Have you ever...

I saw this on Marti's blog and it reminded me of something Katherine would've liked!

Bold these if you’ve ever…

1. Started your own blog

2. Slept under the stars

3. Played in a band

4. Visited Hawaii

5. Watched a meteor shower

6. Given more than you can afford to charity

7. Been to Disney World

8. Climbed a mountain

9. Held a praying mantis

10. Sang a solo

11. Bungee jumped

12. Visited Paris

13. Watched a lightning storm

14. Taught yourself an art from scratch

15. Adopted a child

16. Had food poisoning

17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty

18. Grown your own vegetables

19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France

20. Slept on an overnight train

21. Had a pillow fight

22. Hitch hiked

23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill

24. Built a snow fort

25. Held a lamb

26. Gone skinny dipping

27. Run a Marathon (does half marathon count?)

28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice

29. Seen a total eclipse

30. Watched a sunrise or sunset

31. Hit a home run

32. Been on a cruise

33. Seen Niagara Falls in person

34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors

35. Seen an Amish community

36. Taught yourself a new language

37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied

38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person

39. Gone rock climbing

40. Seen Michelangelo’s David (in Vegas!) J

41. Sung karaoke

42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt

43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant

44. Visited Africa

45. Walked on a beach by moonlight

46. Been transported in an ambulance

47. Had your portrait painted

48. Gone deep sea fishing

50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris

51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling

52. Kissed in the rain

53. Played in the mud

54. Gone to a drive-in theater

55. Been in a movie

56. Visited the Great Wall of China

57. Started a business

58. Taken a martial arts class

59. Visited Russia

60. Served at a soup kitchen

61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies (I’m counting this with Campfire mints)

62. Gone whale watching

63. Got flowers for no reason

64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma

65. Gone sky diving

66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp

67. Bounced a check

68. Flown in a helicopter

69. Saved a favorite childhood toy

70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial

71. Eaten Caviar

72. Pieced a quilt

73. Stood in Times Square

74. Toured the Everglades

75. Been fired from a job

76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London

77. Broken a bone

78. Been a passenger on a motorcycle

79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person

80. Published a book

81. Visited the Vatican

82. Bought a brand new car

83. Walked in Jerusalem

84. Had your picture in the newspaper

85. Kissed a stranger at midnight on New Year’s Eve

86. Visited the White House

87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating

88. Had chickenpox

89. Saved someone’s life

90. Sat on a jury

91. Met someone famous

92. Joined a book club

93. Got a tattoo

94. Had a baby

95. Seen the Alamo in person

96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake

97. Been involved in a law suit

98. Owned a cell phone

99. Been stung by a bee

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

wow.

(seen here)

Good Fortune

No, this isn't another "I won" post ... but one about an awesome company, Good Fortune.



I first heard about Good Fortune from my friend Steph ... and I'm so glad I did!



They recently sent me some Faucet Soap to try out - wow! I tried the Citronella & Grapefruit scent. It's very refreshing and reminiscent of summer. I feel like I should be camping! But since I don't camp ;) it works well in my shower. The packaging is very cool - it's packaged inside a net bag, which makes the soap exfoliate and easy to use. Plus I hang it on the string after using, which makes it easy to dry. It also came in a waterproof bag to make traveling easy.


I'm the one you want at outdoor functions since the mosquitoes love me! I'll definitely use the Citronella soap next time I'm outside to keep the bugs away.

I'm really impressed with the Good Fortune branding. Their creative and professional brand comes through in both their products and website. That's not it though - they are a green company that also offers products that give back to the community.

I've been so impressed with the faucet soap, I can't wait to check out more Good Fortune products. So many great scents - I think the coconut mineral soak sounds wonderful. It's refreshing (pun intended!) to use products I believe in!

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. ;)