Food Fun Family

Family-Favorite Ground Beef Recipes – Delicious Dishes Recipe Party #154

Lolli — Tue, 26 Feb 2019 15:40:29 +0000

We’ve had a brief spring “preview” here in Maryland, and I’m eager and excited for the weather to warm up more permanently.

But more than anything else, I’m eager for our house renovations to be done so that I can get back to cooking regularly. I’m hoping that this long break from cooking and doing dishes will make me appreciate the ability to cook even more!

This week, my fellow Delicious Dishes hostesses and I decided to feature recipes using ground beef. Ground beef is one of the easiest and most versatile starting points for dinner, and I almost always have some ground beef on hand. What about you?

Welcome to Delicious Dishes Recipe Party! In case you’re new to the party, here’s what you need to know:

Delicious Dishes is a weekly link party where bloggers can share their most delicious recipes while checking out the amazing recipes that other bloggers are sharing.

Each link you share here will be seen on each of the hostess’ blogs listed below >>

Food Fun Family – Blog / Facebook / Pinterest

She Saved – Blog / Facebook / Pinterest

Walking on Sunshine Recipes – Blog / Facebook / Pinterest

This Mama Loves – Blog / Facebook / Pinterest

Clever Housewife – Blog / Facebook / Pinterest

Bunny’s Warm Oven –Blog / Facebook / Pinterest

Each week we will be featuring our favorite recipes from the week before and pinning them to our Delicious Dishes Pinterest board.

We hope you’ll have fun with our party…we know we will!

The Recipes with the Most Clicks Last Week Were…

#1: Chocolate Chip Bars from a Cake Mix from Walking on Sunshine Recipes

#2: Retro Salmon Patties from Miz Helen’s Country Cottage

#3: Easy and Delicious Fish Tacos from Joyful Homemaking

Delicious Dishes Party Favorites from Last Week:

These are the recipes that the hosts loved the most…

I loved Taco Stuffed Avocados from Crystal and Comp

Lois loved Cowboy Burger Recipe from Mommy Evolution

Brett loved Homemade Sloppy Joes from Cincy Shopper

Keri Lyn loved Beef and Spinach Pasta from Joyful Homemaking
Most Clicks:

Emily loved Slow Cooker Taco Soup from Mommy Hates Cooking

Mary loved Gluten Free Sweet and Tangy Meatballs from Mommy Hates Cooking

Follow us along on our Pinterest board. We pin a ton of recipes that are shared to our linky party each week. So get your recipes ready. We can’t wait to see what’s cooking in your kitchen this week.

Now let’s get this party started!

An InLinkz Link-up

It’s Time to Get Your Game On for Back-to-School

Lolli — Thu, 17 Aug 2017 17:00:24 +0000

This post is sponsored by Kohl’s. I received the included back to school clothes and essentials as compensation.

I remember as a kid that I LOVED back-to-school shopping. I was the one time of the year (and often the ONLY time) when I could count on getting a few new outfits. I loved trying on new clothes and finding pants and shirts and shoes that were stylish, crisp, colorful and new.

Starting off that first day of school with a new outfit made me feel more confident and more ready to tackle the new year.

Now I’m on the other end of the back-to-school shopping spectrum, as a mom with 4 kids living at home (and teenagers at that!!). Let’s just say that back-to-school shopping is often NOT on my list of “fun things I am looking forward to doing.”

I love shopping for myself. Browsing the racks of clothes and trying on new styles is still as exciting as ever. But taking four kids out shopping and finding things they like (and I like, equally)? That can be a different story!

I decided to bite the bullet this back-to-school season and knock all of the school clothes shopping out in one trip to Kohl’s. What was I thinking? Taking four teenagers out to shop for clothes….two girls and two boys, all shopping in different departments?

Yes, it was a big undertaking, but we scored some amazing deals at Kohl’s and came home with outfits for each of the kids that they can wear during the first week of school and throughout the school year. And you know what? I actually had fun!

And now my kids are ready to tackle their new year of school, with both of my girls heading to new schools this year (one starting high school, and the other starting college!). They definitely have their “game face” ready to make a great first impression.

Our favorite deals? We loved all of the “two-for” shirt deals! Everyone scored some graphic tees for a great price. It was fun to see which styles “spoke” to each of the kids. I loved that I was happy with each of the things that they picked out, too!

The boys were in desperate need of some new jeans (because boys grow SO fast!) and we were thrilled to find jeans that were a great price and fit. And take my word for it…the boys are not always the easiest shoppers to please!

After we got home, I asked each of the kids to pick out their favorite outfit to take some back-to-school pictures. They definitely don’t want to wait til the first day of school to start enjoying their haul from Kohl’s…and I don’t blame them!

Are you getting ready to do some back-to-school shopping with your kids, too?

Check out Kohl’s Friends and Family Sale from August 17th-20th. Be sure to score 20% off using code SAVER at check out. You can also get $10 off any $50 kids clothing purchase between August 4-20 using promo code BTS10!

Check out the back to school selection here: https://www.kohls.com/sale-event/school.jsp and here: https://www.kohls.com/sale-event/kids-clothing.jsp

What is on your must-have back-to-school list?

My blog may contain links to other websites. I am not responsible for the privacy policies of those other websites. When you click on a link, your information may be collected by those websites so I encourage you to read their privacy policies.
Affiliate links are not associated with Kohl’s.

Easy Chicken Tikka Masala in the Instant Pot

Lolli — Fri, 23 Dec 2016 17:56:28 +0000

Have you been following the Instant Pot craze? I got mine early this past summer when they first went on sale on Amazon, and it was Instant Love (PS – I’ve linked to the Instant Pot I bought on Amazon. I highly recommend it if you haven’t picked one up already! Links are affiliate links, and I may earn a small commission if you choose to make a purchase). Maybe you just got one and have been trying to figure out what to do with it.

I am obsessed with cooking dinner in my Instant Pot. It makes dinner prep so fast and easy, and everything turns out incredible. Just this morning, my husband said, “What did we do before we had the Instant Pot, and why doesn’t everyone have one of these in their kitchen?”

This past week, with holiday prep in full force, I needed another quick meal for dinner, so I decided to try one of our family favorites – chicken tikka masala – in the pressure cooker. It was just about as easy as dinner can get, and it tasted fantastic!

One thing I love about the pressure cooker is that the flavors of the spices and sauces you use are infused into the meats and the sauces are full of flavor, instead of watered down and diluted (which is often the case when I prepare a dish like this in the slow cooker).

Check out how easy this meal was to make:

While the chicken cooked, I made some rice and sauteed some fresh green beans with olive oil, garlic, salt and pepper. It was a delicious meal!

How to make Chicken Tikka Masala in the Instant Pot

Yum

Easy Chicken Tikka Masala in the Instant Pot

Ingredients

3-4 large boneless, skinless chicken breasts
1/2 teaspoon Garam masala
Salt and pepper
Olive oil
1 onion, chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 (12-15 oz) jars masala simmer sauce (like this one)
1 cup water
Serve with hot cooked rice and a vegetable

Instructions

Cut chicken into bite-sized chunks. Sprinkle with garam masala spice and salt and pepper.
Turn Instant Pot on saute; drizzle olive oil in pot. Add chopped onion and garlic. Stir until onions begin to soften.
Pour both jars of simmer sauce and 1 cup water into the pot; add chicken and stir.
Place the lid on the Instant Pot and make sure that the top valve is on "sealing."
Push the cancel button to turn off saute, then select high pressure cook for 7 minutes (press "manual, then + or - to select time).
When the Instant Pot beeps at the end of the pressure cooking time, you can let the pressure release on it's own (slow release) or push cancel again and switch the top valve to "venting" for quick release.
Serve with hot cooked rice and a vegetable.

Schema/Recipe SEO Data Markup by Yummly Rich Recipes

https://foodfunfamily.com/easy-chicken-tikka-masala-in-the-instant-pot/

If you liked this, then you’ll love the Instant Pot Vegetable Beef Soup recipe that I shared a little while ago. We love soups….especially when they don’t take all day to prepare! We’re planned on making more Instant Pot recipes to share in the coming weeks and months, so be sure to check back!

Best of 2015: Top 10 Main Dish Recipes

Lolli — Mon, 04 Jan 2016 19:33:17 +0000

This year has seen a ton of change around these parts – most notably, the rebranding of my blog from Better in Bulk to Food Fun Family in November. At the beginning of each new year, I love to look back at what I’ve accomplished and all that I’ve posted throughout the past 12 months. I have posted a few other “best of” the year recipe round ups, so to keep with that tradition, here are the top 10 main dish recipes from Food Fun Family from 2015. By the looks of this list, I was in a sausage and Tex Mex mood quite a bit last year!

Best of 2015: My Top 10 Main Dish Recipes

Eat up!

The clear winner in our home (ie – the recipe that the kids have asked for over and over again) is the Tex Mex Sausage Quinoa Skillet – and it’s a perfect example of my cast iron skillet craze this past year. I am addicted to cooking in cast iron now! The close second place meal is the slow cooker barbacoa, which is crazy-delicious!

Which of these recipes sounds best to you? And what kinds of recipes would you like to see more of this coming year? I tend to be more creative when it comes to baked goods and other sweet treats, but I would love to expand my family’s repertoire of dinner meals – especially healthy dinners! – in 2016.

Be sure to check out my previous “Best of” posts –
Top 10 Recipes of 2014
Top 20 Main Dish Recipes of 2013
Top 25 Dessert Recipes of 2013
Best Soup Recipes of 2013

When I Grow Up…Labor Day Career Books for Kids #EntertainmentHOP

Lolli — Sat, 22 Aug 2015 05:00:42 +0000

Labor Day is coming soon, and so I thought it would be fun to gather up a collection of children’s books about exploring the age old question of “what I want to be when I grow up.”

Note: Amazon affiliate links are used in this post.

When I was a kid, I knew that I loved to write, and I remember saying that I wanted to be a writer at a very early age. It’s kind of ironic that I took my college degree in a completely different direction (I have a degree in Early Childhood Education) but now, 20 years after graduating, I am actually doing exactly what I said I wanted to do as a young girl.

What did you want to be when you grew up? Did you have big plans for your future? How closely does your life now reflect the dreams you had when you were a kid?

For those of you with kids, what do they want to be when they grow up? A few of my kids have surprised me with very specific ideas of what careers they want when they’re older. One wants to be an environmental lawyer. Another wants to be a builder or inventor of some sort. Another has his eyes set on sports.

For those kids that need some ideas to get their imagination rolling, here are some fun books that expose kids to a variety of careers:

When I Grow Up…Career Books for Kids

When I Grow Up…: A Look At 10 Future Careers for Kids by Brian Rogers

This book, just for kids, looks at 10 different careers: Firefighter, Navy Seal, Astronaut, Police Officer, Veterinarian, Pilot, Lawyer, Actor, Doctor, and a Teacher. The book looks at how much they make, what education is involved, what the future holds, and more!

Career Day by Anne Rockwell (Author), Lizzy Rockwell (Illustrator)

Michiko’s mother writes books. Jessica’s mother is a veterinarian. Pablo’s father is a construction worker. What kinds of work do people you know do?

On Career Day the children in Mrs. Madoff’s class take turns introducing special visitors. Every visitor has something interesting to share, and together the class learns all about the different work people do.

In the fourth Mrs. Madoff book, Anne and Lizzy Rockwell revisit Mrs. Madoff’s class as they help young readers explore the question “What do you want to be when you grow up?”

I Can Be Anything I Want To Be From A to Z (ABC career book for kids) by Lynn R Davis

ABC career book with pictures. A great way to introduce career options to kids.

When I Grow Up Board Book by P. K. Hallinan

This entertaining book, written in verse, allows children to take a look at all the wonderful things they can do when they grow up. The possible professions are arranged from A (Astronaut) to Z. The book features good moral values along with whimsical paintings.

What Do People Do All Day? by Richard Scarry

Shows and tells what busy people do every day to build houses, sail ships, fly planes, keep house, and grow food.

I Can Be Anything: What Will You Be When You Grow Up? (Children’s Success) by D. J. Eva

One of the most common questions children get asked is, “So what are you going to do when you grow up?”

Wise parents will help children explore their interests and acquaint them with the wide variety of careers available.

This book covers some of the most popular and in-demand jobs.

You Can Be Anything! by Charles M. Schulz

Based on the comic strips of everyone’s favorite canine, this book reminds the kid in all of us that we can be anything! From an astronaut to a lawyer or a World War I Flying Ace to just plain cool, the many faces of Snoopy serve as inspiration. This hardcover picture book has great gift appeal for new baby, graduation, celebrating milestones, and moving up in the world.

The Berenstain Bears: Jobs Around Town (Berenstain Bears/Living Lights) by Stan Berenstain (Author), Jan Berenstain (Author), Mike Berenstain (Contributor)

Searching for the perfect job, the Bear siblings learn to celebrate the many talents of others and begin to imagine where their own God-given gifts will take them as they grow.

Career Ideas for Kids Who Like Science by Diane Lindsey Reeves (Author), Lindsey Clasen (Author), Nancy Bond (Illustrator)

From excavating the burial grounds of ancient kings to creating robots in high-tech labs, the realm of science offers exciting career options for kids drawn to exploring how our world functions. “Career Ideas for Kids Who Like Science” guides young readers through a variety of job possibilities. Step-by-step self-assessment allows kids to identify their unique traits and then connect them to viable career options in science. Informative and updated job profiles cover all the basics and spotlight real scientists working in their respective research areas. The career discovery activities have been expanded to include all the latest developments on careers in science, giving kids an engaging and informative vehicle to learn more about themselves and their interests. The career profiles include: Archaeologist; Chemist; Food scientist; Nutritionist; Oceanographer; Robotics technician; Science educator; and Veterinarian.

When I Grow Up by Al Yankovic (Author), Wes Hargis (Illustrator)

Weird Al Yankovic tells the story of 8-year-old Billy, who uses his active imagination to tell his class at school about all of the things he would like to be when he grows up.

Clothesline Clues to Jobs People Do by Kathryn Heling (Author), Deborah Hembrook (Author), Andy Robert Davies (Illustrator)

Through lively, accessible verse, readers identify recognizable careers that are fundamental to most communities. Look on and below seven clotheslines and spot colorful items, including the mail carrier’s uniform, the artist’s brushes, and the chef’s apron. Then turn the page to learn which professionals wear and use the special gear in the jobs they do. Clever illustrations show the workers helping one another, and in the end, everyone joins together for a celebration that is out of this world.

When I Grow Up (Little Critter) by Mercer Mayer

Little Critter’s sister dreams about all the wonderful things she’s going to do when she grows up. She imagines being a great ballet dancer, a world-famous doctor, a race-car driver, and more!

For more Labor Day related entertainment, visit a few of my favorite bloggers:

Books to Prepare for your First Job by In Our Spare Time
5 Books Every Freelance Writer Needs on Her Bookshelf from Pretty Opinionated
5 Movies You Need to Watch on Labor Day from Mom Does It All
Books About Jobs for Kids, Teens, and Adults from SMS Non-Fiction Book Reviews
Labor Day Books for Teens from Upstate Ramblings
Playing with Jobs from Gaggle of Gamers

Project Sunlight: Share A Meal to Turn the Tables on Child Hunger

Lolli — Thu, 30 Oct 2014 12:00:32 +0000

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Unilever. The opinions and text are all mine.

I’m betting that sometime in your childhood you heard the phrase, “Finish your dinner! There are starving kids in (fill in the name of an impoverished country here) who would love to eat that.”

Yes, we’ve all heard about the kids who don’t have food to eat on the other side of the globe…but what about the kids right in your own neighborhood? The numbers are astounding. Right here in America, there are 16 million children struggling with hunger – that’s the population of Los Angeles, New York City, Philadelphia and Chicago combined. That’s 1 in every 5 children who is unaware where their next meal is coming from.

These kids are found in the suburbs, in the cities, in the country. They could be your child’s friend from school, or your neighbor from a few doors down. These 16 million American children look just like your kids and my kids. But they don’t know where their next meal is coming from.

That’s something that kids shouldn’t have to worry about.

This short documentary video was profound for me.

I can relate to these families. I’ve struggled. I know what it’s like to not know where that next meal is going to come from. Luckily for my kids, there always was a next meal and things got better. I am grateful for the variety of experiences and challenges we have had over the last 19 years because I have gained perspective and compassion. I recognize that there are kids everywhere who are dealing with the challenge of not having enough to eat.

The small act of sharing a meal could have a big impact on a family in need.

How to Share A Meal and Turn the Tables on Child Hunger:

Share A Meal Neighborhood Potluck – Like the families in the video above, host a neighborhood potluck once a month. Invite families to join in and share what they have. I’ve been amazed at how creative people can be with finding something delicious to make with whatever is on their shelves. When everyone pitches in, you fill in all the gaps and end up with a satisfying meal full of variety.
Get Your Community Involved – Partner with a local community organization to host community potluck in your area. Same idea as the neighborhood potluck, but on an even bigger scale.
Local Food Drives – Organize a own food drive (perfect for schools, Girl Scout and Cub Scout groups….or just as a family service activity). Or get in touch with a local food and volunteer at a food drive (use the Feeding America online Food Bank Locator tool to find a spot near you).
Host a Virtual Food Drive – Plan a virtual food drive and set goals online using the Feeding America Personal Fundraiser tool. This would be perfect for the blogging community!
Be social about sharing – Join me on your social media channels in sharing why you’re helping to end child hunger using the prompt, “I #ShareAMeal because…”
You Buy One, We Give One – Unilever is releasing a “You Buy One, We Give One” limited-time coupon offer for supermarkets nationwide. You can find the coupon in the November 16 Sunday paper. Coupons can then be redeemed at participating stores – just purchase any participating Unilever product (things you’re already shopping for!) and Unilever will donate one meal to Feeding America. The offer runs from November 16–30, 2014.
Create your OWN way to share – Be creative and find your own way to Share A Meal. Be sure to get your kids involved so that they can experience the joys of giving.

About Project Sunlight

Unilever’s Project Sunlight is focused on encouraging people to create a brighter future for children in the US by taking small steps to live sustainably, use less and share more. This fall Project Sunlight is focusing on child hunger and by providing resources and encouraging everyone to share the reasons that they “#ShareAMeal.” Download the Share a Meal Toolkit for more ideas on how you can get involved right in your community.

How can your family get involved in Project Sunlight and Share a Meal?

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Unilever. The opinions and text are all mine.

Join Me For The #PayItFwdDay Twitter Party 4/22

Lolli — Sat, 19 Apr 2014 12:20:26 +0000

This is a sponsored post and twitter party but all thoughts and opinions are my own.

Just recently, I benefitted from the kindness of two friends. They didn’t have to do what they did, but they did it willingly, nonetheless. I’m grateful for their kindness, and I’m excited to pay it forward now myself.

Have you ever paid it forward or been the recipient of a random act of kindness? Doesn’t it make you feel amazing?

This coming week, I’m teaming up with Savings Bank Life Insurance Company (SBLI) and the Pay it Forward Foundation for a Pay it Forward Day Twitter Party. SBLI wants to help protect families by providing affordable life insurance. They are also committed improving the lives of others through simple acts of kindness. The goal of the Pay it Forward Foundation is to inspire people to perform random acts of kindness for others, thus making the world a better place. What awesome companies to team with!

#PayitFwdDay Twitter party details

International Pay it Forward Day coming up on April 24, 2014 and we’re celebrating this coming Tuesday 4/22 with a #PayItFwdDay Twitter Party!

What: We will be sharing Pay it Forward stories, ideas for how YOU and your family can Pay it Forward, as well as how to teach your children the importance of spreading kindness and paying it forward. And prizes, of course!

Pay it Forward – to perform any act of kindness without asking for or expecting anything in return, only that the person do something nice for someone else. It’s a simple, yet powerful concept that can change the lives of those around us, make us healthier and happier, and even make the world a better place for future generations.

When: Tuesday, April 22, at 1:00-2:00 pm ET

Where: Follow the #PayitFwdDay hashtag on Twitter. You can see the details and RSVP HERE.

Prizes: We will be giving away five prizes to randomly selected winners. Five winners who answer trivia questions during the party will receive $50 VISA gift cards and a Pay it Forward bracelet!

Hosts: @SavingsBankLife and @charleypif

Co-hosts:

Brandy, Happily Blended – @brandyellen
Chrysa, Thrifty Jinxy – @ThriftyJinxy
Dawn, Homemaking Hacks – @dawnchats
Debra, A Frugal Friend – @AFrugalFriend
Ellen, Thrifty and Chic Mom – @ThriftyChicMom
Emily, Nap Time is My Time – @naptimeismytime
Jenn, The Rebel Chick – @TheRebelChick
Kristen, Mudpies and Tiaras – @MudpiesandTiara
Lolli, Better in Bulk – @1momof5
Shauna, Adventures of 8 – @adventuresof8
Stefani, Mommy Enterprises – @mommye
Tiffany, Broward Saves – @BrowardSaves

Find out more:

Pay it Forward Foundation Website: https://www.payitforwardfoundation.org/
Pay it Forward Foundation Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/payitforwardexperience
SBLI Website: https://www.sbli.com/
SBLI Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mySBLI/app_599788450050788

Hope to see you there!

Brighter Lives for Refugees #IKEABrighterLives

Lolli — Sun, 09 Feb 2014 13:00:33 +0000

This past week brought some pretty major storms through our area. Ice covered everything – the roads, the walkways, and the trees. As beautiful as the ice-encased trees are to look at, they almost always mean one thing: trees are going to fall and the power is going to go out.

Storms knock out our power a few times a year. Usually, the power is restored within a few hours and we’re back to our normal routine. When the power is out during the day, the house gets cold and we have to get creative about the food we eat (we try to avoid opening the fridge and there’s no way to cook anything)…but the kids look at it as an adventure. When the power is out at night, things get a little more tricky. We pull out the flashlights and lanterns and turn on the kerosene heater, which provides both heat and light. And we get by until the power comes back on again.

Next Tuesday and Wednesday, my family and I will be participating in challenge. On night one, we will not use any light source (and yes that includes no cell phone or computer use). On night two, we will have the use of one solar-powered LED lantern. Sure, we’ll still have a working heater and fridge. But a night without any lights during the winter when it gets dark at 5:30? It’s going to be tough. I’ll be reporting back after our experience next week to let you know how it went. I’m particularly interested to see how my kids react. No TV, no iPods, no light when they use the bathroom…

The biggest question, of course, is WHY. Why are we taking the one night without light challenge? It’s all about offering a brighter future for some families across the world…and for teaching my kids about Brighter Lives for Refugees.

Brighter Lives for Refugees

The Brighter Lives for Refugees campaign will help to provide solar street lights, indoor solar lanterns, and other renewable energy technologies such as fuel efficient cooking stoves in UNHCR refugee camps in countries including Ethiopia, Chad, Bangladesh and Jordan. In addition the campaign will also fund improved primary education.

IKEA will donate one euro (or USD $1.37) to the UN refugee agency UNHCR for every IKEA LEDARE – LED light bulb sold during the campaign period, from February 3 through March 29, 2014. Additional information can be found here.

What a Difference a Light Can Make

Why solar lights? How much of a difference will a few lights make?

The absence or lack of light after sunset can have a devastating effect on safety and security for those living in refugee camps. Simple activities such as visiting the toilet, collecting water or returning to the shelter from elsewhere can become difficult and dangerous, particularly for women and girls.
The improvements funded by the campaign will make each refugee camp a safer and more suitable home for refugee children and their families.
Solar street lights can improve safety in refugee camps by reducing the risk of crime, sexual and gender-based violence.
Solar lanterns help girls and boys in refugee camps study after dark, improving results in school.
Solar street lights help improve life in a refugee camp, enabling more community gatherings and social activities.
Solar lanterns allow refugees to continue important income-generating activities such as weaving or sewing during the dark hours.
Solar lanterns enable refugees to run their small shops and kiosks into the evening, increasing prospects of generating a sustainable income.

Key Facts About LED Lighting

LED lighting consumes 85% less energy than incandescent bulbs and can last up to 20 times longer.
If one million people changed one bulb each into LED, this would in terms of CO2 emissions correspond to taking almost 6,700 cars off the road, or planting 17 million trees per year.
The total annual cost saving (including purchase price and energy consumption cost) of switching one incandescent 40W bulb to a corresponding LED bulb, is approximately $6.25 (5.3 Euro) on average.
LED bulbs use substantially less power than incandescents or CFLs. Replacing existing lighting with LEDs can save between 50% and 90% of lighting energy costs.
LED replacements are already available for many bulb types and can fit virtually all of your existing lamps.

I can’t wait to share our experience this coming week as we go a whole night without lights. Join me on Thursday, February 13 at 5:00pm PT/ 8:00pm ET. Yes, there will be prizes (Seven $50 Amex Gift Cards, Five portable solar lanterns and One $150 Amex Gift Card Grand Prize). RSVP here. Feel free to RT the tweet below and meet me at the party!

Share how you live sustainably at @IKEAUSANews Twitter Party! 2/13 5pmPT https://t.co/teRtFwarnP #IKEABrighterLives

— Lolli Franklin (@1momof5) February 8, 2014

I was selected for this opportunity as a member of Clever Girls Collective and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.

Enjoy the Moment, With Snow and All

Lolli — Tue, 28 Jan 2014 12:00:45 +0000

Guest post by Katja Presnal

I laughed at the snowy day post last week, because I love snow! In fact, skiing in Colorado is one of my favorite things to do in the entire world, that’s why I named my lifestyle brand “skimbaco”, combining a Finnish slang word “skimba” meaning skis and skiing, and CO for Colorado. Oddly, my brand has very little to do with skiing, or snow, but it has everything to do with enjoying the moment and doing what you love.

See, my take on everything in life is that I want to experience the cold blizzards every now and then, because then the sunny days and rainbows are even more spectacular after that. Better yet – I think the key to happiness in life IS to learn to love the snowy days and enjoy the heck out of the bad weather.

I currently live in Sweden where they have a saying “there is no bad weather, only bad clothing” and it’s not really a metaphor, but literally means that you can enjoy the outdoors in any weather, as long as you are equipped for it. I think it works as a great metaphor as well. Maybe it can mean that when you are just prepared enough for something, it won’t actually be bad at all, but in fact the opposite: a lot of fun, like skiing.

If you are not the outdoorsy-type winter sports person, try these ways to enjoy the snowy days.

1. Go to a museum, no lines!
2. Make some tea, coffee or hot cocoa. Hot drinks never tasted this good.
3. Take the Christmas photos – for once you have card photos done on time, who cares your kids will be bigger and your hair color has changed by Christmas, but you’ve got winter wonderland in your cards.
4. Take some me-time, and have a spa day at home.

I would like to invite you to read my first issue of Skimbaco Lifestyle magazine with a theme “coffee, tea or me” and get a Scandinavian recipe of sweet buns, which we eat on a “sledding day”. Or get a DIY coffee scrub recipe for your spa day at home and 16 shades of Valentine’s Day gift ideas to keep your relationship hot.

Guest post by Katja Presnal, editor-in-chief of Skimbaco Lifestyle, global lifestyle magazine. You can connect with Katja on Instagram as Skimbaco

Celebrating the Little Things {with Red Baron Pizza}

Lolli — Mon, 27 Jan 2014 19:17:50 +0000

This post brought to you by Walmart. All opinions are 100% mine.

This past Friday was a rough day. Those of you who work online, blog, or try to do anything on the internet on a regular basis will understand my pain…

My internet was out.

I spent an hour on the phone with the internet provider, troubleshooting with no result. I unplugged, restarted, waiting, tried this and that and then tried again. And then I started feeling a little bit like a character in "Where the Wild Things Are."

“And the wild things roared their terrible roars and gnashed their terrible teeth and rolled their terrible eyes and showed their terrible claws.”

I might have gnashed my teeth just a little, trying to get even a single thing done on an internet connection that reminded me of a really bad 1999 dial-up connection.

Some days you just need to step away, realize no work is going to get done, and relax. And so I did.

I took the kids on a ride to drop KitKat off at work. We stopped by the brand new library and checked out a few books. And I gave myself the night off from cooking something complicated for dinner.

Sometimes it's important to celebrate the little things like time with family and board games and new libraries with crisp, fresh-smelling books. And pizza nights at home. Because celebrating the little things makes those big, annoying things seem not quite so big and annoying.

“Then from far away across the world he smelled good things to eat, so he gave up being king of the wild things.”

Thanks to some coupons we printed out for Red Baron® pizza at Walmart, we had the perfect pizza night…and celebrated things like cheese and pepperoni and crispy crust and dinner on the table in 10 minutes. There's not much better than Red Baron® crispy crust pizza ready in 10 minutes. Unless it's Red Baron® pizza with a coupon…

I grabbed some coupons for Red Baron® pizza at Walmart, and printed out a $1 off General Mills cereals while I was at it. You can get $3 Off any THREE (3) RED BARON® Multi-Serve Pizzas, too!

And then we enjoyed digging our teeth into some yummy pizza. It's MUCH better than gnashing teet. Promise.