Momathon Blog

Test Drive: Scion iQ

A great choice for urban driving, the Toyota Scion iQ wins points for nimble parking skills and great fuel economy in the city at 36 mpg city mileage. The ultra-small size at 120.1" from bumper to bumper places the iQ between two other micro-subcompacts—the Smart ForTwo (106.1") and the Mini Cooper (146.8"). The car's small size is a plus in many ways, but it also limits other features. The car's 4-cylinder engine lacks acceleration muscle and the car only has room for 3 people to fit "comfortably." The Scion iQ stands tall as a safe small car for city driving with 11 airbags including one that covers the rear glass to protect the passengers in the back. On the highway with SUVs and trucks screaming by the Scion, I'm not convinced this small car is the smoothest ride or the safest.

Kiplinger just ranked the Scion iQ as one of the ten cheapest cars to own:

• 5-Year fuel cost: $7,553 (automatic) 
• 5-Year insurance cost: $5,461 
• Total 5-Year ownership cost: $29,594 
• Financing 5-year loan at 4.04%, based on a market price of $15,995 and a 15% down payment: $1,376; Depreciation: $10,574;
• Fees & taxes: $1,233; 
• Opportunity cost of down payment and other out-of-pocket costs: $339; Maintenance: $1,636; Repairs: $1,422

The Scion iQ MSRP starts at $15,265. More details in my iQ review in the graphic above. Although I haven't driven the car, the Scion iQ wins my vote for city driving. You can find more 2012 Scion iQ stats via Toyota.com, Cars.com, and Edmunds.com.

Graphic above by me, Chris Olson.

Believe You Can

It sounds simple, but making that first step is the most difficult... Believe you can and you're halfway there.

You can find more quote and sayings artwork here. Image above created by me, Chris Olson.

Exotic Places to Go: Travel to Mexico BoutiqueHomes.com

 

If you are looking for an exotic luxury vacation with a private home in the lush Mexican jungle, check out boutique-homes.com. I haven't visited this vacation paradise, but the nearby whale-watching, swimming, snorkeling and kayaking are on my list. Staying at one of these nine vacation homes must be a perfect getaway. 

Photos featured in my graphic above from boutique-homes.com.

Happy Memorial Day

(Image by Chris Olson)

18 Days of Instagram Filters: Day 17 with 1977 Filter

Instagram's 1977 filter adds a faded pink hue that turns almost any image into a retro photo with plenty of glam and a hint of Disneyesque fantasy. A few of the many photo opps for the 1977 filter include: Transform an average winter landscape with the 1977 filter to turn the image into a scene from a Snow White movie. Or play around with cityscape photos for a dreamy vintage look. The filter even works in low light situations when you want to capture that quartet of fine ales you are testing at a brew pub.

A Man, a Pink Tutu, and a Great Cause: The Tutu Project

Bob Carey, a stout middle-aged man, doesn't make me think of a ballerina. Yet back in 2003, he started creating quirky self-portraits wearing a pink tutu. When his wife was diagnosed with breast cancer that same year, his humorous photography became a type of therapy for the couple and even helped bring a smile to the other patients they met at chemo treatments. As his collection of photos grew, the The Tutu Project began.

To raise awareness for breast cancer, Bob traveled the US taking photos wearing only his signature pink tutu. This autumn, Bob will self-publish a collection of his pink tutu photos in the book Ballerina and the goal is for his book to help raise awareness about breast cancer and raise funds for women with breast cancer:

The net proceeds from the sale of the book will go directly to breast cancer organizations, including Cancercare.org and the Beth Israel Department of Integrative Medicine Fund, that make significant differences in the lives of women with breast cancer and in the people who love them. Our goal is to raise $75,000. But we need your help to seed the book project so it will take root and grow—and positively affect these families.

To find out how you can sponsor this project and receive a special edition 20-by-24-inch signed tutu print plus a copy of the book Ballerina, check out The Tutu Project. You can also follow the @TheTutuProject on Twitter and on Facebook.

Tutu photo by Bob Carey at The Tutu Project.

She Believed She Could

It's final exam time. This saying is for my darling daughter:

She believed she could...

So she did!

 

You can find more quote and sayings artwork here.

Image above by me, Chris Olson.

 

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.

 

Developing Your Brand: Spending Time on Pinterest, Facebook and Google+

illustration by Chris Olson

When people started talking about being addicted to Pinterest, I knew this social media platform was quickly becoming more than a passing fad. For many of us pinners, spending time of Pinterest is like a shopping addiction without the guilt of a mounting credit card bill. That said, I have heard many pinners also refer to the phenomenon of a Pinterest hangover—unable to even remember what they did the last three to four hours after they crawl out of Pinterest. 

Facebook still appears to attract more valuable user time than both Google+ and Pinterest. But recently Pinterest passed Google+ in time spent per month on the platform. An Ad Age article today reports ComScore data shows that "the average Google+ user spends three minutes on the platform every month, compared to 405 minutes for Facebook users. The average time spent by each Pinterest user per month is 50 minutes."

Part of the attraction of social media is the ability for users to follow the pros who make the brands we love. For example, the savvy editors at Real Simple magazine have developed a growing following on Pinterest with boards like Problem-Solving Products and Daily Thoughts & Inspiration.

Congrats Class of 2012!

 

 

You can find more quote and sayings artwork here.

Image above by me, Chris Olson.

It's So Etsy: Pink Ruffle Wrap and Headband for Baby Photos

 

The oh-so-soft Pink Ruffle Wrap blanket plus a headband are made by Sheri Hall. These handmade items are perfect for baby photos. The blanket and headband are available together at her Etsy shop Oops I Knit It Again. Sheri is a stay at home mother of two teenagers with a talent for creating amazing designs in her knit creations. 

The Pink Ruffle Wrap blanket is 25"x25"—a great size for many uses. The blanket is also available in white, black, aqua, pink with white polka dots, black and white stripe, and red and white stripe, and coral.

Ruffle Wrap Pink and Rosette Headband Newborn by Oops I Knit It Again $27

Keep Your Dog Safe with Pet Poison Help App

Dogs and cats are naturally curious. And sometimes pets—especially puppies—eat things that look harmless, but are toxic. The Pet Poison Helpline, a 24/7 animal poison control center based in Minneapolis, MN, answers over 100,000 calls a year regarding pet poisonings.

That's why they created the Pet Poison Help app for the iPhone to assist pet owners or veterinarians in quickly identifying potential poisons, recognizing symptoms of a potential poisoning, and to allow one-touch direct dialing access to the veterinary professionals at Pet Poison Helpline.

This app will gives you information to guide you in treatment of a potential poisoning. That said, the amount of toxin ingested, along with the time since ingestion, overall health, age, species, and breed of your pet may affect the severity or outcome of any toxic exposure. When in doubt about pet poisoning, please contact your veterinarian or Pet Poison Helpline for immediate, life-saving advice.

Prevention of poisoning
The app is also a great tool in prevention of poisoning. Dogs love to dig in the garden when you aren't looking. I used this app to select pet safe flowers for my garden. It is always tempting to share people food with your pets, but this is not a good idea unless you know the food is safe for dogs or cats. Use this app to understand which people foods are not safe for pets.

App details
According to their website, Pet Poison Help app will provide you with:

* Life-saving access to poison information with one-touch direct dialing to Pet Poison Helpline.

* A searchable database of over 250 poisonous plants, foods, medications and household items, all with pictures.

* Descriptions of how specific poisons affect your pet, their alternate common names, and symptoms to watch for.

* Instructions on what to do if your dog or cat is exposed to a dangerous substance.

Dog photo above by MythicSeabass photography. App photos by the app Pet Poison Help.

California Dreamin'

Is it summer yet? I'm feeling the call of the beach...

1) I could live in the Sherpani website. 2) Imagine. Enough said. CHANEL surf accessories. 3) I want both the pillow and the van—Big Sur Needlepoint Pillow by Jonathan Adler. 4) I heart California by Evivart on Etsy.

18 Days of Instagram Filters: Day 16 with Nashville Filter

The Nashville Filter
The Nashville effect on Instagram is a mix of a cozy kitchen and nostalgic playground filter. It adds a soft purple-pink hue to images. Perfect for sharing images with a retro vibe on Facebook and other social media.

I used the LUX feature with Nashville to bring out details in garden photo in the upper right. The LUX feature boosts the details and contrast in images of plants and building exteriors when photographing gardens, neighborhoods, cityscapes, etc. The sun icon in the lower portion of your camera screen is the "sun" icon also known as the LUX effect. 

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

Instagram tips

Enhance Colors and Details with Lux

Images by me, Chris Olson, using an iPhone 4  and/or  5 + Instagram with Nashville Filter (#Nashville)

 

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

Walden Instagram Filter

Day 1: No Filter

Day 2: Amaro Filter

Day 3: Rise Filter

Day 4: Hudson Filter

Day 5: X-Pro II Filter

Day 6: Sierra Filter

Day 7: Lo-Fi Filter

Day 8: Earlybird Filter

Day 9: Sutro Filter

Day 10: Toaster Filter

Day 11: Brannan Filter

Day 12: Inkwell Filter

Day 13: Walden Filter

Day 14: Hefe Filter

Day 15: Valencia Filter

Day 16: Nashville Filter

Day 17: 1977 Filter

Day 18: Kelvin Filter

Tips on Adding Text and Art to Instagram Photos

GUIDE TO INSTAGRAM FEATURES

Instagram Guide {Finding the Best Filters for Each Photo}

Enhance Colors and Details with Lux 

Add Some Glam in Instagram

Tilt-Shift Focus

Newest Instagram Features

Comparing 9 Instagram Filters {The Puppy Edition}

Tips on Adding Typography and Art to Instagram Photos 

GET THE LOOK series: Add Some Glam in Instagram

Add Some Glam with Instagram

 

 

 

 

 

>•<  Connect on Facebook  >•<  

Instagram photos by me, Chris Olson. Feel free to Pin them on Pinterest with a link back to this post. Thanks! 

 

Your Instagram photos can help shelter dogs

If you like to take photos, grab your iPhone and stop by your local animal shelter. Snap some cute pics with Instagram. Then post them on Facebook and Twitter.

The adorable dog featured below is a rescue dog named Benny. For more information on adopting this dog, go to this dog rescue link. xo

Use Instagram to Help Shelter Dogs Find Homes

Your Instagram photos can help shelter dogs

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

The adorable Chihuahua mix featured above is Benny. He is a happy little guy who deserves to have his very own fan club. He is neutered, up-to-date on his shots & micro chipped. Are you Benny's new cheerleader? You can find him at Pals Forever Animal Rescue with details about him here Benny: Petfinder Adoptable Dog.

Thank you for helping improve the lives of homeless dogs. xo Chris

Image of Benny me, Chris Olson, using an iPhone 4 + Instagram with Nashville Filter (#Nashville)

 

>•<  Connect on Facebook  >•<  

Instagram photos by me, Chris Olson. Feel free to Pin them on Pinterest with a link back to this post. Thanks! 

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

Day 1: No Filter

Day 2: Amaro Filter

Day 3: Rise Filter

Day 4: Hudson Filter

Day 5: X-Pro II Filter

Day 6: Sierra Filter

Day 7: Lo-Fi Filter

Day 8: Earlybird Filter

Day 9: Sutro Filter

Day 10: Toaster Filter

Day 11: Brannan Filter

Day 12: Inkwell Filter

Day 13: Walden Filter

Day 14: Hefe Filter

Day 15: Valencia Filter

Day 16: Nashville Filter

Day 17: 1977 Filter

Day 18: Kelvin Filter

 

Happy Mother's Day!

Wishing all of you a Happy Mother's Day. And to my mom:

I'm all grown up, but I will never be too old to need you, Mom. You bring kindness, grace, and humor to each day. Love you to the moon and back! xo Chris

 

Momathon Fave: Mom, Inc.

Ever wish you had a guide to help you develop and run a business from home? That's why I love the new book Mom, Inc.—a great guide to show you how to run a business at home while a mom. Written by two savvy professionals and moms, Meg Mateo Ilasco—mother of two, freelance artist and writer, and a serial entrepreneur—and her friend and coauthor Cat Seto—designer, illustrator, writer and stationery and wedding line creator. 

Book includes tips on how to:

• Write a business plan
• Attract clients
• Stay focused at home
• Market your business effectively
• Gracefully juggle parenting and work
• And so much more!

Meg wrote about her experiences as a mom and business person on Design*Sponge and offered 5 tips I thought were wonderful—be sure to read the full story on Design*Sponge. Here are Meg's tips :

1. Motherhood doesn’t mean sainthood. 

2. Yes, children should come first, but . . . sometimes so should your business! 

3. Think less about the word “balance” and think more about “making it work.”

4. Don’t forget your friends. 

5. Enjoy the process and learn to adapt. 

 

Check out the book trailer for Mom, Inc. below.

Mom, Inc. $16.95 : Chronicle Books

(Graphic above designed by Chris Olson with images from the book trailer.)

Free Printables: Happy Mother's Day Cards

Hello, friends. Mother's Day is almost here so I'm offering two free printable cards (and a printable A2 envelope) I designed. The cards feature photos by the talented D Sharon Pruitt. Link to download the printables below.

Looking for a last-minute card? Printables are easy to use. All you need for this craft is the free down loadable PDF file, 8.5"x11" card stock paper, glue or double-sided tape, and scissors. You can also embellish the card with glitter. Directions for assembling the card are on the PDF.

Link to the down loadable PDF and directions for printing and assembling the card in the steps below.

Happy Thoughts from Winnie-the-Pooh

"Some people care too much. I think it's called love," says Winnie-the-Pooh.

 

Image: Wisdom by Winnie the Pooh. Art by me, Chris Olson. The role of Pooh played by the handmade and much-loved Honey Bear. Feel free to Pin it on Pinterest with a link back to this post. Thanks!

 

 

Splish Splash with iDuck Wireless Speakers

 

 

Now you can listen to your iPod or iPhone in the tub with the iDuck wireless speaker that lets you listen to your favorite music and your iPod/iPhone/MP3 player rests safe and sound away from the water. iDuck will also play your FM radio.

Great way to get kids in the tub! Available at ThinkGeek. $29.99

 

18 Days of Instagram Filters: Day 15 with Valencia Filter

 

Valencia Filter on Instagram

 

If you like to take outdoor photos, chances are you will have plenty of opportunities to use the Valencia filter on Instagram which adds a subtle brown tint to images. That said, I found this filter versatile enough to use with shots of my favorite shelter dogs at an adoption fair and even bakery goods for a picnic. I don't feel I need to use the LUX feature very often with this filter because of the built-in contrast provided by the Valenica filter. I will use the LUX feature to add a nice contrast with brick and other building materials when photographing house exteriors, cityscapes, etc.

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

Your Instagram Photos Help Shelter Dogs
The adorable  dog featured below is a rescue dog named Rosie. For more information on adopting this dog, go to this dog rescue link. #german_shepherd

Update on Rosie: Yay! Rosie was adopted. She loves her new forever home :)

Images in this post by me, Chris Olson, using an iPhone 4 + Instagram with Valencia Filter (#Valencia)

 

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

 

Walden Filter

Day 1: No Filter

Day 2: Amaro Filter

Day 3: Rise Filter

Day 4: Hudson Filter

Day 5: X-Pro II Filter

Day 6: Sierra Filter

Day 7: Lo-Fi Filter

Day 8: Earlybird Filter

Day 9: Sutro Filter

Day 10: Toaster Filter

Day 11: Brannan Filter

Day 12: Inkwell Filter

 

Add Some Glam in Instagram

Day 13: Walden Filter 

Day 14: Hefe Filter

Day 15: Valencia Filter

Day 16: Nashville Filter

Day 17: 1977 Filter

Day 18: Kelvin Filter

Willow Filter  

Mayfair Filter

GUIDE TO INSTAGRAM FEATURES

Enhance Colors and Details with Lux 

Add Some Glam in Instagram

Tilt-Shift Focus

Newest Instagram Features

Comparing 9 Instagram Filters {The Puppy Edition}

>•<  Connect on Facebook  >•<  

Instagram photos by me, Chris Olson. Feel free to Pin them on Pinterest with a link back to this post. Thanks! 

 

 

Remembering Maurice Sendak

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

~Maurice Sendak
Where the Wild Things Are

 

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

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

Fun and Functional Pet Gear

1) Taking a walk should give you a fresh and much calmer perspective on the day, especially with the Keep Calm and Walk retractable dog leash by 26barsandaband.

2) Improve your pet's health and digestion—plus reduce spills and messes—with the elevated pet feeders handmade by Meg Grogan at her shop on Etsy, SkateDogStudios.

3) Walk two dogs together without the hassle of leash tangles using the brightly colored couplers by Lupine.

4) Your dog will feel regal in his own mansion by Best Friend's Home.

5) Cats love the security of this cozy bed that resembles a mountain top cave by Hepper.

6) Relax together in this hybrid rocking chair and dog/cat house by Paul Kweton.

Graphic above by Chris Olson for Momathon.

 

Behind-the-Scenes Look at Food Blogging

Watching this behind-the-scenes video about the gluten-free foodie Lisa Thiele—she blogs at With Style and Grace—makes me want to stock up on fresh veggies and whip up a healthy meal for dinner. How does Lisa work her kitchen magic and manage to create mouth-watering blog posts? Her blog name gives it away—she has both style and grace.

Everything looks delicious thanks to Lisa's cooking finesse and the awesome food styling by Erin at Apartment 34. The video features Erin's beautiful loft home. You can find out more about how they made the video at theglitterguide.com. 

You can find Lisa's Mediterranean Chickpea Salad here. Yum!

18 Days of Instagram Filters: Day 14 with Hefe Filter

Boost the warmth and cozy factor of photos by adding golden tones and a subtle fuzzy effect using the Hefe filter on Instagram (#hefe). Because the filter ever so slightly increases the saturation in the image, I did not use the LUX feature which adds vibrancy to the photo by bringing out more details. I opted to use the Tilt-Shift (DoF) feature with the pool photos to blur a portion of the image because of personal preference—I think pool ripples and depth of field is fun to play around with. If you like yellow and gold hues, then this is the perfect filter for almost any occasion. The retro vibe with the Hefe is visible but rarely distracting.   

More Instagram Tips

 

TEAR DROP ICON

Tap the "tear drop" icon or Tilt-Shift focus icon located up on the LOWER RIGHT of the Instagram camera interface to give you the ability to focus on a particular part of your photo. For details on how to use this focus feature, check out my easy step-by-step directions with photo examples here.

FRAME ICON

Each filter—except the no filter option—comes with a unique frame. You can opt to use it or keep it simple with no frame.  Tap on the "frame" icon to see how it looks. Tap again to remove the frame.

SUN ICON/LUX FEATURE

In the lower RIGHT portion of your camera screen is the "sun" icon also known as the LUX effect. Tap on the icon to add pop or vibrancy to the photo by bringing out more details. Tap it again to remove the LUX effect. The LUX effect changes dramatically depending on the photo and the filter. Once again, experimenting with this feature is the best way to know when you want to use it.

 

 

 

 

EYE ICON (only in older versions of INSTAGRAM)

Tap the "eye" icon in the lower right corner of the Instagram camera screen and the Instagram filter bar appears.

 

Images by me, Chris Olson, using an iPhone 4 and 5  + Instagram with Hefe Filter (#hefe)

Use Instagram to Help Shelter Dogs Get Adopted

If you like to take photos, grab your iPhone and stop by your local animal shelter. Snap some cute pics with Instagram. Then post them on Facebook and Twitter with a link to the shelter. This Instagram photo features Rocko, details on him at this dog rescue link.

 

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

INSTAGRAM FILTERS

Walden Filter

Day 1: No Filter

Day 2: Amaro Filter

Day 3: Rise Filter

Day 4: Hudson Filter

Day 5: X-Pro II Filter

Day 6: Sierra Filter

Day 7: Lo-Fi Filter

Day 8: Earlybird Filter

Day 9: Sutro Filter

Day 10: Toaster Filter

Day 11: Brannan Filter

Day 12: Inkwell Filter

Day 13: Walden Filter

Day 14: Hefe Filter

Day 15: Valencia Filter

Nashville Filter

Day 16: Nashville Filter

Day 17: 1977 Filter

Day 18: Kelvin Filter

 

GUIDE TO INSTAGRAM FEATURES

Instagram Guide {Finding the Best Filters for Each Photo}

Enhance Colors and Details with Lux 

Add Some Glam in Instagram

Tilt-Shift Focus

Newest Instagram Features

Comparing 9 Instagram Filters {The Puppy Edition}

Tips on Adding Typography and Art to Instagram Photos 

 

Tips on Adding Text and Art to Instagram Photos

 

 

 

Images: Instagram photos by me, Chris Olson. Feel free to Pin them on Pinterest with a link back to this post. Thanks!

 

 

 

Reading Under the Cherry Blossoms and Lovely Links

Imagine sitting beneath this lovely canopy of cherry blossoms in The Kings Garden in the center of Stockholm. Can't think of a sweeter place to read a book. 

Lovely Links

Ever dream of living in France. If you read Gabrielle Blair's blog Design Mom, you get a glimpse into the life of an American family living in France this past year. A new weekly web series about their adventures abroad called Olive Us will launch mid-May. Here is a sneak peak of Olive Us.

 

Cherry blossom photo by Per Ola Wiberg

Think Happy

Hello, friends! Hope your week is going well. It's finals time in schools here and around the US. I created the rosy graphic above as inspiration for my kids to think positive. Testing is never fun. But summer vacay is right around the corner.

Think happy. Be happy.

xo Chris

Image above by me, Chris Olson. 

To download the free printable gift box I designed for my blog readers, click on link.

Tips for Selecting the Right Dining Room Table for Your Home

Have you outgrown your dining room furniture—or do you just want to update the rooom? Here are four tips to help you find the table that fits your home.

Looking for more decorating ideas, check out more of my Decor crush posts.

Image by Chris Olson featuring the Oslo Table via Crate and Barrel.

 

To download the free printable gift box I designed for my blog readers, click on link.