Every Monday I post a way that you can make a difference in a minute or less, ranging from free to no more than $20. Some of the tips are going to be things you have heard of, but hopefully more often than not it is something new!
MDM Tip #53: If you don’t have any wrapping paper, use the Sunday comics, magazines, or even the weekly ads. Hopefully the recipient will put the paper to the recycle bin afterwards 
Every Monday I post a way that you can make a difference in a minute or less, ranging from free to no more than $20. Some of the tips are going to be things you have heard of, but hopefully more often than not it is something new!
MDM Tip #52: Wash dry clean only clothing yourself (yes, it’s possible). Not only is it nearly impossible for a dry cleaning business to be truly “green,” it’s cheaper to do it at home! Check out this article on dry cleaning alternatives for specific instructions!
Every Monday I post a way that you can make a difference in a minute or less, ranging from free to no more than $20. Some of the tips are going to be things you have heard of, but hopefully more often than not it is something new!
MDM Tip #51: Support someone’s Kickstarter project. Kickstarter is a website that allows people to raise money for creative projects – documentaries, music, art, awesome rain boots…
This past week I visited Denver to find a place to live, but also to attend a Voluntourism Conference put on by Voluntourism Gal. The conference was great – I learned a lot, met some great people, and have some things to follow up on when I move out there 
There really was an atmosphere of “these people really want to make a difference in the world” and I was so excited that I was able to be there. There were three non-profits in particular that I wanted to share them with you!
Daniela Papi, Founder of PEPY Tours, gave a presentation about Orphanage Tourism that really opened my eyes. Cambodia has a soft spot in my heart because it was my first solo trip abroad and I met some amazing people there. Yes, I volunteered at an orphanage, too. I was really shaken when Daniela told us that nearly 80% of kids in orphanages have at least one parent, and kids are sometimes bought from their families so that the orphanages have cute kids for people to come see. Wow.
I think the PEPY website can describe themselves better than I can,
We arrived in Cambodia in 2005 with a lot of enthusiasm, but also a lot of naïve and incorrect ideas. We thought we could help people by giving them things that they needed and improve education by building schools. We came to a new place we knew very little about with our own ideas about education and change. We have since realized that schools don’t teach kids, people do; things don’t change lives, people knowing how to use them or make them does; and that we had not arrived to teach, but instead to learn and support the development of those who have the capacity to teach, even long after we leave.
PEPY Tours offer cycling tours and learning/experiential tours. Their website is also a great volutourism resource.
International Mountain Biking Association
I was lucky enough to sit next to Wendy Kerr from IMBA and got to hear a lot about the organization and it’s plans for the future. When I got home and checked out the site I realized that Wendy was totally right – the site is an awesome resource for mountain bikers. They just launched their Destinations Program to assist bikers with travel planning and finding the most “epic” biking trails around the world. If you are a mountain biker, this is an organization that you should definitely consider joining.
Edge of Seven is run by two awesome ladies, Erin Guttenplan and Emily Stanley, and is all about connecting volunteers with projects and grassroots organizations who are “making tremendous strides to empower girls and alleviate poverty in developing countries.” Someone from Edge of Seven has personally checked out each group that they support.
Besides the website being really well-done, I found this page particularly interesting – Why Girls? Because investing in girls in developing countries is one of the strategies towards ending global poverty. If you want to learn more, check out my post on the Girl Effect.
Photo Credit: Liz Grace on Flickr
I signed my formal offer this week, and we found and put down a deposit on an apartment, making it completely, 100% official – we are moving to Denver! I’m still going to be teaching Preschool Special Ed. and freelance writing, just no longer in Southern California. After living in SoCal for the past 6 years, it will be hard to say goodbye. I feel like those 6 years were some of the most important of my life, and I am positive that I would not be the person I am today if we had stayed on the east coast. The experiences, the people, and the opportunities have changed my life forever.
And I keep thinking about the caterpillars.
Every year I plan on having caterpillars in my classroom in the spring so that we can watch them grow and turn into beautiful butterflies that we will eventually set free. This year was the first year we actually had caterpillars and as the move to Denver is coming closer, I keep thinking about the butterflies and that
if the caterpillar wanted to stay a caterpillar and never changed into a butterfly, he would have never learned to fly.
A lot of people are afraid to fly, afraid of change, and I’m not going to pretend that I’m not nervous about the move, but it’s time.
Time for change. Time to grow.
Every Monday I post a way that you can make a difference in a minute or less, ranging from free to no more than $20. Some of the tips are going to be things you have heard of, but hopefully more often than not it is something new!
MDM Tip #49: Write someone a letter or send them a card. Every once in awhile one of my best friends will send me a random card, and it definitely makes my day!
On my recent trip to Alaska, I stayed overnight at Kenai Fjords Glacier Lodge, which is a 2.5 hour boat ride out of Seward. We saw tons of wildlife on the way there and the way back was no different.
One of the highlights was seeing a couple Fin Whales, which our boat captain told us that they only see a couple times a season. Another highlight was these Dall’s porpoises, who were really psyched about our boat being there!
Dall’s Porpoises from Abbie Mood on Vimeo.
Every Monday I post a way that you can make a difference in a minute or less, ranging from free to no more than $20. Some of the tips are going to be things you have heard of, but hopefully more often than not it is something new!
MDM Tip #48: Hold the door open for someone. Besides being polite, this simple action might make someone’s day
In case you didn’t see my tweets, FB status updates, or my recent post about Flowers on the Big Island, I went to Hilo, Hawaii a couple weeks ago. It was a sponsored trip (thanks to Irondog PR & the Big Island Visitors Bureau) and I absolutely loved it (for real, they didn’t have to twist my arm to say that)! I’m actually trying to plan when I can go back, and the new non-stop from LA to Hilo is making it tempting (Attn LA folks – I have found that most flights over the next couple months are less that $400 R/T!)…
I’m just going to say that the notion of visiting Hawaii hadn’t really occurred to me until a few months ago. I imagined Hawaii as white sand beaches full of tourists and lots of shopping, and while I don’t mind hanging out at the beach for a little while, I’m not really one to go on a “beach vacation.” I’d much rather go out and do something.
Then Hawaii started showing up on my radar in random places, and I think that buying my ukulele really sealed the deal. When Jessica from Irondog PR started telling me about the Big Island, and how Hilo in particular is different from the other cities, I was in. The day after the school year ended, I landed in Hilo and was cruising down Kamehameha Avenue.
So what did I love about Hilo?
There’s something for backpackers and for B&Bers
The Hilo Hostel is in the middle of downtown, with great access to the restaurants and the bay. Arnott’s Lodge is a couple miles out, but they have shared room accomodations, private rooms, and space for camping if you want to bring a tent. Arnott’s also provides tours and adventure activities, and you get a discount on a tour if you are staying there.
I had never stayed in a B&B before, but was fortunate enough to stay in both the Shipman House (which a couple minutes from downtown and is like staying in a museum) and Hale Kai Hawaii (a few minutes drive out of downtown, but definitely worth it – Maria makes things like Macademia Nut cinnamon rolls for breakfast!), and I’m now officially a fan of B&Bs.
View from Hale Kai B&B
Closer to major sites
The main “attractions” on the Big Island are the Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park and stargazing on Mauna Kea, a volcano with a peak at 13,796 feet and an international telescope observation site. From Hilo, the park is about a 45-60 minutes drive, and Mauna Kea is about 60-90 minutes. If you were coming from the west side (the Kona area), it would take much longer.
The east side is also the wetter, rainforest side, so there are waterfalls and jungle everywhere!
Boiling Pots State Park
No white sand beaches
There are sandy beaches on the Kona side, but the Hilo side is mostly black volcanic rock or black sand beaches (which I think is really cool). The black sand comes from the volcanic rock and feels like coffee grinds.
A black sand beach near Hilo
Even though there aren’t the sandy beaches that many people think of when someone says “Hawaii,” the Queen Liliuokalani Gardens on Banyan Drive along the bay make for a relaxing day nonetheless.
There is a green sand beach down at the south point, but it was super windy when I drove down there and conditions can get dangerous.
Few tourists
There were times when I felt like I was the only tourist in town, walking around taking photos of everything. But I think that’s a good thing.
Awesome Farmer’s Market
While the Hilo Farmer’s Market is open on both Wednesdays and Saturdays, the big day is Saturday. It’s a great place to pick up a souvenir (like beach glass jewelry or Hilo coffee), or get some fresh coconut water. Be aware that some of the stuff is imported in, so check it out carefully.
I could go on and on about why I want to go back, but I have to save some of the good stuff for more posts (like my first Kava experience). Until then, I recommend you book your plane tickets.
Make a Difference in a Minute (or less)!
Every Monday I post a way that you can make a difference in a minute or less, ranging from free to no more than $20. Some of the tips are going to be things you have heard of, but hopefully more often than not it is something new!
MDM Tip #50: Comment on a blog that you have been
lurkingreading for awhile. While it nice to track the stats with Google feedburner or analytics, it’s always nice to hear from the people behind the statistics.Also, Happy 4th of July to everyone in the U.S.!