Costa Rica

I warmly welcomed 2012 from Playa Avellanas in Costa Rica. I’ve been to some pretty incredible New Years Eve parties, but skinny dipping in the bioluminescent ocean at midnight while fireworks exploded overhead now tops my list.

Destinations: San Jose, Tamarindo, Playa Avellanas, Nosara, Montezuma, Tortuga Island, Monteverde

Sundance Film Festival, Park City, Utah, USA

Shortly after returning from Costa Rica, I flew out to snow-kissed Park City for the famed Sundance Film Festival. I spent a week bartending for Grey Goose and attending the star-studded parties. It was an incredible experience and I am excited for the opportunity to go again in 2013. I’ll be heading there in just a couple of weeks!

Exploring my own Backyard

I took some time to adventure out and play tourist in my community. I visited Balboa Park and the museums in San Diego and, in true Disney kid spirit, I visited the Happiest Place on Earth. I’ve had a season pass to Disneyland since I was a kid and it’s a special family tradition that I hold dear.

San Francisco, California

My friend Brita and I decided to drive up the coast of California to spend a food-filled weekend in San Francisco. I ate my way through the city tasting Dim Sum, fresh crab, oysters and organic Mexican food. San Fran never disappoints!

Adopt-A-Block, Los Angeles, California

I was thankful to be introduced to the Dream Center and Adopt-A-Block. These incredible organizations dedicate their time to the underprivileged communities throughout Los Angeles. I volunteered for a day helping with a BBQ and had a wonderful time playing with the kids.

Bolivia

The entire month of March I spent traveling around Bolivia with a fellow blogger, Gareth. We had collaborated on fundraising over $2,500 for Biblioworks, an organization that helps promote literacy in Bolivia. Along with helping Biblioworks, we cycled the world’s deadliest road and took a 4×4 tour to the world’s largets salt flats. Bolivia has become one of my favorite destinations in all of my travels.

Destinations: La Paz, Cochabamba, Sucre, Morado K’asa, Potosi, Tupiza, Uyuni

Coachella Music Festival

My favorite weekend of the year! The Coachella Music Festival is a massive gathering of music, art and parties. I’ve gone the past two years and will hopefully be in the USA to go in 2013!

The Dalia Lama on “Compassion Without Borders”

One of the most inspiring moments of the year was hearing the Dalai Lama speak at my Alma Mater in San Diego, California. He addressed world issues and broke down the philosophy of Buddhism (all while sporting a San Diego Sate baseball cap).

Las Vegas

Sin City never gets old and, being that it’s a short drive from my hometown, it has become a home-away-from-home for me. Every year me and my girlfriends take a weekend trip there and hit the pool parties and nightclubs.

New York

I flew out for a week long visit to The Big Apple for the Blogworld conference. I caught up with old friends, made some new friends and learned a lot about the business of blogging. I also ventured out into Brooklyn for the first time and visited the iconic Luna Park on Coney Island.

Birthday Kayaking

I celebrated my birthday in San Diego this year and went kayaking in La Jolla Coves with my girlfriends. Unconventional and adventurous… just my style!

Keystone, Colorado, USA

Shortly after returning from New York, I flew out to Colorado for the TBEX Travel Blog Exchange. (SO much to learn!) I met a ton of fellow travel bloggers and, yet again, learned a lot about the travel industry and blogging. The natural beauty of Colorado is incredible and I hope to plan a snowboarding trip there soon. Business and pleasure are a beautiful mix!

The San Diego County Fair

A summer in San Diego is unbeatable. We have the best weather and beautiful beaches! A summer here wouldn’t be complete without a visit to the San Diego county fair. Fried food, fun rides and micro-brew beer! Oh my!

The Running of the Bulls, Pamplona, Spain

I spent a couple nights in Madrid before taking the train to Pamplona for the San Fermin Festival in Pamplona, Spain. I was so excited to partake in the celebrations of the famous Running of the Bulls. It was crazy, messy and an incredible experience!

Destinations: Madrid and Pamplona

Greece

I flew from Madrid, Spain to Mykonos, Greece for a full-on week of partying. I totally underestimated how hard Mykonos likes to party! After a week of beautiful beaches in Mykonos, I spent three days exploring the Roman ruins of Athens including the ancient Acropolis.

Destinations: Mykonos and Athens

Rome, Italy

I only spent one night in Rome while on a layover between Greece and Croatia, but there are few cities more beautiful than Rome at night. I got a special tour of an incredible gluten-free restaurant in Rome too. Who knew there were gluten-free options in the carb-tastic capital of the world?!

Croatia and The Yacht Week

I flew into Split, Croatia and after drowning my iPhone at Krka National Park, I set sail with The Yacht Week. We sailed the south islands of Croatia for an entire week. It was one of the best weeks of my life. So amazing, in fact, that I’m setting sail with them again in the British Virgin Islands this March!

Destinations: Split, Krka National Park, Trogir, Hvar, Šibenik, Vis, Solta Island

The Canary Islands

After two weeks in Greece and Croatia, I was excited to do a whole lot of nothing in Fuerteventura in the Canary Islands. I spent my time in Fuerteventura soaking up the sun on the beautiful beaches and even had the opportunity to watch the World Cup for Kiteboarding and Windsurfing.

Destinations: Fuerteventura and Isla de Lobos

Belgium

My time in Belgium pretty much revolved around beer and food. I have found Belgium to now be one of my favorite countries in all of Europe. I tasted the beautiful beers of Belgium, ate my weight in frites and took in the beautiful sights of the romantic Belgian cities.

Destinations: Brussels, Bruges, Ghent

The Netherlands

I took a train from Brussels to to Amsterdam. I have yet to write about my experience in Amsterdam, but I’m not a fan. Yes, I said it. I just don’t get the appeal of the city. Admittedly, the Heineken Experience and the House of Bols tour were incredible. I also had a great time cycling through Northern Amsterdam far away from the tourist saturated city.

Volunteering for the Paralympic Games, London

This is another experience I have yet to write about because every time I start to write I become overwhelmed with emotion. Very few experiences have touched my heart quite like volunteering for Team USA with the Paralympics. I hope I’ll have the opportunity again in Brazil!

Portugal

I absolutely LOVE Portugal. The people are friendly, the food is delicious and, of course, the wine is to die for. I got to spend a good amount of time exploring a few cities in Portugal and can’t wait to return.

Destinations: Lisbon, Porto, Braga

Spain

I went back to my favorite country in Europe to explore the region of Catalonia for the very first time. After spending a week in Barcelona I headed to Girona for another TBEX Travel Blog Exchange. I met up with some familiar faces of travel blogging and had an incredible experience traveling through Costa Brava.

Destinations: Barcelona, Girona, the Pyrenees, Figueres, Cadaques

Andorra

Never heard of this European country? It’s a teeny tiny country that lies on the border of France and Spain. On a two day road-trip, my friends Larissa, Casey and Ian and I crossed over into Andorra. Aside from its novelty as a country no bigger than a shopping mall, we ran out of things to do in a few short hours.

Oktoberfest in San Francisco

I returned home after three months in Europe and flew up to San Francisco the very next weekend. I clearly can’t sit still. I spent the weekend visiting friends and family and went to an Oktoberfest celebration.

Jordan

I was beyond thrilled for the opportunity to go to the Middle East for the first time as a guest of the Tourism Board of Jordan. I spent four days in the capital city of Amman filming YouTube videos for Visit Jordan’s, “99 Things to Do in Amman.” I spent the rest of my time exploring the popular tourist destinations of the country. I absolutely fell in love with this country and Jordan now has a very special place in my heart.

Destinations: Amman, Jerash, the Dead Sea, Aqaba, Petra, Wadi Rum desert

Dubai

I flew into Dubai from Jordan and had an incredible time visiting one of the most interesting countries I’ve ever been to. I was surrounded by luxury and everywhere I turned there was something breaking a world record as the largest or biggest this or that in the world.

Annnnnnnd, that’s a wrap!

I think it goes without saying that the past year has been non-stop and full of adventure. I am excited about what 2013 holds and could not be more thankful for the growing support of my blog. Thank you everyone for joining in on the fun and stay tuned.

Adventure Coming Soon

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2012: A Year of Travel in Review is a post from: The Blonde Abroad

I had always dreamed of admiring the beautifully decorated windows of 5th Avenue, ice skating in Central Park, tasting the roasted chestnuts of a street vender and feeling the cold kiss of a snowflake while standing in Times Square.

One of the beautifully decorated window displays

My best friend and I were in our last year of college so, as with most “struggling students,” we had no idea how we could possibly afford a trip to New York, especially at Christmas. We planned well ahead of time and made two money-saving decisions; we booked our flights months in advance and decided to get a discount city pass.

I’m not a fan of sightseeing tours and typically prefer to get lost in a city in order to discover its charm. But, for a first time trip to NY during the holidays, I highly recommend consider getting a discount pass. Especially if you plan on doing a lot of sightseeing. We had a blast being tourists and went to almost every famous attraction in the city!

Now, let’s break-down the discount cards!

• New York CityPass: If you only want to see the main sites or only have 1-2 days to sightsee, I recommend getting the New York CityPass. It’s $89 and grants you admission to 6 must-see attractions like the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Empire State Building Observatory.

• The New York Pass: If you are a super-sightsee-er like me and have a week to explore the Big Apple, I recommend The New York Pass. The 3-day and 7-day passes provide some great savings. The pass grants you entry to over 70 attractions around New York. In order for this pass to actually you money, you’ve gotta put it to work! Which is exactly what we did. We got the three day pass with a discount for $150 and planned ahead for our week long stay. 

Be sure to keep your eye out for discounts on these cards!

Day 1 in New York

The Museum of Sex

(Free with pass. Normal Entry Price: Adult: $17.50) 

I think it goes without saying that the Museum of Sex is for mature audiences only. “The mission of the Museum of Sex is to preserve and present the history, evolution and cultural significance of human sexuality.” Definitely one of the most unique museums I’ve ever been to!

Open Sunday – Thursday: 10am–8pm Friday & Saturday: 10am–9pm

The Empire State Building Observation Deck

(Free with pass. Normal Entry Price: Adult: $25)

Head up to the 86th floor of the Empire State Building for an incredible view of the city. It gets really windy up there so be sure to dress warm if you’re there during the holidays!

Open from 8:00am to 2:00am daily

Ride a Bike through Central Park

(3-hour bike rental free with pass)

Take a ride through the snow-kissed sidewalks of Central Park. Central Park is  2.5 miles long by o.5 miles wide. It is absolutely huge! Go ice skating, hop a horse drawn carriage or simply take in your surroundings from a park bench.

Christmas Shopping at Macy’s

Put on your helmet and visit the World’s Largest Store. Macy’s Herald Square is absolutely packed during the holidays, but a trip to New York just wouldn’t be complete without a visit to this iconic store. Built in 1902, this store offers history and great shopping!

151 West 34th Street, New York, NY 10001

The Rink at Rockefeller Center

($25 session + $10 skate rental)

This activity is not exactly budget friendly. We skipped the skating, grabbed a coffee and did some people watching. The Rockefeller Christmas tree and the ice rink make the whole setting absolutely magical.

Open from 7:00am to midnight daily

Top of the Rock

(Free with pass. Normal Entry Price: Adult: $25)

Visiting the top of Rockefeller Center was also one of my favorite things I did while on my trip. The view from the top was absolutely breathtaking. There are three levels of viewing from the top that offer 360-degree views of the city. You can even spot The Empire State building lit up in red and green holiday spirit.

Open daily from 8am to 12 midnight

Day 2 in New York

The Statue of Liberty Harbor Ferry

(Free with pass. Normal Price: Adult: $17)

There’s no better way to view the Statue of Liberty than from a ferry. The ferry takes you through the harbor giving you an audio tour of the history of the Statue of Liberty. You can hop off on the famous Ellis Island where Lady Liberty is located and visit the Ellis Island Immigration Museum. (Note: Ellis Island is currently closed due to the devastation of Hurricane Sandy)

Ferry boat sailings: Daily: 9:00am – 3:30pm.

Ellis Island Immigration Museum

(Free)

Take the ferry over to visit “America’s Golden Door” that welcomed millions of immigrants in search of a better life. “Four in 10 Americans can trace their ancestry back to Ellis Island, which between 1892 and 1954 processed more than 12 million new immigrants.” Come to learn about the history of the American Dream. The view of the Manhattan skyline from Ellis Island is also fantastic. (Note: Ellis Island is currently closed due to the devastation of Hurricane Sandy)

Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island Daily: 9:30am – 4:30pm

9/11 Memorial and Tribute Center

(Free with pass. 9/11 Memorial: free. Normal Entry Price to Tribute Center: Adult: $15)

Be sure to reserve your free pass to the 9/11 Memorial before your plan your visit to New York. Pay tribute to the remembrance and honor of the men, women, and children killed in the attacks of September 11, 2001.

 9/11 Memorial open daily 10:00am – 6:00pm

Tribute Center open Monday - Saturday 10am – 6pm Sunday 10am – 5pm

Stroll Lower Manhattan

(Free-tivities)

Be sure to explore lower-Manhattan and see the famous bull statue of Wall Street. Also, be sure to visit the Trinity Churchyard and famous gravestones.

Snack from a Street Vender

A trip to New York would not be complete without visiting a street vender. Grab a hotdog or freshly roasted chestnuts while you’re strolling the streets of Manhattan. (You may even run into Santa!)

Radio City Christmas Spectacular

(Tickets from $40+)

The Rockettes holiday show was one of the most exciting things I got to see in New York during Christmas. The show itself is phenomenal and really gets you in the holiday spirit! Save money on tickets by getting same day tickets through a discount broadway show ticket website. You can also find many of these discount ticket sellers around the city.

Day 3 in New York

Food on Foot Tour

(Free with pass. Normal Entry Price: Adult: $49)

The best way to experience New York culture is through food! We went on the World Famous Sweet Tooth Tour which let us all over Manhattan tasting some of the most delicious treats around. The tour guide is fantastic and you learn a lot about some historical food spots around the city. Be sure to book in advance to reserve your spot! Also, the food is not included but they’re small treats. We split each treat and only spent an additional $10 on the tour)

Visit website for times and reservations

Grand Central Station

(Free-tivies)

Be sure to stop in the beautiful Grand Central Station while you’re taking the subway around Manhattan. It is the largest train station in the world by number of platforms.

NBC Studio Tour

(Free with pass. Normal Entry Price: Adult: $24)

This is a fun tour where you will have the opportunity visit famous NBC studios like Saturday Night Live. Be sure to book in advance. It is really popular!

Mon-Thurs 8:30am-5:30pm, Fri-Sat 8:30am-6:30pm, Sun 9:15am-4:30pm.

American Museum of Natural History

(Free with pass. Suggested admission $19)

I am obsessed with museums. Travel through time and come face-to-face with dinosaurs and learn about the native fauna and flora of different regions of the USA. Be sure to download the Explorer iPhone app to help you find your way around the museum.

Open daily from 10am – 5:45pm

The MET Metropolitan Museum of Art

(Free with pass. Suggested admission $25)

The MET is New York’s most-visited attraction. Check out world-famous collections from around the globe. It’s easy to spend the entire day here with over two million works of art spanning 5,000 years of culture.

Friday & Saturday: 9:30am – 9pm Sunday, Tuesday–Thursday: 9:30am – 5:30pm Closed: Mondays

Times Square

Last but not least, be sure to visit Times Square at least once during the day and once at night. Your senses will be overwhelmed but the sights and smells of this famous square. Times Square is also famous for its New Years Eve celebration.

Other recommended attractions:

Madame Tussauds

(Free with pass. Normal Entry Price: Adult: $36.00)

Madame Tussauds, the world-famous wax attraction, is located in the heart of Times Square. See if you can fool your friends with a photo with one of over 225 incredibly life-like wax stars and icons.

Monday through Thursday: 10:00am – 8:00pm Fridays, Saturdays 10:00am – 10:00pm

Harry Potter™: The Exhibit at Discovery Times Square

(Free with pass. Normal Entry Price: Adult: $25.00)

For all your fellow Harry Potter fans, don’t miss this exhibit! The exhibit has props and costumes displayed in elaborate settings inspired by the films’ sets, including the Gryffindor™ common room, Hagrid’s hut, and the Great Hall. This is a temporary exhibit for this year’s holiday season.

Monday – Sunday: 10:00am – 8:00pm

Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum

(Free with pass. Normal Entry Price: Adult: $22.00)

This museum is a work of art in itself! “You’ll see masterpieces by such noted artists as Chagall, Kandinsky, Picasso, and van Gogh.” It’s one of my favorite museums in the entire world!

Sunday-Wednesday: 10:00am–5:45pm Thursday: CLOSED Friday: 10:00am–5:45pm Saturday: 10:00am–7:45pm

See the full list of 70+ activities included with The New York Pass >>

***

So as you can see, there’s never a dull moment in the City that Never Sleeps! It’s definitely possible to do New York on a budget without the discount card, which is why I included the adult entry price.

Budget your trip out ahead of time, book activities in advance and have a very merry Christmas and a happy New Year!

Christmas in New York on a Budget is a post from: The Blonde Abroad

Ever since I was a little girl I would take a trip to the San Diego County Fair (or as locals call it- The Del Mar Fair) every summer. There’s something about being at the fair in the summertime that is so nostalgic! The smell of fried food and BBQ smoke fills the air and all around you people are smiling and laughing. I haven’t been home for a summer in almost four years and I was SO excited to get my fix of fair food and carnival rides! I figured the best way to share the experience of the fair was through a funny video and my iPhone fauxtography. Enjoy!

Fried food I found at the fair that I didn’t know I could fry in the first place (say that 5 times fast):

• Fried Kool-Aid
• Fried Cereal
• Fried Frog Legs
• Fried Klondike Bars
• Fried PB & J Sandwiches
• Fried Twinkies
• Fried Snickers

Things to do at the fair:

• Eat until you feel sick
• Spin around on rides until you feel sick
• Visit the animals (wash your hands afterwards to avoid getting sick)
• Shop until you drop for slicers, blenders, mops and magnets
• Go see a concert or performance (check their website for the Fair Entertainment Schedule)
• Get hypnotized or watch a mini-pig race
• Visit the Exhibit Halls for photography & fine art

Photos edited with Filter Mania iPhone App

Visit the San Diego County Fair website for more information: The San Diego County Fair

The San Diego County Fair is a post from: The Blonde Abroad

Delicious food, fun rides and perfect weather

are just some of the reasons why

the San Diego County Fair is one of my favorite

places to go over summer!

VIDEO: The San Diego County Fair is a post from: The Blonde Abroad

I can’t remember the last birthday I had that didn’t include cake and a big party. This year for my birthday I wanted to do something a little different. A San Diego stay-cation! Nothing beats Summertime in San Diego between the beautiful beaches and countless outdoor activities. So, I rounded up my girlfriends for a fun filled day at the La Jolla Coves.

It’s my birthday I’ll go kayaking if I want to!

None of us had ever been kayaking at the famous La Jolla Coves. Isn’t that always the case? Never exploring your own backyard? Well not this time! The guys at OEX Dive & Kayak organized a kayak tour complete with cave “sort-of” spelunking and snorkeling.  Growing up in California I’m accustomed to wetsuits, but for those of you who aren’t fortunate to live by the deep blue sea, they are TIGHT! After wiggling ourselves into the sealskin-like jumpsuits we made our way from the OEX office down to the shoreline.

The kayak crew!

We packed ourselves into three kayaks and paddled our way out to the coves. During certain times of the year you can see all kinds of sealife including dolphins, leopard sharks, Garibaldi fish and sea lions! We were lucky enough to see a sea lion and her baby just outside one of the caves and tons of the big orange Garibaldi under the water.

We love OEX!

The whole experience was awesome and I can’t wait to go again! OEX has locations in La Jolla, Mission Beach and Sunset Beach and offers scuba diving, kayaking, stand up paddle boarding and plenty of fishing options. Next visit: I’m getting OEX Scuba certified!

Be sure to visit their website for more information! OEX Dive & Kayak

Kayaking at the La Jolla Coves is a post from: The Blonde Abroad

Me and my girlfriends took a kayak/snorkel tour with

OEX Kayak & Dive in La Jolla, California.

Needless to say we had a blast and can’t wait to go again!

VIDEO: Kayaking at La Jolla Coves, California is a post from: The Blonde Abroad

The Eco Mud Run Tour came to San Diego, Orange County and Los Angeles offering people the opportunity to get a kick start on their summer slim down and splash around with hundreds of other people in a course of muddy obstacles. While running a half-marathon is on my bucket-list, I’m more interested in a friendly and fun approach to competitive racing. I’m not the strongest runner and could probably polish off a 6-pack of beer faster than I could run a 5k. So my friend Rachel and I signed up and got ready to get down and dirty!

The event was described as a 4-mile Mud Run course, including 24 obstacles, and was designed to test our running, wading, jumping, climbing and balance skills. Upon arrival we were surrounded by hundreds of people… all dressed up in crazy costumes! Apparently we didn’t get the memo! Mud Runs are known for their fun and party-like atmosphere and runners are encouraged to dress up. So disappointed I missed an opportunity for a costume! Next time!

Most people were also formed in teams. We spotted a group of men in pink tutus, a bride with her bridesmaids and an entire group of urban snorkelers! I guess we should have done a bit more research before the race. Anyways, the race started slowly (thank goodness). With so many people, and so many obstacles, we actually didn’t run much at all. In fact, I’d say we laughed way more than we ran!

As soon as you reached an obstacle, you were challenged to either wade through muddy water, climb over barrier walls, or jump through tires. By the time we would reach a straightaway we were so drenched in mud and our shoes were so water-logged we could barely keep a jogging pace. The random obstacles kept on coming complete with beach balls and a slip-and-slide and even MORE mud!

We finished the race and didn’t care in the slightest what our time or rank was among the masses. We had SO much fun and I can’t wait to do it again! If you’re a competitive runner this might not be your race unless you can take it for what it is and have a little fun. So if you’re not afraid to get your hands dirty and enjoy getting outside and having a LOT of fun… this is for you! Happy Mud Running!

Here are some links to Fun Mud Runs!:

Tried and True: The Original Mud Run
For the brave: USMC Mud Run
In my Hometown: Temecula Mud Run

Eco Mud Run is a post from: The Blonde Abroad

I’m excited to announce that I’m joining the circus! Just kidding. While a life on the road is nothing new for me, I’m not the best suited for an aerobatic profession!

You want me to swing from that?!

As you may already know, my fear of heights is something I’m constantly challenged to overcome. I skydived over Lake Wanaka in New Zealand, jumped off waterfalls in Thailand and swung on a giant Tarzan Swing in Costa Rica. Each of these activities, while exciting for an adrenaline junkie, top my list of things that test my will and terrify me beyond words.

The fear is written all over my face

While home in Southern California, a friend of mine asked if I’d be interested in going to a flying trapeze class with her. Being the “yes” woman that I am I was totally in and so excited for the opportunity to try something new! We booked our class and met up the next day on the Santa Monica Pier in Los Angeles.

The incredible view from the trapeze

The TSNY school is literally on the Santa Monica Pier and surrounded by food venders, carnival rides and sits high above the beautiful pacific ocean. After we arrived, we were grouped together as novice acrobats and introduced to our very talented and handsome instructor who would be introducing us to the flying trapeze. We got a brief rundown on the “do’s” and “don’t even think about it’s” of the flying trapeze before our first flight.

Getting ready to let go!

The fear within me hadn’t set in while my feet were still firmly planted on the planks of the wooden pier, but once it was my turn to climb the ladder to the the ledge of the trapeze, my stomach sank. I was safely strapped into a harness and I knew there was absolutely no danger in what I was doing, but my fear of heights had turned me into a marble statue. I knew I wasn’t about to grab onto the bar and swing out without some serious persuasion.

Weeee!

I always go through the same feelings of anxiety and fear whenever faced with heights. This particular activity might have taken the cake. I had to grab onto a bar and swing across the width of the pier relying solely on my upper body strength to ensure that I didn’t plummet down to the earth. While this is a serious dramatization it is exactly what went on inside my head.

Perfect form

My courage and ego finally conquered my fear and I grabbed on tight, closed my eyes and swung across the trapeze! After swinging back and forth a couple of times I finally opened my eyes, let go and fell slowly to the net below. I couldn’t believe I had been so nervous. It was so much fun! We were able to go a few more times so that we could get used to the feeling of swinging out, tucking our knees into our chest, then releasing our hands and swinging upside down by our knees.

Swing swing

The grand finale of the day was that we got to try a trapeze catch with our instructor! I swung out and got into the knee hang position that I had practiced before. Then, I swung out to meet hands with my instructor who was swinging upside down from the opposing trapeze bar! The ultimate test was that I had to put my trust in him as I released my legs from my own bar and swung out while being held entirely by my instructor!

I did NOT want to let go!

It was a crazy, exciting day of fun while overcoming my fear of heights, yet again! The opportunity to fly on a trapeze is such a unique experience and I highly recommend going to TSNY. They’re also located in New York, Washington DC, Boston and Chicago! I think next time I’ll try the aerial silks class and see how graceful I can be hanging from a cord of fabric!

Maybe I do have a future in the circus!

Flying Trapeze School is a post from: The Blonde Abroad

Chelsea Ravitch of Fresh Start Fitness

Most recently, I had joined forces with my friend Tourist 2 Townie and spent a month in Bolivia mixing time between travel and helping an organization called Biblioworks. We were working on raising almost $3,000 to fund the first ever book fair in Sucre, Bolivia. When I returned home, we still had money to raise, so I reached out to friends on Facebook. After getting several responses, my friend Chelsea and I decided to organize a fundraiser.

Scott "The Body" Simmons

Chelsea is an incredible personal trainer with her own company called Fresh Start Fitness. She came up with the idea of organizing a bootcamp for charity at her crossfit gym, Next Level Fitness, here in Southern California. She single handedly organized our Beach Bodies for Biblioworks bootcamp that would be sure to give everyone a bikini ready workout!

DJ Mike Starr

Chelsea and another trainer, Scott, came up with an intense workout that would kick off the summer slim down. Scott showed up in a full Richard Simmons outfit to get everyone in a fun mood to start the day. Chelsea and the other girls helping out, including myself, stripped down to our bikinis to get everyone motivated. We even had DJ Mike Starr volunteer his time to spin some amazing music for the bootcamp. With each $20 donation to Biblioworks, each participant got their workout and a raffle ticket. Chelsea went to local retailers and got tons of goodies to hold a full blown raffle at the end of the event. We sold additional raffle tickets for $5.

Beach Bodies for Biblioworks!

The room filled up quickly and soon everyone was sweating it out for charity! The workout was intense and worth every penny donated! Chelsea and Scott challenged everyone to push themselves and get motived. At the end of the bootcamp we had a little competition. Whoever could hold a plank the longest would get a prize donated by a local salon valued at $200! After over 7 MINUTES of planking someone prevailed and won the prize for his girlfriend. How sweet!

The event was a huge success! It was fun, everyone got a great workout, there were tons of awesome prizes and it was only an hour long. After counting the donations we raised over $500 for Biblioworks! So as you can see, it’s easier to organize a fundraiser than you might think.

Stick to some of these important factors for a successful fundraiser:

1. Keep it fun! (The MOST important)
2. If you ask for a set donation for participation keep it reasonable. The power of numbers is usually more successful.
3. Reach out for donations from local retailers to use as prizes and have a raffle. Everyone loves winning something and will usually donate more for the chance at leaving with a prize.
4. Fast and efficient! An all day fundraiser is great, but everyone’s time is valuable. A short fundraiser will usually draw a lot of people!

Check out the video of our event here for some “fun”spiration!

Beach Bodies for Biblioworks – A “Fun”draiser is a post from: The Blonde Abroad

Chelsea Ravtich of Fresh Start Fitness organized a Beach Bodies for Biblioworks fundraiser to raise money for charity. With our combined efforts (and bikini bods) the event was a huge success raising over $500 for Biblioworks. See how easy it is to get involved and give back!

Music: “Superafim” by CSS **I do not own the rights to this music**

VIDEO: How to “Fun”draise is a post from: The Blonde Abroad