Free 101 Handy Hints e-book

Go to www.101handyhints.com for a free e-book (it is really just a PDF), of . . . You guessed it, 101 handy hints.

Snapple

Well I am not feeling that great, so I was just sitting at my desk on my lunch break. Neil asked if I wanted to go for a walk. I had already eaten and didn't feel like getting off my butt so I declined. A few minutes later he called to say that there was free Snapple outside. I guess I am not feeling that bad. I will get up and move for some free stuff. there are 2 types of beverage give aways. The first and best kind is when a couple people are digging into a cooler and handing you a nice cold can or bottle of the refreshing beverage that is being promoted. The second and not quite exciting kind is when you get a little plastic shot glass of the stuff. As you can tell from the not so huge crowd around the stand, this was the second kind. Oh well. I got a shot of Diet Lime Green Tea. If I had noticed it was diet before I asked, I would have picked something else. It was ok. Had that diet aftertaste though. And since I don't feel so good, I am a little grumpy and I don't feel like saying something nice about it. I should have just stayed at my desk and played some of the free games I downloaded to my new iPhone.

Venom Energy Drink

I was heading into South Station messing with a free GPS tracking app on my iPhone when I spied a girl handing out cans from a cooler. Sweet! I am hot and thirsty. I get a can of Venom of Black Mamba Energy Drink. I snap a pic and email it for a mobile upload. I can browse to the draft post but can't add text in Safari on iPhone. So I install free blog app. Guess what? Free version doesn't allow pics! Can't win. Oh well. Energy drink tastes like Red Bull. Not bad.

Venom Energy Drink

I just figured out I can edit text in HTML. Guess I don't need an app for that.

Earthfest, Chewable Juice, Iced Coffee and Juicy Juice Water Bottle

I had to work some OT on the same day as EarthFest 2009. But that was OK. I still managed to have time to run through and grab some free samples and catch part of Soul Asylum. Let's see if I can remember everything I got. A Starbuck's Iced Coffee, a couple squirts of organic sun screen (which was lucky, 'cause I really needed some), some Whole Foods Market bakery bread, some Stonyfield Farms Yogurt Smoothie (yummy!) and some granola. I did not get any Bear Naked Granola. The line was too long. I have had it before and can say it is quite yummy. And it is fun to say. Bear Naked. he he he. I also got a free little orange backpack from Whole Foods.

One day this week, I was walking through downtown crossing with my boss, Eric (the one who suggested I start writing the blog, by the way) . Thanks Eric! Like I don't spend enough time on the computer all day. Any way, he spies an opportunity to snag some free juice. Since it was hot and we had been walking for awhile I immediately pop mine open and start to take a big swig of Fruit 2 Day. Just then Eric reads the label out loud, "Real fruit bits." Am I glad he said that! I probably would have spit it right out on the side walk. They aren't kidding. This is beyond pulp. There are actual pieces of fruit in it. If I had not been warned ahead of time, I think the sensation would have been a bit disgusting. A curdley, lumpy, what is this crap in my mouth, kind of disgusting. But I had my quick warning and chewed then swallowed. After getting over the initial puzzlement of having to chew my free juice, I did enjoy it. Not sure if I will be buying this one, but I would drink . . .er I mean chew . . . another one if I get one for free.


Today was Free Iced Coffee day at Au Bon Pain. I felt compelled to go get one since it was free and across the street. When it was free ice cream day at Ben and Jerry's the line was out the door and down the sidewalk. There was no line at Au Bon Pain. It was kind of confusing. There was a sign in the window that said they were participating, but it wasn't really clear which cups to use, where the line formed, etc. I managed to find a cup, get my ice, fill my cup, add my cream and sugar and get out of there pretty quick though. The coffee was just ok for me. It was not Fair Trade Certified so I wasn't thrilled about it. But it was free. And you know what I always say . . . "If it's free, it's for me!"

I got tipped off by Gizmodo about a free water bottle from Juicy Juice today. Signed up. Now I am waiting for free mug and a free water bottle to come in the mail.

That's all for now . . .

OK, so I have been slacking at the free stuff blog. Let me think. What have I gotten free lately. I still have a few more free Fair Trade coffees left in my little coupon folder I mentioned in a previous blog. I have been using the ones for hot coffee. Waiting for it to warm up to use the ones for iced coffee. I have been downloading free music at iTunes and Amazon. I inadvertently got a free album at Amazon. I downloaded an album, but then I got an email saying the order was canceled because my credit card was no good. I think they still have a canceled one on file. But they let me keep the album anyway. I signed up for a free subscription to LEGO Club Jr. Magazine

The best thing I received free this week is 2 free menu items at Boloco. I had forgotten I had entered a contest. You had to watch a short video on their Facebook page and count the burritos. I counted 47 but there were only 46. Actually I counted 41 or 42 but figured I missed a few and rounded up. I got 2 free items added to my card just for getting close! MMMmmmmm, free burrito and a smoothie for me! Oh and I already had a free item on my card from the points I accumulated. So now I have 3 free items.

I also got a free sample of "Hot, Hot, Peach" jelly at the Copley Farmer's Market. The woman described the "Hot Cranberry" as sociably hot and the Peach as giving you a kiss and then biting you. It had some zing, but I don't know about the bite. I had already bought a fresh mozzarella, organic tomato and basil sandwich from the Iggy's Bread of the World table so I didn't buy anything from her. She did have PB and J sandwiches for $6. That's a little pricey for PB and J, but they are made with all natural ingredients. It is always good to support your local Farmer's Market so I think I may get one next time. I just hope it is a good size.

I think when the weather warms up, there will be more free stuff to be had in the city. I will try to keep up with the blog and get more pictures.

Two Of My Favorite Things

Yesterday I caught an article on boston.com that Bruegger's and Green Mountain Coffee were teaming up to rewared MBTA riders for using public transportation. The article listed a handful of stations where volunteers would be handing out coupons for free Fair Trade Coffee. I have been a fan of Fair Trade Coffee for years now. This certification ensures that the farmers that grow the beans that go into making our coffee earn a fair wage. Otherwise, many of the coffee farmers would live in poverty. I do not like the idea that an industry I support daily would result in someone living in poverty, so I try to drink as little UNfair coffee as I can. I will occasionally get a cup that is not certified, but would prefer to go to McDonald's or anywhere else that serves Fair Trade Coffee. So anyway, one of my favorite things is Fair Trade Coffee. You already know the other thing . . . Free Stuff! So today was a good day. Free Fair Trade Coffee! It doesn't get much better than this. I managed to get 2 coupon packs. Kudos to the folks that came up with this campain. The article said the coupon would be for hot or iced coffee and for $2.50 off a package of coffee at the grocery store. No one would have complained if the beverage coupon was for your choice of a small iced or hot coffee. But what they were handing out was a little folded card with 3 coupons inside. One for the said package, and one EACH for a LARGE iced coffee and LARGE hot coffee. SWEET!!! I headed straight for Bruegger's and scored one of my free iced coffees. Paused for a photo op in the Public Gardens (free admission to the gardens, btw). Can you make out one of the swans in the pic? A co-worker Chris, who doesn't like coffee, grabbed a coupon at his station for me. He did give the $2.50 one to our boss because he know our boss has a Keurig maker and could use the coupon. I have one too, but you can't blame him for trying to get some free brownie points, right? This is a good all around free stuff day. I got some free beverages and maybe a few more people will learn about the benefits of Fair Trade.

As the coffee dripped into the paper cup in our 25 cent per cup coffee maker today I remembered I had been meaning to get a coffee mug to use at work. I try to do what I can for the environment and society. I choose the one Fair Trade blend that is offered whenever it is in stock. I believe that the little things do make a difference. So my latest little thing to do is to stop using paper cups everyday at work and start using a ceramic coffee mug. Of course, I don't want to buy a coffee mug for this project, so I google "free coffee mug". The first link I found was for a free coffee mug giveaway for a new Independent film, Tom's Friend.

"A diverse and experimental advertising campaign is currently running in an attempt to make Tom's Friend one of the biggest independant films of 2009. This campaign includes a promotional giveaway where you can obtain a free novelty coffee mug, found on this very website!" ~ Also, with free shipping!

From the description it looks to be a horror/thriller movie. I filled out the form and responded to the confirmation email to finish the deal. If I really get a mug in the mail I may actually watch the movie. That is if I can catch it streaming on Netflix or on IFC.

Free Grilled Chicken Meal at KFC

Did you print your coupon for a free Grilled Chicken meal at KFC yet? If you didn't, sorry, it's too late. You had to do it by yesterday. I printed a couple at work yesterday. My mom got one from a friend. My dad printed a few. So we ended up with seven of them. What a coincidence, there are seven of us in my house. So, Grandma, Grandpa, Mommy, Ba(my kids call me Ba), and three children headed out for KFC tonight. Mommy wasn't too keen on the idea of walking in and asking for seven free meals, but she went along with it. The cashier had a little trouble getting them plugged in, but she managed to get us rung up. The line behind was only getting a little long by the time she was done. We got 14 pieces of chicken, 14 sides, 7 biscuits and 7 beverages for about $10. All we paid for was the drinks! I would love to tell you how delicious the chicken was, but I am a vegetarian. I didn't eat any of it. The coleslaw, potato wedges, biscuit and mac&cheese were all very nice, though. Even though I am a vegetarian, I couldn't pass up a free meal. Even if it was at KFC! ;-)

Team In Training Water Bottle

The nice folks from Team In Training were handing out flyers today at South Station. I saw they had some water bottles on the table. My son needs a new water bottle to bring to T-Ball. So of course I asked if I could have one. All I had to do was put my info on a card. So I guess I will be getting some more info in the mail or email in the future. But that is ok. This looks like a really good organization. I am almost temped to join. Not sure I have the time to invest. Basically it sounds like you get free fitness and diet training, free airfair and lodging and free entry fees to participate in various athletic competions. Too good to be true? There must be a catch. The catch is that you also get free fundraising training. You get all the good stuff because you are doing fundraising for Leukemia & Lymphoma research. I am just guessing that the fundraising part is going to be pretty aggressive. You will need to raise enough funds to cover the cost of all the stuff you get and so they have some left over for research. Still, I don't see this as a scam. At first glance it looks like a reputable organization that can help you get in shape while raising funds for a worthy cause. Now my son has a new water bottle too!

Free Stuff Trifecta today

SCORE #1 - Chocolatey Drizzle

Coming out of South Station this morning I scored some more Chocolatey Drizzle from 3 out of 4 of the people passing it out. I didn't even eat any of this pile. I put it by Dolly's jar. She ate some and brought some home for her daughter. This is uncanny how many times they have been passing this stuff out.

SCORE #2 - PRESIDENT CHEESE

On the way to grab some lunch the folks from President Cheese were setting up. Swung back by after grabbing a burrito to go at Boloco. (Which I washed down later with the last of my Vitamin 10 Water.) Got to sample the Goat's Milk Cheese, Brie and some Mediterranean Medley. All of them were delicious. I couldn't decide which one I liked best. I even entered my name to win a cheese/wine tasting party for 25 people. Maybe I will invite anyone who leaves a comment, if I win. ;-)

Score #3 - Cigar Boxes

The tobacco shop on corner of Charles and Boylston, The L.J. Peretti Company Inc., puts it's empty cigar boxes out on the side walk for anyone to take. I walked by on the way to the train and what do you know? Some nice boxes to be had. These are the good ones too. Nice wooden ones with a shellacked finish. I have grabbed a few in the past. The kids like to keep trinkits and crayons in them. I keep spare change in one at home. I gave some to Neil for his coin collections. Dolly even served cannolis in them at a party. Nice presentation, Dolly. Today I grab 2 from the pile. One will be for my son's Legos and the other to replace a broken plastic container for crayons. This is a nice form of recycling. I like that the folks at this store don't just through the empties in the trash to fill up the land fill. There are so many uses for little wooden boxes. What would you do with them?


So all in all. An excellent day int he city for free stuff!

More Chocolatey Drizzle, Polar Beverage and Vitamin Water 10

Yesterday I had some errands to run on my lunch break and I needed to pick up something for lunch. On my way to the bank I once again came across some representatives from Quaker Oats. And not surprisingly they were still handing out the Chocolatey Drizzle. I said to the guy handing them out, "Wow, more Chocolatey Drizzle! You must have trailers full of this stuff." He replied, "Warehouses full of it!" I wonder if this will be the end, or do they still have more. Time will tell. I completed my errands. I had 2 bags of drizzle in my hand. Couldn't use the Stuff and Repeat technique. It was a nice day and was not wearing a jacket or carrying a bag. Now it was time to get some lunch. I remembered that the Croissant Du Jour offers a free Polar beverage with the purchase of any sandwich on Monday's and Tuesday's. I have been aware of the offer for some time, but have only remembered it on a Wednesay, Thursday or Friday, when standing in line to get a sandwich. Finally, I remember on the right day! At this point I was on Newbury St, passing by some kind of spa. There were was a woman standing out front with a sink set up and a sign about a free hand treatment. I was kind of hungry and didn't want to get sucked into a sales pitch and I didn't really need a hand treatment anyway. I kept walking. At Croissant Du Jour, I got The Margherita - "Perfection on a Baguette - Fresh cut basil, fresh mozzarella, roma tomatoes, olive oil, oregano", for $6. (I am on a meat free diet.) I picked the Polar Seltzer with Cranberry Lime for my free beverage. I think the new guy made my sandwich. He forgot the pickle and handed me the sandwich without a bag. Oh well, one less bag deployed into the environment is ok with me. I would have enjoyed the pickle, though. Sandwich was yummy. Free beverage to wash it down was tasty. Free dessert was satisfying. I ate both bags of Chocolaty Drizzle. mmmmm Chocolaty Drizzle. I think Dolly ate most of the ones I put by her candy jar the other day. She really liked them.

The photo and poster in the above pic are a couple items I mentioned in the first post of this blog. I tossed them in since they were still sitting on my desk. They were from an event that was at Nike Town Boston on Newbury Street the week before the marathon. This was a jackpot event for free stuff. I got my picture taken, I got a free download from iTunes, a free reflective running vest, a free sport drink (forget what kind) and I went back to get the free poster. My boss and co-workers found me 3 times on the poster!

Today I headed out for a long walk. Each week I want to try to get in as many 2-3 mile walks as I can. I head down Boylston at my 'I'm taking a serious walk' pace. Blip . . . .Blip . . . .Blip. Uh Oh. Free Stuff radar is picking something up. I see tents at the far end of Copley Plaza. Sounds like they have a sound system, too. Does that van have some kind of beverage logo on it? So much for the walk, I'm sucked in. The nice folks from Vitamin Water are handing out their new Vitamin Water 10, a naturally sweetened 10 Calorie per serving version of their flavored water. I grab a lemonade and try to check out everything that is going on. The girl with the mic is walking around talking to people as they try the water. There is a line of about 20 people with cards in hand waiting to punch a code on a locker. It must be something good if people are standing in line, in the hot sun. I learn that if your code opens the locker, you win $10,000. Get my card and get in line. No good. Put my name and phone number on the card and drop it in the bin. Still could win free Vitamin Water 10 for a year. The lemonade wasn't bad. Only 3 grams of sugar in an 8 ounce serving. I grab a few more and headed back to the office. I take a picture of my loot to use later in my blog. I Should have taken some pics outside. I guess I am still new at this blogging thing. I should have taken a short walk and come back around before grabbing some extra bottles. I guess I got caught up in all the exitement. This is turning out to be a good start of the week for free stuff.

Chocolatey Drizzle and a CFL

Coming out of South Station yesterday there was a familiar site. A crew of Quaker Oats people handing out some Mini Delights, Chocolatey Drizzle, Bite Sized Light Crispy Multigrain Cakes. I say they were a familiar site because this is the 3rd or 4th time I have scored some Chocolatey Drizzle. Since they were spread out pretty good, I used the stuff and repeat technique. One girl gave me 2 packs. As I walked away, I stuffed them into my bag. Across the street, I approached a guy, who handed me 2 more. Now their goal is to get rid of this stuff so I probably don't have to be so covert about it. He probably would have given me some even if I had some in my hand already. But what's the fun in that. There were actually about 4 people handing these things out and I could of taken some from each of them. One time, my friend John went back and forth several times between a crew handing out M&M chocolate bars at Downtown Crossing and came back with a boat load of them. I wasn't feeling that greedy, so I took my score and headed to work. I ate one bag and put the rest by the giant candy jar in Dolly's office for everyone to enjoy. They are pretty good. Kind of reminds me of Crispix Puppy Chow recipe.

Another score I received earlier in the week was a free G.E. Compact Florescent Light Bulb. There was a guy handing them out in the lobby of my building on Earth Day. If you have not made the switch to CFLs you really should consider them. Save money and use up less resources!

And speaking of Earth Day - don't miss the mother load of FREE concerts, EarthFest.

My First Blog

The gang at work were amused at all the free stuff I come back with when I go out for a walk. They suggested I start a blog about all this free stuff. So here it is. IF IT'S FREE, IT'S FOR ME. And of course, I am using a free blogging service to do it. Within the last few days I have gotten, a free reflective running vest, a novelty photo of me at a finish line, a poster featuring me crossing said finish line 3x, several bags of some Quaker Oats chocolaty drizzly things, a sport drink, 3 Nantucket Nectar Pencils, a cup of juice, an iced Cappuccino and an ice cream cone. There is plenty more free stuff to be had out there. More to come. . . .