family

9/29/2025 Weekly Meal Plan

Abby H.

0a5e9dab796cea8a07eabe4eb4795b9e.jpgY’all- Getting old is rough. Living through unprecedented times constantly is tiring. This week’s meal plan is another easy one.

Breakfast: We tend to eat cereal, a bagel, or an MBS (Mrs. Bear Special) each morning for breakfast. I usually have a proffee and a bagel.

Lunch: M-F I pack myself and the kids’ lunches. I bring 5 lunches to work on Monday and stash them in the fridge. I pack the kids’ lunches each night before bed, except for the cold stuff and ice pack- those I put in when I get up in the morning.

Dinner: This week, for dinner, I chose meals that require almost no prep, since I didn’t do a long meal prep session over the weekend. I opted for a 3-hour nap on Saturday afternoon.

I may opt for a casserole on Tuesday; we’ll see how I’m feeling and how hot it is that day.

I love me a good old-fashioned casserole, and so does the little one. The big one not so much, but he’ll drink a smoothie any day of the week, so I’m not terribly concerned about him not getting something nutritious in his belly.

  • Sunday:  Pizza and Best Salad Ever
  • Monday: Elote chicken enchiladas and green salad

  • Tuesday: Smoothies or fruit salad and grilled cheese

  • Wednesday: Sweet and Sour Chicken with broccoli and rice

  • Thursday: Chicken Tikka Masala, rice, and veggies

  • Friday: Takeout night!
  • Saturday: Leftover Palooza and fruit salad

San Diego County Fall Fire Station Open Houses!

Abby H.

As someone who grew up in San Diego County, I know that it’s always fire season.

Teaching our kids fire safety is key. It’s more than stop, drop, and roll. I was so excited when I saw a PeachJar flyer about upcoming local fire station open houses. These are a great way for kids (and families) to learn more about fire safety and check out the local fire station.

Most of these dates coincide with National Fire Prevention Week (October 5-12, 2025).

Lakeside Fire Protection District (Station 2):
When: Saturday, October 4, 2025, 10 AM – 2 PM
Where: 12216 Lakeside Ave. Lakeside, CA 92040

City of Santee Fire Station 4:
When: Saturday, October 4, 2025, 10 AM – 2 PM
Where: 8950 Cottonwood Ave, Santee, CA 92071

City of Carlsbad Public Safety Open House:
When: Saturday, October 4, 2025, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Where: City of Carlsbad Safety Training Center- 5750 Orion St, Carlsbad, CA 92010
This event will feature live demonstrations and tours with the police, fire, and public works departments.

City of Coronado Fire and Police Departments
When: and Where: Sunday, October 5, at their Public Safety Open House. The free event kicks off National Fire Prevention Week and takes place between 11 am and 2 pm around the main Fire Station (6th Street) and the Police Department (7th Street) on D Avenue.

Poway Fire Open House
Saturday, October 11, 2025, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
The location is the Poway Fire training tower- 12335 Crosthwaite Cir, Poway, CA 92064
Activities will include CPR training, a fire safety trailer, and information on defensible space.

City of Chula Vista Fire Station 5:
When: Saturday, October 11, 2025, 9 AM – 2 PM
Where: 341 Orange Ave, Chula Vista, CA 91911

Deer Springs Fire Protection District (Station 3):
When: Saturday, October 11, 2025, 10 AM – 1 PM
Where: 10308 Meadow Glen Way East, Escondido, CA 92026

 

Talk Back: If you know of any other Fire Station or public safety open houses in San Diego County, please leave a comment!

Weekly Meal Plan Posts are Back!

Abby H.

0a5e9dab796cea8a07eabe4eb4795b9e.jpgI tried y’all.

After seven months, it’s time to bring back the weekly meal plan post. And it’s to hold myself accountable. Everyone’s been fed, so that’s not the problem. The problem lies in that unless I have something staring me in the face saying, “Hey, this is what you’re eating tonight!!” I will just ignore that and graze like a raccoon. Everybody’s fed. The kids always have a nutritious dinner, but I will just stand in front of an open cupboard and eat crackers out of a box. Or I will eat a cheese stick and handfuls of greens like it’s dinosaur time.

So my hope is that when I  write out this whiteboard weekly meal plan, I will hold myself to it.

The whiteboard has been repurposed yet again, and it’s ready for Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner.

Breakfast: We tend to eat cereal, a bagel, or an MBS (Mrs. Bear Special) each morning for breakfast. I usually have a proffee and a bagel.

Lunch: M-F I pack myself and the kids’ lunches. I bring 5 lunches to work on Monday and stash them in the fridge. I pack the kids lunches each night before bed, except for the cold stuff and ice pack- those I put in when I get up in the morning.

Dinner: This week, for dinner, I chose some easier options to ease back into meal planning.

Now that it is fall and it is officially soup time (even though it’s like 90° outside most of the time) I will be making a big batch of soup once a week, so I will have soup for lunches and for dinner at least one to two nights during the week. This week’s soup is Zuppa Toscana. I also have a casserole planned for this week.

I love me a good old-fashioned casserole, and so does the little one. The big one not so much, but he’ll drink a smoothie any day of the week, so I’m not terribly concerned about him not getting something nutritious in his belly.

  • Sunday:  Soup and fruit salad
  • Monday: Pizza, Pasta, and Salad

  • Tuesday: Chicken, Rice, & Broccoli Casserole with Cheese Toast

  • Wednesday:  Sandwiches or Smoothies

  • Thursday: Quesadillas, Beans & Rice

  • Friday: Takeout night!
  • Saturday: Leftover Palooza and fruit salad

BrightLife Kids: Free Behavioral Health Coaching for Kids 0-12 in California!

Abby H.

This information was sent home with my littlest kid, and it is an amazing resource for California Families.

Brightlife Kids is fully paid for by the State of California. Working to ensure all California families can find the behavioral health support they need when they need it. You qualify if you have a California zip code and a child ages 0–12.

Kids ages 0–12 get free, expert coaching for the following issues:

  • Tough transitions like divorce, moving, new classroom/school, new sibling.
  • Tantrums and big emotions (anxiety, anger)
  • Focus and Organizational Skills
  • And more

Check out their website for more information and to see if Brightlife is a good fit for your family.

September 2025: New Healthy Freebies From Social Nature!

Abby H.

 If you are into Organic/Natural/Healthy products, then Social Nature is right up your alley. Sign up and apply to sample products that you are interested in. I usually receive 4-6 offers/freebies per month, sometimes more if I have time to shop. And most of the time it’s full-size products, not just a tiny sample.

In addition to the offers where they mail you a coupon for a free product, Social Nature has started offering 100% cash-back, similar to Ibotta and Fetch Rewards. I love this because I can select exactly what I want, Social Nature tells me which local stores have it, and I can add it to my next shopping list.

And it’s just as easy as Ibotta and Fetch Rewards. Snap a pic and upload it. You can select Venmo, Paypal, or an Amazon Gift Card for your rebate.

Here are just a few of the Free/100% Cashback offers available now:

  • Dairy-Free Cheese by Daiya Foods
  • Gluten-Free Snack Foods by Feel Good Foods
  • Mental Performance Shots by Magic Mind
  • High Protein Pasta Case by BRAMI
  • Soft Baked Fibre Snacks by Good to Go
  • Shots: Energy/Focus/Relax by RYDE
  • Premium Cold Brew Coffee by Cameron’s Coffee
  • Gorgie Sparkling Energy Drinks
  • Wild Tuna in Olive Oil by Rio Mare
  • Gluten-Free Cookies by Schär
  • Crumbled Tajín Feta Cheese by Athenos
  • Meatless Breakfast Patties by Nature’s Fynd

JCPenney: Buy 1, Get 2 Free Towels!!

Abby H.

This sale is amazing and comes at a great time. This weekend only, through 9/14/25, all towels (kitchen and bath) and bath rugs are buy 1, get 2 free.

This is a great deal, and if you have JCP rewards cash to spend, pick up some free/cheap towels!

I got three bath sheets (30×60) for $2.16 after the sale and $20 in JCP Rewards cash.

I like the Home Expressions Quick Dri® Benzoyl Peroxide Friendly Bath Towel because certain people in my house use oxy pads (yes those still exist) and other face products that contain Benzoyl Peroxide, and that can bleach out other towels. I also like white towels because you can bleach them.

So if you need to refresh your linen closet this weekend, JCP is a great place to start!

September 2025: First of the Month Savings!

Abby H.

Back in the “olden times” of couponing, the first of the month was the best day for money savers. New coupons would be available to print; the first Sunday of the month (barring any holidays) would have a lot of new high-value coupons.

The first of the month means apps have refreshed their deals. For the complete list of apps I use and recommend, check out my apps page here. My top two favorites are Fetch and Ibotta.

Coupons.com is still around, but they don’t have too many high-value coupons. The same company owns the app Checkout51, which tends to have a better selection of offers.

Store apps have also refreshed their offers and coupons. If you have not downloaded your favorite stores’ apps, go do it. You are leaving money on the table.

Rebate apps like Aisle and  WeStock also refresh and add new offers on the first of each month.  Social Nature frequently adds new offers at the beginning of each month.

If you are a drugstore shopper, check your drugstore apps for new coupons- I suggest “clipping” the coupons for brands you like as soon as you see them. They may go on sale sometime during the month, and you’ll have your savings locked and loaded!

Instead of reaching for our newspapers and scissors, we use our phones to select our offers. Think of modern couponing as saving both time and money!

Got a Baby? Score a $5 off Huggies coupon!

Abby H.

I saw this on Tiktok, and this offer is slightly different, but it’s still pretty good.

If you’ve got a kid in diapers or you are expecting (or know someone who is), head over to the Huggies website here.

Once you arrive, you’ll see Save up to $10 on Huggies® Snug & Dry™ Diapers. Try the new & improved Snug & Dry™ softness- Click on it.

Enter the requested information, and then you will receive a text to confirm it’s you.

The offer is mobile, so you’ll have to do it on your phone.

You will select your store, and once you are in the store and ready to check out, open your phone and pull up the offer.

Show your offer to the cashier; there are instructions for them to follow. They scan the barcode on your phone and presto- you’ve saved $5!

8/29/2025 Weekly Freebies and Deals!

Abby H.

It rained yesterday! For some of you that’s no big deal, but summer here in San Diego County is dry and hot, and any rain is great for our very dry vegetation.

But it was the tail end of a tropical storm, so any time I went outside, my glasses fogged up.

This weekend is looking to be a hot one- the kids and I are looking forward to spending some time in the pool!

I’ve updated my list of freebies for birthdays in 2025, which you can find here.

For free food resources, please refer to my comprehensive list, available here. It is focused on San Diego County, but additional resources are outside my area.

 

Freebies:

FREE Neutrogena Collagen Bank Moisturizer
FREE Sample of Dove Amino Curl Repair Mask
FREE Sample of La Roche-Posay Mela B3 Dark Spot Serum
FREE Box of Kraft Mac & Cheese + Sweepstakes
FREE $40 Worth of Sharpie Products from Staples
FREE Sample of Abbi & Lahni Glow Guard Face + Body Balm
FREE Pair of Water Shoes for Kids
FREE Kinship LittleKin Puppy or Kitten Sample Pack – $200 Value
FREE Hill’s Pet Nutrition Dog Food
FREE $10 FANDANGO Movie Ticket Code
Nestle GoodNes Community – FREE Jack’s Frozen Pizza
FREE Movie Ticket to The Threesome
FREE Blue Buffalo Valentine’s Day Be Mine Bars Chatterbox Kit
FREE Sample of CeraVe Hydrating Cream-to-Foam Cleanser
FREE Sample of Stem & Root Mood Support Supplements
FREE Fries Every Week at Burger King
FREE Cleaning Products
FREE Pimple Patches
FREE Pickleball Paddle
FREE LEGO Classic Creative Suitcase at Walmart After Cash Back
FREE Degree Body Wash
FREE Tari Peruvian Flavorful Hot Sauce Sample Kit
T-Mobile Tuesdays – FREE Stadium Bag, FREE Large Slurpee, BOGO FREE Wings & More
Text for $10 Off at Lane Bryant = FREE Item
FREE Full-Size OLAY Complete + Facial Moisturizer with SPF 40

 

Deals:

Dairy Queen Blizzards ONLY $0.85 Starting September 8th!
Old Navy’s Labor Day Sale – Up to 50% Off Storewide
Subway BOGO Deal: Buy 1, Get 1 Footlong Sub – New Subway Coupons, Footlong Desserts & Free Sandwich
Select Hanes Women’s Underwear 50% Off at Amazon, Get a 6pk. for ONLY $8!
Save 40% on Kids’ Clothing at Target
Eddie Bauer Labor Day Sale up to 70% Off Sitewide
10 Bogg Bag Dupes on Amazon That Are Just as Great as the Real Bogg Bag
Zappos Sale: Up to 80% Off Women’s Clothing & Shoes, Up to 75% Off Men’s Clothing & Shoes + Coupon
Gap’s Labor Day Sale – Up to 60% Off Your Favorites & 50% Off All Dresses
Insignia 50-Inch LED 4K UHD Smart Fire TV ONLY $169.99 (Reg $300)
Temu Coupon Codes – Extra 30% Off For New App Users & More
Mainstays Fleece Plush Throw Blanket ONLY $4

4000 Points just for sharing Fetch Rewards!

Abby H.

It’s back! Fetch Rewards is hooking us up with points out the wazoo! Earn an extra 4,000 points when you invite a friend to Fetch and they snap a receipt. Head to the app and share your referral code now through 09/03/2025.

I cash out my Fetch Rewards points for gift cards that help me stretch my budget- grocery stores, Amazon, even Bath and Body Works!  I’ve cashed out about $40 in rewards in 2025. I’ve been doing a lot more shopping at Aldi, so I don’t usually score the extra points for buying name brands, but every little bit helps.

Signing up is quick and easy if you aren’t already using Fetch Rewards! You learn more when you 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 scan all of my receipts (grocery, mass merchandiser, gas receipts, restaurants, you name it) and take advantage of extra point offers- the points really rack up!

Fine Print:

In order for you to qualify for the increased referral bonus, your friends must enter your referral code and complete a valid receipt now through 11:59 PM CDT on 9/3/2025. After 11:59 PM CDT on 9/3/2025 the referral bonus will expire.

Your custom referral code can be found in the app under My Account.