Momathon Blog

I Heart Some Flower Drama: Gerbera Daisies

Back in June I had to evacuate my house for a week due to a devastating forest fire. This little lovely on my deck survived a week of 100 degree temps without water. Now, that's real flower drama.

I am so grateful that the AWESOME firefighters saved my house. Every day when I look at the torched mountainside above my home, I thank God that so many homes were saved.

Image: I HEART SOME FLOWER DRAMA photo graphic above is by me, Chris Olson. Feel free to Pin it on Pinterest with a link back to this post. Thanks! 

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 More FLOWER DRAMA images here:

I Heart Some Flower Drama: Roses

I Heart Some Flower Drama: London Gardens

My Garden Is My Therapy

Lovely Links from the Garden

DIY: Make It Sew Modern

If you like to sew and are looking for a book that adds texture to your sewing projects, then check out the new book Make It Sew Modern by the mother of four and craft diva Vanessa Christenson. In her patterns she uses ruffles, twisting, gathering, and pleats to make quilts, pillows, scarves, purses, bracelets, rings, and more.

Connect with Vanessa:

• on her blog V and Co.
• on Twitter @vchristenson
• on Instagram vchristenson
• on Facebook V and Co.

Image: MAKE IT SEW MODERN photo graphic above is by me, Chris Olson and features pages from Vanessa Christenson's book. Feel free to Pin it on Pinterest with a link back to this post. Thanks! 

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A few CRAFT BOOK REVIEWS by me:

DIY: 50 "Weekend Knitting" Projects

DIY: 35 Projects Using Fabric Scraps

DIY: Sewing Projects for a Handmade Weekend

DIY: Weekend Handmade

 

 

DIY: Sunshine Bead Necklace

DIY: Summer Crafts for Kids

Building Your Brand on Etsy

 

Remembering a Great Dog: Tuk

 

Yesterday an awesome big dog passed away. Tuk the Malamute had bone cancer. He was a beloved member of my in-law's family. He never met a stranger—he was always ready to share kisses. I think big dogs live a life too short for humans to accept. You never have enough days to hike with a big dog like Tuk. You always want to snuggle up against a fluffy canine pillow. It just never grows old. Let's face it, a day with a dog is just better somehow...

God bless Tuk. We miss you. xo

It's so Etsy: London Calling

 

1) London Calling Art Print by Sacred and Profane on Etsy $8.50
2) London England Art Print for Nursery by My Tiny Tot Creative on Etsy $16

3) Vintage London British Phonebooth iPhone 4 case by Case Orama on Etsy $18.95
4) Passport Fabric Case Cover - I Love London by Baffin Bags on Etsy $8

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Photos via 1) My Tiny Tot Creative on Etsy, 2) My Tiny Tot Creative on Etsy, 3) Case Orama on Etsy 4) Baffin Bags on Etsy.

I Heart Some Flower Drama: Roses

This little lovely is a favorite on my deck. Can you believe the blossom variety on one rose bush? I heart some flower drama :)

Image: I HEART SOME FLOWER DRAMA photo graphic above are by me, Chris Olson. Feel free to Pin them on Pinterest with a link back to this post. Thanks! 

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Currently Watching

White Collar, USA Network

I love a good cop show, but it was the unlikely partnership of a con artist Neal Caffrey (Matt Bomer) and FBI agent Peter Burke (Tim DeKay) that first hooked me. And of course, Neal is easy on the eyes too. You can find out the series details and read the episode guide here.  The show airs Tuesdays at 9/8C. White Collar episodes available online here. I am so obsessed with this show I wrote about White Collar inspiration on Pinterest here.

The Newsroom, HBO

Back when I was in college I interned at a CBS newsroom in Minneapolis and that experience is a major reason why I wanted The Newsroom, a behind-the-scenes glimpse of a nightly cable-news program, to be good. So far the series by Aaron Sorkin, creator of The West Wing and screenwriter of The Social Network and Moneyball, lives up to my expectations. The story is not a documentary about how a news show is put together. It focuses on a fictional newsroom and what happens when their ratings take a dive and the newsroom has to learn how to make the news show excellent again. Of course the personal dynamics of the players on and off camera adds an extra dimension. The series features Will (Jeff Daniels), a popular network anchor who is now struggling to keep his approval ratings up, as well as the people around him in the newsroom: his new executive producer (Emily Mortimer), the newsroom staff (John Gallagher, Jr., Alison Pill, Thomas Sadoski, Olivia Munn, Dev Patel) and their boss (Sam Waterston). You can watch it on Sundays at 10.

 

New Girl, FOX

Nominated for 2 Golden Globes, the series features the simply adorkable Jess (Zooey Deschanel), a quirky "new girl" who moves into an apartment loft with three single men. The series is about hitting those twenty-something milestones with a healthy dose of awkwardness. The second season began July 19th, Thursday, 9/8C. You can watch full episodes here.

Perception, TNT

In this brand new TNT show that premiered this month, Eric McCormack plays Dr. Daniel Pierce, an eccentric neuroscience professor with paranoid schizophrenia who is recruited by the FBI to help solve complex cases. Catch the show Mondays at 10/9C.

Top Gear, BBC America

Time to hit road with Top Gear episodes this summer. I prefer the British Top Gear, but an American version is fun to watch too. Top Gear (BBC) airs on Mondays at 9/8C.

Selling London, Home & Garden Television

Ever dream of buying a luxury home in London? Find out how the pros sell London on Thursdays at 9:30pm/8:30cC on HGTV.

Antiques Roadshow, PBS

I am rarely good at guessing the price for valued antiques, but the concept of Antique Roadshow lures me back every season.

Chuck, NBC

This spring the Chuck series ended and I hated to say goodbye to my favorite spy—as well as the gang at the Buy More, Chuck's big sis Ellie and her Captain Awesome. That said, my summer  howmework is watching the reruns of the amazing Chuck episodes available online here—and on DVD.

 

Today I Am Choosing Happiness

Have a lovely day, friends. The beauty of each day is all about YOU!

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Image: CHOOSING HAPPINESS graphic above by me, Chris Olson. Feel free to Pin it on Pinterest with a link back to this post. Thanks! 

Dinner Parties: Formal Table Setting Tips

Are you planning to attend a formal dinner soon? Elaborate place settings at formal events like a wedding can be daunting. If you can't decide if the bread plate you should eat from is on your left or right, then check out the handy cheat sheet illustration I created above.

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Image: FORMAL TABLE SETTING TIPS graphic features Villeroy & Boch New Wave Premium Platinum and was created by me, Chris Olson. Feel free to Pin it on Pinterest with a link back to this post. Thanks!

 

Yoda Lite

When I feel wishy washy about a decision, I think about what Yoda told Luke. You either do it or you don't—don't give up and pick the middle road.

"Do, or do not. There is no try," ~ Yoda.

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YODA LITE graphic above by me, Chris Olson. Feel free to Pin them on Pinterest with a link back to this post. Thanks! 

 

 

Great Beach Read: The Next Best Thing

I've never liked the terms chick lit or women's fiction. I haven't heard of men's fiction so using the women's fiction label places this genre in a pile next to "real" literature bookshelf. That said, I enjoy reading a variety of fiction genres but especially in summer I reach for books about women.

Every summer I reach for a new book by bestselling writer Jennifer Weiner. Her heroines are not the gorgeous all-too-fabulous women of Photoshop-land. Weiner's characters talk like many of us think. She turns the stories of our lives and those stories in our heads—the things we obsess over—into bestselling books. She wrote her first book, Good in Bed after a terrible break up. Where does she get her ideas? She shares the scoop here. 

Jennifer Weiner admits she is a sucker for a fairy tale. Weiner's newest book, The Next Best Thing is a story about a young writer trying to make it in Hollywood. You can read—or listen to the audio version—of the first two chapters of her book The Next Best Thing here.  Watch an interview with Weiner below or at this link.

I Heart Some Flower Drama: London

An evening walk after a work day is always made better by a little flower drama. These lovelies in London smell as wonderful as they look. 

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

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Hope Springs

Source: hopesprings-movie.com via Chris on Pinterest

 

 

So what do you get each other after 31 years of marriage?

"We got each other a new cable subscription.... It's a lot of channels," says Jane (Meryl Streep) in the movie Hope Springs—a new comedy from the director of The Devil Wears Prada.

Her answer is probably like thousands of others after 3 decades together. It's her excitement over how many channels cable offers that intrigues me. Do couples who have been together so long they can finish each others sentences have a clue what their partner really wants out of marriage?

In the film, Jane convinces her husband Arnold (Tommy Lee Jones) that intensive couples counseling is the answer to restoring the passion they once had. Will it work?

Looking forward to finding out if a cable subscription or couples therapy is the best anniversary gift for Jane and Arnold. The movie opens August 10th. 

You can watch the Hope Springs movie trailer below or at this link. 

 

Kiss the Cook: Pineapple Shrimp and Crispy Noodles

This yummy twist on an Asian noodle dish is not your college ramen. I first saw a version of a shrimp and crispy noodle recipe on Rachael Ray. Due to my garlic allergy I created a new recipe and voila —something delicious with just the right amount of spice for your family. This recipe is broken down into three basic steps: Noodle Prep, Sauce Prep, and Shrimp/Pineapple/Green Beans Prep. If you are cooking with kids remember to supervise and assist with cooking in the skillet.

Pineapple Shrimp and Crispy Noodles

Serves 4

• One 10-oz package ramen noodles
• One 20-oz can pineapple chunks (save the juice for sauce)
• One 10-oz bag frozen cut green beans (thaw and pat dry)
• One pound bag of medium or large peeled/deveined shrimp
• 1/8 to 1/4 cup soy sauce
• 1/2 to 1 tsp crushed red pepper
• 8 T canola oil

Noodle prep

1. Cook the ramen noodles according to package directions—you can add salt to water if you want.
2. Drain noodles.
3. Make noodle "cake" by pressing the noodles into a greased 9-inch (or larger) pan.
4. Let the noodle cake cool.
5. Heat 3 T oil in a large skillet over medium heat.
6. Carefully slide the noodle cake into skillet.
7. Cook the cake until the noodles turn a light golden brown underneath—3-5 minutes.
8. Carefully flip the cake and cook until golden brown—be careful not to burn the cake :)

Sauce prep

Stir together in a medium bowl:

• 1/4 to 1/2 cup soy sauce (the amount you use depends on your taste buds)
• drain the pineapple chunks and set aside, use approximately 1/2 cup of juice for sauce (you can increase the juice amount if you want a sweeter sauce)
• 2 T oil
• 1/2 to 1 tsp crushed red pepper (use less if you use pepper flakes)

Shrimp, pineapple and green beans prep

1. Heat 2 T oil over medium to high heat.
2. Add the drained pineapple chunks and thawed green beans.
3. Stir and cook until the pineapple is lightly brown on edges and beans begin to brown with small blisters. Be careful not to overcook.
4. Transfer the mixture to a large plate.
5. Add 1 T of oil to skillet.
6. Add the shrimp and cook them until the meat begins to turn opaque white.
7. Stir in the sauce.
8. Add the pineapple and green bean mixture.
9. Lower the heat and cook the mixture until the shrimp are fully done—opaque .

Suggestions fo serving the meal

1. I like to divide the noodle cake into 4 sections first to make the meal easy to serve 4 people.
2. Place a cake section on each dinner plate.
3. Your family then can serve themselves the shrimp + green beans + pineapple mixture (I like to let the kids dish up their own meal because then they get exactly what they want. No more complaints :)

Image: KISS THE COOK RECIPE photos above by me, Chris Olson. Feel free to Pin them on Pinterest with a link back to this post. Thanks! 

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Life Is a Balance

 

My artsy side meets my inner geek when I play around with my photos to give them a vintage look. The hand-tinted photo of a flower on my deck was created by me, Chris Olson, and combined with a favorite message. Feel free to Pin it on Pinterest with a link back to this post. Thanks! 

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DIY: Summer Crafts for Kids

Spending time at the beach is always fun, but we all know having a few rainy day activities is a smart idea too. Here is one of my faves. Just click on the link below each image for craft details.

FILL IN THE DOODLE LOOPS

 

Are you looking for a fun "quite time" craft activity to do with your kids that even works while sitting in church or while you wait for an appointment. All you need is a sheet of paper—almost any size works—and a few pens or markers. Try the doodle activity with step by step directions here. 

 

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Images:

• SEASIDE and DOODLE WITH KIDS images above by me, Chris Olson. Feel free to Pin them on Pinterest with a link back to this post.

 

 

Summery Pinspiration: Bikes, Boards, and Boats

Here are a few of my faves this week from Pinterest...

You can find these items on my Pinterest board: Dreaming of Summer. Are you a blogger too? Why not add post your fave Pinterest picks and send me a link so I can tweet it! 

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Image: Graphic image above by me, Chris Olson. Feel free to Pin it on Pinterest with a link back to this post. Thanks! 

Pets of the Week: Amber and Harley

Who can resist that smile? Amber is a young, active dog that was rescued as a stray in Colorado. She is a mixed breed—probably some Boxer and Cattle Dog. Whatever she is, Amber is very friendly and loves everyone. She is young and will need plenty of exercise and some training. She would be the perfect hiking pal and a joy to her forever family. You can find out more about Amber here.

You can help Amber (and Harley below) find a forever home by pinning the image on Pinterest with a link back to this post. Thanks!  

Harley and Amber are both playful dogs and available for adoption. Harley is a true ambassador for the American Staffordshire Terrier breed. He is a handsome and sweet young guy! He is strong and would would benefit from some obedience training. Harley would probably be happiest in a family with children 9 years old and older. More information on both dogs here. 

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Images: Photos and graphics above by me, Chris Olson. 

 

It's So Etsy: Paris-Paris Treasury on Etsy

Paris is always a good idea...

My Etsy item I Heart Paris Eiffel Tower Printable box (3rd row from top, far right) is featured on the Paris-Paris Etsy Treasury. 

You can find more information about my printable box here and the entire Paris-Paris Treasury information here. 

This printable Paris gift box includes one standard 8.5"x11" PDF file with the box and directions. Easy peasy! When you order the printable box on my Etsy shop Salt and Paper Designs, I will email you the PDF for you to print, assemble, and give!

Image: Photos via Etsy. Feel free to Pin it on Pinterest with a link back to this post. Thanks! 

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Summery Decisions

A narrow dirt road with long stretches of washboard bumps wraps around the lake. At the southwest corner is a sign. Which way would you turn?  Left to the cabin?  Or right to the lake?

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Image: I love vintage signs. Here's my take on a popular sign I often see "up north." Sign graphic created by me, Chris Olson. Feel free to Pin it on Pinterest with a link back to this post. Thanks! 

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See the Good in Your Self

Hello, Friends. One of the best parts of blogging is being able to share the big things and the little things that happen in my life. If you read my post yesterday then you know I am eternally grateful to the AMAZING firefighters who saved my house and continue to put their lives on the line battling the Waldo Canyon Fire in the mountains surrounding Colorado Springs. I was evacuated from my house for a week. When I came home, the phrase "there's no place like home" had a special meaning that I can't even put into words. At many points during the past week I had a sick feeling in my gut that my house was on the verge of being gobbled up by the fire. Today, I feel calmer because I am one of the fortunate ones, my house has only minor damage. At the same time, my heart aches for the 346 families that lost their homes and the two people who perished in the terrible fire.  

No one can ever be prepared for a natural disaster. I thought I could be. I even wrote a post about getting your pets ready for an evac. In theory I could be prepared, but when the reverse 911 call comes telling you to LEAVE NOW you don't think in a logical checklist manner. How can you ever decide what to to put in your car because only so much can be carried to safety with you. As you hear the clock ticking in your head reminding you to leave ASAP, all you really can do is focus on keeping the essentials—the living things—safe. I still think it was a miracle—with lots of help from neighbors helping each other—that thousands of people in the fire zone were able to leave safely.

When I sat down at my computer to write today's post I didn't know how to begin because I was so emotional about everything. Even noticing that I had let the dog water bowl go empty brought me to tears. I was feeling extremely sad and grateful and even guilty for feeling fortunate—all at the same time. My favorite place in the world now has emotional and physical burn scars from a fire that today is still sending flames into the sky from hot spots in the foothills above my home. 

Then I remembered something Holly Becker said in her Blogging Your Way 2.0 class: "See the good in your self." See the good? Is that possible? All I can see is trouble. Images of fire rolling down the mountain still make me shake. I can even smell trouble. I open and shut the front door quickly so I don't let too much of the campfire stench into my home.

After a very long week watching the wildfire spread, I feel guilty when something good makes me smile again. It's human nature to feel defeated when we focus on the scars from our struggles or the what we percieve to be flaws in our lives. Or sometimes, we try to sweep those sad feelings under the rug so we don't have to deal with them. Here is what I know: Feeling paralyzed by the problems that develop in life is one part of the healing process. But don't drop everything and give up. I probably will always feel fear build inside me when I look at the blackened earth and skeleton trees in my neighborhood or at the homes reduced to rubble by a ferocious fire. At the same time, I need to remind myself that the good in my self will not evaporate when a disaster strikes. I can still see the good in my community because together we will rebuild and even make the area safer.

I will probably write about that rebuilding experience because that's the kind of sharing bloggers do. I'm sending (((HUGS))) to all my friends at BYW2 for their kind words of support—bloggers are really the sweetest people on the planet!

Before I sign off for the day, I have a favor to ask. If you can do one thing for me, the next time you see a firefighter thank him or her for all they do. And please keep these brave people in your prayers. 

xo Chris

Note about the class: For the past four weeks I have been absolutely loving a very special class called Blogging Your Way 2.0 with the awesome design/decor guru and inspirational teacher Holly Becker (decor8) and her talented friends Jeanette Lunde (3 BY FRYD e-magazine), Nicole Balch (Making it Lovely), Katrina Tan (Pugly Pixel) and Thorsten Becker (Alternate:Words) — plus all my new blogging friends taking the e-class with me. (If you want to hear more about Holly's classes, check out her newsletter here.)

Image: Photo and graphics above by me, Chris Olson. Feel free to Pin it on Pinterest with a link back to this post. Thanks!  

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My Mountain and My Community Will Never Be the Same Again

 

The amazing firefighters at the Waldo Canyon Fire, via KRDO

Two things I know for sure:

1) The majestic mountain in my backyard will never be the same again.

2) My deep gratitude for the heroic firefighters on that mountain can not be put into words...

This week has been one of the most traumatic in my life. A week ago on Saturday a large ember that had traveled for miles and miles floated down the mountain and landed on my head while I ate lunch on my deck. That was my first clue that a wildfire was burning in the nearby foothills of Pikes Peak. At first I was sure this wildfire would be like all the rest and the firefighters would be able to quickly contain it.

Mother Nature had another idea. The extreme lack of humidity and high winds created the perfect storm. The fire continued to grow each day. When fierce 65 mph winds blew across the foothills on Tuesday, the Waldo Canyon Fire jumped from canyon to canyon and into the houses of the Mountain Shadows neighborhood in Colorado Springs. Simply listing the number of houses destroyed—346—does not begin to explain the epic proportions of the ferocious fire that gobbled up everything in its path. My heart goes out to the families of the two people who perished in the fire. It was a miracle that the rest of 32,000 people who were told to evacuate their homes that day are safe. A choking brown cloud of smoke suddenly enveloped the city that Tuesday, homeowners in the path of the fire received reverse 911 calls, and in minutes long lines of cars clogged the neighborhood streets as they tried to leave. It was a nightmare. 

Thick cloud of smoke covers my neighborhood as the fire moves down the mountain on Tuesday, June 26th.

I am one of the lucky ones. Although my neighborhood is still under mandatory evacuation due to active fires in the area, I know the amazing firefighters who put their lives on the line every day will contain the fire in this area soon. My house is safe. My parents and siblings have shared their homes and love with me all week while I have been evacuated. I am also grateful for my dear friends in Colorado Springs who have opened their house for my husband and our three dogs. I am truly humbled by my supportive community that continues to open its arms—and homes— for evacuees like me. 

For information on how you can help the awesome firefighters and the community transformed by the Waldo Canyon Fire, go to:

Waldo Canyon Wildfire - How to Help, via KKTV.com

How to assist Colorado wildfire victims, how to donate and help

Video:  5 Day Timelapse - Waldo Canyon Fire - June 23rd-28th - YouTube

Photo: 1) Firefighter photo via KRDO.com TV photographers. 2) Fire in neighborhood taken by my husband.