IPhone Review

So, I recently bought one of the best cadets out there, and I am in love.


While my Internet, which is down again, was on the fritz, I decided it was about time to get a new cellphone. I went in to AT&T with no idea just what I was looking for, but knowing I needed a phone that could multi-task along with me. I had seen the many cool cells that neices have had over the last few years and thought that the slider phones looked pretty decent. Keep in mind that I received my pink Razor home as a birthday gift about 2-3 years ago and was quite settled on it. I had not upgraded it at all since then, because it stood up well against drops, scratches and anything else a mom with kids could do to it.

It stood up well against time until the top half was snapped off of the bottom....but that's a whole other story.

So, Hanni, which was the name of the sales clerk at AT&T told me all of the reasons not to get slide phones and all the many, many, and I really mean MANY reasons to get the IPhone. She even showed me all of the various features that make this phone so far advanced compared to all other cellphones. So...here are a few of the features that I'd like to share with you all and if you have been wondering, "is the IPhone really worth it"?, I think the following information will help you make that great leap to this phone of all cellphones.

First of all, Apple is having a promotional sale to help sell their products. Right now you can get an IPhone for $99. I say run as fast as you can and get one now. This is a super deal, which is great for you all. Unfortunately, I was not informed of this sale and I spent quite a bit more at AT&T. They did not mention this sale, happening 1 week after I had spent this huge amount of money. I am hoping that I can go back and get a refund for the difference.

Secondly, you have the Internet at hand with an extremely easy to use touch screen. I almost wish they would start making laptops with touch screens this easy. They probably do, but they are also probably out of our price range.
I was a little weary at first, because I thought that it might irritate my fingers after a while, but it really doesn't, not even a little.

You can add tons of applications to your phone in two easy steps. I have put about 30 free ones on my phone and many of them are educational games for my kids to play while I drive. I also have a few for grocery lists, coupons, music, calorie counters, club card membership storage, and so many more.

The next thing is the free GPS. Okay I love this feature. Will I get lost in my own town? Probably not, but you just never know when you'll need it.

You also can connect your phone to ITunes,YouTube, your computer and upload everything to your phone.

The calendar is awesome. The alarm is wonderful. You really can't bet this computer system right in the palm of your hands.

If you have any questions or thoughts, input or complaints (if you already have an IPhone), please comment below.

I am just excited to have all of the technology right here with me, in phone form and in a non-breakable shell. Totally worth a second look.

Sarah

Frugal Fridays

Well, Frugal is not in it's name, but TARGET is!!!!!

I am a major Target Shopping fan. I love Target, I love making a "if I only had the money" list as I walk through each and every isle. Their clothes are cute, their furniture is cute, even the little tiny baby stuff (no, I don't have babies anymore, but I love to look anyhow) is totally cute.

Well, if you are like me, and you love Target, the frugal blog of the week is just for you:

Attention Target Shoppers

Ginger has awesome tips and listings for: Friday Freebies, Weekly Clearance Information, Weekly Deal Updates, Coupon Match-Ups and so much more.

I couldn't find my favorite page today when I checked the blog, but it is somewhere. It was a page that informed us of which days of the week Target had each section of the store on clearance. This way, if you were looking for a great deal on comforters, like I am right now, you would know the day of the week that they were going on sale.

I think everyone should check this blog out. One other bonus, is signing up for the Alert Me Nows. This will give you a heads up when specific items like the WII or something you usually have to order because they are never in stores, are actually going to be in the store.

Happy Target Shopping to all!!!

Sarah

Theological Thursdays

Okay, so we have covered a bunch of names and characteristics of God so far. I am finding as I search out God's names/characteristics, that so many of them are similar in meaning and use. I don't really want to continuously cover a name/characteristic that we have already covered, so this means a little more work on my part, to check ahead of time on the names I want to cover each week.

I said that we were planning to cover God as the, "I AM", but I think that it would be redundant to cover this once more. At the same time, I don't wan to leave any information out, either, because there could always be the slightest difference in these similar names.

So, now that I have confused you and myself, I will sum up God as the "I AM" and move on.

We first covered, "Yahweh/Jehovah", in the beginning of this study. The "I AM" form is pretty much the same, just a different translation. Yahweh when translated to the Hebrew verb form means, "to be", this literally equals, "I AM" or "He is".

This form of God is used so often in the Old Testament, that it proved to the people that God is the Self-Existent Eternal One. He was not created by anyone. He is, He was and He will always be.

God refers to himself in the form of "I AM" when speaking to Moses, in the Old Testament. When Moses asks God to reveal himself, God returns with:

"I AM who I AM". This is what you are to say to the Israelites: 'I AM has sent me to you'"
Exodus 3:14

God had not not left it up to man to define himself, He has already done that for us. He is the Great "I AM" - the Lord.

So, knowing that God is Self-Defining, that "I AM" stems from Yahweh, and God is, was and will always be....does that mean that He wants to do something for us? He seems to be reaching out to us, telling us who He is and that He has created us and loves us, but what does that power mean directly to us?

Over the next few weeks, we will cover the Yahwehs, of God. We know that Yahweh or I AM means the All-Sufficient One, the Lord, the beginning and the end. So, what are these additional Yahwehs that I am talking about? Here below is a list of Yahwehs that define God's intent and character, directly to us.

Yahweh-jireh
Yahweh-rapha
Yahweh-nissi
Yahweh-mekoddishkem
Yahweh-shalom
Yahweh-sabaoth
Yahweh-raah
Yahweh-tsidkenu

Some of these names I had heard before, but at least half of them where unfamiliar to me. That is what makes me look forward to being in the Word. No matter how much you think you know about God, there is always so much more to absorb.

I am excited about covering some new areas in the Bible. So, I have a big job this week: search, research and gather. I want the next few weeks to be interesting, intriguing and full of things that you all (and myself) have not heard many times before.

So, stay tuned and get ready for something new and exciting!!!!

"Draw near to God and He will draw near to you." James 4:8

Sarah

Tuesday Touch-Ups

One thing I almost always do during the Summer is cut off my hair. I live in Texas. Texas is hot, humid and sticky on good days. I love gardening and my family spends lots and lots of time outside. I don't like having my hair stick to my neck and I don't want to have my hair pulled up in a ponytail for 6 months of the year.

My question is...what hairstyle would look good on me? I love what my hairstylist, Jeannie at Techniques, did. Not only did she find a stylish bob that flattered my face, but she also did multiple highlights, to brighten and shine up my do.

So, do hate the heat of your hair? Would you look good with short hair? and what short hairstyle would look good on you?

Well, I went to the Diva of Beauty Tips, Bionic Beauty, and she had a super article on short do's for you. Take a look below and check out the before and after make-up. Also, head on over to Bionic Beauty for more helpful beauty tips, or come back next week and see what's up here....

Thinking of going short for summer?

by Bionic Beauty on June 6, 2009 ·

Warmer weather hits and women start thinking of going shorter (with their hair, that is- no crazy “Honey I Shrunk the Kids” stuff here!).

Here’s a handy “guide” from Total Beauty that weighs the pros and cons of short hairstyles. And if you’re waffling, I say DO IT! It’s only hair. It will grow back. Be adventurous; you only live once. Plus if you’ve got the Powerful Beauty attitude, that’s what really matters!

Do you have short hair? And have you ever had one of those OH NO haircuts that you totally want to bleach from your memory?

Is a Short Hairstyle Right for You?

It might be if you have delicate features like TotalBeauty.com reader Elie, see how we transformed her style.

Our makeover dream team gives TotalBeauty.com reader Elie a chic, gamine haircut and a sultry makeup look to boot. See how to make this easy-to-style short hairstyle and sexy makeup look work for you. See the makeover…

I'm Back...

I am so grateful for the great big Web. If I had not posted the fact that my internet was down, than I would never have gotten the wonderful email from Tina @ Suddenlink.com. She was so helpful and call out a Suddenlink.com technician right away to help get our internet and phone lines working once again.

Though they were not able to get here during the two hour time period they had told me, they did show up later today and fixed the problem pretty quickly.

I am so, so lost without my internet. I feel like I am missing a child when I can't get on here.

I am going to try and get a little caught up and hopefully it will bring together a very large list of awesome Father's Day Giveaways for you all to start signing up for.

I know I would love to win something totally cool and unexpected for my hubbie!

Sarah

A Big Apology....

I have apologize to everyone for being so absent the last few weeks. It has been a two part problem. A) I am mad as fire at Suddenlink. I have had Suddenlink for phone, cable & internet for sometime, and lately our Internet continuously shuts down for no apparent reason (we cannot find a trigger) and this shuts down our phones as well. I have been without Internet for at least a week, off and on. Tomorrow will change that problem.

B)My dad passed away April 1st of this year, & as executrix of his Estate, I am running with my head chopped off trying to get things in order (this is a lot more complicated than it sounds). Along with having four kids, with camps and "high priority needs". This does not include my sweet nubby, who owns two businesses, which we have had to cover while employees take vacations. So, I have now learned the awesome skill of power washing anything you can think of.

Hopefully, things will begin to get set right this week. Miracles do happen.

In the meantime, if you have a giveaway you would like to sponsor or if you would like your ad placed on this blog for free, please email me at sbarnesmomo4@yahoo.com. I now have an iPhone and can work as I go.

Thanks for your patience,

Sarah Barnes

Theological Thursdays

Adonai & Elohim

So last week we talked about the character of God in the name YHWH/Yahweh/Jehovah and we ended with the a lead into Adonai.

As I discussed previously, that the intent of this study that I am working through, is to get to know the characteristics of our personal God. I love this idea. How awesome that our God, who created us, walked in the form as Son of Man and died for us, would allow us to get to know who He is through His Namesakes and character.

I know as a human being, who feels insecure at times, that I am not always ready to give up all information about myself to just anyone. But God offers this revelations to everyone. Not just a few very dedicated people. Not just through Priests, as in the Old Testament, but a deep and personal relationship to every person on this Earth. That is something I cannot even grasp. I, as a sinner, am selfish. Sometimes I just withhold parts of myself from others, because of that selfishness, but God, who has every right, the greatest right, does not.

So onto the point of today's personal lesson: Adonai.

The first interesting information I learned was this: Adonai or Elohim are plural "Hebrew" nouns. Basically if you breakdown the meaning of the two words you get "Lord" from Adonai and Elohim which is the expression of the divinity of "God". These being "Two" parts of of God's character. I believe as do many other Christians that this was a foundation for the belief in the Trinity.

To early Phoenicians (I had to look up the meaning of this, because I was totally clueless. It describes the writers of the Greek, Roman and all other Western Alphabets) the word "Adon" being singular, was used to describe the pagan god Adonis. The word "Eloah" (being feminine, which was interesting to me) refers to the pagan idea of multiple gods.

In the present day when Adonai is used, and I did not know it was plural until now, as a singular form referring to God. Adonai as a singular in the present day is thought to be translated as all majestic and that our God contains all the attributes of every god that the pagans had.

Adonai, by itself has been translated to "Lord" or "my Lord", it can be found using the character of Adonai, 439 times in the Bible. There is not tons of information on this name of God, but it is clear to me that this is an important recognition of who God really is to us.

I have heard many, many songs with the title Adonai. In each of those songs, Adonai is used singularly but it definitely gets the message accross that God is Master, Creator, Owner and Sovereign Ruler.

To me Adonai has always been a tender description of God. He is the Master of the Earth and Sky, He is Creator and Ruler over the heavens and earth, the Lord of Hosts, worthy of ALL praise, none are comparable to Him, "Father of my hope", "Maker of each moment", "Freedom", the Miracle Maker, Majesty...The I AM.

I have learned that as the Adonai in my life, He is all powerful, He is ALL things, ALL ideals and Majesties are contained within Him. He IS the Trinity, three in one. There is no limit to Adonai, how comforting that truth is to me.

As always, I would love to know your thoughts about todays Theological Thursday and if you know other songs you would like to add, please send them to me and I'll put them on here as well.

Enjoy this week and get ready for next week's characteristic of God....I AM.


Here are some links of old and new versions of the song "Adonai".

"Adonai" by Petra

"Praise Adonai", by Paul Baroche

"Adonai", by Hillsong

the version I am most familiar with is this:

"Adonai", 1Hope

Verse using Adonai:

Adonai= "Lord", Exodus 4:10-12

New Word Wednesdays

cosset \KOSS-it\ , transitive verb:
1. To treat as a pet; to treat with excessive indulgence; to pamper.

noun:
1. A pet, especially a pet lamb.

Sumner's parents, for instance, were routinely attended by butlers, maids, coachmen and grooms while little Sumner and his sister, Emily, were pampered and cosseted from infancy by nurserymaids and governesses.
-- Benjamin Welles, Sumner Welles: FDR's Global Strategist

Assunta played a larger role in the lives of her children, whom she cosseted and cared for as best she could.
-- Patricia Albers, Shadows, Fire, Snow: The Life of Tina Modotti

In these two years, Adolf lived a life of parasitic idleness -- funded, provided for, looked after, and cosseted by a doting mother, with his own room in the comfortable flat in the Humboldtstrasse in Linz, which the family had moved into in June 1905.
-- Ian Kershaw, Hitler: 1889-1936 Hubris

Tuesday Touch-Ups

I found this article on DK Mommy Spot. She has such great organic ideas, giveaways and more.

How to Darken Your Hair Naturally

If you’d like to darken your hair but want to make sure it’s done naturally, you might try a rosemary tea rinse. While it’s not recommended for turning light hair dark, it will bring depth and incredible shine to darker hair. If you happen to have curly hair as well, rosemary tea will add lift to those locks. And the scent? Heavenly! Rosemary is known for its ability to lift spirits and even ease depression, so give this home remedy a try and let me know how it works for you!

Simply pour one cup of boiling water over 3 tsp. dried rosemary and steep overnight. In the morning, strain the tea and use it as a final rinse. You can use this weekly (or a few times a week) until you receive your desired color. For stubborn gray hair, you can try adding dried sage to the tea as well. This is a Native American remedy for ridding the hair of gray, and many people swear by this technique although I haven’t yet tried it myself. For this treatment, take 1/2 cup dried sage and 1/4 cup dried rosemary, simmer in 2 cups water for 30 minutes, and leave it to steep overnight (I’d recommend steeping in a glass container - I imagine it would stain!) Strain the mixture in the morning, pour over your hair and leave it to dry. (Again, old t-shirts and towels would probably be in your best interest.) Shampoo as usual and repeat this process once a week until you get the shade you’d like. Another natural and aromatic hair treatment!

Two of a Kind, Working on a Full House: Giveaways

Current Giveaways

• Baggino Learner's Bib 6/12
• Pledge Multi Surface Cleaner 6/10
• AppleCheeks Cloth Diaper 6/8
• ShooShoos Baby/Toddler Shoes 6/5
• THREE FuzziBunz Diapers 6/5
• Hammer Away! Toy 6/1
• Maggie Maternity 6/1