Monday, November 10, 2014

Free Entree at Hooters for Military



Free entree, up to $10.99, for vets and active military on 11/11 at Hooters. Drink purchase required.

Happy Couponing!
-Coupon Mama Massachusetts

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Free Longhorn Texas Tonion and Drink for Military


In celebration of Veteran's Day, Longhorn is offering a free Texas Tonion and a non-alcoholic beverage to all active military and veterans. You must show a military ID. Valid on 11/11 only.

Happy Couponing!
-Coupon Mama Massachusetts

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Free Signature Entree for Military at Applebee's


Applebee's is honoring our military, active and retired, by offering a free Signature Entree from a special Veterans Day menu.





Happy Couponing!
-Coupon Mama Massachusetts

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Saturday, November 8, 2014

Free Julep Beauty Box (Pay only Shipping)


Get a Fall Fashion Neutrals Beauty Box for only the cost of shipping from Julep. Pay only $2.99 using the promo code FREEFALL at checkout. This will enroll you in a monthly subscription ($24.99/month plus shipping) but you can cancel at any time, including immediately after receiving your free box.



Happy Couponing!
-Coupon Mama Massachusetts

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Free Food and 15% Off for Military at Outback Steakhouse


Military, active and retired, head on over to Outback Steakhouse on Tues. November 11 for a free bloomin' onion and a free coca cola fountain beverage.

And... you'll also receive 15% off your purchase for the rest of 2014!



*The FREE Bloomin' Onion® and Coca-Cola® promotion is open to Military Personnel who have one of the following forms of identification on November 11, 2014 : (a) U.S. Uniformed Services Identification and Privilege Card, (b) U.S. Uniform Services Retired Identification and Privilege Card, (c) Current Leave and Earnings Statement (LES), (d) Veterans Organization Card (i.e., American Legion and VFW), (e) DD214 Certificate, (f) Veteran Identification Card (VIC) or (g) Photograph in U.S. Uniform or wearing U.S. Uniform. The FREE beverage will be customer's choice of any offered Coca-Cola® product. Prices and product participation may vary by location. Not valid in conjunction with any other offer, discount or coupon. No cash value. Void where prohibited.

**The Military Mates® 15% OFF discount is open to Military Personnel who have one of the following forms of identification: (a) U.S. Uniformed Services Identification and Privilege Card, (b) U.S. Uniformed Services Retired Identification and Privilege Card, (c) Current Leave and Earnings Statement (LES), (d) Veterans Organization Card (i.e., American Legion and VFW), (e) DD214 Certificate, (f) Veteran Identification Card (VIC) or (g) Photograph in U.S. Uniform or wearing U.S. Uniform. Military Personnel with any of the foregoing forms of identification will receive 15% OFF their entire guest check (excluding alcohol, applicable taxes and gratuity)November 12 through December 31, 2014 at any Outback Steakhouse® in the U.S. Prices and product participation may vary by location. Not valid in conjunction with any other offer, discount or coupon. No cash value. Void where prohibited.


Happy Couponing!
-Coupon Mama Massachusetts

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25% Off At Job Lot for Active & Retired Military


Ocean State Job Lot's Operation: Thank You is in full gear.
All Active Duty Military and Retired Personnel, Veterans, National Guard, Reservists and their families get 25% OFF* everything in their stores. This is their way of saying "thank you" for all that they have done, and are doing for our country.
For more details see their website http://oceanstatejoblot.com/military.html


Happy Couponing!
-Coupon Mama Massachusetts

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50% Off Sale at Savers Tues. Nov. 11



Enjoy Savings Throughout the Store!

50% off Clothing, Bed & Bath, Shoes and Accessories*

Tuesday, November 11th


Remember to ask for Winter Savings Pass!

*Excludes AZ, MN and ID stores. Excludes jewelry, furniture, books, housewares and red tag items. Not valid with any other coupons or discount.


Happy Couponing!
-Coupon Mama Massachusetts

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Thursday, November 6, 2014

MyCokeRewards: 12-pk Sparkling Coupon Only 30 Points!

This great coupon is typically 250 points at MyCokeRewards. But today it's 88% off and only 30 points! One per account and while supplies last, so hurry!



Happy Couponing!
-Coupon Mama Massachusetts

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Sunday, November 2, 2014

My Weight Loss Journey - The Good, the Bad and the Ugly

Have you fallen victim to those high-cost fad diets? You know what I'm talking about - the diet pills, the shakes, the flavor shots and teas before each meal? They cost an arm and a leg, and although they typically work in the short term, it's tough to stop using them because you fall back into old habits and pack on the pounds quicker than you lost them.

I know this because I've done it too. I lost 11 pounds using Herbalife back in 2011, right before my wedding. And as soon as I weaned myself off the twice a day shakes, then off the once a day shakes (seriously, who has money to pay for shake mix for the rest of their lives?), I gained all the weight back and then some.

And when my tiny, 4'11" frame teetered towards the 150 lb mark this year, I realized that I had simply let myself go. My self-esteem had gone in the crapper and my image reflected that. I trudged to work wearing whatever I could find that would fit over, or under, my muffin top that morning regardless of how sloppy and unkempt I looked. And many weekends, I'd stay in my elastic-waisted pajamas for as long as I possibly could.

I knew that diet pills, bars and shakes weren't going to be a permanent solution and my doctor cleared me of any and all medical reasons I could use as excuses to justify my hefty size. So I finally listened to my husband and sought the professional help of a nutritionist.

(If you don't think a nutritionist is for you, that's cool! Skip to the end where I impart some free and near-free tips for weight loss that I've picked up along the way).

Nutritionists are EXPENSIVE! At the time I didn't think my insurance would cover visits, so I paid out of pocket. My first visit was $85 for a 45 minute to an hour long session to discuss my habits - eating, exercising, vices, etc. Follow up visits were $150 for a package of 5 30-minute sessions where we discussed the previous weeks successes (or lack of) and concocted plans for upcoming weeks.

Downsides of Professional Nutritionists:
-EXPENSIVE!!
-If you ignore advice, the visits are useless
-If you are not committed, the visits are useless

Advantages of Professional Nutritionists:
-You can limit the expenses; stretch your visits out as far as you'd like to minimize costs
-In my opinion, the expert advice and information is well worth the cost
-It holds you accountable; nothing is worse than feeling like you let someone down
-Visits MIGHT be covered by your insurance! A good nutrition center will verify with your insurance company


I've been visiting my nutritionist since May. It was slow going in the beginning and I had a HUGE set back when my 17-year old kitty passed away in July. But since July I've officially lost over 15 lbs!

I weighed over 146 lbs at my first weigh-in in May.
I weighed 130.8 lbs at my most recent weigh-in last week.
I weighed 128.8 lbs the other day on my own scale wearing my birthday suit.

Inexpensive Tips for Weight Loss
1. Keeping a food and exercise log has helped me realize how much (or how little) I was putting in my body. Believe it or not, eating too little is just as bad as eating too much. I started with a paper-based food diary but I would leave it at home or forget to log each night. So my nutritionist suggested MyFitnessPal app for my Smartphone. This is a FREE app that can be customized to your height, weight, exercise level and overall weight-loss goal.

2. Incorporate physical activity into your daily routine. Something is better than nothing. I bought the cheapest recumbent bike I could find from Walmart.com and I watch TV at night while logging miles. In good weather, I also go for walks and runs with my husband or by myself. I have a horrible habit of wandering grocery store aisles for hours to avoid housework, so I log a lot of miles doing that too!
The FREE app MapMyRun for the Smartphone can keep track of your activity. I run with my cell phone in my hand and set up the tracker on MapMyRun to log my miles and calories burned. If you also use MyFitnessPal, the MapMyRun app will automatically transfer activity logged into the MyFitnessPal app and deduct the calories burned from the calories used for the day.

3. Find someone to hold you accountable. Sadly, I discovered that my husband cannot be trusted to hold me accountable. He is a natural skinny-minnie and is easily demotivated so if we make plans ahead of time to run after work, he frequently changes his mind which gives me an "out" for my day's physical activity. HOWEVER... Social media has become a quick source for accountability. There are many Facebook pages for people looking to lose weight together. And I've received so much support from my Instagram followers. It's so awesome to post a quick photo of my weekly weigh in and get a ton of positive comments from complete strangers. It helps maintain my motivation and it boosts my self-esteem.

4. Give yourself a tangible goal. I signed myself up for a few running races. I paid money to register, so it made me less likely to give up. Some races have really high fees, while others are only $10-20. By registering yourself for an event and paying out the cash for it upfront, you can trick yourself into having no choice but to work hard to be successful in that particular event. I ended up finding that I enjoyed running and continued running even after my event was over. I started running 12-minute miles. I can now sustain 9 minute miles!

5. Find what works for you! Avoidance of temptations is the only thing that works for me. If there are cupcakes in the lunchroom at the office, I'll avoid that room all day. I pack a lunch every day for work to avoid ordering out. My husband and I avoid restaurants that have nothing on the menu I can modify and eat -- bye bye Hooters!


My weight loss journey in photos. I've still got another 15 or so pounds to go, but I'm well on my way!




















Disclaimer: Before starting any exercise or diet routine, I strongly encourage you to discuss it with your physician.

Happy Couponing!
-Coupon Mama Massachusetts

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Sunday, October 26, 2014

Squeeze A Boob, Save a Life - Why I Feel My Tatas on the Regular

I'm 28 years old. And like most twenty-somethings, I had this nonsensical idea that I was medically invincible. That I was too young to ever fall victim to any of  those crazy ailments and diseases that have earned themselves Facebook campaigns, or above the fold articles on the front page of a newspaper or even an entire month dedicated to its awareness.

Don't get me wrong, I don't avoid medical interventions. In fact, like I was supposed to, I went through the motions: I paid my copays and saw my doctors regularly. I begrudging peed into that teeny, tiny little cup. I mean, c'mon -- how the heck does anyone manage to aim perfectly into that thing?! I unwillingly had my blood drawn what feels like a million times each year. I got my goods groped, fondled, poked and prodded on the regular. Just like I was supposed to. But through all of these rote, mundane appointments, it never crossed my mind that my doctors would find anything.

And they didn't.

But my husband did. A little more than a year ago, at the peak of my 20-something invincibility, my husband jokingly grabbed me one day and then did a double take. With a concerned look, he stuttered, "come here for a minute, let me see something, Cynthia." What should have been a sexy interaction between a married couple quickly turned into a nightmarish prodding and googling session.

Ya, don't ever google your symptoms. Ever. Just trust me.

My husband had found a lump in my left breast. And not a small one that we could pretend like we were simply overreacting over. A seemingly huge, unmistakable mass in my breast. And I'm sure it didn't pop up overnight. But until that point, I was the medical Superwoman of the millennium.

To make a long story short, after several agonizing days, a trip to my gynecologist and a trip for an ultrasound, from which I didn't excitedly leave with a "It's a Boy" or "It's a Girl" photo, I learned that I was cancer free.

But I did learn a few things. I learned that I had two fairly large cysts, one 2.5mm and another over 3mm sitting side by side - no wonder one boob had been so much bigger looking than the other! I learned that doctors don't catch everything at the once or twice a year appointments you make with them. Most importantly, I learned how critical it is to pay attention to your own body - be your own advocate.

Since that incident, my girls and I have become best of friends. Every time I shower, I check for changes in my cysts and any new growths. Just last month, I discovered a new lump in my other breast. Which, despite my history with cysts, caused me to freak out. Luckily, this new lump turned out to be another cyst. And it has lots of tiny friends, too. These cysts are completely benign and are not known to turn into anything aggressive.

I can't stress to you the importance of knowing your body. And realizing you are NOT invincible. Make sure you perform a breast self-exam at least monthly. And make sure you speak up if you notice anything out of the ordinary. Don't wait to "see if it goes away." Get it checked.

October is National Breast Cancer Awareness month. I'm fortunate enough to have no family history of breast cancer. But my husband's grandmother was a breast cancer survivor and I have friends and colleagues who have family members who have been affected by breast cancer. Help spread the word and bring awareness to early detection. When breast cancer is detected early, the 5-year survival rate is 98%!

Make sure you squeeze a boob - it could save a life.






Happy Couponing!
-Coupon Mama Massachusetts

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Tuesday, October 21, 2014

Free Subscription to Boating Magazine

100% free subscription to Boating magazine.


Happy Couponing!
-Coupon Mama Massachusetts

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Free Subscription to Saltwater Sportsman

Get a free subscription to Saltwater Sportsman magazine!


Happy Couponing!
-Coupon Mama Massachusetts

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Sunday, October 19, 2014

Congrats to the Winners of the KidStuff Coupon Books!



Congratulations to the randomly selected winners of the KidStuff Coupon Books.

Kelley Casey

Audrey Bleau

Chris Lachapelle

You were contacted via email this morning with details on how to claim your prize.


Thank you all who entered! 



Happy Couponing!
-Coupon Mama Massachusetts

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Sunday, October 12, 2014

Free Bloomin' Onion at Outback on Mon. 10/13

Get a free Bloomin' Onion at Outback on Monday 10/13. Just mention "Bloomin' Monday" to your server!



Happy Couponing!
-Coupon Mama Massachusetts

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RedBull Class Action Settlement

If you purchased Redbull between 2002 and 2014, you may be eligible to participate in a Class Action Settlement.

You can file a claim electronically to receive a cash refund or vouchers for free products. Your claim must be filed by March 2, 2015.

Happy Couponing!
-Coupon Mama Massachusetts

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Truvia Sweetener Class Action Settlement

If you purchased Truvia Sweetener products between July 1, 2008 and July 24, 2014, you may be eligible to participate in a Class Action Settlement.

If you submit a valid claim by December 5, 2014, you may be eligible to receive a cash refund or vouchers for free products.



Happy Couponing!
-Coupon Mama Massachusetts

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KidsStuff Coupon Savings Book Review & GIVEAWAY!

If you have kids or have friends or relatives with kids, I'm sure you've been accosted to purchase goodies from a catalog used as a fundraiser for their school. You know what I'm talking about... the 5 pound tin of popcorn you end up throwing out or the ridiculously priced tub of cookie dough? Some catalogs contain the $15 candle that stops smelling pretty two days after opening it. As a teacher, I get asked to partake in purchasing fundraising goodies all the time and often I have to politely turn down my students because I simply can't afford to buy all that stuff that I don't need or will never use.

So when I was approached by the folks at KidStuff Coupon Books to take a peek at their own version of school fundraising goodies, I was all over the opportunity!

KidStuff Coupon Books vary depending on your location. I counted 22 different books based on locality in the following states: PA, OH, MD, CT, MA, NH, NJ, NY, DE, TX, MN, IL.

I received the Massachusetts Coupon Book which is teeming with coupons and savings passes for chain and local vendors. The book itself is separated into three color-coded sections: blue is for shopping and services, yellow is for activities and attractions, and red is for dining and food.

Coupons are included for chain vendors like Sears, Sports Authority and Dunkin Donuts. Then there are discounts for places more local to Massachusetts such as a Boston Celtics game.





At the very front of the book, there's an alphabetic listing of all of the vendors included in the book to make browsing easier.

The book costs $25 and HALF of that goes directly to the school fundraising. I promise you you'll get more use out of the KidStuff Coupon Book than you ever did with that 5 pound tin of popcorn. AND you'll be helping a local school raise money for their educational initiatives! What a great two-for-one deal!! You get an entire book of savings (over 400 pages!!!) and your local school earns money!

If you're involved with school fundraising and are interested in more information, please contact KidStuff Coupon Books at

888-404-5437 option 1 (toll free!)
info@kidstuffcouponbook.com
www.kidstuffcouponbook.com

Please follow KidStuff on Facebook and Twitter - let them know Coupon Mama Massachusetts sent you!
www.facebook.com/KidStuffCouponBooks
www.twitter.com/KidStuffCoupons

KidStuff Coupon Books was so very generous and is offering my readers a chance to win 1 of 3 Massachusetts coupon books.

In order to enter, you must live IN Massachusetts or within 25 miles of Massachusetts since the coupon book primarily contains deals available in MA only. 


To Enter: 
1. Leave a comment on this blog post **Why do you use coupons??** Include your FIRST NAME, STATE and EMAIL ADDRESS (if you don't use a login with an email address attached). 


The giveaway starts at midnight on October 12th and ends at midnight on October 19th. Winners will be announced on Facebook and on the Coupon Mama Massachusetts website and will be contacted via email. Winners will have 5 days to respond with a valid mailing address or their prize will be forfeited and a new winner will be selected.

Disclaimer: I received a KidStuff Coupon Book to facilitate this review and KidStuff Coupon Books is providing three additional coupon books to giveaway to my readers. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.


Happy Couponing!
-Coupon Mama Massachusetts

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