Someone told me there’s a girl out there with love in her eyes and flowers in her hair… Goin’ to California!

Hello fellow bloggers, I know it’s been awhile since I’ve posted (and I will take *full* responsibility), but I am hoping this post makes up for at least some of our lost time…

I just got back from a trip to Los Angeles (!!!) and would love to share some of the adventure with you!

• Hollywood Walk of Fame
• Hollywood Sign (HIKE)
• Santa Monica- Third Street Promenade, Ferris Wheel and Pier
• Runyon Canyon (SUNSET HIKE)
• The Grove
• WeHo
• Melrose- Urth Cafe, Paul Smith Limited, DASH, Japan LA, Vivienne Westwood
• Venice Beach
• Rodeo Drive & Beverly Hills
• Downtown LA- Art District, The Last Bookstore, Korea Town
• LACMA
• Universal Studios Tour
• Griffith Park Observatory
• Malibu Day Trip- PCH 1, El Matador State Beach

In my opinion, LA and the surrounding areas are INCREDIBLE. Before visiting, everyone I talked to who had been before me either LOVED or HATED this legendary city. Their gripes? Too much traffic, too much smog, too many people, too expensive, and way too overrated. Their likes? “I mean it’s California, so obviously the weather is going to be great and you’ll be by the ocean…But I mean, still, it’s not THAT great”

My small poll in no way, shape, or form did this place justice. Los Angeles is a melting pot of lifestyles and cultures. From bougie socialites and entertainment moguls to easy going surfers and students, you feel like you are traveling to a different country even though it is only a span of 20 miles. What I loved most though, is that, regardless of these differences, there is a common thread in this city: Anything is possible.

And you feel it. You walk down the street and you feel it. The people here are passionate. They love to live life. There is this gusto to learn and create. Simply being surrounded by this groove and mentality inspires you to not only do better, but be better.

So where do I fit in? Somewhere between Beverly Hills and the beach… A ‘Beverly Hippy’ if you will 😉 Until next time Los Angeles! …And there will *definitely* be a next time.

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My Thoughts on the Miss America Pageant.

Last night, an Indian-American won the Miss America Pageant. I did not watch the show, but later I was reading about it online and found this article.

The article both shocked and disgusted me. How can people be so ignorant, yet so confident? It baffles me that as a nation of immigrants, people have the audacity to single out what a “true American” looks like.

Everyone comes from somewhere different, unless, maybe, you are one hundred percent Native American… Regardless, a person should not be judged, especially in such a racist way, on these perceived–and extremely flawed–characteristics of what it looks like to be an American.

Besides, ‘looking’ like an American is not the important part. What matters is how we act. This shows the true colors of a nation. By making these kind of comments, whether jokingly or not, you perpetuate the negativity and oppression that we vowed to move past as an independent nation many centuries ago.

You are not just hurting the winner of the contestant in slandering her like this, but also you are making a mockery of the principles that our country was founded on.

So the question is, what does it really mean to be American? Does it mean being ignorant, racist, and disgusting? If so, we are absolutely killin’ it, ‘MERICA!

But truthfully- I know we are better than this. We are the country that believes in human rights for everyone, we are the country that has more opportunities than any other place in the world, we are the country that does NOT perpetuate hate. We embrace the differences among us and THAT’S what makes us American.

So please, let’s get our sh** together, I’m begging you.

Post Crisis Consumer Values

This is a TedTalk given by John Gerzema in 2009. I find it fascinating that a lot of these trends still exist today. I also believe the trends are here to stay.