Father's Day fun

So in the end, on Father's Day I did not get around to claiming my free juicy hamburger or having a free 8x10 printed up.

However, we did take advantage of the waived entry fee at the Saratoga Battlefield.

It made for a great Father's Day. I enjoy history and touring sites like the battlefield. So it was fun to get to do something that I enjoy with the whole family. We all had a good time and learned a little bit along the way.

Another Father's Day Freebie

This one comes from @amymengel on Twitter. The National Parks Service will waive entrance fees for three weekends this summer. The first will be this coming weekend.

If you can't make it this weekend, the other weekends are July 18-19 and August 15-16.

You can find a list of the parks nearest you here.

If you're a history buff living in the Capital Region and have never been to the Saratoga Battlefield, I highly recommend it.

Keep the freebies coming, folks. I'll keep posting them!

More Father's Day Free Stuff

Special thanks to Mike Sussman for tipping me off to another entry in the Free Stuff Files.

It seems CVS is giving away free 8x10 photo prints. Just go to CVSPhoto.com and upload your picture. Make sure you enter the promo code FREE8X10. Then head down to the store to pick up your free print.

The offer is good now through Father's Day (apparently it's already been going on for a while). So if you're still hung up on a gift idea for dad, a nice enlarged picture of the kids might just do the trick.

Free Stuff Files: Father's Day edition

I've never heard of Juicy Burgers & More in Ballston Spa, but it certainly sounds like a great place.

I may have to check it out on Father's Day, June 21, because on that day dad's eat free with proof of "dadship" (i.e.: bring the kids). You have to register for a coupon online.

Any other great Father's Day deals I should know about?

Free Ice Cream Day

We got our free ice cream yesterday. Did you?

Free Stuff Files: Donut Day!

Tomorrow is National Doughnut Day – and what better way to celebrate than with a free one!

In the past, this holiday would be marked at Krispy Kreme, where they would be giving away free doughnuts.

Krispy Kreme is long gone (at least in our area), but have no fear! Dunkin’ Donuts is taking care of doughnut fans everywhere by offering a free doughy delight of any variety with the purchase of a beverage.

I have to give a shoutout to Wendalicious for bringing this bargain to my attention.

For those wondering, National Doughnut Day is a real holiday. The origins date back to World War I when the Salvation Army “Lassies” traveled to the front lines to cook homemade treats for the troops. The holiday was established in 1938 by the Chicago Salvation Army as a fundraiser during the depression and to honor the WWI Salvation Army volunteers. It’s celebrated on the first Friday of June.

The Friendly Free Stuff Files

Last year I got an urgent text message from good friend Ray Brownell alerting us there was free ice cream at Friendly's. It was a hot day. We were on our way back from a hike and drove straight to the nearest Friendly's for some yummy refreshment.

Friendly's is at it again this year. Walk into a participating Friendly's between noon and 5 p.m. on Saturday, June 6 to get your free single scoop cone!

I'm not sure how many years Friendly's has been hosting Free Ice Cream Day, but I'm glad that they do in light of the fact that there is no longer a Ben & Jerry's scoop shop convenient to where I live. B&J's always has a free cone day in April, but it doesn't do us much good.

From the Free Stuff Files...

What's the best kind of Chocolate? Free chocolate!

Okay, you can say that about almost anything.

In this case though, we're talking about a deal from the folks at Mars Snackfood US, the makers of M&Ms, Snickers, 3 Musketeers, Milky Way and other favorites.
They say they use only 100% cocoa butter while their competitors substitute vegetable oil for cocoa butter in their products.

To draw attention to this fact the candy maker has instituted the Mars Real Chocolate Relief Act.

Every Friday, go to RealChocolate.com. If you're one of the first 500,000 people to register that day, they'll send you a coupon for a free candy bar.

I first read about it this morning and promptly went to the site to sign up. See if you can still get yours. If you're too late, you can try again next week.

The not quite free stuff files

I get grumpy when the slumping economy hits me where it hurts -- ice cream! Especially free ice cream!

For years, Stewart's Shops had a tradition of giving away free ice cream cones on St. Patrick's Day to anyone wearing green.

Not any more. This year the cone will cost you 50 cents.

Stewart's boasts that they scooped out 200,000 cones on St. Patrick's Day last year. Yeah, because THEY WERE FREE. How many do you figure they'll scoop this year?

Free Stuff Files: Super Bowl Edition

Everyone loves watching the commercials as much as the game during the Super Bowl. But you've got to get up and go to the bathroom at some point and apparently I did during the Denny's ad.

That's the only reason I can think of that I didn't know about Denny's free Grand Slam deal. From 6 a.m. this morning until 2 p.m. this afternoon, everyone who walks into Denny's is entitled to a free Grand Slam breakfast.

Guess where I'm going for lunch?

Granted, the word is there was a line out the door at the Wolf Road Denny's this morning. I'm hoping that will have died down a little bit this afternoon.



UPDATE: I never did make it to Denny's. Bummer. But a big "Thank You" goes out to Lindsay for reminding me that IHOP will be giving away pancakes on National Pancake Day, Feb. 24!

The Free Stuff Files: Election edition

Election Day is here and you can celebrate Democracy buy getting free stuff!

Stop into any Starbucks today and pick up a free tall cup of coffee. I will be all over that one. I might even hit a couple of different Starbucks, since you can't travel a half mile in any direction around here without bumping into one.

The other two deals I wish I could take advantage of, but sadly they don't have any shops with convenient locations for me. But maybe this will be helpful for some of you out there in blogland.

First up, enjoy the sweet taste of freedom at a participating Ben & Jerry's scoop shop between 5 and 8 p.m. That's when they'll be passing out free cones. Personally, I'd pick Stephen Colbert's Americone Dream.

Lastly, an "I Voted" sticker will get you an free star-shaped doughnut with red, white and blue sprinkles at Krispy Kreme.

MMmmm...delicious democracy...

From the Free Stuff files...

Don't forget, America, since a base has been stolen in the World Series, WE ALL GET FREE TACOS TODAY!

This is part of Taco Bell's "Steal a Base. Steal a Taco." promotion. They promised to give away tacos if a base was stolen during the Fall Classic.

So stop into your local Taco Bell today between 2 and 6 p.m. to get your free Crunchy Seasoned Beef Taco!

This and that

My blogging mojo has really been out of whack lately. Here’s a sample of the things I could’ve/should’ve been blogging about recently:

• An update from the Free Stuff Files: I recently scored a free necktie from Christopher's Men's Store. They're running a promotion with the local station that carries Yankee games. They randomly pick an inning before the game and if the score is tied during that inning you can go to the TV station's website to print out a coupon for a free tie. Sure enough, the first time they ran this promotion they wound up giving away dozens and dozens of ties. The deal was good for any tie in the store. I had a $90 tie in my hands at one point, but passed on it because it was kind of ugly. I settled on one worth about $40.
  
  
• I can’t believe Thomas is done with preschool. He’s still such a little pipsqueak. It’s going to be really weird when he gets on that bus for Kindergarten in the fall.
  
  
• Nolan has been playing really good baseball lately. His whole team has come a long way this year. Hard to believe we only have one game left.
  
  
• We’ve really been getting our use out of our Great Escape season passes. We’ve already been up to the park twice with the whole family plus Kris went up one more time with Thomas and his friend Leo. I finally have someone to ride rollercoasters with since Nolan is now big enough. We’re now planning a trip to Six Flags New England (formerly Riverside Amusement Park) since our passes will work there too. Thanks mom and dad Chase!
  
  
• We’ve gotten into the habit of riding our bikes to church every Sunday morning. I really enjoy that.
  
  
• We recently downgraded to regular old basic cable. So far we’re surviving. We’re watching more PBS. Plus the kids are getting by on a steady diet of DVDs from the library and I’ve found Hulu to be a lifesaver. We’re also reading more.
  
  
• Speaking of DVDs for the kids, I continue to educate them in the classics. We recently picked up a 4-DVD set of Rocky & Bullwinkle cartoons at the library. Nolan is now well versed in “moose and squirrel,” as well as “Mr. Peabody and Sherman,” “Fractured Fairy Tales,” “Aesop and Son,” and of course “Dudley Do-Right of the Mounties.”
  
  
• My two little geeks-in-training are also getting hooked on “Doctor Who.” One of the most asked questions when I get home from work is “Dad, can we watch ‘Doctor Who’ tonight?” Thomas has taken to walking around the house pretending to be a Dalek and Nolan has moved beyond the current 10th Doctor and asked to watch some of the classic episodes from the 1970s and 80s that I have on DVD.
  
  
• I’m steadily getting more addicted to Facebook. Several more friends from high school and college have signed on recently. It’s been a great way to keep in touch with people.
  
  
• I’ll leave you with this question – when can we stop referring to years as “two-thousand” and start saying “twenty?” For example, when I see 2010, I want to say “twenty-ten,” but it bugs me to hear people still say “two-thousand ten.” Just a little pet peeve I guess.

Update from the Free Stuff Files

A big thank you goes out to Ray Brownell, who sent me a very timely text message this afternoon, alerting us to the fact Friendly's is giving out free ice cream cones today.

We were very near our neighborhood Friendly's at the time, so we made a beeline there for some refreshment on this very hot day.

Act now! The free cone deal is only good until 5 p.m. today!

From the Free Stuff files...

Don't forget to get your free iced coffee today at Dunkin' Donuts.

Stop by any Dunkin' Donuts today until 10 p.m. and get a free 16 oz. cup of Joe Cool.

You can also choose from one of our 9 flavors (French Vanilla, Toasted Almond, Raspberry, Hazelnut, Coconut, Chocolate, Cinnamon, Caramel, and Blueberry) or create your own flavor by combining 2-3 flavors.

This makes up for me forgetting to get my free Starbucks coffee yesterday.

Free coffee!

Starbucks is rolling out a new brew called Pike Place Roast. According to the Business Review, you can stop in today and try a free cup.

But hurry. The freebie is only available from 12-12:30 p.m. (I just found out about it now)!

UPDATE: This turned out to be an even better deal than I realized. Along with my free cup of coffee, I was presented with two gift cards. Each is good for one free cup of coffee on Wednesdays between now and the end of May.

Hooray for freebies!

Campaigning for free stuff

If you're like me, you hate seeing politcal campaign signs around days and weeks after the election is over.

Rick Lamparelli, the owner of Garcia's Mexican Restaurant, doesn't like seeing them either. So until Nov. 16 you can bring in a campaign sign and exchange it for a free appetizer!

MMmmm...bipartisan nachos...

Free tacos!

The never-ending quest for free stuff continues...get your free taco tomorrow at Taco Bell between 2 and 5 p.m.

They promised to give away free tacos if there was a stolen base during the World Series. They called the promotion "Steal a Base. Steal a Taco."

Margaritaville

The never-ending quest for free stuff continues...

I'm on the mailing list for Garcia's Mexican Restaurant in Colonie. According to the e-mail I got this morning, starting today and for the remainder of the summer, any time the official temperature at the Albany Airport hits 90 degrees or higher, stop into Garcia's for a free Margarita. The e-mail says you just need to tell them that you're "part of the club."

Cheers!

If it's free it's for me

In my never ending quest for free stuff, I bring you these two items:

First—a reminder that once again Stewart’s will be giving away ice cream on St. Patrick’s Day. Show up wearing green and you’re entitled to a free ice cream.

This is assuming you’re willing to brave the snowstorm. If you’re like me and you’re anxious to celebrate spring, then take comfort—the vernal equinox arrives on March 21. And Dunkin’ Donuts will mark the occasion by giving out free iced coffee.