thanksgiving feast

A few nights ago we watched Throwdown with Bobby Flay and he competed against The Pioneer Woman (Ree Drummund) in creating a delicious Thanksgiving feast. I was salivating through the whole show! Bobby Flay's pumpkin bread pudding dessert (above) looked pretty incredible, although I read it does take a little work. And Ree's mashed potatoes looked SO creamy and delicious I couldn't wait to read the recipe after the show! I haven't actually tried any of the Thanksgiving Feast Recipes myself yet (I definitely will though) but I thought they were worth sharing as you prepare your own feasts.

the pioneer woman

If you haven't been on The Pioneer Woman website you are definitely missing out! I could spend hours looking through all of the pictures, recipes and stories... And I admit I'm somewhat jealous (actually, really super jealous) of her country lifestyle :) The picture above is just one of my favorites from her recent "Four-Legged Photos" collections.

classic commercials

I bought a really great $5 CD set of old "classic commercials" and have been watching them for the last couple weeks. Incredibly entertaining! It's amazing to see the different ways of marketing just 30 or 40 years ago...and some of the names and soundtracks are ridiculous. I'm currently watching the haircare products and thought it would be fun to post a few. This first one below was just cute and reminded me of my mom brushing out my tangles...



I think this one wins for the worst name: "Ozon Fluid Net"
And check out how "natural" her hair looks!

the nostalgic lite-brite

Remember the Lite-Brite? I definitely had one. I remember trying to create different pictures with my brother ... wonder if I can find it in the depths of my parents' closet still. Anyway, saw this fun Lite-Brite video made my David Crowder and his band - a little long, but fun to watch and feel a tad bit nostalgic. (According to the DC Band the video is made up of more than 1200 frames and took about a month to make with help from 80+ friends.)

free birthday meals & desserts

In anticipation of my birthday in August, I spent the earlier part of the month signing up for some restaurant clubs hoping to score some really great birthday deals :) And I reaped the benefits in free meal coupons for several weeks! Some are really lame (dessert the size of a dime) but some are really really great deals. Most do not require a purchase and can be used in the weeks before or after your birthday. (note: I suggest using your "junk email" account because you may continue getting coupons and restaurant announcements after signing up. You can always unsubscribe too.) This is what I found ...


THE BEST BIRTHDAY CLUB DEALS:

CHEVYS FRESH MEX - free entree
A coupon emailed for a free entree! No purchase necessary and the coupon expires less than a month after it is sent. This is a great one to split - fill up on chips and salsa then split your entree with a friend. You will also receive an emailed coupon for a free appetizer (with entree purchase) just for joining.

CLAIM JUMPER - free entree
This is a really great freebie ... one free entree up to an $18 value! And they have HUGE portions! No purchase necessary and the coupon doesn't expire for two weeks. This is another great one to split with a friend or husband :) To clarify, they will not just take $18 off of your bill (we learned that the hard way after a miscommunication with our waitress). They just cover one entree.

EL TORITO - free entree
A coupon emailed for a free entree! No purchase necessary and the coupon expires less than a month after it is sent. This is another great one to split - fill up on chips and salsa then split your entree with a friend. You will also receive an emailed coupon for a free order of fresh guacamole (with entree purchase) just for joining.

IHOP - free birthday meal
Mine was a coupon emailed specifically for a free "Rooty Tooty Fresh N Fruity" (2 eggs, 2 strips of bacon, 2 sausage links, 2 pancakes with fruit & whipped cream topping). No purchase necessary and it expires about two weeks after it is sent. I believe you also receive a a free meal just for signing up.

RED ROBIN - free burger
First you get a $3 off your next meal coupon just for joining. Then an emailed coupon for a free gourmet burger (with fries). I think this is a great coupon...a delicious burger with unlimited fries AND they bring you a free dessert and sing Happy Birthday :) I love Red Robin! Always fast and friendly service.

RUBIO'S BAJA GRILL - free $7 meal
This was a great emailed coupon too! I think the coupon actually said a free burrito or taco meal up to $7.00 ... but my husband and I shared a burrito and taco and they took $7.00 off the entire bill. Not sure if this is standard but it was a good deal for us!


OTHERS WORTH MENTIONING:

AUNTIE ANNE'S PRETZELS - bogo pretzel for joining

BASKIN ROBBINS - free ice cream scoop
A coupon for a free 2.5oz scoop emailed just before your birthday. Coupon expires within ten days. No purchase necessary. I think they may also email a $3 off an ice cream cake coupon. Yum! I love ice cream.

CARROWS - free dessert
A coupon emailed for a free birthday dessert. I didn't actually try this one yet so I can't say whether the dessert was delicious or lame ... let me know if you find out!

DENNY'S - free grand slam
This coupon works only on the day of your birthday.

COLD STONE CREAMERY - free ice cream scoop
I misplaced this one so don't remember all the details (sorry) but it's similar to Baskin Robbins with an emailed coupon for a free scoop of ice cream. No purchase necessary and it does not have to be used on the day of your birthday.


THE LAMEST BIRTHDAY CLUB DEALS:

APPLEBEE'S - free birthday dessert
A coupon emailed on the day of your birthday for a free dessert shooter. No purchase necessary and the coupon doesn't expire for one month, which is really great. But, I'm pretty sure the dessert comes in a shot glass ... not even worth it.

BJ'S RESTAURANT - free (small) pizookie dessert
This one was a disappointment. They send an email telling you to come in for a free birthday pizookie. I printed out the email (assuming it was a coupon) and went in for a birthday pizookie to share with my husband. The waitress was rude and said "you don't need that paper" and "do you want to order more because it's only like three bites?" ... hmmm. She brought it out TWENTY minutes later and she was wrong - it was more like six bites :) And it was delicious. But definitely not worth the wait or her bad attitude.

san diego restaurant week

San Diego Restaurant Week begins this Sunday the 19th!

Anyone have a favorite place to eat each year?

free desserts today only

Bravo TV has just launched a Top Chef spin-off show with a focus on desserts... Yum! And you can celebrate the first season of Top Chef - Just Desserts with FREE desserts at some of our local restaurants today! Check out their Facebook page or this Union Tribune article which gives specifics just for San Diego dessert giveaways.

free itunes downloads

This first download is really great! It's a FREE sampler of 10 songs from the Monterey Jazz Festival. My favorite song is "Billy Childs" and it's almost 13 minutes long! Great song for a great price. Then you can download more FREE songs from the Austin City Limits. It is another sampling of 10 songs from a mixture of genres.

I found both listed on the Free iTunes Downloads blog :)

free bag of natural dog or cat food

This is a REALLY great coupon! And it arrives in your mailbox in about a week. Natura Advantage is offering a free 5-6lb. bag of dog or cat food that can be picked up at your local participating pet shop. Just go to the Natura Advantage website, fill out the information and then specify where you will be using your coupon (they give a list of local stores). This is "natural" pet food so the bags typically sell for $15-20 each! I just picked up a bag today at my local pet shop and the employee was amazed it was such a good coupon. He personally suggested the "Innova" bag because he feeds it to his dog and said it is quality dog food :)

15% off clothing at target

This Friday and Saturday only you can save 15% on all online clothing purchases at Target.com by entering the promotional code: TCEES2DO. The code works for men's, women's, baby's and kids' apparel. (Does not specify whether or not you can use the code on clearance items.) Free shipping when you spend $50.

$1 smoothies at jamba juice!

Jamba Juice is offering $1.00 Superfruit Smoothies all day tomorrow, June 19th in the sixteen ounce size. You have a choice of Pomegranate, Yumberry, Super Yumberry, Berry Yumberry and Acai. Anyone have a favorite?

lunch ideas for less than 3 bucks

A few lunch ideas that cost less than three dollars! ...

Daphne's Greek Cafe -- order a side of their lemon soup (which comes with a couple small pieces of pita bread) and a side of rice. I wouldn't buy it for my husband - not filling enough for a man meal :) but great for a quick snack or a light lunch. Note: I've been to one Daphne's that did not charge me the side order price for the soup - so check before paying!

Rubio's Baja Grill -- this meal idea is courtesy of my friend Savanna :) If you want an inexpensive burrito (no meat) order one tortilla, one side of rice and one side of beans - so cheap! You can build the burrito yourself and add onions, salsa and lime juice from the salsa bar. It's very filling and tastes delicious.

El Patron Mexican Food -- they have the best (& biggest!) fish tacos I've had in San Diego. Just order two fish tacos, drown them in your favorite salsa and you will not be disappointed. Don't forget to grab a side of those free spicy carrots. Yum!

tip of the day

Use a baby bottle brush to clean the inside of your flower vases. You can find a brush in the baby aisle at most stores (Target, Walmart, etc.) for just $1 to $2. I especially love using it to clean my glass vases between bouquets.

spell checquer

Eye halve a spelling chequer
It came with my pea sea
It plainly marques four my revue
Miss steaks eye kin knot sea.
Eye strike a key and type a word
And weight four it two say
Weather eye am wrong oar write
It shows me strait a weigh.
As soon as a mist ache is maid
It nose bee fore two long
And eye can put the error rite
Its rare lea ever wrong.
Eye have run this poem threw it
I am shore your pleased two no
Its letter perfect awl the weigh
My chequer tolled me sew.

tip of the day

Heard this tip on a technology blog a few months ago and thought it was worth sharing ... my husband and I tested it and it definitely works! If you want to avoid those annoying previews at the beginning of your movies, just click stop - stop again - then play. That will take you directly to the main movie and you can skip all the previews! It should work on most DVD and blu-ray players.

proof of our donut adventure!

national doughnut day friday!

This Friday, June 4th is National Doughnut Day! It was apparently started decades ago as a fundraiser for the Salvation Army. I saw a sign at Peterson's Donuts in Escondido last night that said they would be donating part of their proceeds to the Salvation Army.

On Friday, Dunkin' Donuts will be giving away a FREE donut with the purchase of any beverage.


Krispy Kreme is also giving away a FREE donut (no purchase necessary).

new garden!

I planted my first vegetable garden! Hoping I get some produce despite the thousands of earwigs trying to attack it. I bought an organic "pesticide" that I'm hoping will do the trick. I've also been working super hard on our overgrown yard. It is finally getting under control, trees are producing and plants are starting to blossom - it's beautiful! Here is a little peak into our yard ...


The bottle wall! It's so awesome and really adds to the character of our house. The bottles are old - house is from the 50s so I'm sure bottles are too! And some have plants growing inside.


Hibiscus we planted along our front walkway.


Our beloved avocado tree.

robbie's new song!

thirty-one cent scoops!

31 cent scoops at Baskin Robbins tonight! Yum. Stop by between 5-10pm to help support your local fire service organization. I loooove ice cream ... there's a chance I will stop by for some mint chocolate chip! :) What's YOUR favorite flavor?

boot drive today!

Local firefighters are hosting the annual "Boot Drive" today with proceeds going toward the Burn Institute of San Diego. Look for firefighters at most major intersections during your morning and evening commutes and drop some cash in their boots!

sleeveface.com

So, this is really awesome ... sleeveface.com ... "persons obscuring or augmenting any part of their body or bodies with record sleeve(s) causing an illusion". Credit to my dad for showing me this site. I've seen some really incredible old albums at the thrift store (specifically at Amvets). I'm really tempted to try it myself! And I'm anxious to hear which ones are your favorite :)

tax day = free stuff

Free cup of brewed coffee at Starbucks tomorrow (April 15th) if you bring your own reusable travel mug!

Cinnabon is giving out two free cupcake bites "to make it less taxing" on April 15th from 6pm to 8pm.

Several Chick-fil-A restaurants have tax day promotions but they are restaurant specific so call before going.

Some Subway restaurants are giving out a free cookie to each customer. Again, call and check for participating locations.

Free Taco Al Carbon or any other loco value menu item with a drink purchase from El Pollo Loco (yum!)

And Jack in the Box has Free Fryday the day after Tax Day (April 16th) with free samples of their new fries.

the best hot fudge

This is the BEST hot fudge sauce you will ever eat in your life! I would show you a picture ... but we already ate it all :) It's really incredible on vanilla ice cream, great for dipping fruit like strawberries or drizzled over your favorite cheesecake. It's super quick and easy to make. Enjoy! Let me know what you think.

HOT FUDGE SAUCE
(recipe from Claudia)

1 cup heavy (whipping) cream
1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa (sifted)
1/3 cup granulated sugar
2 tablespoons dark corn syrup
1 teaspoon vanilla

Put all ingredients in small pan and boil at a low boil over moderate heat. Stir constantly to keep smooth (a whisk works best). Makes 1 1/2 cups.

ugly cake

I thought these pictures were worth sharing ... my friend Ashley ordered a cake from a professional bakery for her 4 year old son's birthday and it came out SO bad! Haha, wow. These pictures are pretty amazing - nothing is centered or straight and they didn't even spell out "birthday" on the side. It looks like her son decorated the cake himself! :) Fortunately, she called them and got her money back.

new flowers

Went to the Farmers Market this afternoon and picked up some flowers for three dollars :) What a deal! I bought a mixed bouquet before but it overwhelmed me. I've decided my favorite is a simple bunch like these or wax flowers that I can divide and put all around the house. Just wish I could capture them better with my camera.

fiona likes food

Check out my friend's new food blog - Fiona Likes Food! If you grew up eating her mom's incredible gourmet cooking you'd probably write a food blog too. (ps: she has really great photos.)

forgive the photos

As the daughter of a professional photographer, I ask that you please forgive the terrible photos I will be posting on this blog. I figure a bad picture is perhaps better than NO picture but I am still sorry (in advance). My camera is getting old and I guarantee the pictures will look bad. I don't dare take a picture in low lighting because the camera shuts down and says "battery exhausted" - Ha! It's definitely time for a new one.

my inspiration

the secret of life

I was raised on James Taylor. Thanks to my dad, I'm pretty sure I knew the lyrics to almost ALL of his songs as a child! :) And one line in particular came to mind as I was thinking of a name for this new blog ... "the secret of life is enjoying the passage of time" ... it's one of my favorite song lyrics of all time. Unfortunately, the url is taken by a blogger who made just ONE post! :( Bummer. So, I went with "Family and Food" to reflect my love both for my family and of course, my love for food.  Part of "The Secret of Life" lyrics are still listed below the title and I hope you will enjoy the passage of time along with me through this blog.  Feel free to comment.  I love hearing from you!