The first contest that we are featuring on Mitten Smitten is from the oh-so-fab Jen Lynne Photography, who is one of our amazing MWEP members. If you are like me, you love all things artistic. Well, Jen is offering a fantastic opportunity to one lucky couple who loves FILM photography! Here is a little snippet taken from her blog. After reading, head on over to her blog to enter!

From the Jen Lynne Blog: With the launch of my new business and branding, I also added something new to my packages.. film photography! You are probably asking why film, right? Well, I have spent a lot of time thinking about how to explain my love for it, and before you start to think I am nuts for wanting to go back to shooting film, I want to tell you a little about how I see it:

To me, there is something about film that feels timeless, authentic and romantic. Yes, it is true, we have come a long way with digital cameras and we are very close to getting that “film” look with the lenses available to us. However, in my opinion, there is one huge difference, the colors. No matter how expensive your digital camera may be, and no matter how much time you spend in photoshop trying to replicate it, you won’t be able to get the same color flow from digital that you can on film.

Now a lot of people might disagree with me, and I am ok with that. The fact is that I will probably always be a digital shooter myself! Film brings a certain element and quality that you just can’t get from a digital camera.

Here is what the winners will receive:

6 hours of wedding day coverage

Travel with in the state of Michigan (travel fees will be applied for all weddings outside the state of Michigan and the United States)

Film processing and printed 4×6 proofs delivered in a custom made proof box

Film negatives will be cut and sleeved and delivered with the proofs

All film will be scanned digitally* and posted online for you to share with your friends and family

(*Digital scans may be purchased separately)

Best of luck! Please send us a message if you win! We’d love to see the beautiful photos.

Well, after 400 entries, five thousand votes, and the help of a few industry friends… Here are your Bliss Blog’s Second Annual Photo of the Year Contest winners! Monday, we announced the winners of the Engagement category. Yesterday, we announce the winners of the Homegrown category and today we are announcing the winners of the Around The World category.

Little known fact about our Around The World Category: The entries represented 14 different countries!

Congrats to…

Huge congrats go out to Bryan Rupp Photography! Not only are Bryan & Leah fabulous photographers, you can really get a feel for their sweet personalities on their site. To me, it speaks miles that Jordan and Luke (the couple in this photo) are the ones that submitted this picture on behalf of Bryan Rupp Photography! Congrats on winning first place.

Sybrand Cillié, of Pro Photography in South Africa was actually the winner of last year’s contest! Their work is always beautiful with a lovely vintage flair. If you have not seen it, please check out their website to see more of the gorgeous artwork!

I have to admit, I had never heard of Tag 7,  until this contest launched. I am now happy to inform that I am a HUGE fan. Their work speaks for itself! Beautiful, timeless, and full of energy. Congrats!

A big Thank You to everyone who voted! Please make sure to visit the winners’ websites and blogs to enjoy more of their beautiful work.

Well, after 400 entries, five thousand votes, and the help of a few industry friends… Here are your Bliss Blog’s Second Annual Photo of the Year Contest winners! Yesterday, we announced the winners of the Engagement category. Today, we announce the winners of the Homegrown category and tomorrow the winners of the Around The World category. Check back to congratulate all of the winners, or see if you are one of them!

Little known fact about our Homegrown Category: Only 48 votes separated first and third place!

Congrats to…

Congrats, Rachel! Flashes of Life Photography has won the top spot!

Also, congrats to our Second & Third placed photos by Inner Circle Photography & Melanie Reyes Photography!

A big Thank You to everyone who voted! Please make sure to visit the winners’ websites and blogs to enjoy more of their beautiful work.

Well, after 400 entries, five thousand votes, and the help of a few industry friends… Here are your Bliss Blog’s Second Annual Photo of the Year Contest! Today, we announce the winners of the Engagement category. Tomorrow, we’ll announce the winners of the Homegrown category and Wednesday the winners of the Around The World category. Check back to congratulate all of the winners, or see if you are one of them!

Little known fact about our Engagement category: Our top three had nearly 70% of the almost 2,000 votes!

Congrats to…

Congrats Derek! To see more of his fabulous work, visit his website!

Photo title: Naomi and Johnny. Info: An engagement photo! Naomi and Johnny were married Berkley, MI on September 12, 2009, but we took these engagement photos down in Hart Plaza one hot summer night in July.

Also, congrats to our Second & Third placed photos by Hillebrand Photography & K Holly Photography!

A big Thank You to everyone who voted! Please make sure to visit the winners’ websites and blogs to enjoy more of their beautiful work.

The Final Round is here! Our judges have narrowed all three photo categories down to the top ten of each category. I have revised the timing a bit to make sure that every section gets a solid amount of time for voting. Make sure you follow the directions below exactly, to ensure proper submission of votes. Only one vote per person! No cheating!

Voting for the Around The World Category will end at 7PM on Sunday March 7th. The final results for all three categories will be announced on March 8th, 2010! Best of luck to all of our participants and congratulations on making it this far! There were over 400 submissions this year!

The Final Round is here! Our judges have narrowed all three photo categories down to the top ten of each category. I have revised the timing a bit to make sure that every section gets a solid amount of time for voting. Make sure you follow the directions below exactly, to ensure proper submission of votes. Only one vote per person! No cheating!

Voting for the Engagement Category will end at 7PM on Friday February 26th. I will be giving each category a full 5 days of voting. So, make sure to check back on  Monday the 1st for The Around the World category and then the final results for all three categories will be announced on March 8th, 2010! Best of luck to all of our participants and congratulations on making it this far! There were over 400 submissions this year!

The Final Round is here! Our judges have narrowed all three photo categories down to the top ten of each category. I have revised the timing a bit to make sure that every section gets a solid amount of time for voting. Make sure you follow the directions below exactly, to ensure proper submission of votes. Only one vote per person! No cheating!

Voting for the Homegrown Michigan Category will end at 7PM on Friday February 19th. I will be giving each category a full 5 days of voting. So, make sure to check back on Monday the 22nd for The Engaged category, Monday the 1st for The Around The World category and then the final results will be announced on March 8th, 2010! Best of luck to all of our participants and congratulations on making it this far! There were over 400 submissions this year!

We all LOVE seeing photos of real couples, don’t we? Why not celebrate the fabulous photographers out there with a good old fashioned contest!

The details are simple. Just send a photo, our readers will vote, and a winner will be announced on February 16, 2010! Whether you are a photographer, a bride, a mother of the groom, or just a big fan (With permission of course!), send us your favorite photograph from a 2009 wedding to amanda{at}yourblissweddings.com.

This year, there will be THREE categories! Homegrown (Michigan based photography) Weddings, Nation-wide Weddings and Engagement Shots! Everyone can enter!

Here is the run down:

• Pick a max of three favorite wedding or engagement photos from 2009.
• Title each photo.
• Send an email to amanda(at)yourblissweddings.com with the photo, title and info about the wedding (location, couple’s names, date, etc.).
• Send Photo PER EMAIL. That means, if you have three photos, send three separate emails.
• You must put “Bliss Photo Of The Year + Your Company Name” in the subject of each email. This will help organize and prevent lost photos.
• Send these emails to me no later than midnight on 2.10.10
• Stay tuned for our announcement of the Top lists and spread the word about voting. We’ll send this info to you as soon as it is available!
• Winner will receive a very special surprise… Shhh! I said SURPRISE!

If you want to see last year’s winners, click here.

I can’t wait to see what you all come up with! Last year’s contest was a huge hit and I just know that this year will blow it out of the water!

I have a crazy habit of bookmarking EVERYTHING when I am online. I probably have at least 200 different websites in 20 different lists. One of my most insanely jam-packed lists is my Blog This! list. It is where I stash any and everything that I think you might love as much as me (and forget about it for a month or so). Since the list just keeps growing, I thought I might as well share a few of my favorites. I hope you enjoy this as much as I did!

And to add to the excitement a little, I decided that this edition of Blog This! will cater to my need for inspiration this holiday season. Enjoy!

1. Rock It Out! The ALWAYS amazing Anne Ruthmann posted a super cute idea for holiday inspired photobooth ideas! I am seriously considering this for our next holiday bash!

2. Shop It Out! I came across this wonderful store, called Jamali Garden Supplies, while searching the Hostess With The Mostess blog. Love it. Love it. Love it! So many ideas can be used for holiday entertaining or even wedding decor!

3. Give It Out! So many blogs are having contests right now. It must be the holiday spirit taking over the world of the web. Check out Bon Appetit for a holiday Envy bake-off, Grooms Advice is giving way a totally fun gift for the man in your life, and Memorable Gifts is hosting a Twitter contest and giving away a $20 gist code!

4. Share the Love. Design Sponge, one of my fave blogs around, posted a great list of gift ideas under $100. Check it out here.

5. Cook Some Love. I am dying to try this Raspberry Chocolate Tart from Kaboose!

Have you seen any great holiday inspired ideas, blog posts or articles? Share the love with us by leaving a comment below! Happy December!

I am feeling the need to share! My fantabulous sister introduced me to the amazing world of Lush Handmade Cosmetics and I have to spread the love. Between the bath bombs, shower pucks, and everything else in their delicious smelling line of products, you are sure to find the PERFECT component to your everyday shower routine. Not only is it super creative, it is all organic. You can get clean while you go green!

..and this sampling can be all yours! All $60 worth of it!

Here is what you have to do: (Completing one will give  you one entry, two will give you two, three gives you three and four gives you four entries and lots of karma points!)

1. Visit the Lush website and leave us a comment about which of the fabulous products you’d be most interested in trying.

2. Head over to Twitter and copy this phrase exactly… “RT @BlissAmanda Clean and Green, Bliss makes me Lush. http://www.yourblissblog.com”

3. Become a fan and post a note on our Bliss Facebook Fan Page with your favorite thing about The Bliss Blog.

4. Post a link to our contest on your blog!

You can complete these in any order or any combination. The contest will be open until November 30th at Midnight. On December 2nd, a name will be randomly chosen and the winner will be posted here on The Bliss Blog. If we don’t hear back in 24 hours, a new winner will be chosen at random. (And so on…)

Oh, and just to relate this contest to weddings (you know I have to!), Lush is now offering the perfect favors for your bridal shower or even gifts for your bridesmaids! I can picure the smiling faces now. You can thank me later.