My favorite iPhone App

Okay, I’ll admit it…I was one of those dorky people at the Apple store on the first day the iphone was released.  I’m not ashamed!  The iPhone really is an amazing piece of technology. Of course, the coolest thing about the iPhone is its ability to become any sort of device you need, by just downloading an app (“There’s an app for that.”).  What is my favorite app, you ask?  Zenbe.  Well, Zenbe lists to be exact.

First of all, it’s a great list-making program. It allows you to create as many lists as you want, and set due dates and write notes.  Each item has a little check off box next to it, and when you touch the check off box the item changes color and moves to the bottom of your list.  All very neat.

Zenbe Lists

I have grocery lists, work To Do lists, lists of things I want to buy for our house, movies I want to see…you get the idea.  The coolest part of the program though, is its ability to be shared!  You can invite someone else to “share” a list with you, and if they accept your invitation, they can also check things off the list! They can then check items off or add/delete new items.  It’s very cool!  Zenbe is GREAT for sharing the ongoing grocery list between my hubby and I! Lastly, you can also use Zenbe as a website based program, so you can create a list online and it will sync with your phone!  Or you can use Zenbe on your computer, even if you don’t have an iphone (you lose the mobility factor, but it’s still a nice way to stay organized!).   Still not sold?  Watch the Zenbe Demo.

Fancy Camping

El Capitan

First of all, I’d like to say THANK YOU to my dear sister, Caroline for filling in for me while I was away!  And where was I, you may ask…well, I was fancy camping!  For my dear hubby’s birthday, I booked a weekend for us at El Capitan Canyon in Santa Barbara.  My husband loves to camp, and unfortunately, we haven’t done much of that lately.  Well that may be a bit of an understatement.  When we got married two and half years ago we got a bunch of camping gear as a wedding present, and well, we’ve never used it!  That is…until this weekend!  El Capitan is a “nature resort” that’s made up of little cabins and safari tents with beds in them!  Because it can be a big chilly this time of year in SoCal, we opted for the cabin, which had a bed, bathroom, wet bar, heater, and electricity!  It had two big glass doors that opened out onto a creek behind the cabin and a fire pit outside where we roasted hot dogs and made s’mores! While it wasn’t exactly “roughing it”, we experienced all the perks of camping without the sore back and lack of a shower (thus the term “Fancy Camping”).

Fancy Camping

Yum!

It was an extremely relaxing weekend, and if you’re ever in the Santa Barbara area, I highly recommend a stay at El Capitan Canyon!

Pop Culture 2010

Welcome back comrades! It’s Caroline again! Can you guess what I have for you? A list! Get excited! So I know Christmas hasn’t even hit yet, but with everyone looking back on 2009 I wanted to do a look forward to 2010. The following are 10 pop culture events/releases/openings of 2010 that I cannot wait for! (These are in no particular order and I am aware that I will probably leave things out…)

10. Project Runway Season 7

Project Runway Season 7Only a month after season six wraps, season 7 begins! Just one of the perks of the Bravo/Lifetime battle over the show. I’m so exited for the return to New York and to see the new designers! You’ll be able to hear Tim’s “Make it works!” on January 14 at 10 Eastern on Lifetime!

9. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1

dh_stills_0001

Anyone who knows me knows that I am OBSESSED with everything Harry Potter. So, it shouldn’t be surprising to find the November 19th release of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1 on my list! I could go on for days about my excitement, but I’ll just link you to the trailer instead: Deathly Hallows Part 1.

8. The Wizarding World of Harry Potter

Wizarding-World-Harry-Potter-729971Okay this is the last Harry Potter item, I promise! But this list would be incomplete without the addition of the opening of The Wizarding World of Harry Potter. If you haven’t heard, this is the theme park at Universal Studios that immerses you into Harry’s world! While the possibility of getting to visit it in 2010 looks pretty slim for me, I’m still so excited for it to open in Spring 2010!

7. Alice in Wonderland

alice_in_wonderland_picAlthough I’m not a Depp/Burton fanatic, I am excited for their newest project together: Alice in Wonderland. If there was any place for Tim Burton to unleash himself, it would be Wonderland. This new version of the classic comes out on March 5th. (Prediction: Popular pop culture costumes for Halloween 2010!)

6. Toy Story 3

toy_story_3_logo_disney_pixar_june_18__2010What can I possibly say about this release? There are no words to express my joy! June 18th can’t come fast enough!

5. The Return of Glee

glee1Okay… I admit it… I’m a Gleek. The show is so addictive! I love the characters, the stories, and the SONGS! I’m sure by now everyone has heard their “Don’t Stop Believing” cover. But that is only the beginning! They usually sing about three songs a week and then they’re up on iTunes, ready to be put on your iPod and stuck in your head until next week. Lea Michele sings a fantastic version of “Don’t Rain On My Parade” in the fall finale. I can’t believe it won’t be back on until April!

4. Lostlost-logo1So, I don’t actually watch Lost on a regular basis. I’ve watched it off and on since it started, and I keep up with how things are going on the island. I don’t, however, watch it frame by frame to see if that Dharma logo at 17:33 contains a secret message from Charlie telling Locke how to travel back in time and move the island so Jack will see his dad and understand the meaning of life (or something like that). I’ll probably try and watch the last few episodes, though and try to figure out what the heck is up with that island and there will probably be marathons in my future.

3. Doctor Who

Doctor Who new logoSo this one is a bit more obscure, but I am SO excited for Doctor Who in 2010. Be it David Tennant’s last episode(s) or Matt Smith taking over the role as the Doctor, there is excitement everywhere in the Who universe! (I’m sorry if you have no idea what I’m talking about. Doctor Who is a popular show in Britain that I’ve gotten Kate addicted to. Highly recommend!)

2. The 82nd Annual Academy Awards

film-oscarsIt will be very interesting to watch the Oscars this year. The big change for this year will be the amount of nominees in the Best Picture category. There will now be 10 vying for the top prize. Will a comedy, perhaps something like The Hangover, get a chance? Who knows!

1. ???

With so many awesome releases next year, I couldn’t pick my 10th event! I didn’t want to leave anything off! Not to mention I have totally neglected music on this list! So you tell me. What pop culture releases/opening/event are you looking forward to in 2010?

Bows! Bows! Bows!

Why hello there! You can’t tell any differently, but this is not the American wife you are accustomed to reading about. This is her famed sister who has recently turned the ripe old age of nineteen. I will be filling in for Kate for today and tomorrow!

Today I would like to talk to you about a very important subject in this holiday season: bows. In the past, I have always used bows from Hallmark or some nice twirling ribbon to spice up my presents. I have even, when there has been no alternative, not garnished at all. *gasp!* Yesterday, however, I discovered a fun little trick. Not only was I taught, via Twig & Thistle, how to make one of the delightful little bows you might find at Hallmark, but was inspired to use unconventional materials to do so. After attempting some bows with left over wrapping paper (which will NOT be making an appearance here because of their… unique designs) I made a bow out of a paper towel. I then decided to get out some paint and Pollock-ize a paper towel before I made it into a bow. While the colors aren’t exactly Christmasy, they are still quite adorable in my opinion! (And it would be pretty easy to make some new ones with red and green.)

It’s been fun blogging today! See you all tomorrow!