4/12/2021: Weekly Meal Plan!

0a5e9dab796cea8a07eabe4eb4795b9e.jpg

The CSA emails us in advance to give us a heads up as to what may be in our boxes on Monday, so that’s helped me be able to meal prep and write up this post last night.. But I went to bed early and forgot to hit POST.

I picked up a full order from Dream Dinners on Friday afternoon, and I’ve got three DD meals planned for this week. I’m working through the freezer too, and I’m planning on making vegetable soup with some homemade stock in the freezer and some freshly frozen veggies. I freeze fresh veggies towards the end of the week so that we have room in the fridge for all of the new CSA goodies.

Veggies and fruit are delivered each Monday 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. I spend about an hour on Monday afternoon cleaning and prepping veggies for the rest of the week.

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. If you are looking for a kitchen inventory printable, I like the kitchen inventories here. They are great printables.

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.  The kids are nuts about pancakes. The Big Kid has been on a protein shake kick in the AM.

Lunch: The little kiddo and I usually have something quick and filling, lately it’s been sandwiches on croissants, and strawberry yogurt.  Big kid takes his lunch to school.

Dinner: Usually, I do a crockpot meal on Mondays, but now that we are home all the time, we’ve been having an odd combination of fully home-cooked, scratch meals, and frozen entrees and veggies. I have been posting our meal plans on Instagram too- As well as pics of stuff we are doing to keep busy.

  • Sunday: Roasted loaded cauliflower, Salad, Garlic Baguettes
  • Monday:  Orange ginger chicken, rice, roasted veggies
  • Tuesday:   Vegetable Soup and Cheddar Biscuits
  • Wednesday:  Meal o’ Snacks!
  • Thursday: Chicken tikka Masala, rice, salad or veggies
  • Friday:  Pizza/Takeout Night
  • Saturday: Breakfast for Dinner (Pancakes, Eggs, Fruit)

Please stay safe you guys!

Talk Back: What are you cooking for dinner this week?

Tryazon Event- Organize the Kids’ Clutter with Deflecto!

Tryazon has another really cool party/event opportunity- perfect for families that are homeschooling, distance learning, or are a teacher in school.

Clean up the kids’ clutter while fighting germs with Tryazon Featured Party opportunity, from Deflecto. Featuring a diverse line of antimicrobial storage and organizational products for kids specifically designed for the art, craft, and education markets. Deflecto’s kids storage now includes SteriTouch® an antimicrobial agent used to inhibit the growth of odor-causing microorganisms, mold and mildew. Durable, stackable and washable storage to keep parents and teachers organized!

Tryazon has100 hosting spots open for this opportunity! Those selected get to receive a party pack valued at $75+ with a variety of Deflecto products to share with friends and family! Learn more and apply here.

If, you’ve never heard of Tryazon (pronounced Try-uh-zon ☺), Tryazon is a service dedicated to getting innovative products into people’s hands and mouths, in fun settings like the party we had today. They offer excellent product samples and savings for all who participate.

Tryazon: Host a Spin Master RC Race Party

There is a new Tryazon Party opportunity!

Get ready to race with this Tryazon Featured Party opportunity, from Spin Master,  featuring the BIGGEST RC Grave Digger ever – The Monster Jam, Official MEGA Grave Digger – measuring at over 2 feet long! This opportunity also includes the gravity defying Air Hogs Zero Gravity Laser race car, and the Monster Jam, Official Grave Digger Remote Control Truck with a range of up to 250 feet!

They have 100 hosting spots open for this opportunity! Those selected get to receive a party pack with a variety of Spin Master RC cars and other extras to share with friends and family! Learn more and apply here.

If you’ve never heard of Tryazon (pronounced Try-uh-zon ☺), Tryazon is a service dedicated to getting innovative products into people’s hands and mouths, in fun settings like the party we had today. They offer excellent product samples and savings for all who participate.

We’ve had so many Tryazon sampling events and parties in the past two years.

Cents of Style Fashion Friday LIVE!!- 4/9/21- HUGE Jewelry Collection Starting UNDER $6- NOTHING over $7.99

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

Jewelry

YOU WILL NOT WANT TO MISS this Fashion Friday SPECIAL- because this Cents of Style sales event is HUUUGE!!

There are SO many amazing Earrings, Bracelets & Necklaces! We are offering OVER 90 accessories starting UNDER $6 each with this EXTRA 20% OFF code– Crazy right?

Deal Details:

FREE shipping over $35!
COUPON CODE: CHIC
ACTIVE: NOW-4/13/21 at midnight

 

JewelryJewelry

Fetch Rewards: Add 4,000 bonus points to your weekend plans

 

It’s back!

There are thousands of referral bonus points just waiting to be claimed. If you want some, simply tell all your friends about Fetch. Through 4/11/2021, you’ll get 4,000 points for anyone who signs up using your code.

There’s no limit to the Rewards you can earn, so tell everyone. It’s super easy, and each friend who signs up gets 2,000 points.

Referring friends is easy. Step one: share your referral code with friends. Step two: friends enter your code and snap a receipt. Step three: points are deposited into your account.

Let’s get started! If you are new to Fetch Rewards, you can learn more here. When you sign up, use my referral code ND2TB and share the love (and referral points!).

When you sign up, leave your referral code in the comments!

 

Fine Print: In order for you to qualify for the increased referral bonus, your friends must enter your referral code and complete a valid receipt now through 11:59 PM PT on 04/11/2021. After 11:59 PM PT on 04/11/2021, the referral bonus will expire.

4/9/2021 Friday Freebies and Deals!

bright boxes

By the time this post goes live, we’ll know if our kids here in my town are going back to school full-time for the rest of the year. I’m really excited for them. I have full faith in our local school district- they have the kids’ (and teachers’) best interests in mind.

The highlight of this week is that I got my first dose of the Covid-19 Vaccine (Team Pfizer here). If you are still waiting for your vaccine, or are having a hard time finding a vaccine appointment, keep at it! More vaccines and appointments are becoming more available each week.

A new year means new birthday freebies. I put together a list for 2021. Check it out here.

Most of these freebies and deals are online. I am not encouraging anyone to go into stores or go out into public. Mask up, wash your paws, stay socially distanced!

Freebies:

Free Subscription to LEGO Life Magazine
Free LifeToGo Sampler Pack
Free Subscription to HGTV Magazine
Free Subscription to Parents Magazine
Free Hercolubus or Red Planet Book
Free Coffee Wednesdays at Dunkin
Free Doc Hale’s Unflavored Protein Powder Sample
FREE Amazon Baby Box Samples Back in Stock
Free Mr. Lee’s Congee Rice Porridge
Free Medela Breastfeeding Product Sample Box
Possible Free Pair of Haggar Pants
Free Kratom Wave Sample Pack
Free Werther’s Original Caramels at Select Stores
Free Subscription to People en Espanol
Free Subscription to People Magazine
Free $7 from Samuel Adams Beer Starting April 12
Free Sample of Xyzal Allergy 24H
Free 3 Pack of Complete Essentials Vitamin Packets
Free Subscription to Food Network Magazine

Deals:

Sesame Street Abby’s Butterfly Maker ONLY $6.75 (Reg. $20)
Outward Hound Fun Feeder ONLY $10.75 (Reg. $20)
Electronic Interactive Alphabet Wall Chart $21.20 (Reg. $40)
Disney Ideas Book: More than 100 Disney Crafts $10.99 (Reg. $25)
KidKraft Children’s Pastel Coffee Set ONLY $8.99 (Reg. $20)
DYMO LabelWriter Labels 220-Count ONLY $16.07 (Reg. $41)
Plackers Dental Floss Picks & Travel Case ONLY $1.61 (Reg. $7)
Kids Headphones ONLY $10.99 (Reg. $17)
LEGO BrickHeadz Easter Sheep ONLY $9.99 on Amazon
Disney Moana Sound Book ONLY $6.79 (Reg. $14)
Paint by Sticker Kids: Christmas ONLY $5.02 (Reg. $10)
Martha Stewart 8-Piece Bowl Set w/ Lids ONLY $14.99 (Reg $50)
Martha Stewart 7-Pc Utensil Set w/ Stand ONLY $5.99 (Reg $22)
Heated Neck & Back Massager ONLY $31.99 Shipped (Reg $50)
Hempz Herbal Body Lotion ONLY $9.99 (Reg $20)
The Big One Solid Bath Towel ONLY $3.39 (Reg $10)
Lego Sale up to 50% Off + Extra 15% Off
Sonoma Ankle Leggings ONLY $7.99 (Reg $20)

April is Financial Literacy Month! Budgeting and Savings Tips

Today I learned that April is Financial Literacy Month. Which is just in time for tax day (which has been extended this year, but it traditionally April 15th).

One of my favorite topics for this blog is how to save money. So I thought I’d put together a post with links to some of my best ways to save money and throw out some tips and tricks that work for me.

Last year I wrote a three-part series about making a practical budget that a family can adhere to and how to get some extra help if you need it. This was written during the pandemic, so there is a lot of information and resources especially for those feeling the financial panic that many felt during the height of the pandemic last year.

If you already have a budget or feel that your spending is out of control and you aren’t to the point yet where you feel that you need a budget, I did a series of posts in late 2019 about how to reign in the out-of-control spending.

  • Part One- Start in the Kitchen
  • Part Two- Entertainment Some of these tips may not be applicable right now, as so many public places are still closed or have limited services (Like gyms and libraries).
  • Part Three- Shopping Around to Save. Internet, cell phones, health insurance (and that’s just three examples), a lot of times you can save money with a few clicks or a phone call.

Keeping an eye on your Credit Score is another great way to be financially literate. I wrote this morning about Credit Sesame, which I personally have used for at least 9 years.

And finally, if you feel like you need a little more help than the posts above to get a handle on your finances, check out Simplifi by Quicken. To celebrate Financial Literacy Month, Simplifi is offering a 30-day FREE Trial of Simplifi by Quicken.

  • Simplifi by Quicken was named the Best Budgeting App & Tool by the New York Times’ Wirecutter!
  • The app helps you stay on top of your money in less than 5 minutes per week.
  • After your free 30-day trial save 38% off the regular price. That’s $29.99 billed annually for the first year. For the cost of one lunch date, you can have a year of budgeting at your fingertips.

Talkback: What are your tips and tricks to saving money and staying on budget?

Free Credit Score and Monitoring with Credit Sesame!

April is Financial Literacy Month. Part of being financially literate or aware of your financial situation is to make sure that your credit report is correct. If you haven’t taken a look at your credit report lately,  it’s time to give your finances a fresh look and get your credit in tip-top shape.

Did you know that the recent FTC study found that over 20% of Americans or 40 Million credit reports have reporting errors that are costing consumers money in credit card interest rates and loans? These reports aren’t always indicative of something nefarious like your personal data being stolen, sometimes information on your credit report may belong to someone with a similar name as yours, or someone with a social security number close to yours. Whatever the case, it’s important to check your credit report once a year at a minimum, and make sure it’s correct.

Start by making sure that your credit report does not contain erroneous information that could be impacting your credit score. Keep tabs on your credit report activities and your score by signing up for free credit monitoring and score services like Credit Sesame, so that you can easily protect your financial good standing.

Credit Sesame is 100% free and offers-

  • Receive daily credit monitoring alerts
  • Get your FREE Credit Score Monthly
  • Limit ID Theft Damage
  • Find Potential Errors Sooner
  • Access to Better Loans and  that Can Save You Money

What are you waiting for? Click here to register for free in under 2 minutes. You’ll get your free credit score and a complete view of your credit and loans. Plus, when you turn on the Credit Monitoring feature, you’ll be notified of changes to your credit profile, along with $50K identity theft insurance and live agents to help you restore your identity in case of theft. All for free. All in one place.

3 Upcoming Online Projects from AO Opinions!

AO Opinions is another Market Research company that I get information from. Right now they are recruiting for three upcoming research studies.

Project 1 is on the topic of Transportation.
Compensation: $75-$125 (if chosen)
Open to: Ages 21-70
Study Date: Friday, April 16th, 2021
To be considered, please fill out the screener questionnaire here.

Project 2 is on the topic of Personal Care, however, there is a geographic restriction.
To be considered, please fill out the screener questionnaire here.
Compensation: $125 (if chosen)
Open to: Ages 20-50
Study Date: Monday, April 19th, 2021
Must live in one of the five boroughs of NYC (Brooklyn, Queens, Staten Island, Manhattan, and The Bronx) Compensation will ONLY be mailed to an address in one of the five boroughs of NYC.

Project 3 is on the topic of Cat Food.

To be considered, please fill out the screener questionnaire here.
Compensation: $65-$155 (if chosen)
Study Dates: Tuesday, April 13th, Wednesday, April 14th, or Thursday, April 15th 2021 + Mandatory Homework Assignment

Virtual Parent Workshop: Self-Monitoring Tools in the Home

This flyer showed up in my email inbox this morning and is a great opportunity to learn and help support your kids. My son’s class does Self & Match and it’s a great way to help kids learn about personal responsibility.

This Self & Match Virtual Parent Workshop takes place on May 11, 2021 at 9:00-10:30 am.

This interactive and hands-on workshop will provide an opportunity for parents and home providers to learn a well-defined, systematic self-monitoring intervention and motivational system to use in the home and school settings. A discussion of self-monitoring procedures incorporating a “match” component will be presented with a specific focus on Self & Match, a user-friendly, easy to implement.

Parents will be shared practice tools and tips that can be implemented immediately. Great workshop for individuals and/or teams (parents and in-home behavior analysts).

Make a note on your calendar and add this link to your online calendar.