I started a new project this year. I am taking one photo day on Instagram to mark something I am thankful for that day. At the end of the year I am going to order a 366 page (leap year) square photo book from the year. Every year is a big year, but this year…
Category Archives: personal
So, I went nearly three weeks without using my camera. Crazy. That is the longest we’ve ever been apart. When I went to pick it up, I was informed how incredibly dirty it was inside and out. I felt embarrassed and a bit ashamed. It was like someone coming to my house and telling me…
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Aww yay for having the camera in your hands again – I love these photos of the kids. Such real moments 
Such happiness! I’m dying for the 24-70 lens but right now it’s outta my price range.
Ashley, love this project! I love how you verbalized how the ampersand brings two things together to create the perfect combination! I’ve never that about it like that- but I love it! To me the ampersand has always symbolized a kind of “we’re not finished yet” attitude. Like when Oprah said “You get a car, & you get a car, & you get a car!” Just the idea that more wonderful things are to come- which I know is the case for your family this year!!! Looking forward to watching your dreams of adopting come true! Love you guys!
I’m moving in to your place. That alright with you?
i’m so glad you got your camera back too. i love to study your photos. oh how i want a 24-70mm lens. do you know anything about the tamron version? it seems to be well rated on amazon and b&h.
I love your photography. How do you get your pictures on your blog so crisp? I am taking a photography class locally so I can learn to take better pictures. Your pictures inspire me to learn and take better pictures.
I’ve seen those popcorn tubs before and thought to myself, I don’t need them. Seeing your kids use them makes me think maybe I do. What a perfect little snack container for use in the living room.
I just love the pictures of your kids. Your little girl is getting so big! They grow up too fast.
Glad you got your camera back. I have been without mine as well. It’s just a point and shoot (our Canon DSLR and I have not become friends…yet), but my charger disappeared 
Waiting on a new one and going to be taking a course soon to help me and the Canon get acquainted!
I love your photography! So pretty !
Marci, it is underthesycamore
loving your painting SO much. you did such a great job on it! you have mad skills, girl!
and i should have looked at your bunting more! i love that you used fabric to trim it! i am SO excited to attempt making another bunting soon! actually, i’m literally just coming up with my idea as i write this comment! WOOT!
and that love katie daisy print is to die for!
Jen – my dad built it for me!
Where oh where is your couch from? It looks soooo snuggly!
Love the light and your photos. I know always I say the same but is true
You are my inspiration I tried to take photos of my children’s day by day and there are no as pretties as yours
I continue practising
I’m glad you got your camera back too! You encourage me to take my own in to get cleaned – is it really a yearly thing? Happily off to Design Sponge to get in the Valentine’s spirit. : )
I can’t put my finger on what it is, but I so love that picture of the little foot on the rocking chair. Something about it captures the perfect blend of sunny afternoons + innocence + childhood.
You don’t give yourself enough credit! That painting is beautiful! I actually thought you had taken a piece of fabric and used it to cover the canvas, until I read this post. On a different note, I just noticed all of the new sponsors on the right side of the page. I can’t wait to browse through them all!
Oooh, love that fun penciled-on frame. And hooray hurrah for getting your camera back!
Your wall is so happy!!! I love that no one else has exactly the same decor that you have. It’s unique. It’s you. Though it would be dishonest to not admit that I’m trying to copy your cheerful, colorful style to make my house uniquely “mine” (or my families!)
And your canvas painting…fabulous!!!
Love seeing how you “play” with different angles. I hope some camera repair lady tells me someday that I take too many pictures…what a compliment!
Jess’s “China” is lovely…a perfect reminder of Little One.
I saw it laying on “our bed” ha! this weekend and I got a little teary.
I can’t imagine what it means to you.
Leila – I think I made her sound bad, she is wonderful at what she does. I will continue to take my camera to her because she is so thorough…and right. I do need to take better care of my camera! She was nice in how she interacted with me, I was just embarrassed that she even had to point out how dirty it was…a dirty camera leads to a broken camera….which she doesn’t want for me. Thanks for the compliment!
yeah for getting your camera back! you’re kids are going to have such a great time looking back on growing up in such a beautiful, love-filled home! and by the way-i am TOTALLY copying your valentine to give to my hubby!LOVE IT!!! inspirational as always!
Sometimes you have to wonder if people want your business! You would think someone would tell you something like “thanks for bringing your camera to me — I can tell you love your camera!” Imagine if the dry cleaner berated you for your dirty suits!
You are an amazing photographer!
amazing blog!! Have a nice day.
Okay so I know there is a HUGE difference between “want” and “need”. I need food, water, shelter. I want to live on a beach. Though I feel like I ‘need’ my camera back…really I just want it back. I do have a back up camera, but it is on loan to my sister. She…
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Pick me! Pick me!
Great Blog! Just found it yesterday….I love using Hipstamatic, a nice (light)change from the huge cameras, but I can understand missing the big girl camera too!
Yes, get her on some wallpaper quick! Love her prints.
me too. mine was stolen from my car last week. makes me wanna cry and/or puke
have fun this weekend!
LOVE the Under the Stars print. We’re expecting our first baby in July, and I’m in the early stages of decorating the nursery. I’ve been hunting for wall art that captures the joy of childhood…the adventure, the freedom, the discovery…and this print totally fits the bill!
yeh — last time I sent mine to Canon, it was 4-5 weeks.
Well worth the wait!!
I see you have your Cameo ready to go on the weekend! YAY!!
Have fun!
I’m sure it’s hard, but what a great reminder that it’s a want- for you, it’s like a third arm!
p.s. frozen m&ms, hmm, have to try… .you should try heating them in the micro. for 20 seconds, YUM!
I think you would love the app for your iphone called, “Cuptakes”. It is a girlie wallpaper app that has AWESOME wallpaper – much like your website.
Yes, yes, PLEASE Katie Daisy wallpaper!
What do you do with the frozen m&m?? Sound yammy…
Frozen M&M’s???
Where do you take your camera? Mine needs a good cleaning!
Earlier this year I had to send my camera back to nikon…it took 10 weeks…i could hardly stand it…so long without a decent camera. i hope you get your camera back soon.
Imagine how you feel without your camera.
It gives me something if I lost mine and it sure is easy to give me a heart attack.
Yes, I’m a bit exaggerated, I say “NEED IT” often
truly I say, I like it, I want it, I need it!
” I keep trying to remind myself to be thankful for the mess because it means healthy kids are running crazy.”
I totally relate to that sentiment.
We have 3 kids and I have to remind myself of that as well.
Here’s my favorite little chant in regards to that:
“I am not a museum curator. I am not a museum curator. I am not a museum curator.”
i.e., if I were a museum curator, the piles of stuff and messes would indicate failure to fulfill my calling.
However, given that I’m a mama who is trying to create a home where creativity is encouraged and expressed, the “daily messes” actually indicate SUCCESS instead of failure!
That does the trick for me.
Love those new prints!
I have one of hers that I can’t wait to frame. Bought it a while back–if I remember correctly it has a R.W. Emerson quote on it.
I’m new to your blog. Good stuff!
-Abbie
ellieandabbie.typepad.com
I agree with Melissa. I’m ALL ABOUT a Katie Daisy wallpaper campaign and I want to go to Craft Weekend so bad I can taste it.
I quite like playing around with Hipstamatic on my phone. If you don’t get your camera back soon – and I hope for your sake you do! – would you think about sharing the hipstamatic settings on your posts occasionaly, like you do for your proper camera?
I would LOVE to be a fly on the wall during Meg’s craft weekend. It looks like SO much fun!!!!! And if you start a petition for some Katie Daisy Wallpaper, I’m in!!!!! Love those prints.
I agree wallpaper AND fabric AND wrapping paper please!
i think that is my favorite print by her as well-i love everything she does. wallpaper would be amazing…so would bed sheets, can you imagine pulling down your comforter at night to get into bed and see her little flower prints all over? : )
You have to love the quick-convenience-take-anywhere-in-you-pocket of the phone pictures though. Thank goodness for programs like Hipstamatic to give them more umph right on the spot too!
love the light of your pics – it is so very inviting! love ball cap days too! I have a few of those (not doing my hair!) days around here too – love ‘em!
wall paper? yes! yes! get her on that, would ya?
see you FRIDAY!!
happy dance!
Oh my gosh! I LOVE Katie Daisy! Everything she does is so happy It’s hard to be without a camera but you do a BEAUTIFUL job with your phone!
You HAVE to have your camera back before you head to Meg’s for craft weekend!
Can’t wait to see what you gals have come up with this time! I’d let you borrow mine for the weekend…I’m only 30 min. from Meg!
Just can’t imagine what I’d do without my camera for more than a few days!
Thanks again for your wonderful SnapShop class! I was shooting on manual less than a month after getting my 1st dslr!! Happy Crafting!!
Oh! i’m going to have to order that print for little man’s room! i also would love wallpaper; anything katie does is beautiful!
I’ll start that campaign! And, while I’m at it I’ll start savig my penny’s now.. it would be totallyworth it! Praying for you today… and your little ones, all 5 of them!
gasp! That print is just wonderful! I think I need it too! I love Katie Daisy and I would proudly sign any petition to get more of her work up on my walls!
love the under the stars print. when i saw it i wanted it too. not sure where to put it yet though. hope you get your camera soon
by AshleyAnn
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small - I really, really love the idea of a gratitude book for the year, what a great way to mark each day!
AshleyAnn - Savannah – Blurb.com is probably where I will print it
A Month of Memories | In the Shadow of Grace - [...] ran across a wonderful idea yesterday over at Under the Sycamore- Ashley Ann Campbell’s fabulous blog. She has committed to taking a picture a day [...]
Savannah - where are you going to send your pictures for the book? I am doing 365 days of pictures also and might want to make a book too. Good idea!
Lena - Such an awesome idea. I’m thankful for many things, including this blog. So, thank you!!
Brooke - Wow! Love it. I don’t have an iPhone, so I do instagram through my iPad. Photos are grainy, but still memorable
. Don’t you love ‘kisses from katie’? I read it in two days..and I don’t have time to read…made me want to adopt 2, or 10…
Carolyn - Love these photo projects..you’re off to a great start! I love that you have donuts with the Grandparents…very special
Jamie - What a great idea to so a book!!! I think I might do one now too! Thanks for sharing your photos! So fun and I love the cowboy boots shot…
Joy Andrews - Thank you!
Aubry - I’m reading Kisses from Katie right now! So encouraging to see God working in her heart!
Kimber-Leigh - these are such lovely pictures for such a special project. i love the idea!
Stephanie George - Absolutely love this idea. You already have 31 great pictures. I can’t wait to see how the 366 come together. You’ll have to show us pics of the printed book when it is done. Where are you planning to add the descriptions/captions when you put together the instagram book? Thanks, as always, for sharing!
Celia - Thanks for sharing those! Your family looks so sweet!
Melissa - …great idea
gotta love instagram.
Shannon - What a great idea! If only I was cool enough to have a good phone
Mine is ancient, I need an updated one just so I can take pictures.
Found your blog through Meg, love it!
Happy Thursday.
Robin - Where did you get the ‘Okie Grown’ mug?
jess - SO enjoyed reading kisses from katie! We are hoping to go and volunteer at her Amazima Ministry when we go to Uganda later this year to adopt our daughter
Natalie - would you speak more of how you will have the photos published from instagram? what a great idea…
tara pollard pakosta - I am doing the exact same thing. I am keeping track on the app My 365….so cool!
tara
Julie Kittredge - I’m doing this with instagram too! Though I”m not committing to one a day … http://juliekittredge.com/blog/2012/01/1000-gifts-in-2012/
So fun to watch her journey into bigger and better things – I followed you two separately and then you found each other and now look at what you’re doing! So fun. Love the idea of capturing thankfulness visually. 
And by the way. LOVE following you and Megan. I knew her when she lived in Chicago and did the crafts for MOPS!
Danielle - I was just thinking about starting something like this! I love that I get to start my morning with your blog.
angela - you have the most beautiful family
amanda torres - Purty cool on the pictures. One thing I learned in my ‘teacher years’ was the normal years are actually 364 1/4 days. So every 4th year we collect a day making it a true 365. However, our calendar system does 365 and 366 to keep it easy. There you have it…useless facts! Your day can be complete now. In fact, if you want to take a pic of my comment and put it in your next month’s ‘thankful pics’, I’d completely understand.
Michelle (Better with Berries) - Love this idea!! My goal this month is to do a photo a day, and a photo of something I’m thankful for it the perfect I idea. I might copy
nancy - I love the intentional thankfulness. A reminder to look out at the good each day. Just perfect. Thank you for the inspiration. I am a daily reader of your blog. A daily treasue for me.
Debbie - Wonderful idea! You are so creative with the daily journal/thankful type ideas! Love it.
Mirys - Love the pictures!
Love the project!
Love your ideas!
Kisses and blessings.
Mirys – from Brazil
Andy - awesome, love that idea. may have to do it one year. i’ve been documenting my 1000 thanksgivings on my blog in list form, i’m almost half way through 1000 gifts (the book) excited for this year
Cate O'Malley - Love this, and like Lindsay, I’m thinking we’re not too far into the year to have to miss out on doing this. Going to sift through my January pictures this weekend before it’s too late.
Ruth - Love it Ashley. There is truly so much to be thankful for! Although I need another blog like I need a hole in the head, I’ve started a daily project this year too (projectsimplify365.com) One month in I am absolutely blown away at how completely life changing the simple act of mindfully doing one purposeful thing each day can be. God is so good. I will keep you and your family in my prayers this year as you follow this amazing path.
Lindsay - LOVE this. I’m sure I took a picture everyday in January, so it’s still possible! Love your pictures.