Momathon Blog

bored to death

I am bored to death by many shows on tv. That is, except for the offbeat comedy Bored To Death on HBO.

 

If you were a Sex in the City Fan, check out this show. Imagine the roles of Carrie and the girls played by a group of guys--George, Jonathan, and Ray. Well, already you can tell it is not exactly the same. For starters, the show is set in Brooklyn, not Manhattan. You won't get any fashion advice here, but the guys are hip in a quirky way. The guys have cool jobs and sound amazing except for the fact they keep getting themselves into trouble. Sound familiar? Instead of Carrie, meet Jonathan, a novelist working on his second novel. When Jonathan is dumped by his girlfriend, he begins offering his services as an unlicensed detective. Instead of sexy Samantha, insert a self-indulgent magazine editor named George who isn't afraid to talk about all the great sex he's had. In tonight's episode Jonathan plays detective again and "helps" his best friend Ray a talented but not-yet-financially-successful cartoonist, find out if the sperm George had donated was stolen.

The show created by Jonathan Ames stars Ted Danson, Jason Schwartzman and Zach Galifianakis.

Can vitamin D help you fight the flu?

 

(image by Tony the Misfit)

Flu season is normally a winter bug, but it came early this year with swine flu (H1N1) outbreaks even during the summer. Why does the flu come in the winter? I always thought it was because everyone was stuck in stuffy offices and classrooms instead of outside. Turns out that stuffiness factor is only part of the problem. New research links susceptibility with a vitamin D deficiency due to lack of sun during the shorter days of winter. Here's the scoop from a post this week on the NYT.com blog Freakonomics:

"One big risk factor for flu infection is a lack of vitamin D. We naturally produce vitamin D when we’re exposed to sunlight, and as the days shorten in the winter, we produce less and less of it. That led these researchers to think that flu epidemics could be a sign of widespread vitamin D deficiency, due in part to decreased solar radiation. So it seems darkness makes the flu go ’round."

I'm thinking this new research gives me an even better excuse to enjoy some sunshine and take that long walk during my lunch break. Even better, take a friend or your dogs along. 

Note: I am not a medical specialist. Before you run out and grab some vitamin D supplements, please check with your physician.

Find Recipes that Match Your Ingredients at SuperCook.com

Ever look in your fridge or pantry and wonder just what you can make for dinner without making a last-minute shopping run? That's exactly the problem solved by the clever folks at SuperCook.com--a user-friendly website that does a recipe search according to the ingredients you have at home. 

To start all you have to do enter the ingredients you have at home on the website, the more ingredients you list on SuperCook, the more recipe options you will get.

Bon appetit!

Smart Shopping: School Clothes

At my house this year, shopping for school clothes involves looking for the best deals. If you want a little help finding your favorite brands on sale, then check out Shop It To Me. This website is almost as good as having your own personal shopper--and a savvy shopper that knows the inside scoop on bargain shopping at all your favorite stores. 

True Love: An Old Dog Finds a New Home

Adopting a big dog takes a big heart. Adopting a senior big dog requires even more love. When an older shepherd mix was abandoned back in 2008, I prayed that some kind soul would adopt him. He waited for a very long time. And all that time he never lost his cheery outlook and he never lost the enthusiasm for giving kisses to visitors at the adoption fairs. I think the world would be a better place if people could manage that same optimism.

I am so happy to share the news that Duke found a home because of the good folks at a local animal shelter that never gave up on trying to find him a new home. 

God bless the kind souls that looked beyond his senior age and discovered this amazing forever friend to adopt.

B&N "Meet the Author" Podcast with Carl Hiaasen

Carl Hiaasen writes about the connection kids have with animals and wildlife in his books for young adults: Hoot, Flush, and now his newest novel, Scat.

In a Barnes & Noble Meet the Writers interview, Hiaasen talks about writing Scat, a book about a fearsome biology teacher who never returned from a field trip to Black Vine Swamp and the endangered elusive panther in the Florida Everglades. (384 pp, Hardcover, $16.99)

Buy Scat on SALE

Barnes & Noble is currently running a special 40% discounted price on this book in their Great Kids' Book discount coupon. If you are a B&N member you can get the book at 50% with the coupon.

Podcast link

Want to listen to the Hiaasen interview podcast? Just click on this B&N link and then click on the "Meet the Writer" audio player.

Go Green: Grow a Sweet Plant

This herb smells like a peppermint patty. My sweet Chocolate Mint plant flavors teas, adds a unique chocolate flavor to desserts or sweet breads, or makes a yummy potpourri.

An easy-to-grow plant, it grows well in an area with morning sun and shade after 2 p.m.  

Geeky Mom: Cool Travel Apps for iPhone

Planning a trip this summer? With an iPhone of iPod touch planning and making the trip keeps getting easier.  Here are a few of my personal faves and some recommended by The New York Times

Trip planning apps

Expedia Itinerary Viewer (free) View your saved and booked Expedia itineraries with the itinerary viewer application.

Travelocity (free) Check flight schedules, gate numbers, security wait times and -- if you booked through Travelocity -- your itinerary. Also lets you search for "Hotels Near Me" 

AAA Discounts (free) Uses GPS technology to instantly identify nearby businesses offering deals for AAA members.

Are we there yet apps

Flight Status ($3.99) Flight status, arrival gates and baggage carousels.

Google Earth (free) Show this app to your kids and ask them to figure out when you'll arrive at your destination.

FlightTrack ($4.99) Real-time flight tracking and weather reports. (See photo above.)

Getting around town apps

Mass transit and subway maps for major cities:

CityTransit (for New York City, $2.99), 

Tube London City ($9.99) 

iBart(for the San Francisco area, free).

Taxi! (free)  finds taxi services throughout the US based on your location. 

Where to eat apps

Zagat to Go '09 ($9.99) Kinda spendy for an app, but it's just like a book with lots of suggestions for where to eat. Uses GPS. Photos of restaurants. Lets you make reservations with a click. 

Open  Table (free) Incredibly easy restaurant reservations.

Yelp (free) Helps you find a nearby restaurant, coffee shop--tips for finding really almost anything.

Urban Spoon (free) recommends restaurants in more than 50 cities 

Local Eats (99 cents), an iPhone version of the guidebook series "Where the Locals Eat" -- uses the the top 100 restaurants in 50 American cities. 

Tipulator  ($1.99) No need to think after finishing a delicious meal--this app figures out your tip for you.

Find almost anything apps

Where (free) Lets you scroll through different services (coffee shops, gas stations and restaurants) and shows you where they are on a Google Map, along with your location.

International travel apps

Truphone (free) Think Skype for the iPhone. This app lets you make cheap international phone calls over Wi-Fi (about 6 cents a minute to landlines and 30 cents to mobile phones),

MOMPF Currency Converter (free), which has a funny-looking cartoon for a mascot, allows you to easily switch among currencies and to store favorites.

Lonely Planet ($9.99) helps you say it with phrasebook apps in 10 languages including Czech, Italian and Vietnamese. 

Babelingo ($5.99), this "no talking required" app makes it almost impossible to screw up the pronunciation of foreign phrases--just choose a phrase like "Where is the bathroom?" and it displays the translation in big bold type. 

Looking for more info on apps?

You can also check out more iPhone apps at the  iPhone App Store. On this link Apple makes it super easy to browse top iPhone apps in specific categories like travel, news, social networking, reference, music, sports, etc.

Go Green: Eco-Friendly Pots for New Plants

Whenever I transplant new plants in my garden, I end up with a pile of discarded plastic pots the plants are sold in. Some of the temporary pots are recyclable, but many are not. 

This year I discovered  eco-friendly peat pots. Love them. Easy to plant. Better for your plants. My new herbs for the garden came in biodegradable Bonnie Peat Pots. The green peat pots make it super simple to garden with kids. Here's how: 

• remove the narrow band of  shrink wrap with planting instructions around the top edge of the pot
• tear away the top of the peat pot so that the rim is not exposed after planting
• remove the bottom half of the pot before planting to help roots
• compost any pieces of peat pot or turn them into the ground
• make a hole in the ground the size of the peat pot and place the plant in the hole
• the peat pot keeps the plant intact and makes the planting process great for kids

"Real" Bookstore Browsing Online

I am a fan of online shopping. And I love books. When I discovered Zoomii--a "real" bookstore online that replicates the browsing of bookstore--I fell deeply in love. 

The books available on Zoomii.com are Amazon.com books at Amazon's great prices, thanks to their affiliate program.

Check it out in the YouTube video below.

Go Around the World with Key Spices

Some days being a mom takes all the fun out of cooking. Trying to find a meal that pleases everyone at dinner is never an easy task. Basically, I have given up trying. Instead when the schedule permits, I try to make meals that involve the kids in the kitchen. When they help out, the meal is always more fun. 

That's why I love versatile recipes that are simple to make--like the recipes by chef Mark Bittman featuring international spices on a recent segment on the TODAY Show. Imagine just alternating a four spices you keep on hand and creating a dee-lish international meal.

In the video below Bittman shows how to stock an international kitchen. With Bittman's spice advice you can turn an ordinary meal into an international dish that is a crowd pleaser.

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

International Spice Checklist according to Mark Bittman, a guest chef on the TODAY Show.

India

Curry Powder

Coconut Milk

Fresh Ginger

Mint

Mexican

Chili Powder

Cilantro

Fresh Chilies

Lime

Southeast Asia

Coconut Milk

Fish Sauce (or Soy Sauce)

Lime

Cilantro

China

Soy Sauce

Sesame Oil

Five Spice Powder

Garlic

Be Happy: Do One Nice Thing

Want to make the world a better place and feel better yourself? It all starts when you do one nice thing. When you help someone out, it gives you hope too.

According to Debbie Tenzer, author of the book Do One Nice Thing, being nice can be habit-forming. Find out how Debbie got hooked on being nice in the video below. 

When you view this video, a donation will be given to Feeding America, the nations food bank network.

Check out this link for more information on Debbie and Do One Nice Thing™.

Do You Need a Sleep Makeover?

Look into my eyes. You're feeling sleepy... Very sleepy... 

If you're a mom, you probably don't need to hear a hypnotist's voice to make you fall asleep. Sleep deprivation is a fact of mommy life. The problem is squeezing in enough sleep seems impossible for most moms. 

You probably have your our own way to deal with sleep deprivation. Caffeine gives a jump start to help you feel more energized. Chocolate anything makes you smile. But nothing makes your sleepy head feel refreshed like a good night's sleep.

It's time to change your sleep patterns with a sleep makeover. BlogHer cofounder Jory Des Jardins and life coach Laurie Santos offer simple steps to get a better night's sleep in a new web episode of The Juice, "A Good Night for a Good Morning."  

Sending warm mommy hugs to my friends at BlogHer for including tips from my Momathon Blog in your The Juice episode!

Geeky Mom: Stay Ahead of Your Kids with All Things Digital App

My kiddos think they are the experts on all things tech. I admit I use them. For FREE. They are best tech consultants in my neighborhood. But sometimes I want to catch up and maybe even know something new and cool first.

I am a fan of AllThingsDigital on the WSJ.com. Sometimes I read their columns and I think tech gurus Mossberg, Swisher, Paczkowski, Kafka, and Boehret can read my mind. Has someone implanted a chip up there?

Now these clever folks offer a new cool All Things Digital app for the iPhone and iPod touch. It features their daily columns, blogs, video, product reviews, and more formatted for easy use on your iPhone or iPod. For more info on this app check out Swisher's column here.

Go get the ATD at the iTunes App Store. It's FREE!

Momathon Fave: New Moon Girls Magazine

Finding a magazine for girls that isn't loaded with diet advice, popularity contests and ads might seem impossible. That is, until you discover the wonderful New Moon Girls Magazine.

"New Moon Girls magazine is about helping girls discover and honor their true selves, engage in meaningful pursuits and dialogue, and express their voices in ways that matter."

In every issue readers will find: 

• Articles about girl athletes, adventurers, and activists
• Girls internationally teaching readers about countries and cultures
• Features about women in careers that girls can aspire to 
• Life stories about fascinating historical women 
• Fiction stories about girls 
• Honest, accurate information about our bodies
• Inspirational messages from accomplished girls and women 
• Book reviews, cartoons, Ask a Girl, Dear Luna, and more 

You can read a full issue at this New Moon link.

Why Should We Love Our Bees?

If you like flowers and fruit and veggies, then you need to thank our busy bees for all the hard work they do. A third of the food we eat depends on bees for pollination, but the honeybees are disappearing fast. Why are they disappearing? The cause is still unknown, but scientists call this environmental issue Colony Collapse Disorder (CDC). Without the honeybees for pollination, the fruits, vegetables and flowers will disappear too. 

Burt's Bees recently made it a priority to educate the public about CCD. According to Burt's Bees:  "CCD is a mysterious disorder causing the disappearance of millions of honeybees that if left unsolved, could affect the availability of the food we eat." Häagen-Dazs - Help the Honey Bees also wants to "keep these little heroes buzzing" and get the word out.

The good news is you and your kids can work together to help save the bees too:

• Support your local organic farmer.
• Plant a seed a create a bee-friendly garden in your backyard, deck, or a neighborhood park.
• Make a donation to programs that support research into CCD. Pennsylvania State University and University of California at Davis have two of the world´s leading honey bee research facilities.  

Donate to the Penn State Entomology - AG Science Haagen Dazs Honey Bee Project

Donate to the UC Davis Honeybee Research Fund

You Can't Overestimate the Power of Giving

Blake Mykoskie calls himself the Chief Shoe Giver of TOMS Shoes. For every pair of canvas shoes his company sells, they give a pair away to a child in need.

This year the company's goal is to give away over 300,000 pairs of shoes.

Since the company's beginning in 2006, TOMS Shoes has given over 140,000 pairs of shoes to children in Argentina, Ethiopia, and South Africa. 

Women understand the lure a great pair of shoes, but in places like Ethiopia, even the most basic shoe is priceless. Having a pair of shoes means living a healthier life. According to the Los Angeles Times, Mykoskie also hopes donating shoes will help eradicate podoconiosis in Ethiopia, "a form of elephantiasis believed to be caused by walking barefoot in silica-rich soil."

Shopping for shoes never sounded so great. TOMS Shoes start at $44 for men, women, and children. They also feature some styles made with recycled materials. You can buy them at Nordstrom, Whole Foods and over 500 more stores nationwide and internationally. 

Way to go Mykoskie. TOMS Shoes is a Momathon Fave!

Go Green with Ecofont

Events this week celebrate Earth Day on April 22nd. All week Momathon Blog will be focusing on simple ways you can celebrate Earth Day every day.

Go green with a new Swiss-cheese design font.

Use the environmentally friendly Ecofont and you will minimize ink and carbon use. The Dutch company SPRANGQ developed this green font with tiny circular holes in the letters. When you use this font you won't see the holes unless the font is too large. The font is readable because the micro holes are not visible in a smaller size (16pt or smaller). The design of this typeface cuts ink usage by 20%.

It's free. Download Ecofont here.

Geeky Mom: Cool iPhone App for Pandora Internet Radio

Earlier today I mentioned the cool factor of Pandora Internet Radio, but I forgot to mention the amazing iPhone app for Pandora. 

Remember the trusty transistor radio of your youth? Pandora Internet Radio is like that only better. Pandora only plays the music you like. You supply the names of artists or songs you like and your personalized Pandora Radio station streams their music and more music similar to your selection. Plus you can create multiple stations to suit your mood. 

Navigation on this app is so simple even us grown-ups can use it. The iPhone app doesn't require a computer the way the web version does. And it is free as a download from the iPhone App Store or at iTunes.

You can also buy any song that is playing on Pandora from iTunes immediately, if your iPhone is connected via WiFi.

You can check out a demo video clip here.

Music for Moms Can Be Cool Too: How to Get Back in the Groove

Kiddie music is definitely cooler today than when I was growing up, but I still think parents deserve a break from The Wiggles once in a while. Between diaper changes, play group dates, and running errands, who has time to find the latest cool songs for big people? But you still want to be cool. And if your kids are older tweens or teens, your kids will be so impressed if you actually know who is new and popular.

My friends at Cookie Magazine told me about these amazing music links that will help you find your new tunes.

Music Links

iTunes
Go to iTunes Store every Tuesday because that is when new music gets posted.

Pitchfork
Music-Themed blog

Pandora Internet Radio
It's a new kind of radio station that will play only the music you like. Just type in the artist you like and the Music Genome Project finds other songs you might like and creates your own unique radio station that only plays similar songs. It's free.

Muzzle of Bees.com

Picks really new music that is just emerging in the entertainment industry.

iLike

Social networking site that is based on musical tastes.

Cookie Magazine has three tailor-made plans to get you back in the groove. Check out the strategies. (See the three CD images above)

• Philosophy 1: If It's Popular, It Must Be Good
• Philosophy 2: Tell Me What I Need to Know
• Philosophy 3: I Was a Blazer of Trails

 

Easter Ham 3 Ways with Rachael Ray

If you have eaten at my house, then you know I am kind of a last-minute cook. I like recipes that don't take loads of prep time and they must have a short list of ingredients. That's why I love Rachael Ray's 30-minute meal segment on her show and her book 30-Minute Meals 2. Fast, fuss-free meals are a staple at my house. But what do you prepare if you have a special occasion like Easter? How much time do you have to prepare a holiday meal?

Today on her TV show, Rachael featured 3 different Easter ham recipes with varying prep times and cooking times. They each look dee-lish. Plus, you can count on Rachael to develop a recipe that both kids and adults will like--and that's no easy task.

 

Rachael's Fresh Bone-In Ham With Maple-Cherry Glaze

This is definitely the most time consuming, but I'm thinking spending some extra time on a yummy holiday meal like this is definitely worth it.

Cooking/Prep Time: approx. 3 hours.

Includes a simple glaze recipe with maple syrup and cherry preserves.

Click on the link above for the complete recipe, plus a short video clip by Rachael.

Rachael Ray's Spiral-Cut Smoked Ham With Spicy Rum and Orange Glaze

Cooking/Prep Time: approx. 2 hours.

Who can resist the ever-popular spiral-cut ham?

You cook this ham low and slow.

I love the glaze ingredients: spiced rum, brown sugar, Dijon mustard, and orange marmalade

Click on the link above for the complete recipe, plus a short video clip by Rachael.

Rachael Ray's Ham Steak With Apricot-Peach Sauce

Cooking/Prep Time: approx. 30 minutes.

This one is Rachael's favorite because it is a 30-minute ham.

Thick cut ham steaks you sear and finish them in the oven.

Easy to make glaze with brown sugar, vinegar, ginger, mustard, nutmeg, and apricot preserves.

Click on the link above for the complete recipe, plus a short video clip by Rachael.

Thanks Rachael. Bon appetit!

Geeky Mom: iPhone App Helps You Find Clean Public Bathrooms

Now here's an iPhone app moms will love. You might not like the name, but you'll love how SitOrSquat.com will help you find the cleanest public bathroom anywhere in the world. This free mobile app for iPhones and BlackBerry's is courtesy of Charmin. The app uses GPS to guide you to the nearest clean public bathroom.

You can also recommend clean public bathrooms you think should be included on the list too. If you don't have an iPhone, you can still visit SitOrSquat.com online and find a clean restroom. 

I really could have used this service when I visited London and other large cities with little kids in tow. Besides all the lovely museums, we also got to know the best McDonald's and Starbucks to visit for potty privileges. 

I never thought I would say this, "I love you, Charmin."

Whoopie Cakes Make a Comeback

Cupcake fans cover your eyes. The most delicious photo of the beloved Whoopie Cake is featured in the NY Times Dining & Wine section.

As a kid I loved this gooey cake-like sandwich with a rich buttercream filling. Forget about watching the calories, this dessert is simply addictive. Call it a cake, cookie or pie--the Whoopie is dee-lish!

Yesterday I wrote a post about the lovely cupcake with the pretty frosting swirl. Cupcakes are elegant and pretty. Because I never had a Whoopie Pie as beautiful as the one pictured in the NYT, I always thought of the Whoopie Pie as a bit messy. A treat best enjoyed in the backyard and not at a wedding reception.

If you can't find a bakery near year--or you are having a Martha Stewart moment--check out the Whoopie Pies recipe at the NYT adapted from Zingerman's Bakehouse, Ann Arbor, Mich.

How Cupcakes Define Us

When asked to choose between cake and a cupcake, for me the little cupcake always wins. Why? For starters they are just too cute--especially with candy sprinkles on top or tempting frosting swirls as tall as the cake itself. Plus, they are portable and better yet they even fit nicely in your purse. (Just don't forget the cupcake box.) I know this last reason must be false, but I still believe just one cupcake will never ruin a diet. With a flavor for every mood, who can resist?

Now I have to have just one vanilla with cinnamon sprinkles buttery treat. How did I ever get started on this?

Check out the cupcake journalism including a video post by Corby Kummer about the "cloyingly cute cupcake shops" at The Atlantic Podcasts and the delicious post on Jezebel.

How Clean Is That Airplane? Don't Check the Seat-Back Pocket

United Airlines has long been a favorite of mine. My reasoning is anecdotal. My neighbor is a United pilot and I respect his skills as a pilot and his choice of an airline to work with. I have had relatively good luck on United flight schedules. Plus they have never left me sitting on the tarmac for hours while they fix the plane. The crew on United flights seem very nice compared to other airlines...like they really care about me.

Do they actually care what I think? Evidently they do. In a recent bid to attract more passengers, United now is on a mission to make their jets spick-and-span.

I am not exactly a neat freak. However I will never again look in seat-back pockets after finding something I think belonged in the bathroom in one pocket. And I remind my kids to never touch those grimy pockets also.

I don't easily get grossed out. But even I have my limits. A cleaner airplane seems almost like an impossible task, that is until a fastidious United manager Paul Sanders and clean guru for United Timothy Canavan made making their jets pristine their personal mission. 

Thanks to these guys and others at United we can feel a bit better about cleaner planes when we board a United flight. According to the Chicago Tribune:

Now, the intensive cleans are done every 30 days for the smaller United jets that fly within the U.S. and every 15 days for the wide-body aircraft that cross the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, enduring wear and tear during the long flights that can cause planes to become run-down more quickly.

Official List of Brands NOT Affected by Recall

I admit when I first heard about the latest peanut list I wondered who would look at it because we already have a searchable recall list. Then I remembered how I gave my son a snack bar with peanuts and he asked me if I was sure it was okay. I told him I couldn't find it on the recall list so it must be okay. Because my son is going to be a lawyer in ten years he knew this wasn't a good argument.

What if my eyes were tired of reading the fine print and I missed the snack bar on the DO NOT EAT THIS list?

Moms with kids old enough to frame an argument better than Denny and Alan on Boston Legal, have no fear. Now we have a list to satisfy even the young lawyer wannabes living at your house: American Peanut Council's List of Brands NOT Affected by FDA Recall

Just remember to check back every few days to see if the list changes as they get more information.

If you would like to look for the RECALLED items, just check out this link for a searchable list compiled by the FDA that gives all the recalled peanut butter and other peanut containing products.

Christmas Song: Alvin and the Chipmunks

All right you Chipmunks! Ready to sing your song?

Christmas, Christmas time is near,

Time for toys and time for cheer,

We've been good, but we can't last,

Hurry Christmas, hurry fast.

--The Chipmunk Song (Christmas Don't Be Late)

The Chipmunks & David Seville

Merry Christmas to You!

xo Chris

Geeky Mom: Web Video Searches Made Easier with VideoSurf

You might have noticed that I love video clips. Of course YouTube is always an easy fix for my web video addiction, but what if your video search doesn't result in anything? VideoSurf Video Search Engine comes to the rescue. Finding the exact clip just got easier. Thanks to the tip from Katherine Boehret, personal tech columnist at the WSJ, I tried out the new video search engine.

The Video Surf site analyzes a clip's visual technology as well as metadata. If you are a YouTube fan then you know that this site conducts their hunts by looking tags, video titles, and description---the contextual metadata. VideoSurf takes the search one (or more) steps further. With a filmstrip-type format, VideoSurf can distinguish scenes. You can even ask the search engine to show only faces to help you make the search even more specific.

Putting VideoSurf to the test

A few days ago Snoop Dogg was on the Martha Stewart show. I had to leave the house before the segment finished so I decided to search for it on VideoSurf. Just by typing in "Martha Stewart Snoop" I found the clip in seconds. Here is what shows up in my search.

According to Boehret, "The site aggegrates content from about 60 sources, including YouTube, CNN Video, Hulu, ESPN, and Comedy Central, and a sorting tool weeds out unwanted results like the irksome slideshows that are labeled as videos."

 

Video Surf is still in the beta stage. Some quirks of the system need to be worked out. But overall I say it is a success. If you are a visual learner like me, then this format is great. The best part is what I call the WYSIWG search feature. "What You See Is What You Get" makes it easier and more fun to search for a specific video clip. 

Try it out. I've bookmarked VideoSurf cause it's definitely a Momathon Fave.

Here is the Martha Stewart with Snoop Dogg video clip I was looking for.

Momathon Fave: A Book of Ages

If you are like me, you rarely find enough time in the day to get all your errands done. Planning weeks--even months--ahead of time is the only solution for this optimistic mom wants to somehow magically squeeze in a few more hours into a 24-hour day. What to do? In September before the holiday shopping mania in December begins, I make my list and begin shopping for holiday gifts (and fall birthday gifts too). 

Best tip. I love gift ideas that multi-task --presents that will be the perfect gift for several people on my list. 

Here's a great multi-tasker for this year's holiday list: the witty new gift book by Eric Hanson, "A Book of Ages." This book will be a great birthday gift or holiday gift for so many of my friends. If you know me, then you probably recognize the name. Eric's my brother--and a talented writer/journalist and illustrator. 

Ever wonder about the triumphs as well as those failures, crossed paths, midlife crises, and missed chances that occurred in famous lives? As Hanson's book promo says:

"A witty, ironic collection of moments from famous lives--triumphs, failures, revealing anecdotes, odd incidents, crossed paths, missed chances, early and late masterpieces, mid-life crises and reinventions, great partnerships, changes of heart and changes of mind--organized by year of age."

Of course I had to get a copy for my bookshelf too. Check out "A Book of Ages" by Eric Hanson at Barnes & Noble. ($14.96)

Book synopsis courtesy of Barnes & Noble:

 

Age isn't just a number--it's a way of keeping score. This is your scorecard.

The day we turn any age, we become contemporaries of everyone who has ever been that age, and it becomes our business to know that Bob Dylan wrote “Blowin’ in the Wind” when he was twenty, Orson Welles cowrote, directed, and starred in Citizen Kane when he was twenty-five, Winston Churchill was fired from the Admiralty when he was forty and took up painting, and Jane Austen died, unmarried and mostly unknown, when she was forty-one. Knowing who did what when provides the yardstick by which to measure our own progress; it’s comforting to learn that Grandma Moses didn’t show her first painting until she was seventy-eight, and discouraging (but not surprising) to discover that Einstein was already smarter than you at age sixteen.

A witty, ironic collection of moments from famous lives organized by year of age from infancy to death, A Book of Ages tells you who is doing what, who is on top of the world, who is waiting for his luck to change, who is saying unkind things about whom, who is planning his revenge, who is meeting for the first time, and who Elizabeth Taylor is currently divorcing. 

Fizzy Diversion: Bottle Shock, the movie

When life gets tedious--that happens often to me this time of year--I love a good diversion. A good movie can cure me of the blahs and keep me smiling long after the picture ends.

(Photo: Bottle Shock)

This weekend I had a date night with my hubbie and we went to see the movie Bottle Shock--based on a true story of the amazing rise of the California wine industry in the late 70's. If you believe the critics, the movie is a rare combination of the hit movies Little Miss Sunshine and Sideways. I loved watching Bottle Shock because it's all about the good things (and the frustrations) that happen to a hardworking entrepreneur who risks nearly everything to make his dreams come true. Also the breathtaking California wine country is easy on the eyes.

" 'Wine is sunlight held together by water,' the poetic wisdom of the Italian physicist, philosopher and star gazer Galileo Galilei," says the British wine shop owner Steven Spurrier (Alan Rickman) who sponsors a competition that pits the French against the California upstarts. Watch the video clip below...

Healthy Fast Food Quiz

Figuring out what's healthy for kids to eat at chain restaurants (or school cafeterias) gives me a headache. Especially if we are waiting in a long line and by the time I reach the counter to order I am so hungry I would almost eat the cardboard boxes holding the burgers.

Never fear, there is a new book out to save the day--even when your brain is suffering from food deprivation. The new book Eat This Not That! for Kids! makes it visually and nutritionally fun for kids and adults to select healthy foods to eat at home or on the go.

Just like the other Eat This books by David Zinczenko and Matt Goulding, their new book compares popular menu items and even includes great color photos to help get the kids involved in healthy menu choices. Keep in mind, you aren't always going to be able to find the most nutritious meal at a chain (or other) restaurant. Even though this book highlights the "healthier choice", not all food choices at fast food chains are healthy. But finding out which is the lesser of the two evils can help.

Nutrition experts Keith Ayoob and Margo Wootan say Eat This, Not That! For Kids! has much good advice, but they also note a few nutritional warnings in this link.

Which is healthier?

(Answers below)

Find out how you score on the healthy fast-food test based on David Zinczenko and Matt Goulding's  book and featured in USATODAY.com:

McDonald's

(Photo: USA Today)

Quarter Pounder vs. The Premium Grilled Chicken Club

Subway

(Photo: USA Today)

6-inch Tuna Sub vs. Double Roast Beef sub

Chipotle

(Photo: USA Today)

 Chicken Burritto vs. Chicken Burrito Bol

(Go to this link for more photos of the food items below.)

Cosi

Bombay Chicken vs. The Signature Salad

Dairy Queen

Chocolate Sundae vs. Blizzard

Pizza Hut

Thin 'N Crispy Ham and Pineapple Pizza vs. Supreme Pan Pizza

Ruby Tuesday

Top Sirloin w/green beans and mushrooms vs. Turkey Burger w/fries

Taco Bell

Grilled Steak Soft Tacos vs. Baja Beef Chalupa

Wendy's

Ultimate Chicken Grill Sandwich w/ Side Salad and Med. Iced Tea vs. Roasted Turkey and Swiss Frescata w Med. Fries and Med. Coke

Answers according to the new book for kids and USA TODAY:

McDonalds"

• Healthier choice: The QUARTER POUNDER has 410 calories, 19g fat. 
• Not as healthy: The premium grilled chicken club has 570 calories and 21g fat

Subway

• Healthier choice: The 6-inch tuna sub, left, has 530 calories, 31g fat.
• Not as healthy: The 6-inch DOUBLE ROAST BEEF sub, 360 calories, 7g fat

Chipotle

• Healthier choice: CHICKEN BURRITO BOL with 489 calories, 22g fat 
• Not as healthy: chicken burrito, 1,169 calories, 47g fat.

Cosi

• Healthier choice: The BOMBAY CHICKEN SALAD with soup, 94 calories, 5g fat. 
• Not as healthy: The Signature Salad with soup 870 calories, 69g fat.

Dairy Queen

• Healthier choice: small CHOCOLATE SUNDAE  280 calories, 7g fat 
• Not as Healthy: Blizzard's 720 calories and 28g fat.

Pizza Hut

• Healthier Choice; Two slices of THIN 'N' CRISPY HAM and PINEAPPLE PIZZA, 360 calories, 12g fat.
• Not as healthy: Two slices of the Supreme pan pizza, 620 calories, 32g fat.

Ruby Tuesday

• Healthier choice: TOP SIRLOIN with baby green beans and portabella mushrooms, 464 calories and 24g fat
• Not as healthy: turkey burger with fries has 1,171 calories and 58g fat.

Taco Bell

• Healthier choice: Two GRILLED STEAK SOFT TACOS, Fresco Style pack 320 calories, 9g fat
• Not as healthy: Baja beef chalupa, 410 calories, 27g fat

Wendy's

• Healthier choice: ULTIMATE CHICKEN GRILL SANDWICH with side salad and medium iced tea has 540 calories, 22g fat. 
• Not as healthy: The roasted turkey and Swiss Frescata, left, with medium fries and medium Coke has 1,100 calories, 40g fat.

More nutrition information...

Click on the interactive graphic on USATODAY.com to find out how obesity affects different parts of the body.

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