My CVS trip - 5/9

I haven't been to CVS in forever, so I was really excited when I checked out their ad and saw all of the great deals for this week. Plus, I had a $15 EB from a recent CVS Advisor survey that was burning a hole in my pocket! I think I did pretty well for my first time out in a few months.

Here's what I got:

2 bottles of Pantene Nature Fusion shampoo - 2/$6.97, get $3 EB

- 2 $2 coupons from a Vocalpoint mailer

= 2/$2.97, received $3 EB

1 Crest Pro-Health mouthwash - $3.50, get $3.50 EB

= $3.50, received $3.50 EB

1 Crest Pro-Health toothpaste - $3.50, get $3.50 EB

- $.75 coupon from 5/2 P&G insert

= $2.75, received $3.50 EB

1 Oral-B Crossaction toothbrush - $3.49, get $1.50 EB

- $.75 coupon from 5/2 P&G insert

= $2.74, received $1.50 EB

1 U by Kotex tampons - $4.99, get $4.99 EB

- $1 coupon from sample

= $3.99, received $4.99 EB

- $15 EB from taking a CVS Advisor survey

Subtotal: $.95

Total OOP (includes tax): $1.64

Received: $16.50 EB

FREE one-year subscription to Maxim

Mercury Magazines is currently offering a FREE one-year subscription to Maxim! I've done several free magazine subscriptions (including several through Mercury Magazines) and can assure you that they do come, and I've never received a bill.

FREE sample of Dove hair care

Right now, you can snag a FREE sample of the reinvented Dove shampoo and conditioner. If you want this sample, be sure to act fast - they went really fast last night! Allow up to four weeks for delivery. Limit one sample per household.

FREE sample of Nivea lotion or body wash

Right now, you can snag a FREE sample of Nivea Happy Sensation lotion or Nivea Touch of Happy body wash from the Ellen Degeneres Show. I've used the body wash before, and I love this scent - it's very summery!

(Thanks to Free Snatcher!)

Snag FREE NIA exfoliating serum - first 500!

Starting at noon EST today, Allure will be giving away NIA 24 Rapid Exfoliating Serum to the first 500 people who sign up here.

Upcoming giveaway from Allure:

May 7 - Avon Perfect Wear ExtraLasting Lip Gloss in Eternal Rose

FREE samples from walmart.com

I'm a huge fan of the product samples that walmart offers, and I've received some really cool things from them, including a full-size roll of toliet paper. (What's not to love about TP showing up in your mailbox?) These samples change often, and they typically come with decent coupons.

Right now, you can snag samples of the following products:

• Parent's Choice infant formula
• Eucerin daily skin balance body lotion
• John Freida root awakening hair care
• Prilosec OTC

Go here to request your FREE samples.

Snag FREE Redken styling wax - first 500!

Starting at noon EST today, Allure will be giving away Redken Structure Wax 17 Classic Styling Wax to the first 500 people who sign up here.

Upcoming giveaways from Allure:

May 6 - NIA 24 Rapid Exfoliating Serum

May 7 - Avon Perfect Wear ExtraLasting Lip Gloss in Eternal Rose

Snag FREE Fekkai Shampoo - First 500!

Starting at noon EST today, Allure will be giving away Fekkai Marine Clean Detox Shampoo to the first 500 people who sign up here.

Upcoming giveaways from Allure:

May 5 - Redken Structure Wax 17 Classic Styling Wax

May 6 - NIA 24 Rapid Exfoliating Serum

May 7 - Avon Perfect Wear ExtraLasting Lip Gloss in Eternal Rose

BzzAgent: Test new products for FREE!

In the past few weeks, I've received invitations to sign up with three different BzzCampaigns through BzzAgent. I'm really excited about getting the chance to test out the new products they're sending my way!

I've posted about BzzAgent before, but here's a quick recap:

BzzAgent (pronounced "Buzz agent") is a word-of-mouth (WOM) marketing company that puts products directly in the hands of consumers to test out. As someone who's studied advertising and marketing, I think this is a really, really cool concept. Plus, it means FREE stuff for you!

It's completely free to sign up, and you're under absolutely no obligation to buy anything. Once you sign up and fill out some short surveys, you'll be contacted to participate in campaigns. While most of the campaigns are free, some require a small fee. You can decline any campaign you don't want to participate in, and it won't affect your eligibility for future campaigns.

In the past year, I've received several really awesome products to test out: L'Oreal Double Extend Lash Boosting System, Burt's Bees Natural Acne Solutions products, Bic Soleil Bella razors, and a Glade Sense & Spray. Each campaign kit contains a free, full-size product, as well as coupons and even samples to share with friends.

I'm a huge, huge fan of BzzAgent.

If you're interested in signing up or want to learn more, just go here.

Book Review: Plan B by Pete Wilson

Everyone has those moments where they're ultimately left wondering "Why did that happen to me?" and "Why isn't God fixing this mess?" Plan B: What do you do when God doesn't show up the way you thought He would? by Pete Wilson offers insight on how to cope when your original plan just doesn't work out. Wilson uses examples from his own life, friends' lives, and the Bible to illustrate how life can take unexpected (and often unwanted) turns and how God ultimately has a plan for us in difficult times.

A couple of years ago, I experienced my own “Plan B” moment when I was struggling to find even a part-time job straight out of grad school and my now ex-fiance cheated on me. I would've loved to have had Wilson's book when I was going through these "Plan B" moments. I'm pretty confident that it would've helped me, as I'm sure it will help others who read it.

Plan B is engaging, and it has a great conversational tone that makes it easy to relate to. Wilson does a good job of sharing his message without coming across as condescending or "preachy." I definitely recommend Plan B.

(Thank you to Thomas Nelson for providing me a copy of this book to read and review. I'm a member of Thomas Nelson's BookSneeze program.)