Food Fun Family

On the Road Again #PSF

Lolli — Thu, 09 Oct 2014 21:15:43 +0000

I’m sitting at LAX on a layover from San Jose to home in Maryland. My computer isn’t working, so I’m typing on my iPad while I eat a quesadilla with carne asada…hoping that this was an ok choice before heading on a 5 hour flight. Although I have so much I could say about my last 2 days in San Jose, that will have to wait. Until then…here is a glimpse at the fun I’ve had in San Jose.

I’m bare-bones today…but please link up your photo posts from this week! Until the next time.

An InLinkz Link-up

Finding the Confidence to Step Out of My Comfort Zone #GoodNeighbor

Lolli — Thu, 02 Oct 2014 12:19:17 +0000

It’s not every day that a post leaves me feeling warm and fuzzy, but this one did. This story is mine, and all thoughts and opinions are my own. I’m grateful to State Farm for giving me the prompt to write my thoughts down!

This is my friend Kristin’s family. Kristin and her family were my very first photography clients, back when her girls were in pigtails.

If you were to ask me to describe myself during childhood in just a few words, I’d probably say, “Happy but shy.” My shy and quiet nature certainly carried with me into adulthood as well. People may not be as quick to label me as “shy” anymore, but one thing has remained constant – I don’t love to be the center of attention and I rarely take personal risks.

A few years ago, I was discovering my love for photography. I enjoyed doing it for myself, but I lacked confidence in my abilities, and I was extremely uncomfortable with the idea of putting myself out there. I have loved taking photos for as long as I can remember, but venturing into that realm where I could call myself a photographer….that put me far out of my comfort zone.

The difference between taking photos of my own kids and the world around me versus taking pictures for other people was huge in my mind. When I took pictures for other people, something very personal was being put on display. Not only did I have to step out from behind my camera (a very comfortable place to hide!) but I had to allow myself to be ope and vulnerable to critiques.

It was almost to much for me, and I might not have ever found the confidence to give photography a try had it not been for the enthusiastic support of Kristin.

Kristin was not only a good friend, but she provided me with just the right amount of encouragement so that I believed in myself enough to take that leap of faith.

It’s very possible that Kristin’s support and encouragement in my photography are what gave me the confidence to start a blog, which is an even more public, vulnerable, and critiqued platform than photography. She believed in me until I believed in myself.

My little blog may not be changing the world, but the encouragement of one special friend certainly changed me.

Have you had a friend – or a neighbor – or a teacher – or a mentor – who has encouraged you and inspired you with confidence to reach your dreams? I’d love to hear who those people have been in your life!

Like a good neighbor State Farm is there.

Connect with State Farm

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Disclosure: Compensation was provided by State Farm via Mode Media. The opinions expressed herein are those of the author and are not indicative of the opinions or positions of State Farm.

The Non Importance of Being Liked and Things Being Fair

Lolli — Sun, 13 Apr 2014 12:00:39 +0000

Please welcome my good friend, Jodi, who is guest posting today. Jodi is the mother of Michael, the blogger behind Jodifur.com, and a fellow DC-area resident (which means I get to bump in to her every once in a while…or catch a day-time, just-for-fun movie together).

This picture is one that I took of my nieces on Easter 2 years ago. It has nothing to do with Jodi’s post except that I can imagine my niece saying “It’s not fair!”

It used to really matter to me that people “like” me. Much more than it should. To the point that if people didn’t like me, I would make it my personal quest to make them like me. I would kill them with kindness. I would become the ultimate suck up. I would say things like, “I just don’t understand why they don’t like me. I am immensely likeable.”

This, of course, backfired. When you get in the face of someone who doesn’t like you, they like you less, not more.

Somewhere along the way, probably in the last 5 years or so, I stopped caring. Go ahead, don’t like me. I care more about how people TREAT me, and less about how they actually feel about me. It is like I tell Michael, “it is okay to not like someone, you are entitled to your feelings. But there is no reason to be mean. You need to at least be kind. And treat people with respect.”

I find, more and more, we have lost that. A basic level of respect and decency when we interact with each other. And I am not perfect either. I yell and strangers more than I should. I lose my patience at store clerks more than I should. I speak harshly, more than I should.

It doesn’t matter if we like each other, it matters how we treat each other.

I spend a lot of time talking to Michael lately about fairness. Yes, we discuss the old “life isn’t fair” adage, and he has encountered what he believes is unfairness recently, and we talk about what he could have done to have things work out differently. But what matters to me is not the WHY this happened, but how he reacts to it. Does he stomp his feet and rally at the world? (Because in all honesty, my worst quality is my utter inability to let things go.) Michael, on the other hand, manages to pick his head up and keep going. I admire that about him. I’m trying to learn that skill from him.

I want him to know that even when you think you are treated unfairly, or someone doesn’t like you, that doesn’t mean you have to retaliate. It also doesn’t mean you have to suck up, like I used to do. Just keep your head up, and keep going. I believe, at least I’m starting to believe, at least I’m TRYING to believe, it all evens out in the end.

There is I really good quote in a book I read over the weekend “Lunch in the Park.” “Fair is not everyone getting the same thing. Fair is everyone getting what the need.” My husband taught me that. He likes to say, “people get what they need, not what is fair.”

What do you think? I’d love to hear your thoughts on being “fair.”

Jodi blogs at Jodifur about life, motherhood, working, and shoes. Mostly shoes.

Tips for Creating the Perfect Girls’ Night Out {Plus #PGBestForMe Giveaway}

Lolli — Mon, 07 Apr 2014 18:18:21 +0000

These Girls’ Night Out tips and giveaway are sponsored by P&G through SheSpeaks. All opinions are my own.

When my kids were little, Girls’ Night Outs were my lifeline. Luckily, I have a very understanding and supportive husband who not only encouraged me to take as many Girls’ Nights as possible, but sometimes nudged me to go out with my friends when what I thought I needed was a lazy evening in my sweats.

As much as I have always loved being a mom – and as fulfilled as I was doing the 3-Cs of mothering (cooking, cleaning and changing diapers) – I really did crave the companionship of other women my age. As tired as I was at the end of the day, and as much as I didn’t *think* I wanted to get dressed up and go out, GNO always did me a world of good.

Here are a few things I have learned over the years about creating the perfect Girls’ Night Out:

Girls’ Night Out doesn’t have to be expensive or elaborate. Sometimes we just meet for chips and ice cream at the local Mexican restaurant and chat in the booth until they kick us out. Other times, a few of us will drive around and just laugh (and chat) in the car together. The destination is always secondary to the time we get to spend together.
Put your best face on (even if no one is going to notice!). At the end of a long day, I don’t always feel like getting dressed up or putting much effort into the way I look. I just need to get out of the house. But without fail, when I put a fresh coat of make up on, do my nails, and pull out an outfit that I love, I always feel 1000 times better.
Size doesn’t matter! Girls’ Night Out with all your best buddies is fun, but so is a date with just one other friend. Sometimes I enjoy the energy of a big group and other times I need to bond or vent or just relax with one friend.
Plan something regular. I love having something set on the calendar. It gives me something to look forward to each month, and it helps to eliminate the last minute excuse. Not everyone can come each month, and that’s ok. We know we’ll always have the next month to look forward to.
Invite someone new. As much as Girls’ Night Out has helped me over the years, I try to remember how I can pass the love on and reach out to someone new. It gives them a boost (that is probably sorely needed) and I make a new friend.

What do you love to do on Girls Night Out? What have you done to make it a success?

#PGBestForMe P&G Prize Pack Giveaway ($70+ value!)

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Safire and Lolli {PSF Give Me Your Best Shot}

Lolli — Fri, 10 Jan 2014 02:53:33 +0000

I’m not quite sure how to start this post.

My best friend is moving away this weekend.

I am thrilled for her family and frankly wish that I could pack my family up and follow her across the country (for more reasons that one!). But I am desperately missing her already.

Safire and I became friends in 2005 when I was pregnant with my last and she was pregnant with her first. Our babies were born within days of each other, and we spent many hours that first year feeding babies in the mother’s “lounge” at church. Once our babies were a little bigger, we started getting together regularly…for play-dates, for outings (we always have an adventure when we get all our kids together!), for girl’s nights out, and eventually for a just-the-two-of-us preschool co-op for our 3 year olds.

We have spent holidays together. We were roommates at multiple blogging conferences. We were work-out buddies (and very competitive Just Dance partners!). We have been thrift store shopping together for years. She’s been my kids’ emergency contact at school and the doctor’s offices for as long as I can remember. She inspired me to start a blog.

I can talk to her about anything.

Today we had a farewell lunch together, and we tried to avoid talking about the fact that this is it. I know we’ll see each other again – our moms live close to each other if nothing else. And there’s always our tradition of being blogging conference roomies.

But tonight, I don’t know what I’m going to do without her down the street.

My 10 year old daughter just came in to my room to see what was wrong with me. Looking through all of the pictures of all of the things that Safire and I have done together over the last 9 years really made this weekend’s move hit home. We’ve had so many good times, and I think I may have more pictures of myself with her than I do with my husband…

And to show how silly we are together, here is me with Safire sitting on the side of my bathroom tub in a video that won us each a $250 scholarship to BlogHer 2010. Please forgive my hair…

Make photo slide shows at www.OneTrueMedia.com

What photos have you taken this week? Please share on this week’s linky.

Hosted by Cecily and Lolli

To play Give Me Your Best Photo Story Friday, check this. Copy this code into your post and sign the link list:
<center><a href="https://foodfunfamily.com/tag/give-me-your-best-shot" target="_blank"></a><a href="https://mychaosmybliss.com" target="_blank"></a><br />Hosted by <a href="https://mychaosmybliss.com/" target="_blank">Cecily</a> and <a href="https://www.foodfunfamily.com" target="_blank">Lolli</a></p> <p/></center>

30 Inspiring Quotes from Type-A Parent Conference 2013

Lolli — Wed, 02 Oct 2013 15:23:43 +0000

It’s hard to sum up the awesomeness that was my 3rd Type-A Parent Conference this past weekend. The keynotes, the sessions and the hands-on workshops were inspiring, educational, and uplifting. And, as usual, I’ve got a list of dozens of things that I want to change and do better.

Type-A Parent Conference is the ONE conference that I will not miss. Apparently, it has just the right combination of information (I always leave feeling like I learned SO much), good people (these are people that I relate with, enjoy being around, and aspire to be more like), and fantastic brands (some of my best long-term brand relationships have been born inside the Type-A expo hall). I can’t say enough good about it.

I’m still feeling slightly overwhelmed since I’ve gotten back (to the tune of a few hundred pictures and a list of 8+ posts that are due soon), but I know that I need to get some of my thoughts down while they are still fresh in my mind. The majority of my Type-A conference notes were taken on Twitter, as I live tweeted many of the sessions that I attended. Since those short but to the point sound bites seem to so accurately represent the feel of the conference (plus, they say what I want to say so much better than I can say it right now), I thought I’d put together a list of some of my favorite quotes from Type-A.

What is your favorite quote from the Type-A teachers?

Disney Inspiration via @Gary_Jerry:

1 – “Pie Crust Promises” are easily made and easily broken. Date the idea, don’t marry it!

2 – Curiosity keeps leading us down new paths – Walt Disney {Have a short memory and look ahead!}

3 – I would rather entertain someone and hope they are educated than educate someone and hope they are entertained — Walt Disney

4 – The difference between what Buzz called a “laser” and Woody said was just a “little light that blinks”….Imagination!

5 – “If you’re coasting, it means you’re going downhill.” -Walt Disney

6 – When you create content, remember the human element.

7 – “It’s not where you take things from. It’s where you take things to.” – Jean-Luc Godard

The importance of email marketing for bloggers via @phollows

8 – 5 mailing list tips: above the fold, social proof, incentives, respectful popups, don’t get complacent…test!

9 – Instant gratification matters…and works. Reward readers for joining your email list.

10 – Social proof – people like to feel like they’re not alone when they join a list.

11 – A FB like on a post is like an air kiss. When a reader becomes an email subscriber its like buying curtains together

12 – Seth Godin: “I get 10x more response to my blog from my email subscribers than I do from anyone else.”

13 – Make sure your email marketing is mobile friendly. 40% of emails are opened on mobile devices. wow!

Working with brands and firms:

14 – Be real, be you, and create great content for the brand & you’ll create that lasting partnership

15 – Yes, companies are looking at your community, no matter how small. The ROI doesn’t always exist with the big numbers.

16 – Don’t be afraid to negotiate! It’s not about greed, it’s about worth.

The value of the written word via @AnissaMeyhew and @postpartumprog

17 – Put more volume into what you say…not filler words!

18 – Remember brevity – when someone new comes to your blog, you’ve only got a few seconds to impress them and KEEP them.

19 – Don’t become paralyzed by what other people are doing and what you are NOT doing.

20 – When blogging…Keep it fresh – pay attention to what’s going on outside your content area.

21 – Be passionate about what you are writing about! If it’s not there, figure out a way to maintain OR move on.

22 – Be awesome + be authentic. Words to live by.

23 – Bad grammar is just as bad as auto play music on blogs! I so agree!

Courage…via @AmberCadabra

24 – Cultivate resilience. Regret is a much heavier burden than failure.

25 – Remember…you are not the only one “faking it” – beware if real life Photoshop. We all have struggles.

26 – “Having it all is…having enough!” So true! We don’t have to balance everything.

27 – I want to die empty. To have all the laughter, joy, fear, anger dispelled from me. (something to aspire to)

28 – Every successful person puts big things on the line. Also…sometimes its ok to quit things.

29 – Whatever is scaring you and holding you back…forget them. Take big risks to get big gains.

30 – Courage is about being afraid and doing it anyway!

The We Still Blog finalists read their inspiring, often tear-inducing, sometimes laugh-out-loud, always incredible posts on Sunday.

Were you at Type-A? What was the most helpful thing you heard or learned at the conference? If you weren’t there, what do you wish you could have learned?

*All pictures in this post were taken by me, as one of the official Type-A Atlanta photographers. A ton of my pictures will be added to the Type-A flickr stream and will be available to share soon.*

8th Grade Graduation – #PSF Give Me Your Best Shot

Lolli — Thu, 13 Jun 2013 21:30:54 +0000

Last night my 2nd daughter, Necco, graduated from 8th grade and took her next step towards high school. We went shopping together on Tuesday (way to be last minute, Lolli!) and found the perfect dress and sandals for her. My old tomboy, in a floral dress! How beautiful is my girl?!

I thought it was quite a coincidence when we met up with her two best friends before the ceremony and found that her dress coordinated perfectly with both of theirs. It was a surprise to all of them.

At the beginning of the graduation exercises, Necco and a few of her friends sang the National Anthem in front of a very full house. I was so proud of her while she sang out…and then a few minutes later when she was recognized for the Presidential Gold Award (3.5-4.0 GPA across all 3 years of middle school).

At the end of the evening, in keeping with her school’s 8th grade graduation tradition, she had to chose one person to whom she would present a white carnation. She didn’t have to think twice about who she wanted to find…

I was tickled to find out that Necco’s special teacher is a blog follower (waving hello!).

Cultivate your garden… Do not depend upon teachers to educate you … follow your own bent, pursue your curiosity bravely, express yourself, make your own harmony… In the end, education, like happiness, is individual, and must come to us from life and from ourselves. There is no way; each pilgrim must make his own path. “Happiness,” said Chamfort, “is not easily won; it is hard to find it in ourselves, and impossible to find it elsewhere.”

–Will Durant

Hosted by Cecily and Lolli

An InLinkz Link-up

All You Need to Know About Sweethearts Candy on Valentine’s Day

Lolli — Sun, 10 Feb 2013 13:00:00 +0000

Knowing that I have a daughter I call Necco…and knowing that I love all things “candy,” my friend Nicole sent me this infographic all about Necco’s Sweethearts candy – THE ultimate candy of Valentine’s Day.

Via: DegreeSearch.org

I remember as a kid I loved to lay out Sweethearts to create a funny conversation – and see how long I could make it. And, of course, I’d pick out a few “good” hearts and imagine giving them to a certain boy – and then eat them myself because I was never brave enough to hand them over.

Now, as a mom, I crack up at the modern phrases and sayings on Sweethearts…and wonder what new phrases will be coming up next. “Call me…maybe?”

How do YOU enjoy eating Sweethearts candy? Do you have any favorite recipes or crafts using Sweethearts?

We Are Not Powerless… {In Honor of Susan Niebur}

Lolli — Wed, 06 Feb 2013 13:00:38 +0000

Susan was a rocket scientist. I loved being able to say that I was friends with a rocket scientist (ok, technically an astrophysicist), as if some of her brilliance might rub off on me.

Susan was a mother. A wife. A blogger. A friend.

One year ago today, on February 6, 2012, those of us who called Susan our friend said goodbye.

“The cancer might have taken Susan, but Susan left an indelible mark on so many of us. It’s hard to imagine not seeing Susan again, but I know that her spirit lives strong in those of us that she has touched through the years.” (–me, a year ago today)

Today, I stand together with Susan’s friends to honor her. To remember her. And to do something, however small, to fight the disease that took so much from Susan.

As we honor Susan’s memory, please consider furthering her legacy through a contribution to the Inflammatory Breast Cancer Research Foundation.

Please join bloggers throughout the web in honoring Susan Niebur‘s life and contributions with a post, and please add your link below.

Malibu Grand Prix Racer {Drop-out} #YesMemory

Lolli — Tue, 12 Jun 2012 16:32:23 +0000

I’ve always been a cautious driver. I’ve never had a ticket, and have never been pulled over for speeding. So I guess it shouldn’t surprise anyone that I was not exactly a pro at the Malibu Grand Prix when I was out in San Jose with YesVideo last month.

Honestly, I was excited to let loose and drive as fast as I could for once. I enjoyed putting my foot down on the gas pedal and letting my hair blow in the wind (that’s only figurative….my hair was completely covered by a clonky helmet). Basically, I had a blast doing something I never have a chance to do.

I think all of us in our little racing group had a blast. I felt like I was flying around some of those corners. It wasn’t until our track time was over that we all discovered that our friends on the sidelines were laughing hysterically at us as we appeared to crawl through the course. What felt like racing to us looked like pedal-powered go-carts to everyone else.

I’m just glad that the Winkelvoss twins of Facebook fame didn’t stick around to watch us. Yes, they were in the group directly ahead of us, and they….well, they drove a little faster than us.

After trying our hands at race car driving, we had a chance to test our skills in the batting cages and on some monster trampolines. I fear that I failed even worse at those.

The beauty of the day, though? Despite being one of the world’s slowest race car drivers, a shy batter, and an out-of-shape trampoline jumper, I had a blast. Why? Because of the people I was with, of course.

We ended the day’s activities with something that I truly AM a pro at…eating ice cream. And laughing at ridiculous tweets. Ah, yes. This is my world.

YesVideo’s Father’s Day Contest:

YesVideo is running a new Facebook contest, and they’re asking for photos of YOUR Be sure to check out YesVideo’s Father’s Day Contest and share your best and funniest memories with Dad for a chance to win $60 transfer service by YesVideo.

*Each photo entrant will receive 15% off to preserve their memories on DVD today. For each photo entry YesVideo will donate $5 to the Jack and Jill Late Stage Cancer Foundation.

Disclosure: I am a YesVideo Amabassador and was flown to San Jose for an all-expense-paid trip to tour their headquarters and make a few memories while we were at it. All opinions are my own.