Samples and Fun for the Kids!

Happy Wednesday All!

What a crazy week I've had!! A big event on Tuesday and meetings on Amelia Island all day today. Here's a few samples for you to check out:

Stayfree Pad
Thomas Coffee


Also check out these free printable Disney coloring pages for the kids -
Disney Princesses
Cars
Toy Story
Mickey Mouse

Photo Freebies and Gifts to Grow Points

Sorry for the lack of posts lately - we went to Germany for a week and then we came back and Jake has tonsilitus (sp?). The trip was amazing though - we visited our family (which really was awesome), went to Neuschwanstein Castle (pictured), and ate all day and night. :) Can't ask for a better vacation!

On to the important stuff:

Pampers Gifts to Grow Points
2BeginEarning50  (50 pts)
GiftstoGrow4Mom (50 pts)
10ptsfreecode4u (10 pts)
giftstogrowbonus (20 pts)

Also, some awesome photo deals right now:

- Thru Friday you can order a free Walgreens 8x10 collage - pick up in store and you don't even pay shipping - order online at walgreens.com. Code: 8x10TREAT

- Thru Nov. 30, get 75 free prints at snapfish. Code: IStock75

- Get two sets of 4x8 photocards at snapfish (must order them seperately) - think Christmas cards here... codes: Babymail and Babies. Must use by Oct. 31.

Happy Thursday. Hoping for a better night with no 105 temperatures...

More Free Samples to Fill Your Mailbox!

Here's another list of free samples for you!! Happy Saturday!

SmartyPants Gummy Multi-Vitamins - Like them on Facebook, then click on the Sign up tab.
L'Occtaine Divine Eyes product - Like them on FB
KY Intrigue Sample
Cinamin Raisin Bread Raisins
Cinnabon Cream of Wheat
Cold-ease
John Frieda Root Awakening

We took family pictures today in Orlando. Always good times trying to get a 14-month old to sit still, let alone smile. My trick is to bring lots of (mess-free) snacks to bribe him with. What is your trick??

Free Samples

Lots of free samples out there lately. Here's a few!

Wisk
Covergirl & Olay Simpy Ageless Serum (while your add it there may be other freebies and coupons on the Proctor and Gamble site to sign up for)
Emergen-C
Crest Pro-Health
Playtex Sport

TGIF - long week of traveling!! Super excited for a weekend at home!

Snapfish Deal

New Coupon code for Snapfish. Take $10 off any order with code WOW10OFF. I just got a $10 photo notebook free (they are $9.99) plus $2.99 shipping! Great deal!

Also, Old Navy has their Maternity and Baby sale on! Make sure to check it out.

We just went to the Jacksonville Zoo today! Lots of fun. But the best part is we got more then 50% off by buying tickets on Groupon. Make sure to sign up for the groupon for your city - GREAT bargains. Just have to look and see what daily deal they are offering - eventually something you want will come around!!

Pampers Points

Do you collect Pamper's Gifts to Grow Points? If not, you should... even if you don't have a baby! They offer a ton of free codes for points and trust me they add up quickly. Sign up at pampers.com. For 400 pts you can get a 11x14 collage at Shutterfly. For 500, you can get a prints package with 25 4x6, 2 5x7 and 1 8x10 print. And if you buy pampers diapers you can shoot for the much higher rewards - I'm working on a 2 year photo membership at JC Penny's!

Check out a list of all the Pampers Points at The Frugal Girls blog. Tons of them.

Also, if you like scrapbooking or designing your own invites, etc. Check out www.1001fonts.com. A ton of free fonts that you can download to your computer. Really neat ones available - like Dolphins and Oreos fonts...

Great Freebies on Photos and Magazines

I am super busy this week - so sadly I can't write up all the details on each of these. But I don't want you to miss out. So here goes - you'll have to visit the links to get the codes and details - sorry :)



1. FREE Working Mother year digital subscription - here

2. FREE Parenting Early Years Subscription - here

3. RitzPix.com 5 free 8x10s ($2.99 shipping) - good only Thursday

4. Shutterfly 12 free cards (shipping varies) you pick the size - good thru Sunday

Back to School & Pictures

With school starting up again, now is the time to stock up on school (or office) supplies. This week, I saw 25-cent crayons, 1 cent printing paper and much more. My favorite places for back to school deals - Walgreens, CVS, Walmart, Staples and Office Depot. Make sure to check out their ads in your area to see what's on sale!!

Some really great photo deals are happening now too!! Check this out:

1. Snapfish - You get a free 8x10 collage print AND free shipping if you order a full price item (works if you order a 9-cent picture). Use code GRANDSHIP to order.
2. Walgreens- 25 free 4x6 prints! Use code 25FREECREDIT.

Walgreens is also offering a deal of the day on photo gifts every day this week.

And have you gotten your free Shutterfly 5x7 greeting cards yet?

Photo Freebie

Shutterfly is offering 3 free 5x7 folded cards. Simply add the code SUMMERCARDS to your account (do this by logging in, then go to the bottom of the page and click on "Enter Special Offer Code"). This Freebie expires Sept. 1 - so you have some time to design your cards!! Thanks to Freebies4Mom for the heads up.

Free Disney Character Calls

This is more something for older kids - but you can schedule a Disney Character to call your child! Barilla is sponsoring this program, that expires Sept 20 (but you can schedule as many calls as you want before then) but is not available in ID, WA, GA, KY, MS, NE, TN, or LA.

You can schedule Mickie, Minnie, Donald or Goofy to call your child. Visit Freebies4Mom to see a step by step on how to schedule it! Pretty cool!

And a happy father's day to all the Daddies out there!! We're going hiking at Blue Springs today! :)

Sales, Sales, Sales

Big sales this week!!

• Children's Place - additonal 50% off on select items (priced as marked)
• Semi-Annual Sale at Crazy 8
• Semi-Annual Sale at Gymboree

And a few freebies!!

• Free 8x10 collage at Walgreens. Use code GOBIG8X10 thru June19 on Walgreens.com. Make sure to choose pick up at store and you don't even have to pay shipping!!
• Dove Therapy Shampoo & Conditioner - leave Costco number blank
• Bulls Eye BBQ Sauce Samples

Free Will & Trust Kit

So my goal for this weekend is to finish my will. I keep dragging my feet to get it done. But it is so important, especially if you have kids!

Any of you looking to write up a will can create one for free on www.suzeorman.com. Simply click on "Will & Trust Kit" and the gift code. Type in "people first" and you'll get an activation code. It's that simple. And the great thing is the kit is super user friendly!!

So I'm the worst blogger ever...

Okay so I start a blog and then don't post anything for four months... oops... Sorry guys! (I know you were so dissapointed). :) Anyways, I'll do my best to start posting regularly again! At least once a month!!

So what's new? Lot's going on in the "thrifty" world! Here's a couple things to keep your mailbox full:

• Friend Shutterfly on Facebook and get a free 5x7 photobook on Shutterfly. You have to fill out a survey and then can claim your code (make sure to copy it down). You have till June 30 to redeem it (2.99 shipping).


• Walmart has some samples out right now: Cottonelle, Playtex Gentle Glide, Crest 3D White


• 3 Free 5x7 Folded Cards on Shutterfly with coupon code CARDS4DAD - but you have to login and go to your account (at the top right), then click on "Enter Special Offer Code."

I also found this cool site - www.thesoftlanding.com - their clearance section has some really cool stuff - and some favorites for cheap (Avent Bottles for $4.50). I haven't bought anything from them yet, but plan to soon :)

And, of course, an update on the Jakester! He's changed so much since February!! He's crawling and getting into everything!! He's eating big boy food and absolutely loves it. Yesterday, he ate an entire banana - for dessert! He's been saying Dada for a few weeks now - but no Mama yet!!

Contest, Sales & Free Music

I just cannot believe how big Jacob has been getting! In the past month or so, he's become so much more active (and fun!!). He suddenly has a huge interest in his toys, smiles when you read a familiar book and LOVES (I mean LOVES) the tv! He also has the most adorable laugh - I'm trying to get it on video to post, but no luck yet :) His favorite toy is the Cheez-it box - figures.

Looking back over the past 7 months (can you believe it's been that long?) - there is one thing I have to say - "Never say NEVER." I remember the naive comments I used to make like "I won't let Jacob watch tv until he's like 2," or "I'm not going to give him any sweets," or (my personal favorite) "he will never sleep in the bed with me." And while good intentioned, you just never know what will happen. Parenthood is a lot more trying than one might expect. Within the first week Jacob was sleeping in the bed with me - because I didn't know any other way to make him go to sleep. Luckily that habit has stopped, but I just laugh when I think about how I swore it would never happen...

Fun Freebies and Deals for the Day:

Fan World Market on Facebook and be entered to win a Trip to Greece! Contest ends 2/28

Need a baby gift? The Bump is having a sale on baby items - they have cute tub puppets for only $7.99 and an adorable personalized giraffe blanket and animal for $11.99. Use coupon code VALDAY for 20% off a $100 or more purchase. (coupon ends 2/14, sale ends 2/22)

Thanks to BabyCheapskate.com for the heads up on the Nickshop.com 50% off sitewide sale - get all your favorite Nickelodeon Shows on DVD for like $7.20. Plus characters, toys, etc.

Ann Taylor Loft is offering an extra 50% off clearance items (online & instore) ends 2/10 - so hurry! Limited selection online...

Did you know Amazon.com has over 1,000 free MP3 songs? Thanks to Freebies 4 Mom for sharing this free album - The Amazon Groove dance mix

Need some pictures of your little one? Print coupons at JC Penny Portraits - 40% off purchase on Mon - Thurs, and more!