Beauty Travel Essentials Giveaway Winner!

The great randomizer has been consulted and the winner of our fantastic Beauty Travel Essentials Giveaway is Sabrina! Thanks so much to Beauty Bets for hosting such a great giveaway.

And if you didn't win - never fear. I'm hoping to put together a few more giveaways featuring my favorite travel items before I take off for my big trip!

31 New Things: Watch Rocky

Despite all of my pop culture references here on Yes and Yes, there are huge, gaping holes in my knowledge of movies that were released before 1996. I spent the majority of my childhood building forts and writing overly involved stories about pioneer families, so if you reference The Princess Bride or The Goonies, I'll probably just stare at you blankly and try to steer the conversation in the direction of Jersey Shore.

So I began the long process of filling in these holes by watching Rocky. Did you know it won an Oscar?! All I knew about this movie was that at some point, Sylvester Stallone ran up some stairs in a gray sweat suit and pumped his hands in the air. Also, he yelled about his girlfriend at some point.

Not surprisingly, it's a good movie. And funny! At least I found it to be so. Is it supposed to be? It's interesting to see how much acting styles have changed and how different cinematography is. At times, it was hard to see the movie as anything other than a long string of one liners that I've heard referenced in pop culture for the last 20 years. "Yo, Adrian. It's me Rocky!" "OK, I'm gonna tell ya! You had the talent to become a good fighter, but instead of that, you become a legbreaker to some cheap, second rate loanshark!"

Have you seen Rocky? What 'classic' movies have you never seen?

Thoughts on Invention

by maira kalman

Real Life Style Icon: Casey's Elegant Musings

Casey is one of our bi-weekly Real Life Style Icons - gorgeous ladies who craft amazing outfits without breaking the bank.

Name: Casey
Age: 25
Location: Currently the beautiful Sunshine State (Florida)!
Online haunts: elegantmusings.com (blog) my flickr, my tumblr

Three reasons you're awesome:
I have to admit, I don't think I'm terribly awesome, but here's what I could scrape up!

1. My mom taught me to thrift at a very young age! So I've been hitting up the thrift stores since I was a young kid (age 7-ish?). I love doing it for the environmental aspect (recycling old clothes=yay!), and to stay within my clothing budget.

2. I live to be creative! Knitting, sewing, drawing, graphic design, interior decorating... I love incorporating creativity into my daily life.

3. Not directly me, but I feel blessed to have had some amazing family and friends who have encouraged me in my life! If that isn't awesome, I don't know what is!

How did you dress as a kid?

My nickname as a toddler was "Little Miss Fashion" if that gives you any idea! I loved and admired artsy/theatrical clothes as a kid, and had a definite sense of style (jean jackets and cool sunglasses!). But, unfortunately that got left behind for jeans and t-shirts as a pre-teen, and then pretty dowdy skirts and dresses as a shy teenager trying to just hide and not be noticed. I think, however, my best childhood fashion memories involved dressing up (poufy, polka dot dresses a la late 80s!)--I loved to dress up, even as a kid! Some things never change...

When did you become interested in fashion?
I can't remember a time I wasn't interested in fashion! Some of my earliest memories are of checking books out of the public library on fashion history--especially ones that were multi-decade, so I could look at as many pictures of various styles (and then copy them in my drawings). It just kind of wildly took off from there--I couldn't seem to find enough books to feed my interest! I'd say by the time I was in my early teens I knew for sure that fashion would be something I'd most likely be interested in the rest of my life.

Where do you find style inspiration?
Not to be horribly cliche, but everywhere! These days it's mainly the internet though. I used to read a lot of fashion/lifestyle magazines before I decided that I hated feeling like they catered to a demographic I wasn't and would never be. So I turned to blogs run by other gals who were creative, and gather most of my inspiration from there!

I especially love stylish gals who incorporate vintage and/or thrifted finds into their outfits. Old movies from the 1930s through early 60s are a constant source of ideas (lately I've been on an early 30s musicals and pre-code kick!). Looking at old photographs (I collect vintage snapshots I find at antique stores for inspiration) and vintage magazines is another source of feeding the inspiration stream.

I also love art, and even things like paintings/media design can give me ideas. I'm really visual (I learn best by seeing), so anything that has lots of images tends to get my interest and inspire me! Oh, and how could I ever not mention music? I listen to a wide variety of genres (right now Karen Elson's new album is on heavy rotation), and they really influence my mood, which in turn dictates what I choose style-wise for the day!

Where are your favorite places to shop?

Thrift stores, hands down. Sure, it's not as convenient as walking into a department store, but I like the thrill of the hunt and never knowing what treasure may cross my path! I tend to stick to small, local charity-run shops, as those tend to have the best stuff. I also adore (but can't afford) Anthropologie, which I visit at least once a month to drool over/covet the clothes and gather ideas for my own wardrobe and refashions! Do fabric stores count too? I spend an awful lot of time there!

Could you tell us your top three style tricks/DIYs?

1. A necklace can always make a great bracelet! I like to rethink how to use my jewelry, and this is one of my favorite ways to switch things up: I just wrap the necklace (usually something chunky or a chain) around my wrist and clip it, or use a brooch to secure the ends. Easy and free!

2. Dresses can make quick changes into a skirt with a little reworking. Dowdy dresses seem to breed on thrift store racks, but sometimes the fabric is too pretty to pass up! Those less than flattering (or just the wrong size) ones come home with me--particularly on 1/2 off days--and get remade into skirts. I just cut them off at the waistline, shorten the length, and use the leftover material to make a new waistband. Easy, cheap and a great way to recycle.

3. Belts are a wonderful thing to pull an outfit together. I have a rather large-ish collection of belts (again, mostly thrifted) that I constantly use to add cohesion to an outfit. Sometimes it just looks like an outfit "needs" something, and nine times out of ten, a belt does the trick! I keep a wide array of colors, widths and styles on hand to work a variety of looks.

Lovely! Any questions for Casey?

In Which I Prattle on About Writing Blogs and Ebooks

Don't I look exactly the same? Except I can't get my bangs into that awesome shape anymore.

Today two lovely ladies were sweet enough to ask me for my thoughts on blogger networking and how to write an ebook. I told Corrine at Frock and Roll about my networking strategies (which run along the lines of "Oh Em Gee, I heart you! Let's be friends!") and I told the always lovely Michelle at Might and Main about how I wrote my first ebook. (Hint, integral in the ebook writing process are snacks that you can eat with your non-mousing hand and a really good song to put behind your podcast!)

Giveaway! 6 Travel Beauty Essentials

If you read yesterday's post on traveling beauty essentials, you know that I take that business seriously. So I was super thrilled when my homegirl Elizabeth of Beauty Bets stepped up to the plate to sponsor a giveaway of these amazing travel-friendly products. What?! Yes. One reader will win this bag of gorgeous loot that will help you look fantastic across time zones and border crossings.


Between the TSA restrictions on your fave moisturizer, and the hostel bathroom you’ll be sharing 32 strangers, packing for a big adventure poses more of a challenge then learning a second language. What you need are a few compact multi-taskers to keep you looking fresh and worldly—even when you’ve been living out of backpack for days.

SuperGoop Sunscreen Swipes SPF 30 ($10)

The gold standard for serious sun protection, this water-resistant sunblock was already the jam. Now that it comes in handy-dandy wipes, I don’t have to leave home without it!

Laura Geller Shine and Shield SPF 15 Lip Gloss ($24 for 3)

Moisturizing like a balm, shiny like a gloss, and packed with sun protection, this tiny tube slips perfectly into the smallest pocket. is the only lip treat you’ll need.

Norwex Antibac Cloths ($17 for 3)

You won’t need a facial cleanser with one of these magical cloths. They exfoliate and removed dirt and makeup with just water, thanks to the extra-fine microfiber fabric and bacteria-destroying silver particles.

Vapour Organics Aura Radiant Blush Stick ($28)

Swipe this sweet stick on lips, cheeks, and even eyelids for an instant, lit-from-within glow. You’ll be amazed at how little makeup you need when you add a pop of color on your cheeks.

Red Flower Guaiac Organic Oil Perfume Roll-On ($48)

An exotic adventure calls for an equally exotic scent. This one is spicy, smoky, and citrusy all at once, but pure enough not to distract your travel companions. And the old-fashioned rollerball is so travel-friendly and romantic!

Aveda Pure Abundance Hair Potion ($23)

Dry shampoo is possibly the greatest beauty invention in the free world. The clay-based powder in this little bottle absorbs oil and adds volume when rubbed into your roots, allowing you to go an extra day or two without washing your hair.

How do you win these goodies? Visit Beautybets and then leave a comment below telling us your dream travel destination. For an extra entry, 'like' Beautybets on facebook and leave a separate comment. A winner will be chosen at random on Monday at 6pm.

Best of luck!
Got the travelbug?  Check out my ebooks and podcasts on making long-term travel a reality!  Only $15 forpetessake!

More Life Instructions

Wouldn't it be awesome to make laminated copies of this and hang it up in subways and public bathrooms?

The Traveling Fashionista's Make-up Bag

Let me be honest with you, friends. When I travel, I usually give up wearing makeup about two days in. Suddenly, getting an order of mango sticky rice from the street vendor and finding the nearest beach seems a lot more important than applying eyeliner.

But then I see my travel photos and I'm all Baroness Blondieeyelashes Von Palelips. So I end up spending time in photoshop, trying to render myself non-zombie-like when I could have just applied some Dr. Pepper Lipsmackers and some waterproof mascara and called it a day.

But toting a giant makeup bag through multiple countries is also not happening. I want things that are multi-purpose, won't spill and can be applied in the back of a moving bus. That's a bit of a tall order, no?

A few ideas on what to bring:



Solid perfume
Wearing perfume is one of the things in life that makes me feel like a laaaaady. When I travel, I spend a large portion of my time clamoring over architectural ruins, wading through busy markets and attempting to befriend llamas - none of which are very aromatic pursuits. So in addition to one very large stick of deodorant, I like to bring some solid perfume with me. It won't spill all over my bag and every time I smell it when I'm home, I'll think of orange vendors and cobblestones.

Tinted Moisturizer, SPF 30
Dude, forget three separate bottles for foundation, moisturizer and sunscreen. Cut to the chase with one product that does all three things; I particularly like Neutrogena's offering. I think it's also important to use a product that's SPF 30 instead of your usual 15 (which you already wear daily, right?) because you're going to be outside so much more than usual and certain travel destinations offer ozone holes in addition to other amenities (I'm looking at you, Australia and New Zealand).

Light colored eye shadow
There are many opportunities for red-rimmed eyes while traveling - the goodbye at the airport, the early morning flight, the sandstorm, the lost sunglasses, the $1 glasses of wine. But these can be countered acted pretty successfully with some light-colored eye shadow. I particularly like a light gold for my warm skin tone, though I imagine cool toned ladies could rock a sparkly white. Another bonus? You can apply it with you finger in the back of a bus and no one will be the wiser. The same cannot be said for liquid eyeliner, friends.

Clear nail polish
There are a million uses for clear nail polish (keeps your buttons from falling off, stops fabric from fraying, um, cures ringworm?) but I mostly just use it on my nails. It makes me feel put together, and when it chips, no one's the wiser.

Tinted chapstick, SPF 30
Leave the lipstick at home. To me, wearing lipstick while traveling is the equivalent of dragging one of those wheelie suitcases into a hostel: obvious and embarrassing. Tinted SPF chapstick is easy, protects your kisser and, again, can be applied in the back of a bus. Which is really the test of all travel make up, I think.

Foot Loofah
If you're traveling for more than a few weeks and you're wearing sandals for most of that time, you're tootsies are going to take a beating. I get oddly self-conscious about showcasing dry, scaly feet, so I will totally exfoliate my feet before tucking them into my Chaco sandals and pulling on my technical gear. Really, I think it's a lovely way to feel a bit more decadent in the midst of a hostel dorm room and a backpack full of dirty laundry.

Shampoo Bar
I have expounded on the wonders of solid shampoo before, but please allow me to sing its praises again. It weighs two ounces! And it will last forever! And it won't spill in your bag! And it'll give you sexy beach hair! Convinced? I thought so. Lush and Burt's Bees both make nice shampoo bars.

Leave-in Conditioner
If you're going to use a shampoo bar, you're going to need some conditioner, too. I really like leave-in conditioner for travel. It continues in the vein of beach hair and can double as lotion if you're really in a pinch. It'll last forever and you can even use it to deter that ridiculous static cling hair that happens every time you enter a plane.

Face wash Bar
Bar face wash is awesome for the same reasons that shampoo bars are awesome - they won't spill in your bag and they last forever. Lasting forever is particularly important if you're traveling for months at a time. Because it's a total bummer to run out of face wash when you're backpacking through Thailand and then discover that every cosmetic sold there includes bleaching agents. Because I'm trying to tan, people. Not go home lighter than when I started.

What essentials do you carry in your cosmetics bag when you travel?
Got the travelbug?  Check out my ebooks and podcasts on making long-term travel a reality!  Only $15 forpetessake!

Kindness

Island Life

I grew up on a lake in rural Minnesota, spending June - August ensconced in an inner tube or paddling a canoe. The lake I grew up on is actually named "Farm Island Lake" because local farmers used to keep livestock on several of the lake's islands to protect them from wolves.

Of course, my friends and I were convinced that these islands had actually been created for our use. We loved to paddle out to the nearest island and poke around the raspberry patch, sun ourselves on the lawn outside the rarely used cabin and see what they were storing down their well. Awkwardly, the owners once showed up while we were doing this.

Since then, I've lived on two country/islands - Taiwan and New Zealand. I find it oddly comforting to live in a place that you can drive across in one day.

Do you live on an island? Would you want to?

My New Oath

That really just about covers it, doesn't it?

True Story: I'm Bi-Polar

This is one of my True Story interviews in which we talk to people who have experienced interesting/challenging/amazing things. This is the story of Angela, a lovely wife and mother who struggled with bi-polar disorder.

Can you tell us a bit about your background?
I grew up in a small town on the coast of Washington State. My parents divorced when I was 6 and my older sister and I went to live with our mom. Things were tough because my mom has bipolar disorder. She was diagnosed after a suicide attempt when I was 9. She rejected her diagnosis and didn't stay on the Lithium they prescribed her. Her side of the family is riddled with addiction, alcoholism, depression, anxiety, and bipolar disorder. I knew my dad had serious anger issues, but I mostly chalked it up to his rough childhood. He's admitted to me that he may be bipolar, but he was never diagnosed. His side of the family also has a long history of alcoholism, depression, and bipolar disorder.

For those of us who don't know, could you tell us a bit about bipolar disorder?
Bipolar disorder is a mood disorder, like major depression, but mania is involved. There is full-blown mania, which is characterized by irritability, bouts of rage, racing thoughts, and in severe cases, psychosis (you stop feeling "crazy" and start acting "crazy"). There is also hypomania, which is marked by increased levels of energy, poor judgment, delusions, grandiosity, euphoria, and feelings of being "special" or "chosen." Bipolar disorder is heritable through genetics, but also the actual brain structure of a bipolar person is different from a typical person's. Bipolar disorder is a physical disease that can be terminal without proper treatment, like cancer or diabetes.

What are some of the most common misconceptions about bipolar disorder?
The most common one is that bipolar disorder makes you artistic/creative. There have been some parallels drawn between some artists and bipolar disorder, but they could be coincidental. Because of this misconception, a new trend is growing: some people want to be bipolar. This disturbs and offends me. This misconception is akin to saying something like, "Being African-American makes you good at sports." One of the most damaging misconceptions about bipolar disorder is that getting treatment makes you feel emotionally numb. If medications make you feel emotionally numb, you're on the wrong medications, or the wrong doses. Discuss this with your psychiatrist.

How old were you when you realized that you experienced life and emotions different than other people?
When I was diagnosed and looking back at my life. For instance, when I was in kindergarten, my teacher had two favorite students, and would always tell them how sweet and smart they were. I remember consciously thinking, "Those kids think they're so smart, but the things they know aren't important things. The things I know are important, and I'll show them when I grow up." I was delusional. Sadly, I continued to feel this way until I was diagnosed. I really thought I was destined for amazing things, even after being a teenage mom, having 3 kids with 3 different dads, not continuing my education, working at Wal-Mart, and making all kinds of bad choices (I have some horrible tattoos).

How old were you when you were diagnosed?
I was diagnosed when I was 24. January 20, 2004. I'd been married for 2 years. Our sons were 4 and 2, and our daughter was 3 months old. After I had our daughter, I started experiencing uncontrollable bouts of rage. I was scary, destructive, and felt capable of inflicting great harm. One day, my husband accidentally startled me. I exploded and said the most vicious things. My mind was screaming, "STOP! YOU CAN NEVER UNSAY THESE THINGS!" yet I didn't stop until I was completely empty. That was the moment I decided to get help.

My objective was to enroll in anger management. I know that anger management is usually reserved for those compelled by a court of law, but I was desperate. I went to my appointment, and was asked a series of oddly-specific questions. I felt like we were getting somewhere...I was actually excited. I say that only to say this: some people read about bipolar disorder, and are prepared for/expect their diagnosis, whereas I had no fucking clue that there was something seriously amiss. I left that office with a prescription for Lithium, and a diagnosis of bipolar disorder type 1.

What sort of treatments where you prescribed? How did those treatments effect you?
I started seeing a counselor weekly, and I started taking Lithium. I had a lot of side effects: nausea, tremors, headaches--and most strangely--my teeth felt loose. I don't know if it wasn't working or if my expectations were too high, but I felt the side effects of the Lithium outweighed the benefits.

I did something that is very classic of a bipolar person: I went off my medication. Two months later, I became depressed. My priorities were ordered: sleep, kids, husband, hiding my filthy house, work, personal hygiene. I had a breakdown in March 2004, and landed in the psych ward. I tried a bunch of medications for a few months, but I was losing my cognition. At times, I couldn't remember how old I was. I decided to try to control my bipolar med-free . I'd still see my therapist. I found out at my next appointment, however, that if I didn't take my medication, my therapist wouldn't see me. I went my own way.

How did you manage after you stopped treatment?
After I ended treatment in June 2004, I became increasingly manic and was having hallucinations. I was not at all alarmed by these things--that, my friends, is a bad sign. I was totally delusional. I quit my job and was paranoid that my husband was going to leave me and take the kids. I couldn't turn my mind off, so I stopped sleeping. I had disturbing thoughts that played in a horrific loop; things like slamming my fingers in car doors or putting screws in my mouth and chewing on them, breaking all my teeth. I stopped cooking, cleaning, and bathing. I had zero impulse control and went on online shopping sprees. Occasionally, the psychosis was interrupted by moments of clarity, and during one such moment, I realized I was no mom to my kids; no wife to my husband. I was a burden and I couldn't do that to them anymore. I was almost lost. I was hospitalized for 2 weeks. I vowed never to get off my meds again.

How does being bi-polar effect your life on a daily basis?
Honestly, because I'm on the right medications and the right doses for me, bipolar disorder doesn't affect my daily life much. And if you didn't know me before, the fact that I suffer from a severe mental illness would never cross your mind. People who see me everyday are going to read this and think, "Wha...?" because I'm a mild-mannered, doting mom and wife of 8 years, who works with kids and lives a totally average suburban life.

What advice would you give to someone who thinks they might be bi polar?
Please see a mental health professional. If you don't have insurance, many mental facilities have sliding-scale fees or grants they use specifically to provide you with therapy and medications for free. Diagnosis can be helpful in the event that you have a major mood episode. You will have a place where people "know" you so you can get help immediately. Also, it's good to know the name of your problem. You will be taken more seriously by doctors and other people with Bipolar Disorder if you get an official diagnosis, opposed to self-diagnosis.

And what advice would you give to those of us interacting with a friend or family member that is bi polar?
I asked my loving husband to help me with this one. I hope you don't mind. Aaron says, "The number one thing you need to do is educate yourself on bipolar disorder; read everything you can find. The number two thing is be able to communicate. This doesn't mean just be able to talk and listen. This means be able to talk about and listen to some really horrible shit. Other than that, be patient. A lot of the time, I can see Ang's cycles before she can, but if I say something, it never goes over well (until she sees it for herself). Don't let them use their disease as an excuse. Be willing to shoulder the load, because they're not always going to be able to. Don't give up on them."

Have any of you struggled with bi-polar disorder? Any questions for Angela?

31 New Things: Go to The Rollerderby

Let me be honest here, friends. This new thing? I did it, like, five months ago. It was a second date with a gentleman who, I'm afraid, didn't make the cut for a third date. After he told me that he was bad with money and got stoned on the daily, we wondered around in the rain for half an hour because he couldn't remember where he parked his car. Awesome.

However! None of this detracts from the fact that the Minnesota Rollergirls make for a great Saturday night. There were short skirts and crazy nicknames and impressive feats of rollerskating! There was a Guns and Roses cover band that played during the intermission! There were those giant pretzels with that neon orange fake cheese sauce!

It would have made for a great date, if it hadn't been wasted on a guy who can't remember street names.

Have you ever been to a roller derby? What did you think?

Moments of Win

Have you guys checked out Yes and Yes's flickr group: Moments of Win? It's photos of fantastic, funny (dare I say painfully good-looking?) people doing amazing things and generally winning at life. Here are a few of my favorites!

Sarah Von

Yes, this is my personal Moment of Win. After a year of meticulously managing my money and researching different volunteer opportunities and every hike ever in Nepal, I booked the first two tickets for my eight-month, six country trip! I leave for Mumbai, India on October 16th and head to Nepal on November 29th. I can't wait to get on the road again!

Isis
My mother had a new baby at my request when I was 9 and I promptly appropriated it. As evidenced by the nuzzling. This is MY baby [sister]. MINE. First moment of win.

Nikkee B
I've been playing roller derby since January this year, but I've only ever played as a blocker. This is me jamming in a bout for the first time ever - the jammer wears the star on their helmet, scores the points, and gets beaten up - a lot! I was petrified about a) getting beat up, and b) letting the team down, but I stayed up AND scored points!

Emma
This photo was taken by a friend during my first (and only so far) hula hoop performance in front of an audience. I was performing with two friends, and love this photo as I remember looking at my ladies and feeling so proud that we had conquered our insecurities and devised a great routine. it was so fun to be part of the circus for the evening

Andrea
My #1 travel dream was to visit Bhutan. For two years, I saved my money and vacation time and read everything I could about Bhutan. I campaigned online in travel forums and blogs and everywhere in real life to recruit travel companions to join me, but nobody could afford the time or cost. But, I didn't give up and I happily made the trip on my own. This is my moment of win, arrival on the tarmac of Paro airport.

Raquel
This photo was taken on the hill behind my house in Wellington. I decided to move to Wellington at the beginning of the year and start a new life - and I am so freaking happy! After two weeks of rain, we had a sunny day, so I bounded out of bed, threw on whatever clothes I reached first and ran up the hill to take some photos. I'm so proud of myself for following my heart and taking charge of my life - to excellent results. Win!

Go have a tumble through our flickr pool! Add some of your own Moments of Win, whydoncha?

Your Very Own Fear Eraser

Isn't this a lovely idea? I painted the inside of my front door with chalkboard paint but it's usually covered in quotes or to-do lists. But I love the idea of erasing fears! Mine are:

1. Flying fish

2. Lampray eels

3. Waking up one day to discover that I've fallen into a life of soul-killing disappointment and quiet desperation

You know, the usual.

What fears would you erase?

Yes and Yes Network of Nice Hookups!

If you're new to Yes and Yes, this is our once monthly sharing of love, expertise and good karma. Ten readers write in about hook ups that they're looking for and other readers help them out. And other readers write in volunteering their own area of expertise. How nice, right?

A note: if you're looking for a hook-up and someone is nice enough to email you offering you advice or input, for the love of Pete, please email them back! A few readers have told me that they emailed hook-up seekers and never heard back. Frown town, dudes.

I'm looking for a hook-up!

We need a place to stay in Barcelona and Paris

My friend and i are traveling to Europe for our very FIRST time and doing a mini backpacking trip. We're trying to save $$ by staying with friends and friends of friends and couchsurfing, but have hit a dead end in two cities: Barcelona & Paris. i wonder if you have any readers who would be willing to lend us a couch/floor/hammock in either of these cities for a couple of days in August each (Barcelona 08-10, Paris 12-15)? if not, just tips on how to get around and such is always everything wonderful!
poly (dot) deoliveira (at) gmail (dot) com

I need to know about getting my blog hosted independently

I need some help with getting my blog independently hosted somewhere so I can start to display small ads and hopefully get it off the ground. Right now I'm just hosted at Wordpress, but I know I need to move my files over to somewhere else. Anyone who knows about IT/blog stuff out there who can give me some advice on how to do this?? (I've turned Laura onto Blog Ads and Project Wonderful as far as ad stuff is concerned. Do you guys have any other ideas?)

lauracatherinesullivan (at) gmail (dot) com

I need to meet people in San Diego

I'm looking for a friend or two in San Diego. I've recently moved down here to stay with a friend while I look for a job. I just graduated with my MBA and currently spend most of my time in front of my computer hunting the elusive marketing job. But I want more than that. I'd like to meet up with someone who knows the area and would like to show me around or maybe go on hikes (I'm just getting back into hiking). I don't know how long I'll be here, but would like more company while I am!

andreajeanc (at) gmail (dot) com

I need to know about becoming a preschool teacher in California
I love children, especially when they are at that challenging and impressive stage of first entering school and would love to ask your readers about the best way to enter the field and become attractive to employers. I especially would like to get some information about Montessori accreditation. I've done a bit of research and the cost is great enough that I would love some feedback from someone who is informed about things like how difficult it is to get hired at a Montessori school for early education, if the pay is competitive with traditional preschools/kindergardens, if they like Montessori practices, and if the accreditation helps with getting hired at traditional preschools. I have my B.A. in English and have expired CDA credits that I might still be able to renew, though I'm willing to take the requirements over again if not. And if your readers think I should scrap this whole plan and just get a traditional teaching credential I would love to hear from them too!

syvonnelow (at) gmail (dot) com

I need to know about importing and supporting international artisans

I'm an artist (jewelry designer/ graphics/ sewing/ quilting/ pottery etc.) and I'm starting a 2 year degree this fall in International Business. I want to someday have a gallery or import business that promotes artisans from all over the word. I don't know much about it, but if any of your readers have advice on where to start I would love to hear it. I would also LOVE to participate in some sort of volunteer program (anywhere in the world) that involves working with indigenous women to help them to learn ways to earn money making crafts or, if they are already artisans, forming cooperatives to better market and represent themselves in the global/fair trade market. That sort of thing! I haven't been able to find one that doesn't involve paying thousands of dollars up front.
jasmineleeann (at) gmail (dot) com

I need to know about cemetery regulations
I'm doing research for a project I'm writing about a girl who lives (or maybe just hangs out?) in a cemetery over the summer, and I need to know what sort of regulations are set at a regular town cemetery, for instance, would somebody be allowed to sleep in a cemetery? are security measures enforced at all when it's a cemetery in a small country town? Thank you!!
mimagirl (at) gmail (dot) com

I need to know about the Annapurna trek in Nepal
I would really like for someone to tell me their experience hiking the Annapurna Circuit in Nepal. My friend and I are aiming to take the trip/make the hike in fall of 2011. I would like to know any essential packing items, tips, best time to go, etc. Also, just about your experience hiking the AC in general! Thanks! (Note: I want to know about this, too! If you've done this will you email me at sarah_vonbargen (dot) yahoo (dot) com, too?)
bmbrowers (at) gmail (dot) com

I need to meet people in The Netherlands
I am moving to the Netherlands to work as an au pair in one week. I am super nervous that I won't be able to make any friends. I'm been listening to Dutch podcasts so hopefully I will know some Dutch but the time I get there, but I am super scared I will miss out on same amazing opportunities because I haven't made any friends and do not speak Dutch well. I am sure other people have dealt with similar issues obviously I'm not the first to live abroad for a year). Help me out!
caitlin (at) caitlinfitzpatrick (dot) com

I need to know about getting into law school
I'd like to have a career in human rights law or in international law, and I'm leaning towards schools with some international law curriculum options. I will graduate with a Bachelor of Arts in International Relations in May 2011. I don't know where to begin with my personal statement. I'm also looking for some recommendations on where to apply. I have a list of schools I'm interested in but I'd love to talk with some alumni of any law school about pros and cons.
arnold ( dot) rachelm (at) gmail (dot) com

I need to know about employee rights
I'm currently employed as an architect in Chicago. Over the last six months I have been paid irregularly and am owed what is for me a large amount of money in unpaid wages. Has anyone had to deal with a similar situation? Any advice on best resources, my rights, best course of action would be much appreciated!
janesloss (at) gmail (dot) com

I need a good hairdresser in upstate New York
I just moved from Boston to Binghamton in upstate NY, leaving behind the ONLY hairdresser I have ever been to. So I am wondering if anyone knows of a really excellent hairdresser in the area between, say, Ithaca, NY and Scranton, PA. I need someone who listens, who discusses what I want, who isn't afraid to stand up to me and say, "that is going to look terrible," who knows how to get an idea of me and suggest an alternative, who is actually good at cutting hair… etc. Can anyone help?

isisrtd (at) gmail (dot) com

I can give you a hook-up!

I can tell you about pregnancy, new mama stuff, breast feeding or using cloth diapers
janelleam (at) gmail (dot) com

I can talk to you about drinking and drug problems

I'm able to visit with people who think they may have a drinking or drug problem. I'm a recovering alcoholic, am very knowledgeable about AA, Alanon, NA, GA, etc. I also work part time in the field. I can offer direction and suggestions, but not on a professional level.
k8zimm (at) aol (dot) com

I can tell you about home schooling
can answer questions about being home schooled. I was home schooled all the way through high school and think I have a pretty balanced view of the whole thing, and have curious parents pick my brain on a fairly regular basis.

jrecorey (at) gmail (dot) com

I can host you in Sao Paulo
I like to consider myself a "how to have a good, fun, clean, and cheap time in São Paulo" expert AND have a wonderful little apartment with couch and inflatable mattress for gringo visitors. So if any of your readers are making their way down to Brazil and would like to stop by São Paulo, i'm all about it!! (except from aug 8th-22nd!)
poly (dot) deoliveira (at) gmail (dot) com

I can tell you about road racing for ladies

My name is Elizabeth Medina, I'm 23 years old and am a member of Drifting Pretty, a small but dedicated grassroots organization based in Southern California, namely Los Angeles County :) Our mission is to help bring together women with a shared love for cars and racing in a safe, educational, and friendly environment. We understand how difficult it may be for some women to find themselves with this interest in an area dominated by men and we're here for you! A team of women who learn to work on their cars together, learn the ins and outs of a vehicle, and learn car control in various forms of racing like Gymkhana, Drifting, Road Racing and Auto Cross.
lizzypooface36 (at) gmail (dot) com

P.S. Remember during the last Network of Nice, the reader from San Francisco who was looking to meet new friends? Well she did! How cute are these two?! Rachel and Angelica had so much fun together. But that's not surprising. We all know that Yes and Yes readers are the coolest kids in any given room, so of course they'd make for fantastic friends, right?

Let's Think of Something Beautiful

So, so lovely, no? This makes me want to leave love notes to the world in all sorts of nooks an crannies.

The Wanderlust Workbook: Planning, Plotting and Financing

Here are somethings I like to consider myself an expert on:
1) cat vests
2) cheese-eating
3) travel

You guys? I've trundled through 20 countries, gotten a gajillion shots and visas and sold my worldly belongings and moved to a foreign country - twice!

Long-term travel and moving abroad is a pretty common dream, but gosh it's overwhelming! Where to even begin? There are so many logistical (and psychological!) hurdles! Let's get over them.

The Wanderlust Workbooks are a four part ebook series in which we'll talk about the nitty gritty of traveling for months at a time, quitting your job to move to a foreign country and making your travel dreams happen. In book numero uno, we'll tackle:

* Where you should go
* What you should do when you get there
* How to get a leave of absence from your job
* Failing that, how to increase the possibility of getting a job when you return
* How to save money for your trip
* What to do with all your stuff
* How to deal with nervous parents or negative nay-sayers
* How to deal with financial issues while you're traveling
* How to deal with medical issues while you're traveling
* Getting visas
* How travel through non-English speaking countries
* Having an awesome time while you're traveling
* Dealing with 'real life' once you get back

And you guys! There are heaps of charts and tables that you can fill in that will help you get organized and make concrete steps towards you travel goals! And a one year time line of what you need to be doing to get prepared!

Also, there are pretty pictures like these:

For eleven dollars you get:
* 12,000+ words on planning your big trip or international relocation
* a one hour podcast
* a password to a one time, two-hour online chat with heaps other travelers where we can trade tips

Here's a little sneak peak of the podcast:

This ebook and podcast do not cover what and how to pack, how to haggle that Persian rug down into your price range or how to land a cute Italian. Those are future ebooks! A bit of the ebook's content has been inspired by previous posts here on Yes and Yes, but the vast majority it super useful new-ness!

So waddaya say?! Are you ready for your next big adventure?

In Which We Remember That Life's Too Short

You guys! 2010 is halfway over! It seems like it was just a few weeks ago that I was slogging through the snow and fantasizing about July and striped swimsuits. And now, all of a sudden, it's swimsuit season and I can't quite figure out where the last four months of my life went. I feel like it was just a few months ago that I was listening to Blink 182 in my dorm room and going to quarter taps at The Met. But that was eight years ago!

I'd like the state the obvious here and remind all of us that life is short. And I'm pretty sure it's too short to:

* hold grudges
* wear uncomfortable shoes
* pretend you don't like that band/tv show/movie/book
* wait for that cutie to call you back
* be hung up about your hips/upper arms/boobs/thighs
* hang out with people that don't realize how awesome you are
* go to a job that you hate
* avoid that food that you love
* pretend you like roller coasters/scary movies/sushi
* put off doing that thing that excites you

What about you? How would you complete the sentence "Life's too short to...."

Pretty, Pretty

I would like dress like this on a daily basis, though I'm not entirely sure where such outfits would be appropriate. Maybe at a 1950's circus? Or riding a train across eastern Europe? Either way, I suspect sequins and accordions are not appropriate for working at a nonprofit in the Midwest.

Probably.

31 New Things: Go Raw For Two Weeks (Or: In Which I'm a Total Failure)

Let me be up front with you, friends. This is a goal that I did not achieve. This is one for the FAIL blog. If I had been living in Rawville, I'd be taken to the city limits and kindly asked to point my feet towards the horizon.

Will you be kind enough to humor my excuses as to why I couldn't quite make it fly?

I'm too busy, guys.

I work full time, I post on Yes and Yes twelve times a week, I'm putting together the 2011 Year in Yes calendar, I ship off sets of Karma Cards, I'm planning an eight-month, six-country trip, I'm writing a series of ebooks, I have a Gentleman Caller I see a couple of times a week and a circle of friends who throw great parties and play in cool bands and are generally too awesome to ignore.

And eating raw? It's time consuming! Yes, I realize how ridiculous that sounds. The entire point of eating raw is that you don't "prepare" your food as such. Theoretically, I could just maw on carrot sticks and apples and nuts every few hours for two weeks and be in the clear. But I'm afraid one tires of salads and dried fruit pretty quickly. And all the lovely raw food recipes out there? They require a lot of chopping and peeling and food processor-izing and dehydrating.

I am not exaggerating when I tell you that my average food intake these days, goes something like this:
Breakfast: Avocado toast
Time spent preparing: 45 seconds
Lunch: Soup and baguette, eaten in front of the computer while I prepare for my afternoon class
Time spent preparing: 1 minute and 30 seconds
Snack: mochi. or want wants. or tamarind candy. or something else that my students give me. Or an ice cream sandwich.
Time spent preparing: the time it takes to reach into the bag and insert said food into my mouth.
Dinner: Corn on the cob. Or quorn fake chicken patties. Or vegetables and hummus. Or pasta.
Time spent preparing: never more than 4 minutes

Hmmm, that all sounds rather dire and like I'm a workaholic with time management issues, doesn't it? And really, I do love cooking! But I love it in more of a "this is my hobby and I do it once a week for funsies" way, rather than a "let's devote an hour of every evening to this" kind of way.

But my raw experiment was not without it's benefits. I've always known that I'm an emotional eater (a hard day in class automatically equals one bag of Cheetos plus an ice cream sandwich) but trying to eat raw really forced me to be a conscious eater. When you can't just pick up any old thing at the gas station to placate your feelings of frustration, you're forced to consider what's really bothering you and try to find other ways to comfort yourself.

And I did find some fantastic recipes! My favorites:

Avocado/Apple pudding
1 avocado, mashed
1 apple, shredded
1 tablespoon lemon juice
agave nectar to taste

Stir together and mow.

Red pepper and Avocado Salad
1 big red pepper chopped into small pieces
1/2 an avocado diced
2 tablespoons sunflower seeds (exponentially more delicious if roasted and salted)
Balsamic vinaigrette to taste
salt and pepper

Stir together and mow.

Apple Banana Breakfast Stuff
1 apple shredded
1 banana chopped
1/3 cup chopped almonds
1/2 cup shredded coconut
1/3 cup almond milk
cinnamon to taste
honey to taste

Stir together and be prepared to be full forever.

Pizza Pate
1 and a half cups sun dried tomatoes
1 and a half cup macadamia nuts
(can use pine nuts)
A fourth cup sun dried tomato soak water
2 sprigs basil (about 10 large leaves)

Soak sun dried tomatoes in enough water to cover for about 1/2-3 hours or until soft. Drain sun dried tomatoes and save soak water. Using your food processor with the S blade, process the macadamia nuts and then add the soaked sun dried tomatoes. If the mixture is too thick for your food processor add a little of the sun dried tomato soak water until the food processor runs smooth. Add the basil last and process the mixture until it forms a thick paste.

So there ends my experimentation with raw-dom. Official findings: makes you feel good, makes you think, too time consuming for my life at the moment.

Have you ever successfully gone raw? Can you share any goals that you attempted that you discovered weren't for you?

Playing For An Audience of One

1) The first several times I heard this song, I thought the lead singer was a lady
2) Doesn't this video make you think of The Talented Mr. Ripley? Attractive, WASPy people being mean to each other on boats?

True Story: I was Mormon

This is just one of our many True Story interviews, in which we talk to people who have experienced interesting/amazing/challenging things. This is the story of "Jacob" and his time as a Mormon. I know that many, many people find peace and fulfillment within the Mormon church. Jacob's interview is not a commentary or an attack on practicing Mormons. It's simply his story about his experience with the church and why this religion did not work for him. I didn't choose to interview Jacob over other Mormon readers, he just happened to be the first person who contacted me. Please keep comments respectful.

For those of us who don't know about it, could you give us a brief overview of Mormonism?
Mormonism was a religion founded in 1821 by a man named Joseph Smith. He was 14 at the time, and following subsequent years, received many heavenly messengers (the Angel Moroni, namely) who helped him find the Golden Plates and from there translate them into what is now known as the Book of Mormon, a record of an ancient people here in the Americas. In the year 1827, he officially founded the Mormon religion, or as they believe, restored the one true church of Christ to the Earth (now known as the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, or LDS).

From there, they have propagated their religion internationally, sending missionaries to almost every nation across the globe. There are more than 100 Mormon temples in operation throughout the world, and I believe that church membership has exceeded 13 million. Mormons hold the Bible (Old and New Testaments), the Book of Mormon, the Doctrine and Covenants, and the Pearl of Great Price as holy canon. They don’t believe in premarital sex, drinking alcohol, caffeinated tea or coffee, smoking in any form, or other hot beverages (although hot chocolate is allowed). They believe that after this life there is one of three “kingdoms” that await us, each with varying degrees of glory. They practice sacred ceremonies within their temples, much of which pertain to the afterlife, including baptizing for the dead.

What are the biggest misconceptions about Mormons?
The biggest misconceptions about Mormons are that they are still polygamists. Many times I was asked how many wives my father had, and I always replied in saying that I only had one mother and that my father only had one wife. They are many sects that came from Mormonism, many of which still practice, but Mormons, or LDS as they are affectionately called, do not. Or, at least they’re not supposed to.

Other misconceptions about Mormons are that they are not Christian and that they hold Joseph Smith as some deity. This is not true; while Mormons do hold Joseph Smith in high regard, they do not consider him a deity. They do believe in Christ, as their name states, and do consider themselves Christian.

How did you come to be Mormon? Were you raised in the Mormon Church?
I was born and raised in the Mormon Church, and until recently, was a member of the same.

How did being Mormon affect your daily life?
Being a Mormon has a great affect on your daily life, as Mormons don’t believe in only Sunday practicing. I often carried a small Book of Mormon around with me, at all times (this doesn’t mean that I pulled it out and read it, just that I had it with me). I wore the sacred undergarments known also as garments on a daily basis. I didn’t watch R-rated movies, drink coffee or alcohol (ever), or smoke (at all). If someone challenged any aspect of Mormonism, I would stand up and try to answer questions or as they call it, “bare my testimony” in which I would testify as to the veracity of the religion, of which I was sure, supposedly.

Just like any religion, I'm sure there are varying degrees of commitment. to the Mormon Church. Did you ever drink alcohol or coffee? What about those special undergarments? Did you get married in the temple?

I never drank alcohol or coffee. I did try coffee once (I think it was some kind of really cheap cappuccino). I did wear the special undergarments and only removed them to shower, swim, etc. I strove to attend church every Sunday, pay my tithing, not watch R-rated movies, not listen to music that swore, not swear or cuss, etc. All in all, it’s about being worthy to have the influence of the Holy Spirit with you at all times, and avoiding the discussed activities above was the way to do it.

I was married in the temple to my now ex-wife. I think that there are varying degrees of Mormon “fundamentalism”. There is a joke that the only difference between a Non-Mormon and a Mormon is the temperature of their caffeine in the morning. Mormons have Pepsi, Coke, or some other kind of assorted caffeinated drink, while Non-Mormons drink coffee. To me, it’s seemingly the same. I think they would argue differently. There are those “members” as they are called that swear, watch R-rated movies, drink the occasional coffee or alcohol, and don’t have a problem with it. I don’t think the Mormon Church is okay with this, but this is what happens.

What did the Mormon religion bring to your life?
Honestly, a lot of guilt.

But in all fairness, it did bring some cherished moments to my life. I served a mission in Mexico which I remember very fondly. It was a great experience in which I feel I was making a tangible, positive difference in people’s lives. There is great sense of community within the Mormon Church, and growing up, which was a great thing.

But on the flip side, for me, it was almost impossible for me to think that I could actually make it to heaven. I think you could ask many Mormons if they honestly believe they are “going to make it” and I would imagine that a large percentage would say no. Since leaving the “fold” as they call it, I have experienced intense feelings of damnation, that I am going to hell, and that my soul is lost. I think Mormons, overall, view non-members more fondly than people like me (those that have left). There is definitely some residual psychological damage to myself that I realize only after having left. Now, I don’t want to assume that this happens to other Mormons, I’m only saying that it happened to me.

You're not Mormon anymore. Why? What's your relationship with faith now?
I’m not a Mormon anymore because I wasn’t happy. I was striving to do all that they required of me, to remain worthy in their eyes in so many ways, and the promised happiness never came. Mormons will say that they are taught to find out for themselves (which they definitely are) but I don’t feel as if I was taught to think for myself.

Things are very sheltered within the church. They never want you to look at the other side and consider the facts. Shady aspects of church history are hidden from the general membership. I don’t agree with the conservative inclinations of most Mormons, nor do I agree with the prescribed roles for both men and women. There are many things, and I won’t recount them all here.

My relationship with faith now is purely spiritual. I still believe in God and Jesus Christ, but I don’t prescribe to any denomination, while I do admit there every religion has good things to it. I am officially removed from the Mormon Church, that is, I had my membership records officially removed about a year ago.

What advice would you give to someone interested in joining the Mormon Church? Or for that matter, someone interested in leaving the Mormon Church?
In regards to advice that I would give to someone either investigating the church for potential membership or for someone looking to leave is to look within you. Look at who you truly are and consider if it’s right for you, whether you’re pondering leaving or joining. I think the Mormon Church truly works for a lot of people (after all, there are more than 13 million), it just didn’t work for me.

If you’re considering joining, look at all the facts, do your “homework”, don’t simply take the word of the missionaries that I’m sure are visiting your house, prodding you along towards baptism. That’s what a missionary most wants is for someone to get baptized. If you are currently a member and have your doubts, learn to think for yourself, and then make a decision. Again, do the research, figure out if it all “clicks” for you and then decide. To those considering leaving, there is life after leaving it. You aren’t going to hell, and you’re not a bad person. There are more of us out there, and we would love to chat with you about our own journeys.

Are any of you Mormon? What has your experience with the church been? Any (respectful!) questions for Jacob?

Do you need a hook up? Can you hook someone up?

Friends! It's almost time for the July edition of The Network of Nice! In the event that you're new to Yes and Yes, The Network of Nice is a once-monthly post in which ten readers write up a paragraph about what they're seeking - be it advice, input, a hook up or friends in their new city. And then other Yes and Yes readers email them and help them out. And if you've got expertise to share, we'd love to hear from you, too!

Also! If you asked for a hook up in a previous Network of Nice and someone was able to come through for you - tell us about it!

If you need a hook up or can give one, drop me a line at sarah_vonbargen (at) yahoo (dot) com.

Yes and Yes's Very First Ebook!

I would like to make a podcast on this, please.

I spent the better part of this morning googling things like "podcasts for dummies" and "omg I sound like a Charlie Brown character what's wrong with my mic." Why? Because I'm recording my first podcast! To accompany my first ebook! And once I get Audacity sussed out? It's game on, friends.

This ebook? I think it's going to rock your socks off, guys. This is the first of four installments of what we're calling The Wanderlust Workbooks: Making Your Travel Dreams Happen. This first section is devoted to Planning, Plotting and Financing. There are charts! And gorgeous pictures! And a one-year plan that outlines what you need to be doing one year before your trip, six months before, four months, three months, etc.

We answer the questions:
Where should I go?
When should I go there?
How am I going to pay for this?
How do I save up that much money?
What about my job?
What do I do with all my stuff?
How do I convince my friends and family to calm down?
How do I deal with bills and finances while I'm traveling?
How do I deal with medical issues while I'm traveling?
What about visas?
How am I going to communicate with people? I only speak English!
What am I going to do when I get there? I want to have the best time ever!
How am I going to deal with 'real life' when I get back?

And I'll also tell you about the debit card that's made for travelers, great, free language learning software and a million other little tidbits that will make planning your trip fun and exciting and totally, totally doable.

You'll get these 12,000 words of travel advice, the accompanying podcast and a password to a one-time, two-hour private chat where all of us travelers can talk shop and answer each other's questions. For $11!

Goodness but I can't wait to share it with you. It'll be ready to launch late this week!

WWOOFing Your Way Around The World

I like to think myself an expert on the topic of traveling on the cheap, and one of the ways to do this is to take part in a WWOOF program. But I haven't tried it myself. Yet! Thankfully, lovely reader Lindsey stepped in to tell us about her experience working on a farms in Portugal. How jealous are we?!

As Ned and I washed the goat shit off in a cold mountain stream, I wondered what all the 18-35ers on that Contiki tour were up to. I bet they weren’t heading to sleep in a mouse-infested caravan using a valance as a bed sheet. They weren’t WWOOFing.

Even at the start of planning our quarter-life-crisis solution (Round the World trip) my boyfriend and I were keen to spend some decent chunks of time in each country we chose to visit. Both of us have done that kind of trip before i.e. rush to Europe, rush around Europe, and ending up feeling like we did nothing but take silly photos in front of [insert icon here]. “But it looks pretty small on the map” said the Australian, meekly.

This time around we have time and wanted to a) see how people really live outside of a ticket-seller’s booth and b) pick up a different kind of story or two. I had been working a desk job and wanted to get out from under the computer and air conditioning. Imagine having decisions that are no more taxing than whether to have a beer or a shandy over lunch?! Plus we (I) don’t have much (any) money and we (I) suck at budgeting. With these points in mind, a chat with travel-y friends and a clickity-click of the mouse led us to www.wwoof.org. Why, hello there Willing Workers On Organic Farms! You want us to work for 5-6 hours a day, 6 days a week in exchange for food and accommodation? To put the savings account on hold and providing a cracking story to tell at the next youth hostel? No worries, so where’s the dotted line?

WTF if WWOOF?
WWOOF has been exchanging sustainable living ideas since 1971. They started in the UK, but now there are hosts in something like 99 countries. Basically, it’s a web forum where farmers needing help can connect with volunteers who want to travel, spread the love or simply learn a new skill. From scraping up chook poo, to making wine, to selling fruit at a local farmer’s market to shearing alpacas; I’m sure your agricultural (or just cultural?) dream can be fulfilled through WWOOF!

For Ned and I, the process went like this: we paid 20 euro to join WWOOF Portugal and wrote ourselves a profile. We then gained access to the list of potential hosts and emailed any that sounded good with questions like: can we can stay, for how long, how much do we have to work, etc. Work and living conditions vary greatly from farm to farm, as one can imagine. You may be asked to work back-breakingly hard for a couple of hours a day, or it might be fairly cruisy. Some hosts say that they prefer longer stays, but most are up for negotiation. In retrospect, we felt that between 2-3 weeks was a good amount of time for us, but whatever floats your boat. On our last place, there was a guy from the Netherlands who had been there for five months after spending three years on a farm in Greece!

Fun Acronyms: “O” is for Organic
Now, I like to think of myself as pretty green – I sort my rubbish into appropriate bins, I take my reusable shopping bags wherever I go, I use that scratchy-yet-satisfying loo paper. What I’m not keen on that side of green that whispers “I’m macrobiotic, you evil meat-eater” and “I preach at you while you try not to gag on the smell of my dirty hair”. I actually like steak and believe my backpack’s “luxury item” of Moroccan Hair Oil is the best 100mls I’ve ever pinched off Mum.Thankfully, you can find a WWOOFing host to suit you, whatever you’re up for. So don’t panic about fitting some stereotype of hippy or hardcore farmer! Whilst cruising the WWOOF forum, and knowing what we’re like, Ned and I tended to shy away from any properties with names such as “Riverdance Moonsong Farm” or mentioned ukuleles and group trust activities. The program is about getting in and having a go, and if you choose your hosts wisely as well as keeping an open mind, your experience should be a positive one.

First up we spent four weeks on a banana/mango/other tropical goodies farm and eco-tourism business on the island of Madeira, Portugal. All the superficial things were there – the property was stunning; a narrow stretch of land bordered by the sea and 300m high cliffs, only accessible by an elevator. Our private accommodation was lush, with cable t.v. and all the blogging time one could wish for. We had lunch, coffee, beer at the onsite restaurant and food bought for us to cook of an evening. We even got a lend of the car for an explore around the island. But our “hosts” earn themselves speech marks as they were only on the property on Saturday afternoons. We spent most of our time with the hired workers. They didn’t ask to babysit a couple of seemingly dim WWOOFers and seemed to think that SHOUTING was the only way to encourage our Portuguese-learning. We could put two and two together to work things out like there being hundreds of bananas yet to weed around. But there was still that glimmer of insecurity when Salete, our main overseer/language coach, took us up to the back paddock with nothing but a grunt and a machete.

Our second farm, in central (a.k.a. nowhere) Portugal was a completely different farmstay. Our aforementioned caravan was a bit scummy and there was no electricity, but our British/Dutch combo family were so warm and welcoming and the work so varied and considered, that our overall experience was completely fulfilling. We sowed corn, planted trees, milked goats and made cheese from their milk. We ate with the family, balancing our plates on our laps while pushing the dog’s noses away. Every question was answered with gusto, all suggestions taken on board. We discovered what the WWOOF carry-on is about and now I’m hooked!

I recommend WWOOF to anyone looking for a personal challenge and a travel tale with a difference. Now put the “24 Countries in 30 Days” bus tour brochure down and back slowly away…

P.S. Check out the short film,“Because There are Goats” for a taste of a WWOOFing in Europe.

Got the travelbug?  Check out my ebooks and podcasts on making long-term travel a reality!  Only $15 forpetessake!