diff --git a/server/boot/settings.js b/server/boot/settings.js
index f2d67628f4..64b695fab3 100644
--- a/server/boot/settings.js
+++ b/server/boot/settings.js
@@ -1,8 +1,5 @@
 import { check } from 'express-validator/check';
-import {
-  ifNoUser401,
-  createValidatorErrorHandler
-} from '../utils/middleware';
+import { ifNoUser401, createValidatorErrorHandler } from '../utils/middleware';
 import { themes } from '../../common/utils/themes.js';
 import { alertTypes } from '../../common/utils/flash.js';
 
@@ -10,25 +7,22 @@ export default function settingsController(app) {
   const api = app.loopback.Router();
   const toggleUserFlag = (flag, req, res, next) => {
     const { user } = req;
-    const currentValue = user[ flag ];
-    return user
-      .update$({ [ flag ]: !currentValue })
-      .subscribe(
-        () => res.status(200).json({
+    const currentValue = user[flag];
+    return user.update$({ [flag]: !currentValue }).subscribe(
+      () =>
+        res.status(200).json({
           flag,
           value: !currentValue
         }),
-        next
-      );
+      next
+    );
   };
 
   function refetchCompletedChallenges(req, res, next) {
     const { user } = req;
-    return user.requestCompletedChallenges()
-      .subscribe(
-        completedChallenges => res.json({ completedChallenges }),
-        next
-      );
+    return user
+      .requestCompletedChallenges()
+      .subscribe(completedChallenges => res.json({ completedChallenges }), next);
   }
 
   const updateMyEmailValidators = [
@@ -38,12 +32,13 @@ export default function settingsController(app) {
   ];
 
   function updateMyEmail(req, res, next) {
-    const { user, body: { email } } = req;
-    return user.requestUpdateEmail(email)
-      .subscribe(
-        message => res.json({ message }),
-        next
-      );
+    const {
+      user,
+      body: { email }
+    } = req;
+    return user
+      .requestUpdateEmail(email)
+      .subscribe(message => res.json({ message }), next);
   }
 
   const updateMyCurrentChallengeValidators = [
@@ -53,48 +48,52 @@ export default function settingsController(app) {
   ];
 
   function updateMyCurrentChallenge(req, res, next) {
-    const { user, body: { currentChallengeId } } = req;
+    const {
+      user,
+      body: { currentChallengeId }
+    } = req;
     return user.update$({ currentChallengeId }).subscribe(
-      () => res.json({
-        message:
-          `your current challenge has been updated to ${currentChallengeId}`
-      }),
+      () =>
+        res.json({
+          message: `your current challenge has been updated to ${currentChallengeId}`
+        }),
       next
     );
   }
 
   const updateMyThemeValidators = [
     check('theme')
-    .isIn(Object.keys(themes))
-    .withMessage('Theme is invalid.')
+      .isIn(Object.keys(themes))
+      .withMessage('Theme is invalid.')
   ];
 
   function updateMyTheme(req, res, next) {
-    const { body: { theme } } = req;
+    const {
+      body: { theme }
+    } = req;
     if (req.user.theme === theme) {
       return res.sendFlash(alertTypes.info, 'Theme already set');
     }
-    return req.user.updateTheme(theme)
-    .then(
-      () => res.sendFlash(alertTypes.info, 'Your theme has been updated'),
-      next
-    );
+    return req.user
+      .updateTheme(theme)
+      .then(
+        () => res.sendFlash(alertTypes.info, 'Your theme has been updated'),
+        next
+      );
   }
 
   function updateFlags(req, res, next) {
-    const { user, body: { values } } = req;
+    const {
+      user,
+      body: { values }
+    } = req;
     const keys = Object.keys(values);
-    if (
-      keys.length === 1 &&
-      typeof keys[0] === 'boolean'
-    ) {
+    if (keys.length === 1 && typeof keys[0] === 'boolean') {
       return toggleUserFlag(keys[0], req, res, next);
     }
-    return user.requestUpdateFlags(values)
-      .subscribe(
-        message => res.json({ message }),
-        next
-      );
+    return user
+      .requestUpdateFlags(values)
+      .subscribe(message => res.json({ message }), next);
   }
 
   function updateMyPortfolio(req, res, next) {
@@ -106,23 +105,19 @@ export default function settingsController(app) {
     // user cannot send only one key to this route
     // other than to remove a portfolio item
     const requestDelete = Object.keys(portfolio).length === 1;
-    return user.updateMyPortfolio(portfolio, requestDelete)
-      .subscribe(
-        message => res.json({ message }),
-        next
-      );
-    }
+    return user
+      .updateMyPortfolio(portfolio, requestDelete)
+      .subscribe(message => res.json({ message }), next);
+  }
 
   function updateMyProfileUI(req, res, next) {
     const {
       user,
       body: { profileUI }
     } = req;
-    return user.updateMyProfileUI(profileUI)
-      .subscribe(
-        message => res.json({ message }),
-        next
-      );
+    return user
+      .updateMyProfileUI(profileUI)
+      .subscribe(message => res.json({ message }), next);
   }
 
   function updateMyProjects(req, res, next) {
@@ -130,62 +125,56 @@ export default function settingsController(app) {
       user,
       body: { projects: project }
     } = req;
-    return user.updateMyProjects(project)
-      .subscribe(
-        message => res.json({ message }),
-        next
-      );
+    return user
+      .updateMyProjects(project)
+      .subscribe(message => res.json({ message }), next);
   }
 
   function updateMyUsername(req, res, next) {
-    const { user, body: { username } } = req;
-    return user.updateMyUsername(username)
-    .subscribe(
-      message => res.json({ message }),
-      next
-    );
-  }
-
-  const updatePrivacyTerms = (req, res, next) => {
     const {
       user,
-      body: { quincyemails }
+      body: { username }
+    } = req;
+    return user
+      .updateMyUsername(username)
+      .subscribe(message => res.json({ message }), next);
+  }
+
+  const updatePrivacyTerms = (req, res) => {
+    const {
+      user,
+      body: { quincyEmails }
     } = req;
     const update = {
       acceptedPrivacyTerms: true,
-      sendQuincyEmail: !!quincyemails
+      sendQuincyEmail: !!quincyEmails
     };
-    return user.update$(update)
-      .do(() => {
-        req.user = Object.assign(req.user, update);
-      })
-      .subscribe(
-        () => {
-          res.status(200).json({
-            message: 'We have updated your preferences. ' +
-              'You can now continue using freeCodeCamp.'
-          });
-        },
-        next
-      );
+    return user.updateAttributes(update, err => {
+      if (err) {
+        return res.status(500).json({
+          type: 'warning',
+          message:
+            'Something went wrong updating your preferences. ' +
+            'Please try again.'
+        });
+      }
+      return res.status(200).json({
+        type: 'success',
+        message:
+          'We have updated your preferences. ' +
+          'You can now continue using freeCodeCamp.'
+      });
+    });
   };
 
-  api.post(
-    '/update-privacy-terms',
-    ifNoUser401,
-    updatePrivacyTerms
-  );
+  api.put('/update-privacy-terms', ifNoUser401, updatePrivacyTerms);
 
   api.post(
     '/refetch-user-completed-challenges',
     ifNoUser401,
     refetchCompletedChallenges
   );
-  api.post(
-    '/update-flags',
-    ifNoUser401,
-    updateFlags
-  );
+  api.post('/update-flags', ifNoUser401, updateFlags);
   api.post(
     '/update-my-email',
     ifNoUser401,
@@ -207,21 +196,9 @@ export default function settingsController(app) {
     createValidatorErrorHandler(alertTypes.danger),
     updateMyCurrentChallenge
   );
-  api.post(
-    '/update-my-portfolio',
-    ifNoUser401,
-    updateMyPortfolio
-  );
-  api.post(
-    '/update-my-profile-ui',
-    ifNoUser401,
-    updateMyProfileUI
-  );
-  api.post(
-    '/update-my-projects',
-    ifNoUser401,
-    updateMyProjects
-  );
+  api.post('/update-my-portfolio', ifNoUser401, updateMyPortfolio);
+  api.post('/update-my-profile-ui', ifNoUser401, updateMyProfileUI);
+  api.post('/update-my-projects', ifNoUser401, updateMyProjects);
   api.post(
     '/update-my-theme',
     ifNoUser401,
@@ -229,11 +206,8 @@ export default function settingsController(app) {
     createValidatorErrorHandler(alertTypes.danger),
     updateMyTheme
   );
-  api.post(
-    '/update-my-username',
-    ifNoUser401,
-    updateMyUsername
-  );
+  api.post('/update-my-username', ifNoUser401, updateMyUsername);
 
+  app.use('/external', api);
   app.use(api);
 }
diff --git a/src/components/Flash/flash.css b/src/components/Flash/flash.css
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..5cdb916d0a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/components/Flash/flash.css
@@ -0,0 +1,6 @@
+.flash-message {
+  display: flex;
+  justify-content: space-around;
+  align-items: center;
+  flex-direction: row-reverse;
+}
diff --git a/src/components/Flash/index.js b/src/components/Flash/index.js
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..13917ad679
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/components/Flash/index.js
@@ -0,0 +1,36 @@
+import React from 'react';
+import PropTypes from 'prop-types';
+import { Alert } from 'react-bootstrap';
+
+import './flash.css';
+
+function createDismissHandler(fn, id) {
+  return () => fn(id);
+}
+
+function Flash({ messages, onClose }) {
+  return messages.map(({ type, message, id }) => (
+    <Alert
+      bsStyle={type}
+      className='flash-message'
+      key={id}
+      onDismiss={createDismissHandler(onClose, id)}
+      >
+      {message}
+    </Alert>
+  ));
+}
+
+Flash.displayName = 'FlashMessages';
+Flash.propTypes = {
+  messages: PropTypes.arrayOf(
+    PropTypes.shape({
+      id: PropTypes.string,
+      type: PropTypes.string,
+      message: PropTypes.string
+    })
+  ),
+  onClose: PropTypes.func.isRequired
+};
+
+export default Flash;
diff --git a/src/components/Flash/redux/index.js b/src/components/Flash/redux/index.js
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..e71e5e1aac
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/components/Flash/redux/index.js
@@ -0,0 +1,36 @@
+import { createAction, handleActions } from 'redux-actions';
+import nanoId from 'nanoid';
+
+import { createTypes } from '../../../utils/createTypes';
+
+const ns = 'flash';
+
+const initialState = {
+  messages: []
+};
+
+const types = createTypes(['createFlashMessage', 'removeFlashMessage'], ns);
+
+export const sagas = [];
+
+export const createFlashMessage = createAction(
+  types.createFlashMessage,
+  msg => ({ id: nanoId(), ...msg })
+);
+export const removeFlashMessage = createAction(types.removeFlashMessage);
+
+export const flashMessagesSelector = state => state[ns].messages;
+
+export const reducer = handleActions(
+  {
+    [types.createFlashMessage]: (state, { payload }) => ({
+      ...state,
+      messages: [...state.messages, payload]
+    }),
+    [types.removeFlashMessage]: (state, { payload }) => ({
+      ...state,
+      messages: state.messages.filter(msg => msg.id !== payload)
+    })
+  },
+  initialState
+);
diff --git a/src/components/layout.js b/src/components/layout.js
index d631412bfb..4c0382e57d 100644
--- a/src/components/layout.js
+++ b/src/components/layout.js
@@ -7,16 +7,40 @@ import Helmet from 'react-helmet';
 import { StaticQuery, graphql } from 'gatsby';
 
 import { fetchUser, isSignedInSelector } from '../redux';
+import { flashMessagesSelector, removeFlashMessage } from './Flash/redux';
+import Flash from './Flash';
 import Header from './Header';
 
 import './layout.css';
 import './global.css';
 
-const mapStateToProps = createSelector(isSignedInSelector, isSignedIn => ({
-  isSignedIn
-}));
+const propTypes = {
+  children: PropTypes.node.isRequired,
+  disableSettings: PropTypes.bool,
+  fetchUser: PropTypes.func.isRequired,
+  flashMessages: PropTypes.arrayOf(
+    PropTypes.shape({
+      id: PropTypes.string,
+      type: PropTypes.string,
+      message: PropTypes.string
+    })
+  ),
+  hasMessages: PropTypes.bool,
+  isSignedIn: PropTypes.bool,
+  removeFlashMessage: PropTypes.func.isRequired
+};
+
+const mapStateToProps = createSelector(
+  isSignedInSelector,
+  flashMessagesSelector,
+  (isSignedIn, flashMessages) => ({
+    isSignedIn,
+    flashMessages,
+    hasMessages: !!flashMessages.length
+  })
+);
 const mapDispatchToProps = dispatch =>
-  bindActionCreators({ fetchUser }, dispatch);
+  bindActionCreators({ fetchUser, removeFlashMessage }, dispatch);
 
 class Layout extends Component {
   constructor(props) {
@@ -30,7 +54,13 @@ class Layout extends Component {
   }
 
   render() {
-    const { children, disableSettings } = this.props;
+    const {
+      children,
+      disableSettings,
+      hasMessages,
+      flashMessages = [],
+      removeFlashMessage
+    } = this.props;
     return (
       <StaticQuery
         query={graphql`
@@ -52,7 +82,12 @@ class Layout extends Component {
               title={data.site.siteMetadata.title}
             />
             <Header disableSettings={disableSettings} />
-            <div style={{ marginTop: '38px' }}>{children}</div>
+            <div style={{ marginTop: '38px' }}>
+              {hasMessages ? (
+                <Flash messages={flashMessages} onClose={removeFlashMessage} />
+              ) : null}
+              {children}
+            </div>
           </Fragment>
         )}
       />
@@ -60,12 +95,7 @@ class Layout extends Component {
   }
 }
 
-Layout.propTypes = {
-  children: PropTypes.node.isRequired,
-  disableSettings: PropTypes.bool,
-  fetchUser: PropTypes.func.isRequired,
-  isSignedIn: PropTypes.bool
-};
+Layout.propTypes = propTypes;
 
 export default connect(
   mapStateToProps,
diff --git a/src/pages/page-2.js b/src/pages/page-2.js
deleted file mode 100644
index 4d3665d34c..0000000000
--- a/src/pages/page-2.js
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,14 +0,0 @@
-import React from 'react'
-import { Link } from 'gatsby'
-
-import Layout from '../components/layout'
-
-const SecondPage = () => (
-  <Layout>
-    <h1>Hi from the second page</h1>
-    <p>Welcome to page 2</p>
-    <Link to="/">Go back to the homepage</Link>
-  </Layout>
-)
-
-export default SecondPage
diff --git a/src/redux/rootReducer.js b/src/redux/rootReducer.js
index b192fcb3b0..fb3e1b9832 100644
--- a/src/redux/rootReducer.js
+++ b/src/redux/rootReducer.js
@@ -1,7 +1,9 @@
 import { combineReducers } from 'redux';
 
 import { reducer as app } from './';
+import { reducer as flash } from '../components/Flash/redux';
 
 export default combineReducers({
-  app
+  app,
+  flash
 });