Who doesn't LOVE the Winter Olympics?!?!?
I think Vancouver is a fabulous city to host it in 2010!
Here is a link to the Vancouver website to see the schedule of competition for the Winter Olympics and the Paralympic Winter Games:
http://www.tourismvancouver.com/visitors/about_vancouver/2010_olympics/2010_olympics
If you have never visited this part of the country, this is a great time to see it!!
Friday, June 26, 2009
Saturday, June 20, 2009
10 Tips for Photographing Vacations
For anyone who knows anything about me, they know that I'm a photo-taking nut!!! It's escalated since I've had children, there just seems to be so many more moments to capture these days!!!!!!!!
Here are ten simple tips to get you on your way to taking better pictures.
Thank you to Kodak Gallery for this list of 10 helpful tips for picture-taking while vacationing.
1.) Do your homework
Look at travel guides, postcards and picture books of the area. Learn where the best photo opportunities are. Remember key events, festivities, and landmarks. You'll be inspired to take better pictures.
Learn the features and operation of your camera. If you're still learning how to use your camera, take the camera manual along — it's good reading on the plane.
2.) Tell a Story
Use pictures to tell the story of your trip, from the time of your departure to your return.
Capture the details. Take pictures of signs, ticket stubs, menus, local maps and more.
Capture the emotions. Take individual pictures of each member of your travel party with their favorite landmarks, rides, eatery or animal.
Carry a small note book to jot down quick details to use later.
3.) Capture the local flavor
Unique subjects make great pictures. Keep an eye out for the unusual and snap a picture when you come upon it.
Interact with the locals. You’ll learn more about their culture and take better pictures while capturing details you may have missed. (Always ask permission).
4.) Create a photo menu
Take pictures of everything you eat, especially the unique and different items. Your memory of how good it tasted may fade, but you'll have pictures. After all, eating new foods is as important a part of travel as seeing new sights.
To create a more dramatic picture, move in close and fill the frame.
5.) Look for themes
Look for common themes in your travels and take lots of pictures. This will help you tell a unique story that is just yours.
6.) Always carry your camera
Your camera won't do you any good sitting in the hotel room. You never know when an opportunity will arise, and for many photos you may not get a second chance.
A point and shoot camera is compact and easy to carry with you, be it a hike through the woods or an evening at the opera.
7.) Have fun
Take candid pictures. Ignore the impulse to force your subjects to pose.
When taking pictures of a group, don’t work too hard to position them. Let them relax and fall into a natural pose.
Blend into the environment while taking pictures to avoid making your subject self-conscious.
8.) Take lots of pictures
Not every picture will be perfect. Taking multiple pictures will give you more to choose from.
When taking pictures of children, wait for the right moment, then shoot lots of pictures quickly.
Look for themes in your travels and capture them often to highlight your story.
9.) Accessorize
Expand your picture-taking capability. Check into an accessory wide-angle or telephoto lens for your camera. It might be just what you need to capture architectural details or the local culture.
10.) Protect your gear
Sand, water, snow, and heat are your camera's worst enemies. When you're not taking pictures, keep your camera and supplies safe in a camera bag or zippered plastic bag.
Here are ten simple tips to get you on your way to taking better pictures.
Thank you to Kodak Gallery for this list of 10 helpful tips for picture-taking while vacationing.
1.) Do your homework
Look at travel guides, postcards and picture books of the area. Learn where the best photo opportunities are. Remember key events, festivities, and landmarks. You'll be inspired to take better pictures.
Learn the features and operation of your camera. If you're still learning how to use your camera, take the camera manual along — it's good reading on the plane.
2.) Tell a Story
Use pictures to tell the story of your trip, from the time of your departure to your return.
Capture the details. Take pictures of signs, ticket stubs, menus, local maps and more.
Capture the emotions. Take individual pictures of each member of your travel party with their favorite landmarks, rides, eatery or animal.
Carry a small note book to jot down quick details to use later.
3.) Capture the local flavor
Unique subjects make great pictures. Keep an eye out for the unusual and snap a picture when you come upon it.
Interact with the locals. You’ll learn more about their culture and take better pictures while capturing details you may have missed. (Always ask permission).
4.) Create a photo menu
Take pictures of everything you eat, especially the unique and different items. Your memory of how good it tasted may fade, but you'll have pictures. After all, eating new foods is as important a part of travel as seeing new sights.
To create a more dramatic picture, move in close and fill the frame.
5.) Look for themes
Look for common themes in your travels and take lots of pictures. This will help you tell a unique story that is just yours.
6.) Always carry your camera
Your camera won't do you any good sitting in the hotel room. You never know when an opportunity will arise, and for many photos you may not get a second chance.
A point and shoot camera is compact and easy to carry with you, be it a hike through the woods or an evening at the opera.
7.) Have fun
Take candid pictures. Ignore the impulse to force your subjects to pose.
When taking pictures of a group, don’t work too hard to position them. Let them relax and fall into a natural pose.
Blend into the environment while taking pictures to avoid making your subject self-conscious.
8.) Take lots of pictures
Not every picture will be perfect. Taking multiple pictures will give you more to choose from.
When taking pictures of children, wait for the right moment, then shoot lots of pictures quickly.
Look for themes in your travels and capture them often to highlight your story.
9.) Accessorize
Expand your picture-taking capability. Check into an accessory wide-angle or telephoto lens for your camera. It might be just what you need to capture architectural details or the local culture.
10.) Protect your gear
Sand, water, snow, and heat are your camera's worst enemies. When you're not taking pictures, keep your camera and supplies safe in a camera bag or zippered plastic bag.
Monday, June 15, 2009
Disney iPhone Apps
Walt Disney World Apps
Disney World Wait Times provides up-to-the-minute standby and fastpass distribution return times for every attraction and restaurant at Walt Disney World, across all six parks. It also provides real-time social commenting on everything, so you can share your thoughts and experiences (ride closures, great deals at shopping facilities) all over Walt Disney World with the entire community. Last but not least, it provides location and mapping services for restrooms as well as every major stop across the parks.. shopping, attractions, dining… so you can always find what’s “near you” in every major category. Just 99 cents!
WDW Dining Disney provides menus for nearly every restaurant across every park in Walt Disney World. Indispensable for those on a dining plan, as it lists every menu item that is applicable. If you’re hungry for a certain food, you can find it fast with this application. An essential tool at Walt Disney World. 99 cents.
Magic Kingdom Tour Guide will give you the best strategies for having fun at the Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World. (Note that this app provides info for just the Magic Kingdom, not all of Walt Disney World). It will help you find age-appropriate attractions for everyone in your party, including height requirements. $1.99.
Walt Disney World Resort Times Guide - provides park open and close times, parade times, and special event information across all of Walt Disney World. Jump to any date in the near future to see what’s coming, and never hunt for a park pamphlet again. 99 cents.
Disneyland (California) App
Disneyland Resort Times Guide - - provides park open and close times, parade times, and special event information for the two Disneyland Resort parks. Jump to any date in the near future to see what’s coming, and never hunt for a park pamphlet again. 99 cents.
Thank you to Mouse Savers for this article:
http://www.mousesavers.com/iphoneapps.html
Disney World Wait Times provides up-to-the-minute standby and fastpass distribution return times for every attraction and restaurant at Walt Disney World, across all six parks. It also provides real-time social commenting on everything, so you can share your thoughts and experiences (ride closures, great deals at shopping facilities) all over Walt Disney World with the entire community. Last but not least, it provides location and mapping services for restrooms as well as every major stop across the parks.. shopping, attractions, dining… so you can always find what’s “near you” in every major category. Just 99 cents!
WDW Dining Disney provides menus for nearly every restaurant across every park in Walt Disney World. Indispensable for those on a dining plan, as it lists every menu item that is applicable. If you’re hungry for a certain food, you can find it fast with this application. An essential tool at Walt Disney World. 99 cents.
Magic Kingdom Tour Guide will give you the best strategies for having fun at the Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World. (Note that this app provides info for just the Magic Kingdom, not all of Walt Disney World). It will help you find age-appropriate attractions for everyone in your party, including height requirements. $1.99.
Walt Disney World Resort Times Guide - provides park open and close times, parade times, and special event information across all of Walt Disney World. Jump to any date in the near future to see what’s coming, and never hunt for a park pamphlet again. 99 cents.
Disneyland (California) App
Disneyland Resort Times Guide - - provides park open and close times, parade times, and special event information for the two Disneyland Resort parks. Jump to any date in the near future to see what’s coming, and never hunt for a park pamphlet again. 99 cents.
Thank you to Mouse Savers for this article:
http://www.mousesavers.com/iphoneapps.html
Thursday, June 11, 2009
7 Ways to Annoy a Flight Attendant
OMG, this article made me laugh out loud!!
Thought I'd share.....
Thank you to Yahoo News for this fun article!
http://travel.yahoo.com/p-interests-28078669;_ylc=X3oDMTF2YWJnM21wBF9TAzI3MTYxNDkEX3MDMjcxOTQ4MQRzZWMDZnAtdG9kYXltb2QEc2xrA2Fubm95YXR0ZW5kYW50LTYtMi0wOQ--
7 Ways to Annoy a Flight Attendant
Our anonymous flight attendant has worked for a well-known commercial airline for 12 years. She dishes on what irritates her most in passenger behavior.
1. Bring your pet on the plane and then act like an animal.
Over the years, I've seen a pet on a passenger's lap, a pet tucked into a seatback pocket, and a pet loose in the aisle (I nearly hit one with my beverage cart). All of this is against federal regulations. People tell me how well-behaved their pet is, but they can't follow the rules themselves! Your pet must stay in its carrier while you're on the plane. Yes, even if you've paid a "pet-in-cabin" fee.
2. Shove your bag into the first bin you see and then walk to your seat in the back of the plane.
You think you're clever, I know. You expect to grab your bag on your way out of the plane, but you're selfishly inconveniencing others. I can't lie and say we flight attendants don't take some small satisfaction when we tell you, "We couldn't identify the bag's owner, so we sent it to cargo." It's a security issue, for real. Carry-ons need to stay near their owners! So don't look so shocked when we say, "The signs will direct you to baggage claim. You can pick up your bag there."
3. Think that because you're on an airplane you're off-duty as a parent.
Stop expecting us to have spare diapers, formula, medicine, toys, playing cards, or batteries for DVD players or Game Boys. It's an airplane, not a 7-11. Take your kid to the restroom before you board. Leave the dry cereal and Legos at home and bring snacks and toys for your kids that won't make a horrible mess.
4. Drag on an oversize bag that's too heavy for you to lift by yourself.
I won't be compensated for any injuries I might sustain if I heft your bag into the overhead compartment for you. (And other passengers shouldn't have to step up and take the risk either.) The guideline is simple: You pack it, you stack it. Try this at home as a test (and this is to you ladies, especially): After you've packed your bag, put on the shoes you plan to wear on the plane and see if you can lift your bag and place it on top of your refrigerator. You can't? Pay the fee and check the bag.
5. Gripe that you haven't been seated in a roomy exit-row seat.
The exit rows weren't created as a reward for people who are tall, overweight, or just plain nice. They were designed to help passengers get out of the plane in an emergency. The people seated in an exit row must be able to see and speak clearly, open the emergency door, and help others. I prefer to see uniformed military, firefighters, law-enforcement officers, or off-duty pilots and flight attendants sitting in those seats. While the gate agent may assign exit-row seats first, the flight attendant makes the final determination about who gets to sit in them. And the quality of our choices is one of the frequent concerns of Federal Aviation Administration officials when they audit airlines for safety practices. So please don't complain. I'm just doing my job.
6. Act like you don't know the meaning of the words "under the seat in front of you."
Someday I will be muttering "under the seat in front of you" in the old-age home for flight attendants. What is it that you don't understand? To be clear, items should not be stowed behind your calves, under your feet like a footstool, in the open seat next to you, or in your lap. It's under the seat in front of you. And it applies to everything you carry on board. Items stored carelessly can trip others, or dislodge during takeoff and get lost, or inconvenience others. And while I'm on the topic: Please don't wrap your purse (or umbrella strap) around your ankle to keep from forgetting it. What will happen in an emergency, when every second counts and there's no time to disentangle yourself from your precious bag? Will you drag it ball-and-chain-style down the aisle of a burning plane?
7. Whine about the high price of flying.
When I hear people complain about coach airfares, I know they're not keeping up with the news. Fares have rarely been cheaper. In recent years, it's not uncommon for you to be able to cross the continent for under $130 each way, with a maximum of one layover. It's a bargain! At that price, you're barely paying for the fuel to get your body there—never mind the cost of shipping your 50 pounds of gear. You're already on the gravy plane. People point to first class ticket holders and want to know why they don't get the same treatment. Wake up folks: You're getting a great deal. If you want even more, pay more!
Thought I'd share.....
Thank you to Yahoo News for this fun article!
http://travel.yahoo.com/p-interests-28078669;_ylc=X3oDMTF2YWJnM21wBF9TAzI3MTYxNDkEX3MDMjcxOTQ4MQRzZWMDZnAtdG9kYXltb2QEc2xrA2Fubm95YXR0ZW5kYW50LTYtMi0wOQ--
7 Ways to Annoy a Flight Attendant
Our anonymous flight attendant has worked for a well-known commercial airline for 12 years. She dishes on what irritates her most in passenger behavior.
1. Bring your pet on the plane and then act like an animal.
Over the years, I've seen a pet on a passenger's lap, a pet tucked into a seatback pocket, and a pet loose in the aisle (I nearly hit one with my beverage cart). All of this is against federal regulations. People tell me how well-behaved their pet is, but they can't follow the rules themselves! Your pet must stay in its carrier while you're on the plane. Yes, even if you've paid a "pet-in-cabin" fee.
2. Shove your bag into the first bin you see and then walk to your seat in the back of the plane.
You think you're clever, I know. You expect to grab your bag on your way out of the plane, but you're selfishly inconveniencing others. I can't lie and say we flight attendants don't take some small satisfaction when we tell you, "We couldn't identify the bag's owner, so we sent it to cargo." It's a security issue, for real. Carry-ons need to stay near their owners! So don't look so shocked when we say, "The signs will direct you to baggage claim. You can pick up your bag there."
3. Think that because you're on an airplane you're off-duty as a parent.
Stop expecting us to have spare diapers, formula, medicine, toys, playing cards, or batteries for DVD players or Game Boys. It's an airplane, not a 7-11. Take your kid to the restroom before you board. Leave the dry cereal and Legos at home and bring snacks and toys for your kids that won't make a horrible mess.
4. Drag on an oversize bag that's too heavy for you to lift by yourself.
I won't be compensated for any injuries I might sustain if I heft your bag into the overhead compartment for you. (And other passengers shouldn't have to step up and take the risk either.) The guideline is simple: You pack it, you stack it. Try this at home as a test (and this is to you ladies, especially): After you've packed your bag, put on the shoes you plan to wear on the plane and see if you can lift your bag and place it on top of your refrigerator. You can't? Pay the fee and check the bag.
5. Gripe that you haven't been seated in a roomy exit-row seat.
The exit rows weren't created as a reward for people who are tall, overweight, or just plain nice. They were designed to help passengers get out of the plane in an emergency. The people seated in an exit row must be able to see and speak clearly, open the emergency door, and help others. I prefer to see uniformed military, firefighters, law-enforcement officers, or off-duty pilots and flight attendants sitting in those seats. While the gate agent may assign exit-row seats first, the flight attendant makes the final determination about who gets to sit in them. And the quality of our choices is one of the frequent concerns of Federal Aviation Administration officials when they audit airlines for safety practices. So please don't complain. I'm just doing my job.
6. Act like you don't know the meaning of the words "under the seat in front of you."
Someday I will be muttering "under the seat in front of you" in the old-age home for flight attendants. What is it that you don't understand? To be clear, items should not be stowed behind your calves, under your feet like a footstool, in the open seat next to you, or in your lap. It's under the seat in front of you. And it applies to everything you carry on board. Items stored carelessly can trip others, or dislodge during takeoff and get lost, or inconvenience others. And while I'm on the topic: Please don't wrap your purse (or umbrella strap) around your ankle to keep from forgetting it. What will happen in an emergency, when every second counts and there's no time to disentangle yourself from your precious bag? Will you drag it ball-and-chain-style down the aisle of a burning plane?
7. Whine about the high price of flying.
When I hear people complain about coach airfares, I know they're not keeping up with the news. Fares have rarely been cheaper. In recent years, it's not uncommon for you to be able to cross the continent for under $130 each way, with a maximum of one layover. It's a bargain! At that price, you're barely paying for the fuel to get your body there—never mind the cost of shipping your 50 pounds of gear. You're already on the gravy plane. People point to first class ticket holders and want to know why they don't get the same treatment. Wake up folks: You're getting a great deal. If you want even more, pay more!
Friday, June 5, 2009
Passports Now Required
Thank you to Travel Leaders for posting this informative article:
http://www.travelleaders.com/suntime/265835
Helpful links:
Here is the link to the U.S. Department of State website, with further info on the WHTI:
http://travel.state.gov/travel/cbpmc/cbpmc_2223.html
Here is the link to more information about the U.S. Passport Card:
http://travel.state.gov/passport/ppt_card/ppt_card_3926.html
Applying for a NEW passport? Here is the link for these forms: (you do need to apply in person, but can fill out the forms in advance)
http://travel.state.gov/passport/get/first/first_830.html
http://www.travelleaders.com/suntime/265835
Helpful links:
Here is the link to the U.S. Department of State website, with further info on the WHTI:
http://travel.state.gov/travel/cbpmc/cbpmc_2223.html
Here is the link to more information about the U.S. Passport Card:
http://travel.state.gov/passport/ppt_card/ppt_card_3926.html
Applying for a NEW passport? Here is the link for these forms: (you do need to apply in person, but can fill out the forms in advance)
http://travel.state.gov/passport/get/first/first_830.html
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