Author: Abby H.

Mommycon Scholarships Available!

Abby H.

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Mommycon is coming! Mommycon Anaheim is October 5, and Mommycon San Diego (where I’ll be!) is November 23.

Being a mom is hard, and having a tribe of supportive moms is crucial. That’s why I love Mommycon! There are classes, panels, vendors, and of course FREEBIES, all to support mommies and littles. If you are a first-time mama or a seasoned pro, there is something for every mama!

If the cost of tickets is preventing you, or someone you know, from attending, the Mommycon ladies want to help. Please apply for the scholarship program here.

If you are a military mama, or military dependent, check out this awesome complimentary/discount ticketing program here.

To view the schedule, buy tickets and get more info go to MommyCon.com and use code “MTAH19” for 10% off!

This year will be my third year at Mommycon and I love it!

Kids Care Fest 10/5/19

Abby H.

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It’s that time again! Kids Care Fest is coming to Lemon Grove on October 5, 2019. Sponsored by the Grossmont Healthcare District, this community event is open to the public and features free health screenings for children and their families.

Kids Care Fest is an opportunity for community members to get together, have fun and receive free, vital health screenings from healthcare professionals. Along with vision and dental checkups, Kids Care Fest features a variety of local health and community-based organizations offering medical and wellness resources. Free flu shots will be available as well (while supplies last).

Additional free activities will include a bounce house, rock climbing, and demonstrations and displays from public services, including police and fire officials. Free child fingerprinting services and children’s books will also be available.

A complete list of community partners and services can be found here.

This event is 100% free!

 

Restaurant.com- $2 for $25 Certificates!

Abby H.

Screen Shot 2019-09-10 at 6.46.40 PM.pngNow through tomorrow score a $25 restaurant.com for just $2.00 when you use coupon code TWO at Checkout. Not familiar with how restaurant.com works? Check out my post here.

 

 

*Terms: The majority of Restaurant.com-Specific Certificates are available for the advertised price. In some instances, prices may be higher. Restaurant.com Cards are separately priced. Limit of one (1) certificate per visit to a restaurant. Minimum spend requirements and other restrictions on the Restaurant-specific certificates vary and are subject to change. This promotion does not apply to previously placed orders, and cannot be combined with other promotions or offers, and does not apply to Restaurant.com Card purchases. Purchase or redemption of this offer requires that you agree to all the terms and conditions found at www.restaurant.com. Registration, including valid email address, is required for purchase. When redeeming a Restaurant.com Card, these savings cannot be applied. Offer valid from Tuesday, September 10, 2019 at 1:00AM PST thru Wednesday, September 11, 2019 at 11:59PM PST.

Box Tops for Education: No Scissors Needed!

Abby H.

I wrote about Box Tops for Education (and other ways to help earn money for your school too) here.

Well, times they are a’changing, and now you no longer need to clip, clip, clip to earn money for your kid’s school.

Screen Shot 2019-09-09 at 10.47.46 PM.pngBox Tops is changing to fit today’s families. The new and improved Box Tops mobile app uses state-of-the-art technology to scan your store receipt, find participating products and instantly add Box Tops to your school’s earnings online.

Not sure which products have Box Tops? Here is a complete list!

The differences are simple, and now that you don’t have to clip and save and remember to turn in, it’ll be so much easier to help schools earn money!

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Eventually, the Box Tops program will become digital-only. Participating brands are starting to change their packaging from a traditional Box Tops clip to the new Box Top label.

If you see this label, use the new Box Tops app to scan your receipt. Box Tops are still worth 10¢ each for your school. The app will find participating products purchased at any store and instantly add cash to your school’s earnings online.

 

Mabel’s Labels: Early Bird Pricing on School Labels!

Abby H.

**This post contains affiliate links and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking on my links.

Back to School Season… So much money spent on school supplies, backpacks, lunch bags, whatever else they need.

Keeping tabs on all of this stuff can be a pain, so that’s where Mabel’s Labels come into play.

We have the Ultimate Back-to-School Combo Pack, which is great, as there are labels in tons of various sizes for all kinds of needs (including tags to go into shoes- perfect for tap shoes!)- and it includes two tags.

IMG_6867.jpgI’m sure everyone is hip to stranger dangers, but one thing that I see time and again is kids with their names embroidered on the outside of their backpacks. Yes, it’s cute, but it gives strangers more info than they need.

This is another reason that I put the name tags inside of Henry’s backpack and lunch bag.

When we go to Legoland or someplace where he might be easily separated, he has one of the Mabel’s Tags that reads, “Lost & Autistic Call my mom ###-##-####” I attach it to one of the belt loops of his pants.

He is not very good at remembering phone numbers, so this is a perfect solution for us. He knows if he gets separated he is to go to e park employee and show them the tag.

Mabel’s Labels has labels and tags to solve so many issues!

3 Days Only: $15 Summer Styles from Tea Collection!

Abby H.

**This post contains affiliate links and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking on my links.

Now through Thursday (9/12), get select dresses, tees, and rompers for $15 and under + free shipping on orders over $99. This is an incredible sale- Tea Collection has quality clothes for babies and kids that last. And with prices like these- you gotta shop quickly to get the best selection.

Here are a few that are in my shopping cart:

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Fine print:
$15 and under styles prices as marked. Valid on items labeled $15 & Under Style. Offer available online at teacollection.com only and valid through 9/12/2019 at 11:59 PM PST. Excludes Every Day Play Sets, Sussex Baby Sets, and third party items. Cannot be combined with other promotions. No adjustments on previous purchases. Not redeemable for cash. Limited to stock on hand. Cannot be used towards the purchase of gift cards. Discount taken will be pre-tax and before shipping. Discount applied at time of purchase will be taken off each item returned.

For free standard US shipping, use code SEPTFREESHIP at checkout. Shipping offer valid on standard US shipping only. Not valid on Canada shipping.

Kellogg’s Family Rewards: Savings, Recipes, and More!

Abby H.

Does your family like Kellogg’s Products? Check out Kellogg’s Family Rewards!

  • Purchase the KFR-participating products that you love. Easily collect points on those purchases using our three ways. Then redeem your points for awesome rewards.
  • The rewards catalog is filled with items you’ll love – from gifts cards to coupons to sweepstakes – and so much more! Plus, they add new rewards all the time.
  • A valid email address is your key to bonus offers, free points, special offers, money-saving coupons, great-tasting recipes and so much more!

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It’s so simple! I’ve been doing this rewards programs since it’s inception and I’ve earned all kinds of great freebies and high-value coupons!

Quick, Tasty Recipe: Berries Romanoff

Abby H.

Berries 2.jpgI was thinking of a way to use the berries we have on hand, and this recipe came to mind!

My friend Ana brought Berries Romanoff over for dessert the last time we had a potluck, and it’s now become a staple in our house. This is a variation on the original recipe, which calls for orange zest and Grand Marnier liqueur. This version is much more kid-friendly.

This is a quick, easy dessert that even kids love.

Ingredients:

  • 6 Cups berries- Raspberries, strawberries, blueberries, blackberries, boysenberries, mulberries, and pitted halved cherries are all good choices.
  • 1 cup  thawed Cool Whip (or make whipped cream from scratch if you feel motivated)
  • 1/2 cup  Sour Cream
  • 1 T. orange juice
  • 1 tsp. brown sugar
  • 1 tsp. cinnamon
  • 2 tsp. orange zest

Directions:

  1. Divide the berries into 6 dessert bowls, set aside.
  2. In a mixing bowl, combine the remaining ingredients.
  3. Spoon mixture over the top of the berries and serve.

The mixture keeps in the fridge for 3-4 days, but once you taste it, you won’t be able to stop eating it.  It’s really good.

 

9/9/19 Weekly Meal Plan!

Abby H.

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The heat has broken! Thank goodness- This week I plan on making brownies, banana bread, and pizza from scratch.

I’ve also got a lot of fresh fruit, so I’ll be making up a huge batch of fruit salad. We’ll be eating it a lot- It’s a great way to get the kids to eat fruit, and it cuts down on food waste.

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, so I’m able to plan meals and use up what we’ve got with little waste. If you are looking for kitchen inventory printable, I like the kitchen inventories here. They are great printables.

You may notice a lot of plant-based meals- We are not vegetarian, but I am trying to get more veggies into our diet. I do a lot of cooking from scratch- I find it easier to get veggies and fruit into recipes that I can have 100% control over.

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

Breakfast: Coffee with heavy cream for me, and pancakes or something along those lines for the kids (they love the Kodiak Cakes Mix).  I also keep sandwich Ziploc bags of other frozen fruit on hand to make the kids smoothies when they request them (a few times per week). Berries, peaches, and mangos are pretty popular.

Lunches are leftovers, salads, or soups for me and Bitty. The big kid takes his lunch to school, but once in a while, I can convince him to buy his lunch.

For dinner, when we’ve got busy days (like Mondays), I’ll try and put something in the crockpot (I am picking up my new crockpot this week) in the morning, or pull something I’ve already prepped out that can be quickly cooked.

  • Monday: Protein shakes and Dave’s Killer Bagels
  • Tuesday:  Veggie and cheese frittata, fruit salad
  • Wednesday: White Bean Burgers, baked sweet potatoes, green salad
  • Thursday: Waffles, bacon, homemade applesauce
  • Friday:  Date Night
  • Saturday: Homemade Pizza Night (I’ll probably bake cookies too)
  • Sunday: Leftover night

 

Talk Back: What are you planning to cook this week?

Family Favorite Recipe: Mountain Man Breakfast Casserole

Abby H.

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This is a great old Boy Scout/backpacking recipe. We eat it when we go camping, cooked in a dutch oven. You can cook it at home in a baking dish in the oven if you aren’t out cooking in a field.

Screen Shot 2019-09-05 at 4.38.58 PM.pngIngredients

  • 1 bag O’Brien Potatoes, approx 28 ounces- defrosted
  • 1 dozen eggs
  • 1/4 cup whole milk
  • 1 lb. bulk breakfast sausage (like Jimmy Dean) cooked, crumbled and patted to absorb the excess oil
  • 2 cups cheddar cheese, divided
  • Salt and pepper, to taste
  • Sour Cream and Salsa (for a topping)

Directions

  1. Mix the sausage,  1 cup of  the cheese, and potatoes in a bowl
  2. Pour sausage/egg/cheese mixture into a 9×11 baking dish
  3. Scramble eggs and milk and pour over sausage/egg/cheese mixture
  4. Top the dish with the remaining 1 c. cheese.
  5. Bake at 350 for 20-35 minutes until the eggs have set and the dish is brown, bubbly and delicious.
  6. Serve with Sour Cream and Salsa.
  7. Serves 8-10 at home 4-6 when camping (fresh air makes you hungry).

If you have any leftovers, it’s great in a warmed tortilla the next morning as a burrito! I’ve also been informed that this is really good with avocado slices on top.

 

Modifications for special dietary concerns:

  • You can make this vegetarian by using soy sausage crumbles.
  • This recipe is naturally gluten-free.
  • This recipe cannot be made vegan.