US Air Force Day: Salute an Airman
Today is United States Air Force Day, a time to honor the sacrifices and achievements of our brave men and women in uniform. The USAF is the aerial branch of the US Army, and it was created on September 18, 1947. Thousands of manned and unmanned aircraft fly through the sky to protect our nation and her interests abroad, and we’d like to take a moment to salute these service members for their hard work and dedication to the United States.
The seeds of the USAF were sewn during World Wars I and II, and the department has since been involved in the Korean and Vietnam Wars, the Iran Hostage Rescue mission, and multiple humanitarian endeavors around the globe.
The xtra xtra team invites you to join us in honoring the US Air Force and salute their service. Take a moment to thank a service member today, and remember that you can also post a military milestone on xtra xtra to honor an Air Force airman in your community!
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xtra xtra Says Goodbye to One of Our Own
There are many changes on the horizon here at xtra xtra, including the loss of our Marketing Coordinator, Cooley Horner, who is leaving to attend law school. Cooley started at xtra xtra in June of 2009, just after she graduated from Boston College. Cooley was xtra xtra’s second full-time employee and has helped the company grow and mature into what it is today.
The original xtra xtra team--Jamie, Steph, and Cooley (plus friend-of-the-site Christine!)--at a Red Sox game. We'll miss these fun times together!
In her time here, Cooley has represented xtra xtra at various conferences and events, created lasting networking relationships, managed interns, completed multiple research projects, composed a tireless amount of copy, and acted as the voice of xtra xtra on our blog, Facebook, and Twitter accounts.
In addition to her professional contributions, Cooley brought us her Southern charm, pop culture knowledge, and ability to come up with a fitting television or movie quote at the drop of a hat. Cooley will be attending the University of New Hampshire School of Law in the fall, and we couldn’t be more proud. Congratulations Cooley! You will be missed!
Best,
The xtra xtra staff
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July’s Headlines
We’ve had quite a busy summer. Between Fourth of July fireworks and 100+ degree temperatures rounding out the month, lots of exciting new milestones have popped up on the website. Many colleges and universities have added us to their mailing lists, and new users come to the site every day to read, create, and share their own milestones. Below you’ll find a few of the headlines that have caught users’ attention in recent weeks. You can click the images to view the full posting at xtraxtra.com, and once there you can share posts on Facebook, leave comments, and email them to friends and family!
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Tips for Taking Better Photos
With all the different milestones we feature, it’s safe to assume there are going to be photos taken. I’ve outlined a few simple tips you can follow to take your photography skills up a notch.
Sometimes it’s easier to just say “look over here real quick” and snap a shot, but if you take the time to evaluate what it is you’re photographing, you’ll be pleasantly surprised with the outcome.
Get Closer
This is particularly important to think about when photographing people because facial features tend to disappear as you move further away. By moving closer you not only get a more detailed shot but you eliminate distracting background elements.
Image credit: http://owenmenagerie.blogspot.com/
Backlighting
This is a common mistake people make. It’s important to think about where the light is coming from. If the light is coming from behind your subject your camera is going to compensate by making your subject darker.
If possible, reposition yourself or your subject so the light source is behind you instead of them. If repositioning isn’t possible be sure to turn on your flash to brighten your subject.
Image Credit: http://thepioneerwoman.com/
Backgrounds
Be sure to double-check your background before shooting. You don’t want a tree growing out of someone’s head. It’s also a good rule of thumb to keep your backgrounds simple. A cluttered background can be distracting.
Image Credit: http://funnybackgroundpictures.com
Composition and the rule of thirds
The composition of a photograph is the overall feeling or look achieved by the specific arrangement of elements involved. Good photo composition can be broken down into many parts including color, lines, angles, perspective, space, and more. As a novice photographer it’s very challenging to consider all of these aspects at once.
A quick and relatively easy way to ensure a nice composition is to follow the rule of thirds. The rule of thirds breaks an image down into thirds horizontally and vertically. If you place points of interest where the lines cross or along the lines you can easily achieve balance. Some cameras come with this feature built into your viewfinder or display screen. If not try to visualize the lines when taking your photographs.
Image Credit: http://blogs.babble.com
Image Credit: http://ministrytech.blogspot.com/
I hope these tips will help you in the future as you take photos of the moments you want to keep forever. Remember that you can also share your photos on xtraxtra.com to share them with the whole community!
- xtra xtra 101
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How To…Update Your User Account
If you have created an xtra xtra user account, please remember to keep it up to date! If you’ve opted to display your email address, providing the most up-to-date information will help other users contact you; if you’ve chosen not to display your email address, it is still best to have accurate information on record in case the xtra xtra team should need to contact you. But never worry, xtra xtra still maintains a no-spam policy when it comes to the information you trust with us!
It’s easy to update your account. Here’s how…
Go to xtraxtra.com and sign in to your user account. You should then click “My Account” in the top navigation bar.
You’ll then see a page detailing the summary of your account activity. Click “Edit Information,” and make sure you’ve enabled pop-ups, as a separate window will open where you can change your account information.
Make the necessary changes, and then click “Update.” Remember that you can also change your user picture; just click “Choose File” to browse your computer and select a photo!
Thanks for doing your part to keep xtra xtra up to date. While you’re visiting your account, remember to also post a milestone or two!
Til next time,
CH
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xtra xtra’s Big Move
It has been a few months since our office began the renovation process, and we are happy to report that we have finally moved into our new space!
Packing up! Bright orange boxes held our belongings during the transition.
There are many changes involved, including a new carpet, new wall color, and a new area of the office space. The best change for us, however, has been a new desk which allows us to face each other and collaborate throughout the day.
Our old desks, pictured below, actually had us each facing different areas of the room. This was definitely not conducive to the flow of ideas.
Cooley hard at work as we prepare to move out of our old office.
The original design for the new space was to have the xtra xtra staff in cubicles, which we felt would be similar. We worked with the project manager to create a space that was all our own and we are thrilled with how it turned out.
Cooley and Jamie sit at the new desk, which seats four.
This was such a huge *milestone* for us. We are excited to begin work in our new space and for all the things to come here at xtra xtra!
-Steph
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Share Fireworks and Photography with the Community
We hope everyone had a great long weekend celebrating America’s 235th birthday—a milestone certainly worth celebrating!—on the Fourth of July. The xtra xtra crew spent the weekend with friends on various lakes and beaches throughout New England, and we hope all of our fans and followers enjoyed delicious food, great company, and a good time for the holiday.
Communities tend to go all out for the Fourth of July. Estimates suggest that the US imported over $190 million worth of fireworks last year, and the colorful bursts over the Charles River last night suggest this year was no different! Whether you barbequed with friends or celebrated with sparklers in your own backyard, we want to know how you observed this special holiday.
Share your experiences in a comment, and remember to visit xtraxtra.com to post your unique community photos. Visitors come to xtra xtra to see what’s new in their favorite communities, so I’m sure they’d love to see how your town celebrated the Fourth. Upload your photos with a caption and tag them to your town to keep everyone, both near and far, connected with the local experience!
Til next time,
CH
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New Headlines at xtra xtra
Things have been busy at xtra xtra as summer gets underway! We’ve had lots of new school announcements, along with dozens of professional achievements, posted to the site, and that’s just the tip of the iceberg! Below you’ll find a few of the announcements that have been catching people’s attention in recent weeks. Click the images to view the full milestone, and remember that you can “Like” a post or add a comment to the conversation.
Find more great announcements like these at xtraxtra.com, and remember that you can post your own stories and milestones for free, too!
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Happy Birthday, June 23!
We’ve played the birthday match-up game in the past, so we figured it was time for another round now that summer is getting underway. Lots of famous faces are celebrating birthdays today. See if you can match the celebrity to his or her hometowns.
The People
1. Selma Blair—She graduated magna cum laude from the University of Michigan before making her career in film and television. This popular actress was born in 1973.
2. Bob Fosse—The revolutionary actor, choreographer, and director was born in 1927. He won an Oscar for directing Cabaret and multiple Tony awards for shows like Chicago and Sweet Charity.
3. June Carter Cash—This country music star won countless awards for both her solo work and performances with her husband, Johnny Cash. She was born in 1929.
4. Wilma Rudolph—Born in 1940 and considered the fastest woman in the world during the 1960s, this civil rights figure and Olympic athlete won multiple gold medals.
5. Randy Jackson—This singer, producer, and television personality was born in 1956. His most popular programs, American Idol and America’s Best Dance Crew, continue to hold audience’s attention.
6. Clarence Thomas—This Supreme Court justice sits on the bench today, making him the second African American to preside in America’s highest court. He was born in 1948.
7. Joss Whedon—He was born in 1964 and went on to create popular series like Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Firefly, and Dr. Horrible’s Sing-A-Long Blog.
8. Francis McDormand—This Tony and Oscar-winning actress was born in 1957. She is a frequent player in the Coen Brothers films—perhaps because she has been married to Joel Coen since 1984!
9. Jason Mraz—This popular singer-songwriter was born in 1977. Mraz’s unique style mixes rock, soul, reggae, and folk music.
The Places
a. Baton Rouge, LA
b.Chicago, IL
c. Southfield, MI
d. New York City, NY
e. Mechanicsville, VA
f. Pin Point, GA
g. Clarksville, TN
h. Hiltons, VA
i. Chicago, IL
See how many you can match up (find the answer key is below), and don’t forget to celebrate your friends’ birthdays with xtraxtra.com. You can create a free birthday announcement to show them just how much you care on their special day!
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Colorful Events—Add color to your events with these design tips
With all the milestones posted on our site there are bound to be some celebrations. Here are some tips to help you brighten up your party space.
Color is a powerful thing. Used correctly color can create a personality and completely change the atmosphere of a room. If your stumped on which colors to use a good place to start is the basic color wheel.
Image Credit: aroundmyfamilytable.com, sierrasmart.wordpress.com, cakecentral.com, elizabethannedesigns.com
Complementary colors are opposite each other on the color wheel.
Split Complementary are made of a color and the two colors touching its complement
Analogous are colors found next to each other
Triadic are colors that are evenly spaced apart on the wheel
Once you decide on your basic color combination you may want to experiment with different variations of each color.
- Adding white to your colors creates light pastel tones. Pastels tend to soften the room making it feel more relaxed.
Image Credit: thesweetestoccasion.com
- Choosing bright vibrant colors will make your decorations pop giving the room lots of energy.
Image Credit: thoughtfullysimple.com
- Including black or white with your scheme can give it a crisp feel.
Image Credit: onewed.com
- Neutral tones like brown or tan can soften the contrast between your bright colors.
Image Credit: prettychicky.com
Hopefully this little guide helped to get your ideas flowing. Share your decoration success/failure stories in the comment section below!
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