Chris--MomathonBlog.com's blog

How to book the best room in the hotel

2009-11-11T21:32:33-06:00

Hello, my name is Chris and I am a hotel snob.

I admit it. My family and close friends know about my little secret: I am very fussy when it comes to selecting a hotel and a room in a hotel.

(St. Regis, New York)

Hotel rooms are not created equal. Lucky for me and other hotel snobs, TripKick.com which launched in May 2008, makes it easy for picky travelers to find the best rooms based on your preferences. This online service features a room-by-room guide of hotel rooms in 500 hotels in more than 27 cities. Keep checking the site because the number of hotels increases each month.

What makes a hotel room great for you? TripKick groups rooms according to criteria specified by you including room size, view, etc. If you specify your hotel room personality such as formal, romantic getaway, upscale business, elegant, TripKick will suggest hotels. How does it work? Well, if you are looking for a quiet room in the St. Regis New York pictured above, then TripKick recommends even numbered rooms which are quiet, interior facing rooms. If you want an oversized, junior suite at the St. Regis check out room 21. If you want a big bathroom at the St. Regis, you are in luck: most rooms feature oversized baths.

Some obvious deal breakers for hotel snobs are rooms with small bathrooms or rooms near noisy vending machines or near hotel renovation areas. What makes a room more desirable? The size of the room, proximity to elevators, or a great view. Travelers can add their own ratings to the TripKick website.

TripKick has only been around for a little over a year and it was once again named a "Top Website" by Travel + Leisure magazine.

Need daily updates? You can follow tripkick.com on Twitter.

No excuses allowed... You too can write a novel this month

2009-11-05T19:15:22-06:00

Thirty days and nights of literary abandon began November 1st. Over 70,000 aspiring writers have joined National Novel Writing Month. As of today, the collective word count according to nanowrimo.org is...drumroll, please...355,226,349 words!

No excuses allowed.

No outline yet. No time to edit. Don't worry. The goal of this month's literary extravaganza is to write, write, write. You can edit after the month is over. Just try to get 50,000 words in 30 days!

I love this idea because let's face it, if you didn't have someone pushing you to write and write some more, nothing would happen. NaNoWriMo gives you that much needed push to get writing and keep writing. Sign up to write your novel and give weekly word count updates here. The site also includes easy writing guidelines. Plus they do offer prizes.

Why write a novel this month? According to the clever folks at NaNoWriMo:

"Doing something just for the hell of it is a wonderful antidote to all the chores and 'must-dos' of daily life. Writing a novel in a month is both exhilarating and stupid, and we would all do well to invite a little more spontaneous stupidity into our lives."

I love a challenge. And a stupid--but harmless--one makes it all the more fun. I am only at 4530 words. Long way to go to reach 50,000. Come join me at NaNoWriMo.

Can vitamin D help you fight the flu?

2009-10-23T10:33:47-05:00

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.comblog 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."

(image by Tony the Misfit)

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.

--You can find more posts by Chris at Momathon Blog.

Geeky Mom: Will the Nook be a Kindle killer?

2009-10-21T10:45:11-05:00

A few days ago I wrote a post all about e-books. Yesterday the Nook, a new e-reader with access to over one million e-books, newspapers, and magazines downloaded wirelessly was unveiled by bookseller Barnes & Noble for $259. (This price is so much better than the hefty $489 for the Kindle DX e-reader.)

The slim Nook can store as many as 1,500 e-books, newspapers, and magazines and with an added memory card you can keep up to 17,500. The cost for an e-book is about $9.99 and thousands of titles are free at the Barnes & Noble eBookstore. The Nook works on the 3G network and with WiFi.

The Nook features crisp B&W text. I haven't held a Nook in my hands, but after viewing the promotional videos I think the PR buzz is correct. I am disappointed that it does not feature color image/text of an entire book page. Full color pages would be so useful when viewing textbooks and books featuring rich graphics. (I predict digital textbooks are going to big the next big wave in e-books.) But it does have a colorful touchscreen at the bottom of the screen to help you select the book you want to read.

Features I like include the ability to make text bigger (5 different font sizes) and easily bookmark, highlight passages and make notes as you go. Also the E-Ink by VizPlex offers enough contrast (16-bit gray scale) so there is no glare or backlight making it easy on the eyes. You can adjust the screen lighting to fit the situation.

One of the unusual features of the Nook is you can share books from your nook with your friends for free for about 14 days at a time with the Nook's LendMe technology. The lending policy reminds me of the public library policy for lending e-books. All you have to do is send the book file to your friend's iPhone, iPod touch, laptop, select BlackBerry and other smart phones. Wonder how the book publishers feel about the free e-book lending? (More about the issue of intellectual property rights of authors in a SF Chronicle by Michelle Richmond.)

I'm a news junkie so the access to over 20 million newspaper subscriptions sounds great. Note that reading newspapers on the Nook is not free. I do love the NYT, WSJ, and Newsweek. Subscribing to them and a dozen more would be a huge temptation.

What's next on the horizon?

I'm waiting for the Apple's new e-reader tablet--an overgrown iPod. Unfortunately the Apple option won't be cheap at $700 or more when it is released in a few months. The price really turns me off because I was hoping this tablet would be a good choice for kids/teens, but at $700-$900 I am even nervous to carry it around in my backpack/purse. The Apple eReader-and-more is rumored to run iPhone OS and play MP3 audio files and videos. So cool. Just hoping the price drops soon.

--You can find more posts by Chris at Momathon Blog.

Flu shots and you

2009-10-19T13:44:24-05:00

Each year I get my seasonal flu shot. I never want to get the shot or the flu. I tell my kids it doesn't hurt, but they know better now. I get vaccinated because I am hopeful that developing immunity against the flu will help keep my family and friends healthier too.

This summer my son got the H1N1 virus. He was sick in bed for about a week, but because of an underlying health condition I am very grateful he did not become even sicker with complications from the virus.

I figure the healthier I stay, the better for my family. So that is why I've already had my seasonal flu shot and will be getting the H1N1 shot too.

I am not a medical specialist and this year's unusual flu outbreak is really a big mystery to me. I have plenty of concerns and questions about the shots. I found these articles helpful:

• WSJ.com article: Two Flu Vaccines, Lots of Questions

• Mayo Clinic article: Flu shot: Your best bet for avoiding influenza

• Chicago Tribune: Swine flu vaccines are safe and time-tested, experts assert

Check them out. And talk to your doctors for their recommendations about which types of vaccines are best for you.

--You can find more posts by Chris at Momathon Blog.

Give your friends a hug today

2009-10-13T09:46:27-05:00

In my blog I like to share bits about my life and interests every weekday. Some days I just can't write. Today is one of them. A best bud battled cancer courageously for a very long time and now she is gone.

Can't begin to put into words how much I miss her. She was the one with the hugs. When I didn't know how to say something, she knew how to put it into words perfectly. She was the one who could cook a dinner so mouth watering I wanted a permanent dinner reservation at her house. She was the one who was always prepared. You could always count on her... Even for silly things like having an extra Halloween pumpkin to give me when mine went missing. She was the one who gave me a boost when I felt defeated. Somehow she knew just what to say to convince me that I shouldn't give up on projects that seemed too difficult.

She was the one with a hug and a warm smile. In her honor, give your friends a hug today.

(image: Pink Sherbet Photography)

If mom is happy...

2009-10-13T09:09:10-05:00

Ever feel like if you take time to shower, then your preschooler will never get into the right college?

(image: Cyron)

Okay, I'm exaggerating, but you know the feeling. And this mommy guilt is toxic. The truth: the more you accomplish on your to-do list does not guarantee you will be happier.

You know the drill. While you cook dinner/fold laundry/check homework, you still feel guilty about not spending time reading a book with your kids.

Chances are if you feel overwhelmed, then now is the perfect time to step back and figure out what you can do to recharge your batteries. I'm not talking about a once-a-month splurge on a mani-pedi or whatever. I'm suggesting you carve out small chunks of time every day to focus on you. Scary? Maybe. But if you take a few minutes to escape and search for beauty in your life, then you will feel better.

No big commitments like training for a triathlon are required. Grab your tennis shoes and take a walk. Or find that journal you loved years ago and start writing again. Even if you just sit down and meditate for 15 minutes in a quiet room, you will feel better.

Just like my mom told me: If mom is happy, the whole family is happier.

Looking for some motivation? Check out this book: Mothers Need Time-Outs, Too by Susan Callahan, Anne Nolen, Katrin Schuman.

Geeky Mom: Test the speed of your Internet connection

2009-10-10T11:33:23-05:00

My Internet connection has been wimpy lately. So, to see if I am getting what I paid for I tried out a few broadband speed analysis tools that check my Internet connection. My favorite is Speedtest.net. Ok, I admit it, this proves I am mildly geeky: I thought the test was actually fun. It uses an entertaining interactive Flash interface. Speednet.com performs three measurements to determine the quality and performance of your internet connection:

1) Download Speed: Tests the speed at which your data is sent from the Internet to your computer.

2) Upload Speed: Tests the speed at which data is sent from your computer to the Internet.

3) Ping (Latency): The time it takes in milliseconds for a small piece of data to be sent from your computer to the Internet and back.

What are my test results? Am I getting what I pay for in an Internet connection? Well, that discussion is for another post. Stay tuned.

Depending on where you live, here are a few other testers you might want to check out:

• Broadband speed reports

• Speakeasy - Speed Test

• PC Pitstop Internet Connection Center

--You can find more posts by Chris at Momathon Blog.

DIY: Fabric Storage Basket

2009-10-09T09:20:30-05:00

I am fixing up my work/craft room so I was excited to find an easy DIY pattern for making storage baskets by jcaroline creative. I love the Peapod and Flora fabric too. Sewing directions for a small and large basket here.

(Image: jcaroline creative)

--You can find more posts by Chris at Momathon Blog.

Save a little, save a life

2009-10-07T20:33:37-05:00

October is breast cancer awareness month. Now when you save a little on the basics you can help save lives. Harper Collins and Amazon.com team up with Susan G. Komen for the Cure to offer the Everyday Coupon Book. The book costs only $19.99 and includes more than $500 in savings. The book also includes wellness tips including easy recipes and preventive diet tips. Coupons are good through August 2010.

Susan G. Komen for the Cure is the world's largest and most progressive grassroots network of breast cancer survivors and activists.

The book includes coupons for products including: Tylenol, Tyson, Lean Cuisine, Lady Speed Stick, South Beach Bars, Centrum multivitamin, and Pampers.

Save a little, save a life

2009-10-07T20:33:37-05:00

Susan G. Komen for the Cure is the world's largest and most progressive grassroots network of breast cancer survivors and activists.

The book includes coupons for products including: Tylenol, Tyson, Lean Cuisine, Lady Speed Stick, South Beach Bars, Centrum multivitamin, and Pampers.

Was this a good hair day?

2009-10-06T17:21:58-05:00

We've all had bad hair days. If I can get away with it, those are the the days that I hide my hair under a baseball cap. The thing is, everyone knows exactly why I have the cap on.

Why is good hair so important? And why can't we convince our kids (and ourselves) that the stuff on top of our head isn't nearly as important as what is inside.

According to the Sundance Film Festival 2009 website: When Chris Rock’s daughter, Lola, came up to him crying and asked, “Daddy, how come I don’t have good hair?” the bewildered comic committed himself to search the ends of the earth and the depths of black culture to find out who had put that question into his little girl's head!

So what does Chris Rock do next? He makes the award-winning new comedy/ documentary Good Hair that looks at the preoccupation with straightening hair.

Relaxants for hair, weaves and more for black hair are expensive. It's almost as if you can get addicted to the products that make straight hair. Who can afford it? Discussing why and how people turn their kinky hair into straight hair is almost a taboo subject. Which makes me wonder is straight hair really "good."

Our relationship with hair is a complicated one. Even when life is getting tough some women may choose their hair care over more basic needs. Says Rock in the Chicago Sun Times

: "You know Beyonce is going to spend five grand getting ready for the Grammys. But to know Kiki spends five grand to go to work for AT&T -- where she's only making $35,000 or $40,000, or whatever she's making -- that blew my mind."

In his documentary Good Hair, Chris Rock visits beauty salons, barber shops, hair manufacturers and wig merchants in his quest to understand how so-called "good hair" affects self-esteem and even sexual relations.Rock's candid look at the nine billion dollar African American hair business opens this Friday.

Save the boobs and get a mammogram

2009-10-01T12:00:21-05:00

If you are 40 years or older, it's time to save your boobs and get a mammogram. Breast cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in women behind lung cancer. Without getting a mammogram, many women won't even know that they have breast cancer until it is in an advanced stage and more difficult to treat.

If you are 40 years or older, once a year mammograms are recommended as a screening tool for breast cancer. Be sure to check with your doctor for specific screening recommendations for you.

Too many mothers, daughters, and grandmothers have been through tough times fighting cancer. You can show support and raise awareness of breast cancer by wearing pink in October, breast cancer awareness month.

If you ever watch Hoda Kotb, a breast cancer survivor, on the Today Show you may have noticed she wears a pink ring made by a friend of hers with the word "Forward" on it. According to the NBC website: Hoda says she wears her Forward Ring as a reminder: "I feel safe with it on...And I also wear the ring just because I know that I'm in a big club with lots of people."

You can purchase the pink "Forward Ring" online at the NBC Store. For every Forward Ring purchased in 2009, a $2 donation will be made to Susan G. Komen for the Cure. The ring is $5.

A message Hoda Kotb from the NBC website:
"As we enter Breast Cancer Awareness month, I have a message for those women who are in the middle of their fight with the disease: I know you feel like you're in hell now, but your life is about to get a whole lot better."

To make excuses for why your child hasn't done his homework, press 2

2009-09-30T14:41:32-05:00

At least a few people working in public education still have a sense of humor...

Not sure if the answering machine message below is fake or real, but I do think it is very smart and, perhaps best of all, this message points out not so subtly how parents AND their kids need to 'wake up and smell the coffee.' Automatically blaming the school for all of their problems is just as ridiculous as this phone message sounds.

You can listen to the answering machine message on my

Momathon Blog post today. It was allegedly voted unanimously by the staff at Maroochydore High School, Queensland, Australia.

DIY Bean Bag Chair

2009-09-25T17:35:07-05:00

Kids and adults love to sink into cozy bean bag chairs. My favorites are the ones with interesting fabrics. Now you can create your own comfy place to read a book with the bean bag chair tutorial by Joanna Armour. Check out the tutorial here.

The sewing directions look easy. You only need 3 yards of lining fabric, 3 yards for the outside cover, hook and loop tape, and bean bag pellets. Great photos included to help you complete your project.

image: bean bag chair made by Joanna Armour with michael miller fabrics

You can check out more sewing projects at the Making It Fun blog by Michael Miller Fabrics. Thanks also to the clever editors at the blog Apartment Therapy Ohdeedoh (home design for children) for featuring this sweet sewing project. You can view more cute fabrics for sewing projects at MichaelMillerFabrics.com