Just Some Random Info

Just a couple things I wanted to put out there in case you might benefit from them :)

First of all, I'm working with this fun company this week for my Affordable Utah Wedding website's free giveaway. They're giving away a whole gift basket full of cute decorations- they've kinda got a natural/rustic look to them- so if you're into that style you should totally enter the drawing! Even if you're not, they're free so you should enter the drawing anyway:) They're officially for 'wedding decorations' but they'd totally work in a house too. To enter, just leave a comment on the post at this address-

http://affordableutahweddings.com/whispering-pines-gift-basket-give-away/

Second bit of information is that the company Doug works for is looking to hire a computer engineer. I know jobs are hard to come by right now so I just thought I'd put this out there in case one of you know someone who's looking for a job. If you know anyone, just let us know and we'll get you more info!

Cherries Cherries Cherries

My Grandma and Grandpa Chris have the most amazing cherry tree in their yard. First of all, this tree is actually three trees grafted together (is grafted even the right word?) so there are three different kinds of cherries growing off of the same tree. Take that and add my grandparents' green thumb (that I swear must be part magical) and you get a cherry tree that should only exist in fairy tales. It's branches are bursting with color and so full of fruit that I felt more like I was picking grape clusters than individual cherries. I could honestly just stare at it for hours, it is just so beautiful!

On Sunday we went to visit my grandparents and all our cousins who are currently in Utah and Grandma and Grandpa were nice enough to share their fairy tale cherries with us. We have been loving the world of fresh cherries all week! A huge bowl of cherries in the fridge, homemade cherry ice cream and piles of homemade cherry jam (four kinds- cherry limeade, cherry peach raspberry, cherry strawberry and cherry jalapeno. We had fun) Yum! I'm so excited to enjoy summer time flavors all winter long with our jam.

Next week we might try drying some cherries. Anyone have any tips on that?

Brothers, Cakes and Cherries

We had quite the adventurous week this past week!

My brothers all came into town for one of their manly camping trips. As it was a manly trip, I did not go along. I did, however, learn how to do a new craft (needle felting), go out for ice cream, visit some cute little shops in the SLC 'Shop Hop', and go see a chick flick in a real movie theater. All while they were gone. I personally think I got the better end of the deal. (but then, I was never really one for purposely going out and sleeping on a big rock...)

I did get to spend some time with the guys. They came over Tuesday night as they all trickled in from across the country and then spent the night. And then on Sunday Grandma Chris organized a big family dinner with all our Christensen relatives in the area. I love going to my grandparents' houses. There's just something magical about them. I can walk inside and instantly forget everything else that's going on in the whole world. All that matters is that I'm sitting on a comfortable couch, eating amazing food. Ahhhh... Just thinking of it makes me feel so relaxed....

All in all it was a great visit. Like always, I'm a little bummed to see them go. I'm usually pretty good at convincing myself that I'm 'ok' with living thousands of miles away from my closest sibling- but the day after they leave is always the hardest. I guess I'll just have to get busy planning the next trip when I get to see them!

Benefits

A couple of weeks ago I wrote about a local bed and breakfast on my Affordable Utah Wedding blog. After reading their article, a representative from the B&B contacted me to see if I'd like a gift certificate for a FREE night stay at their location! She told me they were really appreciative for what I was doing and just wanted to say thanks.

So last week Doug and I got to stay in this amazing room, compliments of my crazy blogging habits :) Pretty cool, huh? I felt so important :)

The place was beautiful. I have to say my favorite was the bathroom! Ha ha, I guess that's what happens when you've been spending most your time fixing up a house. It really was a beautiful bathroom, and I can honestly say that I can now fully appreciate the effort it took to make it so nice.

I also really loved the dining area where they serve breakfast. I felt almost royal just standing in it!

Beautiful

One of life's magical moments- right outside our front door. I only wish I had better photography skills so I could have caught it better- it was actually a double rainbow, but the fainter of the two didn't show up with my camera.

Give-Aways

I started this new thing on my wedding blog about a month ago. Each week I've been featuring a different company and, in exchange, they provide a free give-away for one lucky person who leaves a comment.

All the give-aways are wedding related of course, so I don't often mention them on this blog. BUT this week's giveaway can be used by just about anyone- a gift certificate for 50% off a one night stay in any room at the Inn on the Creek in Midway. I just think it'd be fun to have for an anniversary or something (as well as a honeymoon, of course) All you have to do to be entered into the drawing is visit this link (http://affordableutahweddings.com/50-a-one-night-stay-at-the-inn-on-the-creek/) and leave a comment.

Since the give-aways are still pretty new, we don't get TOO many people even leaving comments, so you'll likly have a good chance of getting it. :)

Also, you guys were all so nice to enter into the drawing for my thank you cards! Thanks so much! While I was getting the files ready to print the winner's cards, I went ahead and made some pdf versions that can be printed from home. I just love having a couple files on hand so when I need a card all I have to do is stick a piece of cardstock into my printer and print one off. Who wants to buy cards anyway? (ha ha, says the girl who spends all day every day selling stationary...)

If anybody would like to have a couple files on hand for themselves, I've put a few of my files online for people to use if you want. They're set up for an 81/2x11 peice of paper and print 2 to a page, so all you have to do is print the file, cut the paper in half and then fold the cards down the middle. I was going to put up all the designs on here, but I'm feeling lazy so I'll just give you guys another link to visit :) You can see them all if you go here- http://affordableutahweddings.com/download-free-thank-you-card-designs/

enjoy!

Birthday Week!

Ok, so I just can't help myself- I have to post about all the great birthday finds we got this year for Doug's bday. If you're not into free stuff, don't bother to read further. But if you're like me and LOVE to get stuff for nothing- read on!

Doug and I really love getting free birthday stuff. Until this year we'd been signed up for a few birthday deals here and there, but this year I decided to go all out. A few weeks ago I 'hired' myself and Doug's birthday secretary. Our counter has literally been piled with free birthday coupons to use in the week or so around his birthday. We sure had a fun week! I wanted to tell you all of our great finds so you could sign yourself up if you like. All of these come just by going to the company's site and signing up for their email list.

Here's how our dinners went during Birthday week-

Tuesday- Free entree at Rubios, Free corn dog and chili dog at Weinerschnitzel, free shake and chicken soft tacos at Del Taco

Thursday- Free entree at Noodles and Co, Free ice cream at Baskin Robbins

Friday- Free meal at Mimi's Cafe, free ice cream at Cold Stone

Saturday- Free breakfast at Mimi's Cafe

Monday- Free Meal at Red Robin

Tuesday- Free movie rental at Hollywood video

How cool is that?

We still have a few things we didn't have time to use- they all expire a week after his bday, so we have 'til Tuesday. One particularly good one is a free $15 meal at Lone Star Steakhouse (no purchase necessary!). Others include buy one/get one of the following- orange julious, Tucanos, Famous Daves, Ruby Tuesday, Smoothie King, and Chili's (we didn't have time for many of those offers that required us to BUY something...)

An added bonus was that a lot of the places emailed us a coupon for free stuff just for signing up with them, so a lot of this was a combination of birthday and 'thanks for signing up' emails. So if you're thinking, eh- my birthday isn't for FOREVER I won't bother- think again! You can get free stuff right now and then have a happy surprise on your b-day.

My favorite free sign up thank you was from Mimi's Cafe- each person gets a coupon for a FREE breakfast (no other purchase necessary) for up to $10. AND you can have as many coupons at one table as you want, so Doug and I both signed up and got our own coupons and got an amazing, FREE breakfast! I highly suggest it- Mimi's is SO good.

So there you go. Hope you all have fantastic birthday weeks from now on!

Happy Birthday Doug!

We did a lot of fun things for Doug's birthday this past week but my favorite was making his cake. I've been planning this cake for months... 11 months and a few weeks still counts as months right? It's pretty much been since his last birthday. I just love planning Doug's cakes because I can go all out and not feel like I awkwardly over did things when I show up to a casual birthday BBQ with a huge, intricate cake.

This year's treat: homemade crepes layered with fresh orange cream and topped with dark chocolate orange gnache and candied pecans. Yum.

I'm so excited to start planning for next year :)

Happy Birthday Doug!

Happy birthday to Doug! Birthdays have become a big thing in our little family and we've had a blast celebrating all week long. There's nothing quite like having your own, personal holiday after all!

I just love Doug so much. He makes every day better than the last. I honestly consider myself the luckiest person in the world because I get to share another year with him.

Happy Birthday Doug!