Style Me Pretty

I'm so excited ... our wedding is featured on wedding website Style Me Pretty today!

I absolutely love our photos, and our photographer Keri Doolittle ... she's amazing!

Shutterfly Christmas Cards

As most of you know, I LOVE sending (and receiving) mail. One of my favorite parts of the holidays? A mailbox full of beautiful cards and pictures!! We recently received our engagement pictures back ... and one thing I'm looking forward to... sending out photo Christmas cards! (It's the little things in life, right?)

I've been checking out the different cards available, and Shutterfly has a TON of cute Christmas card designs - and they're reasonably priced, too. Up until a few months ago, I stuck to Shutterfly for pictures only. I recently tried their cards and have been delighted with the results! Not only did I receive them promptly, but the quality was professional. I also used Shutterfly for printing up our engagement story in a book ... it turned out wonderful - and now we have our story documented.

Back to Christmas cards: they have 748(!!) different designs - something for everybody. Here are a couple of my favorite designs:
This style would be a cute card to send!


Or this one:

Shutterfly even has story cards - a fun alternative to letters on computer paper. This Top Ten style would be fun, a'la Letterman!



So many options for Christmas cards, then we need to pick out Save the Dates... ;)



If you’re a blogger, and interested in 50 free holiday cards from Shutterfly, follow the arrow -> http://bit.ly/sfly2010

I WON!

Just thought I'd let you know I WON the contest! That's right ... my bridal party and I will be enjoying a day at the spa - I'm so excited! Thank you for voting, it means so much to me.

I've actually been on a winning streak lately - in the past couple weeks, I've won a Mini Dell Netbook, a Flip HD video camera, and a wedding-themed scrapbooking kit. I also bought lottery tickets, but only won $2. :)

I'm so grateful for winning all these contests ... and continue to enter in hopes of winning some more!

I need your help ... please vote!

I entered a contest on Facebook for a local bridal magazine: telling our engagement story in order to win a spa day for my bridal party. There were only 11 entries, so I think I have a decent chance of winning ... and would LOVE your support!! The contest ends Tuesday.

If you're on Facebook, can you vote here?

Since I know how fun contests are... I will offer $25 cash to one of the people that vote for me (just comment to this post). And if I win, I'll send out two prizes! How's that ... you could get cash, and me & my bridesmaids would get a spa day!

Thanks everyone!
jen

The Story

Nick and I are down in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico on a weeklong vacation. We both were looking forward to getting away and enjoying some much-needed relaxation time ... I just truly had no idea what a special trip this would be.

Saturday, May 1st was our one year anniversary of meeting and so we made plans to go to dinner somewhere nice. Nick asked if he could plan where we went, so I happily obliged! The day had been overcast, but we still looked forward to celebrating our anniversary even if the views were less than par. We went to Le Kliff, an open-air restaurant overlooking the ocean 30 minutes away. We had a secluded table all by ourselves – it was super romantic. They offered to move us somewhere where we might not get “mist” (i.e. rain) ... but we figured we’d tough it out. It did sprinkle a bit, but I thought it added to the evening. A mariachi band came over and sang a romantic love song to us ... it really was the perfect setting. The sun set right as our main course was served – and it was incredible. A day of clouds and drizzle parted for an amazing orange and red sunset ... we couldn’t ask for anything more.

Below us was a little trail that you could walk along, with scenic views, and I had asked Nick earlier if we could walk down where there were two grass hearts on a stone step. After dinner, he asked if we could go for a walk. I honestly had no idea what was about to happen - we had decided on no anniversary gifts. Although I did put my hand on his chest and his heart was racing ... I figured he might just be nervous about giving an anniversary speech. :)



We were standing under the moon and stars, as the waves crashed below us; after a short speech, he went down on one knee and asked me if I would be his wife. I kept saying “Oh my God” over and over ... but did say YES! The mariachi band and restaurant had been watching us and gave us a loud cheer as we kissed our engagement. As we walked back up to our table, we passed another couple who was on a different part of the trail – we totally stole their thunder ... because they got engaged in the same place as we did just a couple minutes later! Nick also stopped to ask and make sure I did say yes, since neither of us could remember just exactly what we had said.

My ring is BEAUTIFUL ... Nick did quite a bit of research and the ring is absolutely perfect – an oval solitaire in a white gold Tiffany setting. He asked my Mom, Stepdad and Dad for their blessings the week before – they were the only people who knew, other than the ladies at the bank and his barber. :)

After getting back from dinner, we made a few phone calls to friends and family to let them know the big news. And we bought a day’s worth of internet access so we could spread the news electronically on Facebook. We went down to the beach and celebrated with cocktails and a cigar for Nick ... we can’t stop smiling. It truly was a magical night - everything I dreamed of when I was a little girl. I have finally found my Prince Charming!

We’re super excited about our future – lots of decisions to make, but for now we’re just taking in our engaged life and looking forward to what lies ahead. Thank you all for your blessings and good wishes – it truly means the world to us. We’re a little obnoxious right now (calling each other fiancée all the time, constant ring gazing, etc.) so it’s probably good we’re on vacation so no one else has to deal with our lovey-doveyness. ;)