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Pinecone Research is Looking for YOU!

Abby H.

If you’ve been a reader of this blog for a while, you know how much I love Pinecone Research. It is an easy survey program that pays $3.00 per survey.

I received an email the other day, they are looking for new members. Signing up is easy, just start here. 

Here are the guidelines:

Must be 18+ years old, living in the US.
Must register via one of the links provided.
Must fully register and activate the membership by participating in the first link shared with them via email after registration.
Must not live in the same household as a current panel member.

I do around 5 surveys with Pinecone Research a month.

Score Free Samples from PinchMe!

Abby H.

Join PINCHme and receive free samples that you can provide feedback on.

I’ve been getting awesome samples from PinchMe for over 5 years. I love this program!

Click the banner, and sign up! Once you do, you’ll answer a series of questions about your household and shopping habits in the Member Profile. We’ll learn what you like and offer samples just for you.

Once you’ve had a chance to try your samples, complete a short feedback survey to tell us what you think of the samples. We’ll let the brands know your thoughts.

New Yorkers: Lower Your Con Ed bill and get a $25 Amazon Gift Card!

Abby H.

Free $25 Amazon Gift CardI know I’m in California, but OhmConnect has extended its program to New York and I had to share.

I’ve been using OhmConnect since its inception, and we’ve saved so much energy (and money on our power bill) and earned hundreds of dollars in rewards.

When New Yorkers sign up, they’ll score a $25.00 Amazon Gift Card!

Get started with OhmConnect today and see for yourself why 200,000 New Yorkers are using this free, money-saving service.

As always,  I only post about products and services I personally use and I feel are a good fit for my family and my readers. Please refer to my disclosure page.

 

April is Financial Literacy Month

Abby H.

Financial literacy is near and dear to my heart. I’ve spent much of my adult life working hard to save money, pay bills on time, and live within my means. It is a lot of effort and work, but, it’s made my life less stressful.

In 2020, 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.

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.

 A big part of financial literacy is tracking where you stand financially. With identity theft happening to 22% of Americans (per a 2022 Bureau of Justice Statistics study), knowing what’s on your credit is important.  Obtaining your free annual credit report is easy.  Free Annual Credit Report is the site that I use.

Once you receive it, go over and verify all of the open accounts are yours. Contact the credit bureaus immediately if there are any incorrect names, addresses, or accounts.

If you are saving for your future, or your kid’s future, here are two great savings opportunities:

Savings bonds- Savings Bonds: The gift that keeps on giving!

529’s/ Educational Savings Accounts- September Is College Savings Month!

Dream Dinners La Mesa: Heart Health Workshop & Dinner

Abby H.

Dream Dinners La Mesa has an awesome upcoming Heart Healthy Workshop! Presented in partnership with Wellness Workshop by Sonia’s Healthy Corner and featuring dinner provided by Dream Dinners.

February 27th, 6:00 pm
at La Mesa Dream Dinners

Led by expert nutritionist and Health Coach, Sonia Cervantes from Sonia’s Healthy Corner, this workshop will help you to foster a joyful relationship with food. Learn to love foods that love you back and make your culinary journey a source of pleasure and well-being.

Here’s what you can expect:

  • Practical advice on crafting a heart-healthy diet tailored to your lifestyle
  • Guidance on incorporating superfoods into your meals for maximum health benefits
  • Tips for managing portion sizes and making mindful food choices
  • Strategies for enhancing your overall well-being through nutrition

Enjoy a delectable dinner provided by Dream Dinners as you mingle with fellow attendees and soak in all the valuable information shared during the workshop.

Space is limited, so RSVP at your earliest convenience to secure your spot. We can’t wait to see you there and embark on this journey towards a healthier, happier you!

For more information call/text 619-460-6800 or email  lamesaca@dreamdinners.com

La Mesa Dream Dinners: Wellness Workshop!

Abby H.

Our friends at La Mesa Dream Dinners are helping us start 2024 off right! I am excited to share this with you. I love the community at Dream Dinners. Marsi and her team are innovating new ways to eat healthy and save you time!

La Mesa Dream Dinners has teamed up with local nutritionist and Health & Wellness Coach, Sonia Cervantes, CHC to bring you a new Health and Wellness series for 2024. Together, they have curated a series of courses designed to empower you with the knowledge and skills to enhance your well-being. This series encompasses cooking classes and easy meal prep sessions that you can easily replicate at home. Beyond the kitchen, they aim to provide lifelong lessons on positive thinking, intentional planning, and self-care, emphasizing that your family’s health begins with you.

What to Expect in Each Session:

  1. Healthy Tips: Receive valuable insights and tips for maintaining a healthy lifestyle.
  2. Interactive Activities: Engage in activities that promote positive thinking and intentional planning.
  3. Cooking Activity: Enjoy a hands-on cooking experience featuring healthy meals. Learn, cook, and savor the delicious results during the class.

Join them on this journey to empower yourself through self-care, community, and nutritious food. They believe that by making small, positive changes in your lifestyle, you can pave the way for a healthier and happier life. Take charge of your well-being, and let’s embark on this transformative experience together!

Sign Up today!!

Your journey to a healthier and more fulfilling life starts here.

For more information, contact La Mesa Dream Dinners call/text 619-460-6800 or email lamessaca@dreamdinners.com

Happy Holidays Y’all!

Abby H.

As you can tell from the lack of blog posts and social media posts/shares lately, I’ve been swamped. Getting ready for time off school for the kids, traveling to visit friends between Christmas and New Year, shopping, helping family, and busting out my end-of-year to-do list has been exhausting.

I did not do a New Year’s Resolution series this year, but I have done them in the past, and you can find that series of articles here. It includes the top ten NYR’s including saving money and getting organized.

I’ve been using a lot of Canva‘s really great templates for my new organizing stuff (Yes I have paper copies- the ADHD folks in my house need the reminders). It’s free and it’s so easy to use. In addition to the organizing sheets, I’ve made pantry and freezer inventory sheets, calendars, stuff for my day job, birthday party invitations, tutorials- Canva is pretty amazing. And it’s free!

 

Have a wonderful holiday season, whatever you celebrate. After the first of the year, there will be a Target Gift Card giveaway!

It’s Soup Season! Southwestern Chowder Recipe

Abby H.

It’s Soup Season y’all! I recently made this soup for the first time after craving something full of veggies, but a little more comforting than a minestrone or Tuscan Sausage soup.

This soup is easy to make and is perfect with cornbread or garlic bread (which many of you know is a staple in my house). I served it with a variety of toppings as well.

Paired with a simple green salad, this is a great fall dinner.

Southwestern Chowder

Ingredients

  • 2 Tablespoons butter or neutral oil (I like Avocado Oil)
  • 1 cup diced onions
  • 1/2 cup peeled and diced carrots
  • 1/2 cup diced celery
  • 2 cups potatoes, cut into bite-size pieces- I used red-skinned potatoes and left the skin on, but if you use russets or Yukon gold (basically any brown-skinned potato), peel them.
  • 1 15 oz. can of corn or 2 cups of frozen corn
  • 1 small can Ortega chilis
  • 2 cups chicken, cut up into bite-sized pieces (leftover rotisserie chicken is great for this or use leftover Turkey!)
  • 4 cups Chicken Stock or Bone Broth
  • 1 can of evaporated milk
  • 1 bay leaf
  • garlic powder, salt, pepper

Directions:

  1. In a large stock pot, saute onions, carrots, and celery in butter/oil over medium, until onions are translucent.
  2. Add in bay leaf, potatoes, corn, and stock/broth.
  3. Cook over medium/low, with the lid on the pot for about 20 minutes, or until potatoes are fork tender.
  4. Add in all remaining ingredients and simmer, stirring occasionally for 15-20 minutes.
  5. Add salt, pepper, and garlic to taste/as needed throughout the simmering.
  6. Ladle into bowls and top with cheese crisps, tortilla strips, sour cream, chives, hot sauce (your choice)
  7. Serve with bread of your choice.

Serves 6-8.

Notes:

  • This soup freezes well, and is great for potlucks!
  • If you prefer your chowder thicc, add 1/2-3/4 cup of potato flakes to the soup and stir to combine about 5 minutes before serving.
  • This Soup is naturally gluten-free.
  • To make this recipe vegan, use vegetable broth, omit butter (sub in oil), use plant-based faux chicken, like this from Sweet Earth), and use plant-based milk or cream in place of evaporated milk. I’ve heard good things about Cashew Cream.

Here are a few of my favorite cheese crisps:
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Score a Free Dinner From Dream Dinners!

Abby H.

As you are all aware,  Dream Dinners is one of my favorite ways to save time and get tasty, healthy meals on the table in 45 minutes or less!

If you haven’t tried Dream Dinners yet, now is the perfect time! They have lowered their minimum orders to three meals, and new customers can score a free dinner. When you order 3 or more dinners, they get a free medium Cashew Chicken and Noodles with code SHARE at checkout.

There are over 70 Dream Dinners locations throughout the US, but if you don’t live close to one, fret not! There is a deal for you as well! New Guests can get free shipping on their first box of 4 medium dinners as a special offer just for you. Use this code at checkout: FREESHIP.

 

November 2023: 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 it’s full-size products, not just a tiny sample.

Social Nature has rounded up available products 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:

  • Sunflower Nut Butter by Wild Friends
  • Kids’ Juice Drinks (4-Pack) by PLEZi (We tried these recently- they are really tasty)
  • Organic Mac & Cheese by Jovial Foods
  • Barley Milk by Golden Wing

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.

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

FTC Disclosure: As with some offers I post, I receive payments for clicks, purchases, and/or registrations made through affiliate links in this post.