My parents and my sister’s family were able to join us for the baptism day this past weekend. It was busy but so wonderful to have so much family together.

Of course, we took a billion photos…

Me, my mom, and my sister

Before we took this picture, KitKat said, “These are NOT going to be our Christmas card pictures. Promise.” Ha! I have a feeling that by the time December rolls around, my older son will be towering over me…

My niece really loved the gummy lifesavers on top of the cupcakes that a friend of mine made for the party after the baptism.

Aren’t these the BEST cupcakes for an 8 year old birthday?!

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:
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© 2013, Lolli. All rights reserved.

The post Baptism Day! #PSF Give Me Your Best Shot appeared first on Better in Bulk - Family photographer with a large family.

The neighborhood pool is filled with sparkling, inviting water. The lounge chairs are arranged next to the pool. The fans are running non stop in my house to keep the summer heat at bay. The kids are finishing up the school year and I am scrambling to figure out what I can do to keep the kids engaged for the next 3 months.

Luckily, I have a few years’ experience with keeping kids engaged during long, hot summer days. Here are my family’s top 10 favorite summer activities to do together.

1. Visit a museum or other local attraction (like the aquarium or zoo) that you don’t have time for during the school year
2. Start a chapter book together and read aloud at a set time every day
3. Find a local theater that has free or cheap Summer movies
4. Go on a hike
5. Plant and maintain a garden as a family. Then enjoy the “fruits” of your labors together!
6. Invite friends over regularly (the plus to that is that your kids will usually get a return invite!)
7. Schedule a weekly library day. (We always join the library’s summer reading program)
8. Play tourist in your home town. Give everyone a camera and look at your city through different eyes
9. Attend an outdoor concert (check to see if your community has free summer concerts)
10. Play some games together (either a board game or a game online)

I am joining hundreds of other families across the country by taking the Active Family Project pledge to make some playdates…together!

About the Active Family Project

The Active Family Project is designed to help empower moms to enjoy a healthy and active lifestyle with their families so they can live life the way they love. It aims to spotlight tips and advice for fun family activities and build a national community of moms dedicated to adopting and promoting a healthy and active family lifestyle.

Get tips and ideas for your family’s playtime together with the Active Family Project Activity Finder. This go-to guide offers some instant solutions to your playtime needs, and aims to promote quality time and help your family live life more fully.

Enter the Family Playdate Sweepstakes!

Ready for a summer full of family fun? Enter the Family Playdate Sweepstakes. This week you can win the Beach Adventure Prize Pack which includes: $350 gift card redeemable at an outdoor sports retailer which may be used towards the purchase of swim wear for (4); a pop-up beach cabana; a beach volley ball set; a deluxe sand sculpting set; a beach bocce set; a video camera; and (4) Active Family Project tote bags.

And then there’s the GRAND PRIZE which includes: a (7) day/(6) night trip for winner and up to (3) guests to a resort located in Port St. Lucie, Florida; round trip coach air transportation between the major U.S. gateway airport nearest the Grand Prize winner’s residence and the destination city and standard hotel accommodations for (6) nights; one year’s worth of home cleaning services from a national cleaning service awarded in the form of a $2,500 Gift Certificate; a video camera; and (4) Active Family Project tote bags.

Sweepstakes ends 11:59:59pm ET on 5/26/2013.

 
Enter the sweepstakes, make the promise to make some playdates, and start making some fun plans for the summer!

Active Family Project Website: http://www.activefamilyproject.com/
Like them on Facebook: facebook.com/activefamilyproject
Enter the Sweepstakes: facebook.com/activefamilyproject/app_450466661697948

© 2013, Lolli. All rights reserved.

The post Kick Off the Summer with the Active Family Project appeared first on Better in Bulk - Family photographer with a large family.

Several months ago, I took the train up to New York City for a very exciting sneak peek of a movie in production. I never would have imagined that I’d have the chance to get such an up close and personal view of a movie set (but more on that experience later…).

Today, this sneak peek video for Delivery Man was just released. I’ve been waiting to see the rest of this movie since December, so I couldn’t wait to share this video…and get the rest of you as excited about this movie as I am.

About Delivery Man

Starring Vince Vaughn, Cobie Smulders, and Chris Pratt and opening November 22, 2013, Delivery Man is the story of an affable underachiever (Vaughn) who finds out he’s fathered 533 children through anonymous donations to a fertility clinic 20 years ago. Now he must decide whether or not to come forward when 142 of them file a lawsuit to reveal his identity.

Enter the Delivery Man Gather’s Day Sweepstakes

Enter for a chance to deliver the perfect Father’s Day gift to your dad. Share your funniest photos of your father via Twitter and Instagram for a chance to win a 50′ TV and other great prizes!

Like DELIVERY MAN on Facebook: Facebook.com/DeliveryManMovie

Follow DELIVERY MAN on Twitter: @DeliveryManFilm

Follow DELIVERY MAN on Pinterest: Pinterest.com/DeliveryManFilm

Follow DELIVERY MAN on Instagram: DeliveryManMovie

DELIVERY MAN releases in theaters on November 22nd!

© 2013, Lolli. All rights reserved.

The post Dreamworks Delivery Man Sneak Peek #DeliveryManMovie appeared first on Better in Bulk - Family photographer with a large family.

As much as I adore being intimately involved in a couple’s wedding day, shooting a wedding scares me to death. I always come away from a wedding day with some shots I feel good about, but I also know I could do better. Mostly, I worry that I lack the creativity and eye for detail that make wedding photos works of art.

For years, I have studied my incredible sister’s photos for inspiration. So when she told me about this wedding photography workshop hosted by the photography studio that she works with, I literally started salivating. I need help. I need inspiration. And I can’t imagine finding a more inspiring, creative, and talented group of women to guide me.

About the 2013 Wedding Workshop

The WEDDING WORKSHOP will be a one-day intensive workshop with the CHAR Photography team focusing on equipping you with all you need for successfully shooting a wedding. Here’s just a taste of what we’ll be learning:

• Coming up with a game plan for the big day
• Shooting the wedding details
• Capturing pretty getting ready photos (even if it is in a Sunday school room)
• Organizing and posing the family and bridal party photos quickly
• Bride and groom portraits
• Utilizing ALL types of light (even if it’s bright midday sun or dark churches)
• Shooting for variety
• Simplifying the editing workflow
• Marketing
• Establishing your style
• Setting goals
• Overcoming fear

You are guaranteed to go home inspired and ready to take your business to the next level!

The fun-filled day includes a full styled photo shoot by The Char teams stylists, Grace and Karen. (Hello! They are incredible!). In addition, there will be hands-on training, plenty of Q&A, as well as an opportunity for one-on-one conversation.

When: THURSDAY, JUNE 27 – 9am to DUSK (Wrapping up with an optional dinner out, good conversation, and new friendships)
Cost: The investment is $550 per person (And yes, a delicious lunch is included)
Who: Photographers like you and me! (Class size is limited to 15 students)
Where: The Hershey, Pennsylvania area (that’s just a 2 hour drive from my DC-area suburb)
Register for The Wedding Workshop – submit a registration form.
And be sure to enter Promo Code: LOLLI for a $75 discount!

THEIR LAST WORKSHOP SOLD OUT IN TWO DAYS.

Pass the word on to your Pennsylvania/Maryland/West Virginia/etc photographer friends! I’d love to meet them!

© 2013, Lolli. All rights reserved.

The post Join Me For the 2013 Wedding Workshop with Char Photography appeared first on Better in Bulk - Family photographer with a large family.

Are you playing along with Wordful or Wordless Wednesday today? Link up!
Want to grab my button?

© 2013, Lolli. All rights reserved.

The post AJ’s 8th Birthday – #WordlessWednesday #WW appeared first on Better in Bulk - Family photographer with a large family.

When asked the question, “Do you feel that, on average, you are getting enough sleep?” I didn’t have to pause to think of my answer.

“No, I definitely don’t get enough sleep,” I said. “I wish I could sleep more, but at night after the kids go to bed, I have a few hours of really productive work time and I have a hard time giving up that time (and turning off my mind!) to go to sleep early.”

I have gotten into a few detrimental sleep habits…and although I know that they aren’t good for me, it has been difficult for me to make any changes. I rarely drink caffeinated sodas after lunch, but I do like an evening snack. I tend to work after the kids go to bed until I am so tired I can no longer keep my eyes open. I love sleeping with the windows open, despite the fact (or sometimes because of the fact) that our backyard sounds like a bird sanctuary. I keep my iPad and phone charging or just sitting on my nightstand, just inches away from my pillow. My phone is my alarm, so I feel like I have to keep it close. I like to check my email right before I go to sleep, often after I’ve turned the lights out to go to bed.

I could go on and on…I’m a horrible example of good sleep habits, not to mention the fact that I tend to get between 5 1/2 and 7 hours of sleep per night.

Two weeks ago, I kept a sleep journal and was brutally honest about the things I did and didn’t do surrounding sleep, bedtime routines, and my bedroom environment. Last week, I got that survey back with a handful of the most helpful sleep-related tips ever.

Sleep expert and Certified Clinical Sleep Educator, Terry Cralle, RN gave me this advice, “Sleep is a biological necessity – critical to your quality of life – affecting everything from your productivity to your health to your mood.” Sleep deprivation leads to a host of problems including decreased performance and alertness, impaired memory, stress and accidents. Did you know that studies have shown that sleep deprivation can also increase your risk for stroke, diabetes, osteoporosis, depression, heart disease, obesity and cancer?

Here are 6 customized tips that Terry shared to get better sleep:

Tips to get better sleep

Create a “wind down” routine for the night.

A few things can help with shutting down your brain at night. It’s a very common problem! Complete your to-do list (and perhaps a separate worries and problems list) for the following day – several hours prior to bedtime. It will help to clear your mind. Also, be sure to have a bedtime routine. A relaxing, pre-sleep routine (sometimes referred to as a pre-sleep ritual) helps you transition from wakefulness to sleep. The repetition of a personal sleep routine actually serves as a prompt to your mind and body to wind down and prepare for sleep. You will begin to associate the activities of your sleep routine with going to sleep. Your routine can consist of a few steps that you can follow every night – and can include activities such as lowering the lights, turning off electronics, getting ready for bed, having some tea, reading non-engaging, non-fiction, doing a crossword puzzle, listening to calming music, taking a warm bath, and some meditation, yoga, guided visualization or breathing exercises to help with relaxation.

Create a sleep-conducive environment that is dark, quiet, comfortable and cool. Make your bedroom a sleep sanctuary – a relaxing, restful retreat with no electronics or work related items visible. Try mental exercises – like listing all animals that start with the letter “A” or list one vegetable for every letter of the alphabet – or think of relaxing scenes or images. Don’t use electronics in bed either. Our beds should be reserved for sleep and sex only – and not associated with doing work-related activities such as checking emails.

Head to bed earlier.

Try going to bed earlier – even for one week to see how you feel. You may just end up liking how you feel with a good night’s sleep! With very few exceptions, most people do require between 7-9 hours of sleep daily.

While most of us assume that sleep hours cut into our productive hours – we are actually more productive with sufficient sleep! So while it may seem counterintuitive, your productivity should increase with sufficient sleep time, because you will have more energy and think more clearly – while working smarter and more efficiently.

Research has demonstrated that we can’t train ourselves to require less sleep. Some people can try to get by on less sleep – but the short and long term consequences to health and quality of life are not worth the risk. Only a small number of individuals are genetically “short sleepers”, and it is estimated that they represent only 1-3% of the entire population.

Replace your mattress.

We recommend replacing mattresses every 5-7 years. Ten years is the upward limit of mattress life. Dust mites, dirt and allergens will have collected over that period of time. Also, changes in your body, lifestyle and sleep needs have probably occurred in that 10 year period; necessitating replacement.

Avoid electronics for 1 hour before bedtime.

Checking emails at bedtime can negatively impact your sleep. The light from electronic devices is a concentrated blue light which mimics daylight, suppressing melatonin, a natural hormone which helps you to sleep. These portable devices are also held much closer to the eyes than a computer or television screen – and therefore may be even more disrupting to sleep. Sleep researcher Dr Chris Idzikowski has been quoted as saying that checking your e-mails before bed on any electronic device is essentially the equivalent to drinking a double espresso at bedtime!

While the best recommendation is to avoid all electronics for one hour prior to bedtime, there are ways to reduce the negative effects of screen usage at night by dimming the brightness and lowering the color temperature of your electronic devices. There is an app available called F.Lux which automatically detects when it’s nighttime, and adjusts your screen light accordingly, lessening the negative impact of the blue light on your sleep.

Additionally, using electronic devices at bedtime can create a false alertness which can make it difficult to settle down and drift off to sleep. One Japanese research study showed that people who use electronic devices just before bedtime report lower-quality sleep even when they get as much sleep as those who do not use them before bedtime. Using the devices often encroaches upon your overall sleep time by further delaying bedtime.

Cut out the caffeine.

Try limiting caffeine intake before bedtime to see if that does not help you with winding down. It can reduce your total sleep time and increase the likelihood of waking up during the night. Many experts recommend avoiding caffeinated beverages as much as eight hours before bedtime due to the extended length of time it remains in your system after consumption.

Eliminate light and noise sources.

Exposure to noise during sleep can be very disruptive to your sleep, even if it does not wake you up. Some studies have shown that noise can have negative effect on sleep stages and cause more tossing and turning – negatively impacting your sleep quality. Unfamiliar noise, and noise during the first and last two hours of sleep, has the greatest disruptive effect on the sleep cycle.

In addition to avoiding electronics prior to bedtime, be sure to eliminate light sources in your bedroom as best you can to get the best quality sleep possible Once again, light is one of the most important external factors that can affect sleep. Your brain will not produce melatonin in the presence of light. Melatonin is one of the hormones that help you fall asleep and stay asleep to get the recuperative sleep your mind and body requires. You may want to try black out curtains and to cover the lights on the power strips. The luminous rays from a digital alarm clock can be enough to disrupt your sleep cycle. Some people find a light blocking sleep mask to be helpful. A dark room is the most conducive to a good night’s sleep.

Join me at the #BetterSleep Twitter Party!

This Thursday, May 23, in honor of this year’s Better Sleep Month, I’ll be co-hosting a twitter party with the Better Sleep Council. In addition to a ton of helpful sleep tips and information, we’ll be giving away several $25 gift cards as well as one $125 gift card. Here are all of the details you need to join us:

What: Better Sleep Council Twitter Party (custom tweetgrid for the party)
When: Thursday, May 23 from 9:00 – 10:30 p.m. ET
Hashtag: #BetterSleep
Who: Host – @Sleepocalypse | Better Sleep Council
Co-host Bloggers – @1momof5 (me!) and @BusyWorkingMama (Aleks, BusyWorkingMama)
Expert participants – @PowerofSleep – Terry Cralle, RN, Sleep expert
Better Sleep Council participants – @KarinSleeps and @MaryHelenSleeps
And YOU!

Hope to see you there!

© 2013, Lolli. All rights reserved.

The post 6 Critical Steps to Better Sleep #BetterSleep appeared first on Better in Bulk - Family photographer with a large family.

When Kori Rae entered the conference room and took a seat at the head of the big table, surrounded by our rather large group of bloggers, she immediately felt like one of us. We could have chatted with her for hours, I’m sure.

Kori Rae Pixar started working with Pixar in 1993 and was part of the original entrepreneurial team that helped build and shape Pixar into the studio it is today. Kori worked on Pixar’s first hit, Toy Story, and then was asked to be the animation manager on A Bug’s Life and Toy Story 2. She continued on as associate producer for Monsters, Inc and The Incredibles.

Pretty incredible resume, if you ask me.

While we sat with her inside the Steve Jobs building on Pixar Studios’ campus, we asked her why it took so long to make a follow up to Monster’s Inc., especially considering the success of the movie.

Her response was that the decision to make Monsters University was more about how much the people at Pixar loved the world of Monsters, Inc., and not so much about the success of the first movie.

We also questioned the decision to create a prequel instead of a sequel. According to Kori Rae, the prequel made the most sense from the beginning. She said, “Let’s go backwards, see how the characters became the way they are, and explore the world of the Monsters.” Monsters University is the story of Mike and how he overcomes failure and how he realizes his dream.

The movie asks the question, “What do you do when one door closes, especially when you think that door was your only option?”

And answers back, “If you work hard enough, you can achieve anything.” What a great message to send to children and adults alike!

Ms Rae spoke of the challenges of making a prequel – she said that prequels are intense but a lot of fun. “How do you make a prequel fun and interesting but not predictable? You know how the story ends…” One of the first things they did in the beginning was to create and design background characters.
Animation-wise, the number of secondary/background characters was difficult in Monsters University. There are hundreds (literally) of background characters – any way you look at it, that’s a lot of work.

The good news is that everyone collaborates at Pixar. That fact was apparent everywhere we looked on the Pixar campus, from the way employees interacted with each other to the various clusters of chairs and tables designed for impromptu meetings in the middle of the work day. Kori said that you have to be able to roll with changes at Pixar – deadlines are changing constantly. They have milestones and goals, of course, but otherwise everything is fluid.

One of the bloggers in our group asked Kori Rae, “Do you ever get antsy and eager to see the project finished?” She answered, “Yes – but there is so much progress along the way.” Progress moves all of them along (and judging by their successes, they have a lot to be proud of!).

Check out this Monsters University trailer:
 

 

Monsters University comes to theaters June 21, 2013! Don’t miss it!
Like on Facebook: facebook.com/disneypixar
Follow on Twitter: twitter.com/disneypixar

 
I attended the #MonstersUEvent press trip during the month of April. All travel expenses were covered but no monetary compensation was received. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Photos included in this post were taken by the official Pixar MU photographer. Used with permission.

© 2013, Lolli. All rights reserved.

The post Producer Kori Rae Speaks About Monsters University #MonstersUEvent appeared first on Better in Bulk - Family photographer with a large family.

Ok, maybe I’m exaggerating by saying that we enjoyed every minute. I can honestly say, though, that my kids did a fantastic job on all of the their performances. It has been a great proud-mama month.

AJ’s Poetry Party

AJ’s 2nd grade class has been working on poetry the last few weeks, and recently (as part of the class project surrounding poetry) stood up at the portable “stage” and recited one of his poems (one of the 8 or so poems that he has written recently). Ahh! He’s so adorable!

Necco’s Middle School Play: Backstage

Necco is my quiet one at home. You’d never guess that she was the kind of girls who LOVES to perform. She sings and plays instruments at all of the talent shows at school and church. When she’s anywhere around a stage, her normally quiet and introverted personality transforms to confident performer. Here she is with her good friend and fellow “Backstage” actress after opening night.

Just a week after the play, Necco’s school chorus had their Spring Concert. The larger group did a great job, but I thought her duet with her (other) good friend was one of the best parts of the night.

I am insanely proud of this duet that Necco did with one of her best friends. Didn’t they do a beautiful job?

Ok, proud mama moment is over. Carry on.

Have your kids been busy with end-of-school-year concerts and other events?

© 2013, Lolli. All rights reserved.

The post ‘Tis the Season for School Performances! appeared first on Better in Bulk - Family photographer with a large family.

Big Hero 6 is an action comedy adventure about brilliant robotics prodigy Hiro Hamada, who finds himself in the grips of a criminal plot that threatens to destroy the fast-paced, high-tech city of San Fransokyo. With the help of his closest companion — a robot named Baymax — Hiro joins forces with a reluctant team of first-time crime fighters on a mission to save their city. Big Hero 6 is inspired by the Marvel comics of the same name, and features comic-book style action.

I love these early images from Big Hero 6:

Are your kids excited for Big Hero 6? My kids and I are eager to see this unique CG animated film set in a city that is apparently a mash up of San Francisco and Tokyo. The video is incredible (see if you can spot Wreck it Ralph – hint: look on the left).

Visit the Website: disney.com/BigHero6

Like “Big Hero 6″ on Facebook: facebook.com/DisneyBigHero6

Follow Walt Disney Animation Studios on Twitter: @DisneyAnimation

“Big Hero 6” hits theaters in 3D on November 7, 2014

Note: No compensation was received for this post. Photos and movie information provided Disney.

© 2013, Lolli. All rights reserved.

The post An Early Peek at Disney’s Big Hero 6 #BigHero6 appeared first on Better in Bulk - Family photographer with a large family.

My 8 year old will go crazy over these (he loves to print coloring pages off the internet for all of his favorite shows.

These free printables include the following adorable coloring pages based on the characters in Planes.

Who is the Planes fan in your house?

About Disney Planes

From above the world of “Cars” comes “Disney’s Planes,” an action-packed 3D animated comedy adventure featuring Dusty (voice of Dane Cook), a plane with dreams of competing as a high-flying air racer. But Dusty’s not exactly built for racing—and he happens to be afraid of heights. So he turns to a seasoned naval aviator who helps Dusty qualify to take the defending champ of the race circuit. Dusty’s courage is put to the ultimate test as he aims to reach heights he never dreamed possible, giving a spellbound world the inspiration to soar.

Disney’s Planes takes off in theaters in 3D on Aug. 9, 2013 in Disney Digital 3D™.

Check out this brand new video:

This new spot, “Disney’s PLANES Takes Flight,” features music by the film’s composer, Mark Mancina. Enjoy!

Connect with Planes

• Like Disney’s PLANES on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/DisneyPlanes
• Follow PLANES on Twitter: @DisneyPictures
• Visit the website: www.disney.com/Planes

Disney’s PLANES releases in theaters everywhere on August 9th!

No compensation has been received for this post. Press materials provided by Disney.

© 2013, Lolli. All rights reserved.

The post Disney PLANES Coloring Pages (Free Download) #DisneyPlanes appeared first on Better in Bulk - Family photographer with a large family.