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Ana White Farmhouse Table and Benches

I mentioned last week that we were moving and with that move came the need for some new furniture. When we left for the island in 2010 we sold a lot of our belongings, including our kitchen table, and because we’ve been staying with family for the past few months we hadn’t needed one until now. We wanted something we would love, as well as something durable and inexpensive and after a bit of shopping around we decided to build our own.

We built one of Ana White’s popular farmhouse tables and two benches and we couldn’t be happier with how they turned out!  It was actually my sister-in-law who introduced us to the amazing Ana White, she’s built several pieces of furniture using Ana’s plans including the darling toddler bed featured in these photos. A quick trip to Home Depot and $150.00 later, we were on our way to creating our new kitchen table.

It really was a labor of love putting this table together and it was so fun to have the whole family get involved! The kids were in the garage helping my husband by holding boards, sanding and sweeping up sawdust while he cut the wood and pieced the table together. We even let our oldest two help stain it – they thought that was pretty cool. Although there’s only been a handful of family meals eaten at this table so far, there are already some fond family memories associated with this table of ours.

With most DIY projects the finishing is what makes me the most nervous, but we trusted the staining and finishing of the table to Minwax and I’m so glad we did! We used Jacobean stain and I really love the rich, dark colour. We have yet to find a couple of chairs for the table ends, that old rickety thing is just a stand-in for now but we’ve been enjoying our new table for a couple of weeks now and we just love it!

For more DIY furniture plans check out Ana White’s latest book The Handbuilt Home: 34 Simple Stylish and Budget-Friendly Woodworking Projects for Every Room!
Contributors to this book include some of my favourite bloggers:
Brook from Being Brook



Simple things Sunday number 97

Thanks to everyone who linked up their photos at our last simple things party! Your beautiful photos inspire me each week and here are just a handful that caught my eye…

textures | ansku
my greatest adventure | nicky
If your photo was featured make sure to grab yourself a featured button! 🙂
 

Simple things Sunday 97

At the end of August we celebrated my oldest daughter’s 10th birthday and I’m still trying to wrap my mind around the fact that she’s growing up so fast! How is my baby girl TEN already!? She’s such a sweetheart and watching her grow into the young lady that she is today has been such a joy and a privilege as her mother.

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Simple things Sunday is about taking time to photograph the everyday details that make your life unique, beautiful, and special. Each Sunday we gather here to share our photos with each other. To enjoy the beauty that can be found in the ordinary and to be reminded of just how important the simple things are. 

If you’re new to Simple as That I’d love for you join us in this weekly tradition. Scroll down to the bottom of this post where you can find all the details on how to share your photos with us. I look forward to featuring some of your photos later in the week on the Simple as That Facebook page + here on the blog!


THE SIMPLE THINGS ON INSTAGRAM


If you’re a bit of an instagram nut {like me} come join in the simple things fun each Sunday via instagram! Post an insta-pic of a simple thing/moment each week. Use hashtag  #thesimplethings and be sure to tag me @rebecca_simpleasthat so I can check out your photos and maybe even feature your photo on the blog or Simple as That facebook page!


Just a few quick rules to play:

1. Grab a button and include it in your simple things post.

2. Link back directly to your simple things post not your blog/website.

No links to other linky parties, giveaways or craft projects pretty please. 
This linky is all about the photos.

3. Be sure to pop by and visit at least 3 other links and leave a comment.

Leave as many as you can.

 

16 simple projects + free printables for Fall


 Fall is one of my favourite times of year and I think it definitely shows with all the Fall projects & printables I’ve shared through the years at Simple as That! Below you’ll find links to all of the Fall tutorials, craft projects & printables that I’ve created & I can’t wait to share some more ideas with you this year!

fall photo checklist | simple halloween bunting

printable halloween bunting | pumpkin whirligigs

silly stone spiders | diy pirate costume

simple teacher’s gift idea | thanksgiving leaf garland

pumpkin faces | free thanksgiving printables

5 Quick Tips for Better Halloween photos | spooky stone spiders

simple halloween spiders | back to school reading log

 Stop by and check out my Fall board on Pinterest for more seasonal inspiration and if any of my projects inspire you I’d be tickled to have you pin them on pinterest, tweet about them or share via Facebook! Thank you so much. 🙂

I’m linking up with these fun blogs.

Big Picture Classes Free Big Idea Festival

I’m so excited to invite all of you to join me at the Big Picture Classes Big Idea Festival happening September 4th – September 17th! Registration for this event is FREE and over the course of the next two weeks a new instructor, challenge and prize giveaway will be announced each day!
I’m the guest instructor today and I’m sharing my thoughts on making photo taking fun, along with a free printable photo checklist filled with 25 fun photo ideas. Register now to join the fun! I can’t wait to see you there! 

A Month in Photos – August 2012

Summer sure flew by in a hurry for us, I don’t know about you? The kids are back in school and as much as I’ve been looking forward to getting back into a routine, I’m so grateful for a Summer full of fun memories. Here’s a peek at what the month of August looked like for our family…

AUGUST 2012
August 2012 was the month for Summer adventures for us! We went hiking, quadding, caving, camping, zip lining and whitewater rafting. We celebrated a beautiful 10 year old girls birthday, we played with cousins, went fishing and the kids learned how to waterski and wakeboard. It was a really full month and I’m looking forward to sharing a few more details about our Summer with you soon. I feel so blessed to have experienced the things we did this Summer together as a family!

How are you guys doing with your month-in-photos project?
I’ve begun putting my 2012 collages together into an album using Blurb.com and I’m having so much fun with it! You can find more details and images from the album here. I want to keep my album really simple and I love easily I can do that using Blurb!

If you’ve created a collage of your month-in-photos for August, simply post your collage somewhere online, copy and paste the html code for the month-in-photos button below and include it in your post,  then come back here and leave a link to your collage so everyone else can see your fun photos! 


I can’t wait to see your month in photos!

For more info about the month in photos project go here.You can download any of my free collage templates or use your own collage and join in the fun with us each month! Just think of the incredible collection of photos we’ll have put together at the end of 2012!

Have a great weekend!

It’s busy, busy around here this long weekend. We’re moving and with the kids starting school on Tuesday I’m going to take a little blogging break for the next few days. I’ll catch you next week sometime and I’m sorry to do it, but we’ll have to postpone Simple things Sunday until Sept. 9. Thanks for being so patient with me during this crazy summer of ours! 
In the meantime, I wanted to let you know about Ella Publishing’s super fun birthday celebration going on now until September 4! Take advantage of HUGE savings and get 50% off all their eBooks using coupon code BIGTOP.
If you’ve been thinking of purchasing any of my eBooks now is a great time to buy! Click on the images below to be taken to Ella’s shop where you’ll find detailed descriptions of what can be found in each book!

Real.Life.Photography eBook - how to take amazing photos in real-life situationsSimple Fixes: Actions for Photoshop and Photoshop Elements
40 Top Tips for Better Photos: Simple suggestions for stunning photographs (by Rebecca Cooper)Don't Say Cheese! How to get great, natural photos of your kids (by Rebecca Cooper)
Have a fabulous weekend everyone! We’ll see you back here soon!

Family Travel in Northwest Montana

Just a few weeks ago, during our summer vacation in Northwestern Montana, we had the chance to visit Whitefish Mountain Resort and make some really fun family memories during our time there! Home to some of the most beautiful skiing in Montana in the winter months, Whitefish Mountain Resort also offers a variety of family friendly activities throughout the Summer. From thrilling Zip Line tours to the Alpine Slide (which is the only one of its kind in Montana) they have something for every age and I can’t wait to tell you about all the fun we had!

We spent a whole day at the resort as a family and started the fun with a scenic lift ride to the top of the mountain. The views were amazing and the kids could not get over how high we were. Check out that view of the Flathead Valley from our Gondola! It was just breathtaking and to take it all in as a family was incredible!

It was a short 15 minute ride to the top and from there you can explore a variety of hiking and mountain biking trails, stop by the Summit Nature Centre or grab a quick lunch and just enjoy the view. My kids loved the Nature Centre, it was filled with lots of hands on displays and they offer a variety of activities the kids can participate in, including a daily wildflower nature walk.

After a quick bite to eat we were ready to head back down the mountain via the scenic lift again. We decided to get a little more adventurous this time and took a chair lift instead of a Gondola.

Feeling the breeze and admiring the view all the way down was amazing! This is such a gorgeous area and I would make the drive out to Whitefish Mountain Resort anytime just to go on the scenic lift ride, it was that spectacular!

After we arrived back at the Base Lodge the kids were ready to get some energy out so we let them loose at Spider Monkey Mountain. At Spider Monkey Mountain kids can climb their way through a webbed tower and when they reach the top, slide down the giant slide. My older kids found it to be a really fun challenge and my two year old even did it a few times with the help of her siblings.

I loved the fact that all the activities at the resort originated from the Base Lodge. From there we could watch the kids play at Spider Monkey Mountain, we were just steps away from the lift rides that take you to the alpine slide and beyond and we were only a short walking distance from the Aerial Adventure Park. I found it really handy not to have to walk very far with all our stuff and four kids in tow to get from one activity to the next.

After some play time at Spider Monkey Mountain we went inside the Base Lodge and got all geared up to head over to the brand new Aerial Adventure Park. This was hands down my older kids favourite part of the day (they are ages 7 and 10). They loved this obstacle course through the trees and mom and dad even had fun tagging along with them!

 Here’s some information about the Aerial Adventure Park:

 – The Aerial Adventure Park has 5 courses: yellow, 2 green, blue and black (easiest to hardest)

-Each course had 10‐15 “elements” including suspended bridges, cable walk ways,  ladders, 
trapezes, zip lines, etc.
-Courses are 10‐50 feet (3 to 15 meters) off the ground
-Participants go through each course independently wearing a full‐body harness 
and are double secured into a cable system
-After a 15‐20 minute briefing, participants have 2 hours in the park
-The Aerial Adventure Park is for ages 7 & up
-Maximum weight is 265 pounds (120 kilograms)

 The kids loved the fact that they could go through the course on their own with little or no help from mom and dad. I loved the fact that they were completely safe and I really enjoyed seeing them taking on the challenges each course offered and the sense of accomplishment on their faces when they completed each new obstacle! Our two youngest weren’t able to participate in this activity but the Aerial Adventure Park can be accessed by onlookers so my husband and I were able to trade off watching from the ground with the little ones and doing the course with the older two.

After nearly dragging the kids away from the adventure park (they were having so much fun!) we ended the day with a few trips down the Alpine Slide and this was a hit for the whole family. We got to ride the lift up to the start of the slide and then our youngest girls (ages 2 and 4) rode the slide with mom and dad (children under 48″/122cm tall ride for free with an adult ) while the older two went down on their own. It was so much fun! I don’t know who was smiling bigger on the ride down, the kids or us parents!? 😉
When traveling as a family it can be a challenge to find activities the whole family can enjoy but Whitefish Mountain Resort definitely pulled through with some fabulous activities for every age. We packed a lot into our day at the resort but spreading the fun out over a few days would also be a great option if you’re looking to do a little more exploring in the Whitefish area in between activities. Beautiful downtown Whitefish and Whitefish lake are just a short distance away from the resort and are definitely worth checking out.

A few days after our visit to Whitefish Mountain Resort my oldest daughter Emily and I returned to take a Zip Line Tour through the trees and it was so much fun!

Whitefish Mountain Resort’s Zip Line Tours:

-Two tour options are available: 7 Zip ( 3 hours) or 5 Zip (2 hours)
-All participants must be 54 inches tall
-Participants must weigh between 60 lbs and 230 lbs (27 to 104 kilograms) for 5 Zip Tour
-Participants must weigh between 100 lbs and 230 lbs (45‐104 kilograms) for 7 Zip Tour
-There is some hiking required in between zips
-Lines are up to 300 feet (91 meters) high
-Both tours feature zip lines ranging from 100-1,900 feet long! 
-Speeds can reach up to 50 MPH (80 km/h)
-Each person is outfitted with a paragliding harness and zip line trolley for comfort and safely. 
-Appropriate footwear is required (no open toed shoes)
-Up to 12 people will be in your group. You will fly two at a time on side-by-side lines. 


I’ve done zip line tours in other areas of the world but I found the experience in Whitefish to be really unique. The paragliding harness system was super comfortable and I felt 100% safe the entire time. The speeds at which we were flying through the trees was incredible and the longest zip line that extends 1,900 feet was crazy! 🙂 The photo below is of Emily and I on the longest zip line and oh my goodness…the view, the speed and the fact that you couldn’t quite make out the end of the zip line from the starting point made for a pretty exciting ride!

I was able to safely take my big camera along with me on the zip line, but if you don’t feel like bringing yours along, not to worry, there are photographers positioned at each of the resorts activities snapping guests photos that can be viewed and purchased afterwards. The first photo of Emily and I is courtesy of Mountain Life Photography.

If you’re looking for a place in Montana to travel with the family I’d highly recommend visiting Whitefish Mountain Resort! Summer lodging and activity packages are available as well as group hosting opportunities perfect for weddings, family reunions, etc. We had a fabulous time at Whitefish Mountain Resort and really look forward to going back again soon!

Stay up to date on the latest from Whitefish Mountain Resort by following them online here:
We received complimentary passes to the activities we participated in at Whitefish Mountain Resort for review purposes. All opinions expressed in this post are my own.

Simple things Sunday Number 96

Simple things Sunday 96

We said goodbye to the lake this week and were definitely sad to leave. Goodbye to rides in the boat, goodbye to waterskiing and wake boarding, goodbye to cool summer nights and campfires under the stars. It’s so hard to believe that Summer is nearly over and school will be starting again soon but we’ve made many happy memories at the lake to last us until next year!

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Simple things Sunday is about taking time to photograph the everyday details that make your life unique, beautiful, and special. Each Sunday we gather here to share our photos with each other. To enjoy the beauty that can be found in the ordinary and to be reminded of just how important the simple things are. 

If you’re new to Simple as That I’d love for you join us in this weekly tradition. Scroll down to the bottom of this post where you can find all the details on how to share your photos with us. I look forward to featuring some of your photos later in the week on the Simple as That Facebook page + here on the blog!


THE SIMPLE THINGS ON INSTAGRAM


If you’re a bit of an instagram nut {like me} come join in the simple things fun each Sunday via instagram! Post an insta-pic of a simple thing/moment each week. Use hashtag  #thesimplethings and be sure to tag me @rebecca_simpleasthat so I can check out your photos and maybe even feature your photo on the blog or Simple as That facebook page!


Just a few quick rules to play:

1. Grab a button and include it in your simple things post.

2. Link back directly to your simple things post not your blog/website.

No links to other linky parties, giveaways or craft projects pretty please. 
This linky is all about the photos.

3. Be sure to pop by and visit at least 3 other links and leave a comment.

Leave as many as you can.

 

Weekend giveaway: Night and Day Studios apps for kids. 30 Winners will be chosen!

You’ve heard me rave about Night & Day Studios and their darling apps for kids before and get ready because I’m about to do it again! We just love our apps from Night & Day Studios and some of our all time favourites are their Peek-a-Boo apps!

 Peek-a-Boo Barn, Peek-a-Boo Wild and Peek-a-Boo Forest are the three apps they’ve created so far in this series and they are about to release the brand new Peek-a-Boo Fridge! We can’t wait to see it, doesn’t it sound so fun!? The adorable graphics and the too-cute-for-words sound effects have us head over heels for these apps and today Night & Day Studios wants to give you the chance to fall in love with them too!

Simply scroll down to the rafflecopter widget below {click on the rafflecopter giveaway link if the widget isn’t appearing for you} and enter to win one of 30 free codes to Peek-a-Boo Forest or Peek-a-Boo Barn from Night & Day Studios! 10 codes for Peek-a-Boo Barn (iPhone), 10 codes for Peek-a-Boo Barn (iPad) and 10 codes for Peek-a-Boo Forest (universal)!

This is a quick giveaway, it ends Monday night so be sure to get your name in the draw ASAP. Winners will be notified Monday night and codes expire 08/31 so use them fast. 🙂

[Alivia, 2 years old, enjoying one of Night & Day Studios fun apps]
Please remember that all giveaways are for Simple as That followers only.  
Follow via Google Friend Connect on the left sidebar or sign up to receive updates via email or through your favourite RSS reader. Thank you. 🙂
Stay up to date on the latest from Night & Day Studios by following them online here:

Back to School fashions from Tea Collection and Free Shipping

My kids head back to school September 4th and of course we’ve been busy with shopping for school supplies and new clothes. When it comes to purchasing clothes for my kids I’m always on the lookout for cute, stylish and quality fashions, all of which can be found at Tea Collection! 

I’m brand new to Tea Collection, and when contacted to see if my kids would like to try out some of their clothing I jumped at the chance after having a quick browse around their website. They have so many styles for baby and big kids, but what I really fell in love with were their fashions for boys. I find it hard to find cute clothes for my 7 year old son and we were able to find a whole new back to school wardrobe for him at Tea Collection that he loved!

I was really impressed by the quality of the clothes we received. The colours of the items we purchased were true to what was depicted on the website and shipping was fast. It’s safe to say I’ll be purchasing again {and again} from Tea Collection! Check out some of their back to school fashions for girls, aren’t they darling?

From now through August 24th enjoy FREE shipping from Tea Collection! Find Tea Collection on Facebook and twitter to stay up to date on their latest sales and promotions!
Disclaimer: We received free clothing items from Tea Collection for review and we are so excited to tell you all about these cute, quality children’s clothes! We love Tea Collection! All opinions expressed in this post are my own.

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