Some Might Call Them Timewasters....

ETA: hello, pictures? WHy the heck can't I get Blogger to load and display my pictures. Tried from Picasa and right from my computer, but tinly one that is showing is from Flickr. Any suggestions? I would love to hear them! = D

I call them productive creative inspiration. Time well spent-so there!!

I have been introduced to a host of new blogs, websites, and TV shows.Thought I would share them here in hopes something might strike your fancy. Enjoy!

{PHOTOGRAPHY}
I can't remember if I shared this yet, but my beloved Canon Powershot is on it's last flash. It is such a great camera, but one too many bounces on the pavement seemed to have killed her. I can still take pictures, but only in natural light. Without a flash-kind of limiting. So, I am planning and scheming for my next purchase. I like the Canon so much, I think I might stay there. Maybe this one or this one.

I am only an amateur clicker, but I love reading and learning more about the topic. A few new sites I have seen around.

Photojojo: The want to put the fun back in photography. I love the fun little gadgets they sell and the ideas they send in their newletter for ways you can boost the jojo on your own camera.


Flickr Maps: Did you know there is a way to find lovely places right in your own community to take pictures? Uploaded pictures from your zip code are organized on this database. What a fun way to find a new place for a photo shoot?



Smitten Photo and Design: my cousin Jen has a photography business, and she has a great blog here. Check it out, there are lots of great shares, tips, and inspiration for photography!

{CRAFTY}
I have stumbled upon a few blogs and sites that have great ideas for all sorts of crafty needs

Paperclipping Roundtable: I may have mentioned it already, but I look forward to this every week. Each episode features people in the scrapbook industry and the topics range from how to store your photos to how to collect your memories if you are not a 'scrapbooker'. And, they just started a Digi Roundtable. It is all about the technical side of scrapbooking. Even for a non-Photoshop owning newbie like me, it is very interesting. I even got one of my questions answered on their show post. I learned how to use Microsoft Word to jazz up my photos! I was super excited about this! (I will share what I learned soon). Seriously, I download them to my IPod EVERY week and they get me through long drives and boring workouts!!

Smile And Wave: Rachel Denbow's blog was a random discovery a few years ago, and I seem to go there every day. She is a stay at home crafty mama who shares tutorials, inspiration, and very funny stories. I am going to make these very soon.
Summer Time Pom Poms

Dear Lizzy: a blog from CK contributor Elizabeth Kartchner. Not only does she share ideas for scrapbooking, but fun sewing projects, and her photography is amazing. I learn alot by studying he photos. Another daily read

{IPod Touch Apps}
I am going to say it- I love my IPod Touch. The story behind it, well...I told myself I would NEVER pay $200 for an IPod. I was going to Target to replace my SHUFFLE....ahem....somehow the Touch came home with me. However, she is jazzy and fun and I love her. I just wish she had a camera like the IPhone. (grrrr)

One of the many things I love about her: the apps. I have found SO MANY fun, and yes, timewasting, apps on ITunes. Here are a few of my favorites. You can find them all here:

Drag Paper: the point is to unroll the t.p. as fast as possible. For some reason, this is HIGHLY addictive. If you have kids-get this. It is an excellent way to kill a few minutes in line or waiting for a meeting, etc. Most of my friends have tried to break the high score.

Scramble 2: I love word games. Scramble is like Boggle, a timed game you can play with a partner, alone or online against other people. I am awesome at this game.

Fortune Ball: It's a virtual Magic 8 Ball. This guy has helped me with many many decisions. = D




Cardstar: Whoever invented this is a genius, I want to kiss them. This little app (which, did I mention, is free!) makes it so you don't have to carry around all of those stupid frequent buyer tags on your keychain. Seriously. It has a database of thousands of stores, or you can enter your own local businesses (like the library). You enter your barcode number and it creates a bar code just like on the tag. Then all you do when you shopping is show the cashier the screen and they scan it! I know!





You can thank me now, or thank me later.....or you can blame me when your boss catches you playing Drag Paper ; P

Later,
Michelle