Author: Lindsay Ingalls

Four Apps That Save Me Money | Digit, Ebates, Ibotta, Target

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Being a mostly one income family has forced us to be a bit more strategic with our spending and how we save. So, I am always looking for easy ways to save/earn my family money with little effort. Now when I first came across these I was skeptical, I did my research and then researched again before finally trying them out. I have now tested these apps out for months and one years before I finally decided to share with you.

Now Ebates  has been around for many years now and I first came across it years ago when a few bloggers I followed were using it. I didn’t sign up for my own account until years later when a friend recommended it to me.

Ebates is a free service that you can use on their website or their mobile app. I simply have the little shortcut on my internet browser bar and it lets me know if the online shop I am browsing has rewards and what the % is for that shop as well as any promo codes. 

Basically it collects data on what you purchase similar to a Target Red Card but tons of shops. Since creating my account a few years ago I have earned hundreds of dollars in cash back that is deposited directly to my paypal account. It’s easy, takes no effort and I get paid to shop. 

Newer to be is Ibotta which is essentially the same idea as Ebates. However, it takes a little extra work on your part because first you need to check out participating stores, add the deals to your profile and then you take a photo of your receipt after you purchase and you can earn cash rewards. You can also link your loyalty rewards to your account and earn that way as well. While it does take a few extra steps to earn it’s an easy way to save yourself a few dollars. Join today and receive $10 bonus.Digit 

Now if you are a Target shopper you probably already know about the Target app but I use it every time I go to target for the coupons and the cartwheel offers. It has been amazing for saving on purchases such as clothes, baby products and food items that we would buy anyways. 

 

The last app I want to tell you about is Digit. So Digit is a bit different than the other three apps in that it doesn’t track your purchases, you don’t have to scan receipts or anything like that it simply an app that can help you save for the things that you want in life or simply your rainy day fund. Basically you connect the app with to your preferred checking account and then Digit will analyze your daily spending and transfers money to your Digit savings each day. You are free to withdraw at anytime and there is no fee to withdraw. Also because it was the first thing my husband asked yes – All funds held within Digit are FDIC insured up to a balance of $250,000.

So you may be wondering why not just add additional savings accounts to your bank? Well for me it was two reasons the first we would have to have a specific amount in our savings at a time and to start off and secondly if it is right there in my regular bank set up I am more app to spend it on things in the moment rather than saving for things that I want in the future. With Digit I am able to set up savings goals for anything such as a vacation we want to take, Christmas fund, clothes fund, new carseats for the kids – basically whatever we want/need to save for. 

The one bonus that you do get with Digit is 1% back every quarter based on how much you saved each quarter. The one thing to take note however is that Digit is NOT free there is a $2.99 cost for this service however if you feel like it is of value to you then IMO it’s worth the fee. For us we have been able to save a significant amount of money since starting with Digit and I am happy with the service so far. You can try it out for 30 Days for free if you think this might be something of value for you. 

What apps/services do you use to save your family money? Please share!

This post contains affiliate links. Purchases you make through these links will help fund the work I do here at no extra cost to you. Thank you sincerely for your constant support.

4 Easy Plant-Based Breakfast Options While Traveling

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I sometimes forget what a privilege it is to live in Portland where the plant-based options are freely flowing. You can find an abundance of options for every meal, at every price point and in every neighborhood. Unfortunately when it comes to traveling finding food options, especially breakfast options, is often a huge challenge.

Breakfast is often a meal that is centered around meats, eggs and a whole lot of dairy. So finding options that don’t include any of these things can be a struggle. On our recent trip to Seattle and Bellingham I struggled to find good plant-based breakfast options for us however there are a few things that helped us work around the obstacle.

Stock Hotel or Airbnb with breakfast options. Depending on your accommodations you may be able to out fit yourself with a complete breakfast but even if you aren’t there are a number of great options that don’t require anything more than hot water. Stock up on things like instant oats, fruit that doesn’t need refrigerating such as apples and bananas, and nut butter – put these all together you have a filling and delicious loaded oatmeal. Bonus: if you have a hotel with a breakfast take advantage of things such as fruit, toast, bagels and dry cereals. 

Seek Out Coffee Shops. Many coffee shops these days have come to also serve food such as avocado and nut butter toasts. Some even sell vegan baked goods or bagels. Bonus: good coffee, shorter wait time and often less expensive. 

Order Sides.  One of my favorite ways to put together a plant-based breakfast at a restaurant is by piecing together a selection of sides. You will often find fruit, toasts, greens, beans and potatoes offered as side dishes and you can easily put together a satisfying breakfast. Tip 1: remember to as for dry toast and either carry a bit of vegan butter with your or as for jam and/or nut butter. Tip 2: It’s often a good idea to inquire about how they prepare their potatoes because some places use butter. 

Visit Co-ops, Natural Food Stores and Farmers Markets. These are all great spots to find plant-based options. Co-ops and Natural Food Stores often will have a prepared food section or even a small cafe that have plant-based options. Farmers Markets are filled with food options from breads, to fruits to vendors selling their amazing foods. 

Honestly, these tips work whether you are plant-based or not. My favorite is to hit up coffee shops or food markets because I always want coffee in the morning anyways and I am obsessed with food shopping. However if we have an Airbnb I will prepare as many meals as I can at it because I am always looking for ways to reduce our spending while traveling. 

What are you tips for eating plant-based in not-so-plant-based-friendly places? 

What I Packed For 9 Days of Travel + What I Came To Learn About My Extreme Minimalist Wardrobe

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We recently traveled to Seattle and Bellingham for a total of 9 days. When it came to packing I packed up (almost) ALL of my clothes except one dress, a black cropped jumpsuit, my clogs and a few workout clothes items.

This was the first time in the last year that I have worn ‘real’ clothes every day and by day four it was evident that I just don’t have enough clothes. I ended up doing two loads of laundry for my family while at our Airbnb just so that I would have enough clothes to last the entire trip plus I ended up having to purchase one t-shirt so that I would have enough tops to make it through the final day. Now if you don’t have kids one laundry load probably would be enough but the thing is having kids means drops of ice cream, snotty noses and dirty hands are all over my clothes in a matter of minutes.

While I am working towards living a more intentional life, filled with less things my minimalist wardrobe is not one of choice as much as a result of my postpartum weight and struggle to lose the weight, the struggle to define my style, the struggle to find sizes that fit and flatter my body and the struggle to find quality clothes that fit in my tiny wardrobe budget. These are the items I brought with me (aka my entire wardrobe):

  • Black Gap Nursing Dress
  • Black Shorts Romper (didn’t wear)
  • 1 Pair Ankle Jeans
  • 1 Pair Distressed Step-hem Ankle Jeans
  • Grey Tee
  • 2 Black Tee
  • Army Green Tee
  • Black & White Striped Tee
  • Black Blouse Tank
  • Tan Slides
  • Denim Jacket (didn’t wear)
  • 2 Pairs of Cropped Workout Leggings
  • 2 Workout Tees
  • Native Flip Flops
  • Nike Runners

In total I own (shoes + daywear – excludes activewear): 16 items

I’d really like to have more of a capsule wardrobe which generally consists of 30-40 pieces but at this point even that seems like an incredibly expensive and daunting task.

The thing is having 4 of the same t-shirt in different colors (yes they are all exactly the same) to pair with two pairs of pants is boring and slightly depressing. It’s becoming even clearer to me that the way in which I dress and present myself to the world impacts my confidence, my productivity and my overall mood. I am not looking to be some fashionista who sets trends or even someone who completely follows them but rather I want to feel like each day I got dressed with intention and not just to cover my body up.

So share with me how does what you wear impact your day to day life? If you are a plus size women where do you shop?

This post contains affiliate links. Purchases you make through these links will help fund the work I do here at no extra cost to you. Thank you sincerely for your constant support.

[PDX Eats] Plant-Based Snacks & Treats at Tiny Moreso

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You may remember the time that Jenn invited me into the Rawdacious Kitchen for a sneak peek at how she makes her amazing  vegan cheesecakes. Three years later she has moved out of her tiny basement commercial kitchen and into a beautiful, bright space that not only is home to Rawdacious Desserts but also Tiny Moreso, a plant-based cafe.


Tiny Moreso serves up Rawdacious Desserts which has expanded from vegan cheesecakes to a variety of sweets including some amazing truffles. Tiny Moreso is also serving up a menu filled with toasts, smoothies, juices, salads, sandwiches and snacks. 

On this trip we were feeling particularly hungry and ordered a spread of food and drinks. Everything was of course delicious. Favorites for us included the purple potato salad which was a special the day we visited, the Eleanor smoothie and the kids were in love with the avocado toast.

Eleanor – Banana, almond butter, mylk, maca, dash of maple

Ablis Blood Orange CBD Soda 

Salad with Purple Potatoes and Snap Peas

Kale Caesar Salad 
Sandwich with Cashew Cheese, Avocado and Veggies 

Sandwich with Cashew Cheese, Avocado and Veggies 

Of course we couldn’t leave without having a mini vegan cheesecake. 

Conquering The Junk Drawer | #AYearOfIntentionalLiving

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…err or in our case boxes. 

Our clutter brings me so much anxiety and frustration that I find myself grabbing an empty tote box and filling it with random clutter around the house. Just as it’s filled I have a meal to prepare or a child to console and the now full tote ends up in the living room with an intention to organize it but life gets busy, kids don’t sleep and I find myself shoving the box in the back of our closet. It stays in the closet until I feel motivated to go through it and this happens over and over again. It’s a ridiculous cycle that I have gotten myself into and a lot it has to do with…

  1. having TOO much
  2. having too little space (5 people + 970sq ft)
  3. having terrible storage 
  4. kids.
  5. lack of sleep and time. 

So this next month I am challenging myself to conquer the junk boxes. 

Goal:

  • Eliminate junk.
  • Donate anything we truly don’t use, don’t have a place for or simply don’t need.
  • Create/organize homes for all items 
  • Empty all of our boxes and retire them to the shed until we move someday. 

In the end I hope that we will be one step closer to living more intentionally, living with less and hoping that this will conquer the mess! 

When is the last time you cleaned out your junk drawer? 

[Recipe] The Best Vegan Sandwich | #TTLA

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This post is sponsored by Lightlife. As always, all thoughts and opinions are my own.

Hello Friends! I’m here to share the news you can now find the vegan friendly #TTLA at Whole Foods Market!! This delicious sandwich creation inspired this viral video  and has everyone (including me) wanting one.

But wait are you asking yourself um….Lindsay what is the #TTLA? Let me break it down for you: The Whole Foods TTLA sandwich  is created by layering Lightlife Organic Fakin’ Bacon Tempeh, tomato, lettuce and avocado between two pieces of ciabatta slathered with a vegan garlic aioli.

I know not all of you have Whole Foods nearby or you simply prefer to make your food at home so I’m here to share my version of the TTLA with a little extra flare. My version has a creamy herb mayo, candied tomatoes aka quick roasted tomatoes that taste like candy and smashed avocado. You could go for slices of avocado but I prefer smashed because there is nothing I hate more than a sandwich sliding apart because of slippery avocado slices.

For my version you will need:

  • Lightlife Organic Fakin’ Bacon Tempeh
  • Sourdough Bread, Sliced
  • Lettuce
  • Candied Tomatoes
    • 1 pint Cherry Tomatoes
    • Salt
    • Pepper
  • Herb Mayo Spread
    • Vegan Garlic Aioli
    • 1 Tablespoon Chopped Italian Parsley
    • 1 Tablespoon Chopped Chives
    • 1 Tablespoon Chopped Basil
  • Smashed Avocado
    • 2 Ripe Avocados
    • 2-3 Teaspoons Lemon Juice
    • Salt & Pepper

Start with preheating your oven to 425F. Slice the tomatoes in half and place cut side up on a baking sheet. Sprinkle with fresh cracked pepper and himalayan pink salt. Bake for 15 minutes.

While the tomatoes are baking work on putting together the remaining elements of the sandwich.

In a small bowl mix together the garlic aioli and herbs; mix until incorporated.

In a another small bowl mash the avocado with the lemon juice and salt and pepper to taste.

Like your bread crunchy? Now it the time to toast it.

In a skillet add just a touch of oil to prevent the Fakin’ Bacon tempeh from sticking and pan fry until lightly brown on both sides. If you prefer you can also place the Fakin’ Bacon on a sheet pan and cook in the oven.

Once the tempeh has been browned and the tomatoes are sweet like candy it’s time to put your sandwich together. Slather one side of your bread with the herb mayo spread and the other half with the smashed avocado. Top the avocado side with a layer of candied tomatoes and top the herb mayo spread with your favorite lettuce greens. Now it’s time to add the Fakin’ Bacon tempeh right on top of the tomatoes and then put it all together and enjoy!

If you are crunched for time you can use freshly sliced tomatoes or sundried tomatoes instead of the candied tomatoes.

Feeling a little cheeky? Add a layer of sliced dill pickles, tangy saurkraut or your favorite spicy peppers

 

What I Eat In A Day | Camping Edition

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We recently went on our first camping trip of the year and I thought I would share what I ate on this trip. We only went away for one night and since our old camp stove is no longer working we ended up doing a cooking free camping trip. Looking back on things now I wish we had just bought our new camp stove because an entire day of basically sandwiches and snacks just wasn’t that much fun for me. Anyways here I what I ate while camping at L.L. Stub State Park.

When we arrived I was feeling snack-y so I had a handful of these Earth Balance Vegan Cheddar Squares that are so incredibly addictive.

Still feeling a bit hungry I opted for a slightly better and new to me protein bar the Square Organics Vanilla Cashew Crisp. This bar was so delicious! It was just sweet enough, a bit chewy, a bit crunchy and not at all chalky.

After a short hike I worked on getting the fire started and things set up for dinner. I brought a spread of fruit, olives, dips and spreads, cut up veggies, tofurky and bread for sandwiches and pita chips for dipping. While I would like to say that I filled up on tons of veggies it was more like a few veggies, lots of pita chips dipped in my green goddess cashew dup and Toby’s Tofu Dip and half eaten tofurky sandwiches. I also enjoyed a beer and a half with Neil.  
The next morning we broke out our backpacking stove aka thing we use to boil water and we made oats for the kids. I ended up having this Paleo Muesli from Bob’s Red Mill and it was meh. I also enjoyed a hot mug of Four Sigmatic Mushroom Coffee with Coconut Cloud Vanilla Creamer. 

Not pictured is the sandwich I had for lunch before our hike, the two sips of terrible coffee I bought at a random coffee shop and all the water I drank. 

We are headed out camping again this weekend but this time we have a camp stove so things we surely be more fun! If you’d like to see an What I Eat While Camping – Camp Stove Edition let me know in the comments below! 

What are your favorite things to eat while camping? 

Find my Travel Guide to L.L. Stub Stewart State Park.