Rockefeller Tree

My husband joined us for Write Nite this week (yay!) and afterwards we walked over to see the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree...

Click to read more ...

Two Days, Two Parks

So it might've been snowing on Halloween, but this week Autumn was back in the air! We went to two parks – Central and Riverside – on two different days to soak up the beautiful weather....

Click to read more ...

Help Stop Plastic Waste this Earth Day

{katerha photo credit}

Over the last three years, we've made an effort to reduce our carbon footprint and use environmentally-friendly products. Some choices were easier than others. And we've successfully cut our carbon footprint by over 50% since 2008. But there's still work to be done.

This Earth Day, I've made a pledge to help stop plastic waste. I wrote up a post about the global one-time-use plastic waste problem on the Inside Nat Geo Channel Blog. I hope you take a moment and check it out. There's some eye-opening statistics and tips for how you can reduce your plastic waste this year.

Did you watch the show The 12,000 Bottle Boat last night on the National Geographic Channel? Fascinating stuff. Please check out a rerun this weekend.

Views from a Plane

Captured from a 4-passenger Cessna airplane in the Yucatan Peninsula...

Stay tuned to see the amazing images from our whale shark aerial survey!

See more Views posts.

Fallen Tree

We've been experiencing heavy storms in the northeastern USA. This mature tree toppled on a perimeter fence and, thankfully, missed the owner's home.

Plant Walls

When Matt and Emma bought an East Village apartment, they channeled their decor inspirations – from traditional Japanese styling to minimal modern – to create eco-friendly spaces. Over 400 plants live along an 80 square foot wall, absorbing air pollution and generating oxygen. Tour their entire apartment through this link and check out other vertical garden designs here.

Watch this DIY video and read this blog for visual cues on building your own plant wall.

I am so stealing this idea one day.

{via Apartment Therapy and the New York Times}

Earth Day Turns 40

{source}

I hope you enjoy celebrating our beautiful planet today.

How much do you actually know about the Earth? Take this quiz to find out and see photos of our rapidly disappearing world.

"We do not inherit the earth from our ancestors, we borrow it from our children." ~Native American Proverb

 {source}

* © passport in my pocket *

The Netherlands Carillion + Tulips

{source}

The Netherlands Carillon monument was a gift from the Dutch people to the United States after World War II as a symbol of friendship. Two bronze lions guard the plaza entrance.

This monument is located adjacent to the U.S. Marine Corps War Memorial in Arlington, Virginia. At Carillon concerts and on Independence Day, attendees can listen to the bells play.

{source}

Currently, tulips of all colors are planted along this national parkland. A few days ago, I photographed some of the varieties and a few pictures of my nieces on a beautiful sunny day.

More info on the Netherlands Carillon.

Plan your visit.

Grow tulips.

P.S. My bouquet at my wedding was made of red and white tulips.  :)

* © passport in my pocket *

National Cherry Blossom Festival

Today marks the first day of the week-long National Cherry Blossom Festival in D.C. This is the largest springtime event in the United States. There are over 150 scheduled festival programs, and most of them are free to attend. The blooms are scheduled to peak right around April 2nd of this year.

The people of Japan gifted the United States cherry blossom trees as a gesture of friendship in 1912. Now, there are over 3,500 trees and 16 varieties on National Park Service land.

While I couldn't make the festivities this year, I had a great time attending the events in 2009. If you haven't seen the cherry blossoms in bloom – or been to Washington, D.C. – this is the perfect time to schedule a trip.

Learn about the Cherry Blossom Festival.

See the calendar of events.

Get visitor information.

Print out easy transportation maps.

* © passport in my pocket *

Views from a Boat

Lakes Virginia, Maitland and Osceola. 

Take a Scenic Boat Tour.

See more Views posts.

I'm currently on the road!

Right now, I'm in Tampa Bay until around April 7th, and then I'll be headed up to Georgia. And from there? Probably Asheville, Richmond, Washington D.C., Baltimore and Annapolis, returning home to the NYC metro area around April 23rd or so. Have you received a postcard from me? I have 2 stamps left, so feel free to contact me. 

* © passport in my pocket *