frugal life

10/4/2022 Friday Freebies and Deals

Abby H.

It’s so cold this morning! I’m wearing two sweaters while I type this. I’ve got a fun busy weekend planned, and I’m surer there will be all sorts of pics on my Instagram.

I’ve got some great freebies and deals for you this week, and today should be chock full of posts too!

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 Blue Buffalo Tastefuls Dry Food Chatterbox
Free Coca-Cola Activity Booklet at Select Stores
Free Soda, Energy Drink, Turkey Sub & Fries at Sheetz
Free So Good So You Product
Free Mother Raw Organic Plant-Based Dips
Free Nativity Christmas Cards
Free Glytone Skincare Product
Free Member’s Mark Better Nut Bar at Sam’s
Free Beauty Products & More with Topbox Circle
Free Downy Unstopables & Tide Pods at Sam’s
Free Corona Refresca House Party Pack
Free Miyoko’s Creamery Organic Milk Butter
Free Pretzel with the Wetzel’s Pretzel App
Free Subscription to GQ Magazine
Target Baby Registry – Free Welcome Kit In-Stores
Free L’Oreal Revitalift 1.5% Pure Hyaluronic Acid Serum Sample
10 Free Disney Movie Insiders Points
Free Subscription to Fortune Magazine
Free Subscription to Esquire Magazine
Free Health Supplements
Free Sample of La Roche-Posay Toleriane UV SPF Moisturizer
Free NotCo Plant-Based Chicken Patties

Deals: 

Timberland Boots & Shoes are 60% Off + EXTRA 15% Off
Here is How to NEVER Miss a Black Friday Deal or Freebie
Kate Spade Ivy Street Amy Crossbody ONLY $49 (Reg $198)
Wet n Wild Highlighting Powder ONLY $2.99 (Reg $6)
Paw Patrol Little Red Rescue Box ONLY $5.34 (Reg $15)
Our Table 16-Piece Turkey Carving Board Set ONLY $40 (Reg $80)
One Day Sale – 40-60% OFF at Macy’s
70-Piece Boxed Christmas Ornaments ONLY $20.99 (Reg $54)
Sun Zero Single Curtain Panel ONLY $6.35 (Reg $25)

Recipe: Smashed Potatoes

Abby H.

This recipe is slightly more involved than previous recipes I’ve posted, but I guarantee you excellent results, and there will be no leftovers.

It’s perfect for a family dinner or dinner party where there are a lot of people with diverse tastes.

Ingredients: 

  • 10 to 12 small yellow-skinned potatoes- I like Yukon Gold
  • One stick of butter
  • Herbs of your choice (I like this Penzeys mix. Or use any of the following together: rosemary, tarragon, granulated garlic, granulated onion, and thyme) 
  • Spray release 
  •  1 cup of grated cheese, your choice (I prefer sharp cheddar, but I’ve also tried it with an Italian blend also and it’s quite delicious).

 

Directions: 

  1.  Clean the potatoes thoroughly. DO NOT PEEL. 
  2. Place potatoes in a large pot with water, cook on the stove for about 15 to 20 minutes until they are fork-tender.
  3. While the potatoes are cooking, in a separate dish combine spices of your choice, and the stick of butter. Microwave for 15 to 20 seconds until butter is melted.
  4. Drain potatoes, do not rinse.
  5. Preheat oven to 350°. 
  6. Either line a cookie sheet with aluminum foil and coat with spray release, or use a nonstick cookie sheet, your choice. 
  7. Place potatoes approximately 1 inch apart. 
  8. Gently press down on the potatoes with the backside of a fork (or the bottom of a coffee mug if your potatoes are bigger) until they are slightly smashed.
  9. Pour a little of the butter/herb mixture over the slightly smashed potatoes (less than a tablespoon).
  10. Bake potatoes in the oven for 15 to 20 minutes, or until they appear to have crisp/browned.
  11. Top each potato with a small amount of cheese (1 to 2 tablespoons).
  12. Serve potatoes with sour cream, real bacon bits (I like the ones from Costco), or whatever toppings you and your family prefer.

As a side dish that serves 4 to 6 as a main dish serves 2 to 3. These smashed potatoes are also great with chili or a hearty salad.

10/31/2022 Weekly Meal Plan

Abby H.

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I’m hoping this week starts an easy descent into the end of 2022. This year has been rough, and I really need some rest.

We are finishing up with TBS therapy at about the end of the year, and it’s really been helpful for the whole family, especially the big kid. It’s been a big part of our lives over the past few months.

I went to the grocery store on Friday night. I didn’t do much meal prep this week. I was exhausted from all the driving and other work I’d done last week. So this week is going to be a lot of low-effort meals. This would be a great week for Dream Dinners, but I didn’t have time to place an order for October.

We’ll be eating a lot of vegetarian/low-meat meals this week. With the ever-increasing cost of groceries, we’re leaning on pantry staples and what’s in the freezer again for 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 every day 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:  Protein shakes, fruit, and toast (and trick or treating)

  • Tuesday: Beans, Rice, and cheese bowls with roasted veggies

  • Wednesday: Nuggets, fruit, crackers, and cheese

  • Thursday:  Pasta with red sauce, spinach salad

  • Friday: Takeout night!
  • Saturday:    Grilled cheese sandwiches, soup, fruit
  • Sunday:  Leftovers

Toys, Books, and Art Supplies Deals At Target This Week!

Abby H.

Target has some really great deals this week on toys and books- perfect for stocking up for the upcoming holidays!

Score a $5.00 Target Gift Cards when you spend $15+ on toys or books.

There are of course exclusions, click on the image and learn more.

And if that’s not enough for you, you can also score 25% off one toy with Target Circle here.

Target has started their Black Friday Sale early, and there are a lot of really great offers this week, as well as more planned throughout November.

If you have an artist in the fam, Target is offering 50% off selected Art & Writing kits this week. I know my littlest would totally dig this Sharpie set. 

If you are a military veteran or active duty member, Target has a thank you discount currently- just in time for Veteran’s Day! Get 10% off two separate purchases (restrictions apply). This discount is redeemable Oct 30 – Nov 12. Click here to learn more and details on how to verify!

And remember that you can save an extra 5% at Target every time you shop with your RedCard. You can learn more and apply here or in store. This 5% stacks with other coupons, discounts, and deals.

Target also gives you a discount of five cents per reusable shopping bag that you use per transaction- just remember to bring the bags in your car into the store!

Ooly: Awesome Gifts for your Little Artist!

Abby H.

Recently our friends over at Ooly sent us a little box full of creativity. The kids and I love to do art, make stuff, and express our creative sides. I was stoked to receive the Rainbow Sparkle Glitter Markers, and Chunkies Paint Sticks.

Margaret and I had a blast! The glitter markers are incredible. The glitter is very fine and sticks onto the artwork, even after the marker ink has dried. We colored and colored, without any loss of color or glitter coming from the markers. Parents, I repeat: There is NO glitter transfer!!

And the Chunkies? Perfection. She loves to paint, but I don’t love the setup and mess. These Chunkies solved my problems and let her express her creativity with paint. She loved that the paint dries quickly, and it didn’t get all over her hands (issues that we’ve had with other brands of paint sticks).

Ooly has art supplies for any level of an artist, in several mediums. If you haven’t embraced your inner artist, but love planners or journaling, Ooly has you covered too. They have a pretty extensive of cool journaling and planner supplies!

They’ve put together a Gifts under $20 section, which is perfect for holiday gift exchanges, as well as 8 Bonus Boxes. OOLY’s Holiday Bonus Boxes offer an array of goods to keep you crafting, drawing, painting, and molding. Find the one that’s just right for you and bring your vision, story, or design to life! I’m picking up a bonus box for each of the kids for the winter holidays. I know the kids will love the freedom and creativity each bonus box brings.

And shopping with Ooly gets even better- Now through November 7th, score a free set of Stampables Scented Double-Ended Stamp Markers with any purchase of $60+. Details can be found here.

Disclosure: Ooly sent us samples to try without an expectation of a review, however, once I received the markers and paint sticks, I was so excited to share them with you, I jumped at the chance to share their deals. I love supporting local companies!

 

10/28/2022 Friday Freebies and Deals

Abby H.

This week has been a doozy friends. I’ve been driving the big kid up to and home from camp all week, in addition to working and momming. It’s about a 45 minute drive each way in the morning, and in the afternoon there is traffic, so it’s up to an hour each way. Ah, the things we do for our kiddos.

I’ve got some great freebies and deals for you this week, and today should be chock full of posts too!

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 Perfect Bar After Rebte
Free RIND Snacks Product at Select Stores
Free Hallmark Card Every Month
Free Bulgari Le Gemme Tygar Fragrance Sample
Cotton Patch Cafe -Dress Like a Chicken & Get a Free Dessert
25 Free Disney Movie Insiders Points
Free Sample of Creed Aventus for Her
Free Bloomingdale’s Dior Little Beauty Box
Free Box of Cappello’s Ravioli at Select Stores
Free Prada Paradoxe Fragrance Sample
Free Haircut for Vets & Military at Great Clips
Free Josh Cellars Reserve Personalized Wine Bottle Labels
Free Clusterbucks Superfood Snack
Free Member’s Mark Coffee Pods at Sam’s
Free Sesame Street Fire Safety Color & Learn Activity Book
Free Subscription to Harper’s Bazaar Magazine
Free MA Novelty Treats Boutique Stickers
Free Sadler’s Smokehouse Brisket Burnt Ends
Free La Roche-Posay Anthelios UV Correct Sunscreen Sample
Free Yogi Tea Samples
Free Michele’s Granola
Free Books, Journals, Stickers & More
Free ELF Primer or Serum
Free Walmart Welcome Baby Registry Box
Free Lupii Plant-Based Protein Bar
Free Copy of the Jiffy Mix Recipe Booklet
Free Meal & Drink for Military at BJ’s on Nov. 11th
Free 4-Pack BioSteel Sports Drink at Select Stores
Free 4pk of Chick-n-Minis at Chick-fil-A
Free Doughnut & Coffee for 1st Responders at Krispy Kreme
Free Bag of Chubby Snacks After Rebate
Free BrightFarms Crunch Kit Salad After Rebate
Free Pantene Daily Moisture Renewa at Select Stores
Free La Roche-Posay Anthelios Melt-In Milk Sunscreen Sample

 

iPhone 14 Pro Max Case ONLY 12.99 (Reg. $59.99)

Picky Kitty Game ONLY $5.70 (Reg. $29.99)

NINJA Foodi Digital Fry Convection Oven ONLY $89.99 (Reg $200)

Gabbys Dollhouse Bakey with Cakey Oven ONLY $17.99 (Reg. $29.99)

Women’s Plus Size Puffer Vest ONLY $27.96 (Reg $70)

Kid’s Ball Pit ONLY $9 (Reg. $35)

LeapFrog 100 Words About Places ONLY $7.87 (Reg $20)

Cotton Hammock w/ Stand and Carry Bag ONLY $50.78 (Reg $140)

Portable Lightweight Folding Table ONLY $38.05 (Reg $68)

Victoria’s Secret PINK Panties 10 for $35

 

Deals:

iPhone 14 Pro Max Case ONLY 12.99 (Reg. $59.99)
Picky Kitty Game ONLY $5.70 (Reg. $29.99)
NINJA Foodi Digital Fry Convection Oven ONLY $89.99 (Reg $200)
Gabbys Dollhouse Bakey with Cakey Oven ONLY $17.99 (Reg. $29.99)
Women’s Plus Size Puffer Vest ONLY $27.96 (Reg $70)
Kid’s Ball Pit ONLY $9 (Reg. $35)
LeapFrog 100 Words About Places ONLY $7.87 (Reg $20)
Cotton Hammock w/ Stand and Carry Bag ONLY $50.78 (Reg $140)
Portable Lightweight Folding Table ONLY $38.05 (Reg $68)
Victoria’s Secret PINK Panties 10 for $35

10/24/2022 Weekly Meal Plan

Abby H.

 

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This week is going to be a lot of time in the car. The big kid’s school has 6th-grade camp this week, but because of the nighttime medication he takes, it’s better if he comes home each night.  SDo I will be driving him to and from camp (about a 50-mile round trip) each morning and afternoon.

That means no therapy appointments this week, which is great because I’m getting a little run ragged.

I went to the grocery store on Saturday afternoon and meal prepped yesterday for this week. We had a lot of veggies and fruit left over from the week before, so I made a big fruit salad and 2 trays of roasted veggies.

We’ll be eating a lot of vegetarian/low meat meals this week. With the ever increasing cost of groceries, we’re leaning on pantry staples and what’s in the freezer. Luckily I’ve got so good stuff stashed away.

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 will have lunch at camp every day this week 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:  Roasted veggie frittata, homemade bread

  • Tuesday: Moosie’s Pot Roast, Roasted Veggies, rice (didn’t make this last week)

  • Wednesday: Nuggets, fruit, crackers, and cheese

  • Thursday:  Taco Soup, quesadillas

  • Friday: Takeout night!
  • Saturday:    Grilled cheese sandwiches, soup, fruit
  • Sunday:  Leftovers

Tea Collection: $25 PJs Are Here!

Abby H.

** This post also contains affiliate links and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking on my links.

It’s BAAACK! Just in time for holiday photo shoots and gift-giving, the Tea Collection family Pajama sale is back for three days only! Separates, Footie PJ’s, and nightgowns, all in matching patterns for the whole family.

This sale is only three days,  Monday, October 24, 2022 through Wednesday, October 26, 2022, so you need to get shopping NOW!

No Coupon Code is required!

Fine Print: Select PJ styles at $25, prices as marked on site. Offer valid from 10/24/2022 through 10/26/2022 at 11:59 PM PT. Discount taken will be pre-tax. Cannot be combined with other promotions. No adjustments on previous purchases. Not redeemable for cash. Cannot be used towards the purchase of gift cards. Limited to stock on hand. Please note: costs have increased due to growing challenges in our supply chain. We have added a 0.95 cent fee to all orders. If you have questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to reach out to service@teacollection.com.

Cents of Style: Jewelry, Accessories & Slippers All 2 FOR $10 This weekend only!

Abby H.

Clearance sale** This post also contains affiliate links and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking on my links.

I love when Cents of Style has these sales- It’s the perfect opportunity to stock up on gifts!

Now through 10/25/22, TWO Jewelry, Slippers & Accessories for ONLY $10 which makes each item ONLY $5 a piece when two or more are purchased!

There are over 30 AMAZING items to choose which include hats, jewelry, slippers, glasses, gloves, and hair accessories!

Remember to use coupon code HIGHFIVE  at checkout to take advantage of this deal!

I’ve already picked out some stuff for my littlest fashionistas stocking. She loves jewelry!

 

October is National Pizza Month!

Abby H.

October is National Pizza Month, so I thought I’d share with y’all some of our favorite pizza stuff: recipes, pizza swag, and even ways to save money on ordering pizza.

Goodness knows we have pizza about once a week (Friday take-out night is usually pizza), so I have all kinds of tips and tricks.

If you are new to making your own pizza at home, here is a list of my must-haves, including ingredients and kitchen tools!

Need a break from cooking and want to order takeout, here are a few suggestions for saving money and/or earning cash back on your next pizza night:

  • Mogl partners with local restaurants to give you cashback. In our area, there are a lot of pizza restaurants.
  • Dosh is similar to Mogl, in that you can earn cashback from specific restaurants and other stores. In our area, they partner with Round Table pizza!
  • Dominos has its Piece of the Pie rewards club. for every $10 spent, you earn 10 points, once you reach 60 points, you’ll earn a free pizza. More details can be found here.
  • If Pizza Hut is more your style, they have Hut Rewards. Earn 2 points for every $1 you spend. They have several different rewards, depending on point values. From breadsticks (75 points)  to a Large pizza (300 points), there is something for everyone.
  • Little Caesar’s has an app with various deals, and they also have a merch shop with all sorts of cool stuff, like this pizza slice blanket.

If you are looking to snuggle with your loved one while eating pizza, this pizza blanket is perfect. My kids found this while looking for a new blanket for the car.

Talk Back: What is your favorite pizza topping?