Five Friday Freebies

Two weeks ago I posted about my Five Friday Favorites. I love sharing things with others when I find something great, so I wanted to share some freebies (yes with an "s" unlike the image above) with you today.

1. Since we are just a couple days away from July I wanted to share this free printable calendar with you.

This first freebie is from Jesse of Good Girl Gone Glad. Love her! I plan to put my printed calendar in a little square silver frame on my desk, I just need to get some more color ink for my printer first. How pretty would this look on your desk. You can find her post {here} to download your very own and share with a friend. :) She also has an Etsy shop with some super cute prints. 

2. Next up is some nail polish and pedicure cream from Julep which I found via Kelly at Fabulous K. When you click over to the website you'll be asked some questions about your personal style and they'll send you 2 free nail polishes as well as a pedicure cream for joining their Maven program. If you love beauty products, especially summer's fun nail colors, this is for you. Please note that while the first box of goodies is free you are becoming a 'Maven' which means there is a monthly fee for ongoing shipments. They offer the ability to get free months so you're rewarded for sharing with friends. I do not get credit for recommending them as I don't have an account with them.

3. If you love great type fonts to use for craft projects, business cards, to update your blog, etc. Melanie of Nicole's Classes shares 10 great free Script Typefaces. There is a link to each one where you can download it and although some have commented that the fonts require a fee, you can simply use zero in the payment box and you'll be able to download for free, unless you are feeling generous and want to donate.

4. Do you want your kitchen cupboards to look like this? If you enjoy an organized space, you'll appreciate these gorgeous labels which would add elegance to any kitchen. Jen from I Heart Organizing featured one of her readers' kitchens and also provided a free download to get these awesome goodies! Click {here} to download them. The creator of these labels is Jen of The Social Home and is where you can find her original post titled 'Pantry Pretty: Dollar Store Pantry Makeover'. It's swoon-worthy!

5. Last but not least, I have not one but TWO Starbucks freebies for you!! They expire very soon so if you want to take advantage, you'll have to jump on it this weekend. According to both the Starbucks Facebook page and the Target Facebook page, if you buy one Frappuccino at any Target location that has a Starbucks shop inside, you'll get the second Frappuccino for free. Now you can treat your hubby, BFF or your kiddo (they have non-caffeinated options such as strawberries & cream as well as vanilla bean and a couple others). It's pretty toasty here in FL, supposed to reach 95 tomorrow so you can bet I'll be snagging a couple of these! :) You have until July.2, 2012 to take advantage of this deal.

If you miss out on that offer, Starbucks is giving away a free tall cup of fresh brewed coffee to anyone who pops into one of their stores on July.4, 2012. Consider it their Fourth of July gift to you! You can read more about the details of this freebie {here}

If you don't have a Target store with a Starbucks inside, if you go to any regular Starbucks store and buy two frappuccinos you'll still get a deal. From now until July.1st you'll save $1 for each frappuccino you buy as long as you are grabbing 2 or more. You can see the details on Starbucks' website.

*Please not that I'm not compensated for sharing these companies or deals with you in any way.


What is your favorite freebie listed here? If you have any awesome links to freebies, I'd love to know about them, please leave them in the comments section or e-mail me. :)


Have a lovely weekend everyone!

XOXO




*header image credit  All other images belong to the mentioned websites and blogs.

What to Wear: Shoes You Can Live In

Do you have a pair of shoes that you could just live in? You know, the comfy ones that you could wear out long before you're ready to part with them and move onto a new style? When it comes to shoes, I'm a huge believer of quality over quantity. I love leather and suede and much prefer it to man made materials. I like to stretch my purchases by making a single pair work with multiple outfits.

However, before investing in a pair of shoes I like to try them on a couple times, walk in them a bit at the store and when I bring them home I wear them in the house for a little while to make sure they are comfortable before I ever wear them outside. I've bought uncomfortable shoes in the past and it's a painful (and sometimes costly) mistake that I'm not willing to repeat.

Although I generally have the best luck with shoes that I spend a little more money on, sometimes I'm lucky enough to stumble upon a pair that are not only trendy and comfortable but very inexpensive too.

A few months ago, I was shopping in Target and happened upon a cute pair of Merona Meaghan ruffled ballet flats. Ironically, you might remember me mentioning in this post, how my parents almost named me 'Meaghan'. The color options were black or pewter, which is a pinkish-gold color (they offer 3 other colors on their website). Since most of their ballet flats are completely stiff and uncomfortable for me, I wasn't expecting much. So, I was so thrilled to discover how comfortable these ones were but stylish too! I adore the soft ruffle detail. They have a light padded insole and the soles of the shoes bend and are really flexible.

While these are not leather, they are so comfortable and cute that you wouldn't even know it. They look far better in person than the photos above and actually look as though they could be leather. They have now become an everyday shoe for me as we transition from cooler to warmer weather. I love a good ballet flat, I own several pairs and these are by far the most comfortable. I liked them so much I bought both colors at just $19.99 a pair!

A great pair of flats are a classy staple in any wardrobe, they are so versatile and so much better for your back and posture than heels. You can wear them nearly all year round too. If you're looking for a playful, flat, comfortable shoe to pair with shorts or a casual skirt, dress up your favorite jeans or even jazz up yoga pants and a zip up jacket for running errands around town or after a workout, this is a great option!

*I am not compensated by Target in any way for sharing my opinion, nor is this a formal review.

It's rare that I like something so much that I want to rave about it and share here but after wearing the pewter pair for 8 hours yesterday while walking around an art festival and not a single blister or rub on my toes, they definitely passed the comfort test. Oh, and I got several compliments on them too! ;)

Now, I want to know- what are YOU loving right now? What is the favorite item you couldn't live without? Maybe it's a favorite scarf, flattering pair of jeans or the perfect tee? Do tell!

Have a lovely day!

~Karla

{What Was Posted to Classy & Fabulous 365 Days Ago}

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Deal of the Day

Don't you just love it when you have your eye on something special whether it be a new dining table, curtain panels or a cute new dress and you see that exact item at a steep discount other than where you discovered it to begin with?

As you know, I love yard sale finds. I can generally find cute dresses from stores like Banana Republic, The Gap, J.Crew, etc for around $1-$2 instead of around $60-$80, I love it!

I have another source for great deals. The local goodwill store near my house stocks a lot of new Target items-everything  from clothing, belts and shoes to drapery, bedding and greeting cards. You see, Target donates 5% of it's revenue back into the community which means that a lot of clearance items or overstock is often sent to organizations like Goodwill to be offloaded from their local stores and warehouses.  I don't know if every Goodwill store receives such merchandise but I've been to three different stores in the Orlando area and they all do.

I've been able to pick up some of the best items, many of them new clothes with tags. Last fall Goodwill had a rack filled with .99 cent clothing items. I wound up getting 3 cardigans, 2 pairs of yoga capri pants, a dress and a pair of shorts all for less than $8 and they were all brand new Target brands, when I should have paid about $125 if I had purchased them all from Target itself.

Today's deal of the day is a pair of shoes. I had my eye on these tan colored Merona Maribel Peep Toe Wedges from the moment they first came out in the store. At $26.99 they are really very reasonable but I told myself that they were a 'want' and not a need. I've been trying to be a good steward of my finances and while I had tried them on a couple of times in Target, I ultimately convinced myself that while they were well priced, I didn't need another pair of shoes. Truth be told I don't have any shoes in that color at present, after donating a couple pairs recently I really wanted a comfortable shoe in tan.

Fast forward to two months later. Yesterday I popped into Goodwill after running an errand and the first thing I spotted on a shelf when I walked in were these great wedges!

The best part is they were completely new, never worn, in my size and just $5.99! They only had that one pair, and they fit me perfectly. What are the odds of that happening? I just smiled because I felt like God wanted to bless me with the shoes I had my eye on but at a steep discount-78% off to be exact. I couldn't refuse them this time, I know they were placed there just for me.

They are super comfortable and don't rub on my toes in any way, like some open-toed shoes can. After my last post, I'm sure you've figured out that peep-toe shoes are a favorite of mine. :) These also come in black and 2 other colors. I highly recommend them if you're looking for a comfortable wedge.

How about you? Have you also come across new Target merchandise in your Goodwill stores? What has been your best find yet? I'd love to hear it!

My Favorite Organic Snacks For Under $4

The other night while I was grocery shopping at Target I was thinking about all of the new goodies I've been trying out recently and how affordable organic foods really can be.  Now, I'm not talking about  organic produce or beef from grass-fed cows (although let me assure you that they do taste much better, are far healthier and are must-haves in our home), I'm referring to the plethora of amazing snacks in the organic world.

These are my new favorite, organic go-to snacks that I have fallen in love with. The best part? They are all under $4. In many cases I can purchase these great snacks for less that the traditional chemical-laden food choices available and they taste better because they are real, whole foods. The prices listed below were the regular prices at my local Target store before I used any coupons.

My Favorite Organic Snacks

1. Archer Farms Organic Blue Corn Chips with Flax $2.69

Although there are few ingredients in each bag, they are packed with crunch and flavor! It's almost hard to believe that there is no added artificial flavors or saturated fats, they taste that good. I've tried their organic blue chips with and without flax and the ones with flax are far better, crunchier and have an overall better flavor. I haven't missed regular potato chips after eating these and I love they come in a ziploc resealable bag too. These are a staple on our grocery list now.

2. Archer Farms Organic Cilantro Thick and Chunky Salsa -$2.69 
                                               AND
    Archer Farms Organic Mango Peach Thick & Chunky Salsa

We love cilantro in our house so this was a natural choice. The Mango and peach salsa is great too if you like a little sweetness to switch it up. They are both chunky, thick salsas which I love, I'm not a fan of watery, runny salsas that lack flavor. These come packed with flavor but no chemicals, preservatives or excess sugar or salt. They are 100% delicious and I sometimes use some on top of chicken or fish for a garnish. As you can see from my photo, they've both been opened already. ;)

3. Green and Black's Organic Dark Chocolate and Cherry Chocolate Bar $2.99

This chocolate bar is actually kind of dangerous for me. I shared it with my hubby but I probably could have eaten the whole thing myself. It is made from 60% cocoa and is heavenly. This is a large, 100g and is divided into individual little squares for sharing. They have so many flavors but I happen to love dark chocolate (they also make milk chocolate) and it is filled with dried cherries which add so much flavor.

4. Cascadian Farms Chocolate Chip Granola Bars $2.59

I discovered these over a year ago and they are still my favorites. Sure there are other granola bars that taste like you're eating a chocolate bar, but they are filled with no-no ingredients that I don't want. These are chewy, yummy and they still have chocolate chips in them which I love. They offer other flavors too such as white chocolate chip.

5. StoneyField Farms French Vanilla Fat Free Organic Yogurt $2.89

I neglected this brand at first because it can be a bit pricey but it does not contain high fructose corn syrup and I know where the milk has come from, it's not treated and it's fat free to boot! It tastes really good and I love knowing that I'm not gobbling down loads of chemicals on a daily basis since yogurt is a staple in our house. They also have a plain greek style yogurt called Oikos which we love too since it's so thick and decadent.

6. Smucker's Organic Creamy Peanut Butter $3.29

First, I love that this product comes in glass, no BPA or Pthalates to worry about because it is not contained in plastic. Upon trying this after using all of the hydrogentated, chemical and preservative-filled peanut butter it will taste different. You have to mix it up with a spoon or butterknife as I do for a minute. Because it's natural, the oil settles to the top. Once it is stirred you'll see it tastes so pure and natural the way peanut butter was meant to taste not artificial and goopy. It contains peanuts and a very trivial amount of salt-that is it! No oils, no sugar, no preservatives! They also offer a non-organic Natural version at a cheaper pricepoint with the same ingredients minus organic peanuts, so that is a good place to start if  you're concerned about price. If you like a little sweetness they make an all-natural with honey which is very addictive. That is where we started but I want to avoid the excess sugar.

7. Cascadian Farms Oats and Honey Cereal-$2.59

Not only is this a great cereal with organic milk or organic soy or almond milk, but it's also a wonderful little snack as-is for kids and adults too. You can also add in nuts, raisins or cranberries and put some in little snack bags. They make other flavors of their granola cereal too. On a side note my favorite brand of organic milk is Organic Valley's Lactose-free milk in 1% or skim. I rarely drink milk but when I do, it's this. I love that I can buy it for such a steal when I combine my grocery stores' sale price with my coupons. Another brand to try is Horizon Organics, some offer additional DHA which is great for kids' growing brains.

8. Organic Wholly Guacamole- $3.04

I am in love with this guacamole. I like to make my own but this is far cheaper and easier and I'm guaranteed to have a great snack for guests without the mess. It has some pieces of avacado but is mainly pretty smooth, if you don't like lumpy, thick avacado, this one is for you! I love it both ways, however this makes for a nice spread too for sandwiches, etc. It has just the right amount of everything and I could literally eat it everyday .

One of the best healthy options I know of for take out also happens to be one of my favorites-Chipotle Mexican Grill. They are in multiple states now and use meats that are hormone and antibiotic-free and the feed fed to animals is pesticide free and they were recently featured on Oprah! They take a slower approach to fast food using locally grown produce and work with local farmers. They have some of the best guacamole I've tasted. Their burrito bowls are amazing and are what I order every time! You choose from shredded beef, shredded pork, chicken or steak topped with salsas, beans, rice, cheese, corn, lettuce, sauteed onions and peppers, and the list goes on. It is one of the healthier meals to grab on the go.  

They also sell Izze drinks by the bottle, the sparkling pink grapefruit is my favorite! These drinks are natural, made with fruit juice and beet juice for natural coloring, no additional sugar, no artificial sweeteners but enough fizz to be a great alternative to soda.

*Please note that I am in no way receiving compensation for my above mentioned recommendations on products or food chains. This is my personal experience and opinion.

These are a few of my favorite organic and natural treats! I love knowing that the selections I make are free of MSG, high sodium, saturated or trans fats, sugar, high fructose corn syrup, modified ingredients (anything with the word 'modified' on the ingredients label means it has been genetically modified from it's natural state), artificial colors, artificial flavors, artificial sweeteners like Splenda, Equal and Nutrasweet which damage the liver and kidneys (and often cause seizures and even death, epecially in small children).

I hope you will try out some of the snacks I listed above, they are all full of flavor and nutrients which are great healthy choices for your family and they won't empty your wallet. Target frequently has these items on sale and many coupons can be found online or attached to the products themselves on on shelf hangers.

If you like trying out new products or like reading other blogger's 'Favorites Lists' like I do, you might enjoy a post I did a few months ago on my favorite things from Whole Foods. You can also visit THIS LINK to see some of my all-time favorite things which include shoes, decor and kitchen appliances!

What are YOUR favorite organic foods or treats? I'd love to read about what they are so I can try something new too.

Happy Snacking!

Valentine's Day Treat Inspiration {in pictures}

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With Valentine's Day just two days away I thought it was about high time that I put together a fun post to celebrate the day of  love and provide some inspiration should you want to tackle making your own treats this year.

If you haven't seen last year's V-day post, included is a recipe for Chocolate-Coconut Bars and a photo in all their yummy glory!

These Meringue message cones are super cute and so unique!

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What would valentine's day be without a cupcake?  I love how all 9 of these are so pretty and individual.

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What about these? I love how they are displayed lengthwise and topped with hearts.

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A few months ago my girlfriend introduced me to little pieces of heaven on a stick, they were called cake pops, or they can be made into cake balls minus the stick. They look like truffles and they are 100% yummy!

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Who doesn't love a good cookie? Especially the jam-filled, heart-shaped cut out kind?

You could always whip up your own chocolate-covered strawberries. Below are photos of the chocolate/chocolate-almond covered strawberries as well as the chocolate-coconut bars that I made for my hubby last year. 

  

Overall, my hubby and I don't take the day too seriously, we both prefer to give each other little surprise gifts and cards throughout the year instead but we do like to enjoy some sweet treats and a dinner or lunch out together so that I don't have to cook. I always insist that he not buy me red long-stemmed roses, since they're usually double the price and I'd much rather have an elegant and long-lasting white potted orchid instead. There is a local shop here in Orlando that sells them for a steal!

As much of a sweet tooth as I have, I like to stock up on my candy stash when it is marked down to 75% off. Yes, I'm a frugal gal and nothing makes me happier than scoring an awesome deal. Anyone else with me on that one? Just a head's up all you Target shoppers- they usually post 75% off on the Wednesday after Valentine's day. They typically do 30, 50 then 75% each day (provided that there is actually any inventory left). It's a great way to stock up on kids' classroom valentine cards for next year too!

How about you? What do you and your hubby or your kiddos do to celebrate Valentine's day? Do you make homemade desserts and go all out or keep it simple?

I hope you are having a LOVE-ly day!

Black Friday Shopping Starts Early

Do you get up before the crack of dawn and brave the mayhem with a list in one hand and a cup of coffee in the other? Do you peruse the web in search of rock-bottom prices and send out family members accordingly, or do you simply say 'no' to post-Turkey activities and get some much needed zzzzz's? Yes, we're talking about black friday.

My hubby and I have participated every year in what I refer to as freaky friday. Since I've only lived in the U.S. now for 3 years it was something new to me. In Canada, Thanksgiving is celebrated in October (on Columbus day), so this crazy post-Thanksgiving event doesn't even exist. However, here's a bit of trivia-Boxing Day (Dec.26th) is the biggest shopping day in Canada. For all of those people whose gift was money in a card-that is the day they wait for!

I do like the idea of getting great deals before Christmas day, but to date the only real deal I got was 2 years ago, it was a Cricut machine and I was the first person in line at Michael's which my hubby thought was nuts. He came along and waited with me in the car for safety reasons since it was dark and the parking lot was empty. It was actually a present from him to me as it was on the top of my list.

One year we headed to BestBuy for a digital camera that had been gone long before we even made it inside the building. Another year we bought a bike from Walmart and as soon as I tested it in their parking lot, squeeky brakes and all, I realized it wasn't the right bike for me. So- nothing overly fruitful.

This year will be a little different and a first for me, I will be working amidst the craziness at Target. (I picked up some seasonal hours for fun and of course a little cash that I can put into my savings account.)Thank God I'm not starting at 4:30am like many of my fellow colleagues! With the state of the economy, I believe this year will have a lot of doorbusters as companies try to capitalize on the day. Ads are also circulating earlier this year.

For all of you who DO have shopping on the horizon click HERE and HERE for 2 great websites dedicated specfically to this event. They have alphabetized lists which provide the black friday ad for each store (once it's available)-many are up already! 

Here are a few basic tips if you are new to this shopping extravaganza:

1. Start very early
2. Wear very comfortable clothes and shoes
3. Bring a friend for safety reasons and so you can help each other with your lists, besides it's no fun to shop alone.
4. Leave your Kids at Home. They may get trampled, you may be shopping for them and besides they'll be exhausted after about an hour.
5. Stay within your Budget. No matter how good a deal is, it's not worth getting in to debt over. What starts as $100 could turn into thousands after months of accumulated interest.

For those of you that didn't know, many stores allow you to shop online the day of, so no need to get dressed and head into the crowds, you can buy what you like from the comfort of your own home.

What is the best deal you've scored on Black Friday? I love to hear about deals and money savings, so leave us a comment!

Fabulous Decor Finds for Under Five Dollars!

A few days ago I started a fun little experiment on myself, with my fun money that I typically use for decor purchases, I've started limiting myself to just $5 or less. Most of the stores I'm frequenting are ones like TJ Maxx, Marshall's, Home Goods, Goodwill, Salvation Army, Target and of course yard sales!

The great thing that I've discovered with the discount retailers like Marshall's is that they typically place a Clearance section in the HOME section of their store towards the back (after you've looked at everything else). This has now been the place I start first when perusing the goods. They have everything from contemporary frames for $2 to elegant notepaper sets for around $3 and often have artwork for a steal too!

Now, these are specific to each store and state so it would be unfair to post my finds because not all stores will have what I've discovered. You all know how much I love to save money on great decor. If you missed the amazing Walmart finds, take a look at my  last decor post for some of their amazing accessories and furniture.

Here are 10 items at widely accessible retailers that offer some fun decor goodies for under five dollars. Whether you keep them for yourself or save them up for gifts, they're a great deal!

LUMIERE WAVY CANDLEHOLDER -$3.95 at CB2

AXIS SERVERWARE- $4.95 at West Elm

BROWN BERRY NECKROLL COVER- $3.95 at Potterybarn

SALONG VASE -$4.99 at Ikea

SKOJ Clock- $4.99 at Ikea

Elsa L. Inc. Baby Decoupage Frame - Pink (4x4")- $3.98 at Target

KORT ART CARDS (5-pack) -$5.00 at Ikea

GRANUM TEA LIGHT HOLDER (5-pack) $2.99 at Ikea

MARQUIS TEALIGHT-$4.99 at ZGallerie

5x7" Signature Raised Edge Frame- $3.12 at Kmart

So, you might be wondering what I've purchased so far under five dollars.This is a gorgeous note card set I picked up in the Marshall's clearance section for just $2! They're so pretty and I can't wait to use them! I love to stock up, because I'm always writing thank you cards. To learn more about that, read my post on 'Cards are Classy'.

How about you-do you ever give yourself a specific limit like under $10 or under $5 only? Have you found any fabulous decor for under $5 or in a clearance section? Tell us about it!