Light Rail - A Fun Place to Goooooo

Happy New Year’s Eve … Light Rail has Arrived in Phoenix ~

If you live in NYC or San Francisco then riding public transportation is a well established way of life, but in Phoenix it is new and exciting! To celebrate the launch of Valley Metro’s newest form of transportation, you can ride for free until 2:00am tonight (tomorrow morning); it was crowded this afternoon and I bet the New Year's Eve celebrators will keep it full until it closes ~

Riding the system today, my family and I had a friendly, big city experience; I even made some new friends. Denna was a passenger who told me that there are 28 nightclubs along the route and Sean was nice enough to ask me if I got a good photo as I tried to capture a sense of the crowds. And, Nadira, who is visiting from New Jersey, generously shared the handle she was holding onto as we stopped/started through each station.

If you miss out on the free ride today or tonight, it will still be a bargain when the fares begin tomorrow morning. To board just once and ride the whole loop that includes Mesa, Tempe and Phoenix (60 minutes), it will cost $1.25 per person. It’s even more of a bargain if you’re a senior (60 cents) or five and under (free!). An all day pass is $2.50 ($1.75 for seniors, five and under are always free).

We had such a great time today that I’m going to add this excursion to the next version of Fun Places to Go in Metro Phoenix … because Valley Metro’s Light Rail really is a fun place to gooooooooooo!



For more information about the Phoenix Valley Metro Light Rail System:
www.metrolightrail.org

Interested in Management? Two Books to Experience

Interested in Management? Two Books to Experience
First, Break all the Rules and Now, Discover Your Strengths from Gallup Press

When I consider management books I have read over the years, these two remain on my list of favorites: First, Break all the Rules and Now, Discover your Strengths. Since I prefer environments that are inspired by vision as opposed to being controlled by rules, I was certainly attracted to the earlier book’s title before becoming completely engaged in its content. And, because I was raised in a family that embraces a strengths-based approach to life, the connecting theme of both books fits ideally with my approach to life and business – focus on strengths and manage around weaknesses.

... for the rest of this article, visit: www.studio22azwa.com , you'll find the most current version in the "library" under "business"!

Today is my youngest brother’s birthday, the anniversary of the Boston Tea Party (1773) and the first day of Las Posadas in Mexico. There is always something to celebrate … sometimes its easy to create celebrations and other days we have to look harder for the inspiration. What are you celebrating today?

My daughter & I are watching the Polar Express & having hot chocolate on a rainy Arizona day ... we're celebrating a relaxing pre-Christmas moment together ~ ahhh, to relax is something to celebrate!

About the Boston Tea Party:
www.boston-tea-party.org

About Las Posadas:
http://www.nacnet.org/assunta/nacimnto.htm

American Greetings’ On-Line Calendar of American Holidays:
http://www.americangreetings.com/products/online_calendar.pd

Election Day 2008

Today is historic. We will either elect our first African American president or we will elect our first female vice-president. And, there is plenty of information around us that reminds us of how important this election is; the new president and vice-president will have important work ahead of them.

The polls are open - there is still time to vote!

Improving a Woman's Intuition

Many of us women think we have an intuitive edge that gives us insight into situations that play out before our eyes; we may think that we know what is “really” going on while others may “appear” to be oblivious. Often we may be correct.

However, if we want to maintain or improve what we may view as “a woman’s intuition”, it might be wise to challenge ourselves to improved accuracy. Wouldn’t it be great to have an even more highly tuned ability to understand the world around us and be “super intuitive”? How can we become super intuitive?

Three Opportunities to Improve Our Abilities:
1) Understand the difference between high context and low context communication
2) Develop self-awareness and self-concept
3) Practice critical thinking skills

If we are overconfident in our woman’s intuition, then we are likely to lose it over time because we get into an “I’m so intuitive, I must be right” framework of thinking. However, if we maintain the framework that “I am intuitive, but I need to challenge myself to improve my intuitive abilities” then whatever natural intuitive skills we have will be enhanced by our dedication to personal growth in this area. Olympic athletes are likely to have biological factors working in their favor just as our intuition may be built into us, but athletes know that what makes them the best in the world is their dedication to continued improvement. To be at a gold medal level with regard to demonstrating our women’s intuition, we need to be committed to continued improvement, too.




Want to ponder this more?

High Context-Low Context
Indirect & Direct, Implicit and Explicit

High context communication is characterized by indirect language and meaning that is not explicitly stated. Some cultures are more likely to use high context versus low context communication; China is considered a high context culture and the United States is considered to be a relatively low context culture.

If we consider the United States for a moment as the macro-culture, then we can think of men and women as members of American micro-cultures; in this paradigm, women tend to demonstrate more high context characteristics than men. You may have heard the example of a woman saying to her husband, “the garbage is full” when she really means, “will you take out the garbage?” or “you should take out the garbage NOW”. The husband, as a likely member of the low context male American culture, might simply take the wife’s words at face value without interpreting the meaning any further. In this case, rather than taking the garbage out he may respond with “yes, it is full”. If this is his response, then he missed the implicit request or command that she thinks should be obvious to him but, in truth, all she really did was to make an explicit statement of fact: the garbage is full. Her choice of words can be described as indirect language while a direct statement would have been something like, “Mike, please take the garbage out to the dumpster”.

To come at that from another angle, consider another scenario. The husband says, “That model is really skinny”, as the 6 foot tall woman who weighs 100 pounds walks by on the runway; he thinks he is just making a statement of fact. However, his high context wife may respond with, “I know you think I need to lose weight, but don’t think you can get me to go to the gym with you by comparing me to unrealistic ideals!” She heard his low context message through her high context filter.

What about intuition? Those examples above are about communication, aren’t they? Well, what we want to protect and grow is our woman’s intuition. For example, a husband and wife are talking with the friend. The friend walks away and the wife says, “Wow, our friend is really feeling overwhelmed by the economy”. The husband says, “She didn’t say that - how do you know that?” The wife says, “I just know - it’s my woman’s intuition”. In this example, the wife’s high context filters may have allowed her to hear the messages of the friend with clarity even though the friend did not explicitly state her concern with the economy. In contrast, the husband’s low context filters missed the implicit messages that were present and detected by the wife. In this case, a woman’s intuition may be related to her ability to function well in a high context situation where implicit or indirect language has shared meanings with the speaker (friend) and listener (wife).

If we can ask ourselves whether people around us are more direct or indirect communicators, we may be better at reading into what they say (as they intended it) or accepting what they say at face value (without using our own high context meanings and misapplying them to another person). It is likely that being high context female communicators can contribute to or take away from our ability to interpret what is happening around us. What is especially complicated about this is that while I have asserted that when women are compared to men, the men tend to be low context, direct and explicit in their communication, this is a generality and not a rule. Therefore, we need to be able to adapt to high context and low context exchanges with men AND women if we are going to be super intuitive.



Self-Awareness & Self-Concept

One characteristic of people with highly developed self-awareness and a healthy self-concept is an ability to think about their thinking with little or no emotional response. With a high level of self awareness, we can easily recognize our mental frameworks and acknowledge what fits and what does not fit within our current perceptions. If we get emotional, feel hurt, feel angry or feel afraid when we are challenged by someone else’s assertions it can be a cue informing us that we have a soft spot, insecurity or lack of comfort with our own self-concept related to that topic or issue. Another way to describe this is that if we feel “attacked” or “put down” or “criticized” and we respond emotionally, we probably have some self-awareness and self-concept work to do.

In contrast, if we are able to respond rationally (not emotionally), then we demonstrate that we are at least able to take in new, contrary information and process it at some level; this is a basis for openness, learning and growing and it is a sign of self-awareness and a healthy self-concept. By purposefully developing our self-awareness and our self-concept, we are less likely to “blame” others because of our own personal blind spots and sensitivities; this can potentially increase our ability to demonstrate a woman’s intuition.

Critical Thinking Skills

Finally, critical thinking skills are useful in many areas of personal life. For example, by improving our critical thinking, we can be better friends, spouses, students, citizens (voters), leaders, team members, employees, entrepreneurs and representatives of our faith communities. When coupled with good interpersonal skills, people with good critical thinking skills are likely to have better relationships and be more influential because they can help identify and resolve obstacles to deeper understanding while also managing the conflict that is often necessary for growth. Without critical thinking skills, we are vulnerable to everyday occurrences like internet rumors, political smear campaigns and resisting learning opportunities that are conveniently placed right in front of us. Critical thinking skills are sometimes noted as the optimum outcome of education because it is not necessarily what we learn that makes us successful, but often it is our ability to think effectively.

Now, let’s return to applying this concept directly to a woman’s intuition. If we are overconfident in our intuitive abilities, then we are likely to accept our impressions of what is happening around us without actively engaging in a critical thinking process. If we are overconfident in our intuitive abilities, then we may also only notice information that supports our current frame of mind. Through critical thinking, we question our impressions and underlying assumptions in order to create opportunities that lead us to more accurate perceptions; if our initial impressions don’t hold up to our challenges, then we reject those initial impressions and look for more information that will help us reach a better understanding.

For example, is that mom who is yelling at her child a “bad mom” or did something we don’t know about occur that led to the out of character yelling? Did that man in the other department get fired because he was a bad employee or because he stood up for values that the company did not demonstrate? What is it about her personality or mood that caused her to act that way? Why were the police cars really at the neighbor’s house? What motivated her to ask that question? If we are too quick to endorse our assumptions, we close the door on thinking and understanding. But, if we apply critical thinking skills and challenge ourselves with questions and ask others clarifying questions, our commitment to continued thinking opens doors of learning, deeper understanding and the possibility of becoming super intuitive.


Let’s go for the gold and develop our women’s intuitions!

We're All in This Together (American Mothers)

This article that I wrote was previously published through American Mothers Inc.'s national newsletter (AMI Connect) on September 23, 2008

"We're all in this together" is a theme that repeats for me as I consider the spirit of motherhood. I like the idea of us moms banding together for common good and being supportive of each other despite any differences we may have. In this spirit of motherhood, American Mothers' interfaith approach is a great example of collaboration and focusing on what we have in common.

In an unlikely venue, an example of real women who demonstrated "we're all in this together" came from the softball teams of Central Washington University (CWU) and Western Oregon University (WOU). On April 26th, 2008, these competitive women arrived at the softball field ready to battle with the other team for victory. But, after Sara Tucholsky (WOU) hit a home run, she injured her knee and fell to the ground before she could make it around the bases. That's when two of her opponents, Mallory Holtman and Liz Wallace (CWU), got permission from the umpires to carry Sara to home plate so that she could score. The unlikely and inspiring sight had many fans from both sides cheering and crying in unison.

We come to American Mothers from a variety of "teams" based on our faiths and other groups of which we are members, but as American Mothers we are part of a larger, single team of "moms". Since we are on the same team and not in a competition, it just makes sense that we would carry each other around the bases when one of us needs support. So, in the game of life and through our united purpose of strengthening our families, let's keep lifting each other up and remember that "we're all in this together".


Caron Sada, Arizona YM 2008
American Mothers, Inc.®AMI Connect
September 23, 2008

Issue #18

This picture was not with the original article, but I wanted to introduce you to Lynn Johnson, the President of American Mothers, Inc. in Arizona. She is a great leader, great woman and a great mom; she was honored in 2004 as the Arizona Mother of the Year.

For more information about American Mothers the national website is http://www.americanmothers.org/ and the Arizona website is http://www.azmothers.com/

Multi-Purposing: Race for the Cure

Although I’ve been talking about multi-purposing for several years, I haven’t mentioned the concept on the blog. Then, today as I was signing up for the 2008 Race for the Cure I was struck with how many great multi-purposing opportunities this fun event offers.

We women are a group that sometimes revels in our ability to multi-task, but sometimes it might be a good idea to reduce multi-tasking and increase multi-purposing. When my brother, Greg, was little my mom remembers him saying, “Mom, look at me when I’m talking to you”. To my mom, this was her sign that she wasn’t as good at “multi-tasking” as she thought. Maybe if we multi-purpose more than we multi-task, we can create an extra few minutes a day to be fully engaged when someone we love would like to feel like they really have our attention.

Women are busy; we have long lists of things we want to do, need to do or think we ought to do. Perhaps we want to exercise more? Volunteer more? Spend more time with our families? Spend more time with our friends? Seek out positive atmospheres to revitalize us? Get out of the house just for fun?

But, instead of trying to add all of those tasks to a list that is already long enough, how about just doing one thing and accomplishing multiple purposes? Race for the Cure!

Below is a sample checklist of the “multi-purposing” you can achieve by being downtown on Sunday, October 12th with your family and friends. Hope to see you there!

Why Race for the Cure?

** make a difference - volunteer & donate so that the Komen Foundation can race for a cure ** exercise – you can walk, run or push a stroller ** have something to look forward to ** spend a quantity of quality time with your family ** spend a quantity of quality time with your friends ** be a health & social responsibility role model for your kids ** have a good reason to wear pink ** feel proactive, supported and supportive if you are currently affected by, or have been affected by, breast cancer (all of us?) ** keep your kids from saying “I’m bored” for several hours ** give your moms group an opportunity to bond with each other outside of your usual meeting place ** be in a positive atmosphere than can revitalize you and give you a sense of life in balance ** create great memories ** take good pictures for your family scrapbook ** find out where Arizona’s state capitol is ** have a snack/sample some products (there are always some vendors there passing out complimentary stuff) ** keep your house clean by having your family on an outing together ** laugh, cry and be inspired all at the same time ** feel like an important part of something BIG with thousands of other people gathered in one place for a common cause ** have FUN !



Race for the Cure
Sunday, October 12
Downtown Phoenix

For registration fees and more information, visit: www.komenphoenix.org

My friend, Carol, and I are in the picture before a previous Phoenix Race for the Cure. We used to work with each other and we were also neighbors & running partners. Then, she moved from Peoria to Ahwatukee so now we “meet in the middle” for weekend hikes at Squaw Peak and, often, a yummy breakfast at La Grande Orange Grocery at 40th Street/Campbell. There are SO many fun things to do in the Valley of the Sun!

*

More Multi-purposing -

Think of how you can multi-purpose at home ... busy cooking, cleaning & doing errands? How can you help your children develop skills, feel competent and help you get things done all at the same time? Be creative ... there are lots of opportunities in daily life to accomplish multiple goals with one activity!

*

Bargain Luxury - AJ's Fine Foods

When I walk into an AJ’s, for the duration of my visit I’m engaged in the ambiance of the luxurious gourmet market. And, sometimes when I shop at AJ’s I only spend 50 cents!

What am I buying?
~ a refreshing refill of my favorite iced herbal tea or pop/soda. AJ’s sells cold (or hot) logo cups for $2.99 and then you get unlimited 50 cent refills. If you need even more incentive to visit AJ’s, tell your children that they get to choose a complimentary cookie from the bakery while you’re there (yes, free cookies for children, too!).

The last time I visited AJ’s with my daughter, Ivy, we sat outside on their patio so that Ivy could eat her cookie and I could sip my iced Blackberry Jasmine Green Tea. We had fun taking pictures of my AJ’s cup (shown here!), laughing and enjoying the atmosphere together. There are lots of ways to get bargain luxuries, mini-celebrations and a sense of abundance into our daily lives. This is just one of them … thanks, AJ’s!

PS –
Yesterday my new banker at Compass, Tracy (a mom), told me that AJ’s makes the BEST macaroni & cheese and this morning my friend & running partner, Tresa (a mom), told me that AJ’s has the BEST apples in stock right now (Honey Crisp).

For more information about AJ’s and their locations, visit: http://www.ajsfinefoods.com/

Your Path to Solitude

Sometimes for us to see the trees through the forest, we need a little time away … time for our mind to quiet itself long enough to hear the sound of peacefulness … or maybe leaves rustling in the breeze. We moms have lots of things on our minds and since our brains are so active with our many roles and responsibilities, it is probably a very good idea to purposely wind down on a regular basis.

The pictures in this post are of my friend Cindy on a relaxed hike through Sedona’s Oak Creek and the West Fork Trail. This beautiful place is an ideal location for reclaiming a sense of peacefulness. After going over the bridge and past the trail head, you get to meander through the scenic red rock, lush vegetation and gentle creek path. You may find yourself purposely stepping into the creek just to touch the stream or sitting next to it while it lulls you into a sense of calm.

When you have an opportunity to hike this trail, Cindy and I both highly recommend it. If Sedona is not on your map for today, create your own path to solitude wherever you may be.

A Path to Solitude at Home with any amount of time:

30 seconds:
Close your eyes and take three deep breaths, slowly breath out before inhaling again ... then stretch your arms high above your head ... as far as you can ... then relax ... exhaling again

5 minutes:
Walk 2.5 minutes in any direction outside of your home and then return home ... see how refreshed you feel

15 minutes:
Take a bubble bath or warm shower just for the purpose of relaxing

30 minutes:
Walk 15 minutes in any direction outside of your home and then return home ... see how refreshed you feel (same or different from a 5 minute walk? You decide!)

7 hours:
head north from the Valley of the Sun toward Sedona listening to your favorite music … exit I-17 to 179 ... then take 89a to the West Fork Trail parking area not too far beyond Slide Rock … hike … drink lots of water … relax … have a picnic … relax some more … drive safely home listening to your favorite music … arrive home … relaxed ~



West Fork Trail – Sedona, Arizona
This trail attracts people from all over the world!


There is a fee to park here; you pay at the entrance and you do not need a Red Rock Pass. You may also choose to purchase a mini-trail guide. The parking area includes picnic tables and nice restrooms. This is a great place to go with your friend(s) and can also be a great family destination.

For more information and to see if this trail is right for you, see www.fs.fed.us/r3/coconino/recreation/red_rock/westfork-tr.shtml


Other Fun Places to Consider Visiting in Sedona:

Tlaquepaque
This is a fun place to hang out & enjoy art, shops & restaurants.

www.tlaq.com


Chapel of the Holy Cross
If you want a moment to experience or express your faith, this place is ideal.

www.chapeloftheholycross.com


La Auberge de Sedona
This resort is just down the hill from most of the shops in the tourist area of Sedona; there is even a tram you can ride up & down the hill for free.

My husband and I got married at La Auberge on the banks of Oak Creek almost 10 years ago. The restaurant is also right on the creek with indoor or outdoor seating that is relaxed and elegant --- yes, you’ll feel comfy and immersed in luxury at the same time!

www.lauberge.com


Wildflower Café or Starbucks
Yes, these are chains but these two chains picked beautiful locations right next to each other for their Sedona sites (101 N Highway 89A). Start here, end your day here or take a break with breathtaking views. There are a few other shops for browsing at this complex, too.

www.wildflowerbread.com

www.starbucks.com

Anatomy of an Incredible Day - What is Yours Like?

Reflecting is something that I really enjoy doing ... as I'm hiking, driving, running, daydreaming, praying or pondering over coffee with a friend, I get things into perspective for myself and that helps me feel purposeful & fulfilled within my day, week & life in general.

In 2005, I created a document on my computer called "Anatomy of an Incredible Day"; the purpose of this document was to remind me of how I get to this "on purpose" state of being. I do things that are physically, spiritually and emotionally healthy; I focus on my priorities and I proactively engage in activities that I enjoy.

In my Anatomy of an Incredible Day document I list exercise at the top. Exercise is not my top life priority, but it is the healthy activity that I most easily let fall off of my list if I get busy. I printed my Anatomy of an Incredible Day and have it displayed in my laundry room because I find myself in there often. On a day when I might be feeling a little out of whack or blue, my Anatomy of an Incredible Day gives me reminders of what I might be able to do to get back on track and feel revitalized.

What can you do today to feel on-purpose, on track, revitalized or fulfilled? What is the Anatomy of an Incredible Day for YOU?

On the right is my version of "Anatomy of an Incredible Day" ... feel free to type over my words with your own ... or create your own title, format and version of this that is more meaningful to YOU! I hope the process of reflection is enjoyable and helpful to you ... thinking of you!




Related Reading:

The On-Purpose Person by Kevin McCarthy
This is a short book - I found it to be "quick read" and an insightful book! A customer I used to call on (Dr. Bailes) suggested it to me many years ago and I really appreciated it.


The Purpose Driven Life by Rick Warren
Regardless of your faith background, I think that this book has applications for everyday life and enjoying a sense of purpose/meaning on a daily basis.


The Success Journey by John C. Maxwell
This book is written from more of a business perspective ... a co-worker gave it to me for a Christmas gift many years ago. I appreciated it mixing the world of business with life; to me, it had an integrated life approach to defining "success".

Internet Messages are Forever: I Might Need a Time Out

Recently, I was having a conversation with one of my friends about the Internet awareness that teens need to have as they post information on their personal sites; the messages they post today may still be available to employers, constituents, potential fiances, in-laws and other VIPs from their futures ... people who they want to impress. Well, maybe rather than sharing my great advice with others, I should have followed it instead?

Yup, I made an error. After Sarah Palin was nominated to Vice President, I first enjoyed all of the back & forth about whether or not she, a mom, should have accepted the job. But, as the conversations seemed to continue to be mostly "us against them" comments as opposed to sharing different perspectives and wisdom with each other, I got irritated.

So, I wrote a note to a news person who I thought was contributing to the deterioration of the national conversation. That's OK, but the tone of my note had a swagger of arrogance and condescension (yuck!). I need to take a "time out" and do some reflecting on what I could have done better. If I followed my own advice in this area, I would have maintained a more graceful sense of humility as I participated in an engaging & lively debate.

This all came back to me today because I found out that the blog I used for this correspondence is available in on-line searches. Eek! I thought that I was just writing a private note to the news person - I did not know that the note would be so accessible, so public. How could I not know? Things we post on the Internet last ... just as our words we share with each other in our homes last. Next time, I'll choose my words and my tone more carefully.

How many minutes is a "time out" supposed to be if you're in your 40s?

Need Something Chocolatey? Maybe your calcium ...

While I have never been good at remembering to consume enough calcium, chocolate has consistently been in the forefront of my mind. These two seemingly unrelated topics have now become one as I am a compliant patient who takes my calcium supplement faithfully.

So, how have chocolate and calcium become one? I am getting the majority of my calcium intake in the form of my chocolate Viactiv chews; to me, they taste similar to Tootsie Rolls and they simultaneously help protect my bones while also giving me an opportunity for a chocolatey taste twice every day. Each chew offers 500mg of calcium and I take two each day for a total of 1000mg per day.

According to CVS Health Sources (www.cvshealthsources.com), if we are between the ages of 19 and 50, then we need 1,000 mg of calcium a day and for those over age 50, the recommended dose is 1,200 mg per day. As with most health related issues, exercise and nutrient rich foods can also contribute to healthy bones. Some foods that can help you reach your calcium goals include frozen spinach, canned clams, soy products and low fat yogurts or cheeses (United States Department of Agriculture, www.mypyramid.gov). You may also want to consider calcium fortified juices and cereals.

Before taking any supplement or starting any exercise program, its important to talk first with your doctor so that you can be sure that you make the right choices for you. Are you getting your calcium?




Important:
I am not providing medical advice; this is informing you of an option that is working for me with regard to calcium intake. Additionally, I do not have any formal relationship with the manufacturer of Viactic; I just like their product!

Plant a Pot or Fill a Garden & Watch Our Children Grow

Plant a Pot or Fill a Garden & Watch Our Children Blossom:

Nationwide, restaurants have pulled tomatoes from their menus, but at our home we harvested our largest crop of (safe) tomatoes! We picked them along with one lone pepper and a few basil leaves; it was exciting to produce more than a garnish from our mini-garden.

If you are in the mood for a brief return to the past where most Americans worked with their hands and either worked on a farm or had relatives who did, how about visiting your local garden store for a bargain purchase of herbs or vegetables? You will probably pay less for a whole herb plant than you would if you were to buy fresh herbs in your grocery store’s produce section. And, whether you grow herbs, vegetables or even edible flowers, your children of all ages can enjoy planting and harvesting; you will have an opportunity to work side by side and watch your children blossom through a hands-on learning, bonding & fun activity. This can be as simple or extravagant as you choose.


Why might you want to plant something?

1) Have Fun
Isn’t is great that “having fun” together is enough of a reason in itself? Maybe today is a day to laugh & play with each other over a little bit of dirt and plant.

2) Save Money
Some of the herbs like basil and mint grow very quickly; if you use these items in your kitchen, you really could save a few dollars by planting them and growing them yourself … you wouldn’t even have to pay extra for “organic”! And, if gas prices are keeping you home this summer – family activities together can be memorable whether you are in an amusement park or the fun environment of your own home; gardening is a bargain and if it is unique for your family, it is likely to create lasting memories.

3) Values Lesson Opportunity
If your children are hooked on toys & trinkets during most trips to the store, say “no” at your usual stores and say “yes” to the garden store letting them choose a plant to care for; reduce buying “things” and increase buying “experiences”. Talk about how you spend your money demonstrates your family values.

4) Learning/Developmental Opportunity
Older kids can plan for what to buy based on season, climate and where you will be doing your growing (e.g. inside in a pot, outside with an Eastern exposure etc.), younger children can practice reading or letter recognition based on plant labels and infants can play in the dirt and practice their fine motor skills with pebbles they find (but don’t eat!).

If you want to design a lesson, you could share a family story about your farming relatives or teach children about how technology has changed our lifestyles. Based on your children’s ages, you can adapt planting & growing to any developmental stage. Be creative – what would you like for your children to learn today?

**********************************

Speaking of dirt … remember that Mighty Mud Mania in Scottsdale is coming up on Friday, July 18th. This event is great for all ages and will be pure, clean, muddy fun! See your Fun Place to Go with Kids in Metro Phoenix book or www.funmoms.biz for more information.

Go Love! Look for the Yellow Bug in your Neighborhood!

**********************************

Fun in the Grass

According to AmericanLawns.com there are a lot of different grasses that you might like to plant based on your geography and the season. Some of them include Buffalograss, Bahia, St. Augustine, Bermuda, Zoysiagrass and Fine-Leaf Fescue. I don’t know what kind my sister-in-law and brother-in-law are growing in Texas but, whatever it is, it has great color and the lawn provided a relaxing place to laugh and play with my daughter as we waited for a taxi to take us to the airport. Even waiting can be fun!

Three Grass Ideas for Today or This Weekend:

1) Find a lawn at your house or in the neighborhood park – lay down, smell it, feel it, close your eyes and take a few deeeeeeep breaths … you will feel more relaxed ... ahhhhhh.

2) Get a blanket and have a picnic on the grass nearest you. Gourmet, PB & J or your favorite fast food will do.

3) Visit a big stretch of lawn and take some fun family pictures. Dance, make a pyramid, make faces or lay down and create a circle with your heads before having the person with the longest arms take the picture from above! Be creative … what else could you do for a spontaneous family photo collage?

For more information about the best grass for your yard:
http://www.americanlawns.com/

For photography ideas:
www.exposeuresonline.com/ExposuresOnline/ExposureStyle/How_to_Photograph_Life_Events.aspx

If you need help making a PB & J J:
Visit PB Loco at Scottsdale’s Fashion Square or http://www.pbloco.com/

Go Love! Look for the Yellow Bug in Your Neighborhood!

Changing/Improving the World

Changing/Improving the World

After setting up this blog and writing a quick introductory post, you may have noticed my blog as being the “silent type”. While I write daily, I have not been able to come up with anything "perfect" to say that might "change the world". But, this week I have decided that instead of waiting for an elusive version of perfection, I will just do my best as I blog for Fun Moms.

When I was at the American Mothers, Inc. conference in Nebraska, Mary Pipher was a dinner speaker. Her most well-known book is the #1 New York Times Bestseller Reviving Ophelia and, after I heard her speech, I bought her book Writing to Change the World; the title caught my attention. Pipher shares lots of wisdom in her book and I continue to believe that if all of us keep speaking and writing words of encouragement & thoughtful pondering, the world is likely to improve peacefully - just as calm streams beautifully create rock scuptures as they meander through nature.

One common obstacle to positive social change, or improving the world, is “us-them” thinking. If we can increase “we” thinking and begin with what we have in common, we are more likely to enjoy the contributions of diversity to society and we are also more likely to influence the thinking of others. It is my opinion that reducing “us-them” thinking is often the right thing to do as well as the smart thing to do. For example, if a group of moms begins with “are you a working mom or a stay-at-home mom?”, they are likely to get into a better-worse, easy-hard or right-wrong debate (e.g. “us-them” thinking). If moms share their hopes, ideas and specific challenges they face, moms have the opportunity to realize we have a lot in common. As moms step away from the “mommy war” topics and “us-them” thinking, moms may realize that the woman standing next to us is a potential ally in motherhood ... maybe even a new friend and ally in improving the world.

Reflective Questions for Today:

1) How do you feel about and/or what do you think of the word/concept "perfection"?

2) Using the stream and rock metaphor made me think of hiking Oak Creek (picture above). The cooler temperatures and creek water of Sedona are an easy daytrip from the Valley of the Sun! Where would you like to take your family for an affordable & near-by summer escape? http://www.funmoms.biz/

3) Regardless of differences, moms have a lot in common with each other; moms around us may need our help or be able to help us (reduce “us-them” thinking because “we’re all in this together”). How can we improve our "we" thinking? Who can you reach out to as you broaden your definition of "we"?

4) Writing to Change the World was a great book. If you are a writer or aspiring writer of social change topics, I recommend it! Which social issues would you like to influence?

5) My mother highly recommends Reviving Ophelia to any moms of girls. Which books would you like to read for wisdom on parenting?

6) If we express encouragement & thoughtful pondering (e.g. critical thinking, better questions, reflection), I believe that we are making the world a better place. What words of encouragement or topics of reflection would help your family? How might you improve the world just through positive daily interactions with the people you see/meet in your daily life?

Changing/Improving the World - we do it everyday ... we're Moms !

My First Fun Moms Blog Post

Although I am brave about many things, technology is not usually one of them. However, a group of moms I met at an American Mothers conference convinced me that I could create a Blog. I love the idea of connecting moms in real time so that we can encourage each other and share innovations. Blogging is an ideal tool for accomplishing these goals!



Thanks to the 2008 Young Mothers of American Mothers, Inc. who inspired me.



Until we Blog again,



Have Fun!

Caron