shopping

This Week’s Freebies and Deals!

Abby H.

Sorry- yesterday was BUSY. I’ve been running around like a headless chicken recently. There are some pretty good freebies and deals afoot.

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

Most of these freebies and deals are online. I know y’all are vaxxed and ready to party, but I’m trying to keep you safe. Keep up the social distancing with strangers, wash and sanitize your hands, and cover your mouth and nose if you are going to be around strangers. The kids and I still mask up when we go out, and I’ve got hand sanitizer at the ready.

Freebies:

Free Tabasco Sauce Sample at Walmart
Free So Good So You Probiotic Shot at Whole Foods
Free Nike Products
Free Lash & Brow Products
Free 2-Year Subscription to HGTV Magazine
Free Grandparents’ Day Postcard
Free Medium Fries w/ Any $1 Purchase at McDonalds – Every Friday
Free Subscription to Architectural Digest
Free Conair Translucent Styler
Free WaterWipes Sample Pack
Free Genexa Kids’ Senna Laxative
Free Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach Tickets
Free Mighty Sesame Organic Squeezable Tahini
Free O Organics Hummus at Albertsons & Safeway
Free Samples of Mane n’ Tail Haircare
Free Baby Samples & Full Sized Products from Amazon
Free 128GB USB 3.1 Flash & a free 128GB Micro SD at Micro Center
Score Walmart+ FREE for 15 Days
Free Field + Farmer Vegan Dip
Free Oribe Eau de Parfum Collection Fragrance Sample Card
Free Orgain Sport and Recovery Samples
Free Tree Hut or Baby Magic Product
Free Pair of 2 Carat Diamond Earrings $79.95 Value
Free Cappuccino or Coffee at Circle K
Free Anti-aging Serum With Retinol
Free Seal the Seasons Frozen Fruits
Free Metavo Metabolism Supplement Sample
$3 for a Whole Year of Get Healthy U TV (reg. $69)
Free SPF Facial Moisturizer With Hyaluronic Acid
Free Sample of Thayers Body Balm
Free 17 oz. Sparkling ICE at Big Lots

Deals

Softsoap Liquid Hand Soap Only $0.93 each Shipped
Ulta 21 Days of Beauty: 50% Off Lancome, Elemis, IT Cosmetics
Disposable Face Mask 50-Count ONLY $1.99
Burt’s Bees Kids Toothpaste 4-Count ONLY $7.82 (Reg. $13)
Ortho Home Defense Max Indoor Insect Barrier $6.58 (Reg. $20)
Insignia 0.9 Cu. Ft. Microwave ONLY $59.99 (Reg $80)
60% Off Custom Engraved Dog & Cat Tags $3.99 + Free Shipping
MUK LUKS Women’s Chaya Slipper ONLY $11.99 (Reg. $30)
Disney Princess 5-Minute Stories ONLY $5.82 (Reg. $13)
50% Off Inflatable Halloween Ghost on Amazon
Fresh Step Cat Litter Crystals 3-Pack ONLY $5.53 (Reg. $13)
Expo Dry Erase Assorted Color Markers ONLY $8.72 (Reg. $18)
Koolaburra by UGG Throw Pillow ONLY $18.90 (Reg $27)
Juniors’ SO Button Down Sundress ONLY $15.29 (Reg $36)
Converse Chuck Taylor Flame Sneakers ONLY $7.69 (Reg $35)
Disney Mickey Mouse Bangle Bracelet ONLY $13.49 (Reg $60)
MUK LUKS Women’s Franki Slide Slipper ONLY $11.99 (Reg. $30)
GUESS Hensely Convertible Shoulder Bag ONLY $47.04 (Reg $98)
Gypsy Soul Layering Bracelets ONLY $8.99 (Reg $20)

99 Cents Only: Celebrate 9/9/2021 with Deals!

Abby H.

Today is September 9, or 9/9 and that means that 99 Cents Only is celebrating with some pretty good deals.

I’m going to grab some eggs and Pringles for sure.

Did you know that 99 Cents Only has an app with coupons and otherwise unknown deals?

I wrote all about it here. 

I’d love to hear about what you score at 99 Cents Only today.

Cents of Style Deal of the Week: Oversized Heathered Sweaters Starting at ONLY $19.99

Abby H.

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

Favorite TopsIs it Sweater Weather where you live yet?

It’s not quite here, but the evenings are cooling down, and I do love a cozy sweater!

This week Cents of Style wants us to embrace the cozy- Grab one of these soft, comfy sweaters! Or, grab more than one- There are three styles to choose from.

Remember to use coupon code OBSESSED at checkout to save 20%. These sweaters come in sizes xs-3xl.

This sale goes through 9/14/2021 at Midnight.

What color are you getting? I’ve picked up an eggplant/dark purple. I can’t wait to pair it with my black pencil skirt.

9/6/2021 Weekly Meal Plan

Abby H.

0a5e9dab796cea8a07eabe4eb4795b9e.jpgHappy Labor Day! I hope you all had a fun, relaxing weekend. The kids and I spent most of it playing with Legos, or swimming with friends.

No trip to the grocery store this week- I did go buy ice (our icemaker is STILL broken- Looking at you Sears) and popsicles, but we have enough groceries to get us through the week. I may have to buy milk… We’ll see.

Getting the fam to eat more fruits and veggies has been my personal mission this year, and thankfully, Yasukochi Family Farms has my back.

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 did a great deal of meal prep today after the box was delivered- You can see some of what I did over on Instragram.

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 prep 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: Korean BBQ Beef, Rice, Roasted Veggies with Haven’s Kitchen Gingery Miso
  • Monday: Spaghetti with Veggie Sauce, Garlic Cheesy Bread, and fruit
  • Tuesday: Breakfast for Dinner (probably waffles, eggs, sausage, and fruit)
  • Wednesday: Nugget night: Nuggets, crackers, cheese, fruit
  • Thursday: Cheeseburgers ( topped with caramelized onions and sauteed mushrooms), chips and dip, and salad
  • Friday:  Takeout Night
  • Saturday: Leftovers, fruit

Please stay safe you guys!

P&G Good Everyday Rewards: Earn rewards and Help others with every purchase.

Abby H.

This program is so great! I love that you can save money and P&G helps others in need.

P&G Good Everyday is a Rewards Program for your favorite brands, like Tide, Crest, Dawn Bounty, and 60 more.

Earn up to $150 + in Rewards annually for Brands you already use and love.  Enter for chances to win Free P&G Products.  And, P&G Donates to Charity on your behalf.

More participation = More Rewards and More Donations.

 

Starbucks Copycat Recipe: Medicine Ball/ColdBuster/Honey Citrus Mint Tea

Abby H.

This is one of my favorite hot drinks when I am not feeling well. Fever, sore throat, generally feeling run down, this drink is where it’s at.

But… I’m cheap and it’s not always convenient to hit up the ‘Bux. So I did a little research and found a frugal way to make this drink at home. I usually get my tea at Target or Walmart.

I use lemon juice in place of steamed lemonade for two reasons: Less sugar, and I like to use lemon juice (I prefer freshly squeezed but I’ll use True Lemon in a pinch).

I make 32 ounces at a time. that’s about two servings, perfect for when you don’t feel well.

Ingredients:

Directions:

  1. In a large, heatproof container (I use a teapot), combine water, honey, and lemon, stir until honey is dissolved.
  2. Add tea bags and allow to steep for 10-15 minutes.
  3. Remove tea bags and serve.

Makes two generous servings. Feel free to add more honey if you prefer your tea sweeter, or less lemon.

 

8/29/2021 Weekly Meal Plan

Abby H.

0a5e9dab796cea8a07eabe4eb4795b9e.jpgThis coming week is going to be great! A little busy with doctors appointments, but other than that, it’s looking to be a fun week with warmer temps (and that means after school swimming).

I hit up the grocery store on Thursday and did some batch cooking and menu planning for this week. It was the only day last week where I was not busy with appointments.

I kept the grocery shopping at budget. I had to go to three stores however, because my usual stores didn’t have everything I was looking for. The supply chain is starting to get wonky again, so you may notice some items are taking longer to get back in stock on shelves.

And I’ve been getting a lot of really great freebies from Social Nature lately too. It’s fun to try new foods.

No CSA box this week. We’ll be back on it next week!

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 prep 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: Machacas Bowls (Rice, Beans, roasted veggies, and Machacas)
  • Monday: Chicken Tetrazzini with brocolli, watermelon
  • Tuesday: Nugget night: Nuggets, crackers, cheese, fruit
  • Wednesday:  Impossible Burgers with Chimichurri sauce, Salad, buttered noodles
  • Thursday: Veggie Fritatta, toast
  • Friday:  Takeout Night
  • Saturday: Leftovers, fruit

Please stay safe you guys!

MyPoints: Turn receipts into cash with Magic Receipts

Abby H.

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I’ve been a member of MyPoints for 10 years! There are all sorts of ways to earn money including these “Magic Receipt” offers!

These deals are only good at select stores, so check on each offer before adding it to ensure that you can redeem it at a store near you.  Here is an example of one of the offers:

Here is how MyPoints Magic Receipts works:

In-Store Receipts

  1. Find the deals you like, click “Add To List“, and then purchase those specific items at participating stores.

  2. After purchase, click submit the receipt from “My List” and follow the instructions.

  3. Be sure to read the fine print, paying special attention to product restrictions and expiration dates.

Each offer has its own terms, including at which stores the offer is valid. While this won’t replace my use of any of my other apps, it is a nice addition.

August 2021: New Healthy Freebies From Social Nature!

Abby H.

 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.

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!

 

Heads up for Vons, Pavillions, Albertson’s Shoppers!

Abby H.

As I’m sure you’ve noticed, the app has changed and updated, and our familiar, beloved app is gone. However, in an email earlier this week, it was announced that there are more changes afoot and they are seemingly positive.

Just for U® is becoming Vons for U (or Pavillions, or Albertsons for U, depending on the store in which you shop). Members get the same great perks plus a whole lot more.

New Perks Include Free Birthday Treat, Free Monthly Items, Easy, All-in-one App!

We’ve been assured that our old favorites will remain, such as Personalized Deals, Earn Points and Redeem Rewards, and Digital Coupons.

To tell you the truth, I haven’t been a big Vons/Albertsons shopper for years as their prices are a lot higher than other stores in our area, but with the freebies that have been offered lately, it’s worth a peek into the app (and store).

Let me know what you think about all of these changes. Will it draw you into the store or keep you a loyal shopper?