Giveaway

In a few short hours, I will be heading home to the land of coconuts and palm trees!   For my readers who have been with me for a while, you know that my daughter and I are very fortunate to visit my family in Hawaii every year.  Since it is such a long journey, we generally stay for several weeks.  During that time, I have very limited internet access, so I won’t be available ’til mid-June.

But, don’t worry, I’ve worked hard to write/schedule posts ahead of time – mostly about free movies and other fun summer activities that you can take advantage of!  And, we will also be running some awesome giveaways from Lil’ Fishy, Mellow Mushroom, Your Story Hour, and more!  So, be sure to check back frequently!

If you REALLY miss your Capitally Frugal fix (because I’m sure you’ll wither away without me ), grab the June copy of Washington Family Magazine!  You’ll find our in-print article on great camping sites in the area.

:: Giveaway Details ::
In the meantime, to thank you all for being such wonderful readers, we have a $25 Starbucks gift card to give away!  To enter, just let me know your favorite Starbucks drink.  This contest is open to the US and will close at 11:59 PM on June 15, 2013.  I will draw the winner by Random.org, and they will have 48 hours to respond to the email notification that they won.

{ 97 comments }

A few weeks ago, April 29th to be exact, Chick-fil-A reinvented their salad and wrap selections and are introducing customers to their four new, delicious options: the Cobb Salad, the Asian Chicken Salad, the Grilled Market Salad, and the Grilled Chicken Cool Wrap.  To showcase these new menu items, Chick-fil-A at Leesburg graciously hosted a few of us ladies for an amazing salad tasting!  From the gorgeous rose centerpieces to hugs from the Chick-fil-A cow, Nicole, Melinda, Danielle, and the rest of the staff made it a fun, memorable evening of Chick-fil-A red carpet treatment.

And, for those of you who haven’t had a chance to sample their newest menu items, here are some thoughts from the expert salad tasters!

My personal favorite is their grilled market salad, a delectable mix of fruits (strawberries, blueberries, and apples), salad greens, crumbled blue cheese, and grilled chicken.  On the side, you’ll receive cute little bags of roasted nuts, harvest nut granola, and salad dressing that you can toss into the salad.  For those of you with dietary concerns, this salad is Chick-fil-A’s gluten free option, and boasts two servings of veggies and one serving of fruit.  I love that the salad (minus the dressing) is only 180 calories, making it a guilt-free meal!

And, I wasn’t the only fan!  I heard exclamations of, “I love the blueberries,” “it’s so rare to find crunchy apples in a salad, totally delicious,” and “the Apple Cider Vinaigrette gives it the perfect zesty kick.”  The only critique was from someone who disliked the blue cheese, but that problem was easily solved: if you’re not a blue cheese fan, just let the staff know and they will leave it off!

Hands down, the Cobb Salad was the group’s favorite (apparently, my taste buds work differently than the rest of the population).  And, it won for good reason – it’s the traditional, All-American salad, with sliced, hot Chick-fil-A nuggets, chopped romaine lettuce & baby greens, roasted corn, crumbled bacon and hard-boiled egg, shredded cheese, and grape tomatoes.  Of course, we can’t forget the  Avocado Lime Ranch Dressing that pairs perfectly with it.  Similar to the Grilled Market Salad, you receive the dressing and charred tomato & crispy red bell peppers on the side to mix in, if you desire.

Several ladies mentioned that the Cobb Salad would be perfect for those men (like John!) who balk at the sight of an entree salad – it has enough yummy-ness mixed in that it’s easy to forget about all the greens.  We also heard comments like, “I love the roasted corn!” “the crunchy red peppers are very similar to french fried onions and give the salad great flavor,” “for an even healthier salad, I would substitute grilled chicken,” and the very emphatic, “IT’S MY FAVORITE!”

I think, we all agreed that the Asian Chicken Salad is perfect for those days that you’re looking for something new and exciting.  The Asian Salad is a bed of chopped romaine lettuce, baby greens, cabbage, and hand-grated carrots, topped with sliced, hot Chick-fil-A nuggets and mandarin orange segments.  Their dressing, honey-thai almonds, and chinese garlic & ginger wonton strips come on the side.

As the comments swirled around the tables, you could hear things like, “I love the hot chicken on the salad,” “the oranges added a sublime sweetness,” “try the Apple Cider Vinaigrette dressing instead – it’s makes the salad a perfect blend of tangy and sweet,” and “I could eat the honey-thai almonds all day.”

And, last but certainly not the least delicious, we were treated to the new Grilled Chicken Cool Wrap.  After listening to many customer suggestions,  Chick-fil-A has re-invented their wraps to make them more appealing.  Tightly rolled in a flax bread, you’ll find grilled chicken nestled in fresh green leaf lettuce, shredded red cabbage, carrots, and a blend of shredded Monterey Jack and cheddar cheeses.  And, the best part?  You no longer have to worry about fresh tomatoes making it too soggy or the wrap disintegrating as you eat!

According to Chick-fil-A dietitian Jodie Worrell, “the entrée salad and wrap roll-out come as part of Chickfil-A’s broader initiative to offer healthier menu options to customers.” With that in mind, Chick-fil-A locations also revamped their menu boards, adding calorie counts, in an effort to help customers make more informed ordering decisions and to assist guests in selecting meals that suit their individual dietary needs and preferences.  So, head on in to your local Chick-fil-A and try out their new line of salads and wraps!

{Giveaway Details}
Chick-fil-A is generously offering FIVE of my readers a card, loaded with free items for the months of May, June, and July.   In May, you will receive the Grilled Market Salad; in June, you’ll receive the Grilled Chicken Cool Wrap; and in July, you’ll receive the Cobb Salad.  The card will be accepted at Chick-fil-A restaurants around the country (even though it says, “redeemable at Chick-fil-A at Leesburg”).

To enter, just fill out the Rafflecopter!  So you have enough time to take advantage of the May offer, this giveaway will be super fast.   This contest is open to the US and will close at 12:00 AM on Monday, May 20, 2013.   I will draw the winner by Random.org, and they will have 24 hours to respond to the email notification that they won. 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

{Disclosure: This giveaway is being sponsored by Chick-fil-A.}

{ 29 comments }

This giveaway has ended.  Congratulations to our winner, Carolyn!

The Virginia Renaissance Faire kicks off this weekend, May 11th & 12th in Spotsylvania, Virginia, about an hour and a half away from Washington, DC and Northern Virginia.   Hours are 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM – and, tickets are $9 for ages 6 and up.  Anyone under 5 is FREE!   Please keep in mind: they do not have an ATM on site and several of their vendors, notably food and drink, do not take credit cards.

Once you enter the Faire, you’ll be transported  back to the days of Queen Elizabeth (the first!). You and your family can learn the art of jousting for Her Majesty’s Knights, have an archery lesson on the long bow, enjoy delicious Renaissance foods (like fish and chips, Mediterranean cooking, savory Scotch eggs, pretzels, pickles and much more), and peruse the busy Marketplace, where you’ll find hand-crafted wares like jewelry, pottery, swords, armour, leather goods, candles, oils, woodworks, and so much more.

Children will be thrilled with the Faire’s Poppets’ Pastymes, a special world for children. Each afternoon, every child can receive a royal greeting after the Queen arrives into the village. There will be arts and crafts, puppetry, and participation in interactive fairy tales for the thrill of being on stage. Children will love playing historical games such as 9 Man’s Morris and Pell Mell. Or, they can even be knighted by Queen Elizabeth herself!

Here is a schedule of special events at the Virginia Renaissance Faire:

May 11th & 12th
Come celebrate their opening weekend and the start of the Mid-Atlantic region’s 2013 Renaissance Faire season!

May 18th & 19th
Mad Mechanicals perform Shakespeare with a twist. And like any good Shakespeare play, the village brims with characters. Meet: Edward Alleyn, a true Renaissance Man; Dinty the Moor, the most honest man in the shire; or a couple of Lepers, Sashenka the Contortionist and Fox & Glove.

May 25th & 26th
Ahoy! The shire is awash in pirates and privateers! The Pyrates Royale, Surly Mermaids and Ship’s Company Crew provide musical accompaniment to the invasion.

Also, in honor of Memorial Day Weekend, all active and reservist military personnel receive free admission this weekend with military-issue ID.  Family and friends pay regular admission.

June 1st & 2nd
Celebrate  Celtic Heritage, with Celtic music by Tower Green and Celtique, The sounds of pipes and harps accompany you as you tour the shire.

June 8th & 9th
Your last chance this season to travel back in time and enjoy the delights of an English Renaissance village, right here in Virginia.

{Giveaway Details}
Washington Family Magazine is offering one of my readers a pack of FOUR tickets to enjoy the Virginia Renaissance Faire.  To enter, just let me know your favorite part of summer!  And, don’t forget to leave your email address, so I have a way of contacting you if you win.   This contest is open to the US and will close at 11:59 PM on May 15, 2013.   I will draw the winner by Random.org, and they will have 24 hours to respond to the email notification that they won. 

For extra entries:
1) “Like” Washington Family Magazine on Facebook. (Leave your Facebook ID.)
2) Follow Washington Family Magazine on Twitter. (Leave your Twitter ID.)
3) “Like” Capitally Frugal on Facebook. (Leave your Facebook ID.)
4) Follow Capitally Frugal on Twitter. (Leave your Twitter ID.)
5) Tweet this giveaway, please include @capitallyfrugal and @familymagdc in your tweet.  (Leave a link to your tweet, please!)

{Disclosure: This giveaway is being sponsored by Washington Family Magazine.}

{ Comments on this entry are closed }

This giveaway has ended.  Congratulations to our winner, Latanya!

With their sweet actions, reactions, mannerisms, and overall presence in our lives, little ones color our world beautiful each and every day.  And, Pampers aims to celebrate that with their 30-day Facebook sweepstakes that kicked off on Monday, April 29th, with a celebration of the ways babies color our lives!

You can look for the special “Spring into Color” tab on Pampers Facebook page for chances to win daily prizes that enhance the colorful and delightful ways in which the wonderment of babies brighten our daily lives.  And, of course, all prizes include Pampers wipes and diapers.  But, it doesn’t stop there; each entry will also enter you into the grand prize giveaway — a $5,000 gift card.  Just be sure to enter before the sweepstakes ends on May 28^th.

:: Giveaway Details ::
The best part?  We have a diaper and wipes coupon (valued at $18) to give to one of my lucky readers.  To enter, just let me know your favorite diaper brand.  This contest is open to the US and will close at 11:59 PM on May 17, 2013.  I will draw the winner by Random.org, and they will have 48 hours to respond to the email notification that they won.  I will for the winner’s address to Pampers, and they will be responsible for prize fulfillment.

{ Comments on this entry are closed }

This giveaway has ended.  Congratulations to our winner, Steph!

We think that most can agree… Moms are the best – and they do a lot for us! Now it’s time to return the favor and celebrate this Mother’s Day by giving mom the movie night she deserves.  Watching a classic flick together is the perfect opportunity to catch up and share stories with your family… tell them something that they never knew about Mom!

And, Warner Brothers wants to help make your Mother’s Day Movie Night even more spectacular with this giveaway for their Best of Warner Brothers 100 Film Collection ($597.92 MSRP).  This collection, presented in book style premium packaging, boasts 100 movies on 55 discs, including all 22 of Warner Bros. Library’s Best Picture winners. Plus, you’ll receive two all-new documentaries: Tales from the Warner Bros. Lot and The Warner Bros. Lot Tour with hours of commentaries, behind-the-scenes featurettes and more on select films.  Also included is a limited edition 27” x 40” poster, plus a postcard series of Warner Bros. movie posters designed by legendary Bill Gold.

Moms, Warner Bros. wants to know what your perfect day would be!  Just complete this My Perfect Mother’s Day Fill-in-the-Blank sheet to get an extra entry into the giveaway.  Once you fill it out, you can always print and hang it on the fridge to give Dad a few pointers! 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Good morning, it’s your dream Mother’s Day! Anything can happen!

Waking up after sleeping in, I’m greeted with a breakfast of ________________ (food).

I’m spending the morning relaxing while watching my all-time favorite musical ___________ (movie title). I remember watching it for the first time when I was ________ years old.  Of course, I can’t watch this movie without my favorite movie snack ___________ !

For lunch, my friends and I are taken to dine at ________________ (restaurant). Bouquets of _________ (flower) greet us on arrival.  On our way home, our car unexpectedly hits a time warp and we’re teleported back to the set of my favorite romance film!  I find myself playing the role of my favorite character ___________________ (character).

Suddenly, I’m Hollywood’s next big star! I’m strutting down every red carpet and being invited to all the exclusive premieres… I’m even dating the cutest movie star __________ and our celebrity couple name is _________________.  Suddenly, I wake up and find myself safely back in my bed. Looks like I must have dozed off and started dreaming!

{Giveaway Details}
We have the Best of Warner Brothers 100 Film Collection ($597.92 MSRP) to giveaway to one lucky reader . To enter, just let me know your favorite movie, along with your email address.  {If you’re reading this in your email, please click on the title and head to our website to leave your comment.}  This contest is open to the US and will close at 11:59 PM on May 12, 2013.  I will draw the winners by Random.org, and they will have 48 hours to respond to the email notification that they won.  The prize will be sent via FedEx or UPS, so no P.O. Boxes.

:: For Extra Entries ::
1) Take the Mother’s Day Movie Night Quiz and let me know your score (I got an 825!).
2) Copy and paste the Fill-in-the-Blank Mother’s Day sheet into the comments, along with your answers.
3) “Like” Capitally Frugal on Facebook. (Leave your Facebook ID.)
4) Follow Capitally Frugal on Twitter. (Leave your Twitter ID.)
5) Tweet this giveaway, include @capitallyfrugal in your tweet.  (Leave a link, please!)
6) Follow me on Pinterest and “pin” this giveaway.

Disclosure: Warner Bros. is sponsoring this giveaway.  This did not influence my opinions in any way – all ideas are my own.

{ Comments on this entry are closed }

This giveaway has ended.  Congratulations to our winner, Alicia K!

This summer, Wolf Trap will be hosting some amazing artists and shows on their center stage, the Filene Center!  For those of you who are new to the area or might not be familiar with Wolf Trap, it is our nation’s first and only national park dedicated to the performing arts and offers everything from open-air concerts for all ages, to opera, dance, National Symphony Orchestra and master classes with the area’s finest musicians and performers.

We had a chance to visit Wolf Trap last summer and see Riverdance’s last show in the United States.  It was an amazing experience, even for my husband, who isn’t a huge fan of the performing arts.  The open air seating, picnic meals, and casual attire definitely lend themselves to a relaxing evening.  We did receive a few pointers from veteran Wolf Trap concert-goes, and will be much more prepared the next time we go!

Beginning at the end of May and running through the week after Labor Day, Wolf Trap will showcase performances from Josh Groban (my personal favorite!!), the Celtic Woman, ABBA-The Concert, a variety of performances from National Symphony Orchestra, Carly Rae Jepsen and many more.  Or, if musicals are more your style, you can choose from The Mikado, Dreamgirls, or Sing-A-Long Sound of Music.  Of course, we can’t forget a night of hearty laughter with Bill Cosby or humming along with the American Idol finalists.  Out of their 80+ shows this summer, you can find a show that will delight, regardless of how varied your taste in entertainment might be!  To see the complete calendar of Filene Center performances, click here.

If you are looking for fun activities to do with your children, be sure to check out the list of performances at Wolf Trap’s Children’s-Theatre-In-The-Woods.  Performances run from late June through mid August and begin at 10:30am, Tuesdays through Saturdays. Shows are approximately 45 – 60 minutes in length and are recommended for children ages 4 and up.  Tickets are $10 a person, and children 2 and under are free.

For those of you who might like to turn a Wolf Trap concert into an all day affair, the on-site Ovations Restaurant offers a pre-event buffet and á la carte items from your favorite area restaurants, including J. Paul’s, Georgia Brown’s, Neyla, and Paulo’s.  Ovations opens 2 ½ hours prior to show time, and reservations are strongly recommended.  Or, you can always bring your own picnic to enjoy under the stars.  Gates open an hour and a half before showtime, so you can eat a leisurely meal after you secure the perfect seat!

:: Giveaway Details ::
The best part?  We have a family four pack of tickets to give to one of my lucky readers.  The winner will get to choose from one of these shows: Celtic Woman (June 14th), Bill Cosby (June 15th), Josh Groban (August 16th), Dreamgirls (August 22-25), or The Lord of the Rings (September 6th or 7th).

To enter, just let me know which of these five summer performances you would select.  This contest is open to the US and will close at 11:59 PM on May 16, 2013.  I will draw the winner by Random.org, and they will have 48 hours to respond to the email notification that they won.  I will then put them in touch with my contact at Wolf Trap, and they will be able to coordinate ticket pick-up, show of choice, and date.

 

{ 96 comments }

This giveaway has ended.  Congratulations to our winner, Susan G!

On Tuesday, May 14th, Residence Inn will be taking over Paul Mitchell School in DC in celebration of Moms’ MONTH, Residence Inn’s month-long celebration to thank moms for all they do (because one day is just not enough!). [click to continue…]

{ Comments on this entry are closed }

This giveaway has ended.  Congratulations to our winner, Jenn H!

We’re huge proponents of encouraging your children to read.  And, while nothing beats sitting down with an old-fashioned book, sometimes children need something a little more exciting!  A while back, our friends introduced us to the PBS Kids’ TV series, Super Why! that combines world-saving, super heroes with phonics concepts.  Of course, Miss A, who rarely gets a movie at home, was spellbound that “there-is-something-colorful-on-the-TV-and-I-get-to-watch-it!“  Now, even months later, she will randomly twirl around the house as Princess Presto, sounding out words she sees. [click to continue…]

{ Comments on this entry are closed }

This giveaway has ended.  Thanks to all who entered!  Our winner was Courtney!

As I groaned and gasped my way through my Jillian Michael’s 30 Day Shred workout video, I had to chuckle when an email about her upcoming show popped into my Inbox.  Aside from hard-boiled eggs, there is nothing I dislike more than exercising.  But, I have to admit, Jillian Michael’s workout (while painful) does get results. [click to continue…]

{ Comments on this entry are closed }