Cleaning Play-Doh

When cleaning Play-Doh, it is best to let it dry and harden up first. Two to three weeks will do.

(Another parenting tip from lazy bones like me.)

How about you? Do you have a parenting tip?

New Photo Blog for Seniors. No, not for the oldies. It's a blog to help high school seniors or would-be seniors when they have their senior photos taken—Seattle Senior Portraits. Comments welcome.

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► Art for your kid's room B is for Banana (and boat, too)

New photo site design

I've redesigned my photo sites www.mikeleonen.com and Seattle Senior Portraits. I'd appreciate a visit and comments, particularly about content and navigation.

Happy summer.

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► Art for your kid's room B is for Banana (and boat, too)

How old are you?

You know you're getting old if the top three things you ask your wife to get from the grocery are—

• Dozens of Coke
• Bag-full of junk food
• A box of Icy Hot Medicated Patch

How about you? What's your top three things?

New Photo Blog for Seniors. No, not for the oldies. It's a blog to help high school seniors or would-be seniors when they have their senior photos taken—Seattle Senior Portraits. Please spread the word to other moms and dads.

Photo Ideas? Please visit my photo blog for 100 Portrait Ideas. Comments welcomed.

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► Art for your kid's room B is for Banana (and boat, too)

Iron Chef America

Know about Iron Chef America, the cooking show where renowned chefs battle to cook dishes based on a secret ingredient?

Three "secret ingredients" I hope the show will do, based on what—I believe—stay-at-home parents like me actually cook:

• 5-minute ramen noodles
• Spam
• Ready-to-toast frozen waffles

How about you? What ingredient would you like renowned chefs to cook?

By the way, if Bobby Flay happens to be a big fan of my blog (I think the possibility of that ranges from zero to none), I hope he challenges me to a throwdown. The dish? Fried eggs.

My kids love how I cook fried eggs. They say it's crunchy.

Hmp.

Photo Blog. Please visit my photo blog for 100 Portrait Ideas. Also visit my photo site, www.mikeleonen.com. Comments welcomed.

Day 10: Writing A Book In 40 Days. Posting some illustrations I hope to use this Thursday. Would love to know what you think.

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Writing a book in 40 days—a second try

A year ago, I turned 40 and promised myself to write a book in 40 days. I failed. So I'll try again.

This time, I think my chances of succeeding is better. I have some draft materials from last year. Plus, I'm no longer 40. I'm 41.

Wisdom comes with age, right?

Please follow my progress and support me by saying what my kids always tell me: "Stop being lazy, Daddy. Just do it." [Eyes rolling.]

I'll update my progress every Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays for the next 40 days.

Photo Blog. Please visit my photo blog for 100 Portrait Ideas. Also visit my photo site, www.mikeleonen.com. Comments welcomed.

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► Need Photoshop work on your family photos? Let me help
► Art for your kid's room B is for Banana (and boat, too)

Knowing your car

"Daddy, do you how I know what our car is in the parking lot?" my 4-year old asked while we were trying to look for our car in a busy public parking lot.

The thought of my 4-year old as a genius crossed my mind. He memorized our plate number, I told myself.

"How?" I asked.

"It's the dirtiest," he said.

Hmp.

Photo Blog. Please visit my photo blog for 100 Portrait Ideas. Also visit my photo site, www.mikeleonen.com. Comments welcomed.

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► Need Photoshop work on your family photos? Let me help
► Art for your kid's room B is for Banana (and boat, too)

Teaching kids left from right

Question: How do you teach your kids left from right?

My answer: I drive. My wife sits on the front passenger seat. My kids sit behind. So I tell them: "To know left from right, always remember that Mommy is always right."

How about you? How do you teach your kids left from right?

New Gallery. Please visit my latest gallery, Little Red Riding Hood. It's a new way to present photos—like a book, a literary classic. Comments are welcome.

If you'd like to do a photo session based on your kid's favorite story (and live in or near Seattle), let me know by sending me an email. It'll be fun.

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► Recommended for Toddlers I Spy: An Alphabet in Art

New illustration—B is for Banana (and boat)

B is for Banana (and boat). Illustration by Mike F Leonen. ©2010 mike f leonen. All rights reserved.

B is for Banana (and boat) is part of my fruits and vegetable series. It is available for purchase as a greeting card or wall art—great for that baby room or kitchen wall, don't you think?

Payment is accepted through PayPal. Rates exclude shipping.

Please send me an email if interested.

Greeting Card

4 x 5.5" (set of 12 cards) ........ $ 24
5 x 7" (set of 12 cards) ........... $ 28

Print on Matboard

8 x 8" ........ $ 40
10 x 10" .... $ 60
12 x 12" .... $ 80
20 x 20" .... $ 120

8 x 10" ...... $ 40
11 x 14" .... $ 80
16 x 20" .... $ 100
20 x 24" .... $ 130 

Gallery Wrap

Gallery wraps are printed on art canvas substrate and wrapped around a 1.5" wooden frame. It comes ready to hang.

10 x 10" ...... $ 120
16 x 16" ...... $ 180
20 x 20" ...... $ 220

8 x 10" ....... $ 120
11 x 14" ..... $ 160
16 x 20" ..... $ 200
20 x 24" ..... $ 240

Please send email for rates for editorial or commercial use.

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Panda Express

"Daddy, do you know why it is called Panda Express?" my 4-year old asked me one time while we were driving through Panda Express, the fastfood restaurant.

"No," I said.

"Well," my 4-year old said, sounding smart. "It is called Panda Express because they cook using a pan, duh?!"

Didn't know that, didn't you?

New Gallery. Please visit my latest gallery, Little Red Riding Hood. It's a new way to present photos—like a book, a literary classic. Comments are welcome.

If you'd like to do a photo session based on your kid's favorite story (and live in or near Seattle), let me know by sending me an email. It'll be fun.

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► Need Photoshop work on your family photos? Let me help
► Recommended for Toddlers I Spy: An Alphabet in Art

Too much TV?

You know your kids—who are 6 and 4 years old—are watching too much TV when you overhear them say: "Hey, Mommy. Did you know that Clorox gets the tough stains out? And it's available in all stores."

How about you? How do you know that your kids are watching too much TV?

PS. If any Clorox ad guys happen to read this, you owe me. Hmp.

Need photo ideas? Try 100 Portrait Ideas. Also, please visit my redesigned photo site, www.mikeleonen.com, and let me know what you think.

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► Need Photoshop work on your family photos? Let me help
► Recommended for Toddlers I Spy: An Alphabet in Art