top-image

Hawaii_Aloha_LostABC’s hit show “LOST” certainly has no shortage of die-hard fans, me included. I’ve been a late-adopter of the show but “LOST” has been one of the shows I watch on a weekly basis in recent years. That’s why when I heard about Hawaii-Aloha.com’s recent “Destiny Calls” program, I immediately felt a surge of jealousy for those lucky enough to take part in the program. I’m lucky enough to have been to Hawaii before. I’ve even taken a helicopter tour of the island of Kauai, but nothing short of a lengthy Hawaii cruise with all of the amenities could compare to a weekend of rabid, unabashed “LOST” fanboyism.

Ryan and Jennifer Ozawa, two hardcore “LOST” fans, bloggers, and podcasters, partnered with Hawaii-Aloha.com and Island Adventures Tours & Travel to create the “Destiny Calls” program. In addition to the regular “Sunset on the Beach” advance screening of the first hour of the premiere on Saturday, January 30, there was a travel itinerary designed to make this pilgrimage to Hawaii truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

On Friday, there was a “Aha Aina” kickoff dinner held poolside at the Park Shore Waikiki Hotel. On Saturday, a family-friendly brunch at Lulu’s in Waikiki before the beach premiere, beginning with entertainment and food at 4 PM. The trip culminated with a unique island-spanning tour of “LOST” filming locations on Sunday, January 31.

With “LOST” concluding in this sixth and final season, it’s no wonder that hardcore fans worldwide cleared their schedules to finally make that trip to Hawaii. Ryan and Jennifer Ozawa run a blog and podcast based on the show, so when they saw fellow fans planning their trips, they knew that a program like “Destiny Calls” would be helpful. Bruce Fisher, founder of Hawaii-Aloha.com, helped “LOST” fans find flights, hotels and put together the gala kickoff dinner. The brunch and tour sold out quickly, leaving those of us that missed out on this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity in a state of “loss” premiere weekend. Looks like I’ll have to settle for watching the premiere this Wednesday from the comfort of my own home. Maybe I’ll pick up some Hawaiian BBQ and drink a piña colada to get myself in the mood.

personal_fitness_trainingI go to the gym on a regular basis. I’m there at least three times a week and going has become a habit to help me stay active in my otherwise sedentary lifestyle. As a regular, I’ve become accustomed to working with a personal trainer. Personal trainers are there to instruct you on how to execute certain techniques and how to create a training regimen that helps you achieve the maximal results. I know I’ve seen a drastic change in my progress, energy level and overall fitness since I started personal training. As I got more and more fit, I started looking into what it takes to become a certified personal trainer and was surprised at what I had found.

1. Research your NSCA-CPT options. Ask your personal trainer where he/she got certified. My personal trainer was certified at the Career Networks Institute in Orange, CA. According to their website, CNI College recently renewed their education recognition at the National Strength and Conditioning Association, which is the first personal training credential to be nationally accredited by the National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA) in 1996 and has gone on to set the standard for personal training as the most well-respected personal trainer certification through national and international recognition. CNI College is 1 of 2 California schools with this prestigious recognition. Their Director of Education, Stacy Hinkel, and their newest staff member, Eric Burkhardt, fulfill the requirement of having a NSCA-Certified Personal Trainer as a full-time employee.
2. Research the program. The CNI Personal Training program is a nine-month program (typical programs last at least a year). CNI College’s NSCA approved curriculum completely prepares you for the certification by thoroughly covering anatomy, physiology, biomechanics, fitness testing, exercise techniques, program design and implementation, business management and a myriad of physical activities. The campus’s brand new athletic facility is conveniently located in Orange County minutes from the beach, so at CNI, you’ll be able to look and feel great, an important part of becoming a certified personal trainer!

With a fast-track nationally accredited option so close by, if I ever decide to become a personal trainer, I’ll be sure to check out the Career Networks Institute.

air-n-water_wall-heaterLow temperatures during the winter can really make living comfortably difficult, so that’s why wall heaters have gained huge popularity in homes and offices. Wall heaters can be mounted directly on the surface of the wall or recessed into the wall, thus also save valuable floor space. They are very energy efficient and can heat areas up to 500 square feet depending on the amount of wattage the wall heater provides.

Wall heaters offer many features that can make usage easy, safe, convenient, and energy efficient. Most electric wall heaters feature a built-in thermostat that controls the room temperature and a frost protection setting that automatically turns on unit at 41° F. An automatic reset high limit protection feature offers safety, as does the thermal safety switch that disconnects from power in the event of blocked ventilation or overheating. Some wall heaters also include a timer replacing wall switches, single or multi-gang timers and automatically limit the “on” time for heater. Another feature that makes wall heaters even more convenient to use is the remote control feature that some wall heaters include.

How to choose the correct wall heater for your home or office?
• Installation – Before choosing a wall heater first check the installation requirement at your home or office. Do you need a gas supply or only electricity for the wall heater?
• Safety – Highly important if you have children at home. You want to install a safe system fitted with all necessary safety features.
• Noise – Some wall heaters can be noisy so choose wisely if this will be a problem.

Keep these tips in mind and enjoy energy efficient heat this winter.

All-Travel_Celebrity_CruisesCelebrity Cruises Exclusives, All-Travel’s newest partner site in the All-Travel Network, offers a fully functioning standalone site designed to reflect Celebrity Cruises’s upscale cruising experience and unparalleled onboard service. Voted the World’s Best Large Ships by Condé Nast Traveler for six consecutive years, Celebrity Cruises is truly recognized all over the world.

(more…)

Sure, everyone knows that the iPhone and iTouch are great for storing all your favorite tunes, flicks and pics—but who knew they could also save your life?

With the iMedjet app developed by MedjetAssist, the nation’s leading medical emergency evacuation membership program, iPhone and iTouch users can travel with emergency medical care always at their fingertips. The iMedjet app, which is available for free download from iTunes, includes:

First Aid for Travelers: Includes technical illustrations and tips on what to do in the event of various medical emergencies; content provided by A Comprehensive Guide to Wilderness and Travel Medicine (3rd Edition), published by Adventure Medical Kits.
Mobile Medical Information Storage: Access for both the user and doctors and EMTs in case of emergency.
Mobile Medjet: Allows Medjet members to store membership info and get one-touch access to Medjet.com and emergency contacts; non-members can use the app to enroll in Medjet membership.

iMedjet_app

The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) welcomed applications from adventurous and energetic couples worldwide, to participate in “The Ultimate Thailand Explorers” social networking competition.

The ultimate travel competition’s winning couple received a cash prize of $10,000 USD, a holiday package valued at $3,000 USD, round trip airfare from Bangkok to Chiang Mai, two Blackberry Flip Pearl phones, and a voucher for two spa treatments at Oasis Spa in Bangkok and Chiida Spa in Chiang Mai. Due to the current economic climate, many couples took advantage of the possibility of participating in this travel competition in Thailand and winning the extravagant prizes.

The five selected couples had the opportunity to travel to Thailand’s top five tourist destinations; Phuket, Chiang Mai, Bangkok, Pattaya, and Koh Samui. Throughout the exciting 5-night, six-day tour, the contestants were required to share their experiences with Thailand culture, cuisine, scenery, etc. via social networking, including filing daily online reports, micro-blogging on Twitter, communicating across sites such as Facebook and MySpace, and sending e-cards to friends. The couples were also responsible for creating the most traffic to their postings so that digital citizens would vote for their story.

Interested contestants were required to apply online as a couple, regardless of their relationship. The vacation adventure was perfect for couples who are digitally savvy, familiar with blogging, and have outgoing personalities. Couples were to submit a one-minute video clip in English, which states which of the five Thailand destinations they would like to visit most and how they plan to narrate their adventure. Video clips were then judged by a panel of TAT judges on the basis of entertainment value and creativity. The five couples who were chosen to participate in the ultimate travel competition received “The Ultimate Thailand Explorer” T-shirts and a fully-paid Thailand itinerary, including air travel to and from their country of residence.

The participating couples brought awareness to Thailand travel and increased its presence across chat rooms, social-networking sites, blogs, and websites. Online viewers voted for their favorite couple, the winning couple received the most votes. Individuals who participated in voting were also eligible to win a prize package valued at $2,000 USD.

The contest brought the Tourism Authority of Thailand an abundance of knowledge about digital habits, lifestyle, and consumer trends for individuals all around the globe. For more details visit the mini-site www.ultimatethailandexplorers.com.

bottom-img