The first time I met Colette was at a bonfire party in University. We had all just finished our final exams and were letting loose and socializing, after being in our little dark holes for weeks. Most of us were all bundled up, as it is still pretty cold here at the end of April. However, Colette and a few of her nursing friends came outside asking us if we wanted to go to a club, while wearing miniskirts and tank tops. (Keep in mind we were about 19 at the time). I am sure I gave her an ‘are you seriously wearing a miniskirt in this weather?’ look as I sat there in possibly 5 layers of clothing, in front of the bon fire. Now, I am always cold – so she may have been thinking ‘are you seriously wearing 5 layers of clothing, sitting in front of a fire, and not sweating puddles?’ about me. That is the night that Jesse and Colette met, and fell in love. As a side note, Tim and Jesse have known each other since kindergarden and grew up together. Colette and I, from that point on, became the ‘girlfriends’ of two best friends.

I am so happy that you two fell in love. Because of this amazing bond that you’ve both found, I get the pleasure of having found two amazing friends. Tim and I are both so happy that we could have shared in this beautiful occasion, and look forward to spending the next 80 years or so sharing life’s joys alongside the both of you. Thank you for asking us to be apart of your lives. (Tim was Jesse’s best man, and I was on of Colette’s bridesmaids on their wedding day in the Mayan Riveria of Mexico.)

To see more, you can watch the slideshow HERE.

Never, ever before had I heard of a 101 in 1001 list, until the year 2010 (ooh the numbers match, haha). I read someone else’s list this past weekend, and thought hmm what a fabulous thing to create and to blog about. That night I set out on Tim’s laptop to create my list. You would never believe how difficult it is to come up with 101 things to write down. I sat there for a good hour or two thinking, thinking, and thinking – and I only go to about 50. As this weeks gone by, I am still only at 75. So for now it is a 75 in 1001 list. That’s why I’ve been missing – this list has been haunting me, and will continue to haunt me until I get to 101! Seeing as that may take me months, at the rate I am going, I thought I would share what I have so far.

Here it goes, 101 in 1001 for Chantal Milaine:

1. Go back to Paris, with Tim
2. Start a Family
3. Marry Tim
4. Buy a House
5. Buy a new vehicle
6. Go to Greece
7. Photography 50+ weddings
8. Spend time with my family at the lake
9. Hike the West Coast trail
10. Bring Tim to the Okanogan Valley
11. Decorate each room of our house
12. Increase my shoe collection
13. Go to Egypt
14. Make photographs/artwork for my walls
15. Blog several times per week
16. Get in the best shape of my life (you will see abs my friends!)
17. Invent something
18. Start another business
19. Make a few real estate investments
20. Learn to like wine!
21. Bring my clothing and shoe donation in!
22. Improve my business
23. Take a business and marketing class
24. Get my business and work published in a magazine
25. Get published in a book
26. Enter and win a photo competition
27. Buy a new Macbook Pro
28. Run a half Marathon
29. Run a full Marathon
30. Shoot weddings in 5 countries that I haven’t shot in before
31. Triple my 2009 income
32. Have my own first Christmas tree
33. Buy Christmas decorations for the first time
34. Plant and grow a herb garden
35. Get a client meeting/office space of my own (that isnt in my home)
36. Get one of my images hung in an art gallery
37. Get 5000 facebook friends
38. Order new business cards
39. Get my own letterhead designed and printed
40. Cook 30 high class meals that you would get at a fancy restaurant
41. Donate Blood
42. Donate my time and/or funds to 5 charities
43. Be the subject in a boudoir photoshoot
44. Organize and shoot several boudoir sessions
45. Photograph, print and gift my parents of family photos and photos of us kids
46. Photograph and print photos of my parents
47. Donate more of my large clothing collection
48. Buy a king sized bed
49. Buy bedroom furniture
50. Try a pilates class
51. Try a spin class
52. Learn how to swim
53. Swim 50 laps
54. Be dairy and red meat free for an entire year
55. Get a ride in a helicopter
56. Run the Mother’s day run with my Mom.
57. Go to the dentist
58. Get Tim to go to the doctor and dentist for a regular check up (for 3 consecutive years!)
59. Host a full on, fully decorated, dinner party
60. Send my parents on a Safari of a lifetime (Africa)
61. Finish writing this list!
62. Stay debt free (minus house mortgage, maybe)
63. Get at least 1 comment on each of my blog posts.
64. Times my blog traffic by 10!
65. Times my website traffic by 10!
66. Speak at a photography event
67. Learn to relax without distractions or electronics.
68. Spend the day at a spa
69. Go on a couples trip somewhere with friends
70. Go to 3 plays
71. Spend at least a week in New York
72. Meet and learn from Matthew Jordan Smith, Jerry Ghionis, and Jasmine Star.
73. Throw an awesome birthday party
74. Go to a fancy party for New Years Eve!
75. Slow dance with Tim!
76. - 101. ……..stay posted

What are some of your dreams, goals, and aspirations?!

So I have been pretty out of it these past few nights. My body is battling another cold, yes ANOTHER! Don’t worry though my internet friends, I haven’t forgotten about you. I promised to blog, and so blog I will! (I am still a few short, but once my health bar has made its way back to full I will have lots more to say!)

For now, I will leave you with some of my favorite images from my travels. This past year or so I have been extremely fortunate, and have been able to check off quite a few places off of my travel list. To name a few: Paris, Italy, Hawaii, China, Thailand, and Montreal. My places to visit in this world is so long, that I am very grateful to have been able to knock off this many so far. So here we go. Travel with me to these beautiful places.

I have a few favorites, where are you favorite places that you have traveled?