Photo: Marley Freedom Flag

Photo taken in Venice Beach, CA. This calls for some Bob Marley music; here's a cover of "High Tide or Low Tide" by Jack Johnson and Ben Harper. --Stef McDonald

Photo: Sunset on the Skate Park

Photo taken at the Venice Beach Skate Park.

World Ocean Day

Photos taken in Venice Beach, CA.

It's been a busy week and we missed World Oceans Day on June 8. I live where I get to see (and hear and smell) the ocean every day (and think I'm one of the luckiest girls in the world for that). Protecting our oceans is vital; huge kudos to those who make it their mission to do so, like the fine folks who work for Heal the Bay and Surfrider. --Stef McDonald

John Wooden's Lessons

Basketball is not a board sport, but I have been a fan of the game for as long as I can remember (before I ever dreamed of riding waves on a surfboard!). There were many moving tributes last week following news of the passing of legendary UCLA basketball coach John Wooden and I went to his website to explore more about his career and teachings. Like all good coaches, he was a teacher whose lessons went beyond getting the ball across the court and into the basket. His widely used "pyramid of success" can be applied off the court as well, and has been adopted by businesses and others. I love that some of the "12 Lessons in Leadership" (see above and more on his website) are also lessons for life, including "Make each day your masterpiece."--Stef McDonald

Beauty for Beach Days

Sunscreen:
I consulted the Environmental Working Group's Sunscreen Guide and was happy to find my favorite SPF 30 sunscreens by Badger and California Baby ranked highest for safety and effectiveness. The Badger SPF 30 sunscreen stick is also good to apply pre-surf for nose, ears, hands, and cheeks, and their SPF 15 lip balm stays put during surf or swim sessions and beach yoga classes.

Hats:
I've got a collection of hats and make a point to wear one when spending more than a few minutes outdoors. Baseball caps (Yankees AND Dodgers, showing my East and West coast support!); straw cowboy hats; cotton floppy hats. When in the water, I wear a beat-up baseball cap and tie the string on my wetsuit zipper to the hat (so it doesn't get lost at sea when I wipe out).

Makeup:
Even when I'm wearing only sunscreen on my face, I like to put a little color on my lips. My current favorite is Jane Iredale's PureMoist Lip Colour SPF18. There are no harsh chemicals or artificial colors and it's got SPF protection. My favorite is a soft and pretty red color named Nicole, which I dab on lightly for a bit of color during the day; at night, I wear it loud and proud. I have become a devotee of many of Iredale's products and also like to use some of the 24-Karat Gold Dust powder (mineral, nothing toxic) for a subtle shimmer on eyelids and cheeks or to blend it with some moisturizer or sunscreen for a pretty glow. You can find more safe-for-you cosmetics (and see how the products you already use rank) at the Skin Deep Cosmetic Database from the Environmental Working Group; for even more information on the safety of makeup and personal care products, visit the site for the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics.

Beach Hair Spray:
I make my own beach hair spray. In a spray bottle, I mix 1 cup of filtered water, 1 tablespoons of sea salt, 1 teaspoon shea butter, 2-3 drops of essential oil of choice (I like jasmine and orange). Shake and spray. (Twist and braid a few pieces of hair for some waves.)

Hair bands:
Self-promotional plug! I make hair bands, from basic black elastic bands embellished them with recycled scraps of fabric (denim, hankie, chino, linen, tulle, silk tie...) and sell them on my Etsy shop, which features upcycled and vintage clothing and accessories.

Moisturizer:
Shea butter, from head to toe.

--Stef McDonald

Starfish Videos

Via Boing Boing: this videos of a starfish in action, flipping right side up. And a link to more videos, too.