Where to Buy Boot Cuffs CHEAP!

As you know, I'm all for shopping small and shopping local.  But sometimes you just gotta be frugal too.  These fashionable boot cuffs are crazy-cheap and a great deal wether you're buying one for yourself, a few stocking stuffers for your family and friends, or if you're looking for a little gift to get everyone in your department at work.  
Please note, prices on Amazon are subject to change.  Prices mentioned in this post are what the product was listed at at the time of purchase.  | This post contains affiliate links |

So where did I find these super-cute boot cuffs?  Believe it or not - Amazon.  
Since we live over an hour from big box stores, Amazon has become our go-to for paper towels, cereal, and all the other pricey grocery basics.  Lately I've also been turning to them for clothing and accessory needs rather then hoping in the car with the little one and making the long trip to the store.  

While browsing Amazon for stocking stuffers several weeks ago I came across these amazingly cute (and cheap!) boot cuffs.  I decided to order some to check them out in person but underestimated how long it would take to ship and they arrived after Christmas.  Since they come directly from the manufacturer/distributor (overseas), it can take up to 1-2 months to arrive - so be sure to plan (way) ahead.  

The first pair I tried were these cute knitted grey cuffs with lace and button detail.  I loved the look and color of these and thought they looked great with my boots.  However, I felt as though they were pretty tight.  I have large calves and these just fit over my leggings - they certainly wouldn't fit over my jeans unfortunately.  

| Grey Knitted Cuffs with Lace and Button Detail (6 colors) |

These cuffs come in 6 colors and most are only $2.30/pair!  They are not Prime eligible but shipping is very cheap as well.  

The other pair I tried were these pretty white lace cuffs.  These were super-stretchy and would fit most people with no problem.  Adding this touch of lace is a great way to dress up just about any outfit!  

| White Lace Boot Cuffs (12 colors) |

These cuffs come in 12 different colors so you can match every outfit you own and only cost $0.87/pair - yes, really!!  They aren't Prime-eligible either but shipping is very inexpensive. 

While all the cuffs had some loose strings that needed to be trimmed and they didn't come in any kind of packaging to speak of, I was still really satisfied with the look and the quality of the cuffs.  If you were to give them out as gifts, I would just recommend trimming the loose strings first and either wrapping them or rolling them and tying with a ribbon for better presentation.  

Fall Fashion

Healthy Baby Home Party with Seventh Generation

Seventh Generation was kind enough to send us one of their Healthy Baby Home Party kits full of little free samples, coupons, and tips to share with our family and friends.  I've been a huge fan of Seventh Generation for awhile now and was really excited to share them and this information with others.  | This post contains affiliate links |

Our little one made good use out of the packing paper in the box and went to town coloring it up. That's one way to recycle! (Crayons are our own, similar ones linked here.)

A few years ago, before we started trying to get pregnant, I made the decision to switch over as many household cleaners, detergents, and soaps as I could to "cleaner," all-natural versions.  There's so much chemicals and additives in most commercial products these days and I figured that it could only be beneficial to make the switch and limit our family's exposure to these things.  One of the brands I switched to was Seventh Generation and I haven't looked back. 

Product samples and coupons from: Seventh Generation, Zarbee's Naturals, and Bobble.

I've been a big fan of all the Seventh Generation products I've tried so far, but I have especially loved their laundry detergent and stain remover.  In fact their Free & Clear Laundry Detergent was gentle enough that we found we didn't have to switch to expensive "baby detergent" when our little one was first born.  

There were a lot of Healthy Home Tips shared during the party, but I wanted to pass on some of the ones I found most interesting here:  

• "Purchase toys made from natural materials, like solid wood with non-toxic finishes and natural textiles like organic cotton or wool. The familiar 'new smell' that plastic toys often emit can be a sign that toxic softeners or finishers were used to make the product."

• "The term 'fragrance' or 'parfum' on the label of baby care products can represent hundreds of unknown chemicals since manufacturers are not required to disclose the ingredients. Whenever possible, look for products that use 100% natural fragrance for the scent or offer fragrance-free formulations to protect your baby."

• "Indoor air is often more polluted than outdoor air. Ventilate the home by opening windows, and limit your use of air fresheners and chemical cleaning products that release potentially harmful VOCs into your indoor environment."

All of the above tips came from Seventh Generation/Healthy Child Healthy World.  

- I received samples, coupons, and tips for myself and to share with others, but all opinions expressed are my own.  Please see our Disclosure Policy for more information. -

#healthybabyhomeparty  #generationgood  #comeclean

Plaid Friday Coupon Code!

We're celebrating Plaid Friday and Small Business Saturday all weekend long!  Enjoy 20% off everything in our Etsy shop through midnight Sunday with the coupon code "20PLAID".

Quantities are limited at the moment, so shop sooner than later.  Thank you all again for your support and shopping small!

Coupon code expires 11/29/15 at 11:59 PM EST.  

UPDATE:  Sale extended through Cyber Monday!!  Coupon code now expires 11/30/15 at 11:59PM EST.  

Our 2nd Pampers Rewards: Little Tikes Shopping Cart

If you're not familiar with Pampers Rewards, you can check my previous post here for all the details - but essentially it's a program to earn free gifts for buying Pampers diapers!  I've been saving up our points for awhile now and decided to turn them in for this great Little Tikes Shopping Cart.  | This post contains affiliate links |

This rugged little shopping cart has been a huge hit with our little one.  She's been pushing around her baby dolls and filling the cart up with anything and everything she can find, including blocks, shoes, and stuffed animals.  It's been a great way to keep her busy and she's really enjoying "shopping" around the house.  

And, of course the best part about it was it was free!  I didn't even have to pay shipping, which was amazing (note: some items you do have to pay shipping for).  I'm looking forward to ordering more free gifts.. just have to remember to keep entering my codes!

We purchased this great Baby Stella Doll from Amazon, but Pampers has a similar one as a Reward as well!  

Want to see what else we got from Pampers Rewards?  Check out my other posts:  

• Our First Pampers Rewards - Free Gifts for Buying Diapers!  
• Our 3rd Pampers Rewards:  Potty Training Chart
• Our 4th Pampers Rewards:  Melissa and Doug Tool Kit

Please note items available from Pampers Rewards are subject to change.  

Supporting your Local Schools with Box Tops for Education

I'm a big Box Tops for Education clipper.  

Our little one isn't in school yet, but every time we finish up a product with a Box Tops I make sure to clip it out and slip it in a designated envelope we have taped to the inside of one of our kitchen cupboards.  

Ka-ching!  Free money for our local school.  

When the envelope gets full, I drop them off at the local elementary school for them to add to their collection and send in.  Every box top sent in equals 10 cents for the school.  Once you notice how many products you buy have them, you see how fast the money can add up for the school.  Every little bit helps and it makes me feel good to know I'm contributing to my daughters future school, even in such a small way.  

Christmas in July Giveaway on Instagram!

I'm giving away a unique set of my Hand-Etched Birch Snowflake Ornaments! A photo of some of my hand-etched ornaments was featured this year in Martha Stewart Living Magazine.

Find this post on my Instagram (@birchlandinghome) for details and to enter.  Good luck!  

Giveaway ends 7/31/15 at 2PM EST. 

Our First Pampers Rewards - Free Gifts for Buying Diapers!

As I mentioned in a previous post, I was way behind when I signed up for Pampers Rewards.. I think our little one was 10 months old when we started (oh all those months of diaper codes I could have used!). Since then I've been entering codes every time I can and saving them up. 

Initially I was going to wait and get one of the big items for Miss M, but the other week I decided to trade some points in and get something small for her.  I saw this Little Bakers Cupcake set from Step 2 and thought it would be great for her to play with when she's using the kitchen helper I was making her.  Redeeming the points was very easy - just log in, choose your reward, check out, and confirm your mailing address.  Done!  

The cupcake set wasn't as rugged as I was hoping for considering it's from Step 2, but it is very, very cute.  The set comes with a tray, six cupcakes, and six interchangeable frosting tops.  Our little one can't quite get them on and off herself yet but she is really enjoying them still. 

And, of course the best part about it was they were free!  I didn't even have to pay shipping, which was amazing (note: some items you do have to pay shipping for).  I'm looking forward to ordering more free gifts.. just have to remember to keep entering my codes!

PS - I just stumbled across an account on Instagram that shares some of the free codes Pampers releases for promotions.  Follow @free_pampers_codes to help boost your point total!  

Want to see what else we got from Pampers Rewards?  Check out my other posts:  

• Our 2nd Pampers Rewards:  Little Tikes Shopping Cart
• Our 3rd Pampers Rewards:  Potty Training Chart
• Our 4th Pampers Rewards:  Melissa and Doug Tool Kit

Please note items available from Pampers Rewards are subject to change.  

Saving Money on Groceries - Rural Edition

I absolutely love where we live - a small resort town, surrounded by lakes and mountains.  Always lots of great outdoor activities to do or small shops to explore in town.  But living out here does have it's drawbacks too - for one thing, the hospital we delivered our daughter at was an hour and half away (ugh).  But one of the biggest things we struggle with on a day-to-day basis is not going broke on groceries - with discount stores over an hour away and only IGA (Independent Grocer Alliance) grocery stores in town we tend to pay up to 30% more for most items.  
I support shopping local and shopping small whenever possible, but as a single-income household saving money where we can is absolutely necessary.  I've read many articles tailored to saving money at big-box and discount stores, but most of those tips just don't apply here.  Please read on for some of my rural livin' money-saving grocery tips.  | This post contains referral links |

Tips for Saving Money on Groceries {Rural Edition}

1. Grow/Raise What You Can.  I know not everyone has a green thumb or is willing to raise livestock but having even a small backyard garden or some patio veggie plants can pay off big.  For example spending a few dollars for a couple patio tomato plants can supply you with more than enough tomatoes to last you the entire summer.  For us, we've had a small garden for the past couple of years and this spring we decided to add raising chickens to the mix.  We go through as many as two dozen cage-free eggs a week and figured that raising our own chickens would be fun, educational for our daughter, and eventually would provide us with a savings on eggs too.  
2. The Freezer is Your Friend.  I hate throwing out food, especially food that I paid good money for.  So lately I've taken to freezing more and more things, especially those that seem to have the shortest shelf life.  For example, my husband loves putting kale in his breakfast smoothies (you can't even taste it!) but it would always go slimy before he finished the bunch.  Now we wash and freeze it right away and he blends it, still frozen, into his smoothies.  Other things that I've been freezing more lately are meats, mushrooms, fresh herbs, bread, and of course leftovers.  
3. Shop Local and Extra-Small.  Try shopping for produce at local farmer's markets, or even better, roadside mom and pop farm stands.  Those little tables and coolers at the end of driveways are often amazing deals on fresh vegetables.  These people usually aren't out to make a profit, they're simply selling their extra produce for fun and a little extra cash so it's usually a really great value - and if you're lucky they may be giving things away if they have an over-abundance.  One year a gentleman down our road gave away bushels and bushels of corn because he just had so much and didn't want it to go to waste.  
4. Amazon and Online Shopping.  I know this is the polar opposite of "shop small" but you just have to be practical too.  Items like paper towels, toilet paper, and cereal can cost nearly twice as much here in town than it does at big-box stores or online.  And so we choose to buy these items on Amazon - and by using some of Amazon's features like free Prime shipping and "subscribe and save", we're able to save even a little more.  If you use Amazon, don't forget to sign up for AmazonSmile so your purchases benefit the charity of your choice! 
5. Bring Your Own Bags.  Every store has different policies, but more and more are rewarding their customers for bringing their own bags.  At our local grocery stores they give you 5 cents off your total for every reusable bag you use.  I think this is a wonderful policy - great for the environment and good for our wallets.  For example, if you brought 8 bags for your weekly groceries you would end up saving over $20 a year, and every little bit helps.  
6. Meal Plan and Grocery List.  The most efficient way to do groceries is to take a few minutes at the beginning of every week, plan out your dinners, and make a list as to what you'll need.  That way you'll be able to better plan what you need and what you can reuse, wasting less.  I confess I often struggle with this.. grocery day always seems to sneak up on me and I end up going to the grocery store winging it or with a sad excuse for a list more often than I'd like to admit.  I know planning ahead and making good lists are super important for wasting less and saving more, and I'm always trying to get better about it.  {EDIT:  I've finally gotten good (okay, a whole lot better) at meal planning!  Check out my Reusable Weekly Planner + Free Printable to see how.}
7. Periodic Trips to Big-Box Stores to Stock Up.  Every few weeks, I make a point to drive almost 40 minutes, longer in summer due to tourist traffic, to the nearest "big chain" grocery store to stock up on certain items.  And no, it's not even Wal-Mart or another discount chain (as far as grocery chains go it's one of the more expensive ones out there but it's the closest).  I use these trips to buy the items they don't carry at our IGA stores (like the coconut milk creamer my husband and I love in our coffee), and the perishable items that are just too expensive at the IGA (like organic milk and almond milk - both are almost double the price here in town!).  
8. Buy Store Brand.  Whether I'm picking up things at a big chain grocery store or the local IGA, I try to buy store brand whenever I can.  Most of the time store brand tastes just as good and works just as well (IGA even has it's own store brand called "Shurfine").  We always buy store brand organic milk, canned goods, ziplocks, and more.  Store brand can cost anywhere from 5 cents to a dollar less than name brand, and all those little savings add up.  
9. Coupons.  There's no doubling, matching, or store loyalty cards at our local grocery stores, but coupons are still a great way to save a little every trip.  I keep our coupons organized in a little file so they're easy to find as I'm writing our grocery list.  (PS - my plaid coupon organizer is only $2.99 on Amazon - can't beat it!)  
10. Ibotta.  The Ibotta app allows you to earn rebates back on many items you already buy.  (While this app doesn't work at most small independent grocers, you can use it when you visit large chain stores to stock up.)  In order to unlock the rebates, you simply have to view an ad, watch a short commercial, or take a one question poll about the product.  In exchange for helping them with their market research, you get rewarded with a small rebate when you purchase the product (items must be verified via receipt or through a linked store loyalty card).  You can read my full review of this app here:  Get Paid to Shop and Save Money with Ibotta.  [This tip was added 5/4/16]

I hope my tips gave you some ideas to save on groceries "out here."  Do you have any other helpful tips?