Solutions for Serious Sun Lovers

Sun Lover's Paradise

“If you insist on being outdoors, you will have to take special precautions,” my dermatologist warned. When the sun comes out so do I. I simply can’t bear to be indoors when the birds start singing. I head out to hike along a sparkling creek shaded by stately sycamores, or to stroll the sands of Malibu. So, what is the solution?

First I put Face Cotz, a water resistant cream that contains Titanium and Zinc, on underneath my skin-toned makeup. This way I am certain to have some protection even if I’m just on a casual walk in the neighborhood.  This allows me to carry on daily affairs without anyone noticing that I am wearing protection.

Sun Salutation

If I am going on a real hike where I will be outdoors for extended period of time, I put the more intense SPF 58 Cotz Plus on under my makeup which is 100% free of chemical sun screens and oils with a hint of skin tone in it that blends translucent into my skin. I carry Total Block with UVA/UVB in my fanny pack that comes in a handy travel 2.oz size. I use this rich cream for emergency re-applications when on a walk with no shade, or at the beach. It dries clear is not sticky and is hardly noticeable on my skin.

Living in sunny southern California means I can be outdoors all year long. It also means the sun is aging my skin pre-maturely and I need to be more careful.  Soon, I will embark on an “Un-Cruise” throughout the Hawaiian Islands aboard the Safari Explorer. While this promises to be a trip of a life-time with kayaks, snorkels, paddle boards and skiffing included, it will also be the ultimate test for my skin care products.  Highly water-resistant Aqua Sport that retains its SPF qualities after 80 minutes of activity in the water will definitely be aboard the yacht with me.

Fun to Come

All of the Cotz products mentioned contain zinc, but they don’t put a sticky white film on my skin like other products I have used that contain zinc. My dermatologist stressed that zinc is a critical component in serious protection against the sun’s harmful rays.  Hopefully, the precautions I am taking along with a big brimmed hat and UVA/UVB sun protection clothing will allow me to enjoy the warming and rejuvenating aspects of the source that gives life to us all for many years to come.

For babies delicate skin try Badger which contains only natural ingredients, including Chamomile and Calendula. All of the Cotz sun protection products are available at Coolibar.com

Proof Positive the Universe Will Provide!

 

I was feeling blue about spending so much time marketing Wai-nani: A Voice from Old Hawai’i, and thought I was losing touch with what had inspired me to write her story in the first place. I longed for the sensuality, sustenance, and nurturing that comes when I am in what Mark Twain dubbed “the prettiest fleet of islands ever to lay anchor in the Pacific”—the Hawaiian Islands.

Then, in my email appeared an invitation for an “Un-Cruise” with American Safari Cruises throughout the Hawaiian Islands. Spending a week on a smallish ship with a maximum of 36 other passengers; stopping in sleepy lagoons on Lanai, Molokai, Maui and the Big Island to snorkel over coral reefs teeming with flamboyant fishes; kayaking; paddle boarding or skiffing sounded like this adventure travel writer’s idea of perfection.

Experiencing “moana,” the grand and vibrant sea, like the early Polynesian voyagers is a thrilling prospect for me. Not only would I be immersed in the elements; sun, balmy breezes and heavenly, cobalt blue water, I would not have to hassle with where I would sleep that night, or where I was going to eat. Was I dreaming? No! American Safari Cruises had already conjured up the perfect holiday for me with forays on land to sacred sites of historical significance.

OMG! I just completed the creation of Wai-nani’s Wayfinder—a map of sacred sites on the Big Island that I am giving as a gift to those who purchase a copy of Wai-nani. Could anything be closer to my heart?

So, this is why I say be careful what you ask for. You are liable to get it, and then the question becomes are you ready to meet the answer!

I promise to return brimming with warm "Aloha" and ready for a fantastic New Year!

Adventure-travel writer, Linda Ballou, shares Great Outdoor days in L.A, as well as a host of travel articles on her site, along with information about her travel memoir, Lost Angel Walkabout-One Traveler’s Tales, her historical novel Wai-nani, A Voice from Old Hawai’i and her latest action-adventure novel The Cowgirl Jumped over the Moon at-www.LindaBallouAuthor.com.  

Her quest today is to get to as many beautiful places as she can before they are gone. Subscribe to her blog www.LindaBallouTalkingtoyou.com and receive updates on her books, and travel destinations.

Message from the Guardians of Old Hawai'i

Mikilani Young

I got my much needed “Aloha fix” at Mikilani Young’s creative presentation of the guardians of Hawai’i, or Aumakua. 

I

It was a delightful fusion of traditional hula and powerful images of old Hawai’i. Mikilani did a voice over a slide presentation telling the myths and legends behind the dance that ensued. She explained that animals embody the spirits of departed loved ones who come back in dreams with messages to protect the living human. I thoroughly enjoyed her well-informed telling of the Hawaiian story.

 The dancers in her hula halau range from scene stealers who are about four years old to aunties still graceful in their senior years.  Flowing movements of the more experienced dancers in stunning red velvet gowns graced with white shell leis was mesmerizing. I enjoyed the variety of music and dances from Kahiko, the ancient dance to drumming and chant, to modern hip swinging hula and left the event filled with warm aloha.

Authors Shine at the Bank of Books

It was great fun sharing Wai-nani, and Lost Angel Walkabout at table with Kaira Rouda at the Local Author Fest sponsored by the Bank of Books in Malibu. Fast becoming a community hub, Bank of Books with it's cozy coffee bar and welcoming staff is the place in Malibu to find stimulating books and meet new friends. Thank goodness for this new Indie Book store that gives us a place to shine.





Delores- the God Mother of Malibu, made everyone smile with reflections about her life in Malibu over the past 44 years. She came from Brooklyn, started with a food truck and is now the author of a local classic "The Malibu Cook Book."

Stars Align for A Night in Old Hawai'i

Linda with Ann Lambert Vannov- Manager of Bank of Books

The new Bank of Books overlooking  the shining Pacific in Malibu supports local authors. The evening opened with Anna Liza McKeon performing the ancient Kahiko hula. She chanted and drummed for her son who is keeping the hula tradition alive.  This was followed by my talk about how to pull more mana, or spiritual power, into your life. Next, I took my guests on a visual journey to sacred sites scattered though out the Islands. It was a beautiful evening and a good time for all!
                                                                                                     

Anna Liza McKeon

Video of introduction to my talk below

Wellness travel diva interviews Linda Ballou

Elaine Masters women's radio show host for the Gathering Road interviews adventure travel writer Linda Ballou. In fifteen minutes learn what makes Linda strive for even greater adventure heights, why she has to share them with you and what a wild ride it has been.

Interview with wellness guru on Gathering Roads

A Night in Old Hawai'i-Hawaiian Spiritualty

Hawaiian Spirituality 

Lessons from Old Hawai’i

Linda Ballou, author of Wai-nani: AVoice from Old Hawai'i—fabled history couched in magical realism, shares lessons she learned from the People of Old Hawai’i. Her talk opens with an overview of the genesis of the Aloha Spirit-or Lokahi—a time

when Hawaiians lived in peace and harmony. Then Linda moves onto the triage of traditional Hawaiian healing methods enjoying  resurgence today.

Following her talk she takes you on a visual journey to sacred sites scattered through-

out the Islands with gorgeous images provided by the Hawaiian Tourist Authority

Oct 12, 2012- Program begins at 7:00PM

Bank of Books – Malibu

Point Dume Village

Heathercliff Rd. #109

Malibu, Ca 90265

310-457-5699

USA BOOK NEWS spotlights Lost Angel Walkabout

USA BOOK NEWS honors Lost Angel Walkabout One Traveler's Tales winner of the 2012 International Book Awards with complete listings of other great travel books on the site. 

Lost Angel Walkabout by Linda Ballou is one of the most beautifully written travel books I have ever read. Linda tells her personal experiences of her many travels in different continents and environs. She is well-known as a top adventure travel writer, and her tales of her intrepid soul's search for beauty in the wilds and her ability to rouse physically to any demands of the setting will thrill the reader.  She increased my desire to become more physically fit so that I could do some of the things she is daring and fit enough to do. She grew up in Alaska and has always loved horses. Her travel tales about returning to that wonderful environ and her experiences in many different places which involved riding horses are so beautifully inspiring.  Linda also leads walkabouts in Los Angeles. I highly recommend her book as a treasure you will want to read, and then to re-read aloud to anyone who might want to listen. Her use of words is very commanding and her descriptions so vivid you will feel you have traveled alongside her and seen all the beauty of the surroundings which she so deeply appreciates. This is a MUST READ!

Renegade Way to Make Travel Writing Work for You-Webinar

NATJA member and award-winning author Linda Ballou will present a Webinar August 15^th “The Renegade Way to Make Travel Writing Work for You.” She will show how to take control of your travel writing world and put you on the fast track to getting great trips! Visit her website and enjoy numerous travel articles that have appeared in national publications. Linda Ballou was most recently awarded for her book, Lost Angel Walkabout-One Traveler's Tales in the 2012 International Book Awards, where she was named a finalist and took home first place in the Travel Essay category.  Learn from her first-hand how to make travel writing work for you! 

Register Here 10AM PST

Last Chance for Romance in the West

Just in from a a boot scoot'en adventure at the North Fork Ranch nestled in the sleepy Platte River Valley. Join me on one of the Last Chances for Romance in the West.....

Aspen leaves spinning in a stout wind rattled like castanets. I found shelter beneath the spreading arms of an ancient spruce from the intense sun on a ledge overlooking the Platte River Valley. The ceaseless chatter of the river on its merry way to Denver kept me company. Below, nestled in the cleft of the blue mountains sheathed in Ponderosa Pine, North Fork Ranch rests hidden from the modern world. People come here from around the globe to breathe the crystalline air, fish in the clear waters and let a good horse take them back to the days when the west was young. /Read Full article here