My Effing Offspring

If you have been following my Blog from the start you will remember when the talented Jason Duncan aka the Recent Paterfamilias, used to post weekly musings about being a new dad.  (And if you don't remember you can click HERE to view some of his past posts) 

Now that his daughter is nearly two years old, he is hardly new to parenthood, so he has changed his moniker and can now be found posting regular on his own blog: My Effing Offspring.  A hilarious insight at being a stay-at-home dad in Manhattan.

CHECK IT OUT:  

Love Songs and Last Minute Valentines

So here it is, Valentines day is upon us.  If you don't have a gift, chocolates or flowers are an easy fix.

My thought: Why not write a love song.

However, if you have no musical or writing abilities (like me) then you should just visit songlyrics.com and search for a song.  Maybe it's one that has special meaning, maybe it's one you just like.  Then you can write it out, or type it out or maybe just take a line or two and give it to your Valentine.  Voila - the perfect gift. 


If you need a little inspiration here are a few example I found online:

Found on Poppy talk

Lunimeers: Hey Ho lyrics by Stoic Design on Etsy

All You Need is Love note card by Texas Girl Designs on Etsy

Rainbow Connection - Custom Song art by Skårtshop

How Sweet it is by Creative Spark

Skårt Spotting: Airplanes in Baby Jakes Room

Biplane and Jet Plane in teals on espresso stained wood - available at Skårtshop.com

New Skårt: A Bicycle Built for Two

I can never get enough elephants and I love to bike.  These two things merged last week and this popped out:
Also, in time for Valentines day, I did a smaller version with just the bicycle built for two.  It's available in my ETSY shop.

Infographics to Make You Smile

Because sometimes you need a little visualization to help with the important decisions....

I kinda wish I had both these posters -- one in my bathroom and one in my kitchen, respectively.

 There are a ton more of these at Stephen Wildish's Friday project. And some are available to purchase HERE.

Superbowl Sunday - GO 49ERS

Go 49ers print by License2sell on Etsy

Who am I kidding? I know nothing of football. 

All I know for sure about  Superbowl Sunday is that it means that I can eat Nachos to my belly's content with no guilt. 

But this year I have a little more of an investment in who wins.  It's not because I live in California, its because I happen to have one Football Reception print left in stock - and guess what color it is? Yup, you guessed it,  it's in the San Francisco 49ers colors.  So ... GO 49ERS!!!

Football Reception - 49ers colors available at Skartshop on Etsy

Decorating Trends You Wish Would Go Away

I came across this list on Shine from Yahoo.  It highlighted 10 decorating trends that should be over.  It was so random that it amused me, so I thought I would re-post and share.  Which ones are you "guilty" of? Which ones do you think are ridiculous?

1. Obvious Signage 
I don't know, I'm kind of a fan of this trend.  I still have intentions to do more of this in my studio space. 

2. Taxidermy
I've never been a fan of this trend.  Some of the fake heads are cute, but for the most part I'm over this one too.

3. Open Layouts
I kind of agree with this one.  Sometimes walls are a good thing.

4. Cliché Design 
I'm not really sure what this means.  Should I take the mini Eiffel Tower I have in my living room down? 

5. Cookie Cutter Kitchens
I was OVER stainless steel before it began.  I've never gotten this trend.   It's cold, it marks easily.  Not into this one. 

6. Chalkboard Overload
Agree with this one - chalkboards seem like a good idea, but then they just get chalked up and look messy.  Other than in a design magazine, I've never seen a real life one that looks good.

7. Food as Decor
Food as Decor is a Prop Stylist's key arsenal.   It adds color and depth and realism.  This will never go out of style.  Unless it's fake food as decor.  That's just weird.

8. Neon
What? Neon over already? I think it's just beginning! Who doesn't want a pop of neon.  In fact now that I think about it, it might be what my bedroom is missing.

9. Intentionally distressed Furniture
I'm definitely ready to see "Shabby Chic" movement go the way of the rotary telephone.  There is a thrift store near me that just takes beautiful old wood furniture and puts a crappy coat of white paint on it and calls it "vintage" ARGGGH.  Makes me so mad!!!

10. TVs on the Mantel
Um? Where are you supposed to put your TV?

What would you add to this list?