Seen & heard at #Southbank #thamesfestival – 1. elegant lady & equally elegant dog! 2. Well I’ve got my finger cuffs w/ me..lady to her male friend
The sun’s shining. The smell of a plethora of cuisine & drinks are in the air. Music, entertainment, fun.
It’s all good!
Cheers…break’s over – back to the festivities…
First picture is: Popcorn Clouds.
Second piccie is: Wooly Sheep Clouds
Copyright2010 stefanialintonbon
Cheers!
http://ipad.io/N7I
I’m not really still in Italy…but I was just there a few days ago!
Ciao from Italy
Abano Terme, Montegrotto, Padova
Arrived in Venice after circling in the air for about an hour waiting for the thunderstorm to pass.
Sitting at the hotel admiring the globe lights illuminating the darkness and drinking the very unItalian Earl Gray tea – with lemon – meditating on the sculptured perfection of the Hotel Venezia’s (Abano Terme) front lawn accented with colourful small flowers in little quartered circles…Yes, we’re definitely back in Italy.
The next day was fabbo, bright and sunny. A wonderful surprise since the BBC weather predicted rain for the whole week-end.
What to do with myself whilst Hubby was working? The kind concierge looked up the weather on the internet, and we saw sunny and cloudy today – high possibility of rain tomorrow. Ok, it’s a no-brainer! Montegrotto & The Butterfly House today, and Padova with my favourite pizza place and lots of shops, cafes to nip into should it start to pour – tomorrow.
The butterfly house, officially called the Butterfly Arc, is totally WOW! I have never seen anything like it. It’s really hot and humid for the sake of the butterflies, but SO well worth a small bit of discomfort. Can’t even describe the wide variety of butterflies found there..So, piccie time!
This butterfly is this beauiful blue colour on the inside..AND...
Brown on the outside!
Amazing floral life there as well…
Chameleon and dragon lizards, and tortoises too…
…and more butterflies
Spent a not unconsiderable period of time trying to catch a snap of a butterfly in flight! Ha! Got it!
and there were…wait for it….bunnies…
…Then there was the Fairy Wood on the grounds of the Butterfly House…
The Fairy queen
and her mate and myself [fresh from the humid butterfly rooms]!
Wow again. Magic! You can even sit on the fairy queen’s throne and imagine yourself queen (or king) of the fairies.
There were many school groups at the centre that day enjoying a chance to be queen or king; so, as soon as the children were gone, I quickly nipped over to the throne and had a sit down myself! That was so cool!
There was also a big Slow Cooking fest on in Abano Terme, but unfortunately, it was strictly for the trade – not regular peeps. Boo hoo! Comforted myself with a nice cappu at one of my favourite little cafes in Abano Terme – Peccati di Gola. I think a lot of local peeps go there, so it’s got to be good!
Padova rocks! I really like the city (and university town) and believe it’s well worth a visit. But since I’ve spent this blog rabbiting on about the Butterfly Arc, I’ll save Padova for another day to cover it properly!
As we have frequent chances to go to Italy. I’m thinking it would be brilliant to have some VoiceOver representation there. I’m open to suggestions!
App of the Week
Hot Body Yoga
Keeping with the last blog’s Yoga theme…I found another iPod app with Yoga exercises using weights. There are many routines in this app for various goals, such as recovering from injuries, stretch, strengthen, etc.
One of the intermediate routines uses dumbbells. I’ll have to work my way up to that one, but I’m looking forward to it. The programme is aimed at women, but I think women or men could try it.
Voiceover News
Continuing with announcements for radio stations…just did a Mexican character for an animation vid…and auditioning like mad!
Cheers…
Stream of Consciousness Musings
A short train ride to the Devon seaside at Exmouth…
Brisk winds, cloudy skies, seashell filled sand adorned with big wads of seaweed which had been washed up on the shore…
The atmosphere was permeated with the smell of seaside air, mingled with the cooking smells of fish and chips.
Waves lapping up on the shore
(this might be one of those “you had to be there” snaps–haha!)
It is said that the air by the sea is filled with positive ions, good for cleansing mind, body and spirit.
So many lovely seashells (and mussel shells) everywhere
It was a good time. Enjoying the warmth and comfort of coffee and home made fruit cake in the Hall at the Sunday market, followed by a walk along the shore into the wind, a bit chilly…
but bracing and energising!
All good!
App of the Week
“5 Minute Yoga”
Really nice to loosen up with before a recording session, followed by Tongue Twisters and some lip trills, or something similar. It’s also good to do maybe at the start or end of a day.
VoiceOver News
Kept a little busy recording a Library Systems tutorial, and doing more announcements for the radio station. More goodies in the pipeline…looking forward to those promised projects coming to fruition. The sooner, the better!
Such is the voiceover life!
Cheers…
All photos copyright 2010 stefania lintonbon
“There are four basic food groups: milk chocolate, dark chocolate, white chocolate, and chocolate truffles.” Anonymous
Had a sweet time the other week-end at the London 2010 Chocolate Festival. This was my first time to attend such a festival, and I have to say it was a delicious experience! Even if it did rain — a lot — near the end of the day. I was determined not to let it slow me down — and so were the other attendees!
There were no choccie microphones on offer for voiceover type peeps; but I daresay someone would have been only too willing to whip one up for me.
Here are some piccies from the day:
Chocolate IS good for you. This lady says so!
Ok, time for a drool fest! Here we go!
The three piccies above are all chocolate sculptures!
For shoe lovers…
It rained, but since when have a few drops of water stopped a dedicated chocolate lover! ha, ha!
And there’s more…
iPod App of the Week
This week, I’ve gone mad for WordChasers. It is so much fun — if you’re into words, Scrabble-like games, etc. The letters rain down — slowly at first — and then faster and faster — whilst you try to select the appropriate ones to make words for maximum points. It’s an absolutely beautiful game as well, lovely bright jelly colours. And I like how the popcorn pops up and down at the end when you’re viewing your stats! 
All for now…
Cheers
Bookmark this on Delicious
Wishing everyone the most blessed, happy, prosperous Christmas and Holiday period ever!
Christmas tree chez Lintonbon!
Illuminata – Tokyo
Illuminata – Tokyo
AbanoTerme, Italy
AbanoTerme, Italy
Here’s my little Crimbo pressie for all my cyber friends!
Voiceover as Linus – a Christmas message to you from me!<
Ok, back to work for me. Have finished recording voiceover for a 200+ page e-learning audiobook. Editing still to be done! Mulled wine tea to be drunk. Lots to do!
Safe happy hols all!
Cheers…
Stefania
AUTUMN MOON is a time of prosperity and reaping what you have sown, both literally and spiritually.
The Chinese symbols in the red box are: happiness, good fortune, and abundance. Original Art by Dina Dargo
The above lovely piccie was found in an email newsletter which I received from Inspiration Line.
My voiceover life is coming along, bit by bit, eyes ahead…keep busy. Was recently cast as the Vampire queen in an internet drama, and am waiting to hear of any revisions on a corporate video project that I’m voicing. Both of them require me to use my British dialect. Hows about that. It’s all good. I’m quite comfortable moving between an American and British dialect — as required. I’m also very grateful that referrals and nibbles are coming to me from my fellow voiceover colleagues.
I found this lovely article on the Inspiration Line Forum Board, and I reprint it here. You can find a permanent link to Inspiration Line else on this page!
Improve Your Mood in 5 Minutes
You’re in a lousy mood and want to feel better fast. What you need is a happiness fix—right now! Try one of these spirit-boosting tips to jump-start joy in 5 minutes or less.
1. Take it all in. “Little things in life that inspire joy are often subtle and don’t always grab your attention,” says Barbara Fredrickson, PhD, author of Positivity. So be on the lookout for small wonders: butterflies in your garden, an amazingly bright full moon.
2. Make up a ridiculous story. If someone is fueling your sour mood, create a goofy character in your head based on that person. “Imagine an outrageous comic calamity befalling him,” says Amy Riley, a life balance consultant for Tiara Coaching in Chicago. You’ll get a good chuckle out of it.
3. Put yourself in the movies. Think of your favorite film scene, one that makes you feel great every time you see it—like Bridget Jones kissing Mark Darcy in the snow. Now picture yourself as the main character. “Embracing that moment triggers optimism,” says John Ryder, PhD, author of Positive Directions.
4. Soak up the sun. Go outside or stand beside a bright window and bask in the warming rays for a few minutes. Sunlight ups the level of vitamin D in your body, which in turn keeps serotonin (a feel-good hormone) high, explains Mehmet Oz, MD, coauthor of You: Being Beautiful.
5. Touch your toes. “It opens up your hip joints, which is where most people store tension,” says Dr. Oz. Hold the position for a minute, then slowly roll up. As you lift, so will your mood.
6. Start a blog. Like journaling, it gives you an outlet for your feelings. “But it may be even better for triggering happiness because people can leave you positive comments,” says Caroline Adams Miller, coauthor of Creating Your Best Life. Begin one at http://www.Blogger.com/start.
7. Turn on the tunes. Listen to your favorite upbeat song and you’ll be happier in seconds. “Music has a powerful influence over state of mind,” says Alice Domar, PhD, director of the Domar Center for Mind/Body Health in Waltham, Massachusetts. That’s because music—especially songs that make you boogie—activates the part of our brain that’s hardwired for pleasure.
8. Show off your moves. Speaking of boogying, that’s another quick way to break into a smile. Got two left feet? It doesn’t matter. “Any form of movement will release endorphins and elevate your mood,” explains Dr. Domar. So while you’re listening to that favorite song, get up and dance.
9. Put photos on the fridge. We look at our refrigerator about 27 times a day, so make the most of it. “Research shows that the happiest people have many joyful family photos displayed in their homes,” says Adams Miller.
10. Get plant-happy. Deadhead the spent flowers on your gardenia or buy a bunch of tulips at the market. Studies show that being around foliage or colorful blooms relieves stress, soothes sadness and increases calmness.
11. Create a new code. Change one of your passwords (e-mail, voice mail, ATM) to a word that primes you to think in an optimistic way—the name of your much-loved pet, the funny nickname you call your husband, or even the word love.
12. Break out of the box. Do one small thing that’s new and unexpected. Put a temporary tattoo on your ankle. Top off your morning coffee with some whipped cream. “Novelty makes people feel good,” says Adams Miller.
13. Mark your calendar. Make a note of an upcoming event that you’re looking forward to—a weekend getaway with your best friend, an outdoor concert with your husband. The sheer anticipation you feel every time you see it penciled in is almost as good as the special event itself.
14. Be generous. A recent study found that when people spent as little as $5 on others, they reported greater feelings of joy. Shopping at the grocery store? Pick up a few staples for your neighbor. Just bought a cup of coffee? Give the barista an extra $5 to pay for the customer behind you.
15. Turn the negative positive. List five to 10 things that went wrong today, then read them out loud, says Riley. It may sound counterintuitive but it works: When you hear all of it together—you dropped your morning bagel on the floor, noticed a new gray hair, discovered that your teen used the last of the shampoo—you’ll see how minor it all is. And a little perspective goes a long way.
16. Send out good vibes. “Text three friends and tell each of them one thing you like about her,” says Sonja Lyubomirsky, PhD, author of The How of Happiness. Your kind words will make them (and you) feel terrific.
17. Lend a hand. Call a local nursing home, shelter, church or charitable organization and ask how you can help. Those few minutes on the phone are all it takes to kick your spirits into high gear. Knowing that you’ll soon be helping others—and then following through—makes you feel good about yourself, says Susan Ouellette, a health care educator in Baltimore, Maryland.
18. Think of the good stuff. Spend a couple of minutes reflecting on your accomplishments over the past five, 10, 15 years, recommends Dan Baker, PhD, author of What Happy Women Know. Maybe you’re a more skilled cook now than you were then, or perhaps you have developed a lifelong hobby into a successful part-time business. Recognizing and acknowledging your growth will provide an immediate sense of gratification. You’ll be cheered instantly.
By Jennifer Matlack Woman’s Day http://www.womansday.com
Over the Bank Holiday, I took a litle trip to the Scot’s Grotto in the town of Ware. It was great. The whole house inside and out is made of stones, shells and bits of coloured glass. Here are a few piccies.
Now it’s back to working on another prospect list and then shoot off a few more email demos!
Cheers…
A little bit of Voiceover/Life Advice which turned up in my
email in-box the other day.
“Turn your dream into a vision, then into a goal, then into a plan and then into reality! After all, a goal is nothing more than a dream with a deadline!
Had a chance to take a little break recently in the form of a 6-mile walk along the South West Coastal Path, along the cliffs from a place in Devon called Budleigh-Salterton to Exmouth. I thought it might be too much, but it was great fun. Good exercise. Devon is a lovely area of England. What is it, I wonder, about open spaces that makes one burst into song while hiking? Rather than rabbit on further, I’ll just show you the piccies…
The Starting point
Stop and smell the flowers along the way!
Clowning around with hubby.
Looks like we’re in good company here!
Seagulls getting a free lunch by following the potato farmer
as he turns over the soil.
This made me feel like we were walking through
a secret fairy garden!
The end of the hike at Exmouth. Done! Where’s the pub?!
After our little sojourn, it was back to work. Finished off and uploaded an e-learning video last week focusing on improving listening comprehension skills for beginning/intermediate learners of English as a Second Language. (Please see “Voice Over Videos -3″ page.) Ready to roll now on the next voiceover project. Where are you? Bring it on!
Cheers…
Statue of Liberty from the Ferry
After reading several excellent articles on reading and recording voiceovers, I asked myself a question — when I do a voiceover audition or gig, am I — me — reading copy, or am I a character, acting. It’s a little bit of a toughie because I’m not just reciting the copy as I see it on the page. I am acting it/ interpreting it — even if it’s a message on hold.
But, I’m also using my experience and “left brain” logical type thinking to make technical choices such as deciding what’s the heart of the message; who’s the speaker; why is she there; and who is she talking to, and finally what result am I seeking – what do I want (or what does the client want) the audience to do.
Then I have to think, where to breath so the conversation sounds natural, and where to put my emphasis.
So, maybe it’s a kind of very conscious and aware acting — making adjustments as necessary (improv classes are good for developing this skill) instead of making knee-jerk stereotypical choices.
I think this is what gives the “natural” sounding read that so many of my voice over peers excel at!
Ok, I’ve worn myself out with all of this thinking — I think I’d better go lie down!
I’ve started work on the 1st of my series of children’s audiobooks on CDs. Lots of work there, but I’m loving every minute of working on it. More details to come later.
Got a sweet tooth? Did you know there’s an M&M’s (chocolate sweets) store in New York in Times Square? Yes! Here are the piccies to prove it. It was great, I couldn’t believe there was such a store. However with a belly full of M&M peanut samples, I had to believe it!
Cheers!
Seagulls at Brighton Beach
I was reading an article recently by Dr. Kem Thompson (www.totalsuccessforwomen.com) on the difference between “hope” and “speculation”. I tend to agree with Dr. Kem’s views. When I hope for something it’s like — maybe it will work out, maybe not. But, if I expect a particular outcome, I feel more empowered. If one method of achieving a voiceover – or other – goal doesn’t work out, I can find another way to approach the challenge. Maybe it’s like a maze. The end (expectation) is there, we just have to find the right path — or sequence of turns — to get us there.
By the way, it’s really cool when someone comes into our lives to help us find the way! Cuts the journey time in half! Thank you to all the people that have come into my life to help me on my voice over journey (and my life journey!). And, I hope I’ve been useful and inspirational to others as well.
It’s time to start another Goal Map to plan a move to the next level of my voiceover career. From time to time I re-read Brian Mayne’s most excellent book, Goal Mapping – The Practical Workbook – How to Turn Your Dreams into Realities. It’s about making little (or big) maps that show the path from where you are now, to where you want to be. You do one version with words of your goals in writing, covering the categories of main goal, when you want it accomplished, as well as the reason why, sub goals, who and how. And you indicate a time line from when you’re starting to your target date.
It’s kind of a tree with your timeline as the trunk; your main goal on top of the timeline; and branches indicating all the other points.
The second version of goal mapping covers the same structure, but everything is done in pictures that we draw ourselves. So that it has the energy of our own creation vs. using images from a magazine or newspaper.
If you follow through and do the actual work that you committed to do — goal mapping can work. I used it on planning a trip to Italy and things did work out.
Brian’s website is: www.liftinternational.com
CN Tower Toronto (all pictures in these Blog posts are copyright S.Lintonbon-2008, unless otherwise indicated!)
When we were in Toronto, we enjoyed the very best view of the city from the observation floor of the CNTower. We had to queue (line up) for about 1-1/2 hour, but it was worth it. You can see all of the city and the lovely marina; you can take your picture standing on the glass floor if it doesn’t make you quesy to look all the way to down the ground through the glass; AND there’s a nice restaurant there where you can have a meal or a good cup of coffee, and rest your weary feet after all that standing up and walking around.
The Marina has viewed from the restaurant in the CN Tower
Cheers!
