public void loadPreferences( String directory ){
		BufferedReader r;
		try {
			File f = new File(directory + USER_PREFERENCES_FILE);
			
			if( f.exists() ){
				r = new BufferedReader(
				new FileReader(f));
			
				Gson g = new Gson();
				g.fromJson(r, Sprinkles.class);
			} else {
				createDefaultSettings();
			}
		
		} catch (FileNotFoundException e) {
			e.printStackTrace();
		}
		
		applySettings();
	}