"Meet the Designer and the Muse" video of me

Here is a beautiful video my extremely talented friend, Robertino Fonseca put together a while back of me while fitting for the "Meet the Designer and the Muse" event. The designer being the also very talented, Louis Verdad. :)

Koala Hospital

The following post is about a documentary about a Koala Hospital. Humorous, interesting and cute. I am sure they have better health care than i do at the moment... http://www.riledupjournal.com/Blog/TabId/64/PostId/912/koala-conservation.aspx

Venice trash pickup July 1st!

Bird Fella

So, I was walking along Venice beach today with my good bud from out of town doing stuff you do with out of towners when they visit LA... took a walk, stared at the crazies, admired the preschool level artwork for sale, etc... when who should run right by us with a plastic lid in its beak, but this little fella...
A part of me wanted to run after it and yank the thing out of its beak, get my gloves from my car and pickup all the trash in the area, but i remembered that my friend was with me and that i would like to continue to have him as my friend, so i didn't.
Instead, I've decided to make Venice beach the spot for our next trash pickup which is scheduled for Sunday, July 1st at 10:30a.m. Please join us if you can so we can pickup trash, take goofy fun photos and make sure these birds don't choke on that nasty stuff. For a while at least.  Check out http://www.modelenvironment.org/ if interested! :)

Soak It Up!!!

Hello again!!!

       So as i established previously, i am involved in some ambitious eco stuff. One being a campaign for clean recreational boating called "Soak It Up!!" that my friend asked me to be a part of.

What I have realized working on this campaign is that there is a need for some more responsibility when it comes to pollution and safety in the recreational boating world. After many months of researching articles, surveys, data, laws and talking to some cool marina operators, boaters and environmental activists... One of the things I realized, is that the best way to address most problems that exist most efficiently, is through prevention. How? Well for one, how about some education? In CA there is no licensing process for recreational boaters. There is, however, a registration process but this means that you can buy a boat, register online (just basic personal and boat info asked) and go out there and boat! You aren't legally required to know any information about how to maneuver the waters safely or what to do in case of an oil/pollution accident before going out there but you will get in trouble for breaking the law which penalizes anyone who pollutes and/or endangers the life of another.

Here is a link with some info on recreational boating accidents: http://www.888-go-longy.com/recreational_boat_accidents.php

Most accidents and deaths occur due to drunk and ignorant boating. Also, wear your life jackets folks!

I personally feel that if we need to know some stuff before we go and drive on the street then why not the waterways? Especially in CA! Fact: You can't drown on gravel but you can in water. Source: Me (I'm the most smartest).

Anyway, there are 45 states in the US that have some kind of certification or license requirement in order for a rec boater to operate a vessel. CA is one of the 5 that don't... http://www.americasboatingcourse.com/ABC_WebSite/state_boating_law.htm

AND CA is the only state that is not landlocked out of those 5!! Making this kind of a no brainer.

I hear that it is not a matter of IF but WHEN and that there is something underway, but it seems to be far from happening any time in the immediate future due to lack of priority or money up there (as in government, not heaven). 
Mini History: A bill regarding rec boater licensing was rejected about 4 years ago and a lot of boat manufacturers were against it because they claimed it would threaten their business (ugh), although i was told that there is info out there from other states that disproves their accusations since the states implementing this law did not affect the manufacturers' business in any significant way.

In addition to the silliness, i read recently that a bill passed in 2011 that would regulate babysitting (AB 889) so who knows what the real reason is seeing as death seems like more of an issue than no babysitting break after 2 hours, unless you babysit some Beverly Hills kids, then maaaaaybe i can understand.

I'm from Cabo and down there anybody who is going to drive a boat has to pass a test, carry the equivalent of a license at all times and pass a health examination as well as notify the coast guard of their plans, even if it is just to take a little ride in their boat. Mind you Cabo has its fair share of shit but at least this stuff is well done and example worthy... and so are the tacos. 
I was born in CA though and have been living here for the past few years, so as an official new California girl, I care about the waterways, some of the boaters out there who i am now friends with, as well as the state in which my second home country and city is finding itself in, so i would like to help this situation.

I might not accomplish diddly squat, but so far it has been an educationally rewarding experience which has led to many new friendships, trash pickups and this blog... So Wish me luck and write to me if you might have any information or opinions if this interests you. Please try to be nice. I WILL appreciate it. :)

Here is a final link to the California boating course that i wanted to share with those who might be interested in it... http://www.boat-ed.com/california/index.html?token=2f46eb8dcfe8b1c4ed923586305b271e

xo!

Intro

This is my first official blog post!!
Hooray! Hooray!

Basics: I was born in Monterey, CA (otters!!!) and moved to Mexico at age 1 (I'm allergic to beans). I grew up in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico until finishing high school. After graduating, i spent the summer in Paris to learn french and traveled Europe. I then moved to San Diego that fall ('04) to begin college. After two years i moved to New York in order to model professionally. Two.5 years later, i moved to LA in order to continue modeling and begin acting (yeah... yeah...). About a year or so ago, I started doing environmental and community work and that has been incredibly fulfilling (sometimes we go out and pick up trash for an hour instead of just talk it). I'm co directing a clean and safe boating campaign called "Soak it Up!" and constantly learning many cool things, so I decided to start a blog to share some of that stuff (LA drainage systems are such that whatever trash that isn't picked up on the street, goes directly to the ocean) in case somebody out there finds it interesting or useful. If you don't, that is fine. I will post some fun stuff about the other stuff i do entertainment wise (I'm on a fun new show called Fashion Star on NBC with many talented folks!). So stay tuned for my international perspective on life stuff and have a gooood day! :)