Two weeks ago my van was sideswiped by a 16-year-old who *thought* he had his own lane (wrong). In any case, my van entered the body shop and I found out what it’s like to live without a piece of technology I previously took for granted. Wondering what that might be? I’ll tell you, but first you have to promise not to laugh… I found out what it’s like to live without my… (drum roll please) van’s back-up sensor.

OK, you can stop laughing now. If you are laughing, it’s probably because you haven’t yet purchased a vehicle with this glorious piece of technology. If you have your own back-up sensor, you know what I’m talking about. It’s not that I’m about to back up into lots of parked cars without it (but I might come close), it’s just that I’ve come to rely on the little beep-beeps to help remind me how close I am to those parked cars. So, I have to pay attention a whole lot more sans beep-beeps. You might even say I’m a bit *addicted* to my vehicle’s back-up sensor, as well as the automatic rear doors and trunk. (It’s true… I hit the spot where the button should have been in the rental van, but alas, the doors did not open on their own.)
[My husband called me a spoiled brat. He's probably right Of course I recognize I am way too dependent on this technology and will never let my daughter learn to drive in a car with said technology, but that's another whole blog post.]

Today I got my van back (and the 16-year-old’s insurance company got a bill for $2000), and have decided to be much more appreciative of my favorite pieces of technology. While we’re at it, here’s my top 10 list of technology I’m addicted to I don’t want to live without (it sounds better when I say it this way):

1. iPhone (I’ve only had it 6 months but really never leave home without it.)
2. MacBook Pro
3. TIVO/DVR (I was sick recently and had to watch live TV… with commercials! yuck!)
4. Wacom Tablet (How do people use computers all day long with mice? double yuck!)
5. iTunes (I know I already listed my Mac, but iTunes should stand on its own – I haven’t bought a physical CD in 8 or 9 years.)
6. iPhone (It’s worth two spots on this list I think.)
7. Facebook (I love how it allows me to easily keep in touch with friends all over the world.)
8. DSL (My in-laws still have dial-up… I can’t believe we ever thought that was fast!)
9. Back-up sensor on my van
10. Automatic doors on my van

So what technology are you addicted to?

So last Saturday my sister and I had a “girls-night” while attending the Casting Crowns Christmas tour in Reading, PA. We each left our husbands and two children home from about 3 – 11pm that night. As a mom, I always wonder about those special daddy-daughter/son times… did daddy remember to give the girls a bath? What did they eat for dinner? Did he brush their hair before leaving the house? What did they do for fun? You know, basic mom questions.

But usually the desire for some me time is enough to keep those questions at bay. In any case, on Sunday morning, we got some answers. Since the answers to one in particular (the dinner question) were the source of laughter and smiles all around our houses, I thought I’d share them with you.

Drum roll please… my daughter gleefully told me she had cereal for dinner because daddy tried to make rice but it was too sticky. Well, at least he tried! My niece and nephew, however, had 4-day old (reheated) pancakes and… wait for it… Doritos! Now that’s a well-balanced meal if I ever heard of one.

My sister and I had a great time on our trip to PA. We laughed a lot, enjoyed some great music, and (best of all) got to come home to kids (and husbands) who couldn’t wait for us to make dinner. Isn’t it wonderful to be needed?!

This is from the Engage blog. It’s such a great source of inspiration for designers that I had to share. –Wendy

The following is a great showcase of websites who have incorporated (or completely embraced) hand drawn elements within their website design. As of late this trend has increasingly grown in popularity as it brings a new level of uniqueness and personality to the site’s design. Without further ado a lit of 49 great website designs using hand drawn elements. Click through each screenshot to see the live version of the site:

A lot has been written recently about the poor state of the US economy. In fact, I just read in the newspaper this morning that President-Elect Obama warns it will only get worse before it gets better. Then I went to church, where I heard some other statistics:

• If you have clothes in your closet, food in your fridge, and a roof over your head, you are better off than 75% of the world.
• If you have money in the bank and in your wallet, and some spare change laying around your house, you are better off than 92% of the world.

Our pastor then challenged us to make this Christmas all about giving. Instead of asking someone, “What did you get for Christmas?”, he suggested we ask, “What did you give this Christmas?” Indeed, even on our poorest day–when the stock market has dropped another 400 points and unemployment rates are increasing–we are much richer than the vast majority of the world. So… what will you give this Christmas?

Too funny. I’ve encountered many of these. The rest of the list can be accessed by the link to Jeremy’s blog. –Wendy

Most clients are good clients, and some clients are great clients. But some jobs are just never going to work out well. Herewith, a few indicators that a project may be headed to the toilet. Guarantee: All incidents taken from life.

1. Client asks who designed your website.
2. Client shows you around the factory, introducing you to all his employees. Then, behind closed doors, tells you: “If you do a bad job with this website, I’m going to have to let these people go.”
3. Client takes six months to respond to your proposal, but doesn’t change his due date.
4. At beginning of get-acquainted meeting, client informs you that someone has just bought his company.
5. Client, who manufactures Russian nesting dolls, demands to know how many Russian nesting doll sites you have designed.

[Read the whole list...]