my new car

helps me pick up boys

I think this was the first thing I didn't need a co-signer on. I'm a big kid. obviously ;)

PS How beautiful is Malibu? Love me some PCH.
Thanks to my little convertible for so many great trips.

give me more Costa Rica

the girl gatherings

If you are in fact judged by the company you keep then I'm looking good :)

from left to right
Jackie Tohn
you might remember this beautiful voice from American Idol, but it's not just her singing voice that will light up your life. Jackie is one of the funniest people I've ever met. We spent a few days back to back last week and my face still hurts. It's only a matter of time before she's giving the masses laughing attacks. I couldn't be more excited that Jackie will join us for a FTS event on Feb. 17th! add her, follow her, download her, all those things.

Alexis Jones
Oh Alexis Jones. This woman really lights my fire. When you're sharing a room with her you just stare.... even if she's on the other side of it. One of my favorite stories is how Alexis wiggled her way into the Survivor casting studio, but not because she was desperate to be on survivor, because she was desperate to tell the world about I Am That Girl through being on survivor. And of course, she did. She is every girls best friend.

Susie Castillo
The Neutrogena spokesperson and former Miss USA is another perfect example of how beauty from the inside out is was really makes you shine. Susie is an environmentalist and education extraordinaire. She's a host on the show "School Pride" which is basically extreme makeover for low-income schools and the author of Confidence is Queen. Can we say superwoman?  There is a blog on her website. Check it out.




ladies, I encourage you to come together at least once a month for some good ol' fashion girlfriend connection. We love to hear what the other is dreaming and doing and how we can help. It's a great way to lift your spirits, support and feel supported, and leave feeling proud of your girls! I know you're "BUSY" like the rest of us, but this is worth making time for. If you need assistance look no further... http://thatgirlgoeslocal.com/

I actually laughed out loud

Sunday: from countyline to the gypsy joint

I LOVE this

the newest addition to the compound is awesome because

he teaches me things like this:
Mamihlapinatapai ----> is a word from the Yaghan language of Tierra del Fuego, on record as the "most succinct word", and is considered one of the hardest words to translate >>> It describes "a look shared by two people with each wishing that the other will initiate something that they both desire but which neither one wants to start."


and sports a side pony :) 

Costa Rica video :)

who knows how to upload full quality on vimeo without using all the space? cause this looks pretty crappy and I see peoples full quality HD videos all the time 

my jam: Seals and Crofts

after a seals, surf, and sunset filled sunday mmmm


I walked around more on my board than I did the ground this weekend. Now, I can't move.

thankful for my hearing

beautiful!

my carnival without the rides

I'm getting so good a biting my tongue

you see a panther
I see a pussy

bite the tongue and get a good belly laugh


comedy

clothes aren't my favorite thing, but I have them

and my wonderful house doesn't come with a closet! Anyone have any good ideas for cute built-ins? stores, photos, blogs I can search? Some kind of bar and curtain could work or a cute armoire. I feel like I just keep seeing the same crap everywhere.
Until then....

magic moments: the hummingbird

"Legends say that hummingbirds float free of time, carrying our hopes for love, joy and celebration. Like a hummingbird, we aspire to hover and savor each moment as it passes, embrace all that life has to offer and to celebrate the joy of everyday. The hummingbird's delicate grace reminds us that life is rich, beauty is everywhere, every personal connection has meaning and that laughter is life's sweetest creation." 

on 1/1/11 this hummingbird took my hopes for love, joy, celebration, and placed it in my hand. Life's sweet nectar is what keeps me alive. mmmmm 

it's martin luther kind day

Of course I'm working!


Life's most persistent and urgent question is, 'What are you doing for others?' 
Martin Luther King, Jr.






to change the world start with one step 

the bird and the bee interpreting

hall and oates. holy

http://www.thebirdandthebee.com/

Dance your dinner off

at the Venice casa de amor we do a little thing called Dance Your Dinner Off. I highly recommend it

please excuse my shaky hand. It's my favorite song :)

Our compound join forces with the neighbor compound for dinner and dancing. Wild night. Turns out they're all in a band together called The Mowglis, check um out if you're in the area. I saw them Wednesday and it was a great! positive lyrics that make you move? yes.

oh the places we'll go

 I belong somewhere tropical.

the upside of renting a house an hour 1/2 hike outside of town....

more magic moments and a costa video coming :)

I shall not walk alone

my favorite. tough to make out the tear at the end of the video but it's there. and beautiful


this is what  I was talking about Haley :)

Ben Swatez India Art Project

These two are special. I met Ben through Luc and the Lovingtons. They were on their way to San Diego to do their first little mini tour and I insisted they stop in Venice and share some of their lovin. We hadn't even formally met yet. They shacked up at the compound and I feel in love with their genuine appreciation, innocence, and their hearts. Ben and Luc being avid world travelers have the most fascinating story of how they crossed paths again and again before they became the best friends they are today. When the Lovingtons play Ben paints live. After coming to Venice they showed so much interest in FTS and what they could do. Having written the "FREEDOM SONG" they definitely needed to be a part of the movement. We got them to the Awards and they were such a contribution. Ben painted the piece seen below and then layered on photos from our work and signatures from the musicians and people involved. Ben's selling this piece along with raising money to go to India to teach art therapy to one of the villages we work with. If you feel called to donate please do. I know these two beautiful souls will make a huge impact on the recovery of this village.

http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1593090588/bahari-a-village-released-from-slavery-will-paint

Cat in bed

Most importantly I hope you're feeling better, but I ALSO hope your enjoying spending time in your bed. After some serious snoozing this morning I popped up at 7:10 leaving me just enough time to casually stroll out the door while putting my clothes on, but before I got out of bed I said "I could sleep for a LOOOOooong time" even on the weekends I want to get up and surf and enjoy my days off so my bed and I don't get to spend as much time together as I'd like. Snuggle up, eat chocolate, watch something mindless, and enjoy it for me and all enjoy the busy world for you. deal?

black pearl

I'm not big on jewelry. Sure I like it, but I don't shop for it or think about it. In the same way I don't really shop for clothes, my purse was purchased on the street in NY 7 years ago, and I can't remember the last time I bought a pair of shoes. It's usually a matter of how long my flip flops last. But 3 years ago when I was on my first solo adventure, I was in Sayulita Mexico and I came across black pearls. I don't see them often but they always catch my attention. Like this morning when I came across this picture. I figured I'd share here cause that's what girls seem to do on their blogs. Like blog therapy instead of retail therapy.

Pearls symbolize purity, spiritual transformation, charity, honesty, wisdom and integrity, all the best within us. Pearls provide a clear vehicle for the advancing states of wisdom, as well as a clean channel for receipt of spiritual guidance.
Pearls can stimulate your femininity and help with self acceptace. They lift your spirits and make you feel calm and beautiful. They remind us to walk with dignity.
Pearls not only provide a mirror in which to see ourselves, but give us insight into how we appear to others.
The ragged rough grain of sand transformed over time slowly growing into a object of great value and beauty. With its humble beginnings, pearls symbolize innocence and pure heart, and help us get in touch with the simple honest things of life


Do you believe wearing certain gemstone can affect your mood or health?

Bob Marley: totally my type

happy 1/11/111111111111111

the tree of life

supernatural

my childhood girl group member/ best friend Haley Shaw is coming to LA!!!! TONIGHT!!! Supernatural's smash hit "I Got A Crush On You" was a hit at band camp.


I haven't seen her since the Nashville marathon in 09'

we worked really hard that day. obvi

I love Haley because she really brings our my calm, mature side.

Wednesday night Haley will join the Hotel Cafe family. So excited to squeeze her face. Be a fan of Haley Shaw!
http://haleyshaw.tumblr.com/

I

1. I HONOR VIRTUE

2. I BENEFIT WITH GRATITUDE

3. I AM PEACEFUL

4. I RESPECT THE PROPERTY OF OTHERS

5. I AFFIRM THAT ALL LIFE IS SACRED

6. I GIVE OFFERINGS

7. I LIVE IN TRUTH

8. I REGARD ALL ALTARS WITH RESPECT

9. I AM SINCERE

10. I CONSUME ONLY MY FAIR SHARE

11. I HAVE ONLY GOOD INTENTIONS

12. I RELATE IN PEACE

13. I HONOR ALL CREATURES WITH REVERENCE

14. I CAN BE TRUSTED

15. I CARE FOR THE EARTH

16. I KEEP MY OWN COUNCEL

17. I SPEAK POSITIVELY OF OTHERS

18. I AM BALANCED IN MY EMOTIONS

19. I AM HONEST IN MY RELATIONSHIPS

20. I ASPIRE TO A HIGHER CONSCIOUSNESS

21. I SPREAD JOY

22. I DO THE BEST I CAN

23. I COMMUNICATE WITH COMPASSION

24. I LISTEN TO OPPOSING OPINIONS

25. I CREATE HARMONY

26. I INVOKE LAUGHTER

27. I AM OPEN TO LOVE IN VARIOUS FORMS

28. I AM FORGIVING

29. I AM KIND

30. I AM RESPECTFUL OF OTHERS

31. I RELEASE ALL JUDGEMENT

32. I FOLLOW MY INNER GUIDANCE

33. I CONVERSE WITH AWARENESS

34. I DO GOOD

35. I GIVE BLESSINGS

36. I KEEP THE WATERS PURE

37. I AM OPTIMISTIC

38. I PRAISE THE GODDESS & THE GOD

39. I AM HUMBLE

40. I ACHIEVE WITH INTEGRITY

41. I ADVANCE THROUGH MY OWN ABLILITIES

42. I EMBRACE THE ALL

on track like never before

As you are moving forward in the days that follow, tell everyone who will listen (and there won't be that many of them, so don't make a big deal of it) that you are on track like you have never been before.

And that the Universe is yielding to you at an unprecedented rate. And make lists of the gifts that you are now, in an exaggerated way, beginning to allow into your experience.. .

Life is supposed to be good for you and is queued up to be just that. We encourage you to insist that your own vibrational countenance allows that.

There is so much love here for you!

joy

Climb the mountains and get their good tidings. Nature's peace will flow into you as sunshine flows into trees. The winds will blow their own freshness into you, and the storms their energy, while cares will drop off like autumn leaves. ~John Muir

holy moly.

It's all sinking in.
so many magic moments that are almost too overwhelming to share all at once


Outside the bed and breakfast, in the rainforest
my favorite part about this picture is the kitty tale peaking out from under my right arm

goodbye year

uploading 4 memory cards of Costa Rica photos is going to take a long time

All I can say

I'm in complete awe. Of course the amazing adventure has something to do with it, but it's mostly the understanding that everyday, every opportunity, every experience is an adventure.
My first day in Montezuma I met a wild, vibrant, adorable local named Paulo. I remembered his name because I just started reading The Valkyries by Paulo Coelho and Rob just happened to bring The Alchemist along with him from the UK. I'm sure you've experienced a book or song appearing in your life at the perfect time; I've always had that experience with his books. I'll never forget... I had been half heartedly reading Witch of Portobello during my travels and finally got into it when I had a few hours to kill, laying around Hyde Park in London. The next day I was walking the rainy city streets and looked up just in time to see I had ended up on Portobello road, the backdrop for the book and for my life. I had never unintentionally (or intentionally) walked into a book setting.
Fast forward to our last dinner at a small restaurant in the middle of the rain forest. I was sharing my little Paulo Coelho coincidences from the past and how the book I was currently reading reminded me a lot of the feelings this trip has brought me. On our way out I peaked over the hostess counter (no idea why) and saw, of course, a book by Coelho.
I would never think to connect Paulo Coelho to Paulo the montezuma cutie until he was giving me directions to a good surf spot and I said "Are there signs?" to which he replied "There are always signs." and smiled.

The signs are becoming more and more clear. I feel true, authentic gratitude for the place that I am in, the direction I am going, who I am, and who surround myself with. All I can say is wow. The journey gets easier to navigate when you see that their are signs everywhere.

happy happy happy happy happy 2011

“The wise are wise only because they love. The fool are fools only because they think they can understand love.”

Paulo Coelho