Better in Bulk - Family photographer with a large family» giveaways

Our Recipe for the Perfect Grilled Meat – Just “Cross Your Fingers!”

Lolli — Mon, 21 May 2012 10:00:06 +0000

I asked my husband, lovingly referred to as CandyMan in these parts, to share the story of how we learned how to grill the most delicious meats on the block.

“It doesn’t take a master chef to grill a good steak.” ~CandyMan

When Lolli and I got married, neither one of us was an amazing chef. I had worked in Richmond’s LeMaire restaurant in the Jefferson Hotel with a great head chef, but I never touched the grill.

We spent the first few years of marriage eating a lot of dry hamburgers, flavorless steaks and many other meat-challenged meals looking for the elusive magic recipe or grilling technique.

As luck would have it, shortly after moving into our current house, we became friends with someone who is not a chef, not professionally trained in France, not even a restaurant worker. He is simply a man from Argentina who knows his meats and his grill, and he shared with us the simple truths of fool-proof, great grilling.

Our friend taught us the “secret” of dry rub grilling. He had his own special blend of spices, and as soon as we could, we tried it on our own grill.

The secret: To make meat taste great, all you need is seasoned salt and any kind of spice you like.

The first time we tried this on our own, we mixed up some seasoned salt, Italian Seasoning, Montreal Steak seasoning, and a few other random spices. We didn’t know if it would be as good as our friend’s cooking, so we called our spice mixture “Cross Your Fingers.”

It ended up being a perfect blend, but we didn’t write down a recipe for it.

I pull out a piece of foil, then take my ribs, chicken, steak, or whatever I am grilling and place it on the foil. Then I baste the meat lightly in vegetable oil and sprinkle it with salt and spices.

I flip the meat over and baste the other side and sprinkle it again with seasoned salt and whatever spices I am using. I close up the foil so that the meat is completely wrapped and sealed. I then put the sealed foil on the grill and cook until it is about half way done. Then, I pull it out of the foil and throw it right on the grill to just singe it with the flames a little bit (Lolli’s favorite step).

Since that time, we have seen over and over again that all you need to do is baste your meat, lightly sprinkle with seasoned salt and then add your choice of spices. Cross your fingers or not, you’ll get a fantastic flavor every time.

And the best part about grilling for us (besides the savory meats)? Sharing the food with our friends, of course!

These are just some of the reasons why Grilling is my Happiness. Besides all of the tasty food, tell me what you love about grilling. One of my lucky readers who answers below will win a $25 Sears Gift Card!

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Sears. The opinions and text are all mine. Official Sweepstakes Rules.

Make Your Home and Garden Even Better CANADA Sweepstakes

Lolli — Wed, 09 May 2012 19:27:15 +0000

When we first moved into our house, back in April 1998, one of the first things we did was plant a garden. The garden that year flourished and we enjoyed tomatoes, cucumbers, and peppers for months.

No, this is not MY vegetable garden. I wish!

For some reason, our garden has never done quite as well as it did that first year.

Our little home was 20 years old when we bought her. Like her owners, our house (inside AND outside) has aged quite a bit in the last 14 years. I look at pictures of beautiful, well kept and well decorated homes with vibrant, productive gardens and wish that I knew how to turn my own house into a work of art. But no matter how many trips we make the the Home Depot, how many seeds we buy, or how many new pictures we purchase to hang on the walls, it’s clear that I need some outside help.

Today I have something special for my Canadian readers. Check this out:

Make Your Home and Garden Even Better Sweepstakes

Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Canada (BHGREC) just launched the Make Your Home and Garden Even Better Sweepstakes! BHGREC came into the Canadian Real Estate market in October 2011, and have already taken the Canadian real estate world by storm. BHGREC is giving away a new iPhone 4S and 10 individual Home Depot cards worth $50 each.

To participate in the sweepstakes, sign up through the Facebook App at facebook.com/bhgcanada.

The Make Your Home and Garden Even Better Contest is available only on Facebook and ONLY for residents of Canada from May 8th to May 30th (ends at 11:59pm).

Tell your friends from Canada all about it!

Please note: This is a sponsored post and I am in no way involved in the sweepstakes or selection of winners. All thoughts are my own.

Garden photo source: Wikimedia Commons

What’s in Your Gym Bag? It’s Time to Sport Some Color.

Lolli — Fri, 04 May 2012 17:59:26 +0000

As a mother of kids who have been on soccer, flag football, and swim/dive teams in just this past year, I know injuries. Luckily, we’ve been pretty fortunate and haven’t had too many serious injuries. Just lots of bumps, bruises, and other pains.

But mostly, happy faces, tired bodies, and plenty of bandages. This year, we’re sporting Safeskin colorful sports wraps. I wrote a post last week all about Safeskin (including a pretty amazing giveaway…).

Sports are fun for kids, teach them important physical skills as well as how to interact with their peers. But sports often do lead to injuries, and it’s good to be prepared.

How do you prepare your kids for team sports?

Did you know? Each year, more than 3.5 million children under age 14 receive medical treatment for sports-related injuries, with strains and sprains among the most common complaints.

All too often, I send my kids out to their practices and games with nothing but their uniform, shoes, and a water bottle. I love this graphic about what to pack in the gym bag:

What do you pack in your kids gym bags?

Announcing the winner of the Sport Some Color Safeskin $100 Walmart Giftcard Giveaway

I am thrilled to announce the winner of my latest giveaway to end (and a very good one, if I do say so myself!). Entry #187 Jamie V. won the $100 Walmart giftcard. Congrats!!

Don’t miss the Printable SAFESKIN coupon for 50 cents off the product

Disclosure: I received compensation from Kimberly-Clark Professional in the form of a gift card to participate in this campaign promoting the Sport Some Color SAFESKIN Kids Sport Wrap Challenge. The winner of this giveaway was randomly chosen. In addition, Kimberly-Clark Professional provided the gift card I am using as the prize in my promotion.

Sport Some Color With SAFESKIN + $100 Walmart Giftcard Giveaway

Lolli — Sat, 28 Apr 2012 02:59:32 +0000

With me as their mother, it’s not a surprise that my kids are not star athletes. However, they have each tried a few sports – from soccer to football to swim/dive to basketball to track. And they are naturally active like kids should be.

Add in a few injuries and pre-dispositions (a broken or a sprained ankle here, a painful foot condition there…) and we are often pulling out the ankle braces or wraps. Seriously, you’d be amazed at how often I am wrapping ankles around here.

DID YOU KNOW? Each year, more than 3.5 million children under age 14 receive medical treatment for sports-related injuries, with strains and sprains among the most common complaints.

And then there’s me, but let’s not even get into MY foot and ankle issues…

I get several packages around here, and always experience a varying level of excitement from my family members when I open up a box. On Wednesday evening, a small package arrived and my daughter #2 (Necco) saw the contents first – SAFESKIN® Kids Sport Wrap. Normally, I wouldn’t think that sports wraps would be that exciting, but she immediately “claimed” them. Necco is one of my kids with an existing foot condition called Severs Disease, and I often see her wrapping her feet after playing sports or hiking.

I even caught Necco playing with the sports wraps this morning before school…

She asked if she could wear them to school. I let her. And since they can be wrapped and re-wrapped (and are self-adhesive) she was able to get attention all day long with her fake injuries. Oh, the life and joys of a 7th grader.

DID YOU KNOW? April is National Youth Sports Safety Month

In all seriousness, though, bandages and wraps are crucial for sports season (or clumsy season, which is year-round in my house). I wrap my right ankle regularly because of recurring swelling and pain (yes, I am falling apart.)

About SAFESKIN® Kids Sport Wrap:

SAFESKIN® Kids Sport Wrap is a great option for on-the-go sports moms’ first aid kits – it’s self adhesive, water resistant, reusable, latex free and does not need clips or pins to secure it in place.

SAFESKIN® Kids Sport Wrap is the first colored sports wrap designed specifically for children and teens and is available in red and blue.

SAFESKIN® Kids Sport Wrap is excellent for first aid applications like securing bandages or splints and protecting and cushioning wounds.*

SAFESKIN® Kids Sport Wrap offers kids the superior support needed to get back in the game with bright, fun colors that highlight team spirit and self-expression – not the boring, dull beige wraps adults use.

SAFESKIN® Kids Sport Wrap can be purchased at Walmart for $3.94

We took the Safeskin Sports Wrap challenge. What will YOU be using them for this season?

Enter the SAFESKIN $100 Walmart gift card Giveaway!

I am giving away a $100 Walmart Giftcard (that means you can get a sports wrap for everyone in the family and still have a ton left over to buy something fun!). The giveaway will end on May 3, so hurry and get all your entries in. Winner will be announced on the blog and emailed for confirmation and mailing address. Enter on the Rafflecopter form below (it will load, I promise. Just go get a drink of water and come back and it will be ready for ya!).

Don’t miss the Printable SAFESKIN coupon for 50 cents off the product

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclosure: I received compensation from Kimberly-Clark Professional in the form of a gift card to participate in this campaign promoting the Sport Some Color SAFESKIN Kids Sport Wrap Challenge. The winner of this giveaway will be randomly chosen. In addition, Kimberly-Clark Professional provided the giveaway gift card. All thoughts, opinions, and weak ankles are my own.

Flag Football Season – PSF GMYBS

Marvel’s The AVENGERS #Giveaway

Lolli — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 19:38:10 +0000

While I am still a little bummed that I couldn’t make the premiere of Marvel’s The Avengers this weekend, I am still so excited for it to come to theaters. I am hearing tons of amazing things about The Avengers, and the previews and trailers have me itching to see it in the theaters as soon as I can.

About the Avengers movie:

Marvel Studios presents “Marvel’s The Avengers”—the Super Hero team up of a lifetime, featuring iconic Marvel Super Heroes Iron Man, The Incredible Hulk, Thor, Captain America, Hawkeye and Black Widow. When an unexpected enemy emerges that threatens global safety and security, Nick Fury, Director of the international peacekeeping agency known as S.H.I.E.L.D., finds himself in need of a team to pull the world back from the brink of disaster. Spanning the globe, a daring recruitment effort begins.

Starring Robert Downey Jr., Chris Evans, Mark Ruffalo, Chris Hemsworth, Scarlett Johansson, Jeremy Renner and Tom Hiddleston, with Stellan Skarsgård and Samuel L. Jackson, and written and directed by Joss Whedon, “Marvel’s The Avengers” is based on the ever-popular Marvel comic book series “The Avengers,” first published in 1963 and a comics institution ever since. Prepare yourself for an exciting event movie, packed with action and spectacular special effects.

Exclusive Avengers Prize Pack GIVEAWAY

I’m excited to be able to give away the following Marvel’s The Avengers prize, which includes:

MARVEL’S THE AVENGERS t-shirt (your choice of adult sizes S, M, L, XL)
MARVEL’S THE AVENGERS set of 6 buttons
MARVEL’S THE AVENGERS one pair of limited edition 3D glasses

To enter to win this giveaway prize, simply enter on the Rafflecopter form below (please give the widget a minute to load – do a couple of jumping jacks and it will be ready…). One winner will be chosen from those entered on Better in Bulk. The giveaway will end on May 14 and a winner will be chosen at random, emailed, and announced on this post on the 15th

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Connect with Marvel’s The Avengers online:

Website: marvel.com/avengers_movie/
“Like” MARVEL’S THE AVENGERS on Facebook
Follow MARVEL’S THE AVENGERS on Twitter: @Avengers

Keep up to date on what’s happening on Better in Bulk by liking us on Facebook, too!

Don’t forget: MARVEL’S THE AVENGERS hits theaters everywhere on May 4th!

Disclosure: I did not receive any compensation or product for this post or giveaway. The prize is being supplied by Disney.

What To Expect When You’re Expecting – Closet Full of Carter’s Sweepstakes

Lolli — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 11:00:40 +0000

When I found out that I was expecting my first daughter WAY back in 1996, I was already packing my bags for a summer internship in Russia with CandyMan. There was no time to visit the doctor or even tell the exciting news to our friends and family. I left for Russia, armed with my Russian dictionary and a brand new copy of What to Expect When You’re Expecting.

Ultrasound of baby #5 - My last!

I poured over every single page of that book multiple times during the 3 months that we were in Russia, and the next several months as I finished out my pregnancy. At times it was my only resource. I had nobody to call with my millions of questions – no doctor, no next door neighbor, no best friend who’d already had a baby. I was full of questions and my only consolation was my husband (who was much less informed than me) and my book.

The Russian ladies that I met while I was there were no help. Eat this – Don’t eat that (I had plenty of sardines and dried fish shoved at me). And spin a piece of thread above your hand to find out what sex you’ll be having.

I got plenty of advice in Russia, and I don’t think I used an ounce of it.

That book saved my sanity.

Closet Full of Carter’s Sweepstakes

Carter’s, my absolute favorite brand of young children’s clothing (you’d never believe how much Carter’s clothing I have bought over the years!), is featured in the movie What to Expect When You’re Expecting, due in theaters May 18 (I am so excited for this movie to come out. It looks hilarious)!

To celebrate the launch of the movie, Carter’s is hosting “A Closet Full of Carter’s Sweepstakes” on Facebook and giving away over $12,000 in prizes. You can enter to win the $5,000 Carter’s gift card grand prize or one of the many other giveaways by entering DAILY (from April 16 until May 18) on Facebook on your mobile device.

Sweepstakes details: No Purchase Necessary to enter or win. A purchase will not increase your chances of winning. Void where prohibited by law. Participants must be 18 years of age or older as of the date of entry. Promotion begins April 16, 2012 at 12:00:01 a.m. ET and ends May 18, 2012 at 11:59:59 p.m. ET. Limit one (1) entry per person, per day. Complete Official Rules available at facebook.com/carters. Note: the sponsor of this sweepstakes is the William Carter Company. Facebook is not a Sponsor of this Sweepstakes.

What did YOU expect?

What one piece of advice was the most meaningful to you as an expecting mom? What advice would you share with other expecting moms? Be rest assured that you will find plenty to relate to in this spring’s film What to Expect When You’re Expecting, coming to theaters May 18! And keep an eye out for adorable baby clothing essentials from Carter’s, the premiere children’s clothing featured in the movie!

Disclosure: Carter’s partnered with bloggers such as me to promote their upcoming feature in the movie “What to Expect When You’re Expecting.” As part of the program, I received product or gift cards. Carter’s believes that consumers and bloggers are free to form their own opinions and share them in their own words, and therefore did not tell me what to purchase or what to say about the products I used. Carter’s policies align with WOMMA Ethics Code, FTC guidelines and social media engagement recommendations.

How I “Shop to Win” at Kohl’s + How YOU Can Win This $100 Giveaway!

Lolli — Fri, 20 Apr 2012 20:43:34 +0000

I don’t go shopping for myself very frequently, but when I do I often head straight to Kohl’s (especially when I’m looking for new shoes).

While I was preparing for my latest trip to Orlando, I knew that I would want to find some new outfits to wear. I was thrilled to have an excuse just days before I left to take myself on a mini shopping spree at Kohl’s.

My first order of business was to head to the shoe department. I knew that I wanted to find a nice pair of comfy sandals for the Spring and Summer, and I’ve always had good luck at Kohl’s. My feet are very picky, and I will always chose comfort over price or style. The great thing about Kohl’s is that I have regularly been able to find comfortable shoes that were both affordable AND cute. I think I fared pretty well this time.

I also checked out some capris and tops, specifically looking for something nice but casual that I could wear for on the red carpet AND on a safari (which is a tough call to make!). I found the perfect combination:

AJ was pretty happy to do a little bit of shopping himself, and I was thrilled with the sale price of this bug catcher:

In the end, I came away with two wonderfully comfortable pair of capris, a nice shirt (which I was able to wear to the red carpet premiere AND the safari), a pair of super-comfortable sandals for the Summer, and a bug catcher for AJ. It all came in just under $100.

Want to WIN a shopping spree of your own??

I’ve got another $100 Kohl’s giftcard to give away. All you need to do to win is enter on the Rafflecopter widget below (give it a minute to fully load). This $100 Giftcard giveaway is exclusive for Better in Bulk readers and ends at 12:01 am on May 4, 2012.

For MORE ways to win, keep reading below!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Kohl’s Hauls of Fame Contest

Kohl’s recently launched a nationwide “Hauls of Fame” contest on Facebook, which is running NOW through May 8, 2012, encouraging consumers to shop to win and brag about the great values they’re getting at Kohl’s.

How the Kohl’s “Hauls of Fame” contest works:

Customers can upload their haul videos or photos to the Kohl’s Facebook page.

Customers can vote on other uploaded haul videos or photos.

Each week of the promotion, five winners will receive a $500 Kohl’s gift card.

Good luck (on the Better in Bulk contest AND on the Kohl’s Facebook contest), and be sure to let me know what kind of hauls you score at Kohl’s this season!

Disclosure: I received a $100 Kohl’s giftcard to facilitate my shopping experience, but the thoughts and opinions expressed here are my own. $100 giftcard giveaway was provided by Kohl’s.

CHIMPANZEE Oscar-inspired Giveaway #DisneyGlobalEvent

Lolli — Sat, 14 Apr 2012 12:28:52 +0000

Yesterday, I attended the red-carpet premiere of Disneynature’s newest movie CHIMPANZEE (more details to come later, I promise!). The movie is funny, endearing, and exciting. I can’t wait to take my kids to see it.

If you haven’t seen this new clip from the movie, check out how adorable Oscar is.

I am in love with this sweet, sweet little Chimpanzee!

“Like” CHIMPANZEE on Facebook and follow along with the movie news.

Did you know? CHIMPANZEE hits theaters everywhere on April 20th. A portion of the proceeds of every ticket sale during the first week of the movie’s release will be donated to the Jane Goodall Institute.

Enter to win!

Enter to win an fantastic Chimpanzee prize pack including a plush Oscar, the Chimpanzee; Making Of the Film book and reusable Chimpanzee shopping bag. Giveaway ends Thursday, April 19 at midnight. (Give the rafflecopter widget a minute to load)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Note: I am on a mostly-expense paid trip in Florida to see and promote the movie and other activities that can be enjoyed in the Orlando/Kissimmee area. All opinions expressed on this blog are my own.

Spring Cleaning – $50 Visa Giftcard Giveaway

Lolli — Sat, 14 Apr 2012 00:53:05 +0000

I used to take good care of my house. I swear. Of course, I used the excuse back then that it was hard to keep up with cleaning when I had little kids. But now, looking back, I had it good during those days of little kids.

I took much better care of my house when I wasn’t working. Nowadays? My house needs some pretty serious help. I need Spring cleaning all year long.

Honestly, though, there’s something about the Spring that really does inspire me to clean out and freshen up. I just have to find some extra time and possibly some better tools. Like a new Miele vacuum cleaner or maybe a cleaning crew. Yeah, I like that idea.

But this post is it really about cleaning. It’s about giving away a $50 Visa Gift card from Zadoozy. Maybe you could use it to ~~buy cleaning materials~~ get a pedicure…

Enter the giveaway in the widget below. If the rafflecopter does not load right away, give it a minute. It will work, I promise.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Win a 7 Day Dream Vacation in Kissimmee, Florida #disneyglobalgiveaway

Lolli — Thu, 12 Apr 2012 19:15:05 +0000

If you’ve been following my twitter or Facebook stream the past few days, or read my last few blog posts, then you have seen the incredible adventures I’ve been on here with the #DisneyGlobalEvent. The fun continues until Monday, so if you aren’t following along with our hashtag you should be.

We have an AMAZING once in a lifetime sweepstakes to share which includes a 7 day family vacation in Kissimmee, Florida and a gorgeous Alex Woo necklace (among other exciting things listed below). It is super easy to enter with the Rafflecopter form below (if it doesn’t show up right away, just wait a minute for the widget to finish loading).

This is a fast giveaway (ending at midnight on Monday) so enter now!

Remember Chimpanzee opens April 20th in theaters!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Note: I traveled to Florida on an expense paid trip but the thoughts expressed here are my own. The other bloggers from my trip are also participating in this giveaway, but nly one lucky winner will be chosen. I am not receiving any extra compensation for this post.