Ashley, Author at Embracing Beauty

December Photo a Day 2012 – Day 3

December 3, 2012 by Ashley Leave a Comment

For today’s Photo a Day Challenge I chose a picture of my husband’s beloved Georgia hat. The challenge today was for something red. Our house is still mourning over the loss the SEC Championship title and the opportunity to play Notre Dame in the national championship.

For those who haven’t heard the tragic news, the Bulldogs ran out of time in Saturday’s game before they could get in another play. They clock ran out and they lost. By a mere 5 yards. It was heartbreaking! They went from being a #3 team playing the #2 team and because they lost, that close game, it bumped them down to the #7 team. I hope many of you are supporting a much merrier red for your photo a day picture!

In case you haven’t heard about our December Photo a Day Challenge and you wonder what on earth it is I’m talking about, let me tell you a little more.

Every day throughout the month of December I’ll be taking a picture with Instagram {feel free to follow me there too!} and I’ll share my picture here on my blog. I’ll have a linky attached to the Photo a Day Challenge page so that you can link up your photo of the day that you’ve published on your blog. Plus, if you want to participate but don’t have a blog you can use the hashtag #EmbracingDecember to share on Twitter or Instagram! I’m loving the awesome pictures that everyone is coming up with. If you haven’t yet, I hope you’ll join us! It’s a lot of fun!

Filed Under: Life Lately, Photo a Day Tagged With: December, Photo a Day

Melissa & Doug Terrific Twenty Giveaway is Back!

December 3, 2012 by Ashley Leave a Comment

Have you seen Melissa & Doug’s new “Terrific Twenty” Holiday Gift list? This list, is found on the Melissa & Doug website, and it includes the top toys of 2012. It has items for every child in each age range. It including arts and crafts, wooden favorites, educational toys, classic toys for toddlers, and gifts for big kids, too. This is a great place to shop as you finish off your Christmas shopping! Plus, they’re giving away a free gift every day from their Terrific Twenty list. Go here to Melissa & Doug to enter!

Filed Under: Deals Tagged With: Christmas, Deals, kids, Melissa & Doug, toys

Top 10 Tips to Save When Shopping Online

December 3, 2012 by Ashley 5 Comments

I am a self-proclaimed online shopping fanatic. I buy all my books, some groceries, clothes (that I know what size to buy), decorative items, diapers, and several home supplies. Some people think that the best way to shop online is wait until you see a sale promoted. I use to think that too but over the many years of shopping online I’ve learned a few tricks.

Here are my Top 10 Tips to Save When Shopping Online:

1.) Use Coupon Codes

Before you buy anything online, always, always, always check for a coupon code first. We have a online coupon database right here on our site so that you can easily find a code to save a percent off, dollars off, or free shipping.

2.) Ask for a Discount

If you’ve searched for a coupon and haven’t found one you might want to try your hand at asking for a discount. I’ve found that nine times out of then when I ask for a discount I’ll usually get one. I like to use the chat feature on websites for this. For smaller boutique type of sites or Etsy stores I’ll send an email and they’ll usually respond within a day or two.

3.) Shop Ebay

For years Ebay has been a fabulous place to score deals on last season’s hottest clothes and toys. While they’re still great for that, they now have discounts on this season’s hottest toys and fashions. Ebay is a fabulous resource to have in your savings arsenal. I’ve been guilty of this so I feel I have to warn you, be careful not to get caught up in a bidding war and end up spending more than you intended to.

4.) Shop online

That sounds like a given doesn’t it? One of my tips to save money when shopping online is to shop online. Countless times I have found something in the store that wasn’t on sale and I held out on buying it until I got home to check for a coupon code (see point 1). I won’t always do this because I do like to help support my local community but if times are tight I’ll do this in a heartbeat.

5.) Shop through Ebates

Ebates is one of my absolute favorite ways to save when shopping online because it takes so little effort! Ebates is an online rebate program where you simply go to Ebates and sign up or log in, then you search for your favorite store, and that’s it! You’ll earn from 1%-20% cash back on your purchase. You have the option to receive a check in the mail every 3 months (when you earned at least $5.01 cash back in your account) or you can have your cash deposited into your PayPal account.

6.) Shop Amazon

Amazon’s logo clearly says that they carry everything from A to Z and I’ve found that to be true. I bought an iPod Touch through an Amazon store and saved over $50 from what that store had it listed for on their site. {Check out my tutorial for how to amplify your iPod’s sound for free!} Amazon has a coupon section for home supply, beauty, and baby goods that not everyone knows about. Just do a simple search on Amazon to find all of the current coupons. If you buy a lot online it might be a good idea for you to purchase an Amazon Prime membership for $79 a year. This will give you free 2 day shipping. 2 day shipping has been a blessing to me numerous times when I’ve forgotten to buy diapers or a friend’s birthday gift until the last minute. Plus, you’ll also get a wide variety of free Amazon Instant Videos. Not only can you save by just shopping on Amazon, using Amazon’s coupons, and signing up for Amazon Prime but if you click through Ebates you’ll be able to get cash back on your purchase (see point 5).

7.) Visit “Daily Deal” Sites

There is a plethora of daily deal sites online now where you can save on national and local deals. My family has really enjoyed taking advantage of the local spa, salon, cooking classes, and photography deals. Be careful though because not all of these “deals” are the best price you can get.

8.) Check Social Media Sites

Many social savvy stores will have their own Facebook and Twitter accounts where they’ll post exclusive deals, sales, and coupon codes. I recently saved 25% on my Christmas card purchase by quickly glancing at Shutterfly‘s Facebook page. I found a free shipping code through my coupon database (see point 1 for the link) but this exclusive coupon code was only available on their Facebook page. Plus, I’ve also seen people share one time use coupon codes on Shutterfly’s wall for free products that they don’t necessarily want.

9.) Save Money on Gift Wrap

With all of the fabulous homemade gift wrap ideas floating around on the internet why buy the fancy pants paper at the stores. Buy the cheapest {but cute} paper you can find and embellish it yourself. There are oodles of free printable gift tags and cards on the internet. Plus, even if you have to shop and buy a gift tag template I’m sure it will still be much cheaper in the end than buying pre-made tags year after year. Besides, who doesn’t like a personalized gift {or personalized gift-wrapping} anyway?

10.) Regularly Read EmbracingBeauty.com

Come on, you knew I had to add this! Embracing Beauty’s motto is, “Embracing God’s best for your finances, home, and life!” We’re not a site that includes every deal known to man for two reasons. Number 1, I won’t post a deal when I know it’s not the lowest price you could get it for. I just won’t. Number 2, I can’t post every coupon and every deal. I would if I could but I have a real life outside of this blog and I have to keep my priorities, my priorities. I think you understand that. However, it’s my goal to give you the resources to find those deals and coupons on your own so that you don’t have to rely on me {or anyone} to save money. We still feature the hottest coupons, freebies, and money-saving deals every week to save you time so please bookmark us and follow us on our social media pages {the links are found at the top right of this page}.

Filed Under: Tips Tagged With: Deals, shopping, Tips

December Photo a Day 2012 – Day 2

December 2, 2012 by Ashley 1 Comment

This is my second picture for our December Photo a Day Challenge 2012!

Today’s topic: Favorite Holiday Movie

One of our favorite Christmas movies is Frosty the Snowman. I thought the frosted snowman doughnut captured it perfectly. 🙂

Plus, if you want to participate but don’t have a blog you can use the hashtag #EmbracingDecember to share on Twitter! I’d love to see what creative pictures you come up with!

Filed Under: Life Lately, Photo a Day Tagged With: December, Photo of the Day

December Photo a Day 2012 – Day 1

December 1, 2012 by Ashley 1 Comment

Here’s my first picture for our December Photo a Day Challenge 2012!

Today’s topic: Your View Today

Remember, you can participate by adding your blog post to the linky below or you can share your photos on Twitter using the hashtag #EmbracingDecember! I can’t wait to see your pictures!

Filed Under: Life Lately, Photo a Day Tagged With: December, Photo a Day

Sunday Newspaper Coupon Insert Preview 12/2/12

December 1, 2012 by Ashley Leave a Comment

Here is the Sunday newspaper coupon insert preview for 12/2/2012!

Red Plum 12/2

Aleve $2/1 40ct+ product excludes D (1/31/13)
Aleve $5/2 40ct+ products excludes D (1/31/13)
Alka-Seltzer $1/1 antacid product excludes Plus cold products (1/26/13)
Alka-Seltzer $2/1 Plus cold product excludes antacid products (1/26/13)
all $1/1 liquid, powder or mighty pacs laundry detergent ets (1/13/13)
Centrum $3/1 regular, Silver multivitamin or Flavor Burst chews (1/5/13)
Centrum $5/1 Specialist multivitamin (1/5/13)
DiabetiDerm $3/1 product (2/28/13)
Ester-C $2/1 tablet or powder (1/16/13)
Fancy Feast $1/18 Elegant Medleys or Mornings cans (3/2/13)
Fancy Feast $1/24 cans (3/2/13)
Fleischmann’s $.40/1 strip or jar yeast (1/6/13)
Fleischmann’s $.40/1 strip or jar yeast (3/30/13)
Folgers $1/2 gourmet selections products (1/8/13)
Garnier $2/1 moisturizer (3/1/13)
Garnier $2/1 Nutrisse nourishing color foam (1/12/13)
Gillette $10 off ProGlide razor when you buy cartridge or disposable (1/31/13)
Gillette $5 off Mach3 razor when you buy cartridge (1/31/13)
Jimmy Dean $.55/1 fully cooked product dnd (1/6/13)
Jimmy Dean $.55/1 product dnd (1/6/13)
Karo $.40/1 16oz+ syrup (3/30/13)
Life Savers/Starburst/Skittles $1/2 6.51-7oz Life Savers Hard Candy Sweet Storybook, Life Savers Gummies Sweet Game Book, Starburst Sweet Game Book or Skittles Sweet Game Book dnd (12/26/12)
L’Oreal $1/1 EverCreme, EverSleek, EverPure or EverStrong shampoo or conditioner (1/27/13)
L’Oreal $1/1 EverCreme, EverSleek, EverPure or EverStrong treatment (1/27/13)
L’Oreal $1/1 EverStyle product (1/27/131)
Mars $1/2 7.94-19.5oz holiday products dnd (12/25/12)
McCormick $.50/1 spice, herb, extract or food color (1/6/13)
Nivea $1/1 8.4-16.9oz body lotion (12/30/12)
Nivea $2/1 2.5-13.5oz Q10 skin firming ge3l, serum or lotion (12/30/12)
Nivea $3/2 .17oz-.3oz tube lip care products (12/16/12)
Nivea for Men $1/1 13.5oz body lotion (12/30/12)
Post $.55/1 Pebbles cereal (1/13/13)
Purina $5/2 pet care items; 11lb+ dry dog food, 13lb+ dry cat food, 24ct+ wet cat food, 35lb+ cat litter TARGETCOUPON (1/31/13)
Snuggle $.50/1 fabric softener liquid or dryer sheets ets (1/13/13)
Superpretzel $.50/1 soft pretzel item (1/10/13)

Smart Source 12/2

Axe $1/1 4oz bodyspray, 2.7oz antiperspirant and deodorant or 3oz deodorant ets (12/30/12)
Axe $2/1 16floz shower gel or detailer ets (12/30/12)
Axe $3.75/1 holiday pack ets (12/30/12)
Barilla $1/1 microwaveable meal (1/26/13)
Blink $1/1 Tears or GelTears (1/7/13)
Campbell’s $.40/2 condensed soups excluding chicken noodle, tomato and Great for Cooking varieties (1/31/13)
Campbell’s $.40/2 SpaghettiOs (1/31/13)
Campbell’s $.40/4 condensed chicken noodle or tomato soups (1/31/13)
Campbell’s $1/1 Go soup (1/12/13)
Carmex $.55/1 lip conditioner or any lip product (2/28/13)
Carmex $.75/1 moisture plus (2/28/13)
Chex $1/2 cereals (1/12/13)
Claritin $2/1 15ct+ D (12/30/12)
Claritin $4/1 24ct+ (12/30/12)
Colgate $.50/1 4oz+ toothpaste (12/22/12)
Colgate $.50/1 adult or kids manual toothbrush excludes Plus and Extra Clean (12/22/12)
Contac $1/1 Cold + Flu product (1/6/13)
Coricidin HBP $2/1 product (1/12/13)
Curel $1/1 7.5oz+ moisturizer (1/13/13)
Curel $2/1 intensive healing cream ets (1/13/13)
Cuties $.50/1 2lb, 3lb or 5lb dnd (1/2/13)
Edge $.55/1 shave gel excludes 2.75oz (1/13/13)
Efferdent $.75/1 48ct+ product (1/31/13)
Efferdent $2/2 48ct+ products (12/9/12)
Glade $.55/1 9.7oz premium room spray (2/9/13)
Glade $1.50/2 4oz jar or Scented Oil candles (2/9/13)
Glade $1.50/2 Winter Collection products excludes solids (2/9/13)
Glade $1/1 PlugIns Scented Oil twin refill or 2 single refills (2/9/13)
GoodNites $1.50/1 underwear or disposable bed mats TARGET COUPON (1/31/13)
GoodNites $3/2 underwear or disposable bed mats TARGET COUPON (1/31/13)
Hasbro $5/1 Kre-O Transformers Battle for Energon building set SKU# 98812 (1/31/13)
Hasbro Free Kreon Micro-Changers figure up to $3.49 SKU# A2034 (1/31/13)
Hills Bro $.55/1 12oz+ cappuccino (2/3/13)
Jergen’s $1.50/1 Crema Collection (1/12/13)
Jergen’s $1/1 8floz+ moisturizer (1/12/13)
Kleenex $.30/3 50ct+ boxes or 1 bundle pack (1/12/13)
Kleenex $.75/1 hand towels (1/12/13)
L’il Critters $1/1 120ct+ Gummy Vitamins (1/27/13)
L’il Critters $1/1 190ct Gummy Vites bottle (1/27/13)
One A Day $2/1 adult or teen multivitamin (12/31/12)
One A Day $5/2 adult or teen multivitamin (12/31/12)
Pillsbury $.30/2 refrigerated Grands! biscuits (2/23/13)
Pillsbury $.40/3 crescent dinner rolls (2/23/13)
Pillsbury $.50/2 rolled refrigerated pie crusts (2/23/13)
Pillsbury $.60/3 sweet rolls or Grands! sweet rolls (2/23/13)
Pillsbury $.75/2 refrigerated cookie dough (2/23/13)
Pine Mountain $.55/1 6ct or 8ct ZIP Superstarter (1/31/13)
Pine Mountain $1.25/1 StarterLogg (1/31/13)
Planters $1/2 4-21.5oz products excluding pistachios dnd (2/28/13)
POM $.50//1 8oz, 16oz, 24oz or 48oz bottle dnd (3/31/13)
Purina $1/2 Friskies cat treats or Whisker Lickin’s cat treats (3/2/13)
Purina $3/2 18oz+ dog snacks (3/2/13)
Purina $4/4 15.5oz or smaller dog snacks (3/2/13)
RevitaLens $1/1 OcuTec (1/7/13)
Schick $1/1 Hydro shave gel (1/13/13)
Schick $2/1 disposable razor pack excludes 2ct (1/13/13)
Schick $2/1 Hydro or Quattro for Men razor or refill (1/13/13)
Schick $2/1 Hydro Silk, Quattro for Women o Intuition razor or refill (1/13/13)
Scotch $1/1 Magic Tape one-handed tape dispenser (3/31/13)
Scotch $1/2 pop-up tape product (3/31/13)
Scotch-Brite $.7/2 scrub sponges, scour pads, dishwands or dishwand refills (1/10/13)
Scotch-Brite $.75/2 disposable toilet scrubber starter kits (1/31/13)
Scotch-Brite $.75/2 printed lint rollers (1/31/13)
Scotch-Brite $.75/2 soap dispensing dishwands or dishwand refills (1/31/13)
Scotch-Brite $.75/2 stainless steel or copper scrubbing pad or Dobie all purpose cleaning pad multi-packs (1/31/13)
SeaPak $.75/1 special edition item (1/6/13)
Skintimate $.55/1 shave gel or shave cream excludes 2.75oz (1/13/13)
Smart Balance $.50/1 spreadable butter or blended butter sticks (1/16/13
Smart Balance $1/2 buttery spreads (1/16/13)
Starbucks $3/2 11oz+ coffee bags (2/2/13)
WhoNu? $.55/1 nutrition rich cookies (1/27/13)
Zarbee’s $1/1 adult product (4/30/13)
Zarbee’s $1/1 children’s product (4/30/13)
Ziploc $1/2 bags (1/12/13)
Ziploc $1/2 containers (1/12/13)

Thanks, NEPreviews!

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: Coupons, Sunday Coupon Preview

December Photo a Day Challenge 2012

December 1, 2012 by Ashley 30 Comments

I know that December can be a busy, busy month but it can also be one of the best months of the year! Every year I try my hardest to slow down and enjoy December but before I know it it’s the new year. This year, I thought it would be fun to host a December Photo of the Day Challenge. Every day throughout the month of December I will take a picture with Instagram {feel free to follow me there too!} and I’ll share my picture here on my blog. I was going to have a linky attached to each day’s post but I that became confusing so I’ve added a linky to this post so that you can link up your photo of the day that you’ve published on your blog. My goal is for this to be a reminder to myself, and everyone, to slow down and enjoy each day we’re given. Sure, the lights will inevitably get tangled but what a beautiful picture it would make! : )

If you feel up to sharing your photos with me but don’t have a blog, feel free to use the hashtag #EmbracingDecember on Twitter or Instagram! I’d love to see what creative pictures you come up with!

Doesn’t that sound like fun? We can get a peak into everyone’s life, support each other’s blogs, and most importantly take time to enjoy our family and remember the real reason for the Christmas season. I hope you’ll join me!! Come and link up below!

My photos:

Add your photos:

Filed Under: Life Lately, Photo a Day Tagged With: December, Photo a Day

Jessica Alba’s The Honest Company

November 30, 2012 by Ashley Leave a Comment

I never really cared about the ingredients in my soap and hand lotion. I chose more expensive shampoo because I knew I didn’t want that waxy build up in my hair that came with cheap shampoos. Besides that, I gave the ingredients of products zero thought. Now that I have a little one, I am reading the label of everything. I chose only the purest foods, the mildest cleaners, and the safest bath and body products.

I heard about Jessica Alba’s The Honest Company a while back and wanted to try it out but as often happens, I got distracted. I can hardly do anything online without getting distracted by something else. A few weeks ago I was contacted with the opportunity to review products from The Honest Company. I thought, “Ooh, is that Jessica Alba’s company.” I checked it out and sure enough it was!

The Honest company makes safe, sustainable, eco-friendly products that are beautiful, fresh, and fun. They make products for your baby and have a monthly subscription service that you can sign up for. You can have laundry products, soaps and lotions, or diapers delivered right to your door. One thing I live about The Honest Company, and I know this is just a dumb little thing, but I like how their packaging is so pretty. It’s packaged in bright colors and beautiful floral patterns.

If their eco-friendly products aren’t enough to make you check out The Honest Company, you might be glad to know that with every purchase you make, they’ll donate time, money, and product to their current charitable partner Baby2Baby.org. This worthy non-profit supplies families in need with essential baby gear and clothing for children up to age 12. What a great company!

The Honest Company was started by a mom and a dad who, like many modern parents, were increasingly worried about products made with questionable chemical ingredients. But the alternatives they found were often expensive, inaccessible, bland, or ineffective. In response to this clear need for something better, they created The Honest Company to ensure that parents (or anyone for that matter!) could easily find natural and non-toxic eco-friendly products that are beautiful, effective, and affordable. From customized product bundles to diapers and wipes to an ever-expanding line of cleaning and personal care products, you can find everything you need at Honest.com and have it delivered directly to your front door.

Give it a try! Click here to become a member of The Honest Company community and start your free trial today.

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of The Honest Company. The opinions and text are all mine.

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: Baby, SITS, The Honest Company

Pull Apart Poultry Kids Toy

November 29, 2012 by Ashley 8 Comments

While browsing for fun and educational gifts for kids to add to our Christmas Gift Guide I ran across this Pull Apart Poultry stuffed bird at Land of Nod. I had to stop, take off my glasses, and rub my eyes to make sure I read that right. A pull apart stuffed poultry toy for kids? Seriously? One part of me thinks it’s educational and good for kids to know but the other part of me thinks it’s kind of gross.

Here’s what the description says:

“Ready to let your little one take care of preparing the big holiday meal? No? We didn’t think so. That’s why we figured this plush dinner would be a better alternative. With a soft, plush construction and sturdy frame, it’s sure to last you many pretend meals to come.”

My husband and I have been learning how to cut a whole chicken to save money. Well, I should say that my husband is the one who actually does the cutting but I feel that I deserve some credit for rewinding YouTube tutorials over and over again as he is learning. As soon as I saw this stuffed bird I had to email him at work to show him. He quickly replied back, “Good to teach her early. Kids should know the nugget isn’t a part of a chicken. I like it.” He makes me smile. I never did add this to our Gift Guide but you can find it on Land of Nod for $20 if you think your little one would enjoy it.

What think ye? Pull apart poultry – yea or nay?

Filed Under: Life Lately Tagged With: Christmas, kids, Land of Nod, Toy