https://my.omsystem.com/pen_generation/en-USTelligent Community 12https://my.omsystem.com/pen_generation/b/pen_blog/posts/london-fashion-week-with-the-olympus-e-pl9Tue, 27 Feb 2018 08:00:00 GMTcaeba300-9bc9-4539-b193-bf266831c899:50976ddf-b699-426b-a36a-85c064ded712PEN GenerationHi its Debs here from the blog Bang On Style and I’m sharing my London Fashion Week diary with you as well as some cute places to visit in the city at any time of year. Of course, I’m taking my Olympus PEN ELP-9 along with me as there is no better and more useful Fashion Week accessory especially when I can accessorize it to match my Fashion Week outfits perfectly. The main hub of London Fashion Week takes place in Central London in 180 The Strand. This is where you’ll find the official BFC show space and a huge buzz of activity including the chance to see streetstyle being snapped and many fashionistas being papped. Just up the Strand is the impressive Somerset House, the old site of LFW. Even outside of fashion week this Neoclassical building is a great place to visit to see the gorgeous architecture and a wonderful place for getting a snap of your outfit if you fancy braving the cobbles in your best heels. You can also grab a coffee here and indulge in a bit of people watching. In the warmer months the centre of the courtyard is filled with a fabulous fountain display too. If you want an amazing view over Somerset House and onto the Thames River then head a few doors up to the ME Hotel where over an eggs benedict brunch and a glass of fizz you can take in the views from the very stylish rooftop bar Radio and recharge ready for more Fashion Week action. During London Fashion Week there are fashion events and catwalks that happen all over central London. Heading away from the Strand and up to Freemasons Hall you’ll find another busy hive of LFW activity and catwalk shows hosted over four days by the Fashion Scout team. The venue inside is stunning for a catwalk show with its iron gates and impressive vaulted ceiling and here you’ll find shows by lesser known designers, but still incredible shows and collections. My favourite Mimi Tran showcased an impressive collection of beaded gowns, every single one just beautiful. A big part of Fashion Week of course is getting those all-important outfit photos and there are so many great locations in London. The amazing thing about London is around every corner is something new. I love seeking out hidden spots and quirky streets and stumbling across a great brick wall or pretty house is my favourite thing. You don’t have to go far to find that perfect backdrop. For a break from the Fashion Week madness I headed to Covent Garden. The fashionistas head here to shop in the boutiques around the square that range from Chanel to Mulberry (I may have had a wander in both!). Meanwhile the tourists come to Covent Garden to eat and drink, as well as shop in the retail market inside snapping up handmade gifts, souvenirs and antiques. Lots of people head here to see the countless street artists performing all sorts of acts of entertainment, from juggling to magic and in the Summer, people sit for hours watching whilst eating or having a drink at one of the open bars and restaurants. I headed there to refuel with a Shake Shack. This is a must do if you love your burgers. I fully recommend the Smokestack and the fries are the best you’ll taste. There is always something pretty to snap in Covent garden. From floral displays in Spring to Christmas trees and decorations in Winter, you’ll always find a great photo opportunity here. It’s an incredibly popular place to visit so my advice is walk there if you can to avoid the crowded tube station plus you never know what you might find along the way. I hope you’ve enjoyed my little Fashion Week diary and just a few of my favourite spots in London. I hope you come and take a wander for yourself one day!!https://my.omsystem.com/pen_generation/b/pen_blog/posts/moscow-winter-city-guide-by-ninellyThu, 25 Jan 2018 07:00:00 GMTcaeba300-9bc9-4539-b193-bf266831c899:c94946dd-87ab-4df4-b088-057f744d33dcPEN GenerationMy Story I'm a lifestyle and travel blogger from Moscow, creator of #MyDressStories photo project where I take photos with beautiful dresses all around the world and my cute little Olympus PEN camera is my best travel companion. I always make all of my outfits for shootings by myself trying to match the background, whether it is a city, mountain, lake, forest or something else. Besides travelling, I work as a project manager in an IT company and love to dance, sing, play the piano, ski and draw in my spare time. I grew up in Moscow and for me Moscow is not only home but also a place of seeking inspiration. I constantly find new unusual locations for shootings for my project #MyDressStories, places for walking or cycling with friends. I love how different Moscow can be: in hot sunny summer or cold snowy winter. It seems to me that I also happen to be as different as Moscow: in my interests, outfits, hobbies and ideas. My city Moscow is my home town, and no matter how far I travel I always want to come home and find inspiration for my future projects on streets of my hometown. Moscow is definitely a city of contrasts where you can find ancient Russian temples, modern skyscrapers, cozy parks and imperial palaces, and all of it in one day! For the last few years the appearance of the city began to change a lot and the huge projects of Moscow New Year decorations turned it into a capital of New Year decorations! Kilometers of city lights, huge luminous installations, special ice rinks and markets with street food and crafts create a mood and a sense of a winter fairytale. New Year decorations start in famous GUM - the oldest and the most beautiful department store in Russia where you can try famous Russian ice-cream, which is produced specifically for this store and its recipe has not changed since 1954 and consists of natural ingredients only. Here you can see a line of tourists wishing to try the famous ice-cream in a waffle cup even on weekdays. Also, there is an old-style cinema and a lot of perfect locations for taking pictures on a cold windy day. In front of the GUM store there is a famous ice rink and a carousel on Red Square, decorated with flags, lights and garlands. The best itinerary for a day will start on the Red Square ice rink; you can grab a bite on the Christmas market with Russian style street food and warm up in GUM. Next place will be decorations in front of Bolshoi Theater, Nikolskaya street and Manezhnaya square. Each place has their own New Year markets with a unique style and an interactive program. Another favourite place of mine in Moscow is Gorky Park, which is worth seeing both in summer and winter. In winter, small paths in the park are flooded with ice and decorated with lights, so most of the park turns into an ice park, where you can skate instead of walking. New Year's music is playing around the park and the smell of pancakes and mulled wine will creates the perfect mood. As we try to wrap ourselves with scarves and warm coats in winter, my Olympus PEN E-PL8 also needs to be dressed up. Suede covers of different colours with changeable straps are ideal for that: they are not only practical but also very stylish and matching different outfits. Thank you for reading my *BOTM* guest post - @ninellyhttps://my.omsystem.com/pen_generation/b/pen_blog/posts/a-sunday-in-winterSun, 21 Jan 2018 07:00:00 GMTcaeba300-9bc9-4539-b193-bf266831c899:84a449a6-8672-4a20-bb87-2d3aa816f350PEN GenerationIt's still cold and you are stuck inside because it is way too cold outside or it’s constantly raining – doesn’t that sound familiar? The gloomy rain or the actual snowstorm gave us no other choice but to put our pyjamas and snuggly socks on, light candles and drink hot beverages! Instead of falling in a deep winter depression, here is our guide to fully enjoying a Sunday in winter: today, we will take it slow! Let’s start off with an awesome breakfast and make French toast, bacon, eggs and pancakes. Well maybe not everything at once, you may choose! Take your time preparing the delicious meal, put the radio on, sing along while cooking the eggs and most importantly, don’t stress. What’s the best thing to do right after a perfect breakfast? Yes, we all know the answer. Jumping right back into bed again! Lie down, stretch a little bit and just relax while watching a video, reading the latest posts of our PEN ambassadors or just stare outside your window and enjoy the quiet. Can’t lie in bed anymore? Perfect – it’s time to redecorate your home! Rearrange your furniture, hang up new pictures, get inspired on DYI videos and move things around. Get cosy at home! Not in the rearranging mood? Then the following options might be better for you! Reorganise your closet and put together new outfits, who knows you might discover new outfits that you never knew existed? Dress up and find new combos! Don’t want to move? Take a luxurious bath with lots of bubbly salts and bath oils, put your favourite jam on and have an extra fun daytime bath! Finally catching up on your reading? Now is the time! Drink your favourite tea and spend the day catching up on all those magazines you have always wanted to read! Yoga hour? Get your new yoga mat out and zoom out all thoughts possible. Can’t wait for your next vacation? Take the day to plan right ahead! Listen to music and dance around? Do it! Take your time today to do what you really feel like – it’s Sunday in winter and your choice to make the best out of it! What's your favourite activity on a lazy Sunday in winter? Share it with your PEN Generation using #olympuspengeneration!https://my.omsystem.com/pen_generation/b/pen_blog/posts/things-you-should-do-in-2018Thu, 18 Jan 2018 07:00:00 GMTcaeba300-9bc9-4539-b193-bf266831c899:ddb1f771-ebc9-49b4-bf2a-766207f09357PEN GenerationThe New Year 2018 was here way too fast, wasn't it? Have you kept to your New Year's resolutions or are you already back to your old routine? No pressure! We are very sure that 2018 will be a great year - new beginnings, new challenges and new things to do! We are suggesting to follow our New Year's Guide to kick-off 2018 refreshed, balanced and excited for future happenings! 1. Treat yourself! You've seen a shirt you really like but you are not sure whether to buy it or not? Treat yourself! Chocolates, flowers, your favourite magazine? Make it all about you and treat yourself more - it will be refreshing to just gift yourself. Try it! 2. Travel more! Where have you always wanted to go? Make a travel list of all destinations that you have always wanted to go to! Why not start this year? 3. Organise yourself! What projects are actually feasible? Which ones do you really want to kick-off this year? Planning and writing them down will help you start 2018 calmer and with a clear head! 4. Plan your summer vacation! Is it still freezing in your home country? Always raining? Or even super windy? That definitely calls for much needed sun! Plan your summer vacation and have a trip to get excited about while you are stuck in this temporary greyish weather. 5. Take your PEN everywhere! Start taking pictures right now - what are you waiting for? You will most definitely appreciate it at the end of the year. Capture all your special moments, take regular outfit shots and don't miss out on the opportunity to freeze your perfect moments! 6. Redecorate and tidy up! A clean atmosphere and a newly decorated home will give you so much inspirations, energy and comfort. What are your New Year's resolutions? Share it with the PEN Generation on @olympus_pengeneration and be inspired by others!https://my.omsystem.com/pen_generation/b/pen_blog/posts/happy-new-year-2018Sun, 31 Dec 2017 11:00:00 GMTcaeba300-9bc9-4539-b193-bf266831c899:6ea56ca0-6be0-408b-871d-14ddca90122bPEN GenerationDear PEN Generation – we wish you a Happy New Year with lots of laughter, love & excitement! Let’s cheer to a fabulous year to come and a memorable year we leave behind. What were your favourite moments in Year 2017? No regrets! What are you looking forward to in Year 2018? New challenges! New Year. New Beginnings. Fresh Starts. Same Dreams. What a beautiful quote, isn’t it? How are you spending New Years Evening today? There are beautiful traditions spread all over Europe on what to do during this magical night. Are you in Spain eating twelve grapes as soon as the clock bells first strike? Or are you in Iceland watching ‘the New Year’s comedy’? Perhaps you are enjoying a piece of rice pudding in Norway or you are actually smashing old plates in from of your friends’ house in Denmark? Whether you enjoy eating the ‘King Cake’ in Portugal, watch ‘A Dinner for One’ in Germany or you are giving out sweets and gifts to your neighbours in Belgium, we sincerely hope that you are surrounded by your family, friends and beloved ones and celebrate it by chinking your glasses and enjoying each other’s company! Share your New Year’s celebrations with your PEN Generation using #olympus_pengeneration and post your first picture of the year!https://my.omsystem.com/pen_generation/b/pen_blog/posts/it-39-s-time-to-sparkleWed, 27 Dec 2017 07:00:00 GMTcaeba300-9bc9-4539-b193-bf266831c899:1569b64d-1466-4b20-86c2-35952875cd85PEN GenerationOnly a couple of days until New Year’s Evening, the very last day of Year 2017. Are you as excited as we are?! A night filled with glamour, surprises and fireworks! Do you already know what you are going to wear on this exciting night? Our last minute NYE fashion inspirations are a classic combination for a party night out: a glamourous look in black highlighted with our OLYMPUS Fashion Accessories. Accessories are definitely the key to a good styling. How about our OLYMPUS Shoulder Strap Be My Rockstar in silver or our OLYMPUS Necklace Strap Holy Goldie? They will definitely top off your outfit for NYE! What are you wearing? Share it with your PEN Generation by using #olympus_pengeneration and see what others are wearing!https://my.omsystem.com/pen_generation/b/pen_blog/posts/let-it-snow-let-it-snow-let-it-snowSun, 24 Dec 2017 07:00:00 GMTcaeba300-9bc9-4539-b193-bf266831c899:e16144ad-721d-4370-8d31-beb3e0821e7cPEN GenerationDear PEN Generation – we wish you a magical, beautiful and most importantly hearty Christmas with your family, your loved ones and your friends. Are you already up since morning helping your parents decorate the Christmas tree, baking cookies or preparing a feast for dinner? Or are you the last-minute Christmas shopper that strolls around the shopping streets trying to find the perfect gift early on Christmas evening? Families all around the world have their own traditions on how to celebrate Christmas! What are yours? How do you celebrate Christmas and where? Going skiing and escaping your daily routine? Visiting family members on the other side of the country or even abroad? Watching Christmas movies all day in your pyjamas with your parents and your siblings? Christmas is naturally gifting time! Or is it not? Traditions all over Europe show that the opening of the gifts happens on different days, at different times and at a different rate. Does everyone have a gift for everyone or did you pick a name beforehand and therefore only have to get a gift for one person only? Is there is price limit? Do you open gifts tonight after the delicious Christmas feast or early in the morning tomorrow while enjoying a family breakfast? Whether you sing along while playing ‘ALL I WANT FOR CHRISTAS’ or ‘SANTA BABY’, drink hot chocolate with pieces of marshmallows, build a ginger bread house or drive around your city to look at Christmas light - share it with the community by posting your favourite Christmas moment today, using #olympus_pengeneration ! ~Let the magic begin – it is the season to sparkle~https://my.omsystem.com/pen_generation/b/pen_blog/posts/my-hometown-wroclaw-by-adriannaThu, 14 Dec 2017 07:00:00 GMTcaeba300-9bc9-4539-b193-bf266831c899:ff7a9050-d53e-440f-8237-de71af4f6eb4PEN GenerationThe meeting place. This is what Wroclaw is most often called and there is definitely something to it because every time you visit the Wroclaw Market Square, peace and quiet are the last things you should be hoping to get. Surrounded by countless packed cafés, restaurants and pubs, the main square is the beating heart of the city. But what if you went off track? My name is Adrianna (@alabasterfox)and I have been running a travel and photography blog as well as the @alabasterfox Instagram profile since 2014! Today, I would like to invite you for a tour of the place where I was born, Wroclaw in Poland. Except for 160 bridges, footbridges (Wroclaw is often called Venice of the North) and over 300 dwarfs, who have been associated with the city for a while now, the capital of Lower Silesia offers plenty of gardens, monuments and most importantly beautiful architecture. Let me show you some of my favourite places! I love good food, so I usually spend the mornings in my favourite cafés. One of them is Dinette , where I have been ordering the same breakfast for more than a year now – waffles with maple syrup, a fried egg and… bacon! If you have never tried the sweet and salty combination, then you should absolutely do so! Dinette is located in 8 Teatralny Square, right next to the main pedestrian area. Please check it out when you are here! After we have taken the edge off our appetites, we head for the Grunwald Bridge. Near the bridge, we can see the Centennial Hall, the Wroclaw Zoo and the Japanese Garden . These breathtaking places are worth a visit especially during the spring and summer seasons. However, I have decided to take my Olympus PEN to Ostrow Tumski . It is a gorgeous spot in the heart of the city where time seems to stand still. This is also where you will find the Lovers’ Bridge. Can you think of a similar one in Paris? ;-) It is best to see the sunset from the highest vantage point in Poland. Panorama of Wroclaw from the 49th floor of the Sky Tower skyscraper simply takes your breath away. During the 25 minute session 200 metres above the ground we can admire the vast landscape of the city and its surroundings. Remember to book the tickets in advance! However, I would like to show you a slightly lower, yet also beautiful point because it is situated in the historic main building of Wroclaw University in the Mathematical Tower . This is one of my favourite places in Wroclaw. I used to live next to it, so I climbed up a few times a week with a cup of coffee. The view was totally worth it! Let’s get back to the Market Square for a while because I want to show you something. When I started writing this guide, it was the time when the annual Wroclaw Christmas fair began. For one month the whole square and its alleys turn into a Christmas market where you can spend time with your family, go shopping, eat international delicacies and also drink mulled wine or hot chocolate. It all continues until Christmas from dawn to dusk. It is an ideal open air location for a Christmas session! I could keep going like this forever but you will probably stay here for a few hours or days at best. Make the most of your time here in Wroclaw because it is a beautiful old city which is definitely worth your while! Go check out my Instagram profile for winter inspirations, I am looking forward to meeting you there! Xo Adriannahttps://my.omsystem.com/pen_generation/b/pen_blog/posts/happy-nikolausWed, 06 Dec 2017 07:00:00 GMTcaeba300-9bc9-4539-b193-bf266831c899:c8afb0d4-171a-4fda-b904-79ecc8caf4fcPEN GenerationHappy Nikolaus dear PEN Generation – what a beautiful day to kick-start Christmas and all its beautiful traditions! Have you already eaten way too much chocolate, sprayed your room with cinnamon scent and played Christmas songs too loudly while singing along? Perfect!! We have beautiful traditions all over Europe on how to celebrate this exciting day! Did you also place your shoes outside your front door the evening before Nikolaus so it would be filled with chocolates the next day, like the Germans? Or did you actually celebrate Sinterklaas yesterday, the famous Dutch Nikolaus that is way more important to the Dutch than actual Christmas? Or do you not celebrate Nikolaus at all in your home country? We are curious to hear! Today, we are kick-starting our favourite season of the year: baking, singing, decorating, gifting, and most importantly spending time with our loved ones. OLYMPUS wishes everyone a Happy Nikolaus and suggests cute red & white Christmas outfits not only for you but also for your camera. Combine the Camera Outfit Burgundy Temptation with the Hand Strap Little White Feather and dress up your camera for Nikolaus! Have you gifted anyone today yet? It's time! Surprise your loved one with a chocolate Sinta Claus! Still need Christmas presents? Check out our Fashion Accessories and put a smile on your beloved ones' face!https://my.omsystem.com/pen_generation/b/pen_blog/posts/winterstyle-inspirations-adorable-accessoriesTue, 28 Nov 2017 15:05:00 GMTcaeba300-9bc9-4539-b193-bf266831c899:894df4e3-b747-42c8-99a1-749102627a47PEN GenerationWhat’s fashionable this winter? Turtleneck and navy skinny jeans or long V-neck sweater with black OTK boots? Are you the fur vest type or is a simple grey knit cosy enough this winter? Every outfit can be topped off with only a couple of accessories. This November we suggest our Leather Strap Holy Goldie in combination with the Clutch Holy Goldie . Wear it just like Austrian PEN ambassador Carola Pojer with her brown OLYMPUS PEN E-PL8 – black leather jacket, ripped skinny denim, black boots, grey scarf & black beanie! Add your own personal accessory just like Carola who pulls of her black sunglasses perfectly! Am I right? If the weather in your city isn't as nice as in Vienna, top off your outfit with trendy gloves instead! Suede booties, ripped skinny denim, a navy cardigan and a printed scarf? You rock girl! Grey beanie, black turtleneck, destroyed denim, beige leather booties? Very Fab! Chunky knit and chunky boots in combination with ripped thighs? You can pull it off! A black on black combination with one colourful accessory? Damn it! That might give you the chance to try out Partial Colour in the Art Filters – adjust your shot to highlight just that one item!! Or how about our Shoulder Strap Just Nude ? Combine it with a creamy teddy coat, a light grey scarf and a black dress just like Carola - the perfect combination! Or a colour highlight to a relatively modest look? The Hand Strap Strawberry Kisses rounds of your outfit perfectly! Wear it just like Monique from Germany and paint your nails in a matching colour as well! Match only two accessories of your outfit as a highlight - the wow factor is guaranteed! Not that cold in your country yet? Lucky you!! Style your OLYMPUS PEN E-PL8 with our Necklace Strap Holy Goldie and combine it with our Bucket Bag Olive En Vogue just like PEN ambassador Ivana from Bratislava! Chic, cosy, chunky, charming, crazy – what are you wearing this winter? We would love to see!https://my.omsystem.com/pen_generation/b/pen_blog/posts/local-39-s-guide-to-helsinki-by-ida-hanhiniemiThu, 23 Nov 2017 07:00:00 GMTcaeba300-9bc9-4539-b193-bf266831c899:3e50b9a2-03d4-4f4f-a2a8-ac0d0c7c9fd1PEN GenerationHi everyone! My name is Ida. I live in Helsinki, the capital of Finland. I've been living in Helsinki for two years so I've been adventuring a lot on the streets of my fairly new hometown. As a blogger I'm always trying out new places, and now I want to share some tips with you. Let me virtually take you to some of my favourite places in Helsinki! If you're planning your first visit to Helsinki, I recommend travelling in July or August - that is my favourite time of the year. Those are the warmest months of the year and even when there are lot of happenings in the city during the summer, you can find peaceful places. If you're travelling to Helsinki during the winter time just make sure to take your warmest coat and a big warm scarf with you! My favourite areas to wander around are Punavuori (there are a lot of nice boutiques, restaurants and cafés) and Kruununhaka. Helsinki Cathedral is so beautiful and on the sunny days the stairs are full of people having lunch, meeting up and taking pictures. It's a cliché but I like it. Near the cathedral you can eat one of the best pizzas in town (Via Tribunali, Sofiankatu 4) and have drinks at Chapter (Aleksanterinkatu 22). When I'm travelling to a new town, I always want to know some good places to eat (because it’s horrible to try to find something when you're starving) and have a cup of coffee and just watch people pass by, so I'll start with some nice restaurants: THE BEST BREAKFAST IN HELSINKI: Kuuma (Albertinkatu 6, Punavuori Area), no doubt, it's the best! I always order chia pudding, avocado toast (yummm!) and freshly squeezed apple lemon ginger juice. And coffee, of course! Kuuma is a cozy and popular cafe so go in early if you don't want to queue. I bet the breakfast is also the most Instagrammed one in Helsinki. LUNCH: Levain (Kankurinkatu 6, Punavuori area) is the one I can always count on. Try soups with fresh bread, it's heavenly good. If you are not hungry yet, choose a nice salty or sweet pastry with coffee or a glass of wine. BEST RAW CAKES IN TOWN: Roots (Vaasankatu 14, Kallio area) is the best vegan café in Helsinki. Try a cake called Berry me (lingonberry & caramel) or enjoy a healthy vegan lunch with a ginger shot. There's also a yoga studio at Roots! LUNCH + BREAKFAST + BRUNCH + WINE : El Fant (Katariinankatu 3, Torikorttelit). El Fant serves healthy and delicious lunch from Monday to Friday, and on weekends you can enjoy brunch. El Fant swears in the name of professionally crafted small roastery coffee and selected quality wines. WHERE TO SHOP (SUSTAINABLY!): TRE Helsinki (Mikonkatu 6, city center). A Finnish design shop with wide range of design, furniture, lifestyle products, cosmetics and fashion. Jolie (Uudenmaankatu 26). Jolie shop is a natural cosmetic heaven where staff specialized in natural cosmetics will help you find the right products. They also offer beauty treatments at Jolie Spa (Kalevankatu 17 B). And when in Finland, check out my favourite Finnish natural cosmetic brands Mia Höytö, Flow Cosmetics, Frantsila and Supermood, too! Samuji House (Erottajankatu 9 B, courtyard). Samuji House is the most beautiful store in Helsinki. You'll find both fashion and homeware products and also the most sophisticated clothing and luxury souvenirs at Samuji. Proloque Shop (Iso-Roobertinkatu 9, Punavuori Area). At Proloque you'll find nice treasures such as scented candles, cute brooches, sea shells, handpicked vintage items and other mystically beautiful items. Want more Helsinki tips? Go follow my Instagram account @ida365 and if you’re visiting Helsinki, send me a DM and I'll promise to share you more tips. See you soon in Helsinki! x Ida Hanhiniemi / 365 days with Idahttps://my.omsystem.com/pen_generation/b/pen_blog/posts/experience-enjoy-rememberMon, 20 Nov 2017 14:17:00 GMTcaeba300-9bc9-4539-b193-bf266831c899:e3c2cd9d-3fc9-4a60-ba4e-44be267a95f2PEN GenerationA very wise man once said “every man dies but not every man really lives.” ~ William Ross. A bucket list or rather check list includes all goals, dreams & activities you desire to experience in your life! Do you have one yet?! It doesn’t have to be major goals framed within a certain social context such as your career or travel plans; it can be simple, goofy or completely random. Let us give you an example of a possible bucket list where fun, lifetime goals, adventure and future plans are combined. Pick your favourite ones, add your personal goals and already cross cool activities off your list. How about a cool photo album that captures your bucket list moments? If some memories cannot be captured, take a picture with your PEN that reminds you of the chosen activity. How funny will it be to look at that in 10 years? Show your children later You won’t regret doing what you love! Personal Bucket List - Ride on an air balloon - Dance with my Dad at my wedding - Swim with dolphins - Give a public speech - Run a marathon - Sing to an audience (Karaoke counts) - Ride a rollercoaster - Spend Christmas on the beach - Sleep under the stars - Drink beer at the Oktoberfest - Sleep in an igloo - See the Eiffel Tower - Fall in love - See the Northern Lights - Travel by yourself - Float in the Dead Sea - Dance the Macarena - Take a bath in a hot spring - Go skinny dipping in a foreign country - Learn how to make Sushi - Take a road trip with no planned destination What is on your ultimate bucket list? Inspire others and be inspired! Hey – it might even give you the chance to try out some of the photo album friendly perks of the PEN like the ‘Photo Story’ where you can combine several images together in the camera ready to print! Share it with the PEN Generation community and publish your most beautiful memory on Instagram using #olympusPENgeneration!https://my.omsystem.com/pen_generation/b/pen_blog/posts/pumpkin-pumpkin-pumpkinTue, 31 Oct 2017 07:00:00 GMTcaeba300-9bc9-4539-b193-bf266831c899:2f1700b2-1c46-4ec2-bcfb-123490a12083PEN GenerationPumpkin cake, pumpkin pie, pumpkin soup…everything the heart desires! Since a few weeks pumpkins are back on the market stocking up our supermarkets – the autumn’s favourite is as popular as ever! The delicious fruit is not only healthy but also very tasteful. We use it in many different varieties all over the world, amazing receipts being the most common form. Cookies, pancakes, waffles, oatmeal, puree, smoothies, dips, donuts, latte, dessert and chocolate – What is your favourite pumpkin receipt? With Halloween being around the corner, pumpkins can also be used for scary, cute or beautiful Halloween decorations in any kind of form. Most popular, are the pumpkin carvings. From classic pumpkin faces to scary witches, choose your favourite pattern and carve away. You want to keep Halloween simple yet spectacular? Your own homemade carved pumpkin will guarantee a great decoration! Invite the girls and have a pumpkin beauty mansion? Which pumpkin will be the cutest? You would like a simpler version of decoration possibilities? Cheerfully decorate your pumpkin simply from the outside by drawing a pattern on it or a writing of your choice! Not really in the DYI mood? Buy three smaller pumpkins, pick up colourful leaves outside and nicely place it next to your front door – it couldn’t be easier! Catching the lighting and colours can be trickier than carving the pumpkin…but don’t panic. Switch your OLYMPUS PEN to iAuto and tap the right hand side of the screen to reveal colour and brightness controls. Here you can use the sliders to alter the mood by adjusting colour saturation and balance not to mention even tweaking the shadows and hightlights to get that really special shot. The end of October is all about pumpkins…carve away and share your current deocration and inspire the PEN Generation!https://my.omsystem.com/pen_generation/b/pen_blog/posts/happy-halloweenMon, 30 Oct 2017 14:00:00 GMTcaeba300-9bc9-4539-b193-bf266831c899:f3c56219-a74a-47ad-a182-7eeda6556d7bPEN GenerationWhat kind of mood are you in this Halloween? Are you going to visit a themed carnival, go trick-or-treating and wear a scary costume? Or are you having a chill night-in with your girlfriends reading ghost stories out loud, drinking hot apple cider and watching Halloween movies? Carving pumpkins, baking apple pie and making apple butter are must-do fun-activities on Halloween this year! It’s the season of the year that tells us that autumn is slowly ending and winter is around the corner. What we love about Halloween is that everything is allowed! You want to dress up like a Princess? Go for it! You want to be a scary witch that has pimples all over her face and blood running down her nose? Have fun! Or are you not a costume fan? Doesn’t matter – don’t dress up! Whatever your choice, you can capture the mood by going to the SCN mode on your OLYMPUS PEN and choose "night and portrait" mode. Clip on the removable flash and fire away. The camera helps balance a crisp image of you while allowing some of the atmospheric lighting in the background to come through. Traditionally, Halloween is one of the world’s oldest holidays and still celebrated today in a number of countries around the globe. It is most popular, surprise surprise, in Canada and the U.S. where 65% of all Americans decorate for Halloween. Americans love Halloween and all that comes with it – traditions include costume parties, trick-or-treating, pranks and games. More candy is sold on Halloween than on any other holiday in the U.S. – happy trick-or-treating!! In Mexico and other Latin American countries, Halloween is known for – the Day of the Dead – which honors deceased loved ones and ancestors. It is celebrated throughout the country as an extended holiday, which actually lasts for three full days! The holiday is celebrated with in-home altars full of fruit, peanuts, turkey, soda, hot chocolate, water and stacks of tortillas. So different and interesting! In Austria, people leave bread, water, and a lighted lamp out on the Halloween night. The Austrians once believed these would welcome the dead on the night they considered magical. How beautiful is that? Similar to Austria, people in Belgium light candles on Halloween in memory of their dead relatives and they believe it is unlucky if a black cat crosses one’s path, enters a home, or travels on ship. Have you spotted a black cat today? We hope you won’t! In the Czech and in Slovakia, chairs are placed by the fireside on Halloween night – for each family member’s spirit while in Germany, knives are put away so the returning spirits are not harmed. How spiritual! So actually, Halloween is not a holiday to eat candy all night long but to honor the dead and welcome their spirits back into our homes. If we do that, while having fun, eating sweets, partying on, and enjoying a bonfire mood, we believe that it’s our right to do so! What are your very own cultural Halloween traditions? Share it with your PEN community!