Freebie Alert: Free Spicy Chicken Sandwich at Chick-fil-A

Chick-fil-A® is "fired up" over its newest product offering. Beginning June 7, Chick-fil-A restaurants nationwide will offer a new Spicy Chicken Sandwich, the chain's first new sandwich to hit menu boards since its Chargrilled Chicken Sandwich was introduced in 1989.


Building on the heritage of its namesake hero, the new Spicy Chicken Sandwich is hand-breaded, seasoned with a fiery blend of several peppers, pressure-cooked in 100 percent refined peanut oil and served on a toasted buttered bun with dill pickle chips. The new Chick-fil-A® Spicy Chicken Sandwich starts at $2.99 and is also offered in a "deluxe" version that includes lettuce, tomato and Pepper Jack cheese for $3.59.


The Spicy Chicken Sandwich will officially be added to the Chick-fil-A menu on June 7, but the chain is giving customers nationwide a chance to taste the sandwich for free during a special Premiere Week event prior to the rollout. Beginning May 24, customers can go to http://www.getspicychicken.com to reserve a time to visit a local Chick-fil-A restaurant between May 31 and June 5 to receive a complimentary Spicy Chicken Sandwich.

Get a Free Book from Borders.com When Your Kids Read Summer Books

Borders' summer reading program — the "Double-Dog Dare Summer Reading Challenge" — is now underway in Borders stores nationwide through Aug. 31. To participate in the program, kids aged 12 and under can read any 10 books and receive a free book from Borders. The Challenge, which sets a reasonable reading goal for kids and rewards them with a free book, has been endorsed by Jeff Kinney, avid reader and author of the bestselling series Diary of a Wimpy Kid.

All Books, buy 4 get 5th FREE at Borders.com!

Kinney recently penned a letter, posted at www.borders.com/summerreading, to help promote Borders' summer reading program, and applauds the efforts of the retailer as it rewards kids for reading.

Read 10 books and get the next free

Youngsters can choose from a number of great titles for their free book including Ramona the Brave and Dear Mr. Henshaw by Beverly Cleary, The River by Gary Paulsen and My Weird School: Miss Daisy is Crazy! by Dan Gutman, among many others. To get a free book, youngsters complete the "Double-Dog Dare" summer reading form with the titles they've read, have a parent or guardian sign the form and bring it into their neighborhood Borders store. (The form is available in Borders stores and online at www.borders.com/summerreading.) Rewards members get $5 for every $150 spent online and in-store. Borders Bucks are stackable with all other promotions

Summer reading picks – from the buyers at Borders

The buyers at Borders have assembled a list of entertaining reads for kids aged 7-12, many of which are infused with humor and adventure to catalyze even the most reluctant older readers to pick up a book and read:

Ages 7-9

•The Adventures of Captain Underpants by Dav Pilkey – Prank-playing characters George and Harold will provide kids with hours of belly-laughs. According to the buyer of this category, this is the best book for convincing boys who are reluctant to read to pick up a book. The author's first book in four years will publish in August.
•Dragon Keepers #3: The Dragon in the Library by Kate Klimo – Perfect for kids who love dragons and magic, this is the third book in a new chapter book series about two kids who find a dragon egg and now have to figure out how to raise a baby dragon. (Releases May 25.)
•
Judy Moody & Stink The Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad Treasure Huntby Megan McDonald – This book features the zany pirate-themed adventures of Judy Moody and her little brother, Stink, as they tackle a scavenger hunt on Ocracoke Island, home of Blackbeard. Kids will love the pirate slang, silly jokes, Morse code and challenging puzzles.
•
Magic Tree House Dinosaurs Before Dark/Knightby Mary Pope Osborne – This is the first book in the bestselling chapter book series of all time about Jack and Annie, who travel through time in their magic tree house.


Ages 8-12

•The Diary of a Wimpy Kid series by Jeff Kinney – The insanely popular series featuring the adventures of Greg Heffley and his quest to conquer middle school is a worldwide favorite among kids and their parents. The fifth book in the series comes out in November.
•The Red Pyramid by Rick Riordan – The most hotly anticipated (and sure to be the biggest) kids book of summer, this title is the first in a new series by the author of the Percy Jackson series. Infused with amazing adventures fraught with peril and intrigue — many of the same elements that kept readers glued to Percy Jackson —The Red Pyramid is expected to deliver the same level of surprise and delight to fans worldwide.
•The Babysitters-Club: The Summer Before by Ann Martin – The Babysitters Club is back! This prequel starts the summer before Kristy and her friends form the Babysitters Club. Many grown women who grew up reading this bestselling series are thrilled that they can now share it with their daughters.
•Ramona the Pest by Beverly Cleary – Kids can get ready for this summer's Ramona and Beezus movie, which hits theaters July 23, by reading all the Ramona books. These titles are a staple of every classroom and school library in the country.

Freebie Alert: Free Scoop of Ice Cream at Haagen-Dazs

Join the celebration at this year's national Haagen-Dazs Free Flavor Day on Tuesday, May 18. From 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. in any participating Haagen-Dazs Shop across the country, ice cream lovers can wish the brand a "Happy Birthday" and enjoy a free scoop of one of three original all-natural ice cream flavors: Haagen-Dazs Chocolate, Coffee or Vanilla.

Make Ice Cream at Home this Summer!

Free the Grapes!: National Toast Commemorates “Grape Liberation Month”

Celebrate the Fifth Anniversary of U.S. Supreme Court Wine Direct Shipping Ruling, and Stop the Monopoly Power Grab of HR 5034

Free the Grapes!, the national grassroots coalition of wineries, consumers and retailers, has reason to celebrate and another challenge to oppose. In honor of the fifth anniversary of the landmark U.S. Supreme Court ruling in Granholm v. Heald, and to defy a federal bill seeking to erase consumer gains, Free the Grapes! is asking wine lovers from coast to coast to raise their glasses for a nation-wide wine toast. www.freethegrapes.org

Purchase sale products from Wine Enthusiast today!

“In 2004, only 27 states allowed wineries to ship directly to consumers. Now, 37 states allow such shipments, which can reach 83% of American wine lovers. Although not all grapes are free, the number and diversity of wines available has expanded considerably”
.National Toast on Sunday, May 16, 2010

Wine lovers are encouraged to get together with friends and family on Sunday, May 16 to celebrate the fifth anniversary of the U.S. Supreme Court ruling. Share thoughts and pictures on the Free the Grapes! Facebook page by telling us what wine you’ll open (or opened) and with whom. The official toast to commemorate the occasion is as follows.

In 2005, we were on the brink
Of being told what wine we couldn’t drink.
But when the Supremes voted 5, we stood tall
Since grape liberation is good for us all.

To the winery who makes the wine
To the grape grower who walks the vine
To every wine lover from coast to coast
We raise our glass to Free the Grapes and toast!

“In 2004, only 27 states allowed wineries to ship directly to consumers. Now, 37 states allow such shipments, which can reach 83% of American wine lovers. Although not all grapes are free, the number and diversity of wines available has expanded considerably,” said Free the Grapes! executive director Jeremy Benson. “We’re inviting American wine lovers to raise a glass to toast these achievements and to help stop HR 5034. The bill could reverse these gains and reduce consumer choice by offering federal backing to anti-competitive and discriminatory state alcohol beverage laws,” he added.

Save 5% off any order! Use code SPRING5. Expires 05.31.10.


In the past three weeks, wine lovers have sent 25,000 letters to congress opposing HR 5034. “Raise a glass to freedom of (wine) choice,” concluded Benson. “The cause continues until all grapes are free. Cheers!”

For more information on Free the Grapes’ response to HR 5034, visit http://www.freethegrapes.org/index.php?q=content/media_updates. Or connect with Free the Grapes! by signing up for the newsletter at www.freethegrapes.org on Facebook (www.facebook.com/freethegrapes).

Sign up to receive Wine.com emails and get 1 cent shipping on $99 or more. Code given via email upon sign up confirmation.

Free Nationwide LifeLock Speakers Series Shows How the Crime Happens and How to Help Reduce Risks

LifeLock(www.lifelock.com), the industry leader in proactive identity theft protection, is currently scheduling its free educational program seminars in cities across the United States.

“Our identity theft protection expert informed us about the dangers of identity theft while empowering us to take action and protect our good names”
.The program, presented through LifeLock’s Speakers Series, is targeted toward corporations, associations, universities, libraries, chambers of commerce, civic clubs, and other professional organizations to educate consumers across the U.S. The Speakers Series program administers the scheduling, complete travel accommodations, and marketing materials for all participating groups.

The Series’ signature presentation focuses on some of the myths and truths of identity theft, a regional snapshot of the crime, the latest scams implemented by thieves to steal consumers’ identities, and a look at the many options available to consumers that help protect them and their family members from becoming victims. The informative presentation is delivered by a recognized expert, many of whom are certified experts in the field of identity theft protection.


Customized to fit the needs of the audience demographic and geological area, the Speakers Series program is becoming a popular program for senior citizens and young adults, two of the most vulnerable populations for identity theft.

Help protect yourself from identity theft for $10/month with LifeLock. Enroll Now.Parties interested in scheduling a free seminar should visit http://www.lifelock.com/about-us/about-lifelock/lifelock-speaker-series, or email speakerrequest@lifelock.com, or call 480-457-2032.

Tips On Getting All That Gift Cards Have To Give

Gift cards can be a convenient way to give a gift or to shop, if you know how to navigate the ins and outs. Here are some tips on how to get the most from a gift card:

• Know the type of card you are using. There are two kinds of gift cards: retail cards and network-branded cards. Retail gift cards can be used at specific stores or chains of stores while network-branded cards--such as those issued by MasterCard, American Express and others--can be used at any merchant that accepts that brand of card.

Buy, sell and trade gift cards at PlasticJungle.com. Pay as low as $70 for a $100 gift card or sell your unwanted gift cards for cash!


• Find out if the card has an expiration date. Few things last forever, including gift cards. Look for the expiration date, which is usually listed on the card. Be aware that sometimes the funds or value attached to the card have a different or longer expiration date than the expiration date of the card itself. If that's the case, see if you can transfer the money to another card.




• Look for hidden fees. A card may carry a number of fees that can make it less than a bargain, such as an activation fee, a purchase fee when used--including a fee for using it online--an inactivity fee or a dormancy fee.

• Know where and how to use the card. If you are using or giving a retail gift card, find out if the card can be used at an affiliated store or what happens to the value of the card if the store goes out of business. Also, find out if the store will let you use the card for partial payment on a purchase and then use cash or credit for the balance of the purchase.

• Know where to go for help. If there is a problem with a card and you can't resolve it with the issuer, contact the Federal Trade Commission at www.ftccomplaintassistant.gov/ or your state's Attorney General's Office.

If your card was issued by a bank or other financial institution, contact the Federal Reserve at www.federalreserve.gov/consumerinfo.

Capture the Moment of Your Graduate!

May Free In-Store Content for NOOK at Barnes & Noble

Barnes & Noble More in Store: Free, Exclusive Digital Content Available Only on NOOK™
Exclusive Mother’s Day Content for NOOK Customers Now Available

Here is the May line-up for the “More in Store” program for NOOK™, the Barnes & Noble eBook Reader. Available only in Barnes & Noble stores and only on NOOK, the free More in Store program offers NOOK customers new, exclusive content from bestselling and new authors, special offers and savings, and weekly bestseller and new release lists.

Barnes & Noble More in Store for NOOK May line-up includes:

•May
Thank You, Moma by Damon Wayans
Damon Wayans is one of entertainment’s funniest stars. Now, the stand-up comedian has turned into an author. His debut novel Red hats goes on sale this month. Red Hats was inspired by Wayans’ hard-working mother, and in honor of Mother’s Day, he’s sharing a letter he wrote to the most important woman in his life – his mom.

Laura Bennett’s Secrets of Survival
Laura Bennett stole the show on season three of Project Runway. It’s hard to believe she designs evening wear while raising six children. This mom writes for NOOK customers about how she balances work and motherhood.

Cooking Lessons from the Queen of Mold by Ruth Reichl
Bestselling author Ruth Reichlexamines her mother’s life in this exclusive essay that will resonate with mothers and daughters.



•May 9
Carol Higgins Clark’s Mothers and Daughters
Just in time for Mother’s Day, bestselling author Carol Higgins Clark talks about working and writing with her mother, Mary Higgins Clark.

Writing Sports Novels for Young Readers by John Feinstein
In an exclusive essay, multi-bestselling author John Feinstein writes about the rewards of writing for young readers and how he relies on his children for help.



•May 16
The Best of Both Worlds by Teresa Guidice
Another Mother’s Day treat, Teresa Guidice, star of The Real Housewives of New Jersey, has an exclusive essay for NOOK customers. Guidice writes about her mother’s lessons of cooking and love, and how she’s passed them on to her own daughters.



Maaza Mengiste’s Through the Rear Window
Barnes & Noble’s Discover Great New Writers author Maaza Mengiste has written an exclusive short story for NOOK customers. In Through the Rear Window, Mengiste tells the story of her childhood and the loss that inspired her first book, Beneath the Lion’s Gaze.



•May 23
George is Invited to Lunch…I’m Invited to Leave by Michael J. Fox
Celebrated actor and author Michael J. Fox makes the case that our accumulative life experiences can constitute an education. Exclusively for NOOK customers, Fox offers a story that he didn’t include in his book, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Future. This story outlines his political involvement and an encounter with a U.S. President.


•May 30
Interview with a Soldier by David Zimmerman
In honor of Memorial Day, David Zimmerman’s novel The Sandbox gives us a look into the lives of soldiers and their return from war. In an exclusive essay for Barnes & Noble, Zimmerman describes an interview he conducted for his novel and why that interview was so important to him.


•eBook Bestsellers and eBook New Releases Lists
As always, NOOK readers can access Barnes & Noble eBook Bestseller and eBook New Releases lists. The lists are available as a part of the “shop” feature on NOOK and offer book overviews, free sample chapters and customer ratings to help readers with buying decisions.


eBook Bestsellers for the week of May 10 include: Deliver Us From Evil by David Baldacci, The No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency Series No. 11: The Double Comfort Safari Club by Alexander McCall Smith, Burned (House of Night Series #7) by P.C. Cast & Kristen Cast, Savor the Moment (Bride Quartet Series #3) by Nora Roberts, and I Am Nujood, Age 10 and Divorced by Nujood Ali & Delphine Minoui.


Recent new release eBook titles include: Dead in the Family(Sookie Stackhouse/Southern Vampire Series #10) by Charlaine Harris, Spoken from the Heart by Laura Bush, Hannah’s List by Debbie Macomber, Lucid Intervals (Stone Barrington Series #18) by Stuart Woods, and coming May 25th, The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet’s Nest (Millennium Trilogy) by Stieg Larsson
.

Put A Smooth Spin On The Traditional Cocktail Party

Whether it's for game night with the guys or a celebratory bash with friends, at-home bartenders are always looking for new ways to throw the ultimate cocktail party. Master mixologist Alex Ott has partnered with New Amsterdam Straight Gin to show you how to bring the smooth vibe of a metropolitan cocktail lounge home. From creating the perfect drinks to setting the right mood, these simple and affordable tips will make your next get-together one to remember:

1. Keep It Natural: When stocking up for your next cocktail party, keep it simple and natural. Look for ingredients found right in your own kitchen or at the local farmer's market. Fresh juices, fruits, vegetables and spices make for delectable drinks. For example, add citrus flavoring with oranges, lemons and limes; or make your cocktail savory and spicy with cayenne pepper or ground ginger.

2. Home Bar Accessories: Just as any good cook knows to have the right pots and pans on hand, the at-home bartender should also have the right tools of the trade. Every personal bar should feature a few key items including a cocktail shaker, bar strainer, muddler, bar measure and an ice bucket.

3. Dress Up Your Drink: A simple way to wow guests at your next cocktail party is with fun and unique garnishes. You can create these easily by cutting a few slices of texture-rich fruits, such as pears, apples or cantaloupe, with a cookie cutter to create eye-catching shapes.

4. Get Inspired: Take inspiration from one of America's smoothest cocktail cities. For example, throw a New Orleans−inspired fête by incorporating the flavors of this cocktail capital into every part of your event, from the décor to the music to the drinks. Create a smooth-jazz playlist, decorate with the colors of the Big Easy (green, purple and gold) and serve up this unique recipe, inspired by this city's vibrant local flavors:

Fat Tuesday

2 oz. New Amsterdam Gin

Dash of bitters

3 slices of daikon or radish

1½ oz. cranberry juice

½ oz. simple syrup or agave nectar

2 oz. ginger beer

Muddle radish in bottom of a cocktail shaker. Add all other ingredients except the ginger beer and shake vigorously. Strain over ice into glass. Add ginger beer to float on top. Garnish with a slice of radish.

5. Set The Mood: A simple way to instantly transform your room into a smooth cocktail lounge is with good lighting. Instead of bright overhead lights, use a variety of candles and tea lights throughout the space and then drape your tables with dark-colored linens.

For more entertaining ideas and cocktail recipes, visit www.NewAmsterdamGin.com.

Get Ready for Summer Entertaining