Mariannes Motifs

Gifts for Friends

It was my brother's birthday on the 20th so I wanted to send him a present.  I know he likes board games and he and his wife playTicket to Ride occasionally.  I heard about another game called Power Grid that a lot of people were recommending on SlickDeals when Amazon had Ticket to Ride on sale so I kept that in the back of my mind for bro's birthday and ordered it when the time came around.

Funny thing, though... even though I put a gift note on the order, when Mike got the box it didn't say anywhere who it was from.  My sister in law said "Well, think of who would be likely to send you that and give them a call."  So Mike called me and in fact he guessed right on the first time.

It can be hard to find the perfect all kinds of friend gifts. RedEnvelope has some really cute "friend gifts."  I thought the coolest and most Sci Fi style one was the Name a Star gift box.  Too cool.

 

 

Homemade Moss Terrarium

I've been spending too much time on Lifehacker.com and therefore decided I wanted to make a moss terrarium.  I happen to have a backyard FULL of lovely soft squishy moss so today I went back there and gently pulled up a piece next to a place where a pot had been sitting, so there was already a non-mossy spot anyhow.

I then took a small glass (LockandLock) container and put some organic garden soil in the bottom and the moss on top.  Added some acorns and a piece of birch bark for style and there you go.  I am going to take this to work to keep me company at my desk.

 The owl is from my Grandpa Nathan's owl collection.  Good vibes.

CNN Interviews Elvis' Hometown Sweetheart

"People don't understand what's in that picture," she told me. "He had just been outside standing in his new swimming pool. It was just being filled up, with a garden hose. I was dressed to go out with him for the evening, all gussied up. And what we're doing is, he had just taken the train back from New York, where he had recorded some new songs for RCA Victor. He had brought back the recordings -- they had not been released yet. We were listening to one of them. He wanted to know if I thought it was any good. I said yes, I thought it was. It was 'Don't Be Cruel.'"

via www.cnn.com

I Want a Roku 2 Player

I've been checking out the Roku streaming TV boxes.  I have Amazon Prime and I would like to be able to make use of the free videos that come along with it.  I usually use the Tivos to get my TV stuff, but you can't get Amazon free streaming on the Tivo, just the pay streaming.  (Go figure!)

The Roku player is a fairly cheap solution to the problem, getting all kinds of streaming such as Netflix, Hulu plus, Amazon, etc.  If Comcast would allow it I could even get the HBO Go but I guess they don't have that going.  There are a something like three models of the Roku 2, depending if you want USB, wired network, or go with the cheapie that just has wifi.  60 bucks for the cheaper one seems good to me.

I wonder if this will be anyone's Black Friday deal.  Or if they will have any best buy coupons.  That would make it even better.  This is going on my Hanukkah list.

I Won a Kindle 3!

When I see those retweet contests on Twitter, I tend to retweet.  It finally paid off!  I was reading the Crave Blog that is on CNET.com and they had a twitter contest.  It said follow @crave and then send this particular tweet to win a Kindle3.  Ok, I did.

After I had to send in a signed notarized statement that I am who I say I am and don't work for any of the related companies, I finally got my little package in the mail today.

I already have a Kindle 2 which I LOVE, so I spent a few minutes resetting that back to factory settings and that is now hubby's new Kindle.  So we both got something out of the deal.  They new one is lighter, and a bit smaller.  (Although the screen size is the same)  I need to order a case for it - Amazon is making their own leather cases one with a built it light and one without.  I think I will get the one with the light and see if that is handy.  (I have been known to read on my BlackBerry in the middle of the night to keep from waking up hubster.

I am so pleased.  Now, does anyone else want to give me stuff - maybe a Canon camera or a Flip Video Recorder?  Ok, just kidding.

 

Georgia Aquarium Cold Water Quest now Re-Open

Just in time for Memorial Day festivities, the newly renovated Cold Water Quest area of the Georgia Aquarium is now open.  The African Penquin exibit will now have twice as many birds, and features state of the art lighting which changes to mimic the seasons to help get the birds in the mood for breeding.

The Beluga Whales will now be able to intermingle with the harbor seals, and the sea otters will be returning to their digs as well with more deck space for interacting with their trainers.  They even have a "clam cannon."  LOL I am not sure what exactly the clam cannon does but we shall see! 

I am really excited.  The last time I visited the Aquarium the penguins were in the back due to the construction, so it will be nice to see them again.  I just love the little funny birds in tuxedos.

The Original LOL Cat Found in Egypt

A 2,000-year-old temple in Alexandria has been found - and it contains this wonderful cat statue purported to represent the Cat Goddess Bastet.   I think this baby is the original LOL Cat.

I demands worship.  And a Cheezburger!

via www.sphere.com

Food Face Kids Plates: Play With Your Food!

Here's something you didn't know you needed until you saw it - the Food Face Kids Plate .

A blank face you can decorate with spaghetti hair, peas hat, green bean smile, or anything you can think of.  Nice!

Dream Gadget Wishlist 2009

I am just daydreaming here.  I am not threatening to actually get any of these.  In fact, the only thing I want to spend money on right now is getting my house fixed up.  We desperately need new interior paint job and carpet.  My house has the original interior paint and carpet from when it was built.  In 1991.  And it wasn't done well then.  LOL.  Gadgets depreciate but an investment in your home can appreciate with time so its a much better deal.

But still, I girl can dream, right.  Here are some expensive gadgets on my dream wishlist.

1.  Kindle eBook Reader.  I think this would be very handy for travel, and knitting patterns.  I love the idea of being able to buy books wirelessly from anywhere.  If the e-paper really is nice to read and the book comfortable this could be a real win.

2.  Flip video recorder.  Right now I use the video recorder on my Sony DSC-T9 when I want to record videos.  Every once in a while I upload a video to YouTube and post it on the blog.  The Sony camera is decent but I think it would be great to have the Flip for recording better quality and longer video of the kids.  This Flip Mino HD is tiny but is supposed to take great quality HD video.  And its a snap to upload to your PC or the web as it is already a digital video file.

3.  A very small netbook.  I am not sure exactly what model, but it would be great to have a lightweight tiny netbook with a WiMax connection to be able to surf the web anywhere.

This ASUS Eee PC comes with Windows 7 pre-installed.  It's a brand new model but there are already some great reviews on Amazon.com.  I would get this with Clear WiMax or some Wireless Internet service so I could surf anywhere.  It weighs 2.8 pounds. 

I'm Making Yogurt!

Thank you Mom!  My mom is the way awesomest ever.  We were discussing the concept of making home made yogurt and she proceeded to buy me a yogurt maker, spare container, and yogurt cheese strainer thingy to make greek yogurt.  I am so excited - the mailman just rang the door bell and I got a fun package from Amazon.

It's been a nice day so far.  I got 5 Power Rangers DVDs for my kids at Goodwill, plus a cashmere sweater and a tweed wool sweater which I am going to take apart.  The DVDs are going in the Hanukkah presents pile.  Good thinking, eh?  Not bluray, nor even new, but great all the same.

I already picked up an extra gallon of organic milk, and some powdered milk, so I should be all set to make some yogurt this afternoon.  After I do the dishes.  Boo.

COMPANY A is flying me out to UNDISCLOSED LOCATION on Sept. 21st to interview for a position with their outsourcing group.  Wow.  I spent some time last night googling  real estate there.  There are a lot of older houses with treed lots, and seems like the newer houses don't have trees on the lots.  Do they not believe in trees?  What's up with that.  Now I am freaking out thinking that I have to sell my house and move to UNDISCLOSED LOCATION.  Umm... I was wondering, could COMPANY B please call me back for an interview.  KTHANXBYE

EDITED TO REMOVE COMPANY NAMES and CITIES BECAUSE MY DAD SAID TO.  (I am 41 but I still do what my parents tell me to.)