Momathon Blog

Happy Weekend

Hope you are having a wonderful weekend with someone who makes you happy.

xo Chris

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Image: Photo and graphics above by me, Chris Olson. Feel free to Pin it on Pinterest with a link back to this post. Thanks! 

 

Color Crush: Sky Blue

Because the horizon seems to go on forever in the summer heat... My color crush today is sky blue. I love the new take on the season's must-have white jean, the bohemian surfer-cool Elle Blanket Stripe Flare by Tory Burch. And why not continue this blue beachy vibe in the kitchen with this classic French range La Cornue Albertine Provence Blue Stove available at Williams-Sonoma. 

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Image: Photo and graphics above by me, Chris Olson. Feel free to Pin it on Pinterest with a link back to this post. Thanks! 

 

What to Pack: Chic and Comfy Surf Gear

 

Chic and comfy surf wear

Because I spent a great deal of time at a pool when I was a lifeguard, I am very picky when it comes to fit and style for beach wear. I want clothing and accessories that stands up to chlorine, sand and the hot rays of the sun. And if I can't sit down and then stand up without rearranging the swimsuit, well, the suit will never be worn again. The best swim cover ups are the ones that multi-task. I love the green cover up featured here because you can wear it as a skirt or a strapless dress. The comfy hoodie is a must when the sun goes down and you want to be wrapped in something warmer—also doubles as a good way to keep the sun's rays away. Here are my 7 of my favorites this year.

1) Print Impossible Tankini $59, Bikini Top $49, Bottom $44

2) Eden Sunglasses by Kaenon, $219

3)  Aquamarine Super Summer Hoody, $62

4) Green Multi-Tasker Cover-Up (Skirt/Strapless Dress) $59

5) One In A Million Messenger Bag, $115

6) Amo Flip Sandals, $59

7) White Pearl Soft Kore Kaenon Polarized Sunglasses, $239

Image above created by me, Chris Olson.

You may recognize this post from a post earlier in this spring. Due to the wildfires in my area I have been busy helping with social media for local animal shelters and I am focusing my energy there. For this reason I am reposting some of my popular posts.

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What to Pack: Summer Beach Wear that Multi Tasks

 

 

Summer beach gear is my fave—even when I am not at the beach. I love a dress that can multi-task. The Elevator 2-In-1 Dress goes from the beach to something you can wear out shopping or for dinner. I also think the Impossible Bikini top is 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 in these comfy things:

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) 

You may recognize this post from a post earlier in this spring. Due to the wildfires in my area I have been busy helping with social media for local animal shelters and I am focusing my energy there. For this reason I am reposting some of my popular posts.

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Homemade Ice Cream

When the temps are soaring, making homemade ice cream is a delicious summer project! Here are a few of my favorite recipes for ice cream, sorbet, and gelato by the pros. If you want to involve your kids in the fun, try the homemade ice cream in a bag recipe below.

• Skip endlessly cranking the handle of an ice-cream maker and try the Homemade Ice Cream in a Bag Recipe at FamilyFun
• I think the Berry Sorbet is my fave, but check out the 20 Homemade Ice Cream, Sorbet, and Gelato Recipes by Martha Stewart.
• This recipe rivals the drinks at StarBucks, Espresso Ice Cream Recipe by Ina Garten
• Imagine you are in Florence enjoying Chocolate-Hazelnut Gelato by Giada De Laurentiis
• If your kids like Twix or KitKats, try the Candy Jar Ice Cream by Rachael Ray.

Bon Appetit... That reminds me, check out the Bon Appetit recipe for Bourbon Ice Cream.

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Image: Photo and graphics above by me, Chris Olson. Feel free to Pin it on Pinterest with a link back to this post. Thanks! 

 

Pet safety tips for families living in wildfire regions

Hope everyone is safe today. If you live in the Waldo Canyon Fire area like me or live in another fire area, then you probably are feeling exhausted and on edge. Chances are your pets are also feeling very anxious too.

Do not allow your pets to go outside without supervision and keep them on a leash if you do not have a fenced area. Dogs and cats will smell the fire and feel like they should flee the area. You need to be the one keeping your dog or cat calm because they do not fuly understand the situation. Pet experts are suggesting the following tips to relieve stress in your pets:

How to relieve stress in family pets:
1) Keep pets inside away from the smoke and heat.

2) Dogs have a great sense of smell, washing your dog or wiping down your dog with a wet towel to remove the smell of fire in the fur helps relieve anxiety. (Note: If your dog does not like baths, do not add to the anxiety by forcing a bath. Just use a damp towel to remove smoke odors.)

3) If your dog is barking or whining, give the dog an alternative activity to do such as providing aproject toy like a Kong filled with dog treats. Telling your dog to be quiet will not be helpful because your dog is warning you about what they perceive to be a dangerous situation. Instead, try to get your pet involved in a new activity and praise them when they participate.

In case your family is asked to evacuate, you should pack these PET supplies.

Evacuation supplies for pets:
-- Vaccine records for pets in case you need to put them in a dog shelter or doggie daycare 
-- Pet crate with a familiar blanket for each pet
-- Dog medications if needed
-- Leashes
-- Dog collar with ID on the collar for each dog
-- Pet food bowls
-- 72-hour pet food supply
-- Gallon containers of fresh water
-- Dog toys including an "activity toy" to keep dog busy
-- Cat supplies, litter box, cat carrier, etc
-- Pet bird supplies including a cage, smaller bird carrier, bird food, fresh water, a lightweight blanket to cover bird cage and lower stress of your pet bird. 

Have you been evacuated? Register with the RED CROSS
If you have been evacuated, please register with the Red Cross—it's a simple way to let your family and friends know that you are safe.

Here is the link: American Red Cross—Safe and Well link

And if you meet a firefighter, give them a hug! They are AWESOME!

Update

 

Waldo Canyon Fire, photo date 7-23-12

Hi Friends. Just a short update for those of you who know I live in the "fire zone" in the foothills directly west of the Waldo Canyon Fire—a fire that has destroyed over 2000 acres in Colorado in the last 24 hours. Temps in my area are already soaring into the 100s. My neighborhood has been put on standby evacuation. We have our car packed and ready for an evacuation with three dog crates and supplies for my family and pets. It's a bit disturbing to have quarter-size ash embers landing on sidewalks and streets. 

Instead of editing this blog, I have been working on the social media for the local animal rescue organization I also work for. Fortunately I did have a couple of MomathonBlog.com posts all ready to go this week before the fire started yesterday.

A big thank you to the brave fire fighters battling the forest fire in the canyons and ridges. Also, thank you to my reader friends who have contacted me. My family is doing fine and we are keeping our fingers crossed.

If you want to help out with the Waldo Canyon Fire in Colorado, here are some important links: 

-- HelpColoradoNow.org helps support firefighters in the region: http://helpcoloradonow.org/
-- Humane Society or Pikes Peak Region: http://www.hsppr.org/
-- Fire updates and detailed evacuation notices: http://www.inciweb.org/incident/2929/

Pet care in the fire zone:

Hope everyone is safe today. If you live in  the Waldo Canyon Fire area or another fire area, then you are probably smelling the fire too. Chances are your pets are also feeling very anxious. Pet experts are suggesting the following tips to relieve stress in your pets:
1) Dogs have a great sense of smell, washing your dog or wiping down your dog with a wet towel to remove the smell of fire in the fur helps relieve anxiety.
2) If your dog is barking or whining, give the dog an alternative activity like a game with a toy inside the house to keep your pet busy away from the smoke outside.
3) Telling your dog to be quiet will not be helpful because your dog is warning you about what they perceive to be a dangerous situation. Try to get your pet involved in a new activity and praise them when they participate.

More pet safety tips here.

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Color Crush: Sea Glass

 

Viscid Watch {Anthropologie} & Prize Rose Blouse {Sundance}

Because I have summer vacay and beaches on my mind... My color crush today is sea glass. Love the bright gummy strap with some serious gold hardware on the Viscid Watch. Pair the watch with the silk chiffon Prize Rose Blouse.

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Image: Photo and graphics above by me, Chris Olson. Feel free to Pin it on Pinterest with a link back to this post. Thanks! 

Family Dog: Teaching Fido Manners {podcast}

You’ve witnessed the pandemonium. With the TV blaring in the background, cell phones ringing, and one of the kids practicing the trombone, no one is going to listen to you until you get their attention first. Teaching your dog to “focus” on you is the first step to training your dog. When your dog learns to FOCUS on you, then you can begin to introduce dog manners including waiting when you open a door or set down their dog bowl. I'll cover the advanced skills of WAIt and STAY in another post.

BEFORE YOU BEGIN

Before you start training, grab some training treats. The treats should be on the small size—one-bite size. Dog-training treats are small easy-to-digest treats that come in a variety of flavors. Some brands to check out are: 

• Newman's Own Organics Chicken and Vegetable Dog Training Treats
• Zukes Mini Naturals Training Treats
• One-bite size kibble—use your dog's favorite dry dog food

I like to keep a dozen or so small training treats in a snack baggie in my pocket so they are always ready when I need them. Just make sure you don't put them in a container so they rattle in your pocket—this often gets your dog overly excited about the treat and not the lesson.

Click on the audio link here to listen to How to Teach Your Dog to FOCUS:

 > • > • > AUDIO LINK 

Teaching Your Dog to FOCUS

 For step-by-step instructions for how to teach your dog to FOCUS click on the link below.

Hello, Summer!

Summer officiall kicks off today! In the Northern Hemisphere the longest day and shortest night of the year occur today—the summer solstice—and this makes it the first day of summer. Today in the Northern Hemispher the North Pole is tipped more toward the sun than on any other day in 2012.

For a few days before and after the solstice, have you ever noticed that the sun at noon appears to stay in the same spot in the sky? That's because the noontime elevation of the sun does not appear to change very much during this period. At the time of summer solstice the sun is directly overhead at noon along the Tropic of Cancer—an imaginary line that circles the planet at about the latitude of Cuba.

Here's the solstice scoop according National Geographic.com:

This year's summer solstice takes place a day earlier than it's been for the past three years, due to the fact that 2012 is a leap year—this February got an extra day, to keep our calendar year of 365 days in sync with the astronomical year, which is about 365.24 days.

I plan on enjoying the longest day outside—including a late dinner on the deck. Do you have any solstice plans?

 

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Image: Photo and graphics above by me, Chris Olson. Feel free to Pin it on Pinterest with a link back to this post. Thanks!

8 TV Shows to Follow on Pinterest

If you are addicted to Pinterest, check out the best TV shows on Pinterest. I know Elizabeth is not a real person, but her character on White Collar has me convinced she can plan the best parties—see her party planning board that will make even Martha Stewart wannabes smile. And if you are heading to the beach, check out Royal Pain's board "Beach Bag Essentials." More Pinterest details and links below.

1) White Collar, USA Network

A charming criminal mastermind and an FBI agent work together—until the con artist skips town. The new WC season begins Tuesday July 10, 9/8C

White Collar (whitecollarusa) on Pinterest

Pinterest boards to check out:

• Elizabeth's Party Planning Page
• Mozzie's Great Escapes
• Caffrey's Corner

2) The Martha Stewart Show

I'm just telling it like it is: The Martha Stewart Show on Pinterest is porn for the crafty set. (Also see The Rachael Ray Show on Pinterest below) Although Martha's Pinterest site includes her magazine too, I had to include it in the list because it is sooo good!

Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia (marthastewartpr) on Pinterest

Pinterest boards to check out:

• Organizing Ideas
• Thanksgiving
• My Strength Comes From... 

3) Royal Pains, USA Network

Enjoying Hamptons style and luxury without maxing out the AmEx... Season 4 began June 6th at 9/8c on USA.

Royal Pains (royalpainsusa) on Pinterest

Pinterest boards to check out:

• Beach Bag Essentials
• Evan & Paige Say I Do
• Seaside Style 

4) Giada at Home, Food Network

Giada makes cooking look easy—and fun.

Giada De Laurentiis (gdelaurentiis) on Pinterest

Pinterest boards to check out:

• San Francisco
• Los Angeles
• TODAY Moms

5) Meg's Great Rooms, HGTV

I want this designer and Host of HGTV's Meg's Great Rooms to transform a room at my house.

Meg Caswell Holladay (designshoppe) on Pinterest

Pinterest boards to check out:

• DIY Loves
• My Home Loves
• Travel Loves

6) TODAY Show, NBC

Every morning starts a bit brighter with Matt, Ann, and the gang.

TODAY (todayshow) on Pinterest

Pinterest boards to check out:

• TODAY It's a Snap Winners
• Open House 

7) New Girl, FOX

Simply "adorkable" Zooey Deschanel as Jess is the new girl you want as your BFF. Watch the series Tuesdays on FOX 9/8C.

New Girl (newgirlonfox) on Pinterest

Pinterest boards to check out:

• Behind the Scenes
• Jess' Dresses
• Schmidt-isms

8) Suits, USA Network

Their designer suits stay crisp, but the law gets a bit messy in the show. The new season began June 14. Thurdays 10/9c.

Suits (suitsusa) on Pinterest

Pinterest boards to check out:

• Suits on the Street
• Empire City
• Can Openers

> • > • > • Be sure to check out these shows on Pinterest too! • < • < • <

• Rachael Ray Show

Technically this is the Pinterest site for Rachael Ray's magazine, Every Day with Rachael Ray 

Every Day Rachael Ray (rachaelraymag) on Pinterest

Pinterest boards to check out:

• Rachael Ray 30-Minute Meals
• Behind-the-Scenes: Life as an EditorRachael Ray 30-Minute meals
• Pasta Pasta!

 

• The Big C on Showtime

Showtime Networks (shonetworks) on Pinterest

Pinterest boards to check out:

• The Big C on Pinterest

 

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Image: Graphics above by me, Chris Olson. Feel free to Pin it on Pinterest with a link back to this post. Thanks!

It's So Etsy: "Love You More" Nursery Print

Are you creating a nursery? One sweet way to personalize your child's room is to add handcrafted wall art. I love the artwork by Sarah Jane Studios on Etsy and her adorable Love You More print would make a wonderful addition to a little girl's room. 

Sarah Jane is a mother of three small children, and as she says at her Etsy shop:

It always starts with a sweet "I Love You!" and it ends up turning into an "I love you more!" 

"Love You More" details:

• Art print created from a hand drawn & digitally colored original illustration 
• Giclée prints are archival printed on museum quality archival paper
• Ships flat in a protective sleeve within 3-5 days of payment
• Printed locally in the USA
• 8x10 print, $26
• Also available in 11x14” & 16x20” and as a poster print in 18x24”
• For other sizes & pricing go to www.sarahjanestudios.com

Follow Sarah Jane Studio updates on Twitter and Facebook. Check out her blog here.

 

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Image: Graphics above by me, Chris Olson featuring the "Love You More" print by SarahJaneStudios on Etsy. Feel free to Pin it on Pinterest with a link back to this post. Thanks!

 

Hooray for Dads! (And a Playlist for Dads)

My son put together an awesome & timeless playlist for all those dads out there. Check it out. My son tells me this playlist is:

"an upbeat fusion of classics with a modern edge and 21st century hits that would have been appreciated in any decade as well as a few sentiment-evoking favorites."

Playlist—You can preview and listen to each song by clicking on the album link and then clicking on the song:

1) Hold on I'm Coming by Sam and Dave
iTunes album link: Hold On, I'm Comin' by Sam & Dave

•

2) Lisztomania by Phoenix
iTunes album link: Lisztomania by Phoenix

•

3) Monkey Man by The Rolling Stones

iTunes album link: Let It Bleed by The Rolling Stones

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4) Glory Days by Bruce Springsteen

iTunes album link: Born In the U.S.A. by Bruce Springsteen

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5) Daylight by Matt & Kim

iTunes album link: Grand by Matt & Kim

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6) Lola Live by The Kinks

iTunes album link: One for the Road by The Kinks

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7) Paradise by Coldplay

iTunes album link:- Mylo Xyloto by Coldplay

•

8) All These Things I Have Done by the Killers

iTunes album link:  All These Things That I've Done by The Killers

•

9) Victoria by The Kinks

iTunes album link: The Singles Collection by The Kinks

•

10) Dirty Water by the Standells

iTunes album link: The Live Ones! by the Standells

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11) Back in the ussr  by the the Beatles

iTunes album link: The Beatles (White Album) by The Beatles

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12) Kids by MGMT

iTunes album link: Oracular Spectacular by MGMT

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13) Following the River by the Rolling Stones

iTunes album link: Exile On Main St by The Rolling Stones

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14) Revolution 1 by The Beatles

iTunes album link: The Beatles (White Album) by The Beatles

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15) Sweet Disposition by The Temper Trap

iTunes album link: Conditions by The Temper Trap

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16) Under Pressure by Queen and David Bowie

iTunes album link: Classic Queen by Quee (& David Bowie)

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17) Naive by The Kooks

iTunes album link: Naïve - EP by The Kooks

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18) Pinball Wizard by The Who

iTunes album link: The Who: Greatest Hits by The Who

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19) Cat's in the Cradle, by Harry Chapin

iTunes album link: Verities & Balderdash by Harry Chapin

•

20) Good Life by OneRepublic

iTunes album link:  Waking Up (Deluxe Version) by OneRepublic

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Image: Graphics above by me, Chris Olson. Feel free to Pin it on Pinterest with a link back to this post. Thanks!

 

Books: A Story of Family, Love, Honesty…and Baked Goods

How far would you travel to solve a family secret? In the novel The Sweetness of Forgetting, Hope McKenna-Smith has her hands full as a divorced mom of a not-quite-teenage girl and owner of a bakery on Cape Cod. Hope's aging grandmother has kept a family secret for nearly 70 years and sends her granddaughter on a journey of discovery that takes her to a synagogue and a mosque in Paris, to a history buried in the Holocaust, and to a long-lost love with secrets of his own.

There is something magical about the characters in each of her books, long after you've read the books you remember the characters. No wonder Kristin has be called a combo of Bridget Jones and Carrie Bradshaw.

Her book Italian for Beginners is one of my faves. It's a Roman Holiday-meets-Bridget Jones’s Diary tale of a woman who travels to Rome in search of love and winds up finding herself instead. Her other novels are wonderful too. Check out all of her books here: 

• The Sweetness of Forgetting
• After
• Italian for Beginners
• The Art of French Kissing
• When You Wish
• The Blonde Theory
• How to Sleep with a Movie Star

Kristin Harmel's new book will be in bookstores August 7th. You can pre-order her book published by Simon & Schuster at Amazon.com or Barnes&Noble.com. You can follow @kristinharmel on Twitter. 

Want to attend the upcoming Orlando Book Launch Party for The Sweetness of Forgetting? Check out the book launch details here.

 

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Image: Graphic above by me, Chris Olson. Feel free to Pin it on Pinterest with a link back to this post. Thanks!

On Trend: Orange Nail Polish

Orange is the summer trend in nail polish. Julep has three shades I love—each color is named after inspirational, vibrant women. Which color personality fits you?

• Hayden - beach worthy neon peach crème 
• Gloria - tropical coral rose crème
• Natasha - intense orange crème, an attention magnet

Julep nail polish was founded by beauty expert Jane Park. The fast-drying, long-lasting, non-toxic formula is paired with a high-performance, professional brush.

I believe beauty products should be safe to use. That is one big reason I love Julep's "four-free" formulation. The polish is free of DPB, tuluene, formaldehyde, and formaldehyde resin.

Julep gives back too! The Julep brand donates a portion of their proceeds to organizations that support and empower women.

DETAILS
You can find Julep at Sephora. $14 

Image: Nail polish graphic by me, Chris Olson. Feel free to Pin it on Pinterest with a link back to this post. Thanks!

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My Garden Is My Therapy

My garden is not in my yard. My backyard is home to rabbits and deer that wander through daily and munch on the native plants. To keep a garden in my neighborhood, you need a container garden elevated above the roaming wildlife. I keep my garden on my back deck. I have three dogs that are very protective of my plants and keep tabs on the buds and veggies growing here. Fortunately they all know the rules—no grazing allowed.

Hope you can enjoy a garden of your own. I think tending the plants is my personal therapy. Each morning I go out and water them and even talk to them. Whenever I can during the day, I step out on the deck and spend a few minutes just hanging out in my garden. You can follow the story of my garden here on the blog as well as on MomathonBlog on Instagram and Facebook. I also have a Pinterest board on Instagram tips and trends.

Image: My dog Giz was recently promoted to chief of garden security. Photos above by me, Chris Olson. Feel free to Pin it on Pinterest with a link back to this post. Thanks!

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Vintage Finds: Retro Beach Radio Speaker Box for iPhone or iPod

Place your iPhone or iPod inside this retro AM/FM speaker box when you want to play tunes on the beach or poolside. The case with speakers keeps your gadget free of sand and salt and sunblock. The water-resistant plastic cover on the Swansea Beach Radio snaps tight, keeping your tech toys safe and sound. Speakers by SunnyLIFE and available at Anthropologie.com. Perfect for Father's Day. $39.99

For more Father's Day gift ideas, check out Father's Day Gift Guide—Summer Styles, Gadgets, and Fun.

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(The graphic above was created by me, Chris Olson. Feel free to Pin it on Pinterest with a link back to this post. Thanks!)

Father's Day Gift Guide—Summer Styles, Gadgets, and Fun

 

Father's Day is this Sunday. Here's 10 gift ideas—something great for every dad. Details for finding these items at the end of this post.

You can find even more gift ideas for the guys in your life here:

• My Pinterest board Manly Things includes no-break martini glasses,  summer paperback thrillers, eco-friendly adirondack chairs, and a pizza stone with a stainless-steel carrier to make carrying the pizza safe and easy.

• Here's a cool gift idea for a beach loving dad: Retro Beach Radio Speaker Box for iPhone or iPod

• Does your dad have a green thumb? Here are a 6 Father's Day gift ideas for the gardener.

 

DETAILS

1) A brand new Rainbow color for the Ray-Ban Outdoorsman Sunglasses at Ray-Ban Store.

2) This bag reminds me of the SUV of backpacks, the Oakley Kitchen Sink backpack at Zappos.com.
3) A man always looks sexier with patterned socks, don't you think? Love these Corgi™ lightweight pattern socks at J.Crew.
4) Grilling gear that's perfect for a fisherman, the Fishtail BBQ Basket at Terrain
5) Something about a game of croquet with the whole family makes me smile. Franklin Advanced 6-Player Croquet Set at Target
6) All-in-one fun for every interest—play games, read e-books, watch movies, surf the internet—for those rainy summer days or long car trips make the iPad at Apple a perfect choice.
7) Never a bad hair day for any guy with Pure-Formance™ Hair Cream at Aveda
8) The Elvis Cole series featuring Joe Pike are some of the best books for your guy—or you—written by the nicest New York Times bestselling author around. Now in paperback, check out The Sentry (Joe Pike Series #3) by Robert Crais.
9) All men dream of competing in the Olympics, or at least going to the games. If your guy isn't going to the London Games this summer, then get the next best thing, the Team USA Track Jacket at RalphLauren.com
10) A classic and always cool, that's J.Crew's Braided cotton belt.

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(The graphic above was created by me, Chris Olson. Feel free to Pin it on Pinterest with a link back to this post. Thanks!)

Good Things Start Out Small

No matter how my day begins... I have worn my t-shirt inside out. I have forgotten appointments. I have misplaced my car keys. 

If I remember to think one small positive thought when I wake, the whole day seems better even when I make a fool of myself.

xo, Chris

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(The positive thinking graphic above was created by me, Chris Olson. Feel free to Pin it on Pinterest with a link back to this post. Thanks!)

Three Ways to Add Some Sizzle This Summer

The temps are soaring here. I'm thinking a nice lounge chair by the pool on Lake Como would be a slice of heaven... Of course, I need to wear this retro one-piece with a twist front bandeau. The only thing missing is George Clooney.

Details:

1) Chesapeake Steamer Chaise with Cherry Red Cushions at Pottery Barn is on sale $339.00 – $399.00

2) Glamour + sexy in this Retro One-piece with twist front bandeau by Carmen Marc Valvo® at Victoria's Secret, priced at $154.

3) Take me away to the Villa d'Este a luxury hotel in Lake Como, Cernobbio, Italy. Why? It's beautiful and Clooney has a villa nearby.

Image created by Chris Olson features Pottery Barn, Victoria's Secret, and Villa d'Este.

18 Days of Instagram Filters: Day 18 with Kelvin Filter

 

The Kelvin filter on Instagram is versatile and works well with a variety of images including landscapes, cityscapes, your favorite bakery goods, and your adorable pets. The filter adds a retro look—boosting the earth tones of green, brown, and orange—without sacrificing the brilliant blues in the sky or ocean. If you like to include the optional Instagram filter border, play around with adding the Kelvin scratchy border to frame your image.

I used the LUX feature with Kelvin to bring out details in sun shining through the leaves in the tree photo in the lower left. The LUX feature boosts the details and contrast in images of plants and building exteriors when photographing gardens, neighborhoods, cityscapes, etc.

For more information on the LUX feature plus a handy list of how to use other features including the focus, frame, and more, check out my Guide to the LUX feature here.

I adjusted the focus in a few of the photos by tapping the "tear drop" icon or "Tilt-Shift focus" icon located up on the upper right of the Instagram camera interface to give you the ability to focus on a particular part of your photo. You can find more about using this focus feature here.

When Instagram made updates to the filters to make them faster and high res, some of the filters were tweaked more than others. The Lord Kelvin filter became the Kelvin filter. This name change highlights the significant change to the filter from the previous version which had a super-saturated vintage look with a strong sepia vibe. I know many Instagram fans are not happy with the changes. I like the new Kelvin version, but perhaps they could have kept the old Lord Kelvin too. 

Your Instagram photos can help shelter dogs

If you like to take photos, grab your iPhone and stop by your local animal shelter. Snap some cute pics of the adoptable dogs with Instagram. Then post them on Facebook and Twitter and Pinterest with a link to the animal shelter. If you can, please include a search-able hashtag with the breed of dog (eg., #lab or #dachshund) and then also add a hashtag with #adopt_dogs. You can even add text to the photo with apps like InstaText.

The adorable dog mix featured above is Harley. If he is still available for adoption, you can find him at this animal rescue and on Petfinder Adoptable Dog: American Staffordshire Terrier named Harley.

 

Images: Photos using the Kelvin Filter (#kelvin) featured above are by me, Chris Olson. Feel free to pin images on Pinterest with a link back to this post. Thanks!

 

 

Walden Filter

You can find other posts in this Guide to Instagram series here:

Day 1: No Filter 

Day 2: Amaro Filter

Day 3: Rise Filter

Day 4: Hudson Filter

Day 5: X-Pro II Filter

Day 6: Sierra Filter

Day 7: Lo-Fi Filter

Day 8: Earlybird Filter

Day 9: Sutro Filter

Day 10: Toaster Filter

Day 11: Brannan Filter

Day 12: Inkwell Filter

Day 13: Walden Filter

Day 14: Hefe Filter

Day 15: Valencia Filter

Day 16: Nashville Filter

Day 17: 1977 Filter

Day 18: Kelvin Filter

Day 19: Willow Filter

Enhance Colors and Details with Lux 

Add Some Glam in Instagram

Tilt-Shift Focus

Newest Instagram Features

Comparing 9 Instagram Filters {The Puppy Edition}

 

>• A note about the photos •<

I am delighted to have my images from this blog re-posted but please always credit MomathonBlog.com as the original source when re-posting to your blog, Pinterest, Tumblr, or any other site. Please also credit with a link back to MomathonBlog.com. Please ask permission before re-posting exact text, instructions, recipes, or diy's from MomathonBlog.com. Thank you.

Raising a Dyslexic Teen

Imagine knowing only English and being asked to read a textbook in Italian or write a paragraph in Danish. That's what each day is like for my teenage daughter who has processing disorder and dyslexia, a neurologically based disorder that causes difficulties in language-related tasks.

Although Albert Einstein could not talk until the age of four and did not learn to read until he was nine, researchers are not convinced he had dyslexia. But his inspiring quote above does make me believe he understood the struggle to read that many dsylexics face.

My daughter— and others like her—has difficulty "decoding" words because she does not hear the sounds letters and syllables make—something most of us take for granted. She tends to rely on memorization of whole words because she can't sound out the words. In many ways she thinks visually and analyzes patterns.

New research in language-based learning disabilities identifies how the brain works when reading. English and other languages that use an alphabet based language use a different reading skill in the brain than character-based languages such as Chinese or Japanese. According to Unlocking Dyslexia in Japanese in the WSJ:

Researchers have long observed that some dyslexics have an easier time with languages like Japanese and Chinese, in which characters represent complete words or ideas, than they do with languages like English, which use separate letters and sounds to form words. 

Dyslexia even makes forming alphabet difficult for some people. In this article, a young boy with had difficulty writing in his native English, but in his Japanese studies class he was able to compose characters sharply and distinctly.

Hooray for the Underdog!

If you follow my blog, then you know I am a passionate supporter (and a volunteer) for animal rescue groups. I bought a huge stack of the lovely Hooray for the Underdog!® cards created by the husband and wife team of Joe Grisham and Janet Healey and published by the card company Sunrise Greetings. The series of cards supports animal rescue efforts. The card series has a message and image for almost any occasion.

The back of each card features the dog’s name, rescue details and a “special power.” I can't wait for them to create even more!

xo Chris, aka "the slave to three dogs"

Card Details: 

• Hooray For The Underdog
• Notecards: Hooray For The Underdog
• Sunrise Greetings: Hooray for the Underdog!®

Image: Graphic by me, featuring the adorable cards—I bought a huge stack this week—in the Hooray for the Underdog! card series by Joe Grisham and Janet Healey. Go buy some too! They are awesome and they support animal rescue groups! 

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Hello, Summer!

Does it feel like summer at your house? The sky is blue and the heat is sizzling here. Happy Summer!

The June floral pattern above by me, Chris Olson.

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Fresh Picks: White Hot

Style trends in white pop for obvious reasons. A 60's-style sofa called the Petrie sofa by Crate and Barrel has to be the perfect place to relax and watch reruns of The Dick Van Dyke Show. I'll play the role of Laura Petrie. I imagine I would only visit amazing places riding my very own folding Scappatella bike handcrafted by ABICI Italia.

For more Fresh Picks, go here. Image above created by me, Chris Olson.

Vintage Cocktails

Vintage Cocktails reveals the secrets behind classic drinks including a Brandy Alexander, Sidecar, Pimms Cup and Gimlet. Eight recipes for drinks included in the graphic above. Ever wonder what's in a Hemingway Daiquiri, go here to see the recipe. I love the mouth-watering photography and layout. This guide to mixing the perfect drink by Brian Van Flande and photographer Laziz Hamani is a bit spendy, but I'm fairly sure the book will keep you busy with recipes for years.

Available at Anthropologie.com and Amazon.com 

Published by Assouline, 138 pages.

Image above created by me, Chris Olson.

Reflections on Resilience

Elizabeth Edwards was and will always be an inspirational figure. She overcame both public and private adversity as she struggled with some of life's toughest challenges including the death of her 16-year-old son Wade who was killed in a freak car accident, her six-year battle with cancer, and her husband's infidelity. In her book Resilience: Reflections on the Burdens and Gifts of Facing Life's Adversities, Elizabeth writes about life lessons she hopes she has taught her children:

When they are older and telling their own children about their grandmother,
they will be able to say that she stood in the storm,
and when the wind did not blow her way—
and it surely has not—she adjusted her sails.

If you want to read this wonderful book, let me recommend buying the audio book that is read by Elizabeth herself. Her voice is strong, passionate, and always inspiring.

What lessons do you want to teach your children about facing adversity?

For me, I believe living each day is a gift—make today extraordinary.

Image above by  me, Chris Olson.