5 Free g-maher samples!

Read Collin's post from Hip2Save on how you can score 5 free samples from skincare company g-maher! I just placed my order and received a confirmation email, and it looks like these samples have all been back ordered but hopefully the company will still eventually fulfill the order.

I love getting free samples in the mail, and have been stockpiling lotion, shampoo, conditioner and other cosmetic product samples for a while. I've decided that rather than using these products right away, I'll save them for travel. Next month, I'll be heading to Cabo, Mexico (woo hoo!) and plan to bring lots of samples. This way, once I use the samples I can simply toss them and then I'll have more room in my suitcase on the way home for souvenirs.

In the Mail

We didn't get a lot in the mail this week, but we did get a few goodies:

• Coupon for a free carton of Open Nature ice cream from Safeway (no longer available)
• Sample of L'Occitane Fluide Radieux SPF 15 Protective Lotion (no longer available)
• Zipfizz healthy energy drink mix (no longer available)

Free Salad!

Vocal Point is offering a free bag of Fresh Express salad! Just follow the link to score your own coupon for a free bag!

Product Review: Downy Unstopables

I was very excited a few weeks ago to open my mailbox to find this:

I am a member of Vocalpoint.com, a site that offers coupons, samples, and more. They sent me this "blogger exclusive" full-size sample of Downy Unstopables to try out. Basically, it's a scent booster that you add into your wash with the detergent. I don't think this is a product that I would have gone out and bought, but since I had it thought I might as well give it a try. This stuff is STRONG, so if you're sensitive to fragrances at all I would be careful how much you use. For things like towels and gym clothes, I think this stuff is great. I just threw a load of clothes from camping in the wash with this stuff and it took the campfire smell right out of them. I did have a little trouble getting them to dissolve in a full load of laundry that I washed and rinsed in cold water, but I think that may have been because I overloaded the washer. Overall, I think if you can score this on sale and use a coupon on it, it's totally worth it.

Do You Like Wine?

Of course you do. And now, you like saving money too. Want to combine the best of both worlds? Check out this deal from Lot 18. This site has a great selection of wine, and you get a $10 credit when you order your first bottle! They run various promotions that offer free shipping on select bottles, and, best of all, it's wine delivered right to your house. We tried a bottle of their 2008 Calie 351 Napa Valley Sauvignon Blanc and it was great (even for white wine, which I normally am not a fan of).
Original Price: $24.99
Sale Price: $16.99
                  -$10 new member credit
                    Free Shipping
                   $6.99 shipped to my door

(*note: the link above is my referral link)

The "I Haven't Blogged in a While" Update Post

What a crazy couple of weeks it's been! Between 4th of July celebrations and camping this weekend, I've kept very busy and apparently have been neglecting my blog. So let me get you updated, starting with today's weekly grocery shopping trip at King Soopers.

Total spent: $36.02
Total sale and coupon savings: $34.47 (48%)

My favorite find of the week was on a 8 oz Hormel pork tenderloin garlic roast, on sale this week for $3.99 (marked down from $5.99). The sale price wasn't marked, but we had a $1 MQ (no longer available) that we thought made it a pretty good deal. Lo and behold, when we got to the register, it was on sale! A great deal for a quick meal.
*UPDATE*  DH did some digging for me and it turns out there's another $1 off Hormel Always Tender coupon in the 5/08 SS (ex. 7/11), so you all can still get in on this deal at King Soopers through Monday!

In the Mail

I didn't update last week with my mailbox freebies, so I'll post pictures from last week and this week.

• Rachel Ray Nutrish Dog Food
• Shout Color Catcher Sample
• Head and Shoulder Shampoo 
• Prilosec
• Worx energy shot

• Playtex Sport Tampons
• Purex laundry detergent
• 3 coupons for FREE Suave hair product
• 1 coupon for FREE Suave body wash
• Rebate check from Blue Rhino propane
• Coupons for Express clothing

Rite-Aid Paid Me $7.25!

A good week at Rite-Aid this week! I had about $14 in +UP rewards that I needed to use by the end of the week, so I decided to go even though I didn't think there were many great deals. Here's the totals:

Total spent: $0.06
Total saved: $45.85 (99% savings)

My actual out of pocket expense with tax, after using all my +UP and coupons, was $2.13. And I got back $9.38 in +UP rewards for future purchases. So I walked out of the store making $7.25!

Here's what I got

• 2 boxes of Crest toothpaste
• 5 boxes of o.b. tampons
• 2 Benadryl topical itch relief sprays
• 1 bag of Haribo gummy bears (those didn't make it in the picture, I'm pretty sure DH took them to work with him yesterday....)