10/17/2022 Weekly Meal Plan

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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

Atkins Coupons!

I know a few people who follow the Atkins Diet, and while I don’t, I really like the Atkins treats. Perfect for times when I want a little sweet snack or treat, but don’t want lots of sugar!

Choose Get Atkins Coupons for Free!   Submit your email address to print coupons for discounts on Atkins products.

Save on your next purchase of Atkins snacks, nutrition bars, shakes, and meals, as well as get access to our online community!

  • Save $2.00 on any ONE (1) Atkins®Bar, Shake, or Treat Multi-pack.
  • Save $1 on any ONE (1) Atkins Frozen Entrée

 

10/14/2022 Friday Freebies and Deals!

This was a week of appointments and business. I apologize for the lack of posts over the past few days, hopefully, this batch of fresh Freebies and deals will make up for it.

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 Subscription to Out Magazine
Free COLUMBUS Craft Meats Charcuterie Board
Free Colive Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Free wood Puzzle, Cinche Bag & Markers at JCPenney
Free Hefty Trash Bags at Select Stores
Free Trick or Treat Wall Décor Craft at Michaels
Free Last Bubbles Bouchon
Free Coffee Every Friday at Cumberland Farms
Free Speck iPhone 14 Phone Case
Free Nature’s Fynd Meatless Breakfast Patties
Free ILY Stickers
4+ Free Disney Movie Insiders Points
Free Injection Serum & Mask + $50 Amazon eGift Card
Free eos Stickers (Email)
Free Light & Lean Recipe Booklet
Free Above MS Recipe Book
Free 19 Crimes Coasters, Hat, Tumblers & More
Free L’Oreal Le Color Gloss Sample
Free Green Garden Freeze Dried Herbs
Free Darkwood PC Game
Free CeraVe Skin Renewing Eye Cream
Free iPhone Phone Cases & Protectors
Free Halo Top Light Ice Cream Chatterbox Kit
Free Sample of L’Oreal Revitalift Triple Power Moisturizer
Free Lancome La Vie Est Belle Fragrance Sample
Free Mountain Dew Baja Blast Freeze at Taco Bell
Free Marco Sweet & Spices Internationally-Inspired Ice Cream
Free Fenty Fat Water Toner
Free Sample of Erborian CC Creme
Free Sample of AERIN Amber Musk Eau de Parfum
25 Free Disney Movie Insiders Points
Free 3-Months of SiriusXM – $54 Value w/ No Credit Card Needed

Deals

Champion Women’s Crop Top T-Shirt ONLY $8.69 (Reg $25)
LOL Surprise OMG Movie Magic Doll ONLY $14.78 (Reg $37)
Vera Bradley Large Travel Duffle Bag ONLY $74.68 (Reg $155)
Revlon Root Booster Styler Brush ONLY $32.49 (Reg $65)
Infrared Motion Sensor Trash Can Set ONLY $61.75 (Reg $110)
OneSpace Craft Station w/ with Blue Glass ONLY $100 (Reg $205)
Free Medium Fries w/ Any $1 Purchase at McDonalds – Every Friday
Martha Stewart Holiday 2-Pc Cocottes ONLY $14.99 (Reg $50)
Chefman Countertop Blending System ONLY $29.99 (Reg $80)
Kate Spade Perry Small Backpack ONLY $79 (Reg $329)

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

**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)

Giveaway: Meal Prep Starter Pack from La Mesa Dream Dinners!

I am so excited to share this giveaway with you! I’ve partnered with La Mesa Dream Dinners to give away a Meal Prep Starter kit that contains 4 medium meals (a medium meal feeds 2-3 people, but in our family of 4 it usually feeds all 4 of us with a couple side dishes added) or 2 Large Meals, which feeds 4-6 each.

Y’all know I love Dream Dinners. Dinner is on the table in 30 minutes or less, and there is no chopping, measuring, or shopping for ingredients. It’s awesome for us busy folks- I put 1-2 Dream Dinners in the fridge to defrost Sunday night, and we’ve got easy meals for our busiest nights.

With the kid’s extracurriculars and therapies, every day is busy right now. I’m up at 5:45am making breakfasts and lunches, washing dishes, and feeding the kitty. By the time 5pm rolls around, the last thing I want to do is spend an hour plus in the kitchen.

Dream Dinners is cheaper than takeout, healthier, and many times, it’s the same amount of dishes to wash. Yes, I serve takeout on plates and use silverware. I’m not eating Chinese takeout out of the little paper boxes with my hands.

If you are new to Dream Dinners, check out my post here with all the details, and how they compare to other meal kits.

Onto the Giveaway- Enter using the Rafflecopter widget/link (it’s not mobile-friendly) below. For a mobile-friendly entry, click here.

The first and easiest entry is to check out the October Menu here and leave a comment on this post letting me know what you are most excited about trying. Then click ion the Rafflecopter link below and complete the remaining entries!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

The Fine Print: This giveaway will run from 10/11/2022 until 10/19/2022. A winner will be chosen at random on 10/19/22 and will be notified via email. The winner must reside in the San Diego, CA county area and pick up their prize directly from La Mesa Dream Dinners. The winner’s contact information will be supplied to La Mesa Dream Dinners to coordinate the delivery of the prize.

This contest is not sponsored or endorsed by WordPress, Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram.

10/10/2022 Weekly Meal Plan

0a5e9dab796cea8a07eabe4eb4795b9e.jpgThis coming week is full of extra appointments and errands, so I’m leaning heavily on the meal prep I did yesterday, and stuff that can be cooked quickly.

We’re leaning heavily into the pantry this week as well, and I found a large package of ground beef in the freezer (under a few large bags of frozen veggies), so we’ll be using that to make both meatloaf and a big batch of bolognese sauce (half will go into the freezer for future use).

The big kid and I went to the grocery store yesterday, redeemed a bunch of coupons (thanks to Social Nature), and did our usual weekly shopping.

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:  Soup, grilled cheese sandwiches, fruit

  • Tuesday: Waffles, eggs, bacon, fruit

  • Wednesday: Nuggets, fruit, crackers, and cheese

  • Thursday: Meatloaf, Roast Veg, Rolls

  • Friday: Takeout night!
  • Saturday:  Spaghetti Bolognese, garlic bread, salad
  • Sunday:  Leftovers

10/7/2022 Friday Freebies and Deals!

We made it through another week or work and school!

Friday means pizza night at our house, and that’s something to be excited about.

Oh, and the Freebies are super fresh this week!

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 Abbott Sequoia Fragrance & Non-Toxic Candle Sample
Free Pretzel with the Wetzel’s Pretzel App
Free Orijen & ACANA Dog Treats
Free Sample of Replenix Hyaluronic Acid Hydration Serum
Free Turkey Craft Kit at Joann
Free Custom Cordless Window Shade
Free Planters Sweet & Spicy Peanuts at Select Stores
Free Coffee Every Friday at Cumberland Farms
25 Free Disney Movie Insiders Points
Free Aura Bora Sparkling Water After Rebate
Free Simple Smoothing Facial Scrub Sample
Free Custom Tabby Alert Pet ID Tags
Free Member’s Mark Fruity Snacks at Sam’s
Free Sample of ClarityRx Return to Calm Facial Moisturizer
Free Movie Night Bingo Activity Booklet at Sam’s
Free Massel 7’s Stock Cubes Chicken Style
Free Gardein Plant-Based Chili at Kroger
Free Suavitel Liquid Fabric Conditioner
Free Dos Equis Ranch Water Hard Seltzer Chatterbox Kit
Free HEINZ 57 Collection Dinner House Party Pack
Free Hot or Iced Coffee at Dunkin
Free Sample of Hermes Paris Fragrance
Free Tom Ford Perfume Sample
Free Else Plant Powered Super Cereal Sample
Free Salonpas Lidocaine FLEX Patch Sample
Free BEYOND MEAT Game Day House Party Kit
25 Free Disney Movie Insiders Points
Free Fresca Mixed House Party Pack
Free Verb Ghost Shampoo
New Amazon Kids+ is Free for 30 Days
Free RIND Snacks Product at Select Stores
Free SoPost Product Samples
Free Candy at Lowe’s Spooky Trick or Treat Event
Free Hurricane Ian Relief Rides From Modivcare
1-Year Subscription to Apple TV+
Free Slain: Back From Hell PC Game

Deals

Halloween Costumes BOGO 50% Off at Target
Foldable Twin Baby Double Stroller ONLY $133.99 (Reg $260)
Barbie Winter Sport Snowboarder Blonde Doll ONLY $9.97 (Reg $23)
Infant Changing Table with Pad ONLY $67.99 (Reg $120)
Cuisinart AirFryer Toaster Oven ONLY $99.99 (Reg $230)
Target Deal Days is LIVE – Save up to 80% Off Early Black Friday
12-Piece Cookware Set with Ultra Nonstick ONLY $78.59 (Reg $150)
Melissa & Doug Double-Sided Tabletop Easel ONLY $20.99 (Reg $53)
Women’s Satin Pajama Set ONLY $10 (Reg. $27)
Wet n Wild Megawear Mascara ONLY $0.98 (Reg. $2)
Farmhouse Dining Table ONLY $355 (Reg. $710)
Women’s Stars Above Robe ONLY $18 (Reg. $30)
Stars Above Women’s Pajama Short Set ONLY $13.19 (Reg. $22)

New PinchMe Samples Drop 10/11/2022!

Sample Tuesday is Coming on 10/11/2022- Mark your calendars, and set an alarm on your phone!

Don’t have any idea what I am talking about? PinchMe! Join PINCHme and receive free samples that you can provide feedback on.

PinchMe is awesome! Once you are signed up, they will email you reminders when new samples are about to drop, and remind you when it’s time to leave feedback.

Answer a series of questions about your household and shopping habits in the Member Profile. PinchMe learns what you like and offer samples just for you.

Once you’ve had a chance to try the samples, complete a short feedback survey to tell PinchMe what you think of the samples.

I get PinchMe samples every month. Here is what arrived at the end of September for the September 2022 box. Fiona really dig the Delectables Squeeze up Cat Treats- It’s like a gravy Capri Sun for cats!

What are you waiting for? Sign up here and get on the free sample bandwagon! I’ve gotten all kinds of awesome sample/trial size items, as well as full-sized items to try out from PinchMe!

Kohl’s Rewards Members- Check your Accounts!

I love shopping at Kohl’s. They have great deals on clothes and home goods. Did you know they have a bussin’ toy department (at least according to my kids)?

If you are a Kohl’s Rewards Member, log on to your account and check your wallet for a $10 of $50 toy department coupon (exclusions apply)! They are valid through 10/31/2022 in case you have a birthday to shop for, or if you’re like me and you want to get a jump on your holiday shopping.

And to sweeten the deal, through 10/31/2022, select Lego sets and toys are 20% off!

October 2022: New Month, New Coupons!

file000786402730Here is your monthly reminder!  A new month means new printable and electronic coupons!

The printable coupon market is slowly coming to an end. Smartsource no longer offers printable coupons, and you may notice that there are fewer coupon inserts in your Sunday newspaper. This is in favor of more offers available on apps. But if you love printable coupons….

  • Coupons.com (printable coupons, e-coupons, and a cashback app)

Remember if clipping coupons isn’t your thing, but saving money is, check out my list of Smartphone apps that can save you the big bucks! New offers are added on the Smartphone Savings Apps all the time!

Here are a few of my favorite printable coupons:

Save $0.75 on any ONE (1) Café Bustelo® Coffee Product (excluding instant)
Save $0.75 on ONE (1) Waterloo Sparkling Water 8 pack or ONE (1) Waterloo Sparkling Water 12 pack
Save $1.00 on any ONE (1) Folgers® Coffee product (excluding instant)
Save $0.75 on THREE (3) Avocados From Mexico
Save $1.50 on any ONE (1) Primal Kitchen® Sauces or Ketchup
Save $1.00 on any TWO Kellogg’s® Cereals (Including Kellogg’s® JUMBO SNAX)
Save $5.00 on ONE (1) Voltaren Arthritis Pain Gel 150g or larger
Save $2.00 On any ONE (1) ARM & HAMMER™ CLUMP & SEAL™ Cat Litter

October is the beginning of The last three months of the year. And those months are packed full of holidays and entertaining possibilities. Sales, rebates, and cashback offers will most likely be for the types of food and beverages that are associated with entertaining.

  • Candy, nuts
  • Fall/Winter clothing
  • Fabric, Patterns, sewing machines (Halloween)

For a complete list of types of foods and items that will be on sale, check out this post on the cycle of sales.