.  I normally spend around $50 on birthday gifts.  By paying close attention to sales, and being flexible about when I purchase gifts (and then storing them for a few months...) I've been able to get over $200 of stuff for less than $50.  I like spreading the expense around anyway, and then to grab great deals is even better. 

Free Arby's Shakes this week!

Go check out Arby's for this sweet deal...

Buy any sandwich (not value menu sandwiches) and get a free 16 ounce shake.  Print the coupon or show it on your phone.  I picked up my delicious Jamocha shake on my way into work today.... YUM!

DELICOUS!  This deal is good thru 4/9, I think, so go treat yourself!

Save $10 off of $25 at Stage Stores

If you go to Stage Stores' website, you can find some great deals on clearance stuff that's already pretty heavily marked down.  ***Use code 4110***

I did a little bit of shopping for my kiddo's birthday and scored the following

This was $12.99 (60% off of their retail), and is selling for $30 on Amazon.com, so not a bad deal there.  Also got this one:

This was also $12.99 (60% off of their retail, but currently selling for $14 on Amazon--so not as awesome of a deal, but still not too bad.)

I also snapped him up a cute Carter's top for $7 (with a truck on it.... naturrally).  SO...  Total before coupons was $31.  Using the coupon code plus tax and shipping, my grand total was $25.xx.  Not a bad deal for a few birthday giftable items.  PLUS... I figure I save $$ by not having to get out and actually run to the stores on last minute shopping missions.  :-)

They have LOTS of great stuff now, so check it out.

Sidewalk Chalk Deal

Head on over to Amazon and grab this SWEET deal on Crayola Sidewalk Chalk!

Regularly $16.xx, you can get a tray of chalk that SHOULD last all summer!  The product description says that you will get SIX packages of 15 pieces each... for $2.99 SHIPPED.

Steal of a deal!  I placed my order, and can't wait to get them for my kiddos' birthdays in spring, and maybe send a couple to daycare, too. 

GO!!  Quickly!! 

Free Duncan Hines Frosting Creations Printables

Head on over to Duncan Hines' Easter site and snap up a couple free Frosting Creations frosting mixes.  I was able to print off TWO coupons. 

If you shop at Wal-Mart, right now they're marked at $0.84 each, so they'll be money makers for you--since Wal-Mart gives you back the overage.  Use your two printed coupons, get two packets of free goodies, and leave with an extra $0.32 in your pocket! 

They have some yummy sounding flavors... I snapped up Strawberry Shortcake with a coupon from Sunday's paper, and plan to go back for Chocolate Marshmallow and Orange Creme. 

Enjoy!

Take a Survey, get an adorable book!

Here's a sweet deal I stumbled across...

1.)  Go check out Barefoot Books and take the survey on the front page (there's a large box that says "Take a Survey, get a free book!).  

2.)  Register at the end of the survey and they will send you a FIFTEEN DOLLAR code to use for the purchase of a book of your choice.

3.)  Wait *patiently* to receive said code.

4.)  Order something awesome and check out their other offerings while you're there... They have some SERIOUSLY adorable stuff!!

5.)  Let me know what you get or if you're able to score this deal!  I got my $15 code in my email this morning.  It took about 24 hours, but I got it, and I'm shopping for books as I type this. 

~Enjoy!

Update! 
I just got done shopping around the site--which is absolutely adorable--and picked out these little gems to get to hang on the wall in our playroom, which is conveniently already being decorated with vintage book/nursery designs.  AND, the voucher code is good on shipping, too.  I didn't even have to enter my Credit Card Info!

Easter baskets on the Cheap

Easter is just around the corner, and if you're like me, you "The Easter Bunny" has been stocking up for awhile now!  Here are some of the things that are going into the baskets at our house this year.

Books!
I've been watching resale shops when I happen to stop, and have at least two or three really nice hardcover books for each kid.  Generally resale places will have tons of books, and often they're really reasonably priced, in the $1-2 range.  Cost per kid's basket?  $5/kid

Treats!
While I'd like to pretend that I'm one of those amazing parents who only gives her kids wholesome treats, I am not that mom.  My kiddos are getting a dark chocolate Lindt bunny (YUM!!) that I scored on Amazon for less than a buck each (cha-ching!), a couple ziplock baggies of the Kraft bunny shaped marshmallows (about $1.50 for a whole bag which makes about 10 ziplock sized ones), and some plastic eggs filled with malted milk robin's eggs (about $2/bag).  Cost per kid's basket?  $3.25/kid

Toothbrushes!
My kids are a little nuts about brushing their teeth, and I found some pretty snazzy ones at Big Lots... They light up for a minute (the length of time they're supposed to brush)!  Little minds blown!  Cost per toothbrush?  $1

Plush Bunny!
So I'm that mom... and I keep thinking my kids are going to love stuffed animals forever... and somehow gloss over the fact that we have a [no exaggeration here] small army of stuffed bunnies already.... but I found each kiddo a stuffed bunny on clearance for $1/each.  

Small Toy!
Worker Bee is getting a couple new Hot Wheels cars in his basket ($0.97/each), and the Queen is getting a small toy that I got on clearance awhile back for $1, and maybe a new foaming hand soap.  My kids have a thing for hygiene... or they just love our new bathroom sink.  Either way--it's all good with me!

Total outlay for the baskets this year per child is about $12.  I reuse the baskets from year to year, and save the plastic eggs to reuse also.  I'll also get the hubs something little, too, although he says he doesn't need a basket...  Both he and I are pretty big fans of many of Cadbury's offerings at this time of year.

Any other good basket ideas?  Let me know! 

Say CHEESE! Photo Deals 3/21

Pictures!!

Some great deals on photos now for your best St. Patrick's Day Pictures... Or Valentine's Day Pictures...  (Or really, who am I kidding...  Christmas Pictures)

Shutterfly is currently offering a *HOT* deal on a FREE 8x8 Hardcover Book (you just pay shipping) with promotional code MYBOOK (good thru 3/26).  That's a steal, since these are usually about $35.  Shipping runs about $8!  Mother's Day Gift anyone??

Snapfish has a couple of codes now, too, if you're in the market for 4x6 prints.  Code CLOVERPRINT will get you 100 prints for $10 SHIPPED ($0.10/print), and LUCKYPRINT is good for 300 (or more as I understand it) prints to ship for $1, which works out to $0.09/print. 

Walgreen's has a pretty nice little promo out now for 40% off of EVERYTHING, with code EVERYTHING40 (creative, right?).  That should be good for photos/gifts/everything.  Heh. 

York Photo has a pretty fun deal right now, too.  New members can use code TWOMUG to get a personalized photo mug for $2 (plus shipping; cost run about $5 for that, I believe), or code ONEMAGNET to get a FREE 4x6 photo magnet (plus shipping--usually about $2).  Plus, join through the link, and get 60 FREE prints.  PLUS, they have a Buy-One-Get-One code for prints out, too now if you're looking to get multiple item.  BUYONE gets you unlimited prints thru 3/25. 

I've ordered from all of these folks without incident, and would order from them again. 

Enjoy!

Review: Artscow.com

While perusing my daily deal hunt blogs a week or so ago, I spotted a deal for a photo gift for $0.99 shipped.  They had me at $0.99 shipped...  <swoon>

If there are two things I like, it's pictures of my sweet littles on stuff, and inexpensive gifts.  :-) 

I went ahead and ordered a cosmetic bag with my kids' pictures on it, and received it in today's mail.  I was blown away!  The picture quality is fabulous!  I'm not entirely sure what I'll use it for to be honest...  I'm thinking a bag for our beach bag in summer with our sunscreen/etc to keep it from leaking in the rest of the bag perhaps...

But what I didn't know when I joined ArtsCow was how much free stuff they'll give you!  Holy smokes.  Like dozens of free items.  Granted you have to pay for shipping on them, which isn't world's cheapest (it comes from Hong Kong)... but I plan to save some of my credits and order some fun holiday gifts with my credits. 

I will post a picture of my sweet cosmetic bag once I'm reunited with the camera so you can see how great it looks.  They have some other great deals now on personalized blankets (with photos!) and photo canvases (I think I'll order more!) as well as a code on the website now for free shipping on a $20 order.  They also have TONS of models of cell phone cases that you can customize, too.  (A good thing for this non iPhone and non top-of-the-line android user...)

Here's a sweet deal they have going right now:  Mix and Match any of these THREE items for $10 SHIPPED!   Items include:  Coin Purse, Business Card Holder, Pencil Case, Mini Makeup Bag, Mini Playing Cards, Rubber Stamp, Jigsaw Puzzle, Measuring Tape, Bookmark, Letter Opener, Glasses Cloth, 4x6 Photo Book (20 pages!), Face Towel, Luggage Tag, Tile Coaster, Framed Tile (what I think I'm going to make), Memo Pads, Notebook, or Cufflinks (father's day anyone??)  Promo code is:  MIXANDMATCH3. 

I'm thinking those would make some GREAT personalized items for Easter baskets (I think there's still time to get them in by then?), or Mother's Day/Father's Day, or End of the year teacher gifts for CHEAP! 

Click here for my referral link. 

Reminder:  Join and get (at least) 1800 free prints and TONS of other great stuff. 

Let me know if you are in the market for a photo blanket or wall canvases, and I can dig out those codes and pass them along, too.  ;-)

Have YOU tried ThredUp??

If I love one thing, it's shopping for my (adorable) little people.  I've said way more than once that if I was going to change careers (and had endless $$$ to burn...)  I would open a kid's clothing store.  Sadly, that's not likely in the immediate future...  BUT, ThredUp has allowed me to use a little less of my cash to outfit my kiddos--and for that reason, I LOVE them.

Let the record show, before I get any farther.... I am *NOT* being compensated by ThredUp in *ANY* way for this blog post...  (although wouldn't I love it if I were??)

ThredUp is like an online consignment store.  They only accept like new kids items (and even weed out the "crummy" store brands for you!), and while they are more spendy than say Goodwill clothes run--you can outfit your kid in unique togs for a fraction of what you'd spend if you were shopping retail.  I've ordered from them at least a dozen times, and I've been pleased with almost everything (I'll cover that in a minute). 

I've snagged special occasion items, new with tags items, REALLY high end items, and a little bit of everything--and all from the relative comfort of my own home (toddlers running around anyone?).  I've referred friends, and have ordered boxes as gifts.  If you love to shop, and love NOT having to leave home to do it--you  may want to check them out.

Now... about the things that I wasn't thrilled with...   Their customer service ROCKS.  I've had a few problems with items either showing  up with snags/stains/etc, or being the wrong size, etc.  Without exception, every single time I've emailed customer service, I've received a quick reply, and they've made the situation right.  There was one order where I think three out of twelve items had some issue, and they asked if I could send along photos for them to pass to their quality control team, which wasn't a big deal to me at all. 

You can even send your clothes to them to get credit!  Here's what I did... After reading lots of people say that their payouts for stuff wasn't great, I bagged up all of my yard sale leftovers (that I would have likely taken to Goodwill or just donated) and sent them to ThredUp.  I did include a few high end items, as I wanted to believe that they'd be accepted and re-listed for sale... 

I tend to be pretty meticulous about what I put on my kiddos, and I was disappointed that some of the higher end items I sent were not accepted at all... But some of the stuff that I would literally *never* put on my kids were accepted and marked WAY higher than I thought they should be...  I think of the three bags I sent in to them, I received about $50 total in credit (averaged about $15/bag), or about $1-2 per item they accepted to re-sell on the site.  I would totally send them more bags in the future, but would be leary of sending anything really high end unless it was *maybe* new with tags, since I sent in at least one of those items that wasn't accepted either.  OH well... 

They're great.  Love them.  I would LOVE to give out a ThredUp prize sometime soon for people to try them out...  (Maybe someone from ThredUp will get that *subtle* hint???)

Now thru Friday, if you are placing your first order, use code MAR15 to get $15 off of your first order! 
While you're at it... Join through this link:  http://www.thredup.com/r/X7TV59 and get $10 off (I believe) in addition to the $15.  Not sure if you can use both on the same order--but you should be able to use both credits--at least as I understand it. 

[Full disclosure:  That is my referral link, so you join and get $$ and I get $$ for sending you...]

GO!  Shop!  Enjoy their offerings... and let me know what you think when you get your first (or subsequent...) orders! 

My Achilles Heel

Clothes shopping.  My achilles heel.  I coudl literally shop for hours in a day if time (and money) were no object...  I liked clothing shopping before I had kids, but since they're arrived, I am a total sucker for seeing them look (extra) adorable in well thought out outfits.   Many people around me think I'm completely nuts--and I probably am... But, there are far worse habits to try to keep in check... right?  RIGHT??  Here are a few tips/tricks and thoughts about dressing your kiddos on the cheap. 

1.  Hand-Me-Downs are a BEAUTIFUL thing!  Until they're AT LEAST three, kids won't really wear anything out. They may get stains or a bit of wear, but most kids aren't quite that tough on things.  After age 3, all bets are off....  Garage Sales, Yard Sales, and Craigslist are great places to hunt for bargains, as many people are just wanting stuff gone by the time they have a garage sale or post to CL.  That said, feel free to haggle with either.  I may be in the minority, but if someone wants to purchase a lot of items, I'm usually THRILLED to negotiate a price to move the merchandise so to speak. 

2.  Shop a season ahead (or more) if you can.  You'll find the best deals on winter stuff when they start putting out summer.  I tend to not ever pay more than about 50% off of retail prices for any kids clothes, unless it's a really special item or accessory that matches something we already have.  It's sometimes hard when the kids are really tiny, but if you save receipts, often you can return items if they don't end up working.  We have items in the closet for a year (and a few for further out that that) in advance.  Certainly if storage is an issue, you may not want to go too crazy, but assuming you have a place to store your stuff, you can save a ton this way.

3.  Check for coupons before you go to any retail store.  Many big name kids stores have coupons online, or in magazines.  I was (OK... I *am*)  a huge fan of Gymboree when the Queen Bee was a baby, and discovered that if I shopped sales AND used my 20% off coupons, I could come close to the price of "regular" items at the larger stores, and wind up with more special items.  Many stores will have week long sales sporadically throughout the year, too, so do your homework and check out store websites before embarking on a shopping mission.

4.  Back to that hand-me-down business...  Consignment stores are a great way to snag name brand goodies at discount (or better!) prices.  I find some great items at 75% off of retail (or more) at local consignment stores, and most will have sale racks at any given time also, making the deals even sweeter.  I've scored matching sets for a dollar or two that would cost $30 or $40 in store.  PLUS, sweeten the deal further by taking your used kids items and consigning them and using the return to buy for your kids for the following season(s).  That's a no-brainer to me.  :-)

5.  Other great ideas...  Find someone to swap with.  When I lived on the East Coast, I found a mom who had a son (I had a daughter at the time) and she was expecting a girl and I was expecting a boy... We swapped about 4 rubbermaid totes of clothes and I didn't have to buy much of any boy stuff for the first year and a half of being a boy-mom.  If you're looking for something special that you can't find in-store or at a consignment store, try eBay.  You can often find great deals there if you do some looking--I found an Easter dress for the Queen for $6 shipped.  Can't beat that anywhere.

I have plenty more to say on this topic... but will save that for a bit later when I can elaborate a bit further...

Blast From the Past

I've tried to blog more than once, and both were relatively miserable failures, with the first having maybe a dozen posts, and the second having only half that many...  In my first attempt, I made a list of things that were annoying to me, and in my second I added to that list... Almost four into being a parent now with a whole new variety of life experiences, and I will add to the list.  They are arranged chronologically, and span at least 10 years.  Funny to go back and see how things like that change...

(In no particular order--other than the order I typed them in...)

Failure by others to utilize the turn signal
Driving more than 10 miles under/over the speed limit...(I'm a square...)
Socks without matches
The lump you get in your hair after you've had it in a ponytail
Bad Breath
People who don't cover their mouth when they sneeze/cough
People who don't say "bless you" if you sneeze. Would it kill you??!?
The color purple. I'm just not a fan.
Forgetting to close windows and letting it rain in...
When you really want a sandwich and realize that the bread's moldy
When someone who should doesn't remember your name
...When someone you wish wouldn't does...
Gel toothpaste. Ack.
Listerine.... DOUBLE ack.
Going to the dentist
Bird poop on the freshly washed car
Dropping little bits of cork into the wine bottle
Swiss cheese. Hate it.
Valentine's Day. The premise is nice... but the holiday, not a fan....
Hangnails
Non-name brand tissues... spring for the Kleenex already.
One-ply toilet paper... see above.
The scraping sound of teeth on silverware... gives me chills...
When the dryer doesn't get the clothes dry the first time...
...and I'm out of quarters
People who talk on cell phones in restaurants...
...while you're talking to them
Store bought applesauce... I always forget until I buy it. Yuck.
the word "gizzard"
...and when I see gizzards on menus of any kind....
getting my eyebrows done... the cowlick in my left eyebrow...
country music with too much "twang"
sunburn right behind your knees
...and in the part of your hair...
tea that's too strong;
coffee that's too weak
Sweaters that itch
when you park your car and realize that you're in a mud puddle
...and then you step in it and your socks get wet through your shoes
Breaking in new shoes when the old ones were more comfy
Lipstick on your teeth
...or melted in your purse when you left it in the 90 degree car...
vanity license plates
static cling
the melodic minor scale
Getting stabbed in the boob by your underwire bra
MATH
Christmas lights up before Thanksgiving...
...and after Valentine's Day...
People who don't leave messages when they call
Commercials for feminine hygiene...
...or those with politicians promoting "little blue pills"...
Spyware
When you buy a 2 liter bottle of soda and half inevitably goes flat
Forks with only 3 tines
Sweet Pickles
Diving
Water in my ears
Canker Sores
Making cookie dough and realizing you're out of eggs
Ugly Bridesmaid Dresses
The fact that wedding invitations come addressed to "...and Guest" when you don't actually have a guest to take.
Relatives who are WAY too enthusiastic to set you up on dates with random strangers.
The fact that you can only wear black socks with black pants.
Forgetting to check the lint trap in the dryer for the dark load of laundry.
Forgetting to check the pocket of your black pants for rogue kleenex before throwing them into the wash.
The term "wild" when referring to someone's hairstyle... It's never a good thing.
Iowa winters.
Religious propoganda disguised as cupcakes (it's better not to ask).
When one random strand of hair sticks to freshly applied lip gloss.
Buying songs on the jukebox and leaving before they're played.
Overanalyzing things that shouldn't be overanalyzed.
Incorrect first impressions.
Earmuffs.
Guilt trips.
Realizing that the bag of Tostitos is nothing but crumbs.
Swiss Cheese.
My inability to read minds.
Hindsight.
People who won't get a clue.
Valentine's Day.
The holes on the salt shaker don't work with Kosher salt.
When M&M's melt in your hand.
The huge vocal range of Ave Maria.
NetFlix DVD's that are scratched.
Plants that are supposed to be "impossible to kill"... but aren't.
Anyone who calls me before 9 AM on the weekends.

Fruit snacks forgotten in carseats...

...that melt to the toddlers...

Political auto-dialers

Theme songs for nearly every cartoon my kids like

Bats (the animal ones, not the baseball ones)

Dog poop on sidewalks

Forgetting to charge the electronic devices

Forgetting to move the laundry to the dryer for more than a day and having to re-wash it

Backhanded comments

Blisters

Splinters

When bandaids come un-stuck

When you sit down to pee and the toilet seat is still warm from the last person

When you're ready to check out and realize you left the coupons at home

When the vegetables go bad before you try that recipe

Pretty much anything that happens before 6 AM

 

Baby Steps

While I do like to save a few bucks when possible, I would certainly not consider myself a hard-core couponer or anything like that.  Casual deal-seeker.  We'll go with that.  :-)

A couple of the places I check regularly for deals (of any kind) are slickdeals.com and hip2save.com.  Both are great sources for a variety of deals including in-store and online ones.  I've scored some great bargains for grocery items, FREE items, coupons, promo codes, etc.  If you're looking for a place to get started, put these two sites on your radar for things to watch.  Both are very popular, and sometimes the deals don't last long, but often they're worth the check.

If you're a parent, you should keep an eye on Baby Cheapskate.  The blog features new items almost daily, and has saved us a lot. They'll keep you in the loop about promotions, Buy-1-get-1 deals, and all things baby/kid related.  If you follow them on Facebook, you get the benefit of other moms posting the great deals that they find, too. 

For general household/gift shopping, a site I like to look at periodically is nobetterdeal.com.  They sell overstock and returned items (often that have never been opened).   I tend to do a lot of my holiday shopping here, since I can get an awesome item for a fraction of what I'd pay for it at retail price.  We've purchased strollers, carseats, toys, and a handful of items from them.  Sign up and they'll send you periodic emails with additional percentages off. 

Those are a few of the biggies that I keep track of.  Baby Steps...  I am still learning about new blogs/websites/etc that are great for this kind of thing.  Got any that you love?  Feel free to share. 

And so it begins...

I've been toying with the idea of trying my hand at being a blogger for awhile, and after more than one person has suggested it recently, I am jumping in feet first (and arms flailing around a little bit for impact). 

I've always loved a bargain for as long as I can remember...  As a kid, I have vivid memories of finding amazing bargains at garage sales (enormous pink and green plaid stuffed elephant comes to mind) and of my late Grandma Betty bringing down bags of her most recent garage sale finds.  As a college student, I was cheap out of necessity, and definitely did the ramen noodle thing on more than one occasion.  However, it wasn't until I was a stay-at-home mom for a year that I really found my true appreciation for being thrifty.

Here's a dirty little secret of mine:   I like high-end, fancy things.  I like them a lot. 

I like them *SO* much that when Queen Bee was a baby, I am fairly certain that a baby girl clothing boutique could have been run from her closet.  It didn't take too long for Big Bee freak out a teensy weensy little bit about the disparity between the amount I was spending on baby stuff (which was adorable...) and the amount I was earning (...which was nothing).  And so began my adventures of being a thrifty/frugal/bargain-seeking maven.  What I wanted was the high-end, adorable stuff that made my baby look like she had her own stylist--on a budget that allowed for low-end, bargain-basement duds (See what I did there?  Duds like clothes--or duds like "Gee, that outfit is a dud...").  Both.  A budget for duds that were duds. 

That's my backstory--or at least the backstory that I'm sticking to. 
And from clothes, I moved onto baby gear, furniture, groceries, holiday gifts, and so much more.   

I hope to share some of my tips and tricks with what I anticipate will be tens if not dozens of blog followers...  If you have any questions/comments/ideas that you can share with me, please don't be shy--I'm not.