Month: July 2017

Recapping My 30th

 

Can you believe another birthday is around the corner?  I feel like I just celebrated my 30th weeks ago and yet here I am, turning another year older.  I don’t mind aging, which I think comes from being pretty confident in myself and knowing God has a plan designed just for me.  Don’t get me wrong – I’m not too crazy about the wrinkles I’ve been noticing around my eyes for the past few months or the fact I can’t stay up passed 9:30 without feeling like I’m hungover the next morning.  But I can accept all of that because I know everything else is good.  This past year has been pretty amazing.  Being a Mom sure has a lot to do with it.  Waking up every morning to my little boy singing from his crib and three dogs who can’t wait to start the day is pretty special.

 

This past year has been full of some great moments.  Our son took his first steps, I’ve advanced in my career, I continue to peck away at this little blog of mine trying to grow it and help you with your budgeting and financial needs, and I created my very first budget template to share with you and guide you on creating a sustainable budget.  It’s been good.

thankful for

fall bucket list, things to do in the fall

 

Since turning 30 we’ve been able to do so much as a family.  So I had way too much fun going through pictures for this post.  It was so neat to see how much our little guy has changed in just a year and to remember the crazy first-time Mom that I was.  Always making sure we had everything we could possible imagine when we left the house.  Now I’m lucky if I even remember a diaper most days.  I have come full circle that’s for sure!  This past year has brought a lot of changes to our family and to me.  I’ve mellowed out and have learned to rely on my inner strength.  It’s been a  good year.  Here are a few of my favorite memories from this past year:

Florida vacation, travling with a toddler, flying with a toddler, how to travel with a baby

Florida vacation, travling with a toddler, flying with a toddler, how to travel with a baby

Beautiful beach vacation with J’s family when our little guy was just a few months old.  At this point our little guy had been to the beach twice before he was 3 months old.  We went again more recently on a beach vacation just the three of us, which was so much fun.  We played in the sand, toured the Daytona Speedway and just spent time together.  

I finally bit the bullet and hired someone local to take family pictures and birthday pictures for our little guy.  If you’re in Southeast Missouri and looking to get some pictures taken, take a look at Josh DeFord Photography

cake smash, babys first birthday, boy birthday, gone fishing birthday theme

 

what to bring for family photos, what to take to photo session with baby, what to bring to family photos

 

I can’t wait to see where 31 takes me!  It’s going to be an adventure.    

Birthday Freebies

list of birthday freebies, birthday free, free birthday stuff, reward programs with free birthday

Last year for my birthday I put together a giant list of freebies you can get on your birthday.  Who doesn’t love free stuff?  I had a list of free food, discounts, and reward points.  I thought it was time to update my list and make it a bit more complete this year.  Nothing says birthday like free gifts! 

Here’s my best tip for handling your reward programs and freebies.  

If you don’t want a ton of junk emails through out the year then go ahead and create a separate email account specifically for freebies.  I have a separate email that I check once a week or so that I use for store rewards programs.  That way your regular inbox isn’t overcrowded with emails and you can keep everything in the same spot.  

Alright, now onto the list of free stuff!  

Food Birthday Freebies

Applebees – Free dessert.
Arby’s – Free 12oz. milkshake with any purchase.
Auntie Anne’s Pretzels – Free pretzel (that’s what I received last birthday.)  They also send monthly coupons all year long if you sign up for their newsletter.
Baskin Robbins – Free 2.5 oz scoop of ice cream on your birthday plus other promotions when you join the Baskin Robbins Birthday Club.
Bob Evans – Free dessert and/or free kid’s meal.
Boston Market – Free kid’s meal coupon for kids under 12.
Buffalo Wild Wings – You either get a free dessert straight up or with a $5 purchase, depending on your location.
Burger King – Free kid’s meal to all kids club members.
Chevy’s – Free dessert.
Chick-fil-A – Free meal, good for two months!
Country Buffet – Join the Mega Bar Meal club and get a free meal on your birthday AND a free meal just for signing up!
Country Kitchen – As long as you have valid ID, you get a free dinner entree up to $8 in value.
Cracker Barrel – Come in on your birthday and you will get a free dessert.
Culver’s – Free sundae.
Dairy Queen – Free BOGO ice cream coupon via e-mail.
Denny’s – Free original Grand Slam breakfast, but only on your birthday!
Dunkin Donuts – Free Coffee!
Dutch Bros. Coffee – Stop in on your birthday and get a free coffee as your birthday freebie.
Einstein Bros Bagels – Free bagel and shmear
Famous Dave’s Barbeque – Free birthday surprise and free kids lil’ wilbur meal.
Fazoli’s – Join their eFamily and get a coupon for a free dessert.
Firehouse Subs – Sign up and get an email for a free sub.
Great American Cookies – Free cookie!
Hard Rock Cafe – Free dessert.
Hometown Buffet – Join the Mega Bar Meal club and get a free meal on your birthday AND a free meal just for signing up!
Hooters – 10 free hot wings.
Houlihan’s – Free coupon for an entree during your next visit up to a week after your birthday.
HuHot Mongolian Grill – Free dessert and free kid’s smores
IHOP – Come on into IHOP and get a free meal (a sundae at some locations) on your birthday. (May not be available in all areas.)
Jack in the Box – They have a printable coupon for a free dessert valid only on your birthday.
Krispy Kreme – Free half dozen glazed donuts and a coffee mug with either coffee or soda in it! You might want to sign up ahead of time (only at participating locations).
Logan’s Roadhouse – Join their Nut Club and get a coupon for a free slice of cheesecake.
Lone Star Steakhouse –Free Appetizer!
Maggie Moo’s –Free Birthday Surprise!
Marble Slab Creamery – Kids can join the Marble Slab Kids Club and get a free ice cream cone on their birthday up to age 12.
McAlister’s Deli – Free birthday surprise.
Mimis Cafe – Free entree with purchase.
Moe’s Southwest Grill –Free Entree! and Free Kid’s Birthday Meal!
Noodles & Company – Free meal coupon for your birthday when you signup for their newsletter.
Old Chicago Free Pizza!
Old Country Buffet – Join the Mega Bar Meal club and get a free meal on your birthday AND a free meal just for signing up!
Old Spaghetti Factory – Free Kid’s Birthday Meal!
Old Spaghetti Warehouse – Join the Warehouse Club and get a coupon for a free meal on your birthday.
Olive Garden – Free birthday surprise.
Orange Julius – Free birthday drink.
Outback – Get a free dessert.
P.F. Chang’s – Free cake or cheesecake via their e-mail list.
Papa Murphy’s – Sign up for their e-club and get a coupon for a free cookie dough on your birthday.
Qdoba Mexican Grill – Free burrito on your birthday, as well as free chips n’ salsa just for joining up.
Quizno’s – Join their mailing list and get a free cookie on your birthday. You’ll also get a coupon for a free Sammie when you sign up.
Red Lobster – Join the Overboard Club and they will email you a surprise for your birthday.
Red Robin – Free Gourmet Burger if you pick up a Red Royalty Card at your local restaurant and then register it online. You also get a dessert when you say it’s your birthday in the restaurant!
Starbucks – If you have a gift card to their store, register it and receive a free coffee on your birthday. If you shop there often, it might be worth buying a gift card just to get the free coffee!
Steak ‘n Shake – Free steak burger with cheese and fries.
Texas Roadhouse – They send a coupon for one free appetizer or sidekick of ribs.
Waffle House – Join their Regulars Club and get a special coupon.
Wendy’s – Free kids meal for the little ones and a free frosty for us adults.
Zio’s Italian – Come in and get a free dessert on your birthday.

list of birthday freebies, birthday free, free birthday stuff, reward programs with free birthday

Retail Birthday Freebies

Ace Hardware – signup and receive $5 off on your birthday.
CVS – If you have an Extra Care Card, register it online and get $3 ECB on your birthday.
Disney – sign up for Disney Rewards and get a credit for a free DVD.
DSW Shoes – $5.00 On Your Birthday.
Famous Footwear – Free Birthday Surprise.
Hallmark – 20% off coupon for one item and a free card.
Helzberg Diamonds
 – Sign up for free email updates and receive a coupon for free pearl earrings for your birthday.
Journeys Kidz – 15% off gift card for your child’s birthday.
Kmart – Children get $5.00 Birthday Bucks, a birthday crown, happy birthday certificate, and birthday Fun Pack with surprise goodies!
Missouri Lottery – Free-play ticket.
Old Navy – Get a coupon on your birthday.
Proctor & Gamble – A batch of BOGO coupons for various products.
Sephora – Sign up as a Beauty Insider and get a free gift from Sephora on your birthday.
Swagbucks – 50 free Swagbucks
The Children’s Place – Register for their Birthday Club and receive 15% off on yours and your child’s birthday + coupons during your birthday week.
Toys R Us – Sign up ahead of time and once your child’s birthday rolls around, they’ll get a personalized letter in the mail. Plus, bring your child into any Toys R Us and they’ll get a hat & balloon before having their birthday announced over the loudspeaker. You’ll also get a $3 gift card in mail.

Ulta Beauty – Free Birthday Surprise!
Walmart PictureMe Studio – Free Birthday Portrait Collage!
World Market – Free Birthday Gift!

Bonus Tip – Sign up early

Now if you know you’re going to be going to a specific restaurant or store on or around your birthday, then try to join the rewards program before going.  I recommend joining about 2-3 weeks before your birthday.  That way your information has time to be processed in their system and you can get an email with your coupon.  Most stores have caught on to people signing up just for the instant coupon, so now they wait a day or two to send an email with the discount.  If you sign up early then you can ensure time to receive the goods.