Y’all know I love JCP. Between their rewards program and their amazing clearance sales, it’s a great place to shop for household basics.
Currently, they are offering an amazing winter sale, with prices up to 60% off using the coupon code 2REFRESH at checkout.
I’m on the hunt for some 100% cotton sheets for my big kid’s bed.
The best part about these sales is that you can shop online and either have your items shipped to you or pick them up in-store. Many stores offer curbside pickup, too!
This is a very simple recipe, and it has a lot of variations for budget, and if you are trying to use up what you have in your pantry and fridge.
I got a package of rotisserie chicken pulled off the bone from Costco not long ago. I defrosted it, and now I’m ready to start using it. If you don’t have a rotisserie chicken, you can substitute 2 cups of shredded cooked chicken or 2 small cans/1 large can of canned chicken, drained, rinsed, and shredded.
Green Chicken Enchilada Casserole
Ingredients
Directions
This meal serves 6-8, depending on the sides you choose to serve.
Leftovers can be frozen.
I had never heard of Amazon Haul until earlier this week, when a co-worker told me she scored a box of 40 name-brand mechanical pencils for less than $10.
Amazon Haul is Amazon’s take on discount goodies, similar to Temu and Shein. Most everything is $20.00 or less. There is a section at the top of the Amazon Haul page with $1 & under deals! These items are limit 3 per customer.
I’m always on the lookout for inexpensive pencils for work and for my kids, so I had to give it a gander.
Here are a few of the sweet deals I ran across. I separated them by less than $1 and over $1.
In the $1.00 or less category-
Over $1.00, and still a good deal:
And there are thousands more deals in almost every category on Amazon Haul– It is definately worth a peek.
There truly is a National Day for everything. And today is no different, as it is National Use Your Gift Card Day.
A lot of us got Gift Cards for the recent holidays, and maybe you have some stashed. However, if you are looking to earn a few gift cards, here are some of my top tips:
Use Apps like Fetch, Receipt Hog, and Ibotta. My complete list of apps where I earn gift cards is here.
Spending a little bit of your scrolling time each day doing short surveys is how I earn the most gift cards. There is a good list of my favorite survey sites here.
I store my physical gift cards in an Ipsy pouch I got at a clothing swap in my purse. I don’t have tons, but it’s always great to have them on hand in case I go into a store or find myself at a Dairy Queen (there aren’t too many here, and I have had a DQ GC in my purse for a while).
This week has been wild. The new year has had a lot going on, and I’m doing what I can to keep my head above water.
I’m currently working on my 2026 Birthday Freebies post, but 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. It is focused on San Diego County, but additional resources are available outside my area.
Freebies:
Free Dog Food Samples: 6 Companies that Will Send You Free Dog Samples by Mail
FREE Sample of Otis and Pearly Freeze Dried Pet Treats
FREE Rosary & Sticker
FREE $40 Worth of Post-It Products from Staples
FREE Fragrance Samples from Macy’s
FREE Wellness Event at Walmart on January 24th
FREE Full-Size DedCool Laundry Detergent, Dryer Sheets, Room + Linen Spray or Eau de Parfum
FREE Cantina Chicken Crispy Taco, Beefy 5-Layer Burrito, Soft Taco or Crispy Chicken Soft Taco at Taco Bell
FREE $30 Purchase at Alo Yoga After Cash Back
FREE Cascade Dishwasher Detergent
FREE Sample of e.l.f. PLZ Clarify Facial Oil
FREE Handcrafted Beverage at Capital One Cafe
FREE Can of Red Bull Zero
FREE Scoop of Classic Carol at Chicken Salad Chick on January 22nd
The Ultimate Guide to Free Toothpaste Samples
FREE $20 Verizon Account Credit
Free Baby Stuff – Ultimate Guide to Get Free Baby Stuff
Easy Ways To Get Free Men’s Cologne Samples
FREE Sample of Dermoplast 3-in-1 Medicated First Aid Cloths
FREE 2-Pack of PicklePro MAX Pickleballs
FREE 5×7 Folded Card from Walgreens
FREE Sample of Kinesio Tape
FREE Movie Ticket to Atropia
FREE Barilla Pesto Sweet & Spicy Pepper ReFUNd
Have a Crumbl Cookie Birthday with a Free Gourmet Cookie! Here’s How.
FREE Washing Machine Bank Build Event for Kids at Lowe’s
FREE Lash Curler
FREE Let Animals Be Free Circus Activity Book, Poster & Stickers
FREE Croissant at Paris Baguette
FREE $25 at CVS After Cash Back
FREE Neutrogena Evenly Clear Products
FREE Educational Comic Books, Activity Books, Posters & More
FREE Carton of Yogi Tea
FREE Bottle of Stem & Root Skin Defense Supplement
FREE Fries at White Castle
Here Are 6 Ways To Get Free Baby Formula Samples
Get Your Free Teeth Whitening Samples: A Brighter Smile Awaits
Big List of 110 Restaurants to Get Free Food
FREE Zolli Powered Niche Nation Game Night Party Pack
Deals:
Crock-Pot 4.5qt Slow Cooker ONLY $19.99 (Reg $30)
All The Best Subway Coupons and Promo Codes: New for January 2026
Subway BOGO Deal: Buy 1, Get 1 Footlong Sub – New Subway Coupons & Reward Program Changes
Kate Spade Jewelry: Save Up to 70% Off + Extra 20% Off – Prices as low as $12
The Best Handbag, Purse & Clutch Deals on Sale: Michael Kors, Kate Spade, MKF Collection & Coach Up to 82% Off
Walgreens 11×14 Photo Poster ONLY $1.99 (Reg $13) – HOT Deal!
Valentine’s Day Tees for Toddlers From $4.98
Ulta Coupon: $3 Off $15
The Walmart Bogg Bag Dupe You Gotta Check Out!
Babylist Universal Baby Registry: The Only Baby Registry You Need
Flash Sale: Up to 60% Off Women’s Dresses at Macy’s
Lululemon Factory Outlet Stores – Your Favorite Brand at a Fraction of the Cost!
Up to 50% Off Fragrance & Beauty at Macy’s
Ulta Beauty Love Your Skin Event: Save 50% Off Lancome, Kiehl’s, Clarins & More
Women’s Boots Up to 60% Off at Macy’s
Dollar General Coupons: Save Money on Zzz Products, Lotions & More
Better Homes & Gardens 6-Piece Bath Towel Sets ONLY $7.74 (Reg $39)
Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Plus (Newest Model) ONLY $34.99 (Reg $50)
Olay Beauty Bar 12-Pack ONLY $6.63 (Reg $13) + Free Shipping!
Armor All Car Cleaning Kit for Car Detailing 8-Piece Set ONLY $19.97 (Reg $31)
National Popcorn Day is January 19th, and Regal Cinemas is helping you celebrate!
Dress up in your favorite costume and head to a Regal near you on January 19 to score a FREE large popcorn.
To sweeten the deal, tag them at your local Regal in costume on National Popcorn Day in an Instagram post (IG Username: Regalmovies) for a chance to win 3 FREE months of Regal Unlimited. 10 winners will be selected starting at 10 AM ET on 1/20/26.
Meal Prep and Meal Planning is back for 2026!
I prepped Taco bowls for my work week lunches, I’ll taco home made guac and tortilla chips with me as well.
I’ll post the taco bowl recipe this week. They are super good (I had one yesterday for lunch).
I also cut up a lot of fruit for the week- I’ve found if it’s grab and go, the kids and I are more likely to eat it,
To keep my grocery budget down, I shop at Aldi (using Instacart, I wrote about how to do it here), our local Grocery Outlet, and use cashback rebates that offer a lot of 100% back (I wrote a post about some of my favorite apps here).
I hit up Aldi on Saturday and restocked a lot of pantry staples- canned tomatoes in various forms, several types of beans, and rice. I also picked up corn tortillas, cheese, and bread. We go through a lot of bread because my oldest has a sandwich every day for lunch. I was out the door for $74.13, just under my budget of $75.00.
Breakfast: The kids tend to eat cereal, a bagel, or an MBS (Mrs. Bear Special) each morning for breakfast. I usually have a proffee and a slice of toast with goat cheese and spicy honey.
Lunch: M-F I pack myself and the kids’ lunches. I bring 5 lunches to work on Monday and stash them in the fridge. I pack the kids’ lunches each night before bed, except for the cold stuff and ice pack- those I put in when I get up in the morning. This week, my lunch is taco bowls.
Dinner: This week, dinners are pretty simple. I’m easing back into meal planning in 2026, and not planning any complicated dinners that involve a lot of steps.
If there is something that one of the kids ends up not liking, they can have a sandwich or a fruit and yogurt smoothie.
Tuesday: Breakfast for Dinner (Waffles, Eggs, & Fruit)
Wednesday: Skillet meal- Maybe Chicken Tetrazini
Thursday: Chicken strips, mashed potatoes, fruit smoothies
Back to school and back to work this week, and boy am I glad. I love free time, but two weeks without pay is a long time.
I’m currently working on my 2026 Birthday Freebies post, but 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. It is focused on San Diego County, but additional resources are available outside my area.
Freebies:
The Best Free Samples for Men: Check Them Out
FREE Royal Authentic Basmati Rice Chatterbuy Kit
FREE Hers Hair Care Products
FREE New Year Sample Box from Gratsy
FREE Sample of Somni Sleep Aid Supplements
Get a Free Birthday Dessert at Olive Garden
FREE Beech-Nut Products
FREE 128-Page Poetry Book
FREE Touchland Power Mist Hydrating Hand Sanitizer at Sephora After Cash Back
FREE 2026 DeLallo Recipe Calendar
Get Free Samples by Mail: List of Legitimate Freebies & Free Samples From Brand Name Companies
FREE Pair of Mack’s Ear Plugs – Every Weekday at 11am EST
FREE Wooden Rose Bouquet at Lowe’s
8 Ways to Get Free Books for Kids
Free Full-Size Products from Home Tester Club
FREE Base on Board Game Night Party Pack
FREE Hefty ReNew Starter Kit
FREE Can of Red Bull Zero – Starts Today
FREE 4-Pack of Premier Protein High Protein Shakes – Last Day
FREE Good & Gather Samples & Smoothies at Target on January 10th
How I Scored a $266 Breast Pump & Accessories for FREE
Claim Cash in the $87.5 Million Beef Class Action Settlement
FREE Air Wick Plug-In Scented Oil Warmer Device After Walmart Cash (Get 3 Free)
FREE Welch’s Zero Sugar Beverage
FREE Sample of Java Trading Sprouted Ground Coffee
FREE Member Week Giveaway Event at Lowe’s on January 10th
FREE Moms & Kids “Sweet Together” Ice Cream Bar Party Pack
FREE Washing Machine Bank Build Event for Kids at Lowe’s
FREE Nature’s Way Sambucus Ultra Immune Juicy Burst Chatterbuy Kit
FREE Penguin Mailbox Workshop at Home Depot
FREE Cozy Winter Seasonal Donut at Krispy Kreme
FREE PERDUE Restaurant Style Chicken Fingers Chatterbuy Kit
FREE Ensure Max Protein Chocolate Nutrition Shake at Kroger
FREE Sample of Stem & Root Mood Support Supplements
FREE Ninja EverClad Fry Pan
Deals:
Celebrate Fri-Yay with These Fun Friday Food Deals
Dreamegg White Noise Machine ONLY $9.79 (Reg $20)
Up to 70% Off Winter Coats at Macy’s – Prices From $10
HP 14-Inch Laptop Intel Processor ONLY $139.99 (Reg $220)
Check Out These Cheap Amazon Subscribe & Save Fillers: All Under $3
Mainstays Dashwood 2-Seat Steel Canopy Porch Swing ONLY $104.98 (Reg $247)
Today is National Spaghetti Day, and what better way to celebrate than sharing some of my favorite recipes that feature the long, skinny pasta that almost everyone loves!
And if you are looking to try some different brands of spaghetti, here are a few of my favorites:
I’ve seen a few content creators on TikTok and IG talk about ClassPass recently, so I checked it out, and here is what I found. I just signed up for a free month myself, and I’m hoping that I can find something I enjoy that I can consistently go to!
I love to exercise, and I love trying new classes; however, I had to give up my gym membership in mid-2025 because I could only go once a week between my schedule and when the gym is open.
ClassPass is an app that helps you find cool new workout opportunities near you! Right now, ClassPass has a 30-day free trial so you can try different classes and fitness centers in your area to find a good fit. I love that ClassPass is affordable, too.
Whether you want to sweat it out with a HIIT class, unwind with a massage, or stream a yoga class from your home, ClassPass makes prioritizing your health and wellness easy.
ClassPass gives you worldwide access to thousands of top-rated gyms, fitness studios, salons, and spas.
Looking for something where you don’t have to leave home? Check out these free streaming videos on Amazon Prime.
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Hewes Family Fun 