pura vida!

Hi Everyone! I am so excited to share with you these new bracelets I heard about a little while ago. The company is called Pura Vida and these little beauties are actually made by locals in Costa Rica! They also support the Surfrider Foundation {an organization dedicated to protecting and preserving beaches and oceans worldwide} ... For every bracelet sold, Pura Vida donates 1% back to the foundation. We all know stacking bracelets is in, so why not do some good with your bucks and pick up a couple for a little arm candy :]

They have so many different beaded and non beaded bracelets to choose from and they also have tons of other bracelets designed for charities you may want to support, such as: Autism, Breast Cancer, Alzeimers, etc. I know I am so happy that mine have finally arrived. Leave a comment below which ones are your favorites or which ones you plan on buying!

X x

my little cookie jar turns one!

Hello readers! Today is a very special day, because today My Little Cookie Jar turns one! My how time flies and how many things have changed since I sat here 365 days ago not knowing where to start. When I started this blog I was a recent college graduate with not much work experience looking to land that first solid job. This blog has become an outlet for my creativity as well as my own little "diary" where I can share with you my activities and adventures I have embarked on as I am flying through my 20's trying to conquer this funny little place we call earth.

I have picked my top 3 posts from this past year as my favorites ones I did - what were your fav's?
My First Snow Day
Gilroy Garlic Festival
Mario's Great Adventure



I would also like to take this time to say thank you to all you lovely readers who find me through twitter, facebook, bloglovin or simply check back lookingfor an update. My Little Cookie Jar wouldn't be what it is today without my lovely audience. Today is a day for reflection and response, as I look back at my previous posts and wonder where this blog is headed for 2012. I would like to ask you my fabulous readers what your 1) likes and dislikes are, 2) what you want to see more or less of or 3) any other general ideas or directions you would like to see this blog take!

Please leave comments below I would really love to get your input and build a connection with you.

And remember to keep in touch with me:

Google Friend Connect

BlogLovin

or feel free to send me an e-mail, i adore them!

susanscookiejar{at}gmail{dot}com

X x

the first of 2012

via instagram

Sunday - January 1st, 2012 could not have been a more beautiful day in Monterey. The sun was proudly shining, the waves were gentle, there was not a cloud to be seen and the air was calm. Brett and I went down to breakfast at 9am because we each had an appointment for a massage at 10. We ate a light breakfast because it would be terrible if we were full or uncomfortable as we were getting our massage. We walked across to the spa and checked in. There were separate beautiful locker rooms for men & women with a steam room, showers, bathrooms and an amazing getting ready area. But I will get to that after our massage. We changed into our robes and went to sit in the relaxation room where we were waiting with a few others to be called. Then began our 50 minutes of bliss as we each got our full body massages. I can honestly say it was one of the best I have ever had, and I have been to about 5 or 6 different places between Tahoe and Los Angeles, so that is how good it is my friends. Afterwards we were feeling completely at ease and relaxed. We both went into the hot tub together to talk about our massages and enjoy a little sunshine. Then we headed back to the lockers and agreed on a time to meet back out again. { I was late, of course} After enjoying their steamroom and shower with three different shower heads it was hard to leave. They had two huge counter top's with all the entities you could need: hair dryer, straightener, razors, q-tips, lotion, etc! The spa is called Spa on the Plaza and if you are ever in Monterey I would completely recommend this to anyone interested in any type of service.

We checked out of our hotel and got our "check out cookies" {this is a picture of our check in cookies, possibly the best cookies ever, so we had to ask for more!} then we slowly walked the mile long  path from the wharf to cannery row on this path and stopped to take some pictures along the way. After doing a little shopping and wandering around Brett's mom and Aunt decided to drive down and join us for dinner and we ate at a delicious seafood restaurant located right above the water with an amazing window view.

As it got darker and the day turned into night we got back in the car and drove home, reflecting on what an amazing weekend it was and how ready we are to take one 2012. It is pretty crazy to think how much has changed not only in my life but Brett's life as well just 365 days ago. I am not one to make many resolutions because I kind of come up with goals as the year goes along but there is one resolution I will share with you that I want to incorporate into all aspects of my life. It is fairly simple so you can take it how you like and use it as you see fit.

Fight less,  love more

X x

new years' eve

After our fabulous visit to the Monterey Bay Aquarium {read about it here} we went to our hotel to check in. The location was perfect! It was right between the downtown area and the wharf. The party that we were going to was in our hotel so I had previously made reservations at one of Brett's favorite restaurants on the wharf. *Quick side note, remember this post, with my "clam chowder scavenger hunt..?" .. yup, we ate at one of those :] Anyway, we had an amazing dinner with a booth that over looked the ocean. Once we finished we came back to our hotel, dropped some things off in our room and went to the ballroom to find the party. It was a Venetian Ball put on by a local organization. It turned out to be a lot of fun with a great DJ, a photo-booth, even prizes that were being raffled off just before midnight! {sadly, we didn't win anything}  Then the staff came around with glasses of champagne ready for the big toast at midnight. After we all counted down everyone was cheering, the balloons were dropped from the ceiling as 2012 received a very warm welcome. The rest of the evening was spent dancing, laughing and smiling with those around us. Share some of your NYE stories below in the comment section, I'd love to hear what your evening entailed!

X x

monterey bay aquarium

Hello everyone, I hope you are recovering and getting back into the daily grind, I know I am. :[ It's always so hard to start working again after a little "mini vaca." This weekend we were down in Monterey to enjoy the sunny weather & ring in the new year.

For my birthday Brett gave me tickets for the aquarium because I have always talked about how I wanted to go back and visit since I haven't been there in a long time. We thought this would be the perfect opportunity to use them. We headed down pretty early on Saturday morning in order to ensure we got our full day's experience at the aquarium. We spent the majority of the afternoon just in awe of all the marine life they have. I remembered most of the exhibits, luckily it hasn't changed too much. I'd have to say penguins are one of my favorite animals of all time and just this past year the aquarium has opened up a penguin exhibit! I think I was most excited for the penguins and the jelly fish. After we finished up with all that we could see in the aquarium we headed over to our hotel for check in and to get ready for the new year's eve festivities. More posts to come about new year's eve and how we wanted to start new year's day with total relaxation.

X x

happy new year!

Happy New Year!

May we be grateful for all that 2011 had to offer, for our opportunities - both positive and negative, and may we remember our loved ones who passed on this year and those who left us too soon.

May 2012 be a year full of health, happiness, prosperity, love and peace for you and those closest to you.

"Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn’t do than by the ones you did do.

So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails.
Explore. Dream. Discover. "

                                                                                                     -Mark Twain