San Diego County Fall Fire Station Open Houses!

As someone who grew up in San Diego County, I know that it’s always fire season.

Teaching our kids fire safety is key. It’s more than stop, drop, and roll. I was so excited when I saw a PeachJar flyer about upcoming local fire station open houses. These are a great way for kids (and families) to learn more about fire safety and check out the local fire station.

Most of these dates coincide with National Fire Prevention Week (October 5-12, 2025).

Lakeside Fire Protection District (Station 2):
When: Saturday, October 4, 2025, 10 AM – 2 PM
Where: 12216 Lakeside Ave. Lakeside, CA 92040

City of Santee Fire Station 4:
When: Saturday, October 4, 2025, 10 AM – 2 PM
Where: 8950 Cottonwood Ave, Santee, CA 92071

City of Carlsbad Public Safety Open House:
When: Saturday, October 4, 2025, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Where: City of Carlsbad Safety Training Center- 5750 Orion St, Carlsbad, CA 92010
This event will feature live demonstrations and tours with the police, fire, and public works departments.

City of Coronado Fire and Police Departments
When: and Where: Sunday, October 5, at their Public Safety Open House. The free event kicks off National Fire Prevention Week and takes place between 11 am and 2 pm around the main Fire Station (6th Street) and the Police Department (7th Street) on D Avenue.

Poway Fire Open House
Saturday, October 11, 2025, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
The location is the Poway Fire training tower- 12335 Crosthwaite Cir, Poway, CA 92064
Activities will include CPR training, a fire safety trailer, and information on defensible space.

City of Chula Vista Fire Station 5:
When: Saturday, October 11, 2025, 9 AM – 2 PM
Where: 341 Orange Ave, Chula Vista, CA 91911

Deer Springs Fire Protection District (Station 3):
When: Saturday, October 11, 2025, 10 AM – 1 PM
Where: 10308 Meadow Glen Way East, Escondido, CA 92026

 

Talk Back: If you know of any other Fire Station or public safety open houses in San Diego County, please leave a comment!

Free Educational Resources for Teachers and Home Schoolers!

I’ve been doing some research to find some fun resources for my day job, and I wanted to share because sharing is caring!

Here are just a few of the educational resources available from Canva.

First up is my personal favorite: Canva.  It’s a website where you can make all sorts of media- both print and digital! They have a lot of free worksheet templates for all grades.

I recently learned about Free Book Marketplace, which sells low-cost books to educators. Their Free Resource section is expansive. Their Free Resource section can be found here.

This resource won’t go live until next month, but I’m mentioning it now: Book It. For both home schools and traditional schools, this program is a great way to celebrate reading with tasty rewards for grades TK/pre-K up to 6th grade!

If Pizza isn’t on the menu, Panda Express has a program called Read with Me that is for TK/pre-K through 5th grade (ages 5-11).

Education.com has a plethora of lessons, worksheets, and educational supports in ELA, Math, Science, Social Studies, and Foreign Language.

And don’t forget Teachers Pay Teachers. This site has a lot of free resources. Everyone who sells on this site must provide at least 1 free resource. I have a lot of free resources in my store. TPT frequently has sales and discount codes. I do my best to post these coupon codes and sales as they become available.

And not strictly educational, but… LEGO® Life Magazine offers free subscriptions.  Perfect for kids aged 5-9, this printed magazine is packed full of cool activities, fun comics, creative builds, posters, and so much more. We get it at my house, and I try to bring it to school to share with the kids after mine are done pouring over it.

Did you know that Michaels offers a Teacher Discount? Once you verify yourself as a teacher, you’ll receive 15% off everything (even sale merchandise!).

BrightLife Kids: Free Behavioral Health Coaching for Kids 0-12 in California!

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.
  • Tantrums and big emotions (anxiety, anger)
  • Focus and Organizational Skills
  • And more

Check out their website for more information and to see if Brightlife is a good fit for your family.

September 2025: New Healthy Freebies From Social Nature!

 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:

  • Dairy-Free Cheese by Daiya Foods
  • Gluten-Free Snack Foods by Feel Good Foods
  • Mental Performance Shots by Magic Mind
  • High Protein Pasta Case by BRAMI
  • Soft Baked Fibre Snacks by Good to Go
  • Shots: Energy/Focus/Relax by RYDE
  • Premium Cold Brew Coffee by Cameron’s Coffee
  • Gorgie Sparkling Energy Drinks
  • Wild Tuna in Olive Oil by Rio Mare
  • Gluten-Free Cookies by Schär
  • Crumbled Tajín Feta Cheese by Athenos
  • Meatless Breakfast Patties by Nature’s Fynd

Got a Baby? Score a $5 off Huggies coupon!

I saw this on Tiktok, and this offer is slightly different, but it’s still pretty good.

If you’ve got a kid in diapers or you are expecting (or know someone who is), head over to the Huggies website here.

Once you arrive, you’ll see Save up to $10 on Huggies® Snug & Dry™ Diapers. Try the new & improved Snug & Dry™ softness- Click on it.

Enter the requested information, and then you will receive a text to confirm it’s you.

The offer is mobile, so you’ll have to do it on your phone.

You will select your store, and once you are in the store and ready to check out, open your phone and pull up the offer.

Show your offer to the cashier; there are instructions for them to follow. They scan the barcode on your phone and presto- you’ve saved $5!

8/29/2025 Weekly Freebies and Deals!

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.

 

Freebies:

FREE Neutrogena Collagen Bank Moisturizer
FREE Sample of Dove Amino Curl Repair Mask
FREE Sample of La Roche-Posay Mela B3 Dark Spot Serum
FREE Box of Kraft Mac & Cheese + Sweepstakes
FREE $40 Worth of Sharpie Products from Staples
FREE Sample of Abbi & Lahni Glow Guard Face + Body Balm
FREE Pair of Water Shoes for Kids
FREE Kinship LittleKin Puppy or Kitten Sample Pack – $200 Value
FREE Hill’s Pet Nutrition Dog Food
FREE $10 FANDANGO Movie Ticket Code
Nestle GoodNes Community – FREE Jack’s Frozen Pizza
FREE Movie Ticket to The Threesome
FREE Blue Buffalo Valentine’s Day Be Mine Bars Chatterbox Kit
FREE Sample of CeraVe Hydrating Cream-to-Foam Cleanser
FREE Sample of Stem & Root Mood Support Supplements
FREE Fries Every Week at Burger King
FREE Cleaning Products
FREE Pimple Patches
FREE Pickleball Paddle
FREE LEGO Classic Creative Suitcase at Walmart After Cash Back
FREE Degree Body Wash
FREE Tari Peruvian Flavorful Hot Sauce Sample Kit
T-Mobile Tuesdays – FREE Stadium Bag, FREE Large Slurpee, BOGO FREE Wings & More
Text for $10 Off at Lane Bryant = FREE Item
FREE Full-Size OLAY Complete + Facial Moisturizer with SPF 40

 

Deals:

Dairy Queen Blizzards ONLY $0.85 Starting September 8th!
Old Navy’s Labor Day Sale – Up to 50% Off Storewide
Subway BOGO Deal: Buy 1, Get 1 Footlong Sub – New Subway Coupons, Footlong Desserts & Free Sandwich
Select Hanes Women’s Underwear 50% Off at Amazon, Get a 6pk. for ONLY $8!
Save 40% on Kids’ Clothing at Target
Eddie Bauer Labor Day Sale up to 70% Off Sitewide
10 Bogg Bag Dupes on Amazon That Are Just as Great as the Real Bogg Bag
Zappos Sale: Up to 80% Off Women’s Clothing & Shoes, Up to 75% Off Men’s Clothing & Shoes + Coupon
Gap’s Labor Day Sale – Up to 60% Off Your Favorites & 50% Off All Dresses
Insignia 50-Inch LED 4K UHD Smart Fire TV ONLY $169.99 (Reg $300)
Temu Coupon Codes – Extra 30% Off For New App Users & More
Mainstays Fleece Plush Throw Blanket ONLY $4

Looking for School Fundraisers without selling?

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:

If you are interested in doing a shoe recycling fundraiser:

 

If your school or other non-profit has done either of these, I’d love to hear about how they have worked in the past- Please leave a comment!

Pineapple Strawberry Dole Whip Copycat Recipe!

Behold- Breakfast!

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:

  1. In a blender or blender cup, add all ingredients.
  2. Blend until the mixture is thick and uniform in consistency (a little more liquid may be needed).
  3. 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 website here and use the coupon code ABBYH15 at checkout to receive 15% off your order!

 

8/15/2025 Weekly Freebies and Deals!

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.

Let’s get onto the Freebies!!

Freebies:
FREE Sample of Kombat Klean Laundry Detergent
2 FREE Movie Tickets to Trust
FREE Sample of Zarbee’s Kids Triple Action Hydration Electrolyte Drink
FREE Valspar Paint or Stain Sample at Lowe’s
FREE Gillette Men’s Razor at CVS
FREE Pet Station Craft for Kids at Lowe’s
FREE Lancome La vie est belle Vanille Nude Fragrance Sample
FREE 20 oz. Starry or Starry Zero Sugar If It Hits 100°
FREE VCF Sample
FREE 16 oz. Monster Ultra at Pilot Flying J
How to Score Sticker Freebies – Sticker Mule, Keds, Netflix and More
FREE Kerasal Nail and Foot Care Products
FREE Football Tic-Tac-Toe Board Craft Kit at JCPenney
FREE Handcrafted Beverage at Capital One Cafe
FREE Brita Large Water Pitcher at Walmart After Cash Back
FREE Café Tango Frozen Coffee Every Tuesday in August
FREE Jean Paul Gaultier Divine Elixir Fragrance Sample
FREE Gift from Target & ULTA Beauty – Fenty Beauty, Origins, BONDI BOOST or Divi
FREE Food & Beverage Products from the Nestle GoodNes Community
FREE 8-Pack of Post-It Notes at Staples
FREE Kraft Classic Ranch Dressing Chatterbuy Kit
FREE Original Glazed Donut at Krispy Kreme on August 23rd
FREE Welch’s Juicefuls Fusions ReFUNd with Ripple Street
FREE $25 Purchase at Staples After Cash Back
FREE Movie Ticket to Eden
FREE Pumpkin Spice Latte Pup Cups at Petco on August 26th
Get Tons Of Free Stickers Online: Updated Monthly
6 FREE 5×7 Photo Cards at Walgreens – Last Day
FREE LYSOL Brand New Day Lavender & Cotton Blossom Disinfecting Wipes ReFUNd with Ripple Street
Chipotle IQ Test – Over $1 Million in FREE Chipotle
10 Ways to Save Big on Pet Food Delivery Services + Get Free Shipping
FREE Hartz Nature’s Shield Flea & Tick Cat Spray
FREE 4-Pack of OLIPOP Pineapple Paradise – 1st 500 at 3pm est Each Day
FREE 4-Pack of ProGo Protein & Energy Bars
FREE Hartz Delectables Kitten Treats
FREE Bimbo Global Race Drawstring Bag, Headband, Wallet & Finishers Medal

 

Deals:

23 Zara Fragrance Dupes that Smell Just Like Designer Perfumes
Cooks 30-Piece Nonstick Cookware Set ONLY $50 (Reg $180)
Women’s Tees From $7.99 at Kohl’s
Two Days ONLY: 50% Off Women’s Sweatshirts at Old Navy
Save 20% on Walgreens Senior Day Each Month
Macy’s Jewelry up to 70% Off
JCPenney Scented Jar Candles ONLY $10 (Reg $26)
Step Into and Step Out In These Golden Goose Dupes
The Best Amazon Snack Deals to Scoop Up NOW
Papa Murphy’s Pizza Coupons and Promo Codes: 30% Off, $5 Off & More!
Up to 30% Off Select Shoes at Target
How to Save $100s with NEW brandSAVER Coupons Right From Your Phone
The Children’s Place: Up to 50% Off Entire Site + Extra 20% Off w/ Coupon
Kate Spade Madison Phone Crossbody ONLY $69 (Reg $199)
One Day Sale – Up to 60% Off Sitewide at Macy’s – Prices as Low as $4
Mainstays Albany Lane 6-Piece Outdoor Patio Dining Set ONLY $64 (Reg $109)
Dorm Move-In Essentials: 5 Must-Have Finds at Bed Bath & Beyond

Father Joe’s Villages Food Pantry- Every Friday!

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.