DIY Pumpkin Spice Soap!

Autumn is here and what better way to get into the spirit of the season than with a Fall inspired DIY project! With Autumn being our favorite season, the LCD Team got together to create a fun filled memento on our Team Building Day, pumpkin spice soap! This recipe is fast, easy and fun, and a perfect gift for yourself or friends. See the recipe here, and scroll below to see photos of the LCD Team’s unique wrapping designs for each soap!

The LCD Team excited to start the Fall inspired DIY project!

Supplies needed to create pumpkin spice soap: Soap base (we used shea butter), pumpkin spice, body dyes (not food dye), soap molds, scissors, twine, tape and an array of colored papers, stickers and markers to decorate each soap.

First step is to cut your soap base into cubes, place into a handheld glass measuring cup, and microwave in 30 second increments until melted and smooth.

Final step, once your soap has hardened in the soap molds, they’re ready to be popped out and decorated! See below for decorating inspiration by the LCD Team. 

Your friends and family are sure to love these Fall inspired soaps! Just add an extra strip of paper for a contrast against the background paper, adorn the wrapping with pumpkins, leaves or candy corn, then finish off with a twine bow! 

The Art of Giving with Ride to Fly

One of LCD’s most memorable events this year was a volunteer day with Ride to Fly, a non-profit organization dedicated to providing therapeutic horseback riding to children and adults with disabilities in a safe, nurturing environment. Ride to Fly is a wonderful organization, in the heart of the South Bay, with a dedicated team doing great work for the community.

To learn more about what they do and how they are contributing to the community, read Jane Biggeln’s latest article in the Lunada Bay Living Magazine, by clicking the article below.

The LCD Team with Gail, Ride To Fly’s Executive Director.

September Giving

For our Sept giving, the LCD team donated household items to Habitat for Humanity's Restore in Torrance.

For more information about Habitat for Humanity's Restore, click the image below.

Photo: Habitat for Humanity 

August Giving

For our August giving, one of the members of the LCD Team, donated his hair to Children With Hair Loss. This non-profit organization provides children and young adults facing medically-related hair loss with human hair at no cost. Each year, the number of requests increases and with the support of each donor, they can continue to help more children in the future. Click here to learn how you can donate to Children With Hair Loss and/or scroll below for before and after photos of the process for hair donation!

Chelcie & Lauren were excited to help cut Chase’s hair, then quickly realized this should be left to a professional – So, Chase was off to Salon H by Hala!

Thank you, Hala, for helping us cut Chase’s locks and getting them ready to ship out!

And thank you Chase for being such a good sport and donating your lovely locks! Wish we could see the child or young adult’s face when they receive this beautiful gift!

The Beautify Lunada Bay Pilot is Complete!

As a part of the Beautify Lunada Bay Steering Committee, we are happy to announce the completion of the BLB Pilot project! 

The project was broken into two phases: Phase 1a, which installed trails and native plants on the north side of the Lunada Bay canyon, and Phase 1b, which upgraded the south side across from the Lunada Bay Elementary School. 

This project wouldn't have been complete without the help of everyone below:

• Local students & volunteers.
• Funding from donors.
• Grants from National Geographic, the South Coast Chapter of the California Native Plant Society, the Lunada Bay Elementary School PTA, and the Palos Verdes Homes Association.
• Donations of stones, boulders, mulch and water by the City of Palos Verdes Estates.
• Project management and volunteer coordination assistance by the Palos Verdes Peninsula Land Conservancy.

Each phase began with the initial groundbreaking, installation of the main irrigation system, placing stone borders, installing the decomposed granite (DG) trail bed, and planting locally-native plants grown for the project by the PVPLC.

Make sure to drive by, walk the trails, sit on a boulder, and enjoy the drought-tolerant native plants that are now blooming!

See below for before, during and after photos of the BLB Pilot project:

Phase 1a - North Side

An official groundbreaking, of Phase 1a, was held on November 6, 2017.

Installation of water irrigation system, stone paths, DG, native plants and mulch were all complete by January 6, 2018.

Phase 1a complete with blooming native drought tolerant plants!

Phase 1b - South Side

Phase 1b before work began.

On April 16,2018 work officially began on Phase 1b with light grading of the area.

Phase 1b complete with outdoor classrooms for the Lunada Bay Elementary students to enjoy!

July Giving

For our July giving, the LCD Team donated yarn and crochet supplies to the Canterbury's Senior Living program called, "Helping Hands." The Canterbury is a unique senior living community, located in Rancho Palos Verdes, dedicated to living creatively. One of their many ways they help support living creatively is through their "Helping Hands" program. "Helping Hands" gives seniors the opportunity to create crochet blankets for fellow seniors in need and hats for chemo patients at local hospitals. - We hope they love their new crocheting supplies!

For more information about The Canterbury, click an image below.

Photo: The Canterbury 

Yarn & crochet tools for the Canterbury's "Helping Hands" program. We hope they love their new supplies!

The Art of Living: Turn your backyard into a Summertime destination!

For this month's Art of Living Article, Jane Biggeln shares how you can "Turn Your Backyard Into A Summertime Destination!" Read the full article below for pro tips on outdoor dining by clicking the image below.

The Art of Living by Jane Biggeln

June Giving

For our June giving, the LCD Team volunteered with Ride to Fly by helping to paint the facility's fence. Ride to Fly is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing therapeutic horseback riding and the associated learning experiences to children and adults with disabilities in a safe, nurturing environment. They are a PATH (Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship) International member operating center that has been serving the South Bay area since 1994.

Ride to Fly is a wonderful organization in the heart of the South Bay with a dedicated team doing great work for the community.

Meet Bailey, the newest member of the herd and the facility's official greeter. She is the sweetest, just like the rest of the herd!

The LCD Team working hard on prepping the fence before painting.

The LCD Team hanging out after our picnic lunch. 

From left to right: Roger, Chase & Chelcie

The LCD Team stopped to take a picture with Gail, Ride to Fly's volunteer coordinator, before the day was done. Thank you Gail and Ride to Fly team for a wonderful volunteer day!

From left to right: Lauren, Chelcie, Gail & Chase (hiding in the back is Legacy)

May Giving

For our May giving, the LCD Team gathered household/office hazardous waste items to have them dropped off at the EDCO Center in San Pedro.

These infrastructure programs collect, treat, recycle, and dispose the solid and liquid waste generated by the nation’s second largest city of more than four million residents. Through these essential public service programs, LA Sanitation delivers a triple bottom line of economic, environmental, and social benefits that sustain the quality of life in Los Angeles. 

The following items may be disposed of at the EDCO Center:

Paints and Solvents

Used Motor Oil

Expired Medicine

Pool & Garden Chemicals

Fluorescent Bulbs

Computer Equipment

Televisions

Cell Phones

Other Electronic Items

For address and hours click the image for more info.

The Art of Living: Design with Your Pets in Mind!

For this month's Art of Living Article, Jane Biggeln highlights "Design with Your Pets in Mind!" Read the full article below for tips on indoor and outdoor design you can incorporate for your furry family member.

April Giving

The LCD Team gathered non-perishable food items for "Food For Kids" in Torrance.These items will help fill breakfast and lunch bags for Title One-eligible elementary school students; including Carson, Compton, Long Beach, San Pedro, Torrance and Wilmington schools. Not only do the students receive breakfast and lunch, they are given nutrition flyers provided by the USDA Providence Little Company of Mary Medical Center in Torrance. 

If this is a giving opportunity you're interested in, please click one of the images below for more info.

Photos: Food for Kids