Best FREE Stuff for Your Birthday!

 I just recently celebrated my birthday and had so many free items/discounts available!  I wanted to share with you all my list of FREE things you can get for your birthday.  You do have to sign up for emails to get these but they really are FREE!

Free Food:

Chicken Salad Chick: You do have to download the app and sign up for this one but you get a Free Chick Special which is like $7 so it's totally worth it!

Nothing Bundt Cakes: Join their e-club for a Free Bundlet!  They are DELICIOUS!

Starbucks: This one is a little more in depth, you sign up for their rewards program with a gift card and then you get a Free drink or food item on your birthday.  This freebie is ONLY valid on your actual birthday so don't wait!  Also you do have to tell them you have a birthday reward to use if you are ordering in person, ont eh app you can just choose to apply.

Dunkin': Sign up for DDPerks and get Free drink of any size on your birthday.

 

Chick-Fil-A: Download their app and you get a Free Chocolate Chunk Cookie on your birthday.  These cookies are one of my favorites!

IHOP: Sign up for emails and get a Free stack of pancakes for your Birthday!

Sbarro: Sign up for the Slice Society and you get a Free slice of pizza for your birthday.

Sprinkles: Download their app and make an account for a free birthday cupcake!

Steak and Shake: Sign up for their e-club to get an automatic free Double n' cheese and fries plus a Free  birthday milkshake!

Ruby Tuesday: Sign up for their so connected emails and get a free burger or garden bar entree on your birthday.

Panera: Join MyPanera for a Free birthday pastry.  I highly recommend the almond croissant, it is AMAZING!

McAlister's: Sign up for McAlister's reward emails to get $5 off  for your birthday month.

Moe's Southwest Grill: Sign up for their reward program and get an automatic free cup of queso and a Free burrito on your birthday.

Newk's: Sign up for their E'club and get a free entree with purchase of a drink.  I'm a big fan of their pesto chicken sandwich!

O'Charley's: Become a member of their O'Club for a free piece of pie on your birthday!  Their caramel pie is AMAZING!

Waffle House: Join the Waffle House Regular Club and get a FREE waffle on your birthday!

Discounts: 
Free food is awesome but I also got a few discounts for stores that were really nice!

Kirkland's: Sign up for their K Club and get 30% off for your birthday plus a FREE gift!

JCPenny: Sign up for an account at JCPenny and get 20% Off for your birthday!

Sephora: Sign up for be a Beauty Insider and you get your choice of a Birthday gift deluxe sample!  Check out my post here to see which one I got this year!

Redbox: Sign up for a Redbox account and I got a FREE Rental for my birthday!

Rack Room: Become a Rewards Member and receive $10 off for your birthday, NO MINIMUM!

Puma: Join the Puma family and earn an immediate 10% off plus get $10 off for your birthday, no minimum spend!

Kendra Scott: One of my favorite deals!  You get 50% off an item of your choice during your birthday month.  You can only do this in store, at checkout just ask for the birthday discount (they will check your id).  P.S. this also works on sale items!  

CVS: Even the drugstore celebrates birthdays!  If you are a CVS beauty club member check your email during your birthday I had a coupon for a Free Poparazzi nail polish.

  Let me know your favorite Birthday Freebie you have scored and if there are any other places I should sign up for!  It's so fun to get all these Freebies during your Birthday month. 

What's In My Disney Backpack and Must Haves

If you have been around for a while you know I LOVE Disney.  I have had the chance to go to Disney World a couple of times in the past two years and I feel like I have a good feel for the parks and what you need for the day.  If you are planning a trip to Disney hopefully this will help you plan what you need.  Here's what I carry throughout the day:

Backpack: This is my absolute favorite Disney bag, I ordered it online and cannot wait to carry it in the parks.  

Phone case: Because your phone should be Disney'd out too

Wallet: I like to bring a small wallet when I travel so I have more space in my bag.  

Charger and cable: An external charger and your cord are lifesavers!  They sell some in the parks but they are pricey.  

Disney Buttons: I love using fun buttons to add character to my jacket, bag, etc. Talk Disney to Me and Here for the Food are That Gray Stuff, Hands Off My Dole Whip is from Wonderland Buttons.  

Sunglasses: Whether you are in Florida or California it's bound to be sunny, a good pair of sunglasses is a must!  

Hand Sanitizer: Trust me you need this!  So many people and germs around hand sanitizer is your best friend! 

Wet Brush: All those rides get my hair super tangled, I like to bring a brush just to smooth out my hair after riding space mountain.  

Bandaids: You never know when you might need one.  

Hair Ties: Again, super tangled hair on rides sometimes just call for a hair tie.  

Lypsyl: Just chapstick in general is a must have.  

Lipstick: Not a must have but you are taking a lot of picture, might as well make sure your lips look good.  My favorite easy to apply color of the moment is Maybelline Warm Me Up. 

Sunscreen: Do your skin a favor and protect it with some sunscreen!

I also will typically throw a poncho in that I purchased from the Dollar Tree, you never know when it will start to rain in Florida.   

Let me know what your must-haves are for Disney and your favorite things to do at Disney!

The trick to better salads

I used to buy those boxed salads and they would last for a couple of days before they got slimy and gross.  You know what I'm talking about.  I finally discovered the trick to long lasting fresh salads!  

It is SO simple I don't know why I haven't been doing this before.  Ok so what you do is put a paper towel on top of the lettuce to soak up the extra moisture that forms....seriously it's that simple.    

I usually do two layers and switch it out every couple of days.  This package will last at least a week, when my other packages of lettuce would be gross in a couple of days.  One of the best tips I have found!

Cruise Tips

1. Take full advantage of the provided entertainment- There is never a lack of things to do on a cruise ship.  We went to a few comedy shows, a magic show, a tea party, heard live music and that was only a few of the options.  Make sure you go to at least one!   

2. Bring a bottle of wine- Check your cruise lines policies but most will allow you to bring one bottle of wine per person (over 21 of course) on your cruise at no charge.  If you want to bring it to dinner make sure you pour a glass before you go or they will charge a bottling fee.  We enjoyed a glass in our room after dinner with a cheese and fruit plate to go from the dining room.   

3. Go ahead and order two entrees, appetizers...or dessert- It's your vacation so enjoy yourself.  My favorite part was dinner in the main dining room every night.  They had different options every night and it was fun to get dressed up and enjoy a nice dinner.  Almost every night I ordered two or either an appetizer, entree or dessert (sometimes all three).  It was fun to try new things!

4. Check the ships schedule online for free- If you turn on your wifi on your phone and bring up the ship's wifi option it will open up a browser window.  Scroll down to the bottom and it will have a few options for free use.  One of these is the daily schedule for the ship.  This is an easy way to see what's going on throughout the day without having to bring your big paper schedule.  

5. Always use the stairs!- Trust me you are eating delicious food pretty much all day, you want to do something to counteract all that indulgence.  The stairs are a great way to burn some extra calories, you get there quicker and you're not waiting on the elevator with all the other people.     

6. Order room service- Room service is one of my favorite things.  I love being able to pick out breakfast and have it delivered to my room.  On a cruise room service is a provided service that they offer free of charge, we still like to tip for their effort.  (You can order more upscale items for an additional fee but the basics are free).  We had room service delivered on the last day for breakfast to avoid the long lines at the buffet (which is another tip).  It was really nice to be able to relax and have breakfast while we finished packing up to leave.  It was a little celebration of our last day.  You also don't have to do room service for a meal they will deliver desserts to you anytime of day or night (not even kidding, cookies and milk, cheesecake, and more).     

7. Be prepared for tipping- Cruises are an all-inclusive endeavor (food, room, entertainment).  You do pay extra for drinks, certain restaurants and excursions but still.  Even with all the inclusiveness there are a few "hidden" fees.  Tipping is something you should be prepared for.  You can prepay for this when you book or you can pay after your cruise.  The estimated cost per person is about $12 a day.  If you have any questions or discrepancies make sure to visit the guest services desk.  

8. Look for smaller hidden restaurants- Most cruise ships will have one or two main dining rooms for dinner and then a very large buffet style area for breakfast and lunch.  Ships may also have small lesser known restaurants around the ship.  Ours had a small Italian spot that was free for lunch.  It was a make your own pasta dish that was absolutely delicious.  I loved the atmosphere with it being more quiet and hidden away from all the crowds. 

9. Make sure you use your onboard credit!- When you check in you will be notified that you have onboard credit in your account.  This is money that you can use on the ship for anything you would like.  (Souvenirs, drinks, tips, etc).  We didn't use ours by the end of the trip and instead of blowing it on a bunch of things we didn't need we made a trip to guest services and they cashed it out for us.  

10. Change your phone to NOT change time with location time zones- We traveled with a group and made plans to meet for dinner.  The rooms don't have clocks so plan accordingly.  We were using our phones to check time.  I had an alarm set on mine but little did I know it was switching between time zones as we were traveling.  We ended up late for dinner and very confused about the time.  So make sure your phone is set to stay in one time zone, you can configure that in your settings.  

11. Put your phone on airplane mode!- To avoid any unwanted fees for roaming and data charges make sure your phone is on airplane mode before you set sail!  Trust me you don't want that bill! 

I would love to know your tips for cruising, leave a comment down below! 

Moving tips

1. Start Early: Seriously if you put it off it will be so much worse!  As soon as you know you are moving start going through your closets and build your give away pile.

2. Pack an overnight bag containing your essentials.  Things will be crazy and you don't want to search through a box to find your pajamas or toothbrush.  

3. Pack a box containing all your essentials that you will need for the first couple of days (coffee maker, cleaning supplies, etc.)

4. Use foam plates to protect your dishes.  This saves on bubble wrap and keeps you from wrapping each one.

5. Use garbage bags to cover your clothes and keep them clean, not to mention save you time in packing.  Just put a hole in the bottom of the bag and pull the hangers through, then tie a knot at the bottom.

6. Utilize your space: for example packing your crockpot, fill it with your spices and whatever else can fit. 

7. Use your items wisely.  To save on bubble wrap use your clothes or towels or anything you have to cushion your breakables.  

8. Label your boxes.  This makes things so much easier, especially if you have people helping you.  Make sure you put what room it goes to as well.  Label the sides and the top so you can see what it is even if stacked.  Label the rooms in your house.  This was really helpful since we had people helping us move to know where to put boxes.  

9. Keep sandwich bags handy for holding small parts parts of things you take apart, like curtain rods,etc.  Make sure you label them.  

10. Keep drawers in-tact by using press and seal.  This saves you time on packing and you don't have to unpack when you get to your destination.  

11. Use the right size box.  Books are heavy if you put them all in a big box you won't be able to lift it.  So heavy things in small boxes and light items in big boxes.  

12. Put heavier items on the bottom of boxes, lighter items on top.  When loading the truck, pack heavier items first towards the front, for balance.

13. Don't leave empty spaces in boxes.  Fill in gaps with extra clothing, towels, or packing paper.  This way your items are more protected.

14. Wrap important furniture pieces in quilts or blankets so you don't dent or bust anything.  Better safe than sorry!  Plus it saves space packing those blankets.     

What are your moving tips?  

Tips for Visiting Dollywood

12 Tips for a Successful Dollywood Visit:

1. Wear Comfortable Shoes and Clothes: Dollywood is big...150 acres, and you are going to be walking most of that so make sure you have on comfortable shoes!  I always wear tennis shoes to theme parks because I don't want to lose a flip flop and they just aren't as comfortable.  There are a few water rides at Dollywood so if you plan to ride them make sure your clothes are quick drying. 

  

Here's my outfit of the day for Dollywood, workout leggings, comfy shoes and my small Vera hipster. 

2. Take precautions against the sun: The park does have lots of shaded areas but you are still out in the sun for a lot of the day.  Make sure you have sunscreen on! 

3. Weekdays are generally less busy: We have only ever been on weekdays (Wednesday, Thursday, and a Friday) and they have not been very busy at all.  We have hardly had to wait for a ride and it just makes everything so much more enjoyable.  

4. Be informed about their specials: If you plan on going more than once a year look into upgrading to a Season Pass/Gold Pass (you get a discount at the stores with a Gold Pass).  Also in the summer if you arrive after 3:00 on the first day you get the next day for free, it's 6:00 in the winter.  This makes for a great deal so you can scope out the park the first day and then really hit it hard the next day.  

5. Locker Rentals are available if needed: We were a little disappointed to find that they had done away with the old lockers and have replaced them with $6 all day lockers.  If you have  a lot of stuff and don't want to carry it around or risk it getting lost or wet this might be a good bet for you.  With the exception of the water rides most of the rides are going to have a bin to place your purse, hat, sunglasses whatever in and you can pick it up on your way off.    

6. Right for Small, Left for Big: When you enter the park most people will generally go tot he right by the layout of the buildings.  This will take you down Show Street working your way up to the bigger rides.  If you go left for the get-go you have to walk through a little park area but then you come to the big rides first.  We went left first and hit all the big roller coasters within an hour of being in the park...no lines.  

7. For a cool down, watch a show: Dollywood is known for its entertainment available at the park.  There are lots of different shows you can catch (many of them air conditioned!).  This makes for a great time to get a snack, rest and cool down.  

8. Be prepared to shell it out for food: It is a theme park so with that comes some crazy food prices and trust me it just goes up by the year. If you can share food do it!  You can also bring your own food in, just plan for it! 

I picked a HUGE corndog and the curliest of fries. 

9. Just don't pay for drinks: Don't waste your money on soft drinks that aren't good for you or thirst quenching instead ask for a complimentary cup of water at any of the food booths and you're all set.  

10. Make use of the package pick up system: My husband and I stumbled upon some Dolly Parton for President T-shirts on clearance that we decided to pick up halfway through the day.  We didn't want to carry them around so we used the free package pick up system.  You fill out a piece of paper with your information and then someone comes to the shop to pick it up and take it to the Emporium which you have to go through to exit the park anyway.  Go to the package pick up there and show them your piece of paper and off you go. 

 

11. Look for reasonably priced souvenirs: Now ya'll know I am the clearance queen and I even found clearance at Dollywood.  We picked up 2 t-shirts for less than $5 total.  They also had clearance sections at a good number of gift shops around the park so keep your eyes open.  If you collect the smashed pennies (you know the machines that put a design on them) they have those around the park as well and they make a nice cheap souvenir.   

Seriously how cute are these shirts??

12. Ride the Fun Time Trolley: Instead of parking in the Dollywood parking lot which will cost you about $10 take the Fun Time Trolley instead for $1.  You park in the Patriot Park (in Pigeon Forge) and hop on the Trolley that says Dollywood.  It will cost you 50 cents per ride.  It then drops you off at the Dollywood entrance.  All you have to do is wait at the trolley pick up (NOT the tram) at the front of the park for a ride back to your car.  This is a whopping total of $1 per person.  

My Dollywood tickets were supplied free on the basis of providing a review of the park.  All opinions are my own.  

How to center your header picture in Blogger

I have been looking for this for months and couldn't find a good tutorial but low and behold I finally figured it out!

It is so simple just follow these steps:

1. Go to template
2. Edit HTML
3. Scroll down to CSS


Then copy and paste this into the space:

#header-inner img {margin: 0 auto !important;}
#header-inner {text-align:center !important;} 

This one works if you are using the designer templates if you 

aren't using the designer template just copy and paste the first line. 

Hope this helps you guys! 

If you need more blog help this website is great!

http://www.bloggersentral.com/2010/07/template-designer-adding-custom-css.html

blessings,

Erin