Commitment

It's that time again ... time for resolutions, a clean start, a new year. Once again, I'll be participating in One Little Word.

I had to look back on this blog post to recall my past words:
2007: BELIEVE
2008: FOCUS
2009: BALANCE
2010: SIMPLIFY
2011: LOVE

And drumroll... my word for 2012: MORE!
I originally was going to go for LESS (stress less, weigh less, eat out less...) but wanted a positive spin on my word, so I'm going with MORE. I decided I want to love MORE, save MORE, move MORE, enjoy MORE, forgive MORE, and live MORE this year.

Since I couldn't even recall my 2010 word let alone remember doing anything with my word in 2011, I decided to make a commitment to making MORE a part of my life in 2012. I joined the One Little Word class, and look forward to documenting my word this year.


Oh ... but that's not all! I also just decided to do Project Life in 2012. I've enjoyed capturing my every day with past projects (Week in the Life and December Daily), but struggle with putting it all together. I want to stress less and document MORE! There are so many awesome Project Life ideas out there - but I'm aiming to just do it with less stress! It won't be perfect, but it will be my life!

Stay tuned to how Project Life and One Little Word impact my year ... maybe I'll even blog MORE in 2012. ;)

Tiny Prints

I'm trying to get back in the swing of blogging! I know I've mentioned some cool companies lately, and I'm back with another ... Tiny Prints.



I first heard of Tiny Prints when I was searching for wedding stationery. The quality of the cards is unmatchable and they frequently offer specials for free cards. (Like today! Order a Thanksgiving card for free by using code FREETHX11 at checkout until 11:59 pm (PST) on 11/16/11.)

Tiny Prints currently has a Talent Search Contest going on, where you can enter for a chance to win the grand prize of $1,000 cash, plus a $500 Tiny Prints gift certificate... a perfect prize just in time for the Holiday season!

In the Tiny Prints Talent Search Contest, they are looking for the cutest photos in the following categories:
· Cutest Baby (From ages of 0-24 months)
· Cutest Kid (From ages of 25 months - 10 years old)
· Cutest Family
· Cutest Couple
· Cutest Pet & Owner

After the entry period is over, they'll open up the contest to the entire Community to vote for their favorites and determine the winners! Hurry... the entry deadline has been extended to November 21st!

You can enter the Tiny Print Talent Search Contest via Facebook or on their website.

A New Kind of Boxed Wine

I had dinner with some girlfriends last week, and was in charge of bringing wine. I brought some Black Box wine ... not your average boxed wine! The wine is award winning - and delicious!



All of the girls liked it - we tried the Cabernet Sauvignon. It was very smooth, easy to drink, with a soft finish. Best part? On sale for $18, for the equivalent of 4 bottles. And since we didn't drink it all, it tastes good for up to a month after opening. Perfect when I want only a glass or two of wine!

I learned about Black Box from BzzAgent, and I'm so glad I did. It's nice to have a new, budget-friendly wine around.

53 More Days

Yes, it's true - only 53 more days until Christmas! Now I have to start my list of things to do in 7 1/2 weeks: pick up gifts, make holiday plans, send out cards ... the list goes on! Last year, I mentioned how awesome Shutterfly Christmas cards were ... and I'm back to say it again!

In addition to last year's Christmas cards, in the past few months, we've sent some wedding thank you notes and birthday cards out from Shutterfly, and I was super pleased with the quality. Professional cards at a reasonable price? Yes please!

I'm trying to convince Nick that everyone likes photo cards so we can send out some of amazing wedding photographs as cards this year. :)

Shutterfly has an amazing selection of cards, so many beautiful designs. I tend to like the whimsical, fun styles... here are a few of my favorite cards:









(Those last two cards are less than $1.00 each ... can you say bargain!?)

New this year is the option to add greetings to the back of the card ... can they make it any more easy?!

I'm also considering ordering calendars, too - hello, easy family Christmas gift!

Now, watch your mailbox to see which card I ended up choosing! :)

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!

Week in the Life

Once again, I'm participating in Ali Edwards' Week in The Life ... only this time, I'm hoping to actually do something with the pictures I take. ;) I printed Ali's daily sheets, have started to take pictures ... and am trying to document more of the every day. Sure my life isn't super exciting right now - but I try to think how cool would it be to see my grandma's life at 33, or my great grandma the month after she was married.

An inspirational quote found on Amy Tan's blog:
"In this world, somehow an ordinary life has become synonymous with a meaningless life. And so often we are missing what is truly important because we are on the quest for what is extraordinary. Not understanding that in our ordinary lives, in the ordinary moments of our lives, is really where we can find the most joy. " -Brene Brown

This is my life, right now ... off to document it.

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