Three Great Sites to Earn Gift Cards

A few months ago, I wrote a post about my favorite survey sites to make extra money, so today I thought it would be fun to share my favorite sites to earn gift cards. I love discovering new ways to earn extra money, and last Christmas I bought many presents with the gift cards I earned.

Swagbucks:
Swagbucks is probably the most popular site to earn gift cards. There are many opportunities to earn points, such as surveys, searching the web through the Swagbucks search system, watching videos, shopping, printing coupons, and more. However, out of the three sites, Swagbucks is my least favorite because it takes the longest to earn gift cards.

Crowdtap: 
At Crowdtap, you earn points by communicating with various brands through quick hits, discussions, and sample opportunities. At the end of the month, your points are entered into giveaways for various gift cards. Although you can’t directly redeem points for gift cards, Crowdtap is a fun community, and I get at least one gift card each month (and sometimes quite a few more)!

MyPoints: 
I first discovered MyPoints because it’s the way you earn prizes through BzzAgent, but since then, I have redeemed points through shopping, surveys, and deals. My favorite part about MyPoints is that there are so many great gift card options. So far, I have redeemed my points for gift cards to Cheesecake Factory, Loft, and Macy’s.

New Year’s Caribbean Cruise: Lamanai Mayan Ruins in Belize

Today, I wanted to switch gears a bit and share more about our day in Belize. Chris and I have always wanted to see (and climb on) Mayan ruins, so it was a priority for us to find an excursion with a ruins visit. We picked the Belize river cruise and Lamanai Mayan Ruins because it seemed like a great way to see as much of Belize as possible.

The minute we stopped off the boat (which was a huge relief after that crazy ride!), I knew I was going to like this tour. The whole area was lush, and our tour guide was both interesting and informative. One of my favorite facts was that the name Lamanai means “submerged crocodile,” which makes sense since there are crocodiles in the river by the ruins! The hardest part was that they told us to wear long sleeves and bug spray because of all the bugs, but it was super hot…and I still got a massive bite on my toe.

We visited the Mask Temple, Jaguar Temple, and High Temple. We learned about Mayan life, and the boys climbed to the top of the High Temple. I really wanted to do it, but my toe was killing me at that point…and I’m glad I didn’t because it started pouring as soon as they got halfway up (and I was on the ground under cover).

Other than the temples, it was interesting to walk through an area that was once a sprawling city but is now covered in forest. Our guide pointed out that the majority of the ruins were still unexcavated, and we walked by several places we didn’t know were building until our guide pointed them out.

At one stop we were shown a court where the Mayan’s played a game like a cross of basketball and soccer. Though legend has it that the losing team was executed, our guide assured us that the Mayans at this complex did not follow this practice. While at the court we got to see some of the local “wildlife”— the boat driver snuck up on the group with a five-inch hairy tarantula in his palm!

Our trip to the Lamanai Ruins made us eager to explore more Mayan ruins in the future. We are definitely hoping to book a similar excursion on our next cruise!

Catch up on our New Year's Caribbean Cruise:

Quick Thoughts

Emerald Princess Review

Maya Key in Roatan, Honduras
Belize River Cruise

 

Friday Favorites: First Chicago Trip (+Giveaway)

Phew, we made it to Friday, friends. It’s been a busy week, so I am excited for this weekend. We are headed to a wedding on Saturday and celebrating a birthday on Sunday. On to my Friday Favorites this week:

/ / One:
We started off this week looking for a place to live in Chicago. It was super frustrating, but I think we found a great place! We put in an application, so hopefully we will find out soon if we are approved.

/ / Two:
I know no one really cares about weather, but it is supposed to be sunny tomorrow for the first time in I-don’t-know-when, and I am excited to be outside. It’s perfect timing too because we are going to an outdoor wedding. Also, it would be really cool not to worry about hail or tornadoes for a day.

/ / Three:
Skyler sheds a lot twice a year, so I was really excited when Chewy sent me the FURminator Dual Brush for Dogs. I paired it with the FURminator deShedding Edge, and it worked really well! I got about two gallon bags of fur, but now she isn’t shedding anymore.

Disclosure: Chewy.com sent me the FURminator Dual Brush for Dogs to review. No further compensation was received, and all opinions are my own.

/ / Four:
On another Chicago note, I am so glad we were able to see our new city a bit! It definitely made me feel better about our move.

/ / Five:
Today, I am partnering with my friends at Chewy to give you a “Pamper Yourself and Your Dog” Giveaway. Skyler loves Hill’s Science Diet Jerky Snacks with Real Chicken, so when Chewy suggested giving them away, I was eager to share them with a winner.

I decided to add some beauty items to the giveaway, so both you and your dog can have a fun treat! The beauty pack includes: City Color Creamy Lip Stain, Cover Girl Eye Enhancers in Blushing Nudes, Figs & Rouge Hand Cream, Briogeo Don’t Despair, Repair Deep Conditioning Mask, and Julep Nail Polish in Bea.

a Rafflecopter giveaway
Have a wonderful weekend!

Linking up with Amanda, Karli, and the High Five for Friday girls.

 

My Spring Texas Bucket List

Now that we are moving away from Texas for a year, I am eager to do as many fun activities as we can fit in for the next month. Here’s what I am hoping to get done this month:

Go to a baseball game. 
Chris and I went to a baseball game with my job last week, and we had so much fun! Even though the game we went to was terrible, we loved hanging out with friends and enjoying the beautiful weather.

Go on a picnic. 
Lately, it has been stormy and muddy (typical Texas spring weather), but every once in a while we have beautiful days. I would love to spend one of those days having a picnic in the park with my love.

Take a photo in bluebonnets.
Sadly, I’m not sure this will happen this year because they are all starting to die, but in all the years I have lived in Texas, I have never taken a photo in bluebonnets. If we don’t get to do it this year, it is definitely on my list for when we return from Chicago.

Have a barbecue. 
Memorial Day is right before we leave Texas, and I would love to have a nice Texas barbecue before we leave.

Spend as much time with Chris as possible. 
Have I mentioned that Chris will be working a ton of hours each week while we are in Chicago? I want to fit in as much time together as I can before we have to deal with his crazy schedule.

What’s on your spring bucket list?

April 2015 PopSugar Must Have Box

Hey friends! I am currently in Chicago looking for a place to live, so I thought today would be a good day for a PopSugar Must Have Box review. I love when PopSugar boxes are a mixture of practical items and fun items, so this box was another winner for me.

One Love Organics Gardenia + Tea Antioxidant Body Serum ($39): I have heard good things about the One Love brand, so I was excited to try this serum. I am particular about scent, and I loved that this has a nice, subtle smell. I also love that it is not heavy and absorbs into my skin quickly.

Dabney Lee Umbrella ($20): How could I not love a polka-dotted umbrella? Not only is it adorable, but it looks durable. I’ve been needing a new umbrella, so this was perfect for me!

Produce Candles Rhubarb Spring Candle ($20): I honestly wasn’t sure I would like a rhubarb-scented candle, but it actually smells amazing! Also, I can’t get over the cute packaging. It’s almost too adorable to burn. Produce Candles are made out of natural soy wax and burn for approximately 50-70 hours.

Potting Shed Creations, Ltd. Garden-in-a-bag Basil ($10): This is the only item in the box that I won’t use, but my mom is excited to try it. I honestly just have no desire to garden, even from a bag.

Flip + Tumble Reusable Bag ($12): I love that this bag folds easily into a tiny ball that I can stick in my purse. It will be great if I need to make a quick trip to the grocery store!

Special Extra: Mott 50 $25 Gift Card

I came up with a total of $101 for this box (excluding the gift card since it was an extra). I really liked the variety of items this month, though I am sad it doesn’t have a food item to try. Chris and I like to share PopSugar snacks, so it was a bummer it didn’t have one.

What do you think of the April 2015 PopSugar Must Have Box? What is your favorite item in the box?