At some point, I signed up for so many rewards cards and rewards emails and newsletters and doo-dads that they actually started paying off, especially around my birthday! Yay! The best part is that you too can sign up for these goodies and celebrate your birthday in style and fun – for free! Whoop-whoop! So, have an extra happy birthday, whenever that may be!

Starbucks – this is one of my favorites, for obvious reasons: Get yourself a Starbuck’s gift card and register it online. You’ll be enrolled in their birthday club and right around your birthday you’ll get a postcard in the mail for a free drink. Any drink, any size. That’s right, you can basically get a ginormous $5 Frappucino for free! And since it’s free, this is a good chance to try something from the Starbucks secret menu, although I’m not sure if I even care to have a Frapp that tastes like Cap’n Crunch Crunch Berries cereal.

Aveda – last Winter I had an unpleasant experience at an Aveda salon, but the actual store at the mall here has totally redeemed the brand for me. If you sign up for their birthday program, you’ll get a postcard in the mail during your birthday month that entitles you to a free Personal Blends product. Basically, you go in and choose an essential oil blend you like and you can get it mixed into lotion, body/hair wash, bath salts or a small perfume. Last year I choose a scent blend that I wasn’t crazy about, so this year I chose the Aveda “signature” scent of Shampure which is supposedly a blend of a billion different essences. I chose the scent to be blended into a body wash which is very luxurious. Another signature scent they have is Rosemany-Mint which is very refreshing. While I was there, they were giving mini-facials AND giving out little cosmetic bags with a travel hairspray and mini-lotion. Plus, I totally fell in love with a product the salesperson used on my face, so there you go – their promotion worked!

DSW - This shoe emporium has a great rewards program – I’m always getting $10 rebate cards even though I spend very little there. For my birthday, they sent a $5 gift card, which is great since I usually buy sneakers with my birthday money.

Anthropologie – I have a love/hate relationship with Anthro – I love all their stuff but I hate their prices. At some point, I joined their rewards club (I’m pretty sure Anthro does not call it a “club”) and they sent a 15% off birthday card with a cute candle necklace. I first thought it said “candy” necklace until Ella and I tried it and realized, no, it was not candy, people. Anthro has great housewares and even though I think they could spare the percent off, I can still get a cute tea towel or candle at a decent price with the card.

Delight.com – I love getting reusable bags from delight.com. They have a super collection of RuMe bags. They also send along little goodies with your order – once it was organic lollie, the next time I got a full-size reusable bag from Envirosax. If you sign up for their newsletter, you’ll get free shipping and 15% for your b-day.

Borders Bookstore – I know, can you believe people shop in a bookstore that’s not Amazon.com? Borders has a rewards program that send out coupons once a week and they’re good to have on a rainy day when you head to the bookstore with your kid to browse and inevitably, she’s begging for a Babymouse book. Borders emailed me a special birthday coupon for a free small coffee or tea at the in-store coffee shop. Between Starbuck’s and Borders, I am sure to be properly hydrated.

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