October 2021: New Healthy Freebies From Social Nature!

 If you are into Organic/Natural/Healthy products, then Social Nature is 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 most of the time it’s full-size products, not just a tiny sample.

Social Nature has rounded up products that are available to try 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:

  • Wedderspoon Immunity Gummies
  • Veggiecraft Farms Veggie Pasta
  • Ocean’s Halo Seaweed Snacks
  • Partake Gluten Free Vegan Cookies
  • Notco Plant-Based Milk Alternative
  • Khadi Beauty Natural Ayurvedic Hair Oil – Rose Repair

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, meat-free foods frequently.

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

10/15/2021 Friday Freebies and Deals!

This week has been busy. Trying to get Halloween costumes situated, plus medical appointments and all the other fun stuff that comes along with fall.

Speaking of Halloween, here are some fun San Diego, Ca area events coming up. 

If you are looking for birthday freebies, fret not! I put together a list new for 2021- Check it out here.

Freebies:

Free Thanksgiving Photo Frame Craft at JCPenney
Free WLDKAT Skincare Products
Free The Body Shop Give with Joy Chatterbox Kit
Free Anthony Men’s Skincare Trio Sample Pack
Free Kiehl’s Dark Spot Solution
Free Wedderspoon Immunity Gummies
Free NeeDohToys
Free Wedderspoon Digestive Gummies
Free Mezzetta Marinara Sauce
Free Mike & Ike Candy at Dollar General
Free Mosaic Family Meals
3 Free Disney Movie Insiders Points
Free Force Factor Leanfire Thermo Gummies
Free Estee Lauder Advanced Night Repair Eye Matrix
Free Sample of Rascal + Friends Diaper
Free Medium Fries w/ Any $1 Purchase at McDonalds – Every Friday
Free Cesar Wholesome Bowls Sample
Free Coca-Cola with Coffee at Walmart
Free $5 Off $5 at Ace Hardware = Free Item
Free Heineken 0.0 Sample Pack
Free Purina Hens Tote Bag, Whisk, Sticker & More
Free Impossible Foods T-Shirt, Socks & More
Free 2-Year Subscription to People Magazine
Free Subscription to Martha Stewart Living Magazine
Free Coca-Cola with Coffee at Kroger & Affiliates

Deals:

Infinity Home Novelty Print Fleece Throws ONLY $5.93 (Reg $20)
8-Inch Gel-infused Memory Foam Mattress ONLY $317 (Reg $1,027)
Free October Makeup Box ($100 Value)
MUK LUKS Women’s Short Fashion Boots ONLY $14.99 (Reg. $125)
Hiker Boots ONLY $19.99 at Walmart (Reg. $110)
Style & Co Cotton Tank Top ONLY $3.93 at Macy’s (Reg $15)
Coleman 50-Quart Cooler with Wheels as Low as $19.50 (Reg. $49)
Buy 2 Get 2 Free 3-Wick Candles at Bath & Body Works
60% Off Under Armour: $9 Shorts, $13 Sports Bras and More
Green Toys Watering Can Toy ONLY $6.80 (Reg. $17)
3-Pc Reversible Full/Queen Comforter Set ONLY $24.93 (Reg $80)
Shark ION Robot RV761 ONLY $199.99 at Macy’s (Reg $434)
LEGO BrickHeadz Nutcracker ONLY $9.99 on Amazon

10/11/2021 Weekly Meal Plan & Life Update

0a5e9dab796cea8a07eabe4eb4795b9e.jpgWe are starting week three with no full-size fridge and no freezer. Still living that #coolerlife.  We did buy a mini-fridge last week, so we are able to keep some fresh food in the house. Milk and creamer and drinks live in the cooler in the kitchen. I’m hoping the warranty company makes up their mind this week and we can get our new fridge. Life without condiments is rough, y’all.

We’ve been eating a lot of shelf-stable stuff (beans and rice, crockpot chili), and I’ve been hitting the store solo to pick up salad kits, and bananas, and apples. Last week we ended up having the share a lot of our CSA box as I wouldn’t store some of the items in the cooler without freezing/damaging the more delicate items.

The CSA box will be here today while I’m at work. I’ll do the prep work this afternoon/evening.

Veggies and fruit are delivered by Yasukochi Family Farms CSA. For $25, it’s a great deal. I don’t have to pick anything, go to the store, or carry it upstairs. I can’t go to the store and get the same amount we get weekly for $25. Seriously. It’s a deal.

I’m super stoked that I’ll be getting flowers this week too as my add-on. Look over at my Instagram and Facebook for pics later today.

And I’ve been getting a lot of 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. If you are looking for a kitchen inventory printable, I have made my own and you can find them for sale here on my Etsy Store.

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. The Ancient Grain bagels from Einstein Bros. are the current family favorite. I pick them up on Mondays when a dozen is only $7. I slice them and freeze them to keep them from going bad too quickly.

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. I’m back to packing lunches again. However, school lunches are free this year, but so far, there is nothing on the menu that appeals to the kids.

Dinner: Until this fridge debacle is over, I won’t be doing any meal prep beyond the stuff in the CSA box. We’re trying to eat up as much of the produce as possible. We’re eating a lot of salads early week, and more hardy stuff (roasted potatoes and baked apples with grilled cheese and soup) towards the end of the week, with our usual Friday night takeout. I want a new fridge- I miss bacon!

  • Sunday: We had bowls from El Pollo Loco, and the kids had leftover pizza.
  • Monday: Roasted Veggies, Salad, Quesadillas- Produce is delivered today and I roast up a pan of veg as soon as I can!
  • Tuesday: unknown
  • Wednesday: unknown
  • Thursday:  unknown
  • Friday:  Takeout Night
  • Saturday: Leftovers (if we have any)

Please stay safe you guys!

Earn up to $50 referring friends to Venmo!

If you use Venmo, check out this offer!

Head to the You page of the app and tap Invite Friends, Earn $5. Then, using the share link, invite 10 new peeps to Venmo—old roomies, pet sitters, even Dad.

Everyone you refer will earn $5 for signing up after you make a bank- or card-funded payment of at least $5 within 14 days.

You’ll get $5 for each person that you refer, and can earn up to $50 from this offer. Score! I use Venmo to pay friends back for coffee, when we split the bill, and the lady who does my pedicures!

And if you haven’t signed up for Venmo yet, check it out here.

 

This post contains affiliate links,  For more information about the use of affiliate links and partnerships, visit my disclosure page. 

 

10/8/2021 Friday Freebies and Deals!

It’s raining! Woo hoo! Ok, so if you aren’t in Southern California, you probably don’t understand why it’s so exciting. We’re in a drought and any little bit helps. Also, now I don’t have to wash my car.

If you are looking for birthday freebies, fret not! I put together a list new for 2021- Check it out here.

Freebies:

Full Sized Freebies from Sprouts!
Free Homefree Healthy Cookie Party
Free Khadi Rose Repair Oil
Free Abbey’s Hope Watch Watchdog Tag
Free Kids’ Guide to Helping Animals Magazine + Stickers
Free 8×10 Photo Print at Walgreens
Free Mylanta Gas Minis Sample
Free Headlamps, Handheld Flashlight or Clip Light
Free 2-Year Subscription to People Magazine
Free I Heart Equality Sticker
Free Thin the Threat Bumper Sticker
Free Above MS Recipe Book
Free 89.3 The Arbor Hologram Sticker
Free Sample of Nescafe Intenso Coffee
Free Planet Oat Unsweetened Oatmilk at Kroger & Affiliates
Free 3-Pack of Hallmark Little World Changer Greeting Cards
Free Coffee at Cumberland Farms Every Friday
Free Medium Fries w/ Any $1 Purchase at McDonalds – Every Friday
Free khadi Neem Harmony Hair Oil
Free Avene Solaire UV SPF or Tinted Sunscreen Fluid
3 Free Gratitude Postcards
Free Access to MyHeritage Ancestry Tools
Free Lowe’s Hal-LOWE-en Trick-or-Treat Tryouts Event
Free Modelo Beverage Can Holder on Oct & Nov 11th
Score a Free $10 Credit from Amazon
Free Ocusleep Sleep Glasses
Free Skincare Product + $40 Amazon Gift Card
Free Subscription to Cigar Aficionado Magazine
Free Bruichladdich Scotch Whisky Virtual Party
Free Sample of NYX Cosmetics’ Marshmellow Primer
Free Gatorade Zero with Protein
Free Khadi Vitality Grow Hair Oil
Free Ginkgo Biloba Complex Pills
Free Men’s Moisturizer Product + $30 Amazon Gift Card
Banfield Pet Hospital – Free Office Visit & Consultation

Deals:

Rimmel Lasting Finish Extreme Lipstick ONLY $3.58 (Reg. $6.49)
Holiday Velvet Plush Throw ONLY $10.49 at JCPenney (Reg $30)
Nike Shirts on Clearance for $4.50
Coach Pave Signature Huggie Earrings ONLY $24.96 (Reg. $78)
MUK LUKS Women’s Sharon Boots ONLY $14.99 (Reg. $115)
Ultrasoft Sheet Twin Set ONLY $13.99 (Reg $45)
Save $30 on Tide, Crest, Bounty and More of Your Favorite Brands
Martha Stewart Glass Pitcher ONLY $8.99 (Reg $24)
Martha Stewart Harvest Pumpkin Cocottes ONLY $19.99 (Reg $50)
White Sapphire Sterling Silver Ring ONLY $15 (Reg $75)
Michael Kors Pebbled Crossbody Bag ONLY $89.25 (Reg $258)
Coach Double Corner Zip Wristlet ONLY $39.20 (Reg. $98)
Garmin Vivofit Jr ONLY $39.00 (Reg. $80)
MUK LUKS Women’s Cheryl Boots ONLY $21.99 (Reg $65)
Hush Puppies Fall Flats ONLY $31.49 with 10% Off at Checkout
70% Off Sweaters From Evelyn Taylor + Extra 10% Off at Checkout
JoyBay Ride On Swing Cars ONLY $31.49 with 10% Off at Checkout
60% Off Hanes & More + Extra 10% Off at Checkout
35% Off bareMinerals, Buxom & More + Extra 10% Off at Checkout
NYX Ultimate Shadow Palette ONLY $10.29 (Reg. $18)
Telestrations Board Game ONLY $11.96 (Reg. $30)
MUK LUKS Bootie Slippers ONLY $7.99 (Reg. $24)
Maybelline The Blushed Nudes Eyeshadow Palette $6.16 (Reg. $12)
MUK LUKS Liza Boots ONLY $14.99 (Reg. $65)
BLACK+DECKER Leaf Blower ONLY $89 (Reg. $147)
LEGO BrickHeadz Nutcracker ONLY $9.99 on Amazon
Rubbermaid Storage Containers 18-Piece Set ONLY $25 (Reg $35)
Adjustable Measuring Cups Set of 2 ONLY $12.99 (Reg $25)
The James Bond Collection Blu-ray ONLY $59.99 (Reg. $115)
Martha Stewart 3-Pack Nesting Bowls ONLY $16.99 (Reg $44)
Nike Classic Kids Backpack ONLY $15 (Reg $30)
Cooks 30-Pc Nonstick Cookware Set ONLY $55.99 (Reg $160)
Nike Boys Dri-FIT Block Logo Print Shorts ONLY $8.40 (Reg $28)
Fruit of the Loom Men’s Briefs 15-Pack ONLY $12.50 (Reg $23)

October Sprouts Farmers Market Monthly Freebies!

Sprouts is hooking us up and helping us stay healthy! Every month on the Sprouts app in the Digital Coupon section, there are between 4-6 free items (they are marked “SAMPLING PROGRAM”).

Quantities are limited on the app, so if you are interested in any of these, I recommend that you add these coupons (by opening the Sprouts app, click on digital coupons, and click on each coupon in the lower corner where the little green circle is) to your app ASAP.

Not all Sprouts locations will have these freebies, so I suggest trying larger Sprouts location in your area.

These are full-sized freebies- not small sample sized products. they are located in the store with the other products of the same type.

Not all accounts will receive all the same products.

This month the following items are available:

  • Zack’s Mighty Organic Tortilla Chips
  • Toby’s Dressing and Dip Products
  • Free Vital Farms Pasture-Raised Butter with Avocado Oil
  • Wicked Foods Meal Pot

 

10/4/2021 is Taco Day! Free A la Carte Taco at Rubio’s!

Tomorrow (10/4/2021) is Taco Day. Celebrate with a free a la carte taco with any purchase (terms apply) at Rubio’s!

I love the grilled veggie tacos- they are really flavorful! You can get a coupon and learn more here.

There are other free tacos deals all over the US. Check out the Taco Bell and Del Taco apps for more deals.

Get Cookin with Barilla Creamy Genovese Pesto (Review and Giveaway)!

Disclaimer: I received this product for free from Moms Meet (momsmeet.com) to use and post my honest opinions. Compensation for this post was provided and this page may contain affiliate links. For more information about the use of affiliate links and partnerships, visit my disclosure page. 

Yesterday we had an amazing dinner! We’re still without a full-size fridge, so we’re without meat or a lot of our usual ingredients, thankfully Barilla Creamy Genovese Pesto to the rescue! I paired the pesto with farfalle (bowtie pasta), and roasted veggies. It was tasting, filling, and a great way to get veggies into your kiddos.

I wrote down the recipe to share with you. The Barilla Creamy Genovese Pesto sauce is so rich and creamy and pairs really well with the veggies I chose.

 

 

 

 

Roasted Veggies and Farfalle with Creamy Pesto

Ingredients:

  • 1 6.2 oz jar of Barilla Creamy Genovese Pesto
  • 1 box of pasta (I used Barilla Farfalle)
  • 2 carrots, peeled and cut into pieces
  • 1/2 sweet onion, cut into pieces
  • 1 cup grape tomatoes
  • 1 red bell pepper, deseeded, and cut into slices
  • 1 zucchini, cut into coins
  • 2 T. olive oil
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • parmesan to taste

Directions:

  1. Roast Veggies (complete directions can be found here)
  2. While veggies are roasting, bring a pot of water to a boil.
  3. Cook pasta per box directions.
  4. Reserve 3 T. of pasta water when draining cooked pasta.
  5. Mix a jar of Barilla Creamy Genovese Pesto into the cooked pasta.
  6. Add roasted veggies to the pasta/sauce mixture. Stir to combine.
  7. Serve with a little extra parmesan cheese, as needed.

This is a great, easy dish that’s perfect for meat-free nights. This Barilla Creamy Genovese Pesto is so versitile. In addition to using on pasta, it makes a great veggie dip (I might be guilty of dipping some of the raw veggies into the jar while I was cooking), a sandwich spread (in place of mayo or mustard), or for marinating meat. Barilla Creamy Genovese Pesto does not need to be heated prior to eating, and it’s shelf-stable prior to opening. You can find it in the store near the jarred pasta sauces. I found it at Target, but you can also find it on Amazon.

Giveaway: I want to share Barilla Creamy Genovese Pesto with you! I’ve got 2 coupons each for one free jar (up to $3.99) of Barilla Pesto (expiration 12/31/2021). I will choose 2 winners on 10/8/2021 and notify them via email. 

Entering is easy: Leave a comment on this blog post with how you would use Barilla Creamy Genovese Pesto!

 

Great Deals on Spices and Seasonings from Penzey’s!

Penzey’s is having a great sale through the end of business today!

1/4 cup Northwoods AND 1/4 cup Arizona Dreaming (value $9.54) free with $5 purchase. No need to add any items here. Enter code Together in the Apply Code field at checkout. I love Arizona Dreaming- It’s a great spice blend that is perfect in Huevos Rancheros or a Southwestern Chicken Stew.

If you are looking for some solid additions to your spice rack, check out these sweet deals:

No coupons or codes are needed for the regularly $3.59 French Tarragon for $1 or the regularly $6.69 Sunny Paris for $2, those two deals are automatic for everyone. These deals do not expire until 10/3/2021.

For the free-with-$5-purchase $9.54 quarter-cups of Arizona Dreaming and Northwoods Seasoning, in stores show or print this coupon. When you order online at penzeys.com, once you have $5 in spending just enter Together in the apply code box at checkout.

9/26/2021 Weekly Meal Plan & Life Update

0a5e9dab796cea8a07eabe4eb4795b9e.jpgSo, we are still without a Fridge/freezer, so no real meal plan for this week at this point. After the fridge repair guy comes on Tuesday, we’ll know if/when the warranty is going to cover a replacement, or if Sears is going to continue to throw even more money at this lemon. At this point, they have paid over $1500 in lost food reimbursement and repairs for a refrigerator that cost $1100. So.. yeah.

We’ve been eating a lot of shelf-stable stuff (beans and rice, crockpot chili), and I’ve been hitting the store solo to pick up salad kits, and bananas, and apples. Last week we ended up having the share a lot of our CSA box as I wouldn’t store some of the items in the cooler without freezing/damaging the more delicate items.

The CSA box will be here tomorrow morning. I’ll do the prepping after I get home from work Monday afternoon.

Veggies and fruit are delivered by Yasukochi Family Farms CSA. For $25, it’s a great deal. I don’t have to pick anything, go to the store, or carry it upstairs. I can’t go to the store and get the same amount we get weekly for $25. Seriously. It’s a deal.

Oh yeah, I got a job out of the house. It’s working on-site at a local elementary school. I’m not going to go much more into it than that. I’ll still be blogging, and the kids and I will be having adventures, I’m working while they are in school.

And I’ve been getting a lot of 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. If you are looking for a kitchen inventory printable, I have made my own and you can find them for sale here on my Etsy Store.

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. The Ancient Grain bagels from Einstein Bros. are the current family favorite. I pick them up on Mondays when a dozen is only $7. I slice them and freeze them to keep them from going bad too quickly.

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. I’m back to packing lunches again. However, school lunches are free this year, but so far, there is nothing on the menu that appeals to the kids.

Dinner: We’ve got a pretty good schedule down for dinners. We have nuggets (vegetarian for the boy child, chicken for the rest) on the nights that we have respite. It’s quick to prepare and clean up, and I can serve it on our cafeteria trays with other fingers foods (we have trays like these) like cut-up fruit, crackers, and cheese. I have been posting our meal plans on Instagram too- As well as pics of stuff we are doing to keep busy.

  • Sunday:  Shakshuka, Rice We didn’t have this last week, and we have a lot of eggs in the cooler to eat.
  • Monday: Roasted Veggies, Salad, Quesadillas
  • Tuesday: unknown
  • Wednesday: unknown
  • Thursday:  unknown
  • Friday:  Takeout Night
  • Saturday: Leftovers (if we have any)

Please stay safe you guys!