RICHARD SPARGO 01

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Do You Hear What I Hear?

I am obsessed with podcasts. I am sure that you all know all about them already. However, just in case you don't, can I just say that if you have iTunes, you can get podcasts for free? And they are automatically downloaded as long as your iTunes is open, so you really don't have to do anything! And if you sync your iWhatever regularly, it will take off the ones you have heard and put on new ones you haven't heard.


What is a podcast, you ask? Well it's usually spoken shows like audiobooks, but in 10 minute to 1 hour increments. You can get information on running, music, fashion, technology...and more! Here are a few of my favorites.

Click to go to the show

This American Life: "First-person stories and short fiction pieces that are touching, funny, and surprising."says this source. Not only that, but I usually learn something while I am laughing out loud. So, it's killing two birds with one stone.

click to go to the show

The Moth: These are 5-15 minute live stories told by real people. This show started in NYC, and I actually went to a live one the last time I was there and it was hilarious. BUT when you can't make it to the show in the city, this podcast is a good substitute. Each week they have a different theme, so sometimes they are quite touching and sometimes they are just laugh your bum off funny!

click to go to the show

Savage Love Podcast: This one is rated PG-13 or maybe even R. It is a call in talk show regarding sex and relationships, hosted by a very vocal and opinionated, and funny gay guy named Dan Savage.

Planet Money - they break down financial issues into understandable stories, such as this one that explained some things about the 2008 recession. 

KEXP: A new song each Day!  

Car Talk

Stuff You Missed in History Class

Coffee Break Spanish

Grammer Girl's Quick and Dirty Tips for Better Writing

and many more! 

Here are the top 10 in the US according to iTunes: 

Gosh, even I didn't know there was a Harry Potter podcast!

Do you listen to podcasts? Which ones are YOUR favorites? 

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Un Dia - Bolivia Style

Today I am participating in

 

with Karen at A Peek at Karen's World 


 Almost exactly three years ago I was in Bolivia traveling and doing volunteerwork. Here is a normal "day in the life" at that time. You can read more about my travels in Bolivia HERE.

Well, we are now in Cochabamba and have been here for about a week. We are settling into our routine...Here it is, for your reading enjoyment.

-8:00 get up

-Have breakfast, watch my favorite show on Discovery Kids (in Spanish, its about what I can understand), Charlie y Lola

-Walk to class (about 20 minutes, mostly downtown, with a few plazas thrown in)

-10:00 - 12:00 Tutor in Spanish. We mostly just talk girl talk, in Spanish...I mean, what else am I paying her for? I am getting the best gossip in Cochabamba!!

-Walk home

-1:00 - 2:00 Lunch with the family (we are staying with a family in the down town area. They have other family come over all the time for lunch, so we always have a full table for lunch)

-2:00 - 2:30 Bus ride to work (volunteering) goes from down town to the subburbs, where the orphanage is

2:30 - 6:30 Help the kids with their tarea (homework), help them with their work (they each have a daily chore) and if there is time, play with them. The kids are from 3 yrs - 17 years. 30 kids live in the orphanage full time and another...maybe 30-40 come for an after school program around 3. It is busy, busy, busy...and my arms are tired from all the spinning around and carrying we do! But it is a great time.

-Bus back home

-7:00 Dinner with the family

-At 8 Julietta´s novela (soap opera) comes on and if you want to watch it with her (and another at 9) you can...It is actually good becuase they speak really slowly, so it is easier to understand the Spanish this way...but they are SOOOO cheesy!!!

-After dinner activities (there is a festival/holiday right now for one of the virgins, so there is a mini carnaval with food and fireworks and music every night)

And that, my friends, is our normal day!!!


Original Post HERE.  


What is YOUR normal day like? Have you ever lived in a foreign city? What was THAT like? 

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House Progress 9

I have very few updates to show, which is a little unnerving considering we are supposed to be finished in exactly two weeks!  The builder assures me that by next week I will be astounded by the progress but it still feels very hard to believe it will be finished in time.

They prepped the front and back to pour cement for the walkway and driveway along with installing our exterior porch lights:

They installed our rain showerhead in the Master Bathroom:

And also installed sconces in the Master Bathroom mirror:

There I am again in a mirror picture.

That is really all to report.  They are in the midst of re-painting the interior walls of the house, making other repairs, and today they start staining the floors.  Hopefully, I will be blown away with the progress when I show photos on next Friday's update!

P.S. If anyone has any questions regarding sources don't hesitate to contact me via e-mail.  I have received some comments with questions but sometimes have a hard time finding an e-mail address to respond.

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Peyto Lake

Peyto Lake might just be the most beautiful and scenic lakes in the entire world. It is part of the Canadian Rockies and is part of the Banff National Park in Alberta, Canada. The lake is formed in between the Waputik Range valley, which means it is situated right between the Peyto Peak, Mount Jimmy Simpson, and Caldron Peak. This glacier-fed lake is best known amongst tourists for its beautiful turquoise color that also changes along with the season. Thus, you have something to look forward to, regardless of which season you decide to visit. The lake is named after a famous trail guide and trapper in Banff, who is Bill Peyto.

The Peyto Lake is fed by the Peyto Creek, wherein waters come from the Peyto Glacier and Caldron Lake. The lake is very easy to access from the Icefields Parkway wherein you must follow a paved trail that is approximately a 10-minute drive to get there. There are also parking spots provided in the spot, although you can only be accommodated in the low level parking. The lake itself sits at an altitude of 1860 meters.

The short, paved trail from Bow Summit will offer you with the most breathtaking view that your eye could bear witness to. The months of June to early July will produce a dark blue color in the lake as soon as the summer season kicks off and the nearby glaciers begin to melt. As summer continues to progress, the glaciers continue to melt and the melted water will make its way into the delta and lake. Thus, the lake is filled with ground-rock debris that is also known as “rock flour”. These fine particles are suspended in the surface of the lake's water.

Many have this false misconception that the mineral contained in the rock flour is responsible for producing the unique color in the lake. However, it is actually a reflection from the light spectrum that produces that blue-green color on the lake as the light shines on these particles. This is responsible for the changing of colors on the lake as the season changes over time. Because of this natural wonder, the lake is an ideal sightseeing spot for tourists who come to the park.

For those traveling to Peyto Lake from other countries, there are several choices of accommodation within the area. Some of the popular hotels available to choose from include Post Hotel & Spa Lake Louise, Fairmont Chateau Hotel Lake Louise, and the Lake Louise Inn. These accommodation choices are equipped with various facilities and amenities to ensure a relaxing stay while you enjoy the sights at Peyto Lake.

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Marvelous 1920s Apron Pattern

Look what I found browsing around the internet! Isn't it marvelous!? I love the uneven hem and the echoing top of the bib line. And those stripes of trim, so art deco! If you really really need this pattern (and have the cash) it is for sale on Esty http://www.etsy.com/listing/77063795/mccall-1905-rare-vintage-1920s-apron. Wish I could afford it! Too cool! It will be in my file for inspiration though, someday hopefully I will get around to making it. :)

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TRAFİKTE LÜTFEN DAHA DİKKATLİ OLALIM

Trafik kurallarına uyalım uymayanları uyaralım ,aşağıdaki videoyu lütfen paylaşalım, nedenmi paylaşın diyorum ;bunu videoyu izleyince zaten anlıyacaksınız.Paylaştığınız için şimdiden teşekkür ederim.

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Cake Pops

Have you seen these at Starbucks and wondered, "how do they make those?"

Well, wonder no longer. I am here to tell you.

My friend and I made these for her going away party (I know...she wanted to do it!) and it was super easy!

We made two different kinds - chocolate cake pops with milk chocolate coating and strawberry cake pops with (blue) white chocolate coating.

Ingredients: 

1 box regular cake mix, any kind you want

(and whatever ingredients necessary to make the cake)

1 tub of frosting (any kind - we used cream cheese)

1 package of Wilton's candy melts (we got them at Michaels*they have all kinds of colors!)

(here are some tips on how to use these, clean up etc)

Various Sprinkles

Lollipop Sticks (also from Michaels)

Cello Bags (I think they are 3" x 4" but am not positive)

Ribbon

Styrofoam board (to keep pops upright while drying)

source

{1}

Bake the cake. Once it's cool crumble it up into a bowl. 

Add half of the frosting. Mix well.

{2)

Roll the mixture into balls. Put on a cookie sheet. Leave in fridge for at least an hour or, even better, overnight. We were on the fast track cake pop making, so we put them in the freezer for about 20 minutes. It worked but I would recommend just making them the night before. 

{3}

Melt the candy melts. To do this, bring a pot of water to a simmer and put a mixing bowl with the candies on top of the pot, kind of a double boiler method. 

{4}

Put the lollipop sticks into the bottom (flatter part) of the cold cake balls and then dip them into the melted chocolate. (HINT: if the chocolate is a little thick, you can add a little bit of vegetable oil to it to thin it out) I don't know if it's becuase we did the fast freezer method, but the balls kept wanting to fall off the stick, so do it as quickly as you can. Don't shake the stick either. We found that if there is too much chocolate, just give it a light twirl to even it out.

{5}

After dipped, add sprinkles and put them one by one into the Styrofoam board to cool/dry. 

{6}

Once dry, we transfered them to a plate to fit new ones in the "cooling rack". We also used a fan, you can kind of see it in the photo above. But don't set it too high or the melted chocolate will go everywhere! 

{7}

Put them in the cello bag. 

{8}

Tie a ribbon on the bag and VOILA. Cake pops!

Here they are, hanging out at the party!

Okay, so if you think the ones we made are cool, check out some of these: 

source

source

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**Also if you don't want to mess with pops, you can make cake BALLS: 

source

Enjoy your Pop and Ball making!

Have you ever made cake pops? Do you have an "go to" thing you usually make for parties?

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The Hidden Jewel of Asia

I finally got around to watching this week's episode of the Bachelorette.  While this season has been quite lackluster, what has been capturing my attention is the scenery of the travel destinations on the show (so far Thailand and Hong Kong).  And this week they were in Taiwan, which according to the show is known as the "hidden jewel of Asia", and hidden jewel it is.  The scenery was just gorgeous.  When I pictured Taiwan, I had only thought of its major city: Taipei, but there is so much natural beauty to behold in addition to the bustling city:

Images via Pinterest

 I have been almost all over Asia and it always remains my favorite part of the world to travel to-- so I definitely hope to make it to Taiwan one day!

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