A Mother/Teen Daughter Travel Blog
Not sure if it’s my Italian blood, but fine dining ranks right up there with breathing. Over the years, I’ve had significantly memorable experiences at many beautiful restaurants around the world, but there are only a handful that could be described as feeding more than just one’s appetite. Meson Sabika is one of those quintessential cuisines that is in a class all its own—an experience that feeds your soul.
Being a teen travel and life-style blogger is more than I could ever have dreamed of. Having the opportunities to travel all over the country and world have been such a blessing. I am grateful for each and every trip, journey, excursion and adventure.
But now it is time for me to give back. Since I began travel blogging with my mom, we have both said we want our purpose to be meaningful. At first we weren’t sure exactly what that looked like. Inspiring girls to travel and take risks seemed obvious at the time, and is still an aspiring goal. However, being an influencer, I feel there are more important jobs to be done. There are animals suffering, refugees ill and lost without homes, homeless people cold and alone, girls that cannot attend schools due to lack of hygienic products, schools that barely have resources for students to learn and the list unfortunately goes on and on. I have been asking myself for months, ‘What can I do to make a difference?’
And then fate took flight!
A few weeks ago my mom was contacted by another mom whose daughter follows Pedisnpassports. Her name is Gabi Frank, a 13-year-old girl from Downers Grove. She told me she has collected 2,000 books for children in the Caribbean through Pack for a Purpose and Sandals Foundation. I was so thrilled to hear about this noble charity and immediately wanted to partake.
Pack for a Purpose was founded by Rebecca Rothney and a team of a few wonderful volunteers. Their mission is “to positively impact communities around the world by assisting travelers who want to bring meaningful contributions to the destinations they visit.”
If you are planning a vacation, you should definitely go to their website and see if the community you are visiting is in need of any supplies. I mean what is better than going on an amazing vacation and helping people simultaneously.
Pack for a Purpose provides supply lists on its website for destinations in over 60 countries. The needed items range from school supplies, to personal hygiene, to clothing and all sorts of items (many other requested items). People all over the world are in need and if you are fortunate enough to travel, it is a humanitarian responsibility to give back.
So Gabi and I are asking for your help. We would like to collect 3,000 new and gently used books for children ages 3-6 years old for libraries in Jamaica. We cannot accept encyclopedias or textbooks.
If you are willing to donate a book or two, please email us at: pedis.n.passports@gmail.com or HLaw97@comcast.net as soon as you possibly can for shipping/drop off address informtion. We are planning to visit the students at their schools in Jamaica this fall.
Please spread the word and help make a difference one book at a time.
Sincerely,
Brooke Noelle
Something has changed within me; something is not the same…
Traveling to the American Southwest was so much more than superficially seeing the glory of a few National Parks. A deep and permanent metamorphosis occurred within each of us. Perhaps we now realize the tiny space that we occupy in the world or that nothing really belongs to us except the sky, the air, and our dreams.
Twist, pop, clink, swirl, sniff, sip, ahhhhh. My favorite routine and most tranquil time of the day–Wine O’Clock! This time has become a sacred nightly ritual. After working all day, running kids to all corners of the city, taking care of the dogs, pouring a glass of velvety goodness is a well-deserved treat. 
No matter where we travel, these five events occur with 100% certainty. Although we plan diligently, try to stay organized, and healthy, we’d bet all our international currencies these things will take place on our next trip.
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“How’s it going, Kristen?
“Fine thanks. Busy though!”
“Oh me too. Not enough hours in the day!”
We’ve all had similar conversations–the no rest for the weary saga. I’m probably the poster child for busy; I eat lunch in my classroom , trying to multitask on school work to desperately avoid bringing home more items to add to my one of eighty-five to do lists– for once I enter my abode, the pernicious and vast “lists” attack me at the front door like nefarious demons from the chore ridden underworld–laundry, dishes, dog walking, dog hair, dog treats (and I don’t mean milk bones), homework help, organizing schedules, booking appointments, paying bills, carpooling…it never ends. And for those wondering why the two teens that reside in our home aren’t helping, well they do, but they’re teens, so enough said.
Until a month ago, Brooke and I have never even heard of Le Meridien Hotels. Yes, we apparently live in some sort of abyssmal cave. Well, let the sunshine in because we have seen Le Meridien Light!
As a mom, teacher and traveler, my hair is probably tied back in a pony tail 23 hours a day. At school–sprinting from desk to desk assisting students; at home–chores galore, cooking, and endless errand running; on vacations–hiking, biking, exploring cities in the sweltering heat–unless you have a short hairstyle, your wrists have most likely been permanently imprinted by the notorious ugly black hair band we all know and wear too well.
But one has to ask: with so many beautiful bracelets and watches that we all love to sport, why do we ruin the look with nasty rubber bands?
Besides healthy eating and exercise, our amazing nutritionist, Diane Bubeck, recommended that Brooke and I focus more on mindful breathing. Since we already practice yoga and meditation, we honestly thought we had the breathing thing knocked. Little did we know, we are superficial breathers. (Not sure if we should take that as an insult or not) Anyway, to learn how to become deep breathers, we just finished this incredible book– Jumpstart Your Metabolism by author, Pam Grout.
Hands down, the number one question my Mom and I are constantly asked is “How do you guys have the time to run a successful travel blogging business? With me being a full-time student, a gymnast, a musician, having two crazy puppies, a hamster and a fish, along with the necessary social life of your typical fourteen-year-old, and my Mom, a full time elementary school teacher, running a private tutoring business and being a mother of three awesome kids:)) How can we possibly manage and grow Pedis N Passports???
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