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the simple things

this weeks simple thing:
I just can’t get enough of these little yummies lately. Peanut butter + chocolate = heaven. Oh….who am I kidding…anything involving chocolate = heaven for me,  but this week its been all about the Reese minis. 🙂
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Welcome to{simple things sunday}this week everyone!
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!

🙂

Clover Leaf Lei Kids Craft

Today I’m sharing a quick and simple craft that’ll help get the kiddos in the St. Patrick’s day spirit! We’ve made these fun straw and paper leis before (see our valentines day and spring versions from the past) and the kids love to make them! They’re simple, use supplies you’re likely to have on hand, and well, they’re just so cute!

Here’s what you’ll need to make your own Clover Leaf Lei:
string/yarn
paper clovers
scissors
cut up straws
hole punch
Here’s how you’ll make it:

1. Cut out some clover leaves in varying colours and patterns from cardstock/construction paper.
I’ve created a template for the clover leaf I used and it can be downloaded here.

2. Punch a hole in the centre of each clover leaf. Depending on the width of your straws you might need to use a smaller than normal hole punch or poke your own holes so the straws don’t slip through.

3. Next cut a length of string or yarn and alternate stringing the paper clovers + straw pieces.

4. When its long enough, tie the ends of your string together and that’s it! So easy and definitely a crowd pleaser with the kids! Enjoy making your own Clover Leaf Leis!


I’m linking up with I Heart Nap Time, Lil’ Luna, Somewhat Simple, Tatertots & Jello and Today’s Creative Blog for Link Party Palooza! 

Follow Rebecca – Simple as That Blog’s board St. Patrick’s Day on Pinterest.

A Month in Photos – February 2012

FEBRUARY 2012


We visited Grandma + Grandpa M. at the farm.
We watched Carson play hockey.
We had the best surprise visit home from Daddy.
A new baby cousin was born and he’s the cutest thing ever!
We went skating. Some of us for the first “real” time.
We celebrated valentine’s day. 
We made these delicious scones. Thanks again for the recipe Meagan!!
Carson and Emily had visits from the tooth fairy.
We spent time visiting cousins during our week off school.
We played lots of games + went swimming at the wave pool.
We said goodbye to Daddy again. 🙁 
But he’ll be home again soon! YAY!!! 🙂


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Can you even believe that here we are into March already!

This new year is flying by and I’m so happy to be documenting it with these monthly photo collages!! 
I’m so excited about this project and I’m just as excited about all the people who are joining in the fun this year!


If you’ve created a collage of your month in photos for February, 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

bluebird chic camera strap cover winner

Thanks to everyone who took the time to enter the Bluebird Chic camera strap cover giveaway!
The lucky winner is…
comment number 272 from Lynette
Congrats Lynette! Shoot me an email ASAP and we’ll get you your prize. 🙂

 aqua floral | orange + aqua | golden flowers | black damask + houndstooth

Thanks for such a fabulous giveaway Leah!
Be sure to stop by Bluebird Chic often for the latest designs being added to the shop.

facebook | twitter | blog

🙂

the simple things

My hubby has been away for the past 6.5 weeks finishing up his last class + preparing for the USMLE step 1 and its definitely been tough for our little family. This past week the kids were off school, so we headed up to Calgary to stay with cousins and little did the kids know, we would also be seeing Daddy!! 🙂 🙂 I picked him up Thursday at 1:20am  from the airport and it was so fun to see the kids smiles + surprised faces when he woke them up in the morning! Needless to say, this week has been pretty exciting. Lot’s of fun playing with cousins and a surprise visit from Daddy! We’re spending every single second we can with him until he has to leave again for a few more weeks. I’ll be scarce on the blog for a little longer as we enjoy this much needed family time. 🙂

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Welcome to{simple things sunday}this week everyone!
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 everyone! I’ll be featuring some of my favs on the blog + Facebook throughout the week so stay tuned! If you were featured last week 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 things roundup + THRIVE foods giveaway winner

Thank you to everyone who has linked up their beautiful photos this week!
Here are just a handful that caught my eye:

toys | a quick succession of busy nothings
rural russia | kotlacova cowgirl
this morning | marla
shades of lavender | mona

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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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Thank you to everyone who too the time to enter the THRIVE Foods Giveaway. Winner of the freeze dried strawberries, a can of freeze dried mangos and a can of THRIVE brownie mix is:


comment no. 23 from Christal Bevans


Congrats Christal! Shoot me an email as soon as you can and we’ll get you your yummy THRIVE food!
Visit Mandy’s shop or her brand new blog to find out the latest from THRIVE Foods, to host your own online THRIVE party or to order some of their delicious products!

🙂


Say hello to another one of our fabulous sponsors, Special Moments, a blog written by Sarah Kate from Brisbane Australia!

Stop by and follow Sarah’s cute blog for updates and follow Special Moments on Facebook. 
Be sure to check out Sarah’s cute month-in-photos collage for January! Love it!


bluebird chic camera strap giveaway

I’m so excited to introduce this weeks SUPER fun giveaway from Bluebird Chic!
Bluebird Chic is a darling little etsy shop owned + operated by Leah Farquharson, who makes the most darling ruched camera strap covers!

This is the yellow + grey camera strap that Leah made for me and I am so in love with it! She added some cute little rolled flowers as a personalized touch and I just love how it matches my Betsy Jo Totes bag in Mustard!

Simply slide the cover over your camera strap and and you have a much more comfortable + adorable alternative to the hard canvas strap that came with your camera.

Here are just a few other straps from Leah’s shop that I love:

 aqua floral | orange + aqua | golden flowers | black damask + houndstooth

 So many cute designs and lucky you, today Leah is giving away a camera strap of your choice to one lucky Simple as That reader!!

HOW TO ENTER:
Head over to Leah’s shop and have a look around. Come back here and leave a comment
telling me one item that caught your eye.

BONUS ENTRIES:
1. Share a link to this giveaway via Twitter or Facebook. If you tweet be sure to tag @blurbirdchicllc.
{leave a comment on this post telling me  you did}
2. Follow Simple as That via Google Friend Connect on the left sidebar or sign up to receive updates via email or through your favourite RSS reader.

{leave a comment on this post telling me you did}


4. Follow Leah’s Bluebird Chic blog.

{leave a comment on this post telling me you did}

5. Pin this giveaway on Pinterest.
{leave a comment on this post telling me you did}

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Good luck everyone!
Giveaway closes next Wednesday {February 28} at 8pm MST.

If you’d like to do a little shopping at Bluebird Chic in the meantime, Leah is offering all Simple as That readers 15% off their next purchase.
Use coupon code SIMPLE15 at checkout!

🙂

the simple things

a few simple moments from this week:


-a quiet drive in the car 😉
-my big boy humouring his mom with a picture
-putting together these fun little valentines
-nutella + banana sandwiches and the cutest little grumpy face
-delivering valentines
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Welcome to{simple things sunday}this week everyone!
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 everyone! I’ll be featuring some of my favs on the blog + Facebook throughout the week so stay tuned! If you were featured last week 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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Please welcome another of our fabulous sponsors, Laura Taylor Photography.


Laura is a newborn, child and family photographer who services Calgary, Alberta and surrounding area.
Stop by Laura’s website to see her work, view her pricing information and to find out how to book your next session. 🙂

blog | website | facebook

Thrive Foods Giveaway + special savings!

I’m so excited to introduce today’s fun giveaway hosted by Mandy Hubbard,
an independent consultant for THRIVE Foods.

You can read all about THRIVE Foods here, but essentially, it is a line of natural food storage products consisting of the same foods you would purchase at the supermarket—fruits, veggies, meats, beans, grains, dairy, and the basics—only with THRIVE you don’t have to dash to the store every time you run out of essential ingredients such as eggs or milk.

THRIVE has an extended shelf life, so you can store it in your own kitchen or pantry for a long time without worrying about spoilage. When you need an ingredient for one of your daily recipes, you can simply select the THRIVE product and add it to the mix— just like you would with fresh ingredients. Keeping THRIVE in your kitchen is just like having your own home market, completely stocked with all the food your family loves.

The only difference with THRIVE foods is that they come in a #10 or a smaller pantry can and most produare freeze dried, which gives them at least a  20 year shelf life.  There are no added sugars or preservatives which makes this food even healthier.  The fruits and veggies are all flash frozen and when you rehydrate THRIVE products the foods regain their original flavor, aroma, nutrients, appearance making them perfect for everyday cooking and snacking.  

A few years ago, when we were building our own food storage, it was important to me that the products we stored be items we used on a regular basis, not cans that would sit on a shelf for years and be forgotten. I wanted to rotate our food storage in with our everyday meals, so it was essential to me that the products we purchased be things my family loved and would eat at any time, not just in an emergency. When Mandy contacted me and asked if I’d like to try some of the THRIVE Foods I jumped at the chance and was very pleasantly surprised with the quality and taste of the items we tested.

Our favourite items were the freeze dried strawberries, which we rehydrated and tried on oatmeal and of course the yummy fudge brownies were a hit. You simply add water to the brownie mix, let sit and then bake. They were very easy to make and tasted delicious!
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Today Mandy is giving away a selection of THRIVE goodies to one lucky winner so you can try out these delicious products for yourself! You can win a can of freeze dried strawberries, a can of freeze dried mangos and a can of THRIVE brownie mix! 
HOW TO ENTER:
Head over to Mandy’s shop and have a look around. Come back here and leave a comment telling me one yummy item that you think your family would enjoy.

BONUS ENTRIES:
1. Share a link to this giveaway via Twitter or Facebook. 
{leave a comment on this post telling me  you did}
2. Follow Simple as That via Google Friend Connect on the left sidebar or sign up to receive updates via email or through your favourite RSS reader.

{be sure to leave 3 separate comments on this post if you do}

4. Purchase any THRIVE products from Mandy between Feb. 15 – Feb. 22 and earn 3 bonus entries.
{be sure to leave 3 separate comments on this post if you do}
5. Pin this giveaway on Pinterest.
{leave a comment on this post telling me you did}

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Good luck everyone!
Giveaway will close Wednesday, February 22nd at 8pm MST.

In the meantime, take advantage of the special pricing in Mandy’s shop this week {February 15 – February 22nd} only. Receive the Q-club pricing on all products purchased during this week. 
To read more about the “Q” read here.

🙂

Disclosure: I was provided with free THRIVE Foods product samples which my family gladly tried and enjoyed. All opinions expressed in this post are mine.

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