Plastics are not your friend.

A couple of weeks ago in Long Beach came the culmination of several months worth of planning on a big event I'd produced, the Plastics Are Forever International Youth Summit. The name says it all in regard to the conference's environmental focus. Plastics, as it should no longer be a surprise to you, do not go away. The science of it all is far beyond my meager, layman brain. But the simple facts are pretty darned simple. People use and trash disposable plastics like they are going out of style. And the truth is that they've been way out of style ever since we learned about recycling some odd decades ago. What happens to your discarded Diet Coke bottles, straws, and shiny plexi things, you ask? Well, the ones you don't recycle end up in our oceans, in the fish, and on your dinner plate (not mine, of course as I'm a vegetarian, but I digress). But recycling is not alone the answer. Reduction in consumption is the real key to solving the plastic problem and it begins with YOU.

How can you help?

* Carry your own, reusable water bottle. I love my Nalgene that I picked up at Target.
* REFUSE to accept plastic bags when shopping. No, you do NOT want a bag for your gum at 7-Eleven. Keep a canvas tote in your car. Okay they're not all that cute. So buy yourself a fancy one. The FEED Bag will make you feel trendy while you shop in eco-style. Do whatever you need to.
* Support organizations like LA's own Plastic Pollution Coalition that are taking strides against the plastic problem. You can help PPC's efforts by donating, volunteering, or even buying some pretty incredible art by the likes of Raymond Pettibon (see image above), Pam Longobardi and the org's founder and artist Dianna Cohen.

Jonathan Adler for a cause & caffeine.

Project (RED) launched several years ago, teaming up with big brands to develop cool products whose proceeds would go to support HIV and AIDS progams. The incredible project has only grown bigger and more effective since.

Design star Jonathan Adler has now joined the fight, designing a travel mug for Starbucks that is--dare I say this and risk demeaning the cause--really freaking adorable.

Beside supporting (RED) with the purchase of a mug, you of course also support the green movement. Enough with those cardboard sleeves already, ya hear?

Pick up your Adler mug to go at your local Starbucks or shop the (STARBUCKS)RED collection online and make your holiday shopping dollars count.

Give peace a chance.

As someone brighter and wittier than me once said, if you don't like something, do something about it.

Well, some folks in town didn't like the recent news about hate crimes and the awful consequences to those who are victim to discrimination.

So, they're doing this:

Starting Location
6356 Hollywood Blvd
Hollywood, CA

November 21, 2010
3:00 p

We are walking for everyone who has ever been an innocent victim of a hate crime(s), for everyone who has ever been discriminated against, we are walking for everyone who has ever lived in fear because they were "different," and we are walking against intolerance so that perhaps we can impact those fearful and angry. So that we may send a message to those who strike against beautiful, innocent human beings. Beings who deserve nothing more than to be swimming gracefully and confidently in the same pool we swim in. No one here in this world is different lest they choose to be and even then, "the sun rises in the morning on ALL of us." Let's come together, create a buzz, and show Los Angeles and anyone who hears about or reads about our rally what we stand for and what we all deserve!

Do Good: party for Haiti next week at the All-Star Jam

Just because you've stopped seeing the messages for Haiti relief flood your Facebook and Twitter feeds doesn't mean the crisis is over. Thousands are displaced, orphaned and in critical condition. The problems in the country are just beginning and your help is still needed. My good friend at Bright House Events is helping with this amazing event next week. Support!

ALL STAR JAM Benefit for Haiti
February 11th
9 p - 2a

BOULEVARD 3
6523 Sunset Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA

Line up features DANIEL BEDINGFIELD, SHEILA E, LADY TIGRA, JUDITH HILL, BILLY MORRISON, KATIE VOGEL and A SURPRISE MUSICAL GUEST! Come out and support all those who have lost everything they had in Haiti. 100% of the proceeds will be donated to Partners in Health www.pih.org. Tickets are $30 at the door and VIP Private table options are available.

The RSVP Line: CITY LABS Community Service Fair

You want to do good. You intend to do good. But most of the time, you end up sitting on your ass, catching up on Snooki's adventures on The Jersey Shore. So, for once, get your butt in gear and find out how to do better. This Saturday, head on over to Downtown's California Market Center for City Labs.

Come to this fun one-day fair to browse, discover and connect with 50 local non-profits -- organizations doing great things who need your support to maintain sustainability.

$5 suggested entrance donation = free drink ticket + raffle ticket!

Aside from roaming the 50 non-profits, check out cool offerings:

* Free Workshops :: including 'Going green without breaking the budget' w/YourDailyThread.com, and Create Your Own Story Book w/826LA

* 'Craft for a Cause' area presented by Causecast :: pack and assemble food boxes for the city's hungry

* Pop-Up Tiara Café

Find out more at www.city-labs.org.

Do Good: score tickets to Coachella in an artsy-fartsy, clean-green way.

You're pretty handy with a paintbrush, you love the earth (in a totally platonic way), and you're dying to go to this year's Coachella (we've all seen you seat dancing to Jay-Z on your ride to work). But, sadly, tickets are expensive and you wouldn't dare to go without VIP access, you poor, broke snob, you.

Enter, Global Inheritance's 'Get TRASHed' contest.

We invite you to submit your artwork and be considered to design one of the 20 recycling bins featured at Coachella. What's even better is that the non offensive redesigned bins will be placed in schools throughout Southern California after Coachella to inspire the future recyclers of the world! Next steps? Send us a link to your artwork, concept and/or website.

Find out more and enter to win on Global Inheritance.

Shop: All I want for the secular holidays is...

It's almost Thanksgiving. Which means it's almost the holidays. Now, were I still a practicing Jew, I might reap the benefits of the 8 glorious days of Hannukah. I don't remember the full story of the oil and the lights and all that hullabaloo. But I do remember the 8 consecutive nights of gift receiving from my childhood. And I miss those days. As it stands now, holiday time doesn't signify much more than a few days off and an overload of wreaths in public places.

Well, I want to bring the gifts back. Friends, family, fans [and maybe Santa?]--please behold my holiday wish list...because a secular girl can still be a material girl.

Gifts to satisfy Yours Truly...or whoever's on your shopping list...

Perfect pictures. You know how the pictures on this blog are often just a little bit off? The lighting seems poor or the resolution just plain sucks? That's because I'm shooting with a 3 year old point and shoot. Or worse yet--occasionally my flash-less Blackberry. The number one item on my wishlist this year? A Nikon D60.

Deliver it raw. I want to be healthy. I do, I do, I do. But my dinners usually consist of boxed foods and flavor packets. Santa Monica's Rawvolution has just the solution for my cooking woes: The Box. Weekly delivered meals include 'Nut Loaf with BBQ Sauce' and a 'Mock Turkey Sandwich.' And yes, those do sound good to me.


Enlighten me. Reading Vanity Fair makes me feel one step closer to the well-dressed, well-read and well-cultured. Cause if you can't beat 'em...and you can't join 'em...read about 'em. A subscription would offer me 12 months of highfalutin culture via VF's glossy pages.



Sophisticated patterns. Plaid is in this season...again. But looking like a hipster in an oversized plaid button down is not for me. Instead, I'd rather don Topshop's super cute Dress Coat and fill both my trend quotient and my desperate need for warmer garments.


Delicate drinking. Is anything cuter than drinking out of animal shaped glassware. No. Decidedly, no. These Animal Head Shot Glasses at MollaSpace are just the thing to get your friends completely wasted in absolute style and grace.*

* The 'grace' part only applies until words start slurring.


Affordable art. I am out of room on the walls of my studio and I am also--I'll admit it--out of money in the bank for new art. Blood is the New Black offers affordable pieces from your favorite artists. They also kill two birds with one stylish stone. The pieces are wearable tee shirts, you lucky art fans. I like this tee by one of my fave LA artistas, Kime Buzzelli.

Responsible reading. Author Jonathan Safran Foer (Everything is Illuminated) has tackled new subject matter with Eating Animals, a chronicling of his year investigation into meat eating. I'm already a vegeterian, yes. But I'm always in need of new fodder for the veg fire.


Do good. While I don't agree with the 'give at the holidays' mentality--I don't think generosity should be limited to Jesus' birthday--I can't argue with giving. And I encourage you to give the gift of giving to your pals. JustGive.org and Kiva.org are two great organizations that help do the good work for you.

N.B. - Hannukah begins at sundown on December 11th this year. And since I'm closer to Jewish than anything else, you better hit those stores soon my friends. Or, in light of my secular stance, I suppose I can accept your gifts at any point.

Do Good: Blogger Beach Cleanup on Saturday

I'm giving you a pretty big heads up on this event as it's one you won't want to miss. So mark your calendars early (in pen, not pencil).

A bunch of LA's coolest bloggers are getting together on Saturday afternoon for a 20 minute beach cleanup, followed by an indefinitely long and fun cocktail meets mingling session.

There are multiple reasons why it would be a good idea for you to go. Here are just a couple...

1. It's good for the environment. That was obvious, now wasn't it?

2. You can meet some pretty rad bloggers including my buddies Sarah of Pink Cloud and Lauren and Tracy of Your Daily Thread, as well as Caroline of Caroline on Crack, Zach Behrens of LAist, and more.

Publish Post

3. The first 70 volunteers to show up get giveaways. Who doens't like free stuff? (That's not retorical. I'd really like to know.)

4. Some cool partners are offering prizes for drawings. And everyone likes to get lucky. Or feel that there's the potential to get lucky. And some people, of course, like to fix drawings, but I hear those people aren't invited.

5. It's only 20 minutes of cleaning. And I know you've got 20 minutes to spare. Cause, let's face it, you're just not that important.

When: October 24, 2009. Meet at 4 pm; cleanup begins 4:20 pm; more fun ensues 4:40 until ?

Where: Santa Monica Beach at Ocean Park, between lifeguard stations 26 and 27. (map and green travel directions)

For more information, visit green LA girl.

Do Good: GAP does good. So can you (while saving).

From July 30-August 2, Gap, Gap Outlet, Banana Republic, Banana Republic Factory Stores, and Old Navy stores are offering 30% off your purchase when you use this coupon (download via the link below). 5% of all purchases made with this coupon will go back to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society!

Where

All Gap stores in the U.S and Canada, including Gap, Gap Outlet, Banana Republic, Banana Republic Factory Stores, and Old Navy

When

Thursday, July 30th - Sunday, August 2nd

Why

Beside the fact that you could really stand to update your wardrobe (those leather chaps went out at least a year ago), using this coupon helps support The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.

How

Check-out Gap's Give & Get Program – 30% off with 5% benefiting LLS. Download your coupon today!

Feel free to spread the word--this coupon's good all over the US of A. Happy shopping [and do-gooding]!

Do Good: Global Giving

At a recent event I worked at the Ferragamo store, I learned about Global Giving, an online donation portal for community based projects that need support. Users can search the site for the issues and countries they'd like to support and voila!--with the click of a button and the donation amount that's right for them--they can make a difference.

Upon exit from the event, Global Giving gave out gift cards so that guests could experience the incredible act of giving first hand. I just donated my funds to an organization that builds homes for people with AIDS in Africa.

I encourage you to check out the site, make a donation yourself, or give a gift card as a gift on your friends' or family's next special occasion. Father's Day is coming up this Sunday. Perhaps Dad would rather support human rights issues in Cambodia or education programs in Kenya than wear those sucky cuff links you were thinking about buying him.

www.globalgiving.com

Do Good: No plans for Thanksgiving? Now you've got 'em. We're volunteering.

So, you're stuck in LA for Thanksgiving? Sucks to be you. But it sucks a lot more to be homeless. Or food-less. Or just really, really worse than you think you are because you can't afford a plane ticket out of here. I'm hoping that realizing you're not that bad off even though you had to sell your last bit of Prada on ebay last week inspires you to volunteer with me this Thanksgiving Day at Gobble Gobble Give. We'll be hanging at your favorite spot for Indie tunes, The Echo, and getting food together for peeps who need it. Even more than you.

Want to sign up to volunteer? CLICK HERE.

Interested in donating either supplies (clothes, toiletries, day-of cooking necessities) or money? CLICK HERE. (And remember, just $5 or $10 can go a long way.)

Do you work for a company that might have product (shirts, food, etc) to donate? Email me at theartisticgroup@gmail.com.

I'll be there. You should be too. Looking forward to seeing many of you on T Day.

Do Good: The Great Schlep.

Jewish? Wish you were Jewish? Of course you do. We're the chosen people.

Visit The Great Schlep. Influence change.


The Great Schlep from The Great Schlep on Vimeo.