Sample? Yes, Please!

If you have been following my blog for the past couple of weeks, you may have noticed my Mailbox Monday posts where I am sharing with fellow bloggers what I have received in my mailbox for free each week.  Some of you have wondered if it is worth the trouble of signing up for samples.  Yes! Here is why:


1. Who doesn't love getting mail?  As long as I am not getting bills, I love going to my mailbox and finding a nice surprise. 

2.  Samples many times include high value coupons...sometimes even for FREE items.  For example, I received coupon for a free box of feminine products with a sample pack. 


3.  When you unexpectedly run out of toiletry items, you always have a backup.   This past week, I took a shower and washed my hair, but when I went to grab the mousse I realized that it was empty.  If you know anything about me...then you know that I MUST have something to tame my wild curly hair! Luckily, I scoured my sample box and found a couple of samples for hair gel.  Whew!  Can you imagine my hair without it?  Those of you who have known me for a LONG time...think sixth grade. 

4.  Samples make great purse size products.  I have a Thirty One mini zipper pouch filled with sample lotions in my purse at all times.  Use them once and throw the package away.  I never have lotion spilled in my purse. 


5.  My kids love the sample cereal boxes to play with! 


6. It's free...need I say more?

Now, how do I get my free samples? Here are some companies that regularly send out free samples throughout the year:

• Walmart
• Target
• Vocalpoint  (my favorite!  I have gotten TONS of free products from this company...all you have to do is review the product.  Simple!)
• All You  Features Daily Free Sample 
• Facebook  Like the Companies that produce the products that you buy...I am always getting free samples. 

In addition, I follow money saving blogs, such as, Money Saving Mom, A Frugal Friend, My Springfield Mommy, and  Adventures of a Thrifty Mommy.  These blogs regularly update when there are great deals and samples to be had. 

My Domestic Adventures: #1 Homemade Tomato Soup

If you know anything about me, then you know that I am not a domestic diva.  In fact, many people are surprised that I am a stay-at-home mommy.  Therefore, trying to make and can tomato soup was a little out of my comfort zone...but turned out great. This is how we did it:

Step 1:  Blend, Cook & Strain the following:

• 2 Gallons of cut-up tomatoes (we used roma tomatoes from my parents' garden)
• 2-3 green peppers cut up (depends on how much you like the green pepper taste)
• 2 onions cut up 
 

Step 2:  Mix together the following:

• 1 tsp. chili powder
• 1 tsp. black pepper
• 1 1/2 cups of sugar 
• 1/3 cup of salt 
• 1 cup of melted butter

Then, mix this together with the tomato mixture from step 1 and let cook while you do step #3.

Step 3 (thickening):  Blend together 2 cups of flour with 1 pint to1 quart of COOL tomato juice.  Start with a little and use enough to blend until smooth.  Absolutely no lumps of flour in the mixture.

Step 4:  Mix thickening with tomato mixture and cook till thick.  If for some reason it is still lumpy, blend it again.

Step 5:  Process for 25 minutes in boiling water in pint jars.  This should make 13-15 pints.

When ready to eat, mix one pint of tomato soup with one pint of milk and Enjoy!

Mailbox Monday: August 29th Edition

Have I told you how much I love getting mail?  This is what came in my mailbox this week and was completely FREE:

• ESPN Magazine...Hubby Loves this freebie! I don't even remember how I scored this one. 
• Samples:  Kashi Bar came with coupon on box, but it tore when I opened the box, Quaker Oatmeal Squares, Splenda with coupon, Huggies Diaper with coupon, and Beneful Dog Food with Magazine
• Coupons:  Kroger Booklet
• Giveaway wins:  The Remains of War Book and Coupon for Free package of Mi-Del Cookies. 

Start signing up for those samples & freebies and join me next with @ A Frugal Friend! 

Whatcha Eatin'?

I am really liking this whole menu planning thing!  It makes 5:00 so much easier when I know what I am making for dinner.  Hubby likes it too!  He gets to come home from work to a delicious (yes, he better say that!) meal and a happy wife.   My goal with this menu planning is to find 30-45 recipes that we enjoy, so I am not repeating meals and we don't get burnt out.   Have I mentioned that my hubby will not eat another "skillet sensation" in his lifetime?  Our first year of marriage consisted of boxed or bagged dinners because I was clueless!  Menu planning is a great way to add variety to our meals and make life easier.  

This is what we are eatin' this week...

Monday:  Slow Cooker BBQ Chicken Sandwiches, Veggies & Dip, Cheesy Potatoes, Watermelon

Tuesday:  BBQ Chicken Quesadillas (using leftover BBQ chicken), Mixed Fruit

Wednesday:  Meatloaf, Mashed Potatoes, Corn, Rolls

Thursday:  Chop Suey Casserole

Friday:  Cheeseburgers, Baked Beans, Oven Fries

Saturday:  Steak, Baby Red Potatoes, Green Beans

Sunday:  Skillet Cheesy Chicken & Rice, Salad, Cottage Cheese

What are you eatin' for dinner this week?

Join me @ link up at Organizing Junkie. 

Windmills Saved the Day!

Big bro has this thing were he loves to do things for me and say, "I saved the day Mommy!"  Not sure where he got it, but it is incredibly cute.  So the other day, the windmill farm a couple of miles from our house "saved the day".

This week has been trying.  Little bro is wanting to give up his nap, while mommy is not ready for him to do it quite yet.  I will try to put him in his crib for naptime and he will scream bloody murder until I get him back out.  He definitely still needs a nap.  If he doesn't nap, he is a bear the rest of the afternoon.

Monday afternoon was a difficult afternoon, and I felt we needed to get out of the house or we all were going to go crazy.  Big brother has a unique obsession with windmills, so I decided that we would go for a drive to see the monstrous objects up close.  I piled the kids in the car and we were on our way.  As we were driving, I explained to Aaron that we were going to go see the windmills...and I heard quietly from the back seat..."I love you Mommy" for the 1st time!  No matter how impatient I am with this beautiful child he still loves me!  The windmills not only saved my sanity, but they saved my day!  Thank you God for the small stuff! 

Thankful Thursday

As a mother of a two year old who is defining the term "terrible twos", I am realizing that I need to take time to count my blessings.  I would encourage you to take time once a week and reflect on the great things in your life, because no matter what is going wrong, there is always something to be thankful for.

Today I am Thankful

...that I am able to stay home with my children while all my teacher friends go back to work. 

...that I have best friends that I can call when I am stressed out and need a laugh and they are always there.

...for a mother who lives five minutes away.

...for new wireless internet.  Now I can hook up my wireless printer to print coupons from the couch.  Woo hoo!

...for caffeine and chocolate. 

...for two active boys.  No matter how much trouble they get into, they always find a way to make me smile.

...for an awesome baby!  She sleeps, she eats, she poops,  and she smiles & coos at mommy.  She is perfect! 

...for my in-laws who are always willing to drop everything to watch the kids when we need them. 

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