Frugal Cleaning: “Magic Blue” Cleaner- Great for the Bathroom!

It’s not really magic, but it gets your bathroom (and kitchen) clean without much elbow grease or fuss.

I recently discovered this concoction, and It’s definitely worth sharing. And the best part, you probably have all of the ingredients in your home. If not, a quick trip to Dollar Tree will get you going!

I went to help my mom this week, and I thought I’d clean her bathroom. Our area has the worst hard water (lots of minerals in the water), so cleanings bathtubs and showers are a lot of work.

Enter our magic blue cleaner!

  • 2 cups white vinegar
  • 1/4 cup blue dawn hand dishwashing detergent liquid (I know a lot of people call it soap, but technically it is a detergent).
  • 1 cup water (I used tap water)

Pour the vinegar and water into a spray bottle, add Dawn, screw on the lid and shake until the Dawn has dissolved.

Spray on the dirty areas, let sit for about 10 minutes, wipe off (I used a scrubby sponge), and rinse.

The recipe makes a lot, I tend to pour it into smaller spray bottles, so I can have one in each room (bathrooms and kitchen).

It also works great on cleaning toilets, countertops, and sinks too!

AO Opinions: Upcoming Vitamin Project Pays $125

AO Opinions is another Market Research company that I get information from. Right now they are recruiting for an upcoming research study on the topic of Vitamins.

  • To be considered, complete the pre-screener survey here. 
  • Compensation: $125 (if chosen)
  • Open to: 21-70 Year Olds 
  • Tuesday, February 15th 2022

2/4/2022 Friday Freebies and Deals!

It’s Friday friends! We’ve got a busy weekend now that we are healthy, it’s time for freebies and fun!

I’m going to try and include links to free local events as well. Please remember to follow all local public health guidelines. In California, that means wearing masks inside businesses and public spaces.

2022 Birthday Freebies are here (and also they’ve started flooding my inbox).

Freebies:

Free Pint of Nightfood Ice Cream
Free Lantern, Book Light or Flashlight
Free San Diego Zoo Safari Park Admission for Seniors
Free Spero Sunflower Cheeses
Free Nike Products
Free Beauty Services at Aveda
Free PawPrint Magazine
Free Johnsonville Smoked Sausage Mac & Cheese Monday House Party
Free $25 off Micro Center Coupon
Possible Free $100 Homeowners Research Study
Free Sample of EZC Pak Immune Support – 1st 1,000
Big List of Free Burgers
Free Sandwiches at Dickey’s Barbecue
Free Samples from Social Sampling – SoCal Only
Marlboro Rewards – Earn Free Gifts
Possible Free $125 Seasonal Allergies Research Study
Free Class at Gymboree
Free Medium Fries w/ Any $1 Purchase at McDonalds – Every Friday
Free Sample Pack of Vitafol Ultra or Gummies FirstStep
Free 2022 Wagner & Smith Wall Calendar
Free Pair of Mack’s Ear Plugs – Every Weekday
Buffalo Wild Wings – Free Wings if the Big Game Goes into OT
Free Red Dress Pin
Free Frutati & Mocati Hard Candy Samples
Free iPhone Phone Cases & Protectors
Free Pink Ombre Necklace & Keychain at Michael’s
Free Joyfull Bakery Parmesan Crisps
Possible Free $125 Devices Research Study
Free Star Collection Bookmark
Possible Free $175 Research Study
Free KPop Sauce After Rebate
2 Free Mtn Dew Drinks at Publix

Deals:

Disney Mickey Mouse Toaster 2-Slice ONLY $23.39 (Reg $38)
Polly Pocket Mattel Jigsaw Puzzle ONLY $5.66 (Reg. $12)
MUK LUKS Talora Slipper ONLY $14.99 (Reg. $34)
FREE Personalized Children’s Book for February
Brain Quest Kids Workbooks as Low as $5.70 on Amazon (Reg. $13)
Lulu Rose Fiona Earrings ONLY $14.00 (Reg. $80)
MUK LUKS Flexi Buffalo Shoe ONLY $34.99 (Reg. $70)
MUK LUKS Women’s Abigail Slipper ONLY $18.99 (Reg. $50)
Champion Boys Sherpa Hoodie ONLY $9.99 (Reg. $36)
Save 85% on Steve Madden Jewelry + Extra 10% Off at Checkout
Ballpoint Pen Assorted Colors 60-Count ONLY $4.99 on Amazon
KitchenAid 3-Piece Measuring Jugs Set ONLY $12.11 (Reg $25)
Yankee Candle Large Bahama Breeze ONLY $12.99 (Reg. $28)
Wrap Bracelets Collection ONLY $5.99 (Reg $28)
Wilton Steel Springform Pans Set of 3 ONLY $17.93 (Reg $50)
Valentine’s CZ Ring Collection ONLY $12.99 (Reg $39)
WiFi Wireless Essential Oil Diffuser ONLY $25.56 (Reg. $60)
LEGO Minifigure Faces 1000-Piece Puzzle ONLY $9.99 (Reg $18)
Van Ness 25-Pound Food Container ONLY $12.99 (Reg. $29)
75% Off Canada Weather Gear + Extra 10% Off at Checkout
Today Only: 70% Off Stylish Faves at Old Navy

Mabel’s Labels Winter Warehouse Sale!

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

I work at a school part-time, and y’all should see how much stuff is in the lost and found on the daily. When deals like this sale from Mabel’s Labels come around, I have to share them.

Starting today you can enjoy up to 40% off inventory that has got to go, plus FREE shipping on all orders! Get these fan-favorites before they are gone!

We have Mabel’s Labels for both kids, and I have them on my stuff too (water bottles, my lunch bag, and our ” going out on adventures backpack”.

Select Products:
• Split Name Label Pack (30% off)
• Personalized Hexagon Stickers (30% off)
• Heart Shape Name Labels (30% off)
• Custom Clothing Stamp (20% off)
• Silicone ID bracelets – 7″ size only (20% off)
• Metal Bag Tags (Bag Tags, Mini Tags, and Custom Medical Tags) (40% off)
• Preschool Shoe Labels (30% off)

I love Mabel’s Labels– They stick really well, and little hands can’t pick or peel them off.

Free Food Resources for February 2022(San Diego County)

A new year means new opportunities to find free food resources 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.

You can still 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 February 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.

1/31/2022 Weekly Meal Plan

0a5e9dab796cea8a07eabe4eb4795b9e.jpgThis week is starting off with a somber note. My dad is in the ICU and he’s stable, but pretty sick. So, dear readers, thoughts and prayers are requested! My meal plan for the week may not be as put together since I’ll be visiting him and my family as much as I can.

As usual, the CSA Box will be delivered this morning too. I’m hoping to roast up some veggies and make a big salad. I’ll be posting a really yummy salad recipe this week.

Veggies and fruit are delivered by Yasukochi Family Farms CSA. For $25, 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.

I did a grocery shopping trip on Friday, stocked up on lunch food and snacks for the kids, and of course- milk and bread.

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: This week we’ll start enjoying some Dream Dinners, and I’ll be posting pics and deets all over my social media!

  • Monday: Dinner with family
  • Tuesday: Nug night- I’ve got 3 different types, krinkle fries, apple slices & strawberries
  • Wednesday:   Grilled Chicken and Quinoa Power Bowl We didn’t have it last week
  • Thursday:   Baked Stuffed Canollis, salad
  • Friday: Takeout night!
  • Saturday:  Leftovers
  • Sunday: Veggie Soup

Please stay safe you guys!

Rubio’s Coastal Grill: Taco Tuesday Deals All Day!

There are few things I love in life more than Tacos.

Rubio’s knows that most everyone is with me on that and starting this coming Tuesday, February 1, 2022 Taco Tuesday gets even better!

The new year brings a new perk for taco fans as Rubio’s Coastal Grill extends Taco Tuesday pricing all day long, now including lunch. Guests in California, Arizona, and Nevada can enjoy Rubio’s discounted offers, no coupon needed. The all-day discounts include:

  • The Original Fish Taco™ — $1.99: Enjoy our signature wild-caught beer-battered fish, cooked to crispy perfection and topped with white sauce, mild salsa, and cabbage. Served on a warm, stone-ground corn tortilla.
  • The Fish Taco Especial — $2.29: Enjoy the classic Original Fish Taco recipe with handmade guacamole and cheese.
  • The Shrimp Trio — $7.99: Enjoy three fan-favorite shrimp tacos, including the Salsa Verde Shrimp Taco, Grilled Gourmet Taco™ with Shrimp, and the Mexican Street Corn Shrimp Taco.

Guests are invited to order ahead through the Rubio’s app or Rubios.com. For more information about Rubio’s Coastal Grill and to view the menu, visit Rubio’sFacebook, and Instagram.

 

Talk Back: Which one are are you most excited to have on Taco Tuesday?

Cutting through Clickbait- Weird Ways to Make Money Debunked!

Ok, so you see the clickbait-y posts on Facebook and other social media “5 CrAzY WaYs To MaKe MoNeY?!!“, and most of them are stupid, convoluted, or impossible for the average person to do. Before you click on “10 Easy Ways Single Moms Can Make Rent This Month!” or whatever asinine crap is going around, lemme let you what “Hustles” aren’t going to pay out well.

It may look like some of these are fairly well paying, but once you consider the time to money ratio, you’d be better off getting a part-time job at Starbucks or a grocery store.

Selling Your Plasma. Seriously. It’s hard on your body, takes time (1-3 hours), and if you have tattoos or piercings, or small veins you can’t do it. And it typically pays less than $50 per session. Some places advertise that you can make $5200/year, but that’s usually 2 donations per week and with referrals each month.

Selling your poop. I’m not kidding, and it’s not an Only Fans Type thing. Open Biome is in MA, and they help people with C Diff. They aren’t taking new donors, and even if they were, you gotta live near the Boston/Cambridge area (and there are additional requirements as well). It looks like there may be other places you can sell your poop too as well.

Manage a Mobile Scooter Fleet. Like Bird or the green scooters (I can’t remember their names). Not only do you have to drive around to pick them off (and drop them off), you have to charge them (paying for electricity). Once you’ve factored in the gas and wear and tear on your car, and the price of electricity, are you making money?

Anything that involves driving your car. Sorry friends, especially those here in Southern California, where gas was this morning $4.45/gallon at 3 different stations in my hometown, driving isn’t a really great way to earn money. Unless you have an electric or hybrid car, the cost of gas, maintenance, and insurance can eat up most of your earnings.

Scan the Stuff you Buy… This has been around FOREVER, and I did it for like a month, but it took so long to do, and I earned pennies.

National Consumer Panel has various ways for you to earn points, which you can redeem for gifts from their catalog. It’s a lot of work.

The next few were mentioned in my TikTok Side Hustles Tested here. I tried them both and they aren’t quick or easy. But if you’ve got time and looking for something you can do over the long haul, they might be for you.

  • Flipping stuff (buying at a low price at thrift stores, garage sales, even FB marketplace) and selling it online for a profit.
  • Selling books from Dollar Tree/thrift stores (Scan UPC through Amazon app to see if the books have a good selling price).
  • Make Coloring books, journals, worksheet books in Canva and upload them to Amazon to sell. This one takes a while to do.
  • Upload free art from Canva to sites like redbubble or other print-on-demand sites where you can earn money when people buy items with images you’ve uploaded (journals are pretty popular recommendations).
  • Make educational worksheets, family binder sheets, or organizational worksheets and sell them via Etsy as PDF’s.

If you are looking for ways to make a little extra money without going out of your way, check out my article here.

 

Penzey’s Special Gift Card Offer: $50 in Gift Cards Just $35!

This is my favorite deal!! Through tomorrow, 1/30/2022 at midnight, $50 Penzeys Spices Giftcards are only $35! 

And any additional $25 gift cards are only $17.50 each (maximum 25 gift cards).

These are not available for pick up, but gift cards ship for free!

If you have a cook or baker in your life, these gift cards make a great gift, and because they never expire, you can buy them now and give them throughout the year.

*Penzeys Gift Card Offer Details
Cannot be used on the date of purchase. Cannot be used to purchase other gift cards. Not applicable to prior sales, not valid with other offers. Not for resale. While supplies last. Standard shipping rates apply. Offer ends midnight Sunday, January 30, 2022.

1/28/2022 Weekly Freebies and Deals

It’s Friday friends! We’ve got a busy weekend now that we are healthy, it’s time for freebies and fun!

I’m going to try and include links to free local events as well. Please remember to follow all local public health guidelines. In California, that means wearing masks inside businesses and public spaces.

2022 Birthday Freebies are here (and also they’ve started flooding my inbox).

Freebies

Watch Discovery+ for Free
Free Mab & Stoke Products
Free Simply Earth Essential Oil Box Subscription
Free Copy of Amazing Me It’s Busy Being 3! Book
Free Common Daily Body Cleanser Sample
Possible Free $125 Electronics Research Study
Free Redken Acidic Bonding Concentrate Collection
Free Old Sad Songs Postcard
Free Bakery on Main Grain Free Granola
Free Black Box Wines Magnet, Koozie & More
Free AYO Foods Hand-Crafted West African Bowls
Free Solid Gold Pet Product
Free Subscription to LEGO Life Magazine
Free $20 Amazon Gift Card
Free The Last Kids on Earth Keychain, Pin, Sticker & More
Free Nature’s Path Granola Products
Possible Free $150 Super Bowl Research Study
Free Urban Skin Rx Product
Free Doughnut at Krispy Kreme
Possible Free $125 Health Conditions Study
Possible Free $100 Car Multimedia Research Study
Free Adventure Force Crawling Cobra Snake Toy
Free Body Lotion
Free Chippin Silver Carp Dog Food Sample
Free Prostate Cancer Foundation Heart-Shaped Awareness Pin
Free Explore 131 North Postcard & Decal
Free MaryRuth’s Liquid Probiotic
Possible Free $195 Personal Care Products Research Study
Possible Free $125 Lifestyle Research Study
Free Carmex Products & Swag
Free Sample of Impossible Foods Products
Free Magnolia Network, ID & Science Channels Preview
Free Revive Coffee Sample
Free One by Poise Liner & Pads Sample Pack
Free N95 Masks
2 Free Cans of Nature’s Logic Cat Food
Free LaCréme Beauté Body Lotion, Facial Cleanser & Body Wash

 

Deals:

Mainstays Side Storage Desk ONLY $39 (Reg $64)
Disney The Happy Planner 2022 Planner Box Kit ONLY $10 (Reg $35)
Guess Women’s Fuzzy Slippers ONLY $14.93 (Reg $50)
Character Glitter Earrings ONLY $8.99 (Reg $18)
Coach Outlet Mini Camera Bag ONLY $75 Shipped (Reg $250)
Insignia 6-Quart Pressure Cooker ONLY $39.99 (Reg $60)
Silver Bangle 3-Piece Set ONLY $6.99 (Reg $70)
LUKEES by MUK LUKS Sigrid Nikki Too Boots ONLY $32.99 (Reg. $99)
Crayola Coloring and Sticker Books ONLY $1.99 on Amazon
Bruin 2 in 1 Playgym ONLY $17.58 (Reg. $40)
Little Tikes Big Digger Sandbox Playset ONLY $34.99 (Reg $50)
Boys Graphic Short Sleeve T-Shirts 2-Pack ONLY $4.74 (Reg $18)
MKF Collection Angelina Crossbody Bag ONLY $27.99 (Reg $169)
MUK LUKS Pitch Soprano Sandal ONLY $16.99 (Reg. $55)
Up to 50% Off Skechers Shoes + Extra 10% Off at Checkout
MOSSY OAK Multi-Tool ONLY $14.39 (Reg. $26)
EverBrite 2-in-1 Mini Lanterns ONLY $8.99 (Reg. $15)
WORKPRO 13-inch Tool Bag ONLY $15.59 (Reg. $26)
FREE Shipt Membership for Visa Credit Cardholders