by jenn_davis | personal
This year I really wanted to do something a little different to celebrate my birthday. Not only was it a big one for me, but it was right before Thanksgiving, so in the spirit of giving I thought it would be appropriate to give back! I was initially inspired by how my good friend, Cheyenne, celebrated her 31st birthday.
The day before my group of friends and I headed to the beach I loaded up on various goodies (i.e. jelly belly’s, snickers bars, orbit gum, etc.) and taped a note I wrote to each one. I also purchased several Starbucks gift cards and attached the note. Saturday morning I shared with my friends how I wanted to celebrate and handed them each a bag with 4 quarters to give out as we headed out to Broadway at the Beach with our big bag of goodies! We had a blast giving out candy and filling fish food machines with quarters! Some of the best reactions were from handing out the Starbucks gift cards!
Pretty much everyone was receptive to us. A few were confused and one turned down a Snickers bar….can’t please everyone I suppose! 🙂 My favorite reaction was a little girl who wanted to feed the fish so bad but no one in her group had any quarters. I happened to walk right through as she dropped her head in disappointment after her father told her he didn’t have any money. I was holding Dyce but was able to shift him so I could reach in my pocket and get my bag of quarters. You would have thought she won the lottery after I handed her the bag!
It’s the little things.
At the bottom of the notes I had put an email address. I wasn’t really expecting to hear from anyone, but it made my day when I got this email late Sunday night…..
Dear thefortunateplight@gmail.com
Your random act of kindness touched me beyond measure! It was so nice to be the recipient of this Starbucks gift card while walking from the bitter cold to where else, but Starbucks at Broadway at the Beach to get a hot chocolate. Thank you for that!
I was eager to help you celebrate your birthday wish…so when one of the performers (aka…Santa Claus) asked if their grandparent could hang around with us because she was all alone. Not only was your generosity paid forward, but a new friend was made as well! Here’s to sharing hot chocolates and warm blankets!
Great start to the Thanksgiving and Christmas Season!!!
Happy 30th Birthday and may many blessings abound you.
Last night (my actual birthday) I was driving home from a late meeting at work. When I pulled onto my road I saw that one of my neighbors trashcans had tipped over and trash was all in the middle of the street. One of the bags had opened and loose trash was starting to litter their lawn. I’m not going to lie, at first I drove past thinking how late it was and I was tired, cold and hungry, but then I thought about this sweet woman’s email and how important it is to practice what you preach. I put my car in reverse and there I was in the middle of the night picking up bags of trash in the middle of the road and realizing that sometimes you have to make a conscious effort to pay it forward.
This week let’s make a conscious effort to be better, kinder and more generous people. I truly believe only great things can come of it.
xo,
by heather | creative tips
HAPPY BIRTHDAY JENN!!!!!
In honor of Jenn’s birthday this week….I would like to share some tips on how to get FREE stuff all day long on your birthday!* First step is to click on the links below and sign up – go ahead and do this now, even if your birthday isn’t close. Some companies give you free stuff just for signing up, in addition to the free items listed below!
Wake up and go enjoy some free breakfast…choose your favorite or two!
Einstein Brothers Bagels – sign up for their club and you will receive a FREE bagel
Panera Bread – sign up for their rewards program and you will earn a FREE bakery pastry
IHOP – join their “pancake revolution” and get earn a FREE meal right away and on your birthday
Krispy Kreme – sign up for their “friends of Krispy Kreme” and get a FREE birthday donut
Waffle House – sign up for their “regular’s club” and get a FREE birthday waffle
Now, go pick yourself up a few presents… (sorry guys, this is all for the ladies)
Aveda – join their birthday program and get a FREE full size salon product
Sephora – sign up for the “beauty insider” program and get a FREE birthday surprise
Smashbox – join the free “pretty points rewards” program and get a FREE makeup gift set
Victoria’s Secret – if you have an Angel Card (their credit card), you will receive a FREE birthday surprise
Time for lunch! Decisions. Decisions.
Moe’s – sign up for their club and get a FREE burrito
Jason’s Deli – join their list and get a FREE $5 gift card
Firehouse Subs – show your id on your actual birthday and get a FREE sub
Zaxby’s – join their mail club and get a FREE Nibbler
McAlister’s Deli – sign up for their “deligrams” email and get a FREE $5 gift card
Jersey Mike’s Subs – join their email club and get a FREE sub and drink
Fuddruckers – sign up for the “fudds club” and get a FREE burger
How about a movie and a sweet treat?
Redbox – sign up for their emails and get a FREE dvd rental
Dairy Queen – join the “blizzard fan club” and get a FREE ice cream blizzard
Rita’s – join the birthday club and get a FREE birthday treat
Planet Smoothie – sign up for their newsletter and receive a FREE birthday smoothie
Afternoon Coffee Break!
Starbucks – sing up for their rewards and get a FREE drink
Dunkin’ Donuts – join their “dunkin’ perks” and get a FREE drink
Caribou Coffee – sign up for their emails and get a FREE drink
Finish your freebie day off with some yummy dinner…
Maggiano’s – join their email club and receive a FREE $10 birthday gift certificate
Melting Pot – join their “club fondue” and get a FREE chocolate fondue
Ruby Tuesday – sign up for their email list a get a FREE burger
Brio Tuscan Grille – sign up for their emails and receive a FREE beef medallions with shrimp scampi meal
BIRTHDAY BONUS!!!
Most of the offers above are valid for the whole month of your birthday, so enjoy a whole week of freebies! *Certain rules may apply and change! See each individual company for details.
I love free stuff, don’t you? Read some more of my freebie tips HERE.
by sunnyslideup | sunny slide up
We are happy to announce our winner for the turkey giveaway, Shannon Russ! Below is a glance at the winning “Sunny Slide Up Thanksgiving Dinner” Pinterest board. You can view it on Pinterest HERE.
Thank you to all of the participants. We had so much fun looking over all of your boards and getting inspired for our own Thanksgiving dinners. Be sure to check out our NOVEMBER Pinterest board for lots of Thanksgiving inspiration! Only 6 days away… gobble gobble.
(Click image to enlarge)
Stay tuned for new giveaways coming up!
