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As a new year begins, I am counting my blessings. And you, dear friends, are just the ones who make my days so sweet. Happy New Year!
For auld lang syne.
For auld lang syne, my dear,
For auld lang syne,
We'll tak' a cup o' kindness yet,
For auld lang syne.
~Robert Burns
("Counting My Blessings art above by me, Chris Olson.)
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The big New Year's Eve holiday weekend is here--party food, party drinks, party clothes... But first, sit back and relax because as my kids remind me, today is Casual Friday.
Happy New Year, friends! And this weekend be SAFE, be SMART.
(Instagram photo by me.)
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New Year's Eve requires finding the perfect outfit. I have been cleaning out the closets and found this one for my Yorkie. The other two pups ran from the room before I could find something glam for them.
(Instagram photo by me, Chris Olson)
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Is it possible to take too many pictures? I don't think so. My iPhone and a few dozen photo apps is a "good thing" as I think Martha would say. A favorite of mine is the free photo app Instagram that includes custom designed filters and borders such as XPro-II, Earlybird, Rise, Amaro, Hudson, Lomo-fi, Sutro, Toaster, Brannan, Inkwell, Walden, Hefe, Nashville, 1977, and more. Social media folks like the fact the app includes an option for instant sharing to Facebook, Twitter, Flickr, Tumblr, Foursquare, and Posterous.
Photos above taken by me. Post processing via Instagram app. The dog featured is a shelter dog and I used Instagram to help him find a forever home.
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Blogger Michelle Palm started her Jelly Shot Test Kitchen blog in 2009 after perfecting the recipes for grown-up gelatin treats such as Champagne Cocktails, Cosmopolitans, Tequila Sunrises, Pink Squirrels, Mojitos, Gimlets, and Chocolate Martinis. Palm's book Jelly Shot Test Kitchen: Jell-ing Classic Cocktails-One Drink at a Time is a perfect recipe book for New Year's Eve party planning. It includes more than 60 recipes for "boozy delights." You can try out many of her recipes here. One of my faves is the Cosmopolitan Jelly Shot Recipe. If you want to make the jelly shot recipes for a party, they need to set several hours before serving.
Here are just a few of the many treats from her book showcasing her gorgeous jelly jewels.
Melon Ball Jelly Shot
Continue reading "New Year's Eve: Jell-ing Classic Cocktails for Party Drinks" »
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Hope you are having a lovely week. We had a couple of snow storms here last week so the neighborhood hills have been busy with kids sledding. Not sure the outdoor snow fun will last this week. The temps are too warm for snow during the day and I can see pavement on my street again. At night frost forms on the windows so perhaps the snow will last a couple more days.
If you want to see more of my winter images, check out my blog on Tumblr, Decor Crush, or check out my image boards on Pinterest.
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I created another printable holiday gift box for you. This one features an adorable vintage image of a Christmas deer from my Luna Blue Studio printables collection. Just click on this Printable gift box link to download the gift box pictured above. The pillow box fits on 8.5" x 11" paper--you can scale down the size when printing to make a smaller box. (Complete directions on how to create the gift box using the printable are below.)
Continue reading "Printable Holiday Gift Box: Christmas Reindeer" »
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From my home to yours: Merry Christmas, Friends! Hope you are enjoying time together with family and friends this holiday.
Seems like I write a great deal about fun things for people during the holidays. Here's a message from my dogs they want you to hear:
4 tips to keep your dogs and other pets safe during the holidays:
1) Provide safe pet toys to chew so they don't chew on holiday decor, etc.
My dogs love having everyone home at Christmas, but they also end up finding lots of not so good things to chew on. Dogs love to chew. On almost anything. Toys (and decorations) that are not designed for dogs are not safe play toys for pets. Small parts--even the squeaky part inside a toy--can spell trouble if your pup chews up the toy and swallows the choking hazard. Instead give your dog indestructible toys like a Kong filled with dog treats.
2) Supervise your pet around the Christmas tree.
Christmas trees are SO interesting! But keep your dog and cat away from the tree decorations, cords, AND the tree water. Some tree water preservative mixtures may contain fertilizers, and stagnant tree water can be a breeding ground for bacteria. Pine needles when ingested can damage and even puncture the intestine. Vacuum up the needles daily to help keep pets safe. One tip to keep pets away from the tree area from PawRescue Org include:
- Place sticky mats on or around the tree area
- Put some pennies in empty plastic drink bottles (screw the cap on tight) and balance the bottles on the bottom branches of the holiday tree or plant so that they will noisily tip over if a cat or other pet jumps at or on the tree.
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My family visits The Broadmoor Hotel during the holidays almost every year. Here are just a few of our favorite holiday things to do: enjoy a cup of hot cocoa by the outdoor fireplace overlooking the lake, check out the Gingerbread Village, and walk around the lake at night to see the light display on dozens and dozens of decked out holiday trees.
The five-star The Broadmoor hotel in Colorado Springs, Colorado, is nestled against the foothills. This lakeside resort has over 3,000 acres of family fun--world class golf courses, luxury spa, indoor and outdoor tennis, horseback riding, rock climbing, amd more. A perennial resort favorite, Forbes Travel Guide announced its list of Five-Star winners for 2012 and honored The Broadmoor for a record 52nd consecutive year-The Broadmoor is the only property ever to achieve this status.
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This one is so cute I had to share it again. A video from the archives:
Merry Christmas in Stop Motion from Trent Bailey Photography on Vimeo.
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May the warmth and glow
of each candle you light
make your heart and home happy
and Hanukkah bright.
To my friends celebrating the Festival of Lights: Happy Hanukkah!
(Menorah art by me, Chris Olson.)
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Hello Friends! Hope you are having a nice Monday. I created a little Christmas DIY gift for you. Just click on this PDF link to download my Vintage Santa pillow box printable. Directions for assembly in the steps below.
Continue reading "DIY: Free Vintage Santa Pillow Box Printable" »
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Here is what’s on my desk today—I am assembling photo cards for holiday gifts. Check back next Friday for another collection.
Photo by me, Chris Olson.
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This is a favorite fast pasta meal at my house. I love the fact it is a very forgiving recipe too. If you don't have fresh tomatoes, sun dried tomatoes work well. I even substitute lemon concentrate for fresh lemons when I'm in a hurry. (See Tomato and lemon fettuccine below)
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Women and their cliches is the hot topic in a new YouTube video "Sh*t Girls Say" that's gone viral. The video featuring a man dressed like a woman will be offensive to some, but I like the fact his delivery of those girl-speak phrases was almost believable. My only complaint is I'm not a fan of the title. I realize some critics will dislike the video because it pokes fun at how women talk. In my opinion, the video works because of that. It's made to be a short comedy and not meant to be a documentary.
Created by and starring two Toronto comedians, Kyle Humphrey and Graydon Sheppard, the hit video has half a million views and climbing! The comedians take on how girls talk has a celebrity following too--the first episode stars Juliette Lewis.
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Listiening to great music always boosts my mood. Here are my picks for the best albums for wrapping Christmas presents:
And if you are tired of Christmas albums here are a few alternatives that will rock your wrapping.
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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)
Continue reading "Homework Helper: Writing Tips for Final Exams" »
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Just added a new collection of custom watermark logos. Available at my Etsy shop Salt and Paper Designs. The original LUNA Design above by me would be the perfect watermark for any photographer or small business owner. Includes three file formats PSD, JPG, and PNG. The Photoshop (PSD) file features a slightly transparent white background with softened edges so your photo below is visible. You can adjust the watermark size to fit your needs. See photo samples above. Photo watermark is designed to use with dark or light photos and in vertical or horizontal format.
Also available is the GIDGET Watermark Logo Design personalized with your initial.
••• If you like this, PIN it: •••
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I'm thinking about the holidays and oranges in the Christmas stockings... Here is what’s on my desk today—a collection of items I am using in my illustration and design work. Check back next Friday for another collection.
Photo by me, Chris Olson.
If you like this, PIN it:
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Completely avoiding all stress triggers during the holidays is an unrealistic goal that might end up making you feel more tense. Instead try one of these eight simple ways to feel better fast when stress levels build.
1. Take a short stress break and laugh – watch, read or listen to something funny
2. Forget about being the super hero – stop juggling and try focusing on one activity at a time or find a way to collaborate with others such as a joining a babysitting co-op to free up some time
3. Slow down and "meditate on the go"– Build your mind-body connection by practicing slowly breathing in and out or even talking more slowly than normal
4. Simplify your to-do list – for starters examine your list and check one thing off and do it now
5. Skip the afternoon caffeine and instead take a brisk walk outside to boost your energy
6. Stay hydrated by drinking plenty of water
7. Avoid slumping at your desk – set a timer on your laptop and every 30 minutes do a posture check.
8. Build in a daily or weekly "mini escape" from the holiday rush – immerse yourself in something relaxing like a soak in the tub with bath products containing rosemary or eucalyptus or indulge in some aquatic therapy in a pool with sunlight streaming in a few windows
For more information on stress reducers:
Photo by me, Chris Olson
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The best part of making your own pizza at home is you can personalize each pizza. Get your kids involved in the menu planning and the grocery shopping. Things to consider: select veggies they love on pizza, decide if they want pre-made red pizza sauce or just a drizzle of oil, and select a combo of their favorite cheeses. Recipe below.
Continue reading "Cooking with Kids: Mediterranean Pizzas" »
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Hello, December!
Are you counting down the days until the holiday break? December is always such a busy time at my house. The kids are putting the finishing touches on school projects and studying for exams before vacation begins. I just try to keep my head above water with work projects. Turning on some Christmas music usually makes the day less hectic and more relaxing!
Merry Christmas!
(December blog banner designed and illustrated by me, Chris Olson.)
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Here is what’s “on my desk” today—a collection of items I am using in my illustration and design work. Check back next Friday for another collection.
Photo by me, Chris Olson.
If you like this, PIN it:
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Did you know jelly beans and other candy can help you select the perfect paint colors for your home? And if you love sharing your house with dogs, then you probably find the fun in functional. These are just a few of the refreshing decorating philosophies in Annie Selke's decor book Fresh American Spaces.
In addition to inspiring decor photos, she includes step-by-step directions for DIY projects that fit your style including: painting stripes on a wall, perfecting a mound of roses in a bouquet, organizing a wall of pictures, and adding stripes to towels.
If you love color but wonder just what colors work for your home, Selke includes several color-matching ideas using fabrics, paints, and more. (Plus she leaves out the guessing work by including the paint names for colors from popular brands.)
Filled with sparkling photos to inspire your home decorating, her book includes a wide variety of styles in five sections:
Here are few of my favorite pages...
Photos: Fresh American Spaces
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