Damn, I love this.

Looking at satellite images of Earth never gets old.  This is a new composite image taken on January 4, 2012.  At 8,000 x 8,000 pixels, it’s the highest resolution photo ever taken of Earth.  Is it gorgeous or what?

Wish I could be a space photographer!

(‘Blue Marble’ shot with the Visible Infrared Imager Radiometer Suite instrument (VIIRS) on NASA’s newest Earth-observing satellite: Suomi NPP.)

Source:  Gizmodo, NASA Goddard Flickr

Did you read the Harry Potter books?  I couldn’t put them down.  I even had to read some parts while eating chocolate since they ate it so much in the stories!

So since my family and I are big fans, we drove over to Orlando during the holidays to spend the day at the Wizarding World of Harry Potter.  It was incredibly fun to see it all come to life.  I was amazed at how much effort was put into the details.  They had snowy rooftops, weathered shop signs, a smoking chimney, freshly baked cauldron cakes, moving portraits, floating candles, and moaning Myrtle’s voice echoing in the bathrooms!  We even lucked out with some cooler weather that day so it made the park seem more realistic.

I especially loved being there at night.  The atmosphere is incredible.  When the sun started to set, all the shop windows in Hogsmeade lit up with a warm inviting glow.  It was the perfect setting to bundle up, sip on a butterbeer, and pretend to be a wizard for a little while.

(If you can’t make it to the park in Florida, they’re opening one in Los Angeles in a few years!)

Most photos shot with my iPhone

(Me with my mom on the porch… was a windy night!  Shot with the Fuji Instax (my new toy!)

(Photos below are via Instagram.  You can find me @leahsak)


Happy New Year!!!  Hope you all had a great time over the holidays!  Scott and I went to Florida to visit the fam.  We had a fun time hanging out with everyone and making our Greek family recipes.  We also made our way over to Orlando to spend the day at the Wizarding World of Harry Potter.  I’m such a huge HP fan… photos coming soon!

So I was tagged by Betül from Ballad of Seasons to answer 11 questions and to also include 11 things about me.  I’ve also tagged 11 other bloggers at the end of the post… can’t wait to read your answers!

RULES:
1.  You must post these rules.
2.  Each person must post 11 things about themselves on their blog.
3.  Answer the questions the tagger set for you in their post and create 11 new questions for the people you tag to answer.
4.  You have to choose 11 people to tag and link them on the post.
5.  Go to their page and tell them you have linked him or her.
6.  No tag backs.
7.  No stuff in the tagging section about ‘you are tagged if you are reading this.’  You legitimately have to tag 11 people.

11 THINGS ABOUT ME
1.  I collect matchbooks, stickers, and small decorative dessert plates.
2.  I’m part of a big fat Greek family (3 sisters, 1 brother, and 12 nieces and nephews) and I’ve always lived in warm climates near the ocean.  I was born in Florida and moved to southern California 10 years ago.
3.  I was a member of the Orange County Astronomer’s club for a year.
4.  For some reason I have a really great memory.  I usually remember specific details about things that people would normally forget with time (like what color shirt a friend was wearing at a party 10 years ago).  Weird.
5.  My new liquor drink of choice is a Hemingway daiquiri (when it’s made right).
6.  I’ve hated dolls and the color pink since the day I was born.
7.  I love trekking and camping in the mountains just as much as I love getting dressed up and going out to dinner in Vegas.
8.  Somewhere in the gene pool I acquired some pretty great coordination skills and can pick up a new sport (or video game) quickly.
9.  Some people call me a dude because I’ve always liked “dude-like” things, but I’m not a dude, I’m just myself.
10.  Small talk has never come naturally to me and I tend to keep to myself, but I’m always working to change that.  Also, I never get caught up in gossip.
11.  I make a mean minestrone soup!

Betül’s Questions:
1.  Describe yourself with three words and give three words that describes the person you want to be (are they the same three? lucky you!)
Explorer, Open-minded, Honest…….. Fearless, Patient, Photographer!

2.  Tea or coffee?
I love fresh brewed white or oolong tea.

3.  Who is the most beautiful woman on earth? and the most elegant one?  same for men?
I really admire my mom!  She’s beautiful inside and out.  She’s the most loving, altruistic, fun, optimistic, and stylish woman I know.  Also, my other half, Scott, is such a stud.  He’s an incredibly positive person and helps me see that anything is possible.  Also, Grace Kelly always oozed elegance in all the old Hitchcock films and I really miss Paul Newman.  What a man.

4.  Have you ever been deeply affected (positif or negatif) by a movie?  which one?
E.T.!  I love everything about it… the story, the music, the characters, the lighting, the humor… and I cry every time during the scene where E.T. “dies”.

5.  What would be the best movie to watch on Christmas (doesn’t have to contain Jingle Bell tones, can be anything)
The original Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (or Christmas Vacation).

6.  What are your recent three favorite blogs? (honest answer please)
Seth Godin, Yatzer, Foodgawker

7.  What is your must-have in your hand bag?
Alba organic lip balm in pineapple flavor and a camera.

8.  Paris or New York?
Paris (but I love NY too!)

9.  Can you inspire us with a photo?  (just put a photo of your choice as an answer)

10.  What do you want to do/become before you die? (hm. is it a hard question?)
I want to continue to learn, grow, and challenge myself to become a better person every day.  There’s lots of traveling on my list too… Antarctica, climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro, and outer space just name a few places!  Speaking of, can I borrow $200,000?

11.  What are you hoping for yourself in 2012?  Tell us three of your resolutions.
Well, I’m in the middle of a transitional phase.  After seven years of having my own biz as a jewelry designer, I’ve decided to leave it behind so I can dive head first into something I love – photography!  I love to cook and I’m dying to learn how to make some gourmet French dishes.  Also, I’m going to make more conversation with strangers (something I normally don’t do).

My questions for the 11 people I’ve tagged below:
1.  List 3 words and a color that describes you the best.
2.  If you had to pick one, which Muppet would you be?  Why?
3.  Share three different photos from your travels and tell us a little about them.
4.  What’s your favorite video game of all time?
5.  What is one accomplishment you are most proud of doing in 2011 and what is one thing you’d like to accomplish in 2012?
6.  What is the most adventurous thing you’ve ever done?
7.  What are your “go-to” pair of shoes right now?
8.  What was the last thing you bought online?
9.  What are three websites that you visit on a regular basis (besides Google, Twitter, FB)?
10.  Winter or Summer?
11.  What are you most passionate about?

I’m breaking the rules and tagging 12 people:  Lea Barlow, Lea Michalopoulos, Maryse Coziol, Kimia Kline, Jennifer Chong, Katherina, Elissa Braun, Karen & Valerie, Krystal, Ashley, Gregory Han, and Scott Gold

Weeki Wachee Springs, FL for Harpers Bazaar 1947

Left – Ann Taylor in Colorado

Left – Col. Benjamin O. Davis and Edward C. Gleed, airbase in Italy, Right – Tuskegee airmen at Ramitelli, Italy, March 1945

Left – Victoria Station, Right – Producer Michael Todd

At the John F. Kennedy and Jackie O wedding

This one’s for all the men out there that read my blog.  If I were a dude, I’d invest in some pieces from Outlier.  Their designs are classic, timeless, and refined… the way clothes should be.  Plus, you would never know it since they look so damn good, but they’re built for performance and are meant to move freely with your every move.  The company started out by creating a good looking pant designed for bike commuting.  They’ve since grown to making a range of high quality pieces that are breathable and durable for movement in every day life.  Not only are they killing it with their line, but how insane is the photography?!

Oh, and they just started a women’s line…….. watch out!

I’m a big fan of celebrating the New Year.  It’s a holiday that can be universally celebrated.  Even though the date is arbitrary and varies by culture, it’s a great time as any for a fresh new start.  One of my favorite things to do is look through all my photos from the year and relive all the things I did.  But at the same time, I make note of all the things I didn’t do so I can plan for them in the new year.  I’m not just talking about planning trips I want to take, but I also look at ways that I can grow and become a better person.

When I’m looking for a gift, I like to give something useful and creative.  Since Velokova is all about exploring many things, I made this gift list with the Renaissance woman in mind.  There’s a little bit of style mixed in with a little bit of nerdiness, adventure, and fun.  I’ve added most of these items to my Amazon shop, all you have to do is click on the item above to buy!  Cheers!

I love a big bold glass of red wine, but I also love an ice cold IPA.

In the past few years, the IPA (India Pale Ale) has really taken off.  This beer’s claim to fame is the bittery profile made with loads of hops.  Rumor has it that IPA was created back in the 1700′s when the British soldiers occupied India and they needed a way to transport beer to them without it going bad so quickly.  They added extra hops to act as a preservative and everyone really dug the flavor profile, so it stuck ever since.

San Diego is home to some amazing breweries that are pumping out their own award winning IPAs.  You can buy them in some local California grocery stores, but if you happen to be in the area, the breweries are definitely worth a visit (Stone has an amazing high-end restaurant with the best beer mac ‘n’ cheese on the planet).

So these are just a few of my favs… If you haven’t tried them before, take note that they’re big, bold, and bittery and you might not like them at first since they’re so strong.  Of course they’re great on their own, but I prefer to pair one with dinner… A craft brewed IPA with a little grilled steak and veggies?  Yes, please.

Alesmith - IPA

Port Brewing – Wipeout IPA

Stone – Ruination

Do you like hoppy IPAs?  Which beers are your fav?

Photo shot with the Fuji X100

Photo:  JPL

Since I have a thing for space and live in southern California, I thought I’d take advantage of my location and do a little tour of JPL (Jet Propulsion Laboratory) up in Pasadena.  One of the highlights was walking through the Mars Science Laboratory (MSL) and seeing where the Mars rovers are born and tested.  I’m completely fascinated by these little robots just knowing that they’re out there exploring another planet while I’m sitting here writing… craziness!

Curiosity is the newest and largest rover family member (the one on the right above) and is due to launch at the end of this month.  It’s huge by comparison (weighing 2,000 pounds) and makes the old rovers, Spirit and Opportunity, look like babies.  I was amazed to hear that it has a rock-vaporizing laser (it’s the pink eyeball looking thing) and it’s own geology lab that can examine samples on the spot.  But I have to say, I’m a little disappointed that they didn’t just paint another pink eyeball on it since it looks like it only has one eye!  Even an eyepatch would’ve been good enough to complete it’s face!

The launch is scheduled for November 25 at 7:25 a.m. PST from Cape Canaveral, Florida and will land on Mars sometime in August 2012.  I’ll be tuned in to watch since my name is added to the microchip that is flying into space with it… (Yep, nerd’s still the word.)

Mars Curiosity on Twitter

Photos shot with the Fuji X100

I just fell in love with someone else’s Nana… How can you not fall in love with her?? She’s proof that “you’re never too old”. Louise Neistat was a Rockette back in the day and at the age of 92 she still dances and teaches tap. Plus, she donates all the ticket sales from the shows to cancer research. I want to be just like her when I grow up… She’s the best.

And what a creative way to shoot a bio about someone in your family. Movie by her grandson, Casey Neistat.

Geared up in our astronaut suits.

Our shark!

My altimeter… not a fan of pink, but hey, whatever gets me on the ground safely…

Contemplating my impending death while my instructor is asleep on the job…

Scott’s first!

Check out the camera dude hanging off the side of the plane! (I’m in the background too.)

Craziest moment ever.

Landing zone.

It wasn’t planned… after having a few beers at a party on a Saturday night, I ended up shaking hands with some friends and agreeing to jump out of a plane the next day!  I was hesitant at first, but I thought hell if I don’t do it now, then when am I going to do it?  I’m never going to be ready.  So I just said F it and went for it.

I was so nervous on the plane that I couldn’t think straight!  Since I was sitting right in front of the door, all I could focus on was the sky and how far we were from the ground.  Everything seemed to happen so fast after we reached altitude (12,500 ft).  My instructor lined us up at the edge of the door, I took a deep breath, and the next thing I new I was tumbling sideways into midair.  It was completely insane… What surprised me the most was that the first 5 seconds out of the plane was the only time I felt like I was actually falling.  When we picked up speed (120mph!) it felt like we were caught in some sort of big wind tunnel.  After 45 seconds we deployed the parachute and were gliding smoothly into our landing zone.  The view was unreal and I just couldn’t stop smiling.

The experience was completely transcendental.  Skydiving was something I thought I’d never do… I still can’t believe I did it.  For me, it was good that it was a spontaneous thing since I didn’t have any time to dwell on it or back out.  So glad I shook on it at that party… sometimes peer pressure is a good thing.

Have you jumped or would you ever??