MAMMOTH'S BLUE SKY FEST

You can still hit up mammoth this summer and have an adventure, minus the powder and dropping temperatures. Mammoth's festival, Mammoth Blue Sky Fest, is centered around musical diversity, healthy living, creative documentaries, and other activities, all crammed into four days at Mammoth Lakes, from August 12-15.

This is the second year the festival will be held and will highlight living eco-consciously while taking place in the great outdoors, right next to the pines and extensive backdrops. It'll begin Friday, August 12, with free daytime activities that include guided mountain bike tours and hikes, yoga and fitness sessions, kayaking demos, healthy cooking and gardening demonstrations, and your ever-so-friendly ranger talks. No, Yogi Bear won't be hosting.

Blue Sky Music Fest will feature almost every genre: rock, reggae, funk, jazz, surf, and hip hop. It'll kick off with Thursday's World Beat Dance Party and a free concert provided by Sierra Leone's Refugee All Stars. Other artists include Ozomatli, Karl Denson's Tiny Universe, Soulive, Toad the Wet Sprocket, Iration, The Holdup, and Top Shelf.

Tickets can be purchased at www.vallitix.com or by phone at 888-825-5485. You can also visit the Mammoth Lake Brewing Company's Tasting Room to purchase tickets. Advance 2-day music fest tickets (Friday and Saturday) are $55 a pop, and single day tickets are $35. Children under the age of 10 have free admission with a paid adult.

It's mantra is appropriate, "Live well. Move your feet. Feel the beat. Get outdoors."

To find more info, visit www.BlueSkyFest.com.

Katie Cervantes
Live OC Magazine
www.LIVEOCMAG.com

(ENJOY) A Summer of Mud

Irvine Lake Mud Run's Summer of Mud will be held Saturday, July 17 and Sunday, July 18 at 9 AM where a luau will be held, along with a beer garden. Enjoy some soft summer tunes with a concert at the event, featuring The Skeletones and Meet Me At The Pub.

The mud run is the most scenic in Southern California, with a 3.8 mile range of hills and views only seen in the mud! The entry level is unlimited--the more the muddier! The course will include crazy obstacles and the foamy human car wash. Also expect mega mud pits (yes, that includes 150 foot mud pit), along with a $1,000 prize purse, plenty of showers, and post run food and action sports/eco fair.

The event is sponsered by LiveWire, KROQ, Wahoo's and Bally Total Fitness.

A raffle will also take place, tickets only $5 for a chance to win a 7 day/6 night Hawaiian Vacation for two. All proceeds go straight to the Boys & Girls Clubs Orange County Alliance.

If you want to get "lei'd" at the Irvine Lake Mud Run's Summer of Mud then come prepared with your grass skirts, Hawaiian floral prints, and any and all luau attire.

It won't end after the luau--stick around to watch the Dirty Dodgeball Tournament, BIG beer garden, Action Sports/Eco Fair, and the summer concert.

For more info, visit www.irvinelakemudrun.com.

Katie Cervantes
Live OC Magazine
www.LIVEOCMAG.com

Lifestyle Hotels Launced by VenQuest Hotel Group

VenQuest Hotel Group is releasing a new line of Lifestyle hotels, focused on the family and bringing postivity to the spirit. Hotel CURRENT wll be the first hotel to open from the line, and will be located in Long Beach, CA.

Hotel CURRENT will be unique by offering painters, musicians, writers, and performers--all to create a colorful and soothing environment. All aspects are used to help 'uplift the spirit' by celebrating Arts.

Art is always on display at the hotel, like local artist Steve Fawley, and there will be a variety of 143 galleries throughout the hotels.

For more info, please visit www.hotelcurrent.com.

>>Donate and Help Brain Cancer Research

You're help is needed to advance Brain Cancer Research!


Donate to the Annual UCLA Brain Center Research Fundraiser to further the developments of Brain Cancer Research. In the past there's been success with over $250,000 being raised in donations over the last four years. The best part has been that 100% of the proceeds going straight to UCLA for Brain Cancer Research.



A raffle will soon take place, and donations are being requested. Gift certificates, baskets, or anything that is able to be raffled is needed and would be appreciated.


The fundraiser will be held on Thursday, April 29, from 5-9 PM at:


O'Malley's
140 Main St.
Seal Beach, CA


All raffle tickets sold will be collected. Proceeds from food, drinks, tips, and the raffle will support UCLA.


In addition to the donations and tickets for the raffle, a 5k will be held on Saturday, May 8th at:


Veterans Memorial Stadium
5005 Lew Davis Dr.
Long Beach, CA


Mail all donations to:


Cindy Atkinson
4592 Orion St.
Huntington Beach, CA 92649


All checks can be made payable to UCLA Foundation, or through http://www.blogger.com/www.craniumcrusaders.org.


Katie Cervantes
Live OC Magazine
www.LIVEOCMAG.com

Movie Review: The Last Song

When does Nicholas Sparks think he's going to keep surprising us with a surprise twist in each of his books/films by having someone die?

You may be a little upset that we just revealed the spoiler, but you won't be too upset after you see the film.

The Last Song is set in Tybee Island, Georgia where Miley Cyrus was able to let her hair down (aand apply a little extra eyeliner as a rebellious teen who's about to fall in love with a preppy ladies man (Liam Hemsworth) during the summer. She secretly is a professional pianist who recently was accepted to Juilliard, but declined because she's too caught up in trying to figure out what to do with her life. Although she's been in trouble with the law, it's assumed she pushes people away and has issues because of her parents' divorce.

If anything, Cyrus' and Hemsworth's on-screen romance was almost palpable--maybe due to the fact that they're dating in real life, which helped set the mood. Either way, we didn't mind, because it was pretty believable--even for Miley Cyrus. There were parts that were endearing and romantic, without going off the deep end.

Kelly Preston plays Cyrus' (Ronnie) mother who appears from time to time throughout the film, although we're never sure why her and Ronnie's father ever divorced. Now Ronnie and her little brother (newcomer, Bobby Coleman) are staying with their father for the summer in his beach house, while trying to come to terms with Ronnie's past. 

Although the romance between Hemsworth and Cyrus was cute and romantic, her performance wasn't. Her voice made her appear too young for Hemsworth's character and made you wonder what he saw in her. Hemsworth's performance was one of the best in the cast with his emotions raw throughout the film and his Aussie accent almost hardly noticeable. Coleman plays Ronnie's younger brother, who has a bigger heart than she does by helping his dad make stained glass windows for the local church. When tragedy strikes (remember our previous spoiler?) his performance is better than anyone in the supporting cast, and is one of the few you really seem to care about and feel for. 

The film concludes with (who would have thought?) Cyrus' new song playing in the background, and although it's not The Notebook, it may be worth seeing if you're a pre-teen who desperately wants to fall in love, but is vicariously living through movie stars' romances in the meantime. 

We know Cyrus is perfect for the Disney Channel and pretending to be a normal girl by day/rocker by night, but let's leave the intense acting for the big dogs on this one.

Katie Cervantes

Live OC Magazine

www.LIVEOCMAG.com

Don't Be Mean, Go Green

You probably don't know that it's illegal to throw your old laptop or that outdated computer in the trash if you live in the state of California.  If you're sick of being wasteful and increasing your global footprint, then stop being a pack rat with junk you don't use, and do something good with it. 

About 85-90% of all electronic items are illegally disposed. That's why 70% of heavy metals and 40% of lead contents found in landmills are all from e-waste.

The Los Cerritos Center and Greenview Resource Management, Inc. is hosting an e-waste recycling event where local communities have the opportunity to properly dispose all unwanted/broken electronic items. 

Best of all? It's free.

E-waste consists of all electronic items, such as PC systems, printers, computer monitors, home entertainment systems, fax machines, and copiers. To find more e-waste products, visit www.ShopLosCerritos.com. 

You can recycle your used electronic items at the Los Cerritos Center on April 10 & 11, and if the items are too heavy there will be staff available to help unload all items. 

Drop off your goods at Southeast parking lot off of Gridley Road near Allen Tire at the Center.

Katie Cervantes

Live OC Magazine

www.LIVEOCMAG.com

The Best Hair Styles for Every Face Shape

>>Round Face

You're face is round if it's as long as it is wide. If you have a round face, you're goal should be to elongate it as much as possible by adding volume and layers to your hair. Try bangs that are feathered, or side-swept, which will soften your face shape and make it appear more elongated. Going for gentle waves is also another style that works well.

>>Heart Face

Heart shaped faces have narrow chins and wider cheekbones. Go for curly and soft hairstyles, ones that cut right at the chin and give off the appearance of everything being symmetrical. Never slick your hair back for this look--don't do anything that overemphasizes the upper portion of your face. If your really want to go for the bangs, wispy ones will do the trick to make your face shape look flattering.

>>Oval Face

A rounded hairline with a narrower jaw line than the temples. Consider yourself blessed if you were born with an oval face. You're one of the only face shapes that can wear almost any hairstyle and still look great. Avoid heavy bangs, which can hide your face and make it appear smaller. Your best option to having bangs is to opt for blunt ones.

>>Square Face

A square jaw line and hairline. Those with square face shapes have a little more freedom with hairstyles. They can go for longer lengths with sided parts and layers or waves. Avoid bobs and parting your hair down the middle, but opt for bangs that are side-swept and sexy.

>>Oblong Face

Your face is longer than it is wide, with a rounded hairline and jaw line. Go for longer hairstyles that add height and width at the temples and cheekbones. Make sure there's volume around the neck and play with wispy bangs if your forehead is high. Don't get short hair, and avoid parting your hair in the middle. If you opt for long hair, make sure it has some layers to soften your face shape.

>>Diamond Face

A mix between oval and heart shape, with the cheekbones the widest. Bobs look good on a few people, and those with a diamond face look great with short, edgy styles. Those with diamond face shapes should always have some sort of bangs that shorten their foreheads and round their face more. You're also one of the few who can part their hair down the middle and still look great.

>>Triangular Shape

This one has a strong jaw line and narrow cheekbones. Shorter hairstyles work best for those with a triangular face shape. Most people with triangular shapes have prominent jaw lines, so layers at a short length will compliment your face the best. Avoid longer hairstyles, which will only add width to your jaw line. 

Katie Cervantes

Live OC

www.LIVEOCMAG.com