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A Month in Photos – January 2012

JANUARY 2012


The big kids started back to school here in Canada.
We celebrated a special little two year olds birthday.
We sent Daddy off to far away Atlanta, Georgia to study.
We spent many hours on Skype talking to Daddy.
We went grocery shopping.
We got reacquainted with our sweet dog Buddy.
We celebrated our 13th anniversary. Our first one ever spent apart.
We got a head start on some valentine’s baking.
Carson discovered a love of hockey.
We went ice fishing + sledding.
We stayed inside where it was warm and watched the snow fall.
We did crafts, we vacuumed and we drank hot chocolate. 


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Can you even believe that here we are already, into the second month of 2012!?

I wasn’t quite ready for January to be over, but that didn’t stop me from having fun going through this past month’s photos and putting together my very first month-in-photos collage of 2012! I’m so excited about this project and I’m just as excited to hear of all the people who will be joining in the fun with me this year!


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


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





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

Valentine Tree Tradition

Encourage expressions of love and kindness leading up to Valentine’s Day with this special family tradition.

Encourage expressions of love and kindness leading up to Valentine's Day with this special family tradition.

A few years ago at the beginning of February we started a little valentines tradition.

It wasn’t anything grand and it wasn’t anything that took a lot of time, but the feelings it created in our home were so special that I knew without a doubt we’d continue on with this tradition year after year.

valentine-tree5web

I’ve taken on a little bit different approach through the years, but my hopes for this project are still the same

  • To create a spot where we can leave each other special notes as we countdown to Valentine’s Day
  • To cultivate greater feelings of love in our home
  • To encourage expressions of love and kindness
  • Replace a little bit of the sibling rivalry around here with feelings of love

valentine-tree3web

Supplies

Coordinating Patterned paper

Kraft Cardstock

Pens for writing love notes

Stapler

Twine

Buttons

I made our tree using some branches found in my Grannie’s yard and a ceramic milk jar I picked up at the thrift store.

The kids didn’t have school yesterday, so my 9 year old and I sat down and made these fun hearts for the tree using the left over paper from last weeks Valentine’s Day banner. We made ourselves a template, then got cutting.

valentine-tree1web

Once we got the hearts cut out and we cut out some strips of kraft card stock. We trimmed them to fit across each heart and cut a little triangle out of one end to be all cute.

Next we attached them to the front of each heart for a place to write who our love notes are for, then added some buttons or staples here and there and that was it. To attach the hearts to our tree I punched two holes at the top of one side of each heart then simply tied them to the branches with bakers twine.

We watched this sweet video when I introduced the idea behind our little Valentine Tree to the kids. I just love valentine’s day and I’m thankful for the reminder this time of year to take an extra moment to let the people that mean the most to me know how much I love them.The feelings that are felt as we share these special notes with each other and the smiles on my children’s faces as they read messages left by mom and dad or their brother/sisters, are priceless.

What Valentine’s traditions do you enjoy with your family?  I’d love to hear about them.

For more simple Valentine’s Day inspiration, check out these posts

simple things roundup + weekly photo tip

Thanks to everyone who’s linked up for {Simple things Sunday} so far! 
The linky stays open until Wednesday night so feel free to keep sharing those beautiful photos!
Here’s a just of the few of the many gorgeous photos linked up this week:


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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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This week’s quick photo tip:


For those of you who are just starting to get to know your way around your camera and having fun experimenting with the creative modes,  here’s a quick link for you:


the oreo dilemma



This is such a great post from the daily digi comparing oreo cookies to photography. It is such a simple, understandable way to grasp the relationship between shutter speed/iso/aperture!

Enjoy!

🙂

the simple things + life ‘n reflection boutique 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} I also want to introduce you to Kristy of Life ‘n Reflection….just in case you don’t know her yet. You may recognize her work, she’s been a long time sponsor of Simple as That and I’ve so enjoyed featuring her designs in the past. Today is no exception. Kristy recently added some darling Valentine’s photo cards to her shop and she wants to share them with you!
Aren’t they so sweet!? I had a quick play with one of the sets of valentine’s and added some photos of my kids. In no time at all and I had some beautiful Valentine’s cards to give out to the kids friends or mail off to the grandparents! 
If you’d like to try out some of Kristy’s cute valentine’s, lucky you because she’s giving three lucky winners a valentine’s set of their choice!

How to enter:
1. Stop by Kristy’s shop, then come back here and leave a comment on today’s
 post telling me one item that caught your eye.
3. Subscribe to the Life ‘n Reflection newsletter.
5. Share a photo in the Simple things Sunday link party.
* be sure to leave a separate comment for each entry in order for them all to count.
Good luck everyone! 
Giveaway closes Sunday 02/04/12.

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This weeks simple thing: watching bubs take to the ice for his very first game of shinny hockey. I had no doubt he’d love it eventually, but since he’d only just learned to skate the winter before we left for the island, I wasn’t sure how he’d do on the ice. I’m happy to report he did great and I just love how excited he is to play a little hockey this winter!

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Welcome to{simple things sunday}this week folks!
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 one of the buttons below 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!


🙂

ella publishing giveaway winners!

According to random.org the winners of my eBooks from Ella Publishing are…
Nicolette comment no. 51
and 
Megan Berky comment no. 11

Don't Say Cheese! How to get great, natural photos of your kids (by Rebecca Cooper)40 Top Tips for Better Photos: Simple suggestions for stunning photographs (by Rebecca Cooper)
Congratulations ladies! 

Shoot me an email letting me know which book you’d like to download {Don’t Say Cheese! How to get great, natural photos of your kids or 40 Top Tips for Better Photos} and I’ll get you all the info!

Thanks so much to everyone who took the time to enter!

Stay tuned tomorrow for another fun giveaway that will coincide with {Simple things Sunday} featuring some super cute Valentine’s goodies from Life ‘n Reflection.

See you back here tomorrow!

🙂

Simple Valentine’s Day Banner

Ok. So right about now you might be thinking to yourself, “huh, this project looks a little familiar”and if you are, you’d be right. Using this same design, I’ve created a St. Patrick’s Day and a Halloween banner  and I just couldn’t resist doing one for Valentine’s day too!
 What can I say…when I find something I like I tend to stick with it. 🙂 My earlier banners turned out to be so fun and easy to make…why reinvent the wheel, right!?
for detailed instructions on how to create your own 
simple book page bunting visit this post
photos edited using addy lane’s etta action from the storytellers set | toddler bed made by my cute sister in law

embrace the camera

I have so many photos and projects I want to share with you guys but the time I have to actually sit down and blog them is a little scarce right now. With Dad away studying, life’s been a little extra crazy around here. We’ve been missing him a lot this week….family prayer and goodnight kisses just aren’t quite the same via Skype…but we’re hanging in there and keeping ourselves busy while we countdown the weeks until he gets back.
I can’t wait to share a few more photos from our ice fishing adventure last week, oh and our trip home from the island and all kinds of other stuff…but for now I’m just gonna leave you with this quick photo of Alivia and I standing in the middle of a frozen lake. 
I’ve missed out on a few weeks of Embracing the Camera since the new year started but am hoping to get back in the habit ASAP! I love this weekly challenge so much and am thankful for the extra little push it gives me to get behind the camera and be in more photos with my kids. 
🙂

simple as that 2012 advertising

I’m excited to announce that I’m now accepting advertisers for 2012! 
I have formed many great relationships with advertisers in the past and welcome the opportunity to get to know you and spread the word about your blog, handmade shop or small business! 🙂
For a limited time, feel free to take advantage of our current special:

Here is a brief rundown of current blog stats:

monthly pageviews november 2011 {1,441,338}

unique visitors on average per month {940,000}

google friend connect followers {3,144}

facebook fans {4,052}

twitter followers {1,396}

Two different sidebar ad sizes are currently available: 
For more information regarding ad rates, give-away sponsorship details or to find out more about 
Simple as That and our readership please contact me here: 
cooper{dot}rr{at}gmail.com
I also welcome your inquiries regarding product photography or if you have a product you’d like to see featured in a project here on Simple as That I’d love to chat!
I look forward to hearing from you!

🙂

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One of my favourite jewellery companies, Chantelle Nicole Designs, is currently running a fabulous promotion just in time for Valentine’s Day. 

Now through Sunday, January 29th receive 50% OFF this beautiful {capture my heart} necklace! 


Read more about this beautiful necklace and the current promotion here.
facebook | twitter | shop

simple things roundup + a photo tips giveaway!

Loving ALL the beautiful photos linked up this week you guys!
Here are just a few that caught my eye!

And if you didnt see it you HAVE to check out this adorable video shared by Shelby! 🙂


Thanks so much to everyone 
who linked up this week!


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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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This weeks quick photo tip and
a surprise giveaway:


Did you know that Ella Publishing Co. {one of my favourite publishers of digital scrapbooking + photography idea books} has a FREE eBook available for all to download!?

Their Free Super Sampler is filled with scrapbooking idea samples from many of their top selling eBooks including a snippet from my first eBook from Ella Publishing, 40 Top Tips for Better Photos. Download your free copy {click image below to be taken to download page} and read a few of my quick tips for shooting in direct sunlight. 🙂

FREE Super Sampler: 34 tips, ideas, and insights from Ella's eBooks

To read up on more of my top photography tips, enter today to win a copy of one of my eBooks:

Don’t Say Cheese! How to get great, natural photos of your kids 
and
 40 Top Tips for Better Photos

Don't Say Cheese! How to get great, natural photos of your kids (by Rebecca Cooper)40 Top Tips for Better Photos: Simple suggestions for stunning photographs (by Rebecca Cooper)
HOW TO ENTER:
1. Leave a comment on this post telling me one thing you like to take pictures of.
or via GFC on the left sidebar.
3. Share the Simple as That Facebook  page with a friend or two.
4. Invite a friend to join in the {Simple things Sunday} fun with us!
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Good luck everyone!
Two winners will be chosen, one for each eBook!
Giveaway closes Friday, January 27th at 8pm MST.
 🙂

the simple things

I’m beginning to think that moving back home from a tropical island to Canada, in the middle of winter, may not have been the greatest timing on our part. 😉 Ha!

I tried not to cry when temperatures here dipped down to -30 degrees Celsius {-46 with the wind chill} this past week and instead broke out the fuzzy socks, pulled on the long underwear and of course consumed mass amounts of hot chocolate! 🙂

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Welcome to{simple things sunday}this week folks!
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 one of the buttons below 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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