Pople say he's their guardian, their lawyer, their smuggler. On a recent afternoon, they lined up at his feet with their requests:

Please, my mother needs a visa.

Please, my niece was caught by agents.

Please, I can't go on being illegal.

As a border crisis involving the influx of tens thousands of children from Central America unfolds, the faithful of Southern California are flocking to Santo Toribio Romo Gonzalez.

The Catholic saint, who they believe watches over immigrants, flew in for his first visit to Los Angeles last weekend. He came from a tiny town in the Mexican state of Jalisco in the form of a fragile wooden statue that will tour churches across three counties.

"It cost the price of two first-class tickets to get him here, but we did it," said Rosa Gonzalez of Chatsworth, who handled the saint's transportation. "Now here he is, bringing blessings to everyone."

Romo Gonzalez was a simple priest, killed during a religious uprising in 1928. He was canonized just 14 years ago. But Latinos, particularly Mexicans, have made him legendary.

They say the saint, often wearing a cowboy hat and boots, miraculously appears to border crossers when they are most desperate: in the desert, along roadsides and in migrant shelters.

Santo Toribio gives them food, money and water. And like a coyote, or smuggler, he helps them cross into the United States. Sometimes, when the path is too perilous, he tells them to turn around and return home.

"I owe him everything," said Jose Ochoa, who showed up to welcome the saint to his church, Santiago de Compostela in Lake Forest. "I couldn't imagine dying without coming to see him to say thank you."

The 32-year-old cook crossed the border illegally in 2005. He came with his son, then 4, to reunite with his wife and family. Before leaving Jalisco, Ochoa said, his grandfather gave him a small, laminated photo of Santo Toribio.

Ochoa had never heard of the saint, but his grandfather told him: "Have faith in him. He will take care of you."

On Thursday, the father of three lit a candle before the 4-foot-tall statue and bowed his head in gratitude.

Many immigrants who come to the United States illegally carry a photo of the light-skinned, blue-eyed saint safely tucked in their wallets. Before they leave Mexico, those who can stop in Santa Ana de Guadalupe, Santo Toribio's hometown.

There, farmworkers have seen their dusty pueblo transformed into a sacred site.

Francisca Romero, Compton resident who became a legal citizen a decade ago
Tens of thousands of pilgrims arrive in air-conditioned buses each week to pay tribute to Santo Toribio's bones, which are kept in a small casket. Some travel back from Texas, California or Chicago to give thanks for favors fulfilled. Others enter the church on their knees to pray for the safe return of a loved one they haven't heard from for a while.

All around Santa Ana de Guadalupe, businesses bear the saint's name: Santo Toribio Ice Cream, Santo Toribio Pharmacy, Santo Toribio Gift Shop. There's a replica of his modest home, complete with furniture and housewares. In the street, locals pitch their saint-themed wares to tourists: key chains, figurines, T-shirts and pirated CDs.

"He's given many families in town a way to make a living and not have to go north," said Martin Rizo Soto, a priest who has traveled to California to safeguard the statue wherever it goes.

The number of visitors became so overwhelming that a few years ago the town raised enough money to build a church with seating for 1,000 people.

In the United States, Santo Toribio has come to represent solidarity to immigrants facing difficult times.

In 2008, when one of the nation's toughest anti-immigration laws was passed in Oklahoma, a Tulsa church responded by building a shrine to Santo Toribio — the only one outside Jalisco.

Since then, other churches have asked for his sacred bone relics, as well as visits from the saint. To meet the demand, Santa Ana de Guadalupe a year ago created a travel-friendly statue of Santo Toribio that rests inside a big steel trunk on wheels.

"Now he's able to come to see all the faithful who can't travel back to Jalisco to see him," Rizo Soto said.

Despite the saint's fame, the Catholic church has yet to recognize him as a patron to immigrants. His popularity tends to leave some Catholics scratching their heads, said Ed Benioff, the Los Angeles Archdiocese's director of the Office of New Evangelization.

Unlike St. Frances Xavier Cabrini, Romo Gonzalez, who died a martyr at age 28, never paid particular attention to immigrants.

In fact, in 1920 he wrote a play titled "Let's go north!" that warned migrants against traveling to the States. He worried that they would lose their values, Rizo Soto said.

But decades after Romo Gonzalez was shot to death by Mexican soldiers, the tales of his intervention on behalf of immigrants have spread across Jalisco and beyond.

"He's the people's saint," Benioff said. "His legend has grown from the start in the most grass-roots way."

Last week, Santo Toribio visited congregations in the City of Commerce and Lake Forest. Next on his agenda are Hawthorne, Indio, Rancho Cucamonga and Reseda. He will finish with a celebration at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels in downtown L.A. on July 20.

In the City of Commerce, parishioners from St. Marcellinus carried the 50-pound statue on their shoulders. They danced and sang. Then they took turns touching the most sacred part of the figure, his chest, where a bone from the saint's left ankle is kept behind a round piece of glass.

Quietly they stepped up to him to whisper their requests and express their gratitude.

Francisca Romero, 56, of Compton held up a gold chain with an angel to have it blessed. She said she became a legal citizen a decade ago.

Now, like many, she showed up concerned for relatives and friends — and for the latest immigration furor playing out in the news.

"Those children," said Romero, who works in a sofa factory. "I want this saint to keep them safe from all harm and to please help us all."

[readon1 url="http://www.latimes.com/local/la-me-immigrants-saint-20140713-story.html"]Source:www.latimes.com[/readon1]

Beach cleanups are now being slated for every second Saturday of the month in order to align the different efforts currently spearheaded by the beach towns of the Riviera Nayarit. Punta de Mita recently joined the group.

This Saturday, July 12th, cleanup crews will be visiting the beaches all along the Riviera Nayarit. The Riviera Nayarit Convention and Visitors Bureau coordinated this inclusive event, which is aimed at organizing the efforts of the different groups that all have the same objective.

This month, the Punta de Mita Foundation will be joining last month’s cleanup teams. The goal is to keep adding different groups to join in this activity, especially during the sea turtle nesting season.

Community leaders from San Pancho, Sayulita, Guayabitos and Platanitos are already aware of and interested in the project, which will be part of a campaign that’s currently underway to help the people of Nayarit identify with their destination.

This is an open invitation to everyone and anyone who would like to join in to contact the different groups and become a part of the project to maintain the beaches in the best shape possible. Truth is, there’s a reason the Riviera Nayarit is the domestic leader in Certified Clean Beaches: it has a total of 10.

In Punta de Mita the crews will gather at the Punta de Mita Sports Center at 7:00 a.m. Those interested can contact the Punta de Mita Foundation at (329) 291 50 53 or (322) 779 29 06.

For La Peñita de Jaltemba, please contact the Grain of Sand Association (322) 116 94 40. The crews will meet at the La Peñita de Jaltemba’s boardwalk at 5:30 p.m.

The Volunteer and Friends of Bucerías Group awaits those willing to come and help out in front of Karen’s place at 8:00 a.m. The contact number is (322) 140 68 81.

If you’re part of a group that would like to join in the cleanup of our communities or you would like to put together a group of volunteers in your community, please don’t hesitate to contact us at (322) 297 25 16 ext. 108.

PRINCE Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall are to go on an official tour of Colombia and Mexico in October.

Clarence House has confirmed the trip, which will be taken at the request of the Foreign Office.

It follows Prince Harry's trip to Brazil and Chile last month.

The heir to the throne and his wife are expected to visit the Amazon during their tour of Colombia.

Juan Manuel Santos, the country's president, mentioned the royal visit earlier this week when he signed an international treaty to protect the marshlands of the Estrella Fluvial de Inirida River, a 700,000-acre site in Colombia's eastern Guainia state.

President Santos said that Charles planned to visit Chiribiquete National Park.

"This was a decision taken long ago, and which has had a global impact.

"To such an extent that even Prince Charles from England will be visiting us this year next October," he said.

Chiribiquete, which covers nearly 7 million acres, is Colombia's largest national park and is roughly the size of Belgium.

Few other details of the royal tour have emerged yet but the visit has been planned for some time.

The British embassy in Mexico City sent staff to Brazil to see how Harry's visit was organised.

A Clarence House spokesman said: "Further details will be released in due course."

[readon1 url="
http://www.express.co.uk/news/royal/488196/Charles-and-Camilla-set-for-Colombia-and-Mexico-tour"]Source:www.express.co.uk[/readon1]

Which blunders will send your resume straight into oblivion? There might be dozens, depending on the job, but experts say these five common resume mistakes are most likely to derail your job search.

• Your Age

Hiring managers need to know what you can do for them, not how many years you've managed to stay alive. Darlene Zambruski, managing editor of ResumeEdge.com and JobInterviewEdge.com, advises against:
Listing professional experience more than 15 years old.
Providing an exact number of years of professional experience in your opening summary.
"For example: 'senior accountant with more than 25 years of experience in...' -- this kind of data invites age discrimination," Zambruski said.

And don't forget that age bias cuts both ways: A resume that tells a future boss you're too young for the job is no good, either.

• Lists of Tasks or Duties Without Results

Your resume has to go beyond saying which jobs you've done: It must establish what you've accomplished on those jobs. Many applicants miss this key distinction.

"The only things that separate equally qualified candidates are the results of their efforts," Zambruski said. "For example, an administrative assistant may write, 'reorganized filing system.' That provides the task. What were the results? A better way to write it would be, 'Increased team productivity 20% by reorganizing filing system.' Results are what matter to hiring managers."

• Explanations of Anything Negative

Everybody has dark stories in their past.

There's no place for them on your resume. "Your resume is a promotional document and all promotional documents need to be positive," said Teddy Burriss, a career counselor and outplacement consultant in Winston-Salem, N.C.

The time to explain yourself is when you're talking to somebody in person after you've scored an interview, Burriss said.

• A List of Every Job You've Ever Held

Hiring managers don't want to know about that summer you worked as a lifeguard -- unless you're applying to manage the park district's pool.

"Recruiters and hiring managers are looking for relevance and stability," Burriss said. The key is to list the work you've done in the past 10 to 15 years that tells an employer you're a skilled, reliable fit for the job.

Say you've had three employers in the past seven years but only two of them are in the industry you're applying for. Employers don't want to see a gap in your employment record, so you still need to list that third job -- just make sure you list the accomplishments in that job that are relevant to the job you're applying for.

• Personal Details

Employers usually don't care about your marital status, race, sexual orientation or hobbies, unless they are somehow pivotal to the job. Including personal data is a rookie mistake, and nobody wants to hire a rookie.

Crafting and sending a resume is part of the "discovery phase" of the hiring process, Burriss said, so employers at this phase don't need personal details beyond your name, city, state and a way to contact you. If you make it to the hiring phase, the human resources department will collect your relevant personal details then.

Most resumes are now transmitted electronically, and there's no way to be sure where one might end up after you send it in. With identity thieves always on the prowl, you always need to protect your personal data. Never include your Social Security number.

A few more quick tips from the staffing agency Temporary Resources Inc.:
Make sure your resume has no typos, grammar goofs or factual errors (like getting a company's name wrong).

Don't list your salary history unless the employer demands it.
Don't worry about providing references. You can do that in a separate document.

[readon1 url="
http://career-advice.monster.com/resumes-cover-letters/resume-writing-tips/5-things-you-should-never-put-on-your-resume/article.aspx?WT.srch=1&WT.mc_n=olm_sk_disp_td_otb_RON71"]Source:career-advice.monster.com[/readon1]

Claes Oldenburg and Coosje van Bruggen are the masters of quirky sculptures. The European husband and wife team behind the spoon and cherry in Minneapolis and the giant ‘Free’ stamp in Cleveland also created the world’s largest shuttlecocks, which sit outside the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art in Kansas City.

When the artists were commissioned in 1994 to create a piece, they imagined the wide lawn around the museum as a badminton court, thus inspiring them to produce four 18-foot-tall shuttlecocks (also known as birdies.) Each one weighs 5,500 pounds

Interestingly, the museum has taken steps to conserve the birdies by replacing their former paint-every-two-years strategy with a new system involving a special paint that lasts up to 15 years. Back in 2002 they painstakingly dismantled the pieces, repaired cracks, repainted, and reassembled.

Not only is it free to see the shuttlecocks, but the museum itself is also free, so you can wander through and check out the rest of the collections without spending a dime.

[readon1 url="
http://quirkytravelguy.com/worlds-largest-shuttlecocks/"]Source:quirkytravelguy.com[/readon1]

The most predatory of estuaries and indicator of the stability of the food chain is the river crocodile.

At Estero el Salado, we have a unit of environmental management where we carry out monitoring of the population of crocodiles including habits of resting, reproduction and breeding location.

Last April, we received two female crocodiles who returned to the same place to lay their eggs.

The nests are near urban areas, so it is necessary that they are protected from predators such as cats and dogs.

To learn about the environmental conditions of the embryos in eggs, we developed and installed temperature and humidity sensors inside the nest, monitored by the external meteorological station.

The eggs were then placed in the incubation area of the Estero.

Once they are born, for their protection, they are placed inside the crocodile enclosure of the Estero, avoiding the possibility of them becoming easy prey of birds and raccoons.

When the crocodiles reach adequate maturity, they are released into their natural habitat, the Estero el Salado.

[readon1 url="http://pvangels.com/news/2609/new-crocodile-hatchlings-at-puerto-vallartas-environmentally-protected-area"]Source:pvangels.com[/readon1]

The death toll in from a magnitude-6.9 earthquake near Mexico's border with Guatemala has risen to five, with authorities confirming two more deaths in Mexico.

The director of civil defense for the Mexican border state of Chiapas says a total of four people there were killed by falling pieces of roofs or walls.

Luis Manuel Garcia Moreno said Tuesday that about 9,000 homes in Chiapas were damaged.

In neighboring Guatemala, President Otto Perez Molina said a baby died when parts of the ceiling collapsed on the newborn in the San Marco medical center. Perez Molina said 33 people were injured in Guatemala.

The quake occurred early Monday on Mexico's Pacific coast near the Guatemala border.

[readon1 url="http://www.kansascity.com/news/nation-world/article690280.html"]Source:[/readon1]

When most people think of Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, they probably picture a scenic beach and resort town. And that’s largely true. But if you dig deep enough, you can also find rubber trees, statues of old Hollywood film directors, Albert Einstein street art, and long-lost American department stores.

The quirky side of PV isn’t so obvious, but it’s my duty to uncover the hidden, offbeat side of town, so I made sure to seek it out. These were the quirkiest sights and activities I found during my recent week-long visit to the awesome Mexican city.

Cuale River Island

One of your best chances for quirky sights is Cuale River Island, a small isle just south of downtown surrounded by the two branches of the Cuale River. Check out the local merchant shops, parks, stray cats, street art, and unusual characters.

This staircase is a totally-Instagrammable sight. The old staircase on the island has concrete steps that are too close together to make for a comfortable commute, so at some point someone decided to build a new colorful staircase in the middle with steps that are more-accurately spaced-out for those who take normal-sized steps.

You never know who will be hanging around the island. On this day, it was a gentleman with a burro. I think he was offering rides. Or maybe just photos. Either way, he was getting his paper.

The rubber trees

Cuale River Island is also a place to see the rubber trees, which are endemic to Mexico’s southwest. These trees grow long, rubbery strings that hang down from the branches. The tree can be a great source of latex, but here on the little island, they are primarily ornamental.

Elizabeth Taylor history

Oddly enough, the spirit of Elizabeth Taylor looms large over Puerto Vallarta. She and her fifth husband, actor Richard Burton, were the Jay-Z & Beyonce power couple of their day. They visited PV in 1963 with director John Huston to film The Night of the Iguana and ended up buying a villa here known as Casa Kimberley.

Liz kept that property until the ’90s, and until a few years back, Casa Kimberley was a museum dedicated to the Taylor-Burton couple and their history in the area. But, while the “Lovers Arch” pink and white bridge connecting the house to Burton’s former house across the street is still there, Casa Kimberley is not. The place was closed and was reportedly undergoing “renovation,” but it has not re-opened, which is a shame since it’s one of the few historic spots in Puerto Vallarta.

PV hasn’t forgotten Liz, though. There’s a star with her name in front of a restaurant on Olas Altas Street. I’ve never seen a Walk of Fame comprised of just one star, but who needs other stars when you have Liz?

A restaurant near Cuale River Island has a large white sculpture of Burton and Taylor. And on the island itself, there’s an old statue of Huston.

Go here to read more about the history of Elizabeth Taylor in Puerto Vallarta.

Adventurous water sports

Situated on Banderas Bay, Puerto Vallarta has every kind of watersport you can imagine, including windsurfing, jet skiing, speedboating, snorkeling, and much more.

That includes two of the newer and more adventuresome activities: Parasailing, which is basically hanging 50 feet in the air attached to a jet ski and parachute…

…and flyboarding, which is that water jet thing where you try to balance while water jets shoot out beneath your feet. I really have to try this someday.

Quirky beach sights

The seahorse statue is one of Puerto Vallarta’s most famous sights. There are actually two: One at the Malecon (boardwalk), and another at Los Muertos Beach. The one at Los Muertos is the original, created in 1960. Twice, it washed away during strong storms but was later recovered. It has now been reinforced with iron bars to make sure it won’t run away yet again.

Depending on what beach you go to, you may find iguanas roaming around. These were a cool sight when our day cruise boat pulled up on shore.

Don’t be afraid to touch them. What’s quirkier than getting up close and personal with an iguana?

Night time at Los Muertos Pier

Los Muertos Pier is one of the centers of activity when it comes to beach life in the town. At night, the pier is lit up with a light shower of rotating tints.

The souvenir stores

From colorful skulls to Mexican husband/wife salt & pepper shakers, the odd items for sale are kitschy and fun.

Unique food items at McDonald’s

In any foreign country, it’s always interesting to see how different the grocery stores and fast food restaurants are from back in the U.S. In Puerto Vallarta, the McDonald’s offers McPatatas and queso cheese packets. The tater wedges were tasty, but I couldn’t bring myself to try liquid cheese from a plastic package.

Woolworth department store!

This brought me way more joy than it probably should have, but I was excited to see a Woolworth in downtown Puerto Vallarta. This discount department store was a major part of my youth, but I thought they all closed down years ago. Evidently, this one in Mexico survived. Go, Woolworth!

Wild fruit is quirky to me

I’m fascinated by places where you can walk around town and see fruit growing on trees everywhere. Those who grew up in tropical climates probably find my behavior silly. But it’s so cool to stroll around and go, “Look, avocados on the vine!” “Look, bananas over our heads!” “Look, a coconut on the beach!” I’m not used to such easy availability of produce.

Just look around

From skeleton women greeting diners at a restaurant entrance to an inexplicable Albert Einstein street art mural, you may find quirky sights around town where you’re not expecting them. That’s part of the fun of being in a new place. Just keep your eyes open.

[readon1 url="http://quirkytravelguy.com/quirky-things-to-see-and-do-in-puerto-vallarta/"]Source:quirkytravelguy.com[/readon1]

The younger generations are being encouraged to develop environmental awareness through drawing contests centered around the care and protection of marine turtles, as well as an invitation to participate in a contest to illustrate a storybook.

Art is the most holistic way to accomplish the science of communication: it’s informative, entertaining and educational. In the Riviera Nayarit, art and environmental education are coming together as local entities reach out to children.

On June 28th, the El Naranjo Turtle Camp held its 2nd Marine Turtle Drawing Contest organized by the Nayarit Ecologists Group. The group secretary, Ricardo Villaseñor, commented they received 1,100 drawings this year, 200 more than last year.

Some 20 elementary schools participated this time, spanning from Tepic all the way through the Riviera Nayarit to Puerto Vallarta. They designated two categories: from first grade through third was denominated “lower elementary,” and fourth through sixth “upper elementary,” There were 18 awards handed out in each category.

“Several people have asked me what do I gain by putting together these contests; the answer is always ‘environmental education.’ It’s our most important work, because if a child does not know the marine turtle, he or she can’t protect it,” Villaseñor pointed out.

“I learned that we must care for and respect the turtles, that we mustn’t hunt them or poach the eggs. This is a great contest,” enthused the winner of the first place in the upper elementary category, Fernanda Narváez, an 11-year-old student at Puerto Vallarta’s Alfred Novel School.

Yael Peña Soltero, a 9-year-old student at Banderas Bay’s Benito Juárez School, was the winner in the lower elementary category. He said he “learned to draw the marine turtle: they’re endangered and that’s why we must care for them by not throwing trash in the sea and not stealing their eggs.”

This event marked the start of the marine turtle season, which will conclude on November 30th.

Call for entries for the Illustration Contest

The Instituto Tecnológico de Bahía de Banderas (ITBB by its Spanish acronym), the Grupo de Investigación de Mamíferos Marinos (GRIMMA by its Spanish acronym) and Vaitiare began their call for entries for a contest to illustrate a storybook on environmental conservation aimed at children 6 to 10 years of age,

Mexican illustrators from all over the Republic are welcome to participate. The award ceremony will take place during National Conservation Week, celebrated from October 25-31 at the ITBB. The winner will take home $3,000 Mexican pesos. For rules and regulations visit www.vaitiare.org.

Explore the sights of the Pacific Ocean with the third book in the Sea of Light trilogy, spanning from the Equator all the way to Alaska

Swim along with professional underwater photographer and marine life advocate Richard Salas as he chronicles the awe-inspiring beauty of the Pacific Northwest waters in Luminous Sea, the final installment of the Sea of Light photo book trilogy. Salas captures the marine life found off the western coast of Canada and Alaska in stunning, high-resolution images and brings them directly to the reader. Flipping through the pages of Luminous Sea, readers will feel as if they are diving alongside Salas as he explores the 43-degree water of the Pacific Ocean that few have previously explored.

What is Luminous Sea?

Luminous Sea is a collection of high-resolution, exquisitely-shot photographs that offer readers an in-depth experience of a world that lies just below the surface of the Northern Pacific Ocean. Featuring photographs from Washington to the islands of Alaska, Luminous Sea provides an escape into the chilly depths of the unknown. A world of vibrant colors and textures, the oceans of the Pacific Northwest are inhabited by an entertaining population of ocean-going characters, each with their own unique personalities. Luminous Sea uncovers a world that has rarely been viewed by the human eye and brings it right into your living room.

Donation to The Ocean Foundation

50% of the profits from Luminous Sea will be donated to The Ocean Foundation. The Ocean Foundation aims to support, strengthen and promote organizations that are dedicated to conserving ocean environments around the world. In donating Luminous Sea’s profits to The Ocean Foundation, we hope to preserve the beauty of our oceans for future generations to enjoy.

The Man Behind The Camera

Richard Salas is a professional photographer, an avid diver and lover of all marine life. Salas established his photography studio, A.S.K. Studio, 35 years ago. Primarily dealing in commercial and advertorial photography throughout a majority of his career, Salas decided in 2004 to combine his two passions--photography and diving. Salas has spent the last decade literally immersing himself in his work by diving into the underwater habitats found in his books to capture awe-inspiring images for those who wouldn’t see them otherwise.

After spending countless hours filming underwater, Salas has developed a kinship with these animals. That’s why he’s decided to donate 50% of all of Luminous Sea’s profits to the Ocean Foundation.

What is the Sea of Light trilogy?

Luminous Sea is the third and northernmost installment in the Sea of Light trilogy, a series of three books featuring awe-inspiring photographs of deep-sea habitats along the western coast of North America and Canada.  The first book in the series was Sea of Light (2009), which showcases the underwater habitats of California’s Channel Islands. After seeing demand far outweigh supply for Sea of Light, Salas released the second installation in the trilogy, Blue Visions, in 2012. Blue Visions presents readers with captivating images of the varied, and often threatened, marine life that inhabits the Islands of Mexico down to the Equator including Galapagos and Cocos Islands. Blue Visions was released in the iBookstore in the spring of 2014.

How Was Luminous Sea Shot?

For the last seven years, Richard has braved the unpredictable currents of the chilly Northern Pacific ocean to bring us a memorable collection of high-quality seascape photographs. Using an open heart, Salas is able to approach an underwater creature in its natural habitat and capture its personality in a beautiful, candid photograph.

Richard uses a Nikon 300s with a Tokina 10-17mm for wide angle shots and a 60mm and 105mm for macro with 2 Inon 240 strobes attached to a Subal housing. He dives from charter boats, including Truth Aquatics boats in Santa Barbara: the Nautilus Explorer, the old Don Jose down in Mexico and the Swell in Alaska, along with other divers and leads underwater photography workshops at Gods Pocket out of Port Hardy, British Columbia.

What Can I Expect to See in Luminous Sea?

Luminous Sea presents the unique marine life found along the coastal islands from Washington to Alaska. Readers will get up-close and personal with wildly playful 700 pound Steller Sea Lions and a 9 foot Giant Pacific Octopus. They’ll see intimate shots of the cutest fish on the planet, Spiny Lumpsuckers and colorful nudibranchs of all sizes and shapes.

Readers will see these beautiful animals that call the Pacific Northwest home, including:

•     Wolf Eels
•     Red Irish Lord
•     Spotted Ratfish
•     Decorated Warbonnets
•     Hooded Nudibranchs
•     Stubby Squid
•     Sockeye Salmon
•     Anemones like jewels spread out on the sea bottom

Team

Richard Salas Photographer

Jessica Chesney Marketing Manager

Ali Phalen Social Media Manager

Roy Morejon Marketing Partner

[readon1 url="https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/luminous-sea-underwater-photography-book"]Source:www.indiegogo.com[/readon1]

The Riviera Nayarit and Puerto Vallarta welcomes the Ambassador of Mexico to the United Kingdom as well as the Director of the Mexico Tourism Board in the United Kingdom for a FAM trip to the area.

The British authorities will be enjoying a familiarization trip to the area from June 28th through the first week of July, hosted by the Mexico Tourism Board (MTB) in coordination with the Riviera Nayarit and Puerto Vallarta convention and visitors bureaus.

Visiting is the distinguished Ambassador of Mexico to the United Kingdom, Diego Gómez Pickering, as well as the Director of the MTB in the United Kingdom, Milko Rivera Hope, who are joined by Fiona Jennings, Thomson’s Director of External Communications and the company’s press agent, Claire Borgeat.

In line with the Vallarta-Nayarit slogan under the MTB, the senior officials are arriving to live it to believe it so they can continue to create the productive strategies they have been promoting thus far.

It’s important to note the two direct flights from Manchester and London to Puerto Vallarta’s Gustavo Díaz Ordaz Airport began in early May. The airport is also known commercially as the Vallarta-Nayarit International Airport.

Many of the activities the group will enjoy during their stay are related to ecotourism. The Marietas Islands, which have become an international icon thanks to the Vallarta-Nayarit campaign, were their first stop upon arriving at the Bay.

Other activities include the Rhythm of the Night show, a jungle expedition through the mountains of the Sierra Madre and a sunset sailboat tour.

And last but not least, they will visit Sayulita, the hippie-chic Capital of Surf of the Riviera Nayarit.

Joining the group will be several media representatives from the UK, including the Sunday Mirror, Mail on Sunday, Daily Express, Manchester Evening News, Cosmopolitan, Woman Magazine and the Sunday Times. Domestic media will also be present, with journalists from TV Azteca, Notimex and MVS.

Do you ever notice how some people always seem to have it together? They're calm and happy with both feet firmly planted on the ground, even amidst turmoil. Like a mountain that stands tall and strong, they weather the many storms that come their way. They seek out blessings and uncover them like the beautiful hidden gems that they are. Magic seems to find them each day, inviting an authentic smile to cross their lips.

Others, not so much. When similar turmoil is thrown their way, they tend to experience more difficulty dealing with the turbulence. Stress levels rise when life chucks its curve balls at them. The silver lining is difficult for them to see in the haze as they struggle to find their joy and feel stuck in their situation.

It's easy to say "Look on the bright side," or "Keep a positive mindset" so that everyone can be a part of the happy-go-lucky group. But sometimes in the throes of life we forget just how powerful we are in creating our own destiny.

In my own roller-coaster ride of a life, as well as in the work I've done as both an executive coach and an entrepreneur working with a diverse group of clients, vendors, and employees, I've seen and experienced the full spectrum of dealing with life's adversities.

In my observations, I've noticed that, at the end of the day, attitude is everything. It will make you or break you. But, it's not as simple as just flipping a switch to turn that powerful positive mindset to the 'on' position. It takes gentle reminders and some good, old-fashioned work.

When you're feeling the effects of stress and struggle, try to connect with some of these top habits shared by calm and happy people and allow the light to shine in:

1.     They exercise regularly. It's well know that exercise releases endorphins, which leads to happiness. So get moving and get the happy juice flowing. Do so regularly and keep the stress and blues at bay.
2.     They have a mindfulness practice. Many can relate to the crazy, busy, go, go, go lifestyle. It is so important to take time to slow down, savor, notice. Even finding just five to 10 minutes a day to sit in stillness or to walk in nature and really notice can help your mind build the 'muscles' it needs to let go of all the stress and worry, and just be present and joyful in the moment. This moment is all that we have, after all.
3.     They honor their truth. What is it that lights you up? What do you just love to do and lose all track of time doing? Never mind what everybody else wants you to do, or what you think you are supposed to do. What is it that your soul keeps whispering to you? Honoring that is the ticket to Blissville. A suppressed spirit will cry out for help in many ways. Set your soul free and reap the rewards of a happy, whimsical life.
4.     They take down time. You have to let those batteries recharge. Get your vacation on and refresh and rejuvenate. You don't need to be a big budget jet-setter, either. Take some time off. Mix up your routine. Find a new place to explore. Adventure and fresh sights are a powerful way to bring in new energy and shift your perspective in a positive way.
5.     They say what they mean. It can be easy to fall into the trap of being a people pleaser or overly worrying about what other people think. But, every time you say 'yes' to something that doesn't fully resonate with you, you are essentially saying 'no' to your own goals and dreams. You can't be everything to everyone, but you can be true to yourself.
6.     They let it all out (at appropriate times). Sometimes, a good cry is what is needed. Or, screaming into your pillow. Or going on a rant or perhaps a 10-mile run and taking your worries out on the concrete. Point being: Let it all out. Bottled up emotions will build and build until the pressure is so great that they come out with explosive force. It's best to honor them and find ways to let off a little steam. Then move onwards to a happier place.
7.     They surround themselves with supportive friendships. By nature, humans are social creatures. Being part of a supportive tribe of people that get you and want to see you succeed is a key component to living a happy and full life. Align with those who have similar goals and dreams. The key to supportive friendships is to be a good and supportive friend. The rest will fall into place.
8.     They express gratitude. By focusing on our many blessings (even the most basic ones like a roof over our head and food to eat), we have a lot more to smile about. In doing so, we take the spotlight off whatever we could be stressing over. We realize it could always be worse. And, as an added bonus, being grateful for what we have attracts more abundance into our life.
9.     They get enough sleep. During sleep our body rejuvenates, replenishes and rebuilds. To keep our minds and bodies healthy and working at their optimum capacity, it's important to get plenty of rest. Find a routine that helps you wind down each night. A simple yogi way is to lay on the floor (with a small pillow or blanket under your pelvis if needed for support) and stretch your legs up the wall. This gentle inversion is restorative, relaxing, and calms the mind. Perfect before crawling into bed!
10.     They disconnect from tech. We're all a little bit overly connected these days. If our mind stays preoccupied with what new emails are coming in or what is going on in our social feed, we are robbing ourselves of the precious moments of the present. It's good to take breathers. Allot specific time (and set limits) to check emails and get on social media. The world doesn't end when you log off for a while. In fact, it can actually become a lot more beautiful when you do!
11.     They look for the opportunity. Let's face it, life doesn't always go as we plan. And, sometimes, it can be downright frustrating and disappointing. But wallowing in the misery of that doesn't do anybody any good. Instead, a more powerful mindset is to realize that everything is happening for the greater good. A healthy reframe is to ask, "What is the lesson or opportunity in this?" Trust you are being guided, drop the resistance, and be open to the possibilities.
12.     They continue to learn and grow. Remember that life is a journey, not a destination. Once you think you have it all figured out, you cut off your capacity to make mistakes, discover new horizons and become an even better version of your already awesome self. Be the student. Be the beginner. And reap the rewards of a calm and happy life.

[readon1 url="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/dawn-gluskin/life-lessons_b_5537105.html"]Source:www.huffingtonpost.com[/readon1]