I'm still here!

Hello, Internet!

I know my blog has been quiet for some time now... but no more! I'm back!

(You've all been very worried, I'm sure.)

My life has been full of ups and downs during the past few months... I started a new job that I absolutely LOVE, but we also weren't able to keep Dexter, our second dog. After a week, we realized that we couldn't give him the intensive training that he really needed to make him comfortable around ALL people, and not just our immediate family. We returned him to the shelter with heavy hearts and tears in our eyes, but we know there's someone out there who can give him the home he needs. So, for now, we're content to be a family of three.

Our house continues to be a work in progress. It was move-in ready when we purchased it, but now that I'm living in it and settling in, I've started a list of all the things that I would love to update - hardwood floors, expanding/re-doing the backyard, re-painting the walls and ceiling a new color, and so on. It would have been so much easier to do all of this in the beginning, but it's taken me a while to learn the feel and flow of the house and how our family fits into it. I don't know if anyone else has this experience with their home, but it's definitely been my journey. However, I'm sure just about everyone can relate to the budget issue playing a role in home updates... scraping together enough money to tackle one big project at a time. Plus, living in the Northwest certainly limits our ability to complete outdoor projects for most of the year (although we are having a very lovely streak of warm weather, even in October!).

My goal here is not to make excuses, but to remind myself that it's perfectly alright that I haven't yet completed every project on our to-do list.

One step at a time, right?

It's also my goal to hold myself more accountable to this blog, trying to make Tuesdays and Fridays my "blogging days." I feel bad that I missed out on sharing some more freebies with all of you - free coffee at McDonald's, free admissions to local museums, free admission to national parks... oops! Don't worry - I've got a new list to share with you this Friday. :)

See you then!

A.

Freebie Friday - July 11th

Happy Friday, everyone!

Okay, where to even begin with this post...

Well, first things first: Our little "furry" family has grown by one - we got another dog! The initial meet and greet with our first dog and the new fella went really well at the shelter, but things have been a little tense back here on our home turf. Our first dog, Blaze, doesn't seem to quite understand why our new little guy, Dexter, is still in his house! We don't quite feel comfortable leaving them alone together, so we're constantly keeping an eye on both of them. But, each day seems to get a little better - Blaze is becoming more tolerant, and Dexter is becoming more comfortable with his surroundings. (I should also mention that Blaze has a torn toe pad that's healing, while Dexter is recovering from his neuter procedure done earlier this week. As a result, both dogs are supposed to be taking it easy, which is easier said than done for two active dogs who are still getting to know each other!)

But, wait folks - that's not all! I also started my new job this week! And while things are going pretty well on that front, there's always a bit of chaos that comes with taking on a new position. I do my best to leave work at work, but it sure can be hard sometimes - especially when there's so much to be done!

The cherry on top of this messy sundae? My husband has left town for the weekend, leaving me alone to supervise the two dogs.

So, we'll see how this goes.

To focus on the positive instead of stressing about what could or might go wrong, let's celebrate another round of freebies! Here are some of my latest favorites:

1. Free popcorn samples (plus a free take-home tub!) at Goody's

My local coupon mailer included a lovely little deal for a free mini-tub of popcorn. So, I stopped by on my way home from work yesterday, and I discovered that Goody's is happy to give you free samples (much smaller than what's pictured above) of all of their yummy options. My coupon got me a bigger take-home sample, so I enjoyed a lovely pre-dinner snack of sour cream & onion popcorn. Mmmmm.

2. Free home improvement items at Harbor Freight tools

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My local paper, The Oregonian, has been carrying coupons for Harbor Freight Tools that include free tarps, free tool sets, free tape measures, and free flashlights - no purchase necessary! Time to stock up!

3. Free movie screenings through Gofobo

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I've been to several free movie screenings through this website; the last one was Obvious Child, starring Jenny Slate. All you have to do is sign up with your email address, and you'll periodically get invitations to free screenings in a city near you. (Disclaimer: this is definitely one of those freebies that you have to be on top of - tickets often go fast, and you have to get to the theater early because they give away more tickets than there are seats to try to get a full house.) It's hard to pass up a free movie these days, so I definitely recommend signing up for this one!

4. Throwback freebie: Chalupas!

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I'm feeling a bit nostalgic today, so I just wanted to reminisce for a moment on one of my all-time favorite "freebies" - the Free Chalupa coupon that was handed out at Portland Trail Blazer games if the team scored 100 points or more during a single game. Sadly, this one is no more (replaced instead by a free Egg McMuffin from McDonald's - meh), but it will always have a special place in my heart - even if my digestive system is much happier without it.

5. Gold Standard Freebie: the Library

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Ah, the library... one of my favorite places, both as a child and as an adult. While I know that the library's services are paid for by our tax dollars, it's "freebie" status goes waaaaaaay beyond just books - I'm talking music, movies, books-on-tape, and even admission at local attractions! If you live in Washington County, Oregon, go to your local WCCLS branch and ask for the Cultural Passes to places like the Lan Su Chinese Garden, Pittock Mansion, the Evergreen Aviation and Space Museum, the Portland Children's Museum, and several other spots around town. If you're outside the county, I challenge you to go to your local library branch and learn more about their programs and offerings (and check out a book or two for some summer reading).

Help me spread the freebie love! What are some freebies you've enjoyed this week?

A.

Freebies!

Happy Sunday, readers!

Things around the house are a little quiet this weekend... husband is gone fishing in Central Oregon, and dog-son is still recovering from a cut in his foot pad that required sutures. I've got HGTV on in the background (Flip or Flop marathon, anyone?) this afternoon while I take care of some domestic duties - laundry, vacuuming, the usual. But my weekend has also been filled with fun outings; Friday evening brought dinner with a college friend visiting from London, and Saturday was filled with shopping, Paint Nite with the bestie, and celebrating the album release of our friends' band.

All in all, another successful weekend in the books.

For today's post, I wanted to celebrate some of the freebies that I like to throw into my routines or onto my calendar. I remember learning from my high school economics teacher that "there's no such thing as a free lunch," but it's hard to argue with a good "free" deal when you find one!

1. Free REI classes

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My husband and I have attended a few of the free classes at our local REI store, and we've enjoyed learning new ways to enjoy the Great Outdoors from area experts. The ones that stand out in my mind focused on lightweight backpacking, and local hikes that are dog-friendly. I've also taken a couple skills classes through REI's Outdoor School, but those come with a fee (so they don't quite fit the nature of this list). If you live near an REI store, and you want to learn more about getting active outside, I definitely recommend signing up for their monthly email. 

2. Free tire checks and tire repairs at Les Schwab

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I remember, when I first started driving, my dad always told me to go to Les Schwab for my tires. Sure enough, they've been my go-to tire shop; I recently bought a new set from them last fall. And I'm sure glad I stopped by my local shop a couple weeks ago - I noticed one of my tires was a little low on air, so I asked if they could inflate it (which they do for free). After taking a look at the tire in question, the employee who was assisting me informed me that I had a leak, and he repaired it at no charge. Another positive experience with a great company.

3. Free ring cleanings at Fred Meyer

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I had some time to spare while waiting for Les Schwab to fix my flat tire, so I wandered over to the Fred Meyer across the parking lot and asked for a quick ring clean for my wedding ring, which they provide for free. Because I work with children, my ring often doesn't stay clean for long, so I LOVE it when I get to see it freed up from the dirt and grime that dulls it. Plus, I had a Fred Meyer coupon for two free reusable shopping bags (no purchase necessary), so it was a double-whammy of freebies that day!

4. Free Victoria's Secret panties

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A friend once told me, after she moved into her new place, that she kept forgetting to check her mailbox at her new house until she realized that it'd been awhile since she last got her coupon for a free panty from Victoria's Secret! This is always a fun freebie - just sign up to receive mailings from them, and every couple months you'll get a coupon for a free panty, no strings attached. And the options are always cute - no granny panties here!

5. Free listings on Cragislist

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This one is my favorite, both for the potential of the free items that you could find, and for the entertainment value. If you're ever needing to kill some time, check out the "for sale" tab on the website and select "free stuff." And then the fun begins. From a practical point of view, I scored a free set of really nice bar stools for my new house - the only cost to me was the 10 minutes to find the listing and the 45 minutes of round-trip driving to Portland and back. However, my enjoyment from this freebie option usually comes from the random listings for things like "free chicken broth," "free Buddhist magazines," and a listing from a woman seeking revenge on her cheating boyfriend by placing all of his fishing gear and equipment up for grabs on the side of the road. 

In a world where the bills seem to pile up quickly, it sure is nice to save some money wherever we can. What are some of your favorite free things?

A.