family

7/14/2022 Kung Fu Panda Day at the San Diego Zoo!

Abby H.

To Celebrate the new Kung Fu Panda Series coming to Netflix, head on down to check out the fun at the San Diego Zoo on July 14, 2022.

Celebrate with:

  • face painting
  • photo booth
  • giveaways and more!

And once you get home from the fun, check out the new series on Netflix, launching the same day!

Kung Fu Panda: Dragon Knight

SYNOPSIS: Jack Black returns to KUNG FU PANDA in the new series KUNG FU PANDA: THE DRAGON KNIGHT. When a mysterious pair of weasels set their sights on a collection of four powerful weapons, Po must leave his home to embark on a globe-trotting quest for redemption and justice that finds him partnered up with a no-nonsense English knight named Wandering Blade. Together, these two mismatched warriors set out on an epic adventure to find the magical weapons first and save the world from destruction — and they may even learn a thing or two from each other along the way.

Notable Voice Cast:  Jack Black as Po, Rita Ora as Wandering Blade, James Hong as Mr. Ping, Chris Geere as Klaus Dumont, Della Saba as Veruca Dumont, Rahnuma Panthaky as Rukhmini, Ed Weeks as Colin and Amy Hill as Pei Pei

Executive Producer: Peter Hastings (Captain Underpants TV; Kung Fu Panda: Legends of Awesomeness) and Shaunt Nigoghossian (Blood of Zeus)

Co-Executive Producers: Chris Amick and Ben Mekler (Kipo)

Animation Studio: DreamWorks Animation

Based on: The popular Kung Fu Panda Film Series

Stay healthy This Summer and Save $5 with Mucinex!

Abby H.

Feeling stuffy? Illness comes all year round, and if you are feeling cruddy remember to give yourself time to heal. 

Here are my tips for recovering from the summer cold:

  • Hydrate! Push water, electrolyte drinks (I like this one LINK), teas, and even 100% fruit/veggie juice. 
  • Wash your paws. Especially if you will be in shared spaces. Use hand sanitizer if you don’t have access to running water and soap. 
  • Stay home! Or if you can’t, mask up! Protect others from your germs by covering your nose and mouth with a mask. We all probably still have masks at home. 
  • Rest! Don’t push yourself to work, exercise, or complete chores. Take care of your body with naps, and go to bed early. No Doomscrolling on social media. 
  • Get your 5 a day! Remember fruits and veggies while you are sick. Whole produce is best because it contains fiber as well as other nutrients, but in a pinch, 100% fruit or veggie juice will suffice. 

And if you need some OTC meds to get you through it, check out this offer from Mucinex!

Join Mucus Fighters+ and get an exclusive $5 off Mucinex® coupon today, plus other kick-sick offers and tips.

Frugal Fun at the Zoo!

Abby H.

We are big zoo go-er’s and have been for decades! We’re always looking to live on the frugal side, and for us having zoo memberships is a great way to support our local zoological society, their conservation efforts, and see the cool animals whenever we want.

Here are a few ways to save money and get the most out of your visit when you visit the San Diego Zoo:

  • If you plan on visiting more than twice in 12 months, consider getting a membership. Memberships for aduts start at just $95/year, whereas a 1 day ticket is $69.00. Membership has it’s perks including discounts on concessions and merch.
  • Don’t forget your snacks and water bottles! There are tons of water fountains to refill your bottles throughout the day. And if you have a refillable Zoo cup, you can get unlimited refills of fountain beverages each day for $5 per day. We have a zoo cup, but usually we just stick to our water bottles. We also bring our Snack backpack with us, stocked and ready to go!
  • Take advantage of all of the perks of buying a ticket or pass. Animal Encounters, Skyfari, free shows, the bus tour, the Kangaroo bus, all of these and so many other cool things come free with your ticket/pass.
  • Seasonal Events. There are a lot of cool events that happen throughout the year- Night time zoo happens all summer, there are fall/halloween/harvest events, and Junglebells in the winter. And these are all included with your ticket/pass.

And with the new Children’s Zoo area, there is a fun water feature for kids to play in- so if you anticipate your kiddos wanting to play, bring extra clothes and/or a towel.

The San Diego Zoo is an awesome zoo full of animals and plants of all kinds! It is definately a must visit for Southern California.

Talk Back- How do you and your family enjoy your favorite places on a budget?

7/15/2022 An All Inclusive Day of Play for Families!

Abby H.

We’ve gone to this event in the past, and it’s always a fun time with great resources.

FREE community event with activities, games, crafts, raffles, shopping, and resource booths for families of all abilities.

Activity Stations for kids including favorites:

  • Light Saber Creation Station
  • Jurassic Photo Op
  • Under-the-Sea Sensory Tent
  • Super Wheelchair Course
  • many more!

Family Resources & Networking  – Resource and service providers will be on-site to speak with parents and offer helpful information. Be sure to pick up a copy of Flourishing Families and San Diego Family at the Special Needs Resource Foundation of San Diego booth.

Sign up for your FREE TICKETS here.

7/5/2022 Weekly Meal Plan!

Abby H.

0a5e9dab796cea8a07eabe4eb4795b9e.jpgI took Sunday and yesterday off to hang out with the family and play with the kids. But we’re back, and ready to get down to work!

Summer break is here! We’ve got all sorts of adventures planned, you can check out some of our adventures here.

We’re having two dream dinners this week, and I’m making the pesto bbq pizza, but I’ll be cooking it in the oven (we don’t have a bbq).

I’m trying to stay out of the store this week, and rely heavily on why we have on hand.  I do need to do a quarterly Costco trip, but that’s mostly to get essentials (sturdy trash bags, ziplocs, paper towels, etc.). However, a rotisserie chicken may end up in my cart…

We’re taking a break from the CSA. It’s been so hot here, and we’re not home when they are delivered and I don’t like leaving the box out in the heat. It’s been almost 100 at our house for the past week. 

As soon as my summer job is over and I’ll be home during the delivery time slot, we’ll be back to it.

And the big kid decided that maybe he wants to try meat after being a vegetarian for 6-ish years. So, we are slowly trying to introduce meat back into his diet. I’ve planned meals this week that have some meat but also allow him to eat semi-vegetarian if he wants.

We’ve been trying a lot of new foods lately, thanks to the really great freebies from Social Nature lately too. It’s fun to try new foods. .

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.

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. They are also into fruit and bagels for breakfast. Lately, the big kid has been digging protein shakes in the morning. This is his favorite kind. 

Lunch: I 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. This is really helpful for the summer when for some reason, kids are starving all the time. We’ll be hitting up the free lunch sites several times a week over the summer.

Dinner: We finished our last Dream Dinner last week! I’ll be ordering more next month once the new menu comes out. I’m trying to get us to eat together as a family more often and get the kids into eating more fruits and veg, so you’ll notice that our meals are pretty simple this week.

  • Monday: Family party (bbq pulled pork, salad, brownies, fruit)
  • Tuesday: Nuggets, fruit, chips/crackers
  • Wednesday: Al pastor tacos, salad, corn
  • Thursday: BBQ chicken, salad, fruit
  • Friday: Takeout night!
  • Saturday:  Leftovers
  • Sunday: Pancakes, eggs, and fruit

July Sprouts Farmers Market Monthly Freebies!

Abby H.

Sprouts is hooking us up and helping us stay healthy! Every month on the Sprouts app in the Digital Coupon section, there are between 4-6 free items (they are marked “SAMPLING PROGRAM”).

Quantities are limited on the app, so if you are interested in any of these, I recommend that you add these coupons (by opening the Sprouts app, click on digital coupons, and click on each coupon in the lower corner where the little green circle is) to your app ASAP.

Not all Sprouts locations will have these freebies, so I suggest trying larger Sprouts locations in your area.

These are full-sized freebies- not small sample-sized products. they are located in the store with the other products of the same type.

Not all accounts will receive all the same products.

Free Food Resources for July 2022(San Diego County)

Abby H.

Woo! A new month means a reminder about all of the free food options there is here in San Diego County.

Keep in mind there are still supply chain issues, so there may not be a lot of food at some distributions, especially those that serve a large portion of the community.

I recommend showing up a little early with a bottle of water and a book and waiting in line. Time passes quickly in these lines, and it’s a great time to learn from others about community food options. Remember to socially distance and follow local masking regulations.

You can find resources here for Central and East County, and Here for North County.

Our friends at Faith Chapel are super ahead of the game and sent out information regarding their 2022 food distributions early on in the year.

If you are located outside San Diego County, call 211. If you are not familiar with 211, here is their website and it can point you in the right direction.

San Diego Food Bank Distributions for July 2022 can be found here. Enter your address (or just your zip code) and the map will show you all of the distributions in your area or closest to you. You can filter by the days of the week to find food when you are available. If there is an income requirement/limit to participate, each location/listing will say such. You can learn more here about the Feeding San Diego Together Tour.

Neighbor distributions are intermixed with the San Diego Food Bank Distributions, however, they have no income requirements, and you come as you are. These Distributions are primarily fruits & veg, however, some locations may also distribute canned goods, dairy, and bread.

Super Pantry Locations can be found here (this listing is countywide). The San Diego Foodbank website also has resources for Diaper banks, free food resources for seniors, and more.

All kids in public school K-12 in the State of California are eligible for free breakfasts and lunches at school. More information can be found here. I’ll have more information on 2022 summer feeding programs as soon as they are available. 

If you know of other resources, please leave a comment! And feel free to share this post with anyone you may know in need.

07/01/2022 Friday Freebies and Deals!

Abby H.

This week has been a hot one! Lots of swimming and eating popsicles here, and of course, our first week of summer school.  If you are looking for some frugal adventures for this summer, check out this post.

There are so many awesome freebies and deals this week, and thankfully the weather is set to cool down through the weekend and into next week!

Mask Mandates are changing constantly in California and can vary by city and county, so please do your part if you are going to any in-person freebies.

2022 Birthday Freebies are here!

Freebies:

Free Subscription to Entrepreneur Magazine
Free Item at Taco Bell
Free Sample of Breathe Right Extra Strength Strips
Free Museum Admission – Bank of America/Merril Lynch Cardholders
Free Nike Products
4 Free Cinnabon BonBites + Free Birthday Treat
Free Think Baby Massage Moisture Cream Sample
Free Teaniru Tea Sample
Free ClarityRx Return to Calm Facial Mask Sample
Free Sample of Teaniru Tea
Free SMN Sampler Samples
Old Orchard Fan Club – Earn Free Juice, Gifts & More
Free Beauty Without Cruelty Leave-In Conditioner
Free Brave Robot Ice Cream After Rebate
Free Black & Decker Coffee Maker & Travel Mug
Free Clio Bars & More
Free Felt Flag Keychain Craft Event at Michaels
Books-A-Million – Free Pencil Pouch
10 Free Disney Movie Insiders Points
Kids Skate Free
Free Gratsy Birthday Sample Box
Free Sample of Enfagrow Toddler Formula
Free National Geographic Kids Books Explorer Academy
Possible Free Garlique Sample
Free $18 eGift Card
Free Love, Career, & Magic Fantasy Character Stickers
Free Schar Gluten Free Crackers
Free Schar Gluten Free Deli Style Sourdough Bread
Free Brave Robot x Coolhaus Animal-Free Ice Cream Sandwiches
Free Transfer Express Screen Printing Sample Set
25 Free Disney Movie Insiders Points
Free Crayola Fourth of July Coloring Pages
Free Fall Guys PC Game

Deals:

IMUSA Nonstick Bistro Saute Pan ONLY $5.99 (Reg $13)
Beach Towels ONLY $5 (Reg $12) + Free Shipping
Ring Video Doorbell with Echo Show 5 $84.99 (Reg $185)
Fisher-Price Laugh & Learn Food Truck ONLY $39.97 (Reg $70)
KidKraft Mosaic Magnetic Play Kitchen ONLY $69 (Reg $130)
Bella Pro Series 8-Qt Air Fryer ONLY $49.99 (Reg $150)
BS-MALL Makeup Brushes 14-Piece ONLY $9.99 (Reg $20)

Tryazon: Host a Tapple Game Night!

Abby H.

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.

 

The creators of Telestrations and Blank Slate introduce their newest edition of Tapple in this new Tryazon Featured Party opportunity, sponsored by The OP! Tapple is an award-winning, fast-paced word game that gives the family game night a rush as they compete to beat the timer. Pick a category, say a word that fits, tap the first letter of the word, then pass the Tapple wheel. No spelling is needed so kids can play too! Bring Tapple to your next game night!

Tryazon has 150 hosting spots open for this opportunity! Those selected get to receive a party pack with two copies of Tapple, one to enjoy and one to give out as a door prize! Learn more and apply here.

Family Recipe: Tortellini Salad

Abby H.

This is a super easy recipe that my mom has been making for 25+ years. She got the idea from a recipe in a cooking magazine that started with a bag of frozen veggies that was thawed.

She subbed out the frozen veggies for fresh ones, added some cubed cheese, and tortellini salad became a family hit! It is great for picnics, potlucks, and family parties. It’s a staple at our July 4th party!

Tortellini Salad 

Ingredients:

  • 1 package cheese tortellini, cooked per package directions, drained, and rinsed.
  • 1 cup of your favorite Italian Salad Dressing
  • 1 cup cubed mozzarella cheese
  • 1 red bell pepper, chopped into bite-size pieces
  • 1 yellow bell pepper, chopped into bite-size pieces
  • 1 green bell pepper, chopped into bite-size pieces
  • 1 jar marinated artichoke hearts, drained. and chopped into bite-size pieces
  • 1 small package pepperoni (or salami- your choiceof), cut into bite-size pieces
  • 1 small can sliced black olives, drained

Directions:

  1. In a large bowl combine the cooked and cooled tortellini, cheese, veggies, meat, and salad dressing.
  2. Store in the fridge covered for at least overnight before serving it. Add additional dressing as needed (sometimes the tortellini soaks up a little bit of dressing).
  3. As a side dish, it serves 6-8, and as a main dish 3-4.

 

Substitutions:

  • If you are vegan, sub out vegan tortellini and vegan cheese.
  • If you are Gluten Free, sub out GF tortellini.

If you like tomatoes, it’s also great with about 1 cup of cherry/grape tomatoes (I slice them in half).