Yesterday was my birthday.  It was not an especially eventful day, but that’s ok.  D and I celebrated both of our birthdays last weekend with my parents and sisters, bro-in-law and nephew.  My mom even made a hedgehog cake! 

D and I actually celebrated our birthday all last month by redeeming our various birthday promotional coupons.  I thought I would highlight the deals I have found.

Red Robin: We are both members of the Red Royalty club, which gives you one free hamburger during your birthday month.  The best part is that they allow you to have separate checks at one table, so we can each receive our free hamburger during the same visit.  It is also good for the grilled chicken sandwiches.

Jersey Mike’s: Free regular sandwich and drink.  The catch is that you have to redeem on your exact birthday.  Good deal. 

Starbucks: Register your rewards card, and you get one free drink of your choice.  This is the one time we will order a “Venti” and split it.

Jamba Juice: They have a new club where you enter your phone number at the cash register (register online).  I received a free small smoothie, which I gave to the kids to split.

Which Which: Free regular sandwich.  For some reason, we always end up ordering the chicken cordon bleu, even though there are so many options.

Rubios: Free entrée up to $7.  I paid $1 extra for the Classico Shrimp burrito.  We also used the free kids meal coupons we received through the reading program at the library.  Go on Tuesday night for the $1.50 fish tacos, and you have a deal!

The best part is that the prior four restaurants are all in a row at our local shopping center! 

El Pollo Loco: Free 2 piece chicken meal or chicken salad.  We opted for the 2 piece meal with rice, beans and tortillas. 

Veggie Grill: Free entrée.  I like the Thai Chik’n Salad.  We also had the Kale Caesar.

Jerry’s Dogs: Free Jerry’s Signature Dog.  I like how they have upgraded the buns.

Corner Bakery: Free dessert.  I like the lemonade bundt cake with blueberries.

Capriotti’s: Free brownie.  Not really worth it, but I was right next door anyway.

Baja Fresh: Buy a large drink, get a chicken or carnitas burrito.  We had the chicken, which was a little dry. 

Togo’s: Buy a regular drink, get a 6” sandwich.  I like the turkey avocado sandwich. 

Nothing Bundt Cakes: Free bundtlet. 

Baskin Robbins: Free ice cream cone.  Shared blueberry cheesecake with the kids. 

Del Taco: Free shake—chocolate, vanilla or strawberry. 

Godiva Rewards: $10 certificate, no minimum purchase.  I was able to pick three bars of chocolate for free!

Panera: Free pastry.  We have not redeemed ours yet.

Einstein’s: Free breakfast sandwich with drink purchase.  Have yet to redeem. 

Breugger’s bagels: Free bagel and cream cheese with drink purchase.  Not really worth it, since I see this coupon all of the time in the newspaper. 

Ben and Jerry’s: Free scoop, have yet to redeem. 

Yogurtland: Free 3 oz.  Not too special, since there are coupons that are a better deal. 

I would be interested to hear about any other birthday deals people know of. 

I took n along for a tour of Whole Foods.  We signed up through my new favorite site: www.greenmomsmeet.com.  The tour filled up fast online, but only one other mother/son duo showed up besides us!  I thought our tour guide did a great job of highlighting the quality of the food at Whole Foods, while also emphasizing the value that can be found.  I have to admit, I do not go to Whole Foods too often, mainly due to my perception that it is pricey.  I think Whole Foods is trying to get away from its reputation of being “Whole Paycheck”.

It has been a while since I have visited Whole Foods.  I had forgotten how impressive their selection is, especially its prepared foods area.  We were also given a reusable shopping bag with a few samples, which was nice.  The tour brought Whole Foods back into my radar, and I hope they can continue to thrive as a business committed to local, organic, healthy, sustainable food. 

We are going on our fifth day of school now, and getting into the school groove.  k and n enjoyed free Jamba Juice the day before school started, when k found out who her teacher is.

Our school still announces class assignments the old-fashioned way: make all the parents crowd around a window in the hot sun waiting for the class lists to be taped up.  I really hope this will be changed so that it will be on-line in the near future.

D went to work a little late so that he could walk the kids to school on their first day.  They all coordinated in their light blue!

It was a big day for our n, since it was his first day of kindergarten!

k is an old pro, now, going into second grade.  She was put in a combo 2nd/3rd grade class this year, so hopefully that will work out ok.