End with Summer with Shutterfly

It’s Back to School time which means Summer 2015 is coming to an end. Before things get too busy heading into the fall, visit these sites to take advantage of these details today and get all of those summer memories in print and on gifts. I have yet to be disappointed with any of the items I have purchased through Shutterfly, and you won’t be either.

Shutterfly:

All customers enjoy 101 free 4×6 prints with promo code 101TREATS at checkout

All customers enjoy $10 off qualifying merchandise orders of $10-$49.99; $25 off $50-$99.99; $50 off $100-$149.99 and $75 off $150+ or more with promo code BIGSAVINGS at checkout

Don’t forget to use CARD4U for a free card and receive free shipping on orders $39+ or more with promo code SHIP39!

Wedding Paper Divas:

Save 40% off Save the Date orders using the code 0806DEAL at checkout

New customers save $50 off orders of $159 or more using the code WPDSAVE50159 at checkout

Tiny Prints:

Save 20% off home décor orders using the code 20DECORAUG at checkout

Save 40% off address label, gift tag and name label orders using the code 0808DEAL at checkout

Also, right now there is a Groupon for Shutterfly Photo Books starting at $9.99!

Happy shopping!

 

*Post contains affiliate links. I was compensated for this post but opinions are my own.*

Shut the Front Door, Shutterfly!

I had to take a minute to let you guys know about some offers from Shutterfly. Now is the time to get that vacation photo book made (or baby book that is a year overdue). Stock up on freebies now and hold them for birthdays, holidays, whatever. You still have to pay shipping on most of these offers, but you are still getting a great deal. Just click on the red text below for the product you want to check out.

All customers enjoy one free 20-standard finish page 8×8 hard photo cover photo book with promo code SUNNYBOOK at checkout! Offer valid 6/24-30/2015.

Offer expires June 30, 2015 (11:59 P.M. PT). Offer is good for one free 20-standard finish page 8×8 hard photo cover photo book through shutterfly.com, our mobile-friendly site or Shutterfly apps. Offer cannot be redeemed more than once per account and/or billing address. Taxes, shipping, and handling will apply. Customer may add options to their 8×8 book (additional pages, StorytellingTM styles and elements, photo book accessories, other cover types, etc.) at additional cost. Alternatively, customer may apply the current price of a 20-standard finish page 8×8 hard photo cover photo book (after taking into account any current discounts on shutterfly.com) toward the purchase of a larger photo book. Not valid on 5×7, 7×9, or 8×8 soft cover photo books, TripPix, prepaid plans, other products and prior purchases. Cannot be redeemed for cash or combined with other offers or credits. Not valid for resale.

All customers enjoy your choice of one free reusable shopping bag or one set of playing cards with promo code PICKAGIFT at checkout! Offer valid 6/24-26/15.

Offer expires June 26, 2015 (11:59 P.M. PT). Offer is good for one free reusable shopping bag or one set of playing cards through shutterfly.com or our mobile-friendly site. Must select one of the two products listed. Offer cannot be redeemed more than once per account and/or billing address. Taxes, shipping and handling will apply. Not valid on other products, prepaid plans, prior purchases, orders placed for in-store pick up and purchases made on the Shutterfly apps. Cannot be redeemed for cash or combined with other offers or credits. Not valid for resale.

All customers enjoy your choice of one free kids placemat or one notepad with promo code CHOOSEONE at checkout! Offer valid 6/27-30/15.

Offer expires June 30, 2015 (11:59 P.M. PT). Offer is good for one free kids placemat or one notepad through shutterfly.com or our mobile-friendly site. Must select one of the two products listed. Offer cannot be redeemed more than once per account and/or billing address. Taxes, shipping and handling will apply. Not valid on pet placemat, other products, prepaid plans, prior purchases, orders placed for in-store pick up and purchases made on the Shutterfly apps. Cannot be redeemed for cash or combined with other offers or credits. Not valid for resale.

While you are ordering these fun gifts, pick up on a card to go with it by using promo code CARD4U and some prints for yourself.

All customers enjoy 100 free 4×6 prints with promo code 100FREEPRINTS at checkout! Offer valid now until 6/30/15.

Offer expires 6/30/2015 (11:59 P.M. PT). Offer is good for 100 free 4×6 prints through shutterfly.com or our mobile-friendly site. Offer cannot be redeemed more than once per account and/or billing address. Taxes, shipping and handling will apply. Not valid on other sizes, other products, prepaid plans, prior purchases, orders placed for in-store pick up and purchases made on the Shutterfly apps. Cannot be redeemed for cash or combined with other offers or credits. Not valid for resale.

Don’t forget, you can get free shipping with orders over $39 by using promo code SHIP39. Go to your account page now and put all of these promo codes in then happy creating!

*Post contains affiliate links.*

Wright Company Factory Instameet #WrightFactoryMeet

My family and I went to our first Instameet this past weekend. A collaboration with National Aviation Heritage, Wright Memorial Library, and DaytonGram allowed the public into the Wright Company Factory building that is currently vacant and is going to be undergoing renovations soon. Check hashtag #wrightfactorymeet on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter to see everyone’s images. It has severed as a production facility for a few different businesses over the years and it was very interesting to see the layered in evidence in this old building. I really hope to be able to participate in something like this again in the future. I seem to have developed a mild crush on all of the peeling paint. Outside of the building, nature it doing its best to reclaim the grounds. We took our girls with us. Aubrey stayed in the carrier the entire time we were inside the building to keep her away from anything harmful. We gave Kelsey her “little blue camer” (not a typo, that’s how she pronounces camera) so she could take photos, too. Here are a few of Kelsey’s photos. Are there any good photo spots near you?

Disney On Ice Recap

I ended up taking my 3 year old to Disney On Ice Princesses & Heroes for a Mommy and Me date this evening. We had a great time. She was very excited to see the different princesses and the use of the lights and special effects was in true Disney fashion – spot on and inventive. In the first half, the popular princess seemed to be Ariel. I ended up having a sing along of all the Little Mermaid songs with the two little girls behind me.

However, it all of a sudden turned into a rock concert when it was clear the Frozen sisters segment was about to begin. You could see all the kids scoot to the edge of their seat, gripping the armrests. The crowd roared as soon as the Anna started skating. It was one big sing along with a few hundred of my newest friends – little girls, big kids, and even moms were belting out “Let It Go.”

I hope they rotate who gets to play Elsa because it must be such a rush to get that kind of reaction. Kids were in the aisles dancing and twirling. I am pretty sure every version of Anna and Elsa costumes were present in the crowd. One girl, dressed as Elsa, acted out the entire segment in front of the stage. The little girls seated near the front corners of the stage were staring, wide-eyed at Elsa and Anna standing close enough to touch. As usual, all the performers were great and interacted with the audience throughout the show.

If you are in Dayton, OH, be sure to grab tickets and get to show this weekend. They will be in town through Sunday. Click here to purchase tickets to a Disney On Ice show near you!

I received something of value from Feld Entertainment as part of their Insider Program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.

*All photos taken by Michelle VanHuss for DomesticatingMichelle.com. Not to be copied or used for any other purpose.*

“Enjoying Life” Photo Contest

I’m going to have to take as many pictures as I can before my husband deploys later this year and most likely takes the good camera with him.

I decided to take the camera along on a recent visit to the sprayground and got some great pictures of Kelsey in the fountains and clmbing on the lion statues (which she can now do by herself, oh boy). I managed to snap the shutter right at the exact moment to catch her dumping water over her head which she thinks is hilarious to do. It is second only to pouring the water on me.  Just trying to enjoy this part of our lives.

 

Check out the photo contest at I Heart Faces:

i heart faces: Beautiful BandW Photo Challenge

Another photo from Valentine’s Day shoot!

Valentine’s Day 2012

Even though I knew it was coming, Valentine’s Day still kind of snuck up on me. Mostly because I didn’t really think I was going to do anything for it but in the last coupe of days before it, I decided why not celebrate a little?

I decided I wanted to try to take some Valentine’s-ee pictures of Kelsey. I had a hand-me-down dress that fit Kelsey but wasn’t overly hearts and pink. Someone was giving away baskets on freecycle so I spray painted one white. I was tidying up some stuff in my craft area and came across a couple bunches of red carnations left over from a project a couple of years ago. I saw a little heart garland in the background of someone’s picture that I thought was cute.

Let the Valentine’s decor begin!

I picked up a couple of sheets of felt from Walmart, cut into fourths, then cut out hearts. I then cut slits into the hearts to run the ribbon through, which I already had. I stuck a few nails in the fence out back to hang them from. I put the flowers in the basket, put Kelsey in the middle of it and started snapping away. I have found that keeping her in one spot works best if I give her things to play with.

After the shoot, I hung the hearts around the living room and the flowers turned into a door decoration. I picked up a half ball of floral foam, tied ribbon around it to hang it from and just stuck the blooms into the foam. Viola!

For my husband, I took advantage of a free personalized card from Tiny Prints and I decided to make something yummy. Most importantly, I finally found a use a heart pie baker we got for our wedding almost 6 years ago!

I followed the directions to make this No Crust Strawberry Pie I found through The Frugal Girls. However, instead of whipped topping, we heated up and drizzle some dark chocolate topping over our servings. Who doesn’t love chocolate and strawberries?

I gave Kelsey a couple of treats in the morning. I picked up a box of Sweethearts on sale and got a heart lollipop from a wedding I went to last week. She promptly turned the candy into a shaker and proceeded to swat the dog with the lollipop.

Since my husband stil had his regular, into the middle of the night work hours, we got the idea to go to IHOP for breakfast.

In the afternoon, it was girls time at the mall. I picked up my free, travel-size, Signature Collection item from Bath & Bodyworks from their facebook promotion and then picked up an Icedream from Chik-fil-A, soft serve with pink sprinkles! Kelsey had a few nibbles, the child won’t drink milk or eat cheese or yogurt but she likes ice cream.

We both worked off our treat on the playground – Kelsey by climbing up everything and me by having to carry her down off of everything. She’s still not too sure about getting off items but she’s starting to gain an appreciation for slides. Here she is giving the dolphin a kiss!

Earlier in the day, my husband gave me a card and a box of Zombie Bonbons – chocolate with cherry brains – and picked up a copy of Breaking Dawn from Redbox, free one night rental through their facebook promotion. I had a MacDill Enlisted Spouses Club meeting but once we got home and I got Kelsey to bed, I was able to finally watch it. Yes, I’m a little bit of a Twilight dork.

All in all, it was a pretty good (and relatively cheap) Valentine’s Day! I hope you had a good one, too.

Here’s a few more pictures, I can’t help myself.

Water Pictures, Con’t

We had the sprayground to ourselves this afternoon. It rained just after lunch time so I guess that’s why no one was out. It was humid, but since it was a little overcast it wasn’t so bright out. It was nice to be able to walk around and not worry about other kids running Kelsey over. We didn’t stay long but we had a good time running our hands through the water.

Here are more pictures I took. I think I’m starting to get better. I see photos that I like and then try to make a mental note to try out a concept or two. I worked on angling the camera for a while and it’s coming a little more naturally now. Now I’m working on the subject being off center.

i heart faces: Water Challenge

Catching Water

This week’s photo challenge over at www.iheartfaces.com is “Water.” We recently discovered that Kelsey actually enjoys playing in the water and doesn’t mind the water splashing her at the sprayground.

There is a free, public park near our house so now that she is sitting up very well and interested in exploring, we have somewhere to hang out on hot days. We’ve already had a playgroup playdate there and can’t wait to do more!

(More photos from today here.)

Also being entered at http://thepapermama.blogspot.com/, Summertime Photo Challenge.

iheartfaces.com: Red, White & Blue