Westbound Boarder

Before I get into talkin’ about my experience with the Shred Sled, let me tell you a little bit about it. The Shred Sled is the next gen caster board and the first 4 wheel in-line, dual-deck board. You do not pump the ground like you do on a traditional skateboard. You use your hips, legs and arms to gain momentum to maneuver the shred sled – very similar to how you move yourself on a snowboard and surfboard. Don’t believe it? Check out this Shred Sled Demo Video on you tube here and the siiiick trick video here.

When I first heard from the Shred Sled experts, who described the shred sled as a skateboard that, ‘combines the movements of skateboarding, surfing and snowboarding,’ I could not believe what I was hearing. I thought if the Shred Sled really emulates snowboarding and surfing in one, then I am already sold. Obviously I had to try it out before I really jumped on board with the Shred Sled, so I impatiently waited its arrival.

My husband (Lance) and I took out the Shred Sled together and bravely attempted the unknown. My first ride on the Shred Sled was not exactly like a fairy tale. I quickly became discouraged as I had a difficult time keeping my balance and starting off on the Shred Sled. The narrow, 4 in-line wheels do make balancing on the Shred Sled, at first, a bit difficult. After about 10 minutes of failure and death gripping Lance’s arm for balance, I was able to start the Shred Sled without using something else for balance. After I was able to kick off to get my initial speed, the rest was really easy and comfortable. The carving turns you make by propelling your hips, legs and arms, are VERY similar to snowboarding and I really felt like I was making powder turns on the sidewalk. Unlike a normal skateboard or longboard, because the shred sled has the 4 in-line wheels, you are able to go any direction you want, make extra sharp turns, and even spin in full circles. Things you would never be able to do on a regular skate!

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Once Lance and I were both able to effortlessly maneuver the Shred Sled, we had a hard time sharing as we were both having so much fun. The Shred Sled really is like riding a bicycle. You may have a little bit of trouble balancing and squirming around at first, but guaranteed, you will get the hang of it sooner than later. And to top it all off? You don’t have to be a ‘boarder’ to learn how to Shred Sled. We have shown a number of our friends who don’t have any snowboarding or skateboarding ability, and they have been able to get the hang of the Shred Sled just as well.

Interested in getting a Shred Sled of your own? Check out the Shred Sled home page where you will find ordering information, testimonials and even tips for learning how to Shred Sled. You already part of the craze? Let us know what you thinkof the Shred Sled by leaving us a comment and be sure to check out our Shred Sled pictures on Flickr!

Near the end of May, a fun indie online retailer called Moxsie launched a new Sneaker Shop… and we got the opportunity to try out a pair of their hottest new shoes of our very own!

We all know boarding and unique fashion go hand in hand, which is why I was super excited to hear about Moxsie.  Moxsie is an online store for independent designer clothing, shoes, jewelry and more from around the world.  They carry an eclectic mix of brands, hand picked from a team of “style scouts,” and they are all about supporting the independent retailer.  The site features retailer profiles with every featured line (I thought this was rad – its awesome to know the story behind the cloths you’re wearing), and they even donate a portion of their profits to charity.

Now on to my new shoes – simply put, they are amazing!  To be totally candid, I can sometimes ere on the conservative side when it comes to my wardrobe, so when I opened up a box with a pair of bright blue tennies inside, I was (pleasently) surprised.  But the thing I love love love about them is that they are so dang comfortable!  Cute and comfy is always a good mix.

The shoes immediately prompted me to check out the rest of Moxsie, and they definitely have some eccentric styles, from the feather necklaces they carry to the white scrabble leggings (note: I do not condone wearing these!  The Dimepiece line, though, actually ended up being one of my favorites.  Minus the leggings.)

A few of my other top picks from Moxsie:

• Satin Color Blocked Pocket Dress: This is adorable, fun and chic; perfect for nights out in Hollywood (actually, I’m highly considering this one for myself, so back off!)
• Potluck Paris Pendant: To go with the new dress   Super classy.
• Rubber Duck Sporty Nylon: Unfortunately, these would never fly in LA (or maybe they would? People wear some interesting things in the 100 degree summer sunshine…) but I’d soo wear these back up in Oregon.  Or after a long day at the mountain, perhaps?
• Meggie Aqua Ring: So adorable!

Simply put, this if an awesome site to check out if you’re in need of some unique new vintage hi- tops or bright blue shoes (at pretty decent prices), or just want to browse around for new up-in-coming indie fashion trends.  Especially if you want to edge a little bit on the different side of things.   Also noteworthy to include – free shipping, and free returns.  Online shopping’s the only way to go!

As much as I hate to admit, I spent a good chunk of my Memorial Day weekend shopping (see, this is what I do when the surf sucks, its only 60 degrees, and I have a four day weekend).  And while walking the streets of downtown Hollywood, I stumbled upon a cute boutique just off Sunset called ‘We The Free.’  One of my favorite brands is ‘Free People,’ so its no wonder why this little shop caught my eye – this fairly new brand is the newer, slightly more vintage tom-boy step-sister to Free People.  They don’t even have their own Web site yet (don’t worry, they’re working on it! You can currently access their online catalog via the Free People Web site) but being “related” to Free People, a well-established fashion brand, definitely gives them a leg up.

We The Free, Hollywood location, opened up near the tail end of last year, just before black Friday (Thanksgiving weekend) – what perfect timing!  Their cloths are very vintage-style; kind of fun but with a cute, almost skater-chic vibe.  It is a bit on the pricier side, with the average tunic running $80 to $100 and the average dress pushing $150.  But the cloths are good quality and very unique, and well worth the long-term investment.  They also have an awesome sale section!

Currently, We The Free has three locations – Hollywood, Brooklyn, and Chicago, and can be found in limited supply at Free People stores.  However, if you can’t make it to a store, they have an awesome Web site with most, if not all, of their product available for online delivery.

While shopping, I snapped a couple of photos of my top picks below, and in case you’d like to pay this boutique a visit its at 1520 North Cahuenga Blvd., Los Angeles, 90028. And while you’re out, you might as well just make a day of it.  We The Free is located in a cute little square called Space 15 Twenty, alongside an Urban Outfitters (another one of my favs) and across from a bar (coincidentally called “Snack Bar,” which has a nice selection of sandwiches, salads, entrees, and drinks… any Hollywood restaurant that openly serves PBR gets an A+ in my book).  Space 15 Twenty also has occasional fun events, like small concerts in the square and “Blogger Shop Day” (coming this Sunday, May 31 – local fashion bloggers will have tables to sell their cloths and accessories.)

So to sum all this up, check out our photos below, and if you like, and have a “free” day, head on over to We The Free.  Have another favorite clothing brand?  Let us know in the comments below!