Getting Rad in Carlsbad

I’m still trying to put together the pieces of this years Keep A Breast mission at SXSW, So many wonderful people, so many late late nights, great art, and well I’m so glad to be back home even if I’m voiceless and weighed down by business cards.

Some observations and other things I learned on my first trip to SXSW – Keep A Breast style.

-- Twittering is the future.

-- People in Austin love boobies. I heart boobies buttons, lanyards, tees were everywhere. They must have known we were coming.

-- If you ever have the opportunity to hang out with anyone that works at PureVolume.com take it. Josh Rowe and Brett Woitunski are beyond generous, Mitchell Pavao was the sweetest dude ever and can be bought by a good sandwich, Alex Ploegsma who was working the event was so helpful and a “dreamboat” even on his birthday. And well Brittany Oldham– she worked till 4am then came in early to let our muralists start painting. We can’t thank them enough.

-- It's easier to cut the long lines if you are with Keep A Breast Erica. Or maybe it’s harder to get anywhere with her. She knows everyone, and more importantly everyone loves her. Walk 10 steps in any direction and someone is grabbing her in a fury of hugs and big smiles.

-- We did a giant mural at the PureVolume.com house. We had artists from San Francisco Jay Howell and Ferris Plock and Vancouver Canada based Cody Cochrane painting. It was a huge project and the artists worked hours every day and still had the coolest attitudes and generous hearts. Friday night they came in and painted from 4am till noon while Erica slept on the little couch next to them. Yes, she slept there. I suppose they did call it a “house” so it’s not weird? Also a huge thank you to Sabotaz and Adio for helping make it happen.

-- AP Showcase was insane. I have never seen a crowd so hyped to get inside a venue. Kids were lined up for hours and hours and hours. 3rd year in a row Keep A Breast has worked with them and it gets better and better. Cast art as a backdrop on all 3 stages, amazing bands, sweaty kids, and loads of fun. Will Bryant came out and painted a cast for us. Reminding us all that smiling and good attitudes are really awesome. Big huge thanks to the whole Alt Press team, especially Mike Shea, Dawn Marshman and Susanne Dawursk.

-- Got to meet some great people at the AP Cocktail Party. So fun. Wish I would have won that last guitar they auctioned off. Thanks to AP for inviting us, and FOX for throwing in KAB necklaces into the giftbags.

-- SXSW was full of non-profits, and we love them all. Got to meet Dan and Michelle from Peta, they accepted me although I had a feather in my hair. Chris Youngblood from TWLOHA came and hung out with us one night, so nice to meet him. And Music Saves Lives came out to AP showcase and filmed us for a bit – go donate blood!

-- Other notables. Tex Mex is good – but not as good as San Diego Mexican Food. Breaking your toe is stupid, especially when your apartment is a mile away from the venue. Outcast was at Whataburger 10 minutes before we were there… at 430 am. It was someone’s job to break apart the massive Lego collection they let kids play with at the corner of the convention every night. I got to see Little Boots despite not getting into the Perez party… she was amazing.