Destination: One Day Without Shoes Event, Venice, CA

Inspiration: Blake Mycoskie, Founder TOMS Shoes, I want to invite you to join me for a gathering of my closest friends to celebrate One Day Without Shoes on Thursday, April 8th. “

As you know….. One Day Without Shoes is a day each year that we walk barefoot to spread awareness about the impact a pair of shoes can have on the lives of so many children who grow up without them.  each year it’s incredibly powerful to see the outpouring of support, as more and more people join us in our barefoot walks and events around the world.  this year, i’d love to share this moment with you in an intimate setting, just for close friends on abbot kinney in venice.  we will be getting together at AXE restaurant on the back patio (1009 abbot kinney blvd) at 3:30.  there will be wine and a short presentation about the work TOMS is doing throughout the world, by yours truly.  we will then walk barefoot for 3 blocks along abbot kinney to my sisters store Aviator Nation, where a party with music, festivities and of course more refreshments will await us.  i look forward to seeing you then.

Actualization: Did you go barefoot April 8th?  Have you ever gone barefoot for the day?  I highly recommend it!

I took my barefoot drive down to venice and then walked the streets in search of TOMS.  This is how i found the place –

Follow the naked feet.

Blake spoke and then we headed on our short walk to Aviator Nation and celebrated the day with music and Veev and JJ Banicki!

Why would you want to dirty your feet? Or risk stepping in glass?  Or risk getting a gnarly foot disease?

I did it for 3 reasons -

1 – The inspirational Blake Mycoskie. When you look up to someone you want to do what they do right…? You support them, learn from them, and take off your shoes with them.

When Blake volunteered at the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation events I planned in my first job out of school,  I knew he would do big things but I never thought he would create this worldwide movement.

2 – TOMS Shoes –  Blake’s company is helping barefoot kids around the world and giving them happy feet.  With every pair of TOMS purchased, TOMS gives a pair of new shoes to a child in need.  One for One.

I wanted to feel a part of that aside from buying the shoes that I already loved to wear:)

3 – Venice – I needed a good excuse to head to the other side of LA.  The relaxed, serene side and why not feel the ground there with my own bare feet?

Why should you try the barefootsy?

• It’s a reminder how lucky we are.  There millions of kids in developing countries who pick up diseases and infection on their feet and some can’t even go to school because they don’t have the shoes that are part of their required uniform.  No education all because of shoes!  I posted some statistics below.
• Walking around barefoot is freeing.
• You get a warm fuzzy for doing something good.

Realization: As I listened to Blake talk about the kids, their shoe drops and his company’s mission, I was inspired to want to do more, give back, and think big.

Your Moment: What can you now until the next One Day Without Shoes?

Go support the cause and buy some TOMS or go grassroot, and make your own day without shoes and feel the grass on your barefeet.
- – More than 400 million kids are at risk of hookworm and other debilitating parasites that enter the body through the soles of (bare) feet.

- – In Ethiopia alone, more than 11 million people are at risk of podoconiosis, a foot and leg disease that is 100% preventable with shoes and regular washing

- – Despite hundreds of millions of kids being exposed to soil-transmitted diseases, many of these diseases are categorized as “neglected” – they just don’t get enough attention or funding.

- – In Guatemala, our giving partner SANA is pairing TOMS shoes with de-worming education and de-worming drugs – prevention + treatment together!

- – We are now  advocating for podo awareness on a global stage. Recently had AMAZING confirmation from the World Health Organization that they are going to profile podo on their website for the FIRST TIME EVER!

Destination: V Australia

Inspiration: V Australia finally takes me home….I changed my flight 4 times before finally heading back to Los Angeles!   I was incredibly lucky to fly in style…First Class since I had worked an event for V last year. A full bar, bed for a seat, and enough movies to fly around the world twice, I was in heaven for my 13 hour trip.

Actualization: BEST OF THE REST: PART 1

I used my flight time to gather moments to share.
Below is a sampling of some inspiring and outrageously fun tips I was dying to experience but couldn’t since I ran out of time and money this trip!

If you go to OZ you should try these and just don’t pick up the Aussie mumble!
Just throw on your sunnies, put on your summer feet and get amongst it. Cheers mate!

Aussie TV Presenter/ Actor, Jason Dundas:
‘Lay under the stars by the rock’
Experience true Australian magic at the Longitude 131 hotel.

Gavin Degraw:
Rent a Subaru and drive the Outback!

TV Host and Model Tyson Beckford:

Go to a lil club called ssssh.

Celebrity Chef Rocco Dispirito:
God I wish I had my own experience to share with you but Australia is still on my to do list as well! Sounds like its gonna be fun no matter what! Oh and I’m a diver, I say try it.  Its a life altering experience.  Australia has legendary reefs for 100′s of miles.  Maybe reconsider?

Producer and Stylist Robin Garvick:
Dinner at North Bondi Italian. (Order the Blood Orange and Vodka)
The markets are incredible on Sat and Sundays
Go to Ruby Rabbit if it is still there, go upstairs. Be sure to check out the bathroom. It’s my favorite place to pee on the planet*

Veev’s Kasey Blaustein:
You have to camp out on Fraiser Island. I went in ’04 with some friends and our car broke down. You have to get your car above a certain point on the beach by a certain time of the day or else water can creep into the car and you’re screwed. Anyways we had to contact the only auto mechanic on the island who was certifiably insane. No joke. We had to go to his house, he yelled at himself, his place was like a scene from Hoarders. He actually grabbed a camera out of my friend’s hand and threw it on the floor when she went to take a picture of it all. He couldn’t fix our car so we had to stay at his house OR sleep outside unprotected to be eaten by dingos. I was very close to sleeping with the dingos. He had scratched out all the faces of women in the magazines in his house and had really dirty utensils and it was straight out of a horror film. We all slept in one bed with his kitchen knives under the pillow.  Needless the say we made it out alive but I had another friend that had a run in with him too and at that point he had a camel living in his back yard. I dare you to find him, give him a visit and even stay a night in his guest house. He’s the only auto mechanic on the island. Good luck and bring pepper spray!

Charley Walters
If you want to go straight to airlie, catch a cheap flight up to Cairns and drive DOWN from there… but first go to another place called “Cape Tribulation” (they call it “cape trib”) which is the most beautiful spot I’ve ever seen in my life (seriously, its where the Daintree Rainforest meets the Great Barrier Reef) – either way you will want to fly one way, it takes too long to drive both ways.  You can also take a bus called McGafferty’s which stops at all the best places, and you can get on/get off when ever you choose- as I’m sure you’ve already learned there the attitude is always “no worries” and it seems there are barely any laws!

Realization: As hard as sharing can be, it usually ends up being more rewarding than keeping something for yourself!  Don’t be a monkey – prove me right and go see the wizard behind the curtain of OZ!

Your Moment:
V Australia

Longitude 131 Hotel

Subaru

North Bondi Italian

Veev

McGafferty’s

Destination: “I’m on a Boat”

Inspiration: Audrina Patridge was in Sydney recently and said: “Hiii…. When I was in Sydney we took a cruise around the harbor which is beautiful and also went to Bondi beach and had lunch at iceberg which was amazing!!!!”

Actualization: I haven’t even made the boat yet. I’m sitting here at the airport trying not to cry. I can’t really because everyone’s laughing at me. I’m wearing a santa hat I got at Sluttingham Palace last night. Slutttingham palace was described to me by a 22-year old girl as a place “owned by 3 old guys (um 35) who had parties to get girls.” She also thought I was 24. I’m thinking it was the hat, so I’ll keep it on and be 24.

My story: “I went to Sluttingham Palace and all I got was this Santa hat.” I actually got this sweatshirt too. I took it from the Sluttingham closet. New favorite out of business brand favored by the kings; Fake London Genius.

In the attempt to fulfill Audrina’s moment, the following has commenced…so far: 24 hours in Melbourne (even when I write it I say BORN, but for you Americans, the accent is on the MEL I’ve been told too many times now). I had a flight booked for noon to get to Sydney and go on a sunset boat ride. Woke up in my clothes from the night before and ran around throwing clothes in bags with a confetti sprinkle trailing me. If you aren’t going to be a slut at the palace at least create a costume I went in the bathroom as a confetti trail was falling out of my bra but the Santa hat was staying put. I grabbed Janae and we rushed out for the airport. Janae told me about 17 times. “Angie, I’ll drive you just get me directions to the airport.” I tried a Google search but it seemed easier to ask. We got three sets of directions and next thing you know we are in Dungaroo something, 40 minutes from the airport. Australians are the worst at directions…not only cabbies or people on the street. It’s the entire population. Serious.

I arrived to the airport 20 minutes after my flight standing about a mile from Jetstar’s check-in. I pulled my bags across 4 times before booking another flight on Virgin Blue. Note to self. Book Virgin Blue from now on. My blackberry had died and my shoes were falling off. I could feel eyes on me from all directions. Watching me lug bags in a Santa hat, wine-stained green dress, blue sweatshirt, smeared makeup and foofy hair. People smiled, pointed, laughed, or just hummed christmas songs at me. I wasn’t taking the hat off because it was the only thing keeping me from crying. I booked another flight. Bought a charger. I was able to stall the boat and get a later pickup thanks to the 911 trick. I didn’t believe it worked but had heard if you hit 911 your phone will automatically recharge for an extra 5 minutes. I felt this was a case of 911. Thanks Cade! I had a drink on the plane and was ready for the boat.

Lucinda and Freddy were celebrating his birthday on their friends boat and had invited me to join them. Lucinda is another result of my friendship with VeeV’s Courtney Reum. I had met her and Freddy once for dinner in LA, but we kept in touch. They are adorable and fun. Originally I thought there was no way I’d still be down under. Now it’s December 12th and we are rushing to Newport where they have the boat making a special stop at the wharf there to pick up me, Gilda, and Jacki Bresic. Thanks to Gilda’s quick driving skills, we made it on time. Thanks to Jacki’s attentive skills for reading the invite that said white party. I was already causing a scene, no need to stand out more in my green dress. I did a backseat change into my white frock but kept on Santa. That hat was keeping me sane!

The next 10 hours were a dream. We were greeted by Lucinda and Freddy, probably the most gorgeous couple I’ve ever met. Cindy kissed us and handed over champagne. Freddy gave a birthday speech filled with thanks and funny tidbits about his friends and family. When he gave me a shout out and thanks for extending my stay for his birthday, I knew the mornings airport drama was SO WORTH IT!

Freddy’s friends were all attractive and too much fun. Of course the Bresic girls knew half the boat and by the end of the trip we all had quite the bonding. I even got Stephen Rich to come join us at the “after boat party”! We got our place to stay when tipsy Gilda said, “Angie don’t forget to call your friend Stephen so we can ask if we can stay at his place tonight!” Stephen was sitting next to me when this was said. Good guy that he is, we still got to stay with him. I feel like I’m a party of Sydney – I mean part of Sydney. I’ve definitely made Sydney friends for life.

Realization: No matter how much it may seem the world is steering you towards disaster, just go with it and have a laugh. Janae dropped my dress in water, Aussies steered me towards the outback rather than the airport, the unnecessary taxis and flights were killing my budget, my shoes, credit card and technology didn’t want to stay with me, but life is still good. I’m on a boat

Your Moment:
Audrina Patridge
Veev
Special thanks to Christian Blencke for photos!