Momathon Blog

DIY: Sunshine Bead Necklace

My mouth waters when I walk into a bead store. So many bead options. So many amazing colors. My Sunshine Necklace bead project is easy to do if you enjoy mixing and matching 3 or more bead styles on your bead cord. I also included decorative beads such as a tabular beads to add some dimension and variety. Perhaps the best part about making this necklace is you can make up your own pattern. Anything goes! I suggest limiting the larger decorative bead to every 24th to 32nd bead. I like to use sterling silver findings—clasps, crimps, and jump rings—but you can use a less expensive type also. A silk bead cord with an attached "needle" makes beading a snap. Select a silk bead cord with the proper strength/weight for the beads you want to include and the length of the necklace. You can make the necklace a variety of lengths. I like to have the finished piece approximately 18" or if I want to loop it and make it a double necklace I will make it up to 32" long. Remember to allow for some extra silk cord due to the knots at the end and the cord you trim off. Also, the clasp and tab will add some length to the necklace.

See the supply list below. Let me know about your beading projects on Facebook or in the comments. Happy beading!

Images above by me, Chris Olson.  Feel free to pin this image tutorial on Pinterest as long as the pin links back to my blog post.

Building Your Brand on Etsy

How does Janell Anderson of Prunella Soap on ETSY make her shop stand out? Unique photos, lovely products, and pretty packaging are just a few reasons.

Having a shop with a clear brand message is the key to getting noticed and remembered. What are the core values of your shop? Once you know what your brand values are, you can explore the details of what makes your brand stand out from the rest. What is your brand style? According to Janell, Prunella Soap's brand style is minimalist, playful and good clean fun. Next consider the packaging and other materials—they should mirror the appearance of your brand.

Putting the message of your brand into words takes time and patience. If you can be a fearless editor and tweak the wording until you find the essence of your brand, then you will have the pitch to attract customers. 

Here is how she puts these core values and keywords into her Etsy shop description.

Prunella is vegan cold process soap made with organic ingredients in Portland, Oregon. It is made utilizing the old-fashioned method of soap making and cures for a minimum of four weeks from the time it is made until it’s available for sale. Eco-friendly, super sudsy and wonderful for your skin!

Perfect phrasing, don't you think? Learn how she did it, and how you can do it in this short ETSY video. Also, check out the FREE Etsy Success Symposium: Get Found today, Friday, March 30th.

Image above by me, Chris Olson. Photo from Prunella Soap video on ETSY.

Go Ahead, Be Awesome!

Are you a perfectionist? As a card-carrying "over thinker" I know my tendency to be self critical happens all too often. I need to tape the message above to my mirror. 

If you are looking to get out of a rut and reclaim your awesome-ness, check out these inspiring links:

I believe awesome-ness is contagious. Look at the awesome collections Erin Loechner features daily on her blog Design For Mankind.

Creative awesomeness needs to be shared. Do you like to create things and dream of turning your craft into a career? Check out the the books Craft, Inc. and Creative, Inc. by the super creative Meg Mateo Ilasco and Joy Deangdeelert Cho.

Gretchen Rubin's best-selling book and her blog The Happiness Project offers insights on how to find happiness in your life.

Image above by me, Chris Olson. 

Green Grass Bookshelf

The clever people at Boon Inc. have created an adorable book shelf that doubles as a piece of art. Kids and adults will love displaying their favorite books in the Turf, Front-facing Bookshelf. Great for all sizes of books. Books face forward for easy selection. Easy wall-mounting, hardware included. Dimensions: 4.75" x 15.75" x 10.25". BpA-free. Phthalate-free. PVC-Free.

Image above by me, Chris Olson.  Photos: Boon, Inc.

Polka Dot Pazzazz in the Bedroom

Sleeping in bedding with a cheerful print will bring you good dreams, I'm sure. Bought these sheets for my parents recently. Love the fact the Dot to Dot bedding by Garnet Hill comes in a wide range of bright and pastel polka dots. Sweet dreams! (Bedding, $28 - $98)

Image above by me, Chris Olson. Bedding by the marvelous Garnet Hill.

Go Outside! The National Day of Unplugging Begins at Sundown

If you are like me, then you probably will have a hard time "unplugging" and living offline for 24 hours. The National Day of Unplugging runs from sundown today, Friday, March 23, to sundown, Saturday, March 24. It's a day to recharge without technology. Instead of connecting on Facebook, pinning or tweeting, we are challenged to connect with each other off screen. Here is how it all started according to the National Day of Unplugging Pledge on causes.com:

With roots in Jewish tradition, this modern day of rest was developed by Reboot as a way to bring some balance to our increasingly fast-paced way of life and reclaim time to connect with family, friends, the community and ourselves. Shut down your computer. Turn off your cell phone. Stop the constant emailing, texting, Tweeting and Facebooking to take time to notice the world around you. Connect with loved ones. Nurture your health. Get outside. Find silence. Avoid commerce. Give back. Eat Together. 

Ironically to find out more about the annual tech detox day you will have to go online... You can check out the National Day of Unplugging  pledge or go to National Day of Unplugging 2012 « Sabbath Manifesto or like the day on Facebook.

Here is my compromise. I know I can't go cold turkey and avoid all tech. Instead join me and spend more time outside—with friends. And why not. It's the first weekend of spring. That's a good enough reason to leave my laptop and iPad behind and enjoy the beautiful world outdoors.

That's me in the photo above enjoying a walk with one of my favorite four-legged friends. So go soak up some Vitamin D outdoors. Find a friend and take a walk. Enjoy!

Image above by me, Chris Olson. 

Fresh Picks: For the Garden

 

Time to get outside and play in the garden. Thanks to the inspiration from my dear friend and garden guru, Kathy, here are a few of my fresh picks to get my garden in shape.

1) Protect your hands and your manicure with the leather Monogrammable Gardening Gloves from Red Envelope.
2) The versatile heather plant is a multi-tasker—perfect as foundation plants, ground cover, in borders, or in rock gardens. 
3) The ergonomic Felco Pruners work hard in the garden without hurting your hands. I love the fact Felco has pruners for lefties too!
4. Perfect upgrade to your garden trowel, the Japanese Hori Hori knife at Terrain.
5. Gotta love the price on these cute LANTSTÄLLE plant pots by IKEA.
6. And don't forget to take a break and admire your work on the Arched Back Bench from Terrain.

Image above by me, Chris Olson. 

Wordless Wednesday: I'd Rather Be Skiing

March in the Rockies is spring skiing heaven with new snow almost every day. I'm in my studio, but I'd rather be skiing...

Image by the ski bum mum, Chris Olson.

Four Tips to Pick the Best Sofa

With all the choices and styles available, buying a new sofa can be daunting. Finding a sofa with great style and quality construction is key to making a good furniture investment that will last for years to come. Always go to the store showroom to give each sofa a test drive. To make the evaluation simpler, just follow the four tips in the image above to narrow your list of choices. 

Image above by me,  Chris Olson. Sofa  featured is the Klyne Sofa from Crate and Barrel. 

Wear This: Spring Break Style

Daffodils are blooming and spring break is in full swing. Time to soak up some Vitamin D outdoors! I try to pack light for a vacation and that is exactly why I love a dress that can multi-task—the Elevator 2-In-1 Dress  goes from beach wear to something you can wear out shopping or for dinner. I also think the Impossible Bikini top is so smart—it's a comfy swim top that offers the support of a halter and without the pain that comes from cranking down the neck tie.

Enjoy the sunshine!

1) Elevator 2-In-1 Dress $62

2) Lux Leather Flip $90
3) Diamonds Necklace $99

4) Three Little Bears Hoody $65

5) Bare Necessities Bag $45

6) Bronwen Bracelet $39 (on SALE now)

7) Everyday Essentials Daypack $75

8) Impossible Bikini top $49, Bottom $44

All items are available at Title Nine

(Image above by me, Chris Olson. Photos via Title Nine)

Sleepy? Try Out the Caffeine-O-Meter

Waking up at the crack of dawn has never been easy for me. With kids getting breakfast and heading to school before 6:30 a.m., a cup of coffee is essential for me.

Not all coffees and teas are created equal according to the caffeine-o-meter. A Starbucks Vanilla Latte sounds mellow, but it has 150 mg of caffeine compared to a 16 oz Dunkin' Donuts cup at 143-206 mg. As for tea, a 16 oz. Starbucks Tazo Chai Tea Latte has 100 mg. Who knows, maybe next time I'm feeling a bit sluggish in the morning I'll really go wild and grab a cup of ice cream. Did you know that 8 oz. of Ben and Jerry's Coffee Heath Bar Crunch has a whopping 84 mg of caffeine. And two tablets of Excedrin, Extra Strength has 130 mg.

According to research by the USDA as reported by the MayoClinic.com the following coffees, teas, and other drinks include the following amounts of caffeine. Note that the caffeine amount listed is specific to the size of the cup tested. For specifics on caffeine levels, continue reading.

Happy Thoughts from Winnie the Pooh

 

"If you live to be 100, I hope I live to be 100 minus 1 day, so I never have to live without you," says Winnie the Pooh.

 

Image: Wisdom by Winnie the Pooh. Art by me, Chris Olson. The role of Pooh played by the handmade and much-loved Honey Bear. Feel free to Pin it on Pinterest with a link back to this post. Thanks!

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Dear Pinterest.

 

The "Dear Pinterest" graphic above is part of the THE PINTEREST PROJECT. A kind social media experiment to reach as many Pinterest users as possible (and Pinterest) to raise awareness about the importance of LINKING to the original source + respecting intellectual property online. (More info here.)

Spreading love + goodness.

Please pin it. Please share it. Please + thank you.

via Dear Pinterest. - LINKwithlove.

P.S. If you want a LINKwithlove button like the one below, you can grab one here.

 

via linkwithlove.typepad.com

The "Dear Pinterest" graphic above is part of the THE PINTEREST PROJECT. A kind social media experiment to reach as many Pinterest users as possible (and Pinterest) to raise awareness about the importance of LINKING to the original source + respecting intellectual property online. (More info here.)

Spreading love + goodness.

Please pin it. Please share it. Please + thank you.

You Have Permission to Act Your Age

At 90 years young, fashion and design icon Iris Apfel gives all of us permission to act our age—and perhaps most importantly—to also be proud of your age.

Known for her round oversize glasses and pairs of bangle bracelets, Apfel obviously loves expressing herself creatively through fashion and creating a signature look.

Although we may live in a youth-obsessed culture, a shift is beginning to take place in fashion and beauty. The self-proclaimed "geriatric starlet, " Apfel has become a hot new rock star in the cosmetic's industry with the limited edition Iris Apfel collection with MAC Cosmetics. Apfel also has her own line of jewelry, scarves and beads at HSN.

(Image above by me, Chris Olson. Photos: MAC Cosmetics)

Wordless Wednesday: Go Outside and Play!

The middle of the week can seem like the slowest day possible. That's when my dogs remind me to go outside and play. So if you can, be sure to grab some vitamin D outdoors!

(Image by me, Chris Olson.)

The Little Paris Kitchen with Rachel Khoo

When I was in college I worked in the French Hotel Sofitel bakery as a pastry chef. I will never know why I got the job. I don't know which I exaggerated about more in my job interview—my cooking skills or my French speaking skills. Anyway, I worked physically harder at that job than any other job—lugging around huge metal bowls of 101 combinations of pastry dough, burning my wrists and hands on baking pans, and sweating from 6 am until 3 pm in a kitchen that had a wall of floor-to-ceiling walk-in ovens. I admit eating as many ice cream filled Profiteroles you want was a perk, but it was soooo hot in the bakery that near the end of my tenure working in the hotel, I moved to the much cooler main kitchen in the hotel making Coquilles St. Jacques and Ratatouille.

Check out a more lighthearted look at a French kitchen in the video below. The beautiful cookbook, The Little Paris Kitchen, also has a brand new BBC2 TV series with Rachel Khoo cooking up a storm from her tiny Parisian kitchen. She is a British chef and she admits that the hardest people to cook for are French chefs. I agree with that! But she seems fluent in both her cooking and French speaking. Her skills tower over mine. Maybe I need some more practice. A trip to France would be nice this summer I'm sure...

 

You can watch the video above on YouTube also.

IMAGE: Graphic by me, Chris Olson, featuring images from the short film The Little Paris Kitchen.

The Story of the "Keep Calm and Carry On" Poster

 

Keep calm and carry on. This timeless phrase still offers a sense of encouragement and instills confidence in others. Fortunately, hope never goes out of fashion.

A short film by Temujin Doran tells the story behind the now famous "Keep Calm and Carry On" poster. The poster was one in a series of three posters that the British government commissioned in the spring of 1939, at the beginning of WWII. The posters were intended to bring hope and comfort during a very dark period in history. The first two posters were displayed in shop windows and railway platforms. The "Keep Calm and Carry On" poster was held in reserve for a time of crisis and, as fate would have it, this poster ended up never being officially issued.

Decades later, the third poster that had not been seen by the public was rediscovered in boxes at a former railway turned into the bookshop Barter Books in Alnwick Station, Northumberland. Barter Books was begun in 1991 by Stuart & Mary Manley. In 2000 Stuart found the poster in boxes of books that had been bought at auction. Mary liked it so much she had it framed, and the rest is history as the poster became one of the iconic images of the 2st century.

You can watch the film below. 

 

(Collage images designed by me, Chris Olson using photos from the film The Story of Keep Calm and Carry On by Temujin Doran.)

I HEART LONDON
You can read more about my fascination with London here: Flower Drama in London and London Calling and The Story of the "Keep Calm and Carry On" Poster—or on my Facebook page.

Four Ways to Wear Floral

 



The look from Anthropologie.com: Atypical Situation Dress $158, Hanalei Buttondown, Floral $78, Blanched Crocus Maxi Skirt $148 with Petal Window Tee $38, Sleeveless Shawl-Collar Boatneck, Striped $48 with Draped Viola Skirt $98.

 (Images by me, Chris Olson. Photos by Anthropologie.com)

It's So Etsy: Floral Mary Jane Baby Booties

Soft and cozy, these adorable handmade Mary Jane baby booties by Pitter Patter Shop on Etsy are perfect for spring. 

Details:

• 100% cotton floral pattern shell, and lined with light pink.
• The interior is so soft that even the smallest toes would be happy in these shoes, with or without socks.
• Velcro closure for quick and easy fastening on even the busiest of little feet.
• Embellished with a pink, blue, and green felt flower topped with some decorative pearls.
• A wide variety of sizes and bootie styles are available at the PitterPatterShop.
• Link: NELLA CORDELIA (Brown Pink Blue Green Orange) $7.

 Find these handmade booties on Pinterest, right here.

(Images by me, Chris Olson. Photo by PitterPatterShop on Etsy)

Lovely Links: Lemonade, Chalk Lettering, and Zooey

 



Hope you are having an AMAZING and lovely spring weekend. Sunny and warmer here makes me think spring is almost here. 

Lovely links:

• Just in time for spring and Mother's Day, the "Lemonade Roses" fine art print above at Etsy.

• Perfect musical pairing with a tall glass of lemonade, listen to the music of Zooey Deschanel (She & Him) and similar artists on Pandora Radio

• Lemonade and sidewalk chalk is a warm weather fave. If you like the chalk lettering you will enjoy the WSJ.com interview with Dana Tanamachi. Check out the WSJ video below.

 Lemonade Rose image by Luna Blue Studio on Etsy.

Spring Ahead: Daylight Saving Time Begins Sunday

Daylight saving time begins this weekend. Don't forget to turn your clocks ahead one hour on Sunday, March 12, 2012. 

A bit of daylight saving time trivia

Leaving out the plural "s" on daylight saving time sounds strange, but according to the grammar experts at The Washington Post the term is not plural.

Daylight saving time is NOT observed in Hawaii and Arizona.

In case you were wondering... The clocks featured in the image above: Retro Turquoise 9 1/2" Square Wall Clock via LampsPlus.com, Black Wehrle German Commander Alarm Clock via Crate and Barrel, Dropped Numbers 23" Clock via CB2, Wooden Hedgehog Wall Clock via The Land of Nod, and Tangerine Creamsicle Modern Wall Clock (sold out) via Uncommon on Etsy.

Image by me, Chris Olson.

Sprinkles Cupcake ATM Sweetens Your Day 24/7

 

Craving your favorite Belgian dark chocolate cupcake with creamy vanilla icing or maybe a fragrant lemon cake with lemon-vanilla frosting flecked with zest? Sprinkles Cupcakes now has you covered 24/7 with their new Sprinkles Cupcake ATM outside their bakery in Beverly Hills. 

Where to go:

Sprinkles Cupcakes, 9635 South Santa Monica Boulevard, Beverly Hills, California 90210

(Image by me, Chris Olson)

I Spy Style: ABICI Bikes Handmade in Italy

Riding a bike will always improve my mood. Plain and simple, bikes make me happy. I'm loving the retro style mixed with hi-tech features of the stunning ABICI bikes handmade in Italy. Pure pedal power.

Collage above by me, Chris Olson. Bikes by ABICI.

Wordless Wednesday Bouquet

Hello Wednesday! Woke up a bit tired today even though I know I got more sleep than yesterday. I think a little tiara bling would be a very nice way to start the day. Or better yet, a nice purple bouquet.

(Image above by me, Chris Olson with photography by the amazing D Sharon Pruitt.) 

Sometimes I Pretend to Bake

Do you ever get frazzled by the idea of preparing food for company? Even though years ago I worked at a French hotel as a pastry chef baking more decadent desserts than my hips needed, I still get nervous preparing food to serve to my friends for brunch. I have not mastered the craft of doctoring store-bought goods to look homemade, but I can put together a homemade baking project from mixes and such.

My Homemade Twist for Baking Cream Cheese and Cinnamon Breakfast Rolls

My cream cheese and cinnamon rolls are an enhanced version of the Pillsbury Cream Cheese Cinnabon rolls. I add a little extra cinnamon and sugar topping that I whip up from my pantry. And instead of baking the rolls 2" inches apart, I group them together in a circle on a greased cookie sheet. No need to fuss with a round baking dish either. Bake them on a flat cookie sheet so it is easy to remove and serve on a pretty dish. I bake them for about 10-12 minutes, let them cool for an extra minute or so and then ever so gently slide them off the pan onto a serving dish.

While they are still warm I add the pre-made white icing so the icing drips down the sides of the rolls. My kids and my husband like lots of frosting on the rolls, so if you want to make the rolls even sweeter, mix up your own cream cheese frosting with butter, cream cheese, powdered sugar and vanilla extract. Try the simple recipe for cream cheese frosting here. Just remember to add the frosting to the rolls while the rolls are warm.

Yum!

Photo by me, Chris Olson.

Happy 100th Birthday Oreo Cookie!

Today I will be twisting the top off Oreo cookies and celebrating the famous cookie's 100th birthday with a glass of milk. How will you celebrate the day?

It all began one hundred years ago in a Nabisco bakery in Manhattan. Bakers mixed flour with cocoa, sugar and oil to make the base cake and then added the special cream center to make the first Oreo cookie sandwiches. Yum! The Oreos were then sold in tins in stores in Hoboken, NJ. 

According to the Oreo experts, approximately half of us like to take apart an Oreo cookie sandwich before we have the first bite. That's how I eat them. Are you like me too?

Did you know Oreo has a channel on YouTube. My personal fave is the Oreo commercial from France with a little girl teaching her Dad the "right" way to eat an Oreo cookie. 

 

Celebrate Oreo's birthday:

• Send an Oreo Birthday Cookie Gram from  Nabisco for $3.99
• Follow Oreo Cookie on Twitter
• Like Oreo on Facebook.

(Images: Oreo cookie birthday image by me, Chris Olson. French Oreo commercial by Nabisco.)

 

Shelter dog of the week: Dakota

Dakota is a shelter dog who has made amazing progress since he was rescued and given the much needed medical attention to help him recover from his severely malnourished and near starvation condition. Thanks to the extra TLC he receives in the animal rescue group's foster care, I expect him to make a full recovery.

If you like to hike or take long walks, then Dakota is the hiking pal for you. He is a friendly and smart lab/husky mix. He is learning new obedience commands very quickly and he loves to show off his new skills! He needs a family willing to spend some more time training him. He will definitely be the star of the obedience class! You can find out more about adopting Dakota at the website Pals Forever Animal Rescue. You can follow his progress and send him a message on the Pals Forever Animal Rescue on Facebook page.

Note to self: chopsticks wisdom

Hello friends. Hope you shared a nice weekend with family and friends. The weather today is unusually warm—skipping right over Spring and into Summer. But, snow is blowing my way come Wednesday. Long sigh...

I thought the clever saying on my chopsticks was perfect for me. How did the restaurant know about my vast talents in chopsticks? I try to use them correctly, but I need more practice. Another good reason to go out to eat more often.

I am still on my Camera Awesome kick. You can read more about my adventures with camera apps here. The photo above by me using my iPhone was post processed using the Awesome app and the Denim effect. 

(Photo by me, Chris Olson)

Tea for two

A dear neighbor had a birthday tea party for me yesterday. Of course the tea and treats were delicious. Her pretty chickadee plates from Crate and Barrel are perfect for spring.

Green design: The LowLine Project aims to build an underground park in NYC

 
Imagine skylights that could allow plants and even an entire park to grow underground. In a crowded city like NYC, an urban underground park more than a dream thanks to the technology developed by architect Dan Barasch and his partner James Ramsey. Their Delancey Underground Project aims to convert an unused trolley terminal that extends for about three blocks right below Delancey Street (between Essex Street and the entrance to the Williamsburg Bridge) and turn this cavernous space into an extraordinary subterranean public park– nicknamed the “LowLine” after the successful elevated "High Line" park on the West Side of Manhattan.

James Ramsey and Dan Barasch

The Low Line might be the next urban frontier according to Salon.com: 

Dan Barasch and his partner James Ramsey are the co-designers of a wild new public-park concept cast in the mold of the city’s acclaimed High Line — except that instead of hoisting their park into the sky, they want to sink it into the mud. Envisioning a verdant cave filled with grass and trees.

Bararsch and Ramsey are seeking financing through "a combination of donations, grant money, public money and revenue from a limited number of shops inside the space could cover construction and maintenance" according to NYTimes.com. This ambitious project will only be funded if at least $100,000 is pledged by Friday, April 6th. You can make a pledge at Kickstarter here and watch their video below. 

Important links:

• If you are interested in funding this green initiative, go to LowLine: An Underground Park on NYC's Lower East Side by Dan Barasch on Kickstarter.
• Follow the LowLine on Twitter
• Like the LowLine project on Facebook: Delancey Underground
• Of course, more details about this project on their website, Delancey underground - The Project (delanceyunderground.org)

 

Photos via LowLine on Kickstarter.

Yippee! This blog post was selected to be featured on BlogHer.com to promote green design on March 9th. 

 

 

A wonderful whimsical birthday card by my big brother

 
My brother Eric has been creating amazing illustrations since he was in kindergarten. My mom says one of his elementary school teachers loved his work so much she let him draw all day instead of doing his schoolwork. Not sure if this was the best teaching method, but fortunately he managed to pass that grade and go on to excel in almost anything he tried. Fast forward a couple of decades and he makes his living creating amazing things in his art studio. And one recently landed in my mailbox—a wonderful whimsical birthday card featured in the photo above. Since he knows I am a slave to several adorable dogs—even providing special doggy car seats for my canine crew—the card he created makes me smile.

Eric's illustrations have been featured in so many places I've lost count—from designer clothing sold at Target to fine china at Pottery Barn to book covers like A Book of Ages and Role Models. His illustrations have appeared in the New Yorker, McSweeney's, Rolling Stone, Vanity Fair, Spy, Oprah, the Atlantic, Harper’s, the New York Times, Travel & Leisure, Gourmet, Wig Wag, the Believer and other publications. You can check out his work on his blog er-h and his illustration website.