Happy Easter!

Photo Credit:  Mike138 / CC BY-ND 2.0

Happy Easter! I hope you enjoy the holiday and weekend with family and friends. In my household we are not just looking forward to time with family, egg hunts and Easter candy, but in rejoicing in the mighty work that Jesus has accomplished on the cross and for saving sinners just like us!

But He was pierced through for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; The chastening for our well-being fell upon Him, And by His scourging we are healed. ~Isaiah 53:5

Survey Results

Thanks to everyone who filled out my survey for what grocery store deals you’d like to see covered on this blog. I truly appreciate your feedback! Giant won by a landslide (33.75%), followed by Safeway (20.83%), Harris Teeter (20%), Shoppers (10.42%), and Whole Foods (9.17%). Now that I have a good idea of what you want, I’m going to take a stab at adding one more store (to be announced next week) plus working with other bloggers to share highlights of more store deals in the DC metropolitan area.

I also have not yet made the big change/update that I mentioned back in January (and am running waaay behind schedule with that unfortunately), but hope to get that in place in the near future. Sorry for the delays and thanks for the feedback!

Happy New Year & 2-Year Blogiversary

Happy New Year! It’s amazing that 2011 is here already… wasn’t it just the beginning of 2010 the other day? It seems that time really does fly!

The middle of this month marks the 2-year anniversary of my blog, Frugal Friends in Northern Virginia. It was two years ago I started up my WordPress blog wanting to share local Northern VA and DC Metropolitan area deals and connect with other local bargain hunters and couponers.

I’ve been happily surprised  to see my readership grow and even have some press/recognition for my little blog. I remember the first time I realized that the Washington Post blog linked to one of my posts: my jaw hit the floor and I thought to myself that it must have been a “slow day” in regards to interesting reads in the blog-o-sphere 🙂

Closer to the end of this month I’m planning to make a big announcement in regards to this blog. Ah…can you feel the suspense building? 😉

Thank you for tagging along with me as I blog about frugal finds and deals near our nation’s Capital; I wish you all the best in the New Year!

Merry Christmas!

Photo credit: corneveaux / CC BY-NC-ND 2.0

As you may have noticed, I haven’t been posting on my blog as much this week. It’s been busy juggling a newborn and toddler, Christmas shopping, regular weekly activities like grocery shopping, laundry, etc. And time has been getting away from me quite honestly.

But now that it’s Christmas Eve, I’m looking forward to slowing down and enjoying the holiday with family, celebrating Jesus Christ’s birth and all the blessings we have!

I hope you enjoy the holiday and time with your loved ones as well! Merry Christmas!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Photo Credit: Road Fun on Flickr

Hope you all have a happy Thanksgiving!

I’m going to be relaxing and enjoying the holiday with family. Although the infamous Black Friday shopping events are happening tomorrow, I plan to NOT go out shopping in the mayhem. For Black Friday deals, you can check out this website as well as MoneySavingMom’s Black Friday posts.

I hope you all enjoy the holiday and have time to reflect on everything for which you are thankful!

Update: Newest Addition!

Just wanted to let you all know that our household welcomed the newest addition earlier this month; a little baby girl!

Through the sleepless nights and adjustment to a newborn as well as the adjustment for my son going from “only child” to big brother, I just wanted to share my joy with you and let you know if you find lots of typos in my blog posts or changes in post frequency, it’s probably because I need more sleep (and coffee!) 🙂

I had announced some upcoming giveaways and exciting changes coming, which I’m still planning; my apologies for the delay.
I have a few guest posts lined up, and hope to be back in the swing of things in the next few days/weeks.
Thanks for reading Frugal Friends in Northern Virginia and a special thanks to all my friends and family for the support and love you’ve showered on me and my family with this new baby!

My First Blogging Conference Experience

I had an absolutely wonderful time at the Relevant Conference last weekend – a one-of-a kind Christian women’s blogging conference that was held in Harrisburg, PA. It had the feel of a ladies retreat, with part inspiration, encouragement and conviction as well as sessions on blogging techniques (which ranged from introductory to more advanced). I was impressed by how many eloquent writers/bloggers I met there who have such powerful stories to share and such great wisdom to impart into the blog-o-sphere. I was humbled as I sat back and listened to these ladies and how God is working in their lives and using their blogs for things far bigger than themselves.

Some of the main points I took away from the conference and immensely enjoyed were:

1. The reminder that I need to constantly keep my priorities of life in check (even if I weren’t blogging, this would be true): God first, husband second, children third, and everything else after.
2. The sweet fellowship among Christian women who all happen to have a blog!
3. The encouragement from other bloggers and practical advice on balance.
4. The inspiring and convicting messages given by the key note speakers: Crystal Paine, Sally Clarkson, Angie Smith and Ann Voskamp.
5. The great breakout sessions that helped me learn more about some of the techniques and “behind-the-scenes” items involved with blogging.

I was so thankful for the opportunity to attend the Relevant Conference and really felt it was an added perk that I got to meet (in real life) so many other “frugal bloggers” such as Crystal from Money Saving Mom, Alyssa from Keeping the Kingdom First, Dana from Mrs. MoneySaver, Kelly from Faithful Provisions, Toni from The Happy Housewife, Stephanie from Coupon Clippin’ Mommy, Mandy from Pennies and Blessings, Debbie from Happy Clippings, and Liz from Frugally Blonde (whom I already had the pleasure of meeting prior and got to travel/room with on this trip).

In reflecting on my experience at my first blogging conference and what I learned, and contemplating the purpose of my blog: My hope is that my blog is a place where you feel welcome to visit and check out frugal deals and events for the Northern Virginia and Greater Washington DC metropolitan area – hopefully some little tidbits that can help bless you and your family.
In the upcoming months I hope to refine the mission of this blog and also implement some positive changes (did I mention I’m due to deliver a baby next month too… so please be patient with me if the changes take a little bit longer than anticipated!).

Finally, below are some pictures from the conference that I wanted to share. All of the folks I met were so sweet! (Photos courtesy of the Relevant Conference Flickr Group, Heather from Sprittibee, and Lacy from Catholic Icing)

The lovely hosts/planners of the Relevant Conference from L to R: Sarah Mae from LikeAWarmCupofCoffee.com, Jessie from MutheringHeights.com, Dana from MrsMoneySaver.com - Photo courtesy of Sprittibee.com and the Relevant Flickr group

From L to R: Todd Smith from the music group Selah, Sarah Mae from LikeAWarmCupofCoffee.com, Angie Smith from Bring The Rain AudreyCaroline.Blogspot.com - Photo courtesy of the Relevant Flickr group

Two of my favorite session leaders for some of the blogging basics/best practices: Sarah from RealLifeBlog.net and Alyssa from KingdomFirstMom.com - Photo courtesy of the Relevant Flickr group

Crystal from MoneySavingMom.com and I - Photo courtesy of Heather from Sprittibee.com and the Relevant Flickr group

Me chatting with Suzannah from http://www.SoMuchShoutingSoMuchLaughter.com - Photo courtesy of the Relevant Flickr group

My wonderful roommates! From L to R: Lacy from Catholic Icing, Me, and Liz from Frugally Blonde - Photo courtesy of Lacy from CatholicIcing.com

Relevant Conference 2010 Speakers - Courtney from Women Living Well, Kristin from We Are That Family, Kimba from A Soft Place to Land, Alyssa from Keeping the Kingdom First, Jess from Muthering Heights, Dana from Mrs. Moneysaver, Melissa from The Inspired Room, Angie from Bring the Rain, Crystal from Money Saving Mom, Sarah from Real Life Sarah, and Jen from Balancing Beauty and Bedlam - Photo courtesy of Lacy from Catholic Icing

Lovely Virginia Frugal Bloggers! From L to R: Liz from Frugally Blonde, Dana from Mrs. MoneySaver and I - Photo courtesy of Lacy from CatholicIcing.com

At the Relevant Conference

Starting this evening, I will be at my first-ever blogging conference up in Harrisburg, PA. It is the Relevant Conference, which is a Christian women’s blogging conference that I am super excited about!

From their mission statement:

The Relevant Conference exists to offer a place of face to face interaction with Christian women bloggers who want to be relevant in the larger blog and social media world. Our goal is to go beyond the surface into intentional blogging and real life living. We support women turning their hearts toward home and using their blogs to bless their families while also engaging the world for the glory of God. Relevant is a one-of-a-kind conference that seeks to engage women by teaching blogging techniques and social media skill while also urging and encouraging women to live fully integrated lives with their faith and family.

I am really looking forward to meeting other like-minded bloggers and learning from the seasoned bloggers and speakers; my hope is to find ways to improve my blog (as Emeril would say “Let’s kick it up a notch!”) and enjoy this conference. And I have to admit, I’m really stoked that I’ll get the opportunity to meet some of my favorite “frugal bloggers” who will be attending, including co-host Dana from Mrs. Moneysaver, speaker Crystal from Money Saving Mom, speaker Alyssa from Kingdom First Mom (one of the Walmart Eleven Moms), and many more! I’m looking forward to traveling and rooming with Liz from Frugally Blonde and Lacy from Catholic Icing and meeting some ladies IRL whose blogs I have enjoyed reading for some time now.

I don’t plan to post much over the weekend while I’m at the conference, and know that I won’t be posting about my favorite Washington Post Sunday insert coupons this Sunday morning since I’ll be out-of-town, but I wanted to let you know that according to Sunday Coupon Preview they are scheduled to have both a Smart Source & Red Plum insert in the October 24th, 2010 edition, so there will likely be some good coupons!

I hope you all have a great weekend and I look forward to sharing next week about my experience at the conference!

Silver Diner Facebook Fan Offer $10 Off $20 Coupon

Local “old-time diner” restaurant chain, the Silver Diner, wants to reward their Facebook fans with a great offer:

“Like” the Silver Diner on Facebook and provide them with your e-mail address when prompted. Once they reach 5,000 fans who “like” Silver Diner (they are currently just under 2,000), all fans will be e-mailed out a $10 off $20+ purchase coupon. That’s a great deal!

To find a Silver Diner near you click here. Locations are in Virginia, Maryland and New Jersey.

*UPDATE: When I signed up I got the following message. Which seems to indicate that coupons will be e-mailed out next Fri. 8/20/10:

Thanks for signing up! Watch your inbox on August 20th for your exclusive $10 off coupon. Back to http://www.facebook.com/SilverDiner Visit http://www.SilverDiner.com

Thanks Erin from Coupon Cravings!

Free SweetFlow Frozen Yogurt in DC Tomorrow

The SweetGreen SweetFlow mobile will be handing out FREE small cups of their frozen yogurt with toppings tomorrow, Saturday, for two hours at two DC locations.

They’ll be parked at the following locations for 2 hours this Saturday, August 7th, 2010:
12 pm – 2 pm: 25th & Pennsylvania Ave NW
3 pm – 5 pm: 5th & K St NW

For more information about this offer, click here (normal price is around $5+). Their website states their “tart yogurt has live active cultures, is fat free and all-natural”. Sounds yummy and healthy!