Stocking Stuffers for Dads | Holiday Gift Guides

by SimplyHollyJo on November 17, 2020 , No Comments

Do you have a hard time figuring out gifts for your significant other, father, or other male in your life? I know that for me it’s the most difficult shopping experience within my family. In my family we still do stocking stuffers for even some adults. Especially my Mother-in-law. She still loves to do them for everyone. I grew up on practical stocking stuffers and loved it as a kid. I have shown my husband the light of how awesome practical stocking stuffers can be as well. But still, even year I have to make a list of stocking stuffer […]

SmileReader Ovulation Test Kit | A Review

by SimplyHollyJo on November 13, 2020 , No Comments

Today I’m going to be talking about the SmileReader Ovulation Test Kit that can be found on Amazon. I was recently chosen by MomsMeet.com to receive the product to try out and I have been pleasantly surprised. A Little Background… Now, let me start by saying that I have never used ovulation strips before. In my years of being a mother, and before that, learning about pregnancy and fertility, I have seen many mamas talking about and using them. I simply had never felt the need myself. For years, I have used the charting to track my cycles, prevent pregnancy, […]

Stocking Stuffers for Moms | Holiday Gift Guides

by SimplyHollyJo on November 10, 2020 , No Comments

I don’t know about you, but as a mom I spend a lot of time thinking about stocking stuffers. For my kids, for my whole family, and for others that like to get them for us. I also reflect on my stocking stuffers from childhood. My mom was a fan of getting toiletries for stocking stuffers, and I loved it. It meant I had some “fancy” stuff to call my own in the bathroom that I shared with my brother and sister. So, since moms also deserve some fun things for being “good” all year, today I’m sharing some awesome […]

Stocking Stuffers for Kids | Holiday Gift Guides

by SimplyHollyJo on November 3, 2020 , No Comments

It’s that time of year again. Everyone is thinking about the upcoming holidays and what to give their loved ones. Not only do Mom and Dad need help getting ideas for their kids sometimes, but I personally have to come up with ideas to give to Grandmas and Grandpas as well for stocking stuffers. So today I’m sharing some of my favorite ideas for stocking stuffers for kids. Arts + Crafts Stickers – You can NEVER go wrong with stickers. Stickers of their favorite characters, or you could do numbers, letters, shapes, or plain dot stickers. My kids actually like […]

From Here to There | Before and After Editing

by SimplyHollyJo on October 27, 2020 , No Comments

People often don’t think about what goes on after the session has ended. The culling through images, choosing the best ones, and sometimes merging multiple images together. As with any photographer, I do my best to get it as perfect as possible in camera. That means less work on the back end, faster turn around, and less chances of losing image quality through editing. But when you’re working with little ones, or large groups, it can be difficult to get that one right shot where everyone looks great at the same time, or when nothing distracting is happening. That is […]

Lazy Days and a Love of Learning | Unexpected Joy

by SimplyHollyJo on October 23, 2020 , No Comments

I feel as though I’m constantly talking about “this crazy time we live in.” I suppose it’s just going to be the running theme for some time. The world has been flipped upside down for most of us and we are all navigating some form of uncertainty and anxiety. It’s a time of great divide AND bonding. I have been doing my best to think of the good things happening in life right now, and the topic of Unexpected Joy is the perfect way to reflect. Lazy Days There has been a lot of laying around and relaxing, watching movies […]

the birth of my second child | taking his time

by SimplyHollyJo on September 28, 2020 , No Comments

In honor of National Sons Day, (who comes up with these?) I’m going to share the birth story of my second child, who is also my second son. Better Late Than Never, I Suppose… I was 40 weeks and 5 days along. My brain convinced me that the birth of this baby wasn’t going to happen until exactly 42 weeks. Then he would share a birthday with his brother two years apart. My first had been stubborn and come early. My second was being stubborn and coming late. I had wanted him to come in April so that they would […]

Remote Control Helicopter for Kids | A Review

by SimplyHollyJo on September 22, 2020 , No Comments

Come, let me tell you about the love/hate relationship I have with this helicopter for kids. It all Started with a Birthday Wish Once my oldest got to about age 4, he started actually asking for things for Christmas and birthdays. Some times that was EVERYTHING in a toy aisle. But When he started asking for one thing over and over, I would make a mental note. The first one was a blue and green light up yo-yo. That was pretty easy. It was also pretty destructive in the hands of a 4 year old! For his 5th birthday, he […]

The Nugget, The Original Play Couch | A Review

by SimplyHollyJo on September 8, 2020 , 1 Comment

I’m not really sure I need to convince anyone of the awesomeness of the Nugget couch, but I thought I would share our experience with getting one last year. It’s what many parents talk about, especially because they are hard to snag during their random releases that sell out in minutes. I was thankful to snag one myself last December less than two minutes after the restocking went live. And despite what my husband says, no, I did not stay up until midnight to get it, I simply set an alarm on my phone for 5 minutes until the 11 […]

How I Got the Shot | Fall Yardwork Play

by SimplyHollyJo on September 4, 2020 , No Comments

People are often surprised by the shots that I get of my kids. Especially my mother. When you show one great shot of your kid, it’s easy to forget how many failures came before that one shot was captured. From Here, to There (Before & After) First of all, here’s a shot of what I started with and where I ended. I removed a few distractions in the background and made the focus fall on his face. The Challenge Photographer’s child. Well, for me at least. But in general, kids don’t want to sit and stare at the camera. So […]

How to: Choosing a Professional Photographer 

by SimplyHollyJo on August 25, 2020 , No Comments

Choosing a professional photographer to take your photos can be rough. I am a photographer and I even have a hard time choosing. Thankfully I know what I’m looking for when I’m doing a search. So I can easily add and subtract potential photographers from my list based on those criteria. Below I’m going to share the things you should be looking at when choosing a professional photographer. Some may be obvious, and other you may never have thought of before. Either way, I hope this helps you on your journey to creating the perfect session for you and your […]

Sharing Your Session Images on Social Media | How To

by SimplyHollyJo on August 18, 2020 , No Comments

Can I Share My Photos Online? Yes! Please do! These are your session images to share with others. You can even share your gallery link if you would like. If you have any issues sharing your session images, please feel free to reach out for help. Quality Matters | Social Media Issues Please, please, PLEASE, do not screenshot your images to share online. You paid good money for quality images, and I want you to share them in the best way as well. Social media sites will already mess with the quality of the images uploaded already, so you need […]