I’m back from BlogHer in New York City, and ready to get back into kicking my budget’s booty. (To be totally honest, I’d rather be sleeping the day away in my PJ’s). Before I left for New York last Thursday, I went on an enormous shopping trip to ensure that the kids would not go hungry while I was away. I wasn’t too worried about that happening, considering the fact that my mother in law stayed with them all weekend. Thank goodness for Nanas.But it’s always good to be well …

10 Reasons Why a DSLR Should Top Your Gift List This Year:

• Because they are amazing! (you will thank yourself later)
• Because it is always fun to learn something new.
• Better pictures = better blog.
• Great pictures leave good impressions (and make for repeat visitors to your blog).
• To record your family’s moments.
• To challenge yourself.
• To look really cool toting around a huge camera.
• To learn an art form.
• To have more creative control over how your pictures turn out.
• Because my amazing blogging friend Manic Mother and I …

November was a busy month for me, photography-wise. I love being busy with pictures. The pictures that I’ve taken the last few weeks have started to awaken my desire to stretch myself again. I am ready to get back into taking pictures for FUN. I was so good about that a year ago….and I let stress over-take my hobby. It’s no fun to try to force something that once brought so much joy. I am glad to be feeling some of the joy again.
Back to all of those pictures I …

Ring Around the Rosie
Pocket full of posie
Ashes, ashes, we all fall down!
A penny in the ocean, A penny in the sea…..

UP! Jumps the little fish,
And UP jumps ME!

Yes, I do know the story behind the old children’s song. Regardless of it’s origins, you can’t deny that it’s fun. While on a photo shoot last weekend, we were trying to distract the kids for a few minutes and get them all in a happier mood. Ring around the rosie came in very handy…and these shots ended up being some of my …

Today is the last day of my Flip Ultra HD video camera giveaway (details here). I have loved reading through everyone’s comments this week. You guys are awesome! Remember that you can earn 5 extra entries for the Flip if you link up here with an Eat, Drink, and Be Scary post.
I want to see want you are making in the kitchen. Show your devilish desserts, give us the scoop on pumpkins, or share your favorite holiday drink. If cooking isn’t your cup of tea, then tell us what you …

I am one lucky girl.
I get to spend my days with this hunk:

For some funny commentary on this photo, peek at this post.
He is a man of many talents. A Super Hero with multiple personas. Always saving the day.
He protects me from being lazy, guards me from being bored. He keeps my reflexes from getting rusty and makes sure that my heart is strong.
Yes, those ARE his big sister’s turquoise underwear on top of his red pajama pants. They were just too perfect.
And these photos are going to be even …

Mona’s heading towards my (current) home territory today, as she visits another great group of bloggers. Stop by these fantastic women and say howdy!
Kentucky: Alas 3 LadsMichigan: Buried with ChildrenIndiana: Adventures in BabywearingOhio: Chefdruck MusingsWest Virginia: My Life As It Should BeVirginia: LulavillePennsylvania: Stacy’s Random Thoughts, Feels Like Home, and My iRish TwinsMaryland: parenting BY dummies, Barely Domestic
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Today’s writing workshop, hosted by Mama’s Losin’ It, is a confession.
This is probably something you don’t know about me, but ask my sisters and my brother. It’s true. (My kids will still deny …

Take a Little Trip with Me!
I’ve mentioned the “big event” that I’ve got coming up a few times this week. Now the time is finally here to kick it off. As a quick introduction, a few of my closest mommy blogger friends and I have been working REALLY hard to put together a site called Mighty Media.
We’ve gathered a few bloggers with “moxie” (ie- courage, guts, energy, know-how, skill, initiative) to work together quarterly and promote companies we believe in, while keeping content on our sites fun and important to …

Have you ever felt completely zapped of all creative juices? Void of any new ideas? Uninspired? Uninteresting?
That’s how I’ve been feeling. Even my normal creative outlets (blogging and photography in particular) have seemingly run dry. After nearly 2 years of blogging it seems I’ve run out of something to say. Except that it appears that in my emptiness, I found something to say, didn’t I?
Luckily, my sister is still as creative as ever. I got this teaser picture of Reese in my email inbox over the weekend. I can’t wait …

Welcome MckLinky Blog Hoppers! Looks like there are a lot of you out there. In honor of the very first blog hop, this week’s theme is Introductions.
I feel like I’ve done quite a few introductions over the last few months. Like this one for my recent SITS spotlight day. Or this one for the Ultimate Blog Party in March. To sum it up, I’m Lolli, mother of 5 kids, ages 4, 6, 8, 10, and 12. My husband, CandyMan, and I have a business making foreign language software (www.peanutbuttersticks.com) AND …