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Blue Ocean Society–Great Volunteer Day!

Blue Ocean Society in New Hampshire is a wonderful organization that aims to protect marine life in the Gulf of Maine.

By: Heather Newgen

Although people have become much more conscientious with maintaining our beaches and keeping our oceans clean, trash, debris and plastic is still finding its way into the sea and harming our marine life. According to Sea Turtle Conservation, more than 100 million marine animals are killed each year due to plastic waste in oceans, which is often mistaken for food. So the pollution marine life ingests is entering the food chain and therefore threatening human health.

Sign outside of the Blue Ocean Society office in Hampton Beach, New Hampshire

Photo by: Heather Newgen

However, that’s not the only way plastic is harmful. Blue Ocean Society states “debris can also hurt people by causing problems for boaters and create economic losses through it’s effect on commercially-valuable marine species in tourist areas.”

While this is alarming, there’s something we can do to help. On a recent trip to New Hampton Beach, New Hampshire, I volunteered for a day with Blue Ocean Society and loved my experience. There were several short-term projects to choose from and I signed up for the microplastics research. “Microplastics are defined as plastics between 1-5mm in size. They can include fragments of larger plastics such as bottles, films from straw wrappers, pieces of foam, and filaments of rope or synthetic fibers,” the Blue Ocean Society website states.

Microplastics in the sand at Hampton Beach, New Hampshire

Photo By: Heather Newgen

Volunteers hit the beaches in New Hampshire and sift through the sand collecting samples of microplastics, which is then taken to a research lab to study the damaging effects the material has on the planet. I enjoyed the process and the actual work, but I got lucky with the weather. You’re outside on the beach for about three hours with a representative from the organization who will lead the project and it can be cold, so bring layers.

Heather Newgen sectioning off an area at the beach to look for microplastics

Photo By: Blue Ocean Society

Here’s how it works.

You and another volunteer will section off a small area of the sand at the highest wrack seaweed line. Then you will sift through the top layer of sand and collect any microplastics in that area. The microplastics are bagged and taken to the research center at Blue Ocean Society where they are separated into categories like styrofoam, surfboard wax, etc.

In total five sections must be done before moving to the next beach. You can just do one beach, but I did two; Hampton Beach and Jenness Beach, which was much cleaner because there weren’t as many tourists. It was more of a local scene and the difference in how they treated the beach compared to those just visiting was instantly noticeable.

Trash picked up from Hampton Beach

Photo By: Blue Ocean Society

Even though we weren’t doing a beach clean up, we picked up debris left by people as we went from section to section on Hampton Beach and filled up two bags of garbage. However, on Jenness Beach we didn’t pick up one of trash.

Heather Newgen and another volunteer sifting though the sand looking for microplastics

Photo By: Blue Ocean Society

Blue Ocean Society provides the materials, like the bags, buckets and sifters, and will log the materials you’re collecting. You start at 6:30am and this program takes place once a month April-October. You don’t need special skills and anyone 10 years or older can take part in the microplastic research. You can volunteer alone like I did, or come as a group. Volunteers are welcomed, appreciated and relied upon to help keep the beaches clean.

Sunrise at Hampton Beach

Photo By: Heather Newgen

But the main reason you should volunteer is because marine life depend on the oceans for survival so I loved this project because I did feel like I made a small contribution towards protecting their environment, plus it’s free to volunteer. There’s no program fee.

Blue Ocean Society has programs for short-term or long-term volunteers so consider volunteering with them if you’re in the area. I liked the organization and think people do make a positive impact by volunteering with them.

August 29, 2018 admin Leave a comment

How to see ‘Game of Thrones’ DragonStone

Thanks to the Emmy Award-winning’Game of Thrones,’ Dragonstone has become a population destination to visit in Northern Spain so read below for tips on visiting the famous location in San Juan De Gaztelugatxe.

By: Jenny Chu

Note: Jenny Chu is a California native, but currently lives in Barcelona with her boyfriend and dog. She writes about budget travel and you can read more about her adventures at www.iheartjennychu.com.

Before San Juan De Gaztelugatxe was known for Game of Thrones’ Dragonstone, it was frequented by tourists for its natural beauty, stunning views, interesting history and the small church that sits on top of the island that you can only reach by hiking a windy steep staircase. The island, which is off the Basque coast of Spain and is named after St. John the Baptist, can easily be explored in a day. But be prepared for the weather and the amount of physicality it takes to see

RELATED: Iceland Travel Guide: Must See Places and Suggest Itinerary

Before You Go

* When I arrived, they asked me if I had reservations? I didn’t know I needed a ticket to Dragonstone or anything about making reservations. However, they were nice enough to let us in. That being said, reserve your tickets by clicking here.

Ticket to Dragonstone

* Don’t be like me and wear thong sandals – The first half of the hike is a steep downhill and I was panicking the whole way down thinking that my sandals were going to break at any moment.

* Bring snacks, sunscreen and water bottle – there is one water fountain at the base of the stairs…and no bathrooms when you reach the top.

How to get to ‘Game of Thrones’ DragonStone: **Please note these prices may change**

* Find your way to Placa Moyua. You want to take the bus to “Bakio #3518” that stops in front of the Levis Store. It comes

at :15 and :45 of the hour.

Cost without the Barik Card: 2.55€

Cost with Barik Card: 1.

Jenny Chu enjoying Dragonstone

Get off the stop that has the “Information” Building. Don’t forget to scan once again on your way off the bus. The clerk working at the desk will provide you with maps. Then the next bus #3517 will arrive. Get off the next stop and you’ll walk down the curved street on the left. You’ll reach the entrance after the parking lot. The hike up to the church isn’t so bad, but it does take about 30-40 minutes. Once you get up there make sure to ring the church bell three times for good luck! Best time to go is early in the morning to beat the crowds and the heat.

The stairs leading to the church at DragonStone

After taking a million photos we hiked back up and took a bus to the next city, Bermeo (5 minute ride and less than 1€) and then took a train from Bermeo to Mundaka to check out the beach (also less than 5 minutes and less than 1€). We spent the rest of the day soaking up the sun. Then it was time to go home. There is a train that goes from Mundaka to Bilbao (1.5 hours with stops) for 3.30€.

August 18, 2018 admin Leave a comment

Terry Crews on his Success and Being Vocal About Sexual Harassment

At the Television Critics Association summer press tour, Terry Crews talked to The Voluntourist about his success and being vocal about sexual harassment.

By: Heather Newgen | Twitter: @hnvoluntourist

Terry Crews might just be the most positive, uplifting and energetic person you’ll ever encounter. He’s so dynamic and engaging, but that wasn’t always the case. Before he was an all-star football player, TV star, action hero and game show host, he was a kid who grew up in an abusive household where his alcoholic father severely beat his mother regularly.

COMIC-CON INTERNATIONAL: SAN DIEGO 2018 — “NBC at Comic-Con” — Pictured: Terry Crews at the ‘Brooklyn Nine-Nine’ Panel at the Hilton Bayfront, San Diego, Calif. — (Photo by: Todd Williamson/NBC)

His father perpetually terrorized them and they “lived a nightmare for years,” however his mother didn’t leave because they had nowhere else to go. Although Crews lived in constant fear, revealing he wet the bed until the age of 14 because he was terrified of his father’s behavior, he excelled in school and earned a full scholarship to play football at Western Michigan University, where he was an art major.

From there he was drafted to the NFL and played professionally for four teams before retiring and trying his luck in Hollywood. The “Brooklyn Nine-Nine” star has had a string of successes, in TV and film, but not without major setbacks, which include an addiction to porn and depression, which he openly talks about.

Another traumatizing event Crews recently became vocal about is the alleged sexual assault by the former head of the motion picture department at William Morris Endeavor (WME) and top Hollywood agent Adam Venit, who Crews claims grabbed his genitals at a party in 2016. Venit, who has denied the allegations, was suspended and later demoted. Crews filed a lawsuit against WME and Venit, which was later dismissed the Los Angeles Attorney General, citing statue of limitation. But, that hasn’t stopped Crews from speaking out on the matter.

The Voluntourist: Why is it so important to you to use your platform to inspire others and how have you seen it personally help others?

Terry Crews: When I was a kid I had a lot of questions and everyone told me stop asking them. One thing I realized is when I became an adult, I wanted to tell people what I was going through. There was always the society stigma of not sharing what you’ve been through, not telling the actual things that happen to you. What happens is if you don’t tell, bad things continue to keep happening. Like I said, when Ronan Farrow wrote that first story about Harvey Weinstein, all those women came forward. Let me tell you, I just was invigorated, I knew it was safe to come out. It was safe now. And then I had to support them. I had to show that wait a minute, because what was happening is the women were being debased. They were being called liars and I was like wait, it happened to me and the reason I was quiet is the same reasons why they were quiet in the beginning, you know.

BROOKLYN NINE-NINE — “FYC @ UCB” — Pictured: Terry Crews at UCB Sunset Theatre on June 13, 2018 — (Photo by: Chris Haston/NBC)

Terry Crews: My thing is, this is what’s so wild, is that we’re not even doubting whether these events happened. They’re doubting why did people come forward? That makes no sense to me. And it’s like I don’t care if it happened 10 years ago, 20 years ago, 40 years ago. It happened and that’s the issue. There’s a lot of people that are hoping that because time passed, things are over now. It’s like well, guess what, America is still dealing with slavery. It happened. We can’t say it didn’t happen. I think as a man, and I’ve been a card carrying member of the toxic masculinity group, men have to learn how to concede. We have to say that we messed up. It’s important. The first thing that helped me change in every way was I realized that I, I made the mistakes. The first thing that I had to say, when I acknowledged my own things and then went to make amends to the people I had even wronged, then things can correct itself.

BROOKLYN NINE-NINE — “Bad Beat” Episode 505 — Pictured: (l-r) Andre Braugher as Ray Holt, Terry Crews as Terry Jeffords — (Photo by: John P. Fleenor/Fox/Universal Television)

Terry Crews: Then all of a sudden we can go to the next level but if you always deny, always push away, always run away, always hide, now things get worse and I refuse to live my life that way. I decided that hey, man, I’ve been very, very vocal about my own issues. I had an addiction to pornography I came out about and I wrote a book called Manhood that really dealt with a lot of things that I had already been through with my wife and family and a lot of this toxic masculinity that I had ingrained into my life, and it came out in 2014. The publishers were like, ‘What am I going to do with this book?’ Now it’s been validated in a lot of ways and I’m thankful that I was able to do that and I will continue to. I will always know that this whole thing is bigger than me.

BROOKLYN NINE-NINE — “Bad Beat” Episode 505 — Pictured: (l-r) Andy Samberg as Jake Peralta, Terry Crews as Terry Jeffords — (Photo by: John P. Fleenor/Fox/Universal Television)

The Voluntourist: You came from a background that didn’t set you up for success. So how did you break through the barriers and become who you are today?

Terry Crews: Wow, well I give so much credit to my wife. We’ve been married 29 years and we’ve been through everything. By myself I would have done okay, but with her and I together, we could go all the way. We could go forever. When I talk about my success, that woman is really the reason why I’m here today. I can tell you right now she saved my life several times.

Season 6 of “Brooklyn Nine-Nine” will premiere on NBC in midseason. It was picked up by NBC after FOX canceled the comedy series.

August 9, 2018 admin Leave a comment

Survey Confirms Many Pet Owners Won’t Travel Without Their Dog

Rover.com, the largest pet sitting service, discovered many pet owners won’t travel or vacation without their dog, while others will make big sacrifices to take their furry friend on holiday with them.

Pet Owner Heather Newgen with her dog Murphy Newgen Philbrick on vacation

Has your dog ever gotten in the way of your travel plans? According to a brand new survey of 500 pet owners conducted by Rover.com, 37% of respondents have chosen NOT to travel so they could stay home with their dog.

Others, however, take the opposite approach.

Some pet owners will do just about anything to bring their pups on vacation rather than missing out:

38% have driven instead of flown to their destination

10% have hidden their dog in their luggage to sneak them into a hotel

3% have tried to disguise their dog as a baby when boarding a plane (seriously!)

Rover.com member Murphy Newgen Philbrick
Photo by: Heather Newgen

Heather Newgen and her dog Murphy New Philbrick on vacation in Monterey, California

Rover.com Summer Travel Survey Highlights

Young pet owners (ages 21-24) go the extra mile when it comes to staying connected and pampering their dog when they travel:

27% schedule day and evening care while 17% create a music playlist.

22% of dog owners ages 21-24 and 11% ages 25-34 have hidden their dog in their bag or luggage compared to 7% of pet owners ages 35-44
Baby Boomers are more likely to take their pet with them when they travel (42% of dog owners ages 55-64)

If they do decide to leave their pet at home, 25% of Baby Boomers make homemade treats for their dog to enjoy when they are away and a whopping 75% leave behind an article of clothing with their scent on it.

Rover.com member Murphy Newgen Philbrick making friends
Photo by: Heather Newgen

Females are more likely to take their dog with them when they travel (25%) compared to men (14%)
15% of paw-rents arrange special play dates for their dogs with other dogs when they’re away; the same amount schedule video call sessions with their pup when they’re out of town

Don’t forget to remember me: 3% of pet parents have left an enlarged or over-sized photo of themselves that their dog(s) can see when they’ve been away from home

7% of pet parents have dressed their furry friends as service animals when they’re really not service pets when traveling together.

For pet owners who do love traveling with their dogs, Los Angeles animal trainer Nicole Ellis offers these tip

Nicole Ellis
Photo courtesy of Nicole Ellis

Plan early! Call ahead and book your dog on your flight as early as possible. Each airline has a maximum number of pets they will allow on board or in the cargo hold.
Check your carrier dimensions on the airline’s website. Dimensions and regulations vary from airline to airline. Don’t show up with the wrong size only to be turned away at the airport.
Avoid giving your dog calming medication unless prescribed by your veterinarian, especially if they’re flying in cargo. These drugs can interfere with your pup’s critical ability to regulate their body temperature.
Make sure your crate has your contact information for both your home and destination. Plan for the worst-case situation – you can neverhave too much information attached to the crate.

Before you leave for the airport, take a nice long walk with your dog. It will help calm them down and can relax you as well.

And if you do plan on vacationing with your four-legged BFF, consider this stylish DJANGO Brand gear for your pet.

The Django Carry Bag is a waxed canvas and leather pet carry bag designed for you and your pup’s daily commute or next weekend adventure. A soft and sturdy footpad and bag-to-harness tether ensures your pup’s comfort and security. Four exterior and interior zip pockets ensure essentials (poop bags, keys, your passport) don’t get lost in the fray.It is available in olive green, navy blue and black.

The Django Carry Bag

The Django City Slicker is a lightweight and versatile performance rain jacket. The sleek weatherproof exterior is built to withstand water, wind, mud and dirt. Lined with supple sport mesh cotton, your dog will stay comfortable and dry throughout any adventure. The link is below. It come in cherry red, pink and topaz blue. The City Slicker is also available for sale through Amazon. The City Slicker is meant for adventure with your pup – whether crossing creek or combing hiss, the City Slicker has you covered no matter where you are!

The Django City Slicker

The Django Puffer Coat: The Puffer is an uber comfy dog coat that offers the warmth of synthetic insulation and comfort of natural lining. Oversized arm holes enable maximum range of motion whether walking down the street or running up a mountain trail. Reversible, you say? Yes. The Puffer delivers two distinct looks in one comfortable, warm jacket. The water-resistant and windproof outer layer is ideal for cold-weather activities. Velcro closure for easy on and off. Machine washable.

The Django Puffer Coat

The Django Hoodie: The Classic Hoodie is something to bark about. A blend of top tier fabrics that are usually reserved for human apparel, our design is modern and lightweight with a structured opening for your adventure dog’s leash. Machine washable.

The Django Hoodie

Comment and tell us which category of pet owners you fall into.

August 1, 2018 admin Leave a comment

Project Angel Food – Fantastic Volunteer Experience

By: Heather Newgen

Project Angel Food is one of the most popular organizations to volunteer with in Los Angeles and after spending a day with them I understand why. The nonprofit, which makes and delivers free meals for those with life threatening illnesses like HIV, cancer and kidney failure, has an incredibly well-organized and efficient volunteer program that can accommodate individual volunteers or groups who want to give back.

Organization: Project Angel Food | Location: Hollywood | Price: Free to volunteer

Heather Newgen and volunteers at Project Angel Food

Photo By: Aaron Zimmerman

Most volunteers will work in the kitchen helping the chefs with a variety of projects like chopping vegetables, which is what I did, cooking, baking, mixing and packaging up meals. But don’t worry, if you can’t cook, which I can’t, there’s something for you to do in the kitchen where you’ll be helping and making a difference.

For those who prefer to work in other areas of Project Food Angel, you can request to be placed in the office where you’ll assist with essential tasks like photocopying, data entry and mailings.

Heather Newgen making friends at Project Angel Food

Photo By: Aaron Zimmerman

Project Angel Food heavily relies on volunteers and without them the organization wouldn’t be able to serve their clients who desperately depend on the nutritional meals the nonprofit provides at no cost.

Aaron Zimmerman, Carol Marshall, Heather Newgen and Cynthia Raza having fun volunteering at Project Angel Food

An estimated 11,000 healthy meals are made each week at Project Angel Food and more than 11 million meals have been cooked and delivered to date, which couldn’t be done without the help of volunteers.

What I loved about Project Angel Food is that anyone from the age of 14 can volunteer, you don’t need special skills, it’s a really fun, positive environment where volunteers are valued, cleanliness is a high priority–the kitchen is sparkling, there are strict sanitary guidelines everyone must follow and you really do make a positive impact in the community. Because of volunteers, people with serious health issues don’t have to worry about how they’re going to grocery shop or cook, instead they can focus on healing.

Project Angel Food and its fleet of do-gooders instill hope, love and comfort for thousands daily. It’s a beautiful place to be a part of and I can’t recommend it enough.

Heather Newgen and other volunteers in orientation at Project Angel Food

Photo By: Aaron Zimmerman

Tips: Volunteers must arrive promptly at 8:00am for Project Angel Food orientation, your shift is over at 12:30pm, maybe even sooner if all duties are finished, there’s a free parking lot in the back of the building, volunteer slots are usually full on Fridays so reserve in advance if you want to work on that day, and hairnets, gloves and aprons are required at all times in the kitchen area. All will be provided upon arrival.

July 31, 2018 admin Leave a comment

How to Travel in Rome on a Budget

How to Travel in Rome on a Budget: Travel Guide, Tips and Must See Places

By Jenny Chu

Rome is one of the most visited tourist destinations in the world and a beautiful city everyone should visit at least once. However, if you plan on being there during peak travel season–mid June-August, beware of scorching temperatures, overcrowded tours, expensive accommodations and mobs of tourists. But don’t let that deter you from your summer holiday plans. Here’s some tips on how to make the most of Rome on a budget and beat the heat.

Jenny Chu in Rome Photo courtesy of Jenny Chu

WHAT TO PACK

Rome is incredibly hot in the summer, so I brought a travel umbrella to help shield the intense sun rays, a hand fan, and my stainless steel water bottle that keeps drinks cold for up to 24 hours. I even brought my ice cube tray designed specifically for water bottles. Also don’t forget sunscreen and mosquito repellant.

FLIGHTS

Round trip flight from BCN –> FCO (Rome – Fiumicino) on RyanAir – $97.73 USD

I know RyanAir has a bad reputation and is known as the Spirit Airlines of America but how can you pass up on a deal like this? Other airlines were charging three times the amount. I paid the extra $7.00 USD for priority boarding and I made it to Rome without paying extra for my suitcase.

Photo courtesy of Ryanair

However, I did get snagged for a carryon suitcase fee of 50€ on my return (my suitcase was larger than what was permitted) Talk about bad luck! Not only that, the flight was five hours delayed and it was an additional two hours for the bags to come out onto the conveyor belt at baggage claim.

Tip: RyanAir charges 55€ if you don’t have your boarding pass printed or on your phone. Make sure your suitcase meets the requirements for carryon. They will charge you for everything.

WHERE TO STAY in ROME

If you are traveling with a large group of people, I recommend Camila Home San Lorenzo on AirB&B. This particular listing has four bedrooms, a living room with kitchen and two bathrooms. Up to 10 guests are welcome and the cost is $94.00 USD/night!!! What a steal!!

Jenny Chu and friends in Rome Alley Photo courtesy of Jenny Chu

ROME TRANSPORTATION: BUS and TAXI Tips

You cannot buy a ticket on the bus. Keep that in mind because I saw some tourists get fined 100€. Even if the bus is super busy and you see locals not validating Rome bus tickets, you MUST validate your ticket through the machine. You can buy bus tickets at tobacco stores, bars, newsstands or at major metro stations. Tickets are 1.50€ each. They also sell the 24 hour pass for 7€/day, 48 hour pass for 12€ and a 72 hour pass for 18€. I don’t recommend getting the day passes – I did a mix between taxi and bus.

Colosseum
Rome, Italy
Photo by: Heather Newgen

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Because I like to travel on a budget I try to avoid taxis and instead use other means of public transportation like the bus or subway. Since we weren’t staying right in the center of Rome, I definitely needed to use public transportation, but I was very disappointed. The buses were never on time and I recall waiting at a couple bus stops for over 30 minutes. On top of that, we had five people in our group so it was hard to flag down a taxi that could accommodate all of us.

Colosseum
Rome, Italy
Photo by: Heather Newgen

That being said, you should download the “MyTaxi” app. It saved me many times because if we had relied on public transportation, we would have been late for our tour activities. Be careful which taxis you use. I made the mistake of getting into an unofficial private taxi and the rates were really high! The Rome city taxicabs are all white with the number clearly written on the side of the car and those are the ones you should take. Here’s an example of a price difference. From my AirB&B to the Colosseum in a regular cab cost me 12€. In the other “taxi” it cost me almost 20€.

Starting fare Mon – Fri, 6am – 10pm €3

Starting fare Sat – Sun and holidays, 6am – 10pm. – €4.50

Starting fare anytime from 10pm – 6am €6.50

By law, all taxi cabs in Rome are supposed to have a credit card machine but I happened to run into a few that said theirs was “out of order” so be sure to always have cash on you.

Roman Ruins near the Colosseum in Rome, Italy
Photo by: Heather Newgen

FROM FCO AIRPORT TO ROME CITY CENTER (TERMINI STATION)

Flat Rate Taxi Fare:

48€ from FCO to the city center

30€ from Ciampino to the city center

Leonardo Express Train to Termini Station – 14€

For budget travelers, exit Terminal 3 and follow the signs for the bus. Then on the right hand side you will see stands selling tickets. I bought mine for 6.90€. No advanced tickets are needed and they accept credit cards. Once you get to the Termini station, there’s a tobacco store where you can buy bus tickets. It’s 1.50€ each and they also accept credit cards! I did an average of two to three bus/metro rides per day.

For your return back to the airport, just head to the Termini station and you can buy your bus tickets directly at the bus. I believe it’s cash only – I didn’t see anyone paying with a credit card.

WHAT TO DO in ROME:

Ladies, leave your wedges and heels at home because you’ll be walking on mostly cobblestone streets and uneven sidewalks. I know I didn’t get to all the sites I wanted to see however we did hit up the most popular locations:

Jenny Chu at the Trevi Fountain
Photo courtesy of Jenny Chu

Trevi Fountain – Went there at 6:30 am to beat the crowd. Face away from the fountain and toss a coin in with your right hand over your left shoulder to ensure you’ll be back to visit Rome, toss two coins in to ensure a romance with a Roman and throw three coins in to ensure marriage.

Vatican City – Opens at 9:00 am. By 10:00 am there is a long queue in the hot sun so I suggest getting there early. Ladies must cover the knees and shoulders. You can buy a shawl/scarf outside for 1.50€. I read that the men were supposed to dress in pants and no flip flops. It was summer and I saw many men in shorts and flip flops so I’m guessing they’re a bit relaxed on the men’s dress code. Photos are allowed but no flash photography.

Jenny Chu at Vatican
Photo courtesy of Jenny Chu

Sistine Chapel – I didn’t get to go here because the line was too long. Doors open at 9:00 am and it’s free entry. We talked to a lady that was standing in line since 8:00 am and she still wasn’t in at 10:00 am. By 10:00 am the wait in the sweltering heat was 2.5 hours. There are ticket peddlers that will bombard you and try to sell you a ticket to skip the line. Cost is 35€ so if you think it’s worth it, go for it! No photographs allowed in the chapel.

Sistine Chapel Photo by: Heather Newgen

Spanish Steps

Spanish Steps
Photo by: Heather Newgen

Pantheon – Free Entry

Colosseum – Entry Fee is 12€ and is good for 2 days. There’s also a bunch of ticket peddlers that will be selling tickets to “skip the line.”

Jenny Chu at the Colosseum
Photo courtesy of Jenny Chu

Bocca Della Verità – Mouth of Truth – 2€. Legend says if you’re a liar and you place your hand inside the mouth, you’ll lose some fingers.

The Aventine Keyhole – Free Entry – We waited in line for five minutes to peep through the keyhole. It was a beautiful view of the St. Peter’s Dome.

On our final day, we embarked on this wonderful two hour golf cart tour of Rome by MyBestTour.com. We had our own group of 14 people and the large golf carts can take esven passengers.

WHERE TO EAT in ROME:

I pretty much ate pizza, pasta and tiramisu every day for lunch and dinner. I know there’s a million restaurants in Rome but these restaurants I can vouch for!

Average cost for a pasta dish is around 7€-10€ and the special truffle dishes were around 10€-12€.

Ciacco&Bacco San Lorenzo – Large charcuterie plate for five people – 30€. Reservations recommended since seating is very limited.

Ciacco & Bacco
Photo courtesy of Jenny Chu

Pizzeria La Casetta – Local spot near our AirB&B in Rome and my favorite tiramisu

Pizzeria La Casetta
Photo courtesy of Jenny Chu

Ponte E Parione – Truffle pasta with bacon and the fried zucchini flower dish was to die for. The servers here also were very friendly and funny. Rome is the best!

Spaghetteria L’Archetto – So many pizza and pasta dishes to choose from!

Spaghetteria
Photo courtesy of Jenny Chu

II Tempio Di Minerva – Pasta carbonara and ravioli with truffle & spinach

La Gelateria Frigidarium – Gelato!!! 1 scoop costs 2€

July 30, 2018 admin Leave a comment

Michael B. Jordan, Jamie Foxx attend MBJAM Benefiting Lupus LA

LOS ANGELES, CA – JULY 28: Michael B. Jordan attends Lupus LA’s MBJAM presented by Michael B. Jordan at Dave & Buster’s on July 28, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Tiffany Rose/Getty Images for Lupus LA)

Michael B. Jordan and Lupus LA celebrated their 2nd annual MBJAM in Hollywood, raising over $250,000 for the organization. Others in attendance included Jamie Foxx, Lena Waithe, Storm Reid, Niles Fitch, Mackenzie Hancsicsak, Josh & Heather Altman, Terri Seymour, Mario Lopez and more.

LOS ANGELES, CA – JULY 28: Jamie Foxx and Michael B. Jordan attend Lupus LA’s MBJAM presented by Michael B. Jordan at Dave & Buster’s on July 28, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Tiffany Rose/Getty Images for Lupus LA)

Michael B. Jordan and Lupus LA celebrated their 2nd annual MBJAM, bringing together celebrities, athletes, lupus patients, advocates and kids of all ages for an afternoon of family-fun in the heart of Hollywood. Hundreds gathered at Dave & Busters Hollywood to celebrate those who are able to thrive with lupus, while brining much-needed funds and awareness to Lupus LA. Over $250,000 was raised to support their mission to find the causes of and a cure for lupus, while providing support, services and hope to all people affected by the chronic autoimmune disease.

LOS ANGELES, CA – JULY 28: Donna Jordan and Michael B. Jordan attend Lupus LA’s MBJAM presented by Michael B. Jordan at Dave & Buster’s on July 28, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Tiffany Rose/Getty Images for Lupus LA)

“My mother is the inspiration behind MBJAM, and my personal superhero. With lupus, it’s not just the one person that’s affected, it’s the whole family,” said Michael B. Jordan. “I want to thank you all for coming out to support a cause that means so much to me and my family.”

LOS ANGELES, CA – JULY 28: Donna Jordan, Michael B. Jordan and Terrence J attend Lupus LA’s MBJAM presented by Michael B. Jordan at Dave & Buster’s on July 28, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Tiffany Rose/Getty Images for Lupus LA)

A crowd gathered and cheered as Michael B. Jordan and Jamie Foxx went head to head in a game of Pop A Shot. Every basket made during the challenge raised additional funds for Lupus LA. The afternoon was filled with games and activities, prizes, a silent auction, delicious snacks and an interactive graffiti wall.

In addition to the event’s festivities, Lupus LA is hosting an online auction on IfOnly, which goes live Monday and will run through mid-August. Available items include a watch from Piaget valued at $20,000, a VIP $2,500 shopping experience at Coach in Beverly Hills, and one-of-a-kind pieces of art from Donna Jordan, Alejandro Esquivias, Joseph Pascual and Ju Young Ku. Learn more at www.IfOnly.com/LupusLA.

Lupus is one of America’s most prevalent medical problems, yet two-thirds of the population know little or nothing about this chronic, autoimmune disease that affects 1.5 million Americans, and over 60,000 people in LA county alone. Every 30 minutes, someone is diagnosed with lupus, and more Americans have lupus than AIDS, cerebral palsy, multiple sclerosis, sickle-cell anemia and cystic fibrosis combined.

LOS ANGELES, CA – JULY 28: Michael B. Jordan and Terri Seymour attend Lupus LA’s MBJAM presented by Michael B. Jordan at Dave & Buster’s on July 28, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Tiffany Rose/Getty Images for Lupus LA)

There is no cure for lupus, but in many cases, it can be controlled. There is a tremendous need for more research and funding to support scientists’ efforts to discover new, more effective treatments and a cure.

Discover more photos and videos from MBJAM by following #MBJAM and @LupusLA on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. For more information, please visit www.LupusLA.org.

About Lupus LA

Lupus LA serves the needs of people with lupus and their families in Los Angeles County and across Southern California. Lupus LA raises funds for its patient programs, local rheumatology fellowships and research partners at the Lupus Research Alliance (LRA). Since the year 2000, Lupus LA has raised over $10,000,000 dollars for the cause, primarily through special events – the LA Marathon, Orange Ball, Hollywood Bag Ladies Luncheon and MBJAM, featuring Lupus LA Ambassador Michael B. Jordan. Through the Celebrity Ambassador Program, Lupus LA has raised more awareness for the cause than any other lupus organization in the country. While lupus is widespread, awareness and accurate knowledge about it are lacking. Research shows that although 1.5 million people in the U.S. have lupus, nearly two-thirds of the public knows little or nothing about the disease. In fact, more Americans have lupus than AIDS, cerebral palsy, multiple sclerosis, sickle-cell anemia and cystic fibrosis, making it one of this country’s most prevalent medical problems. In Los Angeles County alone, there are over 60,000 people suffering from lupus. Lupus LA, a non-profit health organization, was founded in 2000 by a concerned group of lupus families spearheaded by Daniel J. Wallace, MD, attending physician in the Division of Rheumatology at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center and a clinical professor of medicine at UCLA’s David Geffen School of Medicine. For more information please visit www.LupusLA.org.

July 29, 2018 admin Leave a comment

Six Tips on How to Deal with Post Vacation Blues

By: Heather Newgen

Nobody ever wants their vacation to end.

As much as I like my job, it’s always hard for me to come back from a trip. So, if you experience post vacation blues like me, here’s some tips:

Heather Newgen and her dog Murphy in Monterey, California

1. Plan your next trip—even if it’s just a quick weekend getaway. That always helps me get over being depressed about being home. When I start thinking about where I want to go next and how to budget for it, I get excited and almost instantly feel better. I do research on wherever it is I’m considering going, look up hotels/airbnbs and must see places and before I know it I’m heading on another adventure.

Carmel
Photo by: Heather Newgen

2. Frame your favorite memory of your recent holiday. While the majority of us have our photos stored on social media, it’s fun to have a few pictures printed out and framed that are meaningful to us. It helps relive that unforgettable moment and helps get over those post vacation blues.

3. Come back a day early so you have time to adjust and mentally prepare to head back to work. I always stay at my destination to the very last second and arrive home late the night before work, which makes it even harder.

Carmel
Photo by: Heather Newgen

4. Recreate your favorite meal from your trip. It helps bring back the memories from your vacation and boosts your mood.

RELATED: Rachel Zoe’s Traveling Tip: “Look Glamorous

5. Unpack soonish after returning home. I know I dread unpacking my luggage because it means the trip is over, but the longer I wait to do it, the harder it is to get back into my normal routine. Seeing the unpacked bag can only prolong the post vacation blues.

6. Take some time out to relax. Yes, that’s probably what you were doing on your holiday, but it can be a harsh reality to return to a crazy schedule. Taking a hot bath or nice walk reduces the feeling of anxiety.

July 22, 2018 admin Leave a comment

Elephant Valley Project in Cambodia is Ethical and Great

Elephant Valley Project in Cambodia is an Ethical and Great Volunteering Experience!

By: Jane Connor

Location: Mondulkiri, Cambodia (There’s also a location in Thailand)

Price: $450 per person for 5 days and 5 nights. $500 per person for private room

Elephant Valley Project is a small organization that works with the local community to give elephants as close to normal lives as possible. They are up front about how your money is used too. I spent a week at their place in Cambodia and would recommend it. I loved that the only interactions volunteers had with elephants were instigated by the elephants – this is truly a place where the animal’s needs are put above the volunteers wants.

Elephant Valley Project in Cambodia

Photo By: Jane Connor

In saying that, volunteers work for half a day and the other half a day is spent observing the elephants – it was a great way to spend a week and I learnt a lot. I was with a small group of people some who were there for six weeks and others like me who were there for only one.

The volunteering included gardening, building fences or other structures and giving the elephants health checks with the guides. Observing the elephants was the other half day – it was often like bushwalking with elephants.

All of the volunteer work is supervised – and you’re not up front and center with the health checks – which aren’t detailed – you measure the elephants to ensure they are not losing condition and a couple of other things . You’re not doing anything a vet or something with a medical background should do. Our guide was a vet nurse, but not all guides are qualified in the same way.

Elephant Valley Project in Cambodia

Photo By: Jane Connor

I looked at a number of options and spoke to lots of people and in my opinion this was the place that the elephants were least likely to be impacted by my interest in them. I’ve described it as a retirement village for elephants to my friends.

The other really good thing about EVP is the relationships they have established with the local communities and that they will employ local people (apart from mahouts who are already bonded to the elephants).

Elephant Valley Project in Cambodia

Photo By: Jane Connor

Spending time here] is a brilliant way of supporting this organizations great work. I only went for a week and have great memories from my time there.

July 21, 2018 admin Leave a comment

Love & Bananas: An Elephant Story Returns to NYC and LA for One Week

“Love & Bananas: An Elephant Story” returns to New York City and Los Angeles on July 20th for week long engagements in support of the protection of Asian Elephants.

The non-profit GreaterGood.org will launch a second fundraiser with 10% of each purchase going towards the Cambodia Wildlife Sanctuary.

Filmmaker Ashley Bell

The film is re-opening in theaters in New York and Los Angeles on July 20th due to popular demand. With engagements in over 80+ theaters across the U.S. and Canada, the powerful and heartwarming documentary will be available exclusively on iTunes beginning July 24, 2018.

In addition, you can catch the movie on STARZ beginning July 30th at 9 PM ET and it will also be available on the STARZ app.

The documentary follows the journey of filmmaker and actress Ashley Bell and her determination to rescue an elephant named Noi Na in Cambodia.

Journalist Angela Dawson, who covered the movie, writes, “Numbering just 45,000, the Asian elephant population has declined precipitously in recent years for a variety of reasons, mostly caused by humans. Having once roamed the Asian and Southeast Asian jungles freely, these elephants—smaller in size and in numbers than their African counterparts—are in trouble because their natural habitats are being destroyed by logging and deforestation. Further, these intelligent creatures are often captured and sold to circuses and trekking companies for tourists or used as service animals in the logging industry.”

With an outpouring of love and support for the film, GreaterGood.org has also signed back on to create their second “Love & Bananas Fund,” following their successful $80,000+ fundraiser that procured underwriting for a rescue mission of an Asian elephant named Sivilai, provided critically needed medical equipment for the Elephant Nature Park Sanctuary, and helped break ground on a chain free sanctuary in Laos.

Ashley Bell and Sangdeaun Lek Chailert in Love and Bananas: An Elephant Story

Bell’s feature film directorial debut “Love & Bananas: An Elephant Story” has left an emotional and heartfelt response amongst press and movie goers alike. Along with world renowned Asian elephant conservationist, SangdeaunLek Chailert, the fearless leader behind the movement, audiences across the world are jumping into action to educate themselves and work to save these animals.

“Love & Bananas: An Elephant Story aims to ignite a new way of thinking about this species and shows us what can be done to prevent the abuse of captive Asian elephants. The rapidly decreasing numbers of elephants in the world, combined with the popularity of elephant trekking camps and recent announcement to lift a ban on “trophy” elephant imports, makes this a timely and important film as it presents a solution to the problem. Through the heartwarming, yet dangerous journey that Lek and Ashley make to bring one elephant from trekking camp to sanctuary, the film depicts a better way to co-exist with and enjoy elephants that will not put them at risk.

For more information please visit loveandbananasfund.org

July 20, 2018 admin Leave a comment

Just voluntourist