photo from: .boingpoumtchak.com

Firstly, I’d like to apologize if you’ve been waiting for the latest issue of Frugal ’n Fabulous. Without going into too many depressing details, I’ve been dealing with some heavy things in my life.

In any case, I’d like to spread some joy. Below you’ll find some of the hottest freebies available on the net. Be sure you get the lipgloss and foundation from Walgreens as it expires today (2/28/09).

Nylon Magazine

Found a really great freebie at Urban Outfitter’s online. Hurry and sign up for a free 1-year subscription to Nylon Magazine. This would make an awesome Christmas gift to that hip and trend-setting chica in your life. For those of you not familiar with this magazine, check out the description below. Link to freebie, after the jump.

Who ever said you need to buy Christmas ornaments to decorate your home? I was sifting through this month’s issue of ReadyMade (an expired freebie), and found two great craft projects. Using materials you probably already have, you can get started on these right away.

Free shipping at M.A.C.

I thought I’d share a free shipping coupon (worth over $5) from M.A.C. online I got in my email. If you use M.A.C. cosmetics, this coupon will not only save you money, it will save you time and the hassle of dealing with the crowded mall. Coupon code after the jump.

Evernote

Over the years, I have accumulated a huge amount of notes, recipes, crafts, tips, and ideas. It’s getting to the point of ridiculousness, as it’s getting difficult to keep up with my collections. This disorganized chaos is all about to change, because of Evernote. For those of you who haven’t used this time-saving tool, Evernote is free service that lets you sync all your ideas, web clippings, notes, scanned documents and stickies (and whatever else you want to keep and remember), on their server. Once captured, your notes are instantly search-able, even your handwritten scribbles. To keep all your notes synced, there are several options for a wide range of devices.

My apologies. It’s been a while since my last post. I’ve been trying to manage some challenges in my home and work life, and now I feel I can dedicate time to my blog. For all you readers out there, be prepared for an onslaught of frugal and fabulous projects and ideas, free productivity tools, and holiday savings that will enhance and improve your life, no matter your financial situation.

HeyCosmo

It would be nice if I had my own personal assistant. Someone to run my errands and do my bidding. But until I can justify that kind of expense, I am grateful for online tools like HeyCosmo. Like Sandy, HeyCosmo will help to replace some of the functionality of a real live assistant. By signing up for a free account, You will no longer have to go through the Yellow Pages, and call business after business, to get your questions answered. Now, all you have to do is have HeyCosmo Concierge contact businesses in your area, and ask the questions for you. For example, if you need a to make a restaurant reservation, and you want to know if your chosen venue can seat your party of three, Concierge will call each restaurant you have selected, and post the results after the call(s) is completed. You can also have the results sent your email. I’ve tried it, and it works!

Free airtime with Sugar Mama

I’ve been searching for what seems like forever, for a free cell phone plan paid for by advertising (like our friends across the pond have with Blyk). Apparently, we don’t have a service quite as innovative as that. So, until someone with enough foresight can launch a Blyk equivalent in the States,Virgin Mobile’s Sugar Mama plan is as close as we’re going to get to free service.

free pearls from Aloha Pearls

I know it may sound too good to be true, but this is not a joke. A little while ago, I submitted a request for a free pair of pearl earrings from Aloha Pearls. Thinking I would eventually be disappointed, I almost gave up searching through my mail. Apparently the initial offering caused a stampede which, in turn, created some delays. Despite all of this, the company was able to deliver top notch customer service. By sending periodic newsletters, they kept everyone that signed up for the free gift, in the loop. There must have been thousands of respondents that they were able to service. After mine came, I emailed John Martin at Aloha Pearls about the authenticity. He responded that same morning with: "They are 100% real pearls no fakes. A way you can test if they are real is to gently rub the pearl on your tooth. It will have a gritty feel. Fake pearls don’t grit and just feel smooth." I have to say that am amazed at the quality of the pearls, and even more amazed at their customer service.

At this time Aloha Pearls is still offering free pearl earrings,