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IHOP: National Pancake Day on March 4, 2014

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IHOP: National Pancake Day on March 4, 2014

Photograph Credit: IHOP

Mark your calendars! The International House of Pancakes (IHOP) is celebrating National Pancake Day.

On Tuesday, March 4, 2014, each guest at participating IHOP locations will receive a free short stack of buttermilk pancakes. Lest you think these are small, they are 3 large pancakes. Last year, I could not finish my short stack.

During this celebration, IHOP will be taking donations for Children’s Miracle Network and other local charities. If you are able, please consider donating when participating in their FREE event.

Trying to fit this event into our morning routine is just too difficult. To make this a family activity, we attend this event at the dinner hour when we can relax and enjoy our meal.

The event lasts all day on Tuesday, March 4, 2014. Our local IHOP is open from 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m., but check your IHOP for participation and event hours.

Realize that this event is well attended, so be prepared to wait for a seat throughout the day. Though you might wait, we find the wait worth the celebration for National Pancake Day. Happy celebrating!

Activities for Saturday, February 22, 2014

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Activities for Saturday, February 22, 2014My house is a disaster and needs some attention this weekend.

Though I am planning to stay in and get caught up this weekend, a couple activities for Saturday, February 22, 2014, are available for those looking to get out and create:

Lakeshore Learning Store: FREE Jester Hat

Each Saturday, Lakeshore Learning Stores offer a FREE craft project from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at participating locations. A jester hat is the FREE project for Saturday, February 22, 2014. The craft changes each week for children ages 3 and up, and no reservations are necessary.

Michaels: $2 Craft Foam and Felt Butterfly

On February 22, 2014, from 10:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., participating Michaels Craft Stores will reserve 30 minutes for your child to create a craft foam and felt butterfly. Kids Club reservations are required and recommended for children ages 3 and up.

With the Olympics coming to a close this weekend, I will miss watching the competitions each night. However, if you saw my house, then you would understand that I probably need to curb my television viewing and pickup the mess.

Whether you stay in or go out this weekend, keep using time wisely. If you are looking for other family events, check Using Time Wisely’s event page. While you are there, please “like” the page to stay updated. Enjoy your weekend!

Question: What are your weekend plans?

Sonic Drive-in: $1 Hot Dogs – February 17, 2014

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Sonic Drive-in: $1 Hot Dogs – February 17, 2014

Photograph Credit: Sonic Drive-in

In celebration of President’s Day, participating Sonic Drive-in locations will discount their all-American dog and chili cheese coney for $1.

My husband has tried Sonic hot dogs and found them large and plump.

The hot dog extends beyond the bun, so you will not get a mouthful of bread.

To find a participating location, check this store locator, and you might want to verify participation before heading out.

With the $1 hot dog deal only valid on Monday, February 17, 2014, mark your calendars if you want to snag this deal. Happy scheduling!

Question: Do you like hot dogs?

Krispy Kreme Doughnuts: FREE Valentines with Purchase of any Dozen

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Krispy Kreme Doughnuts: FREE Valentines with Purchase of any Dozen

Photograph Credit: Krispy Kreme Doughnuts

The sweetest doughnut maker, Krispy Kreme Doughnuts, is offering a sheet of 12 Valentine’s Day cards with each dozen doughnut purchase. Each card is a coupon for a FREE doughnut of your choice.

In using a coupon received at Christmas, I purchased a dozen of the chocolate iced creme-filled doughnuts and received a FREE dozen of original glazed.

In addition to saving $7.99, I was given 2 sheets of Valentine’s Day cards. 😀 With this promotion, my children have enough coupons to give each of their classmates a FREE doughnut for Valentine’s Day.

If you are needing some sweetness, then head to Krispy Kreme Doughnuts for FREE Valentines with purchase of any dozen, while supplies last. Happy gifting!

Question: Do you have a local Krispy Kreme Doughnuts?

Chick-fil-A: Calendar Card

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Chick-fil-A: Calendar Card Last year, our family purchased a Chick-fil-A calendar for $6 and then received another calendar as a Christmas gift from a neighbor.

As Paul and I carried our cards and used them each month when we visited Chick-fil-A, we found the cards a great addition for our family.

This year, we purchased 4 calendars at $6 each which will save us all year long. When we combine a FREE family activity using our current membership with our Chick-fil-A calendar card freebies, we stretch our dollars and extend our family activity into a meal or snack.

For the details, each calendar card, located inside a plastic packet on the front page of each calendar, needs to be activated. Since we have 8-10 different e-mail accounts, we did not have an issue using a different e-mail address for each card.

Also, the monthly freebie is only good from the start of that month until the end of that month. So, the January offer of a FREE medium bowl of soup is valid from January 1 – 31, 2014.

We tried the chicken tortilla soup and found it a bit spicy. Now to clarify, our family does not care for fiery dishes, and the Chick-fil-A advertisements warn that it has a kick. We took a risk and tried it. It was good, but we needed part of a sandwich to squelch the sting. Yes, we are wimps when it comes to spice, but we make a mean mild chili. 😉

When we use the other 3 cards this month, we will opt for the Hearty Breast of Chicken soup as it will probably be more to our liking. Thankfully, most of the offers give customers a choice. The list of offers for the Chick-fil-A calendar card is as follows:

2014 Chick-fil-A Calendar Card Offers

        • January: Medium bowl of soup
        • February: Large waffle potato fries
        • March: Fan favorite classic entrée
        • April: Large Coca-Cola soft drink of your choice
        • May: Entrée salad of your choice
        • June: Mystery offer
        • July: Small hand-spun milkshake
        • August: Large Coca-Cola soft drink of your choice
        • September: Any breakfast entrée, plus large Coca-Cola soft drink of your choice
        • October: Large Coca-Cola soft drink of your choice
        • November: Mystery offer
        • December: Spicy chicken sandwich

This year, there are some different options. For example, the March fan favorite is via a vote. When registering each card, the cardholder gets one vote. At the time I voted, the Chick-fil-A chicken sandwich was winning among 8-piece nuggets and 3-piece chicken strips.

Side Note: Ordering a 3-piece chicken strip entrée with 2 buttered and toasted buns will net you 2 Chick-fil-A sandwiches at about half the price. 😉

Another new option is the mystery offers. As Chick-fil-A communicates via the e-mail address provided at the time of registration, they will probably send information about that offer closer to that month.

For the FREE Coca-Cola drinks, most Chick-fil-A’s will give you whatever drink you want, even a sweet tea. 😉 If you prefer to swap out your offer for another, just ask. Some stores allow it while others do not.

As our family loves the family events at our local Chick-fil-A locations which include crafts, puppets, balloons, food, and games, we get much use out of our Chick-fil-A calendar cards. If you have your Chick-fil-A calendar card, be sure to register it, and then get your FREE bowl of soup on or before January 31, 2014. Happy savings!

Question: Have you tried the Chick-fil-A calendar card?