diff --git a/Design Studio.xcodeproj/project.pbxproj b/Design Studio.xcodeproj/project.pbxproj
index 2433647..f357b71 100644
--- a/Design Studio.xcodeproj/project.pbxproj	
+++ b/Design Studio.xcodeproj/project.pbxproj	
@@ -60,6 +60,7 @@
 		E46A22081C010FE5004D5292 /* ChallengeDetailViewModel.swift in Sources */ = {isa = PBXBuildFile; fileRef = E46A22071C010FE5004D5292 /* ChallengeDetailViewModel.swift */; };
 		E47294E71C00C9FF00E59587 /* UIButtonTransparent.swift in Sources */ = {isa = PBXBuildFile; fileRef = E47294E61C00C9FF00E59587 /* UIButtonTransparent.swift */; };
 		E4766B4D1BF2A8550021059F /* UIButtonLightBlue.swift in Sources */ = {isa = PBXBuildFile; fileRef = E4766B4C1BF2A8550021059F /* UIButtonLightBlue.swift */; };
+		E48641461C63FAA70063D624 /* UIAlertController.swift in Sources */ = {isa = PBXBuildFile; fileRef = E48641451C63FAA70063D624 /* UIAlertController.swift */; };
 		E49F45D91BFD468100F32AE9 /* ChallengesViewController.swift in Sources */ = {isa = PBXBuildFile; fileRef = E49F45D81BFD468100F32AE9 /* ChallengesViewController.swift */; };
 		E49F45DC1BFE443B00F32AE9 /* StyledNavigationBar.swift in Sources */ = {isa = PBXBuildFile; fileRef = E49F45DB1BFE443B00F32AE9 /* StyledNavigationBar.swift */; };
 		E4A4B4631C2372CC00D6664E /* UITableViewCellAddChallenge.swift in Sources */ = {isa = PBXBuildFile; fileRef = E4A4B4621C2372CC00D6664E /* UITableViewCellAddChallenge.swift */; };
@@ -151,6 +152,7 @@
 		E46A22071C010FE5004D5292 /* ChallengeDetailViewModel.swift */ = {isa = PBXFileReference; fileEncoding = 4; lastKnownFileType = sourcecode.swift; path = ChallengeDetailViewModel.swift; sourceTree = "<group>"; };
 		E47294E61C00C9FF00E59587 /* UIButtonTransparent.swift */ = {isa = PBXFileReference; fileEncoding = 4; lastKnownFileType = sourcecode.swift; path = UIButtonTransparent.swift; sourceTree = "<group>"; };
 		E4766B4C1BF2A8550021059F /* UIButtonLightBlue.swift */ = {isa = PBXFileReference; fileEncoding = 4; lastKnownFileType = sourcecode.swift; path = UIButtonLightBlue.swift; sourceTree = "<group>"; };
+		E48641451C63FAA70063D624 /* UIAlertController.swift */ = {isa = PBXFileReference; fileEncoding = 4; lastKnownFileType = sourcecode.swift; path = UIAlertController.swift; sourceTree = "<group>"; };
 		E49F45D81BFD468100F32AE9 /* ChallengesViewController.swift */ = {isa = PBXFileReference; fileEncoding = 4; lastKnownFileType = sourcecode.swift; path = ChallengesViewController.swift; sourceTree = "<group>"; };
 		E49F45DB1BFE443B00F32AE9 /* StyledNavigationBar.swift */ = {isa = PBXFileReference; fileEncoding = 4; lastKnownFileType = sourcecode.swift; path = StyledNavigationBar.swift; sourceTree = "<group>"; };
 		E4A4B4621C2372CC00D6664E /* UITableViewCellAddChallenge.swift */ = {isa = PBXFileReference; fileEncoding = 4; lastKnownFileType = sourcecode.swift; path = UITableViewCellAddChallenge.swift; sourceTree = "<group>"; };
@@ -302,6 +304,7 @@
 				E4C113311BFA855700A7E1B3 /* RealmSwiftExtension.swift */,
 				E4C113351BFBBE3B00A7E1B3 /* StringExtension.swift */,
 				E429AF5A1BF539BC00AE4DA7 /* UIImageExtension.swift */,
+				E48641451C63FAA70063D624 /* UIAlertController.swift */,
 			);
 			path = Extensions;
 			sourceTree = "<group>";
@@ -575,6 +578,7 @@
 				E42DD3301BFE98020026390E /* ChallengesViewModel.swift in Sources */,
 				E421C4371BF279FE003F9D8A /* IntroViewController.swift in Sources */,
 				E4EB7A951C271226003FADA3 /* UITableViewCellSettings.swift in Sources */,
+				E48641461C63FAA70063D624 /* UIAlertController.swift in Sources */,
 				E429AF581BF530B200AE4DA7 /* DesignStudioStyles.swift in Sources */,
 				E45128F81BF29E09002AFC8A /* UIButtonRed.swift in Sources */,
 				E47294E71C00C9FF00E59587 /* UIButtonTransparent.swift in Sources */,
diff --git a/DesignStudioExpress/Base.lproj/Main.storyboard b/DesignStudioExpress/Base.lproj/Main.storyboard
index e98e30d..ee4d851 100644
--- a/DesignStudioExpress/Base.lproj/Main.storyboard
+++ b/DesignStudioExpress/Base.lproj/Main.storyboard
@@ -318,10 +318,10 @@
                                                 <imageView userInteractionEnabled="NO" contentMode="scaleAspectFill" horizontalHuggingPriority="251" verticalHuggingPriority="251" image="List_Page_Image" translatesAutoresizingMaskIntoConstraints="NO" id="DG7-Mo-fz8">
                                                     <rect key="frame" x="0.0" y="0.0" width="240" height="128"/>
                                                 </imageView>
-                                                <view contentMode="scaleToFill" translatesAutoresizingMaskIntoConstraints="NO" id="opU-bJ-Qrg">
+                                                <view contentMode="scaleToFill" ambiguous="YES" translatesAutoresizingMaskIntoConstraints="NO" id="opU-bJ-Qrg">
                                                     <rect key="frame" x="5" y="151" width="390" height="159"/>
                                                     <subviews>
-                                                        <label opaque="NO" userInteractionEnabled="NO" contentMode="left" horizontalHuggingPriority="251" verticalHuggingPriority="251" text="PRO CHECKLIST" textAlignment="center" lineBreakMode="tailTruncation" baselineAdjustment="alignBaselines" adjustsFontSizeToFit="NO" translatesAutoresizingMaskIntoConstraints="NO" id="9rc-NL-tGW" customClass="FXLabel">
+                                                        <label opaque="NO" userInteractionEnabled="NO" contentMode="left" horizontalHuggingPriority="251" verticalHuggingPriority="251" ambiguous="YES" misplaced="YES" text="PRO CHECKLIST" textAlignment="center" lineBreakMode="tailTruncation" baselineAdjustment="alignBaselines" adjustsFontSizeToFit="NO" translatesAutoresizingMaskIntoConstraints="NO" id="9rc-NL-tGW" customClass="FXLabel">
                                                             <rect key="frame" x="145" y="20" width="101" height="18"/>
                                                             <constraints>
                                                                 <constraint firstAttribute="width" constant="140" id="UuL-HU-r7C"/>
@@ -339,13 +339,14 @@
                                                                     <exclude reference="UuL-HU-r7C"/>
                                                                 </mask>
                                                             </variation>
-                                                            <variation key="heightClass=regular-widthClass=compact">
+                                                            <variation key="heightClass=regular-widthClass=compact" misplaced="YES">
+                                                                <rect key="frame" x="131" y="0.0" width="140" height="18"/>
                                                                 <mask key="constraints">
                                                                     <include reference="UuL-HU-r7C"/>
                                                                 </mask>
                                                             </variation>
                                                         </label>
-                                                        <label opaque="NO" userInteractionEnabled="NO" contentMode="left" horizontalHuggingPriority="251" verticalHuggingPriority="251" textAlignment="center" lineBreakMode="tailTruncation" numberOfLines="0" baselineAdjustment="alignBaselines" adjustsFontSizeToFit="NO" translatesAutoresizingMaskIntoConstraints="NO" id="FGD-ZV-0OF">
+                                                        <label opaque="NO" userInteractionEnabled="NO" contentMode="left" horizontalHuggingPriority="251" verticalHuggingPriority="251" ambiguous="YES" misplaced="YES" textAlignment="center" lineBreakMode="tailTruncation" numberOfLines="0" baselineAdjustment="alignBaselines" adjustsFontSizeToFit="NO" translatesAutoresizingMaskIntoConstraints="NO" id="FGD-ZV-0OF">
                                                             <rect key="frame" x="20" y="48" width="350" height="91"/>
                                                             <string key="text">Set the tables with these design studio essentials. 
 Background music is optional.</string>
@@ -1079,16 +1080,16 @@ Sketching Templates</string>
                                     <tableViewCell clipsSubviews="YES" contentMode="scaleToFill" selectionStyle="none" hidesAccessoryWhenEditing="NO" indentationLevel="1" indentationWidth="0.0" shouldIndentWhileEditing="NO" reuseIdentifier="photoCell" rowHeight="360" id="xBq-IG-bji">
                                         <autoresizingMask key="autoresizingMask"/>
                                         <tableViewCellContentView key="contentView" opaque="NO" clipsSubviews="YES" multipleTouchEnabled="YES" contentMode="center" tableViewCell="xBq-IG-bji" id="9dx-az-0Aq">
-                                            <rect key="frame" x="0.0" y="0.0" width="240" height="89"/>
+                                            <rect key="frame" x="0.0" y="0.0" width="240" height="359"/>
                                             <autoresizingMask key="autoresizingMask"/>
                                             <subviews>
                                                 <imageView userInteractionEnabled="NO" contentMode="scaleAspectFill" horizontalHuggingPriority="251" verticalHuggingPriority="251" image="DS_Home_BG_image" translatesAutoresizingMaskIntoConstraints="NO" id="V2g-i0-bgJ">
                                                     <rect key="frame" x="0.0" y="0.0" width="240" height="128"/>
                                                 </imageView>
-                                                <view contentMode="scaleToFill" translatesAutoresizingMaskIntoConstraints="NO" id="9A3-rP-t9M">
+                                                <view contentMode="scaleToFill" ambiguous="YES" translatesAutoresizingMaskIntoConstraints="NO" id="9A3-rP-t9M">
                                                     <rect key="frame" x="38" y="64" width="309" height="181"/>
                                                     <subviews>
-                                                        <label opaque="NO" userInteractionEnabled="NO" contentMode="left" horizontalHuggingPriority="251" verticalHuggingPriority="251" text="MY DESIGN STUDIOS" textAlignment="center" lineBreakMode="tailTruncation" baselineAdjustment="alignBaselines" adjustsFontSizeToFit="NO" translatesAutoresizingMaskIntoConstraints="NO" id="Toq-o8-L63" customClass="FXLabel">
+                                                        <label opaque="NO" userInteractionEnabled="NO" contentMode="left" horizontalHuggingPriority="251" verticalHuggingPriority="251" ambiguous="YES" misplaced="YES" text="MY DESIGN STUDIOS" textAlignment="center" lineBreakMode="tailTruncation" baselineAdjustment="alignBaselines" adjustsFontSizeToFit="NO" translatesAutoresizingMaskIntoConstraints="NO" id="Toq-o8-L63" customClass="FXLabel">
                                                             <rect key="frame" x="64" y="20" width="196" height="21"/>
                                                             <constraints>
                                                                 <constraint firstAttribute="width" constant="220" id="OW9-1Z-xff"/>
@@ -1174,14 +1175,14 @@ Sketching Templates</string>
                                                     <exclude reference="KVG-5r-6EQ"/>
                                                 </mask>
                                                 <mask key="constraints">
-                                                    <exclude reference="9oI-sj-SlW"/>
-                                                    <exclude reference="A9K-sw-Zdc"/>
-                                                    <exclude reference="GaV-Zt-TUN"/>
-                                                    <exclude reference="KJa-Lg-Gcv"/>
                                                     <exclude reference="1nr-Qp-eOr"/>
                                                     <exclude reference="Cvm-mU-U8G"/>
                                                     <exclude reference="evb-2V-EgV"/>
                                                     <exclude reference="xXg-hZ-63d"/>
+                                                    <exclude reference="9oI-sj-SlW"/>
+                                                    <exclude reference="A9K-sw-Zdc"/>
+                                                    <exclude reference="GaV-Zt-TUN"/>
+                                                    <exclude reference="KJa-Lg-Gcv"/>
                                                     <exclude reference="Gj0-fZ-5Bp"/>
                                                     <exclude reference="ZD0-Fx-7mu"/>
                                                 </mask>
@@ -1192,14 +1193,14 @@ Sketching Templates</string>
                                                     <include reference="KVG-5r-6EQ"/>
                                                 </mask>
                                                 <mask key="constraints">
-                                                    <include reference="9oI-sj-SlW"/>
-                                                    <include reference="A9K-sw-Zdc"/>
-                                                    <include reference="GaV-Zt-TUN"/>
-                                                    <include reference="KJa-Lg-Gcv"/>
                                                     <include reference="1nr-Qp-eOr"/>
                                                     <include reference="Cvm-mU-U8G"/>
                                                     <include reference="evb-2V-EgV"/>
                                                     <include reference="xXg-hZ-63d"/>
+                                                    <include reference="9oI-sj-SlW"/>
+                                                    <include reference="A9K-sw-Zdc"/>
+                                                    <include reference="GaV-Zt-TUN"/>
+                                                    <include reference="KJa-Lg-Gcv"/>
                                                     <include reference="Gj0-fZ-5Bp"/>
                                                     <include reference="ZD0-Fx-7mu"/>
                                                 </mask>
@@ -4671,10 +4672,10 @@ Sketching Templates</string>
                                                 <imageView userInteractionEnabled="NO" contentMode="scaleAspectFill" horizontalHuggingPriority="251" verticalHuggingPriority="251" image="Settings_Image" translatesAutoresizingMaskIntoConstraints="NO" id="S9R-OE-sve">
                                                     <rect key="frame" x="0.0" y="0.0" width="240" height="128"/>
                                                 </imageView>
-                                                <view contentMode="scaleToFill" translatesAutoresizingMaskIntoConstraints="NO" id="1vj-cu-Yk3">
+                                                <view contentMode="scaleToFill" ambiguous="YES" translatesAutoresizingMaskIntoConstraints="NO" id="1vj-cu-Yk3">
                                                     <rect key="frame" x="5" y="97" width="390" height="183"/>
                                                     <subviews>
-                                                        <label opaque="NO" userInteractionEnabled="NO" contentMode="left" horizontalHuggingPriority="251" verticalHuggingPriority="251" text="SETTINGS" textAlignment="center" lineBreakMode="tailTruncation" baselineAdjustment="alignBaselines" adjustsFontSizeToFit="NO" translatesAutoresizingMaskIntoConstraints="NO" id="61i-8S-Zuq" customClass="FXLabel">
+                                                        <label opaque="NO" userInteractionEnabled="NO" contentMode="left" horizontalHuggingPriority="251" verticalHuggingPriority="251" ambiguous="YES" misplaced="YES" text="SETTINGS" textAlignment="center" lineBreakMode="tailTruncation" baselineAdjustment="alignBaselines" adjustsFontSizeToFit="NO" translatesAutoresizingMaskIntoConstraints="NO" id="61i-8S-Zuq" customClass="FXLabel">
                                                             <rect key="frame" x="125" y="20" width="140" height="18"/>
                                                             <constraints>
                                                                 <constraint firstAttribute="width" constant="100" id="KDN-C7-8t5"/>
@@ -4698,7 +4699,7 @@ Sketching Templates</string>
                                                                 </mask>
                                                             </variation>
                                                         </label>
-                                                        <label opaque="NO" userInteractionEnabled="NO" contentMode="left" horizontalHuggingPriority="251" verticalHuggingPriority="251" text="Share, review or learn more about the nerds who built this." textAlignment="center" lineBreakMode="tailTruncation" numberOfLines="0" baselineAdjustment="alignBaselines" adjustsFontSizeToFit="NO" translatesAutoresizingMaskIntoConstraints="NO" id="aBR-Nh-LTf">
+                                                        <label opaque="NO" userInteractionEnabled="NO" contentMode="left" horizontalHuggingPriority="251" verticalHuggingPriority="251" ambiguous="YES" misplaced="YES" text="Share, review or learn more about the nerds who built this." textAlignment="center" lineBreakMode="tailTruncation" numberOfLines="0" baselineAdjustment="alignBaselines" adjustsFontSizeToFit="NO" translatesAutoresizingMaskIntoConstraints="NO" id="aBR-Nh-LTf">
                                                             <rect key="frame" x="20" y="33" width="350" height="130"/>
                                                             <fontDescription key="fontDescription" name="Avenir-Light" family="Avenir" pointSize="22"/>
                                                             <color key="textColor" red="0.90823972230000005" green="0.92638683320000004" blue="0.93171715740000005" alpha="1" colorSpace="calibratedRGB"/>
diff --git a/DesignStudioExpress/Extensions/UIAlertController.swift b/DesignStudioExpress/Extensions/UIAlertController.swift
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..fd22ca4
--- /dev/null
+++ b/DesignStudioExpress/Extensions/UIAlertController.swift
@@ -0,0 +1,18 @@
+//
+//  UIAlertController.swift
+//  Design Studio
+//
+//  Created by Kristijan Perusko on 2/4/16.
+//  Copyright © 2016 Alexander Interactive. All rights reserved.
+//
+
+extension UIAlertController {
+
+    static func createAlertController(title: String, message: String) -> UIAlertController {
+        let alertController = UIAlertController(title: title, message: message, preferredStyle: .Alert)
+        let okAction = UIAlertAction(title: "OK", style: .Default, handler: nil)
+        alertController.addAction(okAction)
+        
+        return alertController
+    }
+}
diff --git a/DesignStudioExpress/Models/DesignStudio.swift b/DesignStudioExpress/Models/DesignStudio.swift
index 450dcf7..151e14a 100644
--- a/DesignStudioExpress/Models/DesignStudio.swift
+++ b/DesignStudioExpress/Models/DesignStudio.swift
@@ -36,7 +36,7 @@ class DesignStudio: Object {
         return "id"
     }
     
-    // TODO: we should implement NSCopying instead
+    // creates a deep copy of the object and saves it
     func makeACopy() -> DesignStudio? {
         let copyDS = DesignStudio()
         copyDS.title = self.title
@@ -64,280 +64,270 @@ class DesignStudio: Object {
             }
             copyDS.challenges.append(copyChallenge)
         }
-        
-        do {
-            let realm = try Realm()
-            try realm.write {
-                realm.add(copyDS)
-            }
-        } catch {
-            return nil
-            //TODO handle errors
-        }
-        
+                
         return copyDS
     }
     
     class func createDefaultTemplate1() {
-        let realm = try! Realm()
-        
-        realm.beginWrite()
-        
-        let ds = DesignStudio()
-        ds.title = "Template: New Concept"
-        ds.template = true
-       
-        let challenge = Challenge()
-        challenge.title = "Solo Sketching"
-        challenge.challengeDescription  = "This round focuses on cardstorming and rapid sketching. Stick to rough sketches that convey your ideas. You will present, critique and refine your ideas after each activity. Good luck and get sketchy!"
-        
-        let activity1 = Activity()
-        activity1.title = "Cardstorming"
-        activity1.activityDescription = "Warmup and cardstorming. Write as many feature ideas as you can on individual stickies. Save features as your idea palette for sketching."
-        activity1.duration = 5
-        challenge.activities.append(activity1)
-        
-        let activity2 = Activity()
-        activity2.title = "5 ideas in 5 minutes"
-        activity2.activityDescription = "Generate 5 ideas in 5 minutes — should be unique concepts, but can be very rough. Give one minute per idea. It’s okay to have fewer than the 5 ideas."
-        activity2.duration = 5
-        challenge.activities.append(activity2)
-        
-        let activity3 = Activity()
-        activity3.title = "Discuss in mini groups"
-        activity3.activityDescription = "Present ideas to the group to share your concepts and get a critique. Write ideas/questions down as notes. Use most of this time to share ideas."
-        activity3.duration = 10
-        challenge.activities.append(activity3)
-        
-        let activity4 = Activity()
-        activity4.title = "Refine & sketch"
-        activity4.activityDescription = "Refine your concepts into the top 2 ideas. Incorporate others’ ideas into your designs."
-        activity4.duration = 10
-        challenge.activities.append(activity4)
-        
-        let activity5 = Activity()
-        activity5.title = "Prepare to present"
-        activity5.activityDescription = "Prepare to present your ideas as a group—condense and eliminate as much as possible. Don’t be afraid to throw away ideas, keep the strongest ones."
-        activity5.duration = 10
-        challenge.activities.append(activity5)
-        
-        let activity6 = Activity()
-        activity6.title = "Share and discuss"
-        activity6.activityDescription = "Each group presents and receives critiques. Discuss all ideas and determine which ideas people like the best. If you’d like, hold a vote."
-        activity6.duration = 20
-        challenge.activities.append(activity6)
-        
-        let activity7 = Activity()
-        activity7.title = "Break"
-        activity7.activityDescription = "If you think people need one! Don’t forget to refresh all your supplies for the next challenge."
-        activity7.duration = 5
-        challenge.activities.append(activity7)
-        
-        ds.challenges.append(challenge)
-        
-        // Challenge #2
-        
-        let challenge2 = Challenge()
-        challenge2.title = "Group Sketching"
-        challenge2.challengeDescription  = "This round focuses on cardstorming and rapid sketching. Stick to rough sketches that convey your ideas. You will present, critique and refine your ideas after each activity. Good luck and get sketchy!"
-        
-        let activity21 = Activity()
-        activity21.title = "Cardstorming"
-        activity21.activityDescription = "Warmup and cardstorming. Write as many feature ideas as you can on individual stickies. Save features as your idea palette for sketching."
-        activity21.duration = 5
-        challenge2.activities.append(activity21)
-        
-        let activity22 = Activity()
-        activity22.title = "5 ideas in 5 minutes"
-        activity22.activityDescription = "Generate 5 ideas in 5 minutes — should be unique concepts, but can be very rough. Give one minute per idea. It’s okay to have fewer than the 5 ideas."
-        activity22.duration = 5
-        challenge2.activities.append(activity22)
-        
-        let activity23 = Activity()
-        activity23.title = "Share within mini groups"
-        activity23.activityDescription = "Present ideas to the group to share your concepts and get a critique. Write ideas/questions down as notes. Use most of this time to share ideas."
-        activity23.duration = 10
-        challenge2.activities.append(activity23)
-        
-        let activity24 = Activity()
-        activity24.title = "Sketch"
-        activity24.activityDescription = "Refine your concepts into the top 2 ideas. Incorporate others’ ideas into your designs."
-        activity24.duration = 5
-        challenge2.activities.append(activity24)
-        
-        let activity25 = Activity()
-        activity25.title = "Collaborative sketching"
-        activity25.activityDescription = "Together, each mini group sketches, consolidating their ideas into a single vision to answer the challenge."
-        activity25.duration = 10
-        challenge2.activities.append(activity25)
-        
-        let activity26 = Activity()
-        activity26.title = "Share and discuss"
-        activity26.activityDescription = "Each group presents and receives critiques. Discuss all ideas and determine which ideas people like the best. If you’d like, hold a vote."
-        activity26.duration = 20
-        challenge2.activities.append(activity26)
-        
-        let activity27 = Activity()
-        activity27.title = "Break"
-        activity27.activityDescription = "If you think people need one! Don’t forget to refresh all your supplies for the next challenge."
-        activity27.duration = 5
-        challenge2.activities.append(activity27)
-        
-        ds.challenges.append(challenge2)
-        
-        
-        // Challenge #3
-        
-        let challenge3 = Challenge()
-        challenge3.title = "Affinity Mapping"
-        challenge3.challengeDescription  = "This is a cardstorming challenge. Present your best ideas and discuss their value. Then refine and  combine them into themes. Remember — ideas should be mapped to the users’ goals and needs."
-        
-        let activity31 = Activity()
-        activity31.title = "Cardstorming"
-        activity31.activityDescription = "Warmup and cardstorming. Write as many feature ideas as you can on individual stickies. Save features as your idea palette."
-        activity31.duration = 5
-        challenge3.activities.append(activity31)
-        
-        let activity32 = Activity()
-        activity32.title = "Present to mini group"
-        activity32.activityDescription = "Present your feature ideas to the group.  Ideas that have more than one item might be winners and you can start to combine ideas into themes."
-        activity32.duration = 10
-        challenge3.activities.append(activity32)
-        
-        let activity33 = Activity()
-        activity33.title = "Grouping themes"
-        activity33.activityDescription = "Group major themes together. Record any new ideas that come up during grouping and add in new stickies."
-        activity33.duration = 10
-        challenge3.activities.append(activity33)
-        
-        let activity34 = Activity()
-        activity34.title = "Prepare to present"
-        activity34.activityDescription = "Prepare to present your ideas as a group—condense as much as possible. Give each category of stickies a name."
-        activity34.duration = 10
-        challenge3.activities.append(activity34)
-        
-        let activity35 = Activity()
-        activity35.title = "Team Discussion"
-        activity35.activityDescription = "Each group presents their categories and sub-topics. Group major themes together, other teams can add to existing categories or add new ones."
-        activity35.duration = 20
-        challenge3.activities.append(activity35)
-        
-        ds.challenges.append(challenge3)
-        
-        // Final Challenge 
-        
-        let challenge4 = Challenge()
-        challenge4.title = "Wrapup"
-        challenge4.challengeDescription  = "Discuss and document your work. During discussion think about the strengths and weaknesses from the user’s point of view. Remember to take photos, you don’t want to lose any valuable ideas."
-        
-        let activity41 = Activity()
-        activity41.title = "Final discussion"
-        activity41.activityDescription = "Share final thoughts on the ideas created or the design studio. Consider next steps and how you can each move forward with your new ideas."
-        activity41.duration = 20
-        challenge4.activities.append(activity41)
-        
-        let activity42 = Activity()
-        activity42.title = "Document and save"
-        activity42.activityDescription = "Gather everyone’s notes, stickies, and sketches to refer to as you create higher fidelity designs. Don’t forget to take photos."
-        activity42.duration = 5
-        challenge4.activities.append(activity42)
-        
-        ds.challenges.append(challenge4)
-        
-        // save the DS
-        realm.add(ds)
-        
         do {
+            let realm = try Realm()
+            
+            realm.beginWrite()
+            
+            let ds = DesignStudio()
+            ds.title = "Template: New Concept"
+            ds.template = true
+            
+            let challenge = Challenge()
+            challenge.title = "Solo Sketching"
+            challenge.challengeDescription  = "This round focuses on cardstorming and rapid sketching. Stick to rough sketches that convey your ideas. You will present, critique and refine your ideas after each activity. Good luck and get sketchy!"
+            
+            let activity1 = Activity()
+            activity1.title = "Cardstorming"
+            activity1.activityDescription = "Warmup and cardstorming. Write as many feature ideas as you can on individual stickies. Save features as your idea palette for sketching."
+            activity1.duration = 5
+            challenge.activities.append(activity1)
+            
+            let activity2 = Activity()
+            activity2.title = "5 ideas in 5 minutes"
+            activity2.activityDescription = "Generate 5 ideas in 5 minutes — should be unique concepts, but can be very rough. Give one minute per idea. It’s okay to have fewer than the 5 ideas."
+            activity2.duration = 5
+            challenge.activities.append(activity2)
+            
+            let activity3 = Activity()
+            activity3.title = "Discuss in mini groups"
+            activity3.activityDescription = "Present ideas to the group to share your concepts and get a critique. Write ideas/questions down as notes. Use most of this time to share ideas."
+            activity3.duration = 10
+            challenge.activities.append(activity3)
+            
+            let activity4 = Activity()
+            activity4.title = "Refine & sketch"
+            activity4.activityDescription = "Refine your concepts into the top 2 ideas. Incorporate others’ ideas into your designs."
+            activity4.duration = 10
+            challenge.activities.append(activity4)
+            
+            let activity5 = Activity()
+            activity5.title = "Prepare to present"
+            activity5.activityDescription = "Prepare to present your ideas as a group—condense and eliminate as much as possible. Don’t be afraid to throw away ideas, keep the strongest ones."
+            activity5.duration = 10
+            challenge.activities.append(activity5)
+            
+            let activity6 = Activity()
+            activity6.title = "Share and discuss"
+            activity6.activityDescription = "Each group presents and receives critiques. Discuss all ideas and determine which ideas people like the best. If you’d like, hold a vote."
+            activity6.duration = 20
+            challenge.activities.append(activity6)
+            
+            let activity7 = Activity()
+            activity7.title = "Break"
+            activity7.activityDescription = "If you think people need one! Don’t forget to refresh all your supplies for the next challenge."
+            activity7.duration = 5
+            challenge.activities.append(activity7)
+            
+            ds.challenges.append(challenge)
+            
+            // Challenge #2
+            
+            let challenge2 = Challenge()
+            challenge2.title = "Group Sketching"
+            challenge2.challengeDescription  = "This round focuses on cardstorming and rapid sketching. Stick to rough sketches that convey your ideas. You will present, critique and refine your ideas after each activity. Good luck and get sketchy!"
+            
+            let activity21 = Activity()
+            activity21.title = "Cardstorming"
+            activity21.activityDescription = "Warmup and cardstorming. Write as many feature ideas as you can on individual stickies. Save features as your idea palette for sketching."
+            activity21.duration = 5
+            challenge2.activities.append(activity21)
+            
+            let activity22 = Activity()
+            activity22.title = "5 ideas in 5 minutes"
+            activity22.activityDescription = "Generate 5 ideas in 5 minutes — should be unique concepts, but can be very rough. Give one minute per idea. It’s okay to have fewer than the 5 ideas."
+            activity22.duration = 5
+            challenge2.activities.append(activity22)
+            
+            let activity23 = Activity()
+            activity23.title = "Share within mini groups"
+            activity23.activityDescription = "Present ideas to the group to share your concepts and get a critique. Write ideas/questions down as notes. Use most of this time to share ideas."
+            activity23.duration = 10
+            challenge2.activities.append(activity23)
+            
+            let activity24 = Activity()
+            activity24.title = "Sketch"
+            activity24.activityDescription = "Refine your concepts into the top 2 ideas. Incorporate others’ ideas into your designs."
+            activity24.duration = 5
+            challenge2.activities.append(activity24)
+            
+            let activity25 = Activity()
+            activity25.title = "Collaborative sketching"
+            activity25.activityDescription = "Together, each mini group sketches, consolidating their ideas into a single vision to answer the challenge."
+            activity25.duration = 10
+            challenge2.activities.append(activity25)
+            
+            let activity26 = Activity()
+            activity26.title = "Share and discuss"
+            activity26.activityDescription = "Each group presents and receives critiques. Discuss all ideas and determine which ideas people like the best. If you’d like, hold a vote."
+            activity26.duration = 20
+            challenge2.activities.append(activity26)
+            
+            let activity27 = Activity()
+            activity27.title = "Break"
+            activity27.activityDescription = "If you think people need one! Don’t forget to refresh all your supplies for the next challenge."
+            activity27.duration = 5
+            challenge2.activities.append(activity27)
+            
+            ds.challenges.append(challenge2)
+            
+            
+            // Challenge #3
+            
+            let challenge3 = Challenge()
+            challenge3.title = "Affinity Mapping"
+            challenge3.challengeDescription  = "This is a cardstorming challenge. Present your best ideas and discuss their value. Then refine and  combine them into themes. Remember — ideas should be mapped to the users’ goals and needs."
+            
+            let activity31 = Activity()
+            activity31.title = "Cardstorming"
+            activity31.activityDescription = "Warmup and cardstorming. Write as many feature ideas as you can on individual stickies. Save features as your idea palette."
+            activity31.duration = 5
+            challenge3.activities.append(activity31)
+            
+            let activity32 = Activity()
+            activity32.title = "Present to mini group"
+            activity32.activityDescription = "Present your feature ideas to the group.  Ideas that have more than one item might be winners and you can start to combine ideas into themes."
+            activity32.duration = 10
+            challenge3.activities.append(activity32)
+            
+            let activity33 = Activity()
+            activity33.title = "Grouping themes"
+            activity33.activityDescription = "Group major themes together. Record any new ideas that come up during grouping and add in new stickies."
+            activity33.duration = 10
+            challenge3.activities.append(activity33)
+            
+            let activity34 = Activity()
+            activity34.title = "Prepare to present"
+            activity34.activityDescription = "Prepare to present your ideas as a group—condense as much as possible. Give each category of stickies a name."
+            activity34.duration = 10
+            challenge3.activities.append(activity34)
+            
+            let activity35 = Activity()
+            activity35.title = "Team Discussion"
+            activity35.activityDescription = "Each group presents their categories and sub-topics. Group major themes together, other teams can add to existing categories or add new ones."
+            activity35.duration = 20
+            challenge3.activities.append(activity35)
+            
+            ds.challenges.append(challenge3)
+            
+            // Final Challenge
+            
+            let challenge4 = Challenge()
+            challenge4.title = "Wrapup"
+            challenge4.challengeDescription  = "Discuss and document your work. During discussion think about the strengths and weaknesses from the user’s point of view. Remember to take photos, you don’t want to lose any valuable ideas."
+            
+            let activity41 = Activity()
+            activity41.title = "Final discussion"
+            activity41.activityDescription = "Share final thoughts on the ideas created or the design studio. Consider next steps and how you can each move forward with your new ideas."
+            activity41.duration = 20
+            challenge4.activities.append(activity41)
+            
+            let activity42 = Activity()
+            activity42.title = "Document and save"
+            activity42.activityDescription = "Gather everyone’s notes, stickies, and sketches to refer to as you create higher fidelity designs. Don’t forget to take photos."
+            activity42.duration = 5
+            challenge4.activities.append(activity42)
+            
+            ds.challenges.append(challenge4)
+            
+            // save the DS
+            realm.add(ds)
+        
             try realm.commitWrite()
-        } catch {
-            // TODO handler error
+        } catch let error as NSError {
+            print("Couldn't create a default template #1" + error.localizedDescription)
         }
     }
     
     class func createDefaultTemplate2() {
-        let realm = try! Realm()
-        
-        realm.beginWrite()
-        
-        let ds = DesignStudio()
-        ds.title = "Template: Feature Iteration"
-        ds.template = true
-        
-        let challenge = Challenge()
-        challenge.title = "Challenge"
-        challenge.challengeDescription  = "This round focuses on cardstorming and rapid sketching. Stick to rough sketches that convey your ideas. You will present, critique and refine your ideas after each activity. Good luck and get sketchy!"
-        
-        let activity1 = Activity()
-        activity1.title = "Cardstorming"
-        activity1.activityDescription = "Warmup and cardstorming. Write as many feature ideas as you can on individual stickies. Save features as your idea palette for sketching."
-        activity1.duration = 5
-        challenge.activities.append(activity1)
-        
-        let activity2 = Activity()
-        activity2.title = "Discuss in mini groups"
-        activity2.activityDescription = "Each person shares their ideas within their mini group."
-        activity2.duration = 20
-        challenge.activities.append(activity2)
-        
-        let activity3 = Activity()
-        activity3.title = "5 ideas in 5 minutes"
-        activity3.activityDescription = "Sketch 5 ideas in 5 minutes — should be unique concepts, but can be very rough. Give one minute per idea. It’s okay to have fewer than the 5 ideas."
-        activity3.duration = 5
-        challenge.activities.append(activity3)
-        
-        let activity4 = Activity()
-        activity4.title = "Discuss in mini groups"
-        activity4.activityDescription = "Present ideas to the group to share your concepts and get a critique. Write ideas/questions down as notes. Use most of this time to share ideas."
-        activity4.duration = 20
-        challenge.activities.append(activity4)
-        
-        let activity5 = Activity()
-        activity5.title = "Sketch"
-        activity5.activityDescription = "Refine your concepts into the top 2 ideas. Incorporate others’ ideas into your designs."
-        activity5.duration = 10
-        challenge.activities.append(activity5)
-        
-        let activity6 = Activity()
-        activity6.title = "Prepare to present"
-        activity6.activityDescription = "Prepare to present your ideas as a group—condense and eliminate as much as possible. Don’t be afraid to throw away ideas, keep the strongest ones."
-        activity6.duration = 10
-        challenge.activities.append(activity6)
-        
-        let activity7 = Activity()
-        activity7.title = "Team discussion"
-        activity7.activityDescription = "Each group presents and receives critiques. Discuss all ideas and determine which ideas people like the best. If you’d like, hold a vote."
-        activity7.duration = 20
-        challenge.activities.append(activity7)
-        
-        ds.challenges.append(challenge)
-        
-        // Final Challenge
-        
-        let challenge2 = Challenge()
-        challenge2.title = "Wrapup"
-        challenge2.challengeDescription  = "Discuss and document your work. During discussion think about the strengths and weaknesses from the user’s point of view. Remember to take photos, you don’t want to lose any valuable ideas."
-        
-        let activity21 = Activity()
-        activity21.title = "Final discussion"
-        activity21.activityDescription = "Share final thoughts on the ideas created or the design studio. Consider next steps and how you can each move forward with your new ideas."
-        activity21.duration = 20
-        challenge2.activities.append(activity21)
-        
-        let activity22 = Activity()
-        activity22.title = "Document and save"
-        activity22.activityDescription = "Gather everyone’s notes, stickies, and sketches to refer to as you create higher fidelity designs. Don’t forget to take photos."
-        activity22.duration = 5
-        challenge2.activities.append(activity22)
-        
-        ds.challenges.append(challenge2)
-        
-        // save the DS
-        realm.add(ds)
-        
         do {
+            let realm = try! Realm()
+            
+            realm.beginWrite()
+            
+            let ds = DesignStudio()
+            ds.title = "Template: Feature Iteration"
+            ds.template = true
+            
+            let challenge = Challenge()
+            challenge.title = "Challenge"
+            challenge.challengeDescription  = "This round focuses on cardstorming and rapid sketching. Stick to rough sketches that convey your ideas. You will present, critique and refine your ideas after each activity. Good luck and get sketchy!"
+            
+            let activity1 = Activity()
+            activity1.title = "Cardstorming"
+            activity1.activityDescription = "Warmup and cardstorming. Write as many feature ideas as you can on individual stickies. Save features as your idea palette for sketching."
+            activity1.duration = 5
+            challenge.activities.append(activity1)
+            
+            let activity2 = Activity()
+            activity2.title = "Discuss in mini groups"
+            activity2.activityDescription = "Each person shares their ideas within their mini group."
+            activity2.duration = 20
+            challenge.activities.append(activity2)
+            
+            let activity3 = Activity()
+            activity3.title = "5 ideas in 5 minutes"
+            activity3.activityDescription = "Sketch 5 ideas in 5 minutes — should be unique concepts, but can be very rough. Give one minute per idea. It’s okay to have fewer than the 5 ideas."
+            activity3.duration = 5
+            challenge.activities.append(activity3)
+            
+            let activity4 = Activity()
+            activity4.title = "Discuss in mini groups"
+            activity4.activityDescription = "Present ideas to the group to share your concepts and get a critique. Write ideas/questions down as notes. Use most of this time to share ideas."
+            activity4.duration = 20
+            challenge.activities.append(activity4)
+            
+            let activity5 = Activity()
+            activity5.title = "Sketch"
+            activity5.activityDescription = "Refine your concepts into the top 2 ideas. Incorporate others’ ideas into your designs."
+            activity5.duration = 10
+            challenge.activities.append(activity5)
+            
+            let activity6 = Activity()
+            activity6.title = "Prepare to present"
+            activity6.activityDescription = "Prepare to present your ideas as a group—condense and eliminate as much as possible. Don’t be afraid to throw away ideas, keep the strongest ones."
+            activity6.duration = 10
+            challenge.activities.append(activity6)
+            
+            let activity7 = Activity()
+            activity7.title = "Team discussion"
+            activity7.activityDescription = "Each group presents and receives critiques. Discuss all ideas and determine which ideas people like the best. If you’d like, hold a vote."
+            activity7.duration = 20
+            challenge.activities.append(activity7)
+            
+            ds.challenges.append(challenge)
+            
+            // Final Challenge
+            
+            let challenge2 = Challenge()
+            challenge2.title = "Wrapup"
+            challenge2.challengeDescription  = "Discuss and document your work. During discussion think about the strengths and weaknesses from the user’s point of view. Remember to take photos, you don’t want to lose any valuable ideas."
+            
+            let activity21 = Activity()
+            activity21.title = "Final discussion"
+            activity21.activityDescription = "Share final thoughts on the ideas created or the design studio. Consider next steps and how you can each move forward with your new ideas."
+            activity21.duration = 20
+            challenge2.activities.append(activity21)
+            
+            let activity22 = Activity()
+            activity22.title = "Document and save"
+            activity22.activityDescription = "Gather everyone’s notes, stickies, and sketches to refer to as you create higher fidelity designs. Don’t forget to take photos."
+            activity22.duration = 5
+            challenge2.activities.append(activity22)
+            
+            ds.challenges.append(challenge2)
+            
+            // save the DS
+            realm.add(ds)
+        
             try realm.commitWrite()
-        } catch {
-            // TODO handler error
+        } catch let error as NSError {
+            print("Couldn't create a default template #2" + error.localizedDescription)
         }
     }
 
diff --git a/DesignStudioExpress/Models/PhotoManager.swift b/DesignStudioExpress/Models/PhotoManager.swift
index 7bfb790..88ec2d0 100644
--- a/DesignStudioExpress/Models/PhotoManager.swift
+++ b/DesignStudioExpress/Models/PhotoManager.swift
@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@ import NRSimplePlist
 class PhotoManager {
     
     func createDefaultPhotoCollectionForApp() {
+        // if we have the photo collection, return immediately
         if let _ = self.getDefaultPhotoCollectionForApp() {
             return
         }
@@ -30,14 +31,11 @@ class PhotoManager {
                 // create a default folder for the app
                 PHPhotoLibrary.sharedPhotoLibrary().performChanges(changeBlock, completionHandler: { success, error in
                     if (success) {
-                        // TODO log success / error
+                        print("Photo library successfuly created")
                     } else {
-                        // TODO log the error
+                        print(error)
                     }
                 })
-            } else {
-                // we don't have access
-                // TODO log the error
             }
         })
     }
@@ -57,7 +55,7 @@ class PhotoManager {
         }
         
         let completionHandler = { (success: Bool, error: NSError?) -> Void in
-            // TODO handle errors
+            print(error)
         }
         
         PHPhotoLibrary.sharedPhotoLibrary().performChanges(changeBlock, completionHandler:  completionHandler)
@@ -85,7 +83,6 @@ class PhotoManager {
         do {
             defaultAlbumName = try plistGet("AlbumName", forPlistNamed: "Settings") as! String
         } catch let error {
-            // TODO handle errors
             print(error)
             return nil
         }
diff --git a/DesignStudioExpress/ViewModels/ActivityDetailViewModel.swift b/DesignStudioExpress/ViewModels/ActivityDetailViewModel.swift
index cdf8ef3..6e7991f 100644
--- a/DesignStudioExpress/ViewModels/ActivityDetailViewModel.swift
+++ b/DesignStudioExpress/ViewModels/ActivityDetailViewModel.swift
@@ -17,6 +17,9 @@ class ActivityDetailViewModel {
     let saveNotesLabelText = "SAVE NOTES"
     let backLabelText = "CLOSE"
     
+    let saveErrorMsg = "Couldn't save the activity: "
+    let deleteErrorMsg = "Couldn't delete the activity"
+
     var title: String = ""
     var duration: Int = 0
     var description: String = ""
@@ -60,9 +63,9 @@ class ActivityDetailViewModel {
         self.notes = newActivity.notes
     }
     
-    func saveActivity() {
+    func saveActivity() -> String? {
         if self.locked {
-            return
+            return nil
         }
         do {
             try realm.write {
@@ -75,21 +78,23 @@ class ActivityDetailViewModel {
                 self.data.notes = self.notes
                 self.realm.add(self.data, update: true)
             }
-        } catch {
-            //TODO: handle errors
-            print("Couldn't save the activity")
+        } catch let error as NSError {
+            print(self.saveErrorMsg + error.localizedDescription)
+            return self.saveErrorMsg
         }
+        return nil
     }
     
-    func deleteActivity() {
+    func deleteActivity() -> String? {
         do {
             try realm.write {
                 self.realm.delete(self.data)
             }
-        } catch {
-            //TODO: handle errors
-            print("Couldn't delete the activity")
+        } catch let error as NSError {
+            print(self.deleteErrorMsg + error.localizedDescription)
+            return self.deleteErrorMsg
         }
+        return nil
     }
 }
 
diff --git a/DesignStudioExpress/ViewModels/DetailDesignStudioViewModel.swift b/DesignStudioExpress/ViewModels/DetailDesignStudioViewModel.swift
index 239418f..70c3bdb 100644
--- a/DesignStudioExpress/ViewModels/DetailDesignStudioViewModel.swift
+++ b/DesignStudioExpress/ViewModels/DetailDesignStudioViewModel.swift
@@ -101,7 +101,7 @@ class DetailDesignStudioViewModel {
         }
     }
     
-    // in case the the design studio is started, but not finished (crash?)
+    // in case the the design studio is started, but not finished
     // this will fix the state
     private func fixDesignStudioState() {
         // if it's not finished and if it's not currently running
@@ -110,9 +110,8 @@ class DetailDesignStudioViewModel {
                 try realm.write {
                     self.data.finished = true
                 }
-            } catch let error {
-                print(error)
-                // TODO handle errors
+            } catch let error as NSError {
+                print("Couldn't save design studio: " + error.localizedDescription)
             }
         }
     }
@@ -126,9 +125,13 @@ class DetailDesignStudioViewModel {
     func openDesignStudio(title: String, duration: String) -> DesignStudio {
         // save the design studio when we're moving to the next screen
         if self.isNew {
-            try! realm.write {
-                self.realm.add(self.data)
-                self.isNew = false
+            do {
+                try realm.write {
+                    self.realm.add(self.data)
+                    self.isNew = false
+                }
+            } catch let error as NSError {
+                print("Couldn't save a new design studio: " + error.localizedDescription)
             }
         } else {
             // in case user clicks continue while the keyboard is still active
@@ -140,7 +143,21 @@ class DetailDesignStudioViewModel {
     }
 
     func copyDesignStudio() -> DesignStudio? {
-        return self.data.makeACopy()
+        if let copyDS = self.data.makeACopy() {
+            do {
+                let realm = try Realm()
+                try realm.write {
+                    realm.add(copyDS)
+                }
+            } catch let error as NSError {
+                print("Couldn't save the Design Studio copy: " + error.localizedDescription)
+                return nil
+            }
+           
+            return copyDS
+        }
+        
+        return nil
     }
     
     private func checkMaxLength(textFieldLength: Int, range: NSRange, replacementStringLength: Int, maxAllowedLength: Int) -> Bool {
diff --git a/DesignStudioExpress/ViewModels/EndActivityViewModel.swift b/DesignStudioExpress/ViewModels/EndActivityViewModel.swift
index b6bc597..da0658e 100644
--- a/DesignStudioExpress/ViewModels/EndActivityViewModel.swift
+++ b/DesignStudioExpress/ViewModels/EndActivityViewModel.swift
@@ -21,7 +21,6 @@ class EndActivityViewModel {
                     duration = 1
                 }
             } catch let error {
-                // TODO handle errors
                 print(error)
                 duration = 1
             }
diff --git a/DesignStudioExpress/ViewModels/HomeViewModel.swift b/DesignStudioExpress/ViewModels/HomeViewModel.swift
index 9bc1042..a398b0c 100644
--- a/DesignStudioExpress/ViewModels/HomeViewModel.swift
+++ b/DesignStudioExpress/ViewModels/HomeViewModel.swift
@@ -41,39 +41,6 @@ class HomeViewModel {
     private func createDefaultDesignStudios() {
         DesignStudio.createDefaultTemplate1()
         DesignStudio.createDefaultTemplate2()
-        
-        /* TODO: remove test data
-        let realm = try! Realm()
-        realm.beginWrite()
-        
-        let ds2 = DesignStudio()
-        ds2.title = "Second template"
-        realm.add(ds2)
-
-        for idx in 1...5 {
-            let ds = DesignStudio()
-
-            ds.title = "My studio \(idx)"
-            for idx2 in 1...2 {
-                let challenge = Challenge()
-                challenge.title = "Challenge \(idx2)"
-                challenge.challengeDescription  = "Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, eos erant integre tractatos ne, dicta everti maiestatis in has. Aperiri reprimique id pro. Liber dolore periculis est ne."
-                
-                for idx3 in 1...2 {
-                    let activity = Activity()
-                    activity.title = "Activity \(idx3)"
-                    activity.activityDescription = "Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, eos erant integre tractatos ne, dicta everti maiestatis in has. Aperiri reprimique id pro. Liber dolore periculis est ne."
-                    activity.notes = "Pri soleat nusquam at, natum diceret propriae nec et. Omittam expetendis ne pri, fabulas mentitum ut nam, reque consulatu mnesarchum his an."
-                    activity.duration = 1
-                    challenge.activities.append(activity)
-                }
-                
-                ds.challenges.append(challenge)
-            }
-            realm.add(ds)
-        }
-        
-        try! realm.commitWrite() */
     }
     
     func canDeleteDesignStudio(indexPath: NSIndexPath) -> Bool {
diff --git a/DesignStudioExpress/ViewModels/PostDesignStudioViewModel.swift b/DesignStudioExpress/ViewModels/PostDesignStudioViewModel.swift
index cac1f69..01e23cf 100644
--- a/DesignStudioExpress/ViewModels/PostDesignStudioViewModel.swift
+++ b/DesignStudioExpress/ViewModels/PostDesignStudioViewModel.swift
@@ -77,7 +77,6 @@ class PostDesignStudioViewModel {
         do {
             defaultAlbumName = try plistGet("AlbumName", forPlistNamed: "Settings") as! String
         } catch let error {
-            // TODO handle errors
             print(error)
             return
         }
@@ -123,7 +122,7 @@ class PostDesignStudioViewModel {
             })
             
             }, failureBlock: { (error: NSError!) -> Void in
-                // TODO handle errors
+                print(error.localizedDescription)
             }
         )
         
diff --git a/DesignStudioExpress/ViewModels/RunningDesignStudio.swift b/DesignStudioExpress/ViewModels/RunningDesignStudio.swift
index 2cc19e6..34e1967 100644
--- a/DesignStudioExpress/ViewModels/RunningDesignStudio.swift
+++ b/DesignStudioExpress/ViewModels/RunningDesignStudio.swift
@@ -118,7 +118,7 @@ class RunningDesignStudio: NSObject {
                 self.data?.started = true
             }
         } catch {
-            // TODO handle error
+            print("Couldn't save design studio while starting it")
         }
         
         // get the challenge, which is the first screen to display
@@ -200,7 +200,6 @@ class RunningDesignStudio: NSObject {
                 duration = 1
             }
         } catch let error {
-            // TODO handle errors
             print(error)
             duration = 1
         }
@@ -209,8 +208,8 @@ class RunningDesignStudio: NSObject {
             try realm.write {
                 self.currentActivity?.duration += duration // mins
             }
-        } catch {
-            // TODO handle error
+        } catch let error as NSError {
+            print(error.localizedDescription)
         }
     }
     
@@ -247,8 +246,8 @@ class RunningDesignStudio: NSObject {
                 self.data?.finished = true
             }
             self.isRunning = false
-        } catch {
-            // todo
+        } catch let error as NSError {
+            print(error.localizedDescription)
         }
     }
     
@@ -330,8 +329,8 @@ class RunningDesignStudio: NSObject {
                     self.currentActivity?.finished = true
                 }
             }
-        } catch {
-            // TODO handle errors
+        } catch let error as NSError {
+            print(error.localizedDescription)
         }
     }
     
@@ -372,8 +371,8 @@ class RunningDesignStudio: NSObject {
             try realm.write {
                 self.data?.currentActivityId = self.currentActivity?.id ?? ""
             }
-        } catch {
-            // todo
+        } catch let error as NSError {
+            print(error.localizedDescription)
         }
     }
     
@@ -429,8 +428,8 @@ class RunningDesignStudio: NSObject {
             try realm.write {
                 self.currentChallenge?.finished = true
             }
-        } catch {
-            // TODO handle errors
+        } catch let error as NSError {
+            print(error.localizedDescription)
         }
     }
     
@@ -439,8 +438,8 @@ class RunningDesignStudio: NSObject {
             try realm.write {
                 self.data?.currentChallengeId = self.currentChallenge?.id ?? ""
             }
-        } catch {
-            // todo
+        } catch let error as NSError {
+            print(error.localizedDescription)
         }
     }
     
diff --git a/DesignStudioExpress/Views/ActivityDetailViewController.swift b/DesignStudioExpress/Views/ActivityDetailViewController.swift
index bc26195..312cf01 100644
--- a/DesignStudioExpress/Views/ActivityDetailViewController.swift
+++ b/DesignStudioExpress/Views/ActivityDetailViewController.swift
@@ -43,14 +43,19 @@ class ActivityDetailViewController: UITableViewController {
     
     @IBAction func saveActivity(sender: AnyObject) {
         self.updateVMData()
-        // don't forget to persist the changes
-        vm.saveActivity()
+        if let error = vm.saveActivity() {
+            let alertController = UIAlertController.createAlertController("Whoa!", message: error)
+            self.presentViewController(alertController, animated: true, completion: nil)
+        }
         
         self.dismissViewControllerAnimated(true, completion: nil)
     }
     
     @IBAction func deleteActivity(sender: AnyObject) {
-        vm.deleteActivity()
+        if let error = vm.deleteActivity() {
+            let alertController = UIAlertController.createAlertController("Whoa!", message: error)
+            self.presentViewController(alertController, animated: true, completion: nil)
+        }
         self.dismissViewControllerAnimated(true, completion: nil)
     }
     
diff --git a/DesignStudioExpress/Views/DetailDesignStudioViewController.swift b/DesignStudioExpress/Views/DetailDesignStudioViewController.swift
index cf8c9ba..63a3560 100644
--- a/DesignStudioExpress/Views/DetailDesignStudioViewController.swift
+++ b/DesignStudioExpress/Views/DetailDesignStudioViewController.swift
@@ -32,6 +32,9 @@ class DetailDesignStudioViewController: UIViewControllerBase {
     var changedY = false
     var keyboardHeight: CGFloat = 300
     
+    let copyErrorTitle = "Whoa"
+    let copyErrorMessage = "Couldn't create a copy"
+    
     override func viewDidLoad() {
         super.viewDidLoad()
         
@@ -71,7 +74,8 @@ class DetailDesignStudioViewController: UIViewControllerBase {
             let notificationData = ["DesignStudio":copy]
             NSNotificationCenter.defaultCenter().postNotificationName(NotificationIdentifier.DesignStudioCopied.rawValue, object: self, userInfo: notificationData)
         } else {
-            // TODO handle error, show message?
+            let alertController = UIAlertController.createAlertController(self.copyErrorTitle, message: self.copyErrorMessage)
+            self.presentViewController(alertController, animated: true, completion: nil)
         }
     }
     
diff --git a/DesignStudioExpress/Views/FaqViewController.swift b/DesignStudioExpress/Views/FaqViewController.swift
index 9189548..b60e3cd 100644
--- a/DesignStudioExpress/Views/FaqViewController.swift
+++ b/DesignStudioExpress/Views/FaqViewController.swift
@@ -23,7 +23,6 @@ class FaqViewController: UIViewController {
         do {
             urlString = try plistGet("FaqWebViewUrl", forPlistNamed: "Settings") as! String
         } catch let error {
-            // TODO handle errors
             print(error)
             urlString = "http://www.alexanderinteractive.com"
         }
diff --git a/DesignStudioExpress/Views/Subviews/UITabBarControllerBase.swift b/DesignStudioExpress/Views/Subviews/UITabBarControllerBase.swift
index 0140776..f43cbad 100644
--- a/DesignStudioExpress/Views/Subviews/UITabBarControllerBase.swift
+++ b/DesignStudioExpress/Views/Subviews/UITabBarControllerBase.swift
@@ -125,7 +125,15 @@ class UITabBarControllerBase: UITabBarController {
             vc.modalTransitionStyle = .CrossDissolve
             
             // if we have a modal that's open, we have to open our modal from that vc
-            let topController = self.findLastPresentedController()
+            var topController = self.findLastPresentedController()
+            
+            // if there's a alert controller visible, dismiss it
+            if topController is UIAlertController {
+                if let presentingViewController = topController.presentingViewController {
+                    topController.dismissViewControllerAnimated(false, completion: nil)
+                    topController = presentingViewController
+                }
+            }
             topController.presentViewController(vc, animated: true, completion: nil)
         }
     }