This information was sent home with my littlest kid, and it is an amazing resource for California Families.
Brightlife Kids is fully paid for by the State of California. Working to ensure all California families can find the behavioral health support they need when they need it. You qualify if you have a California zip code and a child ages 0–12.
Kids ages 0–12 get free, expert coaching for the following issues:
Tough transitions like divorce, moving, new classroom/school, new sibling.
If you are into Organic/Natural/Healthy products, then Social Nature is right up your alley. Sign up and apply to sample products that you are interested in. I usually receive 4-6 offers/freebies per month, sometimes more if I have time to shop. And most of the time it’s full-size products, not just a tiny sample.
In addition to the offers where they mail you a coupon for a free product, Social Nature has started offering 100% cash-back, similar to Ibotta and Fetch Rewards. I love this because I can select exactly what I want, Social Nature tells me which local stores have it, and I can add it to my next shopping list.
And it’s just as easy as Ibotta and Fetch Rewards. Snap a pic and upload it. You can select Venmo, Paypal, or an Amazon Gift Card for your rebate.
Here are just a few of the Free/100% Cashback offers available now:
It rained yesterday! For some of you that’s no big deal, but summer here in San Diego County is dry and hot, and any rain is great for our very dry vegetation.
But it was the tail end of a tropical storm, so any time I went outside, my glasses fogged up.
This weekend is looking to be a hot one- the kids and I are looking forward to spending some time in the pool!
I’ve updated my list of freebies for birthdays in 2025, which you can find here.
For free food resources, please refer to my comprehensive list, available here. It is focused on San Diego County, but additional resources are outside my area.
I’m a mom of two, and for us, that means a near-constant parade of fundraisers once the first month of school has passed. I usually donate money to the school after I get my first paycheck after school starts.
There is only so much candy, plastic junk, wrapping paper, and spirit wear one family needs. I’ve been conducting research on other fundraisers and have found two possibilities that do not involve selling anything.
Fiber/clothing/rag recycling: There are a few companies that recycle fiber (like yarn or fabric), clothing, and rags (old towels and sheets), and they have fundraising programs. Here are just a few companies that I have found:
Thanks to Orgain for sending me a full-size container of their Organic Protein™ & Greens Plant-Based Protein Powder in the Vanilla Bean flavor to facilitate this review!
I’m always on the lookout for new protein shakes, especially with our new early morning schedule to get the big kid to the bus stop in time. He’s been having a protein shake for breakfast for some time now, and I love mixing it up with new shake flavors.
Orgain uses plant-based protein: organic peas, brown rice, and chia seeds, to provide a complete protein with all nine essential amino acids. While we are not vegetarians, I do appreciate that there are brands that use various sources of protein.
For this breakfast, I used a recipe I saw on social media as a base, but made a couple of additions to make it more delicious and filling.
strawberries not shown in pic.
Pineapple Strawberry Dole Whip Copycat
Ingredients:
1/3 cup Greek Yogurt
1/3 cup frozen pineapple chunks
1/4 cup frozen strawberries (I used strawberries from my CSA box)
1 frozen banana
1 scoop vanilla protein powder
Splash of milk (a little bit less than an ounce)- You may need to add a bit more, depending on how thicc your shake is and your blender’s capabilities
2 handfuls of ice cubes
Directions:
In a blender or blender cup, add all ingredients.
Blend until the mixture is thick and uniform in consistency (a little more liquid may be needed).
Serve in a bowl or a cup. I put ours in blender bottles with boba straws so we could enjoy them on the go.
To make this vegan, swap yogurt and milk with your favorite vegan options.
This was so filling and packed with protein! You can’t taste the greens at all! The best part is that it has over 20 grams of protein- that’s 1/3 of your needed protein intake for the day! Plus 2 servings of fruit- a perfect way to start your day!
If you want to try Organic Protein™ & Greens Plant-Based Protein Powder or any of their other offerings, you can visit their websitehere and use the coupon code ABBYH15 at checkout to receive 15% off your order!
It’s my last weekend before I head back to work, and the smaller kid heads back to school.
This week has been full of adjustments, including getting up at 5:45 each morning to get my big kid ready for high school.
I’ve updated my list of freebies for birthdays in 2025, which you can find here.
For free food resources, please refer to my comprehensive list, available here. It is focused on San Diego County, but additional resources are outside my area.
If you are closer to downtown San Diego, this food pantry is a great option for you.
Stop by Father Joe’s Food Pantry every Friday for drive-thru or walk-in pickup at 3350 E Street, San Diego, CA 92102 (rear warehouse of St. Vincent de Paul Village).
This Food Pantry is open from 12pm-2pm every Friday.
Helpful Tip: Bring a basket with wheels, a bike with a basket, or a vehicle to help carry your items. 1 visit per household per day. Service is located at the back of the building—look for the warehouse!
For more free food resources in San Diego, check out my food resource page here.
The Larry Himmel Neighborhood Foundation’s biggest event is back!
Saturday, August 9, 2025
9AM -1PM at Skyline Church in La Mesa11330 Campo Road La Mesa, CA 91941
It’s the annual Back-to-School Haircut Event — a day dedicated to supporting local families with free haircuts, school supplies, food, and fun.
Last year’s event was a huge success. Over 1,000 kids attended, and more than 400 walked away with fresh haircuts — ready to start the school year with confidence.
This year, It’s even bigger and better. Here’s what you can expect:
This event is SUPER popular, and supplies run out quickly.
A backpack and school supply giveaway courtesy of SMOAC on August 9, 2025, at Rio Seco School in Santee, starting at 9AM. It is a drive-thru event. People start lining up as early as 7:30AM, and the line moves FAST!
I’m working on collecting more info on Back to School supply giveaways, and I’ll have another post coming up soon!