Thursday Thoughts: What's Been On My Mind This Week.....

1. Houses are expensive. 

2. Student Loans are the spawn of Satan. 

3. The simple thought of meal planning makes me groan like a teenager with extra weekend homework. How can I shake this? 

4.I think my blog might be boring. Maybe I'm boring?

5. I'm not very focused. My blog is a giant jumble of thoughts most of the time and I have no structure. Basically this is my entire life. 

6. I need a pedicure and a manicure....

7. Is it crazy for a person to go out with a pair of scissors and cut down the ridiculously tall dandelions in their yard? The grass is fine but the dandelions were like a foot tall. I mean it only took twenty minutes....

8. Baby #2....when? Soon? I'm still to heavy to think about getting pregnant again aren't I? That is toxic thinking....but it still might be true. 

9. Totally forgot to post yesterday. It was confession day. No one is going to read if you don't post regularly. Get it together.

10. The news- this is on everyone's mind I suppose. My heart hurts for the people of Baltimore, two of my friends live there and I worry about them, but I hold out hope for the good. I want to believe the best in people. Nepal- so much devastation and hurt. I'm not a particularly religious person but my thoughts are with all of them and I wish I had more to give. 


What's been on your mind this week?

My Top Apps for Saving (and Making) Extra Cash!

Good Morning Everyone, 

Today I wanted to share with you the Apps that I use in order to both save money and also make money! 

I don't know anyone that isn't looking to add a little extra cash flow to their budget. The following apps are ones that I personally have used and have had success with in order to either save or to actually earn money! 

1) Us Likey-  This is an app that is sort of like Instagram. You post pictures with hashtags and each week favorites are selected and given rewards! The hashtags are usually demos of your favorite items or just images from your weekend! Usually rewards are in the form of gift cards or (as in my own case) actual cash money! They use Gift Rocket as a transfer and payment can be sent directly and safely to your account! This one is only available for iPhone users currently but ever since installing it I have actually earned $75 dollars in the past month! Now that may not seem like a lot but to me that is a water bill payment! If you would like to try this one out my user name is chaosncocoa! If you mention me when you sign up I will get rewards but you for sure don't have to!

2) Target Cartwheel- I am pretty sure that a lot of people use this one but just in case you don't here is why you should! I always scan my items before checking out to see if there is a cartwheel on them and about 7 out of ten times there is one! Also cartwheels can be combined with coupons for even more savings! I know I always save at least a couple bucks each time I use my Cartwheel! 

3) Walmart Savings Catcher- Walmart's answer to the Cartwheel. This app allows you to upload your receipt and then it scans nearby stores to see if you got the best deal. If another store had a better deal Walmart will give you the difference back on a gift card! The best part is you can keep adding up your savings until you reach a larger amount and then cash in the gift card! Now you don't have to drive to multiple stores which saves time and you still get a good deal! 

4) Swagbucks- I use Swagbucks on multiple platforms but I have to say the app is the easiest. I just log in, get some points and log back out! Also you can launch the Swagbuck TV app and just let it run for a bit to earn some easy points! Points can be redeemed for all sorts of items but the best bang for your buck? Amazon $5 gift card! I payed for a huge chunk of Christmas last year by saving up all my gift cards that I earned through this one! I also get points for referral so again if you are so inclined click here! (You totally don't have to! It will not hurt my feelings one bit!)


Those are the top four apps that I see the most consistent savings and money making abilities in though I have tried plenty more! I was not a big fan of ibotta or of Checkout51 as I never seemed to be purchasing the items that they offered points on but you budget might be different from mine so I would still recommend you check them out for yourself! 

 I also just recently started using some apps that sync with my Vivofit so hopefully I will see some savings there soon!

Do you use apps for savings/money making? What are your favorites?

Weekending 4/24-4/26

Good Morning Everyone,

This weekend kind of flew by for me but that didn't make it any less busy or fun! 

Friday-Honestly Friday was pretty low key and we ended up just staying in and enjoying a night at home just the three of us. We did watch the movie Perks of Being a Wallflower and I have to say I loved it. The acting was amazing and the story was so good! I am surprised I hadn't read it before or seen the movie but I am really glad that I did and will probably have to check the book out now too! 

Saturday- A totally gloomy and rainy day and we decided that we would take Kyra to her very first movie! We went to the 11am showing so that there wouldn't be a large crowd and that way if Kyra acted up we could get up and leave without too much fuss. It was great, there were only two other families there and Kyra did a stellar job! She did get a little bit antsy in the middle but as soon as another song came on she was good to go again. I was so proud of her and honestly it was really nice to go to a movie as a family. 

We saw Home and it was adorable and a lot of fun. Great one for Kyra's first!!

After the movie we went by my parents' place to visit for a bit and Kyra decided to play hide and seek...

Sunday- Morning was spent doing a Walmart run where my husband decided that we needed to get an iced tea maker. For some reason we have been drinking a lot more tea around here and he felt that meant we needed one. Honestly it works really well and saves me from constantly having to put the kettle on! 

We also stopped by the garden section and apparently they are painting plants now? Admittedly they were pretty but I avoid cactus on general principle. Too pokey.

We did pick up this little guy however and he reminds me of prehistoric plants for some reason....I dunno why...but he was cute and not expensive so he came home to live with us! 

He is really tiny and in a magnetic little pot that I put on the wall!

Then when we got home I saw this little beauty! This is the first time in four years that this iris has bloomed! I cannot tell you how excited I was and most especially since it came up in my favorite color! 

The rest of Sunday Funday was spent playing board games with my brother who came to hang out for awhile, finishing up with the newest Game of Thrones episode. 

So there you have it, our weekend recap. How was your weekend?

Friday Favorites 4/24

Good Morning Everyone and Welcome back to Friday Favorites! This has been kind of a weird week...but it went really fast so that is good! I'm very ready for the weekend to begin and the best way to begin is by sharing my favorites with all of you!


Beauty

They look like Easter Eggs....adorable.

This is just perfection. I wish I had the talent to do the little swirl!

I am all about a soft pink lip right now. Gorgeous!

Fashion

These make me think of Cinderella.

Such a cute little bootie! You could wear these with about anything!

Nerdy Girl

Groot! I need this.

Yep. This is awesome.

These are hilarious and awesome. Someone tell me how to do this!

My husband says he needs these. I just think they are funny.

Funnies

That's it for me this week! Happy Friday Everyone! Be sure to join the linkup with your weekly favorites!

Why you gotta waste my flava?

Good Morning Everyone,

Today I'm going to talk about the people who totally waste my flava.

(P.S.- Totally was in love with Seth Green for like...ever)

The people who give me the side eye for wearing the same jeans two days in a row.

The people who interrupt when you are clearly telling a story. They just go on talking over you like your voice doesn't matter.

People who interrupt you while you are reading to ask, "What are you reading?"

People that call you up on the phone but are having a conversation with someone else at the same time in the background. 

People who stand thisclose to you while you are in the checkout line.

 

Who wastes your flava? 



*Credit Where Credit is due- This post is adapted from one by Chelsea over at The Girl Who Loved To Write About Life! 

Also Linking up with Kristin and Joey today! 

Confession Day: 4/22/15

Good Morning Everyone, 

Welcome back to Confession Day!

I confess that I get super ANGRY that my husband seems to be the God of Board Games! Seriously he wins ALL. THE. TIME. He has like the worst luck in everything but board games...it's not fair. I just wanna win one....

I confess that I buy makeup pallets based on whether they will help with a particular cosplay look....I'm more concerned with getting a fictional character's look than with a day to day look. 

I confess that I might get more excited about my husband's monthly Loot Crate than he does....and he is really excited about it. Honestly it kills me to wait to open it until he gets home. 

I confess that my brother and I spent an entire afternoon thinking up expansion pack ideas for one of our favorite tabletop games. It felt very productive...even if no one else thought so. 

I confess that I love a good quest. Seriously if there is a job out there where you are given an item or series of items to find, that is the job I need. I love completing collections or finding a particularly hard to find something. The sense of accomplishment is REAL people!

Anyone else a "quest" person? Are you lucky at board games? Let me know in the comments! 

Also be sure to join the linkup with your own Confessions! 

Chaos and Cosplay- A New Series

Good Morning Everyone,

Today I am so happy to tell you about an exciting new series here on the blog!

Logo is obviously a work in progress...

If you have been following for a while you will know that I love all things Nerdy and most especially love all things Cosplay.

With that love in mind I decided that I wanted to write about Cosplay and all that goes with it. From tutorials on costumes that we (my family and myself) have made to interviewing other Cosplayers on their cosplays!

I am really excited about this series as this is a subject that I am truly passionate about. I will sit and talk costumes/tutorials/and cons for hours at a time and I am excited to share that passion with the blog! 

 

A Monday Review- Keurig 2.0

Good Morning Everyone! 

Today I am going to share with you my review of the new Keurig 2.0! 

First off the details: 
Keurig 2.0
2 Free boxes of Sample Cups!
Cleaning Solution
Filter (not pictured)
Carafe is sold separately!  

I was actually sent this awesome machine by Influenster so that I could try it out and give you all my opinions on it! Honestly when I was taking the quiz on the site I had no idea it was for a Keurig...I thought they were just going to send me samples of coffee! I was totally surprised when on a Saturday morning the FedEx guy dropped this off for me. I thought it was just a Keurig box that someone had packaged something else I ordered in...but nope! Instead it was a brand new Keurig 2.0 and that led to some awesome happy dancing around the living room! 

Now I also have a regular Keurig that I just got for Christmas for my husband and I know I blogged here about how much I loved it. I am the only coffee drinker in the house and I love not having to make a whole pot for just myself. I also love how quickly it is ready to go for those days that I don't have the energy (or patience) to wait for the coffee to be ready. No one likes it when I haven't had my coffee.

Here is what I like about the 2.0: 
-Same awesome speed- as I said no one likes it when Mama misses her coffee

-The touch screen- I can't help it. I love touchscreens. 

-The new slim design- So much sleeker than the old one and takes up much less space

-The water reserve- This might seem like a ridiculous thing but I like the the reserve is on the back instead of the side with this one. I also like that the whole top of it comes off and you aren't trying to pull off one side and pour at some weird angle...but again that is just my own thing. 

- The options for Hot Chocolate or Strong Coffee- I never did like the Hot Chocolate in my Keurig. It takes like chocolate water and that is just not my jam. I personally rarely need a STRONG cup of coffee but I have friends that do prefer that and I love to have the options. 

-The Carafe option- As I stated above, occasionally I have friends over that do enjoy coffee and I love being able to now have the option of making an entire carafe! 

What I don't like: 
-Not compatible with my refillable K cup- Okay I get this, you wanna make money on your brand and make sure that everyone uses it...blah blah. Um maybe if they weren't pricey and you offered ALL THE FLAVORS. I'm sorry but I really love picking up just picking up some random coffee flavor and filling it in my K cup. I like options! 

- Carafe not included- again probably just me being a brat but I now I have to make a trip and pick up the carafe to try it out! 

So what do you all think? Like the sleek new style? Are you a Keurig user? Do you like it? Share your thoughts down below! 

***Disclosure****- As stated above I was sent this item by Influenster for review. I was not compensated in any other way and as always opinions are my own!

Friday Favorites 4/17

Good Morning Everyone and Happy Friday! 

It's been a pretty good week and I am looking forward to a quiet weekend without any plans! After the past couple of weeks being so crazy and then last weekend being full of crazy fun and awesome friends, I am ready for a weekend that is just mellow! 

Here's the favorites for the week! 

Beauty Favorites: 

Am I the only one that thinks this looks vaguely Disney-ish?

Love that pop of blue....Gorgeous!

Fashion Favorites: 

Love each one and love that the skirt is used in each! Love multiple outfit options!

Just adorable.

I need this top asap. Super cute and comfy!

Home Favorites: 

I need this.

This too. K Thx.

Nerdy Girl Favorites:

Can someone more talented than me make this?

Now that is a Cosplay. BayMax for the WIN.

Favorite Funnies:

Have a Safe and Happy Weekend Everyone! Don't Forget to Linkup!