Oh IFTTT

I've been using IFTTT for a couple of months now and I wouldn't be able to manage my blogosphere life without it. The site is very simple and adopts the phrase "IF This Then That' so for example if you post a blog post and you want to send a tweet about it then you create a recipe for that task. There are nearly 50 channels including twitter, facebook, blogger, wordpress, evernote. You can create the 'This' part of the action for example;

• I post a photo on instagram

So to end your recipe with the 'that' part you would need to action it; 

• Send photo to evernote.

This very recipe was how I came across IFTTT as Facebook buying instagram had me worried that I could at some point lose my photos and wanted them saved somewhere. I now use IFTTT to do several tasks and help me organise myself better. My only criticism is that you can only load one account to each IFTTT account. So if you run two twitter accounts for example, you would need two separate IFTTT accounts. Apparently they will change that in the future but it's one of my favourite time saving internet tools. 

Love it!

No spam... EVER!

Oh how I wish that the above picture was true...

In the past month I've had my share of spam across a multitude of social network tools that I am definitely feeling spammed out. This isn't a new feeling but I have felt a bit in recent weeks that any account I have is more susceptible to getting spammed. It's wise to be aware of spam and the concept of "hacking" as we know it all happens, I felt annoyed by each one and mostly annoyed at myself to the point where I nearly cancelled all of my accounts. The drama!

Patchlife

I wrote a couple of months ago about capturing memories and some internet sources that can help. I've since then come across Patchlife. All of your popular social networking is put together into a daily log for you to look back on. It's a bit like Big Brother in a way.

Sarah Loves... her iPhone

My iPhone goes everywhere with me, wherever I am it is never too far away. You might remember my devastation when I had dropped my phone and it failed to work, luckily it all got sorted and I'm now even more careful with it. It's my life, or rather, my life is in it.

A little bit of variety never hurt no one

My music taste is pretty varied. I think it always has been though. Working in a music store for several years only made my music taste even more varied and unfortunately it did mean I was pretty up to date with even the latest "big thing" on the music scene. This wasn't necessarily a good thing.

I hardly listen to commercial radio any more and I tend to stick to the music I know best and have followed for a long time. I rely on friends, twitter, facebook etc to find out about the new music I should have a listen to.

The Good The Bad and The Ugly of my week

So this week seems to have been a bit busy, how has it been for you? Got everything done that you wanted to?

The Good The Bad and The Ugly of my week

The Good

Getting more followers to my blog :-) You can also become a fan of this blog on facebook

Manchester United winning the Carling Cup Final

Although I'm missing Spurs boy I like seeing more of Bestie again in his absence. More ice cream scoffing :-)

Sarah Loves... FarmVille

Yes it's sad isn't it? But I do love FarmVille. In fact this could be another addiction. FarmVille allows users to invest in farm equipment and sell their produce for profit and has exploded in popularity since being launched.

• FarmVille is the most popular application in the history of Facebook. 
• Right now, FarmVille has 62 million users. 
• 22 million people log in everyday.
• FarmVille players outnumber real farmers in the US by a ratio of 60 to 1.
• There is actually a Facebook group devoted to hating FarmVille. 
• On an average day, FarmVille players purchase 500,000 tractors. John Deere, the biggest US manufacturer of real tractors sell around 5000 a year, though they are a little more expensive.
• Apparently serious health care professionals break into their sleep in Singapore to harvest their crops (good luck with that heart bypass tomorrow), students miss essay assignments and real farmers sign up to remind themselves of why they started farming in the first place (before the dead cows and broken ankles took the fun out of it all)
• Players spend an average of 20 minutes a day tending to their farms, with much of that time taken up with planting their fields.
• Although Farmville is free to play, Zynga draws revenue from online advertising and from some users who are prepared to pay for virtual goods.

Do you play FarmVille?

The You Code

I received my free copy of The You Code by Judi James and James Moore from the Facebook group page Ebury's Free Book Group and it is a fascinating if a somewhat freaky read.

The You Code: What your habits say about you and it gives an insight into yourself, your friends and family and even your boss! The book looks at different aspects of body language and how the smallest things we do can send out messages to others. It works as a guide that you will keep coming back to as you meet new people and of course if you wish to change the way that you are perceived it also provides a guide to that too.

I found out these things -

• Because I don't drink/like coffee I'm a wuss. I will blog about this discovery next.
• My choice of still water means that I'm seen as sensible and reliable.
• My across the body style bags show I'm locked in Enid Blyton world (LOL) and I have a practical approach to life. A typical head girl or hockey captain.
• As a brunette I have healthy self esteem.
• My curly hair shows I like spontaneity and lack of control. 
• I prefer slipper boots to wear out of choice which shows I want comfort but I can have sex on my terms rather than wearing killer heels!!!
• My wedge mule slippers bring out my inner diva (So where is she?).
• I often say "If you like" which means I'm passive aggressive.
• As I fiddle with my necklace this shows I feel under threat by someone/something
• Doodling boxes shows a desire to create order out chaos
• My hair twiddling can be seen as flirting. Also parents got you off to sleep by stroking your head as a child (apparently this is true!)
• I'm careful with magazines and books and I like to prevent creasing means that I want approval worthy behaviour from those around me
• Highlighting TV programmes in the TV Guide shows me as a troubled perfectionist and apparently my parents made my "bowels as regular as clockwork" as a child (apparently also true)
• As I like to twitter/tweet I live in the belief that the world is waiting to hear what I have to say
• Using facebook shows I have low self esteem
• As a blogger I like a public performance!
• As I like a clean tidy hallway this shows that I'm a keeper of order
• Having a schizo bed (tidy on top and chaos underneath) shows my life is about firefighting and that I drink too much!
• Because I call the toilet "The toilet" instead of loo, lav etc shows me to be honest, open and a bit bland
• I like prawn sandwiches as a choice and this shows me to be a giggler, young at heart and I like to gossip
• I like to listen to my iPod on long commutes which shows me to be anti-social and vindictive
• Bourbon biscuits being my favourite shows that I like to get my own way
• Having a black car shows me to be personally competitive and not a team player

Spurs boy had a read of it afterwards and he was also a bit freaked out.

Have you read it?

The Good The Bad and The Ugly of my week

The Good

I have scheduled this post for Sunday evening as I will be away this weekend to London with Spurs boy. This is actually our first trip away as a couple and we really cannot wait. He was away this week and the place seemed empty without him and it's good to have him back. Our trip to London is a little bit for Valentine's although we have agreed "NO PRESENTS" but I'm arranging Saturday and he will arrange what we do Sunday. We won't know until the day what we are doing. I can tell you now that on Saturday I have planned some shopping (only a little as he'll moan and my leg will hurt) and then a cocktail making class, then dinner and then off to see Invictus. No idea what he has planned for Sunday though, we both hate surprises! 

As I have spent most of my week recovering from my hamstring injury, which turned out to be a Grade 2 tear, only had Grade 1 before :-( I have been very much enjoying comfort food. Not so much chocolate and crisps but jacket potato with cheese and beans, lasagne, pancakes etc Nom nom nom! 

I got another follower to my blog - Welcome!

Bestie came to stay with me whilst Spurs boy was away and it was fab. It's her birthday on Monday, she'll be 25. We are having dinner with her, her family and friends in the evening and next weekend will be the big party! I still need to get an outfit and of course her present. 

Regarding the hamstring injury as a certain Ryan Giggs used to have troublesome hamstrings a few years ago I'm now being referred to on twitter as "Twitter's Giggsy" which I like :-))

My Lakeland order arrived :-), the heated towel rail is fantastic, the Cupcake Cake Pan and Paella Pan will be used next week. The make up caddy has been placed on the dresser, haven't actually put anything into it yet as I need to have a good old clear out of all my make up. Another thing for my to do list this week

I'd been waiting and waiting for the new Sade album and as it's been 10 years since her last album it has been some wait. Soldier of Love is fantastic from start to finish and it's really the only thing at the moment out of choice that I want to listen to. The title track is probably my favourite, check it out here.

My Airline Conquerer USA score is now 324! Whoop whoop!

Totally addicted to Rock Band both on The Wii and my iPhone. Still on medium though, guitaring is my choice of instrument. Spurs boy likes to drum!

As I have been working from home I have been more than sticking to my revision plan and I've actually done more than I had planned for which is very good!

Apparently I will like the new 2010 range of filofaxes as I had sent the Filofax twitter page my link to my recent blog and based on my choices they said I will like the new range! Very excited and apparently it's out from March! Cannot wait...but I will have to!

I saw this picture and it made me want a panda even more! Maybe not at all 16 though

Liking the new England Away Shirt for 2010-2012

The Bad

Ryan Giggs out injured (no not his hamstring, that's me!) for four weeks :-( So he'll miss the crucial Champions League match with AC Milan this coming week and The Carling Cup Final and a couple of Premier League games. 

Facebook has changed again! I know soon enough we will all forget about what it looked like before the changes but honestly WTF happened? And... most crucially my news feed doesn't actually work and always shows things from a day ago. So that's a facebook fail :-(

The golf practice is going to have to wait till my leg is better, for now have been playing Tiger Woods (snigger) PGA Tour 10 on the wii. But I can play it sitting down so it's not really counting as practice is it?

Spurs boys work trip was not very successful and he will need to go out again. Boo! :-(

The Ugly

Definitely my hamstring! It is definitely better now but when it was swollen it was not so good. I swore...LOTS. I felt stupid having crutches but it was much easier with them and although I'm not using them much now it's nice to know they are still there in case I need them. 

Football managers are said to love team selection problems and Mr Capello seems to be having a few with regards World Cup selection. Not just with the John Terry mess but now with Ashley Cole out for 3 months after suffering from a broken ankle. Please Mr Capello could you look towards James Milner or maybe even Leighton Baines as a suitable replacement for Cole. That said though; Milner and Baines you need to step it up a gear and prove you deserve your place too!

Sarah Loves... Funky Diva Designs

I won a bag from Funky Diva Designs last week and I've been a fan on Anna's designs for a while now and have got to know her more through her twitter and facebook. 

Anna says that "All of my designs are original, this means I can create a bespoke bag or accessory just for you.  If you've spotted a style you like on my collections page, but love a different fabric, or you just absolutely must have a little purse to match that funky bag, then all you need to do is get in touch".  

Funky Diva Designs are available through Etsy, Artfire and Misi. You can also get in touch with Anna here to arrange your special purchase.

Linen Heart Clasp Purse

Pink Flower Tote

Funky Pink Clutch 

Chloe - Blue

Helen Pink Swirls

Victoria in Velvet

The Good, The Bad and The Ugly of my week

The Good

Powderfinger! Loving the new album and found Odyssey Number Five a great album to be able to write to

It's nearly Christmas - everyone got their advent calendars?

Realising I can do some DIY - I made a table!

Now a contributing writer on Happy Moments

Winning prizes on twitter, facebook and from blogs

The Bad

The cold and dark mornings!

Sliding around the mud/poo outside chicken huts!!! Although I laugh at everybody else doing the same

The Ugly

Falling over and smacking my knees on concrete (I have nice colourful bruises)

P.S. Don't forget you can still use the code blissbubbley for 10% off purchases (valid until end of December 2009) from Love Hearts and Crosses