#fanni the baggage car

[rez-n-rex37]

Made some more StEx ocs 😋 cuz I'm obsessed rn

The yards all new Mexican engine Perro Grande L1

Perro Grande - They/Them

Loves racing with their partners

Is constantly ignored by the other nationals

Close-ish to greaseball and has a small crush on Electra (who doesn't tbh)

Isn't too bothered by being ignored

Dislikes the frieghts thinking they're way too loud despite being pretty loud themself

Flirts with Electra but is normally just dismissed

The components ignore them as well other then Joule who finds them entertaining

And their partners

Echo P0 the green class car

(Couldn't get an actual pic of the train)

Echo P0 - She/Her

Terrified of the components but she wishes to talk to them

Super stubborn

Doesn't like to race prefers hauling passengers

Ignores the others in the yard unless they talk to her first

Close with Fanni and will talk her ear off about Perro and Irom

Occasionally will talk with the other coaches but won't go out of her way to

And Irom F4 the cattle wagon

Irom F4 - She/They

Disinterested in the other trains in the yard

Dislikes the components and the other nationals

Thinks the frieghts are boring but the rockies are interesting enough to hang around

Enjoys racing and just being on the tracks in general

Hangs out around Fanni on occasion

Will put herself in between tense situations to difuse them (Likes to solve problems)

And an extra special train

Fanni the baggage car

Fanni - She/Her

Has a thick finnish accent ? (Fully American?)

Was derailed and experienced major damage

Fanni was spoted by the rockies when on a frieght run? with greaseball and was brought to the yard to get fixed up

The damage was too extensive so Fanni is still unable to go back on the tracks and race

Longs to race with the others

Dislikes C.B seeing as hearing the stories of him being the reason for some trains derailing brings back bad memories

Close with Rusty and Dinah

Being close to them makes Fanni feel complete

Helps the frieghts with moving frieght around

Content around Pearl stating she has a calming aura

Loves helping around the yard

Feels a need to repay Greaseball and the rockies in some way

Talks in the first person

Plot details

Fanni was derailed in '71 but was forcefully uncoupled so she was the least damaged out of all of them on the track, Fanni crawled beside the track for a few years just waiting for some kind train to stop and help

When Greaseball came across Fanni he originally passed before one of the rockies mentioned they saw someone on the side of the track

Fanni was completely out of it when they were bringing her back but after the fact she was very grateful

Before they ended up in the yard Perro, Echo and Irom had another partner Conner C4 but he left them due to a change in interest ie. A more promising engine named Chappel (Might design the 2 of them)

Even though his leaving was rushed and rather sudden they all miss him greatly and are very protective of each other

Perro and Irom race together in heat 2 but crash after Perro takes too sharp a turn with Irom being caught off guard and unable to compensate with her weight, They end up uncoupling to avoid taking Perro with them when she crashes into the barrier

Greaseball makes fun of them for the mistake after the fact they stick close together and cheer Rusty on

Let me know if you want to know any more about any of my ocs 😋

Finally ended up fixing this, tumblrs been posting my drafts without me finishing them:[

[wannawrite]

Siloso Vibes

who?: Wanna One’s Ha Sungwoon genre: 🌸 type: bullet point, part of Christmas collab wink wonk blog navigator. • part of the collab with @onlyjihoonsand@hwinkinghwi • a day at Sentosa with Sungwoon + added Christmas spirit finally writing something for Sungwoon :”), never got a request for him before so I’m happy - Admin L posted late out of respect for Jonghyun. Admins will officially return on the 25/12 Rest in peace, king. you did well. forever and always in my heart. 

• Sentosa • first, I need to explain what Sentosa is and what there is on that island • so Sentosa is an island off the coast of Singapore, linked to the mainland by a bridge • everything there is built on reclaimed land • which is basically throwing sand into the sea to form a platform • I think so • yeah • okay • ‘babe,’ someone says, waking you up from your sleep. ‘Come on, wake up.’ • oh, it’s Sungwoon • who let him into my house? • WHO • I NEED SLEEP • oh yeah, my parents are completely in love with him so I can understand why the gladly opened the door for him • Ha Sungwoon had your parents wrapped around his pinky finger • he finally took a trip back to your homeland after graduation • let me explain • you had flown to Seoul, South Korea to further your university education and there, you met Sungwoon • you guys started going out in Junior year • everyone shipped it • Daniel owed Jihoon $10 • Jaehwan was so touched, he composed multiple songs for both of you • and some were on his debut album • oooh • recently, the both of you had graduated university • CONGRATS TO THE CLASS OF 2017 • AND TO EVERYONE STILL STUDYING, KEEP GOING AND WORKING HARD • YOU GOT THIS • YOU WILL MAKE IT OUT ALIVE • burning the midnight oil writing papers and feasting on instant noodles at 2am was all worth it to hold that 4.0 GPA in your hands • uhh…maybe • possibly • I’m sure its GPA calculated there • sorry, no wifi to check right now :( • right after your graduation ceremony • you ran back to your dorm, packed up whatever was left and met Sungwoon in the campus carpark • he was decked out in full tourist attire • floral beach button down • board shorts • fanny pack securely tightened around his waist • and of course • he just HAD to wear his Birkenstocks • of all of his expensive shoes rotting in his house • his Birkenstocks • at least they weren’t Crocs • you were grateful for that • at least that • I have nothing against Birkenstocks • I guess they just aren’t my style • but Sungwoon still looked like a freaking buffet so you weren’t complaining • he’s probably that young guy who can pull of the ‘dad look’ really well • you know • random coloured t-shirt • or polo • jean shorts? kakis? • white high socks tucked into sports sneakers • or moccasins • maybe pairing Adidas socks with Nike running shoes • can’t forget that leather fanny pack • or a black dad hat • sometimes he would trade that for a snapback or sun hat • okay that’s enough visualising weird images • brain: Sungwoon with that Prince Eric black hair, golden circular spectacles, in a white button-down with the first few buttons open and tight-fitting black slacks • me: SCREAMS • THROWS MYSELF OUT OF A WINDOW • you know that iconic Jimin black hair part? yeah, that one. that would look SO good on Sungwoon • he’s sort of Jimin’s brother anyway • let’s move on • shall we? • Sungwoon as Prince Eric though • super frickin’ hot • ENOUGH • so you two threw your stuffed suitcases into your car trunk and sped off to Jaehwan’s mansion • that’ll be Sungwoon’s car’s house for the next month • some of your friends are there chilling out, still clad in graduation gowns • they’re like ‘what’ • after explaining, they wished you a safe journey and kissed both of you goodbye • Sungwoon left a 23-page journal on how to care for his car • in case Jaehwan had no idea • he was reassured when Minhyun mentioned he would be living with Jaehwan until his apartment was ready • Sungwoon’s car would be safe in Minhwan’s hands • hopefully • Jisung and Daniel drove the two of you to the airport • helping with the luggage and all • Jisung pushing Daniel on the trolley that’s actually meant for baggage • snapping pictures like fansites • ‘hi I’m starting a Sungwoon fansite, I’d like to call it Smolwoon.’ • angry chilli padi Sungwoon activated • he’s so small but spicy I love • ready for takeoff • taken off • RUN DANIEL RUN • is there a sungwoon fansite with that name? please link them if it exists • if not, feel free to take the name • or smallwoon • and tell me about it! • you and Sungwoon eventually get checked in and everything • after hugging Daniel and Jisung of course • video calling the rest of your friends to say goodbye • Jisung almost shed tears • wow • imagine of Seongwoo was there • drama time • flights are such a blessing, I personally love flying and travelling • slept on the flight in Seoul • woke up in Singapore • hELLO CHANGI AIRPORT IT’S SO GOOD TO SEE YOU AGAIN MY LOVE BEST AIRPORT IN THE WORLD • YOU’RE DOING GREAT CHANGI AIRPORT • it was so cute to see Sungwoon half stumble off the plane • because he had an amazing nap • he emerged still sleepy-eyed and clearly freshly awoken • I’m talking bed-head, trying to cover up his puffy face with glasses and a mask • but he looked refreshed and well-rested so all is well • it’s important to sleep properly! • says the one who stays up to 2am to watch Master Key • Master Key is really addicting, I’ve never been so whipped • you guys managed to get a cab • around 1am three days ago, you got to your house after Sungwoon was dropped off at his hotel • because your house didn’t exactly have a guest room and sleeping in your room was a huge no-no • so you called and talked to him until 2am • how the hell did he wake early enough to get from Ritz Carlton to your home • what even • Sungwoon wasn’t one to wake early • he loved his sleep • and his pre-bed skin-care routine • speaking of which, his skin was effortlessly glowing • hmm, must be a change of weather • ‘BABE!’ Sungwoon yelled, shaking your blanket-clad figure. ‘WAKE UP!’ • was he…okay? • why does he want to deprive me of sleep? isn’t he supposed to come and cuddle with me? • :( • oh! • IT’S TODAY • ‘Aren’t you excited?’ Sungwoon whines, sitting on the edge of your bed. ‘Today’s going to be so much fun!’ • ‘and tomorrow,’ you mumble, still half asleep. ‘Are you not jet lagged? I feel like    I got run over by a truck.’ • SG translation: I kena truck langar • Sungwoon laughs, beaming brightly, sparkling like a total angel • ‘I am but I conquered all to come see you~’ • ROMANTIC • he’s such a hopeless romantic but pretends he isn’t • just a vibe • ‘see,’ he says, pulling up his Uber app to show you his new ride. ‘I even took an Uber here myself, and I spoke to the driver with slang and English.’ • you guys are probably using a mix of Korean and English to communicate btw • it’s so fun speaking in two languages • like you can interchange words into sentences • and no one around you will know what you’re saying • and when you speak dialect, it’s like your communicating in a secret code • for me at least • heh • you guys never had qualms speaking in both languages • for Sungwoon, who had pored over his English notes night after night so he could increase his fluency level, independently taking an Uber with a mainly English speaking driver was a huge deal • friendly reminder that English is not the only language in this world and people should not be obliged to learn/speak it. • it may be a commonly used language and more prominent but that still doesn’t mean everyone has to abandon their culture and switch to English • also, that Kpop, Jpop, Cpop, Cantopop, Bollywood, any other non-native English speaking idols/groups do not need to speak English to be valid • goes for anyone for that matter • :)))) • let people appreciate their cultures and languages • yay okay back to the story • the reason for Sungwoon’s excitement and eagerness • ahem..peculiar behaviour such as rising early • your itinerary for today was a day at Sentosa • more specifically, Universal Studios Singapore • can someone please go with me? • tomorrow would be Adventure Cove • should there be a part two for this? tell me, please • moving on… • it’s the most wonderful time of the year • to visit Universal Studios • well, the queues even at 10am in the morning proved you wrong • but we shall backtrack a little • how you got out of the house? • Sungwoon practically dragged you out of bed • threw you into the shower • saying that he would get your breakfast ready • you tried to battle the morning heat and wake up at the same time by taking an icy cold shower • WAKE UP • emerged refreshed and ready to roll • sort of • Sungwoon was sitting in the living room, talking to your parents • no sucking up needed to win their favour • especially since he helped to prepare your breakfast • ‘oh babe, you’re here! I packed your breakfast in a lunch box in case we didn’t have time.’ • so prepared I can’t • pulls a MOTHER • Sungwoon mum mode: activated • I know Jisung’s the mum but Sungwoon is probably the grandmother, mother or 帅叔叔 [handsome uncle] • flashback when Xuan described San E as 怪叔叔 [strange uncle] • I’m cackling • maybe Sungwoon could be a strange uncle too • eh • he strikes me as that • ‘see,’ he says, patting a stuffed tote black. ‘I even prepared all the things we could need. Umbrella, raincoat, sunscreen, moisturiser, bb cream…oh! This is a new kind of energy drink Jaehwan recommended!’ • hmmm….Jaehwan recommended • okay then… • your parents are SWOONING • WHAT A WELL-ORGANISED MAN • probably has an organiser in that tote • ‘uhh, okay. thanks, babe. so, mum and dad, we’ll be making a move.’ • your parents insist you update them every few hours • and they take a picture • like a prom picture • don’t blame them, they’ve only seen you and Sungwoon over Skype calls and Facetime • you guys hug them goodbye • ‘LET’S GO’ Sungwoon yells, tossing his tote into the backseat of your Rover • maybe some other car because Rovers are unreasonably expensive here • everything is unreasonably expensive here • ‘VROOM!’ • you speed off towards Sentosa. • in the ticketing queue, Sungwoon insists on applying a thick layer of sunblock • you hold his mirror • and then he does it on your face, purposely not blending it • asian beauty standards are like: • pls stop whitewashing • and idolising fair/white skin • dark skin is beautiful and should be deemed normal and acceptable too • anyway • at least he blended the cream properly before you approached the staff • Sungwoon couldn’t stop yelling excitedly as he entered the gates • he was amazed by every single little thing • CHRISTMAS SONGS • CHRISTMAS DECORATIONS • CHRISTMAS SPIRIT • santa hats everywhere • he does have Lotte World • but this was a whole new universe • ;) • Sungwoon’s hand envelopes yours and you two happily skip to the first ride • ‘what about Transformers?’ • ‘sure!’ • honestly, the queue for this ride is so ridiculous • luckily, Sungwoon keeps you entertained by taking a ton of Snapchat filtered selfies • Snow filters • making memes • Facetiming a tired Jihoon - time difference • who wishes he tagged along • he screams a lot during the ride • and screams after about how much fun he had • you two go on a couple more rides • got chased by a T-rex and got a bird’s eye view of the park • burnt to a crisp by a fire-breathing mummy before the roller coaster plunged backwards • went on a safari adventure and nearly got eaten by a crocodile • these are some of my favourite rides tbh • went along for a boat ride with Madagascar animals • ‘yo Sungwoon are you sure you’re tall enough to ride this?’ you tease playfully. • he pouts • yells a bit • before securing his red baseball cap on his head and confidently marching into the queue • ‘watch me.’ • ‘small is spicy.’ • after, you guys ended up buying ice cream • salted popcorn in a Minion container • Sungwoon calculated the expenses to the very cent • he’s either the guy to drop $1000 in a blink of an eye with no hesitation • or drop his friend off before the ERP [a system you pay - using cash card - to use a certain road via vehicle] because he wants to save that $2 • this happens to my friend irl lol ^ • you guys even purchase matching Santa hats • even though those at the mama shop are SO MUCH cheaper • Sungwoon persuades you to buy matching shirts too • ‘uhh are you really sure you want to buy that shirt for Guanlin?’ you questioned, pointing to the shirt in Sungwoon’s hands he got from the children’s section • ‘oh shush I know my son through and through, he’ll love it.’ • ‘….he’s almost 18 soon-‘ • ‘nope!’ Sungwoon exclaims, clamping a hand over your mouth. ‘No, no. His 8th birthday just passed.’ • poor Guanlin • Sungwoon and Jisung are going to feed him banana milk for the rest of his life • ‘what about Daehwi? He’s your son too.’ you point out his bias • ‘…well, he’s Jisung’s son right now because the sun is still out but I should buy my babies matching shirts too right?’ • ‘babe, help me choose one!’ • you guys spend at least half an hour haggling over shirts • which colour one would match Daehwi’s skin more? • wait, this is the exact colour of Guanlin’s eyes! • …this t-rex reminds me a lot of my sons • bet, Guanlin looks like this when he wakes up • *ends up spending much more than anticipated* • Sungwoon takes a brave step and agrees to ride the Battlestar Galactica:  Human Vs Cylon • two of the major roller coasters here • ‘woon, are you sure you’re over 125cm? you need to measure your height again…’ • *167cm* • ‘HAH’ he grins triumphantly • sighs • is confident • and brags about how he loves roller coasters • until he’s standing behind the metal gate, waiting for the cars to come back and all the screams from the previous riders can be heard • ‘uh babe are you sure you want to sit in the first carriage? I can always ask them to change our seats if you’re scared.’ • *bats eyelids* • you nearly fall for it • then, you gently push him to take his seat • ‘WAIT NO MY THING ISN’T CLICKING SHUT’ • a staff has to help him secure his barrier • he takes a deep breath • ‘I’m more nervous then when it was my debut-‘ • *yelling begins* • *yelling pauses* • Sungwoon nearly passes out • after,,, ‘THAT WAS SO FUN LET’S GO AGAIN BABE.’ • you guys stay there until almost closing time • cue staff trying to chase you out • ‘the night is still young.’ • so, you take a trip to Siloso Beach to watch the sunset • munching on fries • you rest your head in Sungwoon’s lap, his hands playing with your hair • the waves crash against the beach, the sunlight glimmers against your skin • ‘this is so different from Korea…’ Sungwoon mutters, almost to himself • he kisses your forehead affectionately, causing a smile to pull at your lips • ‘I like spending this kind of Christmas with you too.’

[statebeggar70-blog]

The 1900 Charles de Cordova House - 312 West 105th Street

Once development got going on the Upper West Side, it steamrolled.  Beginning in the 1880s developers filled entire block fronts in a single sweep with harmonious homes designed by a single architect.

The West Side residences, designed mostly in expressive historic revival styles were replete with turrets, gargoyles, dog-legged stoops and stained glass windows.  They bore no resemblance to the Parisian-inspired palaces of the Upper East Side.

Except, perhaps, on West 105th Street.

Developer-builder John C. Umberfield joined in the building boom by purchasing the block front of 105th Street between the newly-completed Riverside Drive and West End Avenue.  He commissioned the architectural firm of Janes & Leo to design a striking row of high-end residences that would stretch from No. 302 to 320.   The firm had just completed The Alimar around the corner at No. 925 West End Avenue, an exuberant high class apartment building in the Beaux Arts style.

For Umberfield’s string of homes, the firm would turn to the style again, creating a row of French-influenced mansions much more akin to their across-the-park cousins than their brick-and-stone West Side neighbors.  Construction began in 1899 and the row was completed a year later.  The homes were all highly similar, but discreetly individual.  The mansions were grouped in twos with each pair being nearly identical.  By arranging the row this way, the architects accomplished a harmonious flow and a sense of balance.

The row was designed as three pairs, No 312 being second from left.

The completed residences were offered for sale in 1900 for between $42,500 and $50,000--just over $1 million today.  Umberfield sold No. 312 to Charles de Cordova in April 1901.

Born in London in 1854, de Cordova was the sole proprietor of De Cordova Sons & Co., a tea brokerage company.  The Trade Journal's All About Tea called the firm a "leader in the American tea trade."

Charles de Cordova in his later years.  from All About Tea, 1935.

De Cordova was, indeed, a leader in his business.  In 1895 he had pushed for a "tea law" and was greatly credited for the passing of the 1897 Tea Importation Act which banned the importing of tea contaminated by pesticides, metals, and the like.  In 1918 his shipment of Japanese tea on the S. S. Tsushima Maru was the first tea shipment to pass through the Panama Canal.

A respected member of social and business clubs, De Cordova proved his novel decorating skills shortly after buying the 105th Street mansion.  The Virginia newspaper the Richmond Planet reported on June 1, 1901 "A new idea in table decorations was evolved by Charles De Cordova in a dinner given by the New York Athletic club to P. R. Todd, recently elected to a vice presidency of the New York, New Haven & Hartford railroad.  In the center of the table was a large bank of roses, around the edge of which was constructed a miniature railroad, on which a locomotive, baggage car and passenger coach, operated by electricity, whirled about the table at a speed of about 50 miles an hour."

Focus turned from business to social interests in the Spring of 1906.  The mansion was the scene of the wedding of de Cordovas' only child, Fanny, to Dr. John W. Sanborn of Boston.  The ceremony took place on April 18, 1906.

The family routinely summered in either Stockbridge, Massachusetts or Lakewood, New Jersey.  They took a break from the New York winter in 1907 by traveling to Kingston, Jamaica.   Their vacation amid palm trees and tropical breezes was horribly and tragically disrupted when a massive earthquake hit the island on the afternoon of Monday, January 14.  

Every building in Jamaica was damaged and, as had been the case less than a year earlier in San Francisco, fires erupted throughout the city.  An estimated 10,000 people died.  The Washington Times reported on January 17 "not less than $10,000,000 of her property [is] absolutely wiped out."  The newspaper listed among the injured Charles de Cordova and among the dead, his brother Edward.

Charles's wife, the former Ella Nichols, involved herself in several organizations, including the Women's Guild of St. Luke's Church and the School of Domestic Art and Sciences, of which she was treasurer.  

The couple left the West 105th Street house in 1925.  They moved into the Belnord apartments on West 86th Street.  The couple had been married 45 years at the time; but their domestic bliss was about to come to an end.  Throughout their marriage Charles had turned over his "surplus earnings" to Ella to use for living expenses and to invest.  While living on 105th Street his average income was about $245,000 by today's standards.

On August 22, 1929 the aging Charles sought an injunction against Ella, who was 72, to restrain her from disposing of their life savings.  Charles asserted in court that their son-in-law, Dr. Sanborn, had "maliciously influenced" Ella to move all the securities into her own name; presumably with the goal of getting control.  De Cordova lamented that Sanborn had destroyed the happiness of his home "and the comradeship of his wife for forty-eight years" and that he had "been stripped of all his savings of these years and is left, at the age of 75, with a broken home and less than $11,000 in securities which he happened to have in his own custody."  The ugly court battle continued for weeks.

In the meantime, Robert Davison Petty had purchased No. 312 from the de Cordovas in 1925 for $31,000, about $433,000 today.  Petty had been appointed dean of the New York Law School the year before; prompting his resignation as Assistant District Attorney.  Born on a farm in Washington Township, New Jersey, it was a farming accident which resulted in his conspicuous change in career paths.

As a young man he was cutting down a field of corn when the scythe slipped and severely cut his knee cap.  The injury prevented any further physical labor.  While he convalesced he decided he would like to become an attorney.  In 1883 he graduated fifth in his class at Princeton University.  Two years later he graduated form the Columbia Law School and would later become that school's Professor of Law.

Petty's wife was the former Florence Service.  The couple had seven children--Alice, Robert, Mary, Elizabeth, John, Katharine, and Richard--four of whom lived in the West 105th Street house with their parents.

On the night of June 2, 1932 Petty personally awarded degrees to 124 graduates at the commencement ceremonies of the New York Law School.  Upon returning home the 72-year-old chatted with his son-in-law, Ray Bouton, about his youth and said he would like to go back to the farm some day to live out his remaining years.

The following morning he did not come down to breakfast at the normal time, but the family assumed that he overslept after the strenuous night.  At noon daughter Elizabeth went up to waken him.  She discovered he had died in his sleep.  His funeral was held in the house the following Monday.

On December 10, 1937 son Richard Servis Petty married Marcille Littlefield in the West End Presbyterian Church.  Richard had followed in his father's footsteps and was also a lawyer.  The marriage did not reduce the population of No. 312, but increased it.  The New York Times noted "Mr. and Mrs. Petty will live at 312 West 105th Street after a trip to Canada."

Daughter Katharine's wedding seven months later was held in the family home.  Katharine, like her siblings, had enjoyed a privileged upbringing.  She attended the Ethical Culture School, graduated from the Horace Mann School for Girls and Miss Hunter's School.  She married Alvah Howard Lance on July 16, 1938.

No. 312 West 105th Street sold was sold on August 20, 1945.  Florence would survive until February 8, 1960, having outlived not only her husband, but daughters Katharine and Elizabeth.

The house had became home to Jewish doctor from Hungary, Laci Klein and his wife, Ansci, who had recently escaped from almost certain death in his homeland.  Once here, according to Judy Cohen in her Song of the Silent Bell, as Klein's siblings escaped the Nazis regime, he provided them a place to live.  Ansci's family was tragically lost to the Holocaust.  In 1952, upon becoming naturalized citizens, the Kleins changed their surname to Kay.  They remained at No. 312 until early in 1956.

Laci and Ancsi Klein in front of 312 West 105th Street.  from Song of the Silent Bell by Judy Cohen

In 1962 the former mansion was converted to a doctor's office in the ground floor, and eight apartments in the upper floors.  

photographs by the author

Source: http://daytoninmanhattan.blogspot.com/2018/12/the-1900-charles-de-cordova-house-312.html

[howellrichard]

Eco-Friendly Vegan Leather: Everything You Need to Know

Hiya Gorgeous,

I was blown away by the response to one of my recent blog posts, What the Fast Fashion Industry Doesn’t Want You to Know. I know how passionate this community is about the environment, animals and other humans. But your overwhelming positivity, support and enthusiasm for this topic really knocked my socks off!

Your excitement also left me more determined than ever to band together to save our precious planet. When our individual contributions start to add up, we have the power to change the world.

Something else stood out to me about the fast fashion blog post: I got a lot of questions about my favorite ethical, sustainable and cruelty-free brands. Many of you wanted more specific eco-friendly shopping how-tos and tips. I’m thrilled to say that today’s post is the first in a series all about that—and we’re kicking it off with the ultimate guide to vegan leather!

What’s the problem with leather?

If you read my post about the fast fashion industry, then you’re already aware of some of the issues that come along with exploiting animals for their fur, skins, etc. Animal agriculture requires massive amounts of land, water, fuel and feed. This industry is responsible for more greenhouse gas emissions than all of the world’s transportation systems combined, and percent of the Amazon rainforest has been cleared to make way for pastures or for growing feed crops (source).

When it comes to leather specifically, the picture doesn’t get any better. The leather tanning process is often incredibly toxic. People who work in tanneries or live near them are exposed to harmful chemicals used to process, treat and dye animal skins. This often takes place in developing countries where child labor isn’t regulated, proper waste management systems aren’t in place, and workers aren’t well-protected or paid (source).

And our innocent animal friends endure horrific conditions. They’re often confined to overcrowded indoor spaces without access to sufficient food, water or fresh air. They suffer through painful procedures without anesthesia (like castration and branding) and face countless other forms of unimaginably cruel treatment (source).

We can do better. Animals, other people and the environment do NOT need to suffer for our wardrobes. That’s where eco-friendly vegan leather alternatives come in!

What is vegan leather?

Two vegan leather alternatives you may have heard of are PVC and PU. PVC is a petrochemical product that is heavily processed from start to finish. Many companies have moved away from using it because it requires fossil fuels to produce, contains toxic chemicals like Phalates (not safe for the environment or people!) and creates an enormous amount of waste (source). If you see PVC or its derivatives on a tag, you can bet it’s not a sustainable vegan leather alternative.

What is PU leather?

PU (polyurethane) is a popular vegan leather alternative. Many brands say it’s more eco-friendly than PVC, but do a little research and you’ll find a lot of mixed opinions. Some say that PU production results in just as many toxic emissions and waste as PVC, and that calling it sustainable is simply not true (source).

PU proponents, on the other hand, say that it’s a better option than animal exploitation and overall its environmental footprint is smaller than that of leather. My team and I did a lot of research on this since we know PU is widely used by the brands we’re sharing later in this article. There’s no easy or straightforward answer, but for the most part we agree that PU does less harm than leather.

A note on conscious consumption.

That brings me to an important reminder: Products of all kinds (purses, shoes, sheets, kitchen tools, you name it!) are only as sustainable, ethical and kind as the company they come from… no matter what they’re made of. Know the brands you buy from. Learn about the materials they use, their factory standards, how they treat their workers and how they manage waste. A purse made with PU from a brand with strong environmental and social practices is very different from a similar bag from a less conscious brand.

And here’s a hint: If a brand doesn’t provide clear, specific info about how they’re protecting people, animals and the environment, proceed with caution. Companies who prioritize this stuff speak up about it. Let’s demand more transparency!

Love the environment as much as I do? Get more sustainability tips and my free Starter Kit:

A peek into the future: more sustainable vegan leather alternatives!

Some brands are creating truly innovative vegan leather options out of organic and recycled materials. They’re more eco-friendly than the standard alternatives we discussed above, but are often more expensive, harder to find and not as broadly appealing (either because they don’t mimic the leather look and feel people want, or aren’t as high-end looking). But as the demand for sustainable vegan leather grows, I suspect we’ll see these options continue to improve and become more widely available.

Here are some of the coolest, most innovative materials that stood out to me:

Piñatex: Fruit is even more awesome and versatile than I thought—this incredible vegan leather is made from pineapples! It’s beautiful, watertight and durable. Plus, the company that manufactures it has some fantastic sustainability and social practices (learn more about them here). My fave cruelty-free watch brand, Votch, has an entire  collection of piñtatex watches.

MuSkin: This vegan leather is made from another one of my favorite plants—mushrooms! More specifically, it’s made out of the cap of a parasitic, inedible variety called Phellinus ellipsoideus (source). I don’t see a whole lot of MuSkin products available yet, but I bet that’ll change soon.

Apple peel leather: You read that right! An apple a day does more than just keep the doctor away. Companies like Veggani are using industrial apple peel waste to create environmentally friendly pieces like this gorgeous crossbody bag.

Recycled materials: Recycled rubber, recycled car tires, recycled plastic… oh my! Lots of companies are repurposing materials that would otherwise sit in landfills (or the ocean, rivers, forests, etc.) by creating shoes, bags, belts, etc. out of them. Rothy’s, for example, uses plastic water bottles to make their super cute (and machine washable!) shoes.

Get the ultimate guide to eco-friendly vegan leather alternatives—the best materials, top brands and more!

18 Eco-Friendly Vegan Leather Alternatives

There are so many wonderful companies out there dedicated to making fashion a kinder, more eco-conscious business, and I’m thrilled to highlight some of them today! This list is purely for your info and to support you on your eco-friendly journey—I’m not sponsored or getting paid to promote any of these brands. 

Note: These brands use a variety of materials. There are plenty of options if you want to avoid PU!

GUNAS (maker of high-end purses, wallets and shoes) believes that just being vegan isn’t enough—they’re looking out for other humans and the environment, too. And here’s something that really sets them apart: They encourage conscious consumerism. So rather than pushing you to buy fast and often like so many of the brands we’re familiar with, they want you to take your time and make careful decisions. I love this more purposeful, minimalist approach!

Whatever the season or occasion, you’ll be able to find the perfect pair of vegan leather shoes from Bhava. I’m eyeing these strappy sandals—what color is your fave? Bhava also does a great job explaining some of the problems with leather and fast fashion, along with what they’re doing to change the face of footwear.

Svala helps protect animals in more ways than one. Not only is their line of purses and wallets cruelty-free, they also donate a portion of the profits to charities like WildAid, whose mission is to end the illegal wildlife trade. Svala also buys carbon offsets to reduce their environmental footprint and uses recycled plastic bottles to line their bags—yay!

Rafa makes beautiful, hand-crafted vegan shoes in Los Angeles, California. While they keep a few things in stock, most items are made to order. This allows the Rafa team to dedicate time and quality craftsmanship to each unique pair. Check out this short and sweet video about how (and why!) they do what they do.

This is a trend I didn’t think I’d see again—fanny packs! HFS Collective’s belt bags are designed to “free you from your baggage.” That means more hands to pet every pup you meet, carry green drinks and do other stuff you love.

I mentioned Rothy’s in last year’s eco-friendly holiday gift guide, and this is still one of my fave brands for comfy shoes that can be dressed up or down. Their pointed toe flats are the perfect versatile basic. The uppers are made of 100 percent post-consumer water bottles, and the other parts of the shoe are made of a mix of recycled, non-toxic, vegan materials. Even their shoe boxes are biodegradable!

A pair of easy-to-wear slides is a must-have for the warmer months of the year, and Indosole has totally nailed an eco-friendly option. Not only do they come in some great colors, they also give a second life to a pervasive waste product—car tires!

Noani (meaning No Animal—yes!) has vegan leather belts for everyone in your life. They use innovative eco-friendly materials like eucalyptus and apple fibers. Plus, they’re committed to maintaining safe, fair working conditions for everyone involved in creating their products.

I love how transparent VEERAH is about the materials they use to make their luxury, sustainable, vegan shoes (check out a detailed list here!). Plus, can we talk about these gorg bright blue pumps made from apple leather? Anyone who thinks eco-friendly and fashionable don’t belong in the same sentence should get a load of those!

MooShoes is a vegan leather lover’s dream. Unlike the other brands on this list, this store is a hub where you can get goodies from a variety of cruelty-free brands. Their NYC location was the first cruelty-free retail store of its kind when it opened back in 2001 and they’ve since expanded to LA. But no worries if you’re not close to either of those locations—the website is easy to use and jam-packed with shoes, bags and more that’ll satisfy all style sensibilities.

I think that Angela Roi makes some of the most beautiful cruelty-free purses out there. That said, I’d love to see them expand the info available on their site about their sustainability practices and working conditions. Transparency is where it’s at, folks!

Looking for some comfy kicks for walking the dog, running to the store and everything in between? You’ll love Native Shoes, which are cruelty-free AND easy on the planet. In fact, Native has committed to making all of their products 100 percent lifecycle managed by 2023 (learn more about what that means here).

This circular purse from Hozen is so cute! And there’s a lot more than meets the eye here—Hozen donates 10 percent of their profits to Mercy for Animals (one of my favorite orgs!) and makes their products in small batches to avoid wasteful excess stock.

Nae (stands for No Animal Exploitation—so good!) has something for everyone. These desert boots are a great wardrobe staple. And who doesn’t need a simple, everyday black belt?

One of the wardrobe essentials I’ve had trouble finding in cruelty-free form is a vegan leather moto jacket! Then I came across this piñatex stunner from Altiir. It’s certainly not cheap, but could be a worthwhile investment if you wear it a lot and keep for years to come.

Labante London makes gorgeous purses, wallets and other accessories out of recycled materials. According to their website, they’ve already saved 10 million plastic bottles from languishing in landfills! I’m a big fan of this functional, timeless wallet.

Beyond Skin has a wide range of sandals, boots, heels, flats and more available in a variety of fun prints and fabrics. They’re also really upfront about their business and sustainability practices, which means you can buy with confidence. And how about these must-have mustard sandals? Love!

Have a favorite sustainable, cruelty-free brand I didn’t mention? Shout them out in the comments below!

I want to hear from you!

What other topics would you like me to cover in this eco-friendly series (home goods, skincare/makeup, etc.)?

Peace & cruelty-free fashion,

The post Eco-Friendly Vegan Leather: Everything You Need to Know appeared first on KrisCarr.com.

[renegadepilgrim]

A First-Timer Guide to Yelapa

I recently spent a glorious week in a tiny little hamlet south of Puerto Vallarta with my girlfriend, two good friends and my sister and her girlfriend. I want to share what I learned there so you can plan your own trip to a slice of paradise.

Where is Yelapa?

Yelapa is a 45 minute water taxi ride south of Puerto Vallarta.

See the red dot on the map below? That’s Yelapa.

Fun Facts About Yelapa You Need to Know:

There are no cars in Yelapa. The road stops about 2km from the pueblo. The only way to get there is via water taxi. Pretty cool, right?

Since there are no cars in Yelapa, they have to be creative with transport. Walking is the main form of transportation and the pueblo is easy to get around in, though the roads are a mix of dirt, concrete and cobblestone and the town is quite hilly too. Everything you want to do is within walking distance and no more than a 20-30 minute walk in any direction. You will also notice there are 4WD ATVs running around. For 50 pesos, you can have them take you pretty much anywhere in town. You will also see mules and horses. These are often used to transport goods around town. Be sure to give them right of way.

There are no ATMs in Yelapa. There are a few places that will take credit cards, but will add a service fee up to 5% onto the price to use the card. We also found a few of the jewelry vendors on the playa also took cards. That was pretty much it. Because of this, cash is king in Yelapa. You will want to bring enough cash for your trip, or plan a day trip to Puerto Vallarta to go to a bank to get more money. Do not plan on being able to use your credit cards. And do not bring USD. You are in Mexico. You will need to pay with Mexican pesos. If you do have USD, you will be able to exchange the money around town but the rate is not very good. I also recommend making sure you have bills smaller than the 500 peso ones the ATMs dispense. It helps you be a better guest to the people in town.

Cell service is spotty at best. Wifi is relatively fast, and most places have it but don’t have the password readily accessible so you need to ask for it. I use Verizon, and have their international plan that includes Mexico and Canada, so it was nice to have service when I could get it.

Electricity can come and go. This is normal. It will come back on. Don’t be alarmed and be prepared with a flashlight or a candle or two. Speaking of flashlights, bring one. Or a headlamp. The streets are not well lit at night and you will need one to avoid stepping in horse poop or tripping on a stone.

Life is much slower here. Food can take a while. Don’t worry about it. Good things come to those who wait. Take this time to speak with your friends or family who are with you and enjoy each other’s company. If you want to pay for your meal, you need to ask for the check by saying “la cuenta por favor”. They’ll bring it over and you can pay and go. Tipping of 10-15% on a meal is standard.

If you venture out of the pueblo to the river area, be prepared for bugs and a jungle experience. Why? Because you are in the jungle! Bring some bug spray too.

How do I get to Yelapa?

Such a good question! I am going to share the way we got there with step by step instructions. I will also share some travel tips that helped us along the way. Please note, there are two ways to get there via water taxi. We went with what was easiest. You can google the other one.

Get off your plane and follow the crowd to Immigration and Customs.

Be sure you have the form they give you on the plane COMPLETELY filled out, including the bottom portion (I learned this the hard way). You will give this to the Customs person and need to hold onto the bottom part to give at departure.

The first line is Immigration. This should go relatively quickly, and once you get your stamp, head on to baggage claim. I fly carryon only, so I immediately went to get into the Customs line. This one is a little bit longer. When you get to the front of the line, you’ll hand the form over to the Customs agent and then hit a button. If you get green, you go on through. If you get red, then you will have a secondary screening for organic material in your bag. They’re looking for anything that could allow foreign bugs to infiltrate their local flora and fauna. Leave those apples at home folks!

Once you get through Customs, the fun begins! You will now be subject to a barrage of timeshare sales people. They will do everything in their power to get you to stop and talk to them. They will lie about where the taxis are, they will tell you it’s closed, whatever it takes to talk to get you to talk to them. Put your head down, do not make eye contact and do not stop until you round the corner to where the car rental places are. You are almost out! Round another corner and you are now into the arrivals area. If you bust a hard right, you will see a row of ATMs.

Stop at the ATM and pull out as much money as you think you will need for your stay. Be sure to let your bank back home know you are going to be traveling so they don’t lock down your card. For one week and some some change I took out about 8000 pesos (approx $420 USD). This allowed me about a 1000 peso/day/person budget. This was more than enough for me. I was able to do about 500 peso/day which allowed me extras for souvenirs and other things we needed to buy. Please note: I did not drink alcohol on this trip, so if you choose to drink, your daily rate will go up accordingly.

Once you have pulled out enough cash, walk out the door to the official taxi stand and tell them you want to go to “Playa de los Muertos pier” to get the water taxi to Yelapa. They know where this is and they will ask you if you want to pay in pesos or USD. They will give you a sheet of paper with the price (approx 344 pesos as of March 2019) and where you are going written down on it. Wait for them to get you a taxi. You will hold onto the piece of paper. As you are leaving the airport, you will hand over the piece of paper and pay the 344 pesos. Your driver will help make this go smoothly.

The taxi driver will take you to the closest street to the Playa de los Muertos pier and you can leave him a tip of a couple of dollars (20-50 pesos is fine).

Walk towards the pier and you will see two water taxi offices. The first is one on the left and just past them on the right is the second one. It doesn’t matter which one you use. You can go in and pay. It’s up to you whether you want to get a roundtrip or one way ticket. Roundtrip was 380 pesos. If you are there early, they will watch your luggage for you and you can go to a bank to get the large bills broken down into smaller bills or go grab a bite. The last water taxi leaves at 5p, so don’t miss it!

When you get on the water taxi, there are some kids that will help with your bags. Let them do it and then tip them 20 pesos. Hand it to the kids. Don’t hand it to the adults. Take any help they offer for steadying you or grabbing a hand to help you get on the boat. Trust me. And take it slow and steady.

You’ve made it on the boat! There will be two stops when you arrive in Yelapa. The first is at the hotel pier and the second is at the town pier. Depending on where you are staying, they will tell you which pier to get off of. And most places will have someone there with a wheelbarrow to help you with your luggage. Be sure to tip this person 20-50 pesos as well.

I’ve arrived in Yelapa, now what?

Well, first off….relax. No, seriously. This is the place to relax. There isn’t a whole lot to do here. That’s why you are here, right? Okay, have we taken a few deep breaths? Is all that tension in your neck going away? Good. Here are some suggestions of things to do.

Food and Drink

We ate at a lot of great places. These are the standouts.

Abuelos (great tacos)

Tacos y Mas (more great tacos, only open M-F in the evenings)

Cafe Bahia (best breakfast in the pueblo, closed on Thursdays)

Yelapa Yacht Club (they take credit cards and have large portions)

Ice cream, imported from Guadalajara and next to Tienda Yuri (I think that’s the name), usually open in the evenings. Look for the storefront that says “Helado” on it.

We also ate here:

Mimi’s Cafe

Cafe Eclipse

Gloria’s

Oasis by the River

If you want to cook, you can buy groceries at one of the tiendas and make your own breakfast or lunch. Honestly the food is cheap enough, I recommend at least eating one or two meals out a day. This is a small community that relies heavily on tourism, so share the love.

All the places in town use filtered water for their ice and where you stay should also provide one of those big bottles of water for you to use. I do not recommend drinking the water out of the tap, though it’s fine for brushing teeth and showering. One of my favorite non-alcoholic beverages was either a limonada or a naranjada.

Boat Trip

We found a few places offering a variety of boat trips from snorkeling to fishing. Here they are:

MiraMar Excursions: We met Super Amigo while walking one day. Great guy and would totally go out with them. They have a lot of options and their prices are very competitive. You can book ahead or when you get to Yelapa. They also have places to stay, on their website or on Airbnb.

Garcia Charters: We stayed in an Airbnb listing operated by the Garcia family. They also offer charters. They have more fishing options than other stuff, but I am sure could put something together for you if you asked.

Ultimately, we ended up meeting a guy named Frankie at Fanny’s on the playa and he took us out for about 6 hours, which included snorkeling, hanging out on a private beach, eating lobster in Chimo and getting to experience life as a local. Cost was $60/person (not including lunch in Chimo or tip). If you want to give Frankie a try, ask around town for him and tell him Heather sent ya.

The Playa

We spent a few days on the playa. There are a whole row of restaurants there where you can order some food and lay out on their beach chairs under their umbrellas. You can also rent kayaks, SUPs and try your hand at parasailing. The playa is easily accessible from town, or you can also take a water taxi from the town pier to the playa. Unsure of cost as we never tried it. Also of note: the sandy area at the beach drops off quickly if you go wading out there. Be careful!

Waterfalls

There are two waterfalls. One is in town, and the other is about a two hour hike outside of town. Unfortunately, we did not make it to either of them due to one of our group members having some ankle issues. This is on our list for next time.

Where to Stay

Airbnb is a great option if you are looking for a place with a kitchen. We ended up at a Garcia Rental that was posted on Airbnb. I would also look at MiraMar and Garcia Rentals (both have their spaces listed on Airbnb too) if you want to have your own “home” for your stay. There are hotels in Yelapa if that’s your thing too. For the upscale (or special occasion), you could try Verana. Otherwise, Hotel Lagunita is a popular option. Casa Bahia Bonita is another option.

Be sure to find out how many stairs you have to walk up and down to get to your place. Yelapa is quite hilly and most places are good about letting you know about stairs and how many there are to get where you are staying. You will most likely be right on the ocean, which is amazing for watching birds, iguanas, and other sea life (we saw crabs crawling around on rocks below our Airbnb!) and the views of all the boats in the bay every morning and night is something I always looked forward to. Word to the wise: you are right next to the ocean. As such, the ocean makes sounds. If you don’t like sounds of the ocean, maybe go stay at a resort with soundproof walls and windows instead. I actually read a review from someone who was disturbed by the sounds of the ocean!

If you’d like to see more pictures from our trip, I posted the highlights on my Instagram account, @renegadpilgrim. Check it out! Please leave comments below and ask any questions!

[sampson47sampson-blog]

Do's And Don'ts That You Will Make Your Travel Easier

A vacation is not much of a vacation until you get out the door and arrive at your destination. The packing and the travel can be quite difficult and cause the need for a vacation for you and your family. These tips were written to help you through the stressful stages of vacation planning. If you are traveling to another country brush up on that country's laws. Some foreign countries have laws that you might view as a little strange or not expect. As a precaution, it is always a good idea to familiarize yourself with the laws specific to the place you are visiting. Pack your own pillow. If you have trouble sleeping away from home, try bringing your own pillow along. Some people find it difficult to sleep in a bed that isn't their own. Having a familiar pillow under your head can make a surprisingly huge difference. It could mean the difference between sleepless nights and being well rested for another day full of activities. When traveling to a country outside of North America and Western Europe, carry cash or pre-purchased traveler's checks. You cannot count on your credit or debit card to work the same way it does at home, nor is there any guarantee of access to ATMs. Converting your money or buying traveler's checks before you leave also protects you against unscrupulous money changers. If you are traveling with a companion but you do not normally share funds, consider having a joint wallet, for expenses like meals, travel and lodging. You and your companion can add the same amount of money to the joint wallet each day. This way, you aren't constantly splitting bills or exchanging money. When traveling, don't forget that you can travel by bus to many areas in North and South America. It can be much less expensive than flying and is generally lower-stress for the travelers. Traveling by bus has lost much of its stigma in recent years, with many companies purchasing new vehicles and even hiring security guards to ride along. Ditch the fanny pack. Not only do you look the part of a tourist, a fanny pack is often easy pickings for a thief. If you crave the convenience of the fanny pack, consider getting a multi-pocket travel vest instead. These carry just as much but keep the items close to your body where they are safer. If you are traveling road-trip style and you have a smart phone, try downloading apps such as GasBuddy so you can look up what gas stations have the cheaper prices before you get into town. Spending 10-11 cents more per gallon can add up to quite a lot of extra cash that you could be spending elsewhere. To help relive stress, it is important to take a vacation from work. Going on an annual vacation will give you something to work hard for and it will give you a light at the end of the tunnel. It is important to reward yourself and there is no better reward than a vacation! If you are packing for a cruise, don't buy anything new for the trip. This is because most cruises today will allow you to remain in casual clothes even for dinner, and almost never require that you dress in black-tie formalwear. Whatever you currently own is most likely acceptable for the trip. When deciding on which National Park you would like to visit, keep in mind some parks see bigger crowds than others. There are National Parks that see millions of visitors every year. If you don't mind crowds, then this will not be a consideration you have to take. In most parks, even though there are lots of people, there is usually plenty of room. If Do's And Don'ts That You Will Make Your Travel Easier are someone who loves to travel frequently, a timeshare may be a good investment. Many timeshares offer a points system and exchange weeks. If your timeshare is in Maine and you would like to go to Aruba, you can exchange or trade your timeshare week with someone else. Although there is an initial investment, the money you will save on hotel stays, will be well worth the expense. If you will be driving when you travel to another country, take the time to contact your insurance carrier. They can give you any needed documentation that pertains to your insurance coverage, any additional insurance you may need and much needed advice or information about regulations for driving at your destination. Check for information on the individual airports that you are going to be flying in or out of. They will provide you with some great traveling tips, car rental companies that operate out of the airport and baggage information. It is one of the easiest ways to get the information that you need for smooth traveling. Pack a collapsible cooler to use on your travels. Inexpensive but incredibly useful, collapsible coolers take up very little room in your suitcase and are ideal for allowing you to have a picnic on your vacation. Not only do they save you money, but they can also be used to hold your dirty clothes when you are ready to return home. Find entertainment and attraction's websites before you leave for your trip. In many cases you will get a better price on the admission and it will eliminate standing in long lines to buy your tickets when you are there. It will also assure that the event will not be sold out when you get there. Travel can be an amazing experience but for people who are new to it it can seem quite intimidating. The most important thing to do before going on a trip is to make a checklist of all the important things. Tricks For Geting Lower Rates On Travel Excursions will help you to avoid apprehensiveness and be able to enjoy the trip better. Hopefully Tricks For Geting Lower Rates On Travel Excursions have found these tips to be both helpful and stress relieving. If you take them and apply them to the planning of your vacation, you are going to be able to get to your destination with far less stress than you would if you did not have the valuable information that you learned here.

[alonzohwurth]

Where Is The End Of The Line For Kasey Kahne?

The other shoe has dropped at Hendrick Motorsports, and Kasey Kahne will move on in 2018, in favor of William Byron. Open seats are opening up right and left, and yet just as quickly, they’re filling up. In most cases, the fannies filling those seats have less mileage on them.

In looking over the free agent market, Kasey Kahne is an interesting case. While he didn’t set the world on fire racing for Rick Hendrick, he was far from horrible. Hey, this is the most recent winner of the Brickyard 400 we’re talking about here. 18 career wins doesn’t place him among the immortals, but Kahne is no back marker either.

If wasn’t obvious before, sponsorship money talks. Though he’s 37, Kasey Kahne still has that boyish charm sponsors love. He can still pull off hawking energy drinks, soda pop, and consumer electronics. He’s not the stereotype of the old racing redneck, and while he’s not exactly the clown prince of racing, Kahne seems to have the persona of a fun guy away from the track.

All this is to say that Kasey Kahne has some advantages other free agents don’t have. Matt Kenseth is 45, and though he has a decorated resume, he doesn’t quite have that “wow” factor. While it seems more logical that Kurt Busch will stay at Stewart-Haas for less money, the 2004 champion carries around some baggage that is a turn off to sponsors.

You know where he seems like a perfect fit? In another Stewart-Haas ride- the number 10. Now before you Danica fans beat me over the head, come on, there’s no comparing her career to Kahne’s. What’s more Danica Patrick has had PLENTY of opportunity to prove her worth, and on the track, she’s just not getting it done. Realistically, Kasey Kahne is a top 20 driver, and if he re-discovers the magic, maybe even a top 10. Other than a few fleeting moments of brilliance, Patrick is mired around 25th to 30th.

To answer question posed in the title, Kasey Kahne would seem to have at least five more years in him. If things go well at his next stop- and he will get one- he could go longer.

Don’t write this guy off, not just yet.

The post Where Is The End Of The Line For Kasey Kahne? appeared first on NASCAR.

from Cars & Auto RSS Feed http://www.allleftturns.com/end-line-kasey-kahne/

[photorejuvenationtherapy]

Travel Car Service To LGA Airport Smart And Safe Using These Tips

Travel Car Service to LGA Airport Smart And Safe Using These Tips

When you are planning traveling, you desire to make certain that your holiday goes as smoothly as you can. Regardless if you are planning a weekend getaway or a trip around the globe, don’t let anything get in the way of your enjoyment. The information in this post will help you make sure you get the best from your travel.

When traveling, increase your safety plus your satisfaction by wearing a money belt. This item is one essential that you are unable to go without when traveling, and it is barely noticeable to use. Keep your wallet plus your passport safe inside your money belt to ensure that no matter what happens, they don’t get lost.

If you are planning to go to a country in a really different time zone to yours, ensure you factor jet lag into your plans. Developing a low key, relaxing first day planned can get your journey away and off to a good start, and get away from you needing to explore when all you should do is sleep.

Choose an aisle seat around the plane. Other than providing a view, your window seat has few benefits where as an aisle seat will enable you unrestricted use of your overhead baggage, the restrooms, airplane staff as well as present you with one side that is not bulging with someone else or their belongings.

If LGA Car Service to Long Island NY you’re going to be staying in a hotel, one of the primary things you want to do is check the alarm clock. Often either the guest prior or perhaps a maid playing a prank will have the alarm clock set and it may wake you up blaring in your ear in the middle of the night time.

When staying at a high-end domestic hotel, bring along your own personal A/V cable to your laptop. Most rooms in hotels at nicer hotels offer free in-room WiFi plus a large HDTV, and definitely will then charge reduced for in-room movies. Obtaining your own A/V cable offers you usage of your personal choice of downloaded movies or even an online account.

Use rubber bands when packing. A lot of people already roll their clothes when packing their luggage for a trip. It saves a ton of space. To save more space, wrap a rubber band around these rolled clothes. It will assist you to pack more in the same space and make sure which they will not unroll through the trip.

Ditch the fanny pack. Furthermore you appear the part of a tourist, a fanny pack is frequently easy pickings for the thief. Should you crave the convenience in the fanny pack, consider getting a multi-pocket travel vest instead. These carry just as much but retain the items close to your system where they can be safer.

When you are getting for your location, lgacarservice.us consult with the locals for activities. Locals will know all the best places to opt for recreation or for food. It will help you avoid likely to less than thrilling places or places that are going to be extremely crowded.

Become familiar with the names of the hotel employees. They are the people that will be taking good care of you on your stay, and when you try to familiarize yourself with them, they are going to fall out of their strategy to make the stay better. Tipping these individuals never hurts!

In terms of exchanging your currency, it is focused on location. Will not be described as a last minute currency exchanger running with the airport in an attempt to buy your foreign money. Airports is a very costly way to obtain foreign currency exchange, along with the rates may not be to your great advantage. Exchanging ought to be one of several early things you do inside your planning, mainly because it also secures the money you intend for foreign spending.

Travel doesn’t need to be stressful. By making the most of some easy to remember advice, you may make sure that your trip is really as enjoyable and rewarding as possible. Avoid the headaches and stresses of traveling by making use of the information you’ve learned on this page, which means your vacation might be a dream as opposed to a nightmare.

from Photo Rejuvenation Therapy http://photorejuvenationtherapy.com/travel-car-service-to-lga-airport-smart-and-safe-using-these-tips/

[marklagublg]

Things That Can Take The Anxiety Away From Traveling

Today, traveling is undoubtedly an incredibly popular hobby and career that may be emerging. The requirement for people to travel for business or perhaps to enjoy themselves inside a new place, is rising. Now is the time that you can experience it, too. Below are great tips that you can use to get you started together with your traveling plans.

When deciding on a destination for your travels, keep abrest of the recent news. Picking locations which are in high degrees of turmoil may not be the very best idea. However, don’t let over-anxious friends and relatives talk you of a vacation to a safe and secure destination that has recently been the victim of some kind of attack.

When you are traveling, always be ready to have things stolen. Make advance photocopies of all your important papers. You may also upload electronic scans of the documents for simple access while traveling. The neighborhood American embassy can assist you in contacting those in your own home who are able to wire you emergency funds or assist in replacing your passport, although not much else.

Have a group journal in your hotel room on a trip. Put money into something as inexpensive as a spiral notebook, and let the people you will be flying with to publish in it during down time. This will present an interesting read later and you will be a nice keepsake out of your trip.

Make sure that you fill any prescriptions that you just take frequently before leaving town on a journey. Running out of medication while visiting a new place might be both stressful and dear as you must hunt down a pharmacy that may fill your prescription for you.

Peruse the blogosphere. Bloggers abound, there is most likely one, or else many, bloggers blogging concerning your destination. Their blogs are a good resource for finding specifics of hidden gems of your city–restaurants, hotels, attractions, and more. Don’t be shy. Should you contact them, most will be happy to answer your unique questions at the same time.

Tip your concierge! Whether it be on a cruise or at the hotel, your concierge will probably be your go-to guy for reservations, directions and almost anything else! Many concierges  recreation by design travel trailer have admitted that when someone is happy to tip them well, they are going to go out of their way to be certain those great tippers, use a fantastic time.

Ditch the fanny pack. Not only do you gaze the element of a tourist, a fanny pack is often easy pickings for a thief. Should you crave the benefit of the fanny pack, consider obtaining a multi-pocket travel vest instead. These carry just as much but keep the items near your whole body where they may be safer.

Your baggage can actually weigh you down on a trip. Carefully consider your clothing choices. There’s no reason to consider one half of anything you own! Take clothing that you could easily rinse out in a bathroom sink, or even in a bucket in case the situation so demands. Help make your choices combine, so a few items will probably be worn several items in different combinations.

If you’re taking a road trip but don’t have space to keep a cooler, there’s an easy way to actually have ice cold water on you trip! The night time before leaving, fill water bottles (yet not up to the most notable!) and place them in the freezer instantly. Take them about the trip along with you the following day and they’ll slowly melt over the course of the day, bringing you ice cold water.

Flying with groups might be frustrating to say the least. Who wants to miss their flight because one or more part of the audience can’t be located. One option is to help make everyone wear the same shade of colorful t-shirts and maybe even visors that may be remove once you are within the air.

Losing your rental car in large parking lots is not any fun. Carry one of those particular fluorescent foam balls that suit within the tip of your respective antenna and maybe even a colorful ribbon to tie towards the rear view mirror. They consume no room inside your luggage and might sure make locating that car a whole lot easier when there are actually exactly 37 others that seem to be just like it in the same row where you parked!

Taking time to travel to new areas during how you can an intended travel destination might help one find new places to be at for the next time they want to travel. Side trips can frequently yield new and exciting places for one to explore either on their own trip or perhaps to book an independent escape to experience fully.

You must now see why this hobby and career is incredibly popular. There may be a whole lot for you to see and do! Additionally there is a great deal of information about how to reap the benefits of each trip. By using these guidelines, you are well on your way to learning to be a smarter and safer traveler.

Source: http://delandalucia.com/travel-safely-and-comfortably-by-using-these-ideas/

from William Tuohy Maine coon herault Le site de DEL ANDALUCIA. https://williamtuohymainecoonheraultlesitededelandalucia.wordpress.com/2017/03/23/travel-safely-and-comfortably-by-using-these-ideas/