FREEBIE$ & DEAL$

If there is one thing I'll spend time searching for it's freebies and great deals! I am, by no means, an extreme coupon queen (I have no idea how to buy $2000 worth of groceries for $10), but I know how to snag some pretty fabulous freebies and discounts. Now, I don't want this blog post to be forever long, so I'll try to give you guys the "short" version and share just some of my tricks, tips, and suggestions.

"JUNK MAIL"
First things first, set up a "junk mail" account -- any free email account will do. I have a hotmail account dedicated to all my random freebies and deals. Honestly, I divide my emails into two groups. My "A-List" emails get sent to my primary account -- these emails I want to see on a regular basis. My "B-List" emails go to my junk mail account, which is monitored on a regular basis.

A lot of companies will ask you to share your email with them when you request a freebie. I don't want my personal/primary account to get swamped with emails I won't read, so my junk mail account houses all of those random messages apart from the ones that are more important to me.

Dan appreciates my freebie quest, so he has a junk mail account as well. You can easily double your freebies by having two accounts -- one for you and one for your spouse/boyfriend/girlfriend. My parents are also kind enough to let me send freebies to their house -- since some freebies permit only "one per household".

Some companies don't send the same deals/coupons to every email. I've been told that sharing your phone number and/or email at each purchase will increase your odds of receiving more deals/coupons. I'm not sure if it's true but it's worth a shot.

BIRTHDAY FREEBIES
August is a great month for freebies in our household because mine and Dan's birthdays are both in August. Sign up to receive email newsletters from your favorite restaurants and you'll get some amazing coupons to use around your birthday. And, yes, if your birthday is close to your spouse most restaurants will let you use multiple coupons -- sometimes Dan and I eat for free!

Here are some of our favorites:
Noodles & Company - Free Bowl
Benihana - $30 Off Dine-In Entree
Red Robin - Free Entree
Corner Bakery - Free Baked Good
Hollywood Blvd & Hollywood Palms* - 8 Free Movie Tickets per Theater
bd's Mongolian BBQ - Free Unlimited Bowl with purchase of Single Bowl

Now, some of these deals may change over time and require you to visit them on specific nights, but this is what we've taken advantage of in the past. As an added bonus, some companies will even send you coupons just for signing up! So be sure to sign up for email newsletters before you go out to your favorite restaurant.

*Note: As of right now you can sign up for their birthday club when you see a movie -- I don't see an option on their website. You might be able to sign up if you contact them. Also, each guest is expected to purchase at least one item while at the theater. You can order a whole meal or just a beverage. How much you spend is your call. Still, you'll get to see new movies at this theater (minus opening weekend), so it's still a great deal.

HUNT4FREEBIES

Hunt4Freebies is one of my favorite sites! If you like them on Facebook you'll automatically get freebie updates in your news feed. Simply watch for the deals that strike your interest.

Some freebies will go very fast. For example, if Hunt4Freebies announces "Product X will be available at 2:00 p.m. central..." you should probably be ready a couple of minutes before hand to increase your odds of snagging that specific freebie.

Through them I have gotten TONS of excellent freebies -- including full-size beauty products, razors for men and women, movie tickets, gift cards, pizza, pet food, baked goods, cleaning supplies, make-up, jewelry, and groceries. I also get tons of travel-size samples from this site. These little freebies are great for overnight guests and vacations.

REDBOX
Who hasn't noticed a movie/video game vending machine at their local grocery store? Welcome to the world of Redbox! It's already cheap to rent from Redbox, but you can also rent movies for free. When you sign up for a Redbox account be sure to sign up for their text messages too. Dan and I each have an account, so when we get free movie codes we each get to pick out a movie. The free codes come without warning, so Dan and I usually use the freebies to create a fun-filled, in-house date night. Redbox also sends out freebies (via email) when you sign up and on the anniversary that you signed up.

FYI... Hunt4Freebies notifies folks when Redbox has random freebie codes available to everyone.

BING REWARDS
Who doesn't use a search engine when surfing the web? How would you like to get rewarded just for searching through bing? I earn a $5 Starbucks gift card 1-2 times a month just by using bing on a daily basis. After you earn your first reward you'll start earning them faster.

Click the link below to get started...
Bing Rewards

RECYCLE BANK
Want to learn how to live green and save energy? Pick up some new tricks to living a more green lifestyle and you can also earn some fabulous gift cards! You earn points by playing games, reading articles, and watching videos. Points vary, depending on what they're offering, but if you stick with them you'll earn $5-$10 gift cards for Best Buy, Starbucks, Lowes, and more!

Click the link below to get started...
Recycle Bank

FYI... Hunt4Freebies notifies folks when Recycle Bank has new earning opportunities.

VIGGLE
This is strictly a smart phone app, so you'll need a smart phone in order to take advantage of their reward program. Viggle is an app that rewards you for watching TV. Yes, you read that correctly. You can earn free products, gift cards, and coupons by "checking in" to various TV shows and watching their commercials for bonus points.

You get 1 point for every minute of TV you watch. Some shows offer bonus points. When each show ends you need to check in to a new show to continue earning points.

Honestly, this program used to be a lot more generous with their points. Dan and I discovered it when it first came out and we managed to score a free PS3 and other excellent freebies with very little effort. These days it takes a while to earn enough points for a sweet freebie, but hey, if you're gonna watch TV you might as well earn some freebies while you're at it.

Rewards change frequently, so be sure to browse the rewards from time to time to see what's available.

Also, don't fret if points take a while to show up in your account. Lately, I've noticed points in my history but my grand total doesn't always change unless I close out the app. Also, sometimes it looks like I'm still watching a show when it is actually over. Go ahead and check in to a new show when your previous show is over. Hopefully the little bugs will get fixed soon.

SHUTTERFLY
Okay, who out there doesn't already know that Shutterfly gives out amazing freebies from time to time?! Yes, sign up for their emails and you'll get offers for free cards, mouse pads, mugs, and (my favorite!) books! They also send out generous coupons as well.

PAMPERS
I've been told that Pampers are the best diapers and if you're using disposable diapers you might as well earn rewards for those many, many, many diapers you'll be purchasing. Enter the codes on each package of diapers and earn points towards all sorts of goodies -- including Shutterfly!

Since I also get their emails, sometimes Pampers will send me random codes for free Shutterfly goodies -- including books.

Click on the link below to get started...
Pampers

FYI... Hunt4Freebies notifies folks when Pampers offers bonus points.

COKE & PEPSI
Do you drink Coke and/or Pepsi products? Join their rewards programs and enters codes (found on their beverages) to earn points for freebies, coupons, and opportunities to enter sweepstakes.

I do know that Coke points expire (they'll warn you via email when your points are about to expire), but I'm not sure about Pepsi.

Click on the link below to get started...
My Coke Rewards
Pepsi Rewards Plus

FYI... Hunt4Freebies notifies folks when Coke and Pepsi offers bonus points.

E-REWARDS
Technically, Dan and I were invited by Southwest Airlines to join e-Rewards program. I'm not sure if this is a program is open for anyone to join. If you happen to get invited from a participating company, do it!

Through e-Rewards Dan and I participate in online and mobile surveys -- yes, they have a mobile app. Surveys vary and we don't always qualify to fill out the full survey. Still, even partial surveys earn you virtual dollars. Since joining e-Rewards, I've earned $0.25 - $25.00 per survey.

No, you don't actually get paid in cash for each survey. Instead, you can use your virtual dollars to buy gift cards and other goodies. Dan and I use our virtual dollars to buy Southwest points. It took me about two years, but I managed to buy my recent round trip ticket to Orlando, Florida just by using points I earned through e-Rewards!

Some surveys are quick and others can take a long time. I have my account set so I get notified (via email) whenever there is a new survey available -- and I want to be notified about every opportunity. To increase my earning potential I also use their mobile app for additional survey opportunities.

INFLUENSTER
This company sends out free, full-size samples for "Influensters" to try and review. These "VoxBoxes" vary and depend on what you tell them you are most interested in. I qualify for one VoxBox every couple of months. You'll be sent an email letting you know you have been preselected to receive a special VoxBox. You'll have ## of days to log in to your account and fill out a survey. If you don't fill out the survey in time you won't receive a VoxBox -- so keep an eye out for their offers.

If you are lucky enough to receive a VoxBox you'll be expected to (one way or another) review the products that you received. This includes sharing pictures and posts via Facebook and Twitter, blogging, making YouTube videos, filling out surveys, and writing reviews on their website. No, you don't have to share your reviews in every possible way, but the more active you are the more VoxBoxes you'll get.

If you want to be invited to join Influenster, feel free to contact me with your email address. Okay, no, you really don't need me to join Influenster, but it will help my Influenster score if I send you an official invite and you join that way. I think I only have five invites available right now, so first come first serve.

DISNEY MOVIE REWARDS
If you're a Disney fan (like me!), I'm sure you've got plenty of Disney movies in your home collection. Inside each specially marked DVD and Blu-ray case is a unique code. Enter the code and score points. You can use the points to get Disney freebies and occasional gift cards. They always seem to have some kid-friendly freebies available -- mostly activities you can print out at home.

Some of my family and friends don't own enough Disney movies to make this worth signing up for. To keep those points from going to waste, family/friends cheerfully send me their codes. If you'd like to share your Disney Movie Reward codes with me, feel free to send me a private message. I'll be sure to put them to good use!

Click on the link below to get started...
Disney Movie Rewards

FYI... Hunt4Freebies notifies folks when Disney Movie Rewards offers bonus points.

GROUPON & LIVINGSOCIAL
It's very unlikely that you haven't heard of Groupon or LivingSocial. Sites like these offer discounts on products, dining, shopping, and vacations. Discounts vary but they can certainly help you save some money the next time you and your spouse/boyfriend/girlfriend decide to out on a spontaneous date.

You can even earn rewards and discounts by sharing (announcing) your purchase on your social media page. Meaning, if you make a Groupon purchase be sure to share the unique link, that Groupon creates for you, on your Facebook page. If others make the same purchase after clicking on the link that you shared you have a chance to earn rewards -- rewards vary, see sites for more information.

SMART PHONE APPS
Do you own a smart phone? Be sure to download apps for your favorite stores and restaurants. Some companies offers coupons and freebies through their mobile apps. I typically don't buy anything unless it is on sale and/or I have a coupon. So when a spontaneous purchase arises, I check to see if the store has an app available. Thanks to coupons via smart phone apps I've been able to save money on random purchases.

Even if a company doesn't have a smart phone app, use your phone to check out their website for coupons and deals. A lot of registers are capable of scanning phones to accept coupons. If the scanner doesn't work there is usually a code the the sales employee can manually type in.

MISCELLANEOUS TIPS
Trust me, I know and understand that couponing can be a very time-consuming task. Bottom line, there are LOTS of deals out there and freebies just waiting to be claimed. The trick is finding the time to request/earn those freebies. Again, these are just some of my tips and tricks. It's a little easier to discuss the finer details in person.

If a company has a free reward program, sign up for it. It doesn't matter if you don't shop there on a regular basis, you might as well earn freebies/discounts just for shopping there whenever do. Stores like Best Buy, American Eagle, and Express will send you gift cards and/or coupons when you earn enough points. Restaurants like Red Robin and TGI Fridays will offer free food and coupons when you earn enough points. If you don't shop/eat somewhere on a regular basis that's what your "junk mail" account can be used for.

My last tip (for now) is... ASK! Asking employees about current promotions and discounts can really come in handy. You never know what's available if you don't ask. Try this trick the next time you're on vacation. Ask about a free room or rental car upgrade. Just make sure you ask nicely. Oh, and don't ask too loudly -- employees are less likely to offer upgrades if others will overhear and demand the same upgrade. If you're celebrating a birthday, anniversary, or some other special occasion find a way to bring it up when you're out on vacation or at a restaurant. Dan and I have gotten some sweet freebies and upgrades this way.

Well, I hope I was able to explain everything clearly. If you have any questions feel free to ask in the comment section. I'll do my best to answer any questions as clearly as possible.

Now, if you have a deal for me, be sure to post a comment or contact me personally. I'm always on the hunt for a fabulous freebie/deal!

Every BODY is Different

One of the hardest things about infertility is the fact that you cannot receive medical assistance until you and your spouse have attempted to get pregnant for at least a year. During that significant time period, a year can feel like an eternity -- especially when you know the odds aren't looking good you'll be pregnant before the year is up.

When mine and Dan's year of trying was (finally!) up, I immediately made an appointment to see a fertility specialist. A year of nothing had come and gone and I was not about to waste anymore time.

During my first meeting with Dr. S we discussed just about everything about my body and my medical history. While he wanted to run a few tests before he could officially come up with a game plan, the first thing he told me to do was change my diet. He told me to cut carbs, sugar, and fatty foods. While I generally eat healthy on a daily basis, I'll admit I have a pretty strong sweet tooth. Still, I took his advise to heart and made some drastic changes. Immediately, I took to the web (including Pinterest) to find some new healthy recipes.

In the end, I managed to get pregnant rather quickly and with very little medical assistance -- and that is a HUGE praise! The idea of popping a wide variety of pills, taking shots and other medical treatments had me a little worried. If you don't know me personally, I'm the type of person who resists simple over-the-counter pain pills when I've got a headache, cramps, and achy muscles. Instead, I usually drink lots of water and try to rest in hopes that my body will naturally take care of the rest. In most cases, it works. Then again, I also have days when I cheerfully give in and pop a pill or two.

Everyone has a his/her own approach to treating their own body. I'm not here to say there is a right or a wrong way because everybody is different and every BODY is different. Some bodies simply require a change in diet and exercise while other bodies (without a doubt) need/require medical assistance.

I wish I had known that properly changing my diet/exercise could (possibly) help me avoid infertility treatments. While I cannot guarantee I won't need medical assistance for when we attempt Baby Nelly #2, I fully intend on changing my diet/exercise in hopes that it will help sync and repair my body. Seriously though, cutting carbs, sugar, and fatty foods is just a good idea for anyone and everyone!

So, to all my ladies who are waiting for that first year to go by, might I suggest changing to a more healthy lifestyle? Like I said before, I can't guarantee you won't need medical assistance, but it's a step in the right direction. Plus, your healthy lifestyle will be very beneficial to you and your baby when you are pregnant.

If a year goes by and your healthy lifestyle doesn't appear to help your situation, I see nothing wrong with seeking medical assistance. Doctors are certainly capable of noticing details that we cannot see. Plus, experienced doctors will have a head start, so to speak, once they review your medical history and run some tests.

Above all, keep praying! Who knows your body better than God?! He knows the number of hairs on your head, the number of times your heart beats each day, the thoughts that race through your mind... he knows everything about you. And... He has a plan for you.

A friend of mine, who is currently dealing with infertility, has sent me a few helpful links and I'd like to share them with each of you...

Really great educational resources/support communities for women struggling with infertility (both also on Facebook):

Natural Fertility and Wellness

A Royal Daughter

Books to read:
Making Babies: A Proven 3-Month Program for Maximum Fertility
The Infertility Cure: The Ancient Chinese Wellness Program for Getting Pregnant and Having Healthy Babies

Again, everybody is different and every body is different. Take care of your body and treat it like the temple that it is. Besides, ladies, it's very likely that your body will serve as temporary housing for your baby/babies.

So no matter what you're dealing with, I believe that a healthy lifestyle is a great starting to point to any physical set-backs. Now, if you still require medical assistance, please, don't be discouraged. No matter what comes next in your journey, keep praying for God's wisdom and guidance to give you strength. He can help you overcome any obstacle life throws at you.

Now, for a little extra encouragement, here is Mandisa's latest single, Overcomer. Enjoy!

PS - Today I am 27 weeks and 5 days into my pregnancy. Only 85 days until Baby Nelly's due date. Yeah, we're still working on her name. Stay tuned!