Do We Really Need 64 Ounces of Water and a Giveaway!

Everybody knows the adage about drinking eight 8-ounce glasses of water every day, but where did it come from?

According to this NPR article, in 1945, the US Food and Nutrition Board decided that 1 mL of water per calorie was what people needed to stay hydrated. This is approximately 64 ounces of fluid per day. And this stuck.

Per the Mayo Clinic, whats counts as water may surprise you: Any liquid, including foods that are high in liquid, like soups, smoothies, fruits, and vegetables like melons, citrus, and tomatoes, are excellent sources of liquid. This means you don’t need to chug a huge 64-ounce bottle of water every single day. As long as you are consuming foods that are high in liquid, you are getting enough hydration for your body

Too much of a good thing? Yes, you can be overhydrated, and that can cause an electrolyte imbalance, which can lead to cloudy thinking, nausea, vomiting, headaches, and even muscle cramps. This isn’t gonna happen unless you’re drinking over 4 L of water an hour. Overhydration does not happen often, but it can occur.

If you’re looking for ways to add hydration to your day, here are a few ways:

And now for the Giveaway! I’m giving away this 40-ounce reusable cup with a lid, and an assortment of my favorite sugar-free drink mixes!

The prizes will be mailed directly from Amazon to the winner.

To Enter:

  • Comment on this post with how you stay hydrated. (1 entry)
  • Comment on one of my previous blog posts (1 entry per blog comment)
  • Follow me on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok. Each one of these is 1 entry EACH.

I’ll choose a winner on February 1st in the evening. I will email or DM the winner to confirm their mailing address.

National Peanut Butter Day Recipes!

Today is National Peanut Butter Day. For those of us who love Peanut Butter, this is definately a day to celebrate.

I’ve rounded up a few recipes for y’all to try:

If you love Peanut butter but need to avoid the natural fat/oil, I use PB2 in my protein shakes. If you also need to avoid added salt, Peanut Flour is a great option in place of PB2.

I love having Peanut butter on hand in my car snack box, so I use these Jif Cups or these By Nutz pouches.

1/24/26 Weekly Freebies and Deals!

We’ve got some great freebies this week!

This week was the “Oops all appointments week” after work, so I haven’t had much time to blog. I’ve got a lot of ideas in my writing book, so hang tight!

I’m currently working on my 2026 Birthday Freebies post, but in the meantime, check out the 2025 post here. If you live outside Southern California, check out this list: Free Birthday Stuff in 2025: Get The Best 100+ Freebies on Your Birthday!

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

Freebies:

FREE Dolce & Gabbana The One Eau de Parfum Intense Fragrance Sample
FREE Listerine Mouthwash
FREE Pack of Goodwipes Flushable Wipes
FREE Pair of Mack’s Ear Plugs – Every Weekday at 11am EST
FREE Aveeno Body Oil Mist
FREE Birdhouse Build Event for Kids at Lowe’s
We Found The Best Birthday Freebies For Kids
FREE Paris Hilton Premium Heart Shaped Fluted Pan at Walmart After Cash Back
FREE $40 Worth of Sharpie Markers, Pens & Highlighters from Staples
Get Free Christian Items by Mail and How These Resources Can Help Nourish Your Spiritual Journey
FREE Lancome Idole Peach ‘N Roses Eau de Parfum Sample
Calm and Cozy: Free Baby Sleep Music for Restful Nights
FREE Sample of NOYZ Mylk de Parfum
FREE Accelerate Drink at Love’s Travel Stops
FREE FlavCity All-in-One Protein Smoothie Powder
FREE Pepperidge Farm Frozen Desserts, Texas Toast, Bread & More
FREE Galentine’s Glam with L’Oreal Event at Target on January 24th & 25th
FREE Krispy Kreme Donuts for A’s on Report Cards
Sephora Freebies Explained: How to Get Free Samples, Gifts & Rewards
Get Free Beauty Samples in the Mail From Dove, La Roche-Posay, Giorgio Armani and Others
FREE 2026 Proven Winners Gardener’s Idea Book
FREE Sample of Sacred Essentials CBD Infused Pain Balm
The Best Baby Registry Websites — Get Baby Freebies and Must-Haves
FREE Shoes from DREAM PAIRS Shoes
The Best Free Skincare Samples to Request Right Now
2 FREE Movie Tickets to I Can Only Imagine 2
FREE $25 to Spend on Select Categories at Walmart After Cash Back
FREE Reward Every Week with Panda Express Wok Wednesday
FREE Bottle of Sunset Lake CBD Softgels
FREE Moonpig Custom Holiday Postcard
FREE $25 to Spend on Adidas Slides After Cash Back
FREE SHII Immune Support Supplements
FREE $20 Subway Gift Card if You’re in the Middle Seat on January 27th
FREE Blue Buffalo Nudges Minis Chatterbox Kit
FREE Qork & Flip 7 With a Vengeance Game Night Party Pack
FREE Sample of Rascals Night Pants
Does Huggies Send Free Samples? Yes and Here’s How I Got Mine
FREE NotCo Veganuary Chatterbuy Kit
FREE Big Mac at McDonald’s
FREE 2026 Angler’s Almanac
FREE Handwritten Postcard
FREE Chips, Guac or Queso Reward at Chipotle
Claim Cash in the $4.85 Million Bayer Antifungal Spray Class Action Settlement
FREE Blue Buffalo True Chews Minis Chatterbox Kit
FREE Autographed Joey Iest Hero Racing Card

Deals:

CUTE Toddler Clearance Starting at $3 at Walmart
TJ Maxx Winter Clearance Up to 75% Off – Prices as low as $2
Michael Kors Gorgeous! Eau de Parfum Spray ONLY $38.98 (Reg $122)
Coach Perfumes as low as $10.21 at Walmart
Home Decor at Kohl’s 20% Off + 30% Off w/ Coupon
Women’s Sweaters From $5.72 at Kohl’s w/ Coupon
Get up to 48% Off your Stay at Great Wolf Lodge – As low as $131 Per Night
Adidas Shoes and Apparel up to 60% Off
TONYMOLY Very Berry Strawberry Valentine’s Day Gift Set ONLY $7.49 (Reg $15)
Macy’s Winter Clearance – Up to 70% Off
How Much is Amazon Prime for Seniors in 2026?
Clearance at JCPenney Up to 70% Off – Select Styles From $4
Kate Spade Carter Nylon Phone Crossbody ONLY $69 (Reg $189)
Nike Socks on Sale Up to 50% Off at Macys
Irish Spring Original Moisturizing Body Wash ONLY $4.99 (Reg $8)

JCPenney Winter Sale- Up to 60% off!

Y’all know I love JCP. Between their rewards program and their amazing clearance sales, it’s a great place to shop for household basics.

Currently, they are offering an amazing winter sale, with prices up to 60% off using the coupon code 2REFRESH at checkout.

I’m on the hunt for some 100% cotton sheets for my big kid’s bed.

The best part about these sales is that you can shop online and either have your items shipped to you or pick them up in-store. Many stores offer curbside pickup, too!

Recipe: Green Chicken Enchilada Casserole

This is a very simple recipe, and it has a lot of variations for budget, and if you are trying to use up what you have in your pantry and fridge.

I got a package of rotisserie chicken pulled off the bone from Costco not long ago. I defrosted it, and now I’m ready to start using it.  If you don’t have a rotisserie chicken, you can substitute 2 cups of shredded cooked chicken or 2 small cans/1 large can of canned chicken, drained, rinsed, and shredded.

Green Chicken Enchilada Casserole

Ingredients

  • 2 cups cooked/shredded chicken
  • 1 19-ounce can green enchilada sauce
  • 1/3 cup sour cream
  • 2 cups shredded sheese, divided (I used 1/2 Cheddar and 1/2 Asadero)
  • 10-ish corn tortillas, cut or ripped into bite-sized pieces (You may need more or less depending on how big your pieces end up)
  • Topings/Garnishes: Salsa, Sour Cream, shredded lettuce, diced onions, or picled onions (Your choice)

Directions

  1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
  2. Mix together the enchilada sauce and sour cream. Taste and add any additional seasoning as desired (onion or garlic powder, white pepper).
  3. In a 13×9 pan, coat the bottom with 2-3 tablespoons of enchilada sauce.
  4. Layer tortilla pieces, chicken, cheese, tortilla, and sauce until your pan is full.
  5. Top with any remaining cheese.
  6. Tent the pan loosely with aluminum foil and bake covered for 35-40 minutes.
  7. Remove foil and cook for another 5-10 minutes until the cheese on top is browned and bubbly.
  8. Serve with toppings/garnishes as desired.

 

This meal serves 6-8, depending on the sides you choose to serve.

Leftovers can be frozen.

 

 

Score Deals with Amazon Haul!

I had never heard of Amazon Haul until earlier this week, when a co-worker told me she scored a box of 40 name-brand mechanical pencils for less than $10.

Amazon Haul is Amazon’s take on discount goodies, similar to Temu and Shein. Most everything is $20.00 or less. There is a section at the top of the Amazon Haul page with $1 & under deals! These items are limit 3 per customer.

I’m always on the lookout for inexpensive pencils for work and for my kids, so I had to give it a gander.

Here are a few of the sweet deals I ran across. I separated them by less than $1 and over $1.

In the $1.00 or less category-

Over $1.00, and still a good deal:

And there are thousands more deals in almost every category on Amazon Haul– It is definately worth a peek.

How to Score Free Gift Cards!

There truly is a National Day for everything. And today is no different, as it is National Use Your Gift Card Day.

A lot of us got Gift Cards for the recent holidays, and maybe you have some stashed. However, if you are looking to earn a few gift cards, here are some of my top tips:

Use Apps like Fetch, Receipt Hog, and Ibotta. My complete list of apps where I earn gift cards is here.

Spending a little bit of your scrolling time each day doing short surveys is how I earn the most gift cards. There is a good list of my favorite survey sites here.

I store my physical gift cards in an Ipsy pouch I got at a clothing swap in my purse. I don’t have tons, but it’s always great to have them on hand in case I go into a store or find myself at a Dairy Queen (there aren’t too many here, and I have had a DQ GC in my purse for a while).

1/16/2026 Friday Freebies and Deals!

This week has been wild. The new year has had a lot going on, and I’m doing what I can to keep my head above water.

I’m currently working on my 2026 Birthday Freebies post, but in the meantime, check out the 2025 post here. If you live outside Southern California, check out this list: Free Birthday Stuff in 2025: Get The Best 100+ Freebies on Your Birthday!

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

Freebies:

Free Dog Food Samples: 6 Companies that Will Send You Free Dog Samples by Mail
FREE Sample of Otis and Pearly Freeze Dried Pet Treats
FREE Rosary & Sticker
FREE $40 Worth of Post-It Products from Staples
FREE Fragrance Samples from Macy’s
FREE Wellness Event at Walmart on January 24th
FREE Full-Size DedCool Laundry Detergent, Dryer Sheets, Room + Linen Spray or Eau de Parfum
FREE Cantina Chicken Crispy Taco, Beefy 5-Layer Burrito, Soft Taco or Crispy Chicken Soft Taco at Taco Bell
FREE $30 Purchase at Alo Yoga After Cash Back
FREE Cascade Dishwasher Detergent
FREE Sample of e.l.f. PLZ Clarify Facial Oil
FREE Handcrafted Beverage at Capital One Cafe
FREE Can of Red Bull Zero
FREE Scoop of Classic Carol at Chicken Salad Chick on January 22nd
The Ultimate Guide to Free Toothpaste Samples
FREE $20 Verizon Account Credit
Free Baby Stuff – Ultimate Guide to Get Free Baby Stuff
Easy Ways To Get Free Men’s Cologne Samples
FREE Sample of Dermoplast 3-in-1 Medicated First Aid Cloths
FREE 2-Pack of PicklePro MAX Pickleballs
FREE 5×7 Folded Card from Walgreens
FREE Sample of Kinesio Tape
FREE Movie Ticket to Atropia
FREE Barilla Pesto Sweet & Spicy Pepper ReFUNd
Have a Crumbl Cookie Birthday with a Free Gourmet Cookie! Here’s How.
FREE Washing Machine Bank Build Event for Kids at Lowe’s
FREE Lash Curler
FREE Let Animals Be Free Circus Activity Book, Poster & Stickers
FREE Croissant at Paris Baguette
FREE $25 at CVS After Cash Back
FREE Neutrogena Evenly Clear Products
FREE Educational Comic Books, Activity Books, Posters & More
FREE Carton of Yogi Tea
FREE Bottle of Stem & Root Skin Defense Supplement
FREE Fries at White Castle
Here Are 6 Ways To Get Free Baby Formula Samples
Get Your Free Teeth Whitening Samples: A Brighter Smile Awaits
Big List of 110 Restaurants to Get Free Food
FREE Zolli Powered Niche Nation Game Night Party Pack

Deals:

Crock-Pot 4.5qt Slow Cooker ONLY $19.99 (Reg $30)
All The Best Subway Coupons and Promo Codes: New for January 2026
Subway BOGO Deal: Buy 1, Get 1 Footlong Sub – New Subway Coupons & Reward Program Changes
Kate Spade Jewelry: Save Up to 70% Off + Extra 20% Off – Prices as low as $12
The Best Handbag, Purse & Clutch Deals on Sale: Michael Kors, Kate Spade, MKF Collection & Coach Up to 82% Off
Walgreens 11×14 Photo Poster ONLY $1.99 (Reg $13) – HOT Deal!
Valentine’s Day Tees for Toddlers From $4.98
Ulta Coupon: $3 Off $15
The Walmart Bogg Bag Dupe You Gotta Check Out!
Babylist Universal Baby Registry: The Only Baby Registry You Need
Flash Sale: Up to 60% Off Women’s Dresses at Macy’s
Lululemon Factory Outlet Stores – Your Favorite Brand at a Fraction of the Cost!
Up to 50% Off Fragrance & Beauty at Macy’s
Ulta Beauty Love Your Skin Event: Save 50% Off Lancome, Kiehl’s, Clarins & More
Women’s Boots Up to 60% Off at Macy’s
Dollar General Coupons: Save Money on Zzz Products, Lotions & More
Better Homes & Gardens 6-Piece Bath Towel Sets ONLY $7.74 (Reg $39)
Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Plus (Newest Model) ONLY $34.99 (Reg $50)
Olay Beauty Bar 12-Pack ONLY $6.63 (Reg $13) + Free Shipping!
Armor All Car Cleaning Kit for Car Detailing 8-Piece Set ONLY $19.97 (Reg $31)

Regal Cinemas: Celebrate National Popcorn Day on January 19!

National Popcorn Day is January 19th, and Regal Cinemas is helping you celebrate!

Dress up in your favorite costume and head to a Regal near you on January 19 to score a FREE large popcorn.

To sweeten the deal, tag them at your local Regal in costume on National Popcorn Day in an Instagram post (IG Username: Regalmovies) for a chance to win 3 FREE months of Regal Unlimited.  10 winners will be selected starting at 10 AM ET on 1/20/26.

1/11/26 Weekly Meal Plan

0a5e9dab796cea8a07eabe4eb4795b9e.jpgMeal Prep and Meal Planning is back for 2026!

I prepped Taco bowls for my work week lunches, I’ll taco home made guac and tortilla chips with me as well.

I’ll post the taco bowl recipe this week. They are super good (I had one yesterday for lunch).

I also cut up a lot of fruit for the week- I’ve found if it’s grab and go, the kids and I are more likely to eat it,

To keep my grocery budget down, I shop at Aldi (using Instacart, I wrote about how to do it here), our local Grocery Outlet, and use cashback rebates that offer a lot of 100% back (I wrote a post about some of my favorite apps here).

I hit up Aldi on Saturday and restocked a lot of pantry staples- canned tomatoes in various forms, several types of beans, and rice. I also picked up corn tortillas, cheese, and bread. We go through a lot of bread because my oldest has a sandwich every day for lunch. I was out the door for $74.13, just under my budget of $75.00.

Breakfast: The kids tend to eat cereal, a bagel, or an MBS (Mrs. Bear Special) each morning for breakfast. I usually have a proffee and a slice of toast with goat cheese and spicy honey.

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. This week, my lunch is taco bowls.

Dinner: This week, dinners are pretty simple. I’m easing back into meal planning in 2026, and not planning any complicated dinners that involve a lot of steps.

If there is something that one of the kids ends up not liking, they can have a sandwich or a fruit and yogurt smoothie.

  • Sunday:  Homemade Soup (thanks mom!), and homemade bread. The big kid had a smoothie.
  • Monday: Mac n’ Cheese, Meatloaf, and Fruit
  • Tuesday: Breakfast for Dinner (Waffles, Eggs, & Fruit)

  • Wednesday: Skillet meal- Maybe Chicken Tetrazini

  • Thursday: Chicken strips, mashed potatoes, fruit smoothies

  • Friday: Takeout night!
  • Saturday: Leftover Palooza and whatever leftover fruit is hanging around.