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)

New Recipe: Italian Pot Roast

I got a roast the other day because I really wanted something beefy and comforting, but I didn’t want to make Moosie’s Pot Roast, because while it’s so good, it’s a tad heavy.

I wanted to make something beefy, flavorful, and rich, but not heavy. I pulled out a few cookbooks, looked through the cupboard and the cooler where the veggies are chilling (pun intended), and came up with this. It’s like Oso Bucco, Bolognese sauce, and beef stew had a complicated tryst. All of the fresh vegetables came from our Yasukochi CSA Box.

 

 

 

 

Italian Pot Roast

Serves 4-6

Ingredients:

  • 1 Chuck Roast (2-3 lbs)
  • salt and pepper
  • 4 T. Olive Oil
  • 1 large sweet onion, halved and sliced
  • 1 Bell Pepper, sliced (I used Red, but use whatever you’ve got)
  • 2 Carrots, Peeled and diced
  • 3-5 cloves garlic, diced
  • 6-8 fresh tomatoes, chopped (You can substitute 2 15 oz cans of diced tomatoes if you don’t have fresh)
  • 1 can tomato paste
  • 1/2 cup white wine
  • 1 bay leaf
  • 2 T. Italian Seasoning

Directions:

  1. Salt and pepper the roast and set aside. I recommend allowing the roast to warm up to room temp before searing it.
  2. In a large pan, heat 2 T. olive oil, and saute onions, peppers for about 10-15 minutes, until soft and browned.
  3. Add in carrots and garlic, and allow them to cook for about 5 minutes. Garlic will be slightly browned and fragrant.
  4. While veggies are cooking, chop up tomatoes and add to slow cooker.
  5. Add tomato paste to slow cooker.
  6. Add cooked veggies, bay leaf, and Italian Seasoning to the slow cooker.
  7. Add remaining 2 T. olive oil to the previously used large pan, and allow to warm.
  8. Sear the roast on all sides.
  9. Add roast to slow cooker.
  10. Pour wine into the large pan and turn heat to medium-high. Scrape all browned meat and veggie bits with a wooden spoon. One wine comes to a brief boil and all browned bits are scraped off the pan, pour liquid into the slow cooker.
  11. Cook on low for 6-8 hours.
  12. Put roast beef from the slow cooker, and shred with forks. Return the meat to the slow cooker and stir. Cook for an additional hour.

Serve with mashed potatoes or pasta/noodles of your choice.

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

 

Monthly Side Hustle Totals September 2021

I decided that at the end of each month in 2021, I’m going to post the breakdown of how much I made doing each side hustle/cashback app. My complete side hustle list can be found here and my complete list of Smartphone Apps can be found here.

I know some of you are curious about how much I make doing all of the hustles that I wrote about, and while I do a year-end update, I know some of you don’t wanna wait till the end of the year and that’s understandable.

Some of the side hustles I do frequently, like using the Fetch Rewards App every time I go shopping.

Some of the hustles are more passive but have cumulative rewards so even though I do them each month, I may not receive a payout each month. It doesn’t make them any less valuable to me, they just take a longer amount of time to earn the reward. Honestly, those are fairly low-time investments, so I don’t feel bad that they take a long time to earn a payout. SBKC and Achievement are two of these.

And some I do in fits and starts. For example, I may not spend a lot of time doing PaidViewPoint surveys for a few weeks, and then I’ll get two or three emails telling me that I have time-sensitive or higher-paying surveys. Then I’ll rush over to the site and do five or 10 surveys and earn five or 10 bucks. It just depends on what’s available at the time.

Some of you might notice from this list that there are a number of research studies, I’ve been trying to do at least 1-2 a month because they tend to pay a lot better than surveys. I have been posting research studies and opportunities on the blog whenever they come across my email. I hope some of you are also applying for them and receiving opportunities to do them too.

September was back to school and I started looking for a part-time job in earnest. I was able to do 3 research studies online. I have been doing a lot of reviews and such but don’t pay cash, but rather pay in-kind (Tryit, InfluensterSocial Nature, and BzzAgent). Each one of those sends a product or samples. In September, I received about $250 worth of items to review including toys, a couple games, free clothes, and food items.

I try not to take the sample only offers because it’s not worth my time to review a bunch of sample size stuff. Especially when I can be working with brands and companies that offer me products that are full-size, or they pay me with cash. Because really, as nice as say five dollar tube of deodorant might be, I can’t really pay my utility bill with it.

  • Fetch Rewards: $50
  • Capterra: $50
  • Ibotta: $22.00
  • Pinecone Research: $15
  • UpVoice: $10
  • Misc. Rebates: $50
  • Class Action Lawsuit payouts (these I didn’t apply for, I just received checks in the mail) $32.00
  • Ohm Connect: $25
  • Research Studies: $225 (total for three studies combined)

Talk Back: How much do you make each month on your side hustles? Do you have any that you love and want to recommend? Leave a link in the comments below! Please no MLM or Direct Sales Opportunities. 

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.

Free Food Resources for October 2021 (San Diego County)

A new month means that it’s time for the monthly update of free food resources in San Diego.

You can still find resources here for Central and East County, and Here for North County.

If you are located outside San Diego County, call 211. If you are not familiar with 211, here is their website and it can point you in the right direction.

San Diego Food Bank Distributions for October 2021 can be found here. Enter your address (or just your zip code) and the map will show you all of the distributions in your area or closest to you. You can filter by the days of the week to find food when you are available. If there is an income requirement/limit to participate, each location/listing will say such.

Neighbor distributions are intermixed with the San Diego Food Bank Distributions, however, they have no income requirements, and you come as you are. These Distributions are primarily fruits & veg, however, some locations may also distribute canned goods, dairy, and bread.

Super Pantry Locations can be found here (this listing is countywide). The San Diego Foodbank website also has resources for Diaper banks, free food resources for seniors, and more.

All kids in public school K-12 in the State of California are eligible for free breakfasts and lunches at school. More information can be found here

If you know of other resources, please leave a comment! And feel free to share this post with anyone you may know in need.

October 2021: New Month, New Coupons!

file000786402730Here is your monthly reminder!  A new month means new printable and electronic coupons!

The printable coupon market is slowly coming to an end. Smartsource no longer offers printable coupons, and you may notice that there are fewer coupon inserts in your Sunday newspaper. This is in favor of more offers available on apps. But if you love printable coupons….

  • Coupons.com (printable coupons, e-coupons, and a cashback app)

One of my favorite websites is the Sunday Coupon Review.  It helps me plot out scenarios in advance and I can email friends to ask for coupons in advance. Remember if clipping coupons isn’t your thing, but saving money is, check out my list of Smartphone apps that can save you the big bucks! New offers are added on the Smartphone Savings Apps all the time!

October is here- that means it’s spooky season! Time for deals and sales on candy, costumes, holiday home decor, and craft supplies.

For a complete list of types of foods and items that will be on sale, check out this post on the cycle of sales.

Here are a few of my favorite new coupons:

Save $1.00 when you buy TWO BOXES any flavor General Mills cereal listed: Cheerios™ • Cinnamon Toast Crunch™ • Lucky Charms™ • ***
Save $0.75 When you buy FOUR (4) Avocados From Mexico
Save $1.00 on any ONE (1) Dove Deodorant or Antiperspirant Stick (excludes trial/travel, twin packs, and Dove base products)

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!