family

Celebrate Pi Day (3.14) with Some Tasty Deals

Abby H.

It’s Pi Day (March 14th, or 3.14 as it’s written out). 

This made-up holiday is to celebrate the mathematical constant π (pi), which is the ratio of a circle’s circumference to its diameter. 

Basically, it’s a way to get people to eat more pi(e). 

Here are a few deals to celebrate various types of pi(e) today. I’ve only included offers with locations in Southern California, you may know of other deals, please feel free to leave a comment. 

I’m pretty bummed that Marie Callendar’s Restaurant isn’t doing a deal, but you can get a whole lemon meringue pie for just $9.99. 

Round Table Pizza: This is where we are headed for dinner tonight! Buy a personal-size cheese pizza for $3.14 on Pi Day at participating locations. Join the rewards clubs to take advantage of the offer (you can download their app and join- check your favorite spot to download apps).

BJ’s Restaurant & Brewhouse: Get a mini, one-topping version of the restaurant’s deep-dish pizza for $3.14. Available all day Monday, dine-in only.

7-Eleven: Members of the 7Rewards loyalty program can buy a large pizza for $3.14 on Monday at  participating stores.

Chuck E. Cheese: Chuck E. Cheese said its Spring-tastic Family Fun Pack is available through April 24 for delivery or carryout. For $34.99, get two large pizzas, Unicorn Cotton Candy, a goody bag and spring activity sheet, and 250 e-tickets for your next Chuck E. Cheese visit.

 

3/14/2022 Meal Plan Monday

Abby H.

0a5e9dab796cea8a07eabe4eb4795b9e.jpgWe are entering week three of no kitchen due to our water heater leak.

Our kitchen is in the middle of remediation, and it’s gotten to the point where we are just waiting for estimates to be approved by our insurance. It’s very frustrating.  My oven and stove are inaccessible, so I’m relying a lot on my sweet air fryer/convection oven/toaster combo (Like this one, but ours is bigger), microwave, and fridge for this week (and probably next week too).  I planned, but I’m not 100% committed to anything.  I need to go to the grocery store this morning and pick up some milk and a few other things to fill in. I’m trying really hard to have food at home that the kids can eat, so we aren’t going out to eat.

Our veggies and fruit are delivered by Yasukochi Family Farms CSA. For $28, 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. They email a preview of what will be in the boxes over the weekend, so I can start thinking about what I’d like to make.

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. I’m back to packing lunches again. However, school lunches are free this year- Little Bit has been buying her lunch and expanding her palate.

Dinner: I’m leaning heavily on the CSA box this week, and what’s in the fridge. All of my pantry is packed up, and I don’t have access to 90% of my kitchen. I will be taking my CSA box over to my mom’s house today or tomorrow to do some prep- roasting veggies, making salad.

  • Monday: It’s Pi day, so the kids and I are heading next door to Round Table Pizza for $3.14 personal cheese pizzas.
  • Tuesday:Nug night- crinkle fries, apple slices & strawberries
  • Wednesday: Parmaesan Crusted chicken and veggies- I prepared this late last week at my mom’s house and I’ve got it in the fridge
  • Thursday: Salad Bar Night with garlic bread and roasted veggies
  • Friday: Takeout night!
  • Saturday:  Leftovers
  • Sunday: Who Knows, by Sunday I may have lost my marbles.

3/7/2022 Meal Plan Monday

Abby H.

0a5e9dab796cea8a07eabe4eb4795b9e.jpg

Uh, so the long and the short of it is that there is no meal plan this week.

Our kitchen is in the middle of remediation, due to a water heater failure two weeks ago. You can see pics on my Instagram later today. I’m taking my CSA Box to my mom’s house later and I’ll be roasting and doing veggie prep there for the week.

My oven and stove are inaccessible, so I’m relying a lot on my sweet air fryer/convection oven/toaster combo (Like this one, but ours is bigger), microwave, and fridge for the week.  I planned, but I’m not 100% committed to anything other than eating roasted asparagus this week.

Our veggies and fruit are delivered by Yasukochi Family Farms CSA. For $28, 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. They email a preview of what will be in the boxes over the weekend, so I can start thinking about what I’d like to make.

This week I also got a lovely bouquet of flowers (pics on IG in a bit), that I’ll be taking to my mom. We have dehumidifiers going 24/7 and I don’t want the flowers to dry out.

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. I’m back to packing lunches again. However, school lunches are free this year- Little Bit has been buying her lunch and expanding her palate.

Dinner: I’m leaning heavily on the CSA box this week, and what’s in the fridge. All of my pantry is packed up, and I don’t have access to 90% of my kitchen.

  • Monday: Nug night- crinkle fries, apple slices & strawberries
  • Tuesday: Breakfast for dinner (probably bagels with cream cheese,  fruit, and yogurt)
  • Wednesday: Pesto ravioli and roasted veggies
  • Thursday: Salad Bar Night with garlic bread
  • Friday: Takeout night!
  • Saturday:  Leftovers
  • Sunday: Who Knows, by Sunday I may have lost my marbles.

Dinosaurs Invade Miniland USA at Legoland California!

Abby H.

If your kiddos are like mine, they love dinosaurs and Legoland.

Our friends over at LEGOLAND® California Resort have created more than 30 of the massive creatures that have taken over the Big Apple in Miniland U.S.A. Guests can get up close to Stegosauruses, Brachiosauruses, Triceratopses and the mighty Tyrannosaurus rex, among others, running rampant through the city. The fun scenes all depict what happens when a science convention has gone wrong and now families can join a LEGO® Mad Scientist in his search to find and identify all the creatures.

Each prehistoric reptile took a team of Master Model Builders more than 60 hours to design and construct. Each dinosaur weighs more than 20lbs and is built out of more than 30 thousand LEGO® bricks. Sharp LEGO® teeth, gigantic claws, and tiny T-rex arms are among the many identifiable characteristics of the carnivorous models. The Model Builders also had some fun creating silly and entertaining scenes in Time Square, Central Park, and high above the city skyline for all to enjoy.

LEGO dinosaurs will be roaming around the city that never sleeps now through summer at the Park… catch them fast before they go extinct!

The kids love Legoland, and they make it fun and easy for all families to enjoy their parks. If you are a family with special needs, check out my post about their Assisted Access Pass. And if you are trying to have fun on a budget- Legoland can be enjoyed on the cheap! Tips and tricks can be found here.

This dinosaur experience is included in the price of admission to LEGOLAND® California Resort. For LEGOLAND® California Resort ticket prices, Spring Break special offers, operating schedule, and additional information, visit www.LEGOLAND.com or call 760-918-LEGO (5346).

Special Needs Family Resources and Fun in San Diego March/April 2022!

Abby H.

I received this from one of the specialists at my kids’ school and thought I’d share. There are so many great events and opportunities coming up for families with special needs kiddos here in San Diego!

  • UCSD is hosting a free virtual Autism Resource Webinar. This Webinar will cover sleep disturbances in Autism and strategies that may help! Zoom webinar will be held on March10th from 4:00-4:30.
  • FREE accessibility mornings at the New Children’s Museum. Museum will open an hour early to provide a sensory-friendly experience in a quieter setting. March 12th from 8-9 am. You are welcome to stay for the day as well!
  • San Diego Padres Behind the Scenes Event. Padres is partnering with the Autism Society of San Diego, on March 13th from 11am-2pm. Families will get a guided tour through the ballpark!
  • RACE FOR AUTISM 5K! celebrate autism awareness with either a 5k or a 1-mile family fun walk throughout balboa park. April 2nd, 5k begins at 7:25 and then 1 mile run at 8:30. register at raceforautism.org.
  • Autism Accessibility Mornings at the Fleet Museum. Families will benefit from a low sensory experience and can enjoy the exhibit galleries in a quieter setting and a special IMAX film screening (lights on and lower volume. Free ticket for one guest and one chaperone. March 19th from 9:00-10:00, Imax film at 10:00.
  • San Diego Seals Stair Climb. San Diego Seals, professional lacrosse team, is raising awareness for Down Syndrome on March 19th! Stair climb begins at 3pm, dinner is at 5pm and the game begins at 7pm at the Sports Arena.

March is National Craft Month! Free Crafts & Crafting Deals!

Abby H.

Did you know that March is National Craft Month? My daughter told me this morning and now she’s got all sorts of crafts planned for us to do.

If you need some ideas to get your creativity flowing, here are a few:

Michaels offers free online classes on a variety of crafting topics. Check out their offering here.

Dollar Tree has an amazing selection of paints, wooden items, soft crafts, craft kits, iron-ons, beads, you name it- And everything is $1.25/each or less!

AllFreeKidsCrafts Spring Crafts eBook is now available for download here. I found 3 new crafts for the kids to do today- they are going stir crazy because it’s raining here.

I know some of my readers love their wine, and if you are one of them, FaveCrafts has something just for you! Their latest free eBook, 25 Cool Things to Do with Old Wine Bottles is available here.

The week of 3/8-1/13 Craftsy, has a really great coupon to use on supplies or classes! Use MARCH15 to take $15 Off A Purchase of $25 or More!

In addition to the sweet 60% off at Craftsy, they also offer a lot of free classes. Here are just a few that I love:

Kids Bowl Free- It’s Back for Summer 2022!

Abby H.

file0001910298986.jpgThis popped into my inbox last night. I’m so glad it’s back.

Looking for something fun, air-conditioned, and cheap to do this summer? Yeah, you are!

Kids Bowl Free has been around for years, and it’s a great way to get kids active even when it’s hot outside. I’m so excited it’s back for 2021!

Kids 2-18 can bowl 2 games for free each day the program is running at participating bowling centers all across the US and Canada. All you pay for is shoe rental- or bring your own if you have them!kidsbowlfree_logo-new-2019.jpg

This program is available all over the US and Canada. The complete list can be found here. Sign up is quick and easy. To get started, register here.

I encourage everyone to take advantage of this deal! It’s one of our favorite summer activities.

Tryazon: Gabby’s Dollhouse TryaBox

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.

Discover magic and surprise with this purrfect Tryazon TryaBox opportunity from Spin Master featuring Gabby’s Purrfect Dollhouse! Live in the meow with Gabby, Pandy Paws, and the rest of the Gabby Cats from DreamWorks Gabby’s Dollhouse, now streaming on Netflix! With its cat-inspired shape and colorful details, it looks just like the show! Drop-in and receive dollhouse deliveries from the cat-tail tower, ride the cat-a-vator to each floor, discover hidden surprises in rooms and so much more!

Tryazon has 250 participant spots open this time and those chosen will receive Gabby’s Purrfect Dollhouse to sample and review at home! No party required! Learn more and apply here: https://www.tryazon.com/spin-master-gabbys-dollhouse-tryabox/

Spring Kids Concerts At Del Mar Highlands

Abby H.

When my kiddos were little they loved Hullabaloo! It’s such a great family-friendly local band.

Just in time for warmer weather, Del Mar Highlands Town Center has Hullaballoo kids’ concerts happening Thursdays at 10AM (upstairs, near Cinepolis and family favorite Sammy’s). Bring your kids out for a FREE, fun sing-along morning jam session in the upper plaza.

Hullabaloo dates are:

  • Thursday, March 3rd @ 10am
  •  Thursday, April 7th @ 10am
  •  Thursday, May 5th @ 10am
  •  Thursday, June 2nd @ 10am
  •  Thursday, July 7th @ 10am
  •  Thursday, August 4th @ 10am

Perfect for your little littles!

Free Food Resources for March 2022(San Diego County)

Abby H.

The spring is bringing many new and improved free and low-cost food options around 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 March 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.

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. 

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