13 ways to get free stuff on your birthday

Hey readers, 

Birthdays are a wonderful celebrate because you can get loads of free stuff from different companies. 

I have listed 13 places that give you something free simply because it is your birthday. 

1. Greggs. 

You need to sign up to Greggs Rewards via its free app. 

When it is your birthday you will instantly get a voucher for a free treat of your choice such a doughnut or yum yum. 

2. Brewer's Fayre. 

If you are part of the Brewers Fayre Bonus Club you get a free main for your birthday. 

You get a voucher sent to you by email which you can print the voucher off or show the voucher on your phone and redeem at the restaurant. 

3. Krispy Kreme. 

If you have joined Friends of Krispy Kreme Reward Scheme online you will automatically get points to claim a free Krispy Kreme doughnut which can be used on any doughnut in store.  

4. The Body Shop. 

Sign up to The Body Shop Loyalty Scheme called Love Your Body Club and you will instantly get £5.00 on your birthday to use in-store.

5. Pizza Express.

For this birthday reward, you need to set up a free account online. When it is your birthday you can get a free bottle of prosecco worth up to £25.00, as long as you buy two meals. 

If wine is not your thing you can choose beer instead. 

6. Ed's Easy Diner. 

Simply install the Ed's Easy Diner app on your phone, register for the loyalty card and you can get a free milkshake worth £5.00 (I can confirm there thick shakes are to die for!). 

7. Ikea.

If you have signed up to the Ikea Family Card on your birthday they will send out a £5.00 voucher via email and you can claim a free hot drink. 

8. M&S.

M&S have a loyalty scheme called Sparks, which is free to join and on your birthday you get a free £5.00 voucher you can use in M&S stores.

9. Paperchase.

If you love stationery then you need to sign up to Paperchase loyalty scheme called Treat Me, Loyalty Card. 

Being a member of this scheme enables you to receive a £5.00 gift voucher on your birthday. 

The voucher is automatically added on to your card and you have 28 days to use your points instore or online. 

10. Matalan. 

Sign up to Matalan Rewards and get a free biethday voucher sent out to you. 

11. Hobby Craft.

Make sure to sign up to Hobby Craft Club then you will be qualified to have a £5.00 voucher for your birthday via email. 

To redeem your voucher you will need the email and your Hobby Craft member card and present it out the till. 

Most importantly you will need to sign up to receive Hobby Craft emails to receive your birthday voucher.

To sign up to the Hobby Craft you will need to set up an account online. 

You have 14 days of the date of your birthday to redeem your voucher. 

12. Frankie and Benny's. 

Register with Frankie and Benny's rewards to get one free meal around your birthday. 

The voucher will be emailed to you a month before your birthday which you can print or show a member of staff the email with the voucher on. 

13. Table Table.

Join Table Table loyalty card called Tasty Reward Scheme. With being a member of the loyalty scheme entitles you to have a free birthday main meal around the time of your birthday. 

You will receive an email with the voucher which you present to a member of staff at the resturant. 

Cheers for reading X

Welsh Cakes Recipe.

Hey readers,

Here is a quick and easy recipe for a tasty treat called Welsh cakes. Perfect if your watching I'm a Celebrity Get me Out of Here as this year due to the coronavirus. This year the location of the show is set in Gwrych Castle, Abergele, North Wales. 

Welsh cakes are a traditional food in wales and have been popular since the 19th century.

Ingredients. 

* 225g self-raising flour.

* 1/2 a teaspoon of mixed spices.

* 115g butter.

* 75g caster sugar.

* 75g sultanas.

* Pinch of salt.

* One egg.

Method.

1. Sift flour, mixed spices and salt. Rub in butter until it resembles breadcrumbs.

2. Stir in sugar and sultanas and a lightly beaten egg to make a dough.

3. Roll out to 5mm thick and cut into 6cm rounds.

4. Cook on a lightly greased griddle for 3 minutes on each side until golden. Sprinkle with caster sugar to serve.

Cheers for reading X

My Sunday Photo 22/11/2020

 

25 positive affirmations for everyday

Hey readers,

If you're struggling with motivation or negativity a technique that could help you is incorporating positive affirmations. 

What are positive affirmations?

Positive affirmations are statements which are positive that you repeat to yourself to basically retrain your brain. 

The more you remind yourself and train yourself to believe in the words can help slowly sink into your subconscious mind, then over time, you start to believe them. 

Below are 26 examples of positive affirmations you can use for everyday life. 

1. Wake up happy and excited every single day.

2. Creative energy surges through me and leads me to new and brilliant ideas.

 3. My ability to conquer my challenges is limitless; my potential to succeed is infinite.

4. Happiness is a choice. I base my happiness on my own accomplishments and the blessings I've been given.

5. I am courageous and I stand up for myself.

6. My thoughts are filled with positivity and my life is plentiful with prosperity.

7. Each day of my life is filled with joy and love.

8. Everything I do is fun, healthy and exciting.

9. I am a beacon of love and compassion.

10. Everyone sees how much joy and love I have for life.

11. I crave new, healthy experiences.

12. All of my relationships are positive and filled with love and compassion.

13. I see others as good people who are trying their best.

14. I find opportunities to be kind and caring everywhere I look.

15. My body is relaxed. My Mind is calm My soul is at peace.

16. I am able to achieve whatever I desire.

17. Transcendent negativity.

18. Everything happens for a reason. Everything leads to something positive.

19. I am forgiving. My compassion replaces anger with love.

20. I am able to conquer all the challenges I am confronted with.

 21. I am becoming more confident and stronger each day.

22. My potential to succeed is infinite.

 23. I am becoming more knowledgeable and wiser with each day.

 24. I am creative and bursting with brilliant ideas.

 25. I am courageous and overcome my fears by confronting them.

What do you think about positive affirmations? Do you use them in your life? Love to hear your thoughts in the comment section down below. 

Cheers for reading X

Quiet is good because...

Hey readers,

The world we live in feels noisy, we have constant buzzing everywhere you look. In some cases, it is good to have a noise for distraction or entertainment.

 However, I believe that there is a time for everything and sometimes it is good to be quiet.

Sometimes, when it is quiet you can think more clearly and listen to your internal monologue. You can listen to the thoughts clearer and given them more order.

During times of quiet, it is a great opportunity for productivity with no distractions around allows you to focus and concentration on the job in hand.

 It means a better quality as your main goal is the one thing rather than having lots of noise in your head.

Being quiet when listening to others is really helpful giving the speaker a chance to express themselves and feeling that they are being heard can make all the difference to the outcome at the end. 

Even if they have no solutions giving the person that time to communicate without interruptions makes them feel as if something positive has been done and that they are heard.

It is good to be just in the moment and being mindful of everything around you, taking it all and accepting what life has to offer and taking that time to disconnect.

"The quieter you become 

the more 

you can hear.” — Baba

When there are fewer distractions it gives you the chance to take your environment in. That is why meditation is good because it slows everything right down and allowing you to relax. 

It is important to focus on the present and slow down. It can help your health both physically or mentally because you are less tense and more in control. 

There is less noise which equates to less thinking due to a reduction in the information that gets into your brain.

Even if you do five minutes a day of quiet time it can give you the change to slow down and enjoy that moment.

What do you think about the idea of quiet? What are your experiences? Love to hear your thoughts in the comment section down below.

Cheers for reading X

My Sunday photo 15/11/2020

December photo challenge

Hey readers, 

Looking for a photo challenge then I have a fantastic photo prompts for 31 days to use during December on Instagram or anywhere else on the internet. Check out the list down below.

1. Green.
2. Out of Focus. 
3. Secret.
4. Candle.
5. Garland.
6. Christmas Tree.
7. Hygge.
8. Glitter.
9. Today's temperature. 
10. Tree Topper. 
11. Something red.
12. Front door.
13. Sparkly.
14. Stockings.
15. Ornaments.
16. Lights.
17. Looking out of the window. 
18. Silhouette.
19. Christmas cards.
20. Hot beverage.
21. Wreath.
22. Favourite quote.
23. Something wrapped.
24. Drink.
25. Christmas dinner.
26. Lazy day.
27. Outdoors.
28. Scalf.
29. Cosy.
30. Throwback.
31. Midnight.

Cheers for reading X

The best Christmas jumpers 2020

Hey readers,

Christmas should be fun and what better way than wearing something festive. Christmas jumpers are so popular so I have checked out some of the best Christmas jumpers that I think would bring festive joy to anyone eyes. 

The best Christmas jumpers for 2020!

1. Not on the high street -  £38.00.

How fun is this colourful statement jumper with the bright red and bold letters? Who doesn't love a good old pun with yule got this?

 You can buy this online at Not on the high street.

2. New Look -  £13.49. 

If your feeling confident then you might like this cheeky little number. It is from New Look and it is in the sale, win-win.

3. Peacocks - £16.00.

This cosy jumper is from Peacocks. I like the cute penguin and the fun element with the sequined hat. It is another item in a sale so grab a bargain. 

4. Next -  £34.00.

I like this jumper because it is something different with the light pink and the tree on the side. 

It looks really good teaming the jumper up with the skirt and boots. You can purchase this jumper from Next.

5. M and M Direct -  £16.00.

When checking on M and M direct website this jumper is new in. It looks soft and fluffy with the material. Let's not forget the adorable reindeer in the middle. You can get this jumper from M and M Direct

6. Boden -  £65.00.

This super flattering jumper in festive red is to die for. I like the deers on each arm and overall appealing jumper to invest in. You can find this jumper in Boden.

7. I Saw It First -  £30.00.

This black jumper with the fun reindeer is a more playful choice if you don't want to take your festive jumper choice too seriously. You can get this jumper from I Saw It First.

Do you like any of these designs for Christmas jumpers? Love to hear your thoughts in the comment section down below. 

Cheers for reading X

Why I don't participate in extreme couponing

Hey readers,

You properly have heard of the American show called Extreme Couponing and the craze is here in the UK. Sadly though there are fewer coupons available here in the UK.

I love saving money, so I researched online about what all this fuzz of extreme couponing is about. 

Since 2008 couponing and finding ways to save money has been a big interest in a lot of peoples life. At the time recession hit hard and people wanted to save money as there was less disposable cash available, especially through loans etc from the bank.

Now there are loads of different ways to save money. A common one is searching and printing coupons, from magazines such as the Tesco Magazine which comes out monthly. 

The other way is to go on to the companies own website and if you sign up to a newsletter it gives you free coupons to print at home, such as Coca Cola or Covent Garden Soup. Next thing you have to do is find the supermarket with the lowest price for that specific product. 

An alternative way to save money is through top cashback sites and SwagBucks.

Then there is the good old yellow sticker hunting where if you got closer to the time the supermarket closes you can be lucky to grab some fab bargains with up to 75% of the original price of the item.

Now I do use some of these methods such as yellow stickers, SwagBucks, Store Rewards which are fab and fairly straight forward to get. Though the only downside with these apps is they take time to build up the reward.

The thing that I can't manage is extreme couponing, where you do the whole signing up to the company and also get a lot of people such as friends or relatives to sign up. Therefore instead of getting one bottle of Coca Cola, you can get four.

Now I am a mum of two young children so don't have a lot of time to faff about and get the permission of others to sign up, hunting for coupons or money back from items etc. 

Most of the stuff I tend not to use so I ask myself do I really need this, nine times out of ten the answer is no. I would much prefer to spend my time doing something a bit more exciting, to be honest with you. 

I think the key thing to be a successful extreme couponer is time to do the research of looking around for the best deal, printing out and travelling.

Now I do use coupons casually for the odd thing here and there but I don't buy multiple items as I do not have space to stockpile (where you buy large amounts of the same product and store them typically in a cupboard). 

Fair play if you do, but if I did have space I can't really be bothered to have to say 15 bottles of strawberry shampoo, 6 bottles of washing up liquid and so forth.

My other problem is that the products tend to be store cupboard or junk food most of the time. You may get the odd offer for yoghurt or Nakd bars but they are few and between.

 As someone on a low income, I need food to feed my family that is reasonably healthy and that I would definitely use.

I believe that nothing is free, there is a cost somewhere down the line. Yes, you can get a coupon but you need paper and ink to print it. 

If you are skint and you can't afford travel, I mean for me to get on the bus it would cost me £3.10 for my child, and £4.00 for me to travel anywhere.

Not to mention the fact that different offers are on at different stores, you have to travel here there and everywhere. Which I don't mind but with two young kids, going on the bus and then shopping is a depressing state of affairs.

I also want to point out that it is better to shop less frequently then go to loads of different places as it saves you in the long run. If you don't shop you will find a solution. Whereas if you are constantly in the supermarket the temptation is there and you just waste money just for the sake of couponing.

A lot of the time the supermarket's own brand is just as good (if not better) then the actually branded stuff, instantly you save a small fortune just by swapping.

Therefore, extreme couponing is not suited for me. 

I  don't knock people for doing it, it is their choice but for me personally, I don't have the time/money/need to warrant the item. That doesn't mean I don't use coupons and they can be beneficial but you have to weigh it up to do I really need this and if so go forth and buy.

What do you think about extreme couponing? Love to hear your thoughts in the comment section down below. 

Cheers for reading X

My Sunday Photo 08/11/2020

 

75 catchy blog title templates.

Hey readers, 

Sometimes it is hard to envision a catchy title to grab someone's attention. Sometimes you need a little help and that is what I give you today with 75 generic titles that will stand out from the crowd. I hope you find these helpful for creating blog titles of your own.

1. What to do with__________
2. How to tell if_____________
3. Essentials step to __________
4. Reasons you don't get
5. Most popular ways to 
6. Epic formula to 
7. Beginners guide to 
8. Where to find 
9. Ideas to 
10. Essential steps to 
11. Confessions of a
12. When you feel
13. Ideas to spark your 
14. The ultimate sheet on
15. Resources to help you 
16. How to get rid of
17. How to become a 
18. Tips to rekindle 
19. Ways to totally change your 
20. How to unlock your 
21. [#} Secrets to learning 
22.  [#] Out of This World ____
23. [#] Surprising Elements of ____
24. Stop! The Right ___ Is This!
25. [#] Shocking Truths about ____
26. [#] Ridiculous Ways to ____
27. [#] Steps to Achieve ____
28. [#] Great Tips for ____
29. [#] Best Reasons to ____
30. [#] Kinds of ____
31. [#] Sensible Tips to ____
32. How to Build a ____
33. How You Become _____
34. Best Tips to Using a ____
35. If You Love ___, You’ll Love ___ Too
36. Secrets Nobody Will Tell You about ____
37. How You Can Unlock Your ____
38. What Your ____ Says about Your ____
39. [#] Myths about ___ You Need to Shrug Off
40. [#] Best Known Ways to ____
41. [#] Major Benefits of ____
42. This Is the Smartest Tip Ever about ____
43. [#] Questions You Need to Ask Before You ____
44. The Subtle Art of ___
45. [#] Eye-catching Methods for You to _____
46. Everything I Learned about ____
47. How I Turned Out to Become ____
48. The [#] Tips That Made Me ___
49. [#] Juicy Tips on How You Can ____
50. [#] Secrets I Wish I Knew about ____

51. Give Me [short time period] and I’ll Give You [blank].

52. ________ on DemandHow to _________ in ____ easy steps

53. 100% of ______ you need.

54. What Everybody Ought to Know About [blank]

55.  Have a [or] Build a [blank] You Can Be Proud Of

56.  [Do something] like [world-class example]

57. Now You Can Have [something desirable] [great circumstance]

58. Here’s a Quick Way to [solve a problem]

59. Get Rid of [problem] Once and For All

60. Little Known Ways to [blank]

61.  Here is a Method That is Helping [blank] to [blank]

62. The Secret of [blank]

63. Who Else Wants [blank]?

64. If You’re [blank], You Can [blank].

65.  [Blank] Ways to [blank].

66.  Are You [blank]?

67. How [blank] Made Me [blank].

68. Warning: [blank].

69. Do You Make These Mistakes?

70. You Don’t Have to Be [something challenging] to be [desired result].

71. See How Easily You Can [desirable result].

72.  Do You Recognize the [number] Early Warning Signs of [blank]?

73. The Lazy [blank’s] Way to [blank].

74.  If You Don’t [blank] Now, You’ll Hate Yourself Later.

Is there any catchy name titles I have missed but think work really well in grabbing the readers attention? Love to hear your thoughts in the comment section down below.

Cheers for reading X

Ways to help deal with anxiety

Hey readers,

I have autism and what accompanies that is anxiety. I don’t think you can permanently get rid of it, sadly it interlinks with the condition. That being said you can help reduce the anxiety with finding ways that can help minimise the anxiety.

One of the things that I really struggle with my anxiety is really badly shaking especially with my hands. They literally cannot stop moving, it is normally triggered in social situations. It is hard to hold a cup – and yes I have dropped a fair few in my time.

Therefore, I have spent much time working ways to reduce shaking hands because it really annoys me. I get so frustrated and embarrassed.

The first technique to help reduce shaky hands is to focus on my breathing, keeping my attention on the basic principles with breathing in and out. 

Making sure I am aware of my lungs up and down and making sure that all the thoughts are put aside, even if it is just constantly reminding myself to focus on the breathing. 

At first, it is really hard because it is training your brain to think different but stick with it as it does get easier with practice and time. However, it is a great tool as it gives you time to slow down with your thoughts and think about breathing. This in turns slows down the fight or flight response.

If my anxiety is triggered by having to wait around distraction techniques are really good. For me, this may include writing poetry in a book or colouring in. Both types of distraction help stop me from thinking about the anxiety and feeding into it.

Reducing caffeine can help, as caffeine is a stimulant and can cause an increase in anxiety and heart racing.

Hand stretching has helped with trying to reduce the amount of adrenaline in my hand. Stretching out the fingers and pushing all my energy out. I focus on each finger at a time and notice the reactions that are occurring when doing it. 

This exercise can help once again in slowing down the anxiety and focusing on something other than the intrusive thoughts.

Is there anything that has helped you with anxiety, I would love to hear your thoughts?

Cheers for reading X