My Beloved TOMS Shoes

Two years ago I bought my first pair of TOMS shoes.  The plain white canvas shoes I bought had great intentions.  I gave them to my brother in October and said "this year, all I want for Christmas is for you to decorate my shoes."  This seemed like an easy task, he is artistic and enjoyed making small pictures and bubbly letters all over his sketch pad and canvases.  Apparently the task was not that easy.  After begging, pleading, and offering to allow my shoes to be my gift for so many different occasions, two years later I got my shoes!

So yes, I cried in excitement and happiness and joy this Christmas as I unwrapped my shoes.  I had seen the work he had been doing over the years because I was so anxious and recently gave him a couple ideas as to something he could add to them.  There they were, with so many things that relate to me and he added my favorite quote from Gandhi "Be the change you with to see in the world."  Last year for Christmas my brother and my friend both gave me a pair of TOMS for Christmas with the Gandhi quote, my girlfriend exchanged mine for a necklace with the same quote that I loved just as much.  I wore those shoes till their dying days as my toes popped through as I galavanted around Botswana this summer.  I wish there was video footage or a photo of my face when I opened my shoes, certainly more emotional than I have ever been over a gift.  Thank you Chris!

So enough about my personal shoes.  The reason I love TOMS sooo much is because, not only were they created by an awesome traveler, but Blake made it so that every pair of TOMS purchased another pair is donated to a child around the globe.  TOMS goes out and does shoe drops with thousands of pairs of shoes in places like South Africa, Argentina and more.  The shoes have developed over the years, when I first bought them they were mostly just for women with a few designs.  Now TOMS has many designs, patterns, shapes, sizes, vegan, boots, sparkles and still the same white canvas like I bought.  People have TOMS parties where the buy all the shoes and everyone comes over and makes their own special pair and just remember at the same time children in another country will be soon surprised with their only pair of shoes.  (If you have not yet linked on a hyperlink above, what are you waiting for!? hehehee)

Some photos of my TOMS

- My Gandhi TOMS, with a photo that TOMS had put in their TOMS blog of my feet in my favorite shoes hanging out at the Self Realization Fellowship in Pacific Palisades, California.  This is a place where some of Gandhi's ashes remain.

And NOW for my new TOMS :)
Front View

Left Shoe

Right Shoe

I know you want your own pair of TOMS and they are available all over the internet.  Once again I recommend going through Shop at Home and then link to TOMS SHOES.   Shop at Home will give you 9% CASH BACK and you will be giving a pair to a child.  If you want to try them on in person, there are many local South Bay retailers.

Whole Foods Market 2655 Pacific Coast Highway Torrance, California, 90501 (310) 257-8700

Playa Clothing & Accessories 1722 S. Catalina Ave. Redondo Beach, California, 90277 (310) 316-2149

Nordstrom South Bay Store # 342 1835 Hawthorne Boulevard Redondo Beach, California, 90278 (310) 542-9440

Terranea Resort 100 Terranea Ranchos Palos Verdes, California, 90275 (310) 265-2800

Spyder 65 Pier Ave Hermosa Beach, California, 90254 (310) 374-2492

Go Barefoot 1693 West Artesia Gardena, California, 90248 (310) 519-1414

Cima 16901 South Western Ave. #104C Gardena, California, 90247 (310) 464-8460

Whole Foods Market 760 S. Sepulveda Blvd. El Segundo, California, 90245 (310) 333-1900

Active Ride Shop 720 A Allied Way El Segundo, California, 90245 (310) 606-8621

Miyamo 3738 E. 4th Street Longbeach, California, 90814 (562) 434-0612

A little TOMS video about some of their work in Ethiopia.

xo Erin

Shopping Online with Gift Cards and How to Benefit More from it!

Over the past couple of months I have been paying attention to ways I can benefit by participating in online promotions.  One site that I participate it is e-rewards, which is a quick consumer survey site.  I put in a few minutes each week when they ask me to answer some questions, no big deal.  A few weeks ago I cashed in my rewards for $15 Borders Bucks.  That is a FREE BOOK or more!  I was given a couple small Borders Gift Cards for Christmas so together this makes for an even greater deal.

Today, I decided to redeem my Borders bucks and my gift card so I went through Shop At Home.  After ordering 3 books, all about travel since I am overdue on an escape, my $45 bill came to nothing.  Not only am I not paying anything out of pocket, they will all be shipped for free because it is over $25.  The extra bonus is because I used Shop At Home I will get back 7% of my order.  Basically I am going to make near $4 and I did not even spend a penny out of pocket.



That means I used $30 in gifts and I profited from my online awareness about $19.  Awesome!!!  So for any of you that have gift cards to spend, I certainly not only recommend trying to do some online shopping with Shop At Home but also be aware of the deals out there.  Before I buy anything online I always go to google and enter a search for a coupon code... example "Borders, coupon, promo code" and I look through the results.   Then go click on Shop At Home and enter the company you want to shop with and start getting money back on the purchases.  

It does not hurt to be a smart consumer, sure it may take a couple extra minutes, but when your friends are wondering how you can afford to go to dinner or buy those new shoes... it is not because you make a lot of $, rather it is because you pay attention to how you buy!

*there, my secrets are out*  Happy Shopping with all those Holiday Gift Cards!

xo Erin

Sushi Gone Wild

Sushi Gone Wild is most certainly a new favorite of mine and it seems to be a popular place for many of my friends and other South Bay locals.  Mr. Kim is well known from a previous South Bay establishment and he has a ton of followers.  Not only does Mr. Kim serve up super tasty and fresh food, but he makes his place full of life and energy.  On my first night to SGW he loaded us up on Free SAKE!  Since then he has come through and given free appetizers and also great deals (because I signed up for his emails, you get  coupons to use throughout the month).

One of the best parts about Sushi Gone Wild are the Happy Hours.  Mon-Thurs Happy Hour is from 11:30am-3pm and then 5pm-6:30pm.  You have to try it out and don't let the strip mall location fool you!
You can read more about his place on the Yelp reviews.

Sushi Gone Wild
24004 Vista Montana
Torrance, Ca 90505
310-373-0706

 This is the lovely Mr. Kim "See you Tomorrow!"

*Please leave some comments/reviews about Sushi Gone Wild for our other readers!*

Free AVEDA

I have not used Aveda products much before, but I recently got a sample of their hand therapy and OOO LALA I really like it.  My hands felt sooo good after using it.  When I spoke to an Aveda specialist at their salon, she told me that all Aveda packaging is from recycled materials and the ingredients are all natural and organic.  These two things alone made me become a fan.  Currently there is an offer, although it expires tomorrow NYE, for a free sample pack of shampoo, conditioner and a styler.  Print your coupon here and take it to a local Aveda salon.  Click here for a Location near you.

Wilson Walk Wednesdays (6:45pm unless there is Rain)

A great way to start off 2010 is to be active.  I know so many out there make resolutions having to do with a healthier lifestyle, so this is an opportunity to make a tiny step in that direction.  About two years ago a group of friends and I would get together and go for a walk, we were doing so well sometimes a few nights a week.  Somehow, it all stopped.  No time is better than now to start again.

Every Wednesday at 6:45pm we will be doing "WILSON WALK WEDNESDAY."  We will be meeting anyone that would like to join us on the South East side of the Hockey rink (basically a bench area that nearly meets the pond, hockey rink and tennis courts) at Wilson park in Torrance.  There is a walk/job path that goes around part of the park and each loop is .91 miles.  We plan on doing at least 3 loops (which will be 2.73 miles) and we give ourselves about an hour as a general time frame.  We typically start on time.

All are welcome, we often have strollers being pushed and kids on bikes in our group.  We do not HAVE to all stay together, the path is wide enough for about 3 to stand side by side, but we can certainly go in a cluster.  Dress warm, obviously it is winter now, I do recall my ears and fingers would get super cold so I always wear gloves and a hooded sweatshirt.  The path is decently lit and when we are all in a group you feel safe too.  There is a clean bathroom in the community center room by the hockey area as well as a couple of water fountains around (however if you can bring small bottle and stick it in your pocket).

I certainly hope you will join us on our walks.  THERE WILL BE NO WALK ON WET/RAINY DAYS!

Wilson Park is located on the east side of Crenshaw Blvd at the corner of Jefferson, just north of Sepulveda.

2400 Jefferson Street
Torrance, CA 90510

xo
Erin

Recycle that TREE!

So I know some out there have already disposed of your holiday tree, but for those that have not there may be some green options for you.  Before you just go throw your tree in the dumpster visit this link to RECYCLE YOUR TREE

Find out how to recycle other goods like paint and batter etc. by visiting Earth 911

xo Erin

A Friends of Gevalia Offer Awaits You

I had heard about a deal on another blog for Gevalia coffee and although I am not much for coffee, my boyfriend is.  The deal got me 3 half pound bags of coffee (or I could have chosen tea) and a stainless steel scoop delivered to my door for $3 and it arrived today (after just ordering it I think Christmas eve). Supposedly their coffee is pretty good and the best part is you can cancel anytime even right after they have shipped your first introductory order.  I kind of wish I had waited because the current deal I believe gets you a stainless steel coffee maker, scoop and 2 half pounds of coffee for $12.95.  Sheesh, I do not buy coffee makers but I do know a good deal when I see one!  It would have been worth it for me to wait and do the new deal, but at least my family can enjoy the coffee now and I can cancel... actually I may not because they have more good deals coming up for "members."  So ya, if you are a coffee drinker, it may be worth it (or even for a pretty sweet deal on a gift for a coffee drinker) to check it out here at Gevalia.

Join us for our special Friends of Gevalia offer and enjoy a premium coffee kit including a stainless steel coffeemaker, scoop and a pound of Gevalia coffee-Just $12.95 (a $100 value!) Gevalia’s guarantee-you’ll love your coffee or it’s free!

View >>

Happy Veggie

My very favorite Vegetarian restaurant in the South Bay is Happy Veggie and it is all VEGAN.  They serve more of a Thai/Vietnamese flair, but the flavors and portions are unbeatable.  The dishes are probably averaged around $11, but you could get a dish and rice and share it with 2 people.  Happy Veggie is the only place I can find in the South Bay that when they say Vegetarian Pho it really is.  Everywhere else I have tried actually uses beef broth.  Another favorite dish of mine is the "Chicken" Curry and the Pad Thai.  You have to get dessert also, either the Vegan Cheesecake with Raspberry Sauce or the Almond Mocha Cake.

Let me know what you think if you visit and if you have been leave some comments for others.

Happy Veggie map
709 N. Pacific Coast Highway
Redondo Beach, Ca 90277
310 379 5035

Blockbuster Hermosa Beach up to 80% off!

Great random find today, as we found that the Blockbuster in Hermosa Beach (map)  is closing and everything must go. Movies were up to 80% off!!! They said they have been closing since October, so that means like me, your favorite movies may no longer be available. HOWEVER, there are still some out there. We bought 15 previously viewed movies today. So if you like adding to your movie collection then go check it out. You can get Surf's Up for $3.99! :)

Blockbuster
709 Pier Avenue
Hermosa Beach, CA 90254
310 379 1834