Month: November 2018

Black Friday Deals!

Abby H.

I’m not a big fan of hitting the malls on Black Friday, so instead of posting deals in stores, I’ll be posting online deals. Nothing is better than shopping from the comfort of your own home, right? It’s the only way it’s acceptable to shop in your pj’s!

Have a great Thanksgiving tomorrow, and keep your eyes open for my posts starting early Friday morning with lots of great deals and offers.

And remember, when you click through a link on my blog and make a purchase, most of the time I receive a small commission.  That pays for the upkeep of the blog, and the occasional trip to Starbucks. You can learn more about use of affiliate links on my disclosure page.

Simple Ways to Help Others This Holiday Season

Abby H.

With the holidays approaching (Hey, tomorrow is Thanksgiving), you will probably start to see charities and organizations ask for assistance with their holiday campaigns. If you are on a budget, writing a check may not be feasible, but there are other ways to help.

1-Donate to your local food bank food drive: Most food banks see an increase in clients at the end of the year, and need everyday foods. Clean out your cupboard and donate some IN DATE, un-dented cans or boxed items.  

I know most of us have some extra (and unexpired) items in their cupboard they could part with. If you are unsure what kind of items to donate, here are items that the food bank always needs:

  • Canned Meats
  • Canned Vegetables
  • Canned Fruits
  • Canned Soup
  • Peanut Butter
  • Cereal & Oatmeal
  • Rice & Pasta
  • Powdered Milk, beverage mixes (like shelf stable juice concentrate, instant coffee, hot cocoa pouches)
  • Infant Formula (The sample sized canisters or sample pouches that you may have received free in the mail are perfect donations!)

2- If your local area doesn’t have a food bank, check to see if there is a  Little Free Pantry in your area.  These are stocked by neighbors in the area, and most of them can always use some extra boxes or cans. Our neighborhood has a Blessing Box located at the nearby church.  Sometimes neighbors are too embarrassed to seek out help. In those cases, Little Free Pantries and Blessing boxes are saving graces.

3-Don’t forget to check out your local Buy Nothing Groups. Within local buy nothing groups, your neighbors are offering up items for free, and you can offer items from your home that you no longer need.

4-Donate! Charities sometimes accept gently used items to sell to raise money for their causes (such as AmVets, and DAV). You can drop off stuff you no longer need/want and help others at the same time!

5-Donate to a Clothing Swap. I’ve written about clothing swaps here before. With the holidays coming up, some local organizations have an increased need for clothing, especially if they offer clothing without requiring a donation from those in need.  If you are in need of clothing, but have nothing to swap, two good free clothing resources in San Diego are The Closet on 54th (Men, women, and children’s clothing) and Naomi’s Closet (only women’s clothing). 

Legoland: Black Friday & Cyber Monday Deals!

Abby H.

If your family is like ours, we are hoping to do more “experience” gifts this year. This year, Legoland has answered my prayers!

LEGOLAND® California Resort joins the Black Friday and Cyber Monday fun with AWESOME  deals of its own!  Starting at 12 a.m. on Friday, Nov. 23 through 11:59 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 26, the family theme Park in Carlsbad, CA is offering huge deals to the Park, LEGOLAND® Hotel and new LEGOLAND® Castle Hotel exclusively through its website.

Bricktastic deals include:

  • 50% off one-day LEGOLAND/SEA LIFE Hopper tickets
  • 30% off stay at LEGOLAND Hotel or LEGOLAND Castle Hotel plus 50% off 2-Day admission to LEGOLAND California + SEA LIFE aquarium

Family vacation planners and savvy shoppers can sign up now at: https://www.legoland.com/cybermonday/ to receive exclusive access to deals before they become available to the general public. SEA LIFE Hopper tickets and LEGOLAND Vacations Hotel reservations purchased through the exclusive deals are redeemable Jan. 6 through March 21, 2019. Each LEGOLAND California offer is limited and may sell out quickly.

I’ve signed up and set an alarm on my phone! We’ll definitely be buying tickets!

Free Sample of Kabrita Formula!

Abby H.1 Comment

When the kids were little, they both had problems taking most formulas. If you’ve been a reader for a while, you know I have IGT, so that meant that my breastfeeding experience was limited.

But, a baby’s gotta eat, right? Yeah, so enter Kabrita. It’s made from Goat Milk, so it’s great for little tummies that can’t handle lactose (that was my kiddos issue), and another bonus: it smells like milk.  If you’ve ever formula fed, you know the gross “formula smell”. Kabrita Goat Milk formula smells like milk. It pours like milk, and yes, it tastes like milk too- yes I have tasted it.

Right now, you can score a free can to try with your kiddos- 14oz Goat Milk Toddler Formula + Bonus Value Coupon 

And if your kiddos like it, you can use that awesome $5 off coupon that comes with your sample. Locally, it’s sold at Sprouts.

Freebie and Deal Time!

Abby H.
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I meant to post this on Friday, but I was distracted by Thanksgiving prep. There are a lot of really great freebies and deals right now.  I’ve compiled a bunch to share!

Let’s start with the Freebies:

Free Sample of belVita Biscuits at Walmart
Free Jimmy Dean Holiday Gift
Free Pepsi Zero Sugar or Diet Pepsi at 7-Eleven
Claim Your Free Sample Box for November
Free Sample of Universal Nutrition Shock Therapy & Storm Mass
Free Forto Coffee Shot at Walmart After Ibotta Rebate
Free Sample of Olay Regenerist Whips
Free Duracell Batteries at Office Depot & Office Max (perfect if you are buying holiday gifts that require batteries)
Free Organics Family Grass Kids Whey Powder
Free Sample of PooPeePads Dog Pads
Free Teadora Skincare & Hair Care Products
Free Sample of Canidae Pet Food
Checkout 51 – Free UltraFeel 2-in-1 Condom
Free Prevail Briefs, Pads or Liners Sample Pack
Free Candle-Lite Jar Candle at Kroger (I’m excited about this, I love candles!)

Deals- I’ve chosen Deals that would make great gifts:

Save 50% on Playmobil Rescue Ladder Unit ONLY $12.99 (Reg. $25)
Save 62% on Playmobil Doll House ONLY $25.95 (Reg. $63)
FREE Harrys Razor, Shaving Cream and Cover (pay $3 shopping- would make a great stocking stuffer)
Save 50% on Playmobil Hospital Play Box ONLY $9.99 (Reg. $20)
Versace Men’s Mini Cologne $5.50 Shipped – Stocking Stuffer
A Christmas Story Blu-ray DVD ONLY $7.99 (Reg. $19.98)
Beats Studio3 Wireless Over-Ear Headphones ONLY $199 (Reg $350)
Disney Princess Sparkling Dolls ONLY $39.99 (Reg. $65) Shipped

Recipe: Peanut Butter Krispie Treats

Abby H.

DSCN9789.jpgThis is of of those family recipes that I think everyone has had, but never realized was so dead simple to make.

My mom made these a lot when I was a kid. They are peanut buttery, butterscotch-y, and so rich an tempting, I’m making a batch tomorrow.

This recipe can me made Gluten free by using gluten free Krispie Rice Cereal, but it cannot be made vegan- you need both marshmallows and butter.

Ingredients:

  • 1/2 c. Butterscotch chips
  • 1/2c. Peanut Butter chips
  • 3 Tablespoons Butter
  • 40 marshmallows
  • 6 cups Krispie Rice Cereal (in the past I’ve also used the Fiber One Original Bran instead- They come out a little heavier, but are good)
  • Spray Release
  • 1/4-1/2 c. extra chips, optional

 

Directions:

  1. Spray both a 13×9 pan and a rubber spatula with spray release, set aside.
  2. In a large pot, melt the chips and butter over low heat.
  3. Add marshmallows and stir constantly until melted. Remove from heat.
  4. Add cereal and stir until cereal is completely coated.
  5. Using previously sprayed spatula, evenly pour and press cereal mixture into greased pan.
  6. If desired, while still hot, sprinkle with 1/4-1/2 cup of chocolate or peanut butter chips, as the chips melt, spread with greased spatula to cover the bars.
  7. Once cooled, cut into squares. They last 3-4 days in the fridge, but, really, they’ll be gone in a flash.

Talk Back: I’d love to hear about your favorite cookies/sweets from childhood!

Updates, and Giveaways, and Favorite Things!

Abby H.

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Thanks to the awesome stylists at the Dove Dry Shampoo and styling bar, I left MommyCon with an Awesome ‘Do!

Hey all! I’ve been busy, busy, busy lately and I wanted to let everyone know what’s going on. Two weeks ago, I went to Moms Meet Wow Summit, and this last weekend I went to Mommycon. Both weekends were full of learning, fun, and meeting so many new moms and brands. Mommycon was a great time to meet moms, and learn all about momm-ing, baby wearing, and women’s health. If you missed it this year, they’ll be back next year!

Screen Shot 2018-11-13 at 10.02.47 AM.pngRight now I’ve got an awesome giveaway for a prize pack of Sticky Lickits over on Instagram! I’m picking a winner on 11/14/18- so there is still time to enter.

I’ll be celebrating the upcoming holidays with giveaways over the next few months,  make sure to follow me on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter so you can keep up to date on the next giveaways.

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Crafting with our BFF!

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Mugging for the Camera!

We’ve also been doing the super fun Mall Stars monthly crafts at our local Starwood Branded Mall. Every month there is a fun craft for the kids, sponsored by a local business/childcare center, and snacks provided by one of the food establishments in the mall. This month it was decoupage candle lanterns, with mini-bons and lemonade from Cinnabon.

IMG_2424.jpgBesides that, I recently helped style a Marty McFly costume for the New Children’s Museum Gala. It was tons of fun to do, and the best part was it cost less than $30 out of pocket! I spent a few days combing through thrift stores and looking online, but I found a puffy vest and jean jacket for a steal! Sears is a great place to find lots of new costume staples that may be harder to source in thrift shops- That’s where the puffy vest  came from!

If you’d like to learn more about costuming on the cheap, check out my articles here and here.

I haven’t shared my favorite things with you in a while, and I’ve got a batch of them!

Everything Bagel Seasoning. It’s soooo good on avocado, poached eggs, cream cheese on top of a plain bagel. I’m pretty sure that this stuff is good on damn near anything. You can also get Everything Bagel Seasoning at your local Costco on the seasoning aisle.

 

Screen Shot 2018-11-13 at 1.26.56 PM.pngPlus CBDoil – CBD Spray (in Peppermint). I have friends who use CBD oil for a lot of reasons and I was interested in trying it, but I wanted to learn more without a hard sell, so while I was at the Wow Summit, I took a class all about CBD- How it works, what it can be used for, and even how to gauge dosing. If you follow my on Instagram, you know that Bitty broke my bottle this morning. I’m bummed, especially since it was really helping me with the anxiety I’ve been feeling that my prescription meds haven’t been able to touch. Thank fully I have some gummies to tide me over until I can order more.

 
True Lemon I love True lemon- It’s a great way to make all the water I drink taste like something without adding calories or weird faux sweetness.  I was worried about all of the waste from the packets. I found this big 10.6 ounce bottle on Amazon. And the bottle is recyclable!

 

 

The Field Agent App– Ok, so this isn’t a tangible “thing”, but I’ve been doing a lot of audits and secret shops with Field agent over the past month. I’ve earned a few hundred dollars with less than 2 hour work. I time the work to line up with my errands and other trips out of the hose, so no additional gas is wasted. You can learn more about Field Agent here.

Talk Back: I’d love to hear about what you are up to lately, or what your new favorite discovery has been!

Happy Veteran’s Day!

Abby H.

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To everyone who has served, and continues to serve, thank you! As the daughter and granddaughter of service members, I am filled with so much happiness when service members are recognized.

Today should not be celebrated with mattress sales and free schlock, although it is frequently.  I thought a lot about posting a round up of freebies today with lots of photos and exclamation points, but then I thought better.

However, Veterans deserve recognition, so I am borrowing this Freebie Round Up Post from the nice people at My Savings. 

Hug the service member in your life today, and if they aren’t here, hug a friend.

Have a great day everyone- and be kind to each other!

11/9/18 Freebie Friday Round-up!

Abby H.

8101f95433a1458fa8c2371f3b11b849It’s that time again- Time for a Freebie Roundup!

Here are just a few of my favorites!

Samples/Goodies

Magazines

Free Events /Free Food

Setting up a Family First Aid Kit!

Abby H.7 Comments

file0001924831000.jpgWhen you have kids or are accident prone (like I am), a comprehensive first aid kit is a must. After so many years and iterations, this is the first aid kit that works best for our family.

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Before!

Earlier this week, I set to clear out any old/expired ointments, medications, bandages (they don’t expire, but they can become… unsticky), and re-organize. The kids were asleep, so it was the perfect time to get started. I did have one helper. Fiona. Her idea of help was to jump into the first aid box whenever it was empty.

A few years ago, we started off with a pretty well-stocked First Aid Kit, which you can see in the photos is the black, cloth, zippered pouch.  Since we take it camping with us, I’ve also added tampons (They have practical first aid uses as well), Arnica cream, extra scissors, hemostats, and hand sanitizer. It lives under our bathroom sink, and is easily accessible in case of emergency. It’s great- I’ve replaced stuff as we’ve used it, but it’s really not an “All you need” when you are accident prone.

 

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The aftermath!

 

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I love both of these products!

In addition,  we need burn cream, stuff for bruises, Wart Remover kit (little boys!), Cold Calm, Oscillococcinum (for flu like symptoms), Arnicare (which is awesome for leg cramps), a temporal scanner thermometer, Ben Gay (Don’t Judge!), CBD oil products, Rubbing alcohol, hydrogen peroxide (not shown), and exam gloves (which are great for stuff besides cleaning up owies). For that, I turned to a Sterilite plastic shoe box without a lid- I’m sure it broke years ago.

Once all of the old/gross/expired stuff was disposed of safely, I scrubbed out the box, labeled it, and repacked it. Because this box does not have a lid on it, it’s kept on the top shelf of the linen closet.

I really want to thank the awesome folks at Boiron for hooking me up with free products at last weeks Wow Summit. I love their products! I have been a fan for years. I bruise like a grape, so Arnicare gel and roll-on are life.

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My Helper, Fiona!

Talkback: I’d love to hear what’s in your family’s First Aid kit! If you don’t have one, now is your chance to grab a plastic tote and get started!