Birthday Freebies

Let’s face it, every year you think about the free short stack you missed at Denny’s. Does every birthday have to be about food?

I want shoes jewelry and other things besides stuffing my face! I looked for some freebies and birthday treasures from companies I adore. Please share some if you know of others! I love makeup and nail stuff. Pedicures and underwear hahaha. Thanks to my friends at Julep for setting me up for nail polish!

 

IHOP-  Get a FREE meal on your birthday and exclusive offers when you sign up forPancake Revolution.

Moe’s-  Receive a FREE Queso & Chips just for signing up Moe’s E-World.  Also receive a FREE burrito on your birthday!!!

Red Robin-  Get a FREE Burger on your birthday.  Must join the Red Robin Red Royalty.

Sephora-  Receive a FREE Benefit Kit (That’s Real Mascara & Watt’s Up Highlighter) when you join Beauty Insider.

If you don’t want junk mail to hit your inbox, simply filter the emails out! That way the coupons and deals are automatically filtered into a handy little folder, ready and waiting for when you need them.

American Eagle – Adults – 15% off. Children receive an unknown freebie.

Aveda – Sign up at least 28 days before your bday and get a free Personal Blends Pure-Fume
Barnes & Noble – Children get a free cupcake at their cafe. Children at heart get nothing.

Boondocks offers a free unlimited pass on the day of your birthday
Borders Bookstore – Free small coffee or tea
Brunswick Bowling – Join the Bonus Zone and get a free game of bowling on your birthday.
Chuck E. Cheese’s – Their website promises a birthday special as well, which many people have said is 20 free tokens.
Columbia Sportswear – 20% off coupon
Cost Plus World Market – They won’t say what it is, but they promise a “surprise gift” on your birthday.
CVS – If you have an Extra Care Card, register it online and get $3 ECB on your birthday.

DSW Shoes :: $5.00 On Your Birthday!
Famous Footwear ::  Free Birthday Surprise!
Hallmark – 20% off coupon for one item and a free card.
Hot Topic – $10 off coupon on a minimum purchase of $20.

Journeys Kidz offers 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!

Munchkin Radio offers free chick-fil-a kids meal, free kids meal from Chili’s, free pizza buffet from Rock Creek Pizza and free ice cream from Marble Slab

Nickelmania offers a free gift on your birthday
Old Navy – Join their email club and you’ll get a coupon on your birthday.
Proctor & Gamble – They’ll send you a batch of BOGO coupons for various products.
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!

Benefit Cosmetics – Hip up their brow bar as indicated on your bday and get your Kahlo’s trimmed.

Cable and Gauge – knitwear for style! Some items they have sent out as free birthday gifts include free jewelry and free scarves.

Az on the Rocks - Yep couldn’t leave my homies out. Back home you get a free day of climbing on your birthday.

Julep – Use Promo Code FREEBOX for a gift box of nail and beauty products!

Happy 6th Blogiversary LuLu

 

Six years already ….

 

On April 11th I celebrated owning talking posting running this little blog for six years. I think that is longer than I ever had a LiveJournal (Kym made me think about that yesterday) and even longer than I have had a MySpace or FaceBook account open. Well I take that back, I think I had my FB open in 2007 but I wasn’t really interested in posting in it.

I have talked about everything on this blog from personal, fashion, crafting and even my time in SecondLife.

It has been a seriously epic journey and even at times when my world was quiet or I wasn’t feeling up to par on being social, this blog has certainly kept me company. I have had reader friends come into the blogging world and leave. I miss them and appreciate their contribution.

Happy Six LuLu – You have been a good companion.

But I am Free

Wordless Wednesday

Kids Clothes Giveaway – Hurry

Most of us like to shop, in fact our husbands often make fun of us for the insanity we can bring down in retail therapy.

Things have changed a lot since my little one was little. Mom’s have to truly be strategic commanders of the home balancing the well being of their loved ones, with carefully structured finances.

Shopping becomes stressful. Gone are the leisurely rack flipping “ooooo I need that” just because, moments. Our children’s wardrobe especially must transition through growth spurts seasons and grass stains.

My bestie Sarah has been bringing her thoughts and use case experience to the table lately on all sorts of Mom and Kid stuff. She is a single mom of a super hero elementary school diva, and fearless fire breathing silly clown dragon of a toddler.

The toddler antics alone take hours of her day, as he is just that silly. Suddenly things like sippy cups free of BPA (or something like that… I don’t even know but it’s bad) Are really important for mom’s to know.

Hop over to her blog, there’s great reading reviews and maybe even a drink recipe awaiting you. This month you have the added value (for the first 50 callers- kidding) of entering to win a month of clothing for your kid. Yep. Free… Giveaway… CLOTHING….

Why are you still here ?

Win A Month of Wittlebees

Odd Places : Bodie California

The topic of Papel Picado yesterday somehow led me down the dead rabbit hole. I found a Photostream on Flickr showcasing some beautiful Aztec dancers, Los Muertos skulls and clicking on, what appeared to be a color splash of old western Gold Town Ghost Town Boom.

Town of Bodie Historical Marker (catch the “bodies” miners…hmmm)

According to several users on FLickr, Bodie is a photographers dream location. Structure decay and lighting. To paranormal researchers it offers not only a curse but ghost stories as well. Bodie is a ghost town in the Bodie Hills east of the Sierra Nevada mountain range in Mono County, California, United States. 75 miles southeast of Lake Tahoe.

In 1859 William S. Bodey discovered gold during the big rush and miners began to flock. A mill was established in 1861 and by 1880 it was estimated 10,000 people lived in the town and surrounding area. Geological maps show little to no earthquake activity in this area historically, which made well for residents and miners.

The town like many Gold Towns has a rampart past of sin and deadly tales. For the adventurer today two things stick out. The Bodie Curse and The Ghost of Bodie.

There are still about 100 structures that remain from the lives of Bodie. Of those most have contents left by their former owners. Kitchens with dishes and tablecloths still on the table, food staples still on the shelves. Bedrooms with beds linens and even toiletries still intact.

Vandals over the years have not been kind to Bodie, and the structures have not been restored. They are considered in a state of arrested decay. The elements still affect them and they are as they were when the last town members left.

“The Cain family, who owned much of the land the town is situated upon, hired caretakers to protect and to maintain the town’s structures.^[32] Martin Gianettoni, one of the last three people in Bodie in 1943, was also a caretaker.^[33]“

In 1962 Bodie became a historic park with designation under the protection act for Rangers to be placed on site full-time. The Park Service has items mailed back every year they put on display then try to, based on the letter, return to the exact spot where it was taken. The curse goes: Any item removed from Bodie will give its owner nothing but misfortune and ruin until returned. The speculation of the origins are unknown but letter after letter still arrives returning Bodie property.

The Cain House

The Cain House and Family – who ended up owning most of Bodie also host one of the most infamous ghost stories. Mr Cain had apparently had a torrid affair with a maid. On finding out, she was fired by Mrs Cain. Unable to find work now disgraced in the town she committed suicide. Park rangers who use the house, and others have reported all sorts of activity.

This is getting added to my must see places. Some other resources if you are interested in playing in the odd past.

California State Parks – Bodie

Full Map of Bodie and structures

Yelp tips planning and how to’s

 

Healthy Choice – Cafe Steamers

I should throw my normal disclaimer out there first:
I am not a mommy blogger, or paid product review person. Not that I would MIND that gig, but I have not ever been approached or set myself up on some of those networks. I review what I like in hopes that maybe you may discover something new for you too. At the very least you may have a different opinion, which I would love to hear.

Darling and I were at the store the other night picking up some goodies for dinner.  Kroger here in Atlanta has a pretty decent rewards program, that hosts online coupons, BOGO, and lower gas prices at the pump. Another savings initiative they offer is to buy 10 and save. They lower prices on specifically marked items then offer you a savings when you buy ANY ten in the store. I needed lunch for work and these were suggested.

I would like to simply run down a really great list of likes/dislikes

• Steamer containers really prevent food from drying out – very fresh non chewy.
• Easy to cook in micro no messy directions or boil over as everything is tidy.
• Low calories – my selections were only 230 Cals.
• Fits perfectly in my “get in the dress” mode for the next few months.
• Flavor – WOW these things really taste great.
• Containers are easily rinsed and recycled.
• Box is recyclable as well
• Coupons coupons coupons !
• I actually got several different varities and my store used my coupons for the “Top Chef” on each in addition to my Kroger rewards.
• My cost at check out with rewards was about $0.59 a box.

So to be fair and offer creative criticism

• Serving size is a little small
• While using good eating practice and doing 5 small meals a day I still have to have a salad or snack with selections or my tummy grumbles.
• Meal Selection wasn’t large only 5-7 mains and they’re the regular chicken selections you would see elsewhere.
• With out coupons or rewards these items are typically around $3.
• That’s not in my thrifty budget so until they come back on sale I will not be buying them regularly which stinks cause I am REALLY digging them.

First Emerald Shoes of 2013

Where did they get that _____ ?

Seafoam Venus Bib Necklace – $32
Photo Courtesy Bauble Bar

I was on a “Pinning” nut fix yesterday designing the Emerald wants for this year. In one of the boards I found these stunning Art Deco necklaces.

Gardner Bib

Of course I was convinced they must be hundreds of Dollars. (Like the infamous JCrew Bubble Necklace everyone had to have in red last season). WRONG!
Most necklaces start at 20$ and range for the heavy statement pieces around $64. There are many promotions, ways to save, and offers weekly. Cruise the site, share the information with friends. You get points for every purchase and other incentives. You’re first order is $10 off just for signing up for an account or email. Enjoy !

BaubleBar.com

Tangerine Fall

Chinti and Parker heart cardigan, $480 /
Nicole Farhi cap sleeve shirt, $61 /
Fat Face chambray pants, $32 /
ASOS leather brogue, $31 /
Alexander McQueen leather shoulder handbag /
Tom Binns orange necklace

I love a sophisticated tom boy look. I guess jeans will always win out in my wardrobe. I pinned a ton of really cute looks to my Pinterest in hopes that while thrifting I will come across similar items to recreate the looks that I love. Let’s face it. I am not going to be buying a 580$ cardi any time soon. However I know I could find a grey cardi to stitch some bright tangerine patches on to !

I love that Tangerine  was selected as the color for Fall 2012.

Protecting the Children – Help This Family Please

 

Donate Today

I was recently made aware of a situation with a fellow mother. She is a good friend of my friend, Lori. I don’t have all the details, as the legal matters really are none of my business. The more important details are that the person this mother trusted to watch over these precious treasures with resolute and resounding fierce dedication, has failed to do so. In this neglect these children have suffered terrible abuse by a non family member.

This mother needs our help. She needs support from the community, she needs therapy, doctors, lawyers and yes even some state lobbyist to get involved and stand up and pay attention to what has happened. We as a world are stunted, numb almost zombies in our backyards due to stress, financial strain, and everything happening in one devastating blow after another now. This week’s news was horrifying and terribly sad. I would challenge each of you to give (even if 5$) and claim your chi back, let this mother know we as friends community and a nation are no longer going to take it.

We will not watch our children starve, suffer, be made victims or most importantly be abused.

Please share. Please send to everyone you know, and share.