I'm a wife, mother, and work full time so saving money is very important to me. While I clip a few coupons here and there for groceries and restaurants, I don't have the time for extreme couponing. But I have found ways to get to try full size products for free and ways to earn free money just by doing things I would do anyway. Follow me to learn how YOU can get things FREE too! For even more product reviews and videos, please view my WordPress site at EnjoyFreebies.com
I love trying out scented bath and shower cleansers. So when I had the opportunity to try this one complimentary from Influenster, I was super excited. This product is from C.Booth which is a derivative of Freeman beauty and they have many different scents to choose from. I had a heck of a time finding this product, and when I went to look for it on the Freeman Beauty website, it showed that it was available at my local CVS Pharmacy. So when I went to CVS, I looked for it, but they only carried one product from Freeman Beauty and it was not this one. I finally located it at my local Ulta Beauty. They had a very limited selection there, but I ended up choosing this milk bath & shower cleanser.
What I like about this product:
This cleanser contains real milk derivatives plus essential vitamins to soften and smooth the skin. I love that! The scent is very subtle, like sweet cream. The texture is a pearl white and it rinses off cleanly.
What I don't like about this product:
I wish it would produce a thicker lather. You have to use a lot of it in order to produce enough suds. Maybe it's just a personal preference, but I like lots of bubbles from my body cleansers. Also the scent is very subtle and while it is pleasant, I prefer body cleansers with a stronger more "earthy" scent.
I am very happy to have gotten the opportunity to test out this product, and I would definitely like to try out some of the other products in the C.Booth collection from Freeman Beauty.
If you would like to know how you can get stuff like this free from Influenster, you can sign up for free by clicking on the badge below:
I was born with blonde hair that got darker as I got older. I never liked my natural hair color so I have been dying my hair since I was 11. Yes, I was young. I started with Sun-in and then over the years I gradually moved to bleaching my hair platinum.
A headshot taken in 1992 as a platinum Blonde. Can you say Kelly Bundy?
While I don't have platinum hair anymore, I still love experimenting with different hair colors and I have gone from blonde, to black, to red, and now it's currently burgundy. Not only do I abuse my hair with chemicals, but I also flat iron it too. And I have no plans of stopping any time soon. But years of this abuse has really taken it's toll and my hair is a fried out frizzy mess. So when I had the opportunity to try this Arvazalia Color Care System sulfate free shampoo and conditioner kit complimentary for review, I was really excited.
First off, can we talk about the box? The packaging itself is gorgeous. The box is huge (and heavy). Receiving this kit was like getting an early birthday present! Then upon opening you are greeted by the site of 2 gigantic bright bottles - one of shampoo and one conditioner. And then to top it off they even throw in a hair mask.
On my first use, I tried opening the shampoo, and when I squeezed the bottle nothing was coming out. Then I realized that there was a seal over the shampoo. Doh! Once I got it open, I poured about a nickle size amount into my hand. The shampoo has a opalescent color and a pleasant floral scent. It is sulfate free, so it doesn't lather very much. But it still did a great job of getting my hair clean. Then I followed it up with the hair mask from the jar. You don't need to use that much. A little goes a long way. I left it on for the time required and then rinsed it out really well. After my hair was dry I flat ironed it and it made it super smooth and shiny. See the before and after pics below.
Before: My frizzy, fried-out mess
Then my next use, I used the shampoo and the conditioner by itself. Like a dolt, I tried squeezing out the conditioner and nothing came out. That too, was sealed. I should have probably remembered this from the shampoo incident, but I am old and my memory is starting to fail me. But now you know so you won't make the same mistake I did. And if you do, then you're a dolt too. :-P
But anyway, the conditioner is very light and has the same floral scent as the shampoo. It has made my burgundy hair more vibrant and has been helping the color stay true. And since red shades fade to quickly, it is definitely a necessity.
Smooth, shiny, vibrant tresses
Needless to say, I think this is a fantastic product. It holds up to any other popular and pricier brands that you could find at salons. It is worth the price. And because the packaging is so lovely, it makes a great gift!
Disclosure: These products were received complimentary in exchange for my honest review, but all opinions are my own. I was not compensated for writing this post, but it does contains affiliate links which means I may be compensated a small amount if you click through and purchase. Full disclosure policy here.**
I am a long time sufferer of back pain and have a lipoma (a benign tumor composed of fat cells) behind my shoulder blade that causes me a lot of pain at least once a week and lasts for a few days. I usually take ibuprofen, which helps, but I have developed a tolerance to it, so I have been looking for a topical cream to provide immediate relief. When I had the opportunity to try Joint Right Pain Relieving Cream from Vita Sciences complimentary in exchange for my honest review I thought this might be a good option.
My box was a little crushed in shipping, but the product was fine
I have used products like Icy Hot and Ben-Gay in the past and they have worked great. I am used to that hot/cold sensation which provides numbing relief that you can feel right away. I was expecting to feel that type of sensation when I tried this product, so I think I felt a little disappointed that I did not get that with it. To be honest, after applying this cream, I didn't really feel anything. I wasn't really sure it was even working. But after about 10 mins, the pain surely started to subside and provided relief for about an hour.
According to VitaSciences:
Using Vita Sciences Joint Right cream as directed is a safe and reliable method of dealing with joint pain. Moisturizers and anti-oxidants allow this light cream to easily absorb into the skin. Each 1.7 ounce bottle delivers 30 applications of lotion in protected and measured amounts. Natural ingredients assure this lotion is gentle to your skin.
EASY TO USE - Each measured dose of Joint Right lotion from our airless dispenser delivers a full dose.
GENTLE ON THE SKIN - Our scent-free hypoallergenic lotion is gentle on the skin, odorless, nonirritating
ALL NATURAL INGREDIENTS - Joint Right lotion uses only natural, safe ingredients
Each 1.7 ounce bottle delivers 30 applications of lotion in protected and measured amounts. Natural ingredients assure this lotion is gentle to your skin.
Here is my take on it:
PROS:
No strong scent
Non greasy - absorbs into the skin very quickly
Provides natural pain relief
CONS:
There is a bit of a gritty texture in the lotion
Does not numb your skin like you would expect from a topical pain relieving cream. This could be a good or a bad thing depending on personal preference.
I think that this product is probably designed to work best with regular use over time. But if you are looking for a pain relieving cream that provides relief with natural ingredients such as Aloe, Vitamin E, and Chamomile, and without the numbing sensation of other topical pain creams on the market, this would be a good choice for you!
*Disclosure: I was not compensated for writing this post, but it does contains affiliate links which means I may be compensated a small amount if you click through and purchase. Full disclosure policy here.**
I spend lot of time in my car by myself and I've been looking for something to keep with me in case of an emergency. So when I got to try out this digital tire gauge multi-function tool free from Tomoson.com in exchange for my honest review, I thought this would be a perfect product for me. While I don't know anything about tire pressure, I like that this has a bunch of tools that you can use to get yourself out of a jam.
It has a digital blue back lit readout so you can test your tire pressure with 4 different types of measurements depending on your preference. I have no idea what they really do, but I looked up what they stand for:
PSI - Pounds per square inch (which is the most common one for USA)
BAR - Bars of pressure
KPA - Kilopascals (guessing this is for Europe)
KG/CM- Kilogram force per square centimeter.
This gadget also has two flashlights including a bright white LED flashlight and a red LED light which are really handy to see your tire nozzle in the dark. But my favorite thing about this item is all the tools that come with it including a seat belt cutter which is like a mini saw, tiny pliers, a mini flat head and phillips head screwdriver and scissors. There is also a glass hammer which is released by pushing a button - just be careful when opening it because it pops out quick and it can poke you (I learned this the hard way). But just in case your car ends up in a lake, it's good to have.
The reason I am giving it 4 out of 5 stars is because the tools in the one I received are hard to open and I got a little cut on my fingers when trying to open them. Be careful because they are sharp! In my video my husband had already pulled them out for me so you wouldn't see me fighting with them. Once you get one out, you can access the other ones eventually. But at least the ones you need most in an emergency, such as the seat belt cutter and the glass breaker were easy to access. Regardless, it's a pretty cool gadget to keep handy for anyone who spends a lot of time in their car.
Have you ever had to get yourself out of an emergency while driving? Do you think this kind of tool would be helpful? Leave me a comment and tell me about it!
I have a Samsung Galaxy S5 but now that they have come out with so many newer phone models, it has been hard for me to find items for my "old school" phone. I say that with sarcasm, because I only bought it like a little over year ago! But anyway, I am such a klutz, and I need to have a case for my phone. And with how clumsy I am, I just don't trust hard cases. While hard cases look super cute and have some amazing designs, I don't believe they would provide any protection if I were to drop my phone. So for me, I prefer to find something with some rubber protection. Um...that sounds bad, doesn't it? ;-)
I had previously purchased a case from another company for around $15 and had been using it for a while. But that case had a thin plastic blue case that clips over the phone and then it had a separate polka dot rubber shell that went over it. Well the first very time I removed that plastic part, it broke. But I was too cheap to buy a new one and the rubber casing was holding it together fine, so I just used it. It was very cute, but over time even the rubber casing started to fade. And with 2 layers like that, it made my phone huge and heavy!
So when I had the opportunity to try this Jola Case for the Samsung Galaxy S5 free in exchange for my honest review, I jumped on board. And let me tell you, this case is fantastic! It comes in black, gray, lime green, red, orange, and white. I picked the orange one because I knew it would be easy to find in the black abyss that is my purse.
The case has a hard plastic shell with rubber in all the right places, such as the corners and the sides. This provides extra protection than you would find on a hard shell plastic case. And I also love that it is not bulky and very light weight. It snapped on my phone in a cinch.
As an added bonus, this case also included a plastic screen protector. I love having an extra layer of protection, but I can't for the life of me figure out how to get all the air bubbles out. While it is a minor nuisance, it hasn't deterred me from using it.
Overall, this case is a great buy for the money. My husband is jealous and wants it now. But he will have to go out and get his own. I am never giving mine up!
Disclaimer: I received this product free in exchange for my honest review. But I seriously love this product!
*Disclosure: I was not compensated for writing this post, but it does contains affiliate links which means I may be compensated a small amount if you click through and purchase. Full disclosure policy here.**
I often have trouble falling asleep at night. My husband and I go to bed at different times and he always likes to fall asleep with the TV on. I also enjoy a little TV before bed too, but I have been noticing that it has really affected my quality of sleep. I have tried out other sleep masks but I have found that they still let in quite a bit of light and they sometimes slip around when I'm sleeping. This sleep kit from Adventure at Nature is different from many of the others I have seen on the market. I received this product free from a website called Tomoson.com and all opinions are my own. To learn how you can get items free like this too, please check out my sister site at EnjoyFreebies.com.
Kit comes with everything you see here
The kit includes a little black drawstring pouch containing the mask and a little plastic box with a pair of foam ear plugs. Perfect for travelling! I like the ear plug box a lot because it keeps them contained so you don't have to worry about losing them or locating them when scouring your drawer in the middle of the night. The foam ear plugs mold to the shape of your ears which is great for blocking out loud snoring, farting, screaming children, or ghosts.
This sleep mask is made from a soft memory foam cushion material with concave slots for your eyes. It has an adjustable Velcro strap on the back to keep it in place. But what I think makes it special it is the notch for your nose which allows this mask to block out 98% of the light. It does fit quite snugly on my head, I imagine that it could be a little tight for those of you with a slightly bigger noggin. For me it is quite comfortable. I do suggest you make sure you move your hair out from underneath the face mask for best results. You can check out my video below of how to use this product.
Here's another tip: you don't only need to use this for sleeping either! You can use it for playing Pin the Tail on the Donkey, Marco Polo, or re-enacting 50 Shades of Grey. So, you don't need to feel guilty for buying yourself a sleep mask. It's something the even whole family can enjoy!
Does this look like something you could use for better sleep? Have you ever tried a sleep mask before?
**Disclosure: I was not compensated for writing this post, but it does contains affiliate links which means I may be compensated a small amount if you click through and purchase. Full disclosure policy here.**
The freebies from Tomoson.com just keep coming! If you haven't signed up yet, what are you waiting for? To learn more about how Tomoson works please click here.
This week I am going to be reviewing some awesome health products received complimentary in exchange for my honest reviews.
First up this week is NuYou Labs Garcinia Cambogia Liquid Drops. There has been a lot of hype and talk about Garcinia Cambogia lately and how it's not like HCG diet drops and I've been interested in trying it. I'm not a huge fan of taking pills or supplements, but when I saw that this came in a liquid form, I thought why not give it a try?
Garcinia Cambogia Weight Loss Drops
According to the manufacturer this product is recommended for rapid fat burning and is a quick weight loss liquid. This product also contains green coffee bean extract also which I understand is also supposed to help with weight loss and acts as a natural appetite suppressant.
I read the ingredients and it says that it is 100% Aloe Vera combined of 50% Garcinia Cambogia and 50% Green Coffee Extract. The directions state to use 20 drops. When you extract the liquid into the dropper, it only filled it half way. I wasn't sure if it was enough. But when I counted the drops, I realized that I needed to reload the dropper twice to get the full dosage since it doesn't completely fill up all the way. The taste is very pleasant. Tastes like sweet lime. This makes it very easy to take.
The real test is how does it work? For the first week, I actually gained about 2 lbs and went from 115.4 to 117 lbs. I was very sad about this. But then after using the product for 3 weeks, my weight went back down and has been at a steady 115 for the past 4 days. One thing to note is, I don't exercise because I'm super lazy and I sit on my butt all day at work. So as far as burning fat, I have no idea. But I can tell you that when I take this twice a day, I haven't been getting my afternoon snack cravings, which has been very nice.
If you would like to learn more about this product or are interested in ordering, you can find it on Amazon here.
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The second product I am going to review this week is Joyal Beauty® Retinol Serum- BEST Anti-aging Serum
Joyal Beauty Retinol Correcting Serum
I have been testing out several different serums lately so I can provide my honest opinion about how well I think they work. This particular serum from Joyal Beauty actually contains 1% Retinol, which is actually a step up from the other serums I have been testing.
According to the manufacturer this serum is meant to improve skin tone and reduce dullness, brighten dark circles and age spots, and prevent deep wrinkles and cellulite. It is also 100% Fragrance-Free and colorant-free, Paraben-Free,SLS-Free, and non-irritating. I like that is is not tested on animals and made in the USA.
This serum is actually pretty thick. I found that it works best for me when I pump 2 small 1/2 pumps into my hand the serum into my hand before applying the product. I show you how I apply it in the video below (sorry you have to see me without makeup again).
My husband, who shot the video, asked me afterwards "Why didn't you just use 1 whole pump?" That is an excellent point. And I don't really know why. But I think with the way the pressure of the pump action works, I get the right amount of product this way. Then I use my finger to apply the serum to my face. You can really feel it tingle as it dries. To be honest, I haven't noticed a ton of improvement. My jowls look better, and my crows feet look a little lighter. But I think you really need to use the product for a longer period of time to really start seeing the results. From what I understand, your skin has to get acclimated to Retinol. I'm still going to finish up the bottle and possibly report back after the product has been used up.
If you would like to learn more or order this product on Amazon, you can find it by clicking here.
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Have you tried Garcinia Cambogia for weight loss? What is your favorite beauty serum? I'd love to hear from you!
Thank you for reading and stay tuned for my next blog where I review free stuff for the home and family.
Since signing up on Tomoson.com, I have been getting so many freebies! But getting free stuff comes with responsibility. People want to know how the products work and the companies who sponsor the products want you to publicize your honest reviews.
I never expected to get so many cool free things so quickly after signing up, and I'm loving every minute of it! So to keep up with the review deadlines I am breaking them up into weekly posts. Here is the 2nd installment of Amazing Beauty and Health freebies for June.
Disclaimer: I received all products featured on this blog free for testing purposes and unbiased evaluation.
First up this week is Oz Naturals Vitamin C Serum.
Vitamin C Anti-Aging Serum from Oz Naturals
I'm a big fan of serums. I first started using them about 6 months ago and I have seen a big difference in my skin. Over the years, I have started accumulating freckles on my face (ok, now they are called age spots, but whatever). Since using serums, the "freckles" have gotten lighter and many have actually disappeared. That is why I was really looking forward to trying this serum from Oz Naturals.
According to Oz Naturals this product:
"Naturally stimulates collagen creation.
Hydrates and moisturizes skin
Helps nourish cells allowing skin to heal naturally
Naturally lifts and firms
Made in the USA in our FDA certified facility
No Parabens, No Alcohol
Antioxidant formula protects skin from environmental stressors"
At the time of this post, I have been using the product for two weeks. I can tell you that this serum is very light and spreads quickly. I like this because it makes it really easy to apply. You can just put a dropper full in the palm of your hand and rub the entire lot on your face and neck. It tingles as it dries and once it is dry it makes my skin feel firmer and tighter. I can really see a difference in my complexion. It looks much more even, gives it a healthy glow, and I'm not even that embarrassed to be seen without makeup anymore. I can't wait to see what it does after a month!
If you are interested in purchasing this product you can find it here. And you can save $$ with the following coupon codes for their entire product line.
Click on the picture to see the coupon codes
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Next up is this awesome Brush-On Liquid Mineral Makeup from Faces Beautiful.
Brush-On Makeup from Faces Beautiful
Foundation is the most important tool in my beauty arsenal. But I am lazy and don't really care for glass bottles that you have to shake and dot onto your skin. I prefer something quick and easy that goes on fast and spreads quickly. For daytime use, I typically wear BB creams because they are natural looking and blend into your skin like moisturizer. But I have one bottle of foundation that is my absolute favorite that I use for special occasions and it is L'Oreal Visible Lift brush on liquid foundation. I have never seen any other foundations with that type of applicator at the drug stores that I shop at. So when I saw this product featured on Tomoson, I immediately signed up to review it. I am basing my opinion on how this product compares to the L'Oreal brand.
The best thing about this brush on make up from Faces Beautiful is the application. You just squeeze the tube and a little bit of the make up comes out onto the brush. You only need a tiny bit, then you just brush it onto your face. It spreads beautifully and seamlessly. Just make sure to blend your brush strokes together. While you don't have to use your hands, I always do just to make sure it gets blended into all of the nooks and crannies and it doesn't feel as heavy on my skin that way. You can see in my video below how easy it is to apply.
I also love that it is mineral make up, which is generally better for your skin. It contains Titanium Dioxide, which is a natural sun protectant, although sunscreen is still recommended. And it's also water resistant, which means I can sweat in the AZ heat and it lasts all day. I have noticed that throughout the course of the day, it doesn't cake into my pores and fine lines like the L'Oreal brand does. It looks fresh all day long. This is a definite plus!
The cons: It only comes in 3 colors. Healthy Nude, Radiant Beige, and Sun Glow. I am none of these. I really need a shade called ghostly pale, but I don't think they would sell a lot of make up with that name. But out of the 3 choices, I chose the Radiant Beige and it was a just a tad too dark for my skin. Also the retail cost of $40 is a bit out of my price range. But then again, I'm cheap as you already know.
Other than that, I REALLY love this make up. I just wish it came in a lighter shade and wasn't so expensive. It is currently available on their website at the link here FacesBeautiful.com
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Have you signed up for Tomoson yet? You can read more about how it works on my page here. What kinds of freebies have you gotten this month? Comments and questions are always welcome.
I just signed up for Tomoson last month and the freebies are already rolling in! Since signing up I received 6 free full size health related products. Including 3 skin serums, 1 night cream, a wrist blood pressure monitor, and a fat burning supplement.
All the freebies I got in one week from Tomoson!
Now I love skin products, and when I applied for a lot of these products, I didn't think I was going to be approved for all of them. But boom, all of a sudden the manufacturers approved my applications and sent me the promotional links to get try all of these products in exchange for an honest review and I received three different types of skin serums. So I certainly wasn't going to say no!
But in order to provide a fair review, I need to allow a little time for the products to work, so I will be posting my reviews in a few blog posts so that I may try and review them separately. At the end of this post I will explain how you too can get to try out products like these for free!
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180 Cosmetics Pure Swiss Hyaluronic Serum + Vitamin C Product Review
1. The first product I received was 180 Cosmetics Pure Swiss Hyaluronic Serum + Vitamin C from Expederm.com.
Pure Swiss Hyaluronic Serum + Vitamin C
I received this product complimentary in exchange for my honest review in my blog and on Amazon. You can see my review on Amazon here.
The product description of this Pure Swiss Hyaluronic Serum + Vitamin C from Expederm.com and 180 Cosmetics states the following:
"180 Cosmetics Pure Swiss Hyaluronic Acid Serum can be applied in the morning and again at night time. Only apply a thin layer (less is more) and be sure to use a good moisturizer immediately afterward. Formulated to assist cell renewal and collagen formation, and designed to diminish the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines. You should expect to see results immediately, however we highly recommend to give the product at least 30 days to see the most optimal results."
The first thing I noticed was how small the actual bottle was. The box it came in made me think it was going to be bigger. But don't let the small size fool you. This stuff is thick! You only need a few drops to cover your whole face. After applying the product for the first time, I instantly felt it tighten up my skin, like a face lift. Not that I know what a face lift feels like, but my skin immediately felt firmer and more taught. The directions say to use it twice a day. I have been using it for about 5 days now, and have used up about a third of the bottle. Maybe I am using more than I need, but I do have concerns that I will use up the bottle very quickly. This product is good for all skin types, whether you have dry skin or oily skin. You will probably want to use a moisturizer on top of it. I love how it is cruelty free.
It currently sells for around $14 and change on Amazon (prices may vary) and you can purchase it here. You can learn more by going to 180cosmetics.com and expiderm.com.
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Forlan Skincare Night Cream Product Review
2. Another freebie received this month was this full size 2oz bottle of Forlan Skincare Night Cream from Forlan Advanced Skin Care. I received this product complimentary in exchange for my honest review in my blog and on Amazon. You can see my review on Amazon here.
This is a night cream with Vitamin A, C & E, Collagen, Licorice and Hyaluronic Acid with Anti Aging, Anti Wrinkle Properties.
Free 2oz bottle of Forlan Night Cream
I have crazy skin. I still break out but then have patches of dryness around my mouth, and lots of fine lines. So I have been looking for a product that works with all skin types and will fight the signs of aging. I have been using this product as part of my daily regimen for the past week and I have started noticing some results. After washing, I apply a firming serum, then top it off with this moisturizer. In the past I have been using Olay Pro X Wrinkle Night Cream, so this is what I am comparing it to.
First off, I love the packaging of the Forlan Night Cream. With it's sleek, slim design, it doesn't take up a lot of room in my medicine cabinet. The pump action makes applying the moisturizer easy, unlike the jar of Olay which gets stuck under my fingernails. I find that so annoying. Also the scent of this night cream is extremely light and not even noticeable. This is important to me, because I don't like going to bed with the scent of moisturizer filling my nostrils all night long. For the longest time, I used to smell something burning before I went to bed. I thought it was my ceiling fan burning out and I was scared to turn it on because I thought it would catch fire. Then I finally realized it was the freaking Olay night cream that I was smelling!
But the most important thing is how does the product work? Well I can tell you that in the short time of using this product the dry patches have disappeared, and my make up goes on smoother and more evenly. If it works that great in a week, I imagine it will be even better after a month!
You can purchase this product on Amazon for around $24.95 (price may vary) here (cheaper than Olay!) but you can save $7.00 on this product right now on by entering this exclusive code NC7OFFER.
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Easy At Home Medical Wrist Blood Pressure Monitor
3. The last product I am going to review this week was this awesome blood pressure monitor from Easy@Home Medical LLC. I received this product complimentary in exchange for my honest review in my blog and on Amazon. You can read the review here.
This easy-to-use blood pressure monitor comes with everything you see here!
My husband has high blood pressure and has to monitor it often, so I primarily got it for him to use. But every so often I like to monitor mine as well. We have tried other models that are larger and you have to have different size cuffs depending on the size of your arm. It is really inconvenient when using on more than one person. But this one is so easy and takes around a minute to work. You just slip it on your wrist, push the button, and wait for it to work. Here is a video of me trying it out for the first time. (I was too lazy to put on make-up to make this video. Sorry about that.) But I just wanted to show you how quick and easy this monitor works!
This wrist blood pressure monitor sells for around $27 on Amazon (prices may vary). You can buy it here.
If you want to learn how you can get stuff like this free, you can sign up for free on Tomoson.com.
Stay tuned for Part 2 of June freebies from Tomoson. Looks like it is going to be a very busy month!
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