Momathon Blog

Lovely Links from the Garden

Sunny and warm here today, so I'm outside on my deck thinking about gardens and backyard parties. The hydrangea above is in a container on my deck—out of reach from the deer (and bears) that wander through my yard munching on everything. My neighborhood in the foothills of the Colorado Rockies has a "no fences" rule, so the only safe place for plants is container gardens on the decks. 

Here are a few of my favorite links for plants, backyards, and summer fun. 

• I am so ready for my first barbecue party of the summer after seeing Nicole's party plans. How about you?

• A true garden party needs a few retro aprons. I adore the dottie angel aprons, striped straws in lemonade, and cupcakes Melanie features in her post from Seattle today.

• You scream, I scream, we all scream for homemade ice cream!  Gotta try the yummy recipe via Erin and Bi-Rite Creamery.

• An upside-down tomato planter is on my to do list for June.

• One of my puppies will eat nearly every thing... So I love this handy Pet Poison Help app to determine which plants I should keep out of reach.

• For more gardening ideas, check out my garden posts and photos here, on Pinterest and Facebook.

Photo illustration above by me, Chris Olson and features plants in my garden—Instagram Valencia filter— and a lovely fence photographed by D Sharon Pruitt.

 

Happy Thoughts from Winnie-the-Pooh

Wisdom by Winnie the Pooh. Art by me, Chris Olson. The role of Pooh played by my handmade and much-loved Honey Bear.

Don't blink because kids grow up so fast

 

Watch baby Lotte grow up and age 12 years in 2 minutes, 45 seconds in this time lapse video by the proud dad and Dutch filmmaker Frans Hofmeester. Lotte's dad says, "I filmed my daughter every week, from birth up until she turned 12 years old and then made this time lapse edit in FCP."

The video, "Lotte Time Lapse: Birth to 12 years in 2 min. 45," reminds me how important it is to enjoy each and every day because our kids grow up so fast!

This adorable video of Lotte growing up makes me want to create a time lapse video. Have you ever made one?  For a tutorial video on making a time-lapse video, check out Rob Griffins' Macworld tutorial. As Rob explains, with a time-lapse video you convert hours and days of activity into minutes and seconds of video. In his tutorial, he says:

I explain two ways of creating such videos, one easy and free, the other more complicated and time consuming (guess which method I’ve been using).

Let me know if you create one.

Three Cheers for Homemade Ice Cream @ Sebastian Joe's

A neighborhood isn't complete unless it has an coffee shop and an ice cream store. Combine them into one and—well, do I need to explain—you have the perfect destination almost any hour of the day!

Every time I make the pilgrimage back to my home state of Minn-e-SO-tah, I have to go to Linden Hills because this neighborhood has it's very own lake, charming shops, and the best ice cream ever scooped in Minneapolis! After a walk around Lake Harriet just head one block east to the family-friendly Linden Hills, here you'll find Sebastian Joe's Ice Cream. The menu is simple but delicious: bakery goods, fresh roasted coffee and espresso, and the most original ice cream flavors! My personal faves are Praline Home Companion (this is the home state of Garrison Keillor!) Nicollet Pot Hole, and Banana Chocolate Chip. And you might as well bring your laptop or iPad and stay awhile—there's free WiFi. If you want, pull up a chair by the cozy indoor/outdoor fireplace. 

 

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.

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.)

 

Four Ways to Save on Your Vacation Airfare

As fuel prices rise, it is nice to know how you can cut your travel costs when you purchase your vacation flights. According to travel experts—FareCompare.com and others—the cheapest days to fly and best time to buy airline tickets are base on a few simple rules.

Another travel tip is to shop for only ONE passenger's airline ticket at a time to get lowest rates. Why? The airline reservations systems lump your tickets together and highest individual price in your group will determine the cost. 

More ways to save:

You can find more ways to save in my post about using airfare alerts. If you use technology to notify you when prices drop and comparison shop, try using travel sites like these:

• FareCompare
• Expedia.com
• Priceline.com
• KAYAK.com
• Orbitz.com
• Hotwire.com
• ShermansTravel.com

Image above created by me, Chris Olson with yellow flower image by D Sharon Pruitt.

Homework Helper: How to Write a Theme Statement in Three Easy Steps

I included the graphic above to show how to compose a theme statement using the three steps given here. I think this handy fill-in-the-blank format to writing a theme is almost fool-proof for kids in middle grades and above. 

3 Steps to Write a Theme Statement:

1) Select an important TOPIC the book includes. Topic ideas include: freedom, love, trust, death, forgiveness, and many others. (This topic is often called an abstract concept.)

2) Begin the theme statement by listing the book genre, the name of the book, and author. (See graphic above to help you begin the sentence.) 

3) Now finish the statement from above by adding what the author REVEALS about the topic. 

Infographic image above by me, Chris Olson. 

Happy Thoughts from Winnie the Pooh

Hello, Friends! Seems like only yesterday I started blogging, but this is my 1,000th Momathon Blog post. Wow! I decided to post a happy thought to remember this week. Enjoy your day. And remember to take a friend to lunch too!

Wisdom by Winnie the Pooh. Art by me, Chris Olson. The role of Pooh played by the handmade and much-loved Honey Bear.

More reasons to love books:

The 20 Most Beautiful Bookstores in the World

The 25 Most Beautiful College Libraries in the World

Eight essential friends we all need

 


I have a group of close friends I can count on. Each friendship is unique and that's what makes my life better--and even healthier. Your definition of a good friend is as personal as you are. Now with friendships multiplying quickly on Facebook, the number of "friends" you can have is sometimes overwhelming. Of course, my friends on Facebook are important, but those personal friends I can call anytime, about anything, end up being the ones that make the biggest difference in my life.

New research has found certain friendship traits more satisfying. In fact, according to Prevention.com, a 10-year study of older people in Australia found "satisfying friendships predict longevity better than even close family ties, and they can protect against obesity, depression, and heart disease, among other health problems."

So what types of friendships are beneficial? According to the research, the following 8 types of friends improve your life and especially your health.

1) Childhood friend
2) New friend
3) Workout friend
4) Spiritual friend
5) Younger friend
6) Your partner's friends
7) Your mom
8) Yourself

(Photo collage: by me, Chris Olson) 

 

Building a cozy nest

Do your kids like to build nests of blankets and pillows on the couch? Mine do. Nests made of blankets indoors or twigs in a tree make me think of a warm happy place. Here are two "nest" companies sure to warm your heart.

PetitNest offers a fresh twist on bedding and furniture for nurseries and bedrooms. The trendy company is the "brainchild of two of Hollywood’s most style-conscious and design-savvy moms: beloved actress Tiffani Thiessen currently starring in the hit USA Network television series 'White Collar' and award-winning designer Lonni Paul, known to millions as the reigning female finalist from HGTV’s 'Design Star.' "

Nest is the "learning" thermostat that keeps track of your heating and cooling preferences and adjusts automatically to your perfect settings through out the day and night.

Photos: PetitNest and Nest. 

Love Notes

 

Found this sweet surprise in my studio. Reminds me of the little notes I put in my daughter's lunch box. How do kids know just when grown ups need a little encouragement too?

Love ya,
Mom 

A day at the beach

Are you doing anything fun today? Spending a day at the beach with the kids sounds perfect to me. Found this sweet purple tutu that mixes just the right amount of fun and frills at Olive Juice. (And it is on sale, $20.) 

If you are looking for tutus for toddlers and babies, check out these adorable tutu options at Etsy: NavyBabyDesigns on Etsy, MUNCHKINnRUU on Etsy, and TinyTotsTutuBoutique on Etsy. 

Purple Tutu Photo: Olive Juice.

 

 

Proof That Books Are Magical (video)

 

 

What happens to all the books on the shelves after the bookstore lights go out at night? I believe books come to life. And why not, when I read to my kids at bedtime our books seem to have special magical powers that transport us to new places.

A whimsical stop-motion video, The Joy of Books, takes us to the wonderful TYPE Books in Toronto where the books seem to have loads of fun after the owner goes home each night. The video was created by Sean Ohlenkamp, an associate creative director at the Toronto advertising agency Lowe Roche. To make videos like this, the creators must shoot each image frame-by-frame. Creating a stop-motion video is extremely time consuming. Each video in this format is truly a labor of love. According to an article in TheStar.com about the creation of the The Joy of Books, "Each second of the piece uses approximately 10 frames, so in all the almost--two-minute work used about 1,200 frames."

One of my favorite lines from Nora Ephron's movie "You've Got Mail" probably sums up the magical power of books best:

"When you read a book as a child, it becomes a part of your identity in a way that no other reading in your whole life." 

Grab your kids and together enjoy this lovely stop-motion video The Joy of Books featuring Toronto's TYPE Books. 

 

Kudos to my friend Laurie Hertzel, @StribBooks, for telling me about this video! 

Photo and video: The Joy of Books.

 

Homework Helper: Writing Tips for Final Exams

It's final exam time and kids in middle school and high school are busy writing essays. Facing a blank page can be daunting. Fortunately, adding a simple framework to each paragraph makes the actual writing part a snap. (Three steps to writing a strong paragraph below)

Juice Safety: The facts on arsenic and lead in apple juice, tips for parents & which brands are safest

Next time you serve juice to your toddler at snack time or pack it in a school lunch box, you might want to make it safer by diluting it with some water. 

Brand new evidence by a Consumer Reports study suggests that a potential danger exists in that innocent-looking juice your family guzzles down by the quart each day. The study by Consumer Reports found higher levels of arsenic and lead in juice than is allowed in drinking water. We all know that juice is not water, but moms across the nation know that kids often crave LOTS of apple juice–polishing off a juice box quickly as if it was water. (The fact so many kids prefer sugary juice over water is another health matter.)

Here are the arsenic and lead stats from the CR study of 88 juice (apple and grape) samples compared to bottled water standards:

• 10 percent of the juice samples had arsenic levels above the federal bottled water standard of 10 parts per billion. 

• 25 percent of samples contained lead at levels above the FDA limit for bottled water of 5 parts per billion. 

• The exact levels of arsenic and lead in specific brands is given below.

 

Opting out of vaccines is a risky numbers game–just ask my son

Parents of school-age kids today probably never witnessed a whooping cough outbreak or the measles because they were lucky enough to have lived in a generation of vaccinated kids. But this luxury of good health could slip away all too quickly as more and more families opt out of routine vaccinations.

If you want to look at the hard facts, the good health of our kids depends on a numbers game. 

Preventing kids (and adults) from getting diseases depends on a statistic: As long as about 90-95% of us vaccinate our kids, our kids are relatively safe according to an Associated Press report. Even the un-vaccinated kids are protected because the vaccinated kids keep the disease numbers down. In simple terms, our kids are healthy due to herd immunity.

For Everything Thy Goodness Sends

For each new morning with its light,

For rest and shelter of the night,

For health and food, for love and friends,

For everything Thy goodness sends.

~Ralph Waldo Emerson

 

 

I am thankful for all of you!

Happy Thanksgiving!

 

 

 

  

(Photos by me, Chris Olson)

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.

A tattoo Barbie? Really?

With Manga cartoon-style tattoos running up her left arm and across her neck and chest, the new limited edition "tokidoki Barbie" with her strange cactus-covered companion named "Bastardino" will not be delivered by Santa this year according to my obviously biased poll of moms and dads. The new funky fashionista Barbie by Mattel has a bubblegum pink bob and a skull-heart sweater to match her tattoos. The only positive thing I can say about the new tramp stamp Barbie is she seems to have a more realistic cup size than the "wholesome" ballerina and princess Barbies that look like they had breast implants.

I think many parents are asking why did Mattel make this doll? Strange as it sounds, Mattel has been testing the tattooed doll market for over a decade. I thought it was weird back in 2009 when Mattel introduced the Totally Stylin' Tattoos Barbie. Now her benign removable tattoo stickers seem tame in comparison to the new tokidoki Barbie. A decade before that in 1997 – back in the dark ages before most people had even heard of Google – Mattel was feeling hip and launched the Butterfly Art Barbie with tattoos, but it was later withdrawn from sale in the U.S. because of outraged parents.

The inked Barbie was designed by the Italian designer Simone Legno of the Janpanese-influenced pop culture design company, tokidoki. According to Mattel the doll is not aimed at kids, but designed for doll collectors. You can buy the new funky Barbie on Mattel's Barbie Collector website for $50. The doll is currently sold out, but if you are desperate she's also on eBay.

Photos: Mattel

A Prairie Home Companion & Garrison Keillor at St. Olaf College

In November, tune in for a live broadcast of "A Little College on the Prairie." Well, almost...

My favorite college – and my alma mater – St. Olaf College in Minnesota will be hosting the Garrison Keillor show on November 19th, 4:45 p.m. CDT. The St. Olaf Choir and the St. Olaf Orchestra will join Garrison Keillor, Guy's All-Star Shoe Band, and the rest of the gang for a live broadcast of A Prairie Home Companion from Skoglund Center Auditorium at St. Olaf College.

Crafts: Do you miss Mary Engelbriet's HOME COMPANION magazine?

I am a huge fan of Mary Engelbreit and I cried three years ago when I heard publication of her HOME COMPANION magazine was ending.

If you want to her to bring back the magazine, check out this Mary Engelbreit link. Here's the scoop from her website:

It’s still a very risky business to put a magazine out in these tough economic times, so to convince a publisher and advertisers that this would indeed be a worthy endeavor, we need you to write in and tell us why you’d like to subscribe to the magazine again.  A petition, if you will.  Because if we can show that a gajillion people want the Home Companion, need the Home Companion, will BUY the Home Companion– we will have a better chance of success.

Do you miss the magazine? Vote today!

DIY: Letterpress art you create using an iPad app

Letterpress is an art I both admire and fear as an artist. Letterpress is the oldest form of printing. Think Gutenberg printing back in 15th century. In a very general summary, this process produces a print by inking a surface with raised letters and then presses this to a printing substrate to reproduce an image in reverse. 

   

Creating letterpress artwork takes loads of practice with more than your average amount of artistic intuition. Now a virtual letterpress version via the iTunes store is avaialable with the LetterMPress iPad app ($5.99) and a Mac version ($9.99). 

Halloween at House 8810

House 8810 online store has loads of fun Halloween goodies. Check out two of my faves below:

Halloween towels

Halloween masks

Photos: House 8810 

 

Women Deserve a LIVING Wage

Are you making a living wage?  You probably know about minimum wage, but did you know it 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.

Many women working full-time jobs in America live in poverty because they do not make a living wage. How many minimum wage jobs must a mom work just to afford basic needs such as food, housing, and health care?  Depends on where you live.

The living wage for each community is unique and is determined by the costs in that area. You can find out the living wage in your community or region using the Living Wage Calculator.

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. 

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...

Want to create your own app? There is an app for that

 

 

Want to make your own iPhone app, but don't know all the fancy computer codes? Well, there is an app for that.

Thanks to several new apps, you can build an app without any training. Now creating an app is as easy as blogging.

Social media "drives" the apps so you will need at least one of the following: an RSS feed, blog feed, Twitter feed, Flickr feed, or videos posted on YouTube to supply the content. If you want to sell the app, after you create the app you need to register the app with iTunes or Google. These app maker apps offer the basic tools to make your app. If you want to build an app loaded with extras you will need some help from professional app creators, but the appmaker apps can offer suggestions for that too.

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. 

Schwarzenegger and the high cost of secrets in his betrayal

Patrick Schwarzenegger, now using the last name of Shriver, may have summed up the shocking collapse of his parent's marriage best in his post on Twitter yesterday:

“Some days you feel like s---. Some days you want to quit and just be normal for a bit, yet I love my family till death do us apart.”

The news that Arnold Schwarzenegger fathered a child out of wedlock that is approximately the same age as Schwarzenegger and Shriver's son Christopher makes you wonder how this ultimate betrayal could happen. Do the math and you might have already guessed it: While working in the couple's mansion their housekeeper was pregnant at the same time as Maria. According to ABC News:

Mildred Patricia Baena is the woman with whom former California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger fathered a son about 14 years ago ... Known as Patty, she reportedly worked in the famliy home as a housekeeper and assistant for more than 20 years, until January.

Betrayal in a marriage has two parts–the act of the infidelity and the deception that follows. Arnold Schwarzenegger kept his extra-marital affair quiet for over a decade, even with Baena working in his house and interacting with Maria and her children.  Since Arnold publicly admitted the scandal yesterday, he has not said anything more. 

Back in 2003 after allegations that Arnold made unwanted sexual advances on women, Maria Shriver defended her husband and many credit her support for saving his gubernatorial campaign. No one except Schwarzenegger and Baena knew the real bombshell--the fact that he had fathered a son with Baena a few years before he ran for governor.

Now women (and men) are asking themselves about the cost of Maria's support. By standing by her man and helping him politically did Maria overlook the higher cost to her marriage?

The Terminator has been dubbed "Sperminator" by Bonnie Bonnie Fuller, editor in chief of celebrity website Hollywood Life. Men behaving badly in a marriage is old news but also a hot topic--consider the high-profile affairs of Tiger Woods, South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford, New York Gov. Eliot Spitzer, and former senator and presidential candidate John Edwards.

The drive for power makes politicians at even greater risk for having an affair. Alan Greenblat explains on NPR:

"There's good evidence that men with great power and status are, in fact, more prone to affairs," says Todd Shackelford, who directs the evolutionary psychology lab at Oakland University in Michigan.

Are some individuals missing the shame gene? Leslie Marshall writes in USNews.com:

But as a woman I was quite concerned about something no one seems to be speaking about.  Why will women easily slip into bed with another's husband?!  And on top of that, she worked in the home seeing this man’s wife and children day in and day out. Has she no shame?

Maria is incredibly resilient. Asking for privacy for the sake of her children, Maria is taking the high road. According to NYTimes.com in her own statement Tuesday, she made it clear she is putting her children first:

“As a mother, my concern is for the children,” she said. “I ask for compassion, respect and privacy as my children and I try to rebuild our lives and heal. I will have no further comment.”

Hard to imagine Maria would have the energy to keep up public appearances, but yesterday Maria Shriver was one of the celebrities at Oprah's final show taping. Richard Lawson on Gawker reports:

As the gossip hurricane rages on, Maria Shriver stands brave and resolute with her friend Oprah. Meanwhile, the Grammers are having a custody dispute, a Tiger Woods mistress is telling stories, and Kirk Cameron is not Stephen Hawking.

Having the last word in an argument doesn't mean you win. However, an exception might be those times you can offer a word of insight. According to Gawker Maria did make insightful dig at her cheating husband and told Oprah

"You have shown love, support, wisdom, and most of all," she said, with a big, meaningful pause, "the truth."

More facts and more truths will be revealed in this saga I'm sure. But most of all, I'm hoping more women can make their mission to stop living in that gray area of betrayal and seeking the light of truth.

More best advice from mom: Go outside and play

In my countdown to Mother's Day, today I'm remembering the best advice from my mom whenever I was getting cranky: "Go outside and play." I don't think we ever outgrow the need to soak up some sunshine and enjoy nature. Simple advice from my mom that continues to make all the difference in improving my outlook.

In honor of Mother's Day, this week my "Mom Says" doodle art features my favorite sayings from my mom. You can find all of my "mom says" art here. You can see even more of my doodles at Momathon doodles. 

Illustration above by me, Chris Olson.

 

How many girls are in the TV shows your kids watch?

Thinking we are closing the gender gap in the workplace, I assumed the same goes for TV and movies. Unfortunately, male characters still dominate movies and TV for kids. And the impact of a bias that goes undetected is shocking.

In a WSJ.com article today, Geena Davis, founder of the Geena Davis Instute on Gender in Media, talks with journalist Rebecca Blumenstein about how the number of female characters featured on TV and in movies impacts kids.

According to the WSJ.com article, Geena Davis reports: 

The more hours of television a girl watches, the fewer options she believes she has in life. And the more hours a boy watches, the more sexist his views become.

There is hope. If girls see more positive images in the media, they are empowered. As Davis says in WSJ.com: 

If girls can see characters doing unstereotyped kinds of occupations and activities, they're much more likely as an adult to pursue unusual and outside-the-box occupations.

Next time your kids watch TV, sit down with them and together do some counting. Do the male characters outnumber females? You might be surprised with what you find out. And, if you want, send me an email or just add your findings to my comment section.

Photo: Joris de Vrede

Should you give a "work spouse" a Valentine?

To be honest I had never thought much about "work spouses"--a term for co-workers with close relationships--or giving one a Valentine until I read Sue Shellenbarger's WSJ article today. Sure, I think bringing a bunch of heart-shaped cookies or cupcakes to work for the office is sweet and festive. Who doesn't enjoy an excuse for a party at work? However--and this is a big however--if you give a special Valentine gift to one of your co-workers who you also consider to be a "work spouse," then perhaps you have gone too far on this romantic holiday. 

Or maybe not? I guess celebrating Valentine's Day with a work spouse doesn't have to be about romance, but I wonder if the "real spouse" at home would agree with you? According to Shellenberger's article: 

For Valentine's Day on Monday, Amy McMahon will be celebrating twice. She's preparing a romantic candlelight dinner for her longtime boyfriend and giving him a gift card from his favorite fitness website. That same day, Ms. McMahon will be giving her "work husband" some small heart-shaped cakes and a sentimental card.

So what exactly is a work spouse? Urban Dictionary defines a work wife as: 

That person at work (same or opposite sex) that takes the place of your "at home" spouse while you are at work (no sexual relationship is part of this being!) You talk with, connect to, and relate to this person as good as or better than your "at home" spouse with regards to all things work related.

Office buddies and an office spouse obviously are not the same. Having a deep--yet platonic--relationship with a co-worker is a modern office trend. An estimated two-thirds of workers have a work wife or office husband according to survey by Captivate.com. The survey findings might surprise you: 

Though respondents generally keep interaction with their work spouse confined to the office (55% talk to their work spouse a few times a day in the workplace), a sizeable number continually communicate with their work spouse throughout the day. 21% talk, instant message (IM) and email their work spouse constantly during the workday, and 24% engage in this level of communication with their work spouse even on weekends and weeknights.

Since I barely have enough time in a day to talk to my "real spouse," I can't imagine having enough time for a deep friendship with a "work spouse." And when in the day would I ever carve out enough time to buy a work spouse a Valentine? 

An estimated one billion Valentine's Day cards were sent worldwide in 2010 and I'm sure many were sent to that other spouse. Celebrating Valentine's day with an office spouse doesn't make sense to me. Call me a hopeless romantic. I like the sentiment of Geoffrey Chaucer when he wrote a poem celebrating one of the very first Saint Valentine's Day:

    For this was Saint Valentine's Day,

    when every bird cometh there to choose his mate.

 

(Illustration: Chris Olson © 2011.) 

Daily doodle: Violet heart

 

Ever thine 
Ever mine 
Ever ours.

~ Ludwig van Beethoven

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

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

 

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

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

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

Kitchen Sink

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

The fix: 

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

 

Toothbrushes

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

The fix:

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

 

Salt and Pepper Shaker

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

The fix:

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

 

TV Remote Control

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

The fix:

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

 

Computer Keyboard

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

The fix:

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

 

Bathtub

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

The fix:

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

 

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

(Photo by Plutor with processing by me.)

 

Cool + Plus: Eco-Friendly Sunnan Lamp

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

IKEA Sunnan rechargeable solar lamp 

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

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

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

Sunnan Solar Lamp features

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

 

Photo: IKEA

 

Back for seconds: Easy Raspberry Tiramisu

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

Ingredients:

12 oz. frozen raspberries, thawed

1/4 cup sugar

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

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

1/4 tsp vanilla extract

1/2 cup heavy cream, lightly whipped

1/2 pint fresh raspberries

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

 

(Tiramisu image by Bloggyboulga)

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

 

 

Daily doodle: The hardest part of moving forward...

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

Blog for Digs: My childhood bedroom was...

My blog post today is part of Blog for Digs--a great charity blogging event for the non-profit Dwell with Dignity. This non-profit group of interior designers and volunteers is dedicated to creating soothing, inspiring homes for families struggling with homelessness and poverty". Learn how you can help make a difference, click here.

My childhood bedroom was...

If I close my eyes and imagine playing on the floor with my dolls in my childhood bedroom, I can almost feel the warm summer breeze coming in through the windows, hear the crickets chirping in the meadow grass outside and taste the sugar cookies baking in the always busy kitchen oven. I loved looking outside and my windows were a favorite feature of my tiny corner room. In the winter I would fall asleep warm and cozy under my pillowy comforter while listening to the snow machines rumbling as they magically blew man-made snow across the runs at the ski resort down the street.

Although my super organized parents might disagree, my childhood bedroom was very neat. Every toy, gadget, and doll had a special box, shelf, or drawer to call home. On one wall my parents added shelves to create a large dollhouse. In my closet they built another shelving system to house my other toys. My desk, my bed, my dresser and my chair were all antiques passed down through the generations. As a child I always wanted a bean bag chair, but when I grew up I realized the beauty of restored wood and handsewn cushions.

I will always be grateful that my parents neatly boxed up and saved many of my toys when I went to college. Here are just a few of my favorite childhood things that I photographed in my studio yesterday:

  

More childhood bedroom posts to come!

Sending special MOMMY HUGS to Claudia and Beth who organized this event and, of course, to everyone at Dwell with Dignity.

If you can, please donate so that we can help create special memories for some great and deserving children.

A talented group of bloggers will post about their childhood bedrooms and one decor item they wished they had. Claudia's Blog for Digs schedule over at StoneHouseLove features a few bloggers for each day.  

Passing the blogger keyboard over to blogger Emily at Notorious MLE. She will be posting her stories about childhood bedrooms tomorrow. Looking forward to reading all of the posts of blog for digs over the next few weeks. You can see the entire schedule for bloggers here.

 

When bad hair dye happens to good people

I am one of those moms who can speak up for her kids when something goes wrong, but for myself--silence. Even worse, I have been known to say thank you for really bad service.

Last week I went to the salon for partial highlights. Somehow the partial highlights turned into full. The "a few brown highlights here and there" idea ended up making my naturally blond hair turn an ashy brown with a few blond highlights.

I think after the unveiling in front of the mirror at the end of the appointment, if the stylist had looked at my eyes with my total deer-in-the-headlight look instead of my awkward smile, she may have realized that something had gone terribly wrong.

Bad hair dye and hair cuts happen all the time. Figuring out what to say to your stylist is the tricky part. According to Susan Wagner in a BlogHer post, how you communicate your concern is key: 

Call the salon as soon as possible; be specific about what exactly isn't right about your cut or color, but keep your cool. It won't help to yell or cry, even though you might feel like doing both. If you need to, make a list of things you would like the stylist to fix and take that with you to your appointment. It's important that you communicate clearly with your stylist in order to prevent a second mishap.

Is my new hair color worth a do-over? Evidently using highlights to completely change your hair color is a no-no. According to 10 Tips For Beautiful Dyed Hair From Oprah's Hair Expert, Rita Hazan says: The highlights are an accent to the color, not a color themselves.

And my new haggard look isn't just a normal mommy condition. My new ashy hair color could be the problem. According to Hazan, "Colors that are too beige or ashy don't complement skin tones." Gold or warm tones give the skin a more youthful, healthy glow.

Well, enough about me. Evidently lots of moms feel guilty about going to the salon and then complaining later. 

Over at the blog The Laughing Stork, Candy says:

I was expecting to relax and revel in a much-needed ego boost from my fabulous new style. Instead, I sat down in the chair, and the stylist (whom we’ll randomly call Dick) tilted his head and pursed his lips at me. “Can we talk about your color?  It is SO DINGY,” Dick clucked.

Yep. We have all heard our stylists complain about our hair. And we just sit there and take the abuse because heaven forbid we make a scene.

Fortunately, good dye (and good cuts) can happen to good people. All it takes is good communication between you and your stylist. As Candy says at the end of her post:

The point is (yes, I DO have one, thankyouverymuch), when you are in customer service, you do not greet a new client by insulting her hair.  Everyone knows you’re supposed to start off by insulting something small, like lipstick color, then work your way up to hair color.  Customer Service 101. Duh...

I don't love my new hair color. However, I DO like my hair stylist. This episode is just a fluke event. So, what should I do? My good friend and mentor for all things style says I need to put on my big girl pants and tell my stylist that my new hair color is not what I asked for and ask her to fix it.

Sigh. Sounds easy enough. Three days later and I am still working up the nerve to do this. And I'm remembering my mom's advice, "even a bad haircut grows out."

Wonder how those blond roots growing in will look? 

Holiday safety tips for pets

Holiday decorations and food and even new holiday toys are very tempting chew toys for pets just like they are for children. And we tend to put the holiday items in places dogs and other pets can reach easily. We might remember to baby-proof our house if we have young children, but we also can use the same concept for dog-proofing the house for the holidays. 

Toys (and holiday decorations) that are not designed for dogs are not safe for pets. Small parts--even the squeaky part inside a child's or dog's toy--can spell trouble if your pup chews up the toy and swallows the choking hazard. Instead give your dog indestructible toys to keep him occupied like a "Kong" dog toy filled with dog treats. 

Some types of "people food" can be toxic to your dog. I know it's hard to resist giving your pooch a snack from the dinner table. Especially during the holidays. Unfortunately some foods that people love--even healthy foods such as grapes or raisins--can harm or kill your pet. 

We know chocolate and candy is bad for Fido, but did you know that meatloaf with onions is very harmful because of the onions? When my Rhodesian Ridgeback got pancreatitis after eating the turkey meat with the skin on it, I found out how quickly a healthy dog can become gravely ill from greasy foods. Also, you should avoid any candy or other item sweetened with xylitol. See my list below for foods to avoid. Plus, for more information on pet safety during the holidays, check out the ASPCA Holiday Safety Tips.

 

 

Common signs of poisoning include:

• Muscle tremors or seizures
• Vomiting or diarrhea
• Drooling
• Redness of skin, ears, and eyes
• Swelling and bleeding

 

Foods to avoid

For a detailed look at poisonous foods and items for pets, check out the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center.

Here's a quick overview of just a few people foods dogs and other pets should not eat according to the ASPCA.

• Avocados
• Alcohol
• Greasy foods like turkey skin
• Nuts (especially macadamia nuts and walnuts)
• Chocolate
• Candy or anything containing the sweetener Xylitol
• Coffee and Caffeine
• Grapes or Raisins
• Onions, Garlic, Chives
• Human Medicine
• Yeast Dough
• Raw/Undercooked Meat, Eggs and Bones
• Milk
• Salt

 

Plants to avoid

Many of your favorite household plants are poisonous to pets too. Check out the ASPCA: 17 Common Poisonous Plants

Here are 17 plants that are poisonous to pets:

• Lilies
• Marijuana
• Sago Palm
• Tulip/Narcissus bulbs
• Azalea/Rhododendron
• Oleander
• Castor Bean 
• Cyclamen
• Kalanchoe
• Yew
• Amaryllis 
• Autumn Crocus 
• Chrysanthemum 
• English Ivy 
• Peace Lily (AKA Mauna Loa Peace Lily) 
• Pothos 
• Schefflera

 

Illustration by me, Chris Olson.

Photo image by digital_image_fan

(You might notice that a version of this post is familiar, you can read it also here.)

 

 

Mommy news: food allergies, youth sports, and mommy thumb

The editors of the Personal Journal Section of the WSJ today have three articles you don't want to miss:

New Rules for Food Allergies: "New guidelines for diagnosing and treating food allergies say that blood or skin tests alone aren't sufficient when making a diagnosis." Plus this WSJ article includes an audio version.

Youth Team Sports Don't Provide Recommended 60 Minutes of Exercise: "The majority of children participating in organized team-sports don't meet the federal recommendation of 60 minutes a day of moderate-to-vigorous exercise, according to a study released Monday."

The Baby May Be Giving You Mommy Thumb: "Mommy thumb--an inflammation of tendons below the thumb--is affecting more women because of heavier children, older new mothers, and frequent scrolling on smartphones."

(Photo by Pink Sherbet Photography)

Photo doodle: Believing in Christmas magic

 

Believing is not just for children. I think my dog senses a little Christmas magic in the cold winter air on our evening walks.  We have lots of mule deer in my neighborhood, but on the night I took this photo my pup was certain he had discovered tracks from Santa's reindeer on the hillside.

Friday, Dec. 10, is National Believe Day. As part of Macy's Believe campaign, children can mail letters to Santa using the Santa Mail Letterbox - $1 for each letter is donated to the Make-A-Wish Foundation, up to $1 million.

You can celebrate the spirit of generosity and goodwill and spread the holiday season's message of joy and kindheartedness toward all. Locate a Santa Mail Letterbox here.

(I took this photo when the fresh snow had a lovely blue color under the evening sky. Photo doodle by me, Chris Olson. A 5x7 fine art print of photo is available at my Etsy store: Luna Blue Studio.)

 

Why a cup of tea makes you feel better

Different types of tea have hidden health benefits according to The Dr. Oz Show. 

Migraines: Ginger tea has anti-inflammatory properties and blocks prostagladins that cause migraines. Drink the ginger tea as soon as you feel the headache symptoms.

Weight loss: Oolong helps you burn fat faster because it boosts metabolism.

Libido: Ginseng tea helps both men and women improve their libido by boosting sexual arousal and combating erectile dysfunction.

 

Illustration: Chris Olson © 2010.

Five tips for selecting a Christmas tree

Picking out the best Christmas tree for your home seems easy until you arrive at the tree lot and the choices are endless. Here are a few tips I follow from the National Christmas Tree Association:

-- Know what size (height and width) you need before you go shopping.
-- Check out the NCTA or Martha Stewart Holidays links to identify which tree variety will be best for your family.
-- Don't shop in the dark. Find a tree lot that is well-lit. A lot that stores trees in a shaded area is even better.
-- Ask retailer when the trees arrived. Some trees are only delivered once at the beginning of the season. Other tree lots get several shipments during the season.
-- Test for freshness depends on type of tree. 

Fir trees: Green needles on fresh fir trees break crisply like a carrot when bent sharply with the fingers. 

Pines: Needles on firs are fibrous compared to firs. Needles on fresh pines do NOT break, unless they are very dry.

Photo: GIRLintheCAFE

Blog Red, Buy Red, and Support World AIDS Day

 

Last week the NIH announced a major advancement in HIV prevention research: A daily pill that treats HIV also apprears to help prevent HIV infection. A new vaginal gel shows promise in preventing HIV infection in women.

Research studies like this are key to helping save lives. Approximately 2.6 million people each year become infected with HIV worldwide. 56,000 become infected each year in the U.S. Today is World AIDS Day 2010 and the perfect time to be part of the cure.

Blog Red

Bloggers and Tweeters check out (BLOG) RED to find out how you can turn the World (RED) here. You can turn your profile picture red too.

Tweeting ideas from (BLOG) RED:

Dec 1 is World AIDS Day @joinred fact: 430,000 babies born with HIV last yr. By 2015 that could be 0. #turnred www.joinred.com 

Dec 1 is World AIDS Day. Tell the world that an AIDS Free Generation is due in 2015. #turnred to map it. @joinred www.joinred.com 

Tweet #turnred & turn this map of the world (RED). Dec 1 is World AIDS Day. Join @joinred www.joinred.com  

 

Buy Red

When you buy (PRODUCT)RED™ items, up to 50% of the profits go directly to those who need it. Some of the (PRODUCT) RED Partners include American Express, Apple, Bugaboo, Converse, Dell, Emporio Armani, GAP, Hallmark, NIKE, Penguin Classics, and Starbucks. Product Red Partners support the global fund to help eliminate AIDS in Africa. Here are just a few examples of how the Partners are helping:

NIKE: 100% of the profits from every pair of Nike RED laces you buy go to help fight AIDS in Africa. 

GAP: 50% of profits from the sale of all (GAP)RED (GAP)RED products go to help eliminate AIDS in Africa

APPLE: Buy the Apple (PRODUCT)RED™  iPod nano and Apple donates portion of the purchase price to the Global Fund to help eliminate AIDS in Africa. 

STARBUCKS: The (STARBUCKS)RED Ceramic To-Go Cup contributes $1US/L3/E3 from the sale of each Cup to the Global Fund. (STARBUCKS)RED Jonathan Adler Card. The (STARBUCKS) RED Card generates 5c/5p for the Global Fund every time it is used. 

Many more companies are involved in Buy (Red). Check out the link to see the many other companies are involved in BUY(RED). 

 

 

A Thanksgiving prayer

 

Garrison Keillor's stories are both eloquent and heartwarming. I have listened to Keillor's A Prairie Home Companion radio show from St. Paul on Saturday evening for decades. This month in Real Simple Keillor writes about saying grace at Thanksgiving: "Although you must all resume toting the barge and lifting the bale tomorrow, it’s inspiring to hear 15 people find harmony around the Thanksgiving table. And it sets a tone. No crying in the cranberries. Lighten up. It could, as we say, be worse."

Here is the prayer Keillor has painted on the dining-room wall above the mantel in his home. 

O Lord, we thank Thee for this food,
 For every blessing, every good. 
 For earthly sustenance and love
Bestowed on us from heaven above.
Be present at our table, Lord.
Be here and everywhere adored.
Thy children bless and grant that we
May feast in paradise with Thee.

No matter how big or small your gathering this Thanksgiving, join hands around the table with my family and sing this prayer. You can try any tune you like, Keillor suggests the doxology. And don't stop singing together after the prayer. As Keillor writes: 

If it sounds good, we might segue into “America the Beautiful” and “Take Me Out to the Ball Game.” And toss in the hymn “Praise God From Whom All Blessings Flow,” sung to the tune of “Hernando’s Hideaway.” It isn’t a party unless you sing a few songs. 

Sending warmest mommy hugs to my family and friends. God bless you all. Have a very Happy Thanksgiving!

Illustration: Chris Olson © 2010.

 

A story: Thanksgiving dinner and the white plates

Warmest wishes to all of you on this holiday weekend. The following story is a chapter from my novel I recently finished thanks to my fabulous instructor at MediaBistro.com and my wonderful classmates.

 

Thanksgiving dinner and the white plates

“Did you remember to call Mom yesterday?” my brother Tony asks over heaping portions of comfort food at the Atwood Cafe. “It was her sixty-fifth birthday.”

I stir my golden corn niblets into a pair of mashed potato domes. 

“You can’t just pick up the phone and call her,” I say.

“Why not? Mom only had a stroke, not a lobotomy.”

“But she can’t talk. Why call her?”

“Because Mom still likes to hear your voice.”

My brother leans back, tipping his chair so far I grab him and blurt out, “You're going to crack your head open.”

As soon as I say it, we both know it. That’s exactly what Mom would tell Tony too. 

“You sound just like Mom,” he laughs still leaning back.

“A curse.”

“Well, if it is, then this curse of yours is definitely a good thing.”

 

• • •

When I step outside the Atwood Cafe, I start to cry. I never used to cry in public. Before my daughter Betsy was born five years ago and I went on estrogen overload, I was in control of my emotions. 

I dip my chin deep into my scratchy wool scarf to hide my tears as I walk down Michigan Avenue. I feel like my sister. She’s the emotional wreck in my family with overflowing laundry baskets, a chronically broken washing machine, a pot roast burning in the oven, and three kids holding her hostage in her own home. Read More

 

Illustration: Chris Olson © 2010.

 

 

 

New Girl Scout study says teen girls act mean & play dumb online

A new nationwide survey by Girl Scouts of America finds "a disconnect between how teen girls portray themselves online and in person." The survey findings are a perfect starting point for discussing social media with your own kids. Perhaps the best news from the survey is the fact a vast majority of respondents prefer face-to-face communication.

The survey included more than 1,000 girls ages 14-17 sheds new light on how the effects of increased use of social media and teens.

Here are some of the study findings according to the GS of the USA press release:

-- nearly 74% believe other girls their age use social networking sites to make themselves “cooler than they really are,”

-- girls downplay several positive characteristics of themselves online, most prominently their intelligence, kindness, and efforts to be a positive influence.

-- in person, girls say they come across as smart (82%), kind (76%), and a good influence (59%)

-- girls online consider themselves fun (54%), funny (52%), and social (48%).

-- girls with low self-esteem are more likely to admit their social networking image doesn’t match their in-person image (33% vs. 18% of girls with high self- esteem)

-- girls with low self-esteem are also more likely to claim that the image they portray online is sexy (22% vs. 14%) and crazy (35% vs. 28%).

-- a majority of girls understand their emotional safety and reputations are at risk online, yet 50% admit to not always being as careful as they should be online.

-- 68% have had a negative experience on a social networking site, such as having someone gossip about them or being bullied.

-- 92% would give up all of their social networking friends if it meant keeping their best friend.

-- 56% of girls agree that social networking helps them feel closer to their friends, and 36% think that social networks have increased the quality of their relationships.

--52% of girls have gotten involved in a cause they care about through a social network.

Cheers to the Middle Sister

I admit it, I have been outed for selecting a wine just because it has a clever name or label. Sometimes my selection strategy works, and sometimes it doesn't. Today I'm falling for a lovely California winery called Middle Sister Wines. Besides being oh so C-U-T-E, this winery is getting rave reviews (and here too). Plus the winery pledges a minimum of $10,000 annually to organizations dedicated to promoting and supporting sisterhood including DressForSuccess.org. So this Thanksgiving Day why not try a nice bottle of Pinot Noir from Middle Sisters called Goodie Two-Shoes--a blast of ripe and lush berry, medium body, a vanilla note and light cocoa powder on the finish.

If you are like me, you'll have to know the story behind this middle sister:

The story of Goodie Two-Shoes:
Don’t hate me because I’m beautiful. Or because I graduated top of my class. Being almost perfect is a terrible burden to bear. So I must confess I do have one or two vices. Wine, cheese, cheeseburgers, vampire novels, pink outfits and serial flirting…is that more than one or two? I hope my secrets are safe with you. I have an image to protect. Let me buy you a glass of wine.

Follow Middle Sister Wines on Facebook.