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stylish beach bum giveaway winner!

Thank you to everyone who took the time to enter the Stylish Beach Bum
giveaway a couple of weeks ago! I totally dropped the ball and forgot to announce the winner, so here we go. Better late than never, right!? 
Huge congrats go to 
comment no. 152 from Erin C. Young!
You’ve won a gorgeous camera strap of your choice from Stylish Beach Bum you lucky girl!!
Shoot me an email ASAP to claim your prize.
Be sure to stop by the Stylish Beach Bum shop to view all of their gorgeous styles and 
check out Gina’s matching lens bags too!
🙂

yummy lemon muffins

About a year ago I discovered this delicious + simple recipe for
from Jo-Anna at A Pretty Life in the Suburbs. I’ve made many loaves of this yummy bread for my family to enjoy, so this go around I thought I’d try something a little different with the recipe and make lemon muffins. I followed Jo-Anna’s recipe below with only a few simple alterations.
Lemon Muffins
1/2 cup butter
1 cup sugar
2 eggs
1 1/2 cups flour
1 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt
1/2 cup milk
Grated rind from 1 lemon

Juice from 1 lemon
1/4 cup sugar

Cream butter and sugar. Add eggs, 1 at a time.Combine flour, baking powder and salt. Add 1/2 flour mix to butter mix. Then add 1/2 milk. Add rest of flour mix. Add rest of milk.  And add lemon gratings + mix. Fill muffin tin with cupcake liners, fill each cup 3/4 full with batter. Bake in a preheated 350 degree oven for 15-20 minutes, or until inserted toothpick comes out clean. In the mean time, combine the lemon juice with the 1/4 cup sugar.When the muffins are done baking, take out of the oven, and pierce holes in the top of each muffin with a fork/toothpick. Poor sugar mix over warm muffins or do what I did and simply dip the tops of each muffin in the sugar mix. Mix up a little bit of icing for the top using icing sugar + lemon juice. Just mix until desired consistency, no measuring here. Place icing in a ziplok bag with small hole cut in one corner and drizzle icing on the top of each muffin. 
This recipe makes 1.5 dozen muffins.

The muffins were a huge hit, I knew they would be since we already love Jo-Anna’s yummy lemon loaf. This is definitely a must try recipe and I love that you can make something so delicious with such a simple set of ingredients!
Decorate the top of your muffins with some simple little toothpick flags in soft Easter colours and they’d make the perfect Easter treat. Enjoy!
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If you have a chance to stop by and visit Jo-Anna at 
She shares plenty more delicious recipes {check out her entire list of recipes here}, DIY projects and more! If you stop by to say hi, make sure you leave her some love and tell her Rebecca sent ya! 
🙂
Have a great weekend everyone!
Happy Easter!

I’m linking up with these fabulous blogs:

A Month in Photos – March 2012

MARCH 2012


We celebrated St. Patrick’s Day
It finally got warm enough {sort of} to ride bikes to school
We spent this past weekend at West Edmonton mall
We made cookies and most definitely licked the bowl clean afterwards
We fell asleep in the car on the way to pick up kids from school
We all went to the dentist
We tried some new recipes that we enjoyed
We welcomed a brand new niece/cousin into the family! 

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Wow. Is it just me or are these months flying by!?
I’m still going strong with the  month-in-photos project, how are ya’ll doing? I’m loving the collection of collages from 2012 that I have so far and I look forward to the end of each month when I get to take a peek at your month-in-photos too! 

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!



🙂





Please join me in welcoming Simple as That’s newest sponsor
{Jo Totes}


Jo Totes provide a fashionable way for you to safely carry your camera bodies and lenses, along with your regular purse items, every day—whether it be to your next photo shoot, while traveling or just when you are out and about. For hobbyists, having your camera in a Jo Tote will mean no more missed moments. For professionals, you’ll look lovely at your next shoot.

I own the Jo Totes Betsy bag in mustard and I love it and here are a few of the other cute 
Jo Totes bags I’ve been eyeing…


rose | gracie | georgia

Follow Jo Totes on facebook and twitter and stay up to date on their latest styles!



the simple things


this week’s simple thing:

Seeing how excited Carson was to ride his bike to school for the very first time definitely put a smile on my face this week. I snapped a few photos of him heading off in the morning with his sister and none of them were anything to write home about. I was in hurry, mostly because I was out on the driveway in my housecoat and slippers and it was c-c-c-cold…..but I’m glad I took a moment to capture this shot. I know it will bring back memories for both of them years down the road. 🙂
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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!

🙂

Simple Easter Craft: Paper Plate Easter Chick

This week we got together with a couple of cousins to make a fun little Easter craft. We made these cute {and super simple} baby chicks and I thought I’d show you how we made them.

Here’s what you’ll need:


Here’s how you’ll make your chicks:

Step 1:
Out of orange card stock or construction paper cut two long strips for your chicks legs, a little diamond for a beak and two little chick feet.

Step 2:
Start making the chicks legs by accordion style folding each strip of orange paper. Next glue the feet to the bottom of each leg.


Step 3. 
Attach your legs to the bottom of your paper plate. Fold the orange diamond in half to make the chicks beak and attach to the centre of your plate.

Step 4:
Now add your goggly eyes and attach some feathers to the back of the plate to give your chick some fluffy wings and that’s it. You’re done!

These chicks are easy to make and I think they turned out pretty cute. They were definitely a hit at our little craft day! Have fun making your own Easter chicks!

Follow Rebecca – Simple as That Blog’s board kids crafts on Pinterest.

For more fun ideas for the kids this Spring check out these posts:

28 Kids books for Spring + Easter

















Spring Lei












Rainbow Color Mixing








Egg carton Bunny + Chick




E-Meals giveaway winner!

Thank you to everyone who took the time to enter the E-meals giveaway!
eMeals - Easy Meals for Busy People!
According to random.org the winner of the 3-month subscription to E-meals is….
comment no. 38 from janetfaye
Congrats Janet! 
Shoot me an email ASAP to claim your prize!

Be sure to check out two of our family’s favourite E-Meals recipes:
🙂

Have you entered this weeks giveaway from Stylish Beach Bum? 
You could win a gorgeous and super comfy camera strap of your choice!

simple things roundup + weekly photo tip

I sure missed featuring some of your gorgeous photos last week so I’m here today with double the photos to share! Yipee!!  Thanks so much to everyone who shared their photos with us this week and last! 🙂

Here are just a few that caught my eye…

back home | rebecca doyle

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If you’ve had a photo featured on the blog or on my facebook page this week 
be sure to grab a featured button below! 🙂
 

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For this week’s photo tip I wanted to point out this great post from Lacey Meyers over at Clickin Moms on printing and organizing your photos. It’s a great read! Something I totally need to get a handle on!

Enjoy!

🙂

PS. Don’t forget to click under the “CURRENT GIVEAWAYS” tab on the right sidebar. You can enter to win a gorgeous camera strap or a 3 month subscription to eMeals meal planning service! 

the simple things + stylish beach bum giveaway!

Welcome to Simple things Sunday everyone!
Along with our fabulous simple things par-TEE this week {scroll down to the bottom of this post to find the linky} you have the chance to win a beautiful camera strap from Gina of Stylish Beach Bum!
Gina’s camera straps are cute, affordable and super comfy! I recently had the chance to try out one of Gina’s straps for myself and I have nothing but good things to say about it! The soft chenille fabric on the back is so soft and comfy, the strap is well made, durable and and I love the lens cap pocket…I’m forever losing my lens caps so this is a great little feature for me! 
Check out a few more of Gina’s designs and enter below to win a strap of your choice

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 Stylish Beach Bum, then come back here and leave a comment on today’s
 post telling me the name of your favourite strap.
Bonus entries:
2. Follow Gina on twitter.
3. Share a photo in the Simple things Sunday link party.
4. Invite a friend or two or three to join us for Simple things Sunday! 
The more the merrier I always say.  🙂
5. Blog, tweet or share a link to this giveaway on Facebook.
* be sure to leave a separate comment for each entry in order for them all to count.
Good luck everyone! 
Giveaway closes Sunday 04/01/12 at 8pm MST.

If you’ve spotted a camera strap that you must have and simply can’t wait for the giveaway to end before its yours, feel free to take 15% off your next purchase {thanks Gina!} using coupon code simplethings. Coupon expires 03/31/12.

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this week’s simple thing:

This photo is technically from last week, but I loved it too much not to share it.  It was taken during our stay at my parents farm on the way to pick up hubby/dad from the airport. The big kids always have so much fun playing at the farm, no matter what they do, but this time it was all about playing on the hay bails. Sliding and jumping and getting covered in hay from head to toe. I have many fond memories of growing up here and I’m so thrilled to see my kids creating their own special memories of the farm.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
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!

🙂

e-Meals recipe + a giveaway!

Today’s giveaway is sponsored by eMeals, an online menu planning service that offers menu plans for busy moms or wives.

eMeals - Easy Meals for Busy People!

Founded by sisters Jenny Cochran and Jane Delaney, the goal of E-Meals is to provide:

Delicious family friendly recipes
Ingredients bought on special and/or at the best price available
An easy and stress free home-cooked dinner

Emeals relies on a team of experienced meal planners, writers and editors to create new dinner menus every week that are designed around grocery store sales, seasonal specials and diet preferences. For $5.00 per month, subscribers download a recipe plan for the week with a matching aisle-by-aisle grocery list. The easy-to-follow recipes usually contain fewer than seven ingredients to allow for prep times of less than 30 minutes.  It also helps families stay within a predictable budget by being prepared with a detailed list to use at the grocery store.

Our family has loved using eMeals and have discovered some really great recipes that have now become  family favourites! We use the low-fat, any store menu and last year I shared one of our favourite recipes for Fat Free Bean Chalupas. Today, thanks to eMeals, I’m excited to share one of our latest recipe favs!

Double Banana Whole Wheat Pancakes:

1 and 1/2 c. whole wheat flour
1/2 c. white flour
2 Tbsp sugar
3 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt
4 medium bananas
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla
2 c. fat free milk

Combine flours, sugar, baking powder, and salt. In a small bowl, mash 2 bananas with a fork; add eggs, vanilla, and milk, stirring to combine. Add to flour mixture, stirring until dry ingredients are moistened. Drop by 1⁄3 cupfuls over medium heat on a large sprayed griddle or skillet. Cook2-3minutes per side, or until golden brown. Slice remaining bananas. Top pancakes with bananas and maple syrup. Serve with cooked bacon.

We had these pancakes for lunch and they were a big hit with the whole family! Delicious, healthy and so filling compared to regular pancakes. Definitely throwing this recipe into our regular rotation of recipes!

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Today E-Meals is giving away a 3-month subscription to one lucky simple as that reader!

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. 🙂

How to enter:

Leave a comment on this post telling us why you’d love to try a subscription to eMeals!

Bonus entries:

1. Follow eMeals on facebook.
{leave a seperate comment letting me know you did}

2. Follow eMeals on twitter.
{leave a seperate comment letting me know you did}

3. Blog, Tweet or post on facebook with a link to today’s giveaway.
{leave a separate comment for each}

Good luck everyone!
Giveaway closes Tues, March 27th at 8pm MST.


Interested in more great recipes and ideas from eMeals? Check out their blog and and did you know that you can give eMeals as a wedding gift!?

You can purchase either a 6 or 12 month gift subscription and you have over 30 plans to choose from! Wouldn’t that make such a great gift for any new bride!? Use the discount code WEDDING to receive 15% off your gift subscription purchase.  
The code expires 3/31/12.

🙂



Disclosure: I was provided with a free eMeals menu plan which my family and I have enjoyed and found SO useful! The eMeals recipes that I’ve shared on my blog were photographed by me, we actually ate them and they were delicious, which is not to say that ALL the recipes we’ve tried through eMeals were for us. For the most part I’ve found the recipes we’ve tried in the Low Fat, Any Store plan to be budget friendly, easily prepared and with the exception of a few, we’ve really enjoyed them.  All opinions expressed in this post are mine.

the simple things

this week’s simple thing:
He’s home!!! 🙂 I managed to snap a few crappy pictures to prove it, but truthfully, taking cute pictures wasn’t the first thing on my mind. Hugs and kisses and snuggles and just having him home…that’s all that matters at the moment. We’re SO happy to be all together as a family again and to be home in our nice cozy beds after a long day of travelling. 
I’m gonna sneak away from the blog for a few days to spend some quality time with the fam. 
Will be back later! Enjoy your Sunday everyone. 🙂
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
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!

🙂

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