The Angel Forever

Taking Photos with the BlackBerry Z10

Posted on May 2, 2013 12:00 am by TheAngelForever

Disclosure: As a member of the Verizon Lifestyle Bloggers, I recently received a BlackBerry Z10 and accessories to test out and share ways that I use my cell phone to make life easier. There was no other compensation. I am a long time Verizon customer, and all opinions are my own.

Taking photos is part of my life. Not only do I take pictures to capture memories of my family, but I am also on the go sharing moments in the fun world of social media. This means that I need a phone that has a reliable camera where I can point and click, edit, watermark, and share on multiple social media paths.

While testing out the BlackBerry Z10, I wanted to get to know the camera and I was not disappointed. The camera is extremely responsive. Unlike some of the other smartphones that I have used, it will focus very quickly on the item you are observing. There is little delay and you can quickly see the details that you have captured. What I also loved was the fact that you can press any location on the screen to take the picture. On other phones, you often have a tiny circular area as the target. While this may lead to extra pictures being taken, they can easily be deleted.

Here are some photos of flowers to see the level of detail that the Z10 camera produced. Obviously, these are not full resolution, but you can still get the idea (no retouching, I just added the watermark and caption).

Too often, cameras within a phone blur, have trouble with light, or are not able to work quickly. The Z10 really was able to keep up with my needs while on the go and taking photos, especially ones to share and utilize later on.

I usually share photos on Facebook and Twitter via Instagram. Of course, this app just arrived to Android users and is not available for BlackBerry. This meant that I had to Tweet items directly with Twitter and post right to Facebook. It made the process a bit more time consuming, but it was doable. What I had to search for in the BlackBerry World was for an app to watermark. I decided to try the PhotoFirma app. What I really liked about this app is that you can make a logo into your watermark. So rather than simply using the ©TheAngelForever.com, I could place my image right on the photo. Here is an example:

Overall, I think the BlackBerry Z10 has a lot of potential as a smartphone. It really does have many features that will be great for a business person that already uses BlackBerry with their work. I not only liked the camera, but the HUB and easy to use movements were great when getting to know the phone. The downfall for me as someone in social media and as a parent is the lack of apps available at this time. While approximately 100,000 apps may seem like a lot, it is very different than the 700,000 to 800,000 available on other platforms. The app developers have not focused on BlackBerry development at this time. There are just not enough of the apps that I utilize on a daily basis for it to be the right phone for me.

Categories:
Phone Apps Technology

May Flowers at Walt Disney World

Posted on May 1, 2013 12:00 am by TheAngelForever

Last month, my Disney April calendar photos were focused on rain showers. Of course, that means that May brings us lots of beautiful flowers. This is especially true when you go to visit the Epcot Flower and Garden Show. The amazing topiaries and flowers are all over the place. I decided to share some of our pictures from last year when we were able to explore another early May at Walt Disney World.

Be sure to stop by Focused on the Magic by clicking on the button above to join in the Disney magic this week.

Categories:
Disney flowers and plants travel vacation

The Albany Children’s Book Festival – Part 2

Posted on April 30, 2013 12:00 am by TheAngelForever

In part one of my posts about The Albany Children’s Book Festival, I wrote about some of the first authors and illustrators that we were able to meet and talk with. By this time, the boys were running ahead to check things out. While I was still chatting with Jennifer Berne and Diane deGroat, they continued on along the row of tables. When I caught up with them, they were over with author and illustrator Jeff Mack. I immediately recognized his illustrations from Bunnicula and was thrilled to see that the series now has a Ready-To-Read options for younger readers. In addition to this, Mr. Mack is the author/illustrator of the Hippo and Rabbit books for Beginning Readers (getting these for JSL’s birthday), Clueless McGee chapter books, and many other picture books. The kids loved that he signed their books with a cute little illustration.

While I was chatting with someone I know from Albany Kids Out and About, the boys kept moving ahead. When I arrived, JSL and NHL were mesmerized with a private storytelling for just the two of them at a table. The book was Pig Kahuna and it was written and illustrated by Jennifer Sattler (on the left below). She was not the one that was reading the book to the boys, that was author and co-owner of the The Flying Pig Bookstore Elizabeth Bluemle (on the right below).

My heart melted watching the faces on my kids, so I took a photo to share.

These two women were amazing, they spent quite some time with NHL and JSL. You could tell that they get children and love to interact with them. In addition to Pig Kahuna, Ms. Sattler has also written and illustrated quite a variety of other picture books that are now going onto our summer reading list and the kids can’t wait to see Pig Kahuna Pirates! coming in Spring 2014. Ms. Bluemle has written several books for kids including How Do You Wokka-Wokka? which are also going onto our must reads this summer.

From here, we walked to the end of the row of tables and met author Julie Berry. At first, the boys were getting a little antsy from being in the room for a while. Then something clicked with NHL. As Ms. Berry talked with us about her Splurch Academy for Disruptive Boys series he perked up. He liked that the books also included illustrations, drawn by Ms. Berry’s sister Sally Faye Gardner. When it came time to select a book to purchase, he wanted to go back to get the first from this series.

We started reading this book together and I think we are both hooked. NHL has already asked us to order the next three books. This is huge for a reluctant reader who is not typically into fiction books (my Aspie loves reading about math, science, and history). I love that this even helped us to find new books that he wants to read. The next part of this series will introduce you to some very talented authors and illustrators that are from the Capital Region. I must say we have a lot of amazing people creating children’s books in our area. Oh and I will also share how JSL finally selected the book he wanted to purchase at the event (it was not an easy task). Oh and if you are curious about the books we read, more will be featured on upcoming Tuesday Tales so stay tuned.

Categories:
books Educational local event

The Albany Children’s Book Festival – Part 1

Posted on April 29, 2013 12:00 am by TheAngelForever

Books are a big part of our lives. As a teacher, I started a huge collection and now our boys have added a lot more to the mix. When we saw that we would be in town for The Albany Children’s Book Festival on April 27, 2013, we knew that we would have to go.

When we first walked into the main room, the boys were not entirely sure which way we should go. Each of them had been given a little passport like book to collect autographs of authors and illustrators. If they did this, they could show it to get a special wizard hat later on. Looking back, I wish I had taken more photos and been able to chat with the authors and illustrators more because it was a fascinating experience.

At first, the boys were a little shy and unsure of where to find the people in their different books. Soon after, they were ready to get autographs from anyone and everyone at a table and see what books were on their tables.

One of the first tables we went to was with author Amy Gordon. NHL noticed one of her books called Return to Gill Park and we learned that it is part of a series that she has written. She signed the boys’ book, we took a photo, and I grabbed her card to add these books to our reading list.

Sitting next to Ms. Gordon was author Laurie Calkhoven and many of her history based books. TechyDad was very intrigued with her picture book I Grew Up to Be President. I am excited to see more historical books that NHL may not be reluctant to read. Her Boys of Wartime looks like great historical fiction books that we will add to our summer reading list.

From here, we wandered around some more looking at a lot of tables and trying to take in all of the amazing books around. That is when I spied a book that I had been sent from a publisher in 2010 and was excited to meet the author. Jennifer Berne was beyond sweet and fun to chat with. When I asked her to pose for a picture, she immediately pulled over Calvin Can’t Fly. Now I can’t wait to read some of her other books like Manfish: A Story of Jacques Cousteau and On a Beam of Light: A Story of Albert Einstein that is coming out in May. We are also super excited to hear that Calvin will be back for a sequel.

While I was talking to Ms. Berne, she introduced me to the woman sitting next to her. At first it took me a minute and then I realized I knew her work. Yes, she is the brilliant illustrator behind the pictures in Pioneer Woman’s books about Charlie. Diane deGroat was too funny talking about how Ree is more famous than she is. I explained that my son was in love with Charlie thanks to her drawings and wanted to tell his own story while looking at her illustrations in Charlie the Ranch Dog.

There is a lot more to share, but I am going to break this into a few posts so I can highlight the people that we were able to meet and take photos with.

I would love to know if you have met any authors and illustrators and what your experience was. This was so much fun for the boys, especially after they heard about my tour with author Ridley Pearson a year ago in Epcot.

Categories:
books Educational local event

Raising Digital Families For Dummies Book Launch

Posted on April 26, 2013 12:00 am by TheAngelForever

I adore the world of social media and what it has meant for me. I have been able to meet people that have had a huge impact in my life. Many have become real life friends that I have also been blessed to meet in person. The two amazing women below are Amy Lupold Bair and Shannan Powell. They are the force behind Resourceful Mommy Media.

Looking back, I am not even sure how I met Amy, but I have to guess it was probably on Twitter and may have had something to do with Walt Disney World. I instantly made a connection with @ResourcefulMom (that’s Amy) because she was also a teacher that was no longer in the classroom. We had two children that were similar in age, husbands that refused certain social media platforms, and our love for all things Disney went back to trips with our families when only one park ruled the Orlando land.

This past year, I have watched as Amy wrote her first book and now it is being launched. Yes, Raising Digital Families for Dummies is officially coming out and I already purchased my Kindle copy a short time ago.

Amy’s passion for social media is clear to everyone that knows her. In this book, she helps other families to see how to guide their children in the ever changing digital world that we live in. I look forward to exploring her book and working on a plan for our family.

Now, I am asking you to please help me to congratulate Amy and join her for the Twitter launch party on Monday, April 29. There is more information about it on her website, along with magical prizes being given out.

Once again a big Mazel Tov to my friend Amy on her first of what will likely be many books.

Disclosure: NONE – I wrote this because I am supporting a friend!