i spy...

I spy with my little eye on my morning beach run...

an unabashed "poopy" unicorn pony,

a speed bike racer, 

yellow and fushia ice plant blossoms, 

a friendly black widow ("ello!"), 

and some pier legs. 

TZ fundraiser festivities

A BIG thank you to friends and family who came out Saturday to support me and my dream of volunteering in Africa this summer! 

I am truly grateful to be surrounded by such generous and encouraging people. It's all happening guys and it wouldn't be possible without your love!

My good friend Jeff Nisen of Sand Section played a mellow acoustic set during the fundraiser! 

Thanks Jeff!

Thank you to all the businesses and individuals that contributed something to the raffle! 

Can't thank you enough! My mom won the "Mr. Kate" logo necklace. Stoked its staying in the family. 

 friends, family, fingers in the nose, fundraising fantasticalness! 

KC (my cousin Chanel's husband) knows how to capture a creepy me. 

moments make memories. 

memories are lasting. 

forever is lasting. 

friends are forever. 

friends make moments into memories that last forever.

I have the best friends and family!

incrediBooth, I heart thee. 

Beautiful ending to a highly positive day. 

raffle prizes for my fundraiser event

[thank you to all the businesses and individuals who donated!]

Hey beautiful people!

3 days until my event at Sharkeez in Manhattan Beach! I'm throwing this event to help raise money for my trip to Arusha, Tanzania with humanitarian organization ONE HEART SOURCE. 

While abroad, I'll be volunteering and providing English, community health, and HIV/AIDS awareness and prevention education to children affected by the HIV/AIDS epidemic. 

It has been my dream to volunteer my time in Africa where there are serious needs that demand help. Before I start my professional working life as a full time teacher, I wish to further develop my teaching practice by gaining valuable experience abroad. This is my chance to get out there and broaden my world view! 

You showing up Saturday and making any sort of donation will not only make me SUPER happy because I know I have your support, it will also help further the program's efforts to improve the lives of these children and their local communities.

________________________________

Event highlights!...

Jeff Nisen and Tony Gonella of Sand Section will be playing an acoustic set! Yeee!

During the event, the amazing Alex Curry and I will be walking around selling raffle tickets in which you could win some awesome prizes.

Raffle Prizes include:

*$100 gift cert. to The World Famous Spot Restaurant
*Box of F.I.T. Bars (gf, non GMO)
*Bottle of wine and Bacchus wine tasting cert.
*cupcakes from Cupcakes Couture
*Two Guns Cafe gift cert.
*Pages bookstore gift cert.
*Nutrition Consultation from Holistic Nutrition coach Courtney Hermann
*Bates Chiropractic gift cert.
*One Private Surf Lesson with Jason Napolitano
*The Green Yogi gift cert.
*Teeki swimsuit
*Betinis swimsuit
*Spa package
*Landis Labyrinth toy store gift basket and gift cert.
*Mr. Kate rose gold necklace

....And much more!!!!

Come hungry! Breakfast is 20% off and drinks are $3.25 with a wristband! You can buy a wristband from me for $5 anytime before or at the event. I'll have them on me so you can get one when you see me or you can call me (310) 766-0091 or Amanda (310) 265-3386 for one.

_______________________________

And just so you know, any donation you make Saturday will be put towards the program fee which provides me all the teaching supplies for surrounding schools, training supplies, clean drinking water, and on-site orientation and pre-field orientation.

It's from 11-3pm! Hope to see all your beautiful faces there!

Much love,

Shelby


If you can't attend the event, but would still like to donate you may do so by clicking on the giftiki link below: :D

https://user.giftiki.com/BZmFjZWJvb2sANjcwOTQ4MQ==

And again, thank you for the support. I truly appreciate the generosity. 

 [Happy St. Patty's Day!; flat white coffee from Two Guns Cafe; an abandoned liquor bottle the day after St. Patty's Day in San Fran 3 years ago]

May your thoughts be as glad as the shamrocks
May your heart be as light as a song
May each day bring you bright
Happy hours that stay with you all the year long.

~Irish Blessing

go green this st. patty's day

images via pinterest

This Saint Patty's Day, do more than just drink a green beer and dance an Irish jig. GO GREEN! Make this Saint Patty's Day the day you start being more enviornmentally-friendly in everything you do! There are hundreds of littles things we can do in our homes, schools, and community to play a small part in reducing landfill waste, cleaning the air, and preserving the natural landscape. I'm not going to list a hundred - I don't want to overwhelm you - but I will list a small handful of ways you can begin to think GREEN!

Ways to GO GREEN:

1. Sign up with you Bank to start receiving electronic versions of your paper bill statements. This small change will help save some trees! If for some reason this is not an option, make sure you recycle paper bank statements.  

2. Start purchasing produce and other goods at local farmers markets in your area. Not only does locally grown food taste better (because its closer to the source!), local produce is better for you, preserves genetic diversity, and is GMO (genetically modified organism) free. Not to mention, buying locally grown food at a farmers market near you helps build community and keeps your taxes in check! Seriously guys, the produce and food at farmers markets is too good to pass up! And there's free samples!

Farmers Market Schedule (South Bay Area):

Tuesday: Manhattan Beach Farmers Market (13th Street, Manhattan Beach, CA 90266) 11-4

Wednesday: El Segundo Farmers Market (Plaza El Segundo 760 S Sepulveda Blvd, El Segundo, CA 90245) 8am-2pm

Thursday: El Segundo Farmers Market (Main St and Holly Ave, El Segundo, CA 90245) 3-7pm

Friday: Hermosa Beach Farmers Market (1007 Valley Dr, Hermosa Beach, CA 90254) 12-4

Saturday: Hawthorne Farmers Market (corner of Aviation and West 135th St) 8am-1pm   &

                                      Torrance Farmers Market (2200 Crenshaw Boulevard, Torrance, CA)  

3. Stop using disposable bags. Pick some up at your local grocery store - they usually run for like $.99 - or make your own! If this is not an option, opt for brown paper bags that you can recycle over plastic bags. If you have a pile of plastic bags lying around the house, recycle them by placing all the bags in one bag and tying off. Throw in recycling bin. Note: you CAN NOT just place one plastic bag in the recycling bin. It won't get recycled...You must place them all together in one bag to recycle. Don't ask me why...

4. Buy an inexpensive reusable water bottle (I use a Klean Kanteen or a reused glass Kombucha bottle), and stop buying plastic disposable water bottles. Why? Because plastic takes FOREVER (literally) to discompose in landfills and ingesting water from plastic water bottles that have been sitting in the sun in your car is extremely dangerous (I'm talking cancer-causing dangerous)! Icky!

5. Turn off lights when you leave the room. Duhhhh, easiest way to be eco-friendly by conserving energy. No need to explain this one.  I really hope everyone does this. There's really no excuse not too.  

6. Walk or ride your bike to do errands that are 2 miles or closer. This is a simple one, yet it can be inconvenient. I KNOW I can do a better job at not driving EVERYWHERE I go, especially if the errand is within 2 miles. I'm aware of it now and will consciously try to walk or bike more when appropriate. 

7. Reuse scrap paper. Print on two sides, or let your kids color on the back side of used paper. I've encouraged the kids I nanny to do this. They've gotten so used to drawing on both sides of the paper that when they come across a paper with only one side drawn on, they automatically know they must draw on the blank side before asking for another piece. They're so cute and GREEN!

8. Before buying anything new, first check your local Craigslist or Freecycle. Give vintage/antique/re-purposed or re-claimed furniture and home decor a new life and new home by spreading it around with your newer pieces. It adds character and a level of comfort to a home. Plus, a rad piece of art you found at a garage sale mounted over the mantle or a re-claimed rustic door used as a coffee table would be a great conversation piece when friends come over! 

9. Use cloth instead of paper to clean your kitchen. Be frugal, and make these rags out of old towels and t-shirts.

10. Repurpose glass jars as leftover containers and bulk storage, especially in the kitchen.

11. Put a stop to unsolicited mail — sign up to opt out of pre-screened credit card offers. While you’re at it, go ahead and make sure you’re on the “do not call” list, just to make your life more peaceful.

12. Open blinds or drapes to let in natural solar heat on cold days, then close them once the sun sets, and you can reduce your heating bills by 10 percent. Worship the sun. Or at least use it to your advantage. Plus, with all that natural light, you won't need to turn on the lights, saving energy!

I hope these tips help you to become more GREEN! 

The Earth thanks you. 

this and that

Obsessed with Pictionary-inspired iPhone game "Draw Something." Is it considered an unhealthy obsession if I play this game first thing in the morning, on the john, at lunch, while making dinner, before bed, doing yoga (ha, jk, but I'd do it if I could) ? 

Like my Skrillex drawing on the left? How about my cousin Carly's Yoda drawing on the right? She has a degree in Art if you couldn't tell... :)  

[SO pho-king good veggie pho bowl from Saigon Pho] 

First Pho experience at Vietnamese restaurant Saigon Dish in Hawthorne. Pho is a traditional Vietnamese beef noodle soup comprised of basil, bean sprouts, onions and scallions, bell pepper, carrots, lime and chili,  and greens. I got the Tofu Veggie Pho made with veggie broth instead of beef broth! Yay to Saigon Dish for catering to vegans, seagans, and vegetarians! It's light, flavorful, healthy, and is large enough to leave you with leftovers!  

  

[liquid gold sunset in Manhattan Beach Saturday]

Saturday's breathtaking sunset in Manhattan Beach. This photograph was taken on my iPhone with no enhancements/filters/whatever. What you see here is what I saw that evening. 

[flat white coffee beverage from Two Guns in Manhattan Beach]

Have you ever heard of a flat white before? A flat white is a coffee beverage originating from Australia . It is prepared by pouring microfoam (steamed milk from the bottom of a pitcher) over a single or double shot (I got 3!) of espresso. This type of coffee is a healthier alternative to a traditional latte because it uses less milk. You also will find that you don't need to add sweetener to a flat white. Don't ask me why, but you don't. It's sweet on its own... 

Two Guns Cafe in Manhattan Beach serves an amazing flat white for only $3! 

Starbucks beware. There's a new guy in town and he goes by the name of Two Guns! 

[image via pinterest]

My yoga instructor, Matt Rothert, on Sunday talked to us about the power of giving and how when you make a conscious effort to give (even if you don't have a lot), not only do you experience personal benefits, but receiving tends to follow. As the joy of giving flows out from you, new richness fills your life! 

Try it!

Keep in mind that giving doesn't necessarily need to involve your wallet. Giving can be done through small gestures such as smiling (smiles don't cost you a thing!) at someone you pass by, holding the door open for a group behind you, or picking up and throwing away a piece of trash on the ground. 

From Rabbi Harold Kushner, 

"We all have the power to give away love, to love other people. And if we do so, we change the kind of person we are, and we change the kind of world we live in.”

HELP SEND ME TO TANZANIA TO TEACH!

Jambo! ("Hello!" in Swahili),  

To my family, friends, and blog world, the ones I love most. Fate has given the most amazing opportunity of my life to travel to Tanzania, Africa this summer to work with orphans and educate children to fight poverty and the global cycle of HIV and AIDS through a non-profit, non-governmental organization called One Heart Source.

In Tanzania today, there are 1.1 million children orphaned by HIV and AIDS. Left to fend for themselves, orphans often find themselves isolated and tormented with no one to teach them practical skills and to provide social and moral guidance for them. As a country, Tanzania has the second highest population of orphans due to the HIV/AIDS epidemic worldwide. Less than 1 out of 10 children receive basic support services. One Heart Source is committed to breaking the generational transmission of HIV/AIDS by promoting the well-being, growth, and development of abandoned and orphaned children through high-quality care and most importantly, education programs. Sixty percent of Tanzanians live on less that $2 a day. Tanzanians who successfully complete some form of secondary education will immediately earn almost three times as much as someone who did not. The purpose of empowering education is to promote academic enrichment, life skills, and character development of the children in order to build effective lives and become potential community leaders, so that they may continue the cycle of positive social change.

I NEED YOUR HELP!!!

I am fundraising my trip fees and trying to reach a goal of $3,500 to partially fund my trip. Please do not feel obligated to contribute, however anything you desire to give would be greatly appreciated. 

If this is something you're interested in supporting, you can click on the PayPal "Donate" below. It will redirect you to PayPal where you can enter your own contribution amount. You do not need to have a PayPal account to donate :)   

It has been my dream to volunteer my time in Africa where there are serious needs that demand help. Before I start my professional working life as a full time elementary teacher here in California, I wish to further develop my teaching practice by gaining valuable experience abroad. This is my chance to get out there and broaden my world view! It is friends and family that have given me the guidance and tools necessary to grow and enable me to act on my passion to serve others.

Much Love, 

Shelby 

india's festival of color

Check out these stills forms India's Festival of Color: 

images via intent blog and international business times

Holi color ! 

Holi (also known as Dol Jatra, Basantotsav or the Festival of Colors) is a Hindu celebration that takes commemorates the victory of good over evil, which in Hindu mythology is symbolized by the burning and destruction of the demoness Holika. The fanfare begins the day after the full moon in March each year, which in 2012 is today! People celebrate Holi by tossing colored powders and paints into the air (and at each other).     source

This festival and everything it symbolizes is AWESOME! Looks like a good time!

TED talks: chimamanda adichie, "the danger of a single story"

"Our lives, our cultures, are composed of many overlapping stories. Novelist Chimamanda Adichie tells the story of how she found her authentic cultural voice -- and warns that if we hear only a single story about another person or country, we risk critical misunderstanding."  source

"The single story creates stereotypes, and the problem with stereotypes is not that are untrue, but that they are incomplete. They make one story become the only story." - Chimamanda Adichie 

So happy I stumbled across this talk. Chimamanda Adichie is one wise and insightful woman! I encourage you to take a listen. It's 20 minutes of honesty and pure enlightenment. It will most definitely enrich your perspective on the world. 

kale with honeyed macadamia nuts + quinoa loaf

Oh, yum city! Whole Foods sent me these recipes (both vegan and gluten-free) today 

and as soon as I read the title, my mouth started watering! 

Kale with Honeyed Macadamia Nuts

What you'll need:

- 2 tablespoons honey, divided 
- 1/2 cup 365 Everyday Value Roasted & Salted Macadamia Nuts* 
- 2 bunches kale, thick stems removed, leaves thinly sliced 
- 2 tablespoons white wine vinegar 
- 1 1/2 tablespoons 365 Everyday Value Creamy Almond Butter 

*Note: be sure to choose nuts that are dry roasted, with no added oils. 

Do it!:

1. Preheat oven to 350°F. 

2. In a medium bowl, toss 1 tablespoon honey and nuts with 1 teaspoon water. 

3. Bake on a parchment-paper-lined baking sheet, tossing two or three times, 

until golden brown, 10 to 12 minutes. 

4. Cool and roughly chop.

                                                       5. Arrange kale in a large, deep skillet. 

6. In a medium bowl, whisk together vinegar, almond butter, remaining honey and 2 tablespoons water. 

7. Drizzle over kale, cover and cook over medium heat, tossing occasionally, 

until wilted and just tender, about 5 minutes. 

8. Scatter nuts over the top and serve.

Quinoa Loaf with Mushrooms and Peas

What you'll need:

- 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil, plus more for greasing 
- 8 ounces button mushrooms, sliced 
- Salt and ground black pepper to taste 
- 1 (15-ounce) can no-salt-added garbanzo beans, rinsed and drained 
- 3/4 cup rolled oats 
- 2 cups cooked quinoa  
- 1 cup frozen green peas 
- 1/2 cup chopped fresh parsley and/or 1 tablespoon minced fresh thyme 
- 10 sundried tomatoes packed in oil, drained and chopped 
- 1 cup (about 1 onion) chopped red onion

Do it!:

1. Preheat oven to 350°F. Lightly grease an 8-inch loaf pan with oil; set aside. 

2. Heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add mushrooms, salt and pepper and cook, stirring occasionally, until mushrooms are golden brown, 6 to 8 minutes. 

3. Meanwhile, put beans, oats and 1/2 cup water into a food processor and pulse until almost smooth. 

4. In a large bowl, combine mushrooms, bean mixture, quinoa, peas, parsley, 

tomatoes, onion, salt and pepper. 

5. Transfer mixture to prepared loaf pan, gently pressing down and mounding it in the middle. 

6. Bake until firm and golden brown, 1 to 1 1/4 hours. 

7. Set aside to let rest for 10 minutes before slicing and serving.

Try serving it with vegan gravy too!

this and that

My new Mr. Kate "screw you" pinky ring in rose gold. For those of you who don't know me, I am a huge fan and lover of Mr. Kate jewelry! I love the brand and the way Kate takes traditionally masculine elements and interprets them in a feminine, wearable way. Take this ring for example ... a harder, masculine element (screw) meets a feminine, delicate element (small band) and out pops a cute jewelry piece!  

Look what I got in the mail! My Coachella Week 1 pass! 38 days until I'll be at one of the happiest music festivals on Earth! Headliners include Radiohead, The Black Keys, and Dr. Dre & Snoop Dogg!

Loving on my Color Splash app for iPhone. Rev up the "artsy" level of otherwise artsy photographs! 

If you're in the South Bay area this Friday, stop by Sharkeez Upper Manhattan for socializing, drinks, and dancing to up-and-coming DJ DOUBL3 A! If you haven't heard or experienced beats by DOUBL3 A, now is your chance! His house music is feel good, upbeat, and FUN! 

Go here to listen to a 30 minute set by DOUBL3 A.

                                 Ok Go "White Knuckles". Ok Go always makes creative videos. I'm into it!

"no fear" foot tattoo and om tattoo. 

weekend wonderments [7]: best sunny weekend in awhile!

Stills from my super, sun-absorbing, active, outdoorsy, and relaxing weekend:

Cruising on the Manhattan/Hermosa Beach strand is definitely one of my most fondest memories of summer. For that reason, whenever it's nice outside, I'm quick to jump on my strand cruiser (or my mom's as seen in this photo) and roll down to the beach for a relaxing, slow bike ride.  

I'm proud to say my wrist is the one with only 3 dashes ;) I'm a light weight which, for me, isn't a bad thing. My bank account's happy and my body's happy!   

 

I've been contemplating getting the "Om" symbol tattooed on my side for quite some time now. It's a beautiful symbol with a and powerful meaning. It's the only symbol I have ever come to truly appreciate and value. So we'll see... :)  

8:00am yoga with the fun and quirky Dani Dumani of The Green Yogi. It was my first class with her and I got into some very advanced versions of regular poses I do on the daily. It was an empowering start to my sunny Sunday!

Some happy palms, basking in the sunshine! 

After yoga, I was warm and stretched out and ready to play in my weekly Sunday soccer match. We lost 1-3. They were a lot faster than us throughout the midfield which, unfortunately, worked in their favor. We did, however, come back and dominated most of the second half and even made a beautiful goal. Better luck next weekend!

Good people. Good vibes. 25th street in Hermosa Beach (the new "8th street Manhattan Beach"). 

4:00pm in Manhattan Beach. 

5:52pm - sunset in Manhattan Beach. This place is pure paradise by day and by night. I am extremely grateful to live here.

No better way to end an excellent day than with a home-cooked dinner of salmon, asparagus, and brown rice!