{Photo: Hanna Rochelle and INXS drummer Jon Farriss}

By Shontel Horne —

Hanna Rochelle knows a good idea when she sees one. The Moscow-born, L.A.-raised singer/songwriter turned her love of lyrics into an enterprising fashion brand with her line Lyric Culture, ( sold at Bloomingdale’s and Nordstrom), a surprisingly simple concept jotting the iconic words of Bob Dylan, John Lennon and Pink Floyd on everything from t-shirts to bracelets. What started off as a small scale project has grown to include two other lines: Lyrix, sold exclusively at Claire’s targeting teen girls and Lyric Nation for Walmart using lyrics from country and Christian music superstars.

The funky, rock-infused line has been incredibly well-received both my music companies and the entertainment industry, with everyone from Halle Berry and Fergie to Brad Paisley donning pieces from the music-centric collection. The L.A. resident gives us an incredible insight into the making of her brand, and what’s next to come.

CM: Lyric Culture has been around for about 7 years now, where did the idea come from?
HR: I was in the recording studio with a pretty famous producer named Jack Douglas. He’s pretty legendary, he found Cheap Trick in a bowling alley and he did all of the early Aerosmith stuff. He was also the last guy in the studio with John Lennon before he was assassinated. It was like 2 in the morning, and I started writing my own lyrics on my jeans. It looked kind of cool, so I went home and tricked out a pair of my old jeans with Don Henley “Dirty Laundry” lyrics. I wore them to the studio the next day, and Jack said “Those are really cool, I think Steven Tyler would wear jeans like that.” He took a picture, sent it to Steven, and fast forward three years later I’m doing “Dream On” pajamas at Victoria’s Secret. INXS at the time was doing that show “Rock Star” on CBS to find their new front man to replace Michael Hutchence, and they were recording next door to me and said, “Oh can you make us a pair with ‘Devil Inside’ and ‘Suicide Blonde’ lyrics?” And I thought if all of these musicians are liking this, then there’s got to be an idea here.

CM: So where did you go from there?
HR: I went out and I started acquiring the rights to these music catalogues. At the time when I started the business in 2005, no one had taken lyrics and licensed music with just the lyrics. Taking the actual words and separating them from the song and creating a whole line of merchandise around them had never been done before. It was really good timing for me to go out and do this. As a songwriter myself I though this was really cool and I could generate new revenue streams for musicians. I had no experience in manufacturing or the apparel trade. The company was started on the floor in my living room with a hot glue gun and a sharpie, and now it’s grown.

CM: Which music company did you approach first?
HR: I think the first deal that we did was with Warner. After that within a few months I had pretty much all of them: Sony, Universal, EMI, all of them signed on. And now we have close to 100 different licensing deals.

CM: Were you surprised they were so open with letting you use these iconic lyrics?
HR: It was really good timing. I didn’t really even have samples when I walked in there, but I understood the music business. There’s always room for a great idea when there’s chaos in an industry. When one or two of them signed up, then the rest of them all said yes.

CM: So what has been your biggest challenge?
HR: We’re working with some of the greatest words in the world. These are the most legendary words ever written by some of the world’s greatest poets from John Lennon to Bob Dylan. I always tell my graphic designers “You have to really think about what you were doing, are you bringing the words to life visually?” That’s essentially what we’re doing. It doesn’t matter if it’s a scarf, or a jacket or a ring. We are bringing the greatest words in the world to life on a product, and I’ve always told all of my designers that the product needs to stand on its own. You could absolutely ruin it; you can’t just throw words on a t-shirt and hope that it works.

CM: How long have you lived in L.A.?
HR: Actually I grew up in L.A. since I was 11 in Chico and El DeBarge’s house. My parents are classical musicians, hardcore classical musicians. I grew up around it, and it was so ironic that when they moved to L.A., they ended up buying Chico and El DeBarge’s old house. But before that I lived in Texas and before that I was born in Moscow. We moved to the states when I was 2 years old.

CM: Where do you live in the city?
HR: Right on the cusp of West Hollywood and Beverly Hills, just off the Sunset Strip.

CM: Where are some of your favorite places to go in the city?
HR: I love the Petit Ermitage. I love going there for brunch. It feels very European. I love the rooftop that they have there. It doesn’t feel like I’m in LA. I feel like I’m somewhere in Europe.

Canadian actress Neve Campbell is rockin' her Lyric Culture shirt

CM: Do you have a favorite music venue in L.A.?
HR: Hollywood Bowl for sure. I love anything that’s outdoors. When I got married, we had a rehearsal dinner at the Hollywood Bowl and Earth, Wind and Fire performed. It’s probably one of my favorite music venues ever. For classical musical I love Disney Hall. The sound there is amazing.

CM: Just about everyone has worn something from your line, are there any artists that you would love to see wear a Lyric Culture piece?
HR: We haven’t had Lady Gaga wear anything; I would love for her to wear something. And also, Katy Perry. We haven’t done anything with their lyrics, but I would love to do something with them.

CM: What do you have in the works for the rest of the year?
HR: We haven’t actually done anything with The Doors yet, but we’re planning too. Pink Floyd was a big request for the last two years and that’s why we’re doing a massive collection; it’s coming out at Bloomingdale’s and Hard Rock in February. It’s everything from military jackets to hats and scarfs and cufflinks. The Pink Floyd collection definitely feels like Pink Floyd, it’s totally psychedelic and very mystical. We also have the INXS collection coming out and that one is very dark and gritty. It’s very similar to Michael Hutchence’s lyrics. And we have a bunch of new designs at Walmart.

CM: What are some things you’ve learned since starting Lyric Culture?
We had these great catalogues of country music, and although Bloomingdale’s and Nordstrom weren’t really interested in doing anything with Rascal Flatts, Walmart was so excited about it. What we realized is that there is a market for every different type of music, that’s the beauty of our brand. Everybody loves music. Lyrics are such an important part of people’s lives. It’s almost like the soundtracks of their life. People are always requesting special songs that they want to make a statement with.

CM: As a musician, how would you describe your sound?
HR: I would say it was pop with soul. If I were to open for anybody, I would love to open for Sade or Annie Lennox, but I don’t do it anymore since this has become more than a full time job. It consumes me completely. But it’s great because I get to work with these amazing musical artists that I would have never been able to collaborate with as a musician.

CM: Can you pick a favorite lyric?
HR: “You may say that I’m a dreamer, but I’m not the only one.” My motto has always been dream big, it’s just as easy as dreaming small. It takes the same amount of effort to dream that you want huge things versus small things. Sometimes it’s more difficult to dream small. That’s why I love that line. Everybody dreams, everybody has dreams. That’s what John Lennon encapsulated with his words. There’s something about it that brings all kinds of people together.

It’s no question that Angelenos love their pizzas, and since West 3rd Street has become somewhat of a foodie haven, Olio Pizzeria & Cafe has helped to fuel that fire. The tiny spot opened over the summer and has silently been gathering a steady crowd ever since. You won’t find a 16-year-old dough-tosser here: Chef and owner Bradford Kent often mans the brick oven himself, where temps regularly soar pass 800 degrees for the ultimate in crispy yet chewy crust and burrata and basil goodness.

A former food scientist for the U.S. Department of Defense, Kent’s precision and attention to detail is reflected in his near perfect pies. Kent’s training at the Culinary Institute of America has taken him across the country, from cooking on yachts to developing natural products that are still sold at Whole Foods and Trader Joe’s. Starting with dough that Kent meticulously researched before refining, the pies, which range from $10.99 to $15.99, are then topped with noticeably fresh finds from the local farmers market such as the fragrant basil and savory mozzarella. The Margherita Plus, a twice baked masterpiece with ultra-creamy Gioia burrata and the Italian fave, Grana Padano, is amped even further when drizzled with the restaurant’s own Tuscan olive oil. For a more interesting dish, the menu also features Hawaiian, classic mushroom and eggplant parmesan pizzas, but Olio’s offerings don’t just stop at the pies. The menu has several salads ($6.99-$12.99) and appetizers that all utilize the massive pizza oven in some way.

The sweet and savory arugula and fennel dish that’s topped with smoky fire roasted grapes, crunchy almonds and then tossed with feta and spiced yogurt is incredibly refreshing before diving into a pie, and the delightful Greek salad made up of Katamata olives, plump tomatoes, Persian cucumbers and drizzled with a tangy lemon vinaigrette is a meal in itself. If you’re still craving veggies, the appetizers start at $5.49, where there’s the exotic roasted cauliflower in coconut curry sauce and the roasted brussel sprouts that are drenched in garlic oil and sprinkled with slivered almonds. But of course, it’s really all about the pizzas, and when paired with one of Olio’s handmade, seasonal fresh fruit sodas, this is a pizza pad not to be missed.

—

Olio Pizzeria & Café

8075 W. 3rd St. Ste #100 | Los Angeles, CA 90048

Mon-Fri: Lunch, 11am-3:30pm; Dinner, 5:30pm-10pm

Sat-Sun: Brunch, 11am-3pm; Lunch/Dinner, 3pm-10pm

The cold air coated my lungs as I hopped off the shuttle. Instantly, the smell of hot dogs and cider flooded my nostrils as I watched children ice skating in the center of town. It’s holiday season, and I’m exhausted from taking an eight-hour bus ride. The song “Amsterdam” by Guster is on repeat in my head. I’ve finally arrived, and I’m standing in front of a Burger King to meet the guy who’s letting us crash on his floor. He arrives, and we head up to his tiny apartment while he runs off to bartend at a local pub. We decide to wander the streets and envision what people our age do here.

The night is young in Amsterdam and every night is a party. Streets in the infamous red-light district flood with young people, tourists and foreigners looking to get laid on the infamous strip. Red lights frame each pretty little body on the main drag. The women are in skimpy bikinis and different outfits—some neon bikinis, strips of cloth and fishnets. Anything kinky in the bedroom is fully revealed here. The girls sway and look you in the eye. Only three feet away, I can’t help but feel more than a million worlds apart from the woman behind the pane of glass separating us, encapsulated in a tiny room with lube, a sink and a small bed. The snow begins to fall heavier.

We decide to head down the side roads, to the “blue districts” as they call it, and it morphs into a relatively frightening circus show behind the glass, filled with artificial body parts and smirking faces. The beautiful women have transformed into something much more eerie, and I want to laugh and run at the same time.

Every store is a sex shop, and the river in the center of the road is dotted with beautiful swans and tiny rowboats. The swans are enveloped in the red neon lights of lust and deviants as it reflects off the water and they ripple it, as if trying to show me that there is still beauty in some of the most morally conflicted situations. We then hop into one of the many pubs, and try drinking warm German wine. We meet Irish girls who love to party and Cali girls studying abroad. We encounter some very funny guys dressed up as Santa and his workers for a last hurrah before he gets married—Christmas tradition and a bachelor party all in one. We take pictures with them, talk and laugh. I’m tired and one of the Irish girls keeps yelling quite loudly, so we decide to head back to the apartment.

The next day the snow is even worse, but we journey to see Anne Frank’s home. Anne Frank’s house is one of the most interesting and reflective stories to see. You hear the stories of the Holocaust and this infamous family, but to see where they have stepped automatically transforms you into a compassionate person. The tiny writer banned from a life and robbed of everything. You journey through the history of how they were before, when the Nazis invaded and how life was living in an attic. Her journals are at the end of the museum tour. A room filled with notebooks, pages, journals all covered in ink. All covered in her thoughts. I was overwhelmed at how dedicated she was to writing. If only I could apply this heart and soul, I thought. The words of a 13 year old inspire me to change. I want to cry.

My next visit is to the Van Gogh museum, which is four floors of the works of Van Gogh and his colleagues. The rooms themselves become a textured medley of art, with people all over the world glittering the floor, trying to find the meaning behind the infamous sunflower painting. “If you loved someone would you send him or her a piece of your ear?” I ask myself. Heading outside, we found the infamous huge AMSTERDAM sign. I pose in between the letters like any other tourist. I am in Amsterdam. I decide to head back home for a power nap in the apartment. I awake, still in a dream-like exhausted state, to head to the coffee shops. The coffee shops blow California medical marijuana out of the water. It’s pretty weird having hot chocolate and a joint in public. I find myself wandering the Red Light District again, getting lost and seeing the shops and the ladies dancing in the window.

The guy I stayed with said getting lost is easy, and he was right. I don’t mind getting lost in my skewed fairytale world, where the snow glows pink. Even though there’s a sex scandal at every corner. The poor boy I stayed with is lethargic because of a fever, but needs to work after fleeing his country. He’s kind enough to offer me his floor to sleep on. And Anne Frank put a picture of Ginger Rogers on her wall and dreamt of a more glamorous life writing novels. The hookers will continue to hustle in the windows so they can feed their children. And Rodin cut his ear because of a broken heart.

I realized no matter how ridiculous, terrible or disgusting things become, life still goes on and the swans still float peacefully in the river… knowing at the end of the day, the world still secretly glows a fairytale pink. And if I see the beauty in things even when I’m lost in the dark, I think I will be just fine.

Meet Marcia Prentice. If you watched HGTV’s docu-reality series “Design School” which aired in 2010, you may have seen her in action. The show follows a group of elite interior design students from FIDM who are given challenges to test out their design skills in the real world.

One of her very first home renovations was house flipping (buying a house with intent to sell)—tearing it down and re-designing it in a matter of just one week—an impressive feat. She hosted her own short sale on The Foundary and guest contributes on various reality TV design shows. Marcia also currently writes for a handful of Apartment Therapy Media sites and maintains an ongoing writing position with other venues, such as Lamps Plus.

A graduate of FIDM and still under 30, Marcia is one the most hard-working and ambitious women around—and she does this all in four-inch heels! Read on for her thoughts about life in LA.

20 Questions with Marcia Prentice About Life in LA

1.) How long have you been an Angeleno?

9 years

2.) What part of Los Angeles do you live in?

Miracle Mile

3.) What turns you on the most about this city?

The weather and lack of bugs!

4.) What turns you off the most about this city?

Hmm…traffic or the abundance of actors/waiters.

5.) Favorite place to eat Sunday brunch?

Sante La Brea (even though I think they are now closed). I miss the best oatmeal pancakes I have ever had.

6.) Most overrated venue?

The tourist stretch of Hollywood Blvd.

7.) Who is your favorite local artist?

Furniture designer Brandon Morrison, who owns the local store WhyrHymer.

8.) If you were going to move, what would be your next destination?

That’s a tough one, probably Italy.

9.) Name something you wish would change here?

The real estate prices. You know how hard it is to save up for a down payment on a house, when the average house price is above $500,000.

10.) Favorite time of year in LA?

Summer, for sure.

11.) Where to go for the best happy hour?

Don’t drink, so you should probably ask another Angeleno.

12.) Best flea market?

Rose Bowl

13.) What is the best exhibition you’ve seen here?

The gallery exhibitions at Obsolete.

14.) Where is the best place to go on a first date?

Dinner on the beach.

15.) Favorite of all the “tourist” spots?

The beach never gets old.

16.) Best venue to see a live show?

Hollywood Bowl or the Staples Center.

17.) Name a hidden LA gem that has not been taken over yet.

Outdoor movies at the Hollywood Forever Cemetery.

18.) If LA had a subway system like NY or bus system like San Francisco, would you use it? Or would you stick with your car?

In LA we love our cars. I would stick to driving my own car (sorry green enthusiasts).

19.) Biggest (but most true) cliché about LA?

There is skinny and then there is LA skinny.

20.) What mark do you want to leave here?

The most creative (and in high demand) interior designer in the city.

NO DOUBT, NEW YORK is one of the greatest cities in the world, but it’s a lot bigger than those camera pan-overs in movies. It’s full of life, angst, culture and an astounding allure that you can’t quite place but always leaves you coming back for more. It’s glamorous, it’s gritty and it’s powerful. So where the heck does one go in the city that never sleeps? Strap on your helmets, chug an energy drink and grab a metro card! Here are some ideas for the newbies attempting to take a bite out of the Big Apple.

Fifth Avenue

The most charming way to represent consumerism. Hop into any shop that tickles your fancy and ogle designer duds. Stop into Saks if you’re a label junkie and admire the beauty of seemingly endless levels of couture fashion and foreign tongues putting their money to use. Pull a Hepburn and stop in front of Tiffany’s and snap a photo. During this season, every hall is decked.

Central Park

See the statues, like the Alice in Wonderland sculpture, listen to live free music and people watch. The most eclectic people you will find in any park. Take pictures of all the crazy things you see and find! Or pack a discreet lunch of wine and cheese.

Time Warner Center

More shops to hop about into. During Christmastime at night, they hang huge 3D stars that illuminate various colors in accordance to Christmas music playing.

Metropolitan Museum of Art

Have your breath taken away by sculptures, paintings and ancient artifacts. Don’t forget to head to the roof to see the ever-changing exhibits! This museum is serious and almost a smaller version of the similar art/artifacts found in the Louvre.

Times Square

Stand on the steps of the TKTS booth and take photos. Ooooh pretty lights!

Broadway Shows

You can’t really go wrong with an awesome Broadway show to make you smile. The sets are lovely, you see the crème-de-la-crème of stage actors, and it just feels so utterly old New York when you enter one of the lush theaters. Check out classics, like Hairspray, Mamma Mia or Chicago; or be daring and try a new show (Warning though: they may not be as good! Ahem Spiderman…)

Stardust Diner

This super fun diner carries the essence of Broadway, this little restaurant boasts Broadway-stars-to-be who serenade you and prance about as you eat. It’s usually crowded but has a great atmosphere and is the perfect greasy diner food post-wandering Times Square.

Radio City Christmas Spectacular (Seasonal Event)

Kid-friendly, with new storylines almost every year that incorporate new technology and the ever-classic, ever-lovely Rocketts paint the picture for a storybook Christmas. See their classic line kicks and feel the spirit of Christmas.

Hard Rock Café

A bit overrated food-wise, but awesome to see all of the memorabilia from rock gods and goddesses. Original costumes, guitars and photos cover the walls. Usually super crowded, so try to avoid typical lunch and dinner times.

Le Poisson Rouge

Craving a cool vibe and good music? Head here.

Ruby Foo’s

Near Times Square, but far away enough for a slight scenery change, this place has great sushi and other Japanese food.

Empire State Building and The Statue of Liberty

Classic sites to see. Take the tours and see New York at a higher level and learn a bit more about how NY became so fantastic.

Rockerfeller Center

In the wintertime this area is beautiful. See the tree, go ice-skating or grab some hot chocolate.

NBC Studios

After you hit Rockerfeller Center, head to the NBC Studios for a tour and see where some of your favorite shows are filmed and the hallways where the stars roam.

St. Patrick’s Cathedral

A beautiful church with wonderful detailing and an intriguing history. Walk around, admire the architecture and snap photos.

Bus Tours

Try a themed bus tour instead of getting haggled on the street by guys who work for tour buses. Anything from Sex and the City themed ones, to Freedom Tours showing the 9/11 site, anyone from a pop-culture fan all the way to a historian can feed their cultural appetite.

The High Line

Once a railway, now transformed into an “urban park,” the High Line is decked with plants, artwork and great views of the Hudson River.

Talking to Locals

If a local New Yorker isn’t in too much of a rush, scope ‘em out and ask them to give you a recommendation or two for a cool spot around town. People love giving their own advice.

Stay tuned for a list for the more experienced NYC visitor that will involve the kooky, creative, and off-the-radar places to check out.

FatWallet.com

FatWallet is one of countless sites that offers a huge selection of coupons, deals and cash back rewards, but what makes them stand out is their easy navigation, organization and clean look and feel. Member favorites tend to be tech deals that include laptops and PS3’s whether it’s for MacMall.com or NewEgg.com.

RetailMeNot.com

If you’re looking to find deals from popular retailers, this is it. RetailMeNot.com has over 130,000 stores like Juicy Couture, Famous Footwear, DSW, Hollister, Sperry Topsiders, etc. to choose from.

CouponCabin.com

CouponCabin has over 100,000 coupon codes and you can always expect to find deals from major stores like Kohls, Sears, Overstock.com, Kmart as well as many other selections. Kate Gosselin has recently joined to be a contributing blogger for the site as a coupon-clipping mom of eight kids.

ShopAtHome.com

Launched in 1986, ShopAtHome is another popular destination for deals and coupons. Besides the normal deals, they also offer printable coupons, grocery coupons, and have a ShopAtHome’s Wild, where a deeply discounted deal is offered everyday from top merchants that can be as high as 90% off retail prices.

DropDownDeals

Without having to type and search for deals by going to different sites, DropDownDeals offers a toolbar app that syncs with the site’s coupon database. A pop-up display appears with the available deals from the retailer. It’s a helpful little aid that saves you both time and money when shopping from site to site.

Other Mentionables for the Fashion/Social Savvy:

LivingSocial.com

Daily deal site for various cities that offer up to 90% off restaurants, bars, spas, comedy clubs, sporting events, theaters, classes, and retail shops.

GiltGroupe.com

Members-only access to top designer labels at up to 60% off retail. First come, first served with advance preview.

RueLaLa.com

By invitation only, Rue La La is a private sale of the most sought-after fashion brands in fashion, accessories, footwear, home, travel, wine, gourmet food, and local services. Opens daily, but stays open for only a short time.

Ideeli.com

Exclusive offers from design brands up to 80% off

Hautelook.com

A members-only site, Haute Look is free to join and offers 50-75% off discounts for today’s best designer brands. New sales events occur every day at 8am.

“Success is a journey, not a destination. The doing is often more important than the outcome.”

-Robert Ashe, Jr.

20 hours and five in-flight movies later, I finally arrived in Nairobi, Kenya. I stood at the baggage claim, praying that my checked-in duffel bag would roll down the conveyor belt, as my experience has taught me that this is not a guarantee when it comes to international flights. As I stood there, I saw a tall man donned with brand new hiking boots and an overstuffed backpack, and my intuition told me we were here for the same reason. I turned around and asked if he had plans on climbing a mountain. His eyes lit up and I immediately knew my intuition had served me well. He, too, was a member of the 2011 Accenture-Voluntary Service Overseas Mount Kilimanjaro Corporate Challenge, and had been on my final connecting flight.

As we sat in a cab from the airport to the hotel, I tried to balance my attention between my new friend and the view from the window. It was almost as if I had an internal chant in my head…We are in Nairobi, Kenya. Nairobi…Kenya. To climb Mount Kilimanjaro. Mount…Kilimanjaro. We are here. I am here. This is happening.

Day one primarily consisted of getting checked into the hotel and having dinner with the trek group. As we got to know each other, it was clear that we were quite a diverse bunch, as we represented different cities from around the world, spoke different languages, fell in different age brackets, and held different positions within the firm. Even with all these variances, I felt a sense of harmony around the table, of compassion, competitiveness, and excitement.

In the morning of day two, we regrouped and headed out to visit one of the projects, the Kenya Association of the Intellectually Handicapped that benefited from the Mount Kilimanjaro Corporate Challenge trek. We spent the day understanding the goals of the organization and had the opportunity to get to know some of the volunteers and beneficiaries. The day reinforced the reason why we were there and brought the real goal home.

Day three, we crossed countries from Nairobi, Kenya to Marangu, Tanzania. Between mini-naps, I noticed that the 10-hour drive exposed us to attractive forestry and plains. We mentally prepared ourselves for the next morning where we planned to embark on our trek, beginning at the Rongai National Park gate.

Day four to eight, we saw both extremes of vegetation, from beautiful, lush rainforests to dry, barren desert land. Days would begin with warm temperatures that required only t-shirts, shorts, and layers of sunscreen and would end with brutally cold nights that required at least four wool layers of clothes to survive in our frost coated tents. We were left with only the most meager of resources, where the luxury of a warm shower was only a dream and nourishment was only enough to sustain us for our grueling journey.

Day nine was the day that we would finally achieve our goal of reaching the Summit, which would have to be earned in one of the most exhausting physical and mental challenges that I have ever faced. We left camp at midnight to commence the trek up the steep scree slopes to Gillman’s Point, continuing around the rim, passed Stella Point and onto the highest point of Africa – Uhuru Point. We experienced a snow-ice-rain storm that continued on for 36 hours. We climbed for eight hours in -10C degree weather and heavy snow, and quickly learned that the only way to get through it was to keep our heads down and let the light from our head torch guide the way. Summit night included nausea, darkness, extreme cold, and a throbbing headache due to the altitude. We focused on matching the stride of our leg to the swing of our arm with our walking pole. All of us were pressed to our limits, and in spite of their valiant efforts, we succumbed to mountain sickness, exhaustion, and some of the many perils of our journey. Nevertheless, the majority of us were able to reach the Summit of Kilimanjaro with the help of supportive guides and amazing porters, most of whom climbed the mountain at least 10 times.

Ridiculous.

There were 25 of us that were part of the Corporate Challenge, many of whom met their threshold on that mountain. Six of the 25 capitulated before reaching Uhuru Point due to exhaustion or altitude sickness. I never heard and saw so many people regurgitate. Throughout our climb, we took two-minute breaks to fuel our bodies with protein bars and water droplets from our frozen bottles.

As I reflect back on how I was able to reach the summit of 5,895m, I have come up with 4 reasons:

1. Charity: I kept thinking of the volunteers and beneficiaries that we met our first full day in Nairobi
2. Friends/Family: The generous fundraising supporters
3. Trek Group: We looked out for each other on that mountain
4. Personal drive: There is no way I flew all this way, and for the last five consecutive days, slept on rocky slopes and stuffed myself with porridge and energy bars without reaching the top.

We spent only 15 minutes at Uhuru Peak. We stood on the roof of Africa, and took pictures, tried to hug each other over down jackets, and just breathed—with the little oxygen that we had. Although everyone’s hair and clothes were weighed down with ice, and our muscles screamed at us, we all felt so alive! We were infected with excitement and a sense of achievement. We made it. Shortly after, we started our descent at record speed, where we were able to literally ski down the loose volcanic scree trail. The day was a total of 11 hours of trekking.

Day 10, we set off early to trek to Marangu Gate. It was a mixture of happiness and relief that got our exhausted bodies moving forward for our last walk. After five hours of trekking, we reached the gates at Marangu, where our bus waited to take us to the hotel for a well-appreciated shower and celebratory dinner.

Day 11, we were on a bus for 10 hours, returning to Nairobi. We spent the day recounting what we had seen and how we felt. We looked at each others’ pictures and agreed that the entire trek was lined with panoramic views that we did our best to capture on memory cards. As trying as the adventure was, we all felt a sense of connection to the mountain, to each other, and to the charity. I remember the drive back being very peaceful.

It was a rewarding experience that will never be forgotten. This epic journey reminded me that life is a marathon, not a sprint. And I could not have asked for a better group of people to share this journey with. As a group, we raised almost $150K and still counting! This certainly could not have been done without the thoughtfulness and generosity of so many friends and family members.

I am extremely grateful for the opportunity to climb the world’s largest free standing mountain with such amazing people in support of an incredible charity. It still feels surreal…

The year you were born will affect everything about you—from the TV shows you watch to the clothing you wear, as well as your political views. Coming from the Y Generation, I never truly got a full glimpse into the lives that sandwiched my most formative years.

My parents were both born on the very early side of Generation X. I knew I was a glam rock fan, but other than that, there wasn’t much to think about until I dated a late Gen X-er. He was a hard working cynic who was a wild child growing up. He’d tell me stories of how he used to pencil in a fake birthday on his I.D. to get into clubs (that would’ve been nearly impossible in my era—ID scans, black-lights and stamps scare the crap out of you). He would fill his van with the aroma of freshly lit joints, only to receive a simple head shake from police officers that chased them down. Generation X was post-baby boomers and just off the edge of the sexual revolution. There was the hippie era of the ’60s, the punk rock ’80s and ’90s, and the questioning of morale and world security that still looms over my generation to this day.

Political events can shape a generation like a freshly opened jar of Play-Doh. Generation X was no exception: the fall of the Berlin Wall and the end of the Cold War quickly replaced by the War on Drugs and facing new recessions, oil and energy problems.

My history teacher in high school once described social practices like a pendulum. It swings back and forth, slowly with each decade, swaying from more conservative to more liberal and back again. Post ’60s and ’70s, this generation would be swinging back to being a bit more conservative, but not enough to regress fully. The lack of education on the AIDS issue would probably be my biggest issue with this generation.

Socially, people freaked about the AIDS epidemic. This wasn’t just your LSD dropping hippies anymore, as crack-cocaine intertwined with rap got into the hands (and ears) of young teens, especially in New York. The baby boomers were fearful of contracting something from a toilet seat and gasped at the backlashes on religion.

People were more educated than ever before, and divorce rates were at its peak with many of the X-ers being raised in single-parent homes. Generation X represents a more heterogeneous generation, with diversity in race, class, religion, ethnicity and sexual orientation more than ever before. Gender roles were challenged, as more women entered the workforce. This acceptance and cultural exchange would expand with every year (my generation would pick up the slack, and spark the gay rights movement).

Technology started its full-fledged world domination. Gen X was the first generation to experience more in media than any previous generation had. Happy Days, All in the Family, I Dream of Jeannie, Three’s Company—and the foundation for modern sitcoms was set. Comedy took on a new life with SNL. From the amazing slasher film craze to films like the Clerks (What’s up New Jersey?) and the ’80s-tastic film family, i.e. Breakfast Club, Fast Times at Ridgemont High, Pretty in Pink and anything else with Molly Ringwald, the generation had its share of well-known cult classics. The Star Wars saga became a lifestyle choice faster than you could say Death Star. Michael Jackson made headway with turning music videos into art and having specific formats and MTV was on in every suburban living room,’80s rock (long hair, tight pants, glitter, cross dressing, groupies, drugs and rock n’ roll). The punk rock scene from the UK surging over to the US, which became a counter-cultural trend that was a force to be reckoned with.

As I grew up, the older kids were slowly shedding their flannel from their Kurt Cobain-phase, and pop came flowing in. Wildly inappropriate underage boys and girls created the foundation for Gen Z’s Mileys and Biebers. Barney gave hugs to overtly happy children and told us we were special. The ’60s were awkwardly regurgitated with low-rise jeans, bell-bottoms and neon-colored peace signs. Clubs were flooded with flashing lights and X. Computers were in every home, and bulky cell phones were at the ears of the white-collared workers. Gameboys, Tamagochis and N64’s were the coolest new techie toys.

Beanie Babies “mighty morphed” into Antique Roadshow items for about a decade and Nickelodeon kept kids glued to big screen TVs. Adults watched Bill Clinton deny stains and relations. And we all waited for the Y2K bug to eat everyone alive.

Then the first African American president gets elected (mostly because of the Gen Y votes). Surviving and coping post-9/11was just as difficult for victims’ families as it was for the entire nation, as we regained our balance and bonded together. As smoke loomed over the water, kids cried at school, hoping their parents would come home from work. This then transitioned to the “War on Terror” that most of us probably don’t understand. Animal influenzas and diseases worried our parents, and Vietnam-esque anger surged through Gen Y. They became even more confused about big corporations, insurance, student and government policies. Homosexuals began fighting for equality and are still battling for it today. Today, Occupy Wall Street is a protest of primarily Gen Y-ers, hoping to inspire change like the young people of Cairo recently have. Women began to dominate both the workforce and college classrooms, and are still climbing to reach the top of Fortune 500 companies. The recession left the educated dissatisfied with many choices made by this country. Growing up, the economy was great and we could be whatever we wanted to be. Some people would call the late Gen X and all of Gen Y the Generation “Me” era. We felt invincible. Now I’m starting to get some of the cynicism that my “X”-lover had.

Although we did not have spaceships or cool suits as the ’80s had hoped, environmentalists found that cars were harming the planet, and the green movement blossomed. The world literally shook as we witnessed some of the most catastrophic natural disasters ever recorded. Scientists began playing God more than ever with stem cells, cloning and artificial hearts. We were lol-ing, brb-ing and ttys-ing more than ever with anyone having the ability to communicate anywhere via text, video or voice.

As the Y-ers go on, I wonder, how will my next four siblings, some of which fall into the Z category (’93, although this can be on the cusp of Y depending on who you ask, ’99, ’01 and ’05), I wonder how they will get on. Pluto’s been shunned from the planet list in classrooms, along with sweets to hopefully fight obesity. Everyone’s going to college but without the easing whisper of parents and Barney thinking everything will be perfect. Whiney yet privileged, the Z’s are in the middle of exploring their footprint on history.

They are fully plugged into technology and globalization via online tools is something that is natural to them. Film inside a camera is completely foreign, and compact discs are now found in the Museum of Modern Art. Napster pissed off some musicians, and created the gateway for online music sales.

Music globalized genres and sub-genres, and a multitude of challenges to music cultures was concocted on countless platforms in the double O’s. This is the era of Blu-rays, On-Demand, Netflix, touch screens, Facebook, Twitter and YouTube. In response, X-ers would be slapping them across the face and Y’s would be shrugging their shoulders and sighing “Get real,” since their dreams seemed just as real seven years ago.

There really is no conclusion to what has been or what will be. Everyone has experienced different things, seen different things, partook in events in various ways. We are a few decades away from a textbook passage, an analysis, and a conclusion.

Only the generations to come will truly know our impacts and mistakes. We cannot truly reflect back from an unbiased view if we experience it firsthand. My only hope is that the environment becomes sustained, the wars worldwide end… and that I get a full-time job (spoken like a true “Me” generation-er, eh?). One thing to remember: leave your positive, powerful mark—even if you don’t know what it means yet.

Sean Yashar, a native Angeleno, is the powerhouse behind the innovative brand consultancy, The Culture Creative. Combining knowledge and creative foresight, Sean fills a white space for content creation in the design, lifestyle and luxury goods industries. A self-described “modern artisan” on a mission to save the world from the mundane, Sean’s ideas are from the future, but he still loves the smell of paper and the feel of a pencil.

Sean has a very unconventional approach to living, and this forward thinking is what drives the success of his business. He is way ahead of his own time and the most edited person I know. Everything in his life has purpose and aims at some direct meaning—that is, there is nothing that exists in Sean’s life “just because.”

During a recent conversation, Sean explained his attraction to design, for which his sentiments relied heavily on the idea that style and magnificence does not just exist in fashion. The artwork that we collect and the contents of our home environment are not just an extension of ourselves, but are stories that dictate a certain relevance to our daily lives. Sean has found a niche for this idea, bringing a certain gravity and opulence to this vision.

20 Questions with Sean Yashar About Life in LA

1.) How long have you been an Angeleno?

29 years, born and raised.

2.) What part of Los Angeles do you live in?

Miracle Mile.

3.) What turns you on the most about this city?

A metropolis coexisting with nature. I call it, surf ‘n’ turf.

4.) What turns you off the most about this city?

Hours of operation and the pairing of Juicy jumpsuits and Uggs.

5.) Favorite place to eat Sunday brunch?

Café Stella in Silver Lake.

6.) Most overrated venue?

Hollywood and Highland.

7.) Who is your favorite local artist?

Icon: Ed Ruscha. Contemporary: Alex Prager.

8.) If you were going to move, what would be your next destination?

Abbot Kinney, Venice.

9.) Name something you wish would change here?

Café culture. For being a city with perpetually sunny days, we don’t have enough outdoor dining when compared to NYC or Paris…or even SF and Seattle, for that matter. I’d like to see rows of bistro tables lining the sidewalks, and cafes that are open later than 11pm.

10.) Favorite time of year in LA?

Autumn…crisp, clean weather and intense colors in nature. Perfect for a drive at dusk on PCH.

11.) Where to go for the best happy hour?

I’ve got a few: the rooftop at the Shangri La Hotel in Santa Monica, The Tar Pit on La Brea, St. Felix and Cecconi’s in West Hollywood.

12.) Best flea market?

I prefer auctions. Try A.N. Abell in the City of Industry.

13.) What is the best exhibition you’ve seen here?

Anything at L&M Arts in Venice. Paul McCarthy’s show last year, “Three Sculptures” was everything.

14.) Where is the best place to go on a first date?

A tie between Figaro Café in Los Feliz and Ado in Venice. First dates should be casually romantic, and both these venues have that kind of vibe.

15.) Favorite of all the “tourist” spots?

Malibu. Where health meets wealth.

16.) Best venue to see a live show?

Spaceland, Silver Lake. They’re known for breaking new acts…so many great bands had their first LA performances there. I remember the Scissor Sisters performing a free show years before they blew up.

17.) Name a hidden LA gem that has not been taken over yet.

Larchmont Village.

18.) If LA had a subway system like NY or bus system like San Francisco, would you use it? Or would you stick with your car?

I can’t say I wouldn’t use it, but I can say that LA is best with a car. Something about taking a drive to the beach or through the canyons couldn’t be recreated with a transit system.

19.) Biggest (but most true) cliché about LA?

Botox barbies and an overall youth-obsessed culture.

20.) What mark do you want to leave here?

If you ask me, LA is straddling the line between being important and passé. With my firm, The Culture Creative, I’m doing my part to bring more cultural significance to Los Angeles. We have all the right ingredients to be a power player, but somebody’s gotta get in the kitchen, and make something fresh ‘n tasty!

It’s time to drop all those assumptions about that other country because you might be mistaken. Blame it on the labeling and marketing tactics used but it worked like a charm. Here are a few myths from different countries dispelled once and for all.

Fortune Cookies. Believe it or not, fortune cookies are actually derived from the Japanese. Supposedly based off a wafer of some sort, the cookie evolved to become part of American culture. In China, packages often include directions so they don’t end up eating the paper.

Swedish Fish. These red chewies are actually manufactured in Canada primarily for a North American market. Similar candies are found in open plastic containers the country these gummies are named after, but the infamous yellow bag filled with the red fishes does not exist in Sweden. Although originally founded by a Swedish candy manufacturer, it’s now made in Ontario Canada by Cadbury Adams, who purchased the brand in ’06. Once made, they are then shipped and distributed through Parsippany New Jersey. In the UK, you can find the yellow bags in the “Swedish Food Section” in Ikea.

Iceland Weather. Iceland is relatively warm and green compared to its friend Greenland. The name was apparently derived when a Scandinavian explorer came across the land in the winter and looked at drift ice. Rumor has it that he wasn’t in a creative mood and dubbed the land Iceland after his floating ice friends. Surprisingly, hundreds of thousands of years from that first discovery, the people there have been documented to be the healthiest, happiest and have the longest life expectancy on the planet. The U.N. annual report constantly rates it as the best place to live. Turns out this little land isn’t so cold after all.

Irish Bread. Native Americans are the original creators of this St. Patty’s day go-to fare. They used soda or pearl ash to make the bread rise. Eventually this recipe would travel to Australia, Serbia, Britain, Scotland and good ‘ole Ireland. This bread is tied into multiple cultural celebrations and the recipe only seems to vary slightly from country to country.

Taco Bell in Mexico. Taco Bell went away from Mexico for almost fifteen years until 2007, after an unsuccessful venture. Some Mexicans were quite upset with the rebirth, stating that U.S. chains were far too common in their country, i.e. Starbucks and Subway. These Taco Bells, however, do not compete with traditional Mexican cuisine. Instead, they add more of an American fast-food flavor to their menus by adding French fries and ice cream. Tacos are re-named as tacostadas, playing off the word tostada in order to protect the traditional taco image. Taco Bell in the U.S. has about 5,800 locations, while abroad in total there are only 278. Yet still on the streets of Mexico, vendors sell these little U.S.-infused tacos.

America, Not the Fattest Country. Obesity is still a major health issue in America with our overindulgent and unhealthy lifestyles consisting of fast food and expanding waist lines. But according to a recent country-by-country obesity report, other countries are putting on more weight at a faster rate than America, which is especially seen in the Middle East and Pacific Island Nations. Kuwait is number one on this list.