Dollar Tree: Fairy Garden Goodies!

We are looking at a lot of rain over the next week (or two) here in San Diego. That means a lot of indoor time. I was looking for something fun for us to do this weekend, and while cruising through Dollar Tree the other night, I discovered they have Fairy Garden Supplies!

I love making Fairy Gardens with the kids.

It’s a great way to make something tangible that uses the imagination.  Create or expand your fairy world with Dollar Tree‘s NEW Enchanted Fairy Garden collection! This entire 35-piece collection is available online now for just $23,  if you can’t find them in-store. The fairy garden sets are also the perfect addition to DIY terrarium parties and resale in garden and gift shops too. I personally think they would also be a great Easter Basket idea (DIY Fairy/Spring Garden).

Don’t forget when you shop online, you can take advantage of FREE shipping when you choose to have your order shipped to your local Dollar Tree store for pickup! It’s easy, convenient, and saves you money on shipping costs.

 

1/22/2021 Friday Freebies & Deals

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I’ve been going going going all week, which is why you haven’t seen a lot of blog posts. I’m glad to report that I’ve had some time to look for some sweet freebies and deals for you today! And I’m elbow deep in my updated 2021 Birthday Freebies, which should be done sometime over the weekend.

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:

Free Multi-Surface Disinfecting Wipes
Free Wonder Drink Prebiotic Kombucha
Free Haven’s Kitchen Fresh Sauce
Free Sample of Orgain Protein Powder
Free Year of Vooks for Teachers
Banfield Pet Hospital – Free Office Visit & Consultation
Free Subscription to Entrepreneur Magazine
Free Goody Bag at buybuy BABY Stores
Free MOO Sample Pack
Free Sample of La Roche-Posay Vitamin C Serum
Free Morgan & Morgan Hand Sanitizer & Face Mask
Free Sample of Malin + Goetz Body Moisturizer
Free Bag of Canidae Dog Food at Petco
Free Llama Stickers
Possible Free Hasbro Toys
Free Wings for Your Birthday Buffalo Wild Wings
Free Whimsical Wolf Stickers
Free Hair Craft Co. Hair Clay
Free Lasko Hybrid Tower Fan with Remote Control
Free Revitalash Products
Free Hallmark Card Every Month
Free Carlson Pet Products
Free Beachwaver Dry Shampoo
Free Sample of Yes Life CBD Oil & Hemp CBD Pain Relief Cream
Free No7 Lift & Luminate Primer
Free Sample of Aveda Botanical Repair Masque
Free Madam Vice President Sticker

 

Deals

adidas Alliance II Sackpack ONLY $7 (Reg $18)
Clorox Disinfecting Cleaning Wipes 3-Pack $11.37 Shipped
60% Off Custom Engraved Dog & Cat Tags $3.99 + Free Shipping
Lysol Toilet Bowl Cleaners ONLY $1.17 Each at Amazon
Save $5 when you buy TWO Snuggle SuperCare Liquid Softener
Women’s Leggings as low as $8.40 at Kohl’s (reg. $26)
Apple Magic Keyboard 11-inch iPad Pro ONLY $199 (Reg $300)
Back in Stock – Clorox Wipes $2.89 at Target
Tea Tree Lavender Mint Conditioner ONLY $17.99 (Reg $43)
Ralph Lauren Pillow ONLY $7.99 at Macy’s (Reg $20)
NYX Ultimate Utopia Shadow Palette ONLY $22.75 at Ulta (Reg $35)

6 Baked Potato Toppings That Make a Complete Meal!

Potatoes have gotten a bad rap over the past ten years or so. Potatoes are not the enemy that they have been made out to be. They aren’t an empty vessel to top with copious amounts of butter and sour cream (although that sounds pretty tasty).

In terms of nutrition, potatoes have a lot going on for them. 1 medium-sized potato contains:

  • 25% Daily Value of Potassium
  • 18% Daily Value of Fiber
  • 70% Daily Value of Vitamin C
  • 30% Daily Value of Vitamin B-6
  • 12% Daily Value of Magnesium

Now that you know that potatoes are a healthy food choice, let’s talk about incorporating them into some healthy meals!

Here are six of my favorite baked potato toppings that make a plain ol’ potato a meal!

  1. Chili, cheese, onions
  2. Stew (This is a great use for leftover stew)
  3. Veggies with Sauce (I like the Birdseye broccoli and cheese sauce)
  4. Madras Lentils (and bonus- this is a vegetarian option)
  5. Curry (Some of these curries are vegan!)
  6. Grilled Chicken, broccoli, and alfredo sauce (BJ’s restaurant has a potato with this combo and it is SOO good and filling)

Leftovers of most varieties make great baked potato toppings. One of our favorite camping meals with a baked potato bar. Make up a mess of baked potatoes and heat up and set out any of the above in addition to:

  • Cheese
  • Sour Cream
  • Chives
  • Sauteed or grilled veggies

 

1/18/2021 Weekly Meal Plan

0a5e9dab796cea8a07eabe4eb4795b9e.jpgThe kids have off today for MLK Day, so we’re planning some socially distanced shenanigans (shell collecting at the beach, picnic lunch, and picking up our Dream Dinners order). The past few weeks have been so busy, and this week plans to be jam-packed as well.

My friend Brooke recently hosted a Dream Dinner Virtual Party, and I took advantage of one of the deals- 6 dinners (each dinner serves 2-3 adults) for $99.00. I’ll be posting more info and details in the coming weeks, but for those of you who want to meal plan, but don’t know if it’s for you, Dream Dinners is a great resource.

I did my weekly trip to the store yesterday for bread, milk, salad, and ice cream. The kids have requested chocolate chip cookies, I’ll try to make a batch tomorrow.

I’m trying hard to stick to our budget of $100/week for groceries and prepare dinners that are filling and hearty.  It can be a struggle, but I shop sales, discount grocery stores, and use my cashback apps.

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.  The kids are nuts about pancakes. The Big Kid has been on a protein shake kick in the AM.

No school tomorrow, but I think we’ll have a picnic while we’re out and about. The rest of the week it’s 1/2 days for the littlest bit, and full days for the big dude. This afternoon I need to pop over to the store and pick up some lunch goodies. Big kid takes his lunch to school, but little bit has lunch at home after school.

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:  Veggie Burgers on Salad (that’s what we ended up having, I had planned to do smoothies and caulifries too, but nah…)
  • Monday:  Pasta, Salad, and Garlic Bread
  • Tuesday:  Frozen Entrees & Salad
  • Wednesday: Protein shakes/smoothies, toast, and fruit
  • Thursday:  Dream Dinners Meal & Veggies
  • Friday:  Pizza Night!
  • Saturday: Dream Dinners Meal & Veggies

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?

New PinchMe Samples Drop 1/19/2021

Sample Tuesday is Coming 1/19/2021- Mark your calendars, set an alarm on your phone!

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 companies participating in the January Sample boxes:

Lumify® Redness Reliever Eye Drops
KübWipes 100% Natural Cotton Dry Wipes
Secret Light & Fresh
Biotrue® Multi-Purpose Solution
Living Proof Curl Trios for Wavy, Curly or Coily Hair
The Inkey List – Succinic Acid Acne Treatment
Heritage Store Rosewater Vinegar
Secret Completely Clean Invisible Solid
Heritage Store Black Castor Oil
Zhou Hairfluence
Heritage Store Rosewater Glycerine
Boiron Acidil® Meltaway Tablet
Ocean Spray Wave™
B1U Infused Water
Impossible™ Burger Patties 100% Free Gratuity Coupon
Life’s Grape Dark Chocolate, Peanut Butter, Classic Vine-Dried Grape Snack Variety Pack
Rascal + Friends Diapers
Hartz Oinkies Long Lasting Chew Bones Wrapped with Real Chicken
Various Purina Products

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!

 

1/15/2021 New Coupons!

It’s the middle of January, and if one of your goals for the new year is to save money, check out the coupons below! I’ve been printing and clipping coupons for years (decades really0, and while the coupon values have dwindled over the past few years, I still manage to find some good ones to share with you a few times a month.

I’m all about keeping cash in your pocket!


Save $1.00 On any TWO (2) Juicy Juice® products (excludes 4-pack juice boxes)
Save $2.00 on any TWO (2) Good Earth Tea® Products, any variety
Save $0.50 on any ONE (1) Jif® Peanut Butter Product
Save $3.00 on any ONE (1) Sambucol Product
Save $1.00 any ONE (1) AVEENO® Facial Cleanser or Face Mask (excludes cleansers 2oz. or smaller, single use masks & Moisturizing Cleansing
Save $3.00 on any* ONE (1) NIVEA® Breathable Body Lotion Product *Excludes travel/trial sizes and any other NIVEA products
Save $6.00 on ONE (1) Abreva product
Save $5.00 when you spend $25 on Harry’s Razor handles and/or Blades (excludes shave gel, cream, balm and mist) You can score a free trial kit here and pay only $3 for shipping if you are new to Harry’s
Save $1.00 on any ONE (1) package of Green Giant® New Frozen Product, Any Variety
Save $1.00 on any ONE (1) package of Green Giant Veggie Spirals™
Save 35¢ On Any California Dairy Product That Carries The Real California Milk Seal (This is my favorite coupon ever)

1/15/2021 Friday Freebies and Deals!

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It’s been one helluva week friends! Between phone calls, appointments, and chasing packages all over town, I’m ready for some down time! Let’s dive into Freebies!

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:

Free Human Rights Equality Sticker
Free #AdaptAtHome Fitness Kit for Those with Disabilities
Free Back to the Roots Mini Mushroom Kit
Free Raising Cane’s Box Combo
Free Bundoo Bundles Sample Box
Free Pizza at 7-Eleven
Free CovCare PPE Samples
Free Sample of Sol de Janeiro Hair Repair Treatment
Free Samples of Vital Performance Supplement Products
Free Catit Stainless Steel Flower Fountain
Free Core Bar at Walmart
Score FREE Children’s Board Books in English & Spanish
Free NFL Fan Packs
Free Johnny Rockets Burger for Joining & On Your Birthday
Free Special K Keto Friendly Bars Chatterbox
Free Hello Lovely! Biotin Hair Gummy Vitamins
Free Medium Fries w/ Any $1 Purchase at McDonalds – Every Friday
Free Sample of SkinCeuticals Serum
Possible Free ZoZu Natural Hydrating Papaya Facial Sheet Mask
Banfield Pet Hospital – Free Office Visit & Consultation
Free SmartyPants Multivitamins Chatterbox
Free Lane Bryant Gift Card Giveaway
Free pH Balance Skincare Skin Moisturizing Duo

 

Deals:

3 Barrel Curling Iron Wand ONLY $29.99 (Reg $40)
Softsoap Liquid Hand Soap Fresh Breeze 6-Pack ONLY $5.88 Shipped
Microfiber Sheet Sets ONLY $9.74 at JCPenney (Reg $26)
Home Expressions Velvet Plush Blanket ONLY $17.24 (Reg $40)
Insignia 6-Slice Toaster Oven Air Fryer ONLY $69.99 (Reg $150)
Buffalo Plaid Sherpa Slippers ONLY $16.99 Shipped (Reg $45)
16 Clif Bars ONLY $14.48 Shipped with Coupon
Revlon One-Step Hair Dryer & Volumizer ONLY $28.99 Shipped
Disposable Face Masks 50-Piece ONLY $4.59 Shipped at Amazon
Dash Vegetable Mandoline ONLY $29.99 Shipped (Reg $50)
Cosmetic Case Organizer ONLY $19.98 (Reg $30)
Blackout Curtains ONLY $9.99 at JCPenney
Lodge Pre-Seasoned Cast Iron ONLY $13.99 (Reg $27)
Bath Towel Room Essentials ONLY $1.80 at Target
Clorox Disinfecting Cleaning Wipes 3-Pack $11.37 Shipped
Target has Coupon for 50% Off Shoes for the Whole Family

1/11/2021 Weekly Meal Plan

0a5e9dab796cea8a07eabe4eb4795b9e.jpgWe’re starting to get into the swing of our 2021 schedule, and this week is going to be my OMG busy week. Have you ever noticed that there is usually 1 week each month that is crazy busy? Lots of appointments, phone calls, errands, etc.? This is my week- Insanity.

I had some free time over the weekend, and I spent it in the kitchen doing some meal prep for this week. I made a lot of lunch stuff for the littlest kiddo and myself. I also prepared veggies and stuff for stir fry.

I’ll go to the store this morning and get some more fruit and veggies. And Milk. Always milk.

I’m trying hard to stick to our budget of $100/week for groceries and prepare dinners that are filling and hearty.  It can be a struggle, but I shop sales, discount grocery stores, and use my cashback apps.

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.  The kids are nuts about pancakes. The Big Kid has been on a protein shake kick in the AM.

The kids go back to school tomorrow! 1/2 days for the littlest bit, and full days for the big dude. This afternoon I need to pop over to the store and pick up some lunch goodies. Big kid takes his lunch to school, but little bit has lunch at home after school.

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:  Leftovers (we all had big lunches, so it was mostly light snacking)
  • Monday:  Salad and Soup (We’ve got leftover beef stew from a few weeks ago- I stashed the extras in the freezer)
  • Tuesday:  Chicken and Cauli-rice casserole (It’s a frozen meal from Birdseye)
  • Wednesday: Veggies Burgers, Veggies Nuggets, fruit, and chips
  • Thursday:  Stir Fry with Veggies and rice
  • Friday:  Pizza Night!
  • Saturday: Egg scramble (with veggies and cheese), Toast/Bagel, and Fruit Salad

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?

1/8/2021 Friday Freebies and Deals!

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Woo Hoo- Our first Freebie and Deal Friday post of 2021! Since my birthday is next month, I’m going to start searching for new/different birthday freebies (last year’s post is here), and I’ll be posting an update in the next few weeks.

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:

Free El Yucateco Hot Sauce
Free GoMacro Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip MacroBars
Free Triceratops Kits at Lowe’s
Free Kerastase Chronologiste Hair Care Products
Free Honey Mama’s Honey-Cocoa Bar
Free Freak Flag Organics Bone Broth
Free Korean Brand Products
Free Beauty Products & More with Topbox Circle
Free Seaworld Teacher Card
Free The Honest Stand Plant-Based Dip
FREE Amazon Baby Box Samples Back in Stock
JCPenney Portraits – Free 8×10 for Military Families
Free Stainless Steel Insulated Cups
New Sampler Samples – Axe, Abeille Serenity Kids & More
Free Incontinence Products
3 Free O3 Superfoods Flax Butter Samples
Free SuperLeaf Kratom Powder Sample
Free Walkie Talkie Set
Free SkinnyPop or Pirate’s Booty Products
Free SeaWorld + Aquatica Orlando Preschool Card
Free Infantino Grow With Me 3-In-1 Tummy Time Piano
Free Box of Vahdam Turmeric Herbal Tea
Free ONE Brands Maple Glazed Protein Bar
Free Movie Ticket to Fatale
Free Carlson Kid’s Probiotic Stix
Sephora – Free NARS, Laneige, Moroccanoil or Kerastatse Mini Set

Deals:

Aurora 8-Sheet Cross-Cut Paper Shredder ONLY $30.48 (Reg $70)
3 Free Months of Amazon Music Unlimited
Union & Scale Task Chair $69.99 at Staples (Reg $120)
Hair Waver Iron $25.47 Shipped at Amazon (Reg $40)
Alexa Clutch ONLY $13.99 Shipped at Jane (Reg $29)
Dial Antibacterial Deodorant Soap 8-Pack ONLY $5.03 (Reg. $10)
Scotch 5-Inch Kid Scissors ONLY $0.41 Each on Amazon
Toysmith Magnetic Dart Board ONLY $12.53 (Reg. $30)
Paper Mate Pink Pearl Erasers 12-Count ONLY $5.47 (Reg. $10)
Planters Salted Peanuts Resealable Jar 35-Oz ONLY $4.52 Shipped
Miracle-Gro Orchid Food ONLY $4.68 on Amazon (Reg. $11.44)
PURA D’OR Moroccan Argan Oil ONLY $12.99 (Reg. $25)
Nexcare Acne Cover 36-Count ONLY $4.18 (Reg. $8)
Hand Sanitizer In Stock – Large Bottle for $5.46
MUK LUKS Women’s Janet Boots ONLY $24.99 (Reg. $65)
BIC Xtra-Sparkle Mechanical Pencil 24-Ct ONLY $5.97 (Reg. $12)

Moms Meet Wow Summit 2021: It’s Virtual!

If you have followed me for a whole, you know I love Moms Meet. It’s an amazing way to try out products for moms, kids, and families. Every year, they hold a Wow Summit somewhere in the US. This year it’s virtual AND FREE, so really… no reason not to attend, right??

The Wow Summit is three fun-filled and educational days focused on raising happy and healthy families.

Empowering moms to raise happy and healthy families

Experience everything our WOW Summit has to offer, right from the comfort of your own home. From attending educational workshops and hearing from compelling speakers, to networking with like-minded moms, you’ll walk away equipped with the knowledge you need to raise a happy and healthy family. You’ll also have access to our Virtual Exhibit Hall filled with the newest natural, organic, non-GMO, eco, educational, homeopathic, and allergy-free products on the market, plus so much more.

The best part—it’s totally free to attend if you are a member of Moms Meet! There’s even a unique Track just for bloggers and influencers.

There are two tracks, and there will be workshops and classes for every parent/caregiver!

Community Track

Join hundreds of moms, dads, grandparents, and caretakers committed to leading healthy lifestyles.

  • Discover better-for-you products and chat live with brands in the Virtual Exhibit Hall.
  • Hear from inspirational speakers and attend educational workshops.
  • Network with other moms and attend a Virtual Happy Hour.
  • Enter to win amazing prizes worth hundreds of dollars.
  • Receive a Digital Swag Bag filled with amazing discounts and coupons.

Blogger/Influencer Track

Whether you’re a new or experienced blogger or influencer you’ll walk away feeling inspired and full of ideas to take your platforms to the next level.

  • Attend workshops tailored towards bloggers, influencers, and content creators.
  • Network during exclusive events and meet other mom bloggers and influencers.
  • Meet one-on-one with brands offering sponsored campaign opportunities.
  • Plus, gain access to all the Community Track sessions and Virtual Exhibit Hall, enter to win prizes, and so much more.

I’ve been introduced to so many brands, products, and bloggers/influencers since I became a member of Moms Meet. I encourage you to check out the Wow Summit.