Hostess Gift Idea

Do you bring hostess gifts?

I'm a big fan of bringing a little something when invited into a home.  If I am bringing part of the meal, I don't typically bring a gift (though do sometimes).  But if invited over, I like to take along a little sursey to let the hostess know I appreciate the hospitality.

Candy is not one I usually bring.  However, after scoring four free bags of chocolate at Target on Saturday, I decided that I could make them work as a little happy hostess gift.

These bags are pretty small.  So just handing them over as is would be rather skimpy.  But add cellophane and a bow and you are back in business.

It amazes me how much of a difference a little packaging can make.

All you need is a bag of candy, a clear cellophane bag (available online or at any craft store in the gift wrap section- don't forget your 40% off coupons!), and a length of ribbon.

Candy goes into the bag.  I had to fold over the top to get it to fit into this size bag.  Then simply tie up with some ribbon.


So crazy simple but doesn't it just make a HUGE difference?!  It goes from whatever to something special in a skinny minute.

The difference is in the details!

Lots of Great Sales On Ruelala Right Now

Do you Rue?  Ruelala that is.  I LOVE this site.  And my very favorite designer is on sale right now.  Lilly Pulitzer!  I bought the pink shirt below.  I already have it in pale pink and am excited to add this one to the closet.

But there are tons of great finds on there every day.  New sales start at 11AM EST every day.  So be sure to check often.  And set up reminders to be emailed to you for your favorites.

Ruelala seriously has some of the best deals around for everything from clothing, shoes, and accessories to children's clothing to food to vacations and more!

All sorts of gifts for your man or your home or your next dinner party too!

Happy Treats To Share

I love gift giving.  But I think my favorite type of gift is a small, unexpected, happy treat.  A sursey.  Just because.

Last week I picked up several nail polish bottles from Rite Aid.  And put two in a little cellophane gift bag along with a cute nail file and my favorite lippy.  Tie it with a bow and treat a sweet girlfriend to a summer happy gift.

It costs next to nothing and takes as long as it takes you tie a quick bow.  But I promise it will not only bring your friends a little joy, but it will bring you a little joy too. 

One of the most fun things about couponing is sharing our great deals and steals.

Have you given anyone a sursey lately?

Meet Jacqueline

Jacqueline and Josie, the happiest baby I have ever met!

So I thought it would be fun to ask my friend Jacqueline, our favorite Rodan + Fields consultant, a few questions about her relationship with the brand.  You have a little more than 24 hours still to enter the great giveaway.  So don't delay.


Now let's meet Jacqueline.

A little background from my end.  I honestly consider Jacqueline to be more of a cousin than anything else.  I've known her since she was born.  Her parents bought her childhood home from my parents.  Then when we moved back to Florida, we moved right across the street.  And next door to my bestie Florida, Jacqueline's actual cousin.  We celebrated birthdays, holidays and then some together.  And then of course, our completely awesome years doing Indian Princesses.  We go back to the womb, baby!  She rocks!


* How did you first learn about Rodan + Fields?

I had been using Proactiv for five years and wanted a change in my skincare routine. My acne had cleared, BUT I still had a lot of skin issues that needed to be addressed after my pregnancy. My friend invited me to a Rodan+Fields event where she told me about the products. I bought a skincare regimen and instantly saw results in my skin after the first use. Since then, I have been adding different products to my daily skincare regimen.

* Why did you decide to sell Rodan + Fields?

Rodan+Fields is a growing name in anti-age and was developed by the creators of Proactiv. As a stay at home mom I was looking for something to add a little extra income to our household and I fell in LOVE with the Rodan+Fields skincare products. I tell everybody I know about the products, because the products work and I believe in them personally. I was disappointed that I hadn't used or heard about the products sooner, so I decided to sell Rodan+Fields to improve peoples confidence in their skin and in their lives!

* What are your top two favorite products that you personally use from the line?

I use the BLEMISH skincare regimen in the morning and the ANTI-AGE regimen in the evening combined with the AMP MD system. In addition to the skincare regimens, I use the Multi-Function eye cream, renewing lip serum, body moisturizer, and ANTI-AGE hand treatment. My two favorite products are the Mineral Peptide Powder and the AMP MD system. The powder is light weight and covers evenly. It is amazing and doesn't feel like I am wearing any makeup! The AMP MD system uses the micro-needle roller with a capsule of antioxidants and peptides that creates the softest skin texture. It is easy to use and you see immediate results. I love all the products, but those are my two favorite right now.

* Outside of representing Rodan + Fields, what are your favorite things to do?

I enjoy spending time with my husband and 6 month old daughter, baking (any and all dishes), cake/cupcake decorating, reading, and running (especially after all the sweets I make)!

* Because we both profess to love it, what is your favorite recipe you found on Pinterest?

After discovering Pinterest I no longer use cookbooks, so all of my recipes come from Pinterest. My favorite Pinterest recipe is chocolate chip salted caramel cookie bars. They are delicious and I love the combination of sweet and salty!

Lilly Pulitzer and La Pearla on Ruelala Right Now

Fellow Lilly lovers, did you know that Ruelala has some awesome Lilly Pulitzer gifts on sale right now?  Cute, cute surseys like laptop bags, ipad cases, phone (including Blackberry) cases, party decorations, lunch bags and much more!  Hurry though, favorites tend to sell out quickly on Ruelala.

La Pearla is also on sale.  I love their products.  Normally so pricey but yay for Rue solving that problem for us!!

Oh Target, How I Love Thee!

Oh Target, how I love thee!

I have had coupon for $10/1 Food Saver for weeks now but Target has been sold out.  They expired today so I asked if I could use the coupons on these things.  They said yes.  They were $9.99 so FREE after coupons!

I had four $2/1 Revlon Beauty tool coupons.  I need a new pair of tweezers and an eyelash curler so this is perfect timing.  Those cool blue polka dot tweezers were listed as $1.89.  Score!  Picked up a second pair (why is a single tweezing device called a pair?) because I tend to lose these things and free is fabulous.  However after paying, I realized they rang up a $6.99.  Uh-oh!  I went to Customer Service to either price adjust or return them altogether.  They were so nice to me!  The reps went to check to find that these were in fact all on the wrong rack.  So they moved them to the correct price and then sold them to me at the lower price - so refunded the difference.  I didn't ask them to do that and though it was such great, positive customer service!

I LOVE this Elf mineral blemish powder.  Online, it's $8, before shipping.  Which is honestly a very good price.  But there was one lonely package on the clearance rack for $4.25.  I've been out for a while and have not purchased because I hate paying shipping.  So this was a SCORE for me today!

Target Ibuprofen, 24 count, is regularly priced at $0.97.  You can find it in both the travel aisle and the regular pain relief aisle.  Use the $1/1 Target Ibuprofen coupon to get it for FREE!  Print this coupon quickly though as I anticipate it disappearing soon.

And finally, the most fun purchase that was regularly priced and has no coupons.  Ten colorful s'mores sticks at just $1/each from the front $1 section.  For the kids in the family this Christmas (and a few friends), I plan to give them a s'mores stick, homemade marshmallows, chocolate and graham crackers.  I promise to post this in more detail in December.  I'm just super excited about having 10 Christmas gifts already figured out!

Spring Into Healthy Skin Giveaway

Everyone has heard of Proactive, right?  I'm guessing nearly everyone has used it to some degree of success.  Well the creators of Proactive have a new company, Rodan + Fields!  And this company is receiving glowing reviews from my friends.

So my sweet childhood girlfriend/practically my cousin, Jacqueline, is a consultant for Rodan + Fields.  And she has offered my blog readers an opportunity to try products for FREE.  Want to know the details?  Of course you do!

One winner will be chosen and will get to chose between the following two prizes.  That's right, not only will you win but you get to pick your own prize!  And the timing is just perfect as spring finally rolled into (my) town this past weekend.

Spring Into Healthy Skin Giveaway

Give yourself the gift of great skin this spring!  Protect your hands with Rodan + Fields Anti-Age Hand Treatment regimen or instantly improve your skin tone and texture with Mineral Peptides SPF 20 power.


Option #1:  Mineral Peptides SPF 20 Powder with Brush  (retail value $59)

Mineral Peptides SPF 20 powder with brush provides sun protection while evening skin tone and reducing redness.  This product delivers healthy, clear, foundation-free skin.   Available in light, medium and bronze shades.

Option #2:  Anti-Age Hand Treatment (retail value $67)

The ANTI-AGE hand treatment regimen protects and defends against brown spots, wrinkles, and dry skin. It visibly brightens and evens skin tone, restores moisture to improve elasticity, and reduces the appearance of wrinkles.  The regimen includes the ANTI-AGE Hand Brightening Treatment and Age Shield Hand Balm SPF 30.

The Details...

MUST leave SEPARATE comments for EACH entry.  Separate, separate, separate.  Please!  It's a pain to keep track of on my end otherwise. 

* Required: To earn ONE entry, visit the Rodan + Fields website and look around.  Find a product that you are interested in and come back here.  Tell me the name of the product and why it interests you in a comment.

* Optional: To earn TWO additional entries, visit the Rodan + Fields website and click on the Customize Your Routine box.  Start the Solution tool, answer the questions and enter your email address.  Then come back here and in a separate comment tell me you did as much.

* Optional: To earn TWO additional entries, tweet about about this giveaway with a direct link back to this giveaway post on my blog.  Then come back here and in a separate comment, tell me you did as much and leave me a direct link.

* Optional: To earn FIVE additional entries, do a blog post on your blog about this giveaway with a link back to this giveaway post on my blog.  Then come back here and in a separate comment, tell me you did as much and leave me a direct link.

So in review, there is only one required entry.  And you don't even need a blog to enter!

But with all the additional entries, you can earn up to 10 chances at winning your choice of the above products from Rodan + Fields.  All entries must be left in separate comments (so if you take advantage of all the possible entries, you will need to leave me FOUR separate comments). 

A winner will be chosen using Random Number Generator on Monday May 21 at 6PM.  Winner will be posted on blog and will have 72 hours to claim her prize.  I will collect your information and your prize will be ordered and shipped directly to you via Jacqueline, our favorite Rodan + Fields consultant.  For this one, winner must have a USA shipping address, please.

Sweetest Baby Gift : Ribbon Ruffle Socks Tutorial

I know this blog is about coupons but I think this is a fun (old) post to share from my main blog.  Years ago I did a tutorial on how to make ribbon ruffle baby socks.  They can be made a rock bottom prices too.  Over the last year there have been so many opportunities to buy kiddy socks at Target for nearly free.  And every crafter has ribbon scraps hanging around the house.  Take a glance and let me know if you give it a try.  I promise it will be the EASIEST sewing project ever and it is sooo inexpensive (possibly even free) to make!

Click here for a full, easy to follow tutorial with step by step photos!

Sent To Me For FREE

A week or so ago, Walmart reduced the price of some bath/beauty gift packs online.  The box for this gift pack claims it to be a $23 value.  Ouch!  That seem insane, but it's what the box says so I am just sticking with that.  I paid just $6.50.  Plus tax and shipping, my total came to $8.07.  Plus there is an offer in the box for a free subscription to Allure magazine.  OR....if you don't want the subscription to Allure (I don't- I get so many magazines already.), you can send in for a $9 rebate.  I am not sure yet if they will send me the price I paid or the full $9 (would be a $0.93 profit).  Either way, win win win for me. 

I love Olay products.  I need a new puffy thing.  And Venus razors are my absolute favorite.  Free is my favorite price.  And shipped directly to my house is my favorite way to shop.  Plus...just look at all the coupons that were inside the box too!  They don't expire until 12/12 so I just know I will be able to get some great deals this year with them.

Winner winner, chicken dinner, y'all!

Is it funny or sad that this amuses me so much?  Don't pretend you aren't equally joyful with little deals like this find their way into your homes too!

Hurry Over To Ruelala

I forgot all about the sale set to happen today girls or I would have posted a reminder yesterday.  But head over to Ruelala to take a look at their Lilly selection.  Tons of sunglasses, bags and dresses.  A few I loved but I am resisting until I lose some weight.  Plus, it's in the teens here right now.  I have many months before I can again dream of wearing my summer Lilly loves.

If you have never shopped Ruelala before, just click any image below or this link to sign yourself up.  They have limited time sales with just about every name brand you can think of for clothes, shoes, housewares and even vacations.  If nothing else, it's a  lot of fun to browse.

Epic Fail

OK so I just have to share this in an effort to keep things honest around here. 

I don't know when, probably some time in April-ish, I figured out what I wanted to do for my family's Dirty Santa (aka Santa Game, aka Yankee Trade, aka White Elephant, etc depending on what part of the country you live in) Game this year.  I planned and plotted to do a big bag full of girly things.  But use coupons to get things at a great price, of course.  To not spend above our set limit but hopefully make the gift bag value much greater than the set limit. 

I thought I had a great idea.

So the gift included all sorts of things from several bottles of nail polish, files, and do dads.  Olay face cloths, body wash, and make-up remover.  One of those big Finish dishwasher things that hang in the dishwasher.  One of the hands free Lysol hand soap kits.  A motion activated room spray.  My favorite JR Watkins lotion (my FAVORITE).  And a dozen other fun things.  I think my estimated value was over $75 (our limit to spend is in the $25 range).  It was pretty much a drug store in a bag.  But it had a mix of useful things and things that are useful but pricey that we would never typically buy.

Let me just tell you that the gift went over like a lead balloon.  Ha!  Everyone thought I just cleaned out my closet.  And thought it was the strangest gift ever concocted. 

In my mind, it made sense.  Had a theme.  Geared towards women.  Was useful.  But also fun.

Um...I was so the only person who could see all that. 

On the other hand, I gave this slightly different and smaller version of the same gift theme to my neighbor who kindly gives me her coupons each week.  She LOVED it.  Like was so excited about all the fun little treats inside.

So the moral of the story is, you win some and lose some in life.  On Thursday, this gift was a winner winner chicken dinner.  On Sunday, big fatty epic failure. 

Can't win 'em all!

Oh and from the Dirty Santa Game, I came home with a big bottle of Apple Pie Moonshine.  I had to steal it too.  So worth it- totally delish over ice!

Merry Christmas, y'all!

One Lonely Deal and Answers

First things first....  Please accept my apologies.  I am just not going to be on here much this week.  I am in the middle of the first of three huge projects.  Oh and Christmas is in there too.  I have yet to even clip the coupons from two Sundays ago.  Gasp!

Second....  My favorite CVS.  It's in Latham, next to the Lowes.  I live closest to the ones in the Atrium but I don't like that one at all.  The store and the employees are not exactly my favorites.  But in general, I find CVS employees to be the most well versed on coupons and the stores to be well stocked.

Third...  I will do a post about the details at some point, but I do not shop at Walgreens.  I have had too many wretched experiences there and it just is not worth it in my book.  I think their customer service, from the store on up to corporate, is hands down the worst.  Worse than Walmart.  I also don't like their rewards system.  Or specifically the rules on coupons to items purchased.  I don't want to have to buy junky crap to use a coupon.  Not cool.

Fourth...  So far this is the only deal I have done this week.  I need to find a few at CVS though as I have ECB's expiring at the end of this week.  Gah!  I have no time.  But I was happy to get this Lysol kit from Rite Aid today.  The cashier was suspicious of the VV coupon though.  I was like, it's from your own website!  Ha.  Anyway, I was happy.  I wanted one of these to use in a Christmas gift and was hoping to find a deal this week.  Yay!

Lysol Hand Soap Kit  reg. $14.99, sale $7.99
- (1) $0.75/1 print coupon
- (1) $5/1 Rite Aid Video Values coupon
= Paid Out Of Pocket $2.24
~ Earned $3 + up Reward

Today, come hell or high water, I will finish the one of the three projects.  Or finish it enough to let me enjoy my holiday anyway.  I hope! 

I also have to...gulp...go to the mall.  Every year, I try my hardest to never set foot in a mall to do holiday shopping.  This year, because Lands End sent me the wrong item though, I have to break my mall fast.  Sad sad sad.  And scary.  Scary that I have to set foot in a mall this close to Christmas.  Wish me luck!

Coke, Zhu Zhu Pets and CVS Coupons

What sort of Coke coupon did y'all get yesterday at CVS?  Bloggers were saying they received 3 12-packs for $8 coupons.  Mine was 2 for $6.  Which is still a decent deal.  But not quite as great as the 3 for $8.  Oh well.  I wanted Diet Coke so I was happy to get a deal.  Sad though to find a coupon for $1/2 Coke at the second CVS I went in.  So after I purchased the Coke.  Ha.  Always something, right?

I went to four CVS stores hoping against all odds to get another Pro Nutrients deal.  I didn't realize earlier n the week that the $5 red machine coupon would be produced once each day.  Ah!  Sad sad sad.  That was such a great deal to roll just a few ECB's after all the coupons to earn a gift card.  Live and learn.  Because all the stores were long sold out. 

They were also all out of the Zhu Zhu pets.  So I still have no idea what those are.  But my favorite CVS store (and the fourth that I went to today) was so nice to honor the $0.99 CVS red machine coupon on anything else Zhu Zhu.  I picked up this lunch box and will keep it for the fall when my Junior League typically does some sort of back to school drive.  I personally think it's ugly as sin but I'm not five, so what do I know.

FREE Lippy

Oooh this is a fun one, y'all!  A little holiday treat to give or keep.

Click the image above and "like" Yes To Carrots on Facebook.  Then print the $3/1 Walmart only coupon.  They sell for about $3, give or take a few pennies, at Walmart.  So FREE!

$25 Restaurant Gift Certificates Just $1.40!

Do you use Ebates?  I am ashamed to say that even though I've known about it for years, I only recently started using it.  I had assumed it would be extra complicated all this time.

But you know what?  It's so easy!  And I am completely kicking myself for not using it to make money back all of these years.

Here's how it works.  Click here to sign up if you are not yet a member.  It's free and takes 15 seconds.  Then see that search box in the top right?  Type in the website you plan on shopping on.  And then click to shop as usual.  You will then automatically earn a percentage of your purchase price back in CASH via Ebates.  Crazy easy, huh?!

Here's an example I did yesterday:

Click to use or sign up with Ebates.

Then in the search box, type restaurants.com

Then shop as usual for gifts or for yourself.  I picked up three $25 gift certificates, for just $10/each.  Then before checkout, I used the code STOCKING to take off 80%.  Bringing my total for the three gift certificates (worth $75) from $30 down to just $6.

Did you follow that?  That code takes an additional 80% off your total!  How awesome!!

But it gets better because right now Ebates is giving you 30% cash back on all restaurant.com purchases.  So a $25 gift certificate will cost you just $2 after the coupon code and then earn you $0.60 back.  In the end, your out of pocket cost will be just $1.40! 

I picked up one as a gift and two just because.  It's nice to have them on hand to share with friends or to treat yourself when you feel like a night out and about.

Do You Rue? You Seriously Should!

Ruelala is my very favorite deal website.  Click any of the links or images here to get yourself a direct invite.  They have the most amazing sales and deals.  It's where I get a lot of my favorite Lilly Pulitzer clothing pieces and shoes. 

It's a great time of year to sign up and do some last minute holiday shopping.  From sweet treats to sparkly treats to gifts for the man or woman or baby in your life.  They have it all.  They even have vacations and getaways now.

Or if you just don't need anything, it's still super fun to window shop.  I mean, I have no use for a pair of ruffled bloomers but how cute are they below?! 

So if you have yet to sign up, click this link and start playing around on Ruelala!  You can even set up notifications of your favorite upcoming sales so you never miss a great deal.

I Made Money At Target

OK I did most of these match ups here.  The Yoplait was FREE from a coupon I got from one of the freebies I post weekly.  For all 12 of those TGI Friday's meals, I paid just $0.99 TOTAL!  That's just pennies per meal.  The Poland Springs was free from a coupon.  Same with the nail polish and Aveeno lotion.  I also had $15 in gift cards from last week to use that I used.

Total value purchased ... $94.54

Paid out of pocket ... $4.35

Percentage saved ... 95%

Earned ... $10 gift card from spending more than $50