frugal

5/13/2022 Friday Freebies and Deals!

Abby H.

Woo! May is flying by, and we’ve got a busy weekend ahead of us. Wedding and reception, girl scouts, swimming, playing with friends.

There are so many awesome freebies and deals this week, and the weather this weekend is supposed to be AWESOME (AND WARM) here in San Diego.

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 Collagenil Skincare Sample Set
Free Bim Bam Boo Toilet Paper Sample
2 Free Pints of Nightfood Ice Cream
Free SnackConscious Protein Bites
Free Craize Snack Crackers
Free Ice Cream at Maggie Moo’s & Marble Slab
Free Tom’s of Maine’s Complete Protection Deodorant
Free Sweetarts Fusions at Select Stores
Free After Sun Skincare Product
Free Food & Drinks at Circle K
Free Products from Influenster
Hidden Valley Ranchology Rewards – Free Samples, Tote Bag & More
Free Classroom Film Screening Kit
Free Access to MyHeritage Ancestry Tools for 2 Weeks
Free ASPCA Pet Safety Magnet & Window Decal
Free Puttisu Kids Facial Sheet Mask
Free Mineral Natural Sunscreen
Free Pint of Frönen Dairy Free Ice Cream
Earn $2 to $75 per Completed Survey – Ages 13+ can Apply
Free Lotus Flower Gift
Free Richard’s Rainwater Sparkling at Whole Foods
Free Jonny Pops Popsicles
Free Small Blizzard Treat at Dairy Queen
Free Subscription to ELLE Magazine

Deals:

Charter Club Multi-Stone Jewelry Set ONLY $11.80 (Reg $30)
Hanes Mens Moccasin Slippers ONLY $8.49 (Reg $34)
Summer Waves 10-Ft Pool ONLY $59 (Reg. $87)
40% Off All Fanatics + Extra 10% Off at Checkout
Necklace and Stud Earring Set ONLY $17.99 (Reg $60)
Costway 10×10 Outdoor Tent ONLY $39.99 (Reg $100)
Whirlpool 3.1 cu ft Mini Refrigerator ONLY $159.99 (Reg $220)
Up to 72% Off Disney Treasures From the Vault Plush Characters
Moscow Mule Mug 2-Piece Set ONLY $14.99 (Reg $40)
Up to 60% OFF Women’s Swim Suits at JCPenney
Kate Spade Harper Satchel ONLY $89 (Reg $359)
Free Medium Fries w/ Any $1 Purchase at McDonalds – Every Friday
Travel Cosmetic Case ONLY $23.40 (Reg $39)
Neutrogena Therapeutic Shampoo ONLY $3.19 (Reg $8)
Threshold Fuzzy Foam Bath Rugs 2-Pack ONLY $10 (Reg $20)
Discover & Play Piano Musical Toy ONLY $8.60 (Reg. $17)
StyleCraft Supercharged Nano-Ceramic Dryer ONLY $47.97 (Reg $80)

Tryazon: Sweeten Lunchtime with Zollipops and Lunch Notes!

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.

Brighten your kids’ lunchtime with this Tryazon Featured Party opportunity, from Zolli Candy and MyWish4U. Zolli Candy is all sugar free and is supercharged with smile-friendly, natural ingredients that are actually good for your teeth! Zolli naturally balances your pH and reduces acid in your mouth making it the perfect way to end lunch! ZolliPops and Zaffi are diabetic friendly, keto, gluten-free, nut-free, and vegan. Lunch Notes From Me® are a series of notes to tuck in your kids’ lunch to make sure they know they are loved and thought about when they are at school. They have a variety of notes including Facts & Funnies, Riddles & Giggles, Brainteasers & Giggles, and more!

Tryazon has 100 hosting spots open for this opportunity! Those selected get to receive a party pack valued at $75+ with a variety of Zolli Candy and Lunch Notes From Me® to share with friends and family! Learn more and apply here.

Cents of Style: Weekly Deal- 5/9/22- ENTIRE Jumpsuit Collection Starting at ONLY $17

Abby H.

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

Did you know that jumpsuits are trending SO big? And that they are selling for upwards of $100+?!?!

 

Cents of Style is hooking us up. So for a limited time, you can get ALL these jumpsuits starting UNDER $20. You can dress these jumpsuits up with a cute Henley or dress them down as a swimsuit cover with tennies…you could also sleep in them they’re so comfy! They check ALL the boxes…every. single. one. Slouchy fit, casual boho vibes, and perfect pockets.

There are several styles that go up to 3xl, so there are sizes for most of us to enjoy.

Use coupon code SPRINGSAVINGS at checkout. Hurry, because these sweet jumpsuits are only on sale until 5/16/2022.

Tryazon: Five Crowns & Farkle Game Night from PlayMonster

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.

It’s game nighttime with this Tryazon Featured Party opportunity, from PlayMonster. Featuring the award-winning card game, Five Crowns, and an additional bonus game, Farkle! Five Crowns is a five-suited rummy-style card game that is sure to become a favorite.  Its unique double-deck contains five suits: spades, clubs, hearts, diamonds, and stars! The rotating wild card keeps players on their toes! The game isn’t over ‘til the Kings go wild!

They have a total of 250 hosting spots open for this opportunity! Those selected get to receive a party pack with Five Crowns and Farkle, to sample and share with friends and family! Learn more and apply here.

5/10/2022 Weekly Meal Plan!

Abby H.

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If you follow me on IG, you know yesterday was CRAZAY.

This morning I spent 3 hours chopping, roasting, dicing, mincing, sauteing, and making so many tasty foods. I made a big green salad, a marinated salad, sauteed onions, yellow peppers, and mushrooms for omelets, roasted tons of veggies, and cut carrots into carrot sticks for the kids to snack on. Oh, and the strawberries and melons are so good. I may have eaten some of them while cutting them up. sorrynotsorry.

Our veggies and fruit are delivered by Yasukochi Family Farms CSA. For $28, 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 $28. Seriously. It’s a deal. They email a preview of what will be in the boxes over the weekend, so I can start thinking about what I’d like to make.

I went to the grocery store last night to pick up milk and some misc. groceries last night. With the increase in food costs, we are leaning more and more on our CSA box each week as the base of most of our meals.

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. I’m back to packing lunches again. However, school lunches are free this year- Little Bit has been buying her lunch and expanding her palate.  The big kid still brings lunch from home.

Dinner: We’re working our way through our monthly Dream Dinners order, and I am making two this week. We’ve got our usual Monday Nuggets and Friday Pizza planned, but other than that I’m cooking a lot this week!

Recipe: Hot Honey Ginger Carrots!

Abby H.

This recipe is so easy and so tasty. You probably already have some (if not all) of these ingredients in your kitchen.

We get carrots in our Yasukochi Family Farms CSA box every week, and with a few extras we have hanging around in our fridge, I make these weekly.

Ingredients:

  • 1-2 lbs of carrots
  • 2 T oil of your choice, I used Yasukochi Farms Olive Oil
  • Salt and Pepper to taste
  • 3 Tablespoons Yasukochi Farms Honey
  • Pinch Ground Ginger
  • Pinch Pepper Flakes

Directions:

  1. Place a foil-lined baking sheet in a cold oven. Pre-heat to 425 degrees.
  2. While the oven and pan heat, peel and cut into spears or bite-sized pieces, and toss carrots in oil, salt, and pepper.
  3. Roast carrots in the oven for 20 minutes, stirring mid-way.
  4. Once the carrots are cooked, toss in a bowl with honey, ginger, and pepper flakes, as serve right away.

These carrots are so good. If you don’t want the heat from the pepper flakes, omit them. The honey and ginger plays nicely with the natural sweetness from the carrots.

5/6/2022 Friday Freebies and Deals!

Abby H.

I’m off work today! It’s Lunch on the Lawn at my kiddos school. We’ll have lunch with Bitty first, then with The Big Kid. It’s going to be a warm, sunny day. I’m looking forward to meeting their friends.

There are so many awesome freebies and deals this week, and the weather this weekend is supposed to be AWESOME here in San Diego.

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 Lego Duplo Floating Animal Train or Red Panda Playset
Free Neutrogena Hydro Boost Hydrating Cleansing Gel
Free Sample of Nars Orgasm Blush
Free USPS Shipping Supplies
Free Kerasal Foot Care & Nail Care Products
Free Gatsby Chocolate Bar
Free Subscription to Women’s Health Magazine
Free Picket Fence Planter from Home Depot
Free Hearthsong Ninjaline Ninja Star 7-Piece Hanging Obstacle Co
25 Free Disney Movie Insiders Points
Free Lego Duplo Floating Animal Island Playset
Free Walmart Welcome Baby Registry Box
Free Bowhunting World or Predator Xtreme Magazine
Free National Parks Pass for Military & Dependents
Free Neutrogena Makeup Remover Wipes
Octoly – Free Beauty Products
Free Aveda Botanical Repair Product
Free Sample of Giorgio Armani Acqua di Gio
Free Tena Sample Kits
Free ClarityRx Down + Dirty Microexfoliant Sample
Free Sample of VetriScience Calming Supplement for Dogs
Free RollinGreens Plant-Based Me’eat
Free Bubbies Gluten-Free Mochi Ice Cream
FREE Personalized Children’s Book – Only $1 Shipping
Free Subscription to LEGO Life Magazine
Free Sew & Stuff Rainbow Craft Kit at Joann
Free Sample of Mizensir Ambre Magique Fragrance

Deals:

Igloo MaxCold Evergreen 28qt Cooler ONLY $29.99 (Reg. $60)
Calico Critters Village Pizzeria ONLY $19.97 (Reg. $40)
55% Off Bogs Women and Girl Boots + 15% Off at Checkout
Barbie Doll and Grocery Store ONLY $14.99 (Reg $30)
VIP Pets Color Boost Styling Head ONLY $10 (Reg. $30)
75% Off Bionica Lightweight Strides + 15% Off at Checkout
Reebok Mini Backpack ONLY $9.49 (Reg $30)
Guess Women’s Pranze Sneakers ONLY $38.81 (Reg $69)
Reebok Racerback Bralette Set ONLY $6.99 (Reg $26)
Imaginext DC Gotham City Playset ONLY $25.51 (Reg. $60)
Sterling Silver Mama Bracelet ONLY $20 (Reg $125)
Sedona 12-Inch Roasting Pan & Rack for ONLY $7.96 (Reg. $40)
Up to 60% Off Joe’s Jeans + 15% Off at Checkout
Lite-Brite Ultimate Classic Retro Toy ONLY $7.49 (Reg. $20)
Igloo MaxCold Evergreen Backpack Cooler ONLY $22.49 (Reg. $45)

Free Craft Event at JCPenney for Kids 5/14/2022

Abby H.

Are you heading to the mall on 5/14? Check out this fun, free craft from JCPenney’s.

Visit the Kids Zone inside JCPenney and kids can decorate a holiday magnet.  Parents/Adults score a 10% off coupon, which can be combined with another coupon. JCP Coupons can be found here.

JCPenney hosts a fun craft event in store for kids on the second Saturday of each month.  They are easy for kids, and fun, free activity.

In-store events are only where local mandates allow.  All kids must be accompanied by an adult.

Looking forward to June, there is a cute baseball craft, which includes beads, charms, a cord, keyring, card, envelope, and marker.

And if you are looking for Mother’s Day deals, check out the JCP Doorbusters! You’ll save 60% off regular prices!

 

Cinco De Mayo Recipe Round-Up!

Abby H.

It’s Cinco De Mayo! Let’s celebrate the Mexican victory over the French Empire at the Battle of Puebla. Wanna learn more about the holiday’s origins? Here is the Wikipedia article.

If you are looking for some tasty recipes with a Mexican/South American flare, here are a few of mine:

Chipotle Black Bean Enchilada Casserole
Easy Cheesy Enchiladas
Beefy Taco Skillet
Black Bean Veggie Soup
Beef Machacas (Slowcooker recipe)
Corn and Avocado Salsa!
Homemade Pico De Gallo (Fresh Salsa)

None of these are authentic, as they were created in my kitchen here in San Diego.

Talk Back: What are your favorite Cinco De Mayo favorites?
 

Review: Decadent, Creamy Desserts from Bon Devil!

Abby H.

Recently, Bon Devil send us a set of all of their 4 packs of their rich, creamy vegan dessert ganache.

The big kid is vegetarian, and we frequently purchase vegan foods because they are easy to find and I want to support his desire to be vegetarian.

These little cups of ganache are rich, creamy, and smooth. They have a slight coconut aftertaste (they are made with coconut milk), which is delicious by the way. I’ve been using it on fruit, but I can imagine that it would be really good on pound cake, or with cookies/shortbread. That’s how the kids have been eating them, as dip for their cookies.

I know you can eat it by itself, but it’s so rich you really need something a little lighter to pair with it.

They come in four flavors: chocolate, vanilla, salted caramel chocolate, and caramelized banana. In our house, the chocolate and vanilla were the first to get consumed.

If you have tried them, leave a comment and let me know which flavor was your favorite, and how you eat it?

If you haven’t tried Bon Devil desserts yet, you can find them on Amazon and other Mass Merchandisers and Grocery stores.

Thanks to Bon Devil for sending us these tasty desserts to review. I received no financial compensation to facilitate this review, and all opinions are mine. This page may contain affiliate links. For more information about the use of affiliate links and partnerships, visit my disclosure page.