Birthday Freebies!

Birthday's can be so much fun in the coupon world... if you plan in advance! Below is a list of restaurants and retailers that will bless you with something Free or close to Free on your birthday! So take some time and browse thru the list and see if something sticks out to you and sign up! I'm sure I don't have to even say this but I will because I know someone may get upset, but this list could change at any minute and I have no idea when these businesses will change or take down their "birthday specials". This is just for fun, and I don't get paid a cent to advertise for them.

Restaurant Deals

Auntie Anne's Pretzel ~ Upon Sign up you will get a BOGO deal and on your birthday!

Baskin Robbins ~ Free 2.5 oz scoop of ice cream or a swirl of soft serve!

Benihana's Japanese Restaurant ~ This is amazing! Join the Chef table for free and you will get $30 FREE on your birthday! Yes please!

bd's Mongolian Grill ~ $5 off upon sign up and Free Stir Fry on your birthday.

Carrabba's Italian Grill ~ Free dessert on bday & comp. appetizer upon sign up.

Firehouse Subs ~ Free Medium celebratory sub on bday. Free drink w/purchase of sub upon sign up.

IHOP ~ Free Rooty Tooty Fresh and Fruity Meal. (amazing eggs, meat and smothered pancakes w/fruit)

McAlister's Deli ~ $5 off coupon

Noodles & Company ~ Free Bowl of Noodles

Romana's Macaroni Grill ~ $5 off upon sign up & Free slice of cake for your birthday

Sonic ~ Free Medium Drink

Souper!Salad! ~ upon sign up 20% off. Free bday lunch or dinner.

Captain D's ~ Kids Sign up for Free Bday treat & I was told adults get one to when signing up for their insider D's club. (You do enter your birthday, so crossing fingers)

Ruby Tuesday's ~ Join their so connected group and receive a free Burger on your birthday!

Retail Deals

Aveda ~ Free gift up to $24 value on bday & free lotion upon sign up

Old Navy ~ $10 off a $50 purchase

Sephora ~ Every year it's different. Last year was lip gloss, year before nail polish.

Enjoy these awesome deals! Let me know in the comments if you find that one of the links doesn't work or the policy has changed! If you know of any other freebies or discounts let me know!

Worth It.

Valentine's Day.

Many years this day has held unnecessary expectations.

Having to out due every other date of the year.

Flowers.

Chocolates.

Great Sex.

In our home those expectations in my mind were never met. I built it up to something that was not even possible. The day usually ended in a argument because I was to selfish to admit that my expectations that were way high in the first place were not being meet.

Now it wasn't because my husband didn't try because he is amazing and ALWAYS does his best to meet my needs, wants, and desires.

We came to the conclusion that we have awesome, fun dates all thru the year and those have no expectations because of a "day". It's just us. 365 days are dedicated to us loving each other like crazy so why on earth do we put so much pressure on Valentine's Day ?

So this year.... We decided we would give up 1 day since 364 days we get to sleep in each others arms. We decided on this 1 day we would dedicate to those who didn't get to have that significant one with them, or haven't meet them.

I cooked a fun dinner, used our great china, Lit some candles and when we were all done eating we tore down the table set- up and got our Wii on.

Nothing over the top.

Nothing spectacular.

Just a fun time with some great people.

Worth Every Minute of giving up our Valentine's Day to share with others.

My expectations were beyond met and we had a great time!!!

The Other Side.

I now have an IPhone. I got a deal that couldn't be resisted and I'm saving almost $75 a month from Verizon. Anyways, what are your must have Apps ???

Tell me them all...

Was it a lose or a gain ?

"We frequently lose what we have because we fail to remember why it was given. "

Today I'm having one of those days. I have not had one for a while. I miss "home"! Yes I know my home is here in Georgia, but I think that one can truly have many "homes" They say your home is where your heart is and well i have invested in many places and so pieces of my heart are spread around the country like little seeds.

Today I am enjoying our new church "manse". It's a kinda blah day and my allergies are in full swing, yet I'm overwhelmed with the goodness that although its not a true "manse", it's what has been given to us, and I'm GRATEFUL! I'm going to choose today to remember why it was given to me. It was given to me as a mandate.... a mandate of when you move in there the call on your life is in action. A mandate of a promise that God would take care of us. A mandate that he has put us right where he wants us. I for one don't want to lose what we have been given so I'm going to remember what he has given me, and feel BLESSED that he has Chosen me!

Below are the pictures of our old house, and i do miss it! However I know it was given to us for a season, and i have beautiful pictures to enjoy. Praying you remember what was given to you, and more importantly Why it was given to you!!! So as I miss my other homes and friends I count it a gain to be where God has put me!

Lot's of Gas.

When we knew we were moving to Georgia i was so excited that it would be WARM. Granted I knew i would miss the snow. Well guess what I was wrong. In the month of December it got soooo cold here. Were talking like 15 at night. Well we are living in my in-laws old house right now (since church planters don't have a salary). We finally bit the bullet and filled up the propane tank... never knew that was an option for heat until we moved here. Well filling a propane tank up is umm let's just say NOT CHEAP. Granted we are living in a free house but umm still it's not cheap. Well it got warmer and we tried to conserve as much as possible. Extra layers blankets, socks etc.. Well Ben checked the tank Monday and it was at 5% YIKES, so he called them to come fill it because this week it's' supposed to be low 30's at night. Well when they came i didn't realize he had already told them to come, and i said NOO let us tough it out... let's save the money. Turn on space heaters, etc. So the guys said with less then 5% you will not make it thru the night with the gas in the tank... uh. Surely if God can multiply the fish he can multiply GAS right!!!

Well he did! It's Friday and it's still going. Every time that furnace kicks on i just thank God for providing more GAS!

Dreams Come True.

In my last post i showed you some of the progress we have made on the church.

Every single $ spent is out of our own pocket. Now i don't say that to pat ourself on the back but right now we are living on a prayer. We were blessed with a tremendous love offering and severance pay when we left our home church in Michigan to start the church in Georgia. However that money is only going to last so long and stretch so far.

We believe in what God has spoken to us about this area and we feel it's worth the investment.

This being said our greatest friends, Pastors, brother sister in Christ however you want to put, some of the most special supporters in our life were going to Disney to run in the Marathon. We are only 6 hours from there so we found a cheap hotel and decided let's go for it. We told the kids we would do 1 day of Disney. However expenses racked up quickly at the church and we started feeling it best not to go to the park, and i began to pray that God would make a way. Can i just tell you that God blessed us with AMAZING friends.

I was getting ready to tell the kids we weren't going when i got the text that someone wanted to bless us with FREE tickets to Magic Kingdom!

So I still told the kids that we had decided it was best for our family if we didn't go to Disney, and they looked really down, but then I told them that God saw and heard mommy's prayers and he cares about not just our needs but our wants, dreams & desires! I told them we were blessed with the tickets and they were so ecstatic that God loves them that much, and now it wasn't just something we got to do but it was something that God wanted us to do! That he cared enough to lay it on someone's heart to collect $ and send us! So to all of you who were apart of making that day happen for us, well you succeeded in blessing our socks off! It was the greatest day EVER! We got to spend it with Pastor Jim & Dena, and it was one of the first "Normal" days i have felt since we moved. I posted a ton of pictures on facebook so hop over and enjoy!