Adding Whimsy To Your Life!

In today’s world, we could all use a little more happiness and simple joys in our lives. Here are just a few ways that I add a little bit of whimsy to my life. These are all simple and inexpensive.

I use “the good”: dishes, linens, vases, etc. Leaving items for a “special occasion“ that may never come, let’s leave that in the past. I’ve started replacing my household goods as they wear out with better-quality items. I’ve moved to 100% cotton, higher thread count sheet sets for our beds. 2 sets of better sheets per bed instead of 3 or 4 sets of mid-quality polyester blend sheets that inevitably pill (blech).

Speaking of “the good,” this goes with your clothes, too. I’m not suggesting you wear a ballgown to the grocery store, but your pearl earrings from Meemaw look great with jeans.

Go analog. Not for everything, have you seen the “analog bag“ trend? It’s basically a Mom purse. A puzzle book, journal, small craft like knitting, crochet, kumihimo, or lucet. Something to keep your hands busy and not mindlessly scrolling on your phone.

Spend time each morning unplugged. I tried to spend my first 30 minutes of each day without a screen. I make my protein coffee, finish making lunches, pack my bag, and the kids’ backpacks. And I checked my wall calendar for anything coming up, then it’s time to wake up the kids, and make breakfast.

Take care of Nature:

  • Go for a walk, and pick up trash along the way.
  • Hang a seed ball or a hummingbird feeder on your porch or patio.
  • Get a succulent or other low-maintenance plant.
  • Feed some ducks (not bread). Frozen corn or peas are better for them.

Make a beverage cart or a beverage corner in your kitchen. I moved some stuff around to make a coffee cupboard in my kitchen above my coffee maker. It has all of the shelf-stable coffee/cocoa/tea supplies on it, including my French press, my syrups that don’t fit there live under the cupboard next to my coffee machine.

I’m spreading the love and putting love notes in the kids’ lunches every day and cutting sandwiches into funny shapes. Just a little note and touches that show them I care.

Making fun desserts, and having yummy fruit on hand to snack on. Seasonal fruit is cheaper, but I do love me some berries.

Make something colorful: a fruit salad, a beaded bracelet, or plan a fun, colorful outfit with pieces you already own. Or draw a picture and color it. If you don’t have crayons, colored pencils, or markers, or you’re trying to lower your carbon footprint, there are plenty of free coloring apps online.

 

Talk Back: I’d love to hear about how you are taking time to make your life a little more whimsical?

January Monthly Side Quest Totals

Quests require compasses and treasure chests, right?Why am I referring to them as “quests” and not “hustle“?

Hustling indicates moving quickly to earn money. This year I’m doing a little bit every day, approximately 20 minutes on small surveys and small tasks. I may earn less daily, but overall, I can use small tasks to earn more through compounding.

Here are the ways I earned money, and how much I earned on each side quest this month. I have done some side quests, but I have not yet received the reward.

  • MyPoints: I have earned $20 in Amazon gift cards and approximately $25 in pending points. They should be available by the end of February.
  • PaidViewPoint: $11.45 via Paypal
  • G2: $10 Amazon gift card
  • Fetch: $5.00 Amazon Gift Card
  • Rebates (WeStockPeekageSocial Nature, and Aisle ): $12.50 between  Social Nature and Aisle.
  • Receipt Hog: $5.00 Amazon Gift Card
  • Class action lawsuits (I use SettleMate to help me find ones that I might qualify for): $14.70
  • SBKC: $ 20.00 visa gift card (this was from envelopes that I had mailed back to them in December 2025)
  • Evidation: $10 via Venmo
  • BrandClub:  $10.29
  • TPT (I make worksheets/flashcards in my spare time for special ed classrooms). This side quest is definitely a slow trickle of money. I spent a lot of time over the summer making/uploading educational materials to my TPT account. $42.44.

I can use my Amazon Gift Cards to pay for my monthly subscriptions for two months. I use Amazon subscriptions to buy household items that are cheaper on Amazon than local store prices.

As always, the links above may be affiliate links, and I might earn money or points if you join any of the above apps or activities. This helps support my blog and family.

If you are interested in my full list of money-saving/money earning activites, I encourage you to check out:

Q-Insights Media Study – Pays $200

QI-logoNOslogan.pngQ-insights is another company where I do research groups, focus groups, and online surveys to earn extra money.

They have a lot of stuff in South Orange County and less often in San Diego County. Currently, they are conducting an online study regarding Media Consumption.

  • Method: Online Community
  • Length: 60-90 minutes total from February 18th – February 22nd
  • Incentive: $200

If you are interested in participating, please fill out the survey here. A recruiter will contact you if you pre-qualify and ask additional screening questions.

My Laundry Favs: More than Good Smells.

Clean laundry is more than good smells.

Stain removal, like removing the deodorant residue on the underarms of shirts, can lead to a buildup.

Removing smells from body oil and dead skin flakes. Pretty gross!

Using the right kind of detergent, laundry booster, sand tain removal – These can all be hard to figure out.

These days, it’s three of us, plus the cat, but I do one load of laundry a day, sheets and blankets weekly. It’s a lot of work. Thankfully, I have a system worked out.

We’ve had hard and or mineralized water in our area, so I use the following:

Scent Booster. I use the Arm & Hammer brand. I avoid fabric softeners as they are waxy and can leave a film on your clothing that can capture dirt and dead skin flakes.

Laundry detergent. Right now, I am using Arm & Hammer liquid detergent. Some people prefer powder. I prefer Arial for powder. It cleans very well and does not have an overwhelming scent.

Stain Removers. There are many types of stain removal products; some are general-purpose, and there are also some that remove stains based on the type of stain.

  • For blood stains, I use this Carbona Stain Remover. It works better than saliva and hydrogen peroxide.
  • For general stains, I use Spray and Wash 
  • For greasy stains, I use a combination of Blue Dawn and a little bit of rubbing alcohol, scrubbed with a toothbrush. This really helps get grease stains out.
  • For General whitening/stain removal boosting, I add 1/4 cup Biz and 1/4 cup Oxyclean to my wash. Biz is great for overall stain removal. These two products cannot be used in conjunction with bleach products.
  • For my whites: I use bleach. This is usually only on my towels and sheets.

I do not use dryer sheets.

Beyond Laundry:

To maintain my washing machine, I clean it up once a month with these tablets. We don’t have a dog, but a couple of us have longer-ish hair, and Fiona the cat loves to shed. Another thing that helps keep your washing machine smelling fresh is leaving the lid open when it’s not in use. And wiping down the gasket inside the lid once a week.

I maintain my dryer by cleaning the lint trap after every load, and using a brush like this one in the lint trap about once a week. We get the dryer vent cleaned once a year. It is a little costly ($100), but it really cuts down on the time the dryer needs to dry the clothes, and it reduces fire risk in our home.

We also use cloth laundry hamper bags on a hanging system (similar to this one) in my closet. I wash those bags approximately once a month. And for the hard plastic laundry baskets, I wiped them out with a disinfecting wipe about once a week.

And as for all of the hangers, I use a hanger rack like this one.

2/7/2026 Weekly Freebies and Deals

This week has been a mixed bag- I’m out of town on a birthday trip with some friends.

My birthday is next week, and the freebies have started rolling in, and I’ll have an updated birthday freebie list compiled and updated by mid-next week.

In the meantime, check out the 2025 post here. If you live outside Southern California, check out this list: Free Birthday Stuff in 2025: Get The Best 100+ Freebies on Your Birthday!

For free food resources, please refer to my comprehensive list, available here, which I updated earlierthis week. It is focused on San Diego County, but additional resources are available outside my area.

Freebies:

2 FREE 5×7 Photo Prints at Walgreens
$1 Million FREE Chipotle Entrees on February 8th
FREE Full-Size CeraVe Body Moisturizer – Every Weekday Through February 27th
FREE Tom Ford Soleil Neige Eau de Parfum Sample
Kids Eat Free: Big List Of Verified Restaurants Where Kids Can Eat For Free
Over 30 National Pizza Day Deals, Coupons and Freebies – Monday February 9
FREE Sample of YSL Libre Berry Crush Fragrance
FREE Tall Hot or Iced Coffee at Starbucks on February 9th
FREE Sample of Redken Acidic Bonding Concentrate Hair Bandage Balm
Unlock Your Wellness Journey with Free Nutrition Samples: Try Before You Buy
FREE McDonald’s McNugget Caviar Kit
FREE Kindle eBook This Month
FREE GREENIES Dental Chew Treats
FREE Penguin Mailbox Workshop at Home Depot
FREE Hydration Event at Target – FREE Samples, Game Day Party Pack & More This Weekend
Here’s How to Score FREE or Cheap Photo Prints: 2025
FREE American Spirit Butt Pouches – Order Every Month
FREE Moonpig Valentine’s Day Card + FREE Shipping
FREE Simon Says: Dessert Party Pack
$25 Worth of FREE Books with First Book Marketplace
FREE Pizza or Pasta Sauce at Stop & Shop
2 FREE Ghirardelli Chocolockets on February 10th
FREE Friskies Wet Food and Lil’ Lickables Sample Pack + FREE Dentalife Sample Pack for New Members
FREE Limited-Edition Tote Bag at IKEA on February 14th
FREE Wooden Rose Bouquet at Lowe’s
FREE $25 to Spend on Super Bowl Gear at DICK’S After Cash Back
FREE Angry Orchard Ex-Change Kit + FREE $25 Venmo
FREE Sample of Allies of Skin Multi Peptides & GF Advanced Lifting Serum
FREE $15 to Spend on Books at Walmart After Cash Back
Sweet Surprises: How to Score Free Chocolate
FREE Tickets to See the FIFA World Cup Trophy
How I Get Free Samples with Free Shipping
FREE Olympics Gold Pin for Xfinity Rewards Members
We Rounded Up The Best Free Shampoo Samples Online
70 Million FREE Frontier Airlines Miles
FREE INITIO Parfums Privés Hedonist Collection Fragrance Samples
FREE Valentine’s Day Donut at Krispy Kreme

Deals:

Gold Bond Ultimate Men’s Essentials Hydrating Lotion, ONLY $10 (Reg $20)
Finish Line Sale: Up to 50% Off + Extra 20% Off Women’s Adidas, Nike & More
Apple AirTag 4-Pack ONLY $64 on Amazon (Reg $99)
See The Fashion & Beauty that’s Trending on Revolve + 10% Off Coupon & Free Shipping
JCPenney Boxed Jewelry on Sale from ONLY $5.39
Coach Perfumes as low as $10.89 at Walmart
Up to 70% Off Pandora Jewelry
7 Clever Ways to Get Cheap or Free Shein Items
Revlon Skin Reviving Roller ONLY $5 (Reg $15)

San Diego Zoo Safari Park is free for Seniors in February

During the month of February, all visitors age 65 and older receive free admission to the Safari Park. Enjoy the sights on an Africa Tram, see the platypuses and other Aussie species at Walkabout Australia, wander through Tiger Trail, take a stroll around Mombasa Lagoon, and relax with refreshments on the patio at Kijamii Overlook. There’s a world of sights to see—all at the Safari Park!

Parking is not free ($25), but the Safari Park is an awesome day-long adventure.

Some frugal tips for visiting your local zoo/animal park (These are all true for the San Diego Zoo and Safari Park, your local parks may differ)

  • Bring your water bottles, and fill up at the drinking fountains/filling stations all over the park.
  • Pack your own snacks/lunch. There are tons of picnic/eating areas all over the parks.
  • Bring some cash for 1 treat/toy/souvenir. With cash, you have a firm budget.
  • If you are a zoo/safari park member, you may get a discount in the shops/restaurants (check online).

1/30/26 Weekly Freebies and Deals

This week has been a mixed bag- I’m out of town on a birthday trip with some friends.

My birthday is next week, and the freebies have started rolling in, and I’ll have an updated birthday freebie list compiled and updated by mid-next week.

In the meantime, check out the 2025 post here. If you live outside Southern California, check out this list: Free Birthday Stuff in 2025: Get The Best 100+ Freebies on Your Birthday!

For free food resources, please refer to my comprehensive list, available here, which I updated earlierthis week. It is focused on San Diego County, but additional resources are available outside my area.

Freebies:

Order Your Free 2026 Wall Calendars
FREE Febreze Odor-Fighting Fade Defy Plug-In at Target
Lots of Freebies for Moms: The Freebie List I Wish I Had When I Became a Mom
Earn $2 to $75 per Completed Survey – Ages 16+ can Apply
10 Ways to Save Big on Pet Food Delivery Services + Get Free Shipping
FREE Movie Ticket to Dracula
FREE 30-Day Supply of Ritual Synbiotic+ Supplements
FREE PURELL Sanitizer Products
FREE Penguin Mailbox Workshop at Home Depot
FREE Sample of e.l.f. Soft Glam Satin Foundation
FREE Saltair Serum Deodorant
How to Score Free P&G Samples Like a Pro
FREE Gillette Venus Smoothing Exfoliant at Walgreens
Claim Cash in the $15 Million Dollar General Class Action Settlement
FREE Loaf of Canyon Bakehouse Stay-Fresh Sourdough-Style Bread
FREE $30 Purchase at Lowe’s After Cash Back
FREE Subscription to Better Homes and Gardens Magazine
FREE Bottle of Native Pet Omega Oil + Free Shipping
FREE Pantene Fragrance-Free Shampoo
FREE Morning Made Electric Whisk
FREE Copy of the Jiffy Mix Recipe Booklet
FREE $35 Purchase at Stanley After Cash Back
FREE Welch’s Zero Sugar Beverage – Up to a $5.99 Value
How to Get More Freebies Without Wasting Time – My Tried-and-True Hacks
FREE Colgate Toothpaste
FREE 2026 Oklahoma Transportation Wall Calendar
FREE Honey Butter Chicken Biscuit at Whataburger on February 4th
FREE $20 Carl’s Jr. Promo Card Starting February 9th
FREE 3.5 – 4 lb. Bag of Zignature Dog Food
How to Score Sticker Freebies – Sticker Mule, Keds, Netflix and More
FREE Full-Size CeraVe Body Moisturizer
FREE 1/2 CT Diamond Necklace at JCPenney
FREE Pair of Mack’s Ear Plugs – Every Weekday at 11am EST
Seeing Clearly Without the Cost: A Guide to Free Contact Lenses
FREE Amazon Prime for Students
FREE Sandwich at Jimmy John’s
FREE Bvlgari Man Collection Fragrance Samples
Claim Cash in the $2 Million Michael Kors Outlet Store Class Action Settlement
FREE Sample of Mugler Alien Hypersense Eau de Parfum
FREE Galentine’s Spritz with EOS Event at Target on January 31st & February 1st
FREE Bag of OMNI Creatine Gummies
FREE Royal Canin Fresh Health Nutrition Dog Food Chatterbuy Kit

 

Deals:

Save up to 70% on Kids Coats at Macy’s
Walmart HUGE Toy Clearance with up to 80% Off Savings
Subway BOGO Deal: Buy 1, Get 1 Footlong Sub – New Subway Coupons & Reward Program Changes
Intimates Sale at JCPenney – Up to 50% Off | Prices From $4.99
50% Off Everything at Old Navy – Sweaters, Coats, Pajamas & More!
Yankee Candle Clearance: Large Jar or Tumbler Candles as low as $8.75 (Reg $35)
Affordable Fleece Hoodies and Sweatpants Under $30 From Amazon, Walmart, & Target
Nature’s Bounty Hair Skin & Nails Supplement ONLY $3.49 (Reg $8)
Target Valentine’s Day Candles as Low as $3.50 – Limited Time Only!
Birkenstock Coupons & Promo Codes: Up To 20% Off HOT Birkenstock Sandals
Coziest Pajama Coupons and Deals This Week from Macy’s, Kohl’s, Amazon, Walmart and More
Craftsman Industrial Fan ONLY $39 at Lowe’s (Reg $129)
PopCorners 20-Count Snacks Variety Pack ONLY $16 Shipped
UGG Winter Sale: Up to 50% Off + Extra 10% Off & FREE Shipping
Ninja Creami Sale: Save $30 or More on Homemade Ice Cream with the Ninja Creami Sale
Burt’s Bees Rescue Lip Relief Hydrating Balm ONLY $3 (Reg $6)
Moroccanoil Volume Travel Set ONLY $45 at Ulta (Reg $60)
Antemper 2026 Latest Android Tablet 10-Inch ONLY $89.99 (Reg $170)
How to Use Kohl’s Cash: Everything You Need to Know earn, use, and maximize
Sculpd Discount Codes – 10% Off Your First Order, 15% Off for You & a Friend, & More
Dealworthy Backpacks as Low as $3.50 at Target
Victoria’s Secret Gift Sets – Buy One Get One FREE

Do We Really Need 64 Ounces of Water!

Everybody knows the adage about drinking eight 8-ounce glasses of water every day, but where did it come from?

According to this NPR article, in 1945, the US Food and Nutrition Board decided that 1 mL of water per calorie was what people needed to stay hydrated. This is approximately 64 ounces of fluid per day. And this stuck.

Per the Mayo Clinic, whats counts as water may surprise you: Any liquid, including foods that are high in liquid, like soups, smoothies, fruits, and vegetables like melons, citrus, and tomatoes, are excellent sources of liquid. This means you don’t need to chug a huge 64-ounce bottle of water every single day. As long as you are consuming foods that are high in liquid, you are getting enough hydration for your body

Too much of a good thing? Yes, you can be overhydrated, and that can cause an electrolyte imbalance, which can lead to cloudy thinking, nausea, vomiting, headaches, and even muscle cramps. This isn’t gonna happen unless you’re drinking over 4 L of water an hour. Overhydration does not happen often, but it can occur.

If you’re looking for ways to add hydration to your day, here are a few ways:

 

National Peanut Butter Day Recipes!

Today is National Peanut Butter Day. For those of us who love Peanut Butter, this is definately a day to celebrate.

I’ve rounded up a few recipes for y’all to try:

If you love Peanut butter but need to avoid the natural fat/oil, I use PB2 in my protein shakes. If you also need to avoid added salt, Peanut Flour is a great option in place of PB2.

I love having Peanut butter on hand in my car snack box, so I use these Jif Cups or these By Nutz pouches.

Q-insights Online Focus Groups on Students Pays $150

QI-logoNOslogan.pngQ-insights is another company where I do research groups, focus groups, and online surveys to earn extra money.

They have a lot of stuff in South Orange County and less often in San Diego County. Currently, they are conducting an online study regarding education.

Who: Individuals in the 11th and 12th grade, as well as current College students.

This is an online Focus Group that  pays $150 for 1.5 hours (90 mins)

Date: February 18th, 2026

If you are interested in participating, please fill out the survey here. A recruiter will contact you if you pre-qualify and ask additional screening questions.