Purex Baby products & a giveaway

I absolutely love getting items to review. It is a lot of fun to open your door and find packages on your porch.

Unfortunatley, I can't always review everything. For a variety of reasons.Like getting coffee when I don't drink coffee. Or items I just don't use/eat. I did get asked to review sex toys. Seriously, there was just no way that was EVER going to happen.

I recieved a bottle of Purex Baby laundry soap to review, but unfortunatley it had broken open sometime during delivery. I did get free item coupons though. A couple of days ago, I got a box containing Purex Crystals for baby as well.

When Mason, asked what was in the box, I explained it to him. I got the stink eye, and he proclaimed,

           "I not a baby anymore."

So apparentley, I am not going to be able to review these either. After all, I don't have a baby any more. However, I know a lot of readers who do!

Even if you don't have a baby, think outside the box...Do you have a friend who does? Do you know someone who is pregnant? What a fun (and inexpensive) gift it would be for a baby shower.

Only 2 are pictured but I SwEAR there are four!

I have 4 free item coupons to give away. 2 for the Purex Crystals and 2 for Purex Baby laundry soap. That is a lot of free laundry.

If you want to be entered to win these awesome coupons, here is what you need to do:

For one entry, you need to leave a comment on this post, telling me you want in.

For an extra entry, send your friends to my blog. Share this giveaway with friends & family & have them leave a comment saying who sent them. They will get an entry and so will you! Send as many as you want.

I will be picking a winner, a week from today, on the 1st of February. So get your entries in!

Energizer & Crayola event

I hate driving through LA. Hate it with a passion. It doesn't seem to matter when I go, I always end up in traffic. Every.single.time.

Despite my hate for the traffic in this city, I bit the bullet on Tuesday and headed down to Santa Monica for a fun event... the Energizer and Crayola event sponsored by Mom Central held at Cookies & Books in Santa Monica.

The sun was just about down, but you could see this little strip of beach through the trees.

We went in and my boys were immediatley drawn to a dark room off to the side...with glowing lights coming from it. Of course.

Set out on tables, and even some on the floor, were a variety of new fun toys from Crayola. Gone are the days of just a standard box of crayons let me tell you!! Crayola has so many fun new offerings.
Ivan (my 7 yr old) was in heaven with the Light Designer (aka "the globe thing"). By using a special pen, the kids could draw, write their names, or color in designs that were already on it. There were only 3 of these set out and it was hard getting a turn!!  That was a hot item! His 2nd favorite was called the Light Up Tracing Pad. Kind of like a light box but kid friendly. This was also a lot of fun as you could draw, and then light it up so it was glowing.

Mason (3) loved the Sketcher Projector. I drew a smiley face and showed him how it magnified on the ceiling. He loved it and did it again and again.

The Crayola products were a lot of fun and I am all for anything that takes my kids away from video games!

While the creativity was going on, there were refreshments being served. I sat down with my kiddos and was shocked that they had candles on the tables right at the kids level. It took me a while (yes I am so on top of things!)to realize that these were battery operated!!! The candles were the Energizer Flameless candles!

I was totally shocked.
1. They gave off light just like a glowing candle!
2. They smelled yummy!
3. Mason kept trying to blow it out. LOL, obviously they are safe to have around kids.
4. A timer. I can't tell you how many times I have fallen asleep with a candle still burning. You can set a timer and these automatically shut off. No wasting batteries!

And speaking of batteries, Energizer batteries now have Power Seal Technology. I apologize because I am not sure if ALL their batteries do, or if they are in a specifcally marked box. However, do you want to know what is totally awesome about these?

A 10 YEAR SHELF LIFE!! 10 years! That is a long time. That means that they will still be usable when my daughter who is 13 now turns 23! That seems so crazy!

Both items, the batteries and the candles would be AMAZING items to have in your 72 hour kits/ emergency preparedness kits. Put them in together and you have batteries to keep your battery operated candles running. If you are ever without power, these two items are going to be your best friends.

While I don't have any of the Energizer products for a giveaway (sorry, my kids had the wrappers off of the candles in 5 seconds and used them for reading on the car ride home!). I do have some fun Color Wonder Metallic Paper to give away. I love Color Wonder products because they can only be used on Color Wonder paper. Not the walls. Ask me how I know...

So, it has been a long time, but it is time for a giveaway!! If you would like to win one of these (make a great Christmas gift!) please leave a comment, saying you want in!

***In order to be entered, you have to be a follower of MarthaWannabe's BLOG and FACEBOOK page. ***

Because I am the one sending the items open, this giveaway is open to all 50 states AND Guam and Puerto Rico (: I am going out of town and so will close this giveaway on the 25th and draw a winner on the 26th. Two names will be drawn so good luck!

"I wrote this review while participating in a campaign by Mom Central Consulting on behalf of Energizer. I attended an event and received a promotional item to thank me for my participation."

Scrubba-dub

We all know how much fun it is to clean the bathroom, right?

 The toothpaste smeared all over the counters and mirror. Yes you read that right. The mirror. Of course, the mirror. Please don't tell me that my children are the only ones who smear toothpaste every.where. Hair in the sink, dirty clothes on the floor (right next to the empty basket, of course)...and the best part? The toilet. "Nough said, right?

However gross it is, there is no way out of it. We have to clean the bathroom...or bathroomS. We have 4 in this house and that makes for a lot of...well...you get the picture.

When I had the opportunity to try out the new Soft Scrub Total cleaners, I jumped on the chance.

I decided to put the Soft Scrub Total Bathroom cleaner to the ultimate test, the most used bathroom in our house.

*****************************************************************************

OK for some reason, as I started this post, I ended there. I didn't go any further...not sure why. But between the time I wrote the first part of this post and now, something else happened...

It is called a 3 year old. Mason + Wild berry blue jello+water+ locked bathroom door =

YIKES!!!

However, I still had the Soft Scrub sitting in the bathroom and ...it cleaned up that mess! That crazy, nasty, jello-y  mess.

If that doesn't convince you to try it, than I don't know what will!

So, wanna try it? You know you do!  Hopefully you don't have to try it out on jello...

I have 2 coupons for a free Soft Scrub product! If we have to clean, we might as well do it with a free bottle right?

How can you get your hands on these coupons? Easy...

1. Leave me a comment saying you want in. That is it. Easy enough right? I will also be posting this on FB, so if you would like to enter in both places to get an extra chance...go for it (:

I'm hoppin'

It's Friday so I must be hoppin'! I am always happy to have new followers and to "meet" new people. If you are new here, WELCOME! Please leave me a comment letting me know that you are a new follower and I will happily follow you back!  I am currently having a giveaway for a fun summer tote from Carmex. You can find it here !Have an awesome weekend (:

I am participating in: Hop Along Friday at Chubby Cheeks Thinks

and : Fun Friday Blog Hop hosted by Life With Twins and a Drama Queen

Carmex Love

Oops, a little blurry!

The other day, as our family was sitting around the table eating dinner, the doorbell rang. My kids excitedly jumped to go get it when my husband told them to sit back down it was just a package.

He looks at it and says, " It is for you, from Carmex." Then it was my turn to excitedly jump up! However, I held back until after dinner to open it.

I ripped the package open and found this fun summer tote and inside the small pocket? Every new flavor of Carmex chapstick and one of the origials.

I love, love, love Carmex. Seriously. My Carmex love dates back to my middle school years.

Well now you can get that same awesome coverage in fun flavors. Did you know that Carmex has an spf of 15? It is also water resistant for up to 80 minutes. How nice is that for when you are swimming around in the pool or ocean?

So far my favorite flavor is strawberry or vanilla. My daughter, who insisted I had to share, is pomegranate.

Would you like to win a package like the one I recieved? Of course you would!! Who wouldn't?!

Here is what you have to do:

1. Leave a comment telling me you want in, and what flavor is your favorite/what you would like to try.

2. Follow my blog.

3. Follow me (MarthaWannabe) on facebook.

The first 3 are all MANDATORY. I know, mean huh?! For bonus entries ( 1 for each item you do):

1.Share on your facebook page. Personal/"business" (if you have each it is one extra entry for each)
2. Refer people to my blog (1 entry per each person you send my way)
3. Refer people to my facebook page. (1 entry per each person who "likes" my page.

Giveaway ends 8/10 sometime in the evening (: I will post winners here and let them know on facebook.

**This is a sponsored post on behalf of Carmex. I recieved this kit to form an opinion but was not paid in any way. All opinions are 100% my own.**

Dry Idea product review & coupon giveaway (:

** I recieved the sample and coupons to facilliate my review. I was NOT paid for my review and all opinions are my own.**

Awww deodorant. We all need it. We all use it...hopefully!

One of the very first lessons you learn as a couponer is to never be brand loyal. It will cost you more almost every time.

Deodarant is free after coupons 99% of the time.

There are so many different brands, types, scents...So many options.

I was recently able to try the new Dry Idea Advanced Dry roll on.

When this came in the mail, I was excited to give it a try...because I was not very happy with the kind I had been using. I had been using one that was free after coupon/store rewards etc.

I like to be able to smell the deodorant scent while I am wearing it and knowing that it works. The other one I felt like I could smell was sweat. ):

So I gave this a try and...was really happy with it.

1. No white residue. I wear a lot of black (you know that whole black is slimming thing...) and so I have had that happen more than I would like to admit.

2. It wasn't a really strong smell, but it was there. I felt it working all day. (I tried the powder fresh scent).

3. It wasn't harsh on my skin at all. I don't know if it is my razor or my skin or...whatever but when I get red bumps, and use certain deo's...ouch!

So all in all, I would give it 4 out of 5 stars.

How would you like to try it out for youself? I have 2 coupons for a free full sized deodorant to give away!

Here is what you have to do...

1.) leave a comment saying you want in & what type of deodorant you normally buy
2. ) follow MarthaWannabe on facebook
3.) follow MarthaWannabe on twitter ( I am trying to get better about using my account!)

Breakfast & a Giveaway

As a Mom, I always make sure that my kiddos eat something for breakfast.

 I have said it before, and will tell them a million times, "breakfast is the most important meal of the day." My kids know that I am pretty liberal about what they can eat for breakfast. I would rather have them eat a pb & j than have them go to school with a rumbly tumbly.

Of course they have their favorites...muffins, doughnuts, cereal, waffles, pancakes etc.

Due to how fast & easy, and of course  how cheap it is after using coupons, cereal is one of our go to meals. And yes on occasion we have had cereal for dinner also!


Now it is time for a confession: I am rrrrrreally bad about eating breakfast. Mornings are busy. I am locating shoes, making breakfast & lunches, signing reading logs, checking emails...we all know what it is like. So I rarely have the chance to sit down and eat something. Normally my breakfast consists of a diet Dr. Pepper...without actually eating anything until around 10ish. Bad I know.

How cute is that box?!

So when I had the chance to try out a sample of the newest, Honey Bunches of Oats cereal, I was all for it!

I had tried the cereal before, but was interested in trying it with more of the "bunches" which are my favorite part! Well, I have to say...it was totally yummy! I really liked having more "bunches" and the "Just Bunches" I am sure will find their way into my shopping cart!

It was totally yummy, filling and...healthy to boot! With only 6 grams of sugar and 10 grams of whole grains per serving, you can feel great about giving it to your family! I used skim milk and had a yogurt and a banana also!

The folks at Post have given me 3 coupons for a free box of cereal! I will be choosing 3 winners instead of just giving one person 3 coupons. You know share the wealth a bit (:

 1st entry (mandatory): leave me a comment telling me what your favorite breakfast is!
2nd entry: Follow this blog (if you already knew, just say it)
3rd entry: follow MarthaWannabe on facebook
4th entry: like Honey Bunches of Oats on facebook
5th entry: leave a comment on the HBOats facebook page and tell them that I sent you there, using my blog address

That is FIVE ways to get a free box of cereal (: Giveaway ends on May 20th...sometime in the evening!


**Disclosure policy: Post provided me with a free sample of their Honey Bunches of Oats-Honey Roasted so I could review them. However, all opinions are my own!**

product review & a giveaway

So I am not the best about being green. I forget my reusable bags, buy way too many water bottles...

I love Bento's but am sooo not creative like other people are. Usually everything just goes in without any sort of creativity to it!

How cute are those boys?!

But in my efforts to be a little better about both, I look for containers that are affordable, but also sturdy. It is important for me that they seal really well. I am not a big fan of cleaning up spills in backpacks or lunch bags.

I found this great container at Target (the online price is $6.99). It is a Nuk container, but I *believe* that it is a Gerber brand. Sorry I know that is not that helpful but...

The top has this little tray that you can personalize. I put a picture of Ivan & his brother in. I think this is so much easier for him to find in a sea of lunch bags that are all very similar! If you don't want to have their photo on, you can simply put a piece of their artwork or something else in. Fun. In that small container on top is great for keeping a set of utensils and a napkin!

Inside there were 3 sections. One with a lid (that sealed BEAUTIFULLY!) and then the others don't. I loved this and it made packing his lunch so easy.

Ivan's peaches didn't go anywhere!!

While I liked this for lunches, I can see so many possibilites for this! Art supplies, a church kit, travel kit with little toys, a way for my boys to bring Legos, school supply kit...the possibilities are endless!

Because I am loving these boxes, I wanted to give 1 away! A long with a few other bento accessories. Easy shmeasy items, that take no creativity! (:

How to enter:

Leave a comment with your name and what you would do with yours if you won. Lunch or something else...

I am trying to move away from my California Clippin' fb page and just be on there as Martha Wannabe. So please be a follower of that one for an extra entry.

For additional entries, post it to your facebook page, post it on your blog...whatever you have. Every one will give you another entry. However, you have to do a SEPERATE entry for each one. I know it is annoying but I do it with a number generator.

Giveaway ends next Friday April 6th...sometime during that day (:

another one?

image taken from Wikipedia.com

Yep, it is time for yet ANOTHER giveaway here on California Clippin'! See I told you to stay tuned!

Awhile back, Coupons.com had a $5/1 of the new Phineas & Ferb movie the 2nd Dimension.

At the time, this movie stayed on our dvr for weeks! My kids laughed hysterically at it almost every single day. I have to admit, that I really like Phineas & Ferb. It is so fun (:

So because I was able to print off two of the coupons, I have an extra to giveaway! I am also including our favorite Phineas & Ferb soundtrack! We listen to these in the car all the time.

If you have someone on your Christmas list that is a Phineas & Ferb fan (maybe you?!) now is your chance to see if you can grab it. What do you have to do?

*In order to participate, you have to be a follower on my blog AND on my facebook page!!
**Leave a comment telling me what your favorite cartoon is. Come on, you know you have one (:
*** Because I use Random.org to pick winners, you have to leave a seperate entry for each thing that you do. That way all of yours count.

1. Facebook it (if you have a personal page and a "business" page these both count)
2. Blog it
3. Anyone that you refer to my blog and page will earn you another entry. They will also be entered and every person they refer will get an entry and so on and so forth.

Giveaway ends next Friday (Dec. 9th) at 9:00pm pst.

On your mark, get set...go!

Carmex Love

****DISCLOSURE**** I recieved these items from Carmex in exchange for this review. I am not being compensated for this review and all opinions are 100% mine.

I have said it before, and I will say it again, being a blogger definatley has some perks (:

One of them is getting items in the mail to try and review.

So when this box from Carmex appeared on my door step I did a little happy dance.

Inside were 2 full sized bottles of their new body lotion and 2 trial size.

One of the lotions is for daily use and one is an extra strength formula for some of your rougher spots (knees, elbows, feet...)

Now we all know that you put lotion on right after a shower right? I slathered some on one Saturday morning and went about my business. Then as I was sitting down to do some work on my lap top, I kept smelling something really good. I looked at my air freshners, that wasn't it. I looked at my candles, Scentsy's...and couldn't figure it out. I finally realized it was my lotion!! It smelled so good and the scent really lasted! It is a very light vanilla-y smell which I enjoyed. Who doesn't like vanilla right?!

I loved that the lotion was not greasy at all. It was nice and smooth. My arms and legs were very soft.

I have really dry feet (courtesy of wearing flip flops almost every day for the last 4 years) and the Carmex extra healing lotion really helped keep them soft and moisturized.

I have loved Carmex chapstick products for a long time, but I am adding a new product to my list of favorites! Do you get dry & itchy skin during the winter months?Want to add some moisturizing lotion to your routine?

Well the wonderful people at Carmex, have generously offered to send you, one of my readers, a pkg just like the one I recieved! So what do you have to do to enter? It's easy-schmeezy (:

1. First leave a comment, saying I want in!
2. Post about it on your blog (if you have one) this will get you 2 entries
3. Post about it on your FB page/wall

**You must be a follower on my blog & on Facebook to be entered**

** Giveaway ends 1 week from today on Nov. 23rd**

Review & giveaway

Aren't those cute? I love the snowflakes!

Ahhh the holidays. They are rapidly approaching.

I grew up in the Pacific Northwest. A beautiful place to live. With views of mountains, a river, tall pine trees and beautiful colors. Every season is represented in it's finest. Summers were spent in the warm sun. Fall was met with many colored leaves to be raked. Winter was cold with snow and chilly temperatures. Spring brought rain and later warm weather.

The perfect place to grow up. Sniff, sniff! I miss it!

Being military we have spent the holidays in Virginia, Guam and now California.

Doesn't Guam just scream winter/ Christmas?

We lived on Guam for 3 years and not one of those Christmas's rrrrreally felt like Christmas. We wore t-shirts & shorts, spent afternoons on the beach...I would start cranking up the A/C so that we would have to bundle up!

Whether you are in a tropical climate, or in an area with snow up to your roof tops, there are just certain things that remind me of the holidays. Baking, snow, Christmas trees...and yummy smells.

I am a big candle girl but they are not always safe to leave around with children.  That is where Renuzit Air Fresheners come in!

I was given two of their new holiday scents to try out. They are very easy to use, just simply peel the back off the gel disk, and slide it into the holiday holder.

I have been using the winter berry!

Every time I walk into the living room I get a whiff of the yummy smells (:

The generous people at Henkel have provided me with 3 free item coupons to share with my readers. So you can try it for yourself! So... how do you enter?

1. Leave a comment on this blog sharing what your favorite scent is (whether an air freshner, Scentsy, candle...whatever)

2. If you are not already a follower on Facebook, do it now and that includes an extra entry.

3. If you are not a follower of my blog, follow now for an extra entry.

****While I recieved the Renuzit air freshners to try out, all opinions are my own and I was not compensated for this review.****

Review & a GiVeAwAy!!

One of my favorite parts of being a couponer/blogger is getting the mail.

 Serioiusly I love seeing what is in there.

One day, I was sitting around working really hard when there was a thud and my doorbell rang.



I wasn't expecting anything so I wasn't sure what it would be.



I was so EXCITED when I opened the box.



How cute is that pkg?!



New products to try and review. Companies want you to give an *unbiased* review on their products. I wasn't sure I could be unbiased because I LOVE Carmex! I have for a looong time. I have a rather serious addiction to chapstick and well, Carmex is right at the top of my list.



So when I was able to try their new flavors, I was all for it!



The Carmex lime twist, still gives you that "tingle" which lets you know it is working BUT it has a great lime flavor that I love! The Carmex Vanilla flavor is more subtle than the lime, but still provides you with that sweet hint of vanilla. I honestly loved them both. The lime is a much stronger flavor, so if you don't like that, I would recommend the vanilla. They both have an SPF of 15 which I also love! Oh Carmex, how I love thee!



My hubby holding the blanket up so you can see the size



I was given this great package (as seen in above pictures) and you have the chance to win one too!



We love the picnic blanket. Soft on one side but the other is a waterproof mat that keeps you dry. My kids have used it quite a bit in the backyard. However, I have started keeping it in the car so that I can use it when the need arises.

So would you like to win one? Of course you do! The first thing to do is leave a comment letting me know that you want to be entered.

For a 2nd entry you need to "like" my page on Facebook. It is California Clippin'.

For a 3rd entry, blog about this giveaway on your own blog!



my cute little pirate who decided he wanted to try the vanilla flavor



Make sure to have your friends say who sent them, so that you get credit for them also!

Now for the important stuff:

This giveaway is only open to residents of the U.S. (sorry Guam friends!) because it is being shipped by the company and not me.

I will be drawing a winner on Sat Aug. 27th so make sure you have lots of entries! Oh and I know it is annoying, but leave a seperate comment for each time you have entered!

**Carmex sent me products to review and try, but I was not compensated for my review. All opinions are MINE*



the blanket has a large pocket and folds into itself!! Love it!



24 hours!!

As an addition to this blog, I now have a Facebook page. With deals coming at us faster and faster, it seems one of the easier ways to post. So come visit me on facebook. My page has the same name as this blog... California Clippin' I am sure there is a way to link to it but for now I am not sure. (: I will see what I can do though!

Now to the good part. I am trying to get plenty of "likes" on my page. So I am giving away a subscription to the magazine All You. It is FULL of coupons every month. My favorite is the coupon for $1 off any White Cloud toilet paper that shows up every once in awhile! Being a Mom of 5 we go through a lot of tp in this house!!

So my 50th follower will get a 1 yr subscription and 1 for the person who sent them there. If you sign up because of me and not someone else, that other subscription will go into a random drawing!

Once I reach 100...I have a BIG giveaway coming so start liking! Spread the word!

life lessons

For the past couple of days I have been watching the news.

It makes my stomach churn to watch what is going on.

Being a military wife, I have been hearing families talk about how they are going to survive on half of a paycheck. Most are living paycheck to pay check in the best of months. Now they are wondering how to pay their rent, get gas, food...It is sad knowing how little some of these families will be getting this next Friday.

Now more than ever, the effects of the economy are really hitting home.

I can't even begin to explain how grateful I am for my STOCKPILES. No matter what happens, I have plenty of food, cleaning supplies, health and beauty items to take care of my family. I havelearned to shop wiser and make my dollars stretch.Our family has been broke before. While my husband was in school, we had 3 kids under 3. All were in diapers, 2 on bottles. Broke doesn't even begin to describe those years. But we learned from those lessons.

 If you are not couponing, you need to be. You never know what is going to happen...an accident, a job loss, unexpected bills...or losing half your income while your husband is deployed.

I will be stepping up my game and will be posting more.

And because of all the negative feelings I want to have some fun! So I am giving away a copy of the book...

( I borrowed this image from Amazon)

"Pick another checkout lane Honey" written by the Krazy Coupon Ladies. (: If you are interested in winning this book, just leave a comment letting me know you want to be entered.