Momathon Blog

It's So Etsy: Halloween Banner

This cute and spooky hand-painted burlap banner is guaranteed to add plenty of sparkle to your Halloween decor. Created by Brandy and available for $16.99 at her Etsy store baybeedahlboutique. Her store includes more banners. I also love the banner that says "Halloween." Perfect to hang on a front porch or across a dining room for a party!

Notes:

• Designer orange and black fine glitter spell the word "Spooky."
• Burlap is treated to prevent fraying edges and sewn onto natural jute twine.
• Banner can be used for many years as glitter is also treated to prevent sparkle loss.
• Individual burlap pennants measure 10 inches tall and 7 inches wide.
• "Spooky" portion measures 46 inches.
• Total banner length measuring over 9 feet long.

Photo: baybeedahlboutique

Movie Watch: Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close

Jonathan Safran Foer's gripping novel about the attacks on September 11th is the basis for the new film Extremely Loud And Incredibly Close starring Tom Hanks, Sandra Bullock, and Thomas Horn Star. Tom and Sandra's characters in the film are the parents of a genius 13-year-old son (Thomas Horn). After the father dies in the attacks on the World Trade Center, his son goes on a journey to find the lock that matches a key his father left behind. The film opens in a limited release on Christmas Day. Based on the quality of the novel and the film's amazing cast, I'm not surprised this movie is already garnering Oscar buzz.

        

       

Movie trailer above and on YouTube.

Photos: Warner Bros. 

Decor Crush: Jennifer Lopez's new house in the Hamptons

 

Lopez's new digs in the Hampton's exclusive Water Mill area look amazing: 14,000 square-foot shingle style house, 7 bedrooms and 9.5 baths, outdoor spa/pool with a fireplace, master suite and jr suite. My favorite room is the spacious crisp white kitchen. Imagine the meals you could prepare here! The Lopez place reminds me of Erica Barry's (Diane Keaton) Hamptons beach house in the movie Something's Gotta Give. For more details on the Lopez home check out the lovely blog Hooked on Houses by Julia and the Corcoran property listing.

Wordless Wednesday: Fall Colors

 

Fall colors photos by me, Chris Olson

Cooking with Kids: Mini German Pancakes Recipe

Here's a quick recipe that multi-tasks! My mini german pancakes are perfect for breakfast, lunch or dinner. My mom is a home economist and when I was a kid she made a similar recipe in a 13x9x2-inch pan. I modified the recipe and reduced the amount of butter (and calories) and also bake my "eggies" in a cupcake pan. This is an easy recipe--only four ingredients, plus the toppings. It's one you can make with your kids.

Click my blog link below to get recipe. You can find more of my easy recipes on Facebook too.

Decor Crush: Claire and Phil's house on the Modern Family series

I want to live in Claire and Phil Dunphy's house on Modern Family or be their neighbor. And it's not about how grand the house is–that would be the home of the series patriarch. I love the way the set looks like a real home, where Pottery Barn charm and everyday family chaos collide. The set decor mixes vintage Craftsman with hip West Coast style. I adore the colors–Benjamin Moore "Labrador Blue" on the entry walls. Colorful artwork all over the walls. Bold striped pillows look inviting on my major decor crush: the comfy beige sofa from Sofa U Love. 

Photo credits: ABC

 

George Clooney Gets Hitched – In an Ad I Can't Stop Watching

 

Proving one more time that he really is every woman's fantasy husband, George Clooney gets married in a new ad for Norwegian Bank DnB NOR. Forget about the fact he is a committed bachelor in real life, this ad fantasy all about marrying Clooney makes me think the dream could come true at least in the minds of clever advertising folks.

Spread the love: Adopt a less "popular" dog

 

I love black dogs because their eyes sparkle and their smiles are so adorable! Sadly, many people overlook this when they go to an animal shelter. Black dogs–especially big black dogs–end up spending weeks longer in an animal shelter. Darker dogs tend to be more difficult to photograph and unfortunately prospective owners may overlook the dog's other wonderful features. There are many reasons less popular dogs end up sitting in a shelter and never find a home. Older dogs are calmer and often more obedient, but they often get overlooked for all the wrong reasons in shelters too. 

Lamar, the well-behaved black terrier with a goofy grin pictured above, has been at a shelter looking for a forever home for months. You can find out how to adopt him here.

If you are looking to adopt a new forever friend, Petfinder wants you to consider the special needs and less adoptable pets. Their pet adoption drive this week seeks to show how these highly adoptable dogs and cats make perfect pets.  You can find out more on their website: Adopt-A-Less-Adoptable-Pet Week. Over the years I have adopted four shelter dogs that were considered less popular because they were "seniors" or had health issues, but they are wonderful family members now!

Does having kids make men less sexy?

 

A new study says testosterone levels drop when guys have kids. Before your guy freaks out because he thinks this means his manhood suffers because of fatherhood, I've got a spoiler alert:

Lower male testosterone levels in this study reflect an improved capacity to care for their children–and that in my opinion also means an improved ability to care for their mates which makes guys even sexier.

Fatherhood may lower the testosterone levels responsible for competing for a mate, but at the same time this hormonal change enhances the ability to be calm and attentive. 

(Photo above by Mentafredda)

Frame a photo and hang it–in less than one minute

 

Now you can add art to the walls–and even reposition the artwork–in just minutes with these innovative stick-on frames. Set of wall decal frames includes one 4 x 4 frame, four 4 x 6 frames, two 5 x 7 frames and one 8 x 10 frame. The frames are reusable with photos and photo quality paper, but only one-time use only with standard paper such as your kid artwork. Stick on Frames Gallery is available in pink or black at Land of Nod, $24.95 each set.

 

 

As easy as 1-2-3: 

1) Peel off the backing of these frames
2) Attach your photos
3) Stick on any smooth, non-textured wall.

 

Photos: Land of Nod. 

Go ahead, doodle on the walls

 

The Frames wallpaper in the The Land of Nod collection is perfect for every kid who loves to draw--on the walls or on paper. Made for doodlers and young Picassos, hundreds of blank picture frames in a myriad of shapes and sizes cover the wallpaper. All you need to do is hand your kids (or the grownups) a box of markers. (Frames Wallpaper, $45.00)

Have fun!

(Photo: The Land of Nod)

Back for seconds: A version of this post was published earlier by me.

 

Make it a great weekend mantra

 

The days are getting shorter and fall is right around the corner. Time to soak up the last rays of summer sunshine and enjoy the day any way you like! Here's a weekend mantra to boost your mood and energy level. 

 

Go ahead, waste a little time. It’s good for you!

The quote in my illustration has been attributed to several people including John Lennon, Bertrand Russell, T. S. Elliot, Soren Kierkegaard, Laurence J. Peter, and others.

Text illustrations by me, Chris Olson. I do custom artwork with your favorite quotes, if you are interested go to my illustration website.

 

How safe is that arsenic in your apple juice?

HE CONTROVERSY OVER THE safety of arsenic levels in apple juice is heating up after Dr. Oz did some independent testing that questions the safety of those innocent looking juice boxes packed in so many lunch boxes. Turns out the inorganic arsenic found in pesticide now banned in the U.S. is still common in apples grown in other countries and these tainted apples can end up in our juice.

There are two kinds of arsenic–inorganic and organic–and this issue is a point of controversy because Dr. Oz tested for both levels combined. That is exactly how the arsenic levels are tested in the water we drink, but according to the FDA the arsenic levels in apple juice require a different testing.

Here's the catch: If you use the same arsenic safety criteria used for water, then the apple juice tested by the independent lab for The Dr. Oz Show did not fall within safe margins. The total arsenic level is the criteria for studying water safety. Inorganic levels is the safety level currently studied by the FDA as a safety criteria.

 

Cooking with Kids: Easy Raspberry Tiramisu

 

 

 

Tiramsu–sometimes called "heaven in your mouth"–is a refreshing Italian dessert that's as much fun to make as it is to say: tih-ruh-mee-SOO. The raspberry version in this recipe is easy enough to make with the kids. I modified the original recipe by Dorie Greenspan and added family-friendly cooking tips so the kids can help you make this layered treat recipe. (Note: This is a no-fuss recipe, don't worry if you can't find fresh raspberries for the top layer–just use slightly thawed frozen berries.)

Kid-friendly directions below.

My daily doodle: Four cats

 

Cats are kindly masters,
just so long as you remember your place.

~ Paul Gray

(Cat illustrations by me, Chris Olson)

Ever imagine moving to France for the summer? Read this book...

If you like France, remodeling homes, or shabby chic style, then you'll love Summers In France by architect and designer Kathryn M. Ireland. Illustrated with charcoal drawings and amazing photos, this book details her remodel of a French farmhouse and also offers recipes, marketplace shopping lists, how to decorate on a budget, and how to make guests comforable in your home. Ireland divides her time between her home in Santa Monica, California, and her summer home in Montauban, France.

 Even though I don't have a home in the French countryside, this book inspires me to tackle some decorating ideas at my house. Check out the following photos for ideas.

Music review: Hugh Laurie's debut album "Let Them Talk"

 

The star of the hit medical drama House, Hugh Laurie, is a big fan of American rhythm and blues music. And it turns out he knows how to sing the blues too. This week he won the British GQ "Music Man of the Year." His debut album Let Them Talk wins me over because when you...

Are couples today more monogamous?

 

With all the news of celebrity splits due to infidelity, is it really possible that monogamy is on the rise? According to a recent study of 6,864 straight and gay men and women published in the journal Family Process, the rate of monogamy has been rising since 1975. The study appears to be good news for couples, but the research...

The power of love

 

Lyrics by Huey Lewis, design by me, Chris Olson.

Anderson Cooper Show update

 

The Anderson Cooper new daytime talk show premieres in five days. Here's what they have planned for the first week:

Do schools take the thinking out of learning?

Imagine getting in your car to go on a trip to a new place and never making a plan such as looking at a map, writing down directions, or using GPS to plot the road trip for you. In very simple terms, that is what some schools encourage kids to do when they remove the activities that involve planning and organizing ideas and instead rely on highly regulated activities such as memorizing facts for a test. 

It's the little things...

 

 

Have a wonderful holiday weekend.

And remember to enjoy the little things!

Mixed media art by me, Chris Olson.