Gain Rocks!

Last week, I wrote a post about how much I love the smell of Gain.  You can find it here.

A couple of days after I wrote that post, the super awesome people at Gain emailed me and asked if I would be interested in sampling some of their products.  Of course I said yes!

Honestly, I was expecting a box of sample sized products...you know, the little one use sample packs they give out in the grocery stores.  So imagine my surprise when I received a box this morning with all of this inside:

Awesome, right?  I got a box of dryer sheets (120), fabric softener (60 loads), laundry detergent (32 loads) and dishwashing liquid (11 oz).  All because I said I love the smell.

And just for the record, when I opened the box, the smell hit me right away, and my house is smelling so nice and fresh right now!  Thanks Gain!

I'm Loving the Smell Of Gain

One of my favorite things about Facebook is all the free stuff you can score.  I have gotten free razors, nuts (almonds, you pervs! lol), pens, and most recently, Gain products.

First I scored the Febreze, and I have to tell you, it smells awesome!  I have already used it in my sons room.  He is my neatest kid.  His room is almost always clean, yet it always smells like teen aged boy.  The Febreze helps with that.

The Gain dish soap is pretty awesome, too.  A little goes a long way towards getting those dishes clean, and it smells great, too.  I looked in Walmart for it, too, and it was pretty cheap, which is always a good thing around here.

I can't wait to see the next great deal I will find on Facebook.

New Gain Dish Soap

When Junior and I first got married, he had a favorite detergent to wash his clothes - Gain.  This was fine at first, when it was just the two of us, but as the kids came along, and money got tight, I started buying the cheap stuff.  If I find a good enough sale, I will still buy Gain, but that doesn't happen often.

I read online last week that Gain is coming out with a new dish soap.  If it is anything like the detergent, I am sure it will work great.  I knew it was something I would try, depending on the price.  (I am a Dawn girl...the cheap stuff never works as well or lasts as long)

My mom and I were in Walmart last Saturday, and they had a woman handing out samples of the new Gain dish soap.  Not just a little sample, either.  My mom and I each got an 11 oz. bottle for free.  I haven't tried it yet, mostly because I keep forgetting I have it.

I promise I'll let you know how I like it when I finally get around to using it.

My New (FREE) Mousepad

Have you guys ever heard of ArtsCow?   I hadn't until a couple of weeks ago, when I saw a link someone posted on Facebook about free mousepads.  Now, you all know I can not pass up free stuff, so I clinked the link, and sure enough, there was a code for a free personalized mouse pad.  I uploaded the only recent picture I had of the three kids, filled out all the forms, and honestly, had no hope of seeing my mousepad. 

I was wrong, though, because I was pleasantly surprised when I found this is my mailbox the other day.

It took a couple of weeks to get here, but not as long as I thought it would, and it is really nice.  If you check out their facebook page, you can find all kinds of great deals, including the free mousepad.

***this is not a paid post...I just stumbled upon this free offer and wanted to share it with all of you.

I Got My Free Chicken, And Then Some More

Last Friday, we headed to Chick-fil-A with our coupons to try their new spicy chicken sandwich.  After we ordered, we were each handed an envelope.  Inside was a thank you card, with three more coupons for free spicy chicken sandwiches.  That means I now have 12 coupons for free chicken sandwiches.  My first thought was to give some of them to you all, my dear readers.  But, they can only be used at my local Chick-fil-A, so they would be useless to you. 

I guess we'll be eating free chicken for a while now.

Free Stuff

Like most people, I love free stuff. I love getting free samples in the mail. I love getting coupons for free stuff. I love learning about businesses that are giving away free stuff. For example, this Friday, Jack In The Box is giving away free french fries. Yeah, we are so going.

I also love finding online sites that tell you all about the Free Stuff that is out there. Seriously Free Stuff is one of those sites that scours the internet for all the great deals, and puts them in one place so they are easier to find. I just became a fan of theirs on Facebook, so it will be even easier for me to find out about all the free stuff.

Because, like I said, I love free stuff.

Free Samples

I love getting free stuff. I mean, who doesn't? I have gotten some pretty cool things, too. My favorite so far has been the egg shaped lip balm. I can not for the life of me remember what the name brand was, but I really loved the product. I found the link to it at shop4freebies.com. This site has all the links to the free stuff, and it is updated daily. In fact, every afternoon I get an email, alerting me to that day's free samples.

Did I mention how much I love free stuff? I have gotten blood glucose meters, laundry detergent, cereal, shampoo and condition samples, just to name a few. Some days it's like Christmas when I check the mailbox.

So go. Sign up for the email notifications. I mean, it's free stuff! Why not get some for yourself?

Tofurky And Gravy Soda

This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of Jones Soda. All opinions are 100% mine.

Okay, so you guys read my last post, right? If not, let me catch you up. The nice people at Izea sent me a Thanksgiving goodie box, and inside was an adorable turkey hat, and a bottle of Tofurky and Gravy Jones Soda . I can not tell you how much I love getting free stuff!

I was fully prepared to wait until Thanksgiving to let the kids try the soda, but they broke me down. Tonight we opened the bottle, and they all took a swallow. Brandi was the first, and it was pretty funny watching her take a big mouthful.

It was even funnier when she ran to the sink to spit it out.

Kasi was up next, and while she didn't spit hers out, she did not like it at all. The face she made was priceless.

Junior was up next, and he seems to agree with the kids; not so good. I think if I had served it with mashed potatoes or veggies we might have had better results.

There was one person who loved it. My 14 year old son, Ryan. Of course, he had to don the hat for the taste test, and he was totally rocking it. I am going to bring it to my sister's house on Thanksgiving for everyone to wear. We are also going to a friends house for a Thanksgiving dinner on Tuesday night, and I am going to bring it there, too. Consider this your warning, Missy. I am coming armed with turkey! lol!

I hate to say that this beverage gets three thumbs down, one thumb up in my house. You want to know why I didn't try it?

Because I'm chicken. I couldn't do it. Plus, I have issues when I drink non-diet beverages.

Thank you again, Izea and Jones Soda. It was fun trying out this drink!

Who Doesn't Love Free Stuff?

This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of skmarket. All opinions are 100% mine.

I have an addictive personality. I know this about myself, yet I do nothing about it. Sometimes it can be a good thing, like when I can't stop cleaning or when I am in the mindset to lose weight. Other times it can be draining, like when I start a good book and can't put it down, or I find a new game online and I play it all the time.

There is one thing that I found online that has me completely addicted, and that is signing up for Free Samples. It has gotten to the point where I am excited to check my mail every day. Some days, when I get several freebies, it feels like Christmas. I have gotten free books, toothpaste, laundry detergent, make up samples, vitamins, blood glucose monitors, feminine hygiene products, and lotion, just to name a few. I have a basket where I throw all the samples when they come in, and when I find myself using the last of the toothpaste, I have some ready to use. I remember one time recently that Kasi ran out of deodorant, and she waited until right before school to tell me she didn't have any left. Luckily, I had a sample in my basket, and she was good to go.

These free products also come in handy if you need a last minute gift. Just grab a cute little bag or basket, and fill it with samples of things you know the recipient would love. If you have a child that lives on their own, you can always fill a stocking at Christmas time with samples of shampoo, laundry detergent, and lotion. The ideas are endless, and so is the amount of free stuff you can get.

If you want to get Free Samples, too, click the link and join Quality Health. Pretty soon you will find yourself skipping to the mailbox just like me.

EOS

A few weeks ago, I found a link to get a free full sized sample EOS lip balm. I was so excited, because it looked like a wonderful product. They had different flavors to choose from, like honeysuckle honeydew, summer fruit and sweet mint. I wanted to try all of them, so I used me, and then all the kids, and picked a different flavor for each. Two were the honeysuckle honeydew, because I really wanted to try that flavor.

A few days ago, I got the first one. It was the sweet mint. It smells so good, and works really well, too. I just went and checked the mail today, and there were three more envelopes. I was thrilled!

Until I opened them.

Every one was the sweet mint.

Now, I am not really complaining, because they were free, but I am disappointed. Why ask me which flavor I want if you aren't going to send it?

At least now I have some stocking stuffers for the girls.

Free Baby Product, Samples, And Blog Widgets

I have seen a growing trend on blogs lately. In fact, my sister-in-law joined in with her last pregnancy. I am talking about Free Baby Widgets. I love these, because they let your readers know how far along you are, and how long until your new little miracle arrives. My sister-in-law is pregnant again, with twins, and I am waiting to see what type of widget she puts up this time.

If you click the link above, you will not only find widgets; you will find links to free baby products and samples, as well as all kinds of information baby related. As most of you know, I have two sisters who are also pregnant, and I know they would all appreciate some free stuff. I am going to email them the link, and hope they take advantage of all this site has to offer.

For those of you who Twitter, you can follow this site to be kept in the loop when new deals are discovered. I don't Tweet, but will bookmark this site so I can stock up on the freebies. I am sure I can rack up enough stuff to make a nice gift basket.

Free Tote Bag

Last week, I came across this link for a free tote bag from vista print. In the past, I have played around on their site, but I have never actually ordered anything.

I decided that free was great, so I designed this tote bag. I picked the heart design out of the 35 or so designs they offer, and I also added the "I love my kids". I thought it was cute. I then had the option of adding some paid things, like putting the design on both sides, or removing the "www.vistaprint.com" from the bottom, which, in my opinion, you can barely see. I didn't choose any of these, so my bag was still free.

I did, however, have to pay shipping and handling, and there were a few options to choose from here. I could get 3 day delivery, for about $25. Or I could get 7 day delivery for around $7. Then there was 14 day delivery, which was around $6. I, being as cheap as I am, chose the three week delivery, which only costs $4.41.

I ordered my bag on the 22nd of August, and paid for 21 day delivery.

My bag came today.

It's only been six days, and I even ordered the bag close to midnight on the 22nd. I don't know if business has been slow or what, but if you go order one of these bags, do the three week shipping.

And just so you know, this is not a paid post, and I really love the tote bag. I need to see what else they have for 'free".

Free Chocolate

That's right, I said free chocolate.

Get your coupon here.

I got mine, now go get yours!

Anna alerted me to this deal...thanks Anna!

Only the first 250,000 people get one, so go...now...before you miss out!

Free Emoticons

Do you like to add fun to your websites and IM's? I found lots of fun stuff, like this little leprechaun, at Free Emoticons & Winks. I had to download their program, which is 100% safe. It contains no adware or spyware, and no registration is required. They have thousands of emoticons, winks, nudges and glitters that you can use with MSN, Yahoo, AIM and ICQ messengers. You can also post them to your blog, like I have done. I was looking for an elelphant, but didn't see one. They have all kinds of smiley faces and sayings to choose from. You also get a toolbar, with a search box and easy access to the emoticons. If you like adding flair to your online life, check out SweetIM.com.

There Are No Free Lunches

I decided after writing this morning that I needed to get over myself. So........I went to Wal-Mart. Bought myself a new pair of walking sneakers. YUP, sneakers specifically for walking. And what makes it even better is that I only paid $7.50 for them. I love finding good deals! Then it was over to hair care. My highlights are growing out, so I bought the necessary products to put them back in, again spending under $8.00. Now, if only Nicole was home to come help with that.........After Wal-Mart, we were hungry. Since we had a little extra money this paycheck, we decided to splurge and eat at a "real' restaurant. We went to Copper River, which is a new place they just built in Boiling Springs. We go in, and the hostess seats us at a table with no one else around. So we wait, and wait, and wait. After about 10 minutes, I make the comment that we should have at least been offered drinks by now. I have my back to the hostess station, but Junior sees another couple come in, be seated, and the waiter was right there taking their drink order. Junior looks at me and says, "Let's go". So we get up to leave. On the way out, he tells the hostess that he doesn't like being ignored, and that we were leaving. Well, the manager just happened to be standing behind her, and asked Junior what happened. So he tells him, and the guy insists that we stay, and eat lunch on him. I still wanted to leave. (I know how people like us would be treated, I've worked in food service. Hello, spit burger.) (Not that I've ever done that myself. But I wouldn't eat at Wade's if you've ever pissed off their servers. Anyways....) The guy talks me into sitting back down. 2 minutes later he comes over with our waiter. It seems he didn't clock in until 11:45, and we were seated at 11:30. The hostess had seated us where there was no waiter on duty. So, we ended up eating, while having our asses kissed pretty badly. They insisted we have appitizers, and we ordered chicken fingers. Junior asks if they have blooming onions, they don't. But the waiter brings out their version, which is flash fried red onion strings. Delicious, and I hate onions. I ordered a club, and Junior had a burger. After we ate, the waiter tried to get us to have dessert, but we were stuffed. In fact, I took home most of the onion, half my club, a ton of fries, and some chicken. Then the waiter insisted on bringing us "to go" drinks, because it was so hot outside. So, we ate like $35 worth of food, and it only cost us the tip. I left the guy $6, cause it wasn't his fault, it was the hostesses fault, and he REALLY was friendly. She did come over and apologize, and the manager brought out all our food himself, and checked on us at least 5 times. And as we were leaving, they wanted us to promise to come back. We did, but who knows. After seeing the prices, we may not be able to afford to go back!Okay, so maybe Somebody knew I was feeling yucky today, and that I needed extra attention. Even if it was from a restaurant. My spirits were lifted, and I am ready to face my issues.Oh, it doesn't end there. On our way home, we see the water company trucks at the end of our road. We get inside and our water is off. I call, and they say we may not have water until tomorrow. HELLO!!!!! 5 people in one house, and no water!!! Are they insane! The woman I spoke to on the phone actually laughed! NOT FUNNY!!!!! I'll keep you updated...P.S. Thanks for the encouraging words Nicole. You made me tear up, sniffle, sniffle. You rock!

OUCH!!!!

I just got out of the shower. I'm drying my hair when a stupid bee stung my arm! Why is there a bee in my house, you ask? I have no freakin' idea! I do know that my arm hurts! It got me twice! Anyway....Ryan is feeling a whole lot better today. No pain medicine at all. He did hit it a couple of times, and is still scared he'll rip out a stitch, but all in all it was a better day.I have to be at work at 8 in the morning. I was kinda hoping to have another day off, but we could use the money. We got the new bed put in, and all the new chairs. I don't know if I shared this story, but it was all free. I don't feel like going into all the details, but a Katrina family was set up in a mobile home and left after 2 weeks, taking nothing with them. So we inherited some almost brand new stuff. Not a bad deal.I guess that's it for today. Everyone else is in bed, and I'm about to go myself. I'll be back soon!P.S. Dad, Ryan wants to know why you didn't just let the saw fall, so you didn't outdo him?

It's What Time?

Again, I can't sleep. This is getting ridiculous. I drank a 2 liter bottle of diet pepsi black cherry/french vanilla today at "work". I don't usually drink caffeine, so I am now bouncing off the walls. I've caught up on most of the housework I've been neglecting. I watched the final episode of The Tudors on demand. I checked my email. Now I have nothing to do. I promise not to ramble like I did last week. I should go read my book for a while. It is getting really good. I found this website called Just Free Stuff. It gives you links to products who are offering free samples. I've gotten shampoo/conditioner, laundry detergent, first aid supplies, a pedometer, and all kinds of neat stuff. So a couple of weeks ago, they had a link to sign up for a free glucose meter. I figured, why not. So the other day, I recieved a Contour Blood Glucose Monitoring System in the mail. It came with the lancet, strips, and everything. For free. Junior has been thinking for a while that his sugar is out of whack. Now we can teat it. I wish I had found this when I was pregnant with Kasi. I had gestational diabetes and had to borrow a meter from the hospital. This one comes with a carrying case too. If you are interested, go to http://www.justfreestuff.com/ and sign up for the newsletter. They email like 3 or 4 times a week and some of the stuff is pretty cool.