Saving on Summer fun with Tweens and Teens with Groupon!

We’ve got less than 30 school days left, and the kids are already asking what we’re doing this summer.

In the past I’ve written posts about free stuff to do in San Diego over the summer, and I’ll have one up later this week, but Tweens and Tweens sometimes are “too big/too cool” for the splashpads at parks, or don’t want to go to the library for craft events.

I headed over to Groupon this morning to see what I could find that might appeal to my posse.

If you are looking for different activities, new restaurants to try, or maybe even a massage, check out Groupon. They have all sorts of cool deals available!

Weekly Reset- Preparing for the week ahead (family edition)

This is by no means a comprehensive list of everything I do each weekend to reset, but it does hit all the major points.

On Saturdays, I do the weekend prep for the week ahead. This includes the following:

Laundry. I try to do a few loads of laundry during the week so that it doesn’t pile up, but Saturday is my day to fold clean clothes, hang things up, and make sure everything gets put away. And mate socks. I usually listen to a podcast or watch something on my phone while I do this. I keep my eyes open for deals on laundry detergent. One of my favorite deals is the Buy one, get two free Arm and Hammer detergent deals that happen every 6-8 weeks or so at Walgreens. The deal starts again tomorrow, May 4, 2025.

Put outfits together. I started doing this about a year ago, and it saves me time every morning. I can just go into my closet, pull off an outfit off the hanger, and I will have a top and a bottom already to put on. My youngest picks out their clothing before bed every night, and my big kid does not care what he wears to school. So most of his clothes are mix and match athletic shorts or exercise pants, and a funny graphic shirt or a sweatshirt if it’s cold.

Clean out the fridge. I was up this morning before 7:30, and I reorganized the fridge and pulled out the food that was starting to look a little beyond its days. I prep the fruits and vegetables that may expire or go bad first. For me, that means roasting vegetables, making a fruit salad, or making applesauce if we have some apples that are starting to bruise or go soft. Applesauce is super easy to make and does not take that long at all. If you have a lot of apples, you can make it in the crockpot. My crockpot applesauce recipe can be found here.

Restock the lunch/snack bins. I keep two plastic bins in my pantry full of lunch components for the kids lunches.  I tend to buy snacks in bulk when they are on sale, and then stash the extras downstairs in the garage in a plastic tote so they don’t all get consumed quickly.  For us that includes: Granola bars, goldfish crackers, bags of popcorn, gogosqueez pouches, lunch-size bags of preferred chips, freeze-dried fruit, dried mangoes, crackers, beef jerky, and individual bags of cookies. 

Restock the drinks and the protein shakes. I have a premier protein premade protein shake every morning for breakfast with 20 ounces of cold brew. Every weekend, I go down to the garage, grab enough for the week, and stash them in the fridge.  I will also put drinks in the fridge if we have premade drinks (that does not happen very often), and more juice boxes/Arizona iced teas in the fridge for the kids’ lunches for the following week. I will usually also make a pitcher of lemonade.

I make a batch of cold brew. Previously, I used my French press, but that was taking a while, and it takes up a lot of room. So I started making bundles with oversized coffee filters and cotton twine, but that just made too much waste. So this weekend, I’m gonna make some cold brew filter bags that are reusable. I’ll be using muslin and cotton twine, and I am hoping to make several of them. You can also buy cold brew bags online.

Clean out the kids’ backpacks. Usually, they will do it themselves, but every once in a while, I peek in there and find piles of crumpled papers and broken pencils and other stuff. This also includes pulling out their lunchboxes and making sure that their school iPads are charging. Once a quarter or as needed, I will throw their backpacks and lunch bags into the washer. Nothing is worse than a stinky backpack/lunchbox.

I clean the bathrooms each weekend. This includes taking out the garbage, sweeping, cleaning the toilets, and spraying down the showers. 

Vacuuming and sweeping. My cousin gave me a Roomba recently, and Roomba is currently doing its thing in the living room. And it does a really good job, much better than the Shark iRobot we previously had. Also, this Roomba has the cat on high alert. She sits and supervises to make sure that none of her toys get sucked up. 

Changing the sheets. I changed the sheets every weekend. I usually do one bed on Friday, one bed on Saturday, and one bed on Sunday. And put the bedding in the washing machine as soon as I strip it off the bed, that way I don’t have that much more laundry to do. These are my favorite sheets from JCP. They are on sale frequently, and cotton sheets are great for warm or cool weather!

I’m sure you are asking: What do the kids do? The big kid takes the trash and recycling down. The smaller kid helps gather dirty cups/dishes and gets them ready to load into the dishwasher. They both help with laundry. They pick up their belongings, and they keep their rooms tidy.

5/3/25 Weekly Freebies and Deals

This weekend is starting off right! Getting housework done, blog posts written, and of course- drinking a big iced coffee!

I’ve updated my list of freebies for birthdays in 2025, which you can find here.

If you are looking for free food resources, my comprehensive list can be found here. It is focused on San Diego County, but additional resources are outside my area.

Let’s get onto the Freebies!!

FREE RESCUE! Pest Control Party Pack
FREE Bulgari Allegra Fragrance Samples
FREE Sample of Cesar Warm Bowls Dog Food
FREE Ionvac Hand Vacuum Cleaner at Walmart After Cash Back
FREE Sample of Redken Naked Gloss Lightweight Shine Oil
FREE Petmate Chuckit! at Walmart Chatterbuy Kit
FREE Craving Cheesecake Donut at Krispy Kreme
FREE Fragrance Samples from Macy’s
FREE Sample of Lunar Hot Sauce
FREE Chocolate Dipped Fruit Cone at Edible Arrangements
FREE Sample of Sheba Selections Filets Cat Food
FREE Sample of Erborian CC Creme
Unlock Your Wellness Journey with Free Nutrition Samples: Try Before You Buy
FREE Salonpas Lidocaine FLEX Patch Sample
FREE Pet Travel Water Bottle & Food Container
FREE Movie Ticket to Fight or Flight
FREE 4pk of Mother’s Day Greeting Cards & Poise Liners
FREE Sample of Blue Lizard Sensitive Mineral Sunscreen Lotion
FREE Sample of Carol’s Daughter Goddess Strength Curl Restoration Concentrate
FREE Sample of Narrow Gate Coffee
FREE Fiona Grey Beer Drunk Glory Days Koozie

 

Deals:

Kate Spade Leila Medium Crossbody ONLY $59 (Reg $299)
PROfit Handheld Massage Gun ONLY $34.99 (Reg $75)
NEW Smashburger Coupon! 50% Off Shakes Every Friday from 2–5pm
Save Up to 70% Off on Clearance Items at JCPenney – Prices From $1.99
SKIMS Discount Codes & Coupons: Up to 60% Off an Order of Panties, Bras and Shapewear

Freebies and Deals for Teacher Appreciation Week!

Teacher Appreciation Week starts on May 5th, 2025. It is always the first week in May.

This year, it seems there are a lot fewer straight-out freebies and more discounts and BOGOs. Most of them require downloading an app—keep this in mind and be prepared to do a little legwork. And have your staff badge with you to take advantage of these deals!

At the time this article is posted, many freebies and deals that were available in previous years have not yet been confirmed for 2025. Be aware that if you see other articles with information to double-check that they are confirmed for 2025. I spent a lot of time going down rabbit holes and ending up at dead ends.

My absolute favorite deal is one that you can combine with coupons, store deals, and rebates apps (like Ibotta, Fetch, etc.): Vons’s/Albertson’s is offering Teachers a discount of 10% off their groceries (exclusions apply), May 3-6. With the rise in grocery prices, this offer may be the most practical.

Join Sonic’s Teachers’ Circle via their app before May 5 to unlock a whole slew of freebies to use between May 5 and May 9. You’ll receive exclusive rewards like a BOGO Sonic Blasts, entrees, or cheeseburgers, free large drinks or slushies, and a free small side with an entrée purchase. This is a legit offer, and sometimes Sonic has other in app offer throughout the year for teachers too.

15% off at Michaels. This is another one that is valid all year. It’s perfect for all kinds of teachers. I love this because teachers need supplies all year, and Michaels has great deals. You can use this online and in-store. It takes a little bit to be verified, but it’s worth it!

Not a freebie for everyone, but if you like Chipotle, this one might be right up your alley.  Teachers who verify their employment status at teacherthanks.chipotle.com between April 30 and May 12 will be entered for a chance to receive a free entree e-card. Chipotle will choose 100,000 winners who will be notified the week of May 13.

Office Depot/Office Max: They offer Discounts and additional bonus offers when you sign up and verify your teaching status through their website.

StaplesSimilar to Office Depot’s offer, Staples is offering 20% off in-store purchases with an app coupon and a teacher ID.

Apple: This is a great offer- Apple offers educators and support staff a discount on a new Mac or iPad through the Apple Education Store. To take advantage of this offer, verify your educator status to unlock the discounted pricing.

In past years, Starbucks, Chick-fil-A, Insomnia Cookies,  McDonald’s, and other restaurants have offered freebies or discounts for teachers with an ID. If you are looking for specific freebies, I recommend reaching out to brands or restaurants directly. For year-round discounts and offers, check out the NEA website. 

 

4/27/25 Weekend Freebies and Deals

This weekend has been packed full of thrifting adventures. We’re keeping the fun going today with some freebies and deals!

I’ve updated my list of freebies for birthdays in 2025, which you can find here.

If you are looking for free food resources, my comprehensive list can be found here. It is focused on San Diego County, but additional resources are outside my area.

Let’s get onto the Freebies!!

 

Freebies:

FREE Full-Size Ritual Synbiotic+ Supplements
FREE Catit Double Fusion Chatterbuy Kit
FREE ARM & HAMMER Power Sheets Chatterbox Kit
Vine Amazon Product Tester: Receive Free Products In Exchange For Your Honest Opinion
12 Month Subscription to Travel + Leisure Magazine – No Credit Card Needed
FREE Sample of Cesar Mini-Pouches or Warm Bowls Dog Food
FREE Energy Drink Sample
FREE Products with Fur Buddies – New Mission
FREE Sample of Giorgio Armani My Way Fragrance
FREE Admission to the Chuck E Cheese Superhero Playground
FREE Chanel Chance Eau Splendide Fragrance Sample
FREE Movie Ticket to The Surfer
FREE Tovolo Citrus Summer Party Pack
FREE Neutrogena Oil-Free Acne Wash Face Scrub After Walmart Cash
FREE Frozen Strawberry Flavored Beverage at Burger King – Every Saturday in May
2025 National Pretzel Day Freebies and Deals
FREE Sample of Dickinson’s Facial Cleanser
FREE Pork Big Deal for Nurses at Sonny’s BBQ
FREE Laneige Polypeptide Lip Serum at Sephora After Cash Back
Calm and Cozy: Free Baby Sleep Music for Restful Nights
FREE Sample of Dermoplast Kids First Aid Spray
FREE Greg Sticker Sheet
FREE Ocean Spray Zero Sugar Chatterbuy Kit
Free Charburger at The Habit Burger Grill for Your Birthday
FREE Promensil Double Strength Menopause Supplements
FREE Sample of MusclePharm Pro Series PROTEIN+

 

 

Deals:

Monopoly: Star Wars The Child, TMNT and Avatar ONLY $5 (Reg $9.95)
Wayfair: Way Day Sale is LIVE – Up to 80% Off Everything + Free Shipping
Wayfair Area Rugs Over 80% Off + Free Shipping
Crossbody Fanny Pack with Initial Letter ONLY $6.99 (Reg $14) on Amazon
nutribullet Pro Single Serve Blender on Clearance ONLY $31 (Reg $78) at Walmart
Charter Club Women’s Cotton Pajamas ONLY $19.35 (Reg $40) at Macy’s
Packit Unicorn Lunchbox ONLY $11 (Reg $23) on Amazon
Up to 82% Off Men’s Suits, Blazers and More at Macy’s Friends & Family Sale
The Big One Disney Plush Throws ONLY $11.99 at Kohl’s

 

Meal Prep the easy way with What a Crcok!

Y’all know I love me some meal prep. And I know most of you are super busy, which is why I wanted to share What a Crock.

I learned about What a Crock a couple years ago when I was looking for a way to send some meals to a family member that lives across country after surgery.

I scrolled through meal kit websites, but I needed something easier. When you are recovering after surgery, you don’t want to chop veggies, brown meat, or stir a pot.

Enter What a Crock.

No Subscription needed. You can choose exactly what meals you want to receive with no commitment necessary.

Got a big family, or is it just two of you? You can buy as many servings of each meal as you need!

Don’t have a slow cooker? Many of the meals can be cooked in an Instant Pot, air fryer, on your stovetop, or simply boiled in a bag.

What I like most is the variety: Stews, soups, casseroles, even desserts and baked goods!

And I’ve got two coupons codes to help you save extra money on your What a Crock orders!

4/19/2025 Weekly Freebies and Deals

This week might be a little light on freebies, as it is Easter weekend. A lot of businesses will be closed tomoorw, 4/20/2025.

However, I’ve updated my list of freebies for birthdays in 2025, which you can find here.

If you are looking for free food resources, my comprehensive list can be found here. It is focused on San Diego County, but additional resources are outside my area.

Let’s get onto the Freebies!!

FREEBIES:
FREE 4×6 Photo Magnet at Walgreens
FREE American Spirit Butt Pouches – Order Every Month
FREE Magnetic Parts Bowl or Bottle Opener
FREE DSS Games Family Fun Party Pack
Stuff Your Kindle Day! Score Thousands of Free eBooks on Amazon
FREE Full-Size Maybelline Color Tattoo Longwear Multi-Use Eye Shadow Stix
Get Free Nike Gear: How to Become a Nike Product Tester
FREE Sample of Biotek Hybrid Long Lasting Eyebrow Pigment
FREE Kinship LittleKin Puppy or Kitten Sample Pack – $200 Value
FREE Year of Google AI Gemini Advanced for College Students
The Ultimate Guide to Free Toothpaste Samples
Get Free Beauty Product Samples With Topbox Circle
Get Free Condom Samples Online and In-Person From Your Favorite Brands
Free 2025 National Parks Entrance Days
FREE Charlotte Tilbury Fragrance Sample
FREE Sample of CeraVe Ultra-Light Moisturizing Gel
FREE Coca-Cola Orange Cream or Coca-Cola Orange Cream Zero
FREE Spinning Trinket Box Craft for Kids at Lowe’s
FREE 2025 Seaworld Teacher Fun Card
FREE Glade PlugIns Air Freshener Warmer After Walmart Cash
Get Your Free Teeth Whitening Samples: A Brighter Smile Awaits
FREE Sample of Neutrogena ULTRA SHEER Face Liquid Sunscreen
FREE Carolina Herrera Good Girl The Feminine Fragrance Sample
Easy Ways To Get Free Men’s Cologne Samples
FREE Birdy Buffet Workshop at Home Depot
Get FREE Coffee at Wawa on April 16th
FREE Spring Flower at Lowe’s
The Best Free Skincare Samples to Request Right Now
Free Perfume Samples You Can Get Right Now
FREE Sample of L’Oreal Absolut Repair Molecular Mask
FREE $35 Purchase at Walmart After Cash Back
10 FREE 4×6 Photo Prints at CVS

Deals:

Dirt Devil 7-in-1 Handheld Steamer ONLY $29.98 (Reg $45)
JCPenney Boxed Necklaces and Earrings ONLY $9 (Reg $75) – 88% Off!
Hello Blink Sticker Maker ONLY $12 at Target
Ozark Trail Foldable Chair with Cupholder Only $6.98 at Walmart
$12 Shorts for Adults and $10 Shorts for Kids at Old Navy
Roku Express HD Streaming Device ONLY $19 (Reg $29)
Luggage From Samsonite, Travelpro & More up to 65% Off at Macy’s
Kate Spade Ginnie Crossbody ONLY $79 (Reg $199)

April 2025 Upcoming Clothing Swaps

I love clothing swaps- If you have read my blog, you know it’s one of my favorite ways to refresh the kid’s wardrobes (and my own).

And as always, if you are looking for more information about clothing swaps, check out my post (with other San Diego, CA area resources)  here.

April means Earth Day is coming up! And that means clothing swaps!

Clothing Swap at La Mesa’s Earth Day Fair!
Join I Love A Clean San Diego for a free clothing and accessories swap during the City of La Mesa’s Earth Day Fair on Saturday, April 19th, at the La Mesa Community Garden! Swap your gently used clothes, shoes, and accessories and find your next favorite outfit while helping keep textiles out of the landfill.

La Mesa Community Garden – 5080 Memorial Dr.
11:00 AM – 3:00 PM
No registration is needed – walk-ins are welcome!

Women’s Clothing Swap
Location: The Chapel at Grossmont
5651 Water St, La Mesa, CA
Saturday, April 26, 2025
10 am-2 pm
How it works:
Bring your gently used* WOMEN’S CLOTHING, accessories, shoes, etc. and trade them for items you want to take home. No selling, no buying, just swapping. You simply drop off your items on the front table and you can start shopping for items you want to take home – free! Come and drop off all the items you want to swap and leave with items that will bring value to you.
Items can include:
-Gently used* or semi-new clothing pieces
-Gently used* or semi-new shoes
-Jewelry pieces
-Accessories: scarfs, hats, purses, belts
*Items should be freshly laundered and either on hangers or laid flat in a box (not in bags, please)

Reminders:
– SWAP FOR YOU. NO LUGGAGE PLEASE. NOT FOR RESALE.
– Bring a bag to take home all your finds.
– Wear tights and a fitted blouse to easily try on clothes.

April 2025: New Healthy Freebies From Social Nature!

 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 usually receive 4-6 offers/freebies per month, sometimes more if I have time to shop. And most of the time it’s full-size products, not just a tiny sample.

In addition to the offers where they mail you a coupon for a free product, Social Nature has started offering 100% cash-back, similar to Ibotta and Fetch Rewards. I love this because I can select exactly what I want, Social Nature tells me which local stores have it, and I can add it to my next shopping list.

And it’s just as easy as Ibotta and Fetch Rewards. Snap a pic and upload it. You can select Venmo, Paypal, or an Amazon Gift Card for your rebate.

Here are just a few of the offers available now:

    • Small Batch Pasta Sauces by Sauz
    • Double Cold Brew Latte by Pop & Bottle
    • Gluten-Free Whipped Feta by Athenos
    • Natural Cleaning Solution by Cleanery
    • Mental Performance Shots by Magic Mind
    • Gluten-Free Twin Bar by Schär
    • Gluten-Free Cookies by Schär
    • Korean Chile Sauce by Mother-In-Law’s
    • Italian Protein Pasta by BRAMI

4/13/2025 All-Inclusive Day of Play: Starry Night Cinema & Resource Fair!

This event is back and will be an amazing time! The  2nd Annual All-Inclusive Day of Play: Starry Cinema & Resource Fair on Sunday, April 13 from 10 AM to 1 PM at the Salvation Army Kroc Center Corner Zone – 6845 University Ave., San Diego, 92115.

  • Activity Stations
  • Movie Screening Area
  • Giveaways & Crafts
  •  Family Resources
  • Networking
  • Shopping,
  • Games & more!

And as the sun sets, an outdoor screening of a family movie (title to be determined) will be shown on a large outdoor screen! Bring your chairs and blankets!

For tickets and to learn more, visit their website.