Festival of Frugality

I was going to grab a bunch of links from this post but, because there are so many great links, I'm just going to send you to the main linktastic one. Festival of Frugality.

Sophie's reading...

Sophie's latest favorite book: What Pete Ate from A to Z.

It's funny and involved and the illustrations are great. I thought, at first, that it was a bit old for her, but she's memorized a lot of it already and she asks for it over and over. I need to get more from Maira Kalman. I love her style.

We're waiting for Max Makes a Million to come into the library. I can't wait!

Book Recommendation

Another great recommendation from the Savvy Source quiz: Katie's Sunday Afternoon

We've read it over and over and over since we got it from the library. It's very imaginative and fun. It's about a little girl who visits a pointilist exhibit at a local museum to beat the heat and ends up getting into the paintings to cool off.

Savvy Source

You may notice a new banner on the right for Savvy Source. I read about it on the Karianna Spectrum and decided to try it out for Sophie.

The site features a detailed quiz on your (preschool-aged) child and what they're into and doing. And then the site compiles all the data and gives you a ton of age-appropriate ideas for books and activities and toys that will help spur the learning process.

I've already borrowed a few of the recommended books from the library: Picasso and the Girl with the Ponytail (to inspire artistic expression), Animalia, and Beast Feast, to name a few. The Picasso one, especially, is a huge hit with Sophie.

The Savvy Source site is more than just that great quiz. There are lists of activities, a search tool to find preschools, camps, and much, much more.

I liked the results and recommendations of the quiz so much that I emailed Kari to thank her for the link. She invited me to be part of SavvySource. So, this is a long, convoluted way of saying that I'm endorsing their quiz and I recommend it to you but that (full disclosure) I'm also running their ad on my site. I'm running the ad because I like the results and recommendations and I've added a lot of their recommendations to Sophie's wish list. I will be checking back and updating the quiz often to get more ideas.

I especially liked how the quiz is broken up into learning categories and the recommendations are very specific to those categories.

Anyhoo, please check it out. And let me know what you think.

Dr. Horrible's Sing-a-long Blog

In case you missed the three acts when they debuted, here's the full-length Dr. Horrible's Sing-a-long Blog.

I love NPH. And Nathan Fillion. and Felicia Day. Pretty much everyone involved.

How to perform a citizen's arrest of a Bush administration official

The key to performing a citizen's arrest? Check with your state laws.

Who would you arrest?

Book Recommendations

Sophie book recommendations:

One for her health. We try to keep very healthy foods in the house but I know we could be better. I love Dr. Sears and this book: Healthiest Kid in the Neighborhood is great. It's about family health and eating habits.

Current favorite library books:

Armadillo Rodeo. Cute story about an armadillo who can't see very well. He thinks a pair of red cowboy boots is another armadillo.

Mrs. McNosh and the Great Big Squash. A lot of fun to read. I like this one better than "Oh My Gosh, Mrs. McNosh".

We're also reading the Why Should I? series of books. We've read about recycling, saving water, saving energy, and protecting nature.

This one is also fun: Excuse Me!. A book on manners.

And, last but not least, I read somewhere that it was impossible to read this book without yawning. So far, that statement is 100% true. A great bedtime book: The Sleep Book, by Dr. Suess. Of course.

New Sunscreen - SPF-50

I've found a sunscreen with which I'm pretty happy. It's SPF-50, all natural, has a high effectiveness rating (1 out of 10) at the Cosmetics Database, and has a very slight scent that I don't mind at all.

It's called Mexitan. It goes on pretty white, so I've found putting it on a little at a time and really rubbing it in works best. Put too much on your hand, and it bunches and gets kind of congealed looking.

For anyone looking for effective sunscreen without all the toxic nastiness.

Plus, it's not as expensive as the other "natural" sunscreens on the market AND you can buy it by the half-gallon, if you so desire.

Birth Book: no, I'm not pregnant

This is just so I remember to read this book for next time. It's going to be a while before we decide to add to our family. Too much is happening right now - new house, etc. However, for those keeping track at home, my very prescient friend says our next one will be a boy. She knew we were having a girl before we did.

The Thinking Woman's Guide to a Better Birth, by Henci Goer

All said, I'm very happy with our birth experience but the changes I would try to make next time would be hiring a doula, possibly considering a home birth and, if not a home birth, then definitely a birth center with a full birthing tub. The hospital birth center we used had a labor tub but I remember wishing it was bigger and wishing I could just stay in it. In reading an excerpt from Henci's book, I think maybe a doula would have been there to suggest other positions for labor so that I could have turned Sophie around. Back birth was no easy matter. They also broke my water near the end and I should have waited until she had turned. It sounds like there is evidence that once the water breaks, the rush of fluid draws the baby's head down into the pelvis more. She wouldn't, and didn't, turn at that point. More ouch than was maybe necessary.

I'm also going to bring more snacks and music. And lots and lots of water.

Again, not pregnant now. If I was, the amount of beer and wine I drank in Portland would have pickled the imaginary baby.

Verklempt

Uhhff. I cannot watch this without getting all teary and choked up.

Paul Potts, everyone. Fantastic.

Sophie kept asking me to replay this video.

Cockaboody

Dutch at Sweet Juniper recently wrote about a fantastic animation called Cockaboody. It is really wonderful. I cannot count the number of times Sophie watched it this weekend. I love the two little girls and I can't help but giggle when Georgie gets really angry at Emily.

Amy Winehouse

I'm officially obsessed with Amy Winehouse. She is amazing. I sincerely hope she doesn't burn out. What I would give to be able to sing like that.

Update: I just found this comparison of photos of Amy. She looked so gorgeous on the right. I hope she gets help.

Stop being so hard on yourself

I love Ask Moxie. If I could, I'd internet marry her. I was lucky enough to start reading her fantastic site at the start of my pregnancy and her no-nonsense, common sense advice prepared me so much for each stage along the way.

Her latest brilliant post is about mothers and how we all expect (and others expect) everything to be perfect and rainbows and smooches, and in reality, things are tough. Having a baby is great and it also sucks at times. I wish I could do a lot of the things before we had Sophie but I would never NOT wish for Sophie. She is amazing and lovely and she can also be a royal pain in the butt. I wouldn't trade it for the world, but I can also admit that being a parent is hard and draining and like getting kicked in the head.

All those moms who look so zen (and people tell me I'm one of them--apparently I look calm all the time) are really just fantasizing about having a night alone in a hotel with nice sheets and no one else there wanting something from them. It's not like everyone else is totally in the moment and you're not. Everyone's dropping the ball in one way or another. It's just that some of us are forcing ourselves to be OK with dropping those balls.

Sneezing Panda

Very funny video of a baby panda sneezing. And scaring the bejeezus out of its mother. (thanks, K!)

In other news, today was crazy as I was home with Sophie all day and I'm completely exhausted. Tomorrow is also going to be a bit nuts because we have some people coming here to take our family portrait and we haven't cleaned the house in forever. There will be mad rushing to clean the rooms they mentioned wanting for photos and that's all we'll have time for. There will also be scrambling to get ready, keep Sophie contented and super-fast ironing of khakis and white shirts for each of us.

Cool Math Trick: The Day You Were Born

I found this cool math trick for figuring out what day of the week you were born.

I was born on a Thursday. You?

Update: either I calculated wrong, or the trick is incorrect. Because I was actually born on a Tuesday. Hmm.

ABCDEF-Cookie Monster!

We've been watching and bookmarking a lot of Sesame Street on YouTube. *cough* For Sophie *cough*.

I found this one this morning and it made my day. I miss Jim Henson.

Alternative Toy Boxes

My very fabulous aunt works with villages and groups in Africa to help them become self-sufficient*. She recently helped coordinate selling very cool Iringa baskets between Target's Global Bazaar and a group in Tanzania.

UPDATE from my aunt: note the bottom two pictures in the bigger Target group are not authentic Iringa baskets - the only true Iringa basket is from Southern Tanzania.

We have a couple of these around our living room, filled with Sophie's toys. They look great, have no sharp edges, and they aren't florescent Dora/Elmo/Blue's Clues colors. You should really go buy several today. Not only will you help out a small village in Africa, but your living room and kids' rooms will look very stylish.

*There's much more to what she does, but I'm giving you the Cliff's Notes version.

Black Sheep

This looks hilarious. The sheep are revolting!

Plus my ass looks great in them

I have a recommendation for you. I found a great jean finder site - Zafu.

I've been disappointed with my latest attempts at buying jeans. I have very limited time to actually shop for them and then I get them home and something is just not right. Like the last pair of Mossino jeans I bought at Target. Cute pockets, good length, but way too bulbous around the hips. Lots of extra material around the hips and yet they were cinching my muffin top into a crazy formation.

I also have a few Old Navy bootcut jeans that I like as far as fit but they have plain back pockets. Boring. Unimaginative.

There are so many choices out there and I just don't have the time to go to 40 million stores to try them on.

Enter Zafu. They have you fill out a questionnaire and then give you a big list of recommendations. That you can then narrow down by more fit and style preferences. The recommendations ranged from inexpensive to very pricey. I bought a pair of Sakura jeans from JCPenney and they arrived yesterday. Perfection. Great in the butt, narrow on the hips. I love the denim material.

Update: also? I would never have thought to shop at JCPenney. Aaron stated it perfectly: "No one shops there." And the beauty of these here internets tubes means I don't actually have to step foot in one.

I even got a stealth dry hump from Aaron and we all know that that is why we want our ass to look great in jeans. So that Aaron will dry hump us. ;)

I also won a pair of Lucky jeans on eBay for about a third of their normal price at Nordstrom's. Can't wait to see if they work, too.

Whatever

(thanks, Erin, for the Sifl and Olly tip)

Important: 5-point harness vs. booster seat

Such a tragic story. But very important for all parents to realize that seatbelts can and do fail in some car accidents. Don't assume that booster seats using just a seat belt will save your kids in a car accident.

Please watch this video and pass it on.

Recommendations, please

We're flying to CA for Thanksgiving week and I might actually have the time to read!

I'm looking for some suggestions - if you finally had a chance to read your three (probably a stretch, but who knows?) favorite books, what would they be?

My favorites, if this helps you get an idea of my taste:

Margaret Atwood, "Blind Assassin"

Tom Robbins, "Jitterbug Perfume"

David Mitchel, "Cloud Atlas"

Gabriel Garcia Marquez, "One Hundred Years of Solitude"

John Irving, "Prayer for Owen Meany"

Khaled Hosseini, "Kite Runner"

Barbara Kingsolver, "Poisonwood Bible"

Wally Lamb, "She's Come Undone"

Douglas Adams, "The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy"

There are others, but these should give you an idea.

Thank you!

Extra Baby Food

Do you have a baby/toddler hybrid who really wants to feed herself, thank you very much, and is no longer interested in the 50 jars of expensive organic baby food you lovingly bought for her?

Here are some ideas for you to work your way through said jars of expensive organic baby food:

• She likes to eat bread, right? Spread some of that yummy baby food on some whole grain bread and toast it up a bit. One example: spread the green bean and rice mix on some bread, add a few bits of cooked chicken and some shredded cheese. Stick in the toaster oven and allow the cheese to melt. Now you have a convenient, healthy snack. The open-faced sandwich is great for ripping little pieces off and handing them to the very self-sufficient little baby/toddler hybrid. The cheese holds it all together if you want to take it on the road. (just don't let the chicken sit out too long)

• Mmmm, full fat plain yogurt. So yummy. Not your cup of tea? How about full fat plain yogurt with apples and bananas baby food mixed in? Maybe with a little cinnamon? Or how about that yummy prunes and oats mix or the apples and blueberries?

• Everyone likes dip, right? So make some plain (whole wheat if you have it) penne pasta. Penne is great because little baby/toddler hybrid hands can grab right onto it. And then make a couple of little puddles of, say, peas and carrots and/or winter squash and/or peas and brown rice on a plate or straight onto the high chair tray. Maybe add a bit of garlic powder or ginger to the dips to make them more exciting. Demonstrate how to dip the pasta into the "dip". This should provide you a few minutes to finally finish that cup of coffee.
  

Any other ideas?

Heroes

Holey Moley! Did anyone else watch Heroes last night? What a fantastic show. It's so creepy and they leave so much unsaid. And then it just ends. No explanation. AAAGH! What happened to the cheerleader? And the guy from Felicity? You should really be watching this.

I just watched the two-minute recap at NBC.com and while I thought, last night, that the cheerleader ended up in a lab like the Felicity guy, I think she may have been on an autopsy table.

Colon Blow

I made the banana bread last night. Only I divided it into muffin cups. I froze about a dozen baked muffins this morning so that they don't go bad before we eat them all.

And I didn't use Splenda because: yuck. I substituted the same amount of brown sugar. They are not the sweetest muffins, but the banana taste was prominent and yummy. They are extremely moist so I think the next time I'm going to add more of both the flax seed meal and the wheat flour. I'm also going to add some cinnamon and maybe some nutmeg. And maybe some vanilla. All-in-all, it was a very fast recipe and Sophie made lots of yummy noises this morning.

I will tell you one thing - the banana + flax seed + whole wheat flour cleans you right out.

More on the Grocery Game

I've sent some referral emails to a couple of you from the Grocery Game site - it has a lot more information on how it works. To answer Jean's question, it seems to be U.S.-focused. BUT, below is a link to Attila the Mom's site where she outlines how she saves a huge amount of money at the grocery store. She has a few commenters from Canada who give their tips on how to work the system up north.

Cheaper Than Therapy (Attila the Mom) has her own crash course that is extremely informative. I've linked to Part 4 of the series as it contains the links to Parts 1 - 3. Belinda from Ninja Poodles references this in the comments. Attila had a couple of shopping trips where the savings were in the 90+% savings range. Amazing.

The basic gist of the system is that companies release coupons for their products. The grocery stores know which coupons have been released and when. Both groups expect you to *maybe* clip a coupon for that one box of cereal and use the coupon as soon as it is released. However, grocery stores know when the coupons expire and they tend to have a big sale right before the expiration. Grocery Game keeps databases on the sales cycles of most items at the grocery store. And then each week, you can print out a list of the best items to buy that week as well as a list of which coupons to use.

I get free weeks if you sign up on my referral. So, let me know if you are interested and I can send you a referral email.

Grocery Game

So, since I signed up for my $1 Grocery Game trial on August 27, I've already saved $320!! That's huge! I'm averaging about 45% savings and am working on getting that number up a bit more.

And it's all on things I would normally buy. Granted, I have 10 tubes of toothpaste but I paid almost nothing for them and as Aaron said: "We're going to need toothpaste until we die."

You should really check it out. Leave a comment if you're interested and I'll send you a referral email.

Grocery Game

Now that we are trying to be honest about budgeting and saving for an eventual house, I've been looking around them thar internets for tips on budgeting, etc. One of my favorite sites (and people) is Amanda at The Naked Ledger. She was recently asking for budgeting tips and one of the tips was for The Grocery Game*.

I skeptically signed up for the $1 month trial thinking, eh, $1 is not a lot if this is bogus. I also bought the Sunday paper with all the coupons for $1.50.

We just got back from Stop & Shop. What would normally have cost us $106.07, cost us....get this....are you ready? $57.38. That is a savings of 46%! Huge! And that's without really trying! It helps that S&S offers double coupons and such, but even that only added about $3 to the total savings.

W00t!

I warned Aaron that now I'm going to become a crazy coupon lady.

*I also found Ninja Poodles and Cheaper Than Therapy through Amanda's site and they always have lots of tips on ways to save. Good stuff. Now I'm feeling the competitive juices.

Update: I forgot to mention that Cheaper Than Therapy (Attila the Mom) has her own crash course that is extremely informative. I've linked to Part 4 of the series as it contains the links to Parts 1 - 3. Belinda from Ninja Poodles references this in the comments. Attila had a couple of shopping trips where the savings were in the 90+% savings range. Amazing.

Helmet

After Sophie's last big head bump, clearly we need to get her one of these. I would hate to bruise that noggin more than need be.

Also, clearly, someone put a diaper on their kid's head and thought: "I should totally market this."

All over the place

Last night was another stamp night with the matrons (do you like that one, Jen?). I decided to surprise everyone and take Sophie along. She did really well, but it meant that I got almost no stamping done. Which was fine because I didn't really think about what I wanted to do anyway. I got her loaded up and headed home right before she had a meltdown and she eventually fell asleep in the car. And then we had to wake her up to get her back out. And then she didn't fall asleep again until around 8:30. I also managed to see the finale of ANTM last night - Danielle won! I really thought it was going to be Joanie, but I thought they were both great. Maybe ANTM really wants a model who is going to go farther than the others have. Danielle is gorgeous and funny and grounded.

In other news, we've been working our way through 'Deadwood' on Netflix. We just finished the first season and it is fantastic. More swearing than you can imagine in one show, but it sort of washes over you after a while. Great characters, great writing. Al Swearengen is such a complex character. You think he is just evil at first and then the crusty layers slowly peel off and he catches you off-guard by actually being noble and sometimes even sweet. Also? Bullock makes my pulse race a little bit. Don't tell me what happened in Season 2 - those disks are coming soon. What I especially like about the show is that they've created such a distinct place in time. I feel like, even when I'm not watching, that they are still somewhere in time, living their daily lives. And then the show gives you just a glimpse into the happenings. I highly recommend it. If you can get past the swearing and the violence.

Co-sleeping

A new study out encourages parents to sleep with their children.

We put Sophie in her crib for the first part of the night. She generally sleeps there for 4-5 hours and then when she wakes up, into the bed with us. I love sleeping with her next to me. It is really easy to nurse her back to sleep and there is something so lovely about snuggling next to her all night. If she were to sleep 'through the night' (again), then she would stay in her crib. But for now she knows that we are there for her when she wakes up frightened. It is not in our natural, hard-wired instincts to be a baby and feel okay about being abandoned. I've gotten snide comments about how we are spoiling her. Well, I disagree. Plain and simple. We have one baby, she is the love of our life and she is going to feel protected and secure and safe.

And now there is science to back up our instincts.

Did you know, for instance, "For example, a neurological study three years ago showed that a child separated from a parent experienced similar brain activity to one in physical pain."

Granted, we have a king-sized bed and neither of us are overweight nor do we smoke.

Veronica Mars

Holy excellent finale, Batman! Woo! Murder, deception, smooching, graduation, loose ends wrapping up, suicide. What a fantastic show. If you aren't watching, I'm not sure I trust your judgement because you are really, really missing out.

Now what am I going to do with my Tuesday nights?

Killing Us Softly

It seems like every day you turn around and there is something else you are using/consuming/touching that is causing you harm. And in this case, I mean long-term harm. Words like tumors and liver failure and hormonal disfunction spring to the top of the list.

Now I read Leery Polyp's site about PVCs and how many, many things contain these dangerous chemical compounds and possibly linking these things to infertility among other things. Did you realize that a LOT of baby toys - teethers, etc., - contain these chemicals? These are things that our babies are putting in their mouths. AND that baby bottles and nipples and sippy cups and bowls and spoons contain the same chemicals?

So then I start clicking through to some of the links and I found this great list of how to try and avoid some of these toxic chemicals in your daily life. Back to the baby bottles - every day, several times a day, we stick a baby bottle in Sophie's mouth. Or a plastic teether. Or a sippy cup. And she gnaws on these and releases the chemicals into her bloodstream. This just makes my blood boil with anger at these companies. Sure, maybe they don't know. But I'd be willing to bet that they do and they are hoping to get away with it for a long time.

I found a site that sells baby bottles and sippy cups that do not contain Bisphenol-A in their nipples or bottles. I just bought a set and plan on replacing the Avent and Dr. Brown's bottles and the sippy cups. You may think I'm panicking needlessly, but I'd much rather be safe than sorry.

Cookie Thief

OMG, this is the cutest thing I've seen all day. For reals; no zombies. A bunny stealing a cookie.

Dead Like Me, etc.

So I know some of you have watched 'Dead Like Me'. We are almost done with Season 2 and I'm getting anxious because I know that was the last season. Which I don't get. Why do these interesting and quirky shows always get canceled? And drek like 'According to Jim' or 'Two and a Half Men' stay on forever. I could go on watching these characters for years.

Here's the question: when the asshole tv producer dies, why does a graveling appear? Is it because he was killed by a reaper? Or because he was evil? If this gets answered in the last 3 episodes, let me know. They are next on the list from Netflix.

In other news, a friend from high school is going to be visiting this weekend with her little daughter. Sleepover! Yeeps! I'm excited to see her. It's been way too long. And I flaked the last time the girls got together.

Aaron is going to be fighting with his little German army in some WWII tournament all weekend so it is a perfect time to catch up with her.

Pepper Dennis

The new show with Rebecca Romijn. It was entertaining. Not quite my cup of tea, but she's very good at the physical comedy. Other thoughts? Um, the supposedly handsome new anchor has weird ears. And a skinny head. Nice six-pack, though. Also, Rebecca's BFF makeup person is Steve Sander's wife from 90210. And Brooke Burke was a bit awkward, but otherwise fun to watch.

Not sure if I'll watch it again, but I think others will like it.

Netflix and a couple of Thank Yous

We watched "Capturing the Friedmans" last night. Very interesting documentary about a family torn apart by pedophilia allegations. There were three sons, one of whom was sent to jail along with their father. I like how the filmmakers used home video footage along with interviews to just put information out there for the viewer to make their own assumptions. I think the father definitely was a pedophile - but whether he molested kids in his computer class? I don't know. His son was a victim. Another son, David, was a little crazy himself. The mom seemed to be the most sane.

Anyhoo, good documentary. Kind of hard to watch. Due to the pedophilia and all.

Also? I want to send out some thank yous to the following people:

Jon sent me the whole frickin' Cowbell Compilation! We are dying over here. I think this whole collection warrants a drinking game. Every time you hear a cowbell, drink! It's fantastic and surprising because, seriously? I didn't know "Baby Got Back" had a cowbell in it. Thank you!

Also, I purchased the most fabulous purse from SaltyGal. It is a reconstructed bag/purse made from, I think, cargo pants. In the photos, it looked gray and pink and adorable and then when I got it, it is more olive and red. The red EXACTLY matches my Spring coat. You should check out her shop because she's very talented. I first saw it in her flickr photos and then quickly emailed her to say I wanted to buy it from her. I'm so thrilled with it. And I'm not a purse person at all.

Also? Estella has her bad haircut Paint contest results up. If you don't read estella? You are missing out on one of the funniest blogs ever.

Oh, wait! I forgot! Remember the insane Britney Spears monument? I found a photo of Sean "Cheeto" Federline's crowning head.

Making me giggle

I'm finding the reports of Ambien causing night eating quite amusing.

"The sleeping pill Ambien seems to unlock a primitive desire to eat in some patients, according to emerging medical case studies that describe how the drug's users sometimes sleepwalk into their kitchens, claw through their refrigerators like animals and consume calories ranging into the thousands."

I think they estimate about 2.6 million people take Ambien. So every night, there is a large number of people ripping apart their kitchens and eating everything in site. I just keep imagining zombies.

One more anecdote: "Another woman in a full body cast managed to sleepwalk to the kitchen, where she was found at various times frying bacon and eggs, lighting the oven, or eating a sandwich."

Linkgasm

In today's political environment, would you have Sophie Scholl's courage? (not a bad namesake for Snopher, either)

I've had "Land Shark" in my head for the last couple of days and I honestly couldn't remember the reference. One quick look on Google and oh yeah, the Chevy Chase skit on SNL.

We watched 'Wallace and Gromit in The Curse of the Were-rabbit' - LOVED IT! We were laughing hysterically at a few parts. Lots of little details that were quite funny. Hilarious. Two thumbs up.

Man, I would love to make these fabulous cupboards in Sophie's room. Maybe in orange or purple instead of pink.

Are you a creative person? Fred Flare is having a 'Next Big Thing' contest.

All ADD with the linking

A lot of links from all over so that I can find them again because them thar Internets are huge and all.

PatentRoom: where you can order prints and sometimes tshirts of old patent drawings. (via ReadyMade blog)

The money? It's just being handed out. Quick Rise for Purveyors of Propaganda in Iraq

So that I remember this for next year: Anatomically correct chocolate heart (via sweetney)

Homemade submarine

I'm coveting these fluffy pink earrings even though I'd probably never wear them.

Also these weird little truffle pins.

Adorable pumpkin pouf for a cat or a mini dog.

Incredible food creations - only not made of food. Bon Bons! Ice Cream Cones!

Cheney must be stopped! There are so many ways he can kill you!

How to choose quality ice cream without tasting (via not martha)

Also via not martha: I covet these light strands!

Also, also via not martha: LED throwies! Very cool idea.

Nacho Libre

The new Jack Black movie, Nacho Libre, looks hilarious. Of course, I love me some Jack Black.

Boys will be boys

So true and so hard to remember.

Boys will be boys

"Because they don't watch Hugh Grant romantic comedies and obsess over the fact that they just can't measure up in the suave department. They don't see Legends of the Fall and curse themselves for not having Brad Pitt's pouty lips and flowing mane.

They just think 'What a PUSS' and change the channel."

Clouds!

Cloud Appreciation Society

Happy Friday!

It's a Big Ad!

It's a big ad! (via goldenfiddle.com)

Wacky Uses

Wacky Uses for every day products.

The Internet is for Porn

From [N]: World of Warcraft show tune, For Porn.

Jehovah's Witness

How to keep a Jehovah's Witness from knocking on your door.

Cat Urping

I want one of these for my birthday: Cuidado! Vomito de Gato!

Best links of 2005

Go check out kottke.org.

This one made me giggle: 7 Habits of Highly Successful People

Animals Yawning

I'm currently thoroughly enjoying this animal yawning group on flickr.

Especially this photo of a cow yawning.

Shark Attack

Um, have these people not seen 'JAWS'?!? There is no frickin' way I'd go back in that water.

"Beach reopens after shark attack on boy"

Tallulah's Got Groove

Cute video of little girl shaking it out.

How healthy is your poop?

From a recent Oprah show.

"It should be an S shape and you want to make sure the color's normal because the color of the poop tells you a lot about how you made it," Dr. Oz says.