free stuff

Sephora: New Birthday Freebies for 2022!

Abby H.

The 2022 Birthday Gifts from Sephora have arrived! And this year they are awesome!  Choose a mini set from Laura Mercier, amika, Tatcha, or Olaplex. While supplies last.*

I’m most excited about the Laura Mercier mini set, and my birthday is next month, so I’ll be posting more birthday freebies as they start to arrive in my inbox!

*Beauty Insiders are eligible to redeem one birthday gift per year. Redeem in Sephora US and Canada stores, on sephora.com and sephora.ca, in Sephora at Kohl’s stores, on kohls.com, and at Sephora Inside JCPenney Stores. Gift selection may vary at Sephora Inside JCPenney. Must provide Beauty Insider email address at the time of redemption. No purchase is necessary for in-store redemption. Merchandise purchase required for online redemption. Redeem two weeks before or after your birthday or any time during your birthday month. Offer not valid on jcp.com. If you are having problems redeeming online, please contact customer service at sephora.com/contact-us. A birthday gift is provided “as is”. Substitutions may occur. Valid while supplies last. This offer is subject to change, alteration, or termination by Sephora at its sole discretion at any time.

1/7/2022 Friday Freebies and Deals!

Abby H.

It’s the first Friday of 2022, and there are some awesome free freebies and deals this week.

I’m going to try and include links to free local events as well. Please remember to follow all local public health guidelines. In California, that means wearing masks inside businesses and public spaces.

I’m working on new birthday freebies for 2022 as well. If you know of any, please drop me an email!

Freebies:

Free Covergirl Clean Fresh Brow Gel
Free 2022 Fashionphile Calendar
Free Seaworld Teacher Card
Claim $12 in the Welch’s Juice Class Action Settlement
Free Genexa Kids Cough & Chest Congestion
Text for $10 Off at Lane Bryant = Free Item
JCPenney Portraits – Free 8×10 for Military Families
Free Sample of WowButter Creamy Peanut Free Toasted Soy Spread
Free 2022 Defend the Flock Chicken Calendar
Focus Group Needs New Members – Pays with Visa Debit Cards
Free Medium Fries w/ Any $1 Purchase at McDonalds – Every Friday
Free Milwaukee Die-Cut Decal
Free Field + Farmer Dressing & Dips Coupon
Free $5 Amazon Gift Card
Checkout 51 – Free Winter Wellness Essentials Sample Box
Free Sample of La Roche-Posay Toleriane Moisturizer
Free Heineken 0.0 Sample Pack
Free Protein2O Drink Mix Sample Pack
Free 2022 Paint the Park Calendar
Free 2-Year Subscription to Garden & Gun Magazine
Free Facial Serum + $75 eGift Code
How I Scored a $266 Breast Pump & Accessories for FREE
Free Celltrient Cellular Health Supplement Packets
Free 2022 Enginetech Wall Calendar
Free Wild Planet Wild Tuna Pasta Salad
Free Cool Beans Frozen Wrap
Free Jfoodo Miso Chatterbox Kit
Free Stomp Rocket Toy
Free Large Fries at McDonald’s
Free Charmin Mega Roll Extender
Free Celltrient Cellular Health Supplement Packets
Free American Spirit Butt Pouches & Gift
Free NHL Center Ice Channels Preview – Last Day
Free Michael’s Craft Events
Free Zesty Paws 8-in-1 Bites for Dogs
Free Olly Sleep Gummy Vitamins at Select Stores
Free Books, Journals, Stickers & More

Deals:

dreamGEAR Starter Kit for Nintendo Switch ONLY $39.99 (Reg $100)
Kate Spade Darcy Small Bucket ONLY $99 (Reg $359)
Luminarc 4-Piece Glassware Sets ONLY $3.99 (Reg $25)
Today Only: 30% Off Your Online Order at Old Navy
TCL 50-Inch Roku Smart TV ONLY $298 (Reg $450)
Nine West Ivani Combat Boots ONLY $35.99 (Reg $90)
Old Navy: EXTRA 40% OFF Clearance
Women’s and Men’s Zebra Crocs ONLY $20 (Reg $55)
MUK LUKS Carey Boots ONLY $27.99 (Reg. $65)
Men’s Jogger Sleep Pants ONLY $9.60 (Reg $30)
Crocs Unisex-Adult Classic Sandal Slide ONLY $19.97 (Reg $40)
Ralph Lauren Pillows ONLY $8.99 (reg $25)
Witty Cold-Weather Boots ONLY $19.99 (Reg $50)
Bella 2-Slice Extra-Wide Toaster ONLY $14.99 (Reg $30)

January 2022: New Healthy Freebies From Social Nature!

Abby H.

 If you are into Organic/Natural/Healthy products, then Social Nature is right up your alley. Sign up and apply to sample products that you are interested in. I get probably 1-2 products to sample each month. And most of the time it’s full-size products, not just a tiny sample.

Social Nature has rounded up products that are available to try at a local grocery store or mass merchandiser near you.  Apply to Try the products that interest you to see if you’re a match here.

Here are some of the new sampling opportunities:


And one of the things I love about Social Nature is that they don’t leave our friends with food allergies out.

There are sampling offers for Gluten-free, nut-free, meat-free foods frequently.

Canadian Friends- You are in luck, there are sampling opportunities for you too! So if you love trying new products, check out Social Nature!

 

 

 

Tips for Getting a Deal on Glasses!

Abby H.

Kids are rough on everything, including glasses. The big kid usually goes through 1-2 pairs a year, just in day-to-day wear and tear (and being a 10-year-old boy). Luckily I’ve found some ways to save money on glasses and I thought I’d share.

1- Take advantage of existing vision insurance. Look on the back of your kid’s health insurance card to find out which company handles the vision coverage, or give your child’s health insurance carrier a call. My kids receive one eye exam and 1 free pair of glasses per year. I’m not sure if it’s available in all states.

2-If you need help getting glasses or vision exams for your kids, check out Vision to Learn. They operate in 13 states and partner with the Boys and Girls Club, offering free eye exams and eyeglasses for kids. If you aren’t in a state where they operate, check out InfantSEE.  They offer Kids 6 months-1 year a free eye exam.

If you are 65+, you can obtain a free eye exam from Eye Care America.

3- Onto the deals. Once you have your prescription in hand, check out online stores like Abbe glasses. They have great deals on frames and lenses. I scored two pairs of glasses for under $50 for the big kid with their BOGO sale. ILoveGlasses also has good deals as well. Both of these companies are great for budget-conscious families. If you are looking for something a little higher-end (or for grown-ups), I also like Warby Parker.

They have a great glasses try-on program, and they also sell Contacts. In fact, they have a free contact offer.

Having used Warby Parker before, their glasses are great, and their service is amazing! We bought glasses online, and later when they needed to be adjusted (helpful tip: Don’t roughhouse with kids when you are wearing glasses), we took them to our local Warby Parker store and they “tuned up” the glasses FOR FREE!

And if you are wondering what to do with all of the old eyeglasses in your house that are no longer your current prescription…. The Lions Club helps recycle eyeglasses and get them into the hands of the needy. You can find out more about how and where to recycle your unwanted eyeglasses here.  I also recommend checking with your local optometrist’s office. They frequently partner with local Lion’s Clubs to collect old glasses. You could help a person in need get the glasses they can’t afford!

What are your tips for saving on glasses and contacts?

**This post may contain affiliate links, for more information about how we use affiliate links, please visit our Disclosure page.**

 

1/3/2022 Weekly Meal Plan!

Abby H.

0a5e9dab796cea8a07eabe4eb4795b9e.jpgI did a big year-end fridge/freezer/pantry cleanout (did you know White Claw expires?) last week and we were in need of a lot of groceries.

I had a big shopping week, including a trip to Costco to pick up some staples, and of course… a rotisserie chicken.

We finished up the week yesterday consuming leftovers. And I prepared a pot of chicken stock to make chicken soup today.

We are back on the CSA train- We need some fresh produce in our lives and I hate carrying more groceries upstairs!

Veggies and fruit are delivered by Yasukochi Family Farms CSA. For $25, it’s a great deal. I don’t have to pick anything, go to the store, or carry it upstairs. I can’t go to the store and get the same amount we get weekly for $25. Seriously. It’s a deal.

We’ve been trying a lot of new foods lately, thanks to the really great freebies from Social Nature lately too. It’s fun to try new foods.

For those of you that are new to meal planning, I’ve got an easy 101 style post here with super easy tips and steps. After you get that down, here is info about batch or freezer cooking.

I’ve gotten a pretty good inventory of the pantry, freezer, and fridge done (I try to update it after every shopping trip), so I’m able to plan meals and use up what we’ve got with little waste.

I only post our dinner plans for the week, because our other meals are usually the same each day.

Breakfast: Coffee with 1/2 and 1/2  for me, and pancakes or something along those lines for the kids. They are also into fruit and bagels for breakfast. The Ancient Grain bagels from Einstein Bros. are the current family favorite. I pick them up on Mondays when a dozen is only $7. I slice them and freeze them to keep them from going bad too quickly.

Lunch: I have a plastic tote in the cupboard full of self-serve snacks. I buy treats and snacks in bulk and fill up snack-sized zip-top bags. I’m back to packing lunches again. However, school lunches are free this year- Little Bit has been buying her lunch and expanding her palate.

Dinner: I’ve got some tasty (and quick) meals planned for this week! It’s going to be cold this next week, so Soup will be on the menu a few times. I’ll make big batches and freeze the extra.

Please stay safe you guys!

12/32/2021 Freebie Friday!

Abby H.

It’s Friday! And the last Friday of the year, and usually that would mean a blowout freebie and deal post, but not so this year. Between supply chain shortages, the uptick in the new variant, there aren’t tons of great freebies or deals, but I’m always on the lookout.

But, fear not friends, I’ve still got some good stuff for you!

 

Freebies:

Deals:

Tryazon: Give a Room a Refresh with Deflecto

Abby H.1 Comment

It’s time to love your space with the Tryazon Featured Party opportunity, from Deflecto. Featuring storage and floor protection products to transform your home. Stackable cube organizers make organizing easier, clean up the clutter, and stack to save space. The Deflecto FashionMat floor protectors come in three unique designs and are great for hard floors or flat pile carpets. Update your craft room, child’s room, or home office!

Tryazon has 100 hosting spots open for this opportunity! Those selected get to receive a party pack valued at $300+ with a variety of Deflecto products to share with friends and family! Learn more and apply here. 
We’ve been participating in Tryazon events for three+ years. We’ve gotten to try all sorts of fun toys, games, and food.  You can learn more about Tryazon here.

Tryazon: Wiley Wallaby Back with Gluten-Free, Low Sugar Licorice

Abby H.

We’ve been participating in Tryazon events for three+ years. We’ve gotten to try all sorts of fun toys, games, and food.  You can learn more about Tryazon here.

Wiley Wallaby is back again with another tasty Tryazon Featured Party opportunity.  Introducing Very Berry, the new Gluten-Free, Low-Sugar licorice that is oh so berry berry delicious! Very Berry has just 1 gram of sugar per serving, and is free from artificial colors and flavors, gluten, eggs, dairy, tree nuts, and high fructose corn syrup! Sweetened with allulose and stevia, Very Berry contains no sugar alcohols and has only 9 grams of net carbs per serving. This is the better for you candy you have been waiting for!

Tryazon has 100 hosting spots open for this opportunity! Those chosen will receive a party pack with a sample of Wiley Wallaby Very Berry licorice to showcase and sample with friends and family!  Learn more and apply here.

New Freebies from Try Products!

Abby H.

I posted about Try Products over the summer. There are a few new freebies from Try Products now. Try Products has amazing products for you to try absolutely FREE.  It’s 100% Free. No credit card is required EVER!

Here are the latest new offers:

Free Craft Event at JCPenney for Kids- 12/11/2021

Abby H.

Heading to the mall this weekend? Check out this fun, free craft from JCPenney’s.

Visit the Kids Zone inside JCPenney and kids can decorate a holiday magnet.  Parents/Adults score a 10% off coupon, which can be combined with another coupon. JCP Coupons can be found here.

JCPenney hosts a fun craft event in store for kids on the second Saturday of each month.  They are easy for kids, and fun, free activity.

In-store events are only where local mandates allow.  All kids must be accompanied by an adult.

 

And looking forward to January 2022, check out this cute penguin craft: