3.21.2012

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.

3.18.2012

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. :)

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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!

:)


3.16.2012

lucky st. patrick's day printable

Happy {almost} St. Patrick's Day everyone! 
Just popping in really quickly to share a simple little LUCKY printable with you today.
Download your favourite colour, print and throw it in an 8X10 inch frame and you have yourself something to add to the mantle or hang on your wall for St. Patrick's Day!

See download links below. Please remember that all free downloads 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. :)


I'm feeling extra lucky {read: blessed} this St. Patrick's Day since I'll be picking up the hubby at the airport Saturday afternoon and I can't even tell you how excited I am to finally have him home!

I truly am the luckiest to have this man in my life. 


Have a great weekend everyone! 
We'll see you back here on for Simple things Sunday.

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 Click HERE to view more St. Patrick's Day printables, crafts + ideas from Simple as That.

:)



PS. Check out this incredible giveaway going on over at Lilian Grace.

3.15.2012

little penelope lane giveaway winner

Thank you so much to everyone who took the time to enter the 


According to random.org the winner is....

comment no. 69 from Aracely

Congratulations! 
Shoot me an email to claim your gift certificate and happy shopping!

Thanks for such a fabulous giveaway Sarah! 

Be sure to stop by the Little Penelope Lane shop often for new products and stay in touch via Facebook and the blog for current specials!

:)

embrace the camera

The other day I was standing next to Emily and she commented on how she was almost as tall as me! I looked at her like she was crazy before I realized it was true....she really was!

 In the blink of an eye nine years have come and gone and my little girl isn't quite so little anymore.

Time goes so quickly and as a mother I often find myself wondering if I am doing enough for each one of my children during this short time I have them home with me, to help them become strong, kind and happy adults.

It can feel overwhelming at times to think of all the things I want to teach them before these impressionable years are over, but if there is one thing I hope each of my girls will come to know for certain, it is this... 

I am His daughter | Nicole Sheahan


I'm linking up here:


3.14.2012

seven cherubs: pockets of happiness giveaway

This weeks giveaway is hosted by another one of Simple as That's fabulous sponsors:
{Seven Cherubs}

Naomi Ellis, author of this delightful and uplifting blog, tells a little bit about herself and what she likes to write about at Seven Cherubs:



I am a mother to seven gorgeous cherubs who lives in Australia. I have 4 girls and 3 boys, with 1 set of twin boys just to make life fun! I blog about motherhood, happiness and the crazy happenings in our home. I love to write and I started my blog to inspire other women and especially mother's to believe in themselves and to give them tips and ideas of how to find happiness in their personal and family life. I am passionate about motherhood and am a seeker of happiness. I love to connect with other women on this incredible journey and hope you will drop by to say Hi!


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Today Naomi is giving away 10 copies of her latest eBook titled Pockets of Happiness. Read on to find out more about this wonderful book and to find out how you can win your very own copy!

Pockets of Happiness: Creating Meaningful Moments In Your Life. 

This ebook is an insight into how I have come to find more happiness in my life. I wrote this ebook to help those of you who struggle with finding time for you during your day. I get asked all the time how I manage to fit time in for myself with seven children, so I have shared a few of my secrets.

One of the reasons I started my blog was to help women and especially Mum's at home feel a little happier during their day. I know that it can be hard to find time for yourself when you are super busy chasing after the kids, keeping up with housework and running a household. I also know that as women we often put ourselves last on the priority list.

In this ebook I have shared how I find pockets of time just for me to make my day a little happier and also help my family to feel happier. It is text heavy and practical in focus. It has pages for you to fill in and ideas to help get your started on finding your own happiness.

It is not a long ebook - there are 28 pages, as I wanted to keep it short so that it can be printed and kept in a prominent place for you to refer to it often. Below is the contents page for you to have a look at:

How to Enter:

1. Follow the Seven Cherubs blog
{leave a comment on this post telling me  you did}

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

3. Follow Simple as That via Google Friend Connect on the left sidebar or sign up to 

4. Share a link to this giveaway via Twitter or Facebook. 
{leave a comment on this post telling me  you did}

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Good luck everyone!
Giveaway closes Wednesday March 21st, 2012 at 8pm MST.

The TEN WINNERS will be announced next week!

:)

3.13.2012

simple things roundup + weekly photo tip

Thank you to everyone who has linked up with {the simple things} so far this week! 

Here's just a handful of your beautiful photos that caught my eye...

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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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weekly photo tip | black and white actions


I've had a couple of recent questions lately about what BW photoshop actions I like to use, so I thought it would be fun to do a comparison of a variety of different BW actions for you today.

Below you'll find a selection of BW actions listed {some free, some not} that are available for PS/PSE as well as one edit using the new PicMonkey for those of you who don't use an editing program.  As you can see, there is a wide range of options available when it comes to BW editing.

I tend to gravitate towards a bright, crisp BW and my current favourite action to use is from MiaBella Boutique {the Lilly Set} but there are so many actions available out there! Which of the ones pictured below is your favourite?



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I hope you're all having a great week so far!

Don't forget to get your name in the draw for a $40.00 gift certificate to
Little Penelope Lane!!
The giveaway closes soon and you don't want to miss out on the chanced to win some of these gorgeous hair accessories!


:)

3.12.2012

ice fishing: january 2012

Back in January the kids and I went on a little ice fishing trip with my family. It was such a fun day and I've been meaning to get these pictures blogged for the longest time! 

Get ready for photo overload...

Our ice fishing adventure took place at Pine Coulee reservoir just North of where I grew up in Alberta, Canada. My brother Chris is the fishing expert in the family and invited us all out for the day.



He had all the fishing equipment and all we had to do was show up to enjoy the day. Thanks again Chris, you're the best! The day started off a little cool, the wind was blowing, but we all huddled up in the fishing shelter to stay warm. Keeping busy toddlers from getting their feet wet in the holes in the ice kept us busy.


Early on in the day we caught the one and only fish we saw. Wouldn't you know, as soon as the kids and I left the fish really started to bite! ;)


This is one of my favourite shots from the day. My brother Chris and their little two year old son Jaxson. 


The kids all got to try fishing, there was sledding and plenty of warm hotdogs to eat for lunch.


Emily loved clearing the fishing holes and trying to catch a fish.



Little miss {who isn't such a fan of the snow + cold if you remember} did much better than I thought she would. She had fun being pulled on the sled and stayed pretty close to mom most of the day.


When the day started out I thought we were going to freeze but we managed to stay pretty warm between the fishing shelter and multiple cups of hot chocolate. The wind eventually died down and it turned out to be a beautiful day! Once little miss had had enough we decided to pack it up and head home.


We seriously had so much fun! My kids were in heaven in the snow and I didn't freeze....very much. ;) I had so many layers on and hand/feet warmers in my mittens and boots so I was actually pretty toasty. Yay for ice fishing adventures, yay for playing in the snow and yay for time spent with family! 

:)


Please welcome Simple as That's newest sponsor 


Kate is the owner of Whimsical Blog Designs, a small graphic design business specializing in custom and premade blogger blog designs. Her designs are simple, beautiful, and completely tailored to the unique personalities and tastes of her clients. Stop by her website to view her portfolio, inquire about pricing, and order a custom or premade design.


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