Due to the gaining popularity of Internet-capable mobile devices over the last few years, I have installed a new plugin for my blog to be served in its full glory via 3G/Wi-Fi network. The Write Stuff is now iPhone compatible! Formatted for simple navigation and ready to be viewed by all iPhone users.

For all you WordPress bloggers, check out this essential plugin:
WPTouch is a simple, powerful and elegant mobile theme for your website. WPtouch automatically transforms your WordPress blog into an iPhone application-style theme, complete with ajax loading articles and effects, when viewed from an iPhone, iPod touch, Android, Opera Mini, Palm Pre, Samsung touch and BlackBerry Storm/Torch mobile devices.

The theme also includes the ability for visitors to switch between WPtouch view and your website’s regular theme.

For more information, visit http://www.bravenewcode.com/wptouch-pro.

To download and install WPTouch for your blog, visit WordPress Plugins.

I came across a website called Macula Art by Christopher Bonnette purely by accident. On his site, there are many paper craft projects that anyone can put together. If you’re a fan of paper art, you should definitely check them out! Here’s the Pegasus paper craft I made…

To start, download the Pegasus paper pattern.

Now gather some scissors, glue, ruler, craft knife, and a glass mat (or a hard surface to work on).

Take your time and trim out all the pieces. You can use a craft knife for the straight parts but most of these edges will be hidden when you put them together. I find that I have more control using a scissor and only using the craft knife for making incisions where scissors can’t reach.

Once you have the pieces, start assembling! I prefer using a glue stick because it dries faster and it’s easier for hard to reach areas.

Assemble the head first, then attach the neck, mane, and horn.

The body should be much easier, with only the tail and wings to attach. Now that you have the head and body, you only have to put the two parts together!

Remember to take your time and make sure you’re having fun! That’s what paper crafts is all about, right? Enjoy!

For more information about Christopher Bonnette and his work, check out MaculaArt.com.

I was taking a afternoon nap yesterday when I felt something crawling on my right elbow. A ash gray ladybug! It was the darnest thing! I’ve never seen a gray ladybug before and even stranger to find it on my bed!

Why is this ladybug gray? Is it even a ladybug?
Turns out, there are hundreds of different kinds of ladybugs all over the world. There are about 500 different kinds in the United States and nearly 5000 world wide. They come in all different colors — reds, yellows, orange, gray, black, brown and even pink! Despite their different colors, ladybugs are not poisonous to humans. However, they can have toxic effects on some animals.

So why did it come into my house?
Ladybugs are attracted to the light colored houses. Especially, homes that have a clear southwestern sun exposure. Ladybugs come in through small cracks around windows, door ways and under clap boards. They want to hibernate in a warm, comfortable spot over the cold months of winter. Ladybugs gather in groups when they hibernate, so if you see one, you can be sure more will follow. The best way to keep them out is to repair damaged clap boards, window and door trim and to caulk small cracks.

Now that the ladybugs are in my house, will they eat anything?
Ladybugs don’t eat fabric, plants, paper or any other household items. They like to eat APHIDS. Aphids are very small, but very destructive pest that feed on plants. (If you have rose bushes, you have probably seen aphids.) Ladybugs, while trying to hibernate in your house, live off of their own body fats. They, also, prefer a little humidity. But our homes are usually not very humid during the winter. In fact, they are rather dry causing most of your ladybug guests to die from dehydration. Occasionally, you might witness a ladybug in your bathroom getting a drink of water. Now, that’s a smart lady!

For more information about ladybugs, check out LadybugLady.com.

I’m back from Europe y’all!

As happy as I am to be home after a long holiday, I now have plenty of things to catch up on, including my credit card bills. It seemed pretty foolish for me to try to play any games involving exchanging money while I was in Europe. So I tried to convert little cash directly, instead resorting to using credit cards as much as possible.

I researched my credit cards’ service fees and this is the best I can decipher them:

The best choice for international spending appears to be Capital One and that was the card I took with me to Europe. However, not all credit cards by the same issuer are created equally. So, look at your terms and conditions before making your decision and taking your credit cards abroad.

For more information credit/debit/ATM cards and foreign exchange fees, check out FlyerGuide.