YesToCarrots.com Order

As most of you know my family is slowly starting the transition to a more natural, organic personal care regimen. Ever since Eva was about 7 months old I started cloth diapering, and using all natural products on her. I started reading about the horrible chemicals that they add to many main stream baby products, like when we all found out that Johnson and Johnson's baby shampoo contained formaldehyde. After that I decided that I would try to only use natural products on Eva because I didn't want the nasty chemicals seeping into her skin. Of course there are still times when we use the main stream stuff on her, for example if we run out of something I will use what we have on hand until I can get to the store. For about 2 years now I have been wanting to switch the whole family over to more natural products, but boy are they expensive! With me being a couponer I can get shampoo and body wash for free, so shelling out $8 for a shampoo really didn't sit well with me. Well... I have had enough!  I constantly read the ingredients on the back on all our personal hygeine products, and I literally feel sick to my stomach. We still have a TON of stuff to get through  before we can become fully all natural in terms of beauty products, but I figured it's never to early to start slowly making the transition. So when I run out of one thing I am going to replace it with a more natural alternative. Of course, you will still see my couponing blogs and you will still see me using up main stream products. I will continue to coupon for my friends and family, and I will still use certain products, unless I can find a more natural product that can replace it. I hope to replace all of my products with more natural products by the end of the year. 

When I found out that YesToCarrots.com was having an amazing cyber monday sale I got uber excited and ordered a whole bunch of goodies for us to try. They were offering a $2 sale site-wide, so every single product they sell was only $2!. This was an amazing opportunity to stock up on their wonderful products, especially since they range from $6-$20 each! I got $20 products for $2... can't beat that! Be sure to look out for my "Products we've used up" posts for full reviews on these products once we've used them up! 

Here's what I got!

Yes To Blueberries Line 

Yes To Blueberries Healthy Hair Repair Shampoo and Conditioner- regularly $7.99 each

Yes To Blueberries Age Refresh Deep Wrinkle Night Cream- regularly $19.99

Yes To Blueberries Age Refresh Eye Firming Treatment- regularly $19.99

Yes To Grapefruit Line 

Yes To Grapefruit Exfoliating Body Wash- regularly $9.99

Yes To Grapefruit Daily Facial Scrub- regularly $9.99

Yes To Grapefruit Even Skin Tone Moisturizer with SPF 15- regularly $15.99

Yes To Grapefruit Dark Spot Correcting Serum- regularly $19.99 

Baby Carrots Line 

Yes To Baby Carrots Nourishing Baby Lotion- regularly $7.99

Yes To Baby Carrots Shampoo and Body Wash- regularly $7.99

I paid $2.00 for each item, paid $5.00 for shipping and ended up paying a total of $25.00 for products that normally cost $128.00! 

I had a savings of $108.00! Not too bad, eh? 

Have you made the switch to natural products? If so, please let me know what products you love and dislike! 

xoxo,

Jackie 

Walgreens couponing 1/27/14

I ran into Walgreens to pick up some milk for little Miss Eva B and had myself a bit of a look-see. I only got two things but I thought they were worth mentioning. So here they are...

Purex Laundry Detergent on sale for $2.99 Regularly $5.99

Use $1 off any Purex laundry detergent (exp.2/3/14)

= $1.99

Wet N Wild single eyeshadow in Nutty $0.99

Use $1 off any Wet N Wild or Fergie product (exp.2/7/13)

= FREE!

Happy couponing! 

xoxo,

Jackie 

Target and Bath and Body Works Couponing 1/18/14

There were some pretty amazing clearance finds at Target this weekend. I also got a free 3 oz lotion from Bath and Body Works! Wanna see how? ;)

Here's what I got!

From left to right...

 Bath and Body Works 

3 oz Air body lotion regularly $5.00

Used Free 3 oz body lotion in Air, Sun, or Sky coupon *no purchase necessary* I got this coupon by liking Bath and Body Works' facebook page, claiming the offer, and then I was sent an email which you can either print out or show to the cashier on your phone. 

= FREE!

Didn't even have to pay tax! 

Target

Pond's Wet Cleansing Towelettes 15 count on clearance for $0.15 

OPI Nail Polish on clearance for $0.46  *This retails for $7.99!*

Sally Hansen Nail Polish on clearance for $0.46

NYC Lip Gloss on clearance for $0.46

Total for all four products = $1.62 

You can't beat that, and I didn't even use any coupons! 

Happy couponing!

xoxo,

Jackie 

December PinchMe box!

Finally my December PinchMe box is here! Yipee Skipee! 

I have talked about Pinchme.com before but in case you've never heard of it I will tell you a bit about it. Pinchme.com is an awesome website where you can sign up for free boxes full of full size products and samples! All you need to do is click HERE! and signup, fill out a few surverys, and go back to their site every other Tuesday at noon and snag your free samples! Make sure you are there exactly at noon, because the samples go in less than 5 minutes. 

Here's what I got...

I still can't get over that all of these products are full size... how great is that! 

From left to right...

Neat 3B Baby B Diaper Cream retails for $6.99

Helps prevent diaper rash, fragrance free, restores natural pH and soothes skin 

Revlon by Marchesa Box O' Files Retails for $3.49

Nail files with a really fun design, and box to store them in!

Shea Moisture Organic Lavender and Wild Orchid Shea Butter Soap 8oz

This is a huge bar of soap that claims to be healing, hydrating, and calming. Its all natural and organic and is free from parabens, phthalates, paraffin, gluten, propylene glycol, mineral oil, synthetic fragrances, PABA, synthetic colors, DEA, and sulfates! This is cruelty free and smells amazing!  

Be jealous. ;)

xoxo,

Jackie 

Kroger Couponing!

I had to go to Kroger today to do some grocery shopping and you know me... I had to check out the beauty products. I only got a few things and I got a great deal! Here is what I got...

VO5 Salon Series Simply Stunning Leave-In Conditioner on sale for $3.29 

Use Free VO5 Salon Series Coupon (won in a giveaway) up to $3.99

= FREE  + $0.70 money maker!!! 

Maybelline Volume Express Mascara on clearance for $2.99

Use $2.00 off any Maybelline Mascara (exp.3/1/14)

= $0.99 - $0.70 from VO5 money maker 

= $0.29! 

Skintimate Shave Cream for Dry Skin on sale for $1.99

Use Free Skintimate Shave Cream coupon (from Bzzagent.com bzzkit- blog post to follow) 

= FREE!

Total after tax was $0.79! 

:) Happy couponing! 

xoxo,

Jackie 

First Impressions: Lush Fresh Handmade Cosmetics

This is seriously the most excited I've been in quite some time! My really awesome friend Jessica and her Mom, Susan gave me a TON of Lush products to try! Jessica is seriously one of the most giving, generous people I have ever met. Every time I leave her house she sends me home with something. That something being a coffee table, food, a lamp, cloth diaper, beauty products, baby clothes... the list goes on and on. I am extremely thankful to have someone like her in my life, she is always looking out for me and it really means a lot. I would never have gotten to try Lush before if it weren't for her, so thanks so much lady! :)

Lush is known for their fresh, vegan, and cruelty-free cosmetic items. They only use organic fruits and veggies, essential oils, and safe synthetic ingredients. The use very little packaging which is awesome for the environment, some of the packaging is biodegradable, and they even recycle their own containers. When you bring back 5 clean Lush pots they will give you a free fresh face mask! Pretty cool! This company has way too many awesome beliefs and practices too name so go check them out for yourself HERE! 

Here are the awesome products I am so lucky to try out! 

 It's a TON of stuff! Jessica you seriously rock! Spa night here I come. :)

These are all Fresh face masks, they have to be refrigerated and Lush recommends that you use them within 3 weeks. 

Catastrophe Cosmetic- calms and cleanses the skin, this smells really good, very earthy and has a faint smell of blueberries!

Oatfix- cools and nourishes skin, this smells AMAZING!, smells like oatmeal, vanilla, and almonds, they should really make this scent in candle form it is delicious! 

BB Seaweed- cleanses and softens, this kind of smells like celery to me... weird I know, but I do enjoy the scent! 

Cosmetic Warrior- cleanses and soothes troubled skin, I am not a fan of the scent, it smells like tea tree oil with a whole bunch of other stuff going on, but I am definitely still going to use this bad boy!

Rudolph- soothing, calming, and balancing, I am not a huge fan of the scent either, smells like mint and is also very herbal, can't really describe this one very well, we shall see how this works!

The next two pictures are close ups of everything in the first picture.

Buffy- this is an exfoliating body butter with ground rice, almonds and beans and it reveals brighter and fresher looking skin. You do not need to use lotion after the shower when using this bar because it moisturizes your skin as well!

Magic Wand Bubble Bar- this is for miss Eva B, you run it under the bath water while the tub is filling up and it turns the water pink and makes tons and tons of BUBBLES! Bubbles are one of Eva's most favorite things, this smells amazing... almost like bubblegum and it will make your whole bathroom smell delightful! Eva absolutely loves this, we have used it twice now and I see us getting at least 3 or 4 more baths out of it.

FUN What a softy!- this is like playdoh but for the tub! This is for Eva, and you can use it to wash you kids body, hair, or crumble pieces under the running bath water to make bubbles. This smells a little bit like lavender, and the wrapper is biodegradable... super cool!!!

The Olive Branch Shower gel (small black container)- this smells ahfreakinmazing. I can't really describe the scent but the website says it has olive oil and mandarin juice. Yum! 

Noriko Soap- this is a hand soap that hydrates and softens hands. The scent is absolutely beautiful, it's made with Tofu, Rice, and Sake. 

R&B Hair Moisturizer- this is a leave in conditioner for dry or curly hair and I really enjoy the scent of this. This has jasmine and orange blossom and controls frizzy, flyaway hair, softens and conditions with tons of moisture. 

Ponche Shower Gel- this is an awesome smelling shower gel, it is seriously delicious! It is described as a tequila and orange juice scent, inspired by traditional Mexican Christmas punch... can you say Tasty? hehe Tequila is my favorite liquor so I have a feeling I'm going to love this one. 

Coconut Deodorant Powder- this is made with micro-fine powders and calming essential oils to keep you dry and smelling like a tropical cocktail! It smells awesome, like the beach, but I am a little iffy about this one. I hope it works! You just sprinkle the powder into your hands and apply it to your pits... hehehe we shall see! Sounds interesting. If all else fails, I see this working as a great dry shampoo. 

Snow Fairy Shower Gel- this shower gel smells like straight up bubble gum and sugar, and has little tiny sparkles! It is so girly and fun, Eva is going to love it and the smell is quite delightful! 

I am so excited to get to try this stuff out! I will make sure to post reviews as I finish up the products!

xoxo,

Jackie 

Target Couponing 1/9/14

There is some pretty great clearance going on at Target right now. The beauty section had end cap after end cap full of discounted makeup and beauty products. I also saw a TON of clearance in the toy section, baby section, and women's clothing.Too bad Eva has enough clothing to clothe 4 children and we pretty much have a ToysRUs right in our own living room! If you are in the mood for some great couponing or great clearance deals I suggest you head to Target asap. I only got a few things since I am being extra stingy right now, but I still got some pretty great goodies!

Here's what I got... 

2 Loreal Smooth Intense Polishing Conditioners on clearance for $2.78 regularly $3.99 

*I think these are being discontinued because I have seen them at a few other stores on clearance, if you like these I suggest you stock up now!*

Use (2) $2.00/any Loreal Advanced Haircare treatment (excludes travel sizes) exp. 3/1/14

= $0.78 each!

Revlon Age Defying Concealer on clearance for $1.54 regularly $9.99 

Use $2.00 off any Revlon Cosmetic Item *this was a target coupon* exp.1/31/14

= FREE!

Happy couponing!

xoxo,

Jackie  

Homemade Powder Laundry Detergent and Cloth Diaper Booster!

I'm here to tell you guys about my super easy homemade powder laundry detergent! This detergent takes about $6.00 to make and it lasts our family of 3 about 2-3 months. We also cloth diaper our 2 year old daughter, so that takes 2-3 more loads of laundry every week. There are tons of different laundry detergent "recipes" so if this one doesn't work for you, you can always search for a different version. I have a few reasons as to why I make my own laundry detergent. I like that this is more natural than a standard store bought detergent, it costs way less to make your own, and this is cloth diaper safe! Of course you can use this even if you don't cloth diaper, I just wanted to have one detergent that I could use on everything. I still use regular laundry detergent on Eva's diapers because this just doesn't cut it in that department, but it works great as a booster for her diapers. This detergent has become a staple in our home and I hope you will give it a try! If you are someone who likes your clothes to come out of the wash with a heavy perfumed scent this laundry detergent is not for you. This leaves you clothes clean, scent-free, and it does all that without the majority of the nasty chemicals found in regular old store bought detergents. Another great thing about this detergent is that all of the ingredients can be used around the house for other cleaning purposes! I will be making more blog posts on my homemade cleaning supplies as well, so be on the lookout for those in the near future!

Here are the ingredients to my homemade laundry detergent...

Baking Soda

Washing Soda

Oxyclean (or store brand equivalent)

Here's a picture of how I store the detergent, this is just a Rubbermaid container and it holds 7 cups. 

I make the detergent in small batches and each batch is about 6 cups. 

Here's how I make each batch...

Combine 2 Cups Washing Soda

1 Cup Baking Soda

1 Cup Oxyclean

Mix them all together and that's it! 

Use 1-2 tablespoons per load *I actually use more like 2-4 tablespoons per load*

That's it! Super easy, affordable, and better for you and your family! You can always make this in a larger batch, just adjust the measurements accordingly. I hope you found this helpful! If you have any great tips on how you save money around your house please share it in the comments below! I would love to hear from you. :)

xoxo,

Jackie 

CVS and Rite Aid couponing! 1/1/14

I decided to do a little coupon shopping the other day when little miss Eva B was taking her nap. I had $6.00 in ECB's that I wanted to use and I also wanted to check out the beauty product clearance that all the drugstores have going on. I really didn't find anything too exciting, but I got some essentials for around the house. I need to write this pretty quickly today because Eva's waking up from her nap and I need me some Eva time. :)

CVS

2 Scope Mouthwashes on sale for $3.00 each

Use Buy One Get One Free Scope Outlast 750 mL, Dual Blast 750 mL, or Classic 1L Mouthwash (exp. 1/14/14)

= $3.00 or $1.50 each

2 Dawn Dish soaps on sale for $0.99 each

Use $0.25/1 Dawn Dish soap (exp. 1/31/14)

= $1.73 or $0.86 each

Xtra Laundry Detergent on sale for $2.49

Use CVS coupon *from red machine located in the store* $1.00 off Xtra Laundry Detergent 

= $1.49

Total = $6.33

Use $6.00 ECB's 

Grand Total= $0.33! 

And this is WHY I coupon! :) 

Rite Aid

Nothing too exciting at Rite Aid. I have had my eye out for some inexpensive Head and Shoulders shampoo for my dog who has severe skin allergies. Yes, I assure you this is safe for dogs, I used this all the time when I worked at a groomer. It is great for dogs with itchy or flaky skin! I was so happy to finally find some! I hope this gives him some relief. 

Head and Shoulders 2 in 1 Active Sport Shampoo on clearance for $3.14

Use Peelie coupon attached to product for $1.00 off  *this is a coupon that Rite Aid will attach to random products and you cannot remove it or they will not honor the coupon*

Use $1.00 off any Head and Shoulders product, excludes trial and travel sizes (exp.1/31/14)

= $1.27

Happy couponing!

xoxo,

Jackie 

Influenster Violet VoxBox!

I am here to show you guys what I got in my Influenster Violet VoxBox! I am so excited to show you the awesome free goodies I got this go around. If you've never heard about Influenster.com it's a site where you will occasionally get sent free stuff to try out and review. I received these products complimentary for testing purposes from Influenster. It's totally free to sign up, you just need to fill out surveys and unlock badges so they know what your likes and interests are. It does take some effort and time to actually qualify for these boxes, I've gotten three in about a year and a half. If you are interested in learning more about Influenster.com click HERE! Also, if you would like to see what was in my last VoxBox you can click HERE. 

Let's see what I got!

Not Your Mother's Clean Freak Refreshing Dry Shampoo 

This retails for $5.99 for the full-size, this is just a sample size. I haven't gotten to try this yet, but I am soooo excited. I love dry shampoo and I have heard wonderful things about this line. If you don't know what dry shampoo is, and your someone who doesn't like to style her hair all the time you are missing out! You can use dry shampoo on your hair when it's a bit dirty and poof you don't need to wash it! You can also use dry shampoo when your tresses are needing a bit more volume and texture. Oooh la la.

Sally Hansen New Triple Shine Nail Color in Vanity Flare

This retails for $4.99 and the color is absolutely gorgeous! It's a creamy violet color and I cannot wait to get this on my fingers and toes! This polish claims to have daily defense from water and wear, tons of shine, and it's available in 30 shades! I will definitely post a swatch of this on my nails in my follow up post. 

Goody Athletique Headband 

This retails for $6.00. I am not a fan of these types of headbands because they never ever stay on my head. The packaging claims "provides hold and comfort so you can be physically active and strong". It also says "wide band shape holds back flyaways, reversible for two looks in one, and moisture-wicking fabric keeps you cool and dry". I will let you guys know what I think of this cute headband, hopefully it stays put!

Montagne Jeunesse Dead Sea Mud Spa Mud Infused Fabric Mask

This sheet mask retails for $2.49 and I am so excited to try this! I have never tried a sheet mask before and I have been dying to! This company is cruelty-free which is amazing, this means they do not test their products on animals. This is supposed to be a much cleaner, and quicker version of a plain old mud mask. This mask is basically a sheet of bamboo fabric that is infused with mud, so you can get peel it off after and your not stuck with a face full of mud. I cannot wait to try this and let you guys know what I think! 

*Not Pictured* SoyJoy Snack Bar

My 2 year old daughter Eva asked for this bar as soon as she saw me open this box, so that is why it is not included in the picture above.  We got the Cranberry flavor and believe me my household has very mixed feelings on this bar. Daniel, my fiance, and myself thought this was absolutely disgusting, but my 2 year old daughter devoured the whole bar! So obviously she loved it! This is an all-natural, gluten free, non-GMO soybean and real fruit bar. It has between 130-140 calories and you can even pop it in the microwave for 8-10 seconds for a "fresh-baked" taste. I would not purchase these for myself, maybe for my daughter, but most likely we will pass on these in the future. 

I will be sure to try out all the products included in my Violet VoxBox and follow up with a post letting you know how I feel about everything! So keep your eyes peeled for that and go sign up for Inlfuenster.com! 

xoxo,

Jackie 

Walgreens and Walmart couponing!

Who doesn't love awesome clearance deals, especially when you can pair them with coupons? I know I do! And my mom does, well maybe not anymore... My parents were in town for Christmas and I wanted my mom to take advantage of the awesome clearance I saw at Walmart on all the hair stuff! So guess what we did? I put Eva to bed and we went to Walmart at 10pm and didn't get out of there until after midnight! I know, wooo hooo party animals! Honestly though, it was the only chance we had! It was a super busy week and lets be honest... it's way more enjoyable to go shopping without Eva B. I love my daughter to pieces, but she hates shopping. So why put her through it, especially couponing. I do that to her enough, and It was nice to have some alone time with my Momma. 

*Not pictured below* My mom got some awesome deals on hair color! She got 2 boxes of Vidal Sassoon hair color, 1 for  $2.50 and 1 for $1.50. She also got Got2Be mousse for $2.00, Pantene ProV mousse for $1.50, and some Vidal Sassoon Mousse for $1.00! They had TONS of hair stuff on major markdowns, so make sure you get to Walmart soon if you are in need of hair stuff! Unlike me, crazy couponer over here. Hey! I admit it. :) 

 Anywho, here's what I got at Walmart!

Pantene Pro-V All-In-One Styling Balm on clearance for $1.50

Pantene Pro-V Root Lifter $2.50

Use $3.00/2 Pantene Products (exp. 1/31/14)

= $1.00 or $0.50 each!

2 Vidal Sasson Foaming Air Mousse on clearance for $2.00 each

Use $3.00/2 Vidal Sassoon shampoos, conditioners, or stylers (excludes trial/travel size, exp. 12/31/13)

= $1.00 or $0.50 each! 

Loreal Ever Style Volume Root Lifting Spray on clearance for $3.00

Use $2.00 off any 1 Loreal Ever line product (exp.1-14-14)

= $1.00! 

Dawn Dish Detergent $1.07

Use $0.50/1 Dawn Dish Detergent (exp.1/31/14)

= $0.57

3 Scotties Tissues $1.00 each

Use $0.50/ 3 boxes or 1 mulit-pack of Scotties Tissues (unknown expiration date) 

= $2.50 or $0.83 each

Fast forward a bit... It's New Year's Eve and the boyfriend wanted some beer so after Eva went to sleep I went to Walgreens and had myself a lookie. I only grabbed one thing, but Walgreens still has some amazing clearance going on so I wanted to share. :) 

Walgreens 

Loreal Power Moisture Hydrating Shampoo on clearance for $1.99

Use $2.00/1 Loreal Advanced Haircare item (exp.1/14/13)

= FREE! 

Did you know you can use your Register Rewards on beer? I was pleasantly surprised! I got a Miller High Life 12 pack for $8.50 instead of $9.99 and didn't even ask to use my points! Cool! I'll save some money, thank ya very much! 

Happy New Year! I hope you guys have an amazing year with your loved ones! Wishing you health, peace, laughter, and lots of love.

xoxo,

Jackie