Momathon Blog

Dreams Demand Hustle

Dreams demand hustle. Some days I feel like I'm pushing harder to get everything done than I want. However, I can say confidently that in the end, all that hard work does pay off. Each little step towards your dreams is an important part of the journey. 

That said, part of my journey has been supporting a cause near and dear to my heart. I donate 100% of my proceeds from this Society6 shop to the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research. 

Check out my Society6 shop for gifts that give back. You'll find my artwork on pillows, iPhone and laptop cases, hoodies, t-shirts and more. 

My shop: http://society6.com/chrisolson

// My Society6 shop: http://society6.com/chrisolson //

MLK Day

Celebrating the wisdom of Martin Luther King, Jr. on the blog today:  

"Life's most persistent and urgent question is:

'What are you doing for others?'"

(Artwork by Chris Olson over at Pattern Bliss.)

Dream More

I snapped this Instagram photo a few weeks ago while looking at marble samples stacked outside an old warehouse in town. The clouds were moving in and I was feeling the pressure to make a decision before the storm hit. Then I noticed this small window on the warehouse.

I never did make up my mind that day. Decisions sometimes take a while... But I knew in an instant that window was the image to remember. I love how the clouds could be either the view or the reflection.

 

Image: Instagram photo above by me, Chris Olson, featuring the Over App for adding text. Feel free to pin image on Pinterest with a link back to this post. Thanks!

 

Get Lost on Purpose

Enough said. Hope you have a lovely weekend. Enjoy!

 

Image: Instagram photo above by me, Chris Olson, featuring the Over App for adding text. Feel free to pin image on Pinterest with a link back to this post. Thanks!

 

Hello, November! {A Time of Thanks and Gratitude}

Hello, friends. What a week...

In the wake of Hurricane Sandy, I send a HUGE thank you to all the first responders, the anonymous good samaritans, the city and state leaders, President Obama, the donors who help disaster relief charities, and those countless heroes who helped out with hurricane rescues and disaster relief efforts. Words can't begin to express my gratitude.

I'm sending out special mommy hugs to my family and friends on the East Coast. My son in college in NYC survived the storm and has been giving me updates on the recovery and relief efforts.

My wish for November can be summed up in four words: A spirit of gratitude. If we join together to support each other that is what has the power to make each day truly awesome. Our perspective and acts of generosity can lift us up even during the most overwhelming situations. When disaster strikes we might see the glass as half empty. However, our acts of kindness—small or big—is what gets poured into the glass to make it half full. 

If you want to help relief efforts for Hurricane Sandy, this is a great post with links. (If you are a blogger please share that link.)

xo, Chris

 

Image: MAKE TODAY RIDICULOUSLY AWESOME illustration by me, Chris Olson. Feel free to Pin it on Pinterest with a link back to this post. Thanks!

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Laugh More

Laughter is a secret ingredient to living better and longer. According to a study done by Ball Memorial Hospital in Muncie, Indiana, laughter lowers levels of cortisol in the body and that helps the immune system work more efficiently. Laughing is even a form of exercise. You get approximately the same benefits from laughing 100 times a day, as you get from 10 minutes of using a rowing machine or riding a stationary bike for 15 minutes. And the more you laugh during the day, the more rested and refreshed you will feel. So go ahead, laugh long and you'll live longer.

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Image: LAUGH MORE graphic image by me, Chris Olson. The pretty pink color that pops through the lettering is from a flower photo by the awesome photographer D. Sharon Pruitt. Feel free to Pin my poster on Pinterest with a link back to this post. Thanks! 

 

 

Reflections on Resilience

Elizabeth Edwards was and will always be an inspirational figure. She overcame both public and private adversity as she struggled with some of life's toughest challenges including the death of her 16-year-old son Wade who was killed in a freak car accident, her six-year battle with cancer, and her husband's infidelity. In her book Resilience: Reflections on the Burdens and Gifts of Facing Life's Adversities, Elizabeth writes about life lessons she hopes she has taught her children:

When they are older and telling their own children about their grandmother,
they will be able to say that she stood in the storm,
and when the wind did not blow her way—
and it surely has not—she adjusted her sails.

If you want to read this wonderful book, let me recommend buying the audio book that is read by Elizabeth herself. Her voice is strong, passionate, and always inspiring.

What lessons do you want to teach your children about facing adversity?

For me, I believe living each day is a gift—make today extraordinary.

Image 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.

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.

 

Congrats Class of 2012!

 

 

You can find more quote and sayings artwork here.

Image above by me, Chris Olson.

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!

 

 

Happy Thoughts from Winnie the Pooh

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

 

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!

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More reasons to love books:

The 20 Most Beautiful Bookstores in the World

The 25 Most Beautiful College Libraries in the World

Daily doodle: The original JUST DO IT!

Now is a good time to be your own Yoda according to Elizabeth Pongo's posting in the Own Your Own Beauty series on BlogHer. Because, I guess, when you take charge of your own well being, life becomes so much sweeter.

The doodle above is by me, Chris Olson. You can see more of my doodles at Momathon doodles.