How I Get Free Samples

I love free stuff. I'm not going to lie. I mean...who doesn't? A few days ago I found myself wonderfing if I could get my hands on some free stuff. After finding a site that gave a list of some companies (major name brand companies mind you) that had links to get a free sample. I thought it was great! After I had hit about every link on said site, I came across someones blog post on how they get way more samples than the other sites offered. Naturally this intrigued me. "How"?! I wondered. It was simple: Just ask!

Seriously! If there is a company that you would like to try products from, just ask them! Ask them if they have any samples or even possibly any coupons they could send you. I have found many times that if a company doesn't have any free samples available, they will offer a coupon in it's place (either by mail or a coupon code). Even though I have had a lot of success with companies saying "yes" to me, there's even more that say "no", so don't get discouraged! 

I scoured over many, many forum posts on which companies give free samples and which ones do not. I have found that a lot of time the case is, one company will give one person free samples and then will not for another person. I'm not really sure why this is, but it's always worth it to ask anyway! Below is the ever growing list of companies that have said "yes" to giving me free samples.

 Cosmetic Companies
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*Jane Iredale
*Kjaer Weis
*Napoleon Perdis
*Ellis Faas

Skin care Companies
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*Dermalogica
*Bioelements
*Blue-Emu
*Pangea Organics
*Nature’s Gate
*Epionce
*Skyn Iceland
*MenScience
*Naturopathica
*Restorsea
*Dermorganic
*Dr. Hauschka
*Aubrey Organics
*Erbaorganic
*Erbaviva
*Thymes
*Radical Skin care
*Organic Fiji
*DHC Beauty
*Paula’s Choice
*Canus Goats Milk Skin Care
*Jack Black
*Nyakio
*EO Products
*Just Hatched
*Absolutely Natural
*Love & Toast
*NeoStrata
 *Murad
*Hylunia
*SabonNYC
*Hempz Products
*MyChelle


Hair Care
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*Number4Hair
*Living Proof
*Original Sprouts


Children’s Skin Care
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*Rainbow Research 

Other
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*Boiron
*Joie Fragrance
*The Laundress
*Mrs. Meyers Clean Day
*Crabtree & Evelyn
*Stash Tea
*Archipelago Candles
*CLIF Bar
*Yes Yes
*Mamacat’s Q Tea
 *LaraBar
*Natural Calm for Kids
*NatraCare
 *Kirks Natural
*Grandpa Brands

I can say that most of these companies are VERY generous with their sample giving and I cannot wait to try out all of my new products and the new ones to come! 

Good luck and enjoy! 

Cheerful Things

There are some new cheerful pieces hanging in my home (kitchen) right now and I just had to share them with all of you! All but one of these prints are by a very creative and talented artist named Nikki McClure. I love her work! The top picture is the first piece of hers I fell in love with. Isn't it just the life of a homemaker? I can't tell you how many times that has happened to me. Little fingers, and some big just want to "try a piece". Again, love it!  

This is also just so sweet. I love the look of Fly Agaric mushrooms already, so this piece was an obvious choice for me.  

 I love the bright green color in this piece, it's so fun!  

Now, these two sweet little owls came from the Etsy shop, Trafalgars Square. I couldn't resist! It is just too darn adorable!

Well, I hope you enjoyed taking a peek at what's been bringing my a little cheer each morning when I enter my kitchen for my morning coffee. Have a wonderful rest of the week to all! 

Oh How I Love Wool...

So I have been trying my hand at some needle felting lately and here are just two of the few projects I have done so far. Its a little gnome and a pumpkin....I know they are not "the best", but I hope to one day get there. I have just been so inspired by the work I have seen on sites like www.etsy.com and am always saying to myself "Man those are awesome!! I want my little one to have some nice wooley toys to play with!!" So I just decided to start making them myself. I have tons more wool in the mail on its way to my eager hands!! I hope to get more pictures up soon!!

Sewing Diapers!!

So as some of you know I am expecting another little one and I wanted to get a head start making some cloth diapers for him/her. I found this woman on etsy ( www.respire.etsy.com ) who came up with a wonderful and very easy diaper pattern. I purchased it a few days ago and just recieved it in the mail recently and I couldnt wait to get started making them. Well here are some pictures of my first diaper using her pattern. I just loved how it came out!! The best thing about these diapers are that reversable, no back or front...just put it on, and they are a one size fits *most!! I just can't wait to use them on my new little one!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Summer Time and the Livin' is Easy...

Ahh...the sweet, simple joys of summer. This summer is especially sweet so far because I recently found out that I am pregnant. : ) I am just so thankful that by the time I am huge, it wont be so darn hot outside. (Like the last pregnancy)....Anywho... I have just been busy sleeping (thanks to the first trimester...haha) and making yummy food and sweet summer drinks. Thank goodness so far (knock on wood) that I havent really had bad morning sickness...I do get a tiny bit queasy here and there, but its nothing like last time. So here below I have posted some pictures of my super yummy "Masonades" I got the recipe from www.coldantlerfarm.blogspot.com I was so inspired that I had to make my own. I give all the credit to her!! Its now my mothers favorite lemonade...Its the only kind that doesn't give her heartburn.... Its so simple and easy and just plain yummy and perfect for summer. (making "Masonade")

Here is my mother and my nephew sporting the new "Sleepy Wrap" she got me for the new baby on the way.

It came in this really awesome carrying bag.

The fabric is so soft and I just love the chocolate brown color I picked out.

Mmm...Lemons!!!! My favorite citrus.

Okay so here is the South Eastern North Carolina BBQ sauce (vinegar based) my husband and I made for our pulled pork. Everyone just loved it... I however had some of the "queasies" kick in and really didn't enjoy it. Haha.

Well I hope everyone is having a lovely weekend!!

Ooo, Ohhh.... Look what I just bought!!!!!!!!!

I am sooooooooooo excited right now!! I just bought a lambskin comforter (unshorn, from Bowron Babycare) for my little one (okay, for my husband and I too) *wink. I have been wanting one of these for soooo long. I got a pretty nice deal for it too. OHHHH it looks so soft. I cant wait to get it!! **(baby not included). haha.

Photos...

These were all just a few pictures I took from around the house. I love trying to take unique pictures. I'm using my parents camera which actually isn't anything special....just your regular ol' digital camera....which is why I'm suprised these photos turned out so well. I must say I'm a little pround of myself. *smile....*giggle....

Mama and Daddy Hoops...

Here are the big hoops that we made. Pretty neat dont you think? I cant wait to experiment with some different kinds of tape and make it really neat looking.

Liam's little hoop...

Here they are just like I said they would be. Pictures of the hula hoops my husband and I made. (He makes the hoops I decorate them....well, except for his...he wanted to to his own. :) It was pretty fun to decorate them. We used some different colored electric tape and put funky designs on them. It was a really fun project to do, but most of all it was fun to test them out afterwards. One of my goals that I didn't really mention was to looses some weight and I never thought about it before a few days ago that hula-hooping could be a great way to get a good work out. And I think it fits my lifestyle so much. It would be so awesome to hula-hoop to some good tunes outdoors.....(Ahh, dreamin' of summer time again)....Anyway, here are some pictures of the hoops. Enjoy. We even made a little hula-hoop for Liam

So cute.

Oh how I miss...

The warmer months. It snowed here for the first time last week and it really (finally) felt like winter, but now that, that is over with....I want the warmth to come back!! I miss terribly those warm summer nights, cool breeze flowing through the air and being with my family and not worrying so much. I can't wait especially since my little man is older now and will be able to do more things outside this summer. I just know he is going to have so much fun. But in the mean time, here is a little look back at last summer. "Getting to know nature's children"

Liam is the king of the sky. haha.

I kid you not that mushroom was as big as a basket ball. Just compare with the leaves behind it.

This is such a wonderful image to me becuase it reminds me to be simple.

Ahhh....who can resist a fruit pizza?? Mmm...

Oh How I Wish...

I just got through looking at the websites of http://www.novanatural.com/ and http://www.rosiehippo.com/ and sort of picked out a "wish list" (for my son...and for me too!! :) So...here it is. (Above)-This book just looked so neat!! Its my dream someday to have a really awesome playhouse built for my children.

(Above)-I have recently just looked into the healing qualities of baltic amber. Its so lovely looking as well. I hope to get one of these for my son and for myself as well.

(Above)- I really enjoy reading books on crafting and this of the sort and this book looked great.

(Above)- This book looks so cute. I love all things wool and think that this would be really neat to read.

(Above)-Okay, who can say no to a wooden brush. This thing is just awesome.

(Above)- If you haven't already noticed (by the name of my blog) I am totally in love with all things turtles. We are the turtle family after all and these things are just too cute. I would just love to have these sitting around my house.

(Above)- When I was in Sunday school when I was very little they had a wooden play kitchen and ever since then I wanted one, well that day never came so now I want one for my little one.

(Above)- I think this is just absolutley adorable.

(Above)- Like turtles, I love all things mushrooms and these are just awesome

(Above)- This is just so colorful and its also a kit....so you put it together yourself. Its just neat.

(Above)- This is the most adorable piece of childrens "eat ware" ever!!

(Above)-This is really really cool. I dont eat many nuts, but this is really awesome

(Above)-I can just imagine this over my son's bed or over a homemade fort. Its just too cool.

(Above)- Now, I am a vegetarian so it might be confusing to why I would want a lambskin for my son. Its hard to explain how I feel about this, but basically I have respect for animals, I love animals. And when an animal dies......I feel like their body should not go to waste. I guess I sort of feel like its a way of honoring the animal. They provide us with warmth and food at times. I feel like the way they are killed is important. I dont believe in factory farms or horrible places like that. I dont really want to get all into it right at the moment, but I hope you catch my drift. I have never really liked meat, but have always thought animals were beautiful and something like this lambskin would be something beautiful to have around.

You have dreads?...Eww...

So I have dreads now....There is this huge misconception that when you have dreads you do not wash your hair. That could'nt be futher from the truth. Sure you might not wash as much, but you certainly have to wash your hair, otherwise your hair will become oily and your knotties will come out thus leaving you without your dreadies. So I just wanted to clear that one up. When I wash my hair I use Dr. Bronners peppermint soap. I LOVE this stuff. Not only does it just smell good. I feel like it really cleans my hair and scalp. I also use it as a body wash. You can use this stuff in soooo many ways. From washing your hair to washing your kitchen floor to brushing your teeth and washing the dishes. This soap also comes in bar form and comes in losts of different scents. ( I love the peppermint and lavender...ohh oh and tea tree ) You can buy this stuff pretty much anywhere these days, but your best bet would be a natural/healthfood store. I usually buy it from my local Whole Foods or Lowes Foods. I really really recomend this soap to anyone interested in buying a natural/organic soap!! (They make a baby soap as well).

I just have to show her off a little...

I feel like I have to show off my mom a little bit here. She hand makes these native american "style" medicine bags. She hand cuts and hand sews everything. All of the materials are authentic. She just does a fabulous job. She sells these bags on ebay under the name "ncbeadsnbags" These are just a few of many, many, many, many bags she makes. She is really dedicated to her work and loves making these bags.

( She also takes custom orders ). Go check out my mama!! :)