Rockin' at Scripps in La Jolla...

At first glance, I thought he was walking on snow! Hehe- that's because it's the middle of winter here in France... Not in Cali, though!!

It's all in a day's work, you know!

**Photos courtesy of my friend, Bob!

Goin' to Costa Rica..

Next week, Alex and I will be visiting my dad and stepmom in Costa Rica.. You can follow me on my travels HERE.

I miss my bird SOOOOO much!!!

I had two cockateils- Punani and Blanco...

The bird in the video is exactly like Punani!!!

Bird sign Happy Birthday song

Fresh Air Fund

The holidays are right around the corner and The Fresh Air Fund needs your help!

One of my favourite associations is the Fresh Air Fund. This non-profit in association in NY gives children from low income families a chance to participate in activities that they may not have the chance do in their daily lives. To learn more about what the Fresh Air Fund is all about please ready HERE. Becoming a host family or donating to the FAF is a very rewarding this to do. Think about making a donation during the holidays to help these children fulfill their dreams! You can't go wrong and just knowing that you are able to help in some way is a great feeling!

Who are the 'Fresh Air" children? Fresh Air children are boys and girls, six to 18 years old, who live in New York City. Children on first-time visits are six to 12 years old and stay for either one or two weeks. Youngsters who are re-invited by the same family may continue with The Fund through age 18, and many enjoy longer summertime visits, year after year. A visit to the home of a warm and loving volunteer host family can make all the difference in the world to an inner-city child. All it takes to create lifelong memories is laughing in the sunshine and making new friends.

The majority of Fresh Air children are from low-income communities. These are often families without the resources to send their children on summer vacations. Most inner-city youngsters grow up in towering apartment buildings without large, open, outdoor play spaces. Concrete playgrounds cannot replace the freedom of running barefoot through the grass or riding bikes down country lanes.

Fresh Air children are registered by more than 90 participating social service and community
organizations located in disadvantaged neighborhoods in the five boroughs of New York City. These community-based agencies are in close contact with children in need of summer experiences in rural and suburban areas. Each agency is responsible for registering children for the program.

What do Fresh Air children enjoy?

• Playing in the backyard
• Laughing in the sunshine
• Catching fireflies
• Riding bicycles
• Learning to swim
• Running barefoot through the grass
• Gazing at the stars on moonlit nights
• Building sandcastles
• Making new friends
• Simple pleasures of life away from the inner-city

Summer may seem far away, but NYC children are currently participating in Fresh Air programs, from weekly tutoring sessions to job shadowings to weekend retreats at Fund camps in upstate New York! Our Career Awareness Program serves more than 300 youngsters in middle and high school. We also have new leadership programs for young women to develop their “can-do” attitudes!
No matter the season, Fresh Air children remain involved, excited and forward-thinking. We need loyal friends like you to continue serving thousands of New York City children throughout the year. Thank you!

To make a donation, please click here.

Every year, The Fresh Air Fund gives thousands of inner-city children the priceless gift of fun – and opens the door to a lifetime of opportunities.

Whether it's a two-week trip to the country to visit a volunteer host family, or a fun-filled and educational stay at one of our fund camps, our programs make for unforgettable memories – and open a world of new friendships and fresh possibilities.

• Just $10 will send one child on a bus ride to his or her Friendly Town host family.


• $24 provides a child with a week of swimming lessons.


• $42 provides a day of Career Awareness classes.


• A gift of $50 can fund a camp counselor for a day.


• If you can give as much as $91, you provide a child at camp with meals for a week.

We are a not-for-profit agency and depend on tax-deductible donations from people like you to keep our vital programs flourishing.

Little Italy... My old stomping ground!

Gary sent me this picture yesterday... Ohhhh how I miss Little Italy!

My vacation blog has just been updated!

Come have a look at my new posts....

Our Vacation Photos

We stayed at the lovely Alamo Guest House. See here for more info about this charming place.

Fresh Air Fund- NEEDS your SUPPORT!

Hi Everyone!

I have already written about this WONDERFUL organization, the "FRESH AIR FUND" and now I'm writing because they need our help....

Today is the last day for supporter's donations for the kids to "double!" If you can please go to their website HERE to find out more info about their program, giving inner city kids in NY a chance to live with host families in the suburbs over the summer, I'm sure you be amazed at what they do! It's a life changing experience for these kids and we can help by being a host family or by donated to their program to help make things happen!

If anyone is interested in become a host family, please contact Fresh Air Fund directly! Here's the link: Fresh Air Fund Host Families wanted.

Thanks so much for your support and have a GREAT summer!!!

More about the Fresh Air Fund (FAF):

THE FRESH AIR FUND, an independent, not-for-profit agency, has provided free summer vacations to more than 1.7 million New York City children from low-income communities since 1877. Nearly 10,000 New York City children enjoy free Fresh Air Fund programs annually. In 2008, close to 5,000 children visited volunteer host families in suburbs and small town communities across 13 states from Virginia to Maine and Canada. 3,000 children also attended five Fresh Air camps on a 2,300-acre site in Fishkill, New York. The Fund’s year-round camping program serves an additional 2,000 young people each year.

**Pictures and some text taken from the FAF website.

Bed and Breakfast near Mont Saint Michel

Important contact info:

French gîte / Bed and Breakfast

Route du Mont-Saint-Michel - 50170 Moidrey

Manche (Basse-Normandie, France)

(0033) 02 33 58 77 16

Website: http://monsite.wanadoo.fr/labastidedumoulin/

This charming and quaint B&B was just minutes from Mont Saint Michel and I HIGHLY recommend it to ALL travelers to the area and those who are visiting areas near St. Malo, as well.

*Note - this price is "off season" price... Prices range from 32 - 34 euros per room/2 people.

Delphine and her husband are the owners of this lovely place, and her English is impeccable. The rooms are adorable, squeaky clean and the price is definitely right (the price was 34 euros per night plus 5 euros for breakfast).

*A gem of a find!

Travel Time...

Please check out my travel blog for our latest adventures!

Click on the blog title: OUR VACATION PHOTOS

7th ANNUAL CARNAVALE in Little Italy, San Diego

Wish I was going to this! It looks like a lot of fun! If anyone goes, let me know how it was!!

Fresh Air Fund Needs Host Families!

I was recently contacted by Sara Wilson, who works with the Fresh Air Fund, a wonderful organization which places city kids from New York with "host" families during the summer months. The majority of these kids come from low-income communities and so spending time away from their home communities with participating families gives them an opportunity to have new and enriching experiences in the suburbs or small town communities... Sara is very dedicated to her work at the Fresh Air Fund, and I am always happy to do a write up about it on my blog in the hopes that more people will learn about it and hopefully become host families, if they so desire. If you are interested or if you know of someone who may be interested, please do not hesitate to find out more about the Host Family Program HERE. In any case, have a loot at their website to see what they are all about. Such a wonderful cause and a way to give a lot to the children. It's very "refreshing" to know that there are programs like The Fresh Air Fund out there... Here's a little more about Program: In 2009, The Fresh Air Fund's Volunteer Host Family program, called Friendly Town, gave close to 5,000 New York City boys and girls, ages six to 18, free summer experiences in the country and the suburbs. Volunteer host families shared their friendship and homes up to two weeks or more in 13 Northeastern states from Virginia to Maine and Canada. Fresh Air Fund Host Families "It is rewarding to see the smile on our Fresh Air child's face as she enjoys the simple things we take for granted..." Friendly Town host families are volunteers who live in the suburbs or small town communities. Host families range in size and background, but share the desire to open their hearts and homes to give city children an experience they will never forget. Hosts say the Fresh Air experience is as enriching for their own families, as it is for the inner-city children. There are no financial requirements for hosting a child. Volunteers may request the age-group and gender of the Fresh Air youngster they would like to host. Stories about real Fresh Air host families and their New York City visitors are just a click away! Click here to learn more about becoming a host or call (800) 367-0003!

Brasil Carnaval in San Diego... 4th and B!

18th Annual SAN DIEGO BRAZIL CARNIVAL Sat Feb 13th, 2010 @ 4th & B, Downtown San Diego Doors Open at 7pm - Show from 8pm-2am. This spectacular Brazilian Mardi Gras Ball will feature the Stunning Brazilian Singer Dandara, Beautiful & Sexy Samba Dancers, Electrifying Capoeira Performances, and Nonstop Brazilian Music. There will be fun, feathers, fantasy and much, much more... So come have the time of your life at one of the best Brazilian Carnivals on the West Coast! Enter into a Free Raffle to Win a Round Trip to Brazil!! Courtesy of Copa Airlines. Free Entry to Win 1 of 50 Free Tax Return Preparations! Courtesy of Liberty Tax Service. EVENT GUARANTEED TO SELL OUT! GET YOUR DISCOUNTED TICKETS NOW @ BRAZILCARNIVAL.COM - Info: (619)224-4684 VIP Reserved Seating: Contact Brittany @ 619.850.6349 - brittany_cook@hotmail.com Tickets Also Available at Açai Boutique - 1570 Garnet Ave.

Where:

4th&B San Diego, 345 B St. San Diego, CA 92101 8pm – 12am 21 & up

How to help Haiti

Everything and anything will help at this point... Helping gives us a sense of hope and unity, even when we are not there physically to provide support. I know that Haiti really needs our help, NOW more than ever before. Natural disasters of this magnitude bring strife and suffering to people, but it can also serve to unite them and make them stronger. I cannot imagine at any level what the people of Haiti are suffering which such a level of loss of friends, family and loved ones- their homes, their city, their everything. Please put yourselves in their places for a few moments, just to imagine what you would be feeling if you were there, one of them... and losing everything in just a moment' time. I can't really imagine that, I've never gone through something that horrible. But, seeing the pictures on tv and blogs makes me terribly sad and puts a whole in my heart...

I want to help, as you all want to help... but we might not know who to give our money to... because we want it to go to the people, and to insure it gets to where it needs to go.. and isn't put into someone's pocket or spent on something else.

Pedro, from Pedro's Island posted something incredible about Haiti and it's people in this disaster time and if you go to his website HERE, you will find a variety of organizations to donate money to for help... Here is the post in French... HERE

I implore you, to find it in your hearts, to offer help in any way you can.. whether it's by giving money, praying, contacting people you know who can help, going there and helping.. whatever it takes... We can all help and ease the pain/suffering if we work together!