On May 12th the June/July issue of Reader’s Digest hit the newsstands featuring a story about TheGoodMuse (page 51 – damn right memorized). Since that day I have been inundated by the most humbling, unbelievable response and I just wanted to take a moment to say, “Thank you.” The purpose of TheGoodMuse and all these Volunteering Journals, besides being a tribute to my late and incredibly wonderful grandfather, was to demystify the volunteering experience and to encourage people to try something... [Read more]

Anyone reading my posts the last two years knows that I’m rather attached to Los Angeles base writer Sophie Uliano. Her first book “Gorgeously Green” was a New York Times Bestseller. She followed up that success with “The Gorgeously Green Diet” and now “Do it Gorgeously ” in stores and on Amazon June 1st. To celebrate the launch of her book Sophie and company threw an amazing party at T Salon on Melrose and I got the invite. If you want to throw a green soiree take note because... [Read more]

One of the perks to living in Los Angeles is the regular invites to screenings ‘n such. Recently, I was invited to TreePeople‘s  headquarters to see a screening of the award-winning documentary “Dirt! The Movie”  . “Dirt” profiles our most underappreciated and squandered natural resource – you guessed it dirt – or soil if you want a higher-class name.  I approached Producer/Director Gene Rosow after the film and when the man handed me a plant-able business card that would... [Read more]

Doubting Toms – I have proven you wrong yet again! KIVA.org – Volunteer Journal #38 for those of you who need to read up – worked. Totally worked and was easy. I kid you not. Nothing to be scared of dear ones. No, I’m not on their payroll. Thing is… you should always give credit where credit is due and this organization is genius so they are going to get some mad props from me right now… KIVA.org combines microfinance with the internet to enable people to lend small amounts (or... [Read more]

I’m sorry. Not just for the title of this project which was…mmm…lacking… but because it’s taken me so long to summarize my volunteering experience. I kind of got back handed by life about a week after I cut my hair and I’m still trying to stand up. The good news is I have almost found my footing and expect to be my old snarky self shortly. At this point I should say something profound about the 50 volunteer projects and how they changed my life. Of course they did – anything... [Read more]

When economics and the environment collide it’s usually the latter that suffers.  Development in previously undeveloped countries causes habitat and species loss and a domino effect of environmental problems. Kenya is one such country wrestling with balancing the prosperity brought on by increased tourism to the beaches of Dinai and severe habitat loss which threaten one of Kenya’s biggest draws – it’s diverse animal population. One animal threatened by human encroachment is the Angolan... [Read more]

In 2008 Sophie Uliano attempted to bring environmentalism to the masses with her book Gorgeously Green, which became a New York Times Best Seller and led to appearances on Oprah and Good Morning America. This year she takes on our fast food nation with her new book The Gorgeously Green Diet.  Sophie joined me recently to talk about her new book and personal “green” choices. Raegan: Your first book Gorgeously Green was a New York Times Best Seller and focused on 8 simple steps to live... [Read more]