Awesome Deals!!

Okay, so I've been waiting to get some stuff in the mail before I made another post about my awesome freebies, and I think it's all finally come in!! One thing I have to say, don't forget about freebies!! They can be really awesome, you just have to have the patience to find the right ones! On Facebook, I "like" the page "Coupons Make it Free" and they tell you about deals you can find & free things companies are sending out!! Here's a picture of my most recent freebies:

Okay, this picture includes: A free sample of the new Garnier Fructis Anti-Dandruff shampoo, free Always pads, free sample of Splenda Essentials (with a $1 off coupon!) (This sample I got for my mom :) a sample of Prilosec OTC, a sample of Head and Shoulders, a coupon for a FREE can of Pro Plan cat food, a sample of Icy Hot Naturals (plus a $1 off coupon!) and a Cottonelle roll cover! (Which is adorable & I love those commercials ;) And the best part??? Everything here was FREE!!!!!! The samples are perfect for going on trips & for if needed in a pinch! A couple more things I am awaiting to see in the mail are: Disney Vitamin Gummies & Dove oil repair (FULL SIZE!) hair care :)

I am so excited about all my freebies! And it's so easy to get them & they send them right to your house!!


Last weekend was our monthly grocery shopping trip, and I spent some time online searching for coupons. We decided since we're taking a trip this weekend for our 1 year anniversary, we would only buy the things we really NEEDED or could get for a great price :) Our goal was to spend no more than $200 and I was worried we would go way over because we also needed meat, and LOTS of it! Kyle's parents took a trip with us, and his mom always brings me coupons from the Sunday paper :) (thanks Sallie!!) Here's the total from our shopping trip:

Our total was $201.46 and we got $10 cash back so our grand total was $211.46!! Now, this includes: 10 pounds of beef, at least 16 pounds of chicken, steak, lunch meat & cheese, and other essentials we needed :) I'd say we did awesome!! And we saved a total of 7% off our total purchase! I saved $16.02 just in coupons!!!! We had a free Pantene shampoo or conditioner, and then I had a coupon for buy 1 get $1 off another. The price of the Pantene was $3.77 a piece, so I got shampoo for free, and then conditioner for $2.77!! So, the total for both was $2.77!! I also got broccoli steamers from Green Giant for 99 cents a piece, and had a 50 cents off of 1! So I got both bags for under $2!!! It felt so great to see the savings!! My favorite part of couponing is giving the cashier my coupons & watching the total go down as they scan them through at the end of the transaction!! Coupons are SO WORTH IT!! It doesn't take long to find good ones & why not do it?!? You can save money! Easy and free!!! Could I say more??

Another way to save money that people over look is surveys. Always check the bottom of your receipts, cause many times there is an opportunity to save money! I have filled out 2 surveys for Petco (for cat stuff & stuff for our saltwater aquarium) and saved $4 total!! We have also gotten two 10% your total purchase because we have obtained enough points on our Petco card! Again, those are great!! If you make purchases from a store often, you can earn points and save money the next time you come in!!

My favorite store right now is Maurices, and I just happened to have a 20% your total purchase that I got the other day. So, I went in and found a really cute shirt and some jeans, and I got two 20% off a single item coupons! I also checked my receipt and if I do a survey, I can save $5 on my next purchase!!! I know I'll be shopping there again soon, so I'm definitely going to do it!! And if you love Chick-fil-A, they almost ALWAYS have a survey at the bottom for a free chicken sandwich!! Kyle and I love Chick-fil-A, and their chicken sandwiches!!


So, the moral of my story is, don't overlook the small stuff! Surveys, freebies, and coupons can save you money! I can't wait to share more of my deals :) Let me know if you find something too, I'd love to hear about it!! Speaking of, I'm going to check Groupon and Living Social for fun things we can do in Daytona Beach this weekend!! :)

Lauren <3

September Already?!?

Okay, so I just realized how ridiculously long it's been since I've posted anything on here....and I know ya'll aren't hanging on my every words or anything, but I feel bad for not updating!! Lots has changed!

 Random picture I took & really like :)

First of all, after I lost my job, I was lucky enough to receive unemployment for the approx. 3 weeks that I was without a job. I felt so bad about doing so; low for receiving "free" money without having to "work" for it. But, it was a blessing, and really helped us out when we needed it. You have to drop off/email/apply to 5 places for week and put in the info about it on their website in order to receive your money. And I worked my tail off dropping off applications. I dropped 5 off on a Wednesday, and by Friday I had an interview. I went in, chatted it up, and got the job!! I have been working there since the 16th, and I LOVE it! You have no idea how much better it is than my other job. I have half a mind to call my other boss and thank him for giving me the opportunity to work here. FOR REAL. :) I'm so blessed with a job that I love, and where I get to actually get to do all the things I have been trained to do. It's amazing!

So, I've been happily working at my new job, and Kyle is pretty happy at his as well. I have also been taking classes for my Bachelor's Degree, and they have been going well. SO much easier than 8 classes...this is the easiest semester of school I have been through thus far. It's wonderful to be working, doing school, and being married and being able to juggle it all. And the plus side?? Hardly any stress. It's lovely!

Also, our fish tank is doing wonderfully! Everyone is still alive (even with Kyle's pessimistic thoughts!) and thriving! We now have a piece of coral that even the guy at the Aquarium shop didn't know what it was! So, we were able to haggle a good price and get a really awesome piece of coral!! And it is HUGE. Kinda looks like a tree...

And it LOVES light and gets really big when we leave the light on for it :) Ours is a little bigger than this, and has 2 smaller ones next to it (they're all attached to a small rock/piece of coral) We also got a clown fish or "Ocellaris" clown fish-he's orange, black, and white. And AWESOME :) Kyle named him (of course :) and his name is Zeus! He kinda looks like this....

Pretty cool, huh? He likes to hang out in the corner. Kinda looks retarded. But what other kind could we have? ;) Our theory is that he likes to see his reflection in the corner of the tank, so he chills there :) We also got a few new crabs, and what's called a "turbo snail" to keep the algae down in the tank.


All of our creatures are doing well, and are happy! Kyle & I also went on a trip to Ohio with my parents about a week ago for my cousin's wedding. I haven't been up there in 9 years (since my grandma's funeral.) We went to many of the same places we went the last time I was there (the church, cemetery, fire house, etc) and at first, bad memories came back. I pictured things as they were the last time I was there, and it was depressing. I finally decided that I was going to try to forget theses memories, and make some new and happy ones in the same places. I know that's what my grandparents would've wanted. And they would've been so happy to see everyone together and getting along. It was such a wonderful few days with my family that I hardly ever get to see! We remembered old times and had many laughs together. And they all got to meet Kyle which was great! They loved him (or at least I think so ;) And he couldn't stop talking about how funny and great they are. What a wonderful feeling :) My 2 cousins that got married ended up coming to Florida for their honeymoon, so we got to spend some one-on-one time with them :) Dinner, a movie, ice cream, and even lunch the next day! They're so much like us, wish they lived closer so we could see them more!!

 Beautiful Ohio :)

I'm feeling so blessed with all the friends God has given us, and our wonderful families :) Everything is going well right now, and we are praying it continues this way. Please continue to pray for us and our families who are both going through financial issues right now, and for my sister who just hasn't been able to catch a break since she moved and started her job! She deserves to have a good week without incidence! Kyle and I have some unspoken prayer requests right now as well, so please keep us in your prayers. Hopefully it won't take me so long to write another post! Hope ya'll enjoyed it :)


Lauren!