Last week I went down to the DOL and renewed my licence and took THE WORST PHOTOGRAPH of my life. It was so bad, you wouldn’t even recognize me if I showed it to you. I hardly recognize myself in the photo. When I showed it to the HH he just laughed. What can you do? Because really, who cares, right? It’s just a drivers licence. Am I really going to go back and ask to take a new picture? No, no I’m not.
My license arrived yesterday in the mail along with The Age of Adeline from Netflix {thank you for recommending it Janet}. Have you seen it? I plan to torture watch it with the HH tomorrow on our date day.
I also received a free, full size sample of Dove Men + Care deodorant {Hello, stocking stuffer for Monkey Boy!}. I don’t know about you, but I sign up for freebies every chance I get and most of the time, the freebie comes with a really good coupon for the product as well. I’d share a link to the free sample, but they’re all gone.
But, if you have a cat, right now you can get Free Sample of Fancy Feast Medleys Cat food. Consider it my happy friday gift to you {and your cat}. 🙂
Guess what else I found in my mailbox this week?
“Mavis –
I just so happened to have a Body Shop coconut butter laying around from a gift pack I got at Costco sometime ago. So enjoy! I consider it part of my purging. 🙂 My sis and I have followed your lead of ridding ourselves of “things” and simplifying. It does feel good! Last month alone we tallied over 1,900 things. That’s counting 500 photo doubles and sentimental items from our teenage days. So thank you. We love you.”
~Angie from Oregon
Angie also sent 2 sheets of recycled tissue paper from Victoria Secrets. HILARIOUS. Thank you Angie!! You are so sweet. I’ve had a bunch of meanie comments this week and the body butter was a nice pick me up and put a smile on my face. 🙂
Melissa. I almost peed my pants when I read your message on the free box of mini Kleenex tissues you sent. When I got the package I thought, that’s weird, I thought I ordered The Girl some free tissues. Hmm. I must have sent them to myself.
And then I read your message:
“Mavis, I ♥ your blogs!!! Here are some tissues so you won’t have to buy them!”
Why did I think this was so funny? Because a few peeps thought it was odd I don’t BUY Kleenex. Kari started the conversation in the comment section of this post.
So thank you Melissa. You made my day. I now feel like one of the cool kids carrying around my packet of {10} 3 ply tissues. Bahahaha!
Public Service Announcement: If you, or someone you know is in need of tissues, please, GO HERE to send them a mini pack of Kleenex.
Joy, it’s everywhere.
Whether it’s a freebie that comes in the mail, recommending a good movie to a friend, purging your stuff so you can pass it along to others, darning your favorite sock, or cutting some daffodils to bring into the house.
Life, it’s pretty amazing. Be kind. Be glad you are alive.
Have a great weekend everyone,
~Mavis
Julie says
I love to receive freebies too so I signed up for BzzzAgent, Smiley360 and the influenster. You should try it! They just ask for a post on twitter and pics sometimes but mainly talk about the product to your friends. They send products + coupons (most of the time Free products coupons), from one of those I get a lot of dog food and treats so my dog is SO happy to get packages all the time!!
Tamara says
One time my DMV photo was so bad my dear HH, who is always my encourager and supporter, suggested I tell them it was lost and have a remake! I think that is probably what I would look like if pulled over!
I think it was on your site that The Girl on the Train was recommended – am almost through it and it is great!
It is never a bad decision to plant a tree for those who come after us; we all benefit.
Lynne says
I have a friend who didn’t like her DMV photo and asked for a retake. They told her she’d have to pay and she agreed to pay. Bottom line, she had 10 photos taken before she was happy and they waived the fee with a smile.
Jeff Carter says
Free stuff is fantastic. Just gotta watch that getting free stuff doesn’t negate your goals of getting rid of unwanted items. I check the For Sale / Free section on Craigslist multiple times a day and have ended up with some great finds as well as make new friends that can turn into an ongoing exchange of items no longer needed.
Earlier this week I picked up another 50 lbs of steaks (porterhouse, ribeyes, filet mignon etc) for free for my freezer from a Craigslist contact I made last month. He doesn’t have room in his freezer for excess steaks he gets when he puts on conversion van shows and has a cookout so I get the extras at no cost. So far 120 lbs of frozen meat in the last month. I’m busy giving steaks away to my friends since my freezers are also full.
Lisa Millar says
Brilliant!
Jeanie says
My passport photo was hideous! For some reason I didn’t think through my outfit and I looked like a real freak. Thankfully it just expired and I certainly thought over my choice of attire and hairstyle a little better this time.
I love all your info and especially love when you give the Amazon deals. I have benefited many times over from your recommendations.
Janet says
I hope you enjoy the movie as much as I did. I felt like it was a book I couldn’t put down. I wish there was a book to go with it…
Lauralli says
Meanie comments are very “taxing”. Kindness is free–it even multiplies! To each his own, but BE KIND, people!
Stephanie Croquez says
Mavis you are an inspiration and why someone would use any energy to be negative is enough food for thought for anyone. They obviously have things going wrong in their lives to take the time to be mean. You are wonderful and I don’t follow blogs…but follow yours….in fact…this is the first time I have ever commented on anything….which is a shocker in and of itself as I’m a chatty Kathy…well Stephanie anyway. Please keep doing what you do and I love your social experiments too! Oh and thank you very much (this is 100% sarcastic) for getting me addicted to rug hooking. Sigh. (Seriously thank you though)
Laura Z says
Meanie comments!? What stinkers. Those of you who read your blog are very appreciative of all that you do and share online. It has helped me save lots of money and learn to live simply. Keep up the good work, Mavis! We appreciate you!!
Carrie says
I saw one of the meanie comments and wanted to reply to them but I figured it would be best not to start a comment war. Just know that for every 1 mean comment there are hundreds of good comments! I’ve enjoyed reading your blog the past two years and even though there are sometimes posts that aren’t of my interest I still respect you and your differences. Our differences make us unique and beautiful. Keep it up!
PS. I’m still waiting on that darning blog post! My Smartwools need help!
Melissa says
I’m famous!!!! I got a mention on the blog!! I will say those tissues are very over packaged….at least its recycleable!!
elizabeth says
Meanie comments? Yikes!
So nice of Angie to send you the gift. Is that coconut body butter really strong smelling?
I bought the set of spatulas from your favorites list and they are really nice. Thanks for the recommendation.
Margie says
What spatulas? I need some new ones.
eliz says
Right hand side of the home page, under “a few of my favorite things”.
Lisa says
I will come to the defense of the posters. It is ironic. I don’t think it was meant to be mean. Maybe observational feedback would be a better way of describing it.
Laurel Singer says
I needed a new photo for my passport renewal recently and went to an actual portrait studio to have it done. They had a special Polaroid-type camera, and it was the best picture taken of me in years! Unfortunately, my head didn’t turn out the right size for a passport photo, and they ran out of film. Went to the DMV to get it done, and I’m sure you can guess the results 🙁
Mary says
MAVIS!!!! I think you are splendid!!!
I want to be like you!!
I purged my closet last week and freaked out my husband.
For four seasons I have 2 dresses, 1 pr dress pants, 6 pr. jeans, 2 jackets, 1 winter coat, 4 sweaters and 6 blouses!
I’m soooo happy!!
Spent my $10 for $10 at JCPenney and scored 2 or pajamas and a or of slippers for a Christmas gift. I paid .18 for 3 items!!
I’m rocking a No Spend Year with you!!!
Thank you so much for inspiring me!!
becky b says
I HATE hearing that you have meanie commenters! Your blog is so positive and inspirational. I never comment, but now I just want to say, this blog is my escape & down time every day while my toddler naps! Thanks Mavis!
Amy says
Don’t let the internet trolls get you down. I look forward to you blogs every week… just love them, pink flaming scarfs and all!
connie munoz says
is there a way to post pictures on here, yesterday I got my first Verizon bill in the mail, I went from 149 a month for 2 smart phones down to 58 dollars a month, just by going down on my data, Verizon even said you have never used 3gb, so why pay for it…and its because of your blog, that I am really buckling down and looking at ways to save money. next buying a modem and not renting from Comcast, I so wished I could talk my husband into other options, but he isn’t giving up his football or baseball…and he has been a trooper, I will continue to find other ways to save, thank you for all you do….
Vicki says
Wow, it seems that everyone is as surprised as I am that you received “meanie” comments. I guess there are those in every area of life who just feel the need.
Despite that, I still love your blog and appreciate the time it takes to post all you do. THank you Mavis.
gina says
Mavis,
I would love for you to research this and shed more light on this most upsetting food waste…elementary schools. The teachers are great about making sure the kids put a fruit on their tray. Usually an orange, apole, or banana. Then the kids don’t eat it and it is thrown down the garbage shoot with the tray and teachers ARE NOT ALLOWED to take the perfectly good fruit off the tray! I witnessed this myself as a school volunteer in the nations sixth largest school district. Outraged, I researched and found out the Chicago area schools also have this oroblem and Michelle Obama tried to help.
Will you please inform your readers? Thanks!