So I'm on maternity bed rest for at least the next six weeks. I am allowed to sit at my computer (thank the lordy). I've been on bed rest for a week now and already getting a bit bored. So here is what I'd like from all of you.

Websites to visit!

Fun sites you've come across dealing with exciting places to travel (we will be doing somewhere in Europe in spring 2007), fun gadgets that you love, interesting shopping sites, historical information sites, anything interesting!

I'm trying to see this time as a gift to get things like finances and bills sorted and to maybe learn a few things. I love to learn about other cultures and how things are done in other places.

So show me the world!

Well, Our daughter just had her first after spending several weeks of bed rest prior to delivery. He was a healthy 8' 12" and has strong lungs.
Oh yes, you should consider Italy for your Europe trip Here are 2 of my favs:

www.slowtrav.com
www.initaly.com

Here's one for funny wines.
http://www.winelabels.org/labels.htm

Thank you for those sites. So far I've done Rome, Venice, some Germany, Paris, Provence, and Ireland. We missed Florence and we were thinking a lot about doing some other parts of Italy for the 2007 trip. It is such a wonderful country. I will check out both those sites.

And congrats grandpa. Good to hear about healthy babies.

I would suggest www.wired2theworld.com
It is one Fodorite's we

sorry, hit the enter button...

it's one fodorite's website with very long stories of her world travels. I speak from experience when I say it will pass several (I spent 12) hours...

Best of luck.

Erika

Hi - My kids swear by the website www.bored.com Lots of interesting things to do there! Good Luck

www.magellans.com
Full of things you'll think you must have

www.fodors.com/forums (Europe)
Best 'travel' entertainment there is

Hi K,

For Italy www.slowtrav.com

Though I am not prone to "wasting time online" (though I do spend quite a bit here. . .), these websites are hilarious if you want some fun.

www.homestarrunner.com
www.overheardinnewyork.com

I also really enjoy googling things that I know a little bit about and what to be more familiar with. Do that and learn, learn, learn.

And read lots of books by Truman Capote!

Check out www.virtualtourist.com

for great photos of just about everywhere you can think of:

Pbase.com
Worldisroun.com

for world history timeline:
historyhttp://www.hyperhistory.com/online_n2/History_n2/a.html

Correction: Worldisround.com

How could I forget!?!?!?

Download GoogleEarth and visit everything you miss.

And remember. . . Big Brother is watching, so you might as well be, too.

For travel:

http://www.ricksteves.com

plus all the others previously mentioned

For keeping your mind sharp:

http://www.websudoku.com/

Those are all excellent. Thank you! I'm going to have a lot of fun visiting every single site you've all mentioned.

We have a lot of birthdays coming up, so let's see some more shopping sites! We have my husband, my 2 teenager brother and sister-in-laws, my 30-something brother and sister-in-laws, mother's day, and father's day. I might as well get that out of the way.

My sister-in-law loves Murano glass. Any website for buying that?

kelliebellie; so sorry for you but lets hope for a healthy babe! I can spend HOURS checking out stuff on ebay (probably a great source for Murano glass) Overstock.com and qvc.com. These are all great "shopping sites" and I have never had any issues with buying off of any of them! Good luck and rest up!

Kelliebellie- if the teenage sister-in-law has an iPod, get her shugabuds! They are personal headphones encrusted with Swarovsky Crystals and I absolutely love mine. They come in a little carry case that sort of looks like birth control, but that is besides the point. It is like putting earrings IN your ear! Mine are pink. . .