Momathon Blog

Words Seem Powerless

At a time of intense grieving for lives lost in such a tragedy, words seem powerless. My prayers and thoughts are with the families of the victims of the shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Conn. The image I created above lists the names of the littlest victims, I also pray for the six remarkable adults—Dawn Hocksprung, Mary Sherlach, Vicki Soto, Lauren Russeau, Rachel Davino and Anne Marie Murphy—working at the school who died also. 

 

IMAGE: The image above includes an excerpt from President Obama’s speech at the prayer vigil for Newtown shooting victims

 

Class, Today's Word Is VOTE

 

Have you voted yet? I hope you do. Bob Schieffer, moderator of the final presidential debate, ended the debate with sage advice from his mother: "Go vote. It makes you feel big and strong."

 

Images: Both VOTE illustrations are by me, Chris Olson. (You can also find the #govote image on @MomathonBlog on Instagram.) Feel free to Pin images on Pinterest with a link back to this post. Thanks!

Honoring Julia Child on her 100th Birthday

Happy Birthday, Julia Child! She would have turned 100 years old today. Thought my poster above would be perfect to  honor her big day. Kudos to Julia for introducing French cuisine to American homes and reminding us that almost everything is better with some butter! When Child returned from Paris with her husband Paul, she shared her love of butter and French cooking in the best-selling book Mastering the Art of French Cooking she co-authored with Simone Beck and Louisette Bertholle in 1961. Of course I love the account of her cookbook writing told through a film and a book.

LINKS CELEBRATING JULIA'S 100TH! 

Julia Child died back in 2004, but she will live forever in cookbooks in our kitchens. The Smithsonian is honoring Julia Child's kitchen with a lovely display.

If you want to bake something in her honor, please use loads of butter. And one of her lovely cookbooks. You can find a nice summary of her culinary tips here.

If you want to toast her 100th birthday, check out Julia's favorite cocktail recipe here.

Google marks all things honorary with a doodle—check out the Julia Child Google Doodle.

You can read a nice tribute to Julia here with lots of little known facts about her life and a link to a new biography about her.

Summer ends in my neighborhood today. And the dreaded "S" word begins tomorrow. School!!! Yikes! Time to go outside and soak up some Vitamin D—and tonight I'll toast to Julie and indulge in buttery treats!

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Image: IF YOU'RE AFRAID OF BUTTER, USE CREAM image by me, Chris Olson. Feel free to Pin it on Pinterest with a link back to this post. Thanks! 

 

Remembering Maurice Sendak

But the wild things cried, “Oh please don’t go - we’ll eat you up - we love you so!”
And Max said, “No!”
The wild things roared their terrible roars and gnashed their terrible teeth
and rolled their terrible eyes and showed their terrible claws 
but Max stepped into his private boat and waved goodbye.” 

~Maurice Sendak
Where the Wild Things Are

 

Maurice Sendak's books will live forever, but we still miss him so!

(Image by Chris Olson featuring the fern photo by the awesome photographer D Sharon Pruitt.)

Hip and Relevant New Badges as Girl Scouts turns 100!

Girl power is ageless! Girl Scouts is celebrating it's 100th anniversary this week. Keeping up with the changing times, some of the older badges are being retired. According to Boston.com:

"As Girl Scouts of the USA prepares to celebrate its 100th anniversary, the organization has revamped its badge lineup, and some - Looking Your Best, and From Fitness to Fashion, among them - have gotten the ax. Others, such as the cookie badge, made the cut, albeit with makeovers."

My personal faves are the new Voice for Animals, Money Manager and Netiquette badges. Evidently social media is relevant even to this century old organization.

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. 

Research says texting, posting, and tweeting may make kids nicer

Our kids spend more time online texting, posting and tweeting than we will ever know. And I admit this worries me, but I may be over-reacting. Recent studies suggest time interacting online may help kids be more empathetic in real life and even strengthen bonds between friends. And studies suggest that shy kids may learn to be more outgoing and less anxious by spending time connecting with friends online.

The Freudian, the Jungian and now the Starbucks theory in therapy

Since few of us have time to sit down for a three-course meal, why not take the fast food approach to solve even our most complicated and personal challenges? 

While traditional therapists agonize over each patient's problems for hours, weeks, and years, a new kind of fast food therapy pushes the patients in and out of therapy sessions quickly. 

It's So Etsy: In a Royal Wedding Mood

 

Sweet Heart felt crown by TaffieWishes on Etsy

 

Purple Amethyst druzy 24k gold pendant by friedasophie

 

 

Accordion Top / Tunik by flowersun

 

Knit Princess Tutu Dress by bearhuntmama

 

Wedding Ring Pillow by PillowsandMittens

 

 

Simply Sweet Tutus Yellow by SimplySweetShoppe

Royal Wedding celebration printable garland PDF by happythought

 Etsy is the place to find wonderful handmade items. For more of my handmade favorites, check out Momathon loves Etsy.

8 Days and counting: Royal wedding countdown widget from the BBC

On April 29 at 11 am London time (6 am EST), history will be made--the royal wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton at Westminster Abbey.

Catch the latest news leading up to the royal wedding with the BBC widget that features updates every weekday including:

• photos
• videos
• Q&As
• breaking stories
• and all things William and Kate

 

You can get the handy, embeddable Royal Wedding Countdown Widget here. Embed it into your website or blog and/or share on Facebook, Twitter, or any profile page.

(I posted this Royal Wedding post back in March. I thought due to the upcoming big day I should post it again.)

 

 

 

 

 

Catch the latest news leading up to the royal wedding with the BBC widget that features updates every weekday including:

• photos
• videos
• Q&As
• breaking stories
• and all things William and Kate

 

You can get the handy, embeddable Royal Wedding Countdown Widget here. Embed it into your website or blog and/or share on Facebook, Twitter, or any profile page.

(I posted this Royal Wedding post back in March. I thought due to the upcoming big day I should post it again.)

 

 

Does my dog really need a doggy high chair?

I know the dog is a part of the family, but does Fido really need a high chair? My three dogs eat on the floor! Now I am feeling kinda guilty. Dogs eat together with their pack in the wild, so it is only logical that a dog would love a high chair... Or, would he?

Watch the clever YouTube clip below and you decide.

 

Before you rush over to IKEA, consider the timing of this new doggy product.

The The Sydney Morning Herald in Australia caught more than a few dog lovers off guard when they reported that IKEA had come out with a high chair for dogs, called the Hundstol.

Bone Appetite & Happy April Fools' Day!

 

Pack a shoebox with gifts via Operation Christmas Child

It is so simple. Give a gift to someone who has very little. Share the love of the holiday season by packing a shoebox with toys, school supplies, personal hygiene items, and a note from you. You can show you care thanks to Samaritan's Purse and Operation Christmas Child. 

 

This week, November 15 - 22, is Operation Christmas Child's national collection week. Shoe boxes for Operation Christmas Child will be collected for distribution to more than eight million needy children internationally. Detailed instructions for participating at Operation Christmas Child. Nearby drop-off locations listed here.

Share this project with a friend and pack two boxes.

Note: I think it is always a good idea to check the details of a charity before donating. According to the online charity evaluator, Charity Navigator, Samaritan's Purse and their program Operation Christmas Child receives a 4-star rating out of 4 stars.

 

 

Geeky Mom: PayPal app on iPhone has security flaw

I often use PayPal because it offers an added level of security for online transactions; however as this news story shows, nothing is perfectly safe. Even PayPal, an eBay company, can be vulnerable to a security lapse leaving users unprotected. 

When using the mobile PayPal app in unsecured networks and WiFi hotspots users were left vulnerable because the app failed to check the digital certificates--an electronic ID card--that confirms that a website is legitimate. In other words, this flaw allowed a hacker to develop a fake PayPal website and access accounts without the PayPal app users knowing anything had happened. This security flaw meant PayPal app users could be "tricked into thinking they were using the legitimate website when they weren't" according to CNET News. The android app and the PayPal website are not affected. Only the iPhone version of the app is affected by the flaw.

According to CNET News, PayPal spokesman Anuj Nayar says, "We don't believe any customers have been affected at all, and if there were any affected they would be 100 percent covered by PayPal."

The over 4 million users of the poplar app can breath a sigh of relief as they download the app update to secure their phones. According to WSJ.com:

PayPal spokeswoman Amanda Pires said the eBay Inc. unit verified the vulnerability Tuesday night and sent a new version of the app to Apple Inc.'s App Store that users will have to download. PayPal also said it would reimburse 100% of any fraudulent activity.

PayPal was alerted of the flaw on Tuesday when they were asked by WSJ.com to comment on the flaw that the mobile security firm viaForensics first reported. PayPal rushed to fix the flaw and within 24 hours made an app update available for download. The new 3.0.1 version of the app with the security update is free at the iTunes App Store.

Since banks and credit cards are considering offering mobile payment systems similar to PayPal in the near future, let's hope the PayPal security issue pushes them to develop secure systems.

(Photo: Miss Karen)

Inspiration from Maeve magazine

 

 

The new online magazine MAEVE aimed at the "conscious consumer" looks fascinating. According to their website: "MAEVE is an observatory on human kind, incorporating a plethora of ideas and inspiration to bring life to your life and your family."

Thanks for the tip via Design Mom on Babble.com: 

"The second issue of Maeve Magazine just came out and you can count me as a fan. Maeve is a quarterly online publication published from Australia. It’s free and it’s a treat to scroll through — interesting content and excellent photography. I love the tagline: Raising An Inspired Generation. And I love how the about page describes the publication.

Will new "reality webisodes" help save marriages?

 

Can this marriage be saved? That's the question Ladies Home Journal has been asking in it's popular column of the same name since 1953. In the column, LHJ profiles real-life troubled marriages. 

LHJ adds a new dimension to the series with webisodes. Spouses tell their stories to a therapist who offers advice and also reveals how the marriage turns out. 

Will the new webisodes help marriages?
Throw in a little humor and you have me hooked. This humorous/serious combo works for me. The producers of the series tackle common marriage issues we probably wish we didn't have to think about. Denial is powerful force, webisodes make it easier to face the facts. 

Tweet therapy
LHJ also tweets (@marriagebesaved) about marriage, offering tips and advice. 

The three mini episodes produced so far available at Can This Marriage Be Saved?:

• Our Dog Is Coming Between Us
• We Never Have Sex Anymore
• His Mother Is Tearing Us Apart

Happy Birthday Twinkies!

 

 

Can't believe the beloved Hostess Twinkie snack cake turns 80 today. I'm even more surprised to find out that Twinkies don't last forever in the pantry. For taste perfection, eat your Twinkies in 3 weeks. 

Celebrate the cake today. But I'm warning you the 300-calorie package is meant for two.

If you can't get enough Twinkies, enjoy the low-cal version and follow Twinkies on Twitter

Gotta love the deep fried Twinkie above!

(Photo on Flickr by Joe Marinaro)

Remember to spring ahead Sunday!

I love the art directors at CB2. Check out their clever reminder to change your clocks for Daylight Saving Time that begins on Sunday, March 14th.

 

Now maybe I should get one of pretty CB2 clocks to help me remember. 

(Photo: cb2.com)

Why this Geeky Mom may wait to buy the iPad

 

It's easy to fall in love with an iPad. It was love at first sight for me, the Geeky Mom. Admittedly, we have one of those awkward long distance relationships. I am hoping the two of us will get closer, but for now I adore my iPad from afar. The only problem with my tablet affair is that I keep noticing flaws.

 

iPad Cons: 

--No flash. Flash is the Adobe software plugin that handles video and animation on the web. So this means no Hulu and other web video sites do not work. (If you looked closely you would see that even the NYT app that was hyped in the intro was missing the Flash plugin icon.) This omission is not a complete disaster because alternatives are available in other browsers for video streaming including YouTube and Vimeo which use H.264 for video streaming. 

--No multitasking. The iPad is supposed to be better than a laptop or a smart phone at browsing the web, reading and writing email, watching movies, reading a book, and listening to music. BUT the iPad can only do one thing at a time. Multitasking is a big energy hog and by leaving this out of the iPad, the iPad has a super long battery life--10 hours.

--No textbooks. Yet. The iPad has an iBooks feature that makes reading digital books just like reading paper books. However, the intro to the iPad did not mention a partnership with textbook publishers. The good news is that it does offer a full-color Kindle-killer app for many other books.

--No cameras (No still camera, video cam, or webcam). Although I can't imagine using a device this size as a general use camera, I would have liked a front facing camera for web conferencing, etc. Geeky moms probably know more about gaming apps than they wish to admit, but they also know about talking on the laptop using Skype webcam calls. Moms love to see amazing connections built when kids video chat with Gramma and Grampa hundreds of miles away. And how would moms away from home on a business trip survive without video chats with their kids?

--No TV subscriptions (and no way to hook up to HD monitor via HDMI). I was hoping I could subscribe to TV programming just like a subscribing to print media. Didn't hear anyone at Apple mention this at the intro. Rumor has it that Disney will be a key player in TV and film distribution.

--No USB port. The good news is there is a way to work around this via the dock connector including the camera connection kit for photos.

--No GPS on Wi-Fi models. 3G iPads come with assisted GPS.

TIME's Top 10 of practically everything

If you like lists about current events, technology, tweets, books, video games, gadgets, late night jokes, fashion faux paus, or just about any list you can imagine, then Time's The Top 10 Everything of 2009 is for you. TIME charts the highs and lows of the past year in 50 lists. Check it out TIME.com.

 

 

Warm mommy hugs to Meryl Streep

Meryl Streep turned sixty this year and she still gets the greatest leading roles. Has Hollywood finally realized 'older' women are still sexy and smart? I am hoping Meryl is a trendsetter and more women her age--and older--grab those coveted leads in high-profile movies.

Streep even jokes about her continued success after all these years. "I've been given great, weird, interesting parts well past my 'sell-by date," says Meryl Streep in Boston.com.

 

Meryl Streep on Vanity Fair, January 2010

Why is Streep still so successful playing the lead in romantic comedies and more? I think she is successful and beautiful at 60--and throughout her career--because she is self-confident and seems to enjoy the fact she has experience. I don't like the phrase 'she looks good for her age' because it seems terribly sexist. (No one ever says that about a man.) I think Streep is amazing and successful because she is devoted to great acting.

You can read more about Streep online in the Vanity Fair preview cover story about the January 2010 issue. Still want to know more? Grab a copy of the January issue coming out today, December 2nd. (So very glad I am a VF subscriber.)

Women Deserve a Living Wage

How many minimum wage jobs must a mom work just to afford basic needs such as food, housing, and health care? Sadly, many women working full-time jobs in America must also face the reality that even though they work full time they are still forced to live in poverty.

image: Evil Erin

If a mom works a 40-hour week and still lives in poverty, this is a problem we can't ignore. We all know about the minimum wage, but did you know that a minimum wage is not the same as a living wage? A minimum wage is a standard set by law, but it does NOT guarantee the worker will be able to afford basic needs such as food, utilities, health care and housing.

If a worker receives pay below $10 an hour and she (or he) does not receive benefits such as affordable health insurance, then the worker and her family members may decide not to get even basic healthcare such as vaccinations, mammograms, pelvic exams, and other screenings.

Employers that pay below a living wage force their workers to rely on food stamps and Medicaid. Plus that employer is probably not even paying their workers enough to rent an apartment.

A mom in Illinois would need to make over $15 an hour to afford a two-bedroom apartment according to the Chicago Coalition for the Homeless. In Illinois the minimum wage is $7.75 and will rise to $8.25 in 2010. That's why the The Good Jobs Chicago Coalition is pushing for wages of at least $10-$15. (You can hear more about living wage coalitions and grassroots organizers in Chicago at this Chicago Public Radio link.)

Mega chains receive tax dollars when they establish stores in a community. At a very minimum, I believe receiving these tax dollars should obligate them to truly help the community by offering a living wage. Sure, big box stores provide low-cost products, but the major problem of full-time workers living in poverty in America will never be solved by selling low cost items. 

Will Chicago and other cities approve big box ordinances that would require Wal-Mart, Target, Home Depot and other mega-chains to pay workers a living wage of at least $13 an hour and also provide affordable benefits?

Are you making a living wage? You can check out the living wage in your community or region using the Living Wage Calculator.

Paying Tribute to the Victims of 9/11

flickr image: di_the_huntress

September 11th will forever be a very sad day. We lost so many in the tragic attacks. At times I feel like it happened just yesterday, yet today marks the eighth anniversary of the attacks.

Americans are encouraged to honor the victims and heroes of the 9/11 tragedy by pitching in today and serving their neighbors and communities. Today marks the first-ever federally recognized 9/11 National Day of Service and Remembrance. To find out more go to Serve.gov.

In the image above, visitors to New York look out at the site of what had been the World Trade Center.