BIRTHDAY FREEBIES

Some people look at birthdays as a depressing event.
Another year over. Another year older.
Others (like myself) look at birthdays as a chance to get lots of free things!

I'm not talking about gifts from friends and family...although that is nice.
I'm talking about complete strangers giving you gifts just because it is your birthday!

Here is what I was given for free last month on my 31st birthday...


{the coupons began rolling in, by mail and email, leading up to my bday}

Like a nerd, I printed and cut coupons and put them in a red envelope. On the front of the envelope, I wrote the store and the expiration date, so I could see if time was running out on any deals.



{because I'm signed up to receive email updates from them, Noodles gave me dinner for free}

I got the Wisconsin Mac and Cheese (and gave it to Derek).



{because I'm signed up to receive emails updates from them, Corner Bakery gave me a free dessert}

I got the Birthday Bundt Cake (and gave it Derek).

{When you register a gift card online, Starbucks gives you a free drink on your birthday...any size!}

On a Saturday morning of running errands, I got myself a Venti, Decaf, Sugar-Free Caramel, Soy Latte. Slightly less complicated than this drink! Maybe I'll try THIS on my next birthday!



{Panera has a great rewards program. They give you free food when you eat there...and on your bday}

I got the Chocolate Chip Muffie to enjoy with my free Starbucks drink.

This time I got it for myself...and not Derek!





{If you sign up for email updates from Caribou, you get a free drink (any size) on your bday}

I left work a few hours early on my bday and enjoyed a decaf, iced, sugar-free caramel soy latte!



{If you sign up for email updates from the Container Store, you get a free gift on your bday}

You can never have enough reusable bags- right?!



No coupon needed for this one... get your eyebrows waxed for free at the Brow Bar at any Ulta Salon!!!


{If you sign up for email updates from World Market, they give you $10 to spend on your bday}

 I only had to pay $2 for this scarf with my $10 bday coupon!

There are a few coupons I didn't get around to using... $10 at Uncle Dan's, $10 off your $30 bill at Maggiano's, a coupon from Chili's, buy one-get one free at Cold Stone... (all because I'm signed up for email updates).
I'm sure there are other great birthday deals out there...don't be afraid to get excited about free things!

FRIDAY FAVES



These are a few of my favorite things...

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If you have chapped lips, want to feel feminine, enjoy glossy lips without the added color or texture of lipstick, want to feel pretty, extra lady-like and kiss your man without him worrying about getting color all over HIS lips...well, whatever the scenario, go out and buy this lip balm right now.
Minty, Rose...you can't go wrong.
Trust me!

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Are you on Spotify yet?!? I first heard of it through Facebook as people were posting what they were listening to. Derek joined first and suddenly we could listen to anything and everything as we made dinner and washed dishes.

Spotify brought so much joy to our everyday activities.

(Why the dramatic excitement?). Our ipod has been broken for a while now.

While Derek's greatest hidden talent is being an awesome singer/songwriter... it's been nice to add some variety to our evening entertainment!

My favorite part of Spotify is that you can see what others are listening to. That has come in handy when I just don't know what to listen to or want to broaden my musical tastes.

It's also amazing when I get to see that a co-worker in another department is rocking out to Hanson all afternoon or that a male acquaintance from college is really into Britney Spears!



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I first spotted the new Cappuccino flavored Larabars on a blog, but figured it would take forever for them to come to Chicago. I can't tell you how excited I was to see these last week at Whole Foods! I love Larabars!!! This could possibly be my new favorite flavor...especially since I've had to give up coffee while on the 2012 Whole Living Action Plan!



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Not only did I pick up a new flavored Larabar...but an entirely new line of bars made by Larabar! The Uber bar is...Uber awesome! FYI, I hate the word Uber...but I LOVE these granola bars! They are made with fruit, nuts and natural ingredients just like Larabars, but have a more trail mix kind of texture to them. My first bar was Bananas Foster. WOW! You NEED to try these. I've since tried Apple Turnover and Roasted Nut Roll, both of which I highly recommend!



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With all the talk about hydration yesterday, I'm surprised I forgot to mention Metro Mint! This water is AMAZING! I think I've tried every flavor but Cherry. Even the chocolate mint is delicious. I was skeptical at first, but this water really is refreshing and tasty.

If you want to make it last a little longer and get your money's worth, you can refill it with water from the drinking fountain once you've finished half of the bottle. The minty taste will still last.

Happy Friday...what are your faves from this past week?!?

HYDRATION WITHOUT THE BOREDOM

One of the tips Whole Living offers to help get you through a successful cleanse, is to
drink plenty of water.

In the past, I've found it hard (even boring), to drink the recommended eight 8-ounce glasses each day.
I've heard it is also suggested that we should drink half of our body weight in ounces each day.
(If you weight 200 pounds, you should drink 100 ounces...which comes out to 12.5 glasses/cups each day).

Here are some tips that have helped me drink close to 100 ounces of water each day.
And no, I don't weigh 200 pounds...it just happens to be 3 water bottles worth of water!



I've mentioned before that I like to add flavored ice cubes to my water bottle. This really does add a nice touch and keeps me coming back for more sips throughout the day. I fill our white ice cube trays with regular water and the colored trays with flavored water (or in the case above, some frozen canned pumpkin from the fall...to eventually be used in a pumpkin/gingerbread smoothie)! This helps keep things organized, and keeps Derek from icing his knees with fruity flavored ice cubes after a hard workout/run/football/basketball game.

I make sure to keep my water bottle (with the cap off & in reaching distance from me) on my desk when at work. This makes it extremely accessible and visibly reminds me to keep drinking throughout the day. I take it to meetings with me and aim to drink one bottle by lunch, another by the time I leave work, and finally one more by the time I go to bed. I also keep my vitamins nearby so I remember to take them with my morning snack, lunch, and dinner. I like that the water bottle I use lists the ounces right on the bottle, so I can keep track of how much I have left to drink.

(Remember, 8 liquid ounces is equal to 1 cup).

Freezing fruits and vegetables to use in place of ice cubes also adds a nice flavor to your water. Berries, cucumbers, and orange, lemon, or lime slices all freeze well. As with everything, the key is to stay organized and prepare ahead of time.

Drink up,

stay hydrated without getting bored,

and continue making small changes to better your health!

The Leapyear Project

Have you heard about The Leapyear Project?
I stumbled upon it while on twitter the other day and spent my entire lunch break on their website.


The Leapyear Project from Victor Saad on Vimeo.

Very well done. Very inspiring.


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In December 2011 I looked ahead at our calendar, excited to see blank, empty space.

Not much scheduled.

Now barely a week in, it's filling up like crazy!



I want to make sure to really dream big in 2012 and to not let the busyness crowd out my dreams.

I have 1,258,940,384.25 goals swimming around in my mind at any given moment.
I'm filled with hope, but restless, not knowing how to articulate it all and what direction to head with it.


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2012. It's a leap year.
What big leap will you take?



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 Heading into the weekend, inspired to continue dreaming big!!!

CONCRETE JUNGLE WHERE DREAMS ARE MADE OF

I can't stop thinking about New York.

Our trip there last year was magical.

Sometimes I day dream about living there.

In the meantime, I just listen to my "Classic Broadway Show tunes" Pandora station and look at pictures from our trip...


{eating NY-style pizza at Lombardi's}



{stood in the same spot my great-grandparents did when they came over from Italy & Sweden}



{saw West Side Story on Broadway}



{taxis in Times Square}



{imagined what it would be like to live in NYC}



{experienced the excitement of Times Square}



{strolled through Central Park}



{rode the Subway}



{almost as pretty as Chicago!}



{we fell in love with New York}

Have you seen this commercial yet? I get goosebumps every time!

 New York, we will be back!!!

I WILL NEVER FORGET

I was a junior in college.
A friend called me in my dorm room and said to turn on the TV.
My roommate and I watched as the events of September 11, 2001 unfolded.
I vaguely remember feeling anxious and wondering what would happen next.

Derek and I spent some time {unintentionally}watching movies about war this past week
...and I felt angry.

We watched Documentaries about 9-11
...and my heart broke, thinking about what it must haveve been like to have actually been there
in the midst of the chaos.

We reminisced about the trip we took to Ground Zero last fall.
Seeing everything being built up made me feel hopeful and proud to be an American.

And again yesterday at the start of the Bears game, I felt proud to be an American.
We waved our flags, cheered through the entire National Anthem, and saluted and thanked the men and women who have served and continue to serve and fight for our country and freedom.

I had goosebumps, a lump in my throat, and my eyes teared up.
I will never forget September 11, 2001.