October 2022: New Month, New Coupons!

file000786402730Here is your monthly reminder!  A new month means new printable and electronic coupons!

The printable coupon market is slowly coming to an end. Smartsource no longer offers printable coupons, and you may notice that there are fewer coupon inserts in your Sunday newspaper. This is in favor of more offers available on apps. But if you love printable coupons….

  • Coupons.com (printable coupons, e-coupons, and a cashback app)

Remember if clipping coupons isn’t your thing, but saving money is, check out my list of Smartphone apps that can save you the big bucks! New offers are added on the Smartphone Savings Apps all the time!

Here are a few of my favorite printable coupons:

Save $0.75 on any ONE (1) Café Bustelo® Coffee Product (excluding instant)
Save $0.75 on ONE (1) Waterloo Sparkling Water 8 pack or ONE (1) Waterloo Sparkling Water 12 pack
Save $1.00 on any ONE (1) Folgers® Coffee product (excluding instant)
Save $0.75 on THREE (3) Avocados From Mexico
Save $1.50 on any ONE (1) Primal Kitchen® Sauces or Ketchup
Save $1.00 on any TWO Kellogg’s® Cereals (Including Kellogg’s® JUMBO SNAX)
Save $5.00 on ONE (1) Voltaren Arthritis Pain Gel 150g or larger
Save $2.00 On any ONE (1) ARM & HAMMER™ CLUMP & SEAL™ Cat Litter

October is the beginning of The last three months of the year. And those months are packed full of holidays and entertaining possibilities. Sales, rebates, and cashback offers will most likely be for the types of food and beverages that are associated with entertaining.

  • Candy, nuts
  • Fall/Winter clothing
  • Fabric, Patterns, sewing machines (Halloween)

For a complete list of types of foods and items that will be on sale, check out this post on the cycle of sales.

Free Food Resources for October 2022(San Diego County)

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 October 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.

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

10/3/2022 Weekly Meal Plan

0a5e9dab796cea8a07eabe4eb4795b9e.jpgWoo! Halloween is in less than 30 days! Time to start planning and sewing my friends.

With the surprising increase in the price of gas over the past 10 or so days, I decided to inventory the pantry really well yesterday and plan meals based on what we already have, or that require not too many additional items.

For my lunches this week, I’m making a pasta salad using up marinated artichoke hearts, jarred roasted peppers, bow tie noodles, and some leftover veggies from the fridge. I may also add cubed cheese too.

I hit up the grocery store and picked up milk, bread, and a few veggies (onions and strawberries), and our meal plan for the week is ready to go.

No CSA box this week, we got a jumbo box last week and we are still munching through it.

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. I received 5 coupons last week, and I need to hit up Sprouts this morning before work to redeem them.

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.

Dinner: I’ve got a couple casseroles/freezer meals this week, and other than that we’re eating easy and quick stuff so I can spend time playing, coloring, building legos, and swimming, which is the plan for the week.

  • Monday: Protein shakes or smoothies (We’re going to a special advanced screening of Lyle Lyle Crocodile)

  • Tuesday: Chick’n nuggets, Buttered noodles, fruit, cheese & crackers

  • Wednesday: Dream Dinners Pesto Tortellini bake, green salad, garlic bread

  • Thursday:   Dream Dinners Lucky Dragon Pork Tenderloin with Jasmine Rice, stir-fried veggies

  • Friday: Takeout night!
  • Saturday:  Leftovers
  • Sunday:  Soup, grilled cheese sandwiches, fruit

Sprouts Monthly Sampling Program is Ending!

That’s right, the Sprouts full-size sampling program has been canceled. Honestly, it was really hard to get them on the app or find them in the store, so I’m not at all surprised that this program is closing.

BUT- Never fear! With in-app coupons from the Sprouts app, as well as savings/cash back apps (find my favorites here), there are still tons of ways to save at Sprouts!

Awesome Breakfast Deal at IHOP 2x2x2 just $5

IHOP has a great deal right now, and it’s ending soon!

Last call for one of the sweetest IHOP deals ever, the 2x2x2 Breakfast Combo for just $5!* Dine in today for 2 eggs your way, 2 custom-cured hickory-smoked bacon strips, or 2 pork sausage links, and 2 fluffy buttermilk pancakes. Don’t sleep on this yummy deal – it ends soon and is available all day, every day. Dine-in only.

Find your local IHOP here.

9/30/2022 Friday Freebies and Deals

It’s Friday, Friday.. something something Friday, or however that Rebecca Black song goes.

Anyway, I’m stoked about the weekend. The kids and I are going to the library and park after school, we’ve got martial arts tomorrow morning, and I’m going to a bachelorette party tomorrow night!

And- there are a lot of really great freebies and deals this week.

Don’t forget all of the 2022 Birthday Freebies! Make sure to check this article out and sign up for birthday freebies at least 2-3 weeks before your birthday.

Freebies:

Text for $10 Off at Lane Bryant = Free Item
Free Home Security Camera
Free Culina Plant-Based Yogurt After Rebate
Free Baby Samples & Full Sized Products from Amazon
Free Blake’s Crispy Treat at Sam’s
Free Bottle of Super Coffee After Rebate
Free Sample of Sorion Herbal Cream
Free Carolina Herrera Very Good Girl Eau de Parfum Sample
Free Viktor&Rolf Good Fortune Fragrance Sample
Verizon Up Rewards – 4 Free Fandango Movie Tickets
Last Chance for a $1 Shipped Personalized Children’s Book
Free $5 Staples Rewards
Free Jar of Outrage of Love Spice at Penzeys
Free Gratsy Box
Free Motorola Baby Monitor
Free Planters Sweet & Spicy Peanuts at Select Stores
Possible Free $125 Beverages Research Study
Free LED Flashlight at Harbor Freight
Free Bluetooth Conference Speakerphone
Free Lupii Plant-Based Protein Bar
Free Rise Brewing Co. Nitro Cold Brew Coffee
Free Copy of the Jiffy Mix Recipe Booklet
Free Sample of Derma E Thickening Shampoo & Conditioner
Free Degree Dry Spray Sample
Free Core Barat Kroger & Affiliates
Free Subscription to W Magazine
Free Vanity Mirror or Spa Set
Free Aveeno Body Wash
25 Free Disney Movie Insiders Points
Free Bloomingdale’s Little Freebies Box
Free Bath & Shower Set or Vanity Mirror for Tweens
Free Golden Wing Barley Milk
Free Food, Drinks & a Big Yellow Cup at Dickey’s
Free Simple Mills Nut Butter Stuffed Sandwich Cookies
Free Smartypants Kids Multivitamins at Sam’s
Free Comvita Raw Manuka Honey
Free Purina EverRoot Calming Dog Supplement
Free Tea at McAlister’s Deli
Free Coffee Every Friday at Cumberland Farms
Free Sun-Maid Recipe Booklets
Free Nike Products

 

Deals:

Raffia Earrings ONLY $6 (Reg. $10)
Tie-Dye Pajama Set ONLY $10.34 (Reg. $23)
Sofia Active Fleece Shorts ONLY $7.48 (Reg. $18)
Wireless Charger ONLY $15.95 (Reg. $27)
Conair Vanity Mirror ONLY $28 (Reg. $90)
Wildfox Women’s Sweatshirt ONLY $16.61 (Reg. $88)
Bracelet Set ONLY $4.19 (Reg. $14)
100 Colored Pencils ONLY $13 (Reg. $27.49)
Women’s Apparel Clearance from $4 at Walmart
Cheap TV Deal – 65 inch 4K Roku Smart TV ONLY $368 (Reg $448)
Rimmel Eye Liner ONLY $0.69 (Reg. $4.49)
Professional Pedicure Kit ONLY $9.98 (Reg. $43.89)
Rimmel Eye Makeup Remover ONLY $0.69 ($4.49)
Rimmel Lip Gloss ONLY $0.39 (Reg. $3.99)

9/29/2022- National Coffee Day Freebies

Today is National Coffee Day! I waited until the last minute to post because I was looking for the best deals and freebies to share.

Let’s start with a contest because everyone wants to be a winner! Win 1 of 20 $1,500 Gift Card AND 1-Year Coffee Supply.

Tomorrow, check Wendy’s app to get a FREE small Frosty-ccino with purchase. Woo Hoo! (Available for a limited time only at participating U.S. Wendy’s. Offer valid for a limited time only at participating U.S. Wendy’s. Offer must be redeemed via the Wendy’s App. Account registration required.)

7Eleven –  7Rewards loyalty members can get a free hot coffee of any size with the purchase of a baked good offer in the 7Now app.

85°C Bakery Cafe – Free coffee with the app

Barnes & Noble – Free hot or iced tall coffee with purchase of any bake case item on 9/29

Bruegger’s Bagels – Free coffee with any purchase in the app

Burger King – Free Small Iced Coffee with an app or online purchase of $1+ during breakfast hours thru 9/30

Circle K – Free coffee when you text FREE to 31310

Corner Bakery Cafe – Free hot or cold brewed coffee with purchase thru 10/1

Del Taco – Free coffee with any purchase till 11am in the Del Yeah! Rewards app

Dunkin – Free medium hot or iced coffee with ANY purchase, exclusively for DD Perks members

Einstein Bros Bagels – Free drip coffee with any order placed in the app

IKEA – Free coffee or tea with IKEA Family

 

Recipe: The Best Salad Ever

This salad is dead simple. And delicious. And I could probably eat it every day for the rest of my life. I had one last night, and this morning for breakfast.

YES- breakfast salad is a thing.

Let’s get this out of the way: This salad is vegetarian, but it is not vegan. To my knowledge, there is no goat cheese vegan substitute.

The Best Salad Ever

Ingredients:

  • 8 cups of greens (I like Romaine, arugula, endive, radicchio, and a fistful of spinach)
  • 1 cup strawberries, de-stemmed and sliced
  • 1 English cucumber, cut into bite-size pieces
  • 1 Granny Smith Apple, cut into bite-size pieces (leave the skin on)
  • 1/4 c candied pecans, roughly chopped
  • 4-ounces of goat cheese, crumbled
  • 1/8 cup balsamic vinaigrette dressing

Directions:

  1. Toss all ingredients in a large chilled salad bowl- serve ASAP.

This recipe serves 4-6 as a side dish or 2-3 as a main dish. None of these ingredients are hard to find- I picked everything up at Target (I ordered on the app of course, and I did drive up pick up with the kids after school!).

It is really tasty with grilled chicken breast on top.

Parents! Free Sample Offer from Kabrita!

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

When my littles were wee, they both had delicate tummies. It’s hard to know what kinds of formula to trust, so after lots of research, trying samples, and talking to other moms (really our pediatrician was ZERO help- she’s a nice lady, but formula wasn’t her wheelhouse), I stumbled upon Kabrita.

Our pediatrician is really big on making sure babies get prebiotics and probiotics, especially if they are formula fed. Kabrita has prebiotics, which is a natural digestive aid.

I like Kabrita because it doesn’t have any added white or processed sugar- just lactose, the sweetener from milk! Also, Kabrita formula smells like goats milk and tastes like goats milk. I will confess: after smelling some formulas I wouldn’t want to taste them, but I tried an ounce of Kabrita once just to see. It tastes like goats milk.

I’ve been telling moms about it for a few years now, and one thing I love is that they have a really great sample program.

Sign up here, and you’ll receive:

*$6.99 shipping & handling applies at checkout, limited to one offer per household.

All thoughts and opinions expressed here are my own. I’ve used Kabrita for both of my kids.

Meal Kit Round Up and Deals- Updated for 2022!

In my 12+ years as a blogger, I have reviewed a fair number of meal kits on the market. With the seemingly never-ending quarantine and the new normal being social distancing, something different is now more appreciated than ever.

I love trying out meal kits, they are a great way to try new recipes with new ingredients that I may not already have on hand. Here are a few of the meal kits that I’ve tried, links to reviews, and any deals or coupon codes I could find.

My number one local Meal Plan company is Dream Dinners (a review can be found here). There are locations all over the US, and my go-to location in La Mesa.

If you’ve never checked out Dream Dinners, Check out this great deal!

Learn how to meal prep with Dream Dinners. Available at our local stores, the Meal Prep Starter Pack will help you get dinner on the table with up to 4 family-style dinners for just $79.00.

  • Chef-created, family-friendly recipes are prepped in our local assembly kitchens.
  • Ready-to-cook frozen dinners leave you prepared for dinner.
  • Easy to follow instructions making both cooking and clean up simple and stress-free.
  • 20 years of experience.

Overall, my favorite mail order/delivery meal kit company is Dinnerly.

They have a nice mix of kid-friendly dishes and stuff that is decidedly more “grown-up food”. I wrote a review here. In addition to having a nice mix of dishes to choose from, the other thing I like is that Dinnerly is the first subscription meal kit service to offer $4.49 per serving. My big qualm with meal kits is that the meals can sometimes be upwards of $8-$10/per serving. At that point, you might as well go out for dinner!

Freshly is the next up on our highly received Meal companies. I reviewed Freshly in 2016, and it’s a little different that most of the other meal companies in that all of the food comes already cooked. All you do is heat and eat.

The portions are big, so if you wanted to stretch them, all you would need is an additional side, like a green salad.

Right now when you use Promo Code: LAUNCH15 you will save $60.00 on your first 4 orders($15 per order).

Gobble has a really great deal. Choose your meals and receive Gobble box for $36 for 6 meals. I recently ordered this, so we’ll see how it turns out! Here is why I decided to try it:

    • Choose your meals from our diverse weekly menu. Gluten-free, dairy-free, low-carb, & vegetarian options are available.
    • Their team of chefs does all the tedious prep work for you — no more chopping, measuring, or sink full of dishes
  • Your freshly made 15-minute dinner kits will arrive in a refrigerated box to your doorstep. No commitment. Adjustable to your schedule.

 

Talk Back: I’d love to hear about Meal Kits that you have tried and which ones have worked for you and your family!