St. Lazaros Shelter

I had the honor of being invited to the St. Lazaros Shelter (a safe haven for the homeless in Downtown L.A.) yesterday for a post-Thanksgiving donation drive sponsored by UNFUCK THE WORLD. 

The invitation: "With winter just around the corner, they desperately need warm clothes, shoes, blankets, non perishable food, bottled water, feminine hygiene products, condoms, underwear (women's and men's), towels, sheets, toilet paper - anything will help and will be greatly appreciated. Of course you are also welcome to write a check ... :-)

You can stop by anytime, any day; Rey's store at the corner of 7th Street & San Julian is open 24/7."

Please consider donating to this worthy cause.

Thank you.

20th Annual PALLOWEEN at The Barker Hangar

What: The Westside Premiere Halloween Event for families on Halloween night! Featuring, in fantasy-come-true surroundings, costume contests, trick-ortreat lane, haunted house, tot area, and game booths.

When: Monday, October 31st, 2011 5:00 pm – 9:00 pm

Where: Barker Hangar 3021 Airport Avenue Santa Monica Airport

Why: To provide a safe and fun place for kids to be on Halloween.

Who: Estimate more than 6,500 guests including children and their families.

Please click for more information on how you can support and participate in the 2011 PALLOWEEN event!

Lulan Artisans chosen as a finalist for Index: Award 2011!

Lulan Artisans chosen as a finalist for Index: Award 2011!

Please check out the amazing work my friend Eve Blossom at Lulan Artisans is doing and show your support.

Lulan Artisans: Hope, holistic sustainability and true partnerships to prevent human trafficking!

Palisades Wine Fest at Gladstones to Benefit Friends Of Temescal Pool

I'm looking forward to attending the Palisades Wine Fest at Gladstones to Benefit Friends Of Temescal Pool takes place April 10th, 2011, 4 -7pm.

The Palisades Wine Fest is a small, exclusive wine festival focused on exhibiting the finest wines from some of California’s best known and boutique vineyards. Enjoy fine wines and hors d’oeuvres from the spectacular vantage point of Gladstone’s private rooms overlooking the ocean. Enter a chance to win an iPad2 and a large screen television, which will be announced at the Fest. There will also be a silent auction for many fabulous items. Proceeds of the Palisades Wine Fest will benefit the efforts of the Friends of Temescal Pool to reopen the historic, treasured landmark, the Temescal Canyon Pool (www.FriendsTemescalPool.com).

Please join me for a fun Sunday afternoon of wine-tasting on the beach while supporting a great cause.

Lulan Artisans launches at Target.com

Please support my friend and founder of Lulan Artisans, Eve Blossom, as their product launches on Target.com Red Hot Shop!

This exclusive clutch is not only beautiful, it's 100% hand-dyed, hand-woven silk by Lulan Artisans.

Design: Subtle
Movement Ikat, Color: Mulberry

Product: Clutch Purse w/snap-in silk handle

Handmade in Cambodia-hand-dyed, hand-woven

Sewn by Cambodian landmine and polio hindered persons.

Lulan Artisans supports over 650 weavers, spinners, dyers and finishers in weaving cooperatives in Cambodia, Laos, Thailand, Vietnam and India. Lulan supports these artisans and their communities through paying sustainable wages, creating economic stability, growing local economies and assisting with other social benefits - such as education, housing, healthcare - as well as opening up new markets for their products.

Support Lulan's mission to enhance the economic development and quality of life of their weavers, spinners, dyers and finishers by purchasing one as a holiday gift today!

Kiwanas Club 3rd Annual Poker Tournament

FYI Poker Peeps: The Kiwanas Club of Santa Monica is hosting their 3rd Annual Poker Tournament this Saturday, July 17th beginning at 5pm at the Riviera Country Club in Pacific Palisades. Buy-in is $100, includes dinner and great prizes and can still be purchased at the event. Dress code is business casual. Support your local community by playing poker. http://kiwanisclubsm.org/

LA Take Steps Be Heard For Crohn's & Colitis

My friend Ashley challenged me to join her on the LA Take Steps Be Heard For Crohn's & Colitis 5 days before the event which took place at Griffith Park on June 13, 2010. When I questioned the timing of 5 days, she kindly responded, "Don't worry about raising the money. We'll split the $250 goal. Just come and walk with me." Always up to the challenge of supporting a good cause, and especially because Ashley & I share the bliss of having chronic gastro-intestinal related conditions, I signed up on Wednesday for a Sunday walk at Griffith Park, added the link to my Facebook and twitter page and emailed my friends and family to spread the word.

My aunt who was in town visiting immediately handed me $20 to encourage me to get started and within 5 days, I'm proud to announce that Ashley & I raised $770 combined for the cause. HUGE WIN!!! Thank you so much to all the supporters & contributors to our cause. The incredible support & generosity of my friends and family encourages and inspires me daily to push forward, live well and make a difference every day with or without Colitis.

Take Steps for Crohn’s & Colitis is CCFA’s national evening walk and celebration of the nation’s largest event dedicated to finding cures for Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. Over 1.4 million American adults and children are affected by digestive diseases ~ one in every 200 Americans! While many suffer in silence, Take Steps brings together this community and encourages them to make noise and be heard. The money we raised through Take Steps helps support patient programs, education efforts, and furthers crucial research. In the past two years alone, they have been able to bring together over 75,000 people and raise over $13 million to help further our mission.

Here's a pic of us at the LA event... Now let's be heard and find a cure so no one else has to suffer through the daily life disruptions of living with Crohn's or Colitis!