kids

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

Abby H.Leave a comment

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!

Abby H.Leave a comment

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.

JCPenney Winter Sale- Up to 60% off!

Abby H.Leave a comment

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!

Score Deals with Amazon Haul!

Abby H.Leave a comment

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.

1/11/26 Weekly Meal Plan

Abby H.

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.

Family Recipe: Porcupine Meatballs

Abby H.
Isn’t he cute? He’s a juvenile porcupine in a tree!

I feel like I need to get this out of the way first thing: This recipe does not contain any porcupine meat. It’s called porcupine meatballs because the meatballs have rice in them, and they can stick out like porcupine quills.

Ok, so now that is out of the way, these meatballs first began to appear in American kitchens during the Great Depression. The use of rice as a binder and filler meant less meat could be used.

This is right as I poured the tomato sauce and seasonings into the pan.

I love these meatballs, and they are very quick and easy to make. They are incredible as leftovers and freeze well too (after they are cooked).

I use ground pork, but ground beef or ground turkey can also be used.

Porcupine Meatballs (serves 4-5)

Ingredients:

  • 1 lb ground pork, turkey, or beef
  • 1 large egg
  • 1/2 cup plain breadcrumbs
  • 1 cup uncooked rice- I use basmati rice, but jasmine or plain white rice can also be used. Do not use parboiled or instant white rice.
  • 2 14-ish oz. Cans of Tomato sauce (or blend diced tomatoes until smooth)
  • Garlic Powder
  • Onion powder
  • 1 Tablespoon Worcestershire Sauce (to taste)
  • Salt and Pepper to taste
This is how much they expand cooking in the sauce for 25 minutes!

Directions:

  1. To make meatballs, combine the meat, egg, breadcrumbs, and uncooked rice in a mixing bowl until well combined. Shape into approximately 15 meatballs. They will increase in size as they cook.
  2. In a large oiled skillet, brown the meatballs on all sides.
  3. Once they are browned, add tomato sauce and remaining ingredients. Cover with a lid, and cook on medium-low for about 20 minutes, stirring occasionally.
  4. Taste the sauce and adjust the seasonings as you prefer.
  5. Serve with Texas toast/Garlic Bread/Hot French bread and a green salad or your preferred vegetable.

Tip: My youngest likes to sprinkle cheese on top.

12/7/2025: Weekend Freebies and Deals!

Abby H.

I spent yesterday with friends at an SCA event in northern San Diego County, so I wasn’t able to post this. But today- We Freebie!

I’ve updated my list of freebies for birthdays in 2025, which you can find 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 Hair Samples: Discover Your Next Favorite Product for Free
FREE Holiday Cocoa Mug Workshop at Home Depot
We Rounded Up The Best Birthday Freebies That Are NOT Food
FREE Subway Footlong with Disney+ Perks
FREE Royal Canin Fussy Adult Dry Cat Food Chatterbuy Kit
FREE Febreze PLUG Scent Booster After Walmart Cash
FREE Edgard & Cooper Puppy & Dog Treats Chatterbuy Kit
FREE Full-Size Then I Met You Skincare Products
FREE Holiday Magic Events at Target
We’ve Done The Research, These Are The Best Companies That Send Out Free Samples
FREE Store Credit During GameStop Trade Anything Day – Today
FREE Pet Photo with Santa at Petco on December 6th
FREE $25 Purchase at Sephora After Cash Back
FREE Medium Fries at McDonalds – Every Friday
BOGO FREE Entrees Every Saturday at Chipotle
FREE Crest Pro-Health Toothpaste After Walmart Cash
FREE Keurig K-Express Essentials Plus Coffee Maker at Walmart After Cash Back
FREE Bottle of Vetality Canine Aspirin
Free Kids Activities for Creative Family Fun (Games, Crafts & More)

Deals:

10% Off Target Gift Cards – Up to $500 w/ Target Circle GOOD THROUGH TODAY ONLY
Matching Family Pajamas Up to 70% Off at JCPenney
50% Off Christmas Trees at Target
Vera Bradley Belt Bag as Low as $16 – NOW 70% Off
Kohl’s Gifts under $25 + New Coupon Code & Free Store Pickup
Ralph Lauren Pillows ONLY $9.99 (reg $25)
Rubbermaid Easy Find Lids Food Storage Containers 26 Piece Set ONLY $7.97 at Walmart
Liz Claiborne Event at JCPenney – Up to 55% Off Select Styles After Coupon

Do You Have an FSA? Don’t Leave Your Money on the Table!

Abby H.

Do you have an FSA? An FSA is a Flexible Spending Account. It is a pre-tax benefit account offered by employers that lets you set aside money from your paycheck to pay for eligible out-of-pocket healthcare or dependent care expenses.

Funds can be used for things like co-pays, deductibles, and prescriptions, which lowers your taxable income. A key feature is the “use-it-or-lose-it” rule, meaning you typically forfeit any unspent money at the end of the plan year (thanks, PayChex).

A lot of these FSA plans expire at the end of the calendar year, which means you have 31 days to spend it up. If you have already seen your doctors, refilled your prescriptions, and visited any specialists this year (don’t forget the dentist and optometrist!), one way to make sure you utilize every last cent of your FSA funds is the OTC or Over-the-Counter Benefit.

Online Glasses companies like GlassesShop are a smart way to pick up a few extra pairs of glasses on a budget to stretch those last few FSA dollars. That includes prescription sunglasses, too!

And for my readers with Medicare or Medicaid, check out my post here about OTC benefits you may not have otherwise known about.

Looking for Frugal Fun for Winter Holidays? Check out Neighborhood Light Displays!

Abby H.

This is one of our family traditions, even since Bubs was a baby. My brother and I grew up doing this, too. I’m not sure if winter holiday light displays on residential properties are big in other parts of the country, but here in Southern California, it’s serious business. Some of these houses put the Griswold’s to shame.

Here are our family’s favorite neighborhoods to visit:

East County:

  • Jingle Bell Hill (also known as Pepper Dr. Lights). Solomon Ave./Pegeen Pl. and surrounding area. Off 67 & Bradley. Dec. 8-26, Mon-Th 6-9 pm, Fri-Sun 6-10 pm.
  • 10248 Paseo Palmas Dr., Nicknamed “Tinsel Town”. Dec. 1-25, 5:30-9 pm. Most of the houses on this street are very well decorated with lights and moving displays! They have a Facebook page too!
  •  Starlight Circle, East and West Glendon Circles. Through December 26th, 7-10 pm. This is extremely popular!  Starlight Circle even has a Facebook page! Starlight Circle has gotten so popular in recent years that the neighboring high school has opened its parking lot. You can park your car and walk through.

There are some neighborhoods that we have added to our list this year. Most of them have been around for years, but we have not visited them yet.

  •  Christmas Card Lane in Rancho Penasquitos 9190 Oviedo St, San Diego, CA 92129
  • Christmas Park in Clairemont Jamar Dr & Lana Dr, San Diego, CA 92117
  • Merry-tage Court in Scripps Ranch Merritage Ct & Stonebridge Pkwy, San Diego, CA 92131

And if you are looking for some family fun beyond a car ride and light peeping, Groupon has a few deals on Holiday light events, including Jingle Jets: USS Midway Museum’s Dazzling Holiday Light Display and San Diego Bay Parade of Lights Cruise on Luxury Yacht Peregrine.

Lego Star Wars Advent Calendar $29.99 (Starting Tomorrow)

Abby H.

I don’t usually post a lot of Black Friday Deals, but this one is close to my heart.

We’re a Lego Family, and a Star Wars Family, so when I saw this deal in my email the other day, I knew I had to share it.

Starting tomorrow 11/26/25, at Walgreens (and Walgreens.com), you can score this Lego Star Wars Advent Calendar for just $29.99. That’s 40% off the original price!! This deal is going to go super fast, so I recommend setting a timer or a reminder on your phone. I’ve already got a reminder set in my phone’s calendar with the link as the location.

This is going to be a great Advent Calendar for my oldest!