Free birthday goods

It used to be that Denny's was the place to go for a free birthday meal. Nowadays, things are different and a lot more places offer free goodies. Because I'm cheap New Englandy and frugal, I recently spent my birthday graciously accepting all the gratis goods coming my way. Starbucks and Dunkin' Donuts both offer free drinks. (Sign up on their websites and they'll send you a postcard for a free beverage). I took the opportunity to try the Salted Caramel Mocha at Starbucks. I'm not usually much for flavored coffee beverages, but it just sounded yummy, so why not?
No dramatic lead-in here: it was so good. The roasty taste of the espresso was balanced by the sweet buttery deliciousness of the caramel. Since it was my birthday, I opted for the whipped cream, which was topped with sticky caramel drizzle and-- you know it's coming-- a shake of sea salt. "Caffeine and salt?" you cry. "That's a heart attack in a cup!" Well, yes, it may be, but it was also pure yummy decadence. For a once-a-year splurge, it was worth every penny. Or in this case, it was TOTALLY worth the free coupon.
Next on the birthday party free goods roadtrip was a stop at Panera, which yielded a free pastry (in this case, a brownie) which was handed over to the Sugar Baby.

Since I was already at the mall, I headed over to the Godiva store where I cashed in on my monthly free chocolate. I chose a pumpkin cheesecake truffle. Had I been thinking more clearly, I would've chosen the pumpkin spice truffle, which has a chocolate shell, as opposed to the one with the white chocolate (or, in this case, orange-colored chocolate) shell. The filling was half pumpkiny cream and half cream cheesey cream. It was pretty tasty, but also pretty sweet. One was definitely sufficient to meet my daily recommended truffle intake.
I still have yet to cash in on my free bubble bath from Sephora and hibachi dinner at the local Japanese place. And I got a nice e-card from Mini Cooper, but alas, no free car.

Chocolates for Gods and Divas

I was trying to think of a snarky name for Godiva since their employees are so uppity, when I realized that the name itself says it all : God/diva. Apparently you have to be one or the other to shop there. In any case, despite the snob factor (can you tell this just irked me or what?), I purchased a candy bar for the Sugar Baby at his insistence. It was a Mint Chocolate Chip and Dark Chocolate Truffle Bar. The aroma is a good, solid mint with the fruity undertones of the chocolate. The chocolate is snappy and the filling is a soft, green cream. My first thought was, "Wow. This is yummy!" My second thought was, "This tastes a lot like Andes Candies." It was definitely tasty, but at $2 a bar, you'd be better off buying a package of Andes (or going to your favorite restaurant where they hand them out with the check).

I'll Take the Truffle, But Hold the Attitude

It's been a crazy, candy-themed kinda day around here. We started off early by painting egg carton cups to look like candy. (I did candy corn; the Sugar Baby did a chocolate-covered cherry.) Then it was onto the mall where I was cashing in on the birthday freebies. First stop: Sephora, for a free make-up kit, then over to Godiva, where I begrudgingly shared my free Chocolate Lava Cake Truffle with the boy. Let me tell you, it was pretty incredible. It was a dark chocolate shell, dusted with powdered sugar and had a gooey chocolate inside. One of the best truffles I've ever had, I believe. (But really, these Godiva people have *got* to quit it with the attitude. First of all, it's chocolate, not gold. Second of all, they're the ones working there. I'm the one buying. If anyone should have an attitude, it's me. But that's not the way I roll.)
The best candy story I'll save for tomorrow. In the meantime, my new computer battery has arrived, which means I can start posting pictures again! Hooray! Enjoy this goodie from Necco-Door Neighbor Big Tony. It's a kiddy menu from Howard Johnson's, circa 1961. My favorite is the "Miss Muffet Lunch": Petite Vegetable Plate, Bacon Strip, Roll and Butter, Ice Cream, Sherbet or Gelatine. 75 cents.

Free Chocolate from Godiva

I think I officially have more store cards on my keychain than keys. Last month I added another one-- for Godiva. Their rewards program is free (unlike the Barnes & Noble one which I just don't understand) and is quite a good deal. When you sign up for the card, you get a free piece of Godiva every month. Considering their truffles average about $2 each, that's pretty cool. And, if you spend $10 or more, the next month you'll get a free gift. Last month I had to buy a present for someone, and today I went in to buy another present and claim my free chocolate and gift. Being all cynical, I figured the "gift" would be a coupon or something, but it was actually a two-piece box. For my free chocolate, I chose a coconut cream truffle, and while I was in the store, I tried a dark chocolate lemon something-or-other. It felt like Christmas!
Godiva gets a bad rap in chocosnob circles. Of course it's not the best chocolate and yes, it's owned by Hershey, but I enjoy it as much as most other upscale brands (and their packaging is nicer than say, Lindt). The coconut truffle was good; my only criticism is that it was milk chocolate rather than dark, which would've been a much better complement to the creamy coconut center.

Which One Would You Pick?

Whew! It's been quite a weekend. The in-laws were here and we celebrated the Sugar Baby's 3rd birthday. I knew from the moment the Sugar Baby was born that he wouldn't be a chocolate birthday cake kind of guy, but I never imagined he'd ask for strawberry. I did my best. I researched all sorts of recipes for homemade strawberry cake, by-passing any that used Jell-O for the strawberry flavor. I finally found one that called for a cup of pureed strawberries. I really thought this cake was going to be a winner, but I'll be darned if I could taste any strawberry in it at all. Oh well, he didn't care. He was more excited about the m&m's that decorated the top.

As for me, I've been hoarding this beautiful box of all dark chocolate Godiva that Memaw brought me. If I had my way, I'd snuggle up in bed with the whole box and finish reading my book, but I'm trying to practice some self-control. One piece a day.

In other news, check back this week for my exciting anniversary giveaway announcement!