As you are all aware, Dream Dinners is one of my favorite ways to save time and get tasty, healthy meals on the table in 45 minutes or less!
If you’ve never tried Dream Dinners, or if it’s been a while since you ordered, check out this awesome offer!
Use Coupon Code 15NEW24 at check out and save $15 off your next purchase, whether you pick it up in-store, or have it delivered, $15 off is a great deal.
If you aren’t familiar with Dream Dinners, check out my post with details and my review here.
P&G is offering a $15 rebate when you spend $50 or $5 when you spend $20 on selected P&G brands, including Tide, Gain, Charmin, Puffs, Venus, and more.
To learn more, or submit a rebate, check out the P&G site here.
You have through 9/4/2024, and multiple receipts are allowed!
We’ve been participating in Tryazon events for three+ years. We’ve gotten to try all sorts of fun toys, games, and food. You can learn more about Tryazon here.
Introducing Cake-N-Bake Challenge a brand new game in this new Tryazon Featured Party opportunity, sponsored by Hey Buddy Hey Pal! Bring the excitement of baking shows into the game room with a fast-paced, color-matching, cake-building game! With 3 different ways to play, the fun keeps going. Perfect for ages 4+ so it’s great for family and friend game nights.
During the school year, I take my lunch to work every day. Not only is it cheaper than getting takeout daily, but bringing food to work helps me stay “on track” with my nutrition goals.
My kids also take their lunches every day. California public schools offer free breakfast and lunch to all kids, but my kids don’t like the offerings, and that’s ok with me.
Here are my top tips for packing a tip-top lunch- a lunch that gets eaten!
In case you are wondering what my kids and I have for lunch, here are just a few examples:
Boy child: Smoothie (contains fruit, greek yogurt, fairlife milk), chips or pretzels, granola bar, fruit snack, protein cookies.
Girl Child: Something hot (usually chicken noodle soup or mac n’ cheese), apple slices, chips or pretzels, cookie, fruit snack, cheese stick.
Me: Meal Prepped lunch (2 ounces meat, 4-6 ounces of veggies, 1/2 cup starch), Salad with 2 ounces of meat, or a frozen entree with at least 15 grams of protein, 2 small clementines or 1 orange cut-up, 1 cup of veggies (carrot sticks or celery), serving of guac or hummus, can of fizzy water. My morning snack is a cup of Greek yogurt and 1 cup of fruit.
Are you familiar with Canva? It’s a website where you can make all sorts of media- both print and digital!
I love it because I have made forms including inventories, visual schedules, and weekly calendars. It has been an immense help in keeping my home running more efficiently, which is definitely needed with two neurodivergent kids.
Here are a few that have really helped me:
10 days until school starts for us… Not that I’m counting.
I grocery shopped on Thursday and picked up a lot of staples for smoothies and mac n’ cheese- The two current food hyper focuses.
I’m trying hard to get the kids to increase their fiber and protein intake. I can tell the difference when they are filling up on both- if nothing else, it helps them sleep better.
Thanks to the great freebies from Social Nature and Aisle, we’ve been trying new foods lately. It’s fun to try new foods.
If you 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 good inventory of the pantry, freezer, and fridge (I try to update it after every shopping trip), so I plan meals and use up what we’ve got with little waste.
I only post our dinner plans for the week, because our other meals are usually the same.
Breakfast: I’ve been really into protein coffee lately. It helps me hit my protein goals and keeps me full until lunch. I use premade protein shakes like these and these. The kids request bagels and fruit most mornings. The big kid is on a smoothie kick; his favorites can be found here.
Lunch: I have a plastic tote full of self-serve snacks. I buy treats and snacks in bulk and fill up snack-sized zip-top bags. We eat lunch at home most days, and I pack snacks and water for us when we are out having summer adventures.
Dinner: It’s so hot here in Southern California, that I’m trying hard not to turn on the oven. We’re enjoying a lot of ready-to-eat sides (chips and fruit), so that time in the kitchen is minimized.
Tuesday: Mac n’ Cheese, Smoothies, chips
Wednesday: Chicken Fajita Veggie Skillet, tortilla chips or cheese quesadillas (kids choice)
Thursday: Breakfast egg bake (sausage, eggs, hashbrowns, veggies)
I love good deals. I recently stumbled across a few great deals on Amazon on back-to-school essentials.
As someone who works in a school, this is my number one deal- 72 Pack Black Whiteboard Erasable Markers at 50% off with coupon code 50T375GI. (deal ends 8/9/2024 at 11:59PM PDT)
I have already ordered this one- The charging cables in my house are out of control. Electronics Organizer bag 9.45″x7.09″x3.94″. 50% off with coupon code 507ITYG2. (deal ends Aug 11, 2024 at 11:59 PM PDT)
Daily and Weekly Planners in various pastel colors 8.4’x6.4″ 40% off with coupon code 40Y873CB. (deal ends 8/13/2024 at 11:59 PM PDT)
Sticky Notes – 12 Pads, 3”x3” – Colorful Self-Stick Post Notes 50% off with coupon code 50IOUFN5. (deal ends Aug 14, 2024 at 11:59 PM PDT)
Acrylic Paint Markers– These are awesome for painting rocks among other things. Two varieties 50% off with coupon code 50Q1I3IN. (deal ends Aug 17, 2024 at 11:59 PM PDT)
Acrylic Magnetic Whiteboard Acrylic Calendar, Monthly and Weekly Calendar – 16″x12″ Size- includes 6 Color Dry Erase Markers. 50% off with coupon code 50N7O8VA. (deal ends 8/18/2024 at 11:59 PM PDT)
Talk Back: I love hunting for good deals- If you are looking for a deal, please let me know- I’d love to help!
School has already started for a lot of kids, my kids have less than 2 weeks of summer break left.
The back-to-school freebies and deals are pretty sweet this week.
The 2024 Birthday Freebie post is here! Check this article out and sign up for birthday freebies at least 2-3 weeks before your birthday.
My comprehensive list can be found here if you are looking for free food resources. It is focused on San Diego County, but additional resources are outside my area.
Freebies:
Free Medium Fries w/ Any $1 Purchase at McDonalds – Every Friday
Free TruRanch Collagen Sticks Dog Treats Dog Chews
Free Color Your Own Pencil Pouch Craft Kit at JCPenney
Score Free Full-Sized Product Coupons from Social Nature
Free IndestrucTable ECO Table Tryabox
Free 8×10 Photo Print at Walgreens
Free Pair of Underwear at Duluth Trading Co. Stores on August 10th (Midwestern friends only)
50 Free Bonus Box Tops with Box Tops for Education = Free $5
Free Winged Wellness Product After Rebate
Free Week of Smoothies at Tropical Smoothie Cafe
Teachers – Possible Free Pets in the Classroom Grant
PINCHMme New Free Samples Every Day
Free Perfect Bar at Aldi
Free Amazon Prime for Students for 6 Months
Possible Free MONDAY Haircare Shampoo & Conditioner
50 Free Burger King Crowns Reward Points Daily
Free HunYule Skincare Samples
Deals:
Kate Spade Staci Dual Zip Crossbody ONLY $79 (Reg $259)
Galanz 3.3 Cu ft One Door Mini Fridge ONLY $118 at Walmart (Reg $190)
50% Off School Uniform Multipacks + Extra 20% Off 3 or More
Garnier Shampoo ONLY $1 (Reg $5.49)
Free Rind Dried Fruit Snacks & Mixes
$50 Off Converse Back to School Kit
Starbucks 50% Off Handcrafted Drinks – TODAY 8/9
Did you know you don’t have to be a senior citizen to join AARP?
Seriously. I’m 45 and I’ve been a member for 2 years.
Did you know that with an AARP membership, you can score discounts and deals on travel, car buying services, and even a lower price on your cell phone contract?
Perhaps my favorite deal is saving money at Denny’s. The cost of membership pays for itself when I take the kids to Denny’s twice in one year.
AARP provides many opportunities to save money, play, learn, and volunteer. And right now when you join here, you get a free gift. Your Choice-pick your FREE gift – Insulated Trunk Organizer or 6-Port Power and USB Charging Donut.
**This post may contain affiliate links, for more information about how we use affiliate links, please visit our Disclosure page.**
This week I’m starting the back to school prep. Littlest Kiddo’s Bestie is visiting for a few more days, and I’m trying to cram in as much summer fun as I can, while staying on budget.
Thanks to the great freebies from Social Nature and Aisle, we’ve been trying new foods lately. It’s fun to try new foods.
If you 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 good inventory of the pantry, freezer, and fridge (I try to update it after every shopping trip), so I plan meals and use up what we’ve got with little waste.
I only post our dinner plans for the week, because our other meals are usually the same.
Breakfast: I’ve been really into protein coffee lately. It helps me hit my protein goals and keeps me full until lunch. I use premade protein shakes like these and these. The kids request bagels and fruit most mornings. The big kid is on a smoothie kick, and is favorites can be found here.
Lunch: I have a plastic tote full of self-serve snacks. I buy treats and snacks in bulk and fill up snack-sized zip-top bags. We eat lunch at home most of the time over the summer. Sometimes we take advantage of the kid’s free summer lunches (info here).
Dinner: It’s so hot here in Southern California, that I’m trying hard not to turn on the oven. We’re enjoying a lot of ready-to-eat sides (chips and fruit), so that time in the kitchen is minimized.
Tuesday: Dream Dinner, fruit salad
Wednesday: Chef Salad and smoothies
Thursday: Breakfast for Dinner (eggs, hashbrowns, fruit, toast)
Hewes Family Fun 