Time Waster

Want to find out how fast you type? Go here and take the typing test!

It's fun. Then have your husband take it.

I scored an 83 with 4 errors so my adjusted speed is 79, tell me yours!

50 Things Everyone Should Know How to Do

I found this list on this Blog (imagine that?!) and thought you might enjoy it. John, Kirk and I


went through the list to see that we could and could not do. Can you do all of them?





I've noted the ones I can do...



1. Build a Fire – Fire produces heat and light, two basic necessities for living. At some point in your life this knowledge may be vital. I think I can build a fire. At my house, I just flip a switch and the fire appears in the fireplace. Check!

2. Operate a Computer – Fundamental computer knowledge is essential these days. Please, help those in need. Uh hello? I have a blog! Check!



3. Use Google Effectively – Google knows everything. If you’re having trouble finding something with Google, it’s you that needs help. Google is my favorite site. Check!





4. Perform CPR and the Heimlich Maneuver – Someday it may be your wife, husband, son or daughter that needs help. Ok, I've had a class before Kate was born. I hope I never have to use it! I think my certification is only good for 2 yrs. Check!



5. Drive a Manual Transmission Vehicle – There will come a time when you’ll be stuck without this knowledge. Yes, but I wouldn't want to drive one all the time. Check!



6. Do Basic Cooking – If you can’t cook your own steak and eggs, you probably aren’t going to make it. They call me Paula Deen at my house! Check!



7. Tell a Story that Captivates People’s Attention – If you can’t captivate their attention, you should probably just save your breath. Please! Have you met me? Check!



8. Win or Avoid a Fistfight – Either way, you win. The only person I've been in a fistfight with....Sissy and it's been a long time! So I guess I do avoid them now! Check!





9. Deliver Bad News – Somebody has got to do it. Unfortunately, someday that person will be you. Yep, I do this too in my job...no one wants bad news. Check!



10. Change a Tire – Because tires have air in them, and things with air in them eventually pop.


I don't change tires, this is the reason I got married!



11. Handle a Job Interview – I promise, sweating yourself into a nervous panic won’t land you the job. Can do! Check!





12. Manage Time – Not doing so is called wasting time, which is okay sometimes, but not all the time. I don't do this very often...hence this blog....



13. Speed Read – Sometimes you just need the basic gist, and you needed it 5 minutes ago. Yep, i can do this. Check!



14. Remember Names – Do you like when someone tries to get your attention by screaming “hey you”? Dale Carnegie people! Check!



15. Relocate Living Spaces – Relocating is always a little tougher than you originally imagined. I don't know if I do this very well. I don't do it often.



16. Travel Light – Bring only the necessities. It’s the cheaper, easier, smarter thing to do. Nope, I travel with two kids and I pack everything....





17. Handle the Police – Because jail isn’t fun… and neither is Bubba. I guess I do it well since I've never been in the pokey...check!



18. Give Driving Directions – Nobody likes driving around in circles. Get this one right the first time. I give directions, they won't get you to where you are going!



19. Perform Basic First Aid – You don’t have to be a doctor, or genius, to properly dress a wound. Can do, I have a little girl who likes her bandaids on boo boos.



20. Swim – 71% of the Earth’s surface is covered by water. Learning to swim might be a good idea. Check!



21. Parallel Park – Parallel parking is a requirement on most standard driver’s license driving tests, yet so many people have no clue how to do it. How could this be? I think I can do this on a road all by myself. I get stressed out and usually give up when I am blocking other cars from passing.



22. Recognize Personal Alcohol Limits – I don't drink, so Check!



23. Select Good Produce – Rotten fruits and vegetables can be an evil tease and an awful surprise. I don't do a good job of this!



24. Handle a Hammer, Axe or Handsaw – Carpenters are not the only ones who need tools. Everyone should have a basic understanding of basic hand tools. Please they call me Handy Manny at my house!



25. Make a Simple Budget – Being in debt is not fun. A simple budget is the key. Nope, a budget is like a diet...I'm not good at either one.



26. Speak at Least Two Common Languages – Only about 25% of the world’s population speaks English. It would be nice if you could communicate with at least some of the remaining 75%. Please I can barely speak English!



27. Do Push-Ups and Sit-Ups Properly – Improper push-ups and sit-ups do nothing but hurt your body and waste your time. I think it would be easier to learn another language!



28. Give a Compliment – It’s one of the greatest gifts you can give someone, and it’s free. Once again, Dale Carnegie people!



29. Negotiate – The better deal is only a question or two away. Check!



30. Listen Carefully to Others – The more you listen and the less you talk, the more you will learn and the less you will miss. I don't do a good job of this.



31. Recite Basic Geography – If you don’t know where anything is outside of your own little bubble, most people will assume (and they are probably correct) that you don’t know too much at all. I love to try to name the states capitals! It's hard.



32. Paint a Room – The true cost of painting is 90% labor. For simple painting jobs it makes no sense to pay someone 9 times what it would cost you to do it yourself. Once again, this is one of the reasons I got married.





33. Make a Short, Informative Public Speech – At the next company meeting if your boss asks you to explain what you’ve been working on over the last month, a short, clear, informative response is surely your best bet. “Duhhh…” will not cut it. Once again, thanks to Dale Carnegie.



34. Smile for the Camera – People that absolutely refuse to smile for the camera suck! Check!



35. Flirt Without Looking Ridiculous – There is a fine line between successful flirting and utter disaster. If you try too hard, you lose. If you don’t try hard enough, you lose. Please, I got married didn't I? Check!



36. Take Useful Notes – Because useless notes are useless, and not taking notes is a recipe for failure. I can do this because of Ms. Gleason's Skills Lab - 9th grade.



37. Be a Respectful House Guest – Otherwise you will be staying in a lot of hotels over the years. I think I am. Check!



38. Make a Good First Impression – Aristotle once said, “well begun is half done.” Hmmm, I would hope!





39. Navigate with a Map and Compass – What happens when the GPS craps out and you’re in the middle of nowhere? Map, yes. Compass no.



40. Sew a Button onto Clothing – It sure is cheaper than buying a new shirt. Please! They call me Martha Stewart at my house!



41. Hook Up a Basic Home Theater System – This isn’t rocket science. Paying someone to do this shows sheer laziness. Nah, I have a husband that can do it.



42. Type – Learning to type could save you days worth of time over the course of your lifetime. Check!





43. Protect Personal Identity Information – Personal identity theft is not fun unless you are the thief. Don’t be careless. I try to have very obscure passwords...



44. Implement Basic Computer Security Best Practices – You don’t have to be a computer science major to understand the fundamentals of creating complex passwords and using firewalls. Doing so will surely save you a lot of grief someday. Once again, Husband...



45. Detect a Lie – People will lie to you. It’s a sad fact of life. I think I can tell.



46. End a Date Politely Without Making Promises – There is no excuse for making promises you do not intend to keep. There is also no reason why you should have to make a decision on the spot about someone you hardly know. Another reason I got married...no more dates with people I don't like! Check!





47. Remove a Stain – Once again, it’s far cheaper than buying a new one. I need to do better on this. My kids have stains on everything...of mine!



48. Keep a Clean House – A clean house is the foundation for a clean, organized lifestyle. Please, this house is spotless...(can you tell I was lying?)



49. Hold a Baby – Trust me, injuring a baby is not what you want to do. Check!



50. Jump Start a Car – It sure beats walking or paying for a tow truck. Husband....

Mr. Picassohead

Have you seen this? It's pretty cool, or at the very least something to waste your time! Check it out here.

It's Friday! Time for a quiz!

Today I thought I would end the week with a Design Quiz. You know I love them. This comes from HomeGoods.

This quiz will help you define the style that is already yours, allowing you to better navigate the vast world of décor options and giving you the confidence to experiment and create a happier home.

Take it here.

My style:

Beth, you are an Earthy Casual

You're interested in creating a welcoming home where people feel comfortable and happiness flourishes. You appreciate the warmth and individuality of natural materials and handcrafted things and are inspired by colors and forms from nature. You love mixing up different textures and are sensitive to the tactile qualities of objects. Your style is grounded and solid, not flighty or frilly. And you are never taken in by the trend of the moment.

You value serenity. While there are probably a lot of interesting things in your home, they are joined by your taste or a certain palette that keeps them in harmony. You appreciate the beauty in simple forms. Whether fancy or plain, you appreciate things that are well made and function as well as they look. You also have a strong respect for the environment and craftsmanship. You care about how things are made, and how they are used.

I would say that is probably correct. I was a little thrown off by the word "earthy", but overall true. What is your style?

Color Personality Test

We are thinking about painting our living room, so I get the Sherwin-Williams newsletter. Today they had a Color Personality Test. I took it and very excited to see what my colors will be...


BALANCED NEUTRALS! My colors are: Gauntlet Gray, Toasted Pine Nut, Westhighland White and Universal Khaki.





Those are the colors I have now...so much for re-painting. Take the test here.

So Funny

Check out these Awkward Family Photos - the pictures and captions are really funny. I promise.

Today is National Grammar Day!

Today is National Grammar Day. Test your Grammar here.

Need a Halloween Costume?

Fandango has set up a costume game that can help you choose which pop-culture character fits your budget and personality. It gives you several options - one of mine was - Kitt Kittredge from American Girl movie. If you know me, this so works for me!

Try it here. Who will you be?

Hue Test

I found this link to this quiz where you must put color chips in order by hue. Try it out. Your goal is a low score. My score was 79, - test were never really my thing.