Courtney's Blog

AQUARIUM OF THE PACIFIC HOLDS STYROFOAM DRIVE TO TURN TRASH INTO SURFBOARDS

 From Waste to Waves—Bring your Styrofoam to the Aquarium on January 14

 Recycling Styrofoam into surfboards helps keep the ocean clean, prevents it from being eaten by marine animals, and reduces carbon footprints

  The Aquarium of the Pacific is partnering with Sustainable Surf to turn Styrofoam waste into surfboards. The Aquarium will host a foam collection drive on January 14 to support the newly launched nonprofit surf organization’s Waste to Waves program. Through this program expanded polystyrene, also known as plastic No. 6 or Styrofoam, is recycled into eco-friendly surfboards. Those who bring Styrofoam to the Aquarium on January 14 will receive a coupon for 20 percent off at the Aquarium’s gift store, which features of variety of green gifts made from recycled materials.

This type of foam packaging is commonly used with electronics and other products that are given as popular holiday gifts. Members of the public are encouraged to save their foam packaging waste after the holidays and bring it to the Aquarium, where it will be collected and recycled into surfboards. The foam will be transported to Marko Foam in Irvine, California, to be recycled into new surfboard blanks.

Most people are not aware that the same type of polystyrene foam material used to package electronics is also used to make surfboards. Recycling the foam packaging into a surfboard eliminates 50 percent of the carbon emissions associated with manufacturing a surfboard. The new eco-friendly surfboard boasts the same performance and durability of a board made from virgin petrochemical materials. Not only does this program reduce the surfboard carbon footprint, but also it helps keep Styrofoam out of the ocean where it is frequently ingested by marine animals that mistake the tiny foam particles for food.

Under the Sustainable Surf Waste to Waves campaign, people can also bring waste polystyrene foam to surf shops in California that have collection bins. Waste to Waves partner organizations include Sustainable Surf, SPY, Reef, Marko Foam, the Surfrider Foundation, and Waste Management. For more information and drop-off locations, visit wastetowaves.org.

 

Dec 18th, 2011

Disney On Ice: Pixar’s Toy Story 3, 

We were invited to  Disney On Ice: Pixar’s Toy Story 3, at the Staples Center today, and had such a fun time. The music is great and everyone was singing along and dancing in their seats. The show was colorful, upbeat and funny. It was great seeing these favorite characters of ours come to life and skate, jump and even FLY.  They did a amazing job of recreating  some of the highlights from the 3 movies and weaving them together to a really fun and enjoyable show- 

Today was the last day at the Staples Center but will be in the Southland through Jan 8th

For more info about the show click here. 

 

SANTA’S SECRET WORKSHOP- 

On Saturday, December 3^rd, 2011 the first-ever Santa’s Secret Workshop kicked off the holiday season by bringing celebrities and VIPS together for a day of family fun and gifting at the Andaz Hotel in West Hollywood, CA. Guests of all ages crafted, decorated cookies, got their faces painted, got their photos taken with Santa, and checked out some of the hottest products available this holiday season. The event benefited L.A. Family Housing.

Celebrity guests who attend included Tori Spelling (“Tori & Dean: Home Sweet Hollywood”), Tiffani Thiessen (“White Collar”), Sarah Drew (“Grey’s Anatomy”), Gilles Marini (“Brothers & Sisters”), Lindsay Sloane (Horrible Bosses), Ali Landry (“Hollywood Moms’ Club”), Sean Murray (“NCIS”), Autumn Reeser(“No Ordinary Family”), Ashley Jones (“Bold & the Beautiful”), Alicia Coppola (“The Nine Lives of Chloe King”), Kiersten Warren (“Desperate Housewives”), Sean Kanan (“Young & the Restless”),Spencer Grammer (“Greek”), Evan Handler (“Californication”), Marisa Coughlin (“Bones”), and many more.

 

Thanks to HP guests were able to avoid that dreaded trip to the mall by having their pictures taken with Santa in the North Pole Photo Studio. The photos were printed onsite to an HP Photosmart 7510 e-All-in-One printer, using HP's ePrint technology. Kids and young adults who visited the Children's Peppermint PLACE Room were outfitted for their photos by The Children’s PLACE  The event was decked out with living Christmas trees from Adopt a Christmas Tree and baker to the stars, Jenny Keller of Jenny Cookies , flew in especially for the event and created the children's cookie decorating table filled with delicious desserts.

4moms , makers of the mamaRoo baby swing, amazed guests with the soon be released Origami - the world’s first power-folding stroller. Every child left the event with one of Joovy’s products, which includes tricycles, and their line of strollers, pack-and-plays, and car seats for dolls.  Other brands that were at the event to deliver holiday cheer and showcase the latest and greatest their companies have to offer this season included Orbit Baby , Ju-Ju-Be , UPPAbaby , Mabel's Labels,phil&teds  Pixelmoda Watches , USANA (), Shea Terra ), The Spirit Sleeve , Strut-This , Krazy Coupon Lady  and Brazilets 

The mission of L.A. Family Housing (LAFH) is to help families transition out of homelessness and poverty through a continuum of housing enriched with supportive services. Visit their website for opportunities to support LAFH.

Some of our Favoriate Celeb Moms were there having a great time with their kids!  It was such a magical event and everyone had a wonderful time. We were so busy checking everything out that I didn't even think to take any photos (but we did get a santa pic) see below with Dylan and Tyler. The new strollers that we saw are so cool, they almost make me want to have another baby.

Ali Landry with her Daughter 

 Stella and her Joovy Stroller Tori & Stella

 Tiffani Thiessen, Daughter and SantaDylan & Tyler with Santa- they really wanted to get back to their Joovy Bikes