Pinchme Samples still available!

I missed Sample Tuesday when it came around last month- I was busy doing pre-holiday activities, etc. I love the samples that Pinchme sends, so I was excited when I checked the website this morning and discovered that there were some samples/coupons still available.

Don’t have any idea what I am talking about? PinchMe! Join PINCHme and receive free samples that you can provide feedback on.

PinchMe is awesome! Once you are signed up, they will email you reminders when new samples are about to drop, and remind you when it’s time to leave feedback.

Answer a series of questions about your household and shopping habits in the Member Profile. PinchMe learns what you like and offer samples just for you.

Here are the samples that are still available as of the time of this post:

  • Impossible™ Burger Patties 100% Free Gratuity Coupon
  • Life’s Grape Dark Chocolate, Peanut Butter, Classic Vine-Dried Grape Snack Variety Pack
  • Blue Diamond Smokehouse Almonds
  • Blue Diamond Nut-Thins: Hint of Sea Salt
  • Blue Diamond Nut-Thins: Cheddar

I opted for all of them, because, why not?

Once you’ve had a chance to try the samples, complete a short feedback survey to tell PinchMe what you think of the samples.

What are you waiting for? Sign up here and get on the free sample bandwagon! I’ve gotten all kinds of awesome sample/trial size items, as well as full-sized items to try out from PinchMe!

Neighborhood Produce Distributions for 2021

I’ve written about the San Diego Food Bank’s Neighborhood Distributions before. It’s a great way to stretch your food budget on what is usually the most expensive part of any family grocery trip: Fresh Fruit and Vegetables.

The 2021 schedule has been updated. The website has changed and now they publish a monthly calendar, which you can see here. As you can see, there is at least 1 distribution per week somewhere in the county all month long.

The Neighborhood Food Distribution Program distributes fresh produce and nonperishable food items at 19 distribution sites every month throughout San Diego County. The majority of the food distributed at these sites is fresh produce – fresh fruits and vegetables. ANYONE can receive food at a Neighborhood Distribution Program site. Identification cards ARE NOT required. There are NO INCOME restrictions for this program.

Most of these locations offer a drive-up/drive-through service. Pull in, queue up, and when you get to the front of the line, pop your trunk and volunteers will put the food into your car and you are ready to go.

If you have further need for food, there are many programs that can help you all over the county. Check out my post here for food resources in Central/South/Eastern San Diego County and here for Northern San Diego County.

Free E-Books!

If you are like me, you love to read. With our local library closed for the foreseeable future, I need some outlet to read. I can order books through the library online to pick up, but I don’t know what I want to read until I can read the back of the book or look at it.

Thankfully, Amazon Prime is hooking me (and you) up with free kindle books. You don’t have to have a Kindle to read these free books, most smartphones and tablets will do.

Here are a few of the free books I’ve added to my list (and yes, there are a few cookbooks):

And if you don’t have an Amazon Prime membership, you can score a 30-day free trial here. In addition to free movies, TV, kindle books, you’ll also score free 2-day shipping on Amazon purchases.

All of the ebooks were free ( $0.00) at the time this article was written. Prices on Amazon are subject to change.

If you don’t want to look on Amazon, here are a few ebooks I found recently that are pretty good. You can even download and print these e-books.

This Weeks Freebies!

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Since Friday is Christmas Day, I’m taking the day off blogging. Instead, I’m posting the weekly freebies post today. I skipped deals this week, I have a feeling most of us are shopped out.

Most of these freebies and deals are online. I am not encouraging anyone to go into stores or go out into public. Mask up, wash your paws, stay socially distanced!

Freebies:

2 Free Pints of Nightfood Ice Cream
Free Beauty Partners Nail Polish Remover
Free Sample of Breathe Right Extra Clear Nasal Strips
Free Primal Kitchen Salad Dressing
Free Organica Naturals Full Spectrum CBD Capsules Sample
100 Free Kellogg’s Family Rewards Points
Free Mouthwash
Free Shampoo, Conditioner, Treatment Mask & Dry Shampoo
Free Sample of Sol de Janeiro SOL Cheirosa ’62 Eau de Parfum
Free Flow Alkaline Spring Water at Walmart
Free Pint of Ben & Jerry’s Ice Cream
Free Medium Fries w/ Any $1 Purchase at McDonalds – Every Friday
Free Shu Uemura Absolue Nourishing Protective Oil
Free Primal Kitchen Buffalo Sauce
2 Free Fussie Cat Dry Cat Food Samples
Free Carnitas or Carnitas Bravas at 7-Eleven & Stripes
Free H.E.R.L. Stickers
Free Core Bar at Walmart
Free $50 Amazon Gift Card with Nissan Test Drive
Free Hercolubus or Red Planet Book

 

Save Money on Gasoline with BPme!

If you have a BP or AMOCO gas station near you, check out this amazing money saving app!

Download the BPme app using the promo code OFFER to receive an introductory one-time 50₵/gallon additional discount (via email) on your next fuel up after you complete your first in-app transaction of $10 or more.

When you register for BPme Rewards you will start saving 5 cents on every gallon.

I downloaded the app this morning and I need to fill my car tomorrow or Saturday. I can’t wait to save money on gas too!


Taking Care of Yourself and Your Family During Covid Fatigue (& A Giveaway)

So many of us are suffering from Covid Fatigue. Our bodies and minds have been put through the wringer. Worrying about our health, jobs, finances… It takes its toll.

I’m here to tell you- We don’t know when it’s going to end, but there are resources out there to help you. Don’t be proud. Take help that is offered, when you do, it can relieve some of the burden on your mind. 

I post a lot about different free and frugal opportunities to help my readers. When I talk to readers (I text and chat on FB messenger with a lot of y’all), I am frequently met with many of the same responses when I suggest that y’all take advantage of some of the opportunities I post. People feel bad about taking advantage of deals, offers, and freebies. 

I recommend that even if you feel like you aren’t “that bad off”, or that you know there are other people who “have it worse”, take advantage of free food events. Many times I have gone or driven a friend to events and the people sponsoring the events are so glad that SOMEONE has shown up, and because they have X number of items to give, but far fewer people show up.

If you feel like you aren’t in “enough” need, offer to drive people in your bubble, or grab food for t friends and coordinate a porch drop off. Most of them are sponsored or paid for by government entities, grants, or subsidies that are funded by our tax dollars. These resources may not have the ability to store or drive food to people who don’t have transportation. 

Helping others, even if it’s a porch drop off of produce can brighten your spirits. There are so many ways to release some of the heaviness that weighs on you. That heaviness is Covid Fatigue.

Here are a few ways I’ve tried to lessen the stress monster sitting on my chest:

Focus on what I can change. For me that’s making sure we are all clean and fed. That we get outside to play (socially distanced with masks), get fresh air, move our bodies, and get to bed at a decent time.

Work hard, but not to the point where I am burnt out. Tomorrow is another day. Laundry can wait to be put away, the carpet will still need to be vacuumed tomorrow.

Take time to contact friends. It’s hard to be without friends and family for so long. Message them on FB, text them, or pick up the phone. If you don’t have enough spoons for that, scroll through your social media of choice and like some of their statuses. 

Disconnect as needed.  Yeah, I know it’s the opposite of the above, but doomscrolling or constantly refreshing your social media feeds obsessively isn’t good for you. Leave your phone in the other room, or put it in do not disturb mode. 

NuCalm

One thing I have been using to help relax at night so I can get some peaceful sleep is I downloaded the NuCalm appNuCalm is the world’s only patented neuroscience technology clinically proven to resolve stress and improve sleep quality – without drugs. I’ve been using the Reboot for the past few nights, and it’s really helped me fall sleep and stay asleep. You can select whatever amount of time works for you, and you can even loop it if you want to enjoy the peace all night. The kids love NuCalm too. 

Giveaway Time: I’d love to hear about what you do to lessen your stress and battle Covid Fatigue. Leave a comment and I’ll choose one on 12/31/2020. The winner will receive a $50 Amazon Gift Card- But there is one condition- You have to spend it on yourself! Something that sparks joy!

Cross Country Cafe: Cute Craft & Enter to Win K-Cups!

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

Cross Country Cafe has a cute craft and a killer giveaway! K-Cup® Pod Christmas Up-cycling CraftCheck out this sweet little dude you and your kiddos can make him in just a few minutes. If you are like our family, you have almost all of the supplies on hand.

And if crafting isn’t your bag, check out this great giveaway:

Win 96 Holiday Blend K-Cup® pods. It’s a winterful life, especially when you win free coffee! Enter our giveaway before 12/31/20.

Win 96 Holiday Blend K-Cup® PodsMonthly Keurig K-cup coffee giveaway- each and every month Cross Country Cafe will be giving away full size boxes of Keurig K-cup coffee to one lucky winner!

12/21/20 Weekly Meal Plan!

0a5e9dab796cea8a07eabe4eb4795b9e.jpgI went to the grocery store over the weekend: The kids needed food to keep their tummies full over the next week of winter break, and we were out of a lot of shelf stable stuff. And salad. I am nuts about the Taylor Farms Salads (tangerine Crunch and Avocado Ranch are THE BEST). Our local Grocery Outlet and 99 Cents Only both carry various varieties for CHEAP.

I’m trying hard to stick to our budget of $100/week for groceries and prepare dinners that are filling and hearty.

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.  I also keep sandwich Ziploc bags of other frozen fruit on hand to make the kids smoothies when they request them (a few times per week). Berries, peaches, and mangos are pretty popular. recently the Big Kid has been on a protein shake kick in the AM.

The next two weeks are Winter Break, so we’ll be eating at home a lot. Most places are still closed as cases here surge. Our tradition of zoo trips will be on hold for now. I’m planning a drive to the desert for the day, complete with a picnic lunch and some fun photos. And of course, lots of time next week to play with toys or whatever the kids get for Christmas.

I’m planning on making two batches of soup for lunches. Beef stew and probably vegetarian chili.

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:  Meatloaf, fruit, noodles, & rolls Meatloaf recipe will be posted this week
  • Monday: Soup, salad, and fruit
  • Tuesday: Grilled Cheese, Fruit, and salad
  • Wednesday: Nugget Night (With Birdseye cauli fries)
  • Thursday: Pizza Night
  • Friday:  Pot Roast in the crockpot, oven roasted vegetables, salad
  • Saturday: Leftover Shenanigans

Please stay safe you guys! The sooner we flatten the curve, the sooner life can go back to normal- whatever that means.

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

San Diego, CA Area Residents: FREE Produce and Perishable Groceries-12/21/2020

Our friends over at Faith Chapel understand that with all that’s going on in the world that some of us still need help finding healthy food during this difficult time. And that’s it not always safe for us to go to the store or hit up a farmers market.

Distribution is happening Monday, December 21, 2020 at 10:00am!

This is a drive-thru style event, so you don’t have to leave your vehicles. There is no paperwork, no questions asked. Show up, pop your trunk, and fresh food is loaded for you, and you are on your way!

Here is a picture of what was available in previous weeks! Sometimes you get produce, sometimes is eggs, milk, and other dairy products and meat- it changes weekly!

Faith Chapel is located at 9400 Campo Road Spring Valley, CA 91977

12/18/2020 Friday Freebies and Deals

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It’s Friday again! Time to score some freebies, pick up a few deals online, and stay home (or if you have to leave home, wear a mask and wash your paws).

Most of California is in lockdown again, so I’ll only be posting deals that can allow you to socially distance.

Freebies:

Free $5 Staples Gift Reward (Check Email)
Free S&W Savory Sides Beans at Select Stores
Free Box of Food for Those Affected by COVID-19
Possible Free Zozu Hemp Mask + Nose Pore Strip
Free Yellow Dog Nantucket Stickers
Free Drink at Starbucks
Free Kids Mouthwash
Free The Junior Disease Detectives Graphic Novel
Free Sample of K-Y Personal Lubricant
Free SafeTouch Pet Decal
Free Issue of Rediscover Magazine
Free Subscription to Shape Magazine
Free Bob’s Red Mill Grain Free Flatbread Mix
Free A Shoc Energy Drink at Select Stores
Free Red Spider Lily Bulbs
Free Kinderlyte Products
Free Subscription to Allure Magazine
Free OLIPOP Sparkling Tonic
Free Kids Firetruck Foldup Activity Sheet
Free Nourish Organic Lightweight Moisturizing Face Lotion
Free 8×10 Inspirational Quote Print
Free 2-Pack Hallmark Gift Bags + Free Shipping
Free El Vaquero Taco at 7-Eleven & Stripes
Free Infantino 2-in-1 Tummy Time & Seated Support
Free Sample of Clear Start Breakout Clearing Foaming Wash
Free The Breakers Series: Books 1-3 by Edward Robinson eBooks
Free Games from Ubisoft
100 Free Kellogg’s Family Rewards Points
Free Cities: Skylines PC Game
Free Disney Movie Insiders Points Everyday this Month
1-Month Free of CBS All Access
Watch The Expanse Season 1-5 for Free
Epic Games – 15 Days of Free Games

Deals: