Delicious and oh what a SWEET day Friday June 1 will be !

HotFlashFinds:  KrispyKreme  is Giving Away One FREE Treat on National Doughnut Day.

Stop in to KrispyKreme on June 1 for a FREE  delicious doughnut of your choice.   Please go to http://KrispyKreme.com/ for store locations and www.CelebrateKrispyKreme.com  regarding their 75th Anniversary celebration.

  

                                                                      

A Sweet Idea for Summer Entertaining

HONEY as an Hors D'Oeuvres

Raw Orange Blossom Honeycomb Square from Savannah Bee Company.
Served for company December 2011.
www.savanahbee.com and look for store locator in your geographical area.

HotFlashFinds:  Honey is a sweet food made by bees using nectar from flowers.  The variety produced by honey bees is the most commonly referred to and is the type of honey collected by beekeepers and consumed by humans.

The good news is that honey provides a concentrated dose of antioxidants.

Darker honeys have more nutrients and are more flavorful.  In baked goods,  Heidi Swanson, author of Super Natural Cooking, recommends substituting 1/2 cup honey for every cup of sugar, reducing the liquid in the recipe by 1/4 cup, and increasing the baking soda by 1/4 teaspoon.  Note: When baking with honey lower the oven temperature by 25 degrees to avoid overbrowning.

One of my new go to hors d'oeuvres is the all-natural 11oz  Raw Orange Blossom Honeycomb square from the Savannah Bee Company.  It is great paired with cheeses, crackers, nuts, fruit, and edible flowers.  And, any unused portion can be stored in the original box at room temperature for up to one year.

Wishing everyone a Happy and Relaxing Memorial Day Weekend.

Information obtained from Wikipedia and The Oprah Magazine April 2012

Finds and Activities for the Weekend and the Week Ahead

The Weekend is Finally Here!

HotFlashFinds:  It looks like we will get a preview of summer this weekend.  Below are some finds and activities for you to enjoy.  Wishing you all an enjoyable weekend and week ahead.

Olive Garden is offering a free appetizer or dessert at Olive Garden when you buy two dinner entrees and present this coupon.

For all of our active duty members of the military starting May 19, Armed Forces Day: you and your dependents can get a free annual pass offering free entrance to all 397 national parks.

Need Tires?  Buy four selected Firestone tires at Mr. Tire, and get a $70 Firestone gas prepaid Mastercard. Expires July 8.

Harris Teeter 20% off  cases of wine May 17 -May 20, 2012.  If you are an e-VIC member you can get 20% off specialty cheese purchases.  This week Harris Teeter will triple manufacturers coupons up to .99 face value. www.harristeeter.com.

A haircut at Supercuts will get you a $10 Live Nation concert cash card free. You can use it buy concert tickets or merchandise like T-shirts and posters. Start the ball rolling by printing this voucher and bringing it to Supercuts when you get your next cut.

P & G beauty products April 20 - June 5, 2012:  Spend $50 on participating Proctor and Gamble beauty products (brands like Olay, Clairol and Safeguard) and get a $10 rebate through the mail.

Chipotle: free burito, bowl, order of tacos or salad: Buy $30 worth of gift cards from Chipotle and keep your receipt. Bring that receipt back on your next visit before June 30 and they'll give you a free burrito, bowl, order of tacos or salad.

Marriot: Earn up to three free nights through a Marriott Rewards summer bonus promotion. Register for Marriott Rewards, stay twice at any participating hotel between June 1 and August 31, and you'll earn one free night after every second paid stay.

Free Slurpee time at 7-Eleven May 23:  11 a.m. and 7 p.m. May 23 to celebrate SlurpFREE Day. Every customer gets a free 7.11 ounce Slurpee while supplies last.

Anthropolgie's semi-annual clearance sale is now going on online and in stores .www.anthropogie.com.

Chico's : buy one get one 50% off jewelry and pants www.chico's.com.  for details.  

The Limited is offering 30% off all dresses, pants, ankles, crops, skirts and jackets and up to 50% off jewelry online at www.thelimited.com.

Activities:

May 19 & 20 :   Andrews Air force Base's Joint Service Open House & Air Show. Annual air show this weekend, featuring the U.S. Navy Blue Angels and the U.S. Army Golden Knights. Admission is free. Free shuttle buses will take you to the show from the Fed Ex Field parking lots, and the Branch Avenue Metro station.

May 20 noon - 5 p.m. : Take a trip around the world, without getting on a plane. The Maryland National Capital Park and Planning Commission's Festival of Nations  at the Tucker Road Athletic Complex in Fort Washington. There will be performances, games, food tastes, vendor areas and an interactive children's area.

DC Yoga Week is May 13-20 and participating studios are offering free classes. You can also join Yoga on the Mall, 1:30-4:30 p.m.  May 19. It's a free collective practice expected to draw hundreds of yoga enthusiasts of all skill levels to the Sylvan stage near the Washington Monument.

Gaithersburg Book Festival May 19 Free.  Tom Angleberger, Buzz Bissinger, "30 Rock's" Judah Friedlander, Jenny Lawon ( a.k.a, the Bloggess) & Stewart O'Nan.  A wide array of authors will discuss and sign their books.  Also featured are a Children's Village, coffeehouse entertainment & writing workshops. Gaithersburg City Hall, 31 S. Summit Ave. Gaithersburg, MD. www.gaithersburgbookfestival.org.

Mystics Season Opener May 19.  Show your D.C. pride at the season opener against the Chicago Sky.  It marks the team's 15th year in Washington.  7p.m. Verizon Center. www.verizoncenter.

Gem & Jewelry Show inc. May 18-20, 2012 Dulles Expo Center (South Hall) Chantilly, Va.  Sat. 10am-6pm,Sun 11am-5pm.  Baubles, stones, gems & other gift items.

Strawberries are ripe for the picking.  Yum!   Berry season has arrived early.  Find a patch for a taste of sweet, local strawberries.  Most farms are charging around $2 per pound.  Butler's Orchard,  Germantown, www.butlersorchard.com, Mackintosh Fruit Farm, Berryville, Va. www.mackintoshfruitfarm.com.

Sunday, May 20 : Northern VA Fine Arts Festival: Reston Town Cneter is host to the work of  200 plus contemporary artists, plus music, performance art and hands-on children's projects.  10am-4pm 11900 Market St., Reston. www.northernvirginiafineartsfestival.org.

some info obtained from wtop.com and The Washington Post newspaper.

National Bike To Work Day Today

Today is Bike to Work Day

Locally,  there are 58 pit stops in D.C., Maryland and Virginia where bicyclists can stop and grab free refreshments www.biketoworkmetrodcorg. and other free goodies.  Check out the interactive map for details by location. 

HotFlashFinds:  It looks like today is going to be a beautiful day.  It is very important to try and incorporate exercise into our daily lives.  If you are unable to bike to work today, try to take a bike ride after work.  Or, try to take a walk, go to the gym, or find another way to get some movement into your life.
Also,  for those of you who are environmentally conscious, this is  great way to have a commuting alternative.

Addendum:  Loyal reader and friend Lennie sent me an e-mail about Bike to Work Day.  Below is some interesting information about the evolution of this day.  Also,  below is a link to http://www.ohiobike.org/kids-cyclng-ed.html.

National Bike to Work Day:

Today is National Bike to Work Day! In 1956, the Cycle Trade Association of America announced the first ever Bike Month. The purpose of this occasion was to promote bicycle sales. Today, National Bike Month, Bike Week, and Bike to Work Day have a much broader focus. These events encourage safe bicycling practices and promote cycling as a legitimate commuting alternative.
Join thousands of other Americans and participate in Bike to Work Day today. Whether you are environmentally conscious or just love the exercise, biking to work is a great way to avoid the commuter traffic and stay in shape! Happy cycling!

 " A Bike is not a toy, it is a child's first vehicle" and this one, " Drive your bike" ..... This is where it all begins! We can all stand to learn something here.

 

Thank-you Lennie for this great informative information.

 

Readers, please feel free to contact HotFlashFinds@gmail.com.  I welcome your comments and contributions to this blog. 

 

some of the above info obtained from wtop.com                                                                     

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY TO ALL

Wishing all of my friends, family, and loyal readers a very Happy Mother's Day !

HotFlashFinds:  Motherhood is probably the hardest job in the whole wide world.  And, it sure doesn't come with a user manuel.   But it sure does come with lots of hugs, kisses, joys and happiness.  And, at times some nail biting, worries and concerns.

I know that I've made some mistakes along the way.  I sure hope that my girls will forgive me.  But, I do hope that they know that the love and the support that I have for them is endless.  And , I sure hope that they know how very proud of them I am as I watch them grow into beautiful and successful young adults.

My daughters in the iris gardens helping me celebrate Mother's Day 2012.

Jack Pot Week

Taking a Break

UL:  Beautiful Ponte Vedra Beach.  UR: Fun time walking the beach with my husband.  LL: Clusters of shells on the beach. LR:  Birds on the sand beds by the ocean where we hunt for sharks teeth.

Last week I was lucky to be able to take a break from it all.  My husband and I went to Florida to pick up our college sophomore from school.  While waiting for her to finish her final exam, I got to enjoy beautiful, hot, sunny days walking the beach and hunting for shark's teeth , sea glass and shells.  I got to spend some fun time with my husband and got to indulge in some great seafood, key lime pie, and mini chocolate heath bar blizzards.  And, I got to enjoy some bonding time with my daughter during our 13 hour car ride back home.

HotFlashFinds:  The result of this jack pot week is that I feel relaxed, clearer and have such wonderful memories.

Tomorrow is my return back to work and back to my daily grind.

I am going to try my best to try and focus on my jack pot week if I should begin to feel overwhelmed or in need of an escape.



It's The Weekend and Time To Enjoy some Finds, Activities, and Deals

HotFlashFinds:  Cinco De  Mayo, The Kenntucky Derby, Mother's Day, Memorial Day and so much more. May is here!  Please find some freebies, some deals and lots of activities to enjoy this weekend and throughout the week .

Freebies:

May 4 & May 5: California Tortilla has a Cuatro and Cinco de Mayo deal. Make any purchase at California Tortilla today or tomorrow and you'll get a coupon good for a free taco that you can redeem between May 6 and 15.

May 5: The new Clark + Kensington Paint and Primer is billed as a real time saver, and you can get a free quart of it at your local Ace Hardware. Free paint is available while supplies last. Each store has an average of 40 quarts to give away.

May 5: Cinco De Moe's at Moe's Southwest Grill locations. The first 100 people in line at 11 a.m. at each restaurant get a free T-shirt. Also look for specials that vary by store.

Free at Arby's:  small drink and a free small curly fry when you buy any Market Fresh sandwich or wrap and show this coupon.

Earn up to three free nights through a Marriott Rewards summer bonus promotion. Register for Marriott Rewards, stay twice at any participating hotel between June 1 and August 31, and you'll earn one free night after every second paid stay.

Shutterfly wants to give you a free photo card. Enter code CARD4U to get a free 5 x 7 greeting card, or 5 x 5 or 5 x 7 stationery card. www.shutterfly.com.

Free golf lessons: The PGA and LPGA are offering free 10-minute golf lessons in May. Just plug your zip code into this page to find a golf pro near you who's taking part.

Free game ticket or special seat upgrade for Nats: The Washington Nationals will give you a free game ticket or a special seat upgrade for your birthday. And no, your birthday does not have to fall during the season to take advantage. Get all the details here.

Activities:

May 4, & 5: 10a.m.-6p.m and 10a.m. -5p.m.   Flower Mart:  Free:  The National Cathedral annual festival of all things family and flowers.  A restored carousel, moon bounce, mini Ferris wheel and more. Flowers, art, gifts and food for sale. This year's Flower Mart celebrates Jamaica's culture and botany.  Washington National Cathedral, 3103 Wisconsin Ave.NW.  202-537-3185.

May 5:  Running of the Chihuahuas for Cinco De Mayo  Free: Calling all doggie lovers , 11am-2pm: Races for Chihuahuas. There will be races and awards for best costume, best trick, best owner lookalike & funniest pair. Live music, local food, a doggie treat station,& beer garden available for dogs and dog lovers. 7th St. Landing Park &Cantina Marina. SW Waterfront,7th Water St. SW. www.ontaponline.com/race.

May 5: Curbside Cookoff: noon-9p.m.  Trucko De Mayo, Food Truck Heaven:  Free Admission:  There will be 2 bars & live music. You will have to pay for those lobster rolls, ice cream treats and more than 40 food trucks serving up their specialties. RFK Stadium, Lot 3, 2400 E. Capitol St. SE. www.dcfoodtrucks.org.  Free parking.

May 5 & May 6  want to see a live hawk up close? Falconry and bird of prey expert Mike Dupuy is making several free weekend appearances at the four Wild Bird Center stores in the region. He'll be in Alexandria at noon on May 5, Bethesda at 3 p.m. May 5, Woodbridge at noon May 6 and Oakton at 3 p.m. May 6.

May 5  10am-4pm Embassies are open to visitors :Travel the world for free by taking part in the Around the World Embassy Tour,  More than 40 embassies are opening their doors to visitors. You'll be invited to sample food, art dance and music. A free shuttle service will provide rides on three separate loops to get you to and from.

May 5  11am-3pm at The National Zoo: Celebrate the fastest land animal in the world during Cheetah Day . Take your picture with a life-size plush or cardboard cutout cheetah, get a temporary tattoo and learn through demonstrations. Just head to the Cheetah Conservation Station.

May 5 10am-5pm is Space day  and it's being held at both locations of the Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum. There will be astronauts at both the main museum building in D.C. and at the Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantilly. Look for lots of activities aimed at kids of all ages who are interested in space exploration. 

May 6-Aug. 12 Joan Miro: "The Ladder of Escape " Free:  Joan Miro , Catalan painter, was one of the most influential surrealists of the 20th century.  A few of Miro's paintings are on display at the National Gallery and on Sunday , a traveling exhibition of around 120 of his works arrives at the gallery. National Gallery of Art, E. Builidng. www.nga.gov.

May 5-May 6  9am-6pm, 11am-5pm,  DC Big Flea Market: Dulles Expo Center, Chantilly , VA.  A fun treasure hunt for unique antiques and collectibles for home & office. Admission $8.  www.damorepromtios.com.

Deals: 

May 4-May 13 Starbucks Frappuccino Happy Hour:  3-5 p.m. Half-Price Frappuccino blended beverages at participating Starbucks stores.

Macy's: extra 20% off: great gifts and 2-day specials plus free shipping.  Use promo code: MOM. www.macy's.com.   Check out the Albereta Ferretti line for impulse only Macy's. Limited -edition collection.  Albereta Ferretti is known for her feminine line and Italian refinement.

Two year Magazine subscription for $7 through Living Social.  Better Homes & Gardens, Everyday with Rachael Ray, Fitness, and more. http://www.livingsocial.com/cities/1938/deals/325064-two-year-magazine-subscription.

ProFlowers.com $30 to spend on fresh flowers.  Pay $ 15.  Great way to send beautiful flowers for Mother's Day, birthdays or other occasions. http://www.livingsocial.com/cities/1938-us-nationwide. 

Some information obtained from WTOP and The Washington Post newspaper.