White Out!

...and I don't mean snow!
That last bit of dirt-crusted granular snow has finally been replaced by spring soaked soggy ground.
Oh, don't get me wrong, I'm happy to see mud and grass again.
Here are some stylish looking electronics that won't break the bank.  I know my kids are always talking about Dr. Dre headphones for $200 to $300 dollars!... what about these cool looking Bongo Headphones I found on Urban Outfitters website...

$76

Or this vintage camera that uses real film!...

Holgawood Camera $46

Or this instant camera which produces credit card size photos in minutes!...

Instax Mini 7S, $130

Also Urban Outfitters offers FREE returns.

Happy Monday!

Art Smart

Google's homepage today

Google's "Art Project", unveiled yesterday, is FREE, and allows people to discover thousands of pieces of art from around the world (and as an artist this is something near and dear to my heart)...  it's like Google Maps but for Art Museums with 360 degree views.  One can navigate as if you're standing in the museum viewing a room of paintings and sculpture.  You can view an individual piece of art and a super close-up of the art.
Along the lines of social networking, and if you have a google account (gmail), you can make a collection of your favorite art to be shared with others...

 Van Gogh

Looks luscious enough to eat

The homepage shows the different views

The Palace of Versaille

There are currently 17 major art museums represented on the website and I'm sure this is just the beginning...

At Artinfo.com you can read more about the project and another art project, "Art-sy". 

Car Shopping

SORRY about last weeks short week on the blog, but I won't go black on you, I promise, and everything is alright with me just soooo busy with a few big things.
One is that I'm in the thick of planning my son's Bar Mitzvah, my last but not least... and right about the same time (March) I have to decide on a new car with my lease coming due just about then too.
Frankly, I don't know which one is more work!  One is months of planning and will be over in a matter of 6 or so hours and the other is weeks of research and I have to live with my decision for 3 years.
You might think this is ridiculous even comparing these two unrelated things but they are converging and making me crazy at the same time.
I know a lot of women who have their husbands making this car decision for them but not in this household it's a joint decision, it's the car that I will be living in 95% of the time carting the kids to and fro.
I don't want to spend a lot on a car (it's not where we care to put too many eggs) but I'm thinking to go to a third row so I don't have to say 'no' to taking my 2 kids and all their friends places.
Anyway I tend to do a lot of research on things and usually I'm a very fast shopper (clothing, home decor, etc).  I know what I like, but a car is a big ticket item and there are a lot of players who present a lot of confusing information.
My latest is this... I have never bought an American car but suddenly some of them are looking quite good, especially Ford... with their technology and safety...

...so wish me luck and please leave me a comment if you have any suggestions you'd like to share... Thanks!

Yo SITStahs!

Welcome to my blog... I roll out the PINK CARPET to you... and thank you for visiting 'Mama Lisha Lifestyle'...

Today is my special day in the spotlight among the thousands of SITStahs, the blogging SITStahs, the FABULOUS community of SITS girls... over 7,000 women bloggers supporting one another in this wild and crazy place called the blogosphere... where we're explorers of sorts...  21st Century explorers!

First... News... 
Did you know that, "More than half of web users will read blogs this year."... says eMarketer in a recent article, "The Continued Rise of Blogging".
Blogs will eventually become invisible...  that's not a bad thing, it just means that blogs are quickly becoming such an integrated part of our global social fabric that they will "become indistinguishable from other media channels".


About Me...

I'm a Mom (50+) and artist (painter), with a wonderful and dedicated (doctah) husband, and two great boys ages 12 and 14, who I love watching grow into (almost) men... and as their 'voices' and 'pits' call out, are BOTH experiencing full-blown puberty. 

  

Why "Yo" in my post title?... because I come to you from "New Yawk", and that's how they tawk around heea... the suburbs of Long Island... where seeking a richer life (as my tag line says) "for my family, myself, and anyone who will listen" is certainly a challenge and I love challenges!


Why Blog?
Having had a wonderfully exciting and fulfilling career (pre-kids and husband), I've had to reinvent myself along the way, using creative outlets that are available to me like painting, raising kids, and now blogging.

"I focus on family life with a creative and cultural bent. I like to write about food, fashion, family fun, art, music, and education."

Blogging is the perfect way to 'connect all the dots'... a way to tie your vision of things together, and connect that to people with similar interests, to cross-pollinate or link people and things together.  My post, Turn Off TV... Turn On Stumbleupon is about a great search engine, a tool connecting you to your specific interests.

How about a blog post for those of you who have had careers and are now full-time Moms... In a Former Life or one about the First Day of School.

For those foodies and fashionistas out there or Moms who just need some inspiration, there's Cranberry Compote Like Never Before, It's a Wrap!, or Spanx for Him?!

Epilogue...
After seeing my blog last month an editor of an online newspaper hired me as a freelance writer... so SITStahs, as they say around here, ya nevah know...

Wishing my SITStah bloggers wonderful things now and in the future...

Thanks for visiting!

Yeah SITStahood!

I'm so excited, no not that it's Friday, yes I'm happy it's Friday, but I'm excited about the BIG news I got last night after my husband and I were leaving Back-To-School night at my sons middle school.  Music to my ears...  those three (or is it four) notes that alert me to an incoming email on my phone broke the silence as we were leaving the parking lot.  After reading and rereading the email,  I realized it was a message notifying me that it was finally my turn to be in the mommy blogging spotlight... WOW!

That means that Monday, in just three days, it's my special day to be a featured blogger on The SITS Girls, The Secret is in the Sauce, a wonderfully supportive community of 7,000 women that blog.  They show their support by leaving comments.  I'm nervous and excited and I have work to do to get ready.

So for those of you that read and support my blog but have no idea what this is all about, first of all... THANKS...  and 'stay tuned' for a glimpse into the blogosphere and just how BIG and limitless it is... you may find some women whose voices you relate to and you may want to follow their blogs too!

Thanks Tiffany and Mama Kat!

Have a great weekend and as my Dad would say, "Hurry back y'all!".

If Things Could Speak

It's 2010 and THINGS can speak, now that there are companies like Stickybits, "a fun and social way to attach digital content to objects"...

Stickybits

 In The New York Times Magazine, September 5th issue, Rob Walker wrote a short, but eye-opening article about a technology that will change how we see 'things'...  just scan an object (it's barcode) and you'll get the story of the thing, maybe more data than you cared to know, but it's powerful stuff with many applications...

Itizen is another company, "offering an online service that provides a way to tell, share, and follow the 'life stories' of interesting things".
It's free to sign up with these companies and for instance, Stickybits has teamed up with Zazzle to offer products that make great gifts, or if you're in the job market, you can order a business card where you can attach your resume to it for a potential employer... that would surely impress them!

Art Meets Tennis

I'll be spending my birthday at the US Open today.  All of my friends that are going with me have kids who play tennis and they will be thrilled to spend this hot hot day at Arthur Ashe Stadium as well as all the side venues.  Spotting famous players will be a thrill for them!  Spotting Michael Kimmelman, art critic for the New York Times, would be my thrill.  As an artist, meeting him would be a highlight to my day.  Although he may be not be considered a celebrity to most, I read his work and I'm very excited to see this kind of cross-pollination from the Times.  Yes, he will be there with Gerald Marzorati, editor of the New York Times Magazine and big tennis fan, and they'll be blogging about the US Open... called "Straight Sets".

The first time I ever saw this kind of cross-pollination was many years ago when Gene Siskel, movie critic, was interviewed on TV about the Olympics... so go guys!

The Digital Bookmobile Came To Town!

A Pleasant Surprise...
Yesterday, my 14 year old son and I just happened upon an eBook 'eVent' at our Long Island, NY library... it's hard to miss an 18 wheeler in the parking lot...

Download digital books, audiobooks, video and music... This FREE download service is available through the library website 24/7... and all you need is a PC, MAC, and many mobile devices too (i.e. Sony Reader, Apple iPod iTouch, MP3, etc.)...

Inside the Bookmobile

 All you do is Browse, Check Out, and Download...  so easy... To learn more about it and to check out the digital collection go to www.suffolkwave.org or go to the library website and look for 'Digital Bookmobile'... Millions of people are already using digital readers!

My only disappointment is that music and video are not available on MACs and it also doesn't work with The Kindle because the books are purchased from Amazon.

So parents, before school starts, now is a good time to check it out... oh, and many libraries throughout the country support this same service so ask at your library.

When is a 'K' Just 'OK'?

Lately, in speaking with my friends who have 'texting' age kids, I've noticed a common frustration about miscommunication and interpretation.  Many times It's hard enough to communicate with your kids, especially teens, then try to interpret what they mean in minimal texts!  My girlfriend got a text from her son with instructions to bring something to him today, as they were going to be traveling a lomg distance to see him... there were a couple of ways to interpret what he said, but he wouldn't answer his phone and wouldn't reply to the second text from her trying to clarify the firrst (are you still with me?)... frustrating as all hell!
Also yesterday I texted my 14 year old, who is at a Jazz Camp this summer for 2 weeks ending this weekend, about his High School schedule that I had just received in the mail... I thought he would be excited to know that one of his good friends had a few classes with him and a few of the same teachers... SOoooo, I get this text back...         k       ....... whoopee, now does that mean, ok I got your text... or does that mean, ok, that's fine... or Mom, I don't really care cause it's still summer and I don't really want to think about school right now (which I can hardly blame him, neither do I)!

When you're face to face with someone in conversation you have facial expressions, body language, voice intonation... there are many cues to read from and interpret, but texting and minimal texting it's much tougher to understand.  Don't get me wrong there are many things I like about texting, but mixing teenagers and texting that's a tough one!... and if they want to keep you, their parents, at a distance, it's much easier to do with a text.... besides, THEY DONT ANSWER THE PHONE WHEN YOU CALL THEM, right parents!?

Please comment below and share your frustrations, ideas, or solutions... we'd love to hear.

Text-Free Living!

I sometimes miss the sound of voices in this new world of texting... it's sometimes deafening,  feels like something is missing... like a texture that is missing from a painting...

So when I saw this article my husband emailed me, it struck a cord...

How do you think you would fare if you swore off texting for a few days?!

And what about your kids?...

Well, college students at the University of Maryland experienced withdrawal like a drug addict (no surprise)... but middle schoolers had a different reaction during a two-day experiment reported by the NY Times, at Riverdale Country School... the 'Text Generation' rediscovered it's voice.

Riverdale Country School, photo by Jennifer Altman

As NY Times reporter, Susan Dominus put it...
"Boundaries between work and home have long since fallen, so maybe it should not be surprising that the same is true for school and home. But what middle school student 20 years ago would have voluntarily reached out to her mother 10 times between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m.? If school had any universally agreed upon upside, it was that it gave a 12-year-old some much-needed space to revel in independence or struggle with rejection — space in which, presumably, that 12-year-old could start to figure out who she was, or how he wanted to navigate the world."


I would love to do this experiment at our middle school, in fact I'm going to suggest it at our PTA Council meeting... 


“Kids will do poorly on a test, and more often than not, right away they’ll go into the bathroom and text their mom and dad,” she said. “There’s no sense that the kid just has to feel his feelings. It’s an instant Band-Aid.”

My boys do not text me from the bathroom about how they did on a test, but I know a mother who told me the other day that her daughter texts her everyday from school just to check in with her...


This concerns me... how do you feel?  Leave  your comments below so we can hear your voice.

Our Kids & 'Sexting'

Article on Sexting Cell Phone Ad

New word, New world... 'Sexting', definition: sending sexually suggestive text messages and images via ones cell phone.  Experts say that this is a national epidemic among children, and as many as 20% percent of our kids are involved.  Few parents are aware of the content of these messages, and the kids don't realize the potential negative personal and even criminal consequences.

Yesterday I attended a seminar on this topic through our school district... it's not easy, but monitoring their cell phone and Facebook activity, speaking to them about this topic openly, not just once but many times is so important... they just don't get the privacy thing... privacy has a different meaning today than when we grew up.
 Just last week this controversy broke... This promotional video put out for Microsoft's new Kin phones, clearly advocates sexting, and was killed after 'Consumer Reports' complained, and many others were outraged...  I'm sure you'll agree after seeing this "creepy sequence".

'Sexting' Teens Can Go To Far, ABC News

For some of these kids who got caught, and have been charged with child pornography, some say was not what the law was intended for and is a miscarriage of justice. In these cases the punishment does not fit the crime... never-the-less, this is the current state of the law in many states.

For those of us who have recently outfitted our kids with cell phones now that they are in middle school, it's not too early to start the discussion.

For strategies in reducing the risk this is a recommended article from U.S. News Health.

Celebrating Green!

Green vs Hazel

I don't have to WEAR green on St. Patricks Day, because my eyes are green or some say hazel (of course my husband and kids have blue eyes)... and also my Irish girlfriend and former roomate deemed me 'Honorary Irish', after putting up with her antics for so many years... "just kidding" Mikie.

Green just happens to be my favorite color too... I hate when people ask, "What's your favorite" anything?... don't you?   I don't have a favorite song...  but I did sing "When Irish Eyes Are Smiling", in a trio once for some school thing, and I never forgot that experience or every word of the song to this day! 

Maybe that's where my long and unfulfilled fantasy of becoming a Jazz singer began... although I did have a friend who was a Jazz singer and she taught me to sing the Billie Holiday classic "Am I Blue", just to prove to myself I could...

"Am I Blue" by Billie Holiday

Ok, so today I should be singing..."Am I GREEN"...

NEWS FLASH... there is actually a severe shortage of clovers reported from Ireland this year due to the severe weather this winter... so there is less green for this year's St. Patrick's Day.

I say let's enlist the CGI (computer generated imaging) people to make as many 3D Clovers as possible.

... or just go to Michaels for some "Shamrock Sprinkle Mix", yes it's edible and Kosher too!

Irish Soda Bread Scones by Smitten Kitchen

Although Deb Perelman whose wonderfully delicious (and beautifully photographed) blog "Smitten Kitchen" modestly calls this  'American soda bread'...  I recommend anything she makes... I could go on and on about her recipes, ( and especially her posts about Italian chef extraordinaire Marcella Hazan) but I must 'green up' now for the day, so just visit her site when you can...
and Happy St. Paddy's Day!    

Green Design: Beetle Infested Wood to Recycled Guns

My son has been bringing home interesting tidbits from his science teacher about 'Going Green' and what reducing your ecological footprint means... so as the primary 'purchasing agent' of the family, everytime I buy a new article of clothing, pair of shoes, detergent, or anything for that matter, I'm trying to think about it  with a green sensibility... well, NOT easy at all, but I'm learning a lot, including some interesting trivia about the Vancouver Olympics.  An article I found written on treehugger.com, about the grandeur and elegance of 'Richmond Olympic Oval', the jewel in the crown, and this new building designed by a Canadian and American for the games is made out of beetle-infested wood!  WOW, that's soooo cool, even though it makes me want to scratch those beetles off me!  "The pine beetle has killed almost half the pine trees in British Columbia... The good news is that designers and contractors have come up with innovative ways to use the wood before it rots."

Image by B. Alter

Image by Fast+Epp

  

Which leads me to these great chairs that were created by a design student for Far Coast, (coke's new coffee brand) and used at the Olympic Village.  Oh No, you mean Ohno probably sat in in one of these... he's so cute!

Designed by student at Emily Carr University

beetle infested wood gives a blue cast to the wood

Ok, so how does London, where the 2012 Games are being held, TOP that one... well their Olympic Stadium, being built as we speak, is being made out of recycled guns and knives, melted down into scrap metal!... 52 tons that is...

  

 Article on Inhabitat website

Dressed To Reflect

I do my 'Power Walk' in the morning before craziness sets in to my day, but my husband does his workout at night to relax after work.  Of course he'll go out in a blizzard too, the more extreme the conditions the bigger the challenge.  A few years ago some of the neighbors told me they almost drove into him at night, so we've purchased a number of reflective shirts, jackets and pants... and since then the neighborhood kids love watching the 'invisible monster' as they affectionately call him, with 'glowing' lines frantically moving to the rythym of his racing stride. Yishane Lee, NY Times writer, says that "even daytime runners can use the help of a jacket made with reflective fabric... They tested five jackets and here are a few they liked...

Illuminite, $59.99, night-gear.com

Saucony Soniclite HD, $89.95, teamestrogen.com

180s Ultralite Gloves

These gloves are a real find... They have 'Tec Touch' pods, on the fingers so you can use your touch screen device..."staying comfortable, connected, and warm!  So many times I've been frustrated while wearing my fashion leather gloves, unable to use my touch screen phone...  These '180s' are GREAT for winter, whether you workout or not !

BodyBugg, $249, and GoWear Fit, $199.95

Not as inexpensive as a 'free app', but a lot more accurate, these strap-on devices measure motion, body heat and sweat converted into calories burned.  This is a great gift for the 'workout junkie'.

Nite Dawg LED Collar

Last but not least, here's one for the Pooch!

Stay Safe and have a great weekeend!

'FatSecret' is NO Secret!

The beginning of a New Year, a New Week, a New Day...

"It's time to REALLY get serious about losing some weight,
 and getting back to where I was in '08"...  That's my mantra right now and my weight goal is in sight, thanks to an app (FREE TOO!) I have on my new Droid phone called 'Calorie Counter' by Fatsecret.  It's simple, and has allowed me to scrutinize all those hidden calories I was taking in so unconsciously, a bite here and 2 bites there... So, calories In, calories Out, it's that simple...  There are 4 different ways to look up calories, you can even scan the barcode on the package... Since I love to cook, and do a lot of it for the family, it takes a little more time to calculate your calories if you're using a combination of fresh ingredients, but as my husband jokingly says, "it's time away from eating", and I can input the info on the run while I'm waiting at one of the kids activities.  It really does make me think about what I want versus what I'm just eating...

Calorie Counter by FatSecret

Eventually I won't need to count the calories, I'll know, but until I get back on track, right now I'm  happy with my progress and psyched about the results.  For example, I was shocked at how many calories were in the "Vincent's Tomato Sauces" we were eating, about 100 calories for half a cup, versus delicious 'Trader Joe's Rustico' at less than half the calories.  What is your favorite tomato/marinara sauce in a jar?

 Tomorrow I'll be looking at 'reflective workout clothes' for the Winter...

Using Technology for Thanksgiving!

Let's say you're looking for recipies for Thanksgiving, or movies, music, and TV shows to watch over the holiday weekend... then try going to Clicker, a search engine for all the media on one website... pretty COOL (not to mention convenient)!  Here's another search engine...  a little more esoteric, but also very helpful when you're looking for ideas for movies, books, and music... gnod.

When my son was two and then again when my younger son was two and the older one was four, we had O'Brien Pictures shoot black and white portraits of them.  We should of kept doing it every two years... I'm sorry we didn't... they're beautiful!

Uga UGG... Nice UGG... Nice DROID!

As soon as the weather turns cold I live in boots... tall, short, heel, wedge...  Some of my friends swear by UGGs (slipper comfort).  They're great on twenty-something, but not for me, maybe because I don't really wear flats (being 5'2")... but this season they have a short and tall wedge that are a great everyday boot to wear with leggings, tights, or jeans... and the price is right... $200 and $300!  The "Gissella" comes in 'Espresso' or 'Black Suede".  Stuart Weitzman and Tory Burch also have 'Wedge Booties' and are priced higher at about $350.  The wedge UGGs are the perfect solution for height and comfort with sophistication!

I'm really into technology... so I've been patiently waiting for a new cell phone (mine is 3 years old and a bear to text ) with android technology (open software) from Verizon.  Well it's here... on November 6th the "DROID" will be available... Have you seen their cool ad campaign running on TV?  'Droid Does'... everything (except laundry)... Does video... Does Tunes... Does Multitasking... Does Hi-Res... Does Speech Recognition... Does Apps... Does High Speed...  I love my IMAC (an artists dream machine) but the IPHONE doesn't work for me with all the texting I do to my kids and friends.