deal

Cents of Style: Item Of The Week- Best Basic Tops BOGO

Abby H.

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

Favorite Tops

I love this sale. Cents of Style has a great selection of shirts years round, but when it’s BOGO? ::Chef’s Kiss:: 10/10!

These tops come in TONS of colors, styles, and sizes S-3XL and are perfectly styled with your favorite pair of jeans, cardigan, and sneakers or with a pencil skirt and your favorite pair of heels.

The Coupon code is BASICSBOGO and it will make this whole collection Buy One Get One FREE! Making them start at 2 for $14.99!

Have Your Hot Girl Summer on a Budget

Abby H.

I’m sure by now everyone has heard the phrase “Hot Girl Summer”, but do you know what it means? The phrase can be traced back to a Megan Thee Stallion song a few years ago.

On Twitter, she explained: “Being a Hot Girl is about being unapologetically YOU, having fun, being confident, living YOUR truth, being the life of the party, etc.”

A couple of my friends have embraced it, and I think that it’s a pretty amazing outlook to have, especially since last summer was, well, Sad Trombone Noise? I know the kids are looking forward to having fun, more adventures, and getting out of the house. Here are a couple ways I’m bringing Hot Girl Summer (and sharing it with the fam).

New Bathing Suits. Kids grow, but what about me? Well after having the same swimsuits for 3 years, it’s time. Especially since we swim daily.  I bought a few new suits from Amazon. Since I’m fair-skinned I picked up one with long sleeves, the kids tease me about working at SeaWorld. This is just one of the many suits I’ve got. It’s perfect for prime sun time.

 

New Pool Bag and New Pool Toys. Every Summer it seems, we need new pool toys and a new pool bag. The Chlorine wrecks our bag (which is mesh- this helps the pool toys dry quickly), and daily use of toys leaves them.. wrecked. Dollar Tree has a great selection of sturdy pool toys, including inflatables for kids (We have a cool cookie ring that has a “bite” taken out of it). For me, I picked up a sweet inflatable float pool chair. 

Plans to meet up with friends. Now that most people have access to the vaccine, getting together with friends is a lot more feasible. We are still limiting ourselves and staying away from large gatherings where we don’t know everyone, but dinner and drinks with friends sound amazing. I’m hosting dinners a couple times a month over the summer for a few reasons: 1. To keep all of our costs down (Dinner out with drinks costs $$$ these days), and honestly, I don’t feel super safe going out for dinner all that often, especially now that there are no mask regulations in our state. And I’m having a weekend getaway with some girlfriends in a few weeks. I am really looking forward to a weekend away in a vacation rental doing a whole lot of nothing!

Take Advantage of the season: What does that mean? Summer has all sorts of fun advantages: Long days, Amazing fruit and veggies are in season, nice weather. Spend time outside (poolside, at the beach, exploring nature), enjoy a big bowl of fruit salad, make a huge salad! Community events are starting to come back (with limited event sizes), and there are lots of free events throughout the summer. EventBrite is a great place to find community events.

Make Time for You: I know… So many blogs and social media tell you to get self-care time and spend time doing things that you love, but as a parent, it can be hard without staying up late or waking up before dawn. Finding a sitter can be tough too. It’s ok to lean on family and friends. The past year has been exponentially tough on parents, and you need time to yourself. Swap child care with friends, or if you want to have a night out, split the cost of a sitter. Your kids can hang out together, while you and your friends get some time away.

Take Care of Yourself: And I don’t mean the stereotypical self-care of putting on a mud mask and drinking water with lemon slices. That’s fun, but I mean the simple acts that we often overlook as caregivers.

  • Sunscreen for your face and any exposed areas when you’ll be outside for more than 10 minutes during peak sun hours (usually 10am-4pm). Don’t forget the tops of your ears. Being super fair-skinned I also wear a sun hat too. Not super sexy, but I don’t want skin cancer.
  • Take something to drink with you. I know most of you pack snacks for your kids when you leave home, but take a few extra minutes to make yourself something that you like (bonus if it’s a snack that your kids do not like- No sharing!), and fill your water bottle. This is the water bottle I use. If you like fruit-infused water, bottles like this are great.  You can also opt for an infuser to go into your favorite bottle or insulated cup.
  • Find Something to Keep You Occupied.  Besides your kids. Pick up a book, grab a craft kit (I like embroidery- it’s easy and portable), Craftsy has some cool online classes to get you started.

I’d love to hear about how you are bringing Hot Girl Summer. Leave a comment below!

 

 

 

6/27/2021 Weekly Meal Plan

Abby H.

0a5e9dab796cea8a07eabe4eb4795b9e.jpgThis week have some fun afternoon plans: Swimming, hanging out with friends, a trip to get fro yo, and our weekly library trip. We’re working our way across the county libraries.

The kids have been digging the free school lunches- It’s a great way to encourage them to try new foods. That’s great because the price of groceries has gone up exponentially over the past few weeks, so I’m leaning more on stores that have good deals like Grocery Outlet, and using my cashback apps like Fetch Rewards. I’ve been cashing out Fetch rewards for Target Gift Cards. I’ve been combining the Target Gift Cards with grocery sales and deals in the Target app, and picking up via curbside pick up. It’s a great option if you’ve got kids and you’ve got a busy summer.

And I’ve been getting a lot of really great freebies from Social Nature lately too. It’s fun to try new foods.

The CSA Box comes tomorrow AM, but they send out a preview email over the weekend. It is very helpful for menu planning.

Veggies and fruit are delivered each Monday by Yasukochi Family Farms CSA. For $25, it’s a great deal. I don’t have to pick anything, go to the store, or carry it upstairs. I can’t go to the store and get the same amount we get weekly for $25. Seriously. It’s a deal. I spend about an hour on Monday afternoon cleaning and prepping veggies for the rest of the week.

I’m doing some meal prep today: A batch of cookies, roasting zucchini, defrosting and marinating chicken, and defrosting ground beef so tomorrow I can make a big batch of red sauce.

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: We pick up free school lunches during the summer for the kids, I also have a plastic tote in the cupboard full of self-serve snacks. I buy treats and snacks in bulk and fill up snack-sized zip-top bags.

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: Pulled BBQ chicken, rice, salad.
  • Monday: Spaghetti with red sauce (I am making some without meat for my vegetarian kiddo).
  • Tuesday:  Breakfast for Dinner (pancakes, bacon, and fruit-probably melon)
  • Wednesday:  Nugget night: Nuggets, crackers, cheese, fruit
  • Thursday: Italian Herb and Lemon chicken, rice, salad, roasted corn
  • Friday:  Takeout Night
  • Saturday: Leftovers, fruit, salad

Please stay safe you guys!

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

Time for New Home Furnishings/Decor? Wayfair’s Got It!

Abby H.

After a year at home basically 24/7, it might be time to refresh. And by that, I mean buy new furniture, or a new area rug (that’s me!), or find some new home decor that brings you joy.

Wayfair has some crazy deals right now on all of those things! And if you are on a budget, fear not. Save up to 70% on furniture and decor at Wayfair.com. Sign up and receive promo code for 10% off.

I’m really looking forward to shopping for a new rug this weekend on Wayfair. Our current rug has been in our living room since (almost) day 1. 6 years is a long time for an area rug, especially one that was pretty inexpensive to start with.

  • Shop for a new look with our exclusive gallery of designer-decorated rooms.
  • Stay up-to-date on your account with the new MyWayfair, featuring notifications for exclusive promo codes and more.
  • Shop limited-time deals on furniture and decor at up to 70% OFF. New sales launch every day at noon.
  • Browse by departments, refine your search, and get inspired when you search by room.

 

 

6/25/2021 Friday Freebies and Deals

Abby H.
bright boxes

Good morning!

This week has been busy, but we are settling into our summer schedule. There are a lot of cute PDF summer schedules that you can print online, and I’ve seen a lot of people post them on Social Media. I’ll be making a slightly more realistic one this weekend for our family. If it turns out ok, I may post it.

As summer is upon us, here are a few freebies to keep your kiddos occupied and fed this summer:

If you are looking for birthday freebies, fret not! I put together a list new for 2021- Check it out here.

Most of these freebies and deals are online. While the State of California is open, I’m not recommending that we all pile into the car and hit the mall. Please remember that most states have not yet reached herd immunity rates. Be safe, be careful.

Freebies:

Free Sample of CeraVe Moisturizing Cream
Free Medium Fries w/ Any $1 Purchase at McDonalds – Every Friday
Free Spin Scooter Rides & Helmets for Healthcare Providers
Free Sample of MiN New York CODA Fragrance
Free $5 Twitch Gift Card
Free Wildflower Seeds from AirWick
Free Dose & Co. Collagen Supplements
Free Bromley’s Smooth Operator 7-Blade Razor
Free Bag of Country Archer Beef Jerky Sticks
Free Sample of Downy Unstoppables at Sam’s
Free Chomps Original Beef Stick
Free Subscription to Esquire Magazine
Free Subscription to Parents Magazine
Free Killer Creamery Ice Cream Sandwiches
Free Coffee Grounds for Your Garden at Starbucks
Free Skin Microbe Test Kits
Free Spin Master Extreme Sports Megathon Party Kit
Free Sample of Ralph Lauren Ralph’s Club Fragrance
Free Eczema HQ Magazine
Free Kids Organizational Storage Item
Free Hallmark Card Every Month
Free Sample of Coach for Men Cologne
Free Skin Discoloration Products + 100 eGift Card
Free Karma Rub Elemental Pain Relief Lotion Sample
Free Sample of Ralph Lauren Ralph’s Club Fragrance
Free Sample of IT Cosmetics Hello Results Retinol Cream
Free Subscription to Shape Magazine
Free Biggby Coffee
500 Free Tickets at Chuck E Cheese
Free Bottle of Frunutta Melatonin
Free Samples of Herbal Zap Health Drink Mixes

Deals:

Steve Madden Men’s Crossbody Bag ONLY $23.04 (Reg $36)
Sonoma Goods For Life Patriotic Tees ONLY $3.99 (Reg $10)
Thermo-Electric Water Dispenser ONLY $57.02 (Reg $100)
Hanging Cosmetic Bag ONLY $5.99 Each Shipped (Reg $20)
Disney Princess Vanity Toy ONLY $29.88 (Reg $50)
Kate Spade Darcy Small Slim Crossbody ONLY $89 (Reg $249)
Insignia 10-Qt Digital Air Fryer Oven ONLY $59.99 (Reg $150)
Remington Men’s Body Hair Trimmer ONLY $26.30 (Reg $50)
Fast & Furious 8-Movie Collection Box Set ONLY $28.99 (Reg. $60)
Fisher-Price Train Ball Pit ONLY $19 (Reg $40)

Special Needs Resource Foundation Presents Free, In-person Read 3×3 Literacy Event!

Abby H.

Join the Special Needs Resource Foundation of San Diego and San Diego Family for our FREE in-person event on Saturday, July 24 from 9-11am at the San Diego Central Library – 330 Park Blvd, San Diego, 92101.

Three authors, Doreen Cronin, Alex Montoya, and Reginald Brown, will entertain children of all abilities with a book reading and a unique, themed craft. Parents can gather resources from local businesses. One free book per child, while supplies last.

To Register or learn more about this event, click here.

And if you are looking for something fun to do later that day, check out the Free San Diego Youth Carnival at the Jacobs Center. 

Craftsy Promotions and Free Classes!

Abby H.

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

Oh yeah, Craftsy is back and they’ve got a great promotion going on right now.  Craftsy has classes and supplies.

Now through  June 28, 2021, save 60% off sitewide with code CRAFT60.

If you are new to Craftsy and want to check it out, they also offer a lot of free classes. Here are just a few that I love:

 

Mid-Month Coupon Round Up June 2021

Abby H.

I was cruising my favorite coupon sites this morning and I found some great stuff. This is a little late, but there are some pretty cool coupons to share.

The two sites I use the most for printable coupons are:

Here are a few coupons that have me kinda stoked:

Save $1.00 On any ONE (1) Sun-Maid® Chocolate Raisins, Any Variety (7 oz Bag)
Save $0.75 on any ONE (1) Finish® JET-DRY® 3in1 Rinse Aid 8.45oz.+, OR Finish® Dishwasher Cleaner 8.45oz. or 3ct tab
Save $2.00 any ONE (1) NEUTROGENA® Sun Care product (excluding trial and clearance).
Save $1.00 on any ONE (1) package of Green Giant® New Frozen Product, Any Variety

Fetch Rewards: Delicious new ways to earn points!

Abby H.

Fetch Rewards has some new brands to help you earn bonus points!

A tasty batch of breads and baked goods brands is on the rise at Fetch, and it has you covered for every meal. Enjoy Entenmann’s® and Marinela® treats, cookout-ready Ball Park® buns and rolls, Thomas’® English muffins and bagels for breakfast and Boboli® pizza crusts for dinner. And don’t forget slices of Oroweat® and Sara Lee® breads for a delicious sandwich anytime, anywhere.

And the points raise Fetch was giving out in May has been extended! Every receipt is worth at least 25 points!

If you haven’t signed up for Fetch Rewards yet, or want to learn more, check out my post here. Find the Fetch Rewards app in your app store, and when you download it and scan any receipt, use my code ND2TB when you sign up and you’ll score 2,000 bonus points. I’ve earned over $175 in rewards in 2021 alone, just by purchasing my regular groceries and scanning in all of my receipts (grocery, mass merchandiser, gas receipts, restaurants, you name it).

Become a Just Egg Ambassador!

Abby H.

Have you heard of Just Egg? 

It’s an egg substitute made from plants. And now you can share Just Egg with your friends and family!

Your friends might not believe an egg made from a plant is possible, let alone delicious. But you know it is. Now’s your chance to prove it to the skeptics: gift free JUST Egg to up to three friends. And JUST egg will reward you with a free product too.

When you share JUST Egg with your friends and family, you’re being a force for change in our food system. Because it’s made from plants, JUST Egg is free of cholesterol and it uses less water and carbon emissions than chicken eggs.

Here’s how it works

Step 1: Get your ambassador code and forward it to 3 friends

Step 2: Your friend buys JUST Egg (and saves the receipt)

Step 3:Your friend uploads the receipt and gets reimbursed

Step 4: Then, you get a free JUST Egg product too

 

You understand how a better world is created one bite at a time. So JUST egg is giving you this free JUST Egg to start a conversation that will spark change. Join the bigger conversation at #ShareJUSTEgg. Full terms and conditions here and if you have any issues or questions, please reach out to wecare@ju.st.