Roundup: Zojirushi Rice Cooker for $67, How to Use Your 529 & FREE Chipotle

I can't believe it's August and that my son leaves for college in just a few weeks! In the meantime, I'm trying to enjoy every moment I get of my full house. It helps that the boys both love Stella, who has been the perfect addition to our family and lures them away from their video games. She's even improved my social life, because I've been walking with friends almost every morning. 😊 I hope you have a great fortnight! (I've marked affiliate/referral links with a *, which means I may make a little bit of money if you make a purchase or sign up using that link - thank you!)

This is my favorite pose of Stella's - when she puts her nose down between her paws! 😆

Target shoppers* can get a Zojirushi Fuzzy Logic 5.5 Cup Rice Cooker for just $88.19 (40% off) - or get it for as low as $67.02 if you're a verified student (20% off with Target Circle* offer) and Target Circle Card* holder (an extra 5% off). My family has had Zojirushi rice cookers my entire life, and I use mine all the time (which is very similar to the one currently on sale).

With all of the wildfires here in California, it's a good idea to know how to protect yourself from the smoke. FWIW, we have a couple of these Coway Air Purifiers,* which we got after a wildfire some years back. And these are my favorite masks* (I still wear them on airplanes when going to visit my parents), and these are the masks my kids prefer* (I make them wear them too 😂).

The College Financial Lady explains all the things you can use a 529 account to pay for.

If you're a Chipotle Rewards member, you should check your account - you might have an offer for a FREE item every day through August 11.

Believe it or not, a lot of schools are starting soon (my cousins went back today!), but there's still a month left for teens to take advantage of Planet Fitness's FREE Summer Pass for 14-19 year olds.

TWO WEEK MENU PLAN - Aug 4 - 17, 2025

Monday 8/4 -  Miso Soba Salad (delayed a day after I found 50% off chicken thighs at Whole Foods on Sunday morning 😂)

Tuesday 8/5 - Crispy Rice with Spicy Salmon 

Wednesday 8/6 - Copycat Raising Cane's

Thursday 8/7 - Gochujang Potato Stew (didn't get to this last week)

Friday 8/8 - Spinach Artichoke Dip

Saturday 8/9 - Breakfast for Dinner: French toast, Sausage, Eggs, Fruit

Sunday 8/10 - Duchess Potato Chicken Mushroom Pie

Monday 8/11 - Sliders

Tuesday 8/12 - Parmesan Crusted Salmon

Wednesday 8/13 - Tempura

Thursday 8/14 - Calamari

Friday 8/15 - Meatball Heroes

Saturday 8/16 - Mac & Cheese

Sunday 8/17 -  Dinner out

(For locals: To access NYT recipes through the library, go here.)

Please let me know if there's something you'd like to see in the roundup. And don't forget to sign up for my monthly periodic email newsletter! 

Roundup: Stella Update, Student Loans (this year and next), Books + 2-Week Menu Plan

Our rescue dog Stella is settling in nicely, and she's the best thing that could have happened to our family. My boys are spending more time out of their rooms (and away from their gaming computers) so they can spend time with her, which means I'm getting more time with them. Everyone loves her and she's as adorable as can be, with the perfect personality for me. (Truth: I didn't want to rescue a dog just to save one; I also wanted to avoid getting a puppy because I wanted to skip that incredibly cute but very demanding stage.)  Have a great fortnight! (I've marked affiliate/referral links with a *, which means I may make a little bit of money if you make a purchase or sign up using that link - thank you!)

If you're a parent of young adults, make sure your children give you the authority to act on their behalf should an emergency arise. I used Mama Bear Legal Forms* and their young adult package for both of my kids. It includes a Medical Power of Attorney, a Financial Power of Attorney, and a HIPAA release form. Once your child signs the forms (which you might want to get notarized), you just hold onto them and hope you'll never need them. But if, say, your child was in the hospital and unconscious, you'd be able to show the hospital staff the medical power of attorney and they could tell you about your child's condition. If your child is in college, have them also sign a FERPA waiver so the college can give you information about your student.

If you're a parent or student who needs loans to pay for college, now is the time of year to sign those promissory notes. Students should take out the Federal Direct Loan first - it will have the lowest interest rate of any student loan available. New borrowers will have to go through student loan entrance counseling so they understand the consequences of taking out loans. Anyone intending to take out a private loan should check with the college's financial aid office to see if they recommend any lenders, and definitely shop around for the lowest interest rate.

Joe Messinger has an update on the impact of the Big Beautiful Bill on federal financial aid.

Last month, author Dan Pink shared 21 books that have changed his life. I've only read two of them - Grit* by Angela Duckworth and Mindset* by Carol Dweck. Some of them I'd heard of, some of them I'd never heard of, and a few of them I'd even tried reading before but never finished. I'll be giving all of them a try, because I trust Dan Pink's advice that much (and I totally agree that Grit and Mindset were terrific).

Author Joanna Campbell Slan, who writes the Kiki Lowenstein cozy mystery series*, is giving away two FREE full-length books - a prequel to the Kiki series and the fourth book in her Cara Mia Delgatto cozy mystery series.* I read both series a couple of years ago and enjoyed them.

Through July 27, Costco members can get $3 off a 2-pack of Rao's marinara in-store only. Rao's is my favorite jarred sauce (it's also Whole 30 compliant) and this is the best price I can find.

I'm all about whole foods, but I have to admit to skepticism over 100 Days of Real Food's Bone Broth Hot Chocolate. I might give it a try just out of curiosity (and the recommended Kettle and Fire* bone broth is my go-to brand.)

TWO WEEK MENU PLAN - July 21 - Aug 3, 2025

Monday 7/21 - Cauliflower Parm (didn't get to this last week)

Tuesday 7/22 - Crispy Rice with Spicy Salmon (this was sooo good, we're having it again already)

Wednesday 7/23 - Cheesy Chickpea Melts

Thursday 7/24 -  Slow Cooker Carnitas Tacos

Friday 7/25 - Lentils with Burrata and Breadcrumbs

Saturday 7/26 - Sheet Pan Bibimbap

Sunday 7/27 - Crispy Tofu Tacos

Monday 7/28 - Baked Ziti (using some of that Rao's sauce)

Tuesday 7/29 - Gochujang Potato Stew

Wednesday - Saturday 7/30 - 8/2 - Dinner out

Sunday 8/3 -  Miso Soba Salad

(For locals: To access NYT recipes through the library, go here.)

Please let me know if there's something you'd like to see in the roundup. And don't forget to sign up for my monthly periodic email newsletter! 

Roundup: Meet Stella! Plus Shutterfly Freebies, Dog Training Videos & a 2-Week Menu Plan

Things have been changing around my home, and it started with my decision to post roundups every other week with a 2-week menu plan. And then we got a dog! Meet Stella:

She's a six-year-old Maltese that we rescued, and she's as sweet and chill as can be. The 4th of July fireworks didn't bother her, and as long as she's with someone, she's happy. My kids are both over the moon to have a dog, and I'm glad I'll have a companion when they're both off at college. So we're all adjusting to Stella's needs and creating a new routine, while I try not to think too much about how my nest will be empty in a couple of months. 

If you have any advice for adapting to life with a dog, please share! And have a great week 😄(I've marked affiliate/referral links with a *, which means I may make a little bit of money if you make a purchase or sign up using that link - thank you!)

I feel a little foolish admitting this, but it wasn't until recently that I finally got a pair of gardening shears* for when I get flowers. They make cutting stems so easy that I can't believe I didn't think to get a pair earlier!

Through tomorrow (7/8), get a FREE mug, cotton tote bag, set of playing cards, and/or set of coasters with code 4FREE at Shutterfly.* And if you purchase any products that aren't free, go through Mr. Rebates* to get a 1% rebate. 

I now get served all kinds of dog training videos on TikTok, but my favorite is Jamie Diaz.

TWO WEEK MENU PLAN - July 7 - 20, 2025

Monday 7/7 - Enfrijoladas (although my shortcut is to use a can of Herdez Salsa Verde-* instead of making it from scratch)

Tuesday 7/8 - Crispy Rice with Spicy Salmon

Wednesday 7/9 - Quick Asian Caramelised Beef Ramen Noodles

Thursday 7/10 - Baked French Toast (I have some brioche rolls in the freezer I'd like to use up), Sausage, Eggs, Fruit

Friday 7/11 - Miso Chicken with Rice

Saturday 7/12 - Roasted Cauliflower and Sardine Pasta

Sunday & Tuesday 7/13-15 - Dinner out

Wednesday 7/16 - Lemon Chicken with Potatoes and Chickpeas

Thursday 7/17 - Tortitas de Espinaca

Friday 7/18 - Chicken Tinga Tacos

Saturday 7/19 - Anchovy Mozzarella + Pesto Melts

Sunday 7/20 - Cauliflower Parm

(For locals: To access NYT recipes through the library, go here.)

Please let me know if there's something you'd like to see in the roundup. And don't forget to sign up for my monthly periodic email newsletter! 

Roundup: Sandwich for a group, FREE gym pass, facial care and camps + Updates on federal student loan changes and rates

Hello! Apologies that my one-week break turned into a three-week break! When I came home from my trip, I got Covid and it knocked me for a loop for a while. But I'm finally feeling close to normal and able to do all my usual things ... including applying for jobs and looking for a dog to rescue. My nest will start emptying in less than two months, and I start to cry if I think about it too much. Rachel Macy Stafford's honesty about her trepidation about her own empty nest has been a huge comfort, and I definitely need to find something to distract me since another home reno is not an option. 😂😂 I hope you have a great week!

Here's a great sandwich to make for a group - I have subbed chiffonaded spinach for the lettuce and it's been delicious. 

Students aged 14-19 can get a FREE High School Summer Pass at Planet Fitness. 

Consulting firm McKinsey has a list of skills citizens will need in the future world of work.

Joe Messinger has an update on the proposed changes to federal student aid.

Slickdeals has details on how to get two FREE L'Oreal facial care at CVS.

Money Saving Mom has details on FREE Apple Store camps this summer.

The College Financial Lady reports on the new federal student loan interest rates. I particularly appreciate her explanation for why it almost always makes the most sense for students to borrow the direct loans available to them each year before any other loans.

WEEKLY MENU PLAN - June 23, 2025

After a few weeks of winging it, depending on how I was feeling, I'm excited to get back to planning out my menus. But I'm going to stick to mostly tried-and-true recipes to make things easy on myself as I get back into the swing of things.

Monday - Breakfast (Sausage, Eggs, Pancakes)

Tuesday - Chirashizushi with salmon

Wednesday - Chilaquiles Brunch Casserole

Thursday - Ramen* with Ajitsuke Tamago

Friday - Slow Cooker Shredded Beef Ragu

Saturday - Baked Sushi

Sunday - Charcuterie Board

(For locals: To access NYT recipes through the library, go here.)

Please let me know if there's something you'd like to see in the roundup. And don't forget to sign up for my monthly periodic email newsletter! 

Weekly Roundup: FREE Meat from ButcherBox + No Menu Plan

I'm headed out of town for the longest trip I've taken alone since before my kids were born, so I have no menu plan for this week, and there won't be a post next week. I'll be back in two weeks, which somehow will be June. 😱 Be well! (I've marked affiliate/referral links with a *, which means I may make a little bit of money if you make a purchase or sign up using that link - thank you!)

New ButcherBox members get a FREE box ($169 value) when you use my referral code* plus FREE ground beef for life. I've been a ButcherBox member since the beginning of the pandemic, and even though I go to the grocery store all the time, I still get regular deliveries because the prices are reasonable and the meat is high quality.

Dan Pink shared about the Pottery Class Paradox.

A professional organizer's advice for efficiently stocking a side-by-side fridge.

My favorite chocolate maker is trying to navigate the tariffs.

As a college counselor, I'm obviously a huge proponent of going to college. But it's not for everyone, so here's some advice on how to get paid to learn a trade.

Joe Messinger reports on proposed massive changes to federal student financial aid.

For those (with students) who are thinking of transferring colleges, here's a guide.

Please let me know if there's something you'd like to see in the roundup. And don't forget to sign up for my monthly periodic email newsletter! 

Weekly Roundup: Colleges still accepting applications, Grace Burrowes & her latest book + Avoiding decision fatigue

There's less than a month until my son graduates from high school and I no longer have "school-age children." The time has truly flown by, although as Gretchen Rubin says, The days are long but the years are short. I hope you have a great week! (I've marked affiliate/referral links with a *, which means I may make a little bit of money if you make a purchase or sign up using that link - thank you!)

Do you know a student who wants to go to college next year but didn't apply during the fall/winter or is unsatisfied with their current options? NACAC (the National Association for College Admission Counseling) has a list of schools that are still taking applications.

Grace Burrowes, one of my favorite authors, wrote about hearing loss and its impact on mental acuity.

And speaking of Grace Burrowes, her latest Lord Julian book* is now available (in print at least) and since it's my current favorite series, I'm super excited.

WEEKLY MENU PLAN - May 12, 2025

I realized this past week that one thing my menu plan saves me from is decision fatigue. I can change my mind and often do, but somehow knowing that there's already a plan prevents that heavy feeling of "ugh, what's for dinner?"

Monday - Spinach Artichoke Dip (didn't get to this last week)

Tuesday - Maple and Miso Sheet-Pan Salmon with Green Beans

Wednesday - Roast Chicken (also didn't get to this last week)

Thursday - Chicken Alfredo Pasta Bake (I'll double this recipe and stick a pan in the freezer)

Friday - Turkey Ricotta Meatballs

Saturday - Enfrijoladas

Sunday - Slow Cooked Shredded Beef Ragu Pasta 

(For locals: To access NYT recipes through the library, go here.)

Please let me know if there's something you'd like to see in the roundup. And don't forget to sign up for my monthly periodic email newsletter! 

Weekly Roundup: Happy Mother's Day! + Paying for College & This Week's Menu Plan

Apologies for disappearing for two weeks! I was running late with a post and then I rushed out of town to handle a family emergency (everything is fine now). I ended up being out of town every weekend in April, which is kind of crazy because I haven't been much of a traveler since I was much younger. But my younger son has committed to a college in the Pacific Northwest, so there will be more travel in my future. 😊 And I'm getting ready to work with another group of students on their college applications! 

Sunday is Mother's Day, so Happy Mother's Day to all the moms! 💐 But I know this can be a hard day, if not always, then some years. So if that's you this year, please know that you are not alone.

(I've marked affiliate/referral links with a *, which means I may make a little bit of money if you make a purchase or sign up using that link - thank you!)

Different factors and strategies to consider if you're trying to figure out how you'll pay for college this fall.

Do you have misconceptions about liberal arts colleges? (Full disclosure: I'm a huge fan of them.)

Lemon Elderflower Cordial Slices are one of those things I'm glad exist but that I won't make.

Maybe I'll make a cheesecake board for Mother's Day.

WEEKLY MENU PLAN - May 5, 2025

Monday - Ramen*

Tuesday - Salmon Chirashizushi

Wednesday - Roast Chicken (I use my air fryer* for this so it's super easy)

Thursday - Salmon Takikomi Gohan

Friday - Spinach Artichoke Dip

Saturday - Baked Beef Tacos

Sunday - Dinner out

Please let me know if there's something you'd like to see in the roundup. And don't forget to sign up for my monthly periodic email newsletter!