food

Fetch Rewards: 4000 Points for Every Referral through 8/28/22!

Abby H.

Woo Hoo! Fetch Rewards is hooking us up with points out the wazoo! Earn an extra 4,000 points when you invite a friend to Fetch and they snap a receipt. Head to the app and share your referral code now through 8/28/2022!

If you aren’t already using Fetch Rewards, signing up is quick and easy! You learn more when you check out my post here. Find the Fetch Rewards app in your app store, and when you download it and scan any receipt, use my code ND2TB when you sign up and you’ll score 2,000 bonus points. I’ve earned $163.00 so far in 2022 just by purchasing my regular groceries and scanning all of my receipts (grocery, mass merchandiser, gas receipts, restaurants, you name it).

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 CDT on 8/28/2022. After 11:59 PM CDT on 8/28/2022 the referral bonus will expire.

8/23/2022 Weekly Meal Plan

Abby H.

0a5e9dab796cea8a07eabe4eb4795b9e.jpgYesterday was pretty busy, I didn’t get around to posting our meal plan for the week. We went to the beach and had in-home therapy.

I hit the grocery store last night but I forgot bagels, so I’ll be going back this morning.

No CSA boxes until the weather cools down and I can be home when the boxes are delivered. With the heat and the lack of shade on my patio, if we aren’t home when it’s delivered, some of the more delicate foods can spoil.

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. This is really helpful for the summer when for some reason, kids are starving all the time.

Dinner: I’ve got a couple casseroles/freezer meals this week, and other than that we’re eating easy and quick stuff so I can spend time playing, coloring, building legos, and swimming, which is the plan for the week.

  • Monday: Pancakes and fruit

  • Tuesday: Chef Salad (It was popular last week!)

  • Wednesday:  Frittata, toast, fruit

  • Thursday:  Baked pasta, roasted veggies

  • Friday: Takeout night!
  • Saturday:  Leftovers
  • Sunday:  Bean, rice, and cheese bowls

8/19/2022 Friday Freebies and Deals!

Abby H.

This week was a mix of shenanigans and staying home to beat the heat. Today the high is only 87, so we’ll see if we can leave the house and have some adventures.

We’ll be getting free backpacks tomorrow, Courtesy of SMOAC. You can learn more here.

Mask Mandates are changing constantly in California and can vary by city and county, so please do your part if you are going to any in-person freebies.

2022 Birthday Freebies are here!

Freebies

Free Ripple Plant-Based Dairy-Free Product Samples
Free L’Oreal Unbelievabrow Brow Gel Sample
Free Giorgio Armani My Way Fragrance Sample
Free Tasty Bite Entrees at Select Retailers
Free Life’s Grape Snack Pack at Whole Foods
Free Popcorn at Whole Foods
Free KOS Naturals Grass-Fed Protein Sample
Free Kat Von D Makeup
Free Sample of AloeMD Pain Relief & Recovery Cream
SampleSource – Free Full-Size Bag of Greenies Dental Treats
Free Kids Sunscreen Spray SPF 70+
Free Dunham’s Gift Card Giveaway
Free Blue Stop Max Gel at Sam’s Club
Free Bag of Blue Buffalo Dog or Cat Treats
Free Far Out Toys Products
Free Bakery on Main Crunchy Cluster Granola
Free Air Wick Oil Warmer at Sam’s
Free Sample of Dr. Jart+ Ceramidin Cream
Sam’s Club – 50 Free 4×6 Prints
Free Chickapea Organic Spirals
New Free Samples from Sampler
Lane Bryant Covert Client Program – Free Clothes, Points & More
Free SampleSource Fall Sample Boxes Coming Soon
Free Simple Mills Protein Pancake Mix
PrismPop – Free Beauty Products
Hidden Valley Ranchology Rewards – Free Samples, Tote Bag & More
Free Allies of Skin 35% Vitamin C+ Perfecting Serum
Free Lancome Idole Eau de Parfum Nectar Sample
Free NeilMed Sinus Rinse or NasaFlo Neti Pot

 

Deals:

Wireless Charging Station ONLY $20 (Reg. $36.99)
Women’s Studded Gladiator Sandals ONLY $9.99 (Reg. $26)
Bathroom Countertop Organizer ONLY $15 (Reg. $30)
Women’s Biker Shorts ONLY $9.49 (Reg. $18.99)
Women’s Active Jacket With UPF 50+ ONLY $6.81 (Reg. $30.99)
Mickey Mouse Americana Backpack ONLY $18 (Reg $30)
Women’s Gold Invicta Watch ONLY $108.96 (Reg. $495)
VR Worlds – PlayStation VR ONLY $7.99 (Reg $20)
onn. 30-In Sound Bar ONLY $29 (Reg $59)
Beats Studio Buds ONLY $99.99 (Reg $150)
Adidas Cloudfoam Women’s Sneakers ONLY $35 (Reg $75)
Arctic King 7-Cu ft Chest Freezer ONLY $169 (Reg $227)

Moms Meet: Hope Hummus Sampling Campaign Available!

Abby H.

I’ve been sampling and sharing products and services with Moms Meet since they started. Right now they have a really cool group program with Hope brand Hummus!

HOPE Hummus is made using fresh USDA Organic and Non-GMO Certified ingredients and with freshly blended extra virgin olive oil. It is made without any artificial preservatives. Available in a variety of yummy flavors, grab the pita and veggies and enjoy a delicious hummus while improving your gut health, immunity, and mental health.

How it works: Host an in-person sampling meeting to try and review this product with your mom/parent friends.

If selected, you will receive: HOPE Hummus to try and review with your group. As a thank you, you will receive a HOPE tote bag.

To learn more about Moms Meet, check out my post here.

Cream Dinners: Flash Sale! Don’t Miss Their Kid Picks Mini Bundle!

Abby H.

It’s that time again! Time for a Dream Dinners Bundle Sale!

Kid-Approved Meal Special

Don’t forget to stock your freezer as you do your back-to-school shopping! The Dream Dinners August kid-picks meal bundle is perfect for this season of busy weeknights, homework, and new class schedules. Order in the next 72 hours to get eight medium-size meals from the August menu for just $185*. You can cross grocery shopping and meal prep off your to-do list, giving you more time to savor the last days of summer!

The August Mini Bundle includes:
  1. Pub Style Chicken with Mashed Potatoes
  2. Sizzling Sirloin Fried Rice
  3. Chicken Enchiladas
  4. Backyard BBQ Chicken with Corn Medley
  5. Bacon Popper Chicken with Summer Grilled Vegetables
  6. Family Pizza Night – Grill Edition
  7. Crunchy Oven Fried Chicken Tenders with Cheesy Stovetop Cauliflower
  8. Homemade Turkey Parmesan Meatballs with Cavatappi

A Medium Meal feeds 2-3 adults (honestly, it’s usually 3+ in our house), so you’ll be getting 16-24 restaurant-quality meals for $185!

This offer is only available for a limited time

Contact your store by Friday, August 19, 2022 at 9am to place your order.

Our local store here in East County is La Mesa, run by Marsi and her friendly staff! Store Email: lamesaca@dreamdinners.com  Store Phone Number: 619-460-6800.

Recipe: Meaty Baked Pasta!

Abby H.

We eat a lot of veggies in this house, but recently I picked up a few pounds of bulk hot Italian sausage and I was jonesing for a meaty baked pasta dish. We don’t eat a lot of meat, so 1 pound for this recipe is a lot for us. If you are a big meat eater, you can add up to an extra pound of sausage to make it extra meaty.

This recipe makes a lot, but, it keeps well for leftovers and you can freeze leftovers as well.

Meaty Baked Pasta

Ingredients:

  • 1 box pasta (whatever variety you like best), cooked per package directions
  • 1 lb. bulk Italian sausage
  • 2 T. butter or oil
  • 1 medium onion, chopped
  • 1 bell pepper, chopped
  • 1 medium-sized zucchini, cut into bite-sized pieces
  • 2 cloves of garlic, minced
  • 32 oz of your favorite red pasta sauce
  • 1 small can of tomato paste
  • salt and pepper to taste
  • 2 cups mozzarella, divided
  • 1 cup parmesan/romano blend cheese, divided

Directions

  1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees
  2. Cook pasta per directions, drain off the water, reserving 2-3 Tablespoons.
  3. In a large pan, cook and crumble Italian sausage. After it is cooked, drain it on a paper towel.
  4. Using the same pan, saute onion and pepper for 10-15 minutes, until the onions are clear and have started to caramelize.
  5. Add in garlic, and cook until fragrant, about 3-5 minutes.
  6. Add in zucchini, sauce, and tomato paste- cook until sauce comes to a simmer.
  7. Add meat back in, and stir to combine.
  8. Add reserved pasta water to the sauce and simmer for 2-3 minutes.
  9. In a baking dish layer sauce, pasta, cheese, and sauce. Repeat until the baking dish is full and top with the remaining cheese.
  10. Cover the baking dish with a lid or tented foil and bake for 45 minutes.
  11. Remove the lid/foil and cook another 10-15 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and bubbly.
  12. Serve with a green salad and garlic bread!

This recipe made a 9×13 baking dish, which will serve 6-8 people a hearty portion.

If you need more veggies in your life, add carrots, drained diced petite tomatoes, more peppers, and even a few handfuls of spinach!

This meal was so satisfying. I’ve had leftovers for lunch twice now.

I ended up with extra sauce, and I plan on making calzones with it.

8/15/2022 Weekly Meal Plan

Abby H.

0a5e9dab796cea8a07eabe4eb4795b9e.jpgThis is our last full week of Summer Break. We have zoo, beach, swimming with friends, and a few other things to do before we start school.

I went to the grocery store on Saturday and picked up milk and bread, other than that we should be good. I re-organized the freezer and found a few things I forgot we had (and were not on the freezer inventory).

No CSA boxes until the weather cools down and I can be home when the boxes are delivered. With the heat and the lack of shade on my patio, if we aren’t home when it’s delivered, some of the more delicate foods can spoil.

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. I received a few more coupons over the weekend, so I’ll visit Sprouts sometime this week to pick up the new foods. I’m focusing on snacks and treats from Social Nature.

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. This is really helpful for the summer when for some reason, kids are starving all the time.

Dinner: I’ve got a couple casseroles/freezer meals this week, and other than that we’re eating easy and quick stuff so I can spend time playing, coloring, building legos, and swimming, which is the plan for the week.

  • Monday: Chicken nuggets, Buttered noodles, fruit, cheese & crackers

  • Tuesday: pollo asada tacos, grilled veggies, rice, refried beans

  • Wednesday: Chef Salad, quesadillas

  • Thursday: Protein shakes and bagels

  • Friday: Takeout night!
  • Saturday:  Leftovers
  • Sunday: Breakfast for dinner (eggs, hashbrowns, crescent rolls, fruit)

8/12/2022 Friday Freebies and Deals

Abby H.

This week was full of errands and getting ready for school stuff. It’s so hot (already 75 degrees at 7:30am).

We went to the Natural History Museum yesterday, thanks to the free passes the kids scored doing the San Diego County Library summer reading program.

If you are looking for some frugal adventures for this summer, check out this post.

Mask Mandates are changing constantly in California and can vary by city and county, so please do your part if you are going to any in-person freebies.

2022 Birthday Freebies are here!

Freebies

Free Kiehl’s Daily Reviving Concentrate with Registry
Free Subscription to Vogue Magazine
Text for $10 Off at Lane Bryant = Free Item
500 Free Trojan Condoms for College Students
Free Screening of Vengeance
Free Sample of SkinCeuticals Cream or Serum
Free Goody Bag at buybuy BABY Stores
Free Grenera Moringa Tea Sample
Free Mott’s & Yoo-Hoo Coloring Book at Sam’s
Free Post-It Notes Samples
Free Micellar Milk Cleanser or Hydrating Cleansing Balm
Free Oxyfresh Pet & Home Products
Free Iron Hawk Swag
Free AMONG US Mini Figures or Airship Toys
Free Downy Light Scent Booster at Select Stores
Free Peta Kids Comic Books
Free 2023 Fellowship Calendar
Free Bon Dévil Ganache
Free $10 ThredUP Credit = Free Womens & Children Items
Free Sample Pack of Exederm Ulta Sensitive Skin Care
Free Gatsby Low-Calorie Chocolate
Free Simple Mills Nut Butter Stuffed Sandwich Cookies
Free Little Bellies Organic Pick-Me Sticks
Free Millie Moon Diaper Sample Pack
Free Estee Lauder Revitalizing Supreme + Bright Power Soft Creme
Free Ice Cream at Baskin Robbins
Free Pencil Pouch at JCPenney
Free Grown Alchemist Instant Smoothing Serum Sample

 

Deals

DSW 40% Off Sneaker Coupon + Free Shipping
Kate Spade Kitt Large Tote ONLY $69 Shipped (Reg $299)
Disney Minnie Mouse Toddler Bed ONLY $59.99 (Reg $85)
Mainstays Plush Velvet Office Chair ONLY $64 (Reg $75)
Save $10 When you Buy $30 of Select Items
PowerXL Belgian Waffle Maker ONLY $15.99 (Reg $50)
Little Tikes Pack ‘n Go Trike Childs Toy ONLY $58.88 (Reg $84)
Hisense 50-Inch Smart TV ONLY $248 Shipped (Reg $348)
Free Medium Fries w/ Any $1 Purchase at McDonalds – Every Friday
Morphe Bake & Set Setting Powder ONLY $7 (Reg $14)
Sofia Vergara Top & Skirt Set ONLY $10 (Reg $40)
Barbie Pet Boutique Playset ONLY $18.97 (Reg $34)
Women’s Floral Robes ONLY $7.99 (Reg $22)

8/8/2022 Weekly Meal Plan

Abby H.

0a5e9dab796cea8a07eabe4eb4795b9e.jpgThis week is going to be a hot one. We’ve been super cooling the house, and running fans as much as we can. In addition to the heat, it’s been humid- overall I’m not a fan of this weather.

As a result of this weather forecast, we’ll be eating a lot of food that doesn’t require the oven.

Summer break is wrapping up, however, we’ve got all sorts of adventures planned, you can check out some of our adventures here.

I didn’t do much meal prep for this week, just some grocery shopping for produce ($25 worth of salad kits, and fruit), and cutting up fruit yesterday. When it’s hot, the kids don’t eat much beyond popsicles and snacks during the day.

No CSA boxes until the weather cools down and I can be home when the boxes are delivered. With the heat and the lack of shade on my patio, if we aren’t home when it’s delivered, some of the more delicate foods can spoil.

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. This is really helpful for the summer when for some reason, kids are starving all the time.

Dinner: I’m planning for a week of cool foods, with very little being cooked in the oven. I may use the toaster oven as needed.

  • Monday: Chicken nuggets, Buttered noodles, fruit, cheese & crackers

  • Tuesday: Salad, hummus & flatbread, fruit

  • Wednesday: Corn dogs, fruit, salad

  • Thursday: Protein Shakes, fruit

  • Friday: Takeout night!
  • Saturday:  Leftovers
  • Sunday: Salad, quesadillas, fruit

New PinchMe Samples Drop 8/9/2022!

Abby H.

Sample Tuesday is Coming on 8/9/2022- 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 June for the June 2021 boxes. The One Bar was really good.

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!