These Are a Few of My Favorite Things: Bradenton, FL

Hello all,

After just getting back from the town where we grew up, I decided to start a new blogpost series called These Are a Few of My Favorite Things featuring our favorite places to eat and things to do in different cities we have been too. Since I have had a lot of people ask me what is fun to do in Bradenton since moving to NC, I thought I would start it off with Bradenton, FL!

Since moving to Durham, we have found that we are missing a lot of things that only exist in Bradenton. Many things we knew we would miss when we made the move and some not so much. Here are our top favorite things, in no particular order:

1. Sweetberries Frozen Custard

Basically more "healthy" ice cream that's amazing. If you like Oreos and gummy bears, get bears on the beach. It's so delish.

2. Geckos

Basically like an Applebee's but way better food. Their homemade chips are the reason I love going there.

3. China Village

Located right off SR 70, this is honestly the best chicken fried rice and wonton soup I've ever had. We've been going there for Chinese food since middle school. Madi even before then. Family owned and one of a kind, you have to try it.

4. Rusty Cricket 

The cutest boutique store ever. Prepare to spend higher than normal for the clothes but they last and are well made. I've never bought something from there that I didn't get a compliment on. And if you don't already live in Bradenton, you'll know no one with the same outfit!

5. Robinsons Preserve

Even though they just found a MASSIVE snake in there like two months ago, this preserve is awesome. Places to rent Kayaks, paddle boards, walk, run, bike. Pet friendly. Great place to spend close to sunset when it's not as hot. 

There's obviously so much more to do, including Anna Maria Island which could have a post all on its own, but those are our favorite places to eat and things to do. This week Madi started summer classes and I geared back up at work. 

Thanks for reading with me,

- Olivia :)

Wifey Wednesday: Free is For Me- A Penny Pinching Update

Hello fellow and future wives!

I wanted to put out an update about my penny pinching efforts and how they've been going so far since my last blog post in October. Here are my updates!

1) Swagbucks
Still obsessed. Literally such an easy way to earn money. I don't run out of ways to earn swagbucks, although it has gotten harder to earn by watching on your mobile device (only 10SB on average per day). I have earned more than $75 in these first four months of 2016. Who could complain about that? And I don't sit on Swagbucks every night. Doing surveys is a good thing to do while you're watching TV, same with the mobile TV watching. Bonuses and Shop are easy ways to earn as well. Use my referral link: http://www.swagbucks.com/refer/OliviaAili to get started!
Verdict: Still love this app!

2) Perk Points
It got to be too much of a pain in the butt. Too much time to get giftcards. Only ended up earning $10 on that one before I gave up on using it. I'd rather spend my time on SwagBucks!
Verdict: Not worth the download

3) Ibotta
At first, this app was amazing. I earned my first $15 so fast, but since then have only earned $20+ more since October. Not as easy to earn as it was in the past. Less items that are any brand rebates. But still free money for just uploading your receipts. Might as well do it!
Verdict: Still like it, but harder to earn than before

4) Panel Apps: Media Insiders and Nielsen
Nielsen is still awesome. I probably make about $25-50/yr on this app in giftcards, but it is literally maintenance free. You don't have to do a thing! Media Insiders was annoying to turn on and off, and didn't easily pick up the TV when I was watching it. It just got too annoying.
Verdict: Still use Nielsen, Media Insiders was too much work.

5) Target Cartwheel, RedPerks, RedCard and Coupons
Seriously LOVE TARGET. Best store ever. Love Cartwheel. Up to $130+ in savings with that. RedPerks (their newest app) has saved us probably $25-30 so far with the 5% off days. RedCard so far this year? $60+. LOVE IT GUYS. And online? They have coupons, sometimes great ones for $3-4 off $20 Market Pantry, Archer Farms, or Simply Balanced items. Or $3 off $15 in bakery, deli, or produce. Awesomeness.
Verdict: Target is the best store ever!

I did download a new app: ReceiptHog which is supposed to be easy to just upload receipts and earn points then get giftcards, so far so good but no giftcards quite yet. This will be a slower app like Ibotta. I use coupons.com to supplement coupons as well as needed. Any other apps or couponing things you guys love? Let me know! I love to save! :). As for updates on our daily lives we will be heading back to Florida, just for a week long visit, next weekend! I can't wait to reunite with our friends and family, most of whom I haven't seen in eight or more months. That's a long time for me.

Thanks for saving with me,
- Olivia :)

#BookWorm: Me Before You

Hello fellow readers!

BRB just wiping tears off my face as I write this blogpost about Me Before You by Jojo Moyes. This was actually a book I found out about because my friend Ashley showed me the movie trailer a few months ago. I was instantly interested, but with trying to save money didn't want to buy it and was waiting for it to come on the library availability list. In the meantime while shopping at a used bookstore in Raleigh, she found a copy of it marked down from $16 to $3.99! Score! She started reading it, got halfway through, and gave up. So I gave it a whirl. OMG guys. I have not been this in love with a book and its characters in a long long time. Probably since The Storyteller by Jodi Picoult. Okay or The Fault In Our Stars but you get the point. It's been a while.

This book is about a girl named Louisa who loses her job in a cafe that she's had for years and can't seem to find a new one easily. One job comes up that is for a caregiver position, an area in which she has no experience. She takes it and meets Will Traynor, a 35 year old man who becomes a quadriplegic after a bad car accident in London two years ago. While working with him, she find out a few family secrets, and starts to try and cheer up Will by planning fun outings for them to do so he can enjoy his life. This book is for reals amazing. It drew me in and I couldn't stop reading! I loved Will and Louisa's characters and their humor. I laughed, I bawled my eyes out. It was a thoroughly good read. And ranking? 10/10. And I don't throw those around lightly. I can't say much else without ruining the story or the ending, but it's WELL worth the read. This may be my first 10/10 ranking on DHTBB so far! (I'll have to look back on a few posts).

I am DYING to see the movie in June, but already know to bring my box of tissues. And the guy who plays Will is the same guy who played Finnick in Hunger Games, Sam Claflin. So hot. Such a good choice. Next read is Lovely Bones which I have heard mixed reviews on so we shall see how it goes!

Thanks for reading with me,

- Olivia :)