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Frugal Valentine’s Ideas and Giveaway

Posted by tricia on 02.07.09 | 21 Comments Short Link: http://onceamonthmom.com/?p=549  Print This Post

Regardless of your love/hate relationship with Valentine’s Day it will be here soon enough. To be honest, I (Tricia) and not really a fan of Valentine’s Day myself. Maybe it was all those years of singleness that made me an embittered woman. Who knows.

I suppose I should be happily rejoicing that this year I will be celebrating with my wonderful husband, and I will. But there is just something about this holiday that makes me cringe a little bit. It is probably the fact that I don’t like to be “forced” to do something that I should be doing each and every day – you know, like showing my husband the overwhelming affection that I have for him.

Oh well, I digress.

In a year where the economy is tight and people are pinching pennies, holidays like Valentine’s Day can sometimes be put on the back burner or eliminated altogether. But if you want to celebrate and are down in the dumps at the thought of letting the holiday pass uncelebrated Carraba’s (and Once A Month Mom) has a suggestion or two for you.

1. Choose an alternative, cheaper night to dine out. This year, Carrabba’s is hosting pre-Valentine’s Day celebrations: “Dal Cuore Nights,” or “From the Heart Nights” on Feb. 11 and 12. Guests who come in on those days can order from a special prix fixe menu which includes an appetizer, entreé and mini-dessert for less than $20. Plus, bottles of wine are $10 off and visitors will get a chance to win a cruise to Italy.

The prix fixe menu includes an appetizer, entreé and mini-dessert for less than $20. Featured entreés include Carrabba’s favorites such as Sirloin Marsala, Chicken Bryan, Chicken Marsala, Polo Rosa Maria and Grilled Salmon.

Topping off the evening, guests on February 11 and 12 will receive a special Dal Cuore Valentine’s Day Card featuring a “heartfelt” quote. One lucky quote recipient will win a romantic Italian escape for two, including a seven-night Italian cruise on MSC Cruises in a balcony stateroom, airfare to the port and $500 spending money, as well as dinner for four at Carrabba’s (ARV: $7,090). On Sunday, March 1, 2009, the winning quote will be revealed on Carrabba’s website at www.carrabbas.com, where complete details are available.

2. Try cooking one of your favorite dining meals at home. Carraba’s has some great dishes that you can whip up for your special someone for a nice, romantic, Italian meal this holiday. Try Bruschette Siciliani as an appetizer, a main dish of Carrabba’s Pollo Rosa Maria, and finish off the evening with Carrabba’s Mini Cannoli Recipe.

3. Have dinner at home and go out for dessert! Carrabba’s has introduced a line of mini-desserts which are smaller versions of Carrabba’s most popular desserts – Dessert Rosa, Tiramisu, Cannoli, as well as nightly specials such as Zabaglione, Chocolate Coconut Mousse and Chocolate Espresso Mousse.  They are not only good on your wallet, they are better for your hips too. Hungry yet?

Want a chance to win a free mini-dessert from Carraba’s? Two lucky readers will win. You can enter up to 3 times for this contest, here is how:

1. Comment on which menu items seems the tastiest off of the Carraba’s website menu.
2. Tweet about this giveaway or this website on Twitter, then come back after you tweeted and leave a comment.
3. Subscribe to our feed here or our email update in the right sidebar, then leave a separate comment to inform us that you have subscribed. If you already subscribe, let us know that too.

This contest will end on Monday, February 9th. Winner will be selected using random.org.

No matter your upcoming plans or your sentiments on Valentine’s Day, don’t let the week pass you by without telling someone in your life that you care for them deeply. It doesn’t have to be a sweetheart, perhaps it is just a special someone that keeps life looking sweet and days seeming brighter. Let this week be a week of celebration, not desperation.

And check out our other giveaway for a chance to win a great Super “Bowl” Giveaway from Pampered Chef! Hurry, you only have until Sunday, February 8th at noon.