Talk a Day Challenge: Stand Ye In Holy Places

Even though this is like the middle of the month, I started the TOFW Challenge: Rise Higher last week.  I mentioned in last week's post that I do better when I have some accountability, so I tell all of you guys how I did this week :).  I started with the Young Women broadcast from conference.  Even though I'm in Young Women's I hadn't had a chance to hear the conference or read it yet-sad but true.  So I wanted to make this one a priority.

However, this week did not go as well as I had hoped.  I read all three presidency's messages--Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday.  Then Wednesday came with a thirteen hour busy day and I came home and pretty much went to bed.  Thursday I was so tired from the day before still that I didn't read either.  This weekend we were out of town so going to bed late and ugh....still didn't read.  So I was three for seven this week. This week is shaping up to be just as busy if not more, so we'll hope that I can do at least one a day.

But I wanted to talk a little bit about something that I learned this week. With it being the YW broadcast it is all about the theme: "Stand Ye in Holy Places".  These women did a great job defining what a holy place is--specially when and where we can feel the Spirit.  The biggest thing that I thought of this week is that we really need to think about where/when we have experienced a holy place/moment and write that down. These memories can help us out in hard times. This goes along with what Elder Scott said in one conference talk--writing down when you feel the Spirit.  We need to recognize those moments so that we can recognize them when we need them.  We can also create our holy places a lot better when we know what need to create them.  So I invite you to think about where/when was the last holy place you were in?

It was great to learn from these women this week
https://www.lds.org/church/news/young-women-general-presidency-members-instruct-yw-leaders-at-auxiliary-trainings?lang=eng

Bloglovin' v. Feedly

So with my reflections post, I commented that I couldn't decide which one of these blog readers to use.  A wise fellow blogger mentioned that she had used one and then switched to the other and recommended that I give them both a shot--it wouldn't hurt anything. I had been meaning to all month--especially since I was a little worried about what blog posts I was missing with SO many that I follow now.  Like seriously, I have a ton of e-mails of blog posts to go through and my Google reading list on Blogger was getting so big.

So, yesterday I gave it a shot.  I created a Bloglovin' account and a Feedly account after looking at both and trying to get an idea what they would do for me.  I was actually not that pleased with Bloglovin'. It feels a lot like a social network site instead of a place to help me organize my blog reading and get information.  As I was creating my page, they were trying to get me to add specific people that they thought I might like.  So I wasn't too excited.  Also, I didn't feel like it was super explanatory with what functions did what.

After I got frustrated enough with Bloglovin', I switched over to Feedly to see what it was like.  I was a little bit cautious with all the extra stuff it seemed to have just like Bloglovin', but as I started to set it up it was SO helpful. I had a great checklist and explanations of what meant what.  I also knew exactly how to import my Google Reader stuff because they told me (Bloglovin' didn't tell me--just sent me to Google which didn't help). I also felt like I had a way to organize my stuff a lot better.  So the final verdict was Feedly.  We will see how it goes the next couple of days in terms of using it, but they are the ones I'm going to spend the most time with.  I am also excited about the Pinterest feature since I use that soo much for storage and bookmarking!  So the current vote is Feedly!

www.searchprosystems.com 

Current Events Day

So it's late and I'm tired...so we're not doing the full favorite five thing today....I am just going to tell you about news stories from KSL that I found interesting this week. KSL is a local Utah news channel, my favorite in fact.

So...have you seen this? It is a gazelle jumping into a car to get a way from a cheetah!  This was freaky.

This story got my attention: Scout leader could face charges for shooting a bear  So apparently the boys left food out and the bear got in it. They tried to get rid of the bear, but that didn't work so the leader shot the bear.  While on the one hand it makes sense, but on the other it seems a little bit extreme.  I guess that's the DNR's problem.

This is a perfect example of how the news likes to make things such a big deal that really aren't.  Here's the headline New Utah NSA center requires 1.7M gallons of water daily to operate. So why is that startling...well we are in Utah which is a desert and the normal person is regularly asked to conserve water.  So why would the government take that much?  It is a huge number...however you read the article and realize that its not that big of a deal.  That's the same amount of water that a bottling company and other similar industrial buildings would use, and it's only 1% of the demand in that area.  Also, the city is going to have to time to get ready for the demand. Finally, a third of the water is going to go back to Bluffdale parks and other green things that need watering.  So seriously, headlines are just there to get you to click on them!

A rendering of what the data center will look like when it's done from
http://nsa.gov1.info/utah-data-center/

Pros and Cons of Getting Rid of Clothes

So I was thinking this morning about what to wear.  I felt like I didn't have any choices....and I probably needed to do laundry.  So pulled out a shirt I hadn't worn in a while.  I thought to myself, "This is a shirt that should really be in the box to be given away. But maybe I will wear it one more time."  I did...and while its not my favorite shirt it was very serviceable.  So here comes my pros and cons of keeping a shirt....

Argument to Get Rid of!

1. More room in closet for new clothes
2. Seriously, are you every going to wear it again?
3. It really doesn't fit anymore
4. Not in style anymore (but really I don't care about that...so should that really count?!)
5. Worn out....then they should be really just be thrown away I suppose

Argument to Keep!

1. Wearing something new every once in a while
2. Having something to wear on laundry days
3. If it still fits then why spend more money on something new.

Hmm.....I guess I should get rid of most of my clothes....uh oh guess its time to go shopping!

http://www.123rf.com/photo_16525604_girl-holding-different-clothes.html

Importance of Relaxation

I found this quote today from O Henry:

Each of us, when our day's work is done, must seek our ideal, whether it be love or pinochle or lobster à la Newburg, or the sweet silence of the musty bookshelves. 

I honestly had no idea what pinochle meant..so I looked it up...it is apparently a card game. Not sure what the lobster thing has to do with anything...but I think that when the day's work is done these are what I need to do to relax! That's why I loved this quote.  It has been a crazy couple of days and I am feeling really worn out and stressed out.  So it was nice to find this quote to remind me that I need to take some time for myself.  What do you like to do after a long day?  My list.....

1. Watch some stupid TV...comedies are good
2. Not so stupid TV that allows me to fall into the storyline
3. Eat chocolate
4. Read a good book
5. Knit

The biggest thing is trying not to think TOO much about the day...so easier said then done huh?

From Wikipedia...I wondered what O Henry looked like

Top Ten Tuesday: Movie Adaptations of Books

http://brokeandbookish.blogspot.com/

Today's Top Ten Tuesday link up is all about movies that took our books and made them new....for good or ill so here is my list

Top 5 Best (for the record, I don't know if any movie will really replace a book)

1. The Pelican Brief--This actually is a pretty good adaptation, but I still like the book better.

2. The Notebook--Stays so close, and I felt like I was reading the book when I watched it!

3. Angels and Demons--Again like DaVinci code it follows it very well, I think even better than DaVinci

4. DaVinci Code--It actually follows it very well.

5. The Time Traveler's Wife--This was a great movie adaptation to a book. (though I highly recommend reading it first! I think it will help the movie make more sense)

Top 5 Worst

1. My Sister's Keeper--This movie made me SO mad!! They changed the ending!!!! Read the book then see the movie if you really want to.

2. Harry Potter #5--Holy crap I could barely recognize the book in the movie

3. The Count of Monte Cristo--I honestly I am not sure why I didn't like this movie....but it really didn't remind me of the book at all.

4. Bourne Identity, Supremacy etc.--I haven't read the books, just seen the movies--my husband has read the books and he has told me that all the movies stole was the basic premise--a spy named Jason Bourne that doesn't remember anything.  That's it! I have been meaning to read the books because apparently they are SO much better!

5. Twilight movies--They really aren't that bad, but the acting leaves something to be desired compared to the books.

A Quote Ramble

So today was a really long day...at work....and then an almost two hour doctors appointment.  For those of you wondering, no results/change.  I have been referred to another doctor (yep, I know), but it is someone new so the more people we have on this the better. I guess!  Today is a day when I am looking for inspiring quotes.

It is okay to be tired at the end of the day :)
http://data.whicdn.com/images/30287464/oprah-winfrey-quotes-7_large.jpg

There is always tomorrow
I wish that this had a more specific link: http://busybeingfabulous.com/

This makes so much sense!!
http://gorgeoustakethecity.tumblr.com/post/855239611

Words to live by!
http://www.happywivesclub.com/the-first-to-apologize/

No regrets!!
http://alifetimeofwisdom.com/new-beginnings/dont-live-in-regret/