grinchmas

happy winter solstice! i LOVE this grinch animation + music.

i would also LOVE to go to grinchmas at universal studios!

santastic! the retro dome

santastic! is fantastic! the live comedy musical revue is at the retro dome

the new owners rescued the 1969 dome theater + wrote, star in, direct + choreograph this amazing show. they have retro films + live shows all year.

the owners have created a special place of joy! see some reviews on yelp :)

roald dahl movie :: fantastic mr.fox!!!

the fantastic mr.fox movie (book by roald dahl )opens thanksgiving day!!!

yay! i get to interview mr.fox's son ash (jason schwartzman) tomorrow :)

here's what the movie pr person told me to share with mod*mom readers:

fantastic mr. fox is visionary director Wes Anderson’s first animated film, utilizing classic handmade stop-motion techniques to tell the story of the best-selling children’s book by Roald Dahl (author of Charlie + the Chocolate Factory + James and the Giant Peach). The film features the voices of George Clooney, Meryl Streep, Jason Schwartzman, Bill Murray, Wally Wolodarsky, Eric Anderson, Michael Gambon, Willem Dafoe, Owen Wilson, + Jarvis Cocker.

Mr. + Mrs. Fox (Clooney + Streep) live an idyllic home life with their son Ash (Schwartzman) + visiting young nephew Kristofferson (Eric Anderson). But after 12 years of quiet domesticity, the bucolic existence proves too much for Mr. Fox’s wild animal instincts. Soon he slips back into his old ways as a sneaky chicken thief + in doing so, endangers not only his beloved family, but the whole animal community. Trapped underground without enough food to go around, the animals band together to fight against the evil Farmers - Boggis, Bunce and Bean - who are determined to capture the audacious, fantastic Mr. Fox at any cost. In the end, he uses his natural instincts to save his family and friends.

Jason Schwartzman (Ash) made his motion picture acting debut in Anderson’s RUSHMORE in 1999, he reteamed with Anderson for THE DARJEELING LIMITED (which he co-wrote + starred in), + the movie short HOTEL CHEVALIER. His recent credits include FUNNY PEOPLE, King Louis XVI in Sofia Coppola’s MARIE ANTOINETTE; SHOPGIRL, BEWITCHED, I ♥ HUCKABEES, C.Q., SLACKERS. Jason currently stars in the HBO comedy series “Bored To Death” which premiered in september."

i am sooo excited about this movie! the story, cast, crew, technology...

learn more about the movie + play games here: fantasticmrfoxmovie.com

net cetera :: chatting with kids about being online :: ftc

the federal trade commission wants mod*mom readers to read their new net cetera online guide about parenting your webhog kids in the internet.

i want a breast thermography scan for breast cancer :)

i want a thermascan digital mammogram at clear center for health in marin!

medical director + founder, dr beth mcdougall says “breast thermography has the ability to warn women up to 10 years before any other procedure that a cancer may be forming." i'm interested in nonsurgical no radiation early diagnostic technology. i don't have faith in traditional mammograms, + a needless breast or lymph node biopsy is wasteful. i know these are controversial, but i'd still rather have one than a biopsy or mammogram.

my pal rob mahar taught martha stewart to make sock skeletons!!!

my pal, rob mahar taught martha stewart to make sock skeletons!!!

here's the awesome video so you can make them too or buy a kit here :)

groovy new halloween book by illustrated by s.britt!

s. britt, one of my favorite illustrators, has a new halloween book!

i'm so happy i saw just this on junior society. they're for sale here.

he also has lots of my favorite classic prints for sale on his etsy here.

save the world from power vampires....

save the world from power vampires....

motherhood movie sneak peek

MOTHERHOOD: Movie Trailer -

the movie "motherhood" about a nyc mom blogger, opens 10/23.
i got to see a screening at the mill valley film festival last weekend.

i think it is inspired by my blogging mom pal liz of mom 101

60's orange sinks

i'd LOVE these 1968 orange sinks for my bright yellow bathroom vanity!

pics: kohler blog

http://westcoastgreen.com october 1-3

check out this eco conference in san francisco next weekend!
http://westcoastgreen.com

join the school lunch revolution!

school is back in session. whole foods wants mod*mom readers to join the revolution to replace processed food served in school. they see improving childhood nutrition as a social justice issue.

Chef Ann Cooper a.k.a. the "Renegade Lunch Lady," has been making school lunch programs healthier across the U.S. for the past decade. Whole Foods Market is working to help her raise awareness of her mission, + to develop a free online resource, which will empower parents, schools + districts to make the change to healthy school lunches for our children. as part of the campaign you have the chance to bring Chef Ann to your school or district for your very own action plan to improve your lunch program. just create + post a 1 minute video showing why your school is in need of a School Lunch Makeover, + submit the link to: schoollunchmakeover@wholefoods.com by October 8

learn about Chef Ann + the contest: http://www.wholefoodsmarket.com/schoollunchmakeover/

wii + ds

mod*tot previewed the new nintendo wii hockey game in san francisco.

the game hasn't become publicly available yet. it features the mii cartoony characters in the skill builder part, but in the actual hockey game they have excellent graphics that make it look like real television + put real faces on the hockey players. 4 people can play on one team or against other people with wii machines in their homes. they can negotiate salaries + change teams. the hockey was too complicated for us, but introduced her to wii.

now she is crazy for wii. she begs to go to best buy to play the wii games.

she likes the sports resort games. now i'm interested in wii too for fitness.

jenny mccarthy has a new wii fit game. your face shows up on your avatar. + daisy fuentes has a new pilates game i want to try.

mod*tot is also crazy about the nintendo dsi + wants the G-force game.

they were on sale at target this weekend, so we had to go take a look.

circus in town

mod*tot + i are on a circus theme this summer. we LOVE playing with

our new shrinky dinks circus party pack illustrated by my webpal s.britt,

one of my favorite artists in the entire universe. check out his website :)

then our friend introduced us to the 1960s movie jumbo starring doris day.

doris plays the daughter of the circus owner + she performs many of the circus jobs + sings + dances + saves the failing circus + gets the guy :)

barnum + bailey ringling brothers circus is in our town now, so mod*tot + i checked it out last week as vip guests in oakland. it goes to san jose next.

if you want to go to the circus, check this schedule to see when the circus is near your town + get 4 tickets for $44 by entering "mom" in the code box.

mod*tot loves rollerdisco

mod*tot loves to rollerdisco with me + mod*pop in our dining room disco :)

alexander girard products

i am so excited to see the all new alexander girard products from house industries!

we went to the dwell magazine design conference in los angeles this weekend as press,

sponsored by dwell, olympus + hp to blog about the conference + products.

i remember seeing the la fonda del sol girard flor tiles at the tottini booth last year.

i'm so happy now to have them in our kitchen! they're perfect with our colorful home.

hp smarthouse + dwell design + summer camps...

my family has been so busy!
i'm so excited! we got to spend a day "living" at the futuristic "SmartHouse" on the hp campus in cupertino. it's a 3-bedroom prefab automated dreamhouse showcasing hp's electronic "connected home" technology for work + entertainment, like the first connected hd lcd tv + gadgets for the kitchen, bedroom, office, fire safety + security surveillance that are available now. here's a video tour.

then after kindergarten graduation, we spent the weekend at an eco camp near petaluma that was a miwok indian village + saw foxes + stopped in mill valley on the way home + watched "UP" at the quaint little old theater.
this week, i met the pbs kids executives + the creator of 'super why' at stanford + they explained how they make their programs + gave me some show DVDs + projects to try with mod*tot for feedback. we LOVE pbs kids shows + online games. mod*tot is in gymnastics camp + i'm skating along the bay trail across the street from her gym, updating my blog, planning giveaways + getting ready for the dwell on design conference next weekend at the los angeles convention center!!!

i want to drive an eco-friendly zipcar hybrid + use our autonet mobile wifi with an hp touchsmart tablet laptop + olympus stylus "tough" camera.

my geek mom secrets

i have a secret....

i live in silicon valley + have a blog, but i don't have a working laptop.

i've been stuck on the question: apple or windows...

i LOVE apple design. i love apple stores. i love apple employees. macworld was amazing! i voted for woz on dancing with the stars. i love iphones + apps. i want a white macbook right now!!!! (i heard a rumor new macbooks will have at&t wifi soon like iphones). but, also i LOVE hp, hp employees + especially hp touchsmart technology, hp laptops, + their adorable 2.25 pound 10" hp netbooks that have wifi via at&t or verizon already.

macbooks are $999 + netbooks are only $299. macbooks have ilife easy to use programs + apple store assistance vs. hp netbooks don't have cd/dvd drives or capacity to handle photo editing programs that i like to use for preparing images for my blog. but i went to best buy last night where they sell both apple + hp. the sales people were very knowledgeable + helpful like the apple store. i tested my netflix account on an hp netbook + the dvds streamed live (yay! no carrying movie dvd's) + an employee showed me how to use a seagate "free agent" mobile hard drive to carry around all the contents of my home computer, including videos, music + thousands of pictures up to 500gb. then i can use an online photo editing website like picnik + hit the road with autonet mobile service that turns my car into a wifi hotspot for $29 a month. this summer we're heading to the dwell on design conference in los angeles + then to mammoth mountain for environmental education, a scenic gondola ride + a music festival. i love the geology of the east side of the sierras. i think we'll take a hybrid from zipcar like a ford truck, so we can bring our mountain bikes.

i'll bring along my flip video camera, dwell magazines + new reference guide: "how to be a geek goddess". i need to read up on geek parenting + keeping kids safe online, especially when they use free online video chat like tokbox that lets up to 20 people video conference.

here are some geek mom gadgets + tips:

wifi certified shopping guide + how to secure your wifi at home + on the go.

p.s. i wear low tech birkenstock's, because now they come in space age + mod new colors like white, silver, orange, lime, purple + pink...
i like that they're an environmentally friendly company

flex :: house of kolor custom by funkmaster fresh

ford is loaning me a flex for shuttling my friends to earth events all over california this month! it seats 7 in 1st class comfort with sun/moon roofs over all 3 rows + gets 24 mpg, which is amazingly only a few mpg less than my vw bug. i think it's cute as a huge mini with this Funkmaster Flex House of Kolor Kandy custom paint job :) the 2nd + 3rd rows recline flat + have dvd players. it has so many awesome features you should take a tour here

earth

dancing with the stars :: vote for woz!!!

i'm so excited to watch steve wozniak on dancing with the stars tonight at 8 on abc!

i met him at macworld 8 weeks ago at the premiere of the welcome to mac intosh movie. i got my picture with him. it will be interesting to see his improvement in fitness + how well he's learned to dance in a short time. yay for smart nice guys!!! vote for woz!!!

are you going to watch? you can vote on your phone for free up to 11 times per phone line during the show (+ up to 30 minutes after) + you can vote online until noon the following day. you can also vote online up to 11 times per email address + see videos of the shows at abc until 9pm tuesdays when the "results show" airs.

giveaway : Nutrition for Mom and Baby | WholeFoodsMarket

giveaway :: Whole Baby diaper bag from wholefoodsmarket.com

whole foods market wants to know what mod*mom readers think of their "Whole Baby" podcasts. from now until march 30th, they’re offering “mod*mom” readers, an incentive for you to listen + provide feedback to their Whole Baby Podcasts covering Natural Baby Body Care, Pregnancy – A Time to Go Natural, + Organics for Baby, Beyond Food

prize:
the “Deluxe Urban Sling” is made with 100% post-consumer recycled materials- “yesterday’s discarded water bottles and yogurt containers”. It comes loaded with natural products for new babies, and families.

enclosed items may vary slightly and may include:
Belly Bar - assortment of Chews, Shakes + Bars
California Baby - Super Sensitive Shampoo + Body Wash - No Fragrance
Peter Rabbit Organics - Baby Intense Therapy Cream
Seventh Generation - Natural Baby Laundry Detergent
Hylands - Teething Tablets, and Teething Gel

how to enter:

1. there are 3 podcasts please feel free to listen to all 3 but you just need to leave a comment on 1. to listen click here:

2. after listening, click on the “comment” text to leave your comment. *please enter: modmomblog.com in the “website” field on the comment form, so we know your comment is part of this promotion.

3. when you leave a comment, with modmomblog.com in the website field, you will be entered in a drawing, + on march 31st, 1 winner will be randomly selected to win a Green Baby Diaper Bag!

oscars

i'm off to the oscar's gifting suites at the sls hotel in beverly hills.

it's going to be warm there. i wish i was wearing this alexander girard dress by anna sui. it's embroidered on silk. (click image to enlarge)

i'll keep an eye out for mom sally fields!!! i LOVE all her movies + her brothers & sisters tv show cast + production crew + editing are the BEST!

i just got a roku that unlocks netflix, so i'll be able to watch unlimited streamed movies instantly on my tv or pc + it connects up to 6 devices with sub-accounts, instead of separate netflix accounts for each device.

the oscars are on abc sunday night! (then brothers & sisters is at 10pm)

mod*mom oscars giveaway :: roxio vhs to dvd digitizer $600

mod*mom oscars giveaway :: 10 roxio vhs to dvd software/hardware digitizers $600

i'm so excited i'm going to the oscar's gifting suites next week with mod*tot + roxio is sponsoring a mod*mom giveaway to introduce my pals to their new product that will save your treasured favorite movies, since vcr's + tapes are becoming obsolete. 

Roxio Launches Easy VHS to DVD

Helps Families Revive, Relive, and Preserve Cherished Personal Video Memories and Entertainment
Roxio's latest consumer application, Roxio Easy VHS to DVD is a combination of software and hardware that enables users to quickly digitize analog recordings stored on VHS tapes. The product is available now direct from Roxio for $59.99 and will be introduced later this month in retail stores worldwide.
Roxio Easy VHS to DVD also enables consumers to transfer their favorite collections of LPs and tapes onto CDs or portable players.
Users simply attach the included hardware to their high-speed USB 2.0 port, then capture from virtually any analog video or audio source. S-Video and composite video inputs enable full-resolution DVD recording from VCRs, VCR/DVD combo players, and analog camcorders including Hi8 and V8 models.
Easy VHS to DVD includes Wizards for automatically capturing and converting analog video directly to DVD and for automatically labeling audio tracks captured from LPs or tapes with artist, song, and album information.
Easy VHS to DVD comes equipped with a full-featured video editor that enables users to apply filters to correct video quality, rearrange or remove unwanted video segments, and spice things up with a range of transitions, titles and effects.
Video and audio can be easily converted and exported for optimal playback on a range of mobile devices including iPods, iPhones, and PSPs or prepared for posting and sharing via online services or social networking sites.

The product also includes an innovative DVD authoring application complete with professionally designed templates that enable users to easily create personalized DVDs with motion menus, menu-to-menu transitions, animated buttons and custom navigation. With the included express labeler, users can also create personalized disc and case artwork.
VHS tapes can last 10 to 20 years in ideal conditions; however, heat, humidity and improper storage cause videotapes to deteriorate, which degrades the magnetic particles and can lead to failure. Converting analog content to a digital form stops the deterioration and preserves the content for generations.
The CEA reported that as of January 2007, 85% of households still had VCRs in the home. The number dropped to 70% in January 2008. With VCRs quickly becoming obsolete, it’s important for families to have a plan for preserving precious memories of key events that are currently on VHS tape.
 
“Whether it’s aging footage of weddings, baby’s first steps, reunions and other special family moments or collections of classic TV episodes, movies and concerts, the clock is ticking on massive amounts of irreplaceable analog video and audio recordings. With Easy VHS to DVD, we’ve made it point-and-click easy for families to preserve, rediscover, revive, and relive this content on PC, DVD, or mobile devices.”

to enter to win a roxio vhs to dvd digitizer, tell me in the comments, which features are your favorites + favorite movie?

(include your email address + web url so i can contact you when you win!)
before midnight, saturday february 28

this is going to be a weekly dj party in golden gate park for over 18.

all of the exhibits will be open 6-10pm. $10 admission. i can't wait :)

i'm so excited california academy in san francisco sent me a press release:

SAN FRANCISCO (January 28, 2009) – Every Thursday night, beginning on February 12, the Academy will transform into a lively venue filled with provocative science, music, mingling, and cocktails, as visitors get a chance to explore the museum at night. NightLife events run from 6-10pm, and are open to adults ages 18 and up. Entertainment and a bar stocked with food and drinks available for purchase will be set up in a given area of the museum each week. The location of the bar and entertainment will rotate on a regular basis, placing the pulse of the party in different locations throughout the year. Visitors will be able to explore the rest of the Academy's exhibits as well – from the fish, snakes and other creatures in the aquarium, to the dioramas and live penguins in African Hall. Engaging science programming and activities at each event will introduce visitors to cutting edge research in an informal, social environment. The focus of that content will rotate quarterly– the themes in 2009 are Evolution, Sustainability, Climate Change & Space, and Explorers. Activities will vary week to week and include informal talks by scientists, stargazing, screenings, opportunities to meet aquarium animals, and more. Event-specific details are available at www.calacademy.org/nightlife. NightLife Basics What: NightLife at the California Academy of SciencesFeaturing music, cutting-edge science, and food and cocktails available for purchaseNightLife is for adults ages 18 and overWhen: Every Thursday 6-10 pmFebruary 12 – October 29, 2009Where: California Academy of Sciences55 Music Concourse Drive, Golden Gate Park, San FranciscoCost: $10 per person ($8 for Academy members) Tickets available at the door or online at https://www.calacademy.org/event_tickets/ Details: Visit www.calacademy.org/nightlife for a schedule of upcoming events

compostmodern 09 :: san francisco

compostmodern is a 1-day event in san francisco saturday february 21 dedicated to promoting ecologically sustainable design solutions.

compostmodern networks designers as a core piece of changing our world by their influence in altering everything we consume + the way in which we consume it to be more sustainable. as green a conference as possible, compostmodern is a flagship event for sustainability + design.

compostmodern is available via webcast + you can host a group viewing.

via treehugger

celebrate the temporary

celebrate the temporary
don't wait until tomorrow
live today

celebrate the simple things
enjoy the butterfly
embrace the snow
run with the ocean
delight in trees
or a single flower
go barefoot in the wet grass

don't wait
until all the problems are solved
or all the bills are paid
you will wait forever
eternity will come and go
and you will still be waiting

live in the now
with all the problems
and its agonies
with its joy
and its pain
your despair
your anger
it means you're alive

look closer
breathe deeper
stand taller
stop grieving the past

there is joy and beauty
today
it is temporary
here now and gone
so celebrate it
while you can

celebrate the temporary

(this is one of my favorite poems + i think i'll post it every new year as a reminder)

macworld + macheads movie + me

i'm so excited to go to my 1st macworld! especially for the special preview of macheads the movie, featuring apple employee #1 daniel kottke + guy kawasaki. the movie will premiere to the public thursday 1/8 at macworld.
i LOVE iphones + speck iphone covers. i'll be looking at all the new products available + getting some tips for digital photography, video + graphic art.