Momathon Blog

Daily doodle: Love letter

 

A kiss is just a kiss,

until you find the one you love.

A hug is just a hug,

until you find the one you've always been thinking of.

A dream is just a dream,

until it comes true.

Love was just a word,

until I heard it from you.

 

~unknown

 

You can see more of my doodles at Momathon doodles.

Illustration: Chris Olson © 2011.

Postcards from winter: Goodbye January

Today is the last day of my Picture Winter class with photographer Tracey Clark. The month-long class has been a blast. Daily class prompts inspired me to get outside with my camera. I think this chilly month zipped by thanks in part to this wonderful class. 

Photos: Chris Olson © 2011.

Cool + Plus: A chic water bottle that is easy to clean

 

You know how even after you clean ordinary water bottles they still end up with a stinky, gunky mess at the bottom of the bottles. Gross. Finally a company with an incredibly simple invention makes the reusable water bottle easier to clean--the Clean Bottle opens at both ends.

I also like the fact this company is a giver: 10% of all Clean Bottle profits are donated to eco and cycling friendly charities that you vote for.

New York Magazine likes the Clean Bottle: "Both the bottom and top ends of the 22-ounce Clean Bottle can be unscrewed for easier rinsing."  

Features:

• Both top and bottom of bottle unscrew for cleaning
• made of BPA free plastic
• 10% of all Clean Bottle profits are donated to eco and cycling friendly charities that you vote for
• dishwasher safe
• holds 22 oz.
• available at REI and other stores
• $9.95 

See more of my Cool + Plus series featuring products that not only have amazing design, but also benefit the environment and society. Check out Cool + Plus.

Photo: Clean Bottle

Daily doodle: Walking in a winter wonderland...

 

Gone away is the bluebird,

Here to stay is a new bird

He sings a love song,

As we go along,

Walking in a winter wonderland.

...

When it snows, ain't it thrilling,

Though your nose gets a chilling

We'll frolic and play, the Eskimo way,

Walking in a winter wonderland.

 

~ Winter Wonderland, lyrics by Richard B. Smith

 

 

You can see more of my doodles at Momathon doodles.
Illustration: Chris Olson © 2011.

 

Daily doodle: Violet heart

 

Ever thine 
Ever mine 
Ever ours.

~ Ludwig van Beethoven

You can see more of my doodles at Momathon doodles.
Illustration: Chris Olson © 2011.

Simple fixes for the germiest places in your home (and office)

 

Did you know germs from flushing the toilet can last in the air for up to 2 hours after flushing? Gross!

I'm a germophobe and visions of floating bacteria in a bathroom scares me. The problem is I am not a neat freak. And I know overly friendly germs are lurking...

Because a squirt of hand sanitizer can only do so much good, it's time to for me to break out the cleaning supplies. Mary Anne Dunkin in a WebMD article lists six surprising places germs live and even thrive in your home as well as your office. Here are Dunkins cleaning tips:

Kitchen Sink

The problem: Leftover food particles from plates can end up multiplying before they reach the dishwasher. According to WebMD, the sink zone is a breeding ground for illness-causing bacteria, including E. coli and salmonella.

The fix: 

• wash sink with a solution of bleach and water once a day 
• let the bleach solution run down the drain 
• remove the drain plug and clean it
• wash your hands

 

Toothbrushes

The problem: "Flushing the toilet sends a spray of bacteria- and virus-contaminated water droplets into air." These germs can survive in the air for at least two hours after each flush before landing on surfaces such as your toothbrush."

The fix:

• place your toothbrush away from your toilet 
• close toilet lid when flushing
• put toothbrush in a place where it can air out and dry between uses
• replace your toothbrush often
• replace toothbrush after you've been sick

 

Salt and Pepper Shaker

The problem: Cold viruses can live on surfaces you touch when you are sick.

The fix:

• wipe off the salt and pepper shaker at each meal
• wash your hands before and after you use seasonings

 

TV Remote Control

The problem: People don't wash hands regularily and then they touch and also cough on the remote.

The fix:

• wipe remote with a bleach or alcohol wipe daily
• practice regular hand-washing

 

Computer Keyboard

The problem: In a recent study "4 of 33 sampled keyboards had enough germs to be considered health hazards. One had levels of germs five times higher than that found on a toilet seat."

The fix:

• wash your hands before and after using your computer
• don't drop crumbs into your keyboard
• clean your keyboard by carefully shaking out the crumbs or vacuum it
• wipe the keys with alcohol or bleach wipes that are not too wet
• wipe the mouse

 

Bathtub

The problem: "A recent study found staphylococcus bacteria in 26% of the tubs tested. A separate study had even worse findings for whirlpool tubs."

The fix:

• disinfect tub with bleach or bathroom cleaner after bath
• dry tub with a clean towel after use
• whirlpool tubs: clean out the pipes in tub

 

The best advice? Remember to wash your hands often--and don't stop washing too soon. Wash for at least 20 seconds or the time it takes to sing Happy Birthday song twice. According to WebMD, if you depend on hand sanitizers to stay clean, remember to try to wash hands at a sink at least after every 4th use because the hand sanitizers build up on hands.

(Photo by Plutor with processing by me.)

 

Cool + Plus: Eco-Friendly Sunnan Lamp

Today is the first in my Cool + Plus series featuring products that not only have amazing design, but also benefit the environment and society.

IKEA Sunnan rechargeable solar lamp 

Thanks to a collaboration between UNICEF and IKEA, for every lamp purchased another is donated to a child living without electricity in the developing world including:

• remote areas of Pakistan
• rural school children in India
• children in the cotton districts in Maharashtra, India (Save the Children)

“Millions of children can’t draw, write or read after sunset, limiting their horizons and possibly their futures,” according to Marianne Barner, head of IKEA Social Initiative. “We hope our lamps are a small but important contribution to improving the lives of children in developing countries.”

Sunnan Solar Lamp features

• rechargeable batteries and solar panel
• use this lamp practically anywhere--no plugs or cables needed
• charge lamp and/or solar unit on the window sill as needed
• built-in LED light source with a life time approx. 25,000 hours
• weighs only 2 lbs
• affordable at $20

 

Photo: IKEA

 

Daily doodle: California dreaming

 

 

"I'd be safe and warm
if I was in L.A.
California Dreamin'
on such a winter's day"

 ~ California Dreamin', 
The Mamas & the Papas

 

You can see more of my doodles at Momathon doodles.
Illustration: Chris Olson © 2011.

New study says 30% of young couples who agree to monogamy cheat

Have you had the monogamy talk with your partner? And if you had the talk, have you really agreed to agree on exclusivity?

According to a new study of heterosexual couples between the ages of 18 to 25 by Oregon State University, many couples do not share their opinions on exclusivity:

In 40% of couples studied, only one partner says the couple agreed to be sexually exclusive. The other partner said there was no agreement.

Even among those who agreed they had an explicit agreement to be monogamous, almost 30% had broken the agreement, with at least one partner having had sex outside the relationship.

The sexual health consequences of not communicating the terms of your relationship can be serious because length of time in a relationship does not guarantee monogamy. Researchers Jocelyn Warren and Marie Harvey of Oregon State University studied data from the PARTNERS Project, a Center for Disease Control-funded study conducted by Harvey.

Engaging in safe sex requires partners to communicate their rules about exclusivity. Practicing safe sex is still key in a longterm relationship. "While previous research indicates condom use declines as couples become more intimate and steady over time, the OSU study of married and non-married couples shows some partners are not communicating effectively about the terms of their relationship," according to an article by Melissa Navas in OregonLive.com.

In the study, married couples were not more likely than unmarried couples to have an explicit monogamy agreement in place. "Factors such as marriage and children did not increase the likelihood that the couple had agreed to monogamy," according to e! Science News.

Is monogamy a myth? The new study suggests couples need to talk more about their opinions on exclusivity and assume less. "In light of their findings, the study authors suggest that health professionals advocate condom use whether a young patient says the relationship is monogamous or not," says blogger Jamie Beckman in SheKnows Sex.


Illustration: Chris Olson © 2011.

Daily doodle: the big purse

I like my money right where I can see it--hanging in my closet.
~ Carrie, Sex and the City

You can see more of my doodles at Momathon doodles.
Illustration: Chris Olson © 2011.

Signs of new life in winter

When life gets tough, consider the hardy plants outside. Somehow, defying all the odds, the magical rebirth of plants continues even on the coldest days...

Photographer Tracey Clark says it so well: "Mother Nature works miracles during every part of the year. It's merely a matter of remembering that what is going on beyond what meets the eye is sometimes even more wonderful than what we can actually see. This intangibility might be a challenge today. But sometimes, the challenge is half the fun."

 

Photo taken for an assignment in BigPictureClasses.com, Chris Olson © 2011

Back for seconds: Easy Raspberry Tiramisu

Only 7 delicious ingredients and 3 steps to make Raspberry Tiramsu! Sometimes called "heaven in your mouth," this refreshing Italian dessert is as much fun to eat as it is to say: tih-ruh-mee-SOO. The raspberry version in this post is easy enough to make with the kids. Dorie Greenspan has the complete recipe for this layered treat at Parade.com. 

Ingredients:

12 oz. frozen raspberries, thawed

1/4 cup sugar

2 oz. (2-inch-thick slice) pound cake

1/4 cup mascarpone (an Italian triple cream cheese)

1/4 tsp vanilla extract

1/2 cup heavy cream, lightly whipped

1/2 pint fresh raspberries

Now all I need to do is decide what to serve the desert in... Wine glasses? Martini glasses? Or just some pretty glass bowls?

 

(Tiramisu image by Bloggyboulga)

Back for seconds... I posted this recipe last year. For more recipes and cooking ideas, check out Momathon cooking and recipes

 

 

Observing a moment of silence Monday at 11:00 a.m. EST

 

Words seem so powerless in times like this--unable to fully express the sadness of the tragedy in Arizona. My heart goes out to the families of the victims shot while attending Representative Gabrielle Gifford's meet-and-greet in her Tucson neighborhood. And I pray for those still fighting for their lives. 

President Obama is calling for a nationwide moment of silence at 11 a.m. eastern standard time on Monday. According to NYTimes.com, Obama says "It will be a time for us to come together as a nation in prayer or reflection, keeping the victims and their families closely at heart."

(Illustration by me, Chris Olson)

Daily doodle: If the sky falls...

You can see more of my doodles at Momathon doodles.
Illustration: Chris Olson © 2011.

Photo essay: Winter blues

Are you feeling the winter blues? Grab your camera and head outdoors. As my photography instructor Tracey Clark says, "Winter has its challenges as the cold weather has a tendency to keep us cooped up, counting down the days until things warm up. But with our cameras, we are still free to explore and discover, even if it's from the comfort of home."

 

The light in winter is amazing. The pristine snow turns blue in the afternoon light. A blue bird morning in January makes the winter white Aspens look like statues.

Photos: Chris Olson © 2011

 

A little sunshine in winter

My "Picture Winter" photo for today is all about finding a little sunshine even on a chilly January day. My instructor, Tracey Clark at BigPictureClasses.com gave the class a fun assignment: "Today, keep your eyes open for signs of the sun. Polka dots, symbols, colors, shiny things…whatever helps you remember that the sun will come out tomorrow (or sometime soon, no doubt)."

Photo: Chris Olson © 2011 (Camera: iPhone)

Winter photography

Back in August at the BlogHer10 conference, I met some amazing photographers including the gals in Shutter Sisters. I already have devoured their cool new book Expressive Photography: The Shutter Sisters' Guide to Shooting from the Heart.

I guess I caught the photo bug from these talented gals. Now I am taking Tracey Clark's online photo class "Picture Winter." According to the course outline, Picture Winter is a "photo centric guided e-class that focuses on the many wonders of winter and will in turn act as a catalyst to creatively jumpstart the brand new year." 

Should be fun. I will be checking in here with updates on my progress.

Video: My Blackberry Is Not Working

Love this funny and "fruity" video clip. How did they know that I've been looking for an Eggs Box 360 too? 

Watch the clever sketch from Ronnie Corbett's One Ronnie Show on BBC One below. (Kudos to my brother for bringing this to my attention.)

 

YouTube Link: My Blackberry Is Not Working! - The One Ronnie

 

Your big adventure in 2011 begins today

Happy New Year!

 

You can see more of my doodles at Momathon doodles.
Illustration: Chris Olson © 2010.