Best of the Web Resources

As some of you may know, I will be studying in Austria come January and will riding my bike around Europe for a month afterwards. The biking trip is going to require some outdoor gear that I don't have so I have been doing some research online to find out where I can get good quality at a decent price. My dad always taught me to think before I make a purchase because if you buy on impulse you will waste time, money, and energy. Buying a quality set of knives for example (just pulling examples out of thin air here ;-)) will save you time in your cooking by not having to deal with dull blades, money because you won't have to replace your knives every 5-10 years, and energy because you don't have do any more shopping for that item for years to come. Anyways, to the point... I love finding out about cool tools and what the "best" item in a particular category is. Like "surefire" flashlights for example.

Cool Tools

This site run by a man named Kevin Kelly is an awesome resource for so many different things. People write in and tell him about a product that they have found to be extraordinary or extremely useful.

Zappos

This is probably the best online store besides Amazon that I know of. Their customer service is unparalleled in my experience. You will be amazed.

Sierra Trading Post

These people have quality products at very discounted prices.

Backcountry

This store I like a lot because of the layout of the site, but more importantly because they actually use the stuff you can read reviews on the items you are interested in. Plus their prices are hard to beat (especially in their outlet store).

Most Comfortable Shoes

I was very pleased to find this site. These people basically tell you what 5-10 shoes are the most comfortable in any category of shoes that you are interested in.

Froogle

This is basically a search engine by google that searches online stores for the item you're looking for. Just type it in, then you can arrange your results by price, relevance, etc. Then you can click the link and you can buy knowing that you're most likely getting the best price for that item there is.

Tom Bihn Backpacks

This guy from Seattle makes the best backpacks according to Cool Tools.

Merino Wool Clothing

Basically for Fall, Winter, and Spring, Merino Wool is the way to go. Period. Forget underarmor and all those other fancy synthetic fabrics. I always knew natural is best and I'm proven right again and again.

Pandora

Pandora

This has to be the coolest thing I have seen online in a loooong time. I found out about through Dr. Mercola. These people make playlists that are perfect... you get to listen to your favorite music you haven't even heard yet and all for free. Brilliant idea.

You Might Be A Home Schooler Graduate If...

Came across this on the home schooler graduate group on Facebook. I thought it was funny enough to share with all of you. =)


1. You went to school in your PJ's.
2. Your biology lab consisted of assisting in your sibling's birth.
3. Your stacks of books to check out was taller than the librarian.
4. Your PE came from chasing little toddlers around.
5. Your school bus was a 9 passenger van.
6. You considered school work after lunch to be cruel and unusual punishment.
7. Your father has ever told the check-out lady at Wal-mart, "We're on a field trip."
8. Your social life was viewed by some to be one rung lower than that of a Benedictine monk.
9. Your teacher has ever written your report card on a napkin.
10. You had to move dirty laundry off your desk before your can start school.
11. The signatures on your diploma all end with the same last name.
12. Everyone else in the world is referred to as "Non-homies." (or PSers)
13. Your Mother's wardrobe consists primarily of denim jumpers.
14. Your first real date is on your honeymoon.
15. The word 'homework' sounds like a foreign language.
16. Your yearbook is also your babybook.
17. A snow day meant that you shovel the driveway after you finish your school work.
18. You enjoyed the pastime of watching public school kids walk home from school.
19. You had to look at the clock to see if you can call your public school friends yet.
20. You think that public-school-kid is an insult of the highest degree.
21. Health class consisted of eating breakfast.
22. You had to decide what year you want to graduate.
23. You were always late but just call it "homeschooler time."
24. You can remember nearly every single day you went to public school.
25. The teacher can kiss the principal, and no one thinks it's unusual.
26. You got to school and the teacher asks you if you've done all your chores.
27. You are one of the best people in the world!
28. Your friends talk about waiting in line for seven hours to try out the new roller coaster in town, so you went and waited five minutes on a school day.
29. Your school lunches contained any food item easily identifiable to a person without a microscope and extensive scientific knowledge.
30. You've ever listened to Beethoven and Michelle Branch on the same day. Not counting music lessons.
31. Gym class was actually a fun activity like swimming.
32. You're on a first-name basis with the clerks at the local bookstore.
33. The closest thing to a bully in your school is your slightly strange two-year-old sister.
34. Your friends complained about a hard day at school, and you have to keep yourself from giving them "that homeschooling smile."
35. You hear the phrase "socialization" and laugh because you have more friends and know more people than your public school friends.
36. Your school dress code is: No Nudity Allowed
37. You don't own a television
38. You are firmly convinced that high school causes brain damage
39. You sleep in till 9 am on weekdays but get up at 7 am on Sundays
40. You have more siblings than sweaters
41. You know what a 'Park Day' is
42. Your favorite author is Jane Austen, G.K. Chesterton, or P.G. Wodehouse
43. You have ever suffered through Saxon Math
44. All birthdays were school holidays
45. You have ever finished your schoolwork before breakfast
46. You taunted high schooled friends during finals week
47. You spend more than 2 hours each day reading and writing....voluntarily
48. You are 16 years of age or older and still have never been on a date
49. You know what 'Unit Studies' are
50. You had more than 2 science experiments going on in your room
51. You know more than 1 Latin paradigm
52. You have ever spent the entire school day in pajamas
53. You regularly utilize words such as: "malingering", "tedious", and "indubitably"
54. You consider sled riding phys ed
55. Your IQ is greater than your weight
56. You checked out more than 10 books each time you visit the library
57. You have ever attempted to teach yourself physics
58. When asked about your GPA, you say: "Oh, probably 4.0."
59. You have no idea as to what rock bands are currently popular...but you can recite all of the stages of cellular mitosis (in order).
60. You believe that you are the most intelligent human in your age bracket within a ten mile radius.
61. You actually wanted to recieve books on your birthday
62. Cleaning your room counts as Phys-Ed.
63. Your field trip takes you over seas.
64. Shop class includes watching your brother fix his car.
65. Your track meet is riding into town to race bikes with a friend.
66. Your mom wished you'd stop reading and do something else for a change.
67. Your bedroom was your classroom and your bed or floor is the desk.
68. You stayed up till whenever, and not because you are doing homework.
69. You could get days ahead in almost any subject.
70. You recorded, planed and graded your own school work.
71. You forgot about the minor holidays until you see your dad sitting home in sweats or your public school friends ask you over the weekend what you did on your day off.
72. You didn't know what's spring break is.
73. Your mom counted watching a war movie as history and playing out in the snow as PE.
74. You had more friends way older and younger than you than ones your actual age.
75. You read for fun

76. You know what the acronym “ATI” means; if you know there used to be an “A” on the end of it, you are really hardcore. – Thanks Elizabeth