Garden Updates, BeautyKind, Mail Call

What a busy day! I apologize for the spotty posts as of late, but I have been super busy with my nine to five job that pays the bills and keeps food on our table. Either way, I have a few exciting updates about homesteading stuff, items I've gotten free in the mail, and items that will arrive in the next week. I am going to save a new book picture and review for tomorrow, along with new pictures of the chickens hopefully and maybe a review or two.

So, today was my first official harvest from my garden! How happy am I?!

This guy was a bit over 6" long but super thick.

This is a Hurakan F1 variety of zucchini, typically used for stuffing (since it's so large as you see). So, since it is a perfect vessel so to speak, a vessel it became...

 Rubbed with olive oil and spices.

 Then filled with pizza sauce and pizza cheeses.

Baked and gooey. Not super tender so I picked them up to bite.

I'm very happy with the end product and have about three or four other ones in the middle of growing larger. My plants are not very productive this year mostly due to poor soil quality and overcrowding (that is my fault; I was lazy and didn't want to clear my whole yard for the garden). Next year I think I'll be able to grow my garden more effectively.

So, thanks to Hunt4Freebies as always, I found out about a website called BeautyKind. BeautyKind specializes in designer bodycare products; in any normal situation I would never purchase anything so expensive as these sorts of products. The disclaimer here is that, for now, BeautyKind has a coupon for $50 off of any purchase of $50 or more! With that in mind, I joined and found a product that was $60 that was in stock; $10 for a designer fragrance is nothing terrible at all, so I went ahead and took the plunge.

For $10, this was a deal. Fair Amazon reviews too.

So, not only can you get $50 off a $50 order, there also is a referral system where you can get $25 off your first order AND give me an extra $25 when you place your first order. Here's my affiliate link; sign up using this and you will give both of us $25 each upon your first order! The coupon code for $50 off of $50 is LOVE50. Also, BeautyKind donates to a charity of your choice (there's a list of about four or five I think) when you spend money on their site; I supported the JDRF International (Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation).

Lastly, I found mail with samples that my other half neglected to hand over to me; I would imagine these came in yesterday's mail except the Cottonelle wipes (those did come in today with a coupon too for $1 off flush wipes or 12 pack or more of toilet paper).

I love my freebies! Three separate samples.

As I use these guys I'll try to get some feedback going. I've almost used all of the Colgate Optic White toothpaste from Sample Source; I think it's a great toothpaste and can see some results in terms of whitening (mild) and huge improvement in my teeth feeling clean (more noticeable honestly). I will use the Arm and Hammer toothpaste next since the other sample is almost gone.

Keep it freebie! Book write up tomorrow along with a Schoola shoutout (again) and anything else that might turn up in the meantime.