A few years ago, one of my friends convinced me to buy a $7, 8 oz. jar candle from a mom-and-pop country store.  She told me it would make my entire house smell like cake. Skeptical, I brought it home and lit the wick. After a few minutes, the aroma brought me back to a time when I used to lick the bowl right after mixing a batch of yellow cake mix.  I have since moved away from that small country store, and have wondered when I'd come across something that came close to that scent.  Imagine my surprise when I found this heavenly scent in a very affordable body wash. 

My skin changed a few years ago. Instead of the combination skin I became accustomed to in my teens, I noticed my so-called T-zone area spread to my cheeks.  I will not go into a long, drawn out list of products I've tried, attempting to rid myself of this incessant problem. Instead, I'll give you a preview of a very inexpensive, yet effective product that was recently sent to me to try: Cabot's Seban Spot Treatment. 

Who ever said you need to buy Christmas ornaments to decorate your home? I was sifting through this month’s issue of ReadyMade (an expired freebie), and found two great craft projects. Using materials you probably already have, you can get started on these right away.

Free airtime with Sugar Mama

I’ve been searching for what seems like forever, for a free cell phone plan paid for by advertising (like our friends across the pond have with Blyk). Apparently, we don’t have a service quite as innovative as that. So, until someone with enough foresight can launch a Blyk equivalent in the States,Virgin Mobile’s Sugar Mama plan is as close as we’re going to get to free service.

free pearls from Aloha Pearls

I know it may sound too good to be true, but this is not a joke. A little while ago, I submitted a request for a free pair of pearl earrings from Aloha Pearls. Thinking I would eventually be disappointed, I almost gave up searching through my mail. Apparently the initial offering caused a stampede which, in turn, created some delays. Despite all of this, the company was able to deliver top notch customer service. By sending periodic newsletters, they kept everyone that signed up for the free gift, in the loop. There must have been thousands of respondents that they were able to service. After mine came, I emailed John Martin at Aloha Pearls about the authenticity. He responded that same morning with: "They are 100% real pearls no fakes. A way you can test if they are real is to gently rub the pearl on your tooth. It will have a gritty feel. Fake pearls don’t grit and just feel smooth." I have to say that am amazed at the quality of the pearls, and even more amazed at their customer service.

At this time Aloha Pearls is still offering free pearl earrings,

I Want Sandy

Okay, I’m not advocating putting yet another person on the unemployement line. But if you don’t already have an assistant, you can get by using some really cool Web 2.0 applications that can help you create the illusion of having a real live assistant. The applications below, will email or text you a rundown of your daily agenda, update your calendar of choice, and offer a host of other features absolutely free. One will address you in the email as your assistant, and will even send an appointment confirmation to a second party. Check out the descriptions below:

Gryson™ for Target® Woven Tote Bag - Black

Oh my goodness! I am soooo happy. I have been eyeing this Gryson™ for Target® bag since it first hit the store, but something about buying an accessory at Target for $50, just made me scream, "Oh hells no!" (I used my inside voice, of course). Low and behold, it is now an online clearance item, selling for a whopping $12.49! Now, that’s a price I can live with. I probably should have stopped with that, and checked out...but I just couldn’t resist. I rationalized that I don’t really shop for myself too often, being both cheap and picky, and I would have spent way more on gas trying to get to a store that actually carried my coveted bag .

Here’s a listing of what I splurged on:

back to school

It’s Back to School season, and with the cost of everything skyrocketing, it’s necessary to get creative. Instead of spending money on certain necessities like pens, highliters, glue, post-its, tote bags, clips, etc., start collecting free office supplies.

source: ventana-hotel.net

We all love them. Those complimentary toiletries that come with your hotel stay. But how many times have you used what was inside, and thrown away the container. If you really stop to think about it, you could reuse those bottles and fill them will your favorite products for your next trip. You will not only be helping to reduce environmental waste, you’ll save yourself from packing too heavily. Here are some other ways you can reuse those teeny bottles:

birthday goodies

Everyone deserves to be pampered on their birthday. Here’s a list of free samples, certificates, food, and ideas that will help you have a fabulous birthday. Of course this will take some planning, so you can have an idea what offers to take advantage of when your birthday comes around. To get the most out of your free day, plan ahead of time with some friends with similar birthdays, or let your party know your itinerary ahead of time. Also, make sure you call the business and check locations beforehand to confirm they participate in these offers. If you are able to confirm these offers or you have some to share, feel free to leave comment.

**I will be updating this list over time, so be sure to check back for updates.