kids

October is National Pizza Month!

Abby H.

October is National Pizza Month, so I thought I’d share with y’all some of our favorite pizza stuff: recipes, pizza swag, and even ways to save money on ordering pizza.

Goodness knows we have pizza about once a week (Friday take-out night is usually pizza), so I have all kinds of tips and tricks.

If you are new to making your own pizza at home, here is a list of my must-haves, including ingredients and kitchen tools!

Need a break from cooking and want to order takeout, here are a few suggestions for saving money and/or earning cash back on your next pizza night:

  • Mogl partners with local restaurants to give you cashback. In our area, there are a lot of pizza restaurants.
  • Dosh is similar to Mogl, in that you can earn cashback from specific restaurants and other stores. In our area, they partner with Round Table pizza!
  • Dominos has its Piece of the Pie rewards club. for every $10 spent, you earn 10 points, once you reach 60 points, you’ll earn a free pizza. More details can be found here.
  • If Pizza Hut is more your style, they have Hut Rewards. Earn 2 points for every $1 you spend. They have several different rewards, depending on point values. From breadsticks (75 points)  to a Large pizza (300 points), there is something for everyone.
  • Little Caesar’s has an app with various deals, and they also have a merch shop with all sorts of cool stuff, like this pizza slice blanket.

If you are looking to snuggle with your loved one while eating pizza, this pizza blanket is perfect. My kids found this while looking for a new blanket for the car.

Talk Back: What is your favorite pizza topping?

 

10/21/2022 Friday Freebies and Deals

Abby H.

Halloween is in 10 days! Woo hoo! I’m making costumes for the kids this weekend, and I’ll have photos up on Instagram as I get them finished. I’m stoked to have a weekend of creativity ahead of me.

Don’t forget all of the 2022 Birthday Freebies! Make sure to check this article out and sign up for birthday freebies at least 2-3 weeks before your birthday.

Freebies:

Free Everything Legendary Plant-Based Burgers After Rebate
Free Bliss CBD Sparkling Water
Free Childrens Hospitals Week Bandages
Free Energy Health Supplements
Free Car Care Check at GoodYear
Free Kids Halloween Beanie at Big Lots
Free Sample of Enfagrow Toddler Formula
Free Sample of Jo Malone London English Pear & Freesia
Free BISSELL Vacuum
Free Build-A-Bubble Party Pack
Free Dude Wipes at Sam’s
Free Children’s Toothbrush Kit
Free Witch Hazel Skincare Sample
Free Hot Dog at Dog Haus
Free Softsoap Body Wash
Free Glossier Cloud Paint Sample
Free WD-40 Specialist Gel Lube Sample
Free BabyCozy Diapers Sample
Free Playtex Clean Comfort Tampons
Free Sample of Dickinson Deep Cleansing Astringent
Free Shiseido Hydro Master Gel
Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library – Free Kids Book Every Month
Free $5 Off $5 at Ace Hardware = Free Item
Free Sample of L’Oreal Revitalift Triple Power Moisturizer
JCPenney Portraits – Free 8×10 for Military Families
35 Free Disney Movie Insiders Points
Free House Defender VR Game for Oculus Quest

Deals:

Old Navy Halloween Bodysuits 3-Pack ONLY $9.97 (Reg $30)
Today Only: $25 Women’s Cozy Sweaters at Old Navy
VTech KidiZoom Creator Cam ONLY $33.74 (Reg $70)
Genuine Dickies Men’s Hooded Shirt Jacket ONLY $29.99 (Reg $70)
Pyrex 22-Piece Food Storage Set ONLY $25.49 (Reg $60)
Ulta Beauty: Save 50% Off Drybar, Gimme Beauty & More
Crystal Pendant Necklace & Stud Earrings Set ONLY $8.95
3-Piece Matte Liquid Lipstick Set ONLY $6.99 (Reg $14)
Free Medium Fries w/ Any $1 Purchase at McDonalds – Every Friday
LCD 10-Inch Writing Tablet ONLY $16.99 (Reg $30)
Mainstays Student Desk ONLY $39 (Reg $69)
Cuddl Duds Flannel Sheet Set ONLY $25.49 (Reg $60)
Door Closer 2-Pack ONLY $9.92 (Reg $38)

TODAY ONLY: 99¢ Sundaes at Sonic!

Abby H.

Satisfy your sweet tooth with 99¢ Sundaes.

This tasty deal is available today only, so be sure to stop by your local SONIC® and enjoy. This deal automatically applies in the app.

Already at the drive-in? Mention this deal to redeem!*

*Each Sundae is 99¢ plus tax. Valid only on October 20, 2022 at participating SONIC® Drive-In locations while supplies last. Add-ins cost extra. Limit 5. Valid when you order online or in the SONIC App as a registered user or mention deal while ordering. Not valid with Combos, delivery or any other offers.

Tryazon: Build-A-Bubble Party from South Beach Bubbles

Abby H.

We’ve been participating in Tryazon events for three+ years. We’ve gotten to try all sorts of fun toys, games, and food.  You can learn more about Tryazon here.

Bring the fun of bubble making to a whole new level with this Tryazon Featured Party opportunity, from South Beach Bubbles. Introducing Build-A-Bubble, the bubble fun you can build! The patented connectors and rods can build endless geometric shapes and the bubble result is amazing!  Helps encourage creative and strategic thinking, at home or in educational settings. With Build-A-Bubble the bubble-building possibilities are endless!

Tryazon has 100 hosting spots open for this opportunity! Those selected get to receive a party pack with a selection of Build-A-Bubble kits and other extras to share with friends and family! Learn more and apply here: https://www.tryazon.com/build-a-bubble-party/

10/17/2022 Weekly Meal Plan

Abby H.

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Sometimes I have to remember to give myself some grace. Last week was full of stuff, and we didn’t end up sticking to the meal plan, however, I did some batch cooking Friday. I made a huge batch of red sauce/gravy, and a huge meatloaf.

Most of the sauce went into the freezer for future meals. We had some of it for dinner on Sunday.

The meatloaf was had for dinner Saturday, with leftovers being used for meatloaf sandwiches for lunch this week. I individually portioned and froze servings of leftovers for weekday lunches.

I grocery shopped Saturday morning and meal prepped on both Saturday and Sunday mornings. We’ve got a lot of fresh fruits and veggies this week.

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. The big kid brings his lunch from home daily, and the littlest buys her lunch at school about half the time. In California, all public schools provide breakfast and lunch for free.

Dinner: This week is packed as far as appointments, so I’m leaning on stuff that’s easy and tasty. I prepped fruits and veg over the weekend and made up the last Dream Dinner and portioned it into lunch-sized servings.

  • Monday: The Best Salad Ever, garlic bread, butter noodles (Bitty Bird’s request)

  • Tuesday: Moosie’s Pot Roast, Roasted Veggies

  • Wednesday: Nuggets, fruit, crackers, and cheese

  • Thursday: Breakfast for dinner (I’m hoping for omelets and sourdough toast)

  • Friday: Takeout night!
  • Saturday:   Soup and sammiches, and fruit
  • Sunday:  Leftovers

Cleaning your Closets: 5 Items That Have To Go!

Abby H.

I’m bringing this up because it’s time to pull out some of my fall/winter clothes and donate some of my older clothes, or clothes that I don’t wear as often.

Here are my Five categories for giving clothes the boot:

Stains: You know that one shirt in your closet that you love, but it has a stain that won’t come out. It’s time for it to go.  Clothing can be donated to be recycled. To find your closest clothing recycling location, click here.

It doesn’t fit: Too small, big, long, or short- it has to go. Time to throw those in the donation pile.  This goes for shoes too!

Needs repair and you lack the time or skills to mend/fix. The pants hanging in your closet are so cute but they are 1/4 inch too short and you can’t sew? One Caveat- Undergarments that are holely or stretched out go directly to the trash. No one is darning mass-produced socks. I mend and repair my clothes as needed weekly. If you are looking to learn about mending clothes, check out my post here. 

Out Of Style: Low-rise jeans? Powder Blue Tuxedo? Your Prom Dress from 1997? Time to throw those in the donation pile.

Cheap Crap:  This encapsulates several categories- Knock off’s (They are mass-produced in horrible conditions), poorly produced “fast fashion” that offers no quality and doesn’t add anything of substance to your wardrobe, and anything you bought and wore once, and it was damaged or you swore you’d never wear again. In my opinion, cheap shoes are the worst and are usually tossed into this pile.

Once you have your donate pile, if you are looking to donate straight away, check for your local non-profits needs. I also like donating my unwanted good clothes to local clothing swaps. For more info about clothing swaps, click here. 

Tryazon: Build Outside the Box with Squaregles Building Party!

Abby H.

We’ve been participating in Tryazon events for three+ years. We’ve gotten to try all sorts of fun toys, games, and food.  You can learn more about Tryazon here.

Play beyond the build with a new Tryazon Featured Party opportunity from Squaregles! Squaregles have strong magnets that allow kids to build interactive structures so they can play with what they built. They have more ways to play with characters, comics for adventures, paperboard for doodling, tracks, cars for action, and more! Artists and storytellers can draw their own features on panels that pop in and out of magnetic frames so kids can build, play, re-design and repeat. Let kids get lost in play with Squaregles!

Tryazon has 100 hosting spots open for this opportunity! Those selected get to receive a party pack with a variety of Squaregles sets to sample and share with friends and family, valued at $360+ in total!

Learn more and apply here.

Dream Dinner October Mini Bundle Offer!

Abby H.

It’s back! Dream Dinners is now offering Smaller Minimum Orders for a limited time*! Beginning this week until October 21 you can order Eight meals for Only $189

The October Dinner Bundle includes:

  • Parmesan Herb Crusted Chicken with Oven Roasted Broccoli
  • Cranberry Buttermilk Chicken with Almond Green Beans
  • Maple Pork Tenderloin with Bountiful Baked Beans
  • Firehouse Three Cheese Pasta with Meatballs
  • Maple Bourbon BBQ Chicken with Bacon
  • Old Fashioned Meatloaf
  • Autumn Chicken Pie
  • Tortellino Al Forno

This offer is not available online. To place your order call/text 619-460-6800 or email lamesaca@dreamdinners.com.

*This offer is only available for a limited time. Contact your store by Friday, October 21st at 9 am to place your order. The bundle offer includes 1 of each entree listed. Any changes or substitutions will be subject to the current retail value of the entree.

 

If you are new to Dream Dinners, check out my amazing giveaway here!

Mabel’s Labels 2022 Holiday Collection Is Here! Get 10% Off Selected Holiday Products! #Sponsored

Abby H.

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

Mabel’s Labels has released its new holiday labels!

This is the perfect time to stock up early on all your holiday stationery and gifting needs!
Now through 10/31/2022, save 10% Off Mabel’s Labels’ select holiday products.

Check out the Holiday Products here!

What is included:
• Holiday Return Envelope Labels
• Holiday Gift Tags
• Stocking Stuffers
• Return Address Stamp  (This is my favorite product)

October 2022: New Healthy Freebies From Social Nature!

Abby H.

 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 get probably 1-2 products to sample each month. And most of the time it’s full-size products, not just a tiny sample.

Social Nature has rounded up products that are available to try at a local grocery store or mass merchandiser near you.  Apply to Try the products that interest you to see if you’re a match here.

Here are some of the new sampling opportunities:

      • Veggie Pasta by Veggiecraft Farms
      • No Sugar Bacon by Pederson’s Natural Farms
      • Uncured No Sugar Kielbasa Sausage by Pederson’s Natural Farms
      • Almond Yogurt by AYO Almond Yogurt
      • Squeezable Smoothie by Sweet Nothings
      • Barley Milk by Golden Wing
      • Plant-Based Protein Bar by Lupii
      • Quick and Easy Breakfast by Belgian Boys

And More!

And one of the things I love about Social Nature is that they don’t leave our friends with food allergies out.

There are sampling offers for Gluten-free, nut-free, and meat-free foods frequently.

Canadian Friends- You are in luck, there are sampling opportunities for you too! So if you love trying new products, check out Social Nature!