365 Days To Go

Today is my 29th birthday! Today, also, leaves me 365 days left to accomplish my big travel goal: travel to seven continents in business class by May 2015.

As of today, I have hit five continents: North America, Europe, Asia, South America and Africa. Leaving Australia and Antarctica. I have booked Australia for September; leaving Antarctica for January or February 2015.

As I wrote last year,  I add a new goal: visit all 50 States before the age of 40. In typically JD fashion, to count a state as visited, I must stay 3 nights in the state. The 3 nights don't have to be consecutive, but I do need to put my head on a pillow, rock or bench to count.

Below is a map of the states that I have visited and those I have not. The states colored in Red are ones that I have stayed 3+ nights in and the states colored in Green are ones that I have stayed 2+ nights. So far I have visit 22 states: 14 for more than 3+ days.

Accomplishing close to 30% of my goal with 11 years left is a good start. As you can see, I need to visit middle America. Sad to say, I have treated it as fly-over country. Looking down from the plane wondering what is down there. Today, I make my promise to you, middle America...I am coming to visit!

I have a feeling this is going to be a great year.
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Happy Birthday Do It For The Points & Giveaway!

365 days ago, Chris and I launched Do It For The Points. We started this journey into blogging, because our friends were tired of us talking about travel/points/miles at our weekly happy hours. Cash Back Boy and Limited Credit Boy told us to put our passion for miles/points into something productive.

                                              

As we stated on our very first post, our goal for the blog was to share our perspective, trips, and just general questions we may have about points and miles that you might have but were too shy to ask. Don't worry....we don't mind embarrassing ourselves for you." Looking back over our 451 posts, I think we are on our way to accomplishing that goal.

Even though Chris may now longer be blogging anymore, I vow to carry our blog forward. In the 2nd year, Do It For The Points will push the boundary of what is normal. However, I promise you that I will never post a promotion, trick or technique that I personally will not participate in myself. On top of that, no promotion, trick or technique will ever be posted that I would be embarrassed to tell my grandfather about. If I fail to live up to this standard, please call me out on it.

I would like to thank a few people who have helped me through the first year of this journey:

 ~ My family who have been my supportive cheerleaders;

 ~ Keri and Jeanne of Heels First Travel for your guidance and mentorship.

 ~ To Cash Back Boy and Limited Credit Boy, my friends and close confidants, for waiting in the
     hallways of the hotels to allow me to videotape the room, listening to me complain about 
    blogging and willing to go on adventures for that sole purpose of blog posts.

 ~ Chris, thank you for starting this journey with me. I hope I do you proud in carrying our little
    dream forward.

Finally, I thank you for our readers for your support over the past 365 days. Thank you for your comments, twitter conversations and emails. Your support is what keeps me going every day. If you like what we are writing, please tell a friend or two or three.

Unlike most birthday celebrations, no gifts are required. Rather, I am holding a giveaway to say thank you to all of you. 7 prizes are up for grabs valuing over $400. Go here to learn more!

Thank you again everyone for your love and support.

Happy Birthday Do It For The Points!

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 Follow us on Twitter @doit4thepoints! Have a question for me? E-mail me at jd@doitforthepoints.com