Just for the Fun of it

My ALS Ice Bucket Challenge Has Surprise Ending

 

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Yep, I knew it would happen eventually. I've been waiting to be asked to participate in the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge but I never thought it would come from our Australian foreign exchange student from 24 years ago – Rebecca Freeman Haines! I asked her to do the ice bucket honors. She came all the way from Australia to be with us!

In this video, I weathered a bucket of ice water dumped over my head and then challenged my neighbors at Cypress Station in North Ridgeville and my co-workers at University Hospital’s Eye Institute Reading Centers to also support this worthy cause. …

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Mark’s embarrassing moment with John Lanigan on Majic 105.7

 

Now that John Lanigan, the popular and sometimes controversial radio host/DJ has retired, I thought I'd share an awkward moment I had with him during an on-air visit to Cleveland radio station WMJI.

I was invited to appear on a COSE sponsored segment where member businesses try to stump the DJs with the type of business they own. After guessing that I owned a portrait studio, John Lanigan then asked if I did nude photos. To be clear – I DON’T do nude photos although I have done several glamour sessions over the years – all done in a tasteful fashion. Any way, my mind began to race as I began to sweat while I quickly formulated my response. How do you think I did? What would YOU have said? Please comment below!

Click here for the two minute interview on WMJI

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Adorable baby Halloween costumes create the best photo memories

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Halloween is just around the corner and moms are now shopping for cute costumes for their babies and toddlers in stores and online. Statistics from an October 2012 report by The National Retail Federation reveal an astounding 2.2 billion dollars was spent on costumes for babies, children, adults and even pets!
 
Every year, parents dress their kids in the cutest Halloween costumes! There are lions and tigers and bears – oh my! There are cows, bats, monkeys and peacocks. What mom wouldn’t want to wrap her arms around her child dressed as a purple octopus?

For little girls, princesses are always popular with Star Wars’ Princess Leia, Snow White and Cinderella in high demand. There are plenty of super hero costumes for the younger set including Superman, Batman and Wonder Woman – even the Incredible Hulk.

For “crafty” people who like making their costumes, there are sources on the Internet with tons of ideas. With a few materials and some imagination, you can make a unique costume unlike anything found in stores.

What will your baby or child be wearing this Halloween?

Check out some of the cute costumes this year's best dressed babies will be wearing in the related video! Shop for baby costumes at http://superproductreview.info/BabyCostumes.

Please share this article with you friends on Facebook, LinkedIn or via e-mail.

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Phantastic phfurry Phil is at it again

 

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Punxsutawney Phil is about to do his annual prognostication (OK, prediction) on how much longer we have to deal with cold, snowy, winter weather. After Clevelanders got socked with a rough morning commute to work in near white-out conditions and many schools canceled classes – spring can't come soon enough! …

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A dilemma for the ages – what to get Dad on Father’s Day?

Fathers Day gift idea - a hand made book from Blurb
Fathers Day gift idea – a hand made book from Blurb

So what do you give to the guy who has everything on Father's Day? Ahh, a dilemma for the ages. Most dads don't wait for a special occasion to get their “toys.” If they want it now – they get it now.

Fortunately, a San Francisco based company has come to the rescue. Blurb.com provides the resources to create a personalized book with your own snapshots that look as good as one you’d get in a book store.

What dad with a heart wouldn’t appreciate a hard cover book with photos of his children and stories of their experiences with dad? Dad’s the guy. The hero. The rock star. The guy who fixed it all. Photos from then. Photos from now. Make him a book that will make him proud.

Even though it may be too late to have the book delivered by Father’s Day – you can always tell him in a card that “a very special gift that you’ll treasure for a lifetime is in the works and that you’ll be getting it soon. I promise it will be worth the wait.”

Right now, Blurb is offering a special discount of 15% off ANY book until June 30, 2012(and it doesn’t even have to be for Father’s Day). Why not check it out right now?

Have you ever wanted a high quality, hard cover book of your personal photos? Have you already created one? Did you give it as a gift? How did the recipient like it? Please comment.

A dilemma for the ages – what to get Dad on Father’s Day? Read More »

How much do you love YOUR mom?

Blurb coupon code - 15% savings

A picture really is worth a thousand words. That's why I love the idea of gathering family photos and creating a Blurb photo book for Mother's Day this year. No more spending time trying to figure out what to write in that generic card you purchased from the drug store. The pictures will speak for themselves. A card is thoughtful but is easily thrown out or tucked away in a drawer. Creating a Blurb book will allow any mother to flip through and see memories she help create that you both share. I could almost guarantee it would be a gift that would be left out all year.

I created my first book with Blurb and was thrilled with the results. Although you can't actually see the quality of the cover and pages, you CAN see how nice the design looks using Blurb's free book design software. Check out my book Picturesque Olmsted Falls.

Start creating your Blurb book today and save 15% with promo code 15OFFBOOK valid through 5/30/12.

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Ever eat 800 different kinds of cereal?

The Great American Cereal Book by Marty Gitlin
This is the cover of The Great American Cereal Book by Marty Gitlin

Marty Gitlin of North Olmsted hasn’t actually tried the 800+ cereal brands in his newly published – The Great American Cereal Book – but he has eaten his fair share of them.

Whether it’s Alpha Bits, Fruit Loops or Cocoa Crispies; Gitlin enjoys eating, collecting and researching each one.

Gitlin, 55, grew up in South Euclid in the sixties where he developed a passion for trying at least one bowl of every cereal that came out on the market.

At age eight, a new cereal called Banana Wackies came out. Gitlin says it was like Lucky Charms – only banana-flavored. “I knew I was going to hate it,” he said. “I didn’t like banana-flavored anything as a kid. I was in a quandary but I made my mom get it anyway.”

From that point forward, Gitlin tried almost every brand that hit the market through his teenage years.

Gitlin stocks about 40 boxes of cereal in his house at all times. He arranges them by his favorites with his “first team” on the top shelf. “I’ll only move one up to the first team if I like it a lot,” he said.

Gitlin typically eats about 10 or more bowls of cereal a week – one every day for breakfast and sometimes one in the evening.

The Great American Cereal Book shares a lot of information and trivia about the 800+ cereal brands that have hit American shelves over the years.

Gitlin said he wanted to make his book a fun read. “I wanted it to be colorful and alive and funny.” It looks like an actual cereal box with “nutrition information” on the spine. It covers 800 cereal brands with 350 photos of box covers, memorabilia and ads. Some of the brands date back more than 100 years.

Each brand includes information as to when the cereal was “first poured” and a “milked until” date along with any slogans that were used to market the product.

Gitlin started gathering information for the book in 2002 – researching such cereal giants as General Mills, Post and Kellogg. He found facts that even diehard cereal lovers wouldn’t know. For example, one out of every 11 cereal products purchased in America is a Cheerios product or derivative.

The book has turned out to be extremely successful. It has been featured in the Readers Digest, Time, New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and Oprah.com.

The Great American Cereal Book has ranked No. 1 on Amazon’s Americana category and rose into the 400s on their overall book sales list.

So next time you’re sitting down at the breakfast table to enjoy your favorite cereal – have a copy of The Great American Cereal Book by your side to pass the time away.

So what's your favorite cereal and why? Please click the comment link to the right of this article's title.

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7 well dressed photographers attack royal wedding on bikes

Hugo Burnand and his team of wedding photographers
Hugo Burnand and his team of wedding photographers as they bike to Prince William and Kate Middleton's Wedding (Photo by Matt Writtle. See more of Matt's photography at http://www.mattwrittle.com)

If you thought the wedding of Prince William to Kate Middleton was a media circus; the photographer asked to cover it for the “royals” contributed to that image.

On the morning of April 29, 2011, London-based photographer Hugo Burnand and his well-trained team of seven assistants (all on bicycles) rode through Hyde Park to Buckingham Palace. They zigzagged through thousands of people who had gathered to witness Prince William marry Kate Middleton. “Cycling over was exhilarating,” Burnand recalled.

Days earlier, Burnand and his team created the couple’s official wedding portraits in the Throne Room in Buckingham Palace. “We had backup equipment for our backups,” he said. Even though he had experience photographing the 2005 wedding of Prince Charles and Camilla Parker Bowles, the pressure was intense.

On the day of the wedding, Burnand had exactly 28 minutes to photograph the bridal couple before they made their balcony appearance. He claims he wasn’t stressed. “I was very well prepared,” he said, thanks to following the military adage of the seven P's – “Proper planning and preparation prevents piss-poor performance.”

It took 32 hours to prepare for the 28 minute shoot. “We rehearsed everything, including what to do if things didn’t go according to plan. I said my prayers before hand and every single prayer was answered.”

Photographer Hugo Burnand's favorite wedding photo: Prince William and Kate Middleton surrounded by the children.
Photographer Hugo Burnand's favorite wedding photo: Prince William and Kate Middleton surrounded by the children. (Photo: Hugo Burnand/Clarence House)

One of Burnand's favorite photos is of Prince William and Kate surrounded by the children. “Every individual in that picture shows their real character. I knew what I wanted so there was photographic direction, but you can’t direct that kind of spontaneity and naturalness,” stated Burnard.

For couples wishing to get the best professional photos that they'll truly cherish – consider hiring a professional who has received extensive training in wedding photography. Look at their portfolio and ask for references (and check those references.) A great resource of professional photographers is the Professional Photographers of America. Find a photographer in your area here.

So what unusual photography moment do you remember about your wedding? Please share it here with a comment.

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Get a GREAT Freebie at Falls Day in the Park this Sunday

FREE uniquely shaped, limited edition post card of the waterfall at Olmsted Falls. Read the article to see how you can get one!
FREE uniquely shaped, limited edition post card of the waterfall at Olmsted Falls. Read the article to see how you can get one!

Do you like free food, rock music and give aways? Then get ready for a fun afternoon at Falls Day in the Park this Sunday – Oct. 2nd – from 1 – 4 p.m. at East River Park on Lewis Road in Olmsted Falls.

There will be free hot dogs, chili, brats, donuts, apple cider and more from local civic groups and businesses. A rock band will provide free entertainment while you enjoy local arts and crafts vendors and more.  It’s a great time to reconnect with old friends from the Olmsted area.

SpectraLight Photography will be showing off and selling “Picturesque Olmsted Falls – Gazebos, Waterfalls, a Covered Bridge and More – Oh My!” Believed to be the first book of it’s kind in Northeast Ohio, it contains nearly 50 photographs that look similar to paintings created with watercolor, oils, canvas and other “Old Masters” techniques.

To launch the book, we are giving away a uniquely shaped, limited edition post card of the scene chosen for the book cover. A sample of the card is shown above. If you can’t make it to Falls Day in the Park, you can get a free post card by sending a self-addressed, long (business size) envelope to: Free Olmsted Falls Post Card, c/o SpectraLight Photography, 8367 Burlington Drive, North Ridgeville, OH, 44039.

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Up all night – 3,604 cups of coffee – voila – the Mona Lisa!

Mona Lisa replica created with 3604 cups of coffee was 20 feet high by 13 feet wide.
Mona Lisa replica created with 3604 cups of coffee was 20 feet high by 13 feet wide.

Although its doubtful that Leonardo Da Vinci consumed 3,604 cups of coffee while painting the Mona Lisa; it took a team of eight people about three hours to recreate it with that many cups at the The Rocks Aroma Festival in Sydney, Australia in 2009. The different shades were created by adding milk in varying amounts with some receiving none, little or lots of milk to each cup of black coffee.

The different shades of the Mona Lisa were created by adding milk in varying amounts with some receiving none, little or lots of milk to each cup of black coffee.
The different shades of the Mona Lisa were created by adding milk in varying amounts with some receiving none, little or lots of milk to each cup of black coffee.

The “mural” was seen by 130,000 people who attended the one-day coffee-lovers event. “We wanted to create an element of surprise and a sense of fun in the way we engaged with the public,” said Elaine Kelly – one of the event organizers.

“Once we had the idea of creating an image out of coffee cups we searched for something iconic to reproduce – and opted for the most iconic painting in history,” stated Kelly. “The Mona Lisa has been reproduced so many times in so many different mediums but, as far as we know, never out of coffee. The result was fantastic.”

Have you ever created something out of materials that wouldn't normally be used for that item? Please share your experience with a comment here.

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