Designer Clothes for Less!

Get up to 70% off designer retail.

Join Beyond the Rack for free now!

This is an invitation only shopping portal for high end brands. Receive a welcome bonus $10 Shopping Credit. They also offer limited time designer events up to 8 new brands daily!

This week, the following designers are on the sale: Juicy Couture (sunglasses...OMG so cute!), Jack and Jewel jewelry, ABS by Alan Schwartz outerware (gotta see these!), Prada handbags, Ralph Lauren women's clothes and SOOOO many more!

General Mills Sample Site

General Mills Quericavida has food samples to give away. They are giving away free samples to Spanish speaking US citizens. Join them to receive updates, coupons, and samples of their products.

Free to your home! At Que Rica Vida we have a great variety of recipes, and fantastic advice that will help you to live balanced, healthy and happy in the company of your family.

By signing up you can receive the samples without charge to your home!

 

Just a note: the site may be in Spanish, but you can still fill out the boxes, can't you...
Nombre - name (first)
apellido - Last name
direction - address
cuidad - city
codigo postal - zip
correo electronico - email
clave - password

Weekend Coupon Preview

Go HERE to see the coupons for this weekend. Scheduled to have a Proctor and Gamble, Redplum (2 of them) and SmartSource...keep checking through the day as my source site takes a while to get them all listed.

I'm personally buying about 3 papers since there are so many! You should be able to use the $1/2 Bic stationery items for free pens if you watch the school supply ads! There are several FREE items in the P&G coupons too!

Shutterfly Photo Cards (Giveaway CLOSED!)

THIS GIVEAWAY IS CLOSED

Back when the baby was born (December) I was trying to decide if I was going to mail out separate Christmas photo cards and baby announcements. Thanks to the great designs at Shutterfly, I didn't have to choose! I did a baby Christmas card! (Look Here to see a Mailbox Monday post to see what I did.) I was so happy with the quality of the holiday cards and how fast they made it here. It took me longer to address the envelopes and actually get them mailed!

I also had ordered prints from them and was beyond happy with what I received. They were far better than the ones I had been printing at local store. (And I didn't have to go get them...risking forgetting about them.) The quality of the paper was nice and the colors on the prints were true and clear.

Now that it's almost time for the big boy's birthday, I intend to make birthday party invitations. Mainly because I can get them all done at once, they'll be much cuter and my hand won't ache for hours! Now I just have to pick which train invitation to use (this is not my son or our information on these cards).

Once you sign up with Shutterfly, you get 50 FREE prints as well as FREE online photo storage. They aren't going to delete your photos (had that happen to me before). Right now there is also a code available for FREE shipping for orders over $30 (SHIP30). Really anything you can imagine to do with a photo, you can do with Shutterfly. You can make prints of course, but you can also make your photos into gifts, posters, cards...just so many choices! My favorite right now are the personalized photo books. Want your son to go on adventure with Diego or your daughter to visit Sesame Street? You can! Just too cool!

Wanna try Shutterfly? I am giving away two codes good for

10 FREE photo cards each to two readers! 
(Two people will each receive two codes.)

THIS GIVEAWAY IS CLOSED

Entry Methods:

All entries MUST have your email in them.

First, and mandatory, entry: Tell me which photo cards you would order. (1 Entry)




Other entries (leave a separate comment for each), please notice that some entries have changed:


1 entry - "Like" Shutterfly on Facebook (great place to learn about specials and contests!)




1 entry - Become a public follower of my blog. The link is on the right hand side of the page. If you're already a follower, leave a comment letting me know.


1 entry - Become a Facebook fan of Faithful Finances or let me know if you're already a fan.


NEW ENTRY: Place my button on your site (2 entries! You must leave a link so I can verify) 

Giveaway Rules: Please be sure you read these before 

you start posting comments. 

Giveaway open to residents of the US and Canada only. Winners will be chosen, with the True Random Number Generator (Random.org), Friday, August 6 at 10 PM CST.
Winners will be emailed the code immediately.
All entries MUST have your email in them. Entries without an email will not be eligible to win this giveaway.
To keep Spam Bots from snagging you, put your address like this: name(at)server(dot)com

The FREE codes for the winners will have been provided by Shutterfly as well. No additional compensation will be received by me. Opinions are my own. Thank you to Shutterfly and SheBlogs for this opportunity. Images are from the Shutterfly website.

Mailbox Round Up

Okay, so this is a day late...

Here's what came in the mail last week (all free):

Reading material: 
Wine Spectator
Slam
UsNews and World Report
Spin
Saveur
Shape
Business Week
Acts 29 (to review for NavPress)

Other stuff:
$3 off Kroger brand formula coupon
Biggest Loser Boot Camp DVD (prize fulfillment from MySurvey)
Thomas costume (review item)
Graco baby monitor (bought with SwagBuck redemptions)
Luvs diapers (bought with SwagBuck redemptions)

My boy is a train!

"Mommy, I want to be a train."
"Well, honey, you can be a train engineer or conductor."
"No, mommy, I want to be a train."
"Well, good luck with that."

My 3 year old is obsessed with trains. Everything is about trains. He even runs his fork along the edge of the table making train sounds. French fries, crackers, duplos, pens...anything can become a train in his mind. We have watched countless hours of Chuggington and Thomas and Friends. We have bought scenic videos of train rides. We have train toys, train clothes, a train bathroom, train books, train stickers. If I push the baby's highchair over the carpet, the tracks become "train tracks" within seconds!

But I had no idea how to make him into a train.

Well, I thought, if nothing else, maybe I can start looking at boy's Halloween costumes and see what I can find. I looked and looked...and found...

a train! I can make my son into a train! You have no idea how happy this little boy was to get this costume! I found it on Costume Super Center. They have an amazing assortment of costumes for all ages (yep, adults too) and lots of cool accessories too. While their costumes are not expensive, they are not by any means cheap costumes. The product shipped really fast and arrived in perfect condition.

He literally did not want to take this off. He wore it all day, even to meals and snacks:

I mean, how cute is that! I'm so thrilled that he's a train now. He walks around going "chug chug chug" when he's wearing it. He loves that he can use the really big pocket in the front for carrying "real trains", which are really stacked duplos.

You need to check out the costumes they have. There are so many categories! Just for little boys, they have Disney characters, kinda scary looking zombies, military and super heroes! They will be my "go-to" for costumes. Maybe next year he'll be into super heroes. I think he'd look really cute in the Muscle Chest Batman costume. He's so skinny, the fake muscles might give him some bulk!

Disclaimer: I received the costume to review from Costume Super Center. I was not required to write a positive review and no additional compensation has been received. All opinions are 100% truthful and are my own experiences with the costume. 

Winner of Rangers Tickets!

Random.org picked comment #3 as the winner of the Rangers tickets!

Congrats to Fred and JaeAyne! Hope you have a great time at the game! (Even though I think Josh Hamilton is far cooler than Michael Young...)

Happy 1 Year...almost

Just realized that August 4 is my 1 year blog-o-versary...may have to do something special for that...

Heads up on a super diaper deal!

Starting Sunday, CVS will have Pampers Baby Dry, Swaddlers or Cruisers 48-96 ct for $21.99 with $10 EB back. Be sure you use coupons on these and you'll make out with a really great deal! (Limit 1)

Mega Swag Bucks!

 

Ah, Friday! I love the chance to win between 5 and 500 Swag Bucks on one search! Not sure what Swag Bucks is? Get over HERE and check it out! I've cashed out for a total of $170 in Amazon Credit in the past 9 months!

Is your dog Mighty?

Go HERE to join the Mighty Dog Nation and you'll get a super cute dog tag mailed to you!

Book Review: Simon's Crossing

Simon's Crossing: A Novel
By Charles William Asher and Dennis Patrick Slattery
Publisher: iUniverse, 2010
English, 172 pages

Book Description:
Enter the biblically historic world of Simon of Cyrene, where a world of grief, revenge, and tender devotion awaits. There, families are torn apart, marauding soldiers enact their violent ways, and random events suddenly disrupt life. Along this journey there will be encounters with Pontius Pilate, Veronica, Mary, and the sons of Simon, Rufus and Alexander, as they seek to grasp the mystery of a compassionate Nazarene, serenely putting into practice the kingdom of God.

Forced to carry the cross of Jesus, Simon of Cyrene, a little known biblical figure, reluctantly yields to his task. At the same time, Simon struggles with personal loss and a fiery desire for revenge. In Simon's story, the vulnerability of our own journeys is laid bare as we cross paths with a simple wooden cross and a redemptive twist of fate.

In Simon's Crossing, this ordinary man, from Cyrene, steps boldly out of the pages of the Bible. He senses that his own life depends on the Nazarene staggering just ahead of him. Persuaded by sacrificial love, we too discover what it is like to cross over into the imaginal power of a story well-told, where salvation lies close at hand. Simon's story compels us to carry on as well.

My Review:
Wow. Not since Mel Gibson' Passion have I been moved as much when thinking about the story of Jesus on the Cross. I can't hardly begin to tell you the emotions that were stirred. This book, while a fictionalization of Simon's life, is so well done you will feel like you're there with him. I'm really at a loss for words to describe how moving and realistic this book is. I'm recommending it to everyone in my Sunday School class (and my readers). The book is graphic, but wasn't the crucifixion? Shouldn't we be made aware of how brutal an act is was? Shouldn't we be stirred by it?

There were many tender moments between Jesus and Simon as they walked to Golgotha. While I'm not sure they did happen, who's to say something like it didn't? It was interesting to note that as Simon remembered his pain and anger, there were effects on Jesus. (You have to read it to understand.)

It's clear the authors have a strong faith and love for our Savior. I'm grateful for the opportunity to read their book.

A copy of the book was provided to me from the authors. No other compensation has been received and I was not required to write a positive review. Seriously though, you need to read this. 

Coupon Preview

Go HERE to see the coupons for Sunday. Glad to see cereal coupons. My stockpile is almost gone! And, OH! I'm eager to try the M&Ms pretzel...

Short Giveaway: Two FREE tickets to a Texas Rangers game! (CLOSED)

(THIS GIVEAWAY IS CLOSED)


I got these from the All Star voting promotion, but we can't go. So, I'm giving them away! You'll need to be able to get to the game, so if you're not in TX you probably don't want to enter!

Prize: Two tickets to a Rangers game in a section regularly priced up to $25. There is also a half-price option available in the email (not usable on Friday or Saturday games). You'll receive, from me, the email sent to me with the coupon code, which is a one time use only code.

Just a note: August 28th is free t-shirts for first 8,500 13 and under with a MercyMe pregame concert!

ENTRY (1): Leave a comment telling me your favorite Ranger! (Be sure to include an email address!)

Giveaway ends on Saturday, July 24 at Noon CST. That way you have more time to choose a game! Comments without an email address will not be counted. In the interest of fairness, one entry per family will be counted. I have received no compensation or promotional consideration for this giveaway. Just can't use the tickets!

HOT Quiznos Coupon

*Offer is no longer valid...we all sure like our sandwiches!

You can go HERE for a printable coupon for any small sub, chips and regular fountain drink for $2.99 at Quiznos.

Sample of Dog Food

You can sign up HERE for a sample of Rachael Ray's Nutrish Dog Food. I got this one in the past and it's a good sized sample. I'll be requesting one just for a friend's dog. No hopes in the near future of adding a furry friend to our family...sigh...

FREE Tote Bag from VistaPrint!

***This offer has been suspended due to overwhelming interest...***

I'm so happy this offer is back! The last time this was offered, I got this bag:

I literally carry it everywhere! I am so happy that you get a chance to get a free bag too! This FREE Tote bag from VistaPrint is an eco-friendly carry-all for wherever you go. 100% canvas tote bags can be customized with your name and message.  You can pick a design or upload your own. Then you can customize the message. You have the opportunity to put something on the back, but it's not free. You will have to pay shipping, around $4 for the slowest speed. Be sure to pick the slowest shipping. I still got mine within a week of ordering.

Disclaimer: This post may contain affiliate links.

What a great deal!

I juts gotta share a deal I just got!

In the August edition of Parenting, there was an Amazon ad with a coupon code for 20% off diapers, with FREE 2-day shipping! I added that on top of the 30% discount being offered for Subscribe and Save (which can be cancelled after the first shipment is on the way) and look at what I'm paying for a 204 ct. pack of Luvs Size 3:

That comes out to $0.087 per diaper! Awesome! Even better was paying with SwagBucks credit! (Rumor has it that there is also a coupon code in Parents...running to check...)

Monday Mail Round Up

Here's what came in the mail last week (all free):

Magazines (woah...lots to read this week!):
Family Fun (earned from SwagBucks)
Bloomberg BusinessWeek
Bazaar (free from RecycleBank)
Sherman's Travel
Cruise Travel
Travel & Leisure (seeing a theme here???)
2 issues of OK!
Redbook (free from RecycleBank)
Men's Journal (paid for with SwagBucks redemption on Amazon)
Living the Country Life
Real Simple (free after rewards from MyPoints)
Muscle & Fitness
Electronic Products
Website

Other Stuff:
5 copies of a book from the Harlequin Ambassadors (will be giving them away soon...)
Cottonelle sample from WalMart (great for the diaper bag!) with coupons
Starbucks Via! sample from WalMart with 50c coupon
$11 check from MindField
$3 check from PineCone


Proud to be part of Mailbox Monday at A Frugal Friend. Check out what others are getting free!

Upcoming School Deals

I've had a sneak peek at the upcoming CVS and Wags ads and here are the school supply deals:

CVS (7/18)
BOGO Composition Books, Scotch tape, 10 pk mechanical pencils
3/$1 PaperMate 8 ct pens

CVS (7/25)
2/$1 PaperMate 10 ct pens
3/$1 Notebooks

Walgreens (7/18)

$0.09 wood ruler, 2 pocket folder, highlighter
$0.29 1 subject notebook, erasers
$0.49 pencil case, glue sticks, highlighter 5 pk.
$0.19 Pilot pens 2 pk
$0.99 Kleenex (!)
$0.79 Crayola 24 pk

Walgreens (7/25)
$0.09 2 pkt folder w/ prongs
$0.59 filler paper
$0.39 plastic ruler

I neglected to look for limits on the items. Be sure to grab an ad as you go into the store just in case your Wags is like mine and doesn't label the sale items on the shelf.

Don't forget Wal Mart will price match with the ad in hand if you don't want to go to more than one store. Some of the Wags prices are after an in-ad coupon that Wal Mart will not match.


Go HERE to see a list of Wal Mart deals thanks to BeCentsAble...remember WM has regional variations in prices.

Sunday Coupon Preview

Go HERE to see the list of coupons for this Sunday. There's no RedPlum, but the SmartSource looks pretty good. We use a lot of the Dannon coupons. Hopefully we won't need that Pull-Up coupon!

Another Birthday Freebie!

Buca di Beppo has an eclub you can join and you'll get a FREE appetizer just for signing up and a FREE dessert on your birthday. They'll also send around $150 in discounts during the year.

We have a winner!

Random.org has picked comment #94 as the winner of the CSN giveaway.

 

Jennifer said...These would look great on my living room mantle.

Back to School at Wal Mart

I found this post HERE at Deal Seeking Mom regarding Back to School sales at Wal Mart. You'll want to check your local store though since there seems to be regional variation on prices. Don't forget, Wal Mart will price match anything from a competitor store (if you bring the ad).

Playtex Ultra Sample

Get a sample of Playtex Ultra HERE...I use these under the sinks at the church! It's also a Wal Mart sample.

GoodNights Sample

GO HERE to get a sample of GoodNights for bedwetting. It's a Wal Mart sample, so it'll come pretty fast!

Book Review: The Fruitful Life

The Fruitful Life: The Overflow of God's Love Through You
By: Jerry Bridges
Publisher: NavPress, 2006
192 pages, English


Book Description:
As we desire to be more like Jesus, we want to live loving, joyful lives. Yet loving our enemies seems impossible. Even being patient with our family is often difficult. How can we put on the gentle garments of grace when we're so busy battling our old behavior patterns?

Navigator author Jerry Bridges explains how to practice the “fruit of the Spirit” (Gal. 5:22-23):

• love
• joy
• peace
• patience
• kindness
• goodness
• faithfulness
• gentleness
• self-control

Learn how the Holy Spirit can help in your spiritual formation as you become a serious follower of Christ.

My Review:
I took my time with this one. I wanted to really read it and get as much from it as possible. I firmly believe that you can best interpret Scripture in light of other Scripture and that is what Bridges does. He could have gone in the direction of preachy or overly academic, but I think he found a nice balance for a casual reader. Each chapter is well thought out and explained and I love, love, love that there are study questions at the end of each. I'm about to start teaching a Sunday School class and I think this could be part of our curriculum in the future.

You can pick up a copy from Amazon HERE:















I was provided with a copy of the book by NavPress for the purpose of reviewing. I was not required to write a positive review and all opinions expressed are my own.

Welcome to my world

I just learned a lot of truths about having two children:

1. The 3 year old you're trying to potty train (for a year...) will tell you he has to poop right as you start to feed the 7 month old.

2. You will think your 7 month old will be "just fine" in the high chair for "just a second" playing with his bottle while you take the 3 year old to the potty.

3. Your 3 year old will not poop. At least not in the potty. He will go when you aren't right with him and put on a pull up and come tell you to change him about an hour later.

4. Your 7 month old will get ahold of the bowl you left on the high chair tray because you were so excited at the prospect of the 3 year old pooping in the potty.

5. You will be cleaning oatmeal and peaches out of your child's hair, nose, ears and off of every surface within reach for hours. And then you'll find more later after you've thought you had it all.

Monday Mail Round Up

Here's what came for free in the mail last week:

Business Week
eWeek
Marie Claire
Florida Travel
Glamour
Golf Digest
Forbes
Town & Country
Ready Made

Samples of Glidden paint (the hubs requested a set too so this makes two, which is just enough for a project I have in mind!)
Crayola Tadoodles Drop and See (actual toy is put away since the 3 year old wouldn't leave it alone.)(Huggies Enjoy the Ride points redemption)

Proud to be part of Mailbox Monday at A Frugal Friend. Debra is really awesome for hosting this every week. Skip over and see what others have been getting. Some even put links for you to get the items too!

Have an Opinion?

I've been happy with Opinion Outpost and wanted to let you know that they are accepting new members. This is an actual screen shot of my account:

I've been a member since October 2009, I get about two opportunities per day and I do not qualify for every survey. I've been getting accepted for more lately though. Give them a shot. Click HERE to get started.

Time for Back to School Savings!

I love this time of year! School supplies are so cheap! We buy extra for supply drives at local schools and churches. Be sure to max out your limits. Here are what I've seen so far:

The best deals of the week are in GREEN!

Staples (week of 7/11)
$0.01 deals:
2 pocket folders, with fasteners (limit 10)
#2 Yellow Pencils, 8 pk. (limit 2)
500 pg Multi Purpose paper (after easy rebate)
Note: These are with additional $5 purchase
 
$1 Deals:
BIC Atlantis Ballpoint Pens, 4 pk.
Staples Mini Stapler
Staples Translucent Pencil Box
Staples Hype! Grip Highlighters, 6 pk.
Westcott Pointed Scissors, 5 in.
Staples Glue Sticks, 26 oz. 4 pk.
Post-It Novelty Shaped Notes, 2 pk.
Rose Art Colored Pencils, 15 pk.
Scotch Magic Tape, 3pk 4×675 in.
Quartet Dry Erase Board, 8.5×11 in.
Staples #10 Pull & Seal Envelopes, 25 pk.
Staples Photo Supreme Paper, 8.5×11 in. 50 pk.

Walgreens (week of 7/11)
Expo Dry Erase Markers, 4 pk., $1.99 ea
Mead Poly Notebook, 1 Subject, $1.99
Crayola Markers, 10 pk, or Bic Grip Mechanical Pencils 99¢ ea
Sharpie Fine Point Markers, 12 pk.,$3.99 ea
Penway Notebooks Subject, 120 sheets, or Composition, 80 sheets, 79¢ ea
Fiskers Blunt or Pointed Scissors 99¢ ea
Elmer’s Jumbo Glue Stick, .77 oz., or School Glue, 4 oz.,99¢ ea
Penway Crayons, 24 pk., Colored Pencils, 12 pk., or Jumbo Crayons 8 pk 49¢ ea
Legal Pad 50 sheets, 5×8 or 8.5×11, 29¢ ea w/in-ad coupon
Mead Envelopes, 40-100 pk. 69¢ ea w/in-ad coupon
Index Cards, 3×5 white 100 pk., or Colored, 70 pk., 39¢ ea w/in-ad coupon
Crayola Posterboard, 22×28 in., 34¢ ea w/in-ad coupon (I use these for reward charts!)
Hi Trails Backpacks, Duffel Bags, or Messenger Bags B1G1 at $9.99
Novelty Pencil or Splash Mini Highlighter 9¢ ea w/in-ad coupon
Flexible Ruler, Pencil or Pencil/Crayon Sharpener 29¢ ea w/in-ad coupon
Paper mate Write Bros. Mechanical Pencils, 10 pk. 39¢ ea w/in-ad coupon
2 Pocket Folder with Prongs 13¢ ea w/in-ad coupon

CVS (week of 7/11)
99¢ ECB wyb Paper Mate Pens 99¢ Limit 1
99¢ ECB wyb Caliber Scissors 5, 99¢ Limit 1
Caliber 1 subject note book 70-80 sheets, pencil sharpener, pen/ink eraser, flexi or wooden eraser, 2/$1
Avery Binders, 25% off
Scotch Mailing Supplies, 25% off
Sharpie 8 ct, $4.99
Portfolio folders, 2 pocket (probably w/out fasteners), 10/$1 (limit 10)
(Can someone explain why the Yoshi blade and a DVD player are on the page with back to school deals?)

Just in time for the 4th

Or not...

Sign up HERE for the Johnsonville Enthusiasts club and you can register HERE for FREE Delibites! (Note these are different links...) There are also coupons HERE.

***The DeliBites deal is ended. You can still get coupons.***

FREE Dentyne Sample

You can get a FREE sample of Dentyne Pure gum HERE. It's a Facebook page, but I was able to request the sample without being logged into Facebook, so it may not matter if you have a page or not!

FREE McSmoothie (EDITED)

Word has just come in that this campaign is going to be postponed. You may have received a FREE coupon in the Parade magazine in the paper on 7/18!


And no, it's not a Seattle-based doctor...July 22nd thru 24th, McDonald's will be giving away FREE 5 oz. smoothies. Be sure to call your store before you head over there to make sure they're participating. I think these will be good since they're made with real fruit and non-fat yogurt!

Thanks Southern Savers!

FREE Sample Gas-X

I'm not saying you need it or anything...but here's a link for a free sample of Gas-X.

FREE Magazines

Sign up for a FREE US Airways frequent flyer account and use code NM15 to get 1500 points. There are several magazines which "cost" less than that so you can get a free mag! This is for new members only and the points may take up to 48 hours to post. (I'll let you know what I get as soon as my points post!) Offer ends 7/31/10 so you need to hurry!

Thanks Freebie Blogger!

FREE Coupon Alerts

Do you ever get frustrated because you see a post (here or elsewhere) for a great new coupon and you miss it??? I do! Sign up for FREE COUPON ALERTS and you'll never miss another one! Free Coupon Alerts is always updating with the latest coupons available online. They cover Printable Coupons, E-coupons and much more. Don't Miss a Coupon again with Free Coupon Alerts. I'll start checking as often as I can to let you know what's out there!