Author: Abby H.

Earn Points on All Restaurant Receipts with Fetch Rewards!

Abby H.

Fetch Rewards is reminding us that when the weather outside if cold and wet, you can still earn Fetch Rewards!

Got a craving coming on? Here’s a friendly reminder that all restaurant receipts earn you Fetch points—yup, even takeout.

And don’t forget, in the Fetch Rewards app, click on the ME tab (on the bottom), and sync your Amazon and email address. Once you connect them, you’ll be able to earn points on your online purchases too!

You will earn points from the following retailers:

  • Apple
  • Barnes & Noble
  • Bath & Body Works
  • Bed Bath & Beyond
  • Best Buy
  • BJ’s Wholesale Club
  • Boxed Wholesale
  • Caviar
  • Chewy
  • Costco Wholesale
  • CVS
  • Delivery
  • Doordash
  • Food Lion
  • FreshDirect
  • Giant Eagle
  • Giant Direct
  • Google Express
  • GrubHub
  • H-E-B
  • Hannaford
  • Harris Teeter
  • Hobby Lobby
  • Hy-Vee
  • Instacart
  • Jet
  • Jewel-Osco
  • JOANN Stores
  • Kohl’s
  • Lowe’s
  • Lowes Foods
  • Macy’s
  • magazine.store
  • Meijer
  • Michael’s
  • Office Depot
  • Panera Bread
  • Petco
  • PetSmart
  • Rite Aid
  • Safeway
  • Sam’s Club
    • Does not include Sam’s Scan-and-Go purchases
  • Seamless
  • Sephora
  • Shipt
  • ShopRite
  • Stop & Shop
  • Target
  • The Home Depot
  • Thrive Market
  • Tom Thumb
  • UberEats
  • Ulta Beauty
  • Vons
  • Waitr
  • Walgreens
  • Walmart
    • Does not include Walmart Pay purchases
  • Walmart Grocery
  • Wegmans Food Markets
  • Weis Markets
  • Winn-Dixie
  • Woodman’s Markets
If you are new Fetch Rewards, learn more about it here.    What I love is that it is not store specific, which is great.  Use my code ND2TB when you sign up and you’ll score Bonus Points (amounts vary from 1500-4000, depending on the current promotion they are running).   

Legoland California Update! Build and Play and More!

Abby H.

My kids miss Legoland California like whoah. I won’t lie, I miss Grannie’s Apple Fries. I got an email from Legoland California this morning about some upcoming openings in the park and at the hotel.

LEGOLAND® California Resort’s “Build ‘N Play” Days starting March 5, 2021.  This new experience offers guests a chance to explore play structures within the Park such as Kai’s Spinners and Cole’s Rock Climb in LEGO® NINJAGO® World and DUPLO® Playtown, building activities, a scavenger hunt in Miniland U.S.A., live entertainment, character meet and greets, shopping at The Big Shop and more!

With ticket prices starting at $19.99, Build ‘N Play activities include a Miniland dance party where guests can do the LEGO limbo, design their own Minifigure on the roof of the Model Shop, rock out to live musical appearances in Fun Town, and taste crazy food concoctions such as deconstructed S’mores and colorful churros. Two building activities have been designed to stretch children’s imaginations with separate sanitized brick packs and space for children’s creations to stay on display each weekend.

And this is the part that is super exciting to me (and I know the kids will dig it too)…

LEGOLAND® Castle Hotel guests can double their splashing fun by having exclusive access to LEGO® CHIMA™ Water Park! From 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on visits between March 12 and May 2, Cragger’s Swamp, Lion Temple Wave Pool, Build-a-Boat, and Wolves’ Den Grill is open exclusively to Hotel guests.

Guests at LEGOLAND Castle Hotel can see movies outdoors at night, enjoy an outdoor play structure, listen to bedtime stories and meet their favorite LEGOLAND costume characters! Reservations for LEGOLAND Castle Hotel can be made online and guests can choose from three different room themes: Knights and Dragons, Royal Princess, or Magic Wizard rooms. Breakfast take out plus lunch and dinner take out and dine-outside options are available plus an in-room treasure hunt for the kids.

I’m going to start saving our pennies and see if we can make this happen over Spring Break! We’ve been to Legoland so many times, but we’ve never been to the water park. Both kids love Legoland, especially Chima and Ninjago-themed activities and rides.

Hit Your Fundraising Goals with Dream Dinners!

Abby H.

Fundraising is usually not fun. Having kids sell wrapping paper, candy bars, Entertainment Books..ugh. It’s hard because it’s usually something that not everyone needs.

Dream Dinners wants to help you with a fun, successful fundraiser! Everyone eats, and this fundraiser not only supports your local nonprofit but gives caregivers extra time (most Dream Dinners take about 30 minutes to prepare and serve) around dinner time. The menu options for March are super yummy, and there are lots of kid friendly options!

March Matchness VR Email Header 2Host a fundraising event for you during our March Matchness campaign! In past years, Dream Dinners has raised more than $20,000 each March for non-profits around the country. This year, Dream Dinners will provide a match of up to $500 to the top ten fundraisers in March!

Due to COVID-19, they’ve adjusted their in-store fundraising events to take place as a socially safe, curbside pickup at our store. Here’s how it works:

Calendar IconChoose a date and time for your curbside fundraiser. Do you plan on having a lot of people attend? Dream Dinners can book multiple dates and times!
Chat Bubble IconInvite guests to your fundraiser event. Dream Dinners provides PDF invitations and content for you to share on social media!
Piggy Bank IconYour guests will pay $50 to attend and each attendee* will receive three medium-size meals (nine total servings) to take home and enjoy with their family. Your organization will earn a portion of the sales from each order!
Heart Plate IconRaise an extra $20 for each guest that places a follow-up order at Dream Dinners!
The Dream Dinners fundraisers are perfect for local nonprofits, including school groups, sports teams, animal rescues, food banks, churches, and other causes. Contact Dream Dinners today for more information and to book your curbside fundraiser event at Dream Dinners!

The La Mesa Dream Dinners Team can be contacted via phone at 619-460-6800

*One fundraiser order per household.

Talk Back: I’d love to hear about your favorite fundraising techniques for your local nonprofit!

Virtual Moms Meet Wow Summit is Next Month!

Abby H.

In less than a month I’m attending the Moms Meet Virtual WOW Summit!

I’m so excited to be attending the Moms Meet Virtual WOW Summit! This three-day online event is focused on raising happy and healthy families, and you can do it all from the comfort of your own home! Join Moms Meet and me for Virtual WOW Summit from March 9–11.

From attending educational workshops and hearing from compelling speakers to networking with like-minded moms, you’ll walk away equipped with the knowledge you need to raise a happy and healthy family. The best part—it’s totally free to attend if you are a member of Moms Meet (and joining Moms Meet is free)! There’s even a unique Track just for bloggers and influencers. Learn more here.

I’ve been to two Wow Summits in the past- It’s an amazing experience, definitely an event worth your time!

Frugal Recipe: Beef Machacas (Slowcooker recipe)

Abby H.1 Comment
Look at the delicious marbling!

This is an easy recipe, and it is divine! You may already have most of the ingredients in your kitchen too!

It’s pretty flexible when it comes to the meat- You want a good roast with some marbling. Chuck Roast, Tri-tip, Round Roast, Rump Roast are all good options. This recipe cooks low and slow all day. Break out your slow cooker my friends!

Let’s dive into this beefy, delicious recipe!

Machacas

Imgredients

Directions

  1. In a heavy-bottomed cast-iron skillet or dutch oven, heat canola oil, add beef, and sear each side for 5-8 minutes. You want a nice brown crust on each side. If the piece is large, cut it in pieces to fit into your slow cooker.
  2. As the meat is searing, in your slow cooker pour frozen vegetables.
  3. In a mixing bowl, mix tomato sauce, salsa, and spices.
  4. Place the meat in the slow cooker, and pour water into the pan that browned meat. Stir and scrape off any browned/burned bits off the bottom of the pan. Pour that water into the sauce bowl and mix thoroughly.
  5. Pour sauce over meat and cook on low in the slow cooker for 10+hours.
  6. Pull meat out, and shred with two forks. Return to the slow cooker, and keep simmering on low until the sides are ready to eat.

I serve this meat with beans, rice, tortillas, Corn and Avocado Salsa, and a green salad. It keeps well in the fridge for a few days, and you can freeze it as well. It’s also excellent in the morning with eggs in a breakfast burrito.

2/16/2021 New Coupons!

Abby H.

It’s the middle of February, and if one of your goals for the new year is to save money, check out the coupons below! I’ve been printing and clipping coupons for years (decades really), and while the coupon values have dwindled over the past few years, I still manage to find some good ones to share with you a few times a month.

I’m all about keeping cash in your pocket!

Save $1.00 on any ONE (1) SlimFast® Original or Advanced product

Save $0.50 on any ONE (1) pack of Energizer® Batteries

Save $2.00 ANY ONE (1) Garnier® Whole Blends® Sulfate Free Remedy or Miracle Treatment product

Save $1.00 On any Unbun product, limit one per visit

 

Advanced Opinions has an Upcoming Project Regarding Food/Sweeteners

Abby H.

Advanced Opinions (A market research firm located in New York) is recruiting for an upcoming Online Project & Webcam Group. It is a project regarding Health and Over-the-Counter medications.

To be considered, complete the intake survey here.

Online Webcam Group via Desktop/Laptop with Webcam (NO CHROMEBOOK/TABLETS)

Length: 2 hours and 45 minutes

Dates: Monday, February 22nd & Tuesday, February 23rd

Incentive: $40 for first-hour online survey,  additional $50 if selected for 90 minute Webcam group

New Healthy Freebies From Social Nature!

Abby H.

 If you are into Organic/Natural/Healthy products, then Social Nature is up your alley. Sign up and apply to sample products that you are interested in. I get probably 1-2 products to sample each month. And most of the time it’s full-size products, not just a tiny sample.

Most of the time, Social Nature will mail me a coupon for a free product and I go to my local Target, Sprouts, or other retailer and pick up the item. I’ve gotten products valued at $20+ too. I recently sampled and reviewed skincare products, kombucha, frozen entrees, and veggie burgers to name a few.

Right now there about a dozen new products that you can apply to try from Social Nature!

And one of the things I love about Social nature is that they don’t leave our friends with food allergies out. There are sampling offers for Gluten-free, nut-free, meat-free foods frequently.

Canadian Friends- You are in luck, there are sampling opportunities for you too!

 

2/15/2021 Weekly Meal Plan

Abby H.

0a5e9dab796cea8a07eabe4eb4795b9e.jpgToday is a national holiday here in the US (President’s Day), so no school for the kiddos, but that doesn’t mean that I get any reprieve in the action.

I did a little shopping yesterday (we ran out of milk, ohs noes!). But it was a pretty small shop. Once again, we’re eating a lot from our pantry and freezer. I scored some great produce last week and we’ll be eating that for most of our salads.

I did some meal prep over the weekend, including making up beans and rice for lunches (and Sunday’s Dinner), and I made a HUGE batch of Machacas yesterday- half of it went onto the freezer for another meal in a few weeks.

For those of you that are new to meal planning, I’ve got an easy 101 style post here with super easy tips and steps. After you get that down, here is info about batch or freezer cooking.

I’ve gotten a pretty good inventory of the pantry, freezer, and fridge done (I try to update it after every shopping trip), so I’m able to plan meals and use up what we’ve got with little waste. If you are looking for a kitchen inventory printable, I like the kitchen inventories here. They are great printables.

I only post our dinner plans for the week, because our other meals are usually the same each day.

Breakfast: Coffee with 1/2 and 1/2  for me, and pancakes or something along those lines for the kids.  The kids are nuts about pancakes. The Big Kid has been on a protein shake kick in the AM.

Lunch: The little kiddo and I usually have something quick and filling (I’ve been prepping bean and rice bowls on Sundays for us to have during week) so we can get back to our adventures.  Big kid takes his lunch to school. He’s been digging on Bear naked protein granola in his lunch lately. It’s his new favorite.

Dinner: Usually, I do a crockpot meal on Mondays, but now that we are home all the time, we’ve been having an odd combination of fully home-cooked, scratch meals, and frozen entrees and veggies. I have been posting our meal plans on Instagram too- As well as pics of stuff we are doing to keep busy.

  • Sunday:  Beef Machacas, Beans, Rice and Salad
  • Monday: Black Bean Burgers, Chick’n Nuggets, Cauli Fries, salad
  • Tuesday:  Dream Dinners Entree, Salad (green or fruit)
  • Wednesday: Protein shakes, Meal of Snacks or leftovers
  • Thursday: Soup, Grilled Cheese sammiches, fruit
  • Friday:  Pizza Night!
  • Saturday: Leftover Fiesta

Please stay safe you guys! The sooner we flatten the curve, the sooner life can go back to normal- whatever that means.

Talk Back: What are you cooking for dinner this week?

Virtual Sleep Well Yoga with Jennie Olson Six

Abby H.

My friend and Yogini, Jennie Olson Six is offering an awesome, relaxing 30 minutes of unwinding movement and the rest of the time is a restful relaxation.

You can do this on your mat or in bed and then drift off to sleep!

Most of us miss our pre-pandemic exercise time. I don’t know about you, but I miss the quiet relaxation that yoga provides. It is impossible for me to do yoga in a house full of people (and CAT). Interruptions (mom mom mom mom mooooooom), cat trying to sleep on my mat, even the Amazon Guy knocking on the door- OY VEY.

The best part of this class is that it fits every budget-By Donation or Free
Zoom Link
Jennie has some great tips and more information on other workouts and yoga opportunities for FREE here.