Author: Abby H.

Fun, Free Weekend Activities

Abby H.

file4361308158952If you are looking for some fun on a budget, we have compiled a list of national retailers with hands-on workshops, classes and free in-store events for this weekend and many more that are coming soon.

Share this fun,money-saving list with your friends and family. And, if you know of any others to include, please let us know! It is always best to call ahead and make sure that your local store or retailer is participating to avoid disappointment.

 

 

 
Free National Park Entrance:  April 18-19th  opening weekend of National Park Week  Find out the list of participating parks (over 405 of them)
Barnes & Noble Saturday, April 18th at 11 AM Story time featuring Aqualicious plus related activities at many B&N locations. Most stores have free toddler story time, NOOK events, hands-on learning events and author events – find the times and participating Barnes and Noble stores here.

home depot workshops for adultsHome Depot Workshop for Adults

Saturday, April 18th from 10 AM to 11:30 AM – Organic Gardening

Sunday, April 12th from 1 PM to 2:30 PM – How to Install a Toilet

You can pre-register online here.

 

 

whirly twirly windwill Lakeshore LearningLakeshore Learning Store

Saturday, April 18th from 11 AM-3 PM and a few locations offer crafts every Sunday.

Kids make and take a Whirly Twirly Windmill Craft. Get more information here.

 

williams sonoma free jr chefsWilliams-Sonoma Free Technique Classes for Kids

Saturday, April 18th at 10 AM

Junior Chef: Baking Bundts – kids will learn to prepare different flavors and sizes of Bundt cakes with three different glazes. The Jr. Chef’s class is suitable for kids ages 5-13.

 

williams-sonoma free techniques classWilliams-Sonoma Free Technique Classes for Adults

Sunday, April 19th -contact your store for class time

Coffee Techniques Class: Be your own Barista and learn brewing methods and discuss various roasts and grinds that affect your finished drink. To reserve a spot, and find out specific class times, contact your closest store right here.

 

And Coming up in a few weeks:

Earth Day/Month Events in San Diego

4/21/15 at 11 AM: Pottery Barn Kids Decorate biodegradable flower pots and plant seeds for Earth Day. Call your local PBK store here for a reservation.

5/2/15: Free Comic Book Day.  Find participating stores here.

5/2/15 from 9 AM to 12 PM: Home Depot Workshop for Kids Kids Learn How to Build a Picket Fence Photo Frame ~You can pre-register online here. (Some Home Depot locations do a kids workshop each week, no pre-registration required)

5/8/15: Free Admission to National Public Gardens. A favorite annual events just in time for Mother’s Day. Find Gardens Near You

5/9/15 at 10 AM Lowe’s Build and Grow Kids make and take a Mother’s Day Planter. Register at the website here.

5/10/15 at 10 AM: Pottery Barn Botanical flower arranging. Get more information and RSVP here.

5/18/15: Free Art Museum Day. Many art museums will be offering free or discounted admission. Find our more information here.

Lego Stores Free Model Build. Usually held monthly in stores, kids ages 6 to 14 can build and binoculars. Contact your closest LEGO® Store here for details.

And one of my favorites…Bowling for Kids all Summer: Kids Bowl for Free all summer at select bowling centers. Get two free games for each child, every day, all summer long. She rental is not included. Check to see what nearby bowling alleys are participating here.

And Starting in June: Family Movies for $1 During the Summer Participating Regal Cinemas, United Artists, & Edwards Theaters offer 9 weeks of family movies, rated G or PG, for just $1 on Tuesday or Wednesday mornings at 10 AM. You can see the schedule, starting dates and movies here on the Regal website.
Be sure and check out your local library (San Diego County Library event website) and parks and recreation departments for free programs and events right in your hometown!

 

Thanks to Lori at More with Less

Ten Great Buys at 99 Cents Only!

Abby H.3 Comments
Screen Shot 2015-04-16 at 8.22.28 AM
For those of us living in CA, NV, AZ, TX we have the opportunity to save money by shopping the great deals at 99 Cents Only. 99 Cents Only is different from other discount/dollar stores in that the majority of locations feature a refridgator and freezer case with a variety of name brand foods, including fresh fruits and vegetables. In addition to fesh and frozen foods, most locations have a great diverse stock of shelf stable foods too.
And 99 Cents only has more than food, they carry the same types of items that you have grown accustomed to seeing at discount/dollar stores, such as health and beauty aids, school supplies, and kitchen tools.
While 99 Cents Only does not accept manufacturer coupons, they frequently send out coupons that are good for a free item when you purchase X number of items (most recently they have been buy 5 items, receive one free). And there are a few apps that are not retailer specific (such as checkout51, snap by groupon, Mobisave, berrycart, shrink,and shopnimium) that you can submit your receipts to to earn a little extra cash back!
Not everything is .9999/each, many of the items are .7999/each, .6999.each, 2/.9999, or 4./9999. .9999? What? That’s right, after many years in business, last year 99 cents only had to increase prices just a fraction to keep up with inflation. So at .9999/each (or really, rounded up to $1.00), many things are still a screaming deal.
Here are just a few of the great deals that you shouldn’t pass up:
Carrots. A 20 ounce bag (that’s 1.25 lbs) of baby carrots is .9999. At most regular grocers The same bag is upwards of $2.50.
Bagged greens. Most locations carry multiple brands including Dole, Ready Pac, and Earthbound Organics (just to name a few), which can sell at most mainstream grocers for upwards of $4.00/bag!
Disposable person care items, such as cotton swabs.  1000 cotton swabs for $1.00! That’s a lot of clean ears! A box of 500 or so can run upwards of $5.00 at most mass merchandisers.
Men’s dress socks. I’m serious. At $1.00/pair, you’re saving approximately 75-80% over department store prices. Most of hubs socks come from 99 cents only, and he’s been wearing them for about 2 years.
Cake mix. I’m talking name brand here. Unless there is a sale and you have a coupon at the local grocery store, you’ll be spending a few bucks for a cake mix. Drop by your local 99 cents only and take a gander, you’ll be surprised by the variety and brands of cake mixes available. Last time I stopped in to my local store, they had Pillsbury cake mixes!
Bananas. Most grocery stores in San Diego charge .65/-.80/lb for bananas! Most 99 cents locations have bananas for just .49/lb. some select locations have 3 lbs/$1.00!
School/art supplies. Perfect for the parent of an artistically minded kiddo or a homeschooler, most locations have a great selection of construction paper, paint, craft kits, and bulletin board supplies. We get most of our craft supplies at 99 cents only!
Party Supplies, from disposable plates and utensils to goody bag filler, most locations have a decent variety. Not just plain colors, but fun themed goodies as well. Our local store has princess, pirate, minion, TMNT, frozen, sweet 16 themed party supplies.
Bread. This photo isn’t the best representation of what they have most of the time,cut most stores have a variety of fresh breads from companies like Sarah Lee, Orowheat/Arnold’s, and bread in the freezer case too from brands like Ecce Pannis and Texas Toast. Don’t forget to look for bagels and buns too!
Ethnic spices. Making a batch of menudo? Trying your hand at curry? Need Jugo? Don’t forget to check your local 99 cents only for ethnic spices before you start cooking! I get a large bag of bay leaves twice a year and split it with a friend. Perfect for soups and stews!
There is a lot of stuff that may be a good deal, depending on what your rock bottom price for specific items is. To determine if something is a good deal for my family, I keep a price book with the prices of the top 20 items I buy most often at the 5 stores I shop at most in my area. You can learn more about price books here.
IMG_3024
Yummy fresh strawberries- right off the truck!

Recently I spied .79/can Starkist Tuna can, 10 lbs of potatoes for .99, 1 lb packages of fresh Dole Strawberries for just .99, and name brand ketchup, mustard, and BBQ sauce for just .69/each.

If you are hesitant to buy produce at a discount store because you are concerned about freshness, call your local store and ask them what day their produce truck comes.  Most of our local stores receive their produce truck on Thursday mornings, so I am ready to shop for fresh fruits and veggies as soon as I drop the Kiddo off at school.
For my family, 99 Cents Only is the starting point for my shopping each week.  I start by filling my cart with tons of fresh fruit and veggies, checking the freezer case for any deals, and picking up any needed canned goods that are not on sale elsewhere. By starting my shopping at 99 Cents Only, I am able to keep our food budget at $50/week! When there are really good deals (like the case of Larabars for only 99 Cents!) I tend to spend a few extra bucks and stock up, since quantities are limited and 99 Cents Only doesn’t offer rain checks.
What’s your favorite thing to purchase at 99 Cents Only?

Frugal Recipe: Home Made Pizza!

Abby H.
IMG_3070
Yummy, cheesy pizza!

Who doesn’t love pizza? Ok, I know 1 person, but other than that, everyone loves it! Lil’ Man is no exception. He requests, “Cheesy pizza dinner” at least once a day, but I only acquiesce to his request once a week.

I tend to stock up on the crust mix and cans of salt free tomato sauce, so it’s easy to throw together a pizza on those days when I don’t really feel like cooking, or pizza is requested. With the only limitations being your imagination (and what’s in your fridge and pantry) you never have to have the same pizza twice!

Henry’s Cheese Pizza
Ingredients:

  • 1 Betty Crocker Pizza Crust Mix (All you add is a 1/2 cup of hot water)- available at  99 Cents Only OR most grocery stores for $1.00 or less
  • 1/2 c hot (not boiling) water
  • 1/2 c (more or less) all purpose flour (for rolling out the crust)
  • 1 small can tomato Sauce
  • Spices to taste (I use 2 T. Italian seasoning, 1 t. each granulated garlic and onion)
  • 3/4 c. Mozzarella
  • 3/4 c. cheddar cheese
  • (feel free to add up to 1 cup in additional toppings, such as veggies, meat, or even fruit!)

Directions:

  1. Prepare the crust as per the package directions. I set the dough to rest for about 10-15 minutes on the back of the stove. I do this as the stove pre-heats. The dough relaxes and rises just a little.
  2. While the dough is relaxing, mix the tomato sauce and spices together, set aside.
  3. Roll out the dough on a floured surface, and transfer to a well greased cookie sheet.
  4. Top pizza dough with about 1/2 of the pizza sauce, and the cheese
  5. Bake per the package directions
  6. Slice and serve.  I usually get 3 or 4 servings per pizza. We like thin crust, so I roll the dough out to fill a cookie sheet.

Variations: Use white sauce, bbq sauce, or even Robert Rothschild Farm Roasted Pineapple & Habanero Sauce (I usually buy it at Costco) in lieu of the tomato sauce, you can change up your base flavor.

This pizza costs us about $4.00 and serves 3-4  hungry people.  And since I make it at home, I know exactly what goes into it!

April 14, 2015: Ben & Jerry’s Free Cone Day!

Abby H.1 Comment

It’s BAAACCCCK!!!Screen Shot 2015-04-13 at 7.39.18 AM

Tomorrow is the day! Free Cone Day at Ben & Jerry’s locations all across the US from noon until 8pm.

Find your local participating location here.

After our doctor’s appt, Lil’ Man and I will be heading down to Seaport Village for a free scoop, a walk, and a picnic lunch!

There are two locations in San Diego: Horton Plaza Mall and Seaport Village.

If you’ve never been, the line at Seaport Village goes pretty fast. It’s a great time, enjoying a tasty treat and watching the boats in the bay!

Family fun at The San Diego Kids Expo & Fair (and a giveaway)

Abby H.5 Comments

KIDS fESTSummer means tons of family fun all over San Diego! One of our favorite is the The San Diego Kids Expo & Fair and it’s right around the corner! It’s a
fun springtime fair complete with music, dance, sports demos, games, cooking classes, plus a NEWLY added Playland that kids will LOVE!

The spring San Diego Kids Expo & Fair is happening at the Del Mar Fairgrounds on Saturday April 25 and Sunday April 26 from 10am to 5pm.

I took kiddo last year and we had a blast. There is tons of fun stuff to see and do, including two of our favorite things: The play area sponsored by Playtown and Free Kids Workshop by Home Depot. If you’ve got a kiddo that loves princesses, you’re in luck, there will be character photo ops too!

Kidsfest 1 Kidsfest 2In addition to fun activities indoors, there are all kinds of fun activities and rides outdoors, including a zip line, Human Hamster Ball, Water Rollers, Laser Tag, Xorbing Balls, Body Bubbles.

You can learn all about The San Diego Kids Expo & Fair on their website, including hours and ticket prices.

Giveaway Time!! The awesome peeps over at the The San Diego Kids Expo & Fair have generously offered a family pack which includes two adults tickets and unlimited children under age 12, valid for either Saturday April 25 or Sunday April 26. It’s easy to enter! Just leave a comment letting me know why you are excited to win this giveaway. I’ll choose a winner on April 18th in the evening!

Getting Crafty at Home: Play Dough!

Abby H.1 Comment

This is another “Don’t eat this” recipe, but it’s oodles of fun to make and play with!

Play doh can get expensive, especially when the kids mix the colors or leave the lid off, and you are constantly having to replenish the supply.  The following recipe is super easy to make, and most of you have the ingredients in the house. I don’t recommend having the kids help you make this recipe.

Play Dough/Doh

Ingredients:

  • 1c flour
  • 1c warm water
  • 1/2c salt
  • 1 Tablespoon vegetable oil (you can also use melted coconut oil)
  • 1 Tablespoon cream of tartar (optional, but it makes the dough last longer)
  • Food Coloring (I use Wilton Gel Food Coloring– it’s less messy)

Directions:

  1. Mix dry ingredients together, set aside.
  2. In a sauce pan, combine water, oil, and food coloring, stir over low heat.
  3. Add dry ingredients and stir until combined. cook for 4-5 minutes, stirring continuously.
  4. Turn dough onto cutting board, and when warm to the touch, knead for 2-3 minutes until dough is elastic.
  5. Store in zip-loc bags or air tight containers.

I made 5 batches last week, each one a different color for Lil’ Man and his buddies to play with!

Screen Shot 2015-04-10 at 10.59.00 AMI’ve made other recipes, including one with conditioner and corn starch (smells nice, but it’s super sticky and gets stuck to EVERYTHING), and by far, this is my favorite recipe. It lasts a long time, doesn’t get moldy (that’s important), and doesn’t dry out INSTANTLY if you leave it out.

 

Screen Shot 2015-04-10 at 10.59.06 AMYes, the brown Play Dough looks like poop! But the kids don’t care- they were mostly concerned with having brown, so they could have dirt play dough for their cars.

You can also add glitter if you’d like. Some recipes recommend that you add essential oil or scent, but with littler kids, I do not recommend that, it will just encourage them to eat it.

Here are a few of the Play Dough toy sets that Lil’ Man loves:

We also use cookie cutters, a garlic press, potato masher, and whatever fun looking kitchen gadgets we find at the thrift stores or the 99 Cents Store.

Giveaway Time: Dial Miracle Oil Hand Soap

Abby H.9 Comments

unnamedThanks to the nice ppl over at Purex Insiders, we recently got to experience Dial Miracle Oil Hand Soap.

Much like the body wash that I reviewed recently, the Miracle Oil Hand Soap is infused with Marula Oil to nourish and deeply hydrate your skin while protecting it from skin-damaging free radicals.

It’s got a great scent that is not overpowering. We’ve been using it non-stop for 2 weeks, and even the kiddo loves washing his hands with it! Thanks to the Marula Oil and vitamin E, our hands are feeling soft and clean!

Thanks to a recent episode of Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood, the battle of handwashing is now over. Everything goes a lot easier when you have a song to sing!

I’m super excited to be able to share Dial Miracle Oil Hand Soap with my readers! Two lucky fans will each win a coupon for 1 bottle of Dial Miracle Oil Hand Soap.

It’s easy to enter: Just leave a comment with your favorite spring time activity! I’ll select a winner on April 17th!

Thanks to Purex Insiders for supplying me with a full sized bottle of Dial Miracle Oil Hand Soap to facilitate my review. I was not financially compensated for my review.

3 Ingredient Chocolate Cake!

Abby H.3 Comments

I love this cake recipe. It’s quick, easy, and it disappears so quickly! And the best part, it’s loaded with pumpkin, so you don’t have to feel bad about serving it to your family. It’s easy enough that you can let even the littlest chef help you prepare it without risking a total cake failure!

Chocolate Chocolate Chip Pumpkin Cake

Screen Shot 2015-04-10 at 10.50.18 AMIngredients:

  • 1 Cake Mix (chocolate or Devil’s Food) I prefer the mix with pudding it it- the cake is moister
  • 1 small (approx 15 oz.) can of pumpkin
  • 1/2-1c chocolate chips (I use semi-sweet)

 

Directions:

  1. In a large mixing bowl combine cake mix and pumpkin. I used an electric mixer, but you can always mix it by hand.
  2. Add chocolate chips, stir to combine.
  3. Bake as directed on cake mix packaging. If making cupcakes, do not use cupcake liners, use spray release. Remember, there is no added fat in the recipe, so you’ll need the spray release, or you’ll be picking muffin-y goodness off the cupcake liners!

Screen Shot 2015-04-10 at 10.50.28 AMThis is the yummiest, fudgiest cake you’ll ever have. This is a great cake to take to potlucks!

  • Vegan Option: Use a vegan Cake Mix, and Vegan Chocolate chips
  • GF option: Use a GF cake mix

It was so good that we snuck some cupcakes for breakfast!Screen Shot 2015-04-10 at 10.50.41 AM

We also shared it with our friends at a play date! Even our pickiest eaters gobbled up the cupcakes!

Shopping Online to save big!

Abby H.3 Comments

One of the ways I am able to keep us so well dressed (or in kiddos case, just dressed- that kid grows like a weed!), is I am always on the hunt for a good deal on clothes.

Here are a few ways we save:

I am always looking for coupons for department stores. JCPenney’s and Kohl’s are notorious for having dollar off (for example $5 of $25+ purchases) or percent off coupons. These coupon are either paper coupons mailed to you, or available to print on their website. In the case of JCPenney’s, these coupon codes can be used online too! Both Kohl’s and JCPenney’s give you the option of ordering online and having items shipped to the store closest to you for either free or a reduced shipping.

I order most of our clothes online, for a few reasons:

  • Better selection than most stores, in terms of sizes and clearance goodies.
  • I can search for extra discounts and coupon codes while I’m online.
  • I can shop whenever (yes, even at 2am!).
  • I can go through a shopping aggregator for extra savings.

Which brings me to my next tip: Use a Cashback/Points site. Two of my favorites are Topcashback or Mypoints. You will earn cash back in the form of a paypal payment,  an Amazon.com gift card, or points that can redeemed for gift cards. You can use these sites along with a coupon code to save even more!

Most of these sites work with thousands of stores, so you’ll find a store that you like to shop!

If you have a rewards credit card, use that too.  I do not ever use ATM/Debit Card online. While our bank account is FDIC insured, there is a long process involved in getting your money back in cases of fraud, whereas with our American Express, I make a few calls, and fill a form out online, and it’s done. PLUS- I earn extra cash back when I shop online at certain retailers or types of retailers.

Use Gift Cards (or Paypal)! If you have a pre-paid gift card from a rebate or gift, or if you have a Paypal Balance (I usually have a few bucks in my paypal account from doing surveys online), use it! Most online retailers accept Paypal.

Screen Shot 2015-04-08 at 8.08.32 AMHere is one of my last JCP.com purchases, using some of the tips above:
Kiddo needed new shorts. He keeps growing, so it was time for new shorts!

 

 

 

3 pairs of shorts $5.49/each
Polo Shirt $8.99
Subtotal: $25.46
Sales Tax .80
S&H: $3.95
_____________________________

Discounts:
-$10/$25 purchase coupon code (was available on the JCP website)
-$10 Gift Card (from the JCP rewards program)
Total Out Of Pocket $10.21 (I used my Paypal Balance to pay this)

I shopped through Topcashback to earn an extra 3% cash back (approx. .15.  Every penny helps!)

Now hopefully the kid will stay the same size long enough for him to wear these new clothes out!

 

Recipe: Mother’s Milk Lactation Cookies

Abby H.

00707With the second small friend on the way, as well as many friends having kids, I’ve been whipping up batches of lactation cookies like whoah. A batch of these cookies makes a great gift!

The key ingredients to these cookies are Flax, Brewer’s Yeast, and Oatmeal. Brewer’s Yeast and Oatmeal are galactagogues, meaning they promote lactation. Flax contains Omega-3’s, which are needed for brain function and development and can be passed through breast milk. You need all three of these ingredients.

Don’t Worry: If your spouse or relatives eat these cookies, they won’t start lactating!! Galactagogues only stimulate milk production in those already lactating!

This Recipe makes A LOT of cookies (4-5 dozen). I freeze them, and thaw them 3-4 cookies at a time. 4-5 dozen cookies will last a new mom a few weeks.

Unlike my other recipes, there are no substitutions or work arounds. Each one of these ingredients is needed. This recipe cannot be made nut/seed free, or vegan.

Mother’s Milk Lactation Cookies

Ingredients:

  • 2 c. flour
  • 2 c. oats (Old fashioned is preferred, but Quick cook works as well. DO NOT USE STEEL CUT OATS!)
  • 1 tsp baking soda
  • 1 tsp baking powder
  • 1 c. Nut butter of your choice (I’ve used both Almond and Peanut- If you have nut allergies, try Sun Butter)
  • 1/4 c. brewer’s yeast (You can buy it at Sprouts or Whole Foods)
  • 1 stick butter, softened (1/2 c)
  • 1 c brown sugar, packed
  • 1 c white sugar
  • 1 T vanilla
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1 c. ground flax seeds(You can get them in the bulk food section at Sprouts or Whole Foods)
  • 1 1/3 c. warm water (you may need a little more, depending on how dry the weather is)
  • 1 bag chocolate chips
  • Dash of salt

Optional: Nuts, dried fruit in place of the chocolate chips

Directions:

  1. In a medium sized bowl, mix the flour, oats, soda and baking powder. Set Aside.
  2. in a small bowl, mix the flax and water. Set aside. The mixture will be kind of gooey- almost the consistency of a raw egg.
  3. In a large bowl, cream the butter, nut butter, yeast, vanilla, and sugar.
  4. Add the eggs one at a time, mix until combined.
  5. Add the flax/water mixture.
  6. Add the dry mixture, and mix until combined.
  7. Add the chips, dried fruit or nuts.
  8. Scoop by the spoonful onto a greased cookie sheet or into greased mini-muffin pans.
  9. Bake at 350 for 8-12 minutes.