• SimplyHollyJo

    • Finding Subjects | Photographing Family

      by SimplyHollyJo on January 18, 2018 , No Comments

      So I’ve been diving back into photography lately. I always go through periods where life gets in the way (because I let it), and photography takes a big back seat. Then I realize that I hate how that feels and I jump back on the wagon! This last Fall I realized that I wasn’t taking advantage of all of my outlets. I have a sister-in-law right down the street from me who loves photography. Why wasn’t I making her do shoots?!?! A Fun First Adventure We spent the week at my in-laws’ house for Thanksgiving. Prior to that week I […]

      Photography
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    • Christmas Themed Baby Photos | Photographing My Kids

      by SimplyHollyJo on January 11, 2018 , No Comments

      I love an excuse to take Christmas themed photos! And when you already have themed outfits from the first kiddo, you must subject the second kiddo as well! This time around a had a few more props and ideas to help keep things fun and new for Itty Bitty. He isn’t always the most excited about photos, or being posed. I don’t really blame him at that age. His brother was no different when I did his shoot either.  For the Santa suit he was somewhat interested because he loves Gigi’s little Melissa and Doug couch. Sitting up on that […]

      Babies, Kids, Motherhood, Photography
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    • Making Time for Myself as a Mom | Photoshoot Fun!

      by SimplyHollyJo on January 4, 2018 , No Comments

      Mom’s have this great ability to take care of others. We often are running around wiping noses, making dinner, doing chores, running errands, and generally just going all the time. During all of this hustle and bustle its easy to lose ourselves, or forget to work in time to “feed” ourselves. Everyone has something, or multiple things that bring them joy and peace. For some it’s reading, or sports, or simply being outdoors. Whatever it is, we all try to make time for it in our lives to stay mentally healthy and happy. My personal joy is art. Specifically photography. […]

      Babies, Kids, Motherhood, Photography
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    • Mommy Wars | Can’t We All Just Get Along?!

      by SimplyHollyJo on December 18, 2017 , No Comments

      Mommy wars. I hate them. So much. I am a firm believer that everyone should do what works best for themselves and their kiddos when it comes to parenting. Not all parents are the same, not all kids are the same. What worked for your first kid, might not work for your second. What worked for your sister, might not work for you, that’s okay! Love your kids, raise them how you want to raise them, and be supportive of your mom friends who are roughing it without a manual just like you! Then One Day a Lightbulb Went Off… […]

      Motherhood
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    • The Minimalist in Me

      by SimplyHollyJo on December 11, 2017 , No Comments

      Some will read this and think I’m crazy, others will think, “good luck while having kids!” No matter the reaction, this term has been on my mind a lot the last year or so. I’ve always been intrigued by the minimalist movement, and I was kind of thrown into it last year. We decided to move, which meant showing our house. I needed a way to make sure I would be ready for sudden appointments. So I packed up half the house. I got rid of things, and I boxed things up and put them in closets. I reduced the […]

      Cloth Diapers, Kids, Motherhood
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    • From a Family of Three to a Family of Four | The Birth of Itty Bitty

      by SimplyHollyJo on June 13, 2017 , No Comments

      At 40 weeks and 5 days, our second baby boy decided to make his appearance! It was the day before my scheduled non-stress test and possible membrane sweep. I prayed all weekend to avoid that appointment, and everything fell into place! My mother came down that day at the urging of her hubby (thanks Mike!) due to my appointment the following day. Of course at the time I didn’t know that she already had a flight scheduled. I had sent her and my sister a text that morning saying I was cramping, but who knows if it would turn into […]

      Babies, Motherhood, Pregnancy
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    • Stop Buying My Kid Toys | The Abandoned Playroom

      by SimplyHollyJo on June 5, 2017 , No Comments

      Ok, you don’t HAVE to, but don’t be surprised if he hardly touches it, or if it leaves the house. When hubby and I moved this year, we were house hunting for a place that included a toy room space. Hubby wanted to contain toys away from where he spent his time in the evenings and on the weekends. I jumped on the wagon, thinking it was a great idea. Eventually we found a house that had a dinning room we didn’t need, but was conveniently located next to the kitchen/living room, so that I could keep an eye on […]

      Kids
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    • Sample post with shortcodes

      by SimplyHollyJo on May 1, 2017 , No Comments

      [dropcaps]L[/dropcaps]orem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit, sed diam nonummy nibh euismod tincidunt ut laoreet dolore magna aliquam erat volutpat. Ut wisi enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exerci tation ullamcorper suscipit lobortis nisl ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis autem vel eum iriure dolor in hendrerit in vulputate velit esse molestie consequat, vel illum dolore eu feugiat nulla facilisis at vero eros et accumsan et iusto odio dignissim qui blandit praesent luptatum zzril delenit augue duis dolore te feugait nulla facilisi. [call_to_action link=”#” button_label=”View More” rounded=”false” btnsize=”medium” color=””] MAECENAS FAUCIBUS MOLLIS INTERDUM. CURABITUR BLANDIT TEMPUS PORTTITOR Quisque […]

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    • Sample Post With Threaded Comments

      by SimplyHollyJo on May 1, 2017 , No Comments

      Delenit perfecto ne mel, facete utamur in mea, cum ceteros fuisset repudiandae eu. Delenit omittam philosophia per ea, eos te omnium discere. Nam adhuc percipit et. Viris comprehensam quo ea. Vel cu omnes feugiat, zril probatus no est. His ut dicit senserit adipiscing. Detraxit vulputate constituam ne quo, ne justo contentiones nec. Eu eum impetus forensibus, has vidit similique repudiandae ad. Eos id enim vidisse perpetua. Magna ornatus vim ea, has ne ipsum labore oblique, ne error quidam fabellas vim. Et usu habeo invenire intellegam, mei no dicant impedit nominavi. Id maluisset repudiandae has, eu cum tota aeque, elitr audire […]

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    • Sample post with image alined left

      by SimplyHollyJo on May 1, 2017 , No Comments

      Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Praesent erat magna, cursus vitae dolor eget, posuere pretium augue. Nullam pharetra eros et odio malesuada, sit amet tincidunt neque ullamcorper. Quisque tempus, enim vitae iaculis scelerisque, neque quam tempor lacus, eu sodales nunc eros eu lorem. Phasellus eu dui vel dolor fermentum sagittis. Praesent sodales leo vitae purus porta venenatis. Vestibulum dapibus justo neque, at lobortis felis sodales quis. Maecenas id tellus sed justo elementum molestie. Integer pulvinar velit eget risus luctus fermentum. Donec mollis nec arcu vel dapibus. Sed eget leo odio. Praesent vestibulum, velit eget volutpat tincidunt, risus dui […]

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    • Sample post with image aligned right

      by SimplyHollyJo on May 1, 2017 , No Comments

      Delenit perfecto ne mel, facete utamur in mea, cum ceteros fuisset repudiandae eu. Delenit omittam philosophia per ea, eos te omnium discere. Nam adhuc percipit et. Viris comprehensam quo ea. Vel cu omnes feugiat, zril probatus no est. His ut dicit senserit adipiscing. Detraxit vulputate constituam ne quo, ne justo contentiones nec. Eu eum impetus forensibus, has vidit similique repudiandae ad. Eos id enim vidisse perpetua. Magna ornatus vim ea, has ne ipsum labore oblique, ne error quidam fabellas vim. Et usu habeo invenire intellegam, mei no dicant impedit nominavi. Id maluisset repudiandae has, eu cum tota aeque, elitr audire […]

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    • Sample post with centered image

      by SimplyHollyJo on May 1, 2017 , No Comments

      Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit, sed diam nonummy nibh euismod tincidunt ut laoreet dolore magna aliquam erat volutpat. Ut wisi enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exerci tation ullamcorper suscipit lobortis nisl ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis autem vel eum iriure dolor in hendrerit in vulputate velit esse molestie consequat, vel illum dolore eu feugiat nulla facilisis at vero eros et accumsan et iusto odio dignissim qui blandit praesent luptatum zzril delenit augue duis dolore te feugait nulla facilisi. Nam liber tempor cum soluta nobis eleifend option congue nihil imperdiet doming id quod mazim placerat […]

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