This is simply a bunch of random stuff I’ve run across lately (or not-so-lately) that I think is awesome. Nobody has paid me or asked me to say any of this. The first post in this series can be found here.
If you’re blogging and not using Live Writer, I highly recommend that you check it out – ESPECIALLY if you’re on Blogger, what with all of the usability catastrophes that they’ve been having lately. I’ve been using Live Writer for a couple of years now, thanks to my friend Rhoda at Southern Hospitality who shared the secret with me.
Why should you try it?
1. It’s free.
2. It makes it quicker AND easier to upload photos, both in Blogger and WordPress. I despise the WordPress photo interface, so thank goodness I was already using Live Writer when I switched.
3. You can customize your photo uploading so that it automatically loads your photos in the exact format and size that you want, saving you from having to modify every photo each time you post.
(To do this, click on a photo that is formatted just right, then click on the “Save Settings as Default” option in the lower right corner.)
4. If you choose the option to “Edit Using Theme”, you can write your posts directly into your blog view, so it looks like it will look when it is published.
5. You can write your posts while offline.
Okay – enough justification. Go download it. You will thank me later.
The iMapWeather Radio iPhone App
After the April 27th Tornadoes, they gave away several thousand free copies of this app to us Alabamians. The app is $9.99 regularly – pretty pricey in my opinion – but it would have been worth it to have had during the tornadoes when nothing worked BUT our phones (and even they were spotty).
But I don’t like this app for it’s automatic push notifications of weather warnings (mainly because I’ve been getting multiple thunderstorm alerts every stinkin’ day for a month), but because of it’s street-level radar map.
It’s a geek’s paradise.
You can actually zoom in to your exact location (which is pinned for you to easily find) and see what the weather is at street level:
(No, this isn’t my neighborhood, so don’t try to stalk me.)
So due to the daily afternoon thunderstorms we’ve been having here, Ali and I regularly sit and look at my phone, watch the “red” creep to us, then look out the window and see it happen – REAL TIME.
Ali thinks this is fun, but is completely unimpressed with the fantabulous advance in technology that it represents.
(She has no idea what we did in ye olden days.)
I never write book reviews – mainly because I never have time to read anymore – but Heaven Is For Real is an exception to both. Chris heard about this book and told me about it, and I immediately ordered it. I read it on our trip and was absolutely mesmerized.
Although it reads quickly, it’s not the most well-written book in the world – it’s just a Dad telling his family’s true story. But the fact that he wasn’t already a writer kind of makes it more endearing.
(Kinda like me, right? Err…or not.)
Anyway.
The book is about their four year old son, Colton, that has a ruptured appendix that goes untreated for several days. By the time he is properly diagnosed, he very nearly dies. After his recovery and for the next few years, he starts telling his parents about visiting heaven during his operation, knowing things that he couldn’t have possibly known (like exactly where his parents were and what they were doing while he was being operated on – things that they hadn’t told anyone), and with absolutely astounding descriptions, facts, and biblical truths that a four year old boy would have no way of knowing.
For instance, one night out of the blue, he said, “Mommy, I have two sisters.”
“No, you have your sister, Cassie, and…do you mean your cousin, Traci?”
“No. I have two sisters. You had a baby die in your tummy, didn’t you?”
(They had never told him that.)
“Who told you I had a baby die in my tummy?”
“She did, Mommy. She said she died in your tummy.”
He told them all about his sister, about her running up to him and being so excited to hug him (which he didn’t like since he was a boy), about the fact that she couldn’t wait to meet them, and how she looked like his (other) sister, but with dark hair like his Mom’s.
When they asked him what her name was, he told them “She didn’t have a name – you guys didn’t name her.”
He also tells them about meeting his Great-Grandfather, Pop. His Dad showed Colton a picture of Pop, and asked if that was who he met. Colton said it wasn’t. Then, months later, Colton saw a picture of his Pop as a much younger man – a picture he’d never seen before – and said “Hey! How did you get a picture of Pop??”
The number of chillbump moments such as these go on and on – I couldn’t quit reading. Whether you believe in heaven or not, it’s an amazing read. Some of his descriptions and conversations in the book changed the way I look at prayer – I’ve always been very passionate about prayer, but now it seems so much more real.
And plus, it’s a good feeling to be inspired by a four year old.
Amazon Mom Subscribe and Save Diapers
I’ve had a lot of people ask me about my Tornado Relief shopping research findings – where the cheapest prices ultimately were. Although I combined sales and coupons and rebates and store coupons to get great deals, they never surpassed the prices I got using subscribe and save on Amazon Mom (a free service). However, this was for diapers only – not true for formula or wipes.
(Formula is cheapest if you can combine formula checks with sales, rebates, store coupons and manufacturer’s coupons, but if you don’t want to do all that, the $20 Member’s Mark canister at Sam’s is the way to go – nearly unbeatably cheap.)
Word of Warning, though – Don’t forget to unsubscribe when your kid outgrows a size. I forgot, so I’m still cramming Noah’s 18 pound rear into size 3 diapers until I run out.
They stay in the mouth when others won’t. ‘Nuff said.
Hooked on Phonics Learn to Read
I bought this DVD, book, workbook, sticker set for Ali two months ago, and she went from refusing to even try to read to being able to read nearly every word she looks at! I was stunned and thrilled with how quickly it happened.
I don’t know that the set itself was a miracle worker, but what it did do was get her interested in learning how to read (everything else I’ve tried she’s rebuffed heartily), and that’s all it took – she took off on her own from there.
We bought this handheld learning computer for Ali along with the Cars 2 Game and the very affordable camera attachment before our first family-of-four car trip. I was leery because of some negative Amazon reviews, but she loves it, we’ve been very happy with it, she was able to figure it out with hardly any help.
Google+ (??)
I don’t know if I like it or not.
(For those of you who don’t know, Google+ is the new social network, trying to replace Facebook and Twitter.)
The platform has it’s benefits (the friend circles being the main one), but it can only be awesome if everyone moves over to it and quits Facebook – which, at least in the short-term, is not likely to happen.
One thing is for sure – I do not have the time to continuously keep up with three social media interfaces, so my verdict is still out on Google+.
But If you want to try Google+, I have a bunch of invites I can share – just let me know in a comment and I’ll send one to your email.
So that’s my list of new(ish) things – have you found anything great lately?
I keep hearing about Google+, but don’t know anyone who LOVES it. I’d love an invite to try it out. I have a feeling I may feel a bit like you … “Who has time for this?”
We love our Leapster Explorer (bought last Christmas for our newly 4 year old son). We didn’t buy the camera attachment, that might be an idea for his birthday. I was surprised at how easily he can entertain himself with it – even when he isn’t really aware of what’s required in the game.
And Amazon … yeah, it’s fantabulous.
It has a bunch of built in camera “games” on it – drawing silly faces on herself has kept her entertained for hours!!
Loved that book!
My FIL read “Heaven is for real”, went to local Costco and bought their whole stock. He’s giving these books to everyone he knows. I guess he liked it too. ;)
It certainly was a fabulous book!! Glad y’all enjoyed it!
I’ve heard several people recommend it, but i haven’t read it yet.
If you have any Google+ invites left, I’d like to try it.
Sure! You should have it in your inbox!
Hi Rachel! Thanks for sharing the stuff that you like! I’ve been considering reading that book and now I think I will try to find it. I’ve also thought about checking out Google+ and would love an invite if you still have some. Thanks!
The book is so amazing – I promise you’ll love it! And I just sent your invite!
What a great list! I too HATE the photo interface on WordPress, so I am excited to check out Windows Live Writer! The “Heaven is For Real” book? Just reading about it gave me goosebumps. And brought tears to my eyes. Especially having had a miscarriage myself – I have always hoped that one day I will meet that child in Heaven. And Google + …I just got on it too. Trying to figure it out – as well as trying to figure out how I can possibly fit one more social media platform in my life. Yet, I don’t want to be left behind. Sigh. This is our life from now on, isn’t it? As soon as you have one thing figured out, it becomes old news.
You definitely need to read that book, then – his descriptions of his sister, the things he tells his parents about it, (like, “It’s okay, Mom – she told me that God adopted her!!”) are absolutely amazing. I had goosebumps the whole time!
I love this idea for a post. I know several people who *LOVE* Pinterest , but, again nothing i’ve got around to trying. I think you need an invite for it too.
I’ve been trying Pinterest, halfheartedly. I can’t get into it! I enjoy seeing everyone else’s pins, but I’m a terrible pinner myself. I think one reason is that I have so little time to just “browse” the internet. Do you want me to invite you?
I’ve turned off everything but tornado warnings in iMapWeather Radio. At first that didn’t work. I was still getting thunderstorm warning alerts. I think they’ve fixed that now though as I don’t get alert for watches and warnings I have turned off. Just check the settings. You can turn on and off exactly what alerts you want.
Thanks!! That option isn’t in my settings, but I think I haven’t gotten the latest update yet. However, I can’t get my app store to connect for some reason… Obviously, this needs more work. Now to just find the time.
Thanks again for the tip!
First… LOVE WLW! I’ve been using it maybe a year or more… and I love it too especially for the formatting pics part. Do you know though that for the longest time I was individually formatting them each time????!!! It was a GREAT day when I figured out you could save the formatting. :) I’m a dummy I guess.
I’ve heard of that book… sounds very interesting. Got goosebumps reading what you wrote.
Phonics is amazing in and of itself. :) Maybe I should give the HOP a try for Wade next year.
Loved Subscribe and Save too. Crazy the deals you can get! And with free shipping too!
I don’t get Google+. It needs to have something seriously awesome and alluring for people to jump ship from fb, imo…
Thanks for sharing the things you love! I actually have a “things I love” post on my list to write. :) Might be 6 mo’s or never before it’s written, but who’s counting! :)
I can’t wait to read your list – get on that!! :)
I just bought the audiobook on my iPhone. Can’t wait to listen to it, thanks for the recommendation! :)
No problem! I hope you like it as much as I did!
Cool post! I’m going to download the book in iBooks!
Have you tried those new squirty spoon thingys that you put baby food in the “handle” of (which is really squishy and flexible) and then you squeeze it and it fills up the attached spoon? I really like it since Landon has gotten VERY agile with his hands and tries to grab the bowl/jars every time he eats. It’s also neat for traveling. It’s dishwasher safe too, and actually cleaned up very well. I like that I can hold him on my lap and feed him with one hand. Here’s a link to several different kinds on Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Daps&field
keywords=squeeze+baby+spoon&x=0&y=0
One other cool thing that I bought today: (which you might be aware of already) Landon is really starting to actually enjoy his toys now, so we’ve gotten a big collection in our den, which I hate looking at piled in the pack ‘n play between play sessions, so I went looking for something to conceal them. At Target I found a rolling toy storage bin that also has nice long handles. Coming from someone with back problems, the wheels are a huge plus! Hope these help!
Oh! I remember seeing those squirty spoons a while back! I totally should have tried them with Noah when he was so awful about baby food. Now, I’ve just skipped baby food and I’m giving him real food – he does much better chewing than he did slurping – go figure! But I still may get those squirty spoons – they sound fun!!
I made Ali give Noah one of her toy baskets, but I like the rolling cart idea – that would do well for his stash of toys in my office.
I use WLW but I had no idea you could save picture formats. Thanks!! I agree about the Google+, it seems like we all have to try out everything new for fear of it taking off and us getting left behind! But I do love Pinterest. However, I’m a huge crafter and that’s a lot of what I pin, stuff to make.
I bought Taryn the book “Teach your child to read in 100 easy lessons” and we have just started it. I think we are on lesson nine. She seems to like it so far. We actually have the huge HOP set that my sister used for my niece like ten years ago but it seems like so much work that I thought I’d try this book first. I like the smaller set that you posted. It doesn’t look so overwhelming :)
Yes, my set is much smaller than the traditional hooked on phonics set. That book sounds interesting, too! I’ve been looking for something that goes through each phonics rule – does that book do it?
Hi! I am already on Google+ so I attempted to add you to my Circles. You may get an email. It’s me!
Great! I haven’t gotten a notification yet, though – I’ll keep my eye out, or find you!
Ryan calls me a Granny b/c of how closely I follow the weather…I need that app, maybe they’ll give away more free copies next tornado season :)
My sister read that Heaven is For Real book & said the same thing you did, guess I need to read it too!
Good to know that the Hooked on Phonics works so well, we’ll have to get that in a year or so.