Passports from the Heart

Comfort for a Cause: The Elephant Pants

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FTC Disclosure: Compensation was not received for this review. Opinions are solely those of the author based on product provided by The Elephant Pants.

Over the last year during my travels I’ve had encounters with elephants both in the United States and Africa. During my trip to Zambia last October, I remember telling my colleagues that I was praying to see an elephant in the wild. And boy did I get that and I may have shed a tear or two. I have a great love and respect for these beautiful creatures. Sadly, their population is declining at an alarming rate. Not only are they losing their habitat but did you know that every 15 minutes an elephant loses their life to poaching? Over the last two years, over 100,000 elephants have lost their lives to this. This is heartbreaking and at this rate we may very well have a world without this animal by 2050.

The Elephant Pants, a fashion brand created in 2014, is working to save the elephants. How? By selling PANTS! I wish I learned about this brand a while ago because they are my new go to. Not only are they stylish but they are COMFORTABLE. More importantly, by selling these pants, over $145,000 has been donated to organizations that work to save elephants.

The team behind The Elephant Pants are truly living up to ‘Be the Change You Wish to See in the World’. Don’t you think? This is the type of fashion I can get behind. Comfort and style for a cause.

Check out my shoot featuring The Elephant Pants

Photography By Andi Perullo Ledesma

Tyke Harem Pants

$24

Black Diamond Boho Pants

$28

 

 About The Elephant Pants:

Through strategic partnerships with organizations dedicated to making the world a better place for elephants, we make sure that a portion of every sale goes towards helping create a sustainable future where elephants thrive. By aligning ourselves with both global and localized grassroots operations, we aim to make a difference for elephants everywhere. While every elephant herd faces its own unique challenges, the tactics needed to overcome them all have one thing in common : humans working together. With partners on the ground wherever there are elephants, we aim to use our products and the lifestyle they inspire as a vehicle for real change.

I’m going to Mt Everest Base Camp! #HikeforHope

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Things have been a whirlwind over the last 4 months and I haven’t had a chance to share with you some pretty incredible news! I travel for a living. I travel to tell stories of people and places. I travel to inspire and to be an example to my children. I want to encourage people to step out of their comfort zone, to travel off the beaten path, to try new experiences-all while giving back to others. I live and breathe this.

Last year my travels took me as far away as Africa and Greece. Those were life changing trips. This year has been slower with the exception of a few small domestic trips as I took a few months off for surgery and have been unable to go very far. HOWEVER, it’s time for a new journey. A greater one. One that has the potential, over time, to help hundreds of lives.

In April of 2018, I will be trekking to Mt. Everest Base Camp with the Huma Charity Challenge to raise funds for a wonderful organization called Cancer for College (www.cancerforcollege.org).  

They provide hope to cancer survivors who have been affected physically, emotionally and financially by cancer treatment by granting college scholarships.

That’s right my friends! I am going to hike to MT EVEREST BASE CAMP. It still doesn’t seem real to me. Over the next seven months, I will share my journey through personal videos, photos, blog posts, and via social media. I want those who follow along to feel like they are part of something special – in turn encouraging them to travel, to step out of their box, and to face their greatest fears. If children and young adults can survive cancer only to face financial challenges preventing them from furthering their education, then I can face my own challenge to help send them to college.  I hope you will follow my journey as we work together to make the world a better place.

This is by far the biggest challenge I’ve ever gone through…both physically and mentally. There’s lots of preparation and I hope you follow my journey.

My current goal is to raise $10,000. ALL donations will go directly to Cancer for College. Any amount is appreciated!!!!!

Can you help me send a deserving child to college?!?!

https://www.crowdrise.com/team-amelia-hike-for-hope/fundraiser/cancerforcollege1 

 

Myrtle Beach Safari Tours

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“In the end…

We will conserve only what we love,

We will love only what we understand

We will understand only what

we are taught.”

Did you know that a 50 acre animal preserve is tucked away quietly in small town Myrtle Beach, South Carolina?

I’ve been to Myrtle Beach a handful of times and had no idea. In fact, during my recent trip  I asked many locals about this place that is home to over 100 animals. 98% of the Myrtle Beach locals I spoke to had never heard of it. This made my trip to Myrtle Beach Safari Tours even more of an adventure.

I admit it. As I arrived to the large bamboo gates outside of the preserve I was a bit nervous. For the next four hours, I had to give up my phone and camera as neither were allowed. This is so there are no distractions for you or the animals and so that you can truly enjoy the experience. I’m the first to admit that my phone is in hand pretty much at all times. It controls work, family, and anything else going on in my life. Maybe it wasn’t such a bad thing to have to close it away in the glove compartment of my car.

After signing a few waivers stating we understood the rules including the fact that there’s always a risk that injury could occur,  we were allowed to enter. I was under no illusion that I was going to come face to face with predators. After returning home I was called ‘brave’ and asked the question over and over “weren’t you scared?” No. I wasn’t. I didn’t really think twice about that after driving through those gates.

There is no glass between us!

After an explanation of what to expect, we had our first encounter. A liger named Hercules weighing in at over 900lbs and standing at 11 feet tall when on his hind legs! Now, that’s a big cat. I should also mention that Hercules is a Guinness Book of World Records three time winner.

Throughout the tour, we were not allowed to come in contact with any adult animals (with the exception of Bubbles the elephant)  for good reason. While they are trained, they are still predators and are capable of causing harm to someone in certain circumstances. Education is important but so is safety!

Play Time!

One of my favorite parts of the tours was the opportunity to interact with the baby tigers and wolf pups. One question I’ve received a few times  is “are these animals sedated?” The answer is no. Not at any time during my visit to the preserve did I feel the animals were being harmed. The cubs and pups were playful and loved chasing their stuffed animals. The preserve is beautiful, it’s clean, the animals seem very happy, and they were not caged as you would see at a zoo.

During the tour we were also introduced to Ahren, the African Fish Eagle that was rescued from Tanzania, Ramses the Cheetah, Siberian and Bengal Tigers, Wolves, Gibbons, and Chimpanzees. Throughout the tour you are educated on each animal and what Myrtle Beach Safari is doing to help them. I was impressed at the relationship the trainers had with these animals. You could tell they spend an incredible amount of time with them. In fact, their entire lives are surrounded around the lives of them. They are all treated as family. Many of the animals are hand raised from the time they are very young which allows the trainers to build a strong bond with them.

I really loved the story of Bubbles. You may have seen her on social media or even t.v. She’s quite famous! Bubbles was rescued by Doc Antle, the founder of Myrtle Beach Safari Tours, over 30 years ago! Her family were all killed by poachers and Doc has raised her since. This 5,000lb big baby has a funny and sweet personality.

I’ve traveled a great deal and had some incredible moments in life. This was by far one of those moments that will be with me forever. Something I heard a few times during my time at Myrtle Beach Safari was that this experience is a bucket list item being checked off. Many travel from far away just to get up close and personal with these beautiful creatures. I met a couple of people that came from New Jersey but I heard people have traveled from as far away as Japan, England, and Canada.

Your visit to Myrtle Beach Safari Tours helps support the work being done by the Rare Species Fund which provides funding to international wildlife conservation programs.

If you are in Myrtle Beach, I highly recommend visiting the preserve. It’s a trip you will never forget. http://myrtlebeachsafari.com

FTC Disclosure *I was offered a complimentary visit to Myrtle Beach Safari Tours however all opinions are my own. No other compensation was received.*

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