What Do Fly Fishing, iPads, Sweaters, and Coffee Tables Have In Common?

Ok, so it's been a few days since my last post, but that's because I overwhelmed myself with this one and I keep staring at it deciding how I want to fit everything in. I originally wanted to tell you about the classes that A.C. Moore and Michael's offer, but when I started researching it I found SO many more places that offer these! I want to sign up for them all!

Apple - You can take a free Apple workshop on everything from learning about your new iPad to using iTunes or iWork. There are a bunch of these, and frankly I'm shocked because nothing Apple puts out is inexpensive, so for these to be FREE is amazing. I want to buy an iPad just to take the class.

Bass Pro Shops - I'm not much of a girly girl, but I'm also not that much into fly fishing or hunting either. Some of these workshops don't really interest me, but others sound kinda fun, like the snowshoeing adventure. I really just included this one because the Bass Pro Shop is such a fun store to visit. I mean, you could walk around the entire store just looking up at all the things hanging from the ceiling, although I don't recommend this because there ARE stairs. There's also a shooting arcade that's pretty fun even if you stink at it and use 30 shots just to make the little beaver pop up.

Michaels - These classes change every month, but this is the current schedule. They have little in-store demos and I've made a bracelet there once. The demos are free, but the classes sometimes cost money, like the price of materials or something. These are my weakness because I love fun crafty things, but I haven't done one in a while!

A.C. Moore - They also offer in-store classes and I've taken a jewelry one here too. I think it was $17 and we learned to make a necklace. We had to buy or bring our own beads, but the tools were available for everyone to use. When I put my zip code into the link above, there are no classes listed for January in the store closest to me, which is the first time I've ever seen that happen, so keep checking because there usually are a few each month for jewelry making, cake decorating, and yarn projects. I'm thinking of making something like this for next year's ugly christmas sweater parties:

 

Williams Sonoma -  I've been wanting to do one of these forever! Um..and I certainly could use the lesson. Ask my mom about the time I cried making chicken, or tried to make baked mac & cheese without cooking the macaroni first. I think I will sign up for one of these right away...

Home Depot - At first I wanted to be offended at the "Do-it-herself" workshops on this site, but then I read about them and...well, they actually are things that I wouldn't have a clue how to go about doing, so they seem helpful. And FREE! There are also kid workshops and a projects section too.

I'm going to keep searching for more of these, but if you know of some that I missed, definitely let me know!!

Yummy Things, Girly Things, and ...Things.

There's a bunch of free samples out there today! Here are the links:

1) Free sample of Playtex Sport tampons. If you're a boy, you can probably ignore this one. If not, you might be excited to know that the sample includes 3 tampons and a coupon! Eeek I feel uncomfortable writing "tampon" on the web, how old am I?

2) Free sample of Cream of Wheat Cinnabon flavor. I am so excited for this one! I LOVE Cream of Wheat even though I know that is so uncool.  I like this one especially because it sounds healthy when you say you're eating "wheat" but it's essentially a mushed up cinnamon roll.

3) Free sample of Crest Whitestrips to use after you finish your Cream of Wheat!

4) If you signed up with Procter & Gamble, there are new samples to request! They do this once every quarter and you can request one of everything they offer that month, plus some coupons!

More Cheap Movies!

I'm starting to feel like Hollywood should be paying me to post all these movie ticket deals, but there's another one again today. This is a good one too because the tickets have NO restrictions and NO expiration date, so you can use it whenever you want on any movie at any AMC theater.

 The deal is at Mamapedia and it's only for 1st time members - but I bet most of you don't already belong there anyway, right? I'd never heard of it before today. You have to change your city to "National" to get the deal. It's still good for another 3 days so make sure you get one! Comment if you have any problems and I will help you out! :)

Is There a Dent in Your Couch That Looks Strangely Similar to Your...err...Backside?

There's not in mine! It's in my bed instead and it's shaped more like my entire body...

So January is the month where gyms get real busy with everyone kidding themselves about New Year's Resolutions, right? Well my friend Lizz pointed out this morning that you don't need to belong to a gym to take some good classes, do some yoga, and work out at home - you can use Netflix! If you don't already belong to Netflix, it's cheaper than a gym membership and they have some great options for workout DVDs. I just found Jillian Michael's 30 Day Shred on there, and Carmen Electra's Aerobic Striptease (you know you were curious), and there are a bunch of yoga and Pilates videos as well. You don't even have to wait for the DVD anymore, you can watch some of them right from your computer, Wii, Ps3, Xbox, iPhone, etc. Now you really have no excuses! (Sorry about that...)

But if you DO want to join a gym, I suggest Work Out World. It's so cheap! $20/month for unlimited use of all their locations, classes (they have a great schedule!), and you can bring a friend for free! I just joined, but the club near me doesn't open until next week, so I can't *really* recommend this to you yet, other than to tell you it sounds amazing, but I will definitely check back and let you know what I think! I really hope this dude doesn't go there:

Actually, I really hope I don't run into that guy ANYWHERE.

If you're more into working out at home, there is also a really good deal right now on adjustable dumbbells at Walmart until tomorrow. I think it's kind of a secret because I don't see it in the flier or online, but I saw it myself at the store last night. It's a set of 2 with four vinyl 7.5lb weights and four 2.5 ones - so 40lb total - for $19. I searched this morning to see how good of a deal this was (they're originally $48) and similar ones are very expensive everywhere else. There are some chrome ones for $400 at Target! That's nuts! That's like 2 years worth of gym memberships!

Cures for Peely Skin and Makeup-aholics!

I hate winter. I hate the cold, the snow (unless I'm sledding), the staticky hair, chapped lips, dry skin, and I hate that it's dark when I get out of work.

 

I feel like I'm missing a bunch of things in that list, but I'll include them in a future Scrooge-like post. 

Anyway, because I hate winter and all it's dry skin, I was kind of excited to see that Aveeno is offering a free FULL SIZE bottle of lotion! They have the good stuff too, not the watered down, nasty-smelling stuff. Supposedly in this weekend's Sunday paper (Jan 9th) there will be an offer for the bottle of lotion. Not sure if it will be a coupon or a rebate, but it's worth checking out! I suspect there will be a catch, like you have to buy 5 other things to get your "free" lotion, but I still figured I would let you know just in case it's legit.

I've also been hearing a lot about the clearance deals at CVS recently. Apparently a LOT of brand name makeup items are marked 75% off! Look for the little red stickers on them. If you signed up for the ExtraCare Beauty Club that I blogged about yesterday, then this is a good way to start earning your ExtraBucks! 

Oh, one more thing I hate about winter:

CVS Thinks You're Pretty

Shop at CVS a lot? Then make sure you enroll in the ExtraCare Beauty Club so that you're earning ExtraBucks while you shop! You get a 10% off coupon just for signing up, $5 in ExtraBucks for every $50 you spend (BEFORE coupons!), $3 ExtraBucks on your birthday, and if you sign up today or tomorrow you will be entered in a drawing for a chance to win a trip to the 2012 People's Choice Awards and $500 of products! I'm actually more excited about the $500 of products than the People's Choice Awards. Although a trip to L.A. would be pretty sweet, provided there are no earthquakes that day. Or landslides. Or fires. Yeah, I'm still more excited about the $500 in products actually...

Just for the record, I know it's called the ExtraCare Beauty Club, but you don't have to be beautiful to sign up. I mean, even this girl can join:

 

I hope she doesn't read my blog.

Need Some Help Spending Those Gift Cards You Got for Christmas?

Below is a list of coupons you can use to get discounts at some popular stores! I was in Old Navy today and it physically hurt me to buy some boots and gloves without having a coupon, so I was inspired to come home and look up some good ones.

Aeropostale - $10 off of $40
Bath & Body Works - $10 off of $40 and a free travel size item with any purchase
Borders - 33% off any item
Express - Sign up for their email newsletter and get 15% off
JCPenney - $10 off $50
NY & Co - $25 off $75 when you sign up for their email newsletter
Old Navy - search for "bones" on their Facebook page (you don't have to accept the 1st one you find, there are usually a few different ones!)
Payless - 20% off
Target - tons of coupons on their website - food, Wii games, makeup, etc.
Yankee Candle - $10 off $25

There they are! Feel free to post more if you find them!

p.s. My boots are cute AND comfy, so I've gotten over not getting my 10% off of them :)