Exploring Africa

Africa for me is one of those far off places that fascinates my mind in amazement. The safaris, the wildlife, the hikes, the fair trade markets have always peaked my curiosity. I sat down with Frank Castro of Summits Africa for my first Q&A.

Frank and Summits partner Ake Lindstrom met while Frank was running a lodge outside of Arusha Tanzania. Their interest for mountain climbing lead Ake to start Summits Africa, and soon after Frank came on board to help develop and support the company. Summits Africa started as an outfitter and works with other climbing operators.

Their goals are unlike other companies. Ake has concentrated on acute mountain sickness, highly trained and professional guides that make sure clients are getting detailed health monitoring and oxygen saturation measurements, top quality gear, good food and ultimately, a safe trek.

Here is my brief Q&A on why Summits Africa is so unique.

Q. What is the recommended amount of time for a Climb?
A. We recommend 7 to 9 days. Not only do we want you to enjoy the experience but we also try and inform our clients to not be in a hurry. There is a saying in Swahili “pole pole”, meaning slowly slowly. The more days you go is going to allow for acclimatization (where the body produces more red blood cells so you can store more oxygen), as it is not about how fit you are but how your body is going to react to altitude.

Q. What are some tips to ensuring a safe climb?
A. Walking slowly, Drinking lots of water and not over taking the guide.

Q. Who takes part in the climb?
A. There is the Porter- who carries all the equipment and food. The Crew who helps in carrying, setting up camp and serves food. And the Guide who is the main person in setting the pace and health monitoring.

Q. What is the next level for Summits:
A. We pride ourselves in being safe and ethical. Our tour guides are some of the best and therefore treated and taken care of in that manner.

What we are truly excited about and very happy to announce. We are the first tour operator to offer Carbon Neutral trips. Our goal is simple: based on the number of days trekking ( such as: vehicle transfers or propane for cooking food), and safari days, we donate money to Carbon Tanzania. A group of conservationists and scientistists who measure indigenous plant species. What they are finding with some organisms belonging to a particular species has turned out to be less than others.
When you donate money, they are able to turn CO2 emission into natural forest replacing what some species that have been lost. Our goal is to encourage you to visit their site. http://www.carbontanzania.com/ as a way to help calculate carbon emissions used during International plane flights and the donation goes toward planting trees.

Another reason to check out Summits Africa. “Safaris”—They specialize in custom safaris using mobile, luxury tented camps, that are strategically place to see the great migrations. Wildebeest and Zebras roam year around following the rains in search of food. Particular times of the year these animals congregate which are an amazing sight and definitely worth exploring.

Thank you Frank for our conversation! Even though I can only convey a small portion of our conversation through my blog, It has filled the journey in my mind to someday (soon), explore the depths of Africa.

If you are interested and want to further explore the depths of Africa: please go to Summits Africa site.
http://www.summits-africa.com/

Soulful Paradise

One of the coolest things about living in Southern California is being so close to many a great mountain, desert, and beach hideaways. For a weekend getaway, I was invited to travel just a few hours south of LA to a little utopia called La Villa del Valle. This bed and breakfast winery is located in the hills of Ensenada, Baja Mexico. After uprooting their Hollywood lifestyle to build this goldmine château in what is now the Napa Valley of Mexico, owners Eileen and Phil Gregory planted grapes vines in this magnificent and charming hideout.
In a mere four years the property has expanded beyond the fruitful vineyards. While basking in the sun you are surrounded by vineyards, olive trees, and organic vegetable garden. They even make their own homemade granola. There is also plenty to explore in this boasting little valle. As the word gets around and more people catch wind of this “great escape”, they too will be packing up shop and heading for the border. http://www.lavilladelvalle.com

Here are pictures of my getaway trip to entice you…

A refreshing surprise

Refreshing Summer Hydration: the Cold Shower 

In the heat of the summer, when a heavily iced drink and the AC just doesn't seem to cut through the thick swelter, consider a simple yet refreshing solution that has more benefits than you may have realized.  May I remind you of the cold shower. 

This energizing alternative to sitting begrudgingly with a fan in your face all day, the cold shower actually helps promote good circulation.  While warm water makes blood rush to your skin, cool water helps blood move to your organs promoting healthy internal functions.  Additionally, cold water makes muscles contract more and these contractions help rid your muscles of toxins (perhaps from the icy margaritas you've been downing).  

Cold showers can benefit not only physical, but mental health as well.  Ancient Samurai warriors used a similar kind of cold shower in their Shinto practice by pouring cold river water over their heads in the mornings.  They called this early morning wake-up ritual Misogi and it helped them begin the day alert and mentally stimulated.  

With all the health benefits of a cold shower, summer is the perfect time to try it out when a dip in the ocean or a jump in the shower is a welcome treat in the ninety-plus degree weather. From an energizing wake-up to good circulation, a cold shower in the heat of June and July can also simply help one chill out.  

One last thought – as water is a precious resource, enjoy the luxury of your relatively inexpensive running water from a water-saving showerhead.  If you live in Los Angeles, you can receive one free by contacting LA's DWP.  

(this weeks topic on WATER is written by Ghostwriter NB-- Thank you doll!!)

Tune in Next Thursday for a surprise topic... meaning.. I don't have one yet!! but i will think of something good!!

Mother Love..

“The mother, more than any other, affects the moral and spiritual part of the children's character. She is their constant companion and teacher in formative years. The child is ever imitating and assimilating the mother's nature. It is only in after life that men gaze backward and behold how a mother's hand and heart of love molded their young lives and shaped their destiny."
~ E.W. Caswell
In the spirit of Mother Love, I ask myself, what would my mother do? Mother’s day for me is a day of reflection. There are a few friends out there who like myself, have lost their mother, and now often think “ how should I respond to this in a way my mother would". In the last twelve years since my mother’s passing, I have been remembering what meant most to her: caring for a human soul. Through thinking about her actions, I have realized that there is more to life than material gain.
Once I grasped this simple thought, I was soon flooded by amazing souls surrounding my journey and circling my path, all reminding me of how precious life is. We have this one life to do well by our mothers, our ancestors and our spirits. These great souls have inspired me and reshaped my perception of people, the human condition, and the will to give back to our community, heritage and our spirits. I am led by this kind generosity and can only hope to find my own journey engaging in a similar quest to give back to mother love. A mother’s unconditional love is not for the sake of money, personal gain or popularity, but more so motivated by the care of others.

I have a great amount of respect for these Three Women (Mothers in their own right), who help not only the human soul flourish, but also what is true in every being.

Daria Gledhill
Co-Founder/Helping Orphans Worldwide
I met Daria through a somewhat “Kismet” fashion. We started speaking at a party being held by one of the companies I represent, King and Country. When we talked, I felt an immediate connection and was attracted to her ideals. It reminded me of my heritage and made me think about how my life would be had my parents raised me in a place other than Los Angeles. What kind of person would I be without such extravagance and access to so much?
Daria and her business partner Hilary started H.O.W, a grassroots company for sheltering innocent and victimized children of the Philippines and Vietnam. From the adoration they have for these children, they felt the need to raise awareness about thousand of orphans with meager resources.

10% of my yearly lip balm proceeds will benefit HOW. If you’d like to volunteer or donate. Please check out their site. http://www.helpinghow.com

Erica Mackey
Support for International Change
There is so much to be said about the soul of this young lady,
who is the face and managing director for SIC. Erica is quite the force in the next generation of greatness. She has spent the last three years in Tanzania structuring the growth of this program that is committed to combating HIV as well as generating leadership programs for global health and development. Her time spent with the foundation is with grand determination and a welcoming quality that I have yet to see so strongly in people her age. While most twenty-something’s are climbing the corporate ladder, Erica’s path seems different from her age group as she posses an incredibly generous nature.
Please check out http://www.sichange.org/ and donate your time, effort, and encouragement to this amazing program!

Jennifer Posner
Humanitarian at large
There is a certain energy that is present when you are around Jennifer. Men, women, children and animals listen in on her ethereal language of unconditional love. I have been volunteering at the children’s hospital for Art of Elysium for the past year with the help of Jen who was director of marketing. Recently, as a result of several destined opportunities, she found herself packing her bags, giving up her apartment and hugging her friends (sadly) goodbye. She is journeying into the depths of India and Bali. During her stay she is committed to helping people in need and has found herself in Mcleod Ganji helping Tibetan families there.
At the moment she has been caring for a babies and has signed on to work in a factory to make crafts. She has kept in touch through her blog http://fromheretoenlightenment.blogspot.com/and mentions a donation to made. http://www.tibetrogpa.org/ All of the proceeds from the sale of the items that we create go directly to the maintenance of the baby center (including staff salaries and food) and help for the Tibetan families who have had to make India their home. While I miss my confidant I am beyond inspired by her sheer motivation to change her life in a heartbeat while doing something that fulfills her spirit and her true calling.


Thank you for contributing and checking out my blog. Happy Mother Love!!

Tune in next week... a guest writer on WATER!!

Secret Garden

Caroline Elizabeth has shared some of her Secret Garden tips. Here's what my favorite garden gal has to say....

There are some really simple and inexpensive ways to brighten and landscape your outdoor small spaces- even if you are a renter. We all deserve an outdoor sanctuary to call our own! I recently turned my neighbor's concrete and weed infested side yard into a paradise for their new puppy all for under $100.

After weeding and turning the soil I covered all of the dirt surfaces with sod instantly giving them more usable square footage for their dog to run around. The extra space made a huge difference, but I wanted more color! I found a few terracotta pots at a yard sale (two for a dollar) and used them to line the remaining concrete areas. After filling them with potting soil I planted an assortment of Color Spot gerbera daisies, petunias, and marigolds filling the yard with vibrant fushias, golds, and oranges. I used five six-packs of flowers; I can't think of another way $10 can bring a smile to your face all season long! By using pots I kept the flowers mobile to either rearrange later or to take with if they move. For a finishing touch I planted a few daffodil bulbs and added a few hooks and hung Chinese Lanterns to add color further up the fence at eye level. The high-pitched squeals of my neighbors as they returned from work to see their new dog peeing in their colorful yard for the first time was priceless.

It is definitely about now I am regretting not taking the "Before" photo... but here is a glimpse of the finished product.


Resources and References:

Sod: First remove all weeds and debris if needed. Then use a pitchfork or shovel to turn and separate the soil before adding fertilizer- a combination of blood and bone meal replenishes most soils. Sod can be found at most gardening centers without any pre-ordering. I paid $1.99 for five square feet at Home Depot and used $20.00 worth total. It is super easy to cut and fit into any yard space using simple pruning shears. After the sod is in place it is important to soak every day for the first week to foster root development.

Color Spot Flowers: These are annual (seasonal) flowers that come by the six pack. They are under $2.00 a pack at Home Depot. Look for plants with new buds to insure instant color. "Deadhead" the plant to direct energy to new growth by removing dead and withering flowers. Most do well in full sunlight.

Bulbs: These are planted in the winter or fall and sprout in the spring and summer. They are so worth the wait! I know people, okay me, who run outside every morning to see their bulbs' progress. I happen to believe that daffodils really do smile at you. For cut daffodils in your home, check out Trader Joe's. They currently have bunches for under $2.00. Just cut an inch off the bottoms and put in warm water; in the morning they will be open. Enjoy!


i am happy to give you additional submissions (using native, drought resistant plants; using "hardscape" vs. "livescape;" guerilla gardening...) or answer gardening questions if anyone has them as well :)

caroline@littlewoodhouse.com


Thanks to Accordion Girl and Caroline Elizabeth for contributing the last two weeks of my blog!

Next Week I am back on.. and sharing info on two non-profit organizations that really inspire me...

One for the show...

My topic this week is Movies. a short but sweet write up, my dear friend who shall be called " accordion girl"... lends her voice on one hot summer flick.. here's what accordion girl has to say.

My absolute don’t miss movie this summer for anyone in love, or anyone who really hates that I just said that, is music video director Marc Webb’s debut feature 500 Days of Summer starring the almost sickeningly talented Zooey Deschanel and the completely edible-in-this-film Joseph Gordon Levitt. I haven’t seen anything this good in this genre since Annie Hall. It is visually impressive, quite memorable, and made me realize how stunning Los Angeles can look at any season. It opens on July 17th.

The Locals Triangle

This week my topic is both delectable and necessary. Can’t live without it (and why would you want to?): FOOD. Everyone who knows me knows how much I love all that it stands for. Food entertains our taste buds and enriches our soul. It charms us during friendly gatherings, and keeps us satisfied enough to try alone. It can provide spontaneous fulfillment and change one’s mood at almost any time. From new restaurants openings, neighborhood haunts, specialty stores and dinner parties… one need not travel far to appreciate amazing food. I love talking about the places I dine, the recipes shared by friendly cooks, and the new finds I come across (like coconut milk non-dairy ice cream by Coco-bliss). When approaching the topic of food, I was sure, since I love it so much, that it would be easy to write about. I was mistaken because there are so many ways to explore the topic of food.
For a start, I decided to share a little info on the good treats around my neighborhood. This is also a subject I will explore every now and then in my blog because there is so much ground to cover. I don’t want you to miss out on knowing what delicious new treat is out there. In the last four years the Venice community has experienced a rapid increase of new eateries to the already familiar staples Primitivo, Axe, Abbot’s Habit, Hal’s Bar, and the latest swanky eatery to hit the block Gjelina and A+K. While some social seekers prefer to look for mainstream trends. There are three off the beaten path gems I care to mention. Enjoy them before tourists catch wind of the new scents coming from these soon-to-be-packed, can’t-get-enough-of “local haunts”.

Good Stacking

Chef and sandwich aficionado,
Alex Guzauski has some seriously scrumptious ingredients of sweet and spicy he stacks and spreads thick to tantalize your taste buds. His ultra delicious sandwiches keep your mind guessing for flavors and your belly incredibly happy. The majority of Alex's menu is made from an incredible mix of different types of breads, cheeses, meats, veggies and sinfully delicious spreads he whips up from scratch. There is also a variety of healthy treats here from the most amazing power granola breakfast to a protein and vitamin packed smoothie. I enjoy a smoothie after a long bike ride on the beach. A refreshing good for you treat. Alex can be found in back of a little gourmet market (btw this market also rocks!!), called Bellissimo on North Venice and Pacific, 310-305-2430, deli hours tues-Sunday 9:30-6:30

Plant a...

Listen up all you health fiends: if you really want to know about the many cures in life, it’s eating the macro way. Macrobiotics diets have been around a long time but somehow, as much as is written, it still makes a steady climb into our worlds. I believe it’s because eating macro is ultimately a strict discipline and not a fad. May the real vegetarian stand up! The awareness alone you get from eating as clean as possible beats the more commonly known vegan, vegetarian and pescatarian ways. Macro is all these combined plus more. It has been noted as a strong prevention of many cancers. SEED moved into the hood recently and was welcomed almost immediately especially with their do-good ways. They do community sweeps every Sunday morning and offer community meals on Tuesdays. Chef Eric along with his wife Sanae run this new must stop with an insanely pleasing and extremely healthful menu. My favorite is the blackened tempeh burger—check it out.

a Brooklyn vibe

There is so much to be said about Venice Beach Wine that arrived recently on the edges of what old school locals used to call Ghost Town. Not too long ago, Venice gangs ran deep through pockets of this area in Venice. Although the community has cleaned up greatly since then, if you are a local you’ll remember the hardships this community faced. The re-opening of this sleek, edgy and slightly undercover wine bar includes an array of authentic charcuterie that will please anyone’s desire for meat.