Buddy the Elf
16 Dec 2012“I just like to smile, smiling’s my favorite.”
A Dog’s Gift of 210 Empty Water Bottles
16 Dec 2012This is so cute. The Santa hat adds a hilarious touch.
You’re a Wizard, Harry
11 Dec 2012I haven’t posted in a while because I’ve been busy completing another item on my 30 Before 30 list, #8: Visit the Wizarding World of Harry Potter.
Clay and I took a week trip to Orlando to visit Walt Disney World and Universal Studios. We were both so excited to see the Harry Potter themed attractions, and I’m happy to say they did not disappoint. Tucked away in Universal’s Islands of Adventure theme park is the cozy village of Hogsmeade. Take your picture by the Hogwarts Express, delight in the treats at Honeydukes, and experience the wand selection process at Ollivander’s. It really does transport you.
We took some time to rest at the Three Broomsticks pub and had a couple butterbeers. While it was incredibly fun, I didn’t love the flavor: a little too sweet for me!
After riding a hippogriff and taking the Dragon Challenge twice, we came upon the real highlight of the Wizarding World of Harry Potter: Hogwarts. It’s incredible to look at and even more exciting to walk through. It’s the kind of line you want to wait in, just to take in everything. See the talking paintings, visit Dumbledore in his office, help Harry, Ron, and Hermione in the classroom, and chat with the famous sorting hat. Oh, and the actual ride is awesome too.
Every fan of the movies and/or books should definitely see it. Even non-fans will find the rides exciting and well done. It was really a magical place and I can’t wait to visit again.
Oh, Rubik’s Cube
27 Nov 2012Crossing off another item on my 30 Before 30 list, #20: Learn to solve a Rubik’s cube.

Until recently I’d never even tried to solve a Rubik’s Cube. It kind of scared me and, after looking at one, didn’t make a whole lot of sense. I wish I could say I’m one of those people that could just see one and instantly understand how to solve it. Even when following directions, I had some trouble. But, after about two weeks of constantly working at it, I can consistently (and excitedly) solve a Rubik’s cube every time I try.
For those also not naturally Rubik’s Cube gifted, here is the tutorial I used: How to Solve a Rubik’s Cube. It had the easiest notation and was the simplest to follow.
To prove I could actually do this, I thought about putting up a video of me completing the Cube. But since it takes me an average of 3 minutes, I figured it might be a bit boring. So instead, here’s a video of the world record at 5.66 seconds.