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Welcome

I'm so glad that I am finally doing this. I have been wanting a different blog for a while so that all the images would be larger. This blog shows little snipets from my professional images simplykidsocala.com as well as personal ones. Be sure to check in regulary for sneak peeks, tidbits about my family and new ideas.

Just Because life is full of beauty. Notice it. Notice the bumble bee, the small child, and the smiling faces. Smell the rain, feel the wind, Live your life to the fullest potential and fight for your dreams.

Waiting Patiently

We all wait patiently from time to time. But our little bunny cinnamon is just the sweetest and here she is waiting for the next litte one. She is just such a sweetheart.

Quilts

lately I have had some people emailing and asking about my quilts. So I am going to answer some frequently asked questions.

I am self taught, books, the Internet and magazines have been my teacher. I took a class that meet only 4 times to learn how to do the binding or the edge of the quilt.

I am in no way a professional, I do it because I enjoy it.

Yes, I would consider doing a quilt by request. I have done several already for some photography clients and friends that have requested items for gifts. If you have something in mind or would like to get an idea of pricing you can email me at simplykidsocala @ yahoo. com. (take out spaces just did that for spam purposes).

If you would like to see some of the quilts I have done you can click on my Flickr site http://www.flickr.com/photos/12784349@N08

Because I can not post without an image, a quilt a long I am currently working on.
So

Great Concert

So not only was the concert amazing, but we had an amazing experience. Taylor Swift was doing an outfit change and then there she appeared. She was on our stairs and she was six seats away from us. So many people crowded in while she was playing, but here is a little video of her up close. It was still just so neat that we were that close to here while she was playing.

Alright a few images to capture the evening. So wish I could have brought a real camera in. Ok no offense, but there is just no comparison from a point in shoot to an SLR with a long lense. But hey at least I have something to scrap this awesome occasion for Ivy and I! Oh and the last image where she is waving goodbye they had like a waterfall of water falling on her as she was belting on the song and was totally drenched, great way to end the show.

Something….

Someone small & sweet and she will warm your heart! This little one was just 7days old, but such a beauty already. Thanks mom for being so open to whatever.

So cute

I saw this on somebody’s blog and I just wanted to share, because it made me smile. Such a fun loving couple who can still “play around” after 62years of marriage!!! Way to go!

Not much

Just haven’t felt like blogging much lately. In between our crazy cold weather there are signs of spring coming early. The Easter Bunny session Grass is green and growing just waiting for  your little ones.

You may also want to pick out some fun, bright, spring fabrics and join in this Quilt Along that just started. http://www.psiquilt.com/2010/02/pinwheel-sampler-quilt-along-block-one.html

We have just started week one and here are my blocks.

Newest member

Newest member of the family………”Cinnamon”.

Newsletter

 

                 

 
 
 
 
 
 
I hope everyone is enjoying the New Year and made some wonderful memories with family and friends during the holiday season.
 
Many of the families in our area have been affected by the down turn in the economy including my own. In order to try and help families still capture those moments in time I have decided to offer a few specials and more Quick Click Sessions. I am hoping that existing clients as well as new clients will take advantage of these sessions and capture their kiddos. Make sure you make it to the end for Quick Click Session dates!
 
Keepsake Club Sale
 
February 8-12th you can purchase a Keepsake Club plan for $300. The Keepsake Club includes 4 regular sessions, and a free 8×10 with each session. Normally it is $425.00, so with the special price you save $125.00.
 
 
Re-Order Special
 
February 8-12th you can reorder from any session in 2009 and receive 35% off your entire print order. ( Must have placed an initial order from session in 2009, no refunds given on reorders already completed.(excludes jewelry, cards, and albums) 
 
 
New Items for 2010
 
Questions or Quotes Album
 
 
New for 2010 is the Questions or Quotes Album. This is a hardcovered 8×8 album, with hinged pages and 20 different fun styles to choose from. It includes a photo cover, 10 images inside and 10 pages of either Questions or Quotes. The images are one per page and can be vertical or horizontal. I have a list of over 100 questions that you can pick from. You pick 10 to ask your child about their Mother/ Father/ Grandparent/ Love or pick from a list of quotes to have displayed instead. Pricing will  be $125 & Turnaround time is about 2weeks. As a new item, in the months of February and March order yours for $99. This can be from an old session or a new one. (please see website for designs under galleries/gifts.)
 
 
Floating Wraps 
 
photo courtsey of my lab
 
 
A  Float Wrap is a new, unique option to display images. Float Wraps are similar to Gallery Wraps or Standout mounted prints in that they add dimension by extending out from the wall. Create a modern display with a Float Wrap wall collage that is ready to hang once removed from the box. They will come in a 10×10 size for $110, 12×12 size for $125 & 16×20 size is $155.They will also include a table easel so that you have the option of both wall hanging or easel sitting. You can have just the image as shown above from the lab or you can have a printed image like below.(more patterns available on the website)
 
 
 
 Schedule for Quick Click Sessions
 
 These will be 20 minute sessions in different locations depending on the Quick Click Session. Session can be for up to three children together.
The price will be $125 and includes your session with 8-10 images to choose from, online proofing only(no printed proofs).
 

1 8×10
2 5×7’s
2 4×6’s
8 wallets
( all can be different images, except wallets)

 
 
March  Live Bunny Session……9-11th morning and afternoon
April… Mommy & Me……..13-15th morning and afternoon
May….Daddy & Me……May 11th-13th morning and afternoon
July …Red, White & Blue….June 15th-17th morning and afternoon
September…….Fall colors….Sept. 28th-30th morning and afternoon
 
 
 
Flower Fields
 

 
 
I know some of you have already asked about flower fields, so if you are interested in flowers, please make sure to send me an email simplykidsocala@yahoo.com. I am not sure of everyone that has mentioned it to me and I would hate to forget anyone. I will add the names to a list and then more  I will have some mornings, afternoons, early evening, sometime in April(or when flowers are ready). Please remember this is very limited depending on the weather and the flowers, so if you are interested put your name on the list and we will call you a few days or a week before.
 
 

 

Simply Kids Ocala
352.216.1717
E-mail: simplykidsocala@yahoo.com
http://www.simplykidsocala.com

1 Million Pillowcase Challenge

Well, The 1 Million Pillowcase Challenge has been on my list to start since seeing it last month. It is a worthy cause that will go to people in our area.

I decided to get out my fabric stash that is for charity quilting and look at it and pick some out. Decided to tell Tyler what I was doing and he decided he wanted to help. So he cut out the material, did the sewing and made this John Deere/green dot pillow case. Not to bad for a first try, but I am going to let him keep it and make another to donate to charity. He did really well for his first attempt, but am going to be safe by offering another.

 

They have some really easy, great pillowcase patterns to download for free and it only took Tyler an hour to sew. So if my 11year old can do it, so can you. Go check out their website and read below a little bit about what they say.

Every pillowcase can make a difference in your community. A pillowcase can provide comfort for a cancer patient, hope for a foster child, encouragement for a battered woman, or beauty for a nursing home resident.
To participate, find a shop hosting One Million Pillowcase Challenge events in your area. Once your pillowcases are complete and donated locally, log on below to enter how many pillowcases you made. Help us reach our goal of ONE MILLION Pillowcases. http://www.allpeoplequilt.com/millionpillowcases/index.html

February Already?

Well, with having older kids, sometimes it is harder to get them involved in any type of crafting like when they were younger. But with some time on our hands this weekend and some free links, we made some cute Valentine Treat/cards. Ivy being in Middle School wanted to do just 10 for her “special” friends, while Tyler had to do the entire class plus teachers…24. But we had fun doing it and may have eaten a few M&M’s along the way.

Here are some links if you would maybe like to try your own.

http://blog.thecelebrationshoppe.com/2010/01/15/gift-valentine-cello-toppers/

 

One more coupon post

I promise, I will not keep going on about the coupons, but wanted to share a way to contain them. Sure I could have gone to the store and spent money on a coupon organizer, but instead I made one in an hour and it’s way cute. Before they were stuffed in my wallet, but now they have a fun place to hang out. If would want to make your own, check out this girls site for her free tutorial www.fresh-graphicdesign.com/coupon_organizer_pattern.pdf , really easy!

Passing it on!

Alright, so I have always clipped out coupons in the Sunday paper, but haven’t always used the. I do sometimes pay attention if there is a Buy one Get one free sale, but nothing is planned. After reading Erin’s posts on Facebook and looking at some of the coupon links I realized how much money I am wasting by not paying attention more to pricing and coupons. Now I realize it does take some time and maybe a little planning by making a list but it is worth it after today’s trip.  After 1 1/2 hours round-trip of shopping at Publix and Winn Dixie, I purchased $172.24 worth of groceries for $99.12. I saved $40.13 at Publix with BOGO sales and $8 in coupons and at Winn Dixie I saved $32.99. Now I only made a list of things that we would really use, I didn’t just buy stuff because it was on sale. Out of that I have at least 8 dinners, so that really makes me feel bad when we go out to a restaurant and spend $60 on one dinner. I am going to put some links on here to hopefully help you out if you want to try and save some more.

 

http://www.iheartsavingmoney.com/

http://shopperstrategy.com/

http://www.addictedtosaving.com/couponing-for-beginners/

http://www.iheartsavingmoney.com/

 

A few days away!

Sometime as a family we just like to take a few days off and getaway to break the routine and have some fun. It was a rainy trip and things did not go as planned, but we still had a good time.

 

Elks of Cataloochee Valley were a real treat to see so upclose.

 

 

Being the crazy tourists that we are…..”wow ice on the side of the road”!

Beautiful view on look-out on the way to the valley to see the elk.

The swinging Bridge above Tallulah Falls.

Part of Tallulah Falls, the fog was around for days!!!

Look mom, more ice and snow in the stream on the side of the road!

Horrible nightime image before snow-tubbing with a little point and shoot camera.

Tyler didn’t care that it was wet and muddy he so enjoyed climbing up the hill by the creek outside our cabin and free falling down the hill.

Of course the only day it was nice and sunny was the day we were driving home!!!

Ms. LuLu

Little Ms. LuLu is one tough cookie. For whatever reason, she really dislikes having her images taken and not just by me. She doesn’t like them to be taken, and the few that she does take she has no intention on sharing any of them with her siblings. But in the end, as long as I keep trying, we get a smile…..on her terms!

 

Craft Hope For Haiti

Some wonderful crafting ladies have put together a great Etsy craft store where all the money made will be donated to Doctors without Borders. People from all over are donating their crafts to the store to raise money for helping the victims in Haiti. They have already raised over $4000 in a very short time. I have just donated two Wordle Art Wall Quilts that hopefully will show up tomorrow. There are many great items to buy and in the process all the money you spend will be going to help the wonderful Doctors who are helping so many Haitians. So Please check it out and click the button below.

Craft Hope for Haiti Shop Spreading seeds of hope one stitch at a time

Lucky

Lucky that there was a huge oak-tree at her house that kept the grass green underneath. Lucky that we had a happy cooperative baby, even when her lips where chattering from the cold. But most of all lucky to have a helpful mommy, thanks “C”.

Ways to help earthquake victims in Haiti

I wanted to put this information on here for those looking to be able to help.

Published in our newspaper today.

Ways to help earthquake victims in Haiti

American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund

By phone: 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) or 1-800-257-7575 (Spanish)

By mail: American Red Cross, P.O. Box 37243, Washington, DC 20013

Online: www.redcross.org

Cell phone bill: Donate $10 by texting “HAITI” to “90999″

Salvation Army

By phone: 1-800-SAL-ARMY

By mail: The Salvation Army World Service Office, International

Disaster Relief Fund, P.O. Box 630728, Baltimore, MD 21263-0728

Online: www.salvationarmyusa.org

Mercy Corps

By phone: (888) 256-1900

By mail: Mercy Corps, Dept. W, P.O. Box 2669, Portland OR 97208-2669

Online: www.merycorps.org

Meadowbrook Church and Compassionate Alliance

Cash donations needed so collected supplies can be shipped.

By mail: 5760 S.W. 25th St., Ocala, FL 34474

Online: www.compassionatealliance.org

Meadowbrook Church: 4741 S.W. 20th St., Ocala, FL 34474

Call the alliance at 369-5683 or the church at 873-3767.

Waiting for the tank-top weather!

Alright, I think we are pretty much over having all this cold weather. Freezing cold weather and sessions outside, just don’t make for a good combination. Please, bring back the tank-top weather.

My Kids

I haven’t posted in a while of some of just my kids.  These were taken fall 2009 and man have they both grown up!

Florida Snow

Alright everybody else in the country is laughing at us here in Florida as we are so excited about a little bit of snow. But hey last time I saw this here it was 1989 and I had some really big hair. So just humor us a bit as we share our snow.

Our Florida Snowman

This is what my husband does with Florida snow!

AJAXed with AWP