Our wardrobe thrives on accessorize-ability. You know, t-shirts and pants, socks and scarves, they’re little bits that come together for one great look. If you ask me, style is like a puzzle – looks great when they all ‘fit’, AND each piece is world of it’s own.

Up and coming shoe revolutionaries Urshuz, are banking on a unique blueprint that challenges mainstream designs, and underlines the divine principle in fashion: accessorize-ability! They’re the only shoes I’ve ever seen that are capitalizing on the principle of mix-n-match. Customizable watch faces, phone cover of the week, I mean, shoes were the next logical step, right? Their overall idea is innovative and catchy; a convertible shoe with interchangeable bottoms (soles) and tops. Not only can you decide between various color combinations (that’s right, neon green treads), you can go from shoe to sandal, in minutes (well, depending on how long it takes you to master their binding system). As I constructed my pair I began to wonder, were these sandwich style foot protectors comfy and stylish enough to make it into the ranks of my wardrobe?

Urshuz is currently working on their Women’s shoe line, which means, to take a test drive I had to ‘walk a day’ in my brother’s shoes (or rather, one hour), to get a sense of their wearability. Erik (my brother), stepped in as my trusty shoe double, and we both noticed the following observations from our shoe-scapades…once we mastered some minor construction faults.

Walkability: They certainly had a sturdy feel to them, with a well accounted for arch support, but some of the ‘cushiness’ you’d really want for long walks in heavy-duty shoes was missing.

Textile comfort: I applaud the commendably comfy tops, but someone who likes more ‘form’ to their shoes might think them too pliable. From walking, I had no idea they were actually two parts fastened together. We liked the flexibility of the soles.

What I really like about Urshuz is that they’re challenging the die hards on the Style Network, and helping reDesign both fashion and consumerism. I applaud companies that find ways to infuse environmental, humanitarian and conscious consumption values into their product. What strikes me about the Urshuz claim to “footwear revolution” is how buying only one shoe and maxing out it’s accessorize-ability might be a way to tame spending and reduce waste (of completely non-recyclable) products. I wish Urshuz all the luck in joining the family of everyday, innovative, eco-wear twists like Tom’s and Nike. It’s a joy and pleasure to discover companies trying on imagination for size, and seeing what steps they can take for a positive future!

We started CHALK4PEACE in 2009 when John Aaron, Founder of the non-profit CHALK4PEACE organization gave us a call and asked us if we would host the peaceful chalk art event in Los Angeles.  CHALK4PEACE is a worldwide sidewalk chalk project that invites people of all ages to share their messages of peace through art. We immediately jumped at the opportunity because it fell along the lines of our company’s mission to be able to connect and interact with our own community and plus we couldn’t believe Los Angeles was missing out on this fun event.

CHALK4PEACE has given us that gift to connect with all ages from our city by having a discussion of peace and allowing for our creativity to flow in a youthful and playful manner.  As the next year approached we were nervous at the fact that we had no time to plan and were unable to host another year of CHALK4PEACE, but our wonderful city of Los Angeles gave us hope by bringing us CicLAvia.

CicLAvia is an incredible and much needed event that has been shaping our culture by inviting everyone to come together for a day of play and exploration.  The streets are open to everyone creating a temporary car-free public space on which local communities can walk, bike, dance, and learn about their own city in a more intimate setting.  CicLAvia allowed us to continue placing chalk in people’s hands and encouraging them to draw what peace means to them.

This past Sunday, we hosted our 3^rd annual CHALK4PEACE event at CicLAvia, which attracted youth of all ages.  Once one person starts drawing everyone wants in.  You don’t need to ask to be able to draw, just take the chalk and let it flow.  It was a beautiful day where we sulked up the sun with our bicycles by our sides and had a good time with people we had never met before and with some familiar faces.  Thanks to everyone who stopped by and unleashed their inner child.  Having CHALK4PEACE at CicLAvia is a perfect mixture of my two loves – bicycles and art.

Here’s a video by my friend BASICALI, where he documents his experience at CicLAvia 2011 including his stop at CHALK4PEACE.  Enjoy and please visit us at the corner of 7^th and Park View at Mac Arthur Park next year!

BASICALI WEEKLY EPISODE 15 – “CICLAVIA!” from BasicaliMusic on Vimeo.

The work of three Silver Lake (Los Angeles) artists is challenging minds to open to the possibility of fruit for all to enjoy!  Fallen Fruit is a fruit tree neighborhood mapping project, first created to answer the call of “grassroots modernism” for the Journal of Aesthetic Protest.  I see this project guiding us to be abundant with our joy; fruit, a simple joy.  How about share the fruits from each other’s labor?  Especially if such delicacy will otherwise go to waste.  What these urban foragers unearthed was a legal, sociable, and humanitarian effort for preserving food healthy enough to share.  According to the law, when fruit falls onto public property, it’s fair game.  With crews sometimes 90 strong, these ‘Fallen Fruit’ strangers had set out to collect (and often jam) this runoff of nature’s goodness.  Believe it or not, Los Angeles has a rich and varied crop of produce year round, and fruit trees require average care to supply their sweet treats.

The juicy candy of nature’s Quik-E-Mart is not limited to our homeland. International communities are also jumping at the chance to collect public fruit.  FruitCity in London, England is seen as both an expression of art (with expertly crafted extendable picking arm, picking backpack and mobile cider press), and a network of handy metropolitan fruit trees.

If there’s ever a question about what to do with excess found fruit, local food banks are a valuable option. Feeding America is a wonderful resource for locating donation centers in your area.  Their Map of the Meal Gap is a digital, educational tool used to help citizens of the United States connect to the VERY REAL problem of many struggling for adequate amounts of food.  Can creativity and resourcefulness supply food all?  Every bite not taken and every portion not trashed is life for another individual.

It has taken me a while to digest everything that happened last weekend at Tour d’ Organics, an all organic cycling ride in Sonoma County. My heart opened to love and companionship and my mind and body went thru new unexpected limits.  The 100 mile journey through Sonoma became much more than a ride.  It was truly an unforgettable experience that taught me valuable lessons providing me with a new perspective on the conditioning needed for a long distance Cyclist.

On Saturday, August 13^th, Edwin, my good friend and riding partner, and I arrived in Sebastopol after a long drive from Los Angeles.  We registered with Tour d’ Organics and set up at our campsite with Leyna and a new wonderful friend, Mike.  We spent the night finding our inner warrior, creating funny noises, laughing, making or shall I say mastering the perfect S’more and opening ourselves to the beautiful energy radiating from our souls and the full moon.  I was filled with excitement for the next day to take on one of my greatest challenge as a cyclist, a century ride.

Sunday morning, we woke up, packed everything and rushed over to the Sebastopol Community Center where all the riders prepared for takeoff.  Unfortunately, we were late on arrival, so we had to quickly put together our bikes, scarf down some granola and then off we went into the misty cool morning slowly warming up our joints and muscles.  The first 35 miles were mainly uphill, I had no idea how hilly Sonoma County is and looking ahead we knew we weren’t going to catch up with the rest of the riders.  You could tell they were competitors and in reality we didn’t want to.  We signed up for Tour d’ Organics for the actual tour of organic farms.  We wanted the whole experience.

The first farm we visited was Three Ox Farm, a beautiful farm growing basil, sunflowers, carrots, apples and other delights.  The owner and daughter had the warmest welcome and every cyclist arrived happy to have water, apple juice, hummus, vegetables, homemade jams and cliff bars to go.  This farm was such a blessing for the heart and mind.  We stayed there for probably 25 minutes touring the farm, taking pictures, having great conversation and enjoying the life of a Farmer.  It was so hard to leave.  Every farm we stopped at captivated us by its beauty and peacefulness.  If I didn’t work in the Entertainment industry I would be a farmer in Sonoma.

As we peddled forward, the ride became more intense.  The hills were not getting smaller as I hoped and at the 50-mile mark my back was painfully giving out.  I had missed two of the most important things while I was training; not enough saddle time and not having a proper bike fit.  Without these two in line you will endure an incredible amount of pain on your back and neck, this is the most common injury for cyclists.  Well guess what, I went through this pain and as I kept riding, my body sweating out every nutrient, the pain only got worse.

My advice, If you’re going to take on 100 miles think about how long you will be in a cycling position, bent over the handlebars, neck extended in an upward position and back flexed.  The oxygen and blood to your muscles will be greatly reduced and compromised.  As I continued to ride, my back and neck went into an excruciating level of pain.  Every bump on the road was a beating to the back.  As we reached 85 miles I had to stop continuously.  I couldn’t lift, move or twist my back, but I was so close to the end and I wasn’t ready to give up.  I figured since my legs were still going strong I was going to make it.

Around 95 miles, my body forced me to stop.  Edwin had me lie down, which was no easy task, and stretched me out, again not easy nor fun.  At that point I was done.  I couldn’t get up and I accepted my limits and put my pride aside as I realized I needed support.  As soon as the mind soaked that in, the Manager of the Tour drove by miraculously and took us back in.  It’s funny how things work out that way.  He was not happy about me pushing my body beyond my limits, being that he was a physician, but did congratulate me on the amount that I had completed.  The Tour was officially over by that time, but we still ended the day with a nice big plate of the best organic vegan food Sonoma had to offer.

I look back at the experience now and I’m so grateful of every lesson I was given and although people may say I learned the hard way, I think in this case there’s no other way of learning.  The best lessons come from having lived through it and that strengthens you a lot more than being verbally taught.  I have crossed over to another level of cycling and I’m embracing it fully.  I hope to continue sharing my trials, errors and accomplishments on my cycling journey.  I will share more soon on the need for proper gear, bike fit and nutrition.

Thank you to all the organizers and volunteers at Tour d’ Organics.  It was an amazing experience and I will definitely be back next year!  This ride was my first long distance tour and I couldn’t have asked for a better setting.

Thank you to the participating farms for keeping us hydrated and nourished.

Three Ox Farm

French Garden Farm

Traditional Medicinal

Middleton Farm

Dry Creek Peach

Love Farms

Golden Nectar Farm

Gabriel Far

Tour d’ Organics is not like any other organized ride. It’s an adventure through Sonoma County’s organic farms, starting in beautiful Sebastopol. Along the ride we get to taste various organic fruits and vegetables picked from local farms and mid-ride we stop for a vegan lunch at Dry Creek Peach and Produce Farm. The ride ends back at Sebastopol Community Center where there is another gourmet vegan post ride meal, music and massages at a $1 a minute for the cyclists.

I don’t know about you, but when you mention the words: vegan, organic, cycling, nature and music it makes me feel warm and fuzzy inside. The organic cherry on top is that we get to camp under a full moon the night before. How magical is that! I love being outdoors especially when the Moon is bright and full, it charges my soul instantly. I wouldn’t give that gift up for a $400 hotel room. No way!

I’m extremely excited about this trip, I even splurged and bought all new gear; helmet, groovy bike gloves, hydration pack, Shimano cycling shoes and a rented Specialized road bike. I’m geared up and ready to roll thanks to In Cycle in Pasadena. I just need to go on a couple test rides with the shoes. I never thought I would buy them, the thought of having to quickly release from the bike kind of scares me. I am a quick learner, so after a few falls I’ll be fine.  Anything that will maximize performance, I’m all in.

If this amazing ride sounds at all appealing to you, it’s not too late to register.  Get on it! You can camp with me. I’ll be cooking a delicious meal the night before with vegan S’mores for dessert.

Tour d’ Organics tag line:

If you like beautiful cycling, camaraderie, and fresh, local, vegan food, this ride is for you!

Register: http://www.seb.org/event/250477-2011-tour-d-organics

On Sunday, June 12, Michelle and Ryan geared up, saddled up and hit the road by cycle.  An adventure I’ve always wanted to take, so yes I’m a little jealous I’m not with them now, but it doesn’t mean I can’t join them at some point. They will be on the road for the next few months getting to know our country and living simply, so there will be plenty of opportunities for you to join them as well if you’d like or get to meet them along the road.

They created a website, America ByCyle, where they will be recording their journey through blogs, pictures, videos and maps.  They departed from Yorktown, VA yesterday, if you see them coming your way, connect with them and invite them over for breakfast, lunch, dinner, a shower and/or a good night sleep.  They definitely will need all the support they can get from us.  Plus, getting to meet them is truly a gift.  They’re sweet, talented and pretty funny and can play music and dance for you, too.

Here’s how you can help:

Donate

$5, $20, $50, $100, whatever you can give

http://americabycycle.com/help-us-ride

Buy from Scentsy

Click on: America ByCycle open party. 100% of the profit will help support their journey.

https://sarahlenon.scentsy.us/Buy?partyId=36423318

Follow their map

Find out where they are and invite them over

http://americabycycle.com/the-map-2

Connect with them

http://americabycycle.com/get-in-touch

Send them a prayer

Positive energy travels far, send them a prayer for their safety and for a rewarding journey

It is by riding a bicycle that you learn the contours of a country best, since you have to sweat up the hills and coast down them.  Thus you remember them as they actually are, while in a motor car only a high hill impresses you, and you have no such accurate remembrance of country you have driven through as you gain by riding a bicycle.

~ Ernest Hemingway

It became very clear to me early on that I would need the approval of the local governing bodies. Being in one of the largest cities in the world, my heart began to flutter at the bureaucracy I would have to weave my way through in this process.  I had a lot of convincing to do and starting with the local authorities seemed to be the right place to begin.

After a bit of research on the officials I needed to approach, I decided my first adventure in speaking publicly about the project would be with the Miracle Mile Residential Association. They meet once a month so I contacted the President of the association, Jim O’Sullivan, to have him put me on the agenda. I was a ball of nerves walking into that meeting but quickly realized it was a relaxed atmosphere so the pressure faded. I sat patiently waiting my turn as they discussed the minutes from the prior months meeting and a new building height issue. I think Jim noticed my anticipation and finally asked me to speak. I had a paper to pass out with all the details of my project and quickly went into presenting my idea. Before I knew it I was done!

Then the questions started pouring in. Have you spoken to the landowners? What is the community saying? How is this going to effect zoning? How are you going to keep people from stealing the food? I didn’t have answers for most of them. In fact, I had a few questions of my own. The members really didn’t have answers for me either but were kind enough to put me in contact with some people in the area that might be of help. I was hoping to leave with the Associations full support but was asked to come back with a more detailed package.

Now the questions were swirling in my head and I needed answers. Since the Association wouldn’t back my plan just yet, I set out to convince the local community council and get a better understanding of what it would take to get a garden growing on the vacant land. After a little research, I discovered the Mid City West Community Council Planning and Land Use Committee was holding a meeting later that month.

I arrived at the meeting again on edge about how the project would be viewed. Much to my dismay they too didn’t have any answers about permitting, zoning or developing a community garden. But, they did express enthusiasm about having a community garden in the Miracle Mile and said they would back the idea full force when that point arrived.

I left happy and recharged to find answers for all the unanswered questions…

Something tells me foods a’changin. Since adolescence, I’ve played my fair share of digestion roulette trying to resolve what I called ‘the yuckies’ (persistent nausea and frustration).  It wasn’t until the last few years that I really examined what I was eating, and through food allergy testing discovered how certain foods were reacting with my body.  I became my own chef and banished those tummy woes.

Food allergy tests had confirmed my membership to the Lactose Intolerants of the World club.  Up to 60% of humans are not able to digest milk’s main sugar called lactose.  Seriously though, is it really that bizarre to think we aren’t made to drink another animal’s milk?  That our bones won’t brittle and fall from their sockets without consumption of bovine teat juice?  How many times do you see a giraffe suckling on a monkey for milk?  …So add to that gluten intolerance and a slew of 30 other food sensitivities, eight months ago is when I began pacing and twirling my thumbs, wondering “How will I ever makeover my diet to be void of dairy, wheat, soy, corn, rice, eggs, garlic, tomatoes…?”

My saving grace has been recipes, substitutions and creative home cooking.  As a result, my ‘bread basket’ is happy and healthy, from taste buds to…end. Eating out is a whole other beast that you must learn to tame.  Stumbling upon this wild flower of a café, gluten-free Blissbakery, was a big JOOOY!

Maria Balme, Bauman College Culinary Instructor, took her practice to the people by opening up Santa Rosa gem, Blissbakery.  Maria is noticing a shift in allergy friendly eating first hand, telling me she opened up the café because “It needed to happen, nobody was doing this.  So I was like, I’ll just do it”. Maria and her daughter have Celiac Disease, so when they ingest gluten, the protein found in all forms of wheat, their bodies essentially receive it as toxic.  Maria explains, “there wasn’t enough awareness. People like you and I, we can’t go everywhere to eat.”

The food at Blissbakery was absolutely delightful.  After all the ‘nummies, my stomach was so happy – and so too was my heart.  Thanks to Maria’s gusto and tantalizing talent, her community of non-wheat eaters can stuff their faces with healthy, hand-made soup, sandwich, and pastry alternatives.  In starting her eatery, Maria wanted to emphasize a back to basics home cooking style, one that’s void of conveyor belt food processes and sterile employee-to-food relationships. “Nobody’s touching the food, there’s no love going into it”, she says, “it’s important for their to be energy in food”.  True that.  Food for the soul means food for the masses (gluten-free style).

I have been enjoying road bikes with a passion lately and have signed up for the century ride at Tour d’Organics in Sonoma County, which is happening this year in August.  I’m super amped and immediately called my good friend, Edwin, and told him I need to train! On average I  ride about 10 + miles daily on my cruiser around town with minimal incline on hills and not sure if you’ve ever been to Sonoma County, but there’s a lot of rolling hills.  I will be honest; at first I wasn’t sure if I had the endurance and muscular strength to finish 100 miles within half a day.  However, I do love challenges and we’re a couple of months away, so my confidence has not depleted.  I don’t currently own a road bike I would take to the Tour d’Organics ride (saving up), so I’ve been renting and borrowing Specialized bikes and boy am I sold.  Those babies are lightning fast! I instantly fell in love with the first pedal forward. Which brings me to my two new loves…

My first new love: The Road Bike!

When I’m on the road bike I feel like I’m flying and at times I think I might be able to take off into space.  A little over the top I know, but I never knew one could ride so fast.  I’ve committed myself to riding every weekend for at least 30 + miles on Saturday and I’m slowly implementing it into Sunday as well.  It’s been going very well, not only am I flexing different muscles, taking pleasure in the outdoors but I also get to learn a lot about cycling; Edwin, my riding partner is somewhat of a bike guru.  I know he might not like me saying this since he’s very modest, but to me he is.  While riding with him I’m learning about the bike itself; the components, how and when to shift gears (remember I’ve only been on a cruiser), bike terminology, races and tours going on in the world and other fun cycling factoids and opinions.  I feel like I’ve enrolled in a bike-training program that is also filled with lots of fun and laughter.  Thanks Edwin!

My second new love: The Mountain bike!

Not only am I training on the road, but also able to hit the mountain trails and release some stress with Mother Nature embracing me as I ride around her beautiful hips in the Angeles National Forest.  First time on the trails has become a memorable experience, riding over sand, small and large rocks, streams and the uphill and downhill spirals.  Being on the trail is a journey and life lesson in itself.  Every rock you climb over is an obstacle; you have to give your all to climb over that rock without fear.  If you’re scared you will fall.  Every stream you cross is a challenge in keeping your direction; you have to stay focused on where you’re headed.  Every soft sand patch you encounter is like quicksand engulfing you, slowing you down and sometimes giving you the illusion that it’s an impossible path, but you have to keep going, stay strong, stay focused and scream at the top of your lungs to will yourself across any course and obstacle.  It’s all worth it when you’re riding down hill, breeze caressing your face and an ear-to-ear smile for the sweet reward in return for your hard work.  The last journey out of the mountain was a steep uphill rocky incline and halfway up I lost control when I hit a rock, fear came over me and I fell off.  I didn’t want to walk my bike up, but I had lost momentum and even though I attempted to keep going, riding up a few feet at a time, it did defeat me.  I wasn’t discouraged, because as in life you don’t always get everything the first time, but you have to keep going back to it stronger and wiser.  I will be back.

Let’s ride!

Saturday, May 21, 2011

Bailin’ thru the hood like a Refugee Ride with Black Kids on Bikes

9pm Meet on Wilshire and Western

Sunday, May 22, 2011

Join me as I celebrate with LACBC’s City of Lights on the 7^th Street Bike Lane Awareness Ride

11:30am Meet @ Hollenbeck Park

Ride takes you to Mac Arthur Park where there will be food and fun!

Sunday, June 5, 2011

11^th Annual River Ride in Los Angeles

Starts at Griffith Park – Autry Center

Sunday, August 14, 2011

Ride with me @ Tour d’Organics

The ride takes you through organic farms in Sonoma County where you can enjoy yummy fruits and vegan snacks.

Special Announcement!

America ByCycle

Please support my fellow iNDIGO member and partner in crime and all things groovy, Michelle Cassel, on her Across America ride.  Michelle and Ryan will commence their journey on June 8^th and will cycle across the country for the next few months to reconnect with nature and meet people that are creating positive impacts within their communities and environment.   Learn more: America ByCyle