Tomorrow, November 24, 6-9 PM -- Free Cold Stone Ice Cream Cake and Pie Tasting

Cold Stone has certainly been all over our blog in the past couple of days, with contests to win and cakes to taste.

Visit your local participating Cold Stone Creamery from 6-9 tomorrow (Monday) for a tasting of their cakes and pies. While you are there, pick up a cake for Thanksgiving, and enter to win!

Note: I got this in my email because I am on the Cold Stone Creamery mailing list. I am not sure if this is only in Massachusetts and New Hampshire or all over, because I can't find the event on their site. You might want to call ahead to confirm whether this event is happening in your area.

Another piece of cake...ice cream cake, that is!

Today I got an email from Cold Stone Creamery. Before I got into that, I do want to point out that Gmail now has themes, and if you use Gmail and choose the "candy" theme, you will have a cute little ice cream staring at you every time you check your mail. And if you are like me, that would be all the time...oh! oh! And if you choose the "bus stop" theme and make your location Boston, you also have a kid holding a huge (um, "dream" might be a better word) cone down at the bottom.

Oh, and wait...one more digression. I am on my computer that doesn't have Adobe Creative Suite on it and I am too lazy to go upstairs and use Photoshop, so I just wanted to mention this super cool online photo editing site I just read about. Picnik. Great for on-the-go editing!

All over the news, I am hearing about bailout this and bankrupt that. Apparently Cold Stone Creamery isn't having these problems, because they have a contest this holiday season with a chance to win up to $10,000 when you buy one of their cakes. Sweet! Cakes and money! (Although right now I can't even begin to think about ordering a cake because I ate too much Party Favors cake at a reception at the Museum School's Art Sale, InsideOut.) Anyway, $10,000. How could I get away from that? Without further ado, here is the $10,000 news!

Now through January 6th, 2009 (or sooner, if they run out of game pieces), purchase a Cold Stone cake and get a "gold medal." With this gold medal, you have a chance to win one of three $10,000 prizes, five $500 prizes, or one of 1000 cakes! Even the smallest prize has some sweet potential!

Anyway, this is an ice cream filled post along with a couple of hot tips, so I hope between this post and Tina's yesterday, we are getting out of the dog house for being kind of MIA.

Speaking of $10,000...er, um, at least 10,000 lakes...I will be in the land of 10,000 lakes (Minnesota) next week but hopefully will be able to report back on some midwestern ice cream.

World's Largest Ice Cream Social at Cold Stone Creamery This Thursday

Cold Stone Creamery is teaming up with Make-A-Wish Foundation to make children's dreams come true. 

Pop into your nearest Cold Stone Creamery on Thursday, September 25 from 5-8 pm for a free 3 oz. cup of either Jack's Creation or Emily's Creation (two flavors that were inspired by Jack and Emily, two Wish children) and some "family fun" -- not

 exactly sure what the fun will be. From the Cold Stone website:

• Jack's Creation Marshmallow ice cream with OREO® Cookies, Chocolate Chips and Fudge
• Emily's Creation Nutter Butter® ice cream with White Chocolate Chips, Kit Kat® and Yellow Cake

(Yum!)

For more information and the list of participating shops, visit the Cold Stone website.

Added bonus? Since you are already at Cold Stone enjoying your free ice cream, you can kill two birds with one stone and do a good deed. Throughout the month of September, purchase Make-A-Wish Wall Star at Cold Stone Creamery and all proceeds will go to the Foundation.  Feel the warmth of giving while enjoying an ice cold treat!