Tips And Savings

Snuggle Product Review

2015-05-14T07:06:00.000-04:00

I had the opportunity to sample for free a new Snuggle dryer sheet spring product from Snuggle Den. I think it worked just as well as any other Snuggle product, so that was great. However, the scent was a little too strong for me. It smelled nice - it was just too strong. It does a great job of reminding me of spring though - so it's definitely worth trying out!

Listerine Healthywhite Gentle Mouthwash Review

2014-12-19T21:41:00.001-05:00

I had the opportunity to sample for free a Listerine Healthywhite Gentle Mouthwash product from Crowdtap and Listerine. I was not a big fan of the taste of it, however, I did feel like it was working right away, and even afterwards. My mouth felt fresh for hours after using the mouthwash - and I was very pleased with that!

Scott Naturals® Tube-Free Review

2014-12-01T08:41:00.001-05:00

I had the opportunity to try the Scott Naturals® Tube-Free toilet paper from Crowdtap and Scott brands for free, and I have to say - I was really surprised at how much I liked the tube-free concept! It was really eye-opening to see that as the last of the roll fell off the toilet paper holder, there was nothing left behind and the entire roll was truly used up - no trash to discard! The one downside is that it was not very soft, so I can't see myself using this regularly unless that was changed.

Influenster JollyVoxBox

2014-01-01T21:35:00.001-05:00

I received a complimentary box of products from the Influenster in my JollyVoxBox.

The items I received are:
Skinny Cow Divine Filled Chocolates - Peanut Butter Creme
Duck Ducktape
Puffs Plus Lotion Tissues
NYC HD Color Trio Eyeshadow
Rimmel London Show Off Lip Lacquer

The Skinny Cow chocolates are pretty good. I'm not a huge fan of the peanut butter flavor, but was surprised that each individual pack came with 3 pieces of chocolate that are all good sized.

I love having the Puffs travel pack for my kids' diaper bag - very handy and they are really soft!

The Eyeshadow is great - it tells you exactly how to apply each shade, and it looks great on. Very pleased with the colors I received!

The Lip Lacquer is quite interesting. It doesn't feel heavy like other lip products do - it's just not a good shade for me. I can see how it would be a great product though, for someone who would use it regularly.

The ducktape is great! Fun design and it comes in a small roll - I love the size.

Life with 3 kids

2013-12-30T14:07:00.002-05:00

I just came across a blog post that talked about how insane having 3 kids is. I, however, disagree with most of what she said, and felt the need to post a counterpart to it - for myself - and if someone else would enjoy reading what I have to say, so be it.

When we had our second son, I had a really, really (really, really) tough time adjusting to 2 kids. We had 3 pets before our first son was born, and I found it very easy to adjust to having a human child. But with the second one, everything seemed out of whack. I loved him - but I also was disappointed in not getting the little girl I always wanted. We wanted 2 kids - a boy and girl - or we'd try for a 3rd if we had 2 of one gender. And that would be it - regardless of what gender we ended up with. But my second son acted out as a middle child before we even had a third child - so that could have been what made the transition from 1 to 2 so tough on me. Regardless, I love them all and am very happy with how things turned out and I wouldn't ever trade them for anything.

That being said, I still felt something was missing after having our second son. I didn't feel like our family was complete. So we had a third child. Another boy. And somehow, I wasn't nearly as upset about finding out he was a boy, as I was finding out my second son was a boy. We bought our house knowing we'd have 2 or 3 kids, so we'd never "have" to move for that reason. So we adjusted the bedrooms and office around, and prepared for the 3rd child. I was laid off from my job when I was 7-8 months pregnant with my 3rd. I have not gone back to work yet, only because I can't find a job in my field. So that could play a factor in this next section.

When our 3rd was born, I had the help of my mom for a while, and my husband (who works 3rd shift), since I had a c-section, and the help was great. The first few weeks were tough just adjusting to a new baby's schedule, while still caring for my other 2 kids. But I realized I never felt overwhelmed or disappointed like I had after having my 2nd child. I felt at peace. I finally felt like our family was complete and that we were now moving forward to the next stage of our lives. It felt right. I will admit that I'm a little worried about how that could all change when I find a job and go back to work. I imagine it will be a different kind of chaos - right now it's just trying to keep up with toys, laundry, dishes, and feedings. Adding a job to the mix will be more difficult, but, I also won't be doing it all myself anymore at that point - I will have more help from my husband since he's home with the kids during the day.

For me, the transition from 2 to 3 kids was much easier, and so far, is still easier. My oldest 2 have a "buddy system" when it's just me and the kids, and hold hands while going into my son's preschool or to the store or wherever, while I carry the baby and sometimes his diaper bag. My husband and I run errands together, as a family, so I'm rarely by myself with them out in public because that's just always been our system, so that's not as hard for me as it would be if I was by myself. My middle son really looks up to his older brother and when it's time to calm down and help each other out, they're really great at that.

Sure, most things come in sets of 2 or 4 - like free tickets you might win from a sweepstakes, and even some food items. That doesn't mean needing 5 of something should be so difficult to accomplish - you just buy an extra package of food, or you buy a separate ticket. Half of our season passes are individual - so we have to buy each one separately; and the other half is for the whole family - with no set number of children on the pass, it just includes all children in the household. So this has not been a problem for us either. But either way, when we do have a set of 4 (tickets for example), usually buying 1 extra one is cheaper than buying all 5 - so I'd still happily take the free tickets, knowing I'll have to buy one extra one. That doesn't bother me one bit.

And yes, we're outnumbered. But it doesn't feel like it. My husband and I both have 4 hands - so between the 2 of us, we can hold each child's hand - and still have one free. Yes, if I'm by myself I'm outnumbered - but we always have our double stroller and my oldest walks next to us. It's not a problem - it works out well, for us anyway. We actually have 2 fairly small vehicles - and we have all 3 car seats in the backseats. They fit fine and it works out great. I can reach all 3 of them to tend to their needs while we are on the road for long trips (my family lives 3 hours away). Sure, I would love to have a larger car with a 3rd row (and no, there's no reason at all that it has to be a van - SUV's are just as practical, and for me, much safer since they can come with four-wheel-drive) - but we don't NEED one.

All of my kids are 2 years apart - 2009, 2011 and 2013 - and it was planned that way. I'm very happy with that decision. When someone sees us out and about, we always get the comment "You have your hands full!" - yes, we do. But it works for us, and I love it, and I wouldn't change a thing about it. I had many people tell me the transition from 1 to 2 was harder on them than 2 to 3 - and vice versa. Everyone has a different opinion on everything, and what works for one person may not work for another. That's the beauty of it all - nobody is the same. Everyone is entitled to their own opinions and thoughts - and you don't have to agree with any of it. But you also don't have to knock someone down because their thoughts are different than yours. Just nod your head and smile and move on - it's not worth arguing over. So whether you have 0 children, 1 or more children - everyone's different. Everyone deals with it differently. Just embrace it and make it work for your family - that's all that really matters in the end anyway.

Influenster RoseVoxBox - Dr. Scholl's® Cozy Cushions Insoles

2013-11-19T22:12:00.000-05:00

I recently received Dr. Scholl's For Her Cozy Cushions Insoles to try. Overall, they did a good job. I put them in a pair of old tennis shoes that the sole has come out of - the pair that I just can't seem to part with. I am really impressed! They are so soft, yet don't make the shoes feel bulky or tight on my feet - and they keep my feet warm. Sometimes a little too warm, but as the temperatures get colder, I will appreciate the warmth even more.

*I received this product complimentary from Influenster.

BzzAgent: Kroger Skillet Meals

2013-11-18T18:38:00.000-05:00

Recently, I had the opportunity to try some free products through BzzAgent - which are available at Kroger stores. I tried a garlic bread, a salad kit, and a skillet meal.

Overall, the salad kit was very convenient. But, I think that there were not nearly enough of the toppings. I had to add extra cheese to mine. Also, I didn't like the dressing that was included, so I had to add my own - but my husband used the entire packet that came with the kit on his salad, so there wouldn't have been enough dressing if we had both used it.

I liked how the garlic bread came cut in half - so I was able to cook just part of it for this meal, and save the other half for another meal. But, the flavor wasn't as strong as I typically like it to be. I did enjoy how much bread we were each able to get with just half of the loaf though.

Overall, the skillet meal was really good. There were a lot of varieties in the store to choose from, however, there was only one that I thought I would like. Lots of the other ones sounded good, but each had 1 or more ingredients in them that I did not like, and I wasn't sure how easy it would be to "pick them out" of the meal. So I chose the Chicken Alfredo skillet meal. Compared to similar products, this one actually had a lot more steps. Usually, you just put the whole bag in the pan and let it cook, covered, for a certain amount of time (while stirring occasionally). However, this one I had to melt butter in the pan first, then add the bag of chicken, broccoli, and noodles plus water, and let that cook. Then I had to add the sauce and cook that. Even with all the extra steps, I still preferred it over other products. The flavor was good and it didn't burn after only cooking for half of the time. I would definitely recommend trying all of these products - and checking out bzzagent.com if you're not already a member!

Influenster - Colgate SlimSoft VoxBox

2013-10-29T10:42:00.002-04:00

I received a complimentary Colgate SlimSoft toothbrush from Influenster. Overall, I really like this toothbrush. The bristles feel better than my old toothbrush - it has a luxurious/expensive feel to it. I love how it keeps its shape after multiple brushings and the bristles don't seem to just tear or fall apart after only a few uses like my old brush. I would recommend that anyone looking for a new brush should give this a try!

Influenster MamaVoxBox - Annie's Macaroni & Cheese Microwavable Cups

2013-10-25T12:08:00.000-04:00

I recently received a cup of Annie's Macaroni & Cheese Microwavable Cups - Real Aged Cheddar to try. It was easy to prepare and the directions were very easy to follow. However, I really disliked the flavor of the Real Aged Cheddar. One of my sons, however, ate the whole cup with no complaints! I might have enjoyed one of the other flavors - but this one was not good. As long as my kids will eat it though, it doesn't matter how much I like or dislike it - I'm just happy they ate it!

*I received this product complimentary from Influenster.

Influenster MamaVoxBox - Dr. Scholl's® For Her Comfort Insoles

2013-10-25T11:58:00.000-04:00

I recently received Dr. Scholl's For Her Comfort Insoles to try. Overall, they did a good job. At the end of the day, my feet weren't as sore as they usually are, and the insoles seem to be holding up really well with daily use. They did take a little while to get used to - I actually found them to initially be a little bit harder than my typical shoe insole. But, even with that being said, I did like how it made my feet feel after a few hours of wearing them. I would recommend these to anyone who has sore feet by the end of the day! It's certainly worth giving it a try to see if it could work for you.

*I received this product complimentary from Influenster.

Crowdtap - Old Navy Sample & Share

2012-12-20T23:27:00.004-05:00

Crowdtap is one of my favorite sites - and if you are not a member, you should be! Click here to sign up and check it out - it's free: Crowdtap

Recently, I was selected for an Old Navy Sample & Share event called Sweat It Out in Old Navy Activewear! I was supposed to go to an Old Navy store with a friend, and we each had a coupon to get a FREE activewear top and bottom, and we had to take pictures of us in the items we picked out.

I gave my "friend" coupon to my sister-in-law, Carrie, and we met up after I got off work one night. I was quite surprised by how small the activewear section actually was. They fit a lot of stuff in there, but it didn't seem like there were really a whole lot of different selections/varieties to choose from. Regardless, we both made multiple trips to the dressing room to try on everything. Finally, after about an hour or so - we had made our decisions. I picked out a purple jacket with gray pants, and Carrie picked out a black half-zip top and black pants.

I was the most nervous about being required to take the pictures in the store and how the employees would react to that - but they were all pretty easygoing and no problems came up, so that was a relief! I'm so glad I had the opportunity and was selected for this event - it was so much fun being forced to try on clothes I wouldn't typically think twice about even looking at! But I even surprised myself with how well some of the items fit. We had a great time - so thank you, Crowdtap and Old Navy for this great opportunity!

Burt's Bees® Intense Hydration Bzz Campaign - Final Post

2012-12-03T21:25:00.000-05:00

If you've been following my blog, you know that a current Bzz Campaign that I am in is for Burt's Bees^® Intense Hydration. I can not stress enough that this is a company to be signed up! Here is a direct link to their website for you to sign up if interested: Bzz Agent.

This campaign is closing very soon - so I'm getting in one last post to give a final review. Overall, I would definitely recommend these products. While they may not be something that I would personally use regularly, I know there are many of you out there that take great care of your face. This would be the product line for you! There are such a variety of products and they all work so well together. I didn't try any of them separately - but together they seemed to really just work great. My face feels better (even in the ever-changing Ohio weather!) and less dry - so I'd say it was a success! Check ot the Burt Bees product lines and see what might work for you.

Burt's Bees® Intense Hydration Bzz Campaign - Update!

2012-11-27T10:24:00.001-05:00

If you've been following my blog, you know that a current Bzz Campaign that I am in is for Burt's Bees^® Intense Hydration. I can not stress enough that this is a company to be signed up! Here is a direct link to their website for you to sign up if interested: Bzz Agent.

I am the first to admit that I don't use any sort of makeup product or facial product on a regular basis. I try to use a cleanser each night, but that's only when I can remember to do so! So I was excited to get to try this product - so I could force myself to focus on my face for a while!

Overall, I'm very pleased with this product. I personally don't think I notice any difference in my face since using it, but I have gotten into a routine of using it daily. I love that the scent is very subtle and the products are all very easy to use. I love how easy the night cream glides on - and the cleanser is so easy to wash off!

I will post one more update next week - so stay tuned!

Burt's Bees® Intense Hydration Bzz Campaign

2012-11-16T21:02:00.001-05:00

A current Bzz Campaign that I am in is for Burt's Bees^® Intense Hydration. I can not stress enough that this is a company to be signed up! Here is a direct link to their website for you to sign up if interested: Bzz Agent.

I was really excited to get selected for this campaign because once the weather gets cooler, I start to get dry skin - especially on my face. I personally don't think it's noticeable just looking at it, but I can sure feel it! I've tried a face lotion that works ok - but I really don't like the greasy feeling of lotion. So I'm excited about this campaign because it's a new product I can try! Here is a picture of the kit I received in the mail:

I have started using these products today - and I will document how it worked for me in a few weeks, so stay tuned!

Gorton's Skillet Crisp Tilapia Bzz Campaign

2012-11-12T07:06:00.001-05:00

Another Bzz Campaign that I recently was selected for was for Gorton's Skillet Crisp Tilapia. If you are not a member of Bzz Agent - what are you waiting for? It's FREE to join and you get the chance to try so many great new products!

We decided to try this while my mom was in town visiting - since she loves fish. I was really surprised by how easy it was to make! I pulled the fish out of the box, put them in the skillet and turned them once during cooking - so easy! My husband even made them for himself for lunch during the week. They both said it had great flavor and seasonings - and that it wasn't dry at all. My husband even said we should buy it again sometime! They are available in your grocer's freezer, so look for them next time you're out shopping.

BzzAgent - Glade Expressions® Collection

2012-10-13T19:31:00.001-04:00

Are you a member of BzzAgent? If not, this is another great company to be a part of! They offer special campaigns in which you get selected, and they typically send you a product to sample. Then, you just have to try out the product, and spread the word to all of your friends and family. So easy to do and it's great to have the opportunity to try out new things!

One campaign that I am currently a part of is for the Glade Expressions Collection. I got free coupons to try out the Glade Expressions Fragrance Mist and the Glade Expressions Oil Diffuser. I love the fragrance mist! I love how easy it is to spray, and that it has such a light scent - not too overpowering like some other sprays. My only complaint would be that I would love to see more scents.

I was a bit hesitant about the oil diffuser - I think because I wasn't sure how it worked. It wasn't at all what I pictured and was SO easy to use! We have it in our living room right next to the hallway where our litter box is for the cat. The scent seemed like it might be pretty strong when I first set it up - but it's not at all! It's a very pleasant level of fragrance and it smells great! I've determined that it's not close enough to the litter box to really overpower the scent from the litter box, but it still smells great just walking by it. Again, my only complaint would be that I would love to see more scents!

Overall, these are great products and I am so pleased to have had the opportunity to try them out. If you are not already a member of BzzAgent, check it out here and join - I can't see how you could be disappointed: BzzAgent

Crowdtap - McCormick Grill Mates® Grill Ambassadors Party

2012-09-06T09:37:00.000-04:00

Are you familiar with Crowdtap? If not, you should be! It is such a great company to be a part of. They offer quick polls, hosted parties, sampling events and more - all ways for you to earn points (and donate to a charity of your choice!) to be able to cash out for Amazon gift cards and other prizes. Here is a link to sign up if you're interested: Crowdtap Sign-Up.

I was recently selected to host a McCormick Grill Mates® Grill Ambassadors Party through Crowdtap. We had the party last weekend over Labor Day, and it was such a hit! I decided to just make 2 types of hamburgers - one with Montreal Steak seasoning, and one with Molasses Bacon seasoning - and we then split the burgers in half so everyone could try each flavor. It was so much fun just sitting around the dinner table discussing our opinions of how each one tasted. The overall favorite - Montreal Steak! Here are a few pictures from the party - enjoy!

The part kit I received

Adding the seasoning to the bowls

Making the hamburgers

Ready for the grill!

Cooking the burgers

Ready to eat!

Everyone (minus my mom who took the picture)

Facebook Page!

2012-08-19T12:56:00.001-04:00

I finally started my own facebook page - Tips and Savings - so go check it out! I have a new campaign for BzzAgent that I'm going to be blogging about soon - so stay tuned!

BzzAgent Campaign - Bic Soleil Savvy

2012-08-08T17:42:00.002-04:00

I am a member of Bzz Agent and if you are not familiar with them, you need to check them out! It is a great way to get selected for campaigns, and get to give your feedback on products. I recently did a campaign for BIC^® Soleil^® Savvy^™ razors. They sent me a razor to try and some coupons to share with my friends. I am not a fan of this razor. For me, it felt more like the razor was ripping my hair out instead of a smooth glide like other razors I've used. I used it regularly for the duration of the compaign and my opinion stayed the same. One positive is that they are a more affordable razor - and with the coupons, you got an even better deal on them! Have you tried these razors? What did you think of them?

Here's a brief blurb about Bzz Agent - I get to try products and services at no cost with samples, coupons and stuff like that. Then I make my voice heard by sharing my honest opinions with others, including some of the largest companies in the world. Want to learn more and sign up to join in the fun?

Visit their website - www.bzzagent.com - sign up or read about it for yourself! Enjoy!

Savings Information - and more Bloggers!

2012-08-01T11:03:00.001-04:00

A lot has happened since my last post over a year ago. I now have 2 boys! I've been very busy - working full time, and being a mom. I've been struggling to get into a good groove with my day-to-day activities. I'm still not there, but I'm getting closer to making it all work! Here are a few more of my favorite bloggers to follow:

Freebies 2 Deals

Freebies 4 Mom

She Saved

My first savings tip is: Don't try to rush out to get every deal someone posts about!! If it's something you use regularly, then sure - go get it if it makes sense to do so. But don't feel like you HAVE to go get every deal someone blogs about. I am not one of those people. I do my shopping either Friday or Saturday, and that's it! We usually just go to Target and Meijer. I don't go to lots of different stores. Sure, I could get better savings if I went to 5+ stores to get each deal, but that's not how I shop. Each person is different, so this is not saying one way is better than another. What is your typical shopping week like?

Maybe next week I'll start sharing some photos - my stockpile and how I feel about stockpiling, my shopping trips and savings, etc.

Facebook Page

2011-07-14T11:53:00.000-04:00

I have joined up with a wonderful facebook page called Coupon Traders. I am one of the admins and we are slowly on our way to 2000 fans! It's a great site for trading coupons with lots of friendly fans. Please check it out! I'm hoping to continue updating this as much as possible, but with the new admin volunteer position, and baby #2 on the way - my time is limited. But I haven't forgotten about you :)

Savings Information - Update!

2011-03-09T07:09:00.000-05:00

*Again, please keep in mind that these are just my opinions and I'm not saying one way is better than another - these are just from my personal experiences and I would love to hear comments from all of you about your own tips to share with my readers!
I apologize for being so M.I.A. lately but things have been extremely busy and I still haven't gotten my list together that I promised in my last post. However, I wanted to quickly let you know to not give up on me yet! AND, to give you one more blog to follow. Look her up on facebook, or her website is Sweeties Sweeps. I use her so much each day for some wonderful sweepstakes! I enter just about everything I can, and it's really a great way to get some free stuff! Even if it's just a free product coupon - a win is a win! And you can't win if you don't enter - so start entering!

Savings Information - Starting Out

2010-12-19T19:59:00.000-05:00

*Again, please keep in mind that these are just my opinions and I'm not saying one way is better than another - these are just from my personal experiences and I would love to hear comments from all of you about your own tips to share with my readers!

About a year or so ago, I started following a blog, called Deal Seeking Mom - which had information about finding the best deals at different stores, coupon codes, free samples, etc. Slowly, I began following other bloggers and now follow more than I can even remember! They are a great source for information, and my next few posts are going to be dedicated to all of those wonderful bloggers who have inspired me and just some general tips. Below is a list of some of the bloggers I follow. Check out their websites, follow them on Facebook and subscribe to their blogs.

Passion For Savings
Mojo Savings
Centsable Momma
Hip 2 Save
Saving With Amy
Coupon Dad

This is just a very small selection of the ones I follow - over the next few weeks, I will add more links to the bloggers I follow, and share some tips on sweepstakes/giveaways. Hope everyone has a wonderful holiday - it may be 2011 before I have time to blog again!

First-Time Mom Tips - After the Baby is Born: Walking/Talking

2010-11-14T17:12:00.000-05:00

The title of this blog refers to first-time mom tips, however, these could really be for any mom - a first-time mom, a mom of multiple kids, or anyone in between!

*Again, please keep in mind that these are just my opinions and I'm not saying one way is better than another - these are just from my personal experiences and I would love to hear comments from all of you about your own tips to share with my readers!

How old was your child when he or she began walking or talking? At our son's 12 month appointment, I felt like our son should have been walking based on just some comments our doctor had said, so as his 15 month appointment was creeping up on his and he STILL wasn't walking, I was starting to get worried. Then it happened - 1 week before his 15 month appointment he started walking! I was thrilled to be able to tell the doctor that he was walking at that appointment. Have you had any similar experiences with your children?

Before our son's 18 month appointment, I was starting to get a little worried that he wasn't talking yet. Thankfully our doctor said it was okay because he wasn't in the gray zone yet based on our questionnaire, so that made me feel a lot better. He's still not talking, but he communicates in his own way and we understand a lot of what he's trying to say or show us - we just make sure we correctly tell him what he's trying to say. Hopefully he starts talking soon - I can't wait to hear actual words come out of his mouth! Have any of you had any similiar worries about a late talker in your family?

Obviously all babies are different and you need to see what works best for you before settling on a routine. Please feel free to leave any comments you might have, and let me know if you have any stories of your own!

First-Time Mom Tips - After the Baby is Born: Bathing

2010-10-23T17:43:00.000-04:00

The title of this blog refers to first-time mom tips, however, these could really be for any mom - a first-time mom, a mom of multiple kids, or anyone in between!

*Again, please keep in mind that these are just my opinions and I'm not saying one way is better than another - these are just from my personal experiences and I would love to hear comments from all of you about your own tips to share with my readers!
Our son hasn't ever been a fan of baths. We've done everything to varying the water temperature, getting him lots of bath toys, varying the length that he's in the tub, but nothing seems to make him really happy to get in the tub. He usually showers with my husband and he's starting to be okay with baths, but would still rather avoid them. How do you handle baths with your little ones? Any tips for fellow moms out there that might be having a hard time at bathtime?

We use bedtime bath soap when he gets a bath near bedtime, along with bedtime lotion. We've always used that when it's close to bedtime and it just seems to make him feel relaxed (not during the bath, but after). Has anyone else tried this? Does it work for you?

Obviously all babies are different and you need to see what works best for you before settling on a routine. Please feel free to leave any comments you might have, and let me know if you have any Bathing Tips of your own! What have you done that works for you and your kids?