love Skin So Soft?

good 'ol twitter ...

thanks to Jessica's Coupons I discovered Avon's Skin So Soft giveaway. 

you'd think (or I'd think!) I would've heard about this, being a Sales Rep and all.

Avon's Challenge -

use Skin So Soft for 14 days and see the difference in your skin.

When you share your experience with Skin So Soft HERE, you can win 2 trial sized (1.7 oz) bottles of this wonderful, magical stuff!

visit her blog too!

thanks Jessica!

food bank day

today I had a first ...
I went to the local food bank.


I kind of wanted to take a picture, but thought maybe it could have been offensive somehow.
it was a smaller one.  I'd say under 100 people there.  everyone had their box, bag, basket, wheelbarrow; anything to carry food home in.  it was kind of a sight to see.


you could tell the people there had been there many times before.  it was nothing new.  nothing to be ashamed of.
people saw friends, neighbors, and their other family members.  it was a kind of get together.


it was simply a way of life.




I felt funny.  a tad out of place.  I had never been before.
I never needed to go.


I always knew "the system" was there, for those who needed it.  I'm for it ... for those who NEED it.
I am also aware that there are people who take advantage of their no/low income status and get freebie after freebie after freebie.  in my opinion, its a bit discouraging.  I mean, why change anything if you get things handed to you over and over again?  and I have to say, its relatively clear that people here do just that.  sad.


Hawaii is so far, a VERY easy state to deal with.  after living in CA for so long, I now expect a thick packet of paperwork to fill out for every little thing, along with providing proof of everything.  In CA, even if you're standing in front of them, you still need proof of not just being human, but being alive too.   its beyond ridiculous!!


- here, you don't have to be here for a certain amount of time before you're a resident.  just go get a license, and when you do, there will be no line.  AND the people working there, will smile and mean it.
- when I registered Sam for homeschool, it was 1 piece of paper to fill out.  even the lady at the DOE said several times "Hawaii is a pretty hands-off state."
- at the food bank, I just gave them my ID and my current address, and that's it.


it must be all that sea air ...




the food I received is not ideal, as in, its not ever what I'd buy at the store.  I did get produce, but it is all on its way out.  the bread is all enriched white bread & rolls.  2 big bags of frozen french fries.  4 bags of frozen precooked pork patties ... there's always next week.


BUT if its this or nothing, this will do ... and I'll remind myself this is only temporary, but more importantly, I'll be thankful for it.

Costco freebie

what is not to LOVE about Costco?

aside from the fact your home better have lots of storage because you just get 6 rolls of toilet paper, you get somewhere closer to 100 ... ok, maybe more like 30.

- AND -

if you have to REALLY like granola bars, because when you buy those, you'll have one everyday for a year and still not get rid of them.

luckily, I have 2 boys & 1 husband that LOVE to eat.

and eat.  and eat.

and then eat some more.

you could say Costco works for us!

my point to this post ...

Costco is giving away Smart Cooking: The Costco Way for FREE all weekend long ... or as supplies last.  its a cookbook with recipes using ingredients from Costco + some easy stuff you probably already have on hand ... that's what the foreward says anyway.

go get it, and then tell me what you make from it.

I don't know where to begin; ALL the pictures look delicious!

bon appetit!

get outside

this is such an awesome freebie, I wanted to share it with you.

there is something to being outside, away from all distraction, that is so soothing. I think we all need more of that.

forget about your email, ditch your cell phones, but bring your camera!

ps. I think its free admission to most museums too. check your local favorites.

enjoy!

lunch

did your mom ever put notes in your lunch at school? a kid remembers that kind of stuff.

Sam only goes to school 2 days per week, but I insist he gets a homemade lunch rather than whatever school is serving. for a few reasons -

1. I'm cheap

2. I'm paranoid about what the school serves; extra preservatives and such

3. he's got the cutest lunch bag; a dinosaur no less!

4. I can give him a note on his napkin :)

here is a link to help a kid get a lunch. lunchables is giving away lunches, with your promise of adding a special note to your childs' lunch. it's too easy. thanks to Robyn for this!

sweet tooth

specials for 4/21

who loves iced coffee?  

check out Dunkin' Donuts, iced coffee for 50 cents!

10% of every sale goes to supporting our troops.

who loves ice cream?

go to Ben & Jerry's  for a FREE scoop!

enjoy!

hungry?

Denny's is giving FREE breakfast from 6am-2pm, February 3rd only.

now I know some of you dislike Denny's, some of you with a passion!
my hubby will go there only if it's the last resort; their food usually makes him sick. so as a family, you will rarely find us at Denny's.
personally however, I don't mind it. it's average, ok slightly below average, but it has the potential to hit the spot.

anyway hubby is out of town, so off to Denny's we go ... and it's FREEEEEEE! and I do love freebies!