“No matter how dark things seem to be or actually are, raise your sights and see possibilities – always see them for they’re always there.” – Norman Vincent Peale Hurricane Katrina slammed into New Orleans five years ago flooding 80% of the city, destroying homes, stores, schools, churches, and lives. When the levees broke the Lower Nine, one of the poorest areas of the city, found itself under 15 feet of water. The predominately African American community was almost... [Read more]

I was lucky enough to be paired with a Vanity Fair/Rolling Stones photographer “Robert” for the Reader’s Digest shoot. Like me, he was a little skeptical about us pulling off the Reader’s Digest photo – he was best known for crucifying Farrah Fawcett on Hollywood Blvd with Saran Wrap and I, never having worn a scarf or a pearl choker, am more known for knee high black boots, jeans, and snarky attitude. Fast forward to this, somewhat, brilliant idea of doing a boring normal shoot... [Read more]

Meatless Mondays, otherwise known as the one day a week omnivores pat themselves on the back and say, “look how eco-friendly I am,” has always made me jealous.  It’s like a special occasion or holiday.  Omnivores get to call work and say “I’m sorry I can’t write that report today, it’s Meatless Monday, my parents are coming from out of town to help us make the lentil roast.” I want a weekly holiday too! Vegetarians I propose once a week we have Vegan Day – we can even call it... [Read more]

I lived in a loft above Skid Row when I first moved to LA. I always say it was a green loft because the building housed an electric company before me; the heater didn’t work so it was very energy efficient, and I was so poor I couldn’t buy anything new. But I was comfortable compared to my homeless neighbors who I watched mill about on the street below… One night the temperature dropped to freezing, a rare occurrence in LA, and I saw paramedics pull a frozen homeless man from a phone booth. ... [Read more]

On the phone Tuesday night: “I got to go to bed.  I’m cleaning snake cages early tomorrow morning.” “Why!?” “Because they sh*! in them Mom.” “This is another one of those volunteer things isn’t it?” “No, this is for fun.” “Really!?” “Mom…” “Okay.  Just be careful.  Don’t get bitten.” “I’ll try.” 8:30 am Wednesday. Being a sloppy reptiles interior designer = the punishment you have to endure when you’re sarcastic with your mother. When all is... [Read more]

The same day BP finally threw a cap over their spewing oil well in the Gulf of Mexico (which is expected to be as effective as celebrity rehab) the non-profitArtists & Athletes Alliance held a private discussion with Philippe Cousteau about the epic Gulf disaster.  Event attendees, like Jorga Fox , Alyssa Milano ,Stephen Baldwin and Jason Marz , were treated to Cousteau’s inside information about the spill and it’s consequences, and got a rare glimpse of his feisty Irish side when... [Read more]

Let me tell you about the Gulf before the oil spill.  For decades Panama City Beach, Florida was my sanctuary. To this day I can sit in my room in Los Angeles, CA and remember what the air smelled like; salt, seaweed, and sulfur – and if my mom was around – Ban de Sole coconut oil.  Some might think these are unpleasant smells mixed together, but to this day if I smell anything similar my heart rate plummets to a relaxing thud and I’ll smile. I was two weeks old when I first went... [Read more]