This November join Hauteoc Traveler and Friends, for the Run Love Race to raise money for a Kenyan orphanage with a 5K and 10K race around Irvine’s Woodbridge Lake!  On Saturday, November 3, 2012, the Orange County-based charity With My Own Two Hands Foundation is hosting a 5K and 10K run around Woodbridge Lake in Irvine, California. All of the proceeds will benefit the charity, a non-profit dedicated to combining the yoga and sport communities with social activism in order to help orphanages in Africa that support children affected by poverty and HIV/AIDS.

The Run Love Race will be raising money specifically for the construction of an orphanage for the St. Ann Baby and Children’s Home in Nakuru, Kenya.Lindsey Pluimer, the founder of With My Own Two Hands Foundation and a practicing yoga instructor, is incredibly passionate about the charity’s cause. After volunteering at an orphanage in South Africa, Lindsay immediately realized her calling in life and gave up a promising career as a professional basketball player (after playing both at UCLA and internationally) to dedicate her life to yoga and raising awareness and funds for her non-profit foundation.

“We’re trying to activate our local communities to start a grassroots movement to bring aid to orphans and vulnerable children in African regions affected by poverty and HIV/AIDS,” Pluimer explains. “Our team is very excited to be putting on our Run Love 5k and 10k race in order to help build a four-bedroom orphanage for St. Ann Baby and Children’s Home. Our mission for With My Own Two Hands Foundation is to combine the athletic communities with social activism, and this event embodies that mission.”

Participants can fundraise for the event by creating an online donation campaign and, if they raise over $200, their registration fee will be refunded. Sponsors of the event include HyperIce, Corepower Yoga, UBS Financial, Hauteoc Traveler and several local vendors.

For more information about the Run Love Race and to register, visit http://runloverace.com. For more information on With My Own Two Hands Foundation, including how to donate or get involved, visithttp://www.withmyown2hands.org. Hauteoc Traveler is proud to be part of  this great charitable cause that make our travel endeavors all the more worthwhile. We hope you join us!  BookTravel@Hauteoc.com from now till December 31st through Hauteoc Traveler  and Hauteoc will donate a portion of proceeds to With My Own Two Hands Foundation just mention tribute “All in the name of ‘RunLoveRace.com’”

Orange County went brimming with heat as Summer Tourism kicked off with an incredible concert line up at the 5th Annual Orange County BBQ & Music Festival!  Sugar Ray, A Celebrity Band with members from RATT, Alice Cooper, Guns N Roses, Survivor, Whitesnake, Foreigner, Former American Idol finalists and the largest BBQ cook-offs in the nation raised money for critically-ill kids at the 2012 Orange County BBQ & Music Fest, June 9^th and 10^th at the Orange County Fairgrounds

With Sugar Ray, former American Idol finalists, A Celebrity Band and more performing, you know this BBQ competition and festival turned out hot and succesful. In fact, the OC BBQ & Music Fest, which raises funds for Kristie’s Foundation, a charity helping critically ill kids, is traditionally one of the largest food events of Orange County, with an estimated crowd of 20,000 who attended this year. Why? Let us count the ways.

One big draw, of course, is the musical talent. With bands playing all day, each day, there was no shortage of musical entertainment. Two highlights were on Saturday, June 9^th, when Sugar Ray took the stage at 7:30 pm, and Sunday, June 10^th, at 2 pm, when American Idol top 10 finalists Carly Smithson and Ace Young wowed the crowd.

Then, of course, there’s the BBQ contest, which as promised was smoking thanks to the $15,000 in cash prizes. Competition BBQ Teams, BBQ Caterers, and BBQ Restaurants crossed tongs and ‘cue up lip smacking favorites like Chicken, Ribs, Pulled Pork, Brisket, and Tri-Tip as well as some nontraditional items like Smoked Macaroni & Cheese, Moink Balls, Pig-Candy, Smoked Cobblers and more. More than 70 BBQ teams from all over California, Arizona, Utah, and even Georgia participated in a state championship contest for a cash prize. However, not only the judges were able to eat the food, festival attendees were able to purchase samples of the BBQ.

And what BBQ would be complete without a Beer Tasting and Rib Eating Contest? Yep, local breweries were at the event sampling up their best craft brews and anyone with an appetite big enough entered the rib eating contest. ”Ardbeg is so excited to support such a great cause as Kristie’s Foundation! We think folks will have an amazing time. – Damien Mcghan, International Tour Director for Ardbeg Rocket Tour.”

By this point, you might have had enough eating and drinking. For those who wanted to save that six-pack for the Mr. BBQ Pageant competition, where anyone with the nerve to take the stage competed for the coveted title of Mr. BBQ 2012. Crowns included Best Chicken Legs, Best Rump and Best Pork Belly. Hmm, on second thought, drinking and eating kept on going.

If you didn’t have chicken legs or a pork belly, maybe you had a classic car. This year, the festival included a car show, displaying classic, muscle, vintage, and custom cars. The public was invited to register their metallic beauties at the event website.

And event organizers didn’t forgot that BBQs are family affairs. So this year, with the cost of admission came an all-day pass for kids to the Kid Zone. Kid Zone activities included bounce houses, giant slides, arts & crafts, cupcake decorating, giant human bowling, kids DJ & dance floor, petting zoo featuring costumed animals, and more.

Also special for the entire family this year was the live Butterfly Release at noon on Saturday. In honor of a Native American tradition that says, giving a butterfly its freedom grants the releaser his or her wish, BBQ attendees were able to purchase butterflies for release ($10). They also had the option to purchase butterflies to be released by one of the children of Kristie’s Foundation.

And Kristie’s Foundation is what the event was all about, after all. One-hundred percent of the proceeds went to the nonprofit organization for critically-ill children. The foundation will put the funds toward their goal of building Kristie’s Place, the first and only “family centered” children’s hospice in the nation, located in L.A. Sadly, this is greatly needed, as 92% of terminally ill children do not get adequate end-of-life care and suffer needlessly.

And no one knows this better than Kristie’s Foundation founder Laurie Kotas. At age seven, Kotas’ daughter Kristie was diagnosed with leukemia. “Kristie was like most other seven year olds, vibrant and full of life,” says Kotas. That’s why Kotas found it so difficult to watch her little girl sink into a painful terminal illness. Worse, Kristie’s final days were spent in horrible pain; mother and daughter were sent home from the hospital with some pain medication and little support.

Kotas vowed to change that situation for other families in similar tragic circumstances. This is when she founded Kristie’s Foundation, the only comprehensive nonprofit resource program in Southern California for families with critically ill children. Currently, the foundation is raising funds to open Kristie’s Place, which will offer families the medical and emotional support they need at the end of their child’s life while still allowing them precious time together.

“It will be a place where families can find solace and support during the hardest days of their lives,” says Kotas. “Parents will be able to be parents, while we care for the child’s medical needs. Because we believe that even in the darkest moments, each day in a child’s life is one that can be lived to its fullest.”

The OC BBQ & Music Fest is an important start, where the public enjoyed a great day of pumping music, fun and food – and felt good about their role in raising money to help ease children’s suffering.

The OC BBQ & Music Festival was a huge success! Thank you to everyone that attended and everybody who supported, and helped out! We hope to see you again next year!

The 2012 Orange County BBQ & Music Fest took place at the Orange County Fairgrounds Saturday, June 9^th from 10 am to 9:30 pm, and Sunday, June 10^thform 11 am to 4 pm. Ticket prices ranged from $10 to $25. For more event information, visit http://cabbqfestival.com  

Enjoy Summertime Activities at Island Hotel

Summer Fun  Poolside Happy Hour at The Palapa Bar - Friday evenings starting June 22nd  Every Friday from 4 – 7 p.m., The Palapa Bar provides the perfect place to unwind outdoors by the pool. Each week enjoy a new featured cocktail paired with accompanying small bites.

Pool Parties & BBQ at Island Hotel – Sunday afternoons starting June 10th

Join us poolside, every Sunday, from 2 -7 p.m. for summer fun with family and friends. Enjoy a selection of Chef-crafted BBQ favorites starting at 4 p.m. In June, Chef David Man features Bubbles & BBQ. A true backyard BBQ with all the trimmings, even champagne! Menu includes: Baby Back Ribs, Braised Beef Brisket, BBQ Chicken and Shrimp with Corn on the Cobb, Mac ‘n Cheese, a selection of cold salads and many other favorites.

Price is $34* per adult. *Exclusive of tax and gratuity. Reduced Children’s prices are available. Swimming available with each paid entry.

BookTravel@Hauteoc.com Discover the World You’ve Been Missing!