good-bye 2008

Hi everyone! Well, it's that time ... we'll be ringing in a new year in less than 12 hours ... a fresh start, a clean slate. Do you have any resolutions? I'm curious, let me know! I guess mine is to clean up the mess in my scrapbook studio. Again. I can hear Sal laughing already.

My friend Kyoko in Japan just e-mailed me to say that it's already 2009 there. How cool is that?

Tomorrow, one of my local scrapbook stores is having a New Year's Day sale ... the ENTIRE store will be 50% off (except adhesives) ... that's completely irresistible! I'm making a shopping list, LOL !!!

Happy 2009 everyone! Looking forward to another year of fun and sharing with you here at Where In The World?.

it's Dana's special day!

Happy birthday today to my niece, Dana, in Philadelphia! She's turning 4, wow!

Have a super fun day, Dana! :-)

Love,

Aunt Susan, Uncle Sal, Buddy & Aruba

Marley & Us

Hey everyone, hope you're enjoying the holidays this week. Sal and I spent Christmas with our families in the Tampa Bay area and had a nice time. And Sal totally surprised me with a giftcard to The Spa at the Breakers Resort in Palm Beach. Woo hoo! Now the tough part ... deciding on a treatment ... should I get the Harmony massage? or maybe the Ocean Breeze massage? perhaps the kiwi-coconut salt scrub? hmmmm.....

Seen any good movies lately?

Sal and I finally got to see Marley & Me today, we've been waiting anxiously for months. We were extras in a few scenes that were being filmed in Miami last spring (see my April 22 blog post). The scenes were early on in the story, where you see John (Owen Wilson) dropping off his wife Jenny (Jennifer Aniston) in a brown, beat-up hatchback at Miami airport. Unfortunately, we didn't see ourselves, the camera shots weren't wide enough to capture us in them. Bummer! Oh well, it was still such a unique experience to be extras and to see the filming process. It was also great to see so many familiar sights, since it was filmed right here in our neck-of-the-woods, SoFla. Even Delray Beach gets a mention in the script!

A few neat factoids about the movie:

• Marley is actually played by 22 different dogs because the story spanned his entire life, and puppies grow so fast. For the adult Marley, trainers chose an acting dog from a pool of dogs, depending on the mood of the scene and on which obedience skills it required.


• The book's author, John Grogan, and his wife were extras in one scene -- the obedience class, where Marley gets kicked out for bad behavior. {chuckle}


• Sal and I have been asked if we were paid to be extras ... yes, we were ... $100 each.


• Go to this website to watch behind-the-scenes fun video clips, a preview, and interviews with the cast, including Jonah (one of the Marleys)! The site also has links to the articles that started it all...the author was a columnist for the South Florida Sun-Sentinel in the 90s, and the tales (or should that be tails?) that he wrote about Marley became the basis for the book.

Overall, the movie is a (family-friendly) story about a couple's journey through life with their lovable, albeit maniacal, dog by their side. So grab some popcorn (and a few tissues) {sniffle} and check it out! It's a great tail-wagging story of doggie love.

Woof.

the weekend before the holidays

Wow, the holidays will really swing into full gear this week.

Calling all procrastinators: just 3 shopping days left until Christmas, get going!

And to my friends who are celebrating Hanukkah starting tonight, best wishes to you.

I spent part of the weekend doing Christmas-y stuff.....wrapping gifts, last-minute shopping, etc. And I look forward to our annual tradition tonight. Sal and I and Buddy and Aruba all hop in the car and go cruising around looking at Christmas lights. We roll down the windows listening for carolers and play fun Christmas music CDs. And the dogs just love the excitement of it all!

My fave holiday tunes are by Mannheim Steamroller (love their modern and funky sound) and a collection of songs that I grew up with, John Denver & The Muppets: A Christmas Together (you can listen to samples at that link, too!). It's such a fun and witty CD, and it's not just for kids; if you like John and/or the Muppets, then RUN don't walk to buy it (be sure to get the full version, with all 13 tracks, not the edited one which only has 10 of the songs). It's a HOOT! I had a big crush on John when I was a teen, he was a cutie --- and a treehugger! If you're familiar with his music, you'll know why I wished that I was Annie. {wink!}

Have a fun and festive week.....

have camera, will travel

OK, picture me excited! I've registered for a way cool travel photography seminar! It's not until March, but already I can't wait!

I saw an ad in my National Geographic Traveler magazine for a one-day seminar called "A Passion For Travel: Photos That Tell a Story" and, wow, it spoke to me.

Passion for travel? Check!
Do I want to take pics that tell a story? Check! (I'm a scrapbooker, after all)

So how perfect is this? And they happen to be holding it in St. Petersburg, Florida, where my family lives, so I can combine it with a weekend visit.

It'll be taught by 2 veteran NGT photographers, and of course National Geo is known for their über-stunning photographs! What I like most about this seminar is that it's not a traditional photography course; we won't be learning about lenses, apertures, F-stops, and all that stuff. In fact, we're not even bringing our cameras with us. Instead, we'll be learning about creating photos that "showcase our passion for travel" and that "capture the spirit of a place." I love that! It's what I already try to do...just scroll up to the photo in my blog's header...I wanted to capture how the blue of the ocean seemed to blend seamlessly with the blue of the sky as I looked out the window during a flight to Europe.

For an entire day, I'll be in an auditorium filled with others that have "a passion for travel"...it's so neat to chat with fellow travel buffs about places we've been or can't wait to go.

And they even offer a vegetarian lunch option, woo hoo!

The seminar will be just before we go to Utah.....so I'll get a chance to put what I learn into practice right away on some gorgeous geology. Yeah baby!

stopping the presses

The other day I heard that the 2 major newspapers in Detroit will soon be limiting home delivery to only 3 days a week in an effort to pare down expenses. {insert sound of my heart sinking here}

It upset me because I absolutely love reading the newspaper, indeed some might characterize me as an addict! I even buy local papers when I'm traveling...the stories, the editorials, even the ads, give me a sense of the place. A good example: when we were in Alaska in June, the local papers, as usual, contained revelations about the state, and its politics. From that, I discerned (dare I say predicted?) that McCain would see Governor Sarah Palin as an appropriate VP pick. Yes, I really did! (Just ask Sal)

It pains me to see the newspapers struggling, but I guess they're just yet another casualty of the sour economy. I have subscriptions to both of our local papers, The Palm Beach Post and The South Florida Sun-Sentinel (whose parent company just filed for bankruptcy protection, btw), and I read them everyday. I can tell they're both facing difficulties...they're thinner now, and have done away with some feature sections altogether...but I can't imagine not being able to start my day with my papers and a glass of OJ. I already anticipate that both probably can't survive forever as competitors in our local market, and they may merge at some point. But if they eliminate some delivery days??? Please no!

I realize that in today's world we get so much info from the Internet, and that includes me, I love to be online....I mean geez I have a blog after all, right?!? But to me there's something special about a newspaper. It's not old-fashioned. I'm constantly amazed at what an incredible compilation it is...tidbits from around the globe, including our own hometowns, all in one place. The paper brings the world to my doorstep...current events/issues/viewpoints/concepts that I may not think to look up online.

Some argue that newspaper publishers should stop printing their paper versions and have only a web presence. But pointing and clicking just wouldn't be the same. It just wouldn't.

blog features

Hi everyone....I've had a couple of questions about my blog....

First, about leaving comments to a post. I've modified my blog's settings to allow anyone to leave a comment, it's no longer limited just to users with Google accounts, etc. Many of you who prefer not to register or don't want to login have opted to e-mail me your thoughts instead of leaving a comment, and that's still perfectly fine with me. But, if you'd rather leave a comment on my blog for all to see, or to respond to another reader's comment, you can now opt to just list your name by choosing the "Name/URL" option. You'll notice that it's optional to input a URL; for instance, if you have a blog or other website of your own, you can enter the address. Or, you can even choose "Anonymous" (but please don't keep me guessing!). So, there's no more need to create any accounts or sign into anything. Whew, much better, right?

Second, I gather that sometimes readers want to look for a particular subject or post...there are 2 options to help with this...(1) scroll down on the sidebar to look for "View My Posts By Topic", and/or (2) use the "Search Blog" feature in the far upper left corner of my blog. Just type in your keyword(s) and all applicable posts will come up.

Hope this streamlines things a bit...

And as always, thanks for stopping by Where In The World?. I love your company! :-)

greatest snow on Earth

This is cool. The resort where Sal and I are going skiing (Alta Albion Basin in Utah) in March has its own webcam...here's a live shot:

(Of course, if you're reading my blog during the night (Utah time), it'll show up as pitch black...you'll have to check back later!)

{getting excited}

impromptu photo shoot

Hi everyone and happy Friday!

I recently decided to play around with our camera's features, starting with the "macro" setting. It allows you to get really close-up to a subject, while staying in focus. I'm no photography expert, and as a scrapbooker, I want to learn how to snap better pics.

So I figured what better subjects to practice on than the cute faces of my sweet fur angels?

Thought I'd share some close-ups of Buddy (top 2) & Aruba (below):

Precious huh? Oh, how I love these sweet pups!

But Aruba is especially difficult to photography, she's so camera-shy. Every time I aim the camera at her, she cowers...looks at the floor...won't look up at me with those adorable eyes and ears. So I have to lift up her head (hence my fingers are in the photo). She won't sit still either! But, I did finally manage to get her to look up on her own, excitedly, at her favorite toy, a stuffed squeaky hippo (bottom-most photo), but the lighting was poor. It's no easy feat, getting her to look up AND holding the camera steady AND snapping at just the right time, all as she pounces on me to grab the toy! Buddy, on the other hand, is Joe Cool...he'll walk right up and lick the lens, so curious....and no doubt all the while wondering if I'll slip him a treat for his trouble. {wink}

Enjoy the weekend.....

it's Ruth's special day!

Happy birthday today to my sister-in-law, Ruth, in Philadelphia!

We hope you have a FUN & FABULOUS day!

Love,
Susan, Sal, Buddy & Aruba

holiday party + scrapbooking = FUN !

Tonight I went to a holiday party at one of my local scrapbook stores, Scrapbook Your Art Out & Cafe, in Boca Raton. The invitation (which was beautifully handmade from scrapbooking supplies, of course!) promised fun, food, and surprises, and the event didn't disappoint!

First, we were each greeted with a peppermint mocha coffee, complete with a candy cane garnish. YUM!

The evening also included a cookie and gift exchange. Now let me preface what I'm about to say with the admission that I'm not particularly "domestic", and that I've never baked anything (unless frozen French fries count? LOL).....so, I bought (GASP !!!) a couple dozen cookies at a grocery store bakery and brought those. I know, I know, shame on me! But there was full disclosure, I didn't take credit for baking the cookies. I took the Christmas tree-shaped, green sprinkle-laden cookies out of the bakery packaging and assembled them on a platter, and it made for a pretty, albeit phony {wink}, presentation.

Then it was on to the fun gift exchange. To participate, each of us brought a wrapped $10 scrapbooking-themed gift, and everyone went home with a new treasure. I received a giftcard to the store, hurrah! It was in a nice little tin package that was decorated with lots of bling, so perfect for me. And of course I used the giftcard right away (read on and you'll understand why).

And we were all treated to a nice surprise "reveal" of a new scrapbooking product line. The store had all 4 of the new designs in the My Mind's Eye Laundry Line collection of papers and embellishments ("Natural" and "Sundress" are my favorites). They're gorgeous! Beautiful patterns, colors, textures.....and they're glittered! (aha, bling! now you know why my giftcard is already gone!)

Here's me and Ann, who owns the store with her mom, in our festive Christmas reds:
(If you attended Creative Escape '08, you might recognize Ann because she was there too.)

The party was a great chance to socialize with nice gals who are just as crazy about scrapbooking as I am! Fun stuff! :-)

celebrity status

Do you ever wish you were a celebrity? I do. Not for the posh lifestyle or adoring fans, but instead for the dubious power that a celebrity has when speaking up for a cause. Oprah can get just about anyone to try or buy just about anything, right? If Al Gore says to drive a hybrid, then maybe that's what we should be doing, right? And who can forget Sarah Palin's glasses? Like it or not, celebrities' preferences/habits/tastes have a strong influence on societal norms.

So where am I going with this?

Something I saw from PETA recently got me thinking about it. Not that I've never considered it before, but it got me thinking about it more deeply. I'm glad to see that celebs are stepping up more and more to use their name value and star power on behalf of animal welfare. Take a look at the latest ad from longtime vegetarian Paul McCartney:


In the ad, he says, "Many years ago, I was fishing, and as I was reeling in the poor fish, I realized I am killing him --- all for the passing pleasure it brings me. And something inside me clicked. I realized as I watched him fight for breath, that his life was as important to him as mine is to me. I am Paul McCartney and I am a vegetarian".

I had lots of similar "aha" moments when I chose to become a vegetarian many years ago. See which of your fave stars are vegetarians -- I think you'll be surprised by who's on the list!

And for what it's worth...I am Susan Lepore and I am a vegetarian.

open house

This morning Sal and I attended an open house, a grand re-opening of sorts, at our local fire station. The public was invited.....this was kind of a special event because this particular station, which is only 1/2 mile from our neighborhood, was virtually destroyed by Hurricane Wilma back in 2005 {sad}. For the 3 years that it took to get a new one planned, financed, and built, the firefighters relocated to a temporary building behind a church around the corner.

So now the firefighters have great new digs! I love the architecture, kind of a Key West style. Really brightens up the corner! After checking out the trucks (I climbed up and sat in the fire engine's driver's seat), we toured the living quarters. It was cool to see how they live while they're on their 24-hour shifts. Seems comfortable, functional. Tax dollars well-spent. They deserve it!

Someone even brought their 2 dalmations, how appropriate! Overall, it was a nice way to spend a Saturday morning, meeting some fellow Delray Beach residents and chatting with the folks who spend their lives bravely protecting us.

...tis the season...

Are you getting into the holiday spirit yet? I have been, all this week.

I've got my Christmas cards going out (almost done!), and I really enjoy writing them up. Despite my love of the Internet and e-mail, I still love sending cards by old-fashioned snail mail. If one of my cards arrives in your mailbox, you'll notice that I had some fun blinging them up this year with Stickles. You'll have to let me know what you think! Scrapbooking supplies + plain-jane cards = pretty stuff !!!

I've also been enjoying another holiday tradition...Tim Holtz, scrapbook artist and product designer extraordinaire, is doing his 12 Tags of Christmas project again this year. Every day, he teaches new techniques using his fabulous products, all in full color and step-by-step on his blog. He's already on Day 5 (Day 2's tag is pictured above). He's giving away fun prizes too! If you're a crafter of any kind, check it out, you'll love it!

Another holiday tradition that I think rocks is Trees For Troops. I first heard about this program last year.....you can either donate cash or choose a live Christmas tree to be delivered (courtesy of FedEx) to a soldier and his/her family that is stationed....wherever! In 2007, nearly 17,000 trees were delivered to troops in 15 different countries. This weekend (Dec 5 - 7), you can go to a participating tree lot or farm to choose a tree to be donated to a military family. You can also send a holiday message to our troops.

I'll catch you back here over the weekend.

holiday fun

Hi everyone and happy December! Wow, we're in the home stretch of 2008.

Hope you enjoyed the Thanksgiving holiday. Sal and I spent most of the weekend with our families in the St. Petersburg, Florida area. We enjoyed 2 holiday dinners - whew! - first at Sal's Mom's, and then later in the day at Terry & Heince's, my sister and her husband. Both made delicious meals, with lots of yummy veggie-friendly alternatives. Thanks again!

And I especially enjoyed Black Friday this year. Terry, my Mom, and I got up early to do a little shopping, but not at the mall - at Whim So Doodle, a scrapbook store! They indulged me and went there for a Black Friday sale they were having....the entire store was 40% off, incredible! And this is in addition to the birthday gift that Terry gave me in October.....a trip to a scrapbook store with spending cash! So. Much. Fun. Then we went out for lunch (pizza) and afterwards, since the weather was so gorgeous, we went for a walk through the Florida Botanical Gardens in Largo. It's filled with lush tropical foliage and flowers, all my favorites. Here's Terry, my Mom, and me in front of a small bamboo grove:

And Terry caught me checking out some amazingly giant leaves:

We plan to visit again over Christmas for their Holiday Garden Lights 2008 event....all of the gardens will be lit up and decorated for the season. Should be gorgeous!

Have a great week.