I mentioned in a recent Happiness Report that after completing three Project 365’s I needed a year off. I took 2014 off from officially taking/sharing a photo a day but now I’m back and am so excited to do another Project 365!

Most people would share this post inviting you all to join me in my adventure way before the new year…so you could prepare and be ready for your first photo on January 1st. But this is a different type of Project 365. This is a Perfectly Imperfect, no rules, photo a day project! Here’s how it works…

1) You take a photo a day with whatever camera you want to use. I’m going to try to focus on using my Nikon DSLR most of the time as I’ve found when I pick up my “big girl” camera each day, my photography really starts to improve. Camera phones, point and shoots, DSLR’s, polaroids, etc…whatever you want to shoot with, it’s totally up to you!

2) You share your photos either through Instagram with the hashtag of #Imperfect365 and/or I’d really love for you to join our Flickr group of perfectly imperfect participants. For projects like this, I really love the community aspect of Flickr!

3) Give up perfection.  That’s the one and only rule of our #Imperfect365 photography project! What do I mean by that? Well, the hardest part of Project 365 is not giving into that “all or nothing” mentality. If it’s the end of the day and you realize you forgot to take a photo that day, who cares? Just start back up the next day! I can tell you that my kids LOVE my Project 365 photos more than just about anything I do, because it’s a really neat way to look back at the year. They are one of my favorite things too. Who cares if you miss a day or two or five? Let go of perfection and just pick up where ever you left off. Don’t give up simply because you missed a step…that’s silly!

4) This project is open to anyone who just wants to capture moments throughout 365 days. Bloggers and non-bloggers are encouraged to join! Also, you don’t have to be a pro at photography to join! All skill levels are welcome. I’d love to see this community thrive as the most perfectly imperfect group of 365’rs out there! PS – join at anytime! Today, next week, next month…whenever works for you! Also, if you join and share photos, take a few minutes to comment and like other participants photos. That’s one of the best parts of a Project 365…the encouragement from others and connecting through photography!

Will you accept the challenge to capture and share moments throughout the year? I hope so!

Take the plunge and join the free Flickr group today!

Disclosure: This blog post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

The post Join Us #Imperfect365 Photography Project appeared first on Dine and Dish.

So… I turned 40 last week and oh what a week it was! I spent a week away, part with friends, part with my husband and had a lot of time to think and reflect and plan. I couldn’t imagine a better way to spend my birthday! With the thinking came a few regrets. One of those being that I really, really miss doing the Project 365 photo project and sharing it on Dine & Dish with you all. They were never my most popular posts… I know you all come here for the food… but they were one of my favorites.

I’ve decided to start a new daily photo project called #ThisIs40 and I plan on documenting the next 365 days of my life through photos. Today is the first installment. As always I’d love for you to follow me on Instagram…my favorite social media platform. I’m going to try to take most of my pictures for this project with my DSLR Camera (so they won’t be on IG), but there are always some fun things I might share on Instagram with the hashtag #ThisIs40 that I won’t share here.

So with all that said, here we go! Thanks for coming along for my 40th year! …

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The post #ThisIs40 Photography Project {Week 1} appeared first on Dine and Dish.

By the time my brother was diagnosed with cancer, he was too sick to be able to mark some things off of his bucket list. I do think he lived with no regrets, but if he had to do it all over again, I bet he would have not put off the things he “hoped to do someday” and instead would have embraced the opportunities as soon as he could. He wasn’t given that chance, but guess what? Each and every one of us do have that chance. I’ve partnered with the organization, Just Ask, to help you start thinking about what’s on your Bucket List.

Our friends at Just Ask want you to stay around for a good long while so you can cross activities and achievements off that bucket list of yours. That’s why they’ve developed a test that could save your life—the BRACAnalysis test—by warning you about your chances of getting breast or ovarian cancer.

My Bucket List

I plan to be around for a really long time, which is a good thing because my Bucket List is quite lengthy. Here is my ever-evolving, always changing Bucket List:

1.  Travel Route 66  2.  Go to the airport, buy a ticket to the 1st place that tickles my fancy  3.  Host a summer solstice party  4. Host a winter solstice party  5.  Spend one on one time learning hands on photography from someone I truly admire  6.  Ride a train through the mountains in Colorado  7.  Take kids camping in the mountains  8.  Own a house with a wrap around porch  9.  Own a house with a screened in porch  10.  Leave Kansas  11.  Eat bread and drink wine at a cafe in Paris  12.  Spend St. Patrick’s Day in Dublin, Ireland  13.  Take a road trip with no destination in mind  14.  Travel by car along the west coast  15.  Travel by car along the east coast  16.  Take more backroads  17.  Take a picture every day  18.  Have a vacation home on the beach  19.  Re-live our honeymoon (including our friends we met along the way!)  20.  Go para-sailing  21.  Be a mentor to someone  22.  Adopt a grandparent (spend time weekly with a local elderly person)  23.  Send someone a “just because” card or email each week  24.  Participate in more acts of kindness  25.  Significantly change someones life  26.  Take each child on a mom / kid trip when they turn 13  27.  Learn how to grow a garden  28. Go to Camp Shutter Sisters  29.  Become a runner  30.  Watch the sun rise and set in Maui  31. Tell the story of 50 people in 50 states  32.  Achieve zero debt… live cash only 32.  Achieve the art of taking really moody photos 33.  Vacation with my husband at a resort like this one 34. to be continued….

Now It’s YOUR Chance to share your BUCKET LIST and Win!!

My friends at Just Ask are giving one lucky Dine & Dish reader the chance to win a NEW Canon Rebel XS 10.1MP Digital SLR Camera with EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS Lens ($650 value)!! Imagine all the bucket list crossing off moments you could capture with this DSLR by your side. To enter to win, simply leave a comment on this post letting me know the top THREE items on your bucket list! For additional entries do any or all of the following:

• Tweet the following: “Help #JustAsk & @DineandDish spread the word about ovarian cancer screening & enter to win a Canon DSLR! http://su.pr/1dXiCY”  Leave a separate comment on this blog post when you have tweeted.
• Become a fan of Just Ask on Facebook. Return to this blog post and leave a separate comment letting me know you’ve done that.
• Share this giveaway with your friends on Facebook. Return to this post and leave a separate comment letting me know you’ve done that.
• Finally… share a separate comment on this post with three more of your bucket list items!

There are more chances to win from Just Ask below! As for this specific giveaway, all entries must be received by midnight on Monday, November 14th 2011. Winner will be chosen via Random.org. Winner has 48 hours to respond to the winning email or another winner will be chosen via random.org. Must have a valid email address to win.

Do you want even MORE chances to win?

You’re in luck!! There is more!  Share your bucket list and you have a shot of winning some truly bucket list worthy prizes over at TodaysMama.  The grand prizes are:

• A family vacation of a lifetime to Universal Orlando^® Resort.
• A Las Olas Surf Camp Safari
• Ski Lessons and stay at Park City Mountain Resort

After entering to win here, head over to TodaysMama and enter the grand prize giveaway!

I’m adding this post to the I’m Lovin’ It Roundup on TidyMom

This is a sponsored post on behalf of Just Ask. I have been compensated for my time and Just Ask is providing the awesome prize for Dine & Dish readers. All opinions expressed are my own.

Disclosure: This blog post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

The post Just Ask – The Bucket List Canon DSLR Giveaway! appeared first on Dine and Dish.