TODAY STARTS BIKE WEEK!

GET YOUR BIKE OUT AND RIDE! Where? To work, the grocery store, other errands, the beach, a friends house, the park, etc.  It doesn't really matter where, as long as you're biking!  If you're in downtown LA there are fun things going on (check here). Otherwise, we can just celebrate on our own...

I'll hopefully start celebrating tomorrow.  I didn't get my bike back on Sat. (its getting a tune-up) and I had to take a friend to work (his car broke down) today, but you best be sure I'll be biking my soon-to-be-little-legs off this week! 

The above web-site also has a link to a cool CO2 calculator...see how much you're not emitting into the atmosphere!

Get out and ride!

MAY IN NATIONAL BIKE MONTH!!!

"The League of American Bicyclists is promoting Bike-to-Work Week from May 11-15 and Bike-to-Work Day on Friday, May 15." I just came across this site in searching for bike site (I've been biking to work lately...maybe I should start reporting my monthly or weekly mileage?) and thought I should pass it along! I hope you'll join! The site is the official web site, the League of American Bicyclists where you can also find safety rules for road-way riding (I've always heard you have to have lights if you're riding at night...its true! See all CA riding here!)

You really should check out the site, you can also check the website for events for National Bike Month in your area (nothing for Orange County, but they have LA! and I signed up there! I'll still bike to work...yeah!). Anyways, sign up and let me know if you're going to participate! I'd love to hear stories/see pics, etc.! Yeah for alternative forms of transportation!

Happy Earth Day!!!

Hahaa, I know its late, but shouldn't everyday be Earth day? And did anyone else hear the interview Kevin & Bean did with Mother Earth on Wed.? Yeah, it was pretty hilarious. Anyways, hope you're all doing your part to reduce, reuse, and recycle! Here's an event I missed (why Sundays guys?), but I loved the design! Happy Friday!

BUY LOCAL!

Every Thurs. from 9am-1pm is the Farmers Market at Costa Mesa Fair Grounds. I was out in the field this morning and stopped by the market on my way back (after making yummy mac&cheese @ home for lunch) to complete my hour lunch break.  

The reasons why I love Farmers Markets:

• Free samples:) You can taste the fruit before you buy it.
• REAL food, grown by REAL farmers, in REAL gardens, LOCALLY.
• No pesticides 
• Lots of hippies/surfers (rich soccer moms/nannys with kids too) with their eco-friendly, reusable shopping bags:)
• Fresh produce, plants, flowers, and lovely free-range chicken eggs (see pic above)

I was thinking of my brother and his recent "green" diet and my silent pledge to eat out less (we're all trying to save money where we can aren't we?) so my shopping list (haha, my "buy and you go" shopping list, I rarely write one out) included the following: tangelos, radishes (complete with dirt and stems lol), lemons, cabbage, strawberries (the farmer threw in a free tomatoes at purchase), hummus, pita chips, some apple syrup for mi mother, and an artichoke (these still remind me of Ms. Amber Kay Syme/Johnston).  Anyways, it was fulfilling and everything looked so delicious and reminded me of the gardens we grew growing up. I think this year I'll try to grow something, like cherry tomatoes (I almost bought a plant, $2.00 each or 3 for $5.00). I'm planning on going on Sat. to pick somethings up for my parents (a bag of oranges and avocados...it was my dad's b-day on March 1st...and he loves CA grown citrus products!). Speaking of which, here are some listings for local Farmers Markets:

Wednesday
	Tustin Corner of El Camino Real and 3rd Street 9 a.m. - 1 p.m. (rain or shine)
	Westminster Westminster Mall, Goldenwest and Bolsa, adjacent to Target Store 12 - 5 p.m. (rain or shine) (I just noticed this one the other day...I'll have to check it out sometime)
Thursday
	Costa Mesa Orange County Fairgrounds, 88 Fair Drive 9 a.m. - 1 p.m. (rain or shine)
Friday
	Huntington Beach Pier Plaza, Main Street & Pacific Coast Highway (next to the pier) 1 p.m. - 5 p.m. (rain or shine) (I've been meaning to go to this one for sometime now too)
Saturday
	Laguna Beach Lumberyard Parking Lot next to the City Hall 8 a.m. - Noon / 8 - 11 a.m. July and August (rain or shine) (nice location and then you can cruise Laguna, its great to go after a hike in the canyon, and, so scenic:) Irvine Irvine Center on the corner of Bridge and Campus (across from UCI) 8 a.m. - Noon (rain or shine) (parking can be tough, it gets really busy from the surrounding units, but its nice for grocery shopping since Trader Joes is in the same shopping complex)

*cheers! and happy shopping!*

Sad Face Day ):

So, after 18:49 min. phone conversation, this was still their conclusion:

"We apologize, but we don't have a rack fit for your vehicle.
Our Fit Technicians
have scratched their heads over this and they don't easily admit defeat, but
unfortunately your car is "unYakable". "

So...what does that mean for my bike, ski, and cargo racks? Risk using the '06' model Q-Clips? Or spend another $300 for a Thule mounting system? Or perhaps trade in my car? Humm...decisions, decisions...

Happy Earth Day!

5 WAYS TO CELEBRATE:

• RECYCLE. Find local recyling centers in your area here.
• WALK, BIKE, BUS or CARPOOL to work (try to park your car more often! Easier on the wallet, and better for the body!)
• CONSERVE water. Turn the tap off while brushing teeth, and when lathering up during face wash and when shaving. Also, use the dish washer! They use less water than washing/rinsing by hand!
• REUSE. Take your own bag when shopping. Most stores offer resuable bags now and some even give you discount if you bring your won. Also, note what others are doing to support this cause: As of today, Wholefoods will no longer use plastic bags.
• USE LESS ENERGY. Unplug your appliances when not in use - TV, lights, microwave, laptops and cell phone chargers. Buy a power strip with an easy on/off switch. Chargers still use use energy when plugged in. Also, switch to energy efficient light bulbs. They use less energy which means cheaper energy bill!

Anyways, lets take care of what we have and all practice "hozho". Nizhonigo hazliin, nizhonigo hazliin :) Peace!

Tomorrow's Earth Day!

Hope you celebrate accordingly! Perhaps I'll ride the bus...which reminds me. One should be cautious about taking random stroll for cereal and milk and hoping on random buses looking for a grocery store. I ended up miles from the hotel and encountered...

1. High as a kite old man, who spat at me as he slurry his speech when asking for bus change. SCARY.

2. Some busted up dude who walked past me, blood dripping down one cheek while the other side was all purple with eye swollen shut. Obviously a recent beating...

3. A bus driver who told me that this part of town use to be really bad and was the place all drug dealers use to live.

4. A hours wait and 3 diff. bus changes to get myself back to the hotel (not to mention the mile walk to and from the bus stop).

Whew! Anyways, so the $1.50 I spend on an all day bus fare (discounted by the same bus driver aforemention) didn't seem so worth it after all. But it was an expirence. And I did have time to picture myself as a carless, single mother who'd have to leave the house to travel to the store by bus to buy her kids breakfast...very exhausting. So props to all you who've mastered this mode of transportation. It has though, made me decided that I should try to ride the bus to work every now and then...guess I'll have to blog about that to when it happens :)

Have A Namaste!

So, I finally got my lulu bag:) I was in dire need of a new yoga mat (remember sisters? buying me that yoga/pilates kit oh so many years ago? Well, its finally time for a replacement). Anyways, I decided to go with bright colors (lemon/blue), not to mention I picked this one because its eco-friendly:) Lululemon specialized in yoga/dance clothing and accessories. They have a cute little store in Fashion Island and another coming to Irvine soon. I can't say that their reusable eco-conscious bag with purchase wasn't another big seller:) Mike says he wants to try yoga to. He actually said one of his football coaches said yoga was one of the hardest things they could ever do. There's a class tomorrow, but I think it'll be pushing my luck to get him to yoga, then volleyball afterwards :) Oh, and Dave, has your "injury" healed yet? Its namaste time.

Here is one of my favorite centers here in Newport: Triad Yoga (you can attribute my co-workers for this one).


Although, I have yet to try this one: YogaWorks . One of my old visiting teachees teaches there (at the NB center). I have yet to try it out.

But for now, I'll keep hitting up my "already-paid-for" weekly classes at The 24...:)

NAMASTE :)

BANFF, Here I Come...

My sister's my inspiration for the following post. In an attempt to be more sustainable, I decided to only bike/walk to places (if possible) within a 2 mile radius of my house. Another thing I had decided to do is to bike to work once a week. Not only is this good on the environment and my gas bill, its also good for me (biking around town, wouldn't hurt this body ONE bit:) Anyways, so this is what aspired from Friday's bike ride back from work...needless to say, I took a little detour.

.

This video is hopefully, the first of many to come, so enjoy and let me know what you think. Perhaps you'll see it at the next Banff Film Festival :) Until then, park the car and RIDE!

Directed and shot on location in Newport Beach by N. Begay.

Song: Carousel by Sydney Wayser

WORLD WATER DAY....get involved!

So, this month is all about sustainability...well, this year I guess. Everyone's getting more and more "GREEN" conscious to the point that I may even call it trendy. Even if it may be "trend," I'm happy either way. Because it can be an overwhelming concept when thought about (the amount of waste we produce/our daily consumables). Which is why "sustainability" goes along perfectly with my new motto:

::LIVE SIMPLY::

Now I know alot of your might think that's funny, or definitely a challenge for someone like me (its true), but I believe in it, and am currently trying to do such. I recently had a conversation with one of my girlfriends who had just gotten back from a week vacation to Costa Rica. She said there's always an "adjustment" when coming back to the states. So many things just seem so important here, the car you drive, the clothes you wear, the designer, your stylist, etc. I know I feel the same way, especially when I go back home. Especially on the Rez, I don't think I ever wear makeup and I certainly don't "dress to impress." People would look at me crazy if I was walking around the flea market in Dior stilettos...ha, ha...or imagine trying to chase sheep in heels or designer wear..ha, ha...anyways, I'm trying to live as SIMPLY as I can for the time being (a hard feat, even here in The OC, and for a label whore such as myself). So wish me luck. Anyways...the reason for this post (sorry for the tangent) is the follow:

March 22 is "Walk for World Water Day." The purpose is to draw international attention to the critical lack of clean, safe drinking water worldwide. As most of you don't know, this is in part what I deal with in the Environmental Industry. This is a day to observe the 1 billion people who lack clean water. In case you're interested in participating, check out the link below.

http://www.worldwaterday.net/?utm_source=starbucks&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=alpha

Let me know if you're interested. A group of us from here are planning on attending the walk in Santa Monica. You can also check out their myspace or facebook.

Peace:)

P.S. If you're also interested, here's another site that you can contribute to that is actively installing wells/installing drinking water for those who do without...we're also involved in this and contribute annually to the cause: Water For People.