WEBSITE WEDNESDAY--Wordle

http://www.wordle.net/

When I first discovered this site, I spent WAY too much time there playin' around. It is addicting.

The way it works: type in words about whatever you want. Here, I was selfish and chose the topic of me. Words that you want to appear bigger, you type it into the box multiple times. Then, you click on the GO button, and it creates a "word cloud." An artistic collage that you can scramble to format differently or change the colors.

Here's one to represent Andrew and I and our little life. {tilt your head--it's sideways}

I made one to represent our courtship months. It is kind of busy looking, but I like how it includes all the people, places, and things to tell the story of that time period. {also sideways}

You can create word clouds about anything. Here I made one using my favorite lines from my favorite Shakespeare play, Much Ado About Nothing.

Using the same words, I just re-scrambled it and changed the colors to give it a completely new look.

I love this one.

This is an outdated creation {Brad, Nicole, Whitney, and Alex need to be added} representing the family {also sideways}.

I have this idea to form word clouds to print, frame, and hang as part of collage of pictures in my house. I think they look cool. And the possibilities are endless.

Go check it out! Have fun!

AWKWARD.

http://awkwardfamilyphotos.com/
Highly recommend. Will brighten any gloomy day. Enjoy just a taste:




Next time, let's give him a Father's Day Present that won't give him such a big head.



He said, “Wanna go to prom? She said, “I guess.”

One more reason to never fear the dentist.

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The Squatters.

In their face.

Authentic all the way down to the rock holding the door shut.

Sexy.

Creepy.

The Offering.

Let's face it. There's nothing more awkward than an exorcism.

The Klingers

LOVE THE BLOG

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*The Koivisto Blog Header

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So, I want to pass on another favorite blog of mine. (Why not pass on a good thing?) See that guy up there? That is Jyri. He is an old friend/FHE brother from 4-5 years ago. His lovely wife, Katie, is seated next to him. I only met her once...briefly at an Albertson's grocery store back when they were engaged...an event, I'm guessing, she has no recollection of.
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However, I have been following their blog for a few months now, and I love it. Let me share why:

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1. Jyri is from Finland. Katie is from Kansas. They recently graduated college in Idaho before moving across the world to Finland, where they are pregnant with their first. I am drawn by the interesting and often humorous perplexities that arise as a result of their very different cultures. (You should read the post about picking a baby name. American or Finnish?)

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2. Every post title is written in English and Finnish. It's a fun, creative way to see the progress Katie is making with the new language.

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3. The thought of being a new, young wife, pregnant with my first baby, and living across the ocean from everything familiar is so terrifying, that her confidence and good humor captivate me. It's like those extreme sports videos on YouTube. No matter how horrifying the content matter is to the fear center of my brain, I can't look away. Her bravery is the coolest.

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4. Katie is a good writer. Funny, clever, and honest. Plus, I really am a fan of short, sweet, and to the point.

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5. Her daily problems and experiences are so different from my own...and yet somehow, so similar. It's fun to peek into the life of a woman living through the same stage of life as me...yet on the opposite side of the planet.

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Intrigued? Go check it out HERE. Hope you enjoy!

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PLAYING HOUSE

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*Rachel Meynder's Blog Header

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I've been meaning to bring up the blog of Rachel Meynders for awhile now. It's my favorite. She's a hip, LDS, stay-at-home mother of 2, in the Portland area. Her blog makes me happy for several reasons:
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1. She paints such a beautiful, honest picture of what young, every-day family life is really like. It's not always easy, fun, or glamorous (think along
the lines of baby barf and laundry) ...but she still manages to find joy, humor, and artistry in even the simplest of situations.

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2. She can make me laugh, smile, cry, sigh, or think deep thoughts. I like the mix of silly and significant.

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3. Rachel gives depth and distinction to the homemaker's life that I appreciate in this cynical society of ours.

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4. I love how she can transform the mundane into something truly entertaining. Like, the shoes she wore to the grocery store? Or last night's
dinner? Somehow, she totally makes me care.

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5. I like her pictures. They're unique. Often times, they have the ability to tell the entire story or convey the overall mood without any words whatsoever.

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6. She's creative. She'll occasionally post fun crafts, recipes, etc.

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7. She keeps it simple, short, and sweet.

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8. She blogs every day. I like being able to count on the fact that she'll have something new and different each time I check up on her cute family.
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I thought I might as well pass it on to you fine people. Hurry and check out the blog HERE now! I bring it up because Rachel is going private on Sunday. If it looks like something you'd like to stay in touch with...leave her your e-mail for an invite. She's super chill about it. As she said in her last post:

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"Let me know if you want in on this action! Whether I know you or not. (don't feel weird if I don't, we all blog stalk.)."
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I see blogs of note, give out 'awards' to other blogs that they deem worthy of recognition. I experimented with an award button that turned out kind of pretty, I guess. I just couldn't find a way to word it that would appear in any way, I don't know...desirable. I mean, I do not have a blog of note. Why would anyone want to advertise that they've been acknowledged by little 'ol me??

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I mean, seriously.
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So, sorry Rachel. No fancy award. Just know:

I think your blog is pretty darn cool.

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