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camera coats giveaway

I’m super excited to share today’s giveaway with you from a fun new company called Camera Coats. 

Emily Ashby is the talented lady behind this inventive idea and here is a little bit about her and what Camera Coats are:

In February of 2010 we took a family trip. If you have kids you know how that is…bags, strollers, carseats, blah, blah… Since we were flying, our hands were especially full. I wanted to take my Nikon SLR, but did NOT need another bag to carry onto the plane and didn’t want to check my little bundle of joy. (Anyone nodding their head about now?:))
So, I went into problem solving mode. I had made a little fabric bag/holder/protector for my 6 year old’s video game and decided my camera was more important…so I threw my camera in it, put it in the diaper backpack, and off we went.


It was life changing I tell you. My camera was protected and I didn’t have to haul another bag around! I kept that little cover on my camera (wearing it around my neck) as we went to the beach, the Magic Kingdom, and everywhere else. I was in love. My little “coat” protected my camera from the bumps of crowds, kids spills, sun, rain, snow, sand, and anything else that came my way. My friends wanted one. And thus, began our journey with Camera Coats. We hope you love them as much as we do!

I recently had the chance to test drive one of Emily’s cute camera coats {the one pictured below} and I loved it. I shoot with a canon 5D mk II and so I went the PRO size and my camera fit in it nice and snug and when carrying it around with me on my shoulder it felt very padded, safe and easy to access. I found it a really great alternative to carrying my camera around in its bag all the time. It was really quite freeing! 🙂

If you’d like to try out a cute camera coat yourself then today’s your day! Emily is giving away a camera coat of your choice to one lucky Simple as That reader. Scroll down to find out how you can enter and please remember that that 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. 🙂
Mandatory Entry:
Stop by the Camera Coats shop and have a peek around, then
come back here and leave a comment telling me one item that caught your eye.
Bonus entries:
Leave a seperate comment letting me know you did.
2. Share a link to today’s giveaway on twitter or facebook.
Leave a seperate comment letting me know you did.

3. Pin one of your favourite products from Camera Coats on Pinterest.
Leave a separate comment letting me know you did.
4. Subscribe to the Camera Coats product feed to be updated 
when new items are added to the shop.
Leave a separate comment letting me know you did.
5. Follow Simple as That on twitter.
Leave a seperate comment letting me know you did.

Good luck everyone!
Giveaway closes Tuesday May 8th at 8pm MST.
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Wait! That’s not all!
Camera Coats is also offering all Simple as That readers 25% off any of their next purchase
using coupon code: 25SIMPLE. A cute camera coat would make a great gift for mom this Mother’s Day.

A Month in Photos – April 2012

APRIL 2012



We celebrated Easter hunting for eggs with family
We got all the bikes out, tuned up and ready to ride
The Easter bunny came to our house
We spent lots of time with Dad during his time home
We made a couple of trips to Cardston to visit the Temple
We enjoyed the animals at Aunt Shannon + Uncle Gary’s farm
We dyed Easter eggs and so much more!

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So, how are you all doing with your month-in-photos project these days? We’ve got four months of photo collages under our belts and isn’t it the funnest thing to look back on those photos!? 

If you’ve created a photo collage for March, I’d love for you to share it with us! Simply post your collage somewhere online {can be your blog, flickr, etc.} 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 to read all about it. 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!

mother’s day gift ideas: part two

Popping in this lovely Monday to share a few more Mother’s Day gift ideas with you as part of our…
See part one of my list here and read on for even more great gift ideas for the mom, grandma, mother-in-law, sister, friend or aunt in your life!
Any mom with a camera is sure to appreciate one of these gorgeous camera straps from Bluebird Chic. I just love Leah’s designs and use one of her beautiful straps on my own camera. Use coupon code MOMLOVE for 15% off any strap from Leah’s shop from now until Sunday!


Give mom the gift of getting organized this Mother’s Day with a copy of the Home Executive Planner from  Picket Fence Publications. You can take a closer look inside the planner here. Preorder the planner now for only $9.99 regular $11.99!

Give the busy mom in your life the gift of eMeals! Emeals is an inexpensive meal planning service that helps moms on the go to plan healthy meals for the family and takes some of the work out of meal prep with easy to follow and tasty recipes. Check out there brand new meal plans:

The clean eating plan and the Safeway plan.

Take 10% off these brand new meal plans using coupon code SAFEWAY or CLEAN!!



How about a new apron for mom?
Check out the unique, handmade styles available at Mimi’s Magic Apron.
These custom photo charms from Pieces of Me make a darling personalized gift. Add the photo of your choice and Jennie can create a special key chain, necklace or bracelet perfect for mom this Mother’s Day!

{knitty bitties}

Knitty Bitties offers a variety of beautiful and unique hand sewn items for mom. From notebook covers to mini wallets, iPad/tablet covers, camera straps and more!

I hope you find some fun gift ideas for mom on this list! Stay tuned next week for a list of fabulous last minute Mother’s Day gift ideas.

🙂

I’ll see you back here tomorrow, May 1st, for a brand new Month-in-Photos link party!
If you’ve never heard of our little month-in-photos project, read all about it here. Download your free collage template and come join the fun, we’d sure love to have you!

the simple things

Thanks so much to everyone who linked up their photos last week for Simple things Sunday! I finally had a chance this weekend to visit as many of your blogs as I could and as I am every week,
I was blown away by your talent! 
Here are just a few of your photos that caught my eye…

church | a rural journal
If your photo was featured this week be sure to grab a button! 🙂
 
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Simple things Sunday no. 81

this weeks simple thing:


We had to say goodbye to dad/the hubby again this week as he heads off to Dallas for a review course and to study like crazy for his board exams. He just left us yesterday and we already miss him! 🙁 Needless to say, we tried to pack as much family time into his last week here as we could and on Thursday the kids had a day off school so it was the perfect excuse to head to the park. It rained on us, but it cleared up just enough for us to play on the swings and go for a walk around Henderson lake. It was a perfectly, imperfect day with only a little bit of rain, one close encounter with an angry goose and a whole lot of quality time with dad. 🙂

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Welcome to{simple things sunday}this week you guys!
This party is all about celebrating the simple moments and simple joys that make you smile each week. So grab that camera, snap a photo or two and come share with us each Sunday!
Just a few quick rules to play:
please, please, please read the rules carefully
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. 🙂
 

I can’t wait to see your photos this week! I’ll be sharing some of my favs from the last two Simple things Sunday parties on the blog + Facebook throughout the week so stay tuned! If you’re featured be sure to grab yourself a featured button!

Also, please remember to stop by as many of the other links as you can each week and leave lots of comments! Comments are the funnest. Everybody likes ’em, so be as generous as you can with the comment love. Thanks a bunch!

🙂

Queensland, Australia Blogger Correspondent

This past week I received some of the most thrilling news EVER!!
I’m sure the kids thought I was crazy when I ran up the stairs in my housecoat screaming, after reading my morning emails.
After a some encouragement from a friend, I entered the Great Barrier Reef Queensland Blogger Correspondent contest hosted by Problogger and Tourism Queensland. The chance to win an all expense paid trip to Queensland, Australia sounded amazing and I thought, why not give it a try?
I spent the next week, after sending off my submission form thinking, “What if I…nah. I’m not going to win. But what if I did?? Oh stop. It’s not gonna happen.”
I’m still sitting here in disbelief as I type this, to have gotten an email from Darren Rowse of Problogger telling me I was selected as one of the 10 bloggers to make this incredible trip to beautiful Queensland, Australia!! Oh my gosh. I still can’t believe it!!
I’m so excited to visit this gorgeous part of the world! To take lots of photos, to rub shoulders with some amazing bloggers and to share this experience with all of you! Thank you so much to Darren and to Tourism Queensland for this amazing opportunity!
I’ll be sharing all about my journey to Queensland via facebook, twitter and my blog so stay tuned for lots of photos and fun stuff come June!!
Eeeeeek! It’s ok for me to squeal, right!!?
 
🙂 

 

pearenthetical press giveaway winner

So sorry for the delay in announcing the winner of the Pearenthetical Press give-away last week {many thanks to everyone who took the time to enter!}

I’ve been feeling a little under the weather so the blog has gone neglected this week, but I’m hoping to be back ASAP. 🙂
In the meantime, I wanted to quickly announce the winner of the 
$40.00 gift certificate to Pearenthetical Press…
comment no. 120 from Sarah Swartzentruber
Congratulations Sarah! Just shoot me an email to claim your prize.
Don’t forget…
Pearenthetical Press is offering all Simple as That readers 10% off any of their products using coupon code: SIMPLE10.Take advantage of this special offer and pick out a thoughtful, personalized gift for mom {or for yourself} this Mother’s Day!


🙂 

All About Mom Questionnaire

Last week I shared a simple, DIY Mother’s Day mini album idea with you.
The album is filled with photos of my mom, accompanied by her answers to a few get to know you type questions I sent her via email. Today I thought it would be handy to share a quick list of questions with you that you could ask your own mom.  Include her answers in your very own Mother’s Day mini album or just have her answer them for fun to get to know your mom a little bit better this Mother’s Day.You could even take a minute to sit down and answer these questions about yourself. Record your thoughts in a journal or create a mini album all about you. What a treasured gift to give your kids!

Get to know Mom with this All About Mom printable questionnaire!

Please remember that all FREE downloads are for Simple as That followers only. Before downloading please take a second to 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.

 
 

the simple things

this weeks simple thing:

During a visit to my mom + dad’s house a few weeks ago, my sister and I found some boxes filled with toys from our childhood that my mom had kept. We spent some time going through the boxes together, and reminisced about the dolls and books and things that we used to enjoy as kids.  It was so much fun and brought back some really fond memories. I took a few books and things home with me to show my kids and they’ve enjoyed them much more than I thought they would. It’s been really special to flip through the pages of these old books together and to share little stories with them from my childhood.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Welcome to{simple things sunday}this week you guys!
This party is all about celebrating the simple moments and simple joys that make you smile each week. So grab that camera, snap a photo or two and come share with us each Sunday!
Just a few quick rules to play:
please, please, please read the rules carefully
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. 🙂

 
I can’t wait to see your photos this week! I’ll be sharing some of my favs from the last two Simple things Sunday parties on the blog + Facebook throughout the week so stay tuned! If you’re featured be sure to grab yourself a featured button!

Also, please remember to stop by as many of the other links as you can each week and leave lots of comments! Comments are the funnest. Everybody likes ’em, so be as generous as you can with the comment love. Thanks a bunch!

🙂

50 Photos to Take with your Kids Free Photo Checklist

Mom needs to get in front of the camera too! Here are 50 photos to take with your kids! Download the free photo checklist below and get out from behind the camera and into the shot!

Mom needs to get in front of the camera too! Here are 50 photos to take with your kids! Includes free printable photo checklist.

I used the self timer for this shot while at the park yesterday. Little monkey was cold and needed a snuggle so we sat and watched the big kids play for a few mintues while she warmed up. I relish these moments….you know, the ones where she’s actually sitting still for longer than 30 seconds. Snuggle time with mom seems to have taken a back seat to keeping up with her older siblings these days. She thinks she’s one of the big kids now, which makes me grateful for moments like this, when she still needs mom for a snuggle…and I’m more than happy to hold on to my baby, just a little bit longer.

One way I’m able to get in photos with my kids is by using my camera’s self timer. It’s such a handy feature and with a few tricks, you can get proficient with using your self timer to sneak in a shot or two!

Mom needs to get in front of the camera too! Here are 50 photos to take with your kids! Includes free printable photo checklist.

How I got the shot above

When taking this shot with my self timer I laid my camera down on the bench beside me and from this angle it was cropping the top half of our bodies off. I was at a park, so there weren’t a lot of places to put the camera to get a better angle, so I took my camera strap, folded it up and placed it under my lens to lift it and angle it upwards a little. {Always make sure your camera is on a flat, stable surface before doing this.} You can see it still cut off my head a little, but it helped. I use this little trick often when using my self timer to adjust the angle of the camera.

Need a few ideas of photos to take with your kids? I’ve got you covered! 

Below you’ll find a brand new photo checklist filled with 50 fun photo ideas designed to help us moms get in a few more photos with our kids. No more excuses….it’s time to grab that camera, figure out the self timer or hand it over to the hubby and get smiling!

Mom needs to get in front of the camera too! Here are 50 photos to take with your kids!

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD EMBRACE THE CAMERA PHOTO CHECKLIST

Please remember that all free downloads are for Simple as That followers only. Please take a minute to follow me  via email, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram or pinterest and then download away! Enjoy and have a fabulous weekend everyone! 

You can now download printer friendly version of all my photo checklists – that’s 400 photo ideas in total! Visit this post for all the details!

checklist_button_web

Looking for even more photography inspiration?

Follow Top Photography Tips on Pinterest  or for ongoing inspiration come chat with me and some of Facebook’s top family-photographers in this new Family Photography group I’m co-hosting. Request to join and I’d love to add you in as a private member!

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Join this free group for the latest photography tips and tutorials!

pearenthetical press giveaway

Today’s giveaway is sponsored by the lovely Pearenthetical Press: your home for pretty, personalized paper goods.
A little bit about Kim + Karen, the creative talent behind Pearenthetical Press:

We are a pair of sisters (identical twins, to be precise) living a little further apart than we prefer. We are scrapbookers and memory keepers.We enjoy reading, baking, embroidery, photography and playing the Irish tin whistle (though not particularly well). More than just partners and pals, we are the best of friends.When pooled, we have eleven children. Only one of us is partial to nuts, but we both have a passion for paper and for great design.

  Pearenthetical Press offers many beautiful, high quality, personalized paper goods, any of which would make a thoughtful and unique gift for mom this Mother’s Day!

Check out a small selection of their personalized notecards and stationery…


I also love the sweet Mother’s day cards they have in the shop and how cute are these Mother’s Day coupons!? From calendars and custom art prints to personalized stationery, Pearenthetical Press has you covered this Mother’s Day!

Today Pearenthetical Press is giving away $40.00 to spend on personalized notecards from their shop! Read on to find out how you can enter to win!

Please remember that 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. 🙂
Mandatory Entry:
Stop by the Pearenthetical Press shop and have a peek around, then
come back here and leave a comment telling me one item that caught your eye.
Bonus entries:
Leave a seperate comment letting me know you did.
2. Share a link to today’s giveaway on twitter or facebook.
Leave a seperate comment letting me know you did.

3. Pin one of your favourite products from Pearenthetical Press on Pinterest.
Leave a separate comment letting me know you did.
4. Add Pearenthetical Press to your favourites on Etsy.
Leave a separate comment letting me know you did.
5. Follow Simple as That on twitter.
Leave a seperate comment letting me know you did.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Wait! That’s not all!
Pearenthetical Press is also offering all Simple as That readers 10% off any of their products using coupon code: SIMPLE10.
Good luck everyone!
Giveaway closes Tuesday, April 24th  at 8pm MST.
🙂

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