I don’t know how you celebrate your birthday. Because my household is a domino situation (July, August, September), a while ago I called our three months of festivities a trifecta (see 9-14 & 22-2023 posts and 8-17 & 24-2021 posts). No trifecta this year because I’ll be away all of August (Constant Companion’s birthday month) and Daughter will be joining me for some of the time.

In the meantime, I enjoy my celebrations every year, even though Constant Companion doesn’t totally approve of my annual practices. I take advantage of as many of the birthday freebies that suit my fanciful taste. Is it a factor of age? Or is it the simply joy of chasing after bargains that I inherited from my mother? Whatever, I do enjoy these offers at this special time.

In fact, when I recently phoned in my monthly credit card payment, and the customer service gal wished me a happy birthday. She shared that we have the same birthday month. I then told her the freebies she also could seek out! Of course, you have to sign up on-line for all their clubs to participate and partake!

Constant Companion joined me to start off the month of celebrations. We enjoyed our annual dinner at Fogo da Chao Brazilian steakhouse. They give you $25 off their main churrasco dinner. Sorry, vegetarian friends, this is not a treat for you. And you get your choice of birthday dessert. Last year, I threw my business card into the jar and … I won a free lunch!

I started the actual day with my free coffee at Starbucks, a large cappuccino that I took home to enjoy as an iced drink later.

Next stop was Einstein’s bagel store for my egg sandwich (with the purchase of a coffee).

The monthly flower arranging class part of our city’s senior programs fell on my birthday, so after lunch I spent an hour making a sweet bud vase arrangement! It’s graced the kitchen all week.

On the way home, I stopped at Fresh Market for my slice of birthday cake and neighboring Publix for the ice cream (you can choose between a small cake or the ice cream). These were shared those with the family!

Constant Companion and I spent the late afternoon at an arts event. Then we went to dinner at local restaurant. In recognition of my special day, they treated me with a slice of key lime pie, decoration and all.

The next morning, Daughter and I went to the opening of a new neighborhood bakery, Maman with outposts in NYC). It was packed. Of course I had to mention that we were celebrating my birthday … and they gave me a delicious apricot pastry. I’m sure we’ll return.

I had several other spots to hit that were valid for the entire month, yes … celebrate the entire month, not just the appointed day. I could not miss my birthday breakfast at Denny’s, free with the purchase of a coffee. I still have discounts at Ikea and Target that I might or might not activate.

The only let-down was a favorite from my youth, Baskin-Robbins ice cream store. Apparently, not all shops honor the program.

Last week I wrote about the glimmers of summer. This week we had two very delicious, soft sun showers. And wouldn’t you know it, my jasmine bloomed again!

The months of freebies is nearing an end. The kitty cat themed cards still grace my messy desk and I see them right now! I thoroughly enjoyed this year’s extended birthday celebrations.