Want to Eat Out & Save? Check out Restaurant.com!

Abby H.

I’ve been a fan of Restaurant.com for at least a decade.

Seriously! You purchase a discounted gift certificate (make sure to check the certificate for restrictions, such as a minimum purchase amount or mandatory gratuity) for a local restaurant. You have a year from the date of purchase to use it.

Right now the following deal is available:

$100 eGift Card for only $18.00
$200 eGift Card for only $36.00

The Restaurant.com eGift Card can be redeemed at over 62,000 restaurants and providers nationwide. Available denominations vary by restaurant, and certificates are subject to minimum spend requirements and other restrictions. You can split up the $100 or $200 among a few local restaurants.

Here are two examples of how to use the certs to your advantage.

Cafe XYZ- Certificate for $15.00. Terms of cert: $15 off the purchase of $30 or more.

The check comes to $30.00
Minus Cert amt. -$15.00
Total New Bill: $15.00
Gift Certificate Cost $6.00
The price for this complete meal is $21.00 (that includes the cost of the certificate). The total amount saved $9.00.

ABC Cafe- Certificate for $25.00. Terms of the cert: $25.00 off the purchase of $35.00 or more.

The check comes to $35.00
Minus Cert amt. -$25.00
Total New Bill: $10.00
Gift Certificate Cost $10.00
The price for this complete meal is $20.00 (that includes the cost of the certificate). The total amount saved $15.00.

Don’t forget to tip your server!

6/13/2025 PRC Research Study Round Up!

Abby H.

PRC aka iOpinion is a nationwide research study company. They are always running studies and looking for more respondents. They email me once a week about the online studies they are looking to fill.

Topic: Hypertension and Cushing’s Syndrome/Hypercortisolism Patients-June 2025
Who: Adults aged 18-75 with Hypertension and/or Cushing’s Syndrome/Hypercortisolism. ***MUST PROVIDE PROOF OF MEDICAL CONDITION***
Format: Online Discussion
Where: From the comfort of your home
Date of the study: June 27-July 7, 2025 (Dates TBD)
Duration: The discussion will last 60 minutes (plus 15 15-minute early check-in)
Incentive: $150
If you are interested in participating, complete the intake survey here. If you pre-qualify, a recruiter from PRC will contact you via phone.

 

Topic: Skin Care Products
Who: Youths and adults aged 15 to 40.
Format: Online Focus Group + Pre-work
Where: From the comfort of your home
Date of the study: June 20 – July 2, 2025
Duration: The group will last 2 hours, and the pre-work will take 45 minutes
Incentive: $225 (pre-work & focus group)
If you are interested in participating, complete the intake survey here. If you pre-qualify, a recruiter from PRC will contact you via phone.

 

Topic: Food Ingredients
Who: Adults aged 18 and older.
Format: Online Focus Group
Where: From the comfort of your home
Date of the study: June 24 & 25, 2025
Duration: The group will last 90 minutes
Incentive: $150
If you are interested in participating, complete the intake survey here. If you pre-qualify, a recruiter from PRC will contact you via phone.

 

Topic: Beauty and Skin Care
Who: FEMALES aged 25 to 45.
Format: Online Group Interview
Where: From the comfort of your home
Date of the study: July 2025, various dates and times
Duration: The group will last 90 minutes
Incentive: $200
***You MUST have a working webcam on your desktop or laptop to participate in this study. You CANNOT participate using a tablet, iPad, or the camera feature on your smartphone***
If you are interested in participating, complete the intake survey here. If you pre-qualify, a recruiter from PRC will contact you via phone.

 

A few notes about PRC:

It is recommended to use the web browsers Google Chrome or Firefox to complete the pre-qualification survey.
Only one participant per household.
Our surveys are open to U.S. Residents.
Incentives are paid via Digital Incentive unless otherwise stated.
To participate in any study that requires a webcam, please use a laptop or desktop computer ONLY—No smartphones or tablets.
If you use ChatGPT or any other AI assistance for your responses/feedback during any of the research projects, please keep in mind that you will not receive compensation and will be removed from the database.
If you pre-qualify, a PRC Global Market Research recruiter will contact you via phone.
Due to the many survey responses, PRC can only contact those who seem to fit well.

 

 

 

 

 

Recipe: Oat Flour Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies

Abby H.

The kids love cookies. It’s one of the few foods they both agree on.

I started making these about 6 months ago. They are so good, easy to make, and they are pretty customizable if you have food allergies.

Oat Flour Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies

Ingredients

  • Two sticks (1 cup) salted butter, softened
  • 1 cup peanut butter, smooth preferred
  • 1 1/2 cups packed brown sugar
  • 1 1/2 cups white sugar
  • 2 tablespoons vanilla
  • 4 large eggs
  • 2 1/2 cups AP Flour
  • 2 cups Oat Flour
  • 1/2 cup quick-cooking oatmeal
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 2 1/2 baking chips of your choice- I used Milk Chocolate, Semi-Sweet Chocolate, and Peanut Butter chips.

To make Oat Flour, pulse oats in a blender or food processor until the oats are a smooth flour. 1 1/2 cups of oats should make about 2 cups of flour. You can also buy it online or at most health food stores. 

Directions:

  • Preheat oven to 350.
  • Line baking sheets with parchment paper. 
  • In a large mixing bowl, cream the butter and peanut butter.
  • Add sugars one at a time and mix until fluffy.
  • Add eggs and vanilla and mix until incorporated fully.
  • Mix in baking powder, salt, flours, and oats.
  • Once all are blended into the dough, add chocolate chips.
  • Drop tablespoon-sized dough balls on cookie sheets that have been greased or are lined with parchment paper. I prefer parchment paper.
  • Bake at 350 degrees for 8-12 minutes.  Let cookies rest 1-2 minutes before transferring to the cooling rack.

This recipe makes about 6 dozen cookies. 

This dough also freezes well. 

If you are allergic to peanuts, you can substitute sunbutter or your favorite nut butter. Do not use Nutella- It contains a lot of sugar and other ingredients that will throw off the chemistry of the recipe, and you won’t get yummy cookies.

Gluten Free Peeps: You can use 1:1 Gluten Free AP Flour and Gluten Free Oats in place of AP flour and regular oats.

Vegans: Substitute Crisco or Coconut Oil for butter. Do not use margarine/spread as it can contain a higher quantity of liquid than butter. Use your favorite egg replacer.

6/13/2025 Weekly Freebies and Deals!

Abby H.

We’re free! School is over for the year, and the kids and I are so excited for tons of adventures.

Here are a few ways that we will be having fun and being frugal:

  • The Summer Library Reading Program post can be found here.
  • Fun Free Summer Activities for Tweens and Teens here.
  • The Summer Movie Deals can be found here.
  • Don’t forget about Cheap Stuff to do with Tweens and Teens here.
  • Kids Bowl Free is back for 2025- More info here.

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 Happy Hippo Sample Pack
FREE Ocean Spray Bold Snacking Chatterbuy Kit
FREE Air Wick Plug In Scented Oil Advanced Gadgets After Walmart Cash (Get 3 Free)
FREE Toucan Mobile Workshop at Home Depot
Free Baby Samples & Full Sized Products from Amazon
FREE 8×10 Photo at Walgreens
FREE NESCAFE Espresso Lemonade Kit on June 13th, 20th & 27th
FREE Sample of TEMPTATIONS Cat Treats
FREE Frozen Drink at Casey’s Every Friday in May thru August
FREE GoVerden Guac It Up Chatterbuy Kit
FREE OLAY Cleansing Melts
T-Mobile Tuesdays – FREE Large Slurpee, FREE Grill Spatula & More
FREE Pair of Garden Snips at Lowe’s
How to Score Free Feminine Hygiene Products and Save on Essentials
Father’s Day Freebies & Deals RoundUp
FREE Movie Ticket to The Unholy Trinity
FREE Full-Size CeraVe AM Facial Moisturizing Lotion SPF 50
FREE Powered by Love Sticker
FREE Samples of Maneuver Men’s Grooming Products
Get The Top 17 Free Baby Boxes in 2025: Walmart, Target, Amazon
FREE $25 Purchase at Nike After Cash Back
FREE Diet Cherry Coke at Kroger
Here Are 6 Ways To Get Free Baby Formula Samples
FREE $5 Shop Cash
FREE Royal Canin Chewable Supplements for Dogs Chatterbox Kit
FREE Sample of Nutree Hair Mask
FREE Sample of Moroccanoil L’Originale Eau de Parfum
Over $1 Million in FREE Chipotle During the Summer of Extras Promotion
FREE Sample of AAVRANI Hair Thickening Blowout Primer

 

Deals:

Women’s Dresses on Clearance – Prices From $7.39 at JCPenney!
Father’s Day Gifts as low as $5 at Target – Free Store Pickup!
Additional Service Benefits BJ’s Members Enjoy
Doorbusters Sale at JCPenney: Save up to 60% Off Select Styles
Shop Sneaker Deals – Save on Top Brands Like Adidas, On Cloud, Vans & More
67% Off Kate Spade Sadie Small Crossbody + Free Shipping
13 Bath & Body Works Fragrance Dupes that Smell Just as Good as Luxury Perfumes

Earn Up to $650 – Online Insects Study

Abby H.

PRC aka iOpinion is a nationwide research study company.

PRC Global Market Research is conducting a study on Insects. They would like to speak with adults aged 18-65 residing in San Diego, California. If you qualify for the study, you will be required to participate in an online discussion board that will last 4-5 weeks (depending on qualification). You MUST LOG on each day to answer questions (5-10 minutes/day). The study will take place between June 23, 2025 – July 25, 2025. Compensation would be $400-$500 (depending on your qualification) + $150 (if chosen for part 2).

If you qualify, a PRC Global Market Research team member will contact you directly with more details. The study reference number is P257001I-K.

If you are interested in taking part in this study, please complete the pre-screener questionnaire here.

Q-Insights Online Focus Group On Members Rewards pays $150

Abby H.

QI-logoNOslogan.pngQ-insights is another company where I do research groups, focus groups, and online surveys to earn extra money.

They have a lot of stuff in South Orange County and less often in San Diego County. Currently, they are recruiting participants for an Online Focus Group on Member Rewards.

This is an Online study, and all that are invited will need to commit to 90 min Focus Group Via Discuss.IO.

  • Topic: Member Rewards
  • Who: Men and women of all ages.
  • Dates: June 17th-18th
  • Incentive amount is $150.00

If you are interested, please fill out the survey here, and one of their recruiters will contact you.

6/6/2025 Weekly Freebies and Deals!

Abby H.

Today was our last Friday of school! We celebrated with pizza (yes, I had a coupon).

  • The Summer Library Reading Program post can be found here.
  • Fun Free Summer Activities for Tweens and Teens here.
  • The Summer Movie Deals can be found here.
  • Don’t forget about Cheap Stuff to do with Tweens and Teens here.
  • Kids Bowl Free is back for 2025- More info here.

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 Govertex Skincare Serum and Fragrance Products
FREE Riversol 15-Day Anti-Aging Sample Kit + FREE Shipping
FREE $10 Off Groceries or Trail Mix Item for Target Circle 360 Members
FREE $5 Shop Cash
FREE Wasa Crisp Creations Chatterbuy Kit
FREE Sample of Eva NYC H2-Whoa Shampoo & Conditioner
FREE Sample of Rodan + Fields Active Hydration Serum
FREE Fragrance Samples from Macy’s
FREE Dog Treats Box from Zigzag – a $15 Value
Sweet Surprises: How to Score Free Chocolate
2 FREE How to Train Your Dragon Movie Tickets for Xfinity Rewards Members
FREE Sample of Cesar Mini-Pouches Dog Food
FREE Bloomingdale’s Little Freebies Box
Get Free Condom Samples Online and In-Person From Your Favorite Brands
FREE Suavitel Advanced Liquid Fabric Softener at Sam’s Club Chatterbuy Kit
FREE Chocolate Dipped Fruit Cone at Edible Arrangements for Graduates & Teachers
FREE Friendly Loom Crafting Party Pack
How to Score Sticker Freebies – Sticker Mule, Keds, Netflix and More
FREE $35 Purchase at Walmart After Cash Back
Get Your Free Teeth Whitening Samples: A Brighter Smile Awaits
FREE Entree at Chipotle During the 2025 Men’s Professional Basketball Series
FREE $35 Purchase at Sephora After Cash Back
FREE Sample of Dolce & Gabbana No-Puff Caffeine Eye Patches
10 FREE 4×6 Photo Prints at CVS
Unlock Your Wellness Journey with Free Nutrition Samples: Try Before You Buy
Score a Subscription to Condé Nast Traveller Magazine – No Credit Card Needed
T-Mobile Tuesdays – FREE Large Slurpee, FREE 1-Week Access to Local Cool Treats Perks & More
92,000 FREE Pints of Kroger Ice Cream on June 20th
FREE Carolina Herrera Bad Boy Cobalt & Bad Boy Elixir Fragrance Samples
FREE Army of Good Magnet
FREE Bonne Maman Hazelnut Chocolate Spread

 

Deals:

Under Armour Shorts From $5 Shipped – Limited Time ONLY!
Bogg Bag Accessories on SALE – Score Phone Holders, Dividers & More | Prices Start at $2.55
Latest Panda Express Coupon Code: Get Two Large Sides & Three Large Entrees for $30
Bella Pro 6-Qt Touchscreen Air Digital Fryer ONLY $39.99 (Reg $100)

6/4/2025 PRC Research Study Round Up!

Abby H.

PRC aka iOpinion is a nationwide research study company. They are always running studies and looking for more respondents. They email me once a week about the online studies they are looking to fill.

Topic: Pediatric Obesity
Who: Children ages 12-17 who are overweight or obese. The parent or guardian may fill out the survey, but the child will participate.
Format: Online webcam interview
Where: From the comfort of your home
Date of the study: June 2025
Duration: The discussion will last 90 minutes
Incentive $150 Digital Incentive

If you are interested in participating, complete the intake survey here. If you pre-qualify, a recruiter from PRC will contact you via phone.

Topic: Restaurant Dining
Who: Adults aged 21-70.
Format: Online group interview via Zoom (webcam required)
Where: From the comfort of your home
Date of the study: June 9-12, 2025, at various times
Duration: The discussion will last 90 minutes
Incentive: $150

If you are interested in participating, complete the intake survey here. If you pre-qualify, a recruiter from PRC will contact you via phone.

Topic: Insurance Agents
Who: Insurance agents and brokers nationwide.
Format: Online webcam interview
Where: From the comfort of your home
Date of the study: June 16-20, 2025
Duration: The interview will last 60 minutes
Incentive: $300 Digital Incentive

 

If you are interested in participating, complete the intake survey here. If you pre-qualify, a recruiter from PRC will contact you via phone.

Topic: Fast Food
Who: Adults aged 18 and older.
Format: Online discussion via Zoom (webcam required)
Where: From the comfort of your home
Date of the study: June 17, 2025
Duration: The discussion will last 60 minutes
Incentive: $100 Digital Incentive

If you are interested in participating, complete the intake survey here. If you pre-qualify, a recruiter from PRC will contact you via phone.

 

A few notes about PRC:

It is recommended to use the web browsers Google Chrome or Firefox to complete the pre-qualification survey.
Only one participant per household.
Our surveys are open to U.S. Residents.
Incentives are paid via Digital Incentive unless otherwise stated.
To participate in any study that requires a webcam, please use a laptop or desktop computer ONLY—No smartphones or tablets.
If you use ChatGPT or any other AI assistance for your responses/feedback during any of the research projects, please keep in mind that you will not receive compensation and will be removed from the database.
If you pre-qualify, a PRC Global Market Research recruiter will contact you via phone.
Due to the many survey responses, PRC can only contact those who seem to fit well.

Summer Events for Teens and Tweens at San Diego County Libraries

Abby H.2 Comments

My kids need to get out of the house this summer. Yours might too. I spent a few hours looking up some fun free stuff for teens and tweens at our favorite San Diego County library branches. Both the county of San Diego and the City of San Diego have library branches, but they are not connected.

City of San Diego library events can be found here.

The complete list of County Library events can be found here. 

Here are a few of the events my kids are excited about going to:

 

Lakeside Branch

SLC Teen Afterhours: Laser Tag and Trivia
Saturday, June 14, 2025
6:00 PM – 8:00 PM

SLC Teen Afterhours: Art with Miss Wendy
Saturday, July 12, 2025
6:00 PM – 8:00 PM

Kids SLC: SD Animal Sanctuary and Farm
Thursday, June 26, 2025
11:00 AM – 11:45 AM

Kids SLC: Super Science Super Show
Thursday, July 17, 2025
11:00 AM – 11:45 AM

Kids SLC: Critter Encounters
Thursday, July 3, 2025
11:00 AM – 11:45 AM

Kids SLC: Don’t Try This at Home-Scientific Serenade
Thursday, July 31, 2025
11:00 AM – 11:45 AM

Santee Branch

Animal show with Zovargo
Friday, August 1, 2025
9:30 AM – 10:30 AM
At Mast Park

La Mesa Branch

Construction Club (LEGO club) Ages 4+
Monday, June 2, 2025 meets weekly
4:00 PM – 5:00 PM

Summer at your Library: Mad Hatter Tea Party
Tuesday, June 24, 2025
3:00 PM – 5:00 PM

Teen Backyard Bird Experience
Tuesday, July 1, 2025
4:00 PM – 5:00 PM

 

Casa de Oro Branch

Game Night Unplugged
Wednesday, June 11, 2025 (takes place weekly)
3:00 PM – 5:00 PM

Teen Video Game Hour
Monday, June 16, 2025
4:00 PM – 5:00 PM

 

El Cajon Branch

Tween Tuesdays
Tuesday, June 24, 2025
5:00 PM – 6:00 PM

Tweens ages 8-13 to explore the RIASEC framework while socializing with other El Cajon tweens. Join us each week for games, music, and a RIASEC-themed activity:

* June 24: Catapult Challenge (Realistic)
* July 1: Make Your Own Slime (Investigative)
* July 8: Mask-Painting (Artistic)
* July 15: Lotería with Prizes (Social)
* July 22: Sharpie Mugs (Enterprising)
* July 29: Bingo with Prizes (Conventional)

 

Rancho San Diego Branch

Tween Craft – Perler Beads
Thursday, July 3, 2025
3:00 PM – 4:00 PM

Tween Craft – DIY Bags
Thursday, July 17, 2025
3:00 PM – 4:00 PM

Tween Craft – DIY Shirts
Thursday, July 31, 2025
3:00 PM – 4:00 PM

 

As you can see, there are tons of great events going on for free this summer! And if your kiddos are looking for more fun, check out my post about Summer Reading Programs!

Yankee Candle Sale! 30-50% off!

Abby H.

If you’ve ever been to my house, you know I love candles.

Specifically Yankee candles because they last a long time, and have a great range of scents and sizes of candles.

Right now, Yankee Candle is offering up to 50% off almost everything. 30% if you aren’t a rewards member.

Becoming a rewards member is quick and easy, and there are lots of benefits, including a freebie for your birthday!

Did you also know that in addition to candles, Yankee Candle sells car air fresheners? Yup. They are shaped like tiny candle jars. Two of my favorites are the Macintosh Apple and Midsummer’s Night.  I know, two completely different scent families, but both are amazing.

If candles aren’t your “thing”, Yankee also sells plug-in Scent Plug diffusers, Wax Tarts, and Room Sprays.