family

2024 Summer Fun on A Budget!

Abby H.2 Comments

Today marks the first day of summer break for my kiddos. I am usually a lot more prepared and would have posted this on the blog already, but… Life happens.

I’ve got some stuff planned for summer, but not as much as I have during previous summers. I’m having surgery next week, so a lot of our activities will be more chill.

But we will be including:

If you are looking to beat the heat and need something free, check out the Waterfront Park downtown. They have a great splash pad area for kids, a really fun playground, and a big grassy area for picnics. The only downside- is no shade trees.

If you are looking for free summer lunches, Feeding America has a great list on its website here. 

And beyond that, if you are looking for free and low-cost food resources, check my page here.

Summer Movie Deals for 2024!

Abby H.

One of the kid’s favorite summer activities is to hit up the local theater for a showing of one of their favorite movies.

Big buckets of popcorn, snuck in candy (shhhh), and a drink and they are ready for 2 hours of fun in the Air Conditioning.

In my search for theater chains offering this fun this summer, several of our old friends are not participating as of the writing of this post.

Select Reading Cinemas will have the Reel Kids program, where throughout the summer (June-August) there will be kid-approved movies for the reduced price of $1/ticket!

And perhaps my kids’ favorite,Regal Summer Movie Express is back! Express tickets are just $1 on Tuesdays and Wednesdays featuring summer movies the whole family will enjoy. Availability varies by location. My kids are excited to see Puss in Boots, Across the Spider-verse, and Angry Birds 2.

AMC has nothing planned per their website, but they do offer discounts for students and the elderly.

Cinemark (No locations near us) has 8 weeks of Movie Fun planned. More Details can be found here.

Talk Back: What summer movies are you looking forward to seeing?

Summer Grill Bundles 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!

Just in time for summer, Dream Dinners is offering Grill Bundles. The perfect easy meal plan for camping, your next vacation, or a staycation. There are two Bundles, One available in June, and the second in July.

And it gets better- If you are new to Dream Dinners, order 3 or more dinners, and get a free medium Creamy Chicken Risotto as their gift to you. Use code SHARE at checkout.

If you don’t live near a Dream Dinners location, don’t fret! New Guests can receive free shipping on their first box of 4 medium dinners as a special offer just for you. Use the code FREESHIP at checkout.

SDG&E: No cost energy upgrades for your home!

Abby H.

I received this information in my email this morning, and I thought I would share it.

We took advantage of this program a few years ago. It was quick and easy. This program as easy and 1, 2, 3.

Do you want to save on your energy bills?

Get no-cost energy efficiency upgrades for your home. Whether you are a renter or owner, SDG&E’s Residential Energy Solutions Program can help increase your energy efficiency and lower your energy consumption while giving you more comfort in your home.  There are several measures that you may qualify for that are listed below.

  1. Call 1-888-272-8394 to request an appointment for an energy assessment at no cost.
  2. Receive No Cost Efficiency Upgrades.
  3. Enjoy Energy Savings.

*Synergy Companies is an authorized service provider for San Diego Gas & Electric.

*Residences located in Orange County and have SoCalGas as a fuel provider will have limited or no measures available to them

And don’t forget- You can save money and earn cash or gift cards when you save energy with Ohm Connect. Learn more here. 

 

How to prepare when Mom needs surgery

Abby H.

I will be having surgery next month, for the first time since I’ve had kids, and that’s 13 years.

I am excited because I need the surgery, but I know it’s gonna come with some downtime. I’ve been doing some research and I thought I would share some ways that I’m getting everybody and our house ready, so it doesn’t fall apart when I am incapacitated after surgery.

The Month before:

1. Talk to your insurance carrier to confirm co-pays, and work out a payment plan or apply for financial aid if needed.

2. Post Op snacks.  I will be doing some shopping over the next month and squirrel away good snacks I find on sale and putting them out the day before I head out for surgery. Snacks will be shelf stable, or things that require no preparation other than opening a package or putting it on a plate or bowl.

3. Make sure all of the bills are set up on auto-pay during the month I’ll be recovering.

4. Make some freezer meals, or set up a meal train (lean on your village if you have one). Not everyone has a village to lean on, and in that case, I suggest Dream Dinners. They have meals that need to go into the oven- perfect for post surgery dinners.

The Week Of:

5. Clean house! I don’t want to recuperate in a messy, dusty, cluttered house. In the month leading up to surgery, I am organizing the house, putting unneeded stuff away, or giving it away. The problem I’m running into is that our house is still in an active construction zone because of the water loss we sustained in January. As soon as our kitchen is done, I will have less of an issue with that.

5. Clean off the nightstand: Clean it off, declutter, and change the lightbulb in my bedside lamp- just in case.

6. Pick up your post-surgery medications if possible. If not, have them filled at the hospital pharmacy and pick them up before checking out of the hospital. Fill up your weekly medication pill boxes (if you use them). Ditto for any kiddo meds.

The Night Before:

7. Clean Bedding: In the days before, I will put clean sheets on the bed, wash the blankets, and fresh pillowcases.

8. Take an everything shower. Don’t forget any pre-op body wash that is prescribed.

9. Follow your doctor’s orders for eating and drinking.

10. Get a Good night’s rest. Aim for 8-10 hours.

The Morning of:

11. Take any pre-op shower with body wash that is prescribed.

12. Check into the hospital at the time requested- Don’t be late!

 

And finally- have comfy easy-on/easy-off clothes for after your surgery, that won’t aggravate any incisions or bruising.

 

Tryazon: Calling all trivia enthusiasts!!

Abby H.

We’ve been participating in Tryazon events for three+ years. We’ve gotten to try all sorts of fun toys, games, and food.  You can learn more about Tryazon here.

Get your squad together for an evening of fun and friendly competition with this Tryazon Featured Party opportunity, featuring Ultimate Pub Trivia from AreYouGame?! This classic trivia game promises to bring the enjoyment of pub trivia to your living room for a night that’ll have you and your friends buzzing with excitement. With questions covering a variety of categories including sports, pop culture, literature, and more, there’s something for everyone to enjoy! Form your teams, brainstorm your answers, and get ready to prove your trivia prowess.

Tryazon has 75 hosting spots open for this opportunity! Those selected get to receive a party pack for free with an Ultimate Pub Trivia game to share with friends and family! Learn more and apply here: https://www.tryazon.com/ultimate-pub-trivia-game-night-party/

Local Event: Boys & Girls Clubs of East County: Community Health Fair

Abby H.

The Grossmont Healthcare District is sponsoring a FREE Community Health Fair on May 2nd. We’ve gone to these events in the past and last time I won a free set of pots and pans.

These events have great information, resources, and freebies for the whole family.

Come to the Health Fair to learn about community health & wellness, and resources, and enjoy a meal! Don’t miss this FREE family event:

  • Taco cart dinner
  • Haircuts for children
  • Eye screenings
  • Self-care kit for children
  • BGC STEM Activities
  • Info from local health & wellness professionals…and more!


When: Thursday, May 2 | 5-7 PM
Where: Brady Family Clubhouse (7600 Junior High Drive, La Mesa, CA 91941)
Contact: Brandie Warren 619.440.1600 ext. 303 or brandie@bgcec.org

On Medi-Cal? Free Produce boxes from Project Food Box!

Abby H.

I found this on Reddit of all places, but after doing some research, it’s totes legit.

While not something that my San Diego friends can take advantage of, for those who are eligible, this is an amazing opportunity.

Project Food Box ships boxes of produce and healthy food straight to your door- At no charge.  This program is not for everyone, and their range is limited, but, this is such an incredible program. I had to share it.

Eligibility- You are a Medi-Cal Member residing in one of the following counties:

• Fresno
•Kings
•Madera
•San Bernadino
•Riverside
• Imperial
• Los Angeles
• Orange

Qualifying health conditions include but are not limited to diabetes, cardiovascular disorders, congestive heart failure, stroke, chronic lung disorders, HIV, cancer, gestational diabetes, or other high-risk perinatal conditions, and chronic or disabling mental/behavioral health disorders. Individuals being discharged from the hospital or a skilled nursing facility or at high risk of hospitalization or nursing facility placement. Individuals with extensive care coordination needs.

You will need the Medi-cal CIN for the person signing up, as well as Checking yes to the  “have a chronic condition” to be eligible for the program.

They even have recipes on their website to help you use the foods in your box!

To sign up or learn more, visit their website.

Great Deal on General Mills Cereals at CVS!

Abby H.

This deal was in effect last week too, and I took advantage of it. Now through 4/27, you can score selected sizes and varieties of General Mills cereal at CVS for just $1.99 each!

And the deal gets better-

There is a $1.00/2 coupon you can load to your CVS card!

There is also a $1.00/2 rebate available on Ibotta and Shopminium (you cannot combine them).

Here is how I did the deal, and I used the self-checkout.

Transaction 1:

Buy two General Mills Cereals, $1.99/each $3.98
Use $1/2 coupon on card
Pay out of pocket (or roll CVS extra care bucks): $2.98
Redeem the Ibotta Rebate for $1/2
Final Out of pocket: $1.98/2 or .99/each

Transaction 2:
Buy two General Mills Cereals, $1.99/each $3.98
Pay out of pocket (or roll CVS extra care bucks): $3.98
Redeem Shopminium Rebate for $1/2
Final Out of pocket: $2.98/2 or $1.49/each

That’s 4 boxes of cereal for $1.24/each. For reference, the same-sized box of Reeces Puffs cereal I bought at CVS is $4.39 at Target.

Don’t forget to add your receipts to Mypoints/Swagbucks, Fetch (They frequently have bonus offers for General Mills Products), Receipt Hog, Receipt Pal, and Receipt jar for extra points/cash back.

If you are new to some of these apps, check out my Save with Smartphones page here. Some of these apps have bonus points when you sign up with my referral code (and I earn some points too!).

Recipe: Banana chocolate chip muffins

Abby H.

I made these muffins after I discovered some overly ripe bananas chilling on the counter last weekend.

These are made with Kodiak Flapjack mix instead of AP flour. This gives the recipe a little more protein and a little more filling.

Ingredients:

  • 1 teaspoon cinnamon
  • 3 large ripe bananas, mashed
  • 6 tablespoons oil/fat of your choice (melted butter, coconut oil, avocado oil)
  • 2/3 cup packed brown sugar (light or dark, your choice)
  • 1 egg
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 2 tablespoons milk of choice 
  • 1.5 cups Kodiak Flapjack Mix
  • 1/2 cup chocolate chips of choice
Nutritional Information Courtesy of Fitness Pal

Directions:

  1. Preheat oven to 350.
  2. Line muffin tin cups with cupcake liners.
  3. In a bowl, combine all ingredients except flapjack mix and chips with an electric mixer.
  4. Once the wet ingredients are fully combined, blend in flapjack mix.
  5. Stir in chocolate chips.
  6. Evenly distribute batter into lined tin wells.
  7. Bake at 350 for 20-25 minutes or until toothpick/knife comes out clean after inserted into muffins.
  8. Remove from oven and allow to cool for 10-15 minutes before serving.

This recipe is not vegan. Kodiak Flapjak mix contains milk ingredients.