Savings Cravin': How To Save Money on Printer Ink

So my HP ran slam out of ink right in the middle of printing my coupons for the HT Super Double event last week. Usually I'm able to run out to Office Max to pick up another cartridge but that began to get costly, besides the fact that it was 2AM.  I searched my trusty 'ole Ebay for refill ink and ended up saving myself about $110. This is the best thing since sliced bread IMO.

Here's how you can get your own. 

If you're a fan of Ebay, you can start there, however, I'm sure mass merchants like Amazon will have the same thing if you prefer ordering there. 

You will need to type the exact name of your printer in the search bar along with the words 'refill ink'.  You can then make the best selection to fit your needs. I ordered this 3 pack.  

Each pack will refill my cartridge 3 times. That's 9 cartridges of ink for $7.96!!! The ink that I would have normally purchased is anywhere from $13-$17 per cartridge so you do the math.

My package arrived in 2 days. I was super excited!

And installation was the easiest part of all. The refills came with an 'instruction manual' that was a cinch to read and understand. 

 After about 4 easy steps and 5-10 minutes of my time.....

 I was back up and printing and I didn't even have to leave the comfort of my own home. 

Trust me when I say as long as Ebay is in business, I won't ever buy ink from Office Max again unless they are practically giving it away.

 Let me know if this tip helped. 

And stay tuned for more deals, savings, and thrifty and shameless shenanigans. Please feel free to follow my Instagram as well as Facebook pages for additional info.

Thanks for reading. 

Thrifty Threads: My Couponing Outfit

I don't just coupon to save money on grocery items; my first love is shopping for clothes. Even then, "if it ain't got a #sale sticker on it, my money ain't buying it"!! I went couponing today in my clearance ChuckTaylors that I scored from Target when they had the smoking hot $5 off Converse coupon out. I got them for only $6.98. Believe it or not, the t-shirt came from Dollar Tree-check out the other t-shirt that I scored from there in this post. Last but not least, my boyfriend shorts were on sale for $5.99 a couple of seasons ago at Aeropostale. Talk about dressing on a budget. Yeah, I'm totally about that life!!

 I'm thinking of making this a regular feature here on the blog, which I've totally abandoned lately. Please forgive me. Would you all be interested in reading?

Follow along on my Instagram page as I post most of my hauls and deals there. You can also like my FB page to stay updated on other freebies and deals. 

Thanks for reading!!

Spring Cleaning with Kroger...

***Product coupons were provided by BzzAgent***

One thing I can't stand is a nasty house! I will take clutter and disorganization any day, but filth...I.CAN'T!!!

What better time than Spring Break to get some necessary cleaning out of the way? That's exactly what I did with my time off. I especially love to shop at places like Kroger for my cleaning supplies because not only do they offer great deals and prices but they also allow you the opportunity to earn Fuel Points towards your gas by using their rewards card. 

If you're unfamiliar with their Fuel Points system, it allows you to save $.10 per gallon of gas for every 100 points that you earn and redeem from your rewards card. Currently, they are running a promotion wherein you can earn 4 times the normal amount of fuel points for purchasing participating products.

Products that you would normally purchase such as this Clorox Cleaner + Bleach. 

Let me tell you....there's nothing like the fresh smell of bleach to signify a cleaning job well done!!! Especially when it's damn near free AND gives you points towards discounted gas! Double WIN!!!

No....let me take that back!

It's a TRIPLE WIN for me because it cleaned my bathtub like no other. Check out my before pic here...

I know what you're thinking!

I promise you all that I'm not a filthy chic but I had to make sure to let the dirt buildup in the tub enough so that you could visually note the difference in the before and after pictures. Otherwise, this whole post would be pointless.

See...it's not as bad as you think!

But take a look at the end results-AMAZING!!! 

Even better news is that BzzAgent has sent me 5 extra sets of coupons to share with my friends so that they can take advantage of the 4X Fuel Points Program before the promotion ends. 

Please feel free to email me to let me know if you are interested in receiving a sheet of coupons.

Here's what all I purchased with my set of Kroger coupons..all for under $5!!!

Cleaning products are super expensive so great, high value coupons always come in handy.

Again, let me know if you would like a set!

Thank You for reading.

XOXOXOXOX

Product Review: #FindItAtTarget VoxBox

***I received this product complimentary to test through Influenster's Vox Box Program***

The best part about being an Influencer is that I get to test and review products that I normally would  not have thought to purchase.

Recently Infuenster launched a campaign with Target, my single most favorite store in America, in order to introduce various products that may or may not be new to the average Target shopper. Being that I'm literally there at least 2-3 days of the week, there aren't many items at Target in which I'm not familiar with so I was dying to participate. 

Truth be told,  I had my heart set on a new lip color, nail polish, or maybe even a new body wash but instead I received this...

Urban Fudge Sea Salt Spray!!

Apparently, it sprays on your wet hair and dries to create 'beach waves'.

So yeah, that's about all I can tell you. I'm honestly a little disappointed with this #FindItAtTarget VoxBox for 2 obvious reasons.

First and foremost there was no product information included in my box so I literally had to rely on the knowledge of my Instagram followers to find out what it was. 

Once it's identity had been established I became even more disappointed because there was no way that I would be able to benefit from it's use with my near natural black girl roots.

Next time they run a campaign such as this, I would expect them to complete a much more in depth pre-screening before they ship out a bunch of products that no one can use or benefit from. 

To the stockpile the Sea Salt goes. 

Anyone else receive a #FindItAtTarget VoxBox?

What was your experience like? 

I can't wait to hear from you!!

Thanks for reading!

DIY Lunchables: My Balanced Snack with Alpine Lace® Deli Cheese

***This post is sponsored by Alpine Lace®. All opinions and views are my own.***

Happy Tuesday you all!

I haven't been the best blogger friend lately. Honestly, I'm still getting adjusted to life as a Mother-yes, even after almost 4 months I'm still struggling with time management. My lil man is my world so literally every waking moment of my life is about him. Never will I feel guilty or apologize for taking the time to be an awesome Mother.

Being an awesome Mother means that I'm constantly on the go-obviously-because I rarely have the time to blog on a consistent basis anymore!! Being an awesome Mother who nurses means that I have to consume extra calories and remain well hydrated and healthy for the sake of the little life that I have been Chosen to care for.

Let's face it, I've never really been a huge health nut and sometimes I feel like slapping myself for having coffee or a soda-even though they're decaf-because I think they're ruining my little angel and somehow influencing him to develop horrible eating habits already. Even though I'm slim and I've already lost more than what I gained when I was carrying my Bubby, my eating habits are not so stellar! My sweet tooth is absolutely ridiculous and I consume wayyy more cheese than the doctor ordered.

Somehow, I would like to believe that cheese, and any dairy product for that matter, provides me with the fuel that I need to get through life.

 But mainly cheese. 

Seriously, I've been on a cheese kick for a while now. Each week, trying a different type. So far, I've experimented with Swiss, Muenster, and Gouda cheeses-respectively ordered according to my favorites.

I particularly love the Alpine Lace® Deli Cheese.  And the fact that I can make healthy snacks with it. Snacks  like these DIY Lunchables that are perfect for a busy Mom such as myself. 

Most varieties of Alpine Lace® Deli Cheese are reduced fat, perfect for snacking on the go or adding delicious flavor to your favorite sandwich or snack cracker. Its great taste comes from high-quality ingredients, and it provides a good source of protein and calcium.  

Alpine Lace® Deli Cheese helps fuel your busy day, providing you the energy and deliciousness to prepare you for your next adventure. 

I love that these delicious snacks give me and my lil man just what we need to stay energized.

They're the perfect Life Ingredients!!

Share your adventure and life ingredients on your personal Facebook page and be sure to “like” Alpine Lace®.

And again, thanks for reading and sticking in here with me!

Until next time!
XOXOXOXO

Friday Favorites: Vol #34

Hello my loves. I hope each one of you is off to a great start today. I'm soooo glad it's Friday. The weekends are the absolute best part of my week because I get to spend it all watching and cuddling with my beautiful baby boy. Speaking of whom, this episode of Friday Favorites is full of references to him so if you're not in the mood for baby talk then this blog is not one in which you should be visiting today!!

First up is this awesome wall art that I found at Target. The moment I found out I was expecting, I nicknamed my LO Peanut so when I saw this I absolutely HAD to have it-regular price and all. Once I spice it up with some paint and baubles it will be the perfect addition to his nursery.

These Boston Baked Beans....from the Dollar Tree!!! If you have a sweet tooth like mine then I need not say anymore. Yummers!!!

Did you all know that I owned an online boutique? I carry new and gently used items from some of your favorite brands. I just got a TON of new things and I can't wait to post them. If I must say, my things are really nice and totally affordable. You can follow along on my Instagram page for first dibs on new items. Here are just a few examples of the things that I carry.

My best friend is definitely a loyal customer. She loves scoring things from my racks. And she rocks the snot out of them too! Follow her here!

Speaking of good style...I love styling outfits for my lil man. It's too much fun. I find some really awesome things for him while thrifting-like these gently used Ralph Lauren Polo boots. There's no need for me to spend a fortune on his clothing when he grows out of it so fast. 

Styling for myself is just as fun. I live in these Dolce Vita boots that I scored on clearance at Target. They're super comfy and stylish. This Proenza Schouler sweatshirt was also purchased from Target when they collaborated with Neiman Marcus last season. For those of you who were unable to get your hands on it then, it will be up for sale in my shop soon. 

I have twice the fun when I can style matching outfits for me and my love! This is what we wore on our first visit back to church last Sunday!

Clearly I never knew I had a foot fetish until I saw these lil cuties. I can't get enough of them and oddly enough I have several pics of them. 

This may be my most favorite thing in this post...my baby shower cake. It's soooo beautiful-almost too beautiful to eat

More Target swag!!! They literally have EVERYTHING on clearance right now. I like to stock up on these Xhilaration tights anytime they put them on sale. I have almost every color-they are super comfy and a pretty decent quality. I'm hoping that they will be marked down to 50% off somewhere in the near future because I need just a few more colors. 

This facial steamer was an awesome deal! You see the price tag, right? I loves a good clearance sale. I purchased this a long while ago and totally forgot that I had it until my adult acne flared up after giving birth to my son. I use it once a week for now, in hopes that it will help to clear my pores!! By the way, if anyone has any inexpensive skin care suggestions, I'm open to listening.

Last but not least is this deliciousness from McDonald's. Now I truly understand the mind of a Starbucks feign. This Strawberry Covered Chocolate Frappe has drained every cent out of my pockets. I've had one everyday for the last two weeks and that's NO exaggeration-my day is not complete without one.

There you have it-my favorites for the month of February!

What are some of your favorite things of the month?

I can't wait to hear from you.

Thanks so much for reading!

XOXOXOXOXO

Savin' Maven: DIY Photoshoot

As soon as I had my LO, I knew I would be taking lots of pics of him. I'm talking every day lots. If he could talk right now I'm sure he would have a few choice words for me. Mommy snaps pics whenever the urge arises-during sleep, during poops, during nursing, during bath time. I even play dress up with him and have real photo shoots. Because sometimes it's just not financially feasible to take him to the portrait studio. Sometimes you want your photos to look a little less 'planned' with a lot more personality and character.

Last week I shared some tips on how to save money on family portraits in this post. However, if you're super frugal like me and you have somewhat of a knack for photography and creativity this post is just for you.

Since I take pictures of my LO so frequently I wanted to try my hand at some Valentine's Day shots-a little more fun and personable than the family portraits we recently took at JC Penny's and a helluva lot cheaper.

I purchased my LO's outfits from Target just after Christmas. They weren't on sale or clearance but I love the Carter's brand so much that I was willing to pay full price for them.

Next I visited my local Dollar Tree for some cutesie Valentine's Day decor that would make for some decent background props. I ended up with these glittery hearts...

and this heart themed ribbon...

Since my LO isn't quite sitting up on his own yet, I placed him in a little pail that I found on clearance at WalMart a couple of years ago. 

Add the props and the baby and viola...

A super easy and successful photo session for all of 2 bucks. You can visit my Instagram page to see the final product after editing with photo apps. I had a great time doing this with my lil man and I'm sure he enjoyed the bonding time as well. 

I hope this will prove to be resourceful to some of you. 

Thanks for reading! 

XOXOXOXO

Savin' Maven: DIY Valentine's Day Mail

Hello my loves.

Listen, I know I'm late as hell; please forgive me as I'm still trying to get accustomed to life with a newborn. Its like my days are literally stuck on fast forward. Seriously though, every waking moment that I have is spent on my lil one. 

I did however want to stop by today to share a quick,  easy, and fairly inexpensive holiday DIY project with you all. This project can really be done for any occasion bit since my family just recently had Valentine's Day pictures taken we will roll with that. 

Alls you need are some fancy scissors, a few pieces of solid color printing paper, and some washi tape.

I started by searching for a nice quote online and creating a Publisher document that would allow me  to print several of them on one sheet. i decided upon a nice quote about friends and family and since it's Valentine's Day I chose red paper.

Next,  I used the fancy scissors to cut the 'quote cards' out. All of the scissor designs were so pretty.  I ended up going with the 'Sculptured' pair for nice, frilly edge. 

I added washi tape to the outside of the envelopes just for character. After using my coupon the tape was almost free, $.05, from Target. I figured this was a great way to use it.

So there you have it-a quick and easy way to spruce up your holiday mail. By the way,  I love how great our family portraits came out. The JCPenny's portrait studio did an awesome job. See how we saved a ton of money on them by viewing this post. 

Until next time-thanks reading!

XOXOXOXOXO