Do you all remember this project from last year? The Imperfect 365 Project? Over 13k amazing pictures were submitted in 2015 – which makes me so happy that so many you embraced this project! Want to do it again but with #Imperfect366 for leap year?

Check out the guidelines below…what’s great about this photography project is it’s open to anyone and there are no rules! Yay!…

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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.

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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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You might recall the Sweet Potato Casserole Bites I made awhile back, using Alexia Sweet Potato Puffs. Well, I’m at it again, but this time using Alexia’s Onion Rings!…

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I know I know… I’m horrible at keeping up with Project 365. Normally it’s this time of year that I stop uploading and sharing and give up. I never quit taking photos every day but if you’ll look at my past few years attempts, this is the time when I usually get so behind at uploading that I just quit The pictures stay on my computer and no one ever sees them.

Not this year. Nope… This year I’m going to bore you all to tears while I get caught up on my photos from July and most of August. Then, I have no vacations or out of town trips planned that should throw me off from uploading for awhile! Thanks for hanging in there! Here we go……

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This giveaway is now closed. Congrats to Tania of Love Big Bake Often for the winning comment chosen through Random.org. Thanks for participating!

Today I am sharing a combination of two of my very favorite things with you!

You all know I love Instagram. In fact, I love Instagram so much people have started to take notice of my obsession. I’ve now had the opportunity to speak at conferences about my love for Instagram, which is kind of cool. Sharing my love for a platform that helps people capture and share the everyday life moments they come across in life makes me happy!

When my friend Sylvie from Gourmande in the Kitchen asked me to contribute to her Summer Photography Series with a post about how I use Instagram, I happily obliged. If you haven’t checked out Sylvie’s photography series, you must. I’m honored to be included among such talented people. I hope you’ll hop on over to my post on her blog to see what I have to share. But first, wait… read here about my 2nd love… Keepsy Photo Albums (and stay until the end for a 20% off discount code and giveaway!)

You know when people ask you the question… “If your house was on fire and you could only grab one thing, what would it be?” Well, if we weren’t including my family in the answer, my response would probably be my 2011 in an Instagram Keepsy photo album. This album of Instagram photos has quickly become one of my most prized possessions. What do I love so much about my Keepsy album? Well, let me tell you!…

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These past two weeks were pretty uneventful, but there are little moments I want to remember that I probably wouldn’t have had I not captured them on my camera. I’m so thankful I’m doing these posts as I know how much I treasure being able to look back in time and re-live the memories. Thank you for being there to take a peek as well. I do appreciate your comments and feedback!

OK…. now on to the pictures from week 25 & 26 of June!…

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Tuesday morning was hectic. I had 6 kids here (4 mine and 2 a friends) to get out the door to school on time. I had the Green Mountain Coffee virtual coffee tasting early in the morning as the kids were getting ready. I needed to drop my 2 year old at a friends house several miles away and head to Crown Center to speak on a panel for the Farmers and Ranchers Association Annual Meeting. Oh – and I had to be dressed up… out of my mom clothes, hair and makeup done and into something that looked presentable to the public. Needless to say I was rushing around from the second I woke up.

I was driving through a neighborhood I’m not normally in when I passed by the most beautiful tree, engulfed in fall colors. I caught my breath at the sight of it, the colors were that vibrant. I didn’t have time to be gawking at trees that morning. I had places to be, kids to drop off, things to do… but I couldn’t help it. I turned my car around pulled up beside the tree, got out and snapped the picture above. And I love that picture… my memory of that tree would have been good, but a picture? A picture will make it forever.

I know we are all busy. Life is that way, right? My morning is nothing more crazy and hectic than any of the rest of yours. But, for once, I decided to stop and “snap the roses” and I’m glad I did. I hope as we head into this crazy, hectic season that you all remember to get out your cameras (phones or whatever) and capture your life. It can be a simple, head clearing activity that you can revisit each time you see the picture… a reminder to stop and savor what is around you.

Instagram is my favorite social media tool of all time. I’d love to follow you on Instagram if I’m not already. Leave your user names in the comment section or follow me on Instagram at DineandDish and I’ll follow you back!

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