This week, we put up a Little Free Library in our neighborhood. It ended up being an even more fun and rewarding project than I expected, and now I love peeking at it every day to see which books have been dropped off or picked up by our neighbors. What a fun tiny little hobby. Last week, one of you (hi, Nikki!) rightfully called me out for mentioning in last week's Friday Five that we are caring for foster kittens and neglecting to share pictures of them. My bad! Scroll down for a picture I took of them yesterday.
Let's get to your Friday Five!
Free Program to Recycle Technology: Dell has a program where you can print a free pre-paid label and then send in any old technology you're no longer using. They'll recycle it on your behalf. So handy!
Gas Cash Back: I've been using the Upside app for a handful of months now to get cheaper gas and it's a straightforward app to use. I saw they also have cash back on some restaurants in my area (some sit-down, some fast food) that I need to try out next. For example, the gas station closest to my house gets 36 cents per gallon in cash back. If you're new to the app, try using code CACTUS10 to get an extra 10% off your first purchase of gas, groceries, or food.
2 Tips for Cooling Off: The heat of the summer months is starting to creep into my town, so this week I was delighted to have a neck fan on hand to watch my daughter's softball game (we keep two in our trunk). I also got this lovely little device out of the closet for the season, and it's a welcome addition to my desk again. That little device reduces my need for air conditioning significantly.
Got Family Movie Night Suggestions? A Friday Fiver (hi Jenny!) asked if we could crowdsource ideas for movies to watch that kids and adults would both enjoy. We're in a bit of a drought in my house, too, when it comes to movies to watch together, so if you've got any ideas, please hit reply and let me know. I'll collect them and share them with all of you next week.
Want to Be Quoted by Reporters? If you would love to be included in news stories (if you work at a nonprofit and want media coverage for your cause, or if you're a business owner, or if you care about local issues), HARO (Help a Reporter Out) was a great tool that shut down but is now back and looking for sources to connect with journalists. It's free, and I've found it to be a great tool in both my past role as a nonprofit Executive Director and now as a business owner.
Bonus Sponsor Resource: I’ve been using this sleepy hot chocolate a few nights a week, and every time, I sleep like a rock. Honestly, I should probably be drinking it nightly. My current favorite is Salted Caramel, but Vanilla Chai is next on my list. I asked Beam if we could get a special offer for our Friday Five community, and they came through: 35% off with code FRIDAYFIVE35. If better sleep is something you’re focusing on, this is 100% worth trying. 35% Off Dream
This resource is from one of our Friday Five sponsors—huge thanks to them for helping keep this newsletter free. This resource is from one of our Friday Five sponsors - thank you to them for keeping this newsletter free for readers!
Our foster kittens for the next few weeks, which my kids have named Cappucino, Latte, Lollipop, and Jake.
