American Flag Controversy

I read this article on foxnews.com today.  It struck me as *funny* in that odd way, in a couple of ways.  First, who cares about someone hanging an American flag in an office in America?  And second, I could tell the journalist who wrote this article chose their words very carefully to hint that the controversy came from an anti-American immigrant

Texan Woman Told to Remove 'Offensive' American Flag From Office - Local News | News Articles | National News | US News - FOXNews.com

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Thankful Thursday - Blogging Buddies

I am so thankful for blogging buddies!  It's so great to be able to connect with other women and share life's experiences.

Also, I've learned quite a few new things through my blogging buddies.  Like today, I found a cool scrap booking site called, Scrapblog.  I would have never found it, and it's great! Look what I made!

25 Random Things About Me

I got tagged by a bunch of people on facebook to do this list thing, and thought I'd kill two birds with one stone.

1.  I am a Geography freak!

2.  I tend to have big dreams about craft projects, start them totally unprepared, hurry through it, and then hate the end product.

3.  I was adopted as a baby and I love that about me!  It was probably one of the two best things that ever happened to me in my life!

4.  I really am married to my best friend.  Everybody says that, but I don't believe most of them.  My husband and I are a match made in heaven!

5.  I am a relatively recent cat lover convert.  I never really hated them, but it wasn't until I was married that I really found my love for them.  We've had 4 cats in our 5 years of marriage (no, we didn't kill them, it's a long story).

6.  I talk to my cat like she can really understand, and I think she does... usually.

7.  I do a lot of weird dances.  But only in front of my husband. 

8.  We lived in Korea for a year and a half.  Half loved it, half hated it while we were there.  Now I really REALLY miss it and would move back in a heart beat if everything was just right.

9.  I've tried to learn German, Japanese, and Korean, but haven't really made much progress in any of them.  But by trying to learn another language, I have a real appreciation for those who are bilingual and especially trilingual!

10.  I'm a picky reader.  The books have to have substance.  I am NOT a fan of Twilight, and love books like Anna Karenina.

11.  I'm a picky movie watcher.  They can't have any substance.  Serious movies don't hold my attention.  Unless they're documentaries

12.  I have all kinds of opinions on all kinds of current events.  Don't get me started on any of them.  Unless you're really interested.

13.  It's my dream someday to take a 'round the world trip via plane, train (Trans-siberian Railroad) and boat.  We almost did coming home from Korea, but it ended up being a little expensive and scary.

14.  I have only recently discovered my love for the X-Files and Alias.  I can't get enough of them now.  Good thing Derek likes them too.

15.  I love to play the piano, but I hate practicing.  Good thing I'm decent at sight reading.

16.  I love to do cross stitch, but hate displaying them.  I also don't like giving them away so I end up storing them.

17.  Digi scrapbooking is my new creative outlet.  If only I had the money to print the stuff!

18.  When I was a kid, I wanted to have green eyes and my name to be Epiphany.  I saw the word on a calendar and thought it was pretty.

19.  I have a fear of heights and open backed stairs.  But I'm getting over them.  I did a hike by myself in Korea that involved climbing over 100 open backed stairs and some crazy bridges bolted to the side of a cliff overlooking a stream.  Sounds crazier than it actually was, but it was pretty scary for me.  I had to sing Primary songs to myself to keep calm! :)

20.  I'm addicted to traveling now.  I've got probably a dozen trips planned in my head.

21.  If I could, I would get another two cats, but I can't afford another pet deposit, and three pets aren't allowed in our apartment complex.

22.  I will be an East Coaster forever.  I loved living in North Carolina!

23.  I own the cutest cat on the planet!

24.  Much to my husband's chagrin, I keep calling the clip on a gun "that little handle."  It makes sense to me.

25.  I always have a desire to spend time outside, but I'm really disappointed when I actually get out there.  I hate too much sun, wind, heat, cold, etc.  I'm definitely an indoors person!

A-Z all about Me!

Found this cool thing on another blog.  You can do it too if you want!

A - Amiable
B - Baking
C - Crazy about Derek
D - Daughter
E -  Eternal Marriage
F - Fun loving
G - Geography
H - History
I - Improving (trying to)
J - Julia Styles (my look-alike)
K - Kittens!
L - Learning
M - Making (messes, projects, food, etc.)
N - Nay, my maiden name
O - Optimistic
P - Planning
Q - Quotes (from movies, tv, and books)
R - Reading
S - Scrapbooking (digitally, PSE is my best friend)
T - Teacher
U - Unique
V - Valient
W - Wii fiend
X -Xnay on the upidstay (Did I spell that right?  I'm not 100% fluent in pig latin.)
Y - Yoga
Z - Zany

I jumped on the bandwagon

Here's another post to enter my give-away with!

I saw this on a yet another friend's blog and decided to do it too!.

To participate, just copy and paste the list in your own blog, and color all of the things YOU have done - use any color you want. Things you haven't done will be in black. Have fun and if you have your own blog you might want to post your results there for the rest of us to see.

I HAVE...
1. Started my own blog
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than I can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland/world
8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sung a solo
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched lightning at sea
14. Taught myself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown my own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitchhiked
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a Marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of my ancestors
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught myself a new language
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David
41. Sung karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had my portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain(shower)
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching
63. Got flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten caviar
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job (sort of, it wasn't my fault)
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had my picture in the newspaper
85. Read the entire Bible
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone’s life
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a law suit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee
100. Ridden an elephant

This is Where We Live

Found this cool video on Blurb's blog.  I think I want to live there!

This Is Where We Live from 4th Estate on Vimeo.

Modern Molly Mormon Giveaway!

Modern Molly Mormon is giving away a Christmas blog layout from Leelou!  Check them out!

Hannah is the coolest person I know!

My friend and blogging buddy, Hannah is officially the coolest person I know!  She commented on my Book of Mormon Mondays post this week on courage with this link to Real Hero Posters.  I want to buy everyone of these and hang them, well... I don't know where, but somewhere! Check them out!!!

 The big, bold, black lettering all over the picture isn't really on the poster like I thought it was.  LOL at me!  

Those are just labels labeling the cool features on the poster!

Awesome Giveaway!

There is an awesome giveaway going on at The Secret is in the Sauce.  There's like a giveaway every hour.  AND there's a Target gift card prize too!!!  Check it out!

Premature Rant

So I prematurely ranted yesterday.  Right after I posted my disappointment, I talked to my Dad about APIs.  He knows all about them because he's a software developer and he said that this happens all the time and it does take time to fix code.  And that more than likely blurb will fix it eventually.  The beginning of next year isn't that far out in these sorts of situations.

Somebody needs to get their act together!

Because I'm mad!  For some reason having to do with APIs, Blurb's Booksmart can no longer slurp Blogger blogs.  GRRRRR!!!  I would assume that Blurb should be the one to try to fix the problem, and maybe they are.  They're losing a lot of business by not supporting Blogger or Word Press.  They fixed Typepad and still support LiveJournal and another one, but some of those cost to blog!  Grr!

Just thought I'd put my two cents in about the situation.  Everyone else seems to be doing so also.

PS:  Thanks Lara for letting me know about this!  I thought that it was me or maybe my internet that was giving me trouble... Silly me!

Thats how I feel sometimes

My Crayon Color

You Are a Green Crayon

Your world is colored in harmonious, peaceful, natural colors. While some may associate green with money, you are one of the least materialistic people around. Comfort is important to you. You like to feel as relaxed as possible - and you try to make others feel at ease. You're very happy with who you are, and it certainly shows! Your color wheel opposite is red. Every time you feel grounded, a red person does their best to shake you.

What Color Crayon Are You?

Thankful Thursday - Laughing

I am so grateful for deep down, throw back your head, belly aching laughs!  Especially the ones that make it difficult to breathe!

I had one such laugh yesterday night.  The Country Doctor's Wife had this video on her site and I laughed just about until I peed my pants!  Watch it and laugh!

What I want to know is how did she get him to do it?

How Fast Are You?

75 words

Typingtest

Found this test on my blogging buddy Lara's blog, Overstuffed.  Check her out, she's got great stories, interesting insights, and cute kids!

Michael Hughes - Souvenirs

Check out this Michael Hughes' Flickr set, Souvenirs!  He takes pictures or souvenirs in front of the real deal!

Huh, who would have thought?

Interesting Tips

I don't remember when or where I found these and I'm not even sure if they're any good. But I thought they were interesting. Have you tried any of these things? Do they work?

Airplane Tickets
When to Buy: Wednesday morning. 
Why: "Most airfare sales are thrown out there on the weekend," says travel expert Peter Greenberg, a.k.a. The Travel Detective. Other airlines then jump into the game, discounting their own fares and prompting further changes by the first airline. The fares reach their lowest prices late Tuesday or early Wednesday. 


Books
When to Buy: Thursday.
Why: Price compare between major chains Borders and Barnes & Noble. The former releases its weekly sales and coupons on every Thursday; the latter, every Tuesday.

Cars
When to Buy: Monday.
Why: "Car dealers live for the weekend, which is when they make most of their sales," says Phil Reed, consumer advice editor for Edmunds.com. "On Mondays, the low foot traffic makes it seem like the weekend will never come." That dealer desperation, paired with fewer consumers on the lot, give you more negotiating power.

Clothing
When to Buy: Thursday evening.
Why: That's the day when stores stock their shelves for the weekend, and when many retailers — including Ann Taylor, Banana Republic and Express — start their weekend promotions, says Kathryn Finney, author of "How to Be a Budget Fashionista." You'll find great prices and the best selection. "It's an effort to get people to shop in the middle of the week," she says.

Department-Store Wares
When to Buy: Saturday evening.
Why: Department stores have a lot to mark down for their Sunday circulars, so they frequently start the process on Saturday evenings before store closing, says Finney. "They're preparing for the big rush," she says. Bonus: Even if the markdowns haven't been made, many employees will honor the sale price if you ask. Print out the circular preview from the store's web site, and bring it with you when you head to the mall.

Dinner Out
When to Buy: Tuesday.
Why: Most restaurants do not receive food deliveries over the weekend. "Sunday is the garbage-can day of the week," says Kate Krader, senior editor at Food & Wine magazine. "No doubt, they're cleaning out their fridges. Tuesdays, they're starting fresh." Dining out on that day offers the best odds you'll get a meal worth paying for, no matter your price point, she says.

Entertainment
When to Buy: Wednesday.
Why: Plenty of movie theaters, amusement parks and museums offer extra discounts to consumers who visit midweek. Six Flags theme parks offer a $12 discount to AAA members — three times its usual discount of $4. AMC Theatres offers members in its free AMC Movie Watcher reward program a free small popcorn on Wednesdays. (This summer, it's also the day select theaters offer free Summer Movie Camp screenings.)

Gas
When to Buy: Thursday, before 10 a.m.
Why: The price of oil isn't the only factor influencing costs at your local pump. Consumer usage plays a role, too — and weekend demand is high, says Jason Toews, co-founder of GasBuddy.com, a price-monitoring site. Prices usually swing upward on Thursdays as travelers fuel up to head out the following day. By hitting the pump before 10 a.m. (when many station owners change their prices), you'll beat the rush and the price jump.

Groceries
When to Buy: Sunday — or Tuesday.
Why: Maximize savings by combining store sales, which run from Wednesday to Tuesday, with the latest round of coupons from your Sunday paper, says Mary Hunt, publisher of Debt-Proof Living, a money-saving newsletter. "It's a smart idea to wait until you have those in hand to match up with the week's sale items," she says.

To snag savings on items you don't need just yet, shop on Tuesday, advises Hunt. Chances are, the store will have run out of the sale items. "That means you can pick up rain checks, which allow you to buy those items later when you need them, and at the sale price," she says.

Hotel Rooms
When to Buy: Sunday.
Why: There are two kinds of hotel managers, and the kind that won't give you a discount on your room rate has Sundays off, says Greenberg. Call the hotel directly, and ask to speak with the manager on duty or the director of sales. These employees are open to negotiation, he says. They'd rather have a booked room at a discounted rate than an empty room. (The rest of the week, your call would get you a so-called revenue manager, who monitors profits — and is rarely willing to lower rates.)

Five Stones

I found a cute tutorial on how to make the five stones for the game "Five Stones."  I've never played myself, but it sounds similar to Jacks.  Here are the instructions from www.mastersgames.com.  They sounded a bit confusing to me, but I got the general idea.

"To start a turn, the player throws five stones into the air with one hand and tries to catch as many as possible on the back of the same hand. The stones that were caught are then thrown up again from the back of the hand where they came to rest and as many as possible are caught in the palm of the same hand. If no stones end up being caught, the player's turn is over.

If, however, at least one stone was caught, the player prepares for the next throw by keeping one of the caught stones in the same hand and throwing all remaining stones on the ground. The player then tosses the single stone into the air, attempts to pick up one of the stones that were missed and then catches the stone that was tossed, all with the same hand. The player repeats this until all the stones have been picked up.

That done, the player throws down four of the stones again, throws the single stone in the air, attempts to pick up two stones with the same hand before catching the tossed stone. This is repeated again and a final toss sees the player picking up the last stone. The process is then repeated for three stones followed by one stone and finally, all four stones are picked up before catching the single tossed stone.

For skillful players, the game can continue in an agreed way with further permutations and challenges according to the player's whims. For instance, the other hand could be used to throw, the player may have to clap hands before doing the pick up or perhaps slap both knees."

And here's the link to the tutorial for making the fabric stones.  Sounds safer to me.  Tossing rocks, even up in the air, isn't the best idea for me.  I'd probably hit someone...

Swedish Furniture

So I found this funny name generator on my friend, Courtney's blog. Try it out, it's quality