Valley Lifestyles March 2015

V VALLEY LIFEST YLES

MAGAZINE

PLUS WHAT IT MEANS TO BE HAPPY

Green Get Into the

of Things

MARCH 2015

ValleyLifestyles.com

T H E E S S E N T I A L L I F E S T Y L E M A G A Z I N E O F T H E E A S T VA L L E Y

Women’s Hair Loss

Why Does it Happen? & What can you do about it?

What used to be a “men’s condition” is now quickly becoming a female epidemic.

It is scary to think that you could randomly wake up one day and begin to see more hair on the pillow case and less on your head. For women losing their hair, it is a serious blow to femininity and the ideal vision of themselves. We are constantly cutting and coloring to make sure our hair looks the best it can. But what if one day the un-thinkable happens… and it falls out and doesn’t grow back?

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Question: What causes women’s hair loss?

Answer: Female hair loss can be caused by multiple factors, but the most common cause is an underlying genetic pre-disposition to hair loss known as androgenetic alopecia or female pattern hair loss. Unlike the popular myth that you inherit hair loss from your mother’s father, women can inherit hair loss from either side of the family. This means that women can inherit hair loss from men and vice versa. It is much more common than people know.

There are other factors that can cause hair loss or increase hair loss due to family history. They include stress, lifestyle, diet, thyroid disfunction, fungal infections, scalp parasites, and medications (most common hormone replacement and birth control pills).

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Question: What do your clinics use to help women with thinning hair?

Answer: Depending on the reason for the loss, the treatment protocol will vary. Usually though for common female pattern hair loss the protocol is relatively similar. We a have a 9 month program that includes twice weekly office visits for cool light laser treatments for the scalp. This stimulates cell regeneration and is already approved to promote thicker hair. Our program also includes topical pharmaceuticals, hormone therapy balancing cream, nutritional supplementation, holistic hair care products, and topical scalp serums.

This is most aggressive treatment that we offer, but it works. When you use everything together the way that our program does, you are bound to get results.

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Question: What advice would you give a woman who is dealing with this problem?

Answer: Find the source of the problem as quickly as possible and treat that problem. Don’t try to treat it yourself because it wastes time that could be spent growing hair back. I obviously would recommend to call us and then come in for a consultation. Worst case scenario, you can stop the progression of the loss. Best case, we can dramatically reverse your hair loss and regrow hair.

We have had numerous cases where a woman was wearing a wig or extensions when they started the treatment. Then 9 months later they were able to remove their wig permanently or stop getting extensions because their hair had gained so much volume and density.

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Question: Is there hope for women with thinning hair?

How do you control it?

Answer: There certainly is. There are so many tools that can be used to control female hair loss and reverse it in many cases. Once you have established the reason for the hair loss and it can be treated with a variety of methods. Unfortunately, most general physicians simply don’t have the time or the knowledge to get a full understanding of why a woman is losing her hair. The female patient is then left combing the internet for solutions that rarely leads to any real answer.

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Question: How you do know what is causing your hair loss?

Answer: A simple patient history is the easiest way. Many women have blood tests for hormonal issues, thyroid dysfunction, iron levels, and vitamin D deficiency. Unfortunately this rarely produces any other cause other than normal pattern hair loss.

At our clinics we use a video microscope to analyze the condition of the scalp at 50x magnification. At this level we can tell if the client has loss due to stress, diet, infection of the hair follicle, or simple hormonally related hair loss.

WILLIAM GAUNITZ, WTS CEO of Evolution Hair Loss Institute 4450 South Rural Rd. Bldg C. Suite 222 Tempe, AZ 85282

480-222-HAIR(4247) www.hairgrowthcenters.com

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Question: Is there maintenance required?

Answer: 99% yes. I usually tell people it’s like brushing your teeth. If you don’t brush them and go to the dentist, your teeth will rot and fall out. The same goes for your hair. If you have a genetic hair loss problem, you have two options; oneyou can treat the problem long term, or two- let your hair fall out and go bald. Clearly our clients choose hair.

Are Bio-Identical Hormones for Me? Q: What is Bio-Identical Hormone Pellet Therapy and how does it work/differ from traditional hormone replacement therapy?

A: The therapy we do is designed to change the internal physiology—to reconstruct, as close as we can, to what the patient would possess in their late 30’s, early 40’s. The structure of the hormone is identical to what the human body produces. This is a more preferable method of replacement compared to hormones that come from horses or are produced from a synthetic foundation.

Q: Since the hormone pellet is inserted underneath the skin, is the release process more beneficial to the body?

A: When you’re using other forms—pills, creams, gels, patches, etc., you get a roller coaster effect. With pellets, hormone release is controlled by heart rate and the amount of blood that’s pumping. Think of the pellet as a lollipop, and the body is a child. If you’re exercising, your heart rate’s way up; the kid is licking furiously on the lollipop. The importance is that you get the right amount of hormone at the right time, continuously. Other forms of delivery don’t come close to that.

Q: How are your treatments created and who would be a good candidate?

A: Our treatments use either soy or yam, which utilize the exact 4-carbon structure common to all reproductive hormones. By using enzymes that mirror and are identical to those your body naturally uses, the hormones can be refined to each individual's needs. An example, is that even young women begin losing testosterone as early as age 20. By the time they reach 40, they are now at 1/2 normal hormonal production. The ovary has a difficult time making estrogen without the required testosterone. Similar issues arise for men as they age and they experience hormonal imbalance.

Q: What are the most common symptoms that bring patients in to see you?

A: We see symptoms such as irritability, anxiety, and fatigue. Patients note a lack of response to exercise or weight gain. Complaints of the brain not being able to remember things accurately or having difficulty with multitasking—all related to the various aspects of hormonal imbalance in men and women.

PUBLISHER

Steve T. Strickbine EXECUTIVE EDITOR

Christina Caldwell

ASSOCIATE EDITOR

Breanne DeMore ART DIRECTOR

Dara Fowler

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Lynette Carrington, Christina Fuoco-Karasinski, Ainsley Despain, Julie Lemerond, Jasmine Kemper ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE Sheree Kamenetsky EDITORIAL INQUIRIES ccaldwell@valleylifestyles.com CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS Sam Nalven, Tim Sealy DISTRIBUTION SERVICES AZ Integrated Media

EDITORIAL/ADVERTISING OFFICES

Valley Lifestyles Magazine 3200 N. Hayden Rd., Suite 210 Scottsdale, AZ 85251 Phone: (480) 348-0343 Comments: ccaldwell@valleylifestyles.com www.valleylifestyles.com All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced without written permission from the Times Media Group. Photographs, graphics and artwork are the property of Valley Lifestyles Magazine. © Affluent Publishing LLC.

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VALLEY LIFESTYLES MAGAZINE | MARCH 2015

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march

FEATURES 30

IN PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS

Is it possible to have it all? Maybe. According to our experts, the greatest way for a woman to achieve happiness is finding her balance. Spring clean your life and thoughts with the advice from four East Valley women who have achieved balance in their own lives.

By Breanne DeMore

36

EAT LOCAL, SAVE THE WORLD

42

BUILD AND CONNECT

Eating local might seem like a food fad to some, but to others it’s a lifestyle. Supporting your local farms and adopting a diet that doesn’t rely heavily on meat and dairy might not just be the key to your long-term health, but also the world’s.

By Christina Caldwell

California’s LEGOLAND has been a west coast mainstay since its 1999 debut, but it might just be the perfect vacation for upcoming summer breaks for kids and grownup kids alike.

By Christina Fuoco-Karasinski

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42 36

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march DEPARTMENTS 10 FROM THE EDITOR

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13 UPFRONT | 480 SUBURBAN SCRIBE A successful teenager is certainly something to brag about, but 15-year-old Anivarya Kumar is on another level. The Ahwatukee teen is secretary and vice president of the National Honor Society, an accomplished musician and avid volunteer. Oh, and she's also already published two books.

16 LOCAL LOOK: Heaven’s Glory Boutique A FIELD DAY FOR YOUR SENSES

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18 E.V. BLOG BEAT 20 HAUTE ITEMS: Green With Envy 22 MORE THAN A RACE 24 RIGHT AT HOME 26 CONSIDER US LUCKY 28 SPRING CLEAN YOUR FITNESS ROUTINE

49 HOME & GARDEN GO GREEN TO SAVE GREEN Energy Saving Tips

53 FOOD & WINE THE HARP IRISH PUB 57 YOU GOTTA TRY 58 IN SEASON: Asparagus 60 RESTAURANT GUIDE

62 10 GREAT DATES 64 LAST WORD

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26 49

58

editor's letter

I SCARFED DOWN A CUPCAKE

right before I started writing this very letter. I got the motivation to finally write it partly thanks to a very real sugar high.

This comes only a day after I wrote the “Eat Local, Save the World” feature on P. 36. Despite my behavior these last ten minutes, I really do know how to eat healthy. I’m just not always good at it.

It’s easy to beat yourself up when you feel like you haven’t measured up to your own expectations. Between all of the responsibilities most people have on a daily basis, diet and exercise falls to the wayside. It’s important not to let the little mistakes derail your progress, though. I’ve learned to accept my mistakes and move past them, rather than dwell.

Well, not always. I did just tell on myself, after all.

With New Year’s Resolutions on the backburner and spring cleaning at the forefront of our minds, this is our “Green Issue.” While there are energy-saving tips and advice on cleaning up the planet, it’s the time of the year when I think of “spring life cleaning,” too. I’ve already cleaned out my closets, but what about my negative thoughts?

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VALLEY LIFESTYLES MAGAZINE | MARCH 2015

I, like most people, am trying to balance family, work, caring for a home and more, and it can be totally exhausting. But if you do it right, you really can do it all, according to the experts we interviewed for the “In Pursuit of Happiness” feature on P. 30. It’s all about balance and managing your time wisely, and maybe skipping the cupcake every now and again. Or rewarding yourself with one when you deserve it.

Someone who is managing her time wisely is 15-year-old Anivarya Kumar, who at her young age has already accomplished writing two books.

Read all about her in our 480 opening story, “Suburban Scribe.”

And if Anivarya has you feeling like a slacker, just remember that it’s important to not compare yourself to others. You only have to be better than yesterday’s you, when you didn’t eat a cupcake. So far I’ve failed at that today, but there’s always tomorrow.

Thanks for pointing out that frosting on my lip,

CHRISTINA CALDWELL Executive Editor

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UpFront 480 TRENDS | PEOPLE | CULTURE | STYLE

SUBURBAN

Scribe

AHWATUKEE TEEN PUBLISHES HER SECOND NOVEL

BY BREANNE DEMORE

She’s a high school sophomore at Basis Ahwatukee, secretary and vice president of National Honors Society, a member of Leadership Club, treasurer of India Association, a pianist, a flutist and an avid volunteer.

Anivarya Kumar is all of these things, plus a very bright young woman.

Oh! And she is a twice-published author, as well.

“I’ve always written since I was young,” says 15-year-old Kumar. “I think in first grade I won this super cool award for writing. So ever since then I’ve really loved it.”

Kumar was only 12 years old when she published her first novel, “Two Lives One Decision,” a science fiction murder mystery and it started with a simple “why not?”

“When I was 10, I thought that it would be a dream come true if I could write my own book and be an author, so I was like ‘Why not?’”

Two years later, she finished her book and, with her parents' help, published it and got it out to the masses. The story of a girl who is murdered

VALLEY LIFESTYLES MAGAZINE | MARCH 2015

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TRENDS | PEOPLE | CULTURE | STYLE

by a serial killer and then, after experiencing rebirth, is able to go back in time to get revenge on her killer, “Two Lives One Decision” is a novel of mature subject matter for such a young girl.

“I was really into horror stories at that age, so I just used that,” she says with a laugh.

She reaches for her second novel, “Destined” when asked why she wanted to commit to a full novel at such a young age, something that most adults aren’t even able to do. As she looks down at the cover, she explains, “I’ve always looked up to Stephanie Meyer and J.K. Rowling, and while I know I might not be like them, it’s super cool to have your name on the bottom of a book.”

Soon after publishing “Two Lives One Decision,” Kumar was itching to start writing again.

“I took a little bit of a break and then I realized that I had developed my writing, so maybe I should try another one. So I used a sort of similar idea, but I made it a little bit different.”

“Destined,” Kumar’s second novel, is the story of a girl and a boy, growing up as misfits in parallel universes who see visions of each other throughout their lives and eventually fall in love before they even meet.

She says that she drew inspiration for “Destined” from being in high school and taking into account the popularity of science fiction among readers these days.

“This one gets into Quantum Theory of Mechanics and parallel universes, plus an overall high school experience,” she says of the book.

If you weren’t already impressed with Kumar enough, and the casual mention of Quantum Theory didn’t put you over the edge, she is donating all of the proceeds from “Destined” to the Make-A-Wish Foundation.

“Well, donating is like the most self-satisfaction I can get because you know you can help someone else, and I would always love that extra pair of high heels, but why not give it to someone who needs it more? Since they have terminal illness, I feel like they deserve something, and if I’m doing it from the same age group, it kind of says something.”

Although Kumar loves writing and is already planning on writing another book, it isn’t what she wants to do for a career.

With Ivy League aspirations, she is looking into the medical field, already planning on interning with both an optometrist and dentist or orthodontist this summer.

Both of Kumar’s novels are available in print and Kindle versions on Amazon. VLM

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VALLEY LIFESTYLES MAGAZINE | MARCH 2015

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VALLEY LIFESTYLES MAGAZINE | MARCH 2015

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TRENDS | PEOPLE | CULTURE | STYLE

A FIELD DAY

LOCAL

FOR

LOOK

YOUR SENSES!

BY CASEY BLAKE

COMPILED BY BREANNE DEMORE

Plants are blooming, Spring Training season is upon us and the weather could not be more perfect. It is the time of year in the Valley when the heat of the summer is temporarily forgotten and the siren song of the sunny outdoors is as enticing as ever.

As we look for excuses to be outside, Spark!, Mesa’s Festival of Creativity, offers an option for friends and entire families.

Happening over four days when most Valley schools are on spring break, the festival brings a multitude of things for busy hands and restless minds to do.

At the free festival on Mesa Arts Center’s campus, the four Greek elements—earth, air, fire and water—will be weaved into a celebration of the arts, innovation and creativity. Live music, immersive activities, hands-on happenings and tasty foods will be in abundance.

Arrive in the afternoon to catch live bands playing in the shaded Wells Fargo Garden or stroll down the Shadow Walk to explore interactive art pieces. Play in the Sandboxes of Life, where you can “paint” with light in the sand; make music In Dark Waters by touching a large glowing sculpture that responds with music and shimmering lights; and make Water Light Graffiti by manipulating a huge panel of LED lights that respond to water sprayed on its surface.

Take a break with kettle corn or snow cones, enjoy performances in the grassy lawn, or contribute your creativity to the Incredible Shrinking Mural, a colorful tapestry of shrinky dink art.

On Friday and Saturday night the festival will transform to Spark! After Dark, with nighttime performances and a culminating fireworks display on Saturday.

Try it out any day between Wednesday, March 18 and Saturday, March 21. VLM GET THIS LOOK: Heaven’s Glory Boutique 1900 W. Germann Rd., Suite 12, Chandler (480) 802-2277 facebook.com/HeavensGloryBoutique

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VALLEY LIFESTYLES MAGAZINE | MARCH 2015

LET YOUR SENSES RUN WILD AT: SPARK! MESA’S FESTIVAL OF CREATIVITY Mesa Arts Center, 1 E. Main St., Mesa (480) 644-6500 mesaartscenter.com

VALLEY LIFESTYLES MAGAZINE | MARCH 2015

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TRENDS | PEOPLE | CULTURE | STYLE

E.V. BLOG BEAT Michelle Alexander and Lisa Glowacka of East Valley Moms Blog

BY CHRISTINA CALDWELL

Michelle Alexander and Lisa Glowacka are super busy super moms. Like most parents, they balance family, work and a social life, but also throw running a blog into the mix—and it just happens to be one of the most successful mom blogs in the state.

East Valley Moms Blog acts as a resource for moms to connect, discuss and form relationships with other mothers across the East Valley, allowing an outlet for fun, frustration, ideas, and even play date matchups.

We talked to the duo to get the low down about what it’s like staying on top.

Valley Lifestyles: How do you balance work, family, a social life and blogging?

Glowacka: It's tough! I owe a lot to my color-coded day planner, iPhone, and of course my amazing business partner, Michelle.

Alexander: By making sure you schedule everything and managing time as best as possible. You also learn to live on very little sleep.

What would you say is the key to running a successful mom blog?

MICHELLE ALEXANDER (LEFT) AND LISA GLOWACKA (RIGHT) ARE BUSINESS PARTNERS WHO “SHARE A BRAIN”—THEY ARE ALWAYS THINKING OF SIMILAR IDEAS OR SUPPORTING EACH OTHER’S.

raffles and giveaways, music and lots of mingling with likeminded, awesome moms... and cake.

With summer coming up, how do you keep the kids busy during those hot summer months when they’re stuck inside?

Glowacka: [Blogging and running a website] is a tough job when balancing a full-time job and three kids! I am fortunate to have an amazing business partner who is also a wonderful friend and incredibly supportive of all my crazy ideas. We basically share a brain and it has worked well for us so far!

Alexander: Vodka! Lots of vodka! Just kidding! It really helps to have a great partner. My co-owner says that we “share a brain” because we are always thinking of similar ideas or supporting each other’s. We are both pretty laid back, so if one of us doesn’t agree, we talk about it and the other is pretty likely to just say OK and move on. We don’t get hung up on little stuff because we know there are always bigger fish to fry!

Glowacka: We spend a lot of time at the pool in the early mornings, but my kiddos love to attend the Nature Camp at Veteran's Oasis Park that the City of Chandler holds every summer. They love the nature hikes and fun projects that they get to do each day.

Alexander: We are pretty lucky in that we travel for my son’s football camps, so we are always out and about in the summer, but when we are at home, we do root beer floats and movies! We also enjoy Top Golf because they have a misting system, so it’s not as scorching if you go towards the evening when it’s a bit cooler. VLM

Your quarterly Moms Night Out event lets moms connect with other moms across the East Valley. What kinds of things do you do during these events?

CONNECT WITH MICHELLE AND LISA AT: Instagram: eastvalleymomsblog Twitter: @EVMomsBlog facebook.com/EastValleyMomsBlog citymomsblog.com/eastvalley

Alexander: Usually moms are looking to network in an adult arena away from their kids, so there is food and drinks, a lot of

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VALLEY LIFESTYLES MAGAZINE | MARCH 2015

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TRENDS | PEOPLE | CULTURE | STYLE

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VALLEY LIFESTYLES MAGAZINE | MARCH 2015

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TRENDS | PEOPLE | CULTURE | STYLE

MORE THAN A RACE KEEP YOUR NEW YEAR’S RESOLUTIONS WHILE ALSO CONTRIBUTING TO THE COMMUNITY

BY BREANNE DEMORE

Whether your New Year’s Resolution was to get in shape or volunteer more, March is the perfect time to get back on track.

All month long there are runs and walks all over the East Valley that benefit local and national charities. With the weather outside so beautiful and the active nature of these events perfect for the whole family, get out there and race for a good cause!

4TH ANNUAL RUN FOR WORLD WATER

All proceeds from this event will benefit Water For People, a non-profit organization that aims to provide all people with permanent access to clean water. The race, taking place at Kiwanis Park in Tempe, includes 5K and 1K courses, as well as a 50 yard dash “Lollipop Run.” March 14, Kiwanis Park, 5299 S. Ash Ave, Tempe, (480) 312-8717, azwater.org/events

SALUTE A SOLDIER 5K

Put on by the AZ Heroes to Hometowns Project, who assists injured troops and veterans transition back into the community and civilian life, this race will hopefully help inspire community pride with a strong support system for veterans. There is a one mile walk and a 5K run course. March 21, Freestone Park, 1045 E. Juniper Rd., Gilbert, azherostohometown.org/5k LOZILU WOMEN’S MUD RUN

Get a group of your favorite fellow ladies together and fight cancer with mud! This filthy 5K is full of mud, obstacles, music and inspiring women abound. With proceeds going to the LIFE organization which assists young cancer patients’ pay off expensive medical bills and cross off items on their bucket lists. March 21, Red Mountain Park, 7745 E. Brown Rd., Mesa, lozilu.com/phoenix PHOENIX START! HEART WALK

Valentine’s Day might be behind us, but heart health is always important. Choose between a 5K or one-mile, noncompetitive course, and then join in a Heart Healthy Festival that includes music, celebrity appearances, health screenings and interactive and educational booths. March 21, Tempe Beach Park, 54 W. Rio Salado Pkwy, Tempe, (602) 414-5320, phoenixheartwalk.org STRIDE FOR SIGHT

Benefitting the Foundation for Blind Children, this timed race features one mile, 5K or 10K courses and is open for blind and sighted people alike. This year has a unique twist with the opportunity to take “The Blindfold Challenge,” where people compete in teams of two, one blindfolded and a sighted guide.

March 28, Talking Stick Resort Arena, 201 E. Jefferson St., Phoenix, (602) 678-5808, fbcstrideforsight.org VLM

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VALLEY LIFESTYLES MAGAZINE | MARCH 2015

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TRENDS | PEOPLE | CULTURE | STYLE

RIGHT AT

Home

ELI YOUNG BAND COOKS THINGS UP AT GREAT AMERICAN BBQ AND BEER FESTIVAL

BY CHRISTINA FUOCO-KARASINSKI

If there’s anything that Texas’ Eli Young Band knows, it’s barbecue, beer and music.

So the country band’s guitarist James Young says he’ll feel right at home at the Great American Barbecue and Beer Festival on Saturday, March 21, in Downtown Chandler.

“Being from Texas, barbecue is the mainstay,” Young says with a laugh. “We love to eat it and we’ve been to barbecue (joints) all over the world.

It’ll be a blast.”

The sixth annual Great American Barbecue and Beer Festival will feature more than 100 exhibitors and over 60 of the nation’s top pit masters serving up 20,000 pounds of pork ribs, pulled pork, brisket and chicken.

The menu doesn’t stop with barbecue.

Other event highlights include the SanTan Brewing Tailgater’s Lawn, UltraStar March Madness Lounge, Chester’s Harley Davidson Pavilion, Porkopolis VIP Quarters, Dickel Hoedown Rodeo Zone, Bulleit Bourbon Barbecue Pit Row, DC Farmers Market, and an expanded kids’ play zone.

The Eli Young Band—which also includes vocalist/guitarist Mike Eli, bassist Jon Jones and drummer Chris Thompson—will take center stage. The quartet looks forward to playing tracks from its latest release, Turn It On EP. “We’re working those into our set now,” says Young, whose band played the pre-Super Bowl festivities at Westgate earlier this year. “These are

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VALLEY LIFESTYLES MAGAZINE | MARCH 2015

pretty much the first shows that we’re debuting all these new songs. It brings new life into the set. It’s been awhile since we’ve had new music. It really is a good change of pace.”

The pace has been a rather fast one for the Eli Young Band. It has a trio of platinum and multiplatinum No. 1 hits—“Drunk Last Night,” “Even If It Breaks Your Heart” and “Crazy Girl”—under its belt. The quartet took a step back and headed to the studio to record the Turn It On EP’s four songs, co-written by the band with producers Ross Copperman and Jeremy Stover.

“We’ve been writing for the last six months,” Young explains. “Everybody will bring a song to the band and we’ll go and demo the songs. These four songs were just demos.

But the label heart them and loved them and said, ‘We need to run with this now.’ They wanted to get them out as soon as possible.”

The whole experience makes the Eli Young Band enthusiastic about its stop in Chandler.

“Barbecue, beer and music—can’t go wrong with that,” Young says with a laugh. VLM

CHOW DOWN AT: THE GREAT AMERICAN BARBECUE AND BEER FESTIVAL Downtown Chandler 3 S. Arizona Avenue, Chandler, chandlerbbq.com

Kalnoki Plastic Surgery

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Dr. Kalnoki is a trusted cosmetic and reconstructive breast and body surgeon.

Call 480.641.7720

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www.kalnokiplastics.com

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TRENDS | PEOPLE | CULTURE | STYLE

CONSIDER US

LUCKY THE BEST ST. PATRICK’S DAY EVENTS IN THE VALLEY

BY JASMINE KEMPER

Call it luck, but the Valley’s St. Patrick’s Day is packed with entertainment, from the artsy to the boozy. These events will help you go green on St. Patrick’s Day and beyond.

32ND ANNUAL PHOENIX ST. PATRICK’S DAY PARADE AND FAIRE

KISS ME I’M IRISH RUN

It’s time to paint the town green! The St. Patrick’s Day Parade and Faire is back for its 32nd year. This year’s theme is “Celebrating 32: 32 Counties and 32 Parades.” The faire is on the west side of the Irish Cultural Center in Margaret T. Hance Park and will feature three stages full of Irish music and dance, an area for the kids, traditional food and drinks and plenty of other activities. The parade, which began in 1984, will bring Irish culture to the streets with marching bands, step dancers, bagpipes, floats and much more. There is a free shuttle available to bring you to the faire and kids 12 and under are free. March 14, Margaret T. Hance Park, 1202 N. Third St., Phoenix, 623.939.1183, stpatricksdayphoenix.org

You’ll receive a kiss at the end of this race. A chocolate kiss, that is!

The Kiss Me I’m Irish Run includes a 1K, 4K, 8K and 17K for racers of every age and experience level. Dress in your best green outfit for an opportunity for you (and your pets) to win a St. Patrick’s Day themed costume contest. Irish music and dancing will set the scene as you race in support of the Prostate On Site Project. At the end, medals will be handed out and racers will receive Hershey Kisses, complimentary beer, and food and drinks for everyone in celebration of the finish! March 14, Westgate Entertainment District, 6770 N. Sunrise Blvd., Glendale, (480) 609-3978, irishrunaz.com EXPERIENCE IRELAND AT THE MIM

Spend your St. Patrick’s Day weekend with two days worth of Irishthemed activities at the Musical Instrument Museum. Shop for some traditional instruments, take themed pictures at the MIM photo booth, test your St. Patrick trivia or listen to some Irish storytelling.

Throughout the day, there will be live performances for you to enjoy that range from fiddles, accordions, Celtic harps and Irish dance. To top it off, the experience is included in the museum admission at no extra cost! March 14 and 15, Musical Instrument Museum, 4725 E. Mayo Blvd., Phoenix, 480.478.6000, mim.org FOUNTAIN HILLS ST. PATRICK’S DAY FESTIVAL

This family-friendly event set in the beautiful town of Fountain Hills is the perfect place for your St. Patrick’s Day festivities. Spend the day enjoying great company, music and food at Fountain Park! Dress to match the famous fountain as it turns a bright green at 1 p.m. to commemorate the Irish holiday. Guests 20 and under are free and those over 21 are just $5! March 16, Fountain Park, 12925 N. Saguaro Blvd., Fountain Hills, (480) 816-5100, fh.az.gov

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Interiors for your lifestyle.

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Professional Interior Designer on staff 1102 W. Southern Ave. • Ste. 3 • Tempe, AZ

POT OF GOLD MUSIC FESTIVAL

Find the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow! This four-day music festival includes names such as Kendrick Lamar, Fall Out Boy, Bastille, Korn and so much more. There will be food with vegetarian options available. Vendors will be in attendance with artist merchandise and novelties and non-alcoholic and alcoholic beverages will be on hand. Rock out to tons of live musical performances each day at Tempe Beach Park. This rain or shine event provides a variety of music and fun for your entertainment during this St. Patrick’s Day! March 13 through 17, Tempe Beach Park, 80 W. Rio Salado Pkwy., Tempe, 480.350.8625, potofgoldaz.com, times vary, $49

480.921.8419

phoenixcabinetsandfloors.com

THE CHIEFTAINS

Busting out of their home country of Ireland, these authentic Irish lads have been on the scene for five decades. With six Grammy’s under their belts, among other accolades, their trademark Irish folk has gained an audience across the globe.

But they can only be in one place for St. Patrick’s Day, so be sure to catch them in the flesh this holiday. March 17, Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts, 7380 E. Second St., Scottsdale, 480.874.4694, scottsdaleperformingarts.org VLM

Saint Patrick’s Day Brunch at the San Marcos SUNDAY MARCH 15

Enjoy the following featured items Brunch Fare Shepherd’s Pie • Guiness & Honey Glazed Pork Loin Carving Station with Prime Rib and Corned Beef Irish Boxty Potato Pancakes • Authentic Soda Rolls Baileys & Chocolate Fondue • Peel & Eat Shrimp Omelet Station and Other Great Brunch Fare Plus Great Drinks Sunday, March 15 • $26.95, tax & gratuity additional WWW.SANMARCOSRESORT.COM | RESERVATIONS: 480-857-4422

One San M arcos Place Chandler, A Z 85225 VALLEY LIFESTYLES MAGAZINE | MARCH 2015

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TRENDS | PEOPLE | CULTURE | STYLE

SPRING CLEAN

YOUR FITNESS ROUTINE

BY JULIE LEMEROND

It’s March, which means a changing of the seasons is approaching.

Although our March here in the Valley doesn’t really come in like a lion and go out like a lamb (Thank goodness we get the lamb throughout!), it is a good time to check in with the fitness goals you may have set for yourself earlier this year. Have you fallen by the wayside with any resolutions you made, or are you spinning your wheels with your workouts? Here are a few tips to keep yourself moving forward on the right track.

KEEP YOUR EYE ON THE PRIZE

Do you work out hard and then reward yourself in an unhealthy way? Or maybe you procrastinate, promising that you will “do better tomorrow.” Remember that today is yesterday’s tomorrow.

Keep forging ahead with the goal you have for yourself in mind.

When slip-ups occur, just keep moving forward instead of berating yourself. We always feel better after a workout. Remind yourself of that when the going gets tough!

KEEP IT FUN

Each week set mini goals that you can have fun testing yourself with. Are you a runner? Add one extra minute onto your run every day for one week. Into yoga? Find a pose that is hard for you and spend some time each day playing around with it—then notice how much easier it is just a simple seven days later. Love crunches?

Challenge yourself to add on five more each day for one week.

Your body will feel that good kind of sore and you’ll like it.

LET GO OF THE BAD HABITS

Do you snack before bed? Treat yourself to a glass of wine or bite of chocolate each day? Whatever your vice is, just test yourself on giving it up for a specific period of time (three days, one week, one month), and notice how your body and mind react. If not having your vice makes you cranky, realize that means it’s time to lighten up on it. Often easier said than done, but becoming aware of it is the first step to change.

OUT WITH THE OLD, IN WITH THE NEW

Try something new to just change things up. Having a routine is important, too, but a change from the ordinary keeps us fresh and looking forward. If you always spend your Wednesday night at Zumba, take a yoga or spin class instead. Maybe give yourself one day per week that you get up an hour earlier than normal to embrace the day with a walk, jog, or even meditation. Get in the habit of drinking one full glass of water upon waking, or make a green smoothie for yourself each morning. Think of the things you want to accomplish with your life that haven’t had the chance to be expressed yet, and then build your schedule around just trying it piece by piece. Your body, mind and spirit will thank you! VLM

FIND JULIE: on Facebook at Truly Julie Yoga + Nidra julielemerond.com

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VALLEY LIFESTYLES MAGAZINE | MARCH 2015

Drs. Howie and Joy Brauer

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EVERY ROAD LEADS SOMEWHERE WHERE IS YOURS LEADING YOU? VALLEY LIFESTYLES MAGAZINE | MARCH 2015

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In Pursuit of

Happiness AN IN-DEPTH LOOK INTO WHAT IT MEANS TO BE HAPPY AS A WOMAN

By Breanne DeMore

As women, happiness is a complicated thing because of our innate need to ensure those around us are happy, oftentimes resulting in our own needs and wants being suppressed.

Whether it is skipping the workout class because your toddler doesn’t want their mama to leave or staying on your feet all night while hosting a dinner party, confirming that everyone is enjoying themselves, so often the needs of those around us—those we care for—take precedence over our own happiness and enjoyment.

In honor of March being National Women’s History Month, and International Day of Happiness taking place on March 20, we decided to take an in-depth look at what it means to be happy as a woman. Speaking with four different women of varying backgrounds and careers revealed many interesting insights and tips for all women.

Self

Love Now a successful life coach, Valley-based Bonnie Moehle recalls being needed as a source of comfort as well as guidance, necessary skills for her career, early on.

“I am the oldest of four children, and I was always the supporter and cheerleader, and the person that they came to when Mom wasn’t around, and so I always had, naturally, that role of being the advisor, the helper and so on. So it was natural for me to want to do something where I’m helping people and supporting them and helping them move forward in their life.”

It was a bout of sickness in the mid-‘90s that made her realize the full potential of emotional wellness. After having Irritable Bowel Syndrome for 20 years, seeing doctor after doctor and trying endless amounts of treatments, Moehle was able to cure her IBS in three months by changing how she thought and realizing that what she was doing and the way she was thinking were contributing to her illness.

“I was able to shift the thinking and therefore [get rid of] the Irritable Bowel! And it was amazing—it was so amazing, I thought ‘You know, I can’t keep this to myself,’” says Moehle.

So she went back to school to learn how to teach emotional wellness to others.

Sitting across from her clients everyday, Moehle sees all sorts of situations and every kind of emotion, but the answer to happiness, she explains to each person, is self love.

“When it comes to self love, we have really poor training. We’ve been taught that negative reinforcement will be helpful. We have been taught to focus on your flaws and beat yourself up.

So, to me, self love and happiness go hand-in-hand and I believe it is impossible to truly be happy if you don’t have self love,” explains Moehle.

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However, finding true self love is difficult task with all of the distractions and competition of modern society. Moehle says, “We live in a world that is perpetuating that self love comes from the outside in.”

Instead, Moehle says that self love has nothing to do with how other people look at you, nothing to do with what you have accomplished or how much money you make. Falling in love with oneself has to do with learning how to own who you are from the inside out—focusing on your strengths rather than your faults. Self love is about celebrating the positive ways in which you interact with the world around you rather than taking them for granted and only focusing on what you could have done differently.

self love and happiness go hand “...

-in-hand.”

Finding Balance A local lady through and through, Tisha Pelletier was born in Gilbert and grew up in Mesa. She attended Red Mountain High School before going to ASU. After graduating, she became a social entrepreneur starting her own marketing firm in 2004. She was on the track to success.

Then in 2008, everything changed. Her son Caleb was born and suddenly, Tisha was faced with the same problem as so many mothers out there—“doing it all.” She had always been an entrepreneur and now she was a mompreneur.

Desperately wanting a place to find support, advice and companionship, Pelletier tried a few of the networking clubs around town. She found that they didn’t understand why she couldn’t take an 8 a.m. meeting when her son started school at the same time.

So she turned to a few of the moms’ clubs in the East Valley but found those also weren’t for her. Unsure about where else to turn, Pelletier began to blog about her frustrations and soon, she found she wasn’t the only one who felt that way.

In September of 2010, Pelletier launched the Mom-e Club, a network of mom and women entrepreneurs who understand the challenges that come along with “doing it all.” The members all support one another and offer their help when they can. In fact, even Pelletier is amazed at the connections she has made in the group.

“For me, I think when you’re a mom [and] an entrepreneur, things are happening so fast, if you are in complete isolation, you almost feel like you aren’t succeeding—we’re focusing on our failures and not our success,” she says.

“When you’re in a community of women who understand your ins and outs, it’s good to be able to have people that understand you. I like the Mom-e Club because I don’t have to put on a façade. I have my husband; I have my nine-tofive group. None of them understand me—this group understands me.”

So how does this “mom-e” do it all and still have time to be happy? Balance.

“My happiness is getting to do what I love. I call it my ‘natural high.’ It’s being able to have the best of both worlds. So many moms are seeking that,” she explains. She cites the example of being able to attend her daughter’s pre-school Valentine’s Day party and then jetting off to plan a huge event in Huntington Beach. “[My life is] not perfect—it’s insanity. But this is my life and it’s really ‘come as you are,’” she says.

But it’s being able to do what she loves and still spend time with her kids that make it worthwhile.

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Appreciation Built in 1989 as a collaboration between the City of Chandler and Chandler Unified School District, Chandler Center for the Arts is a beautiful facility located in the heart of Downtown Chandler.

Equipped with a 2,000-square-foot exhibition gallery and three theaters, the Art Center was the perfect solution for Chandler’s need for the arts.

Now in its 25th season, the Art Center holds over 1,000 events every year with a little bit of something for everyone.

As general manager of Chandler Center for the Arts, Michelle Mac Lennan has the joy, and difficult responsibility, of ensuring that all of her patrons’ art thirst is quenched. Simply put, art, in all of its hundreds of forms, makes people of all cultures, lifestyles and ages happy.

Whether it is a smile in response to the joke of a comedian, awe in watching a graceful ballerina glide across the stage or fascination in seeing a painting or sculpture that stretches your mind, the arts inspire people and encourage happiness.

“I make sure each day to be grateful for the opportunity to connect with the arts,” says Mac Lennan. “Even if it is only for a couple of minutes, I make sure to look at a piece of art on display, noticing the architecture of the building, experiencing a moment of the rehearsals or performances. That connection brings me happiness every time.”

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“I make sure each day to be grateful for the opportunity to connect with the arts ... That connection

brings me happiness

every time.”

Different for Everyone As a professor of Women and Gender Studies at ASU’s School of Social Transformation, Ann Hibner Koblitz has dedicated her life to studying women of the past and present and how they prosper in the restrictions of their society. Because of this, she has a very well-thought-out view on women’s happiness.

“I think it would be impossible to give a general definition of happiness for all women around the world, or even in the U.S.,” she says. “It is very dependent upon individual and cultural circumstances.”

She points to social media platforms, such as Facebook, as actually being triggers for unhappiness for women today. First of all, they allow for life comparisons, which are never a good idea. Secondly, though, the comparison is happening with the other person’s most aesthetically pleasing areas of life— hardly a fair comparison to the un-polished, unfiltered way many of us see our lives.

So how does Hibner Koblitz define happiness herself?

“Personally I define my happiness on professional and personal satisfactions of a more intangible nature. I have incredibly interesting, varied work; I love my students; I have several hobbies I enjoy; I spend time with friends; I spend time with my spouse.”

However, she does echo one of our other featured women, Bonnie Moehle, when she discusses how she approaches the lessons of happiness that she instills in her students.

“I try to impress upon them that happiness and personal satisfaction depend upon being true to oneself rather than setting outside goals or trying to get rich,” Hibner Koblitz says. VLM

define my happiness

“Personally I on professional and personal satisfactions of a more intangible nature...”

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EAT LOCAL, How localizing your diet and reducing meat consumption could help the environment

By Christina Caldwell

It’s a tough bite to swallow. When you’re carving into a perfectly-cooked steak or sucking down that delicious milkshake, it’s tough to think about why anyone would want to go vegetarian, let alone vegan.

And why bother living locally when chain grocery stores offer convenience, familiarity and comparatively cheap groceries?

To save the world, that’s why. According to some researchers, cutting down or eliminating your meat and dairy consumption while focusing on local produce could help reduce ozone-penetrating gasses that wear down our protection from the sun. But don’t take our word for it!

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VALLEY LIFESTYLES MAGAZINE | MARCH 2015

Save the

World~ cutting down or eliminating your meat and dairy consumption while focusing on local produce could help

reduce ozonepenetrating gasses

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How it works Cows are natural, but mass cattle farming is a relatively new thing in the scheme of human life. Long gone are the days when a typical family had livestock of its own.

Today, many of us forget that the one gallon containers of milk we buy from the store actually come from cows. And it’s easy to get detached when you never see the actual creature it comes from.

The first milking machines were created in 1907, which made it easier for farmers to milk more cattle in a shorter amount of time. Since then, technology has advanced even further, and while most feedlots in the U.S. consist of 1,000 cows or fewer, according to the USDA, some have over 30,000.

Though some might argue about dairy and meat’s health benefits (or lack thereof), the ecological concerns of farming on such a large scale are backed by science.

Cows and other livestock have to eat, which means humans have to use energy and resources to grow the feed. Livestock also, like humans, release methane gas when they defecate. But is poop really that big of a problem?

According to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United States, the meat industry contributes to 14.5 percent of anthropogenic greenhouse gases, or greenhouse gases caused by humans and their actions, that are released into the atmosphere. Other sources include gasoline, coal and cement production.

There are actions farmers can take to reduce methane emissions by their livestock, including feeding them higher-quality feed that produces fewer methane emissions. But on the consumer’s end, reducing or eliminating your consumption of meat and dairy, therefore lowering the demand for livestock, is a jumping off point, along with local eating.

Eating locally brings the farm to your backyard.

Whether you support your local Community Support Agriculture (CSA), pick local produce in patches across the East Valley or just make sure the food you buy from the grocery store or farmer’s market is local, you’re reducing the demand for fruits and vegetables that can easily be grown here from being carted across the country or world, therefore saving gasoline in the process.

Why switch?

Getting a meat eater to give up or reduce their bacon consumption is often harder than persuading a smoker to stop smoking. While cigarette smoking is obviously worse for you in the long run, when you live your entire life with meat and dairy, quitting cold turkey can be a difficult feat. It’s what you’re familiar with, after all! But there are benefits to localizing your diet and reducing your meat consumption.

... most feedlots in the U.S. consist of 1,000 cows or fewer, according to the USDA,

but some have over

30,000

While there is no way to quantify taste, many eaters claim local produce just tastes better. Local produce is usually seasonal produce, and when the fruit or vegetable is grown in the natural conditions in which it usually occurs, often a better product results.

Eating seasonally has its own benefits, too. Besides allowing you to get in tune with the flavors of the season, farmers don’t have to use extra resources like water, soil and artificial light to grow strawberries in the dead of winter or Brussels sprouts in summer.

Plus, getting in touch with the local CSA or farmer allows you to get closer to your food, understanding how its grown, what chemicals (if any) were added into the mix and that they were picked closer to maximum ripeness, rather than being plucked before ripeness and being carted across the country, being forced to ripen off the vine.

How to eat East Valley There are so many resources to eat locally in the East Valley, even if you choose to eat meat.

Your local CSA, such as Gilbert’s The Farm at Agritopia or Mesa’s Love Grows Farms, lets you invest in your local farmer’s crop output. For a small weekly or monthly fee—usually about $25—you can pick up a basket packed with fresh, locally grown fruit and vegetables to feed you and your family. You typically don’t get to choose the kind of produce you want, but that’s part of the fun of it. Looking up and creating your own recipes with unknown or previously unused fruits and vegetables can lead to new favorite at-home culinary creations.

If you have a more specific idea of what produce you want, head to your local farmer’s market (Downtown Gilbert’s Saturday morning version is a hit!) to grab exactly what fruits and vegetables you need. Or if you’re feeling lazy, have them delivered directly to your door.

Companies like Tempe’s Boxed Greens will deliver certified organic, local produce, so you don’t have to take time out of your busy day to localize your meals.

And if you still want to eat bacon, we can’t blame you.

Luckily the East Valley has its own pork source. The Pork Shop, located in quaint Queen Creek, sells a massive array of sausages, bacon, lunch meats, snack sticks, barbeque and more. The pigs themselves are sourced from the Midwest, but shopping your local butcher at least puts the bucks in your community’s hands instead of a large grocery chain.

Plus, eating local isn’t limited to eating in. Many restaurants in the East Valley and beyond, like Tempe’s Desert Roots Kitchen, put a focus on using as many local meats and produce as possible. Like anything, cutting out meat and going local requires baby steps. While the meals at these restaurants might not always be 100 percent local, localizing even a fraction of your meal ultimately helps out the economy and environment. VLM

head to your local farmer’s market to grab exactly what fruits and vegetables you need

6 hour drive

OUR DESTINATION VACATION, NO MORE THAN 6 HOURS FROM THE VALLEY

AND

Build

CONNE CONN ECT LEGOLAND is a spring break trip worth constructing

BY CHRISTINA FUOCO-KARASINSKI

As we edged closer to LEGOLAND Drive, the energy in the car was palpable. Bright green grass and bushes lined the street, as giant versions of LEGO minifigures greeted us along the way. A rollercoaster peeked out from behind trees.

See, my husband, Dave, and I don’t have children. But I have a big kid in him. Our house is filled with LEGO—minifigures, modular buildings, “Star Wars” X-wing fighters, “Guardians of the Galaxy” sets and even, most recently, the “Back to the Future” and “Ghostbusters” cars.

So it was no surprise to anyone when we said we were headed, once again, to LEGOLAND, the same spot we visited on our honeymoon.

For those not in the know, LEGOLAND in Carlsbad, California, is a massive theme park that represents all things LEGO. There is a medieval dragon rollercoaster with cars that appear to be made from bricks. Wild Woods Golf, a mini golf course, spans nearly 23,000 square feet and boasts 40 LEGO models of forest creatures.

Perhaps the coolest thing in the park is The LEGO Movie Experience, which is housed in a small building near Wok ‘n’ Bowl Ramen. We had no clue what The LEGO Movie Experience was—a ride? A movie? We weren’t quite sure. But upon entering, my husband lit up like a kid seeing Santa Claus for the first time.

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6 hour drive Miniland USA includes reproductions of seven areas of the United States, all constructed with

20 million LEGO bricks in 1:20 scale.

It turned out to be a behind-the-scenes look at the models that helped inspire the animated adventure “The LEGO Movie.” The detail in the multiple models was amazing. Youngsters reveled trying to find Unikitty, one of the characters in the movie, in the set. A little girl next to us practically broke out in tears upon locating her.

Then there’s Miniland, the grand dame of LEGOLAND. It’s everything you would hope it would be. Dubbed “a dedication to the ultimate expression of the LEGO art form,” Miniland USA includes reproductions of seven areas of the United States, all constructed with 20 million LEGO bricks in 1:20 scale. It also features miniature “Star Wars” models like an underwater scene featuring an Opee sea killer on Naboo, and a Jawa sandcrawler on Tattooine.

“Star Wars” junkies will certainly be excited after March 5, when LEGO “Star Wars” Miniland unveils its Death Star, which spans 6 feet and offers guests the chance to view scenes created from LEGO bricks. A spokesman for LEGOLAND says it will even include the famous trench run scene where Luke Skywalker maneuvered his X-wing fighter through the combat zone. It’s scheduled to open just before the park’s annual LEGO “Star Wars” Days on March 7 and March 8.

There are plenty of photo ops at LEGOLAND. A rather tall Darth Vader LEGO structure loomed over little children who had their pictures taken with him. For the youngsters, there’s a LEGO Friends set up where kids can sit on a bench with the characters.

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My husband isn’t the only Adult Fan of LEGO (AFOL, if you’re cool). We traveled there on a Friday when we thought the visit would be a little less busy. We were right, although there were a few strollers there. Mostly, though, LEGOLAND was filled with adults who wanted to get their LEGO on.

Even people who are not well versed in LEGO terms will enjoy this park. I recently read that brick-by-brick, LEGO has replaced Ferrari as world’s most powerful brand. I guess my husband isn’t the only AFOL. VLM

GO BRICK-BY-BRICK AT: LEGOLAND CALIFORNIA RESORT 1 Legoland Dr., Carlsbad, CA 92008 (760) 918-5346 california.legoland.com

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home garden Go Green TO Save Green ENERGY SAVING TIPS THAT WILL HELP YOU SAVE MONEY IN THE LONG RUN

BY BREANNE DEMORE

Going green, or ensuring that your practices and products are environmentally friendly, isn’t always easy, or easy on the wallet. However, while some of the energy-saving tips and products are more costly at first, oftentimes they end up saving you money in the long run. Here are some of the most effective green tips that will save you “green” in the future.

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home&garden

COOL OFF Doors open; vents closed Make sure to keep as many interior doors open as you can so that the air can flow freely through your home, but close any vents in rooms that you aren’t using so that you aren’t shooting money into an empty room.

Ceiling fans The typical ceiling fan uses no more energy than the standard light bulb—but they last a long time. The breeze of a fan can make you feel three to four degrees cooler without changing the thermostat.

Programmable thermostat These might be more costly off the bat, but having one of these guys adjust the temperature of your home throughout the day, will save you energy and keep your bill low.

WARM UP Rise slowly When you want to warm up, remember to raise the temperature on your thermostat slowly—doing this quickly will activate the heat strip, which uses more energy than you’ll want to pay for.

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Upgrade your heat pump Change out your heat pump for an energy-efficient one that can eventually help cut your costs in half.

Old fashioned solar heat No, this kind doesn’t require fancy panels on your roof. Leave window shades and blind open during the day to let the warm sunlight fill your house.

SHED SOME LIGHT Detect motion Installing motion detector lights throughout your home will ensure you’re only lighting rooms that have people in them—and more importantly, NOT lighting rooms that people have just left.

APPLIANCE APPLICATIONS Dust behind the fridge Make sure that you keep the coils behind your refrigerator free and clear of dust—use a coil vacuum or duster to keep them clean to keep costs low.

Fill your freezer A full freezer uses less energy than an empty one, so plan ahead with your meals and keep a small stockpile in your freezer.

Remember: full loads Remember to wash full loads of laundry and to make sure your dishwasher is full before you run it.

Do all of your laundry at once We don’t mean in the same load, but doing multiple loads all in a row saves your dryer energy by not letting it cool down before warming it up again.

Dry just right Try not to over-dry your clothes—it uses unnecessary energy and causes static and wrinkling. And air dry your lighter fabrics when possible. Also, instead of using your dishwasher’s drying cycle, turn it off after the final rinse and let your dishes air dry.

Copper bottom Using copper bottomed pots and pans uses heat more efficiently when preparing meals on the stove.

Lamp shade Choose light colored or opaque lamp shades and always make sure to put lamps in the corner of rooms so that they reflect their light off two walls.

Check your bulbs Make sure you are using the correct light bulb to light the room/area and make sure they are efficient.

They may cost more upfront, but you’ll love how rarely you have to change them.

Plan around seasons Try to plan your meals around the seasons. Summertime?

Grill outside to keep the oven from heating up the house and the air conditioner from working even harder.

Winter? Embrace the warm oven in your kitchen— figuratively, not literally.

Don’t be a snoop Keep the oven door closed while cooking. The temperature can drop as much as 25 degrees every time the door is opened. VLM

VALLEY LIFESTYLES MAGAZINE | MARCH 2015

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Irish Eyes Smile ON THE HARP IRISH PUB

BY LYNETTE CARRINGTON PHOTOS BY SAM NALVEN

When Irish eyes are smiling, they are no doubt enjoying a meal at Mesa’s The Harp Irish Pub. Co-owners and managers Darren Hickman and Shaun Claypole hail from the U.K., where they owned two bar and restaurants. The duo arrived in the U.S. from across the pond back in 2005.

Together, Hickman and Claypole owned Churchill’s Pub and Grill in Chandler from 2005 to 2010. They opened The Harp in 2009 when another Irish restaurant in the same location closed, and then decided to retain The Harp as their sole restaurant. This time, the luck of the Irish was smiling on the enchanting pub.

The Harp's essential corned beef is served with cabbage and their homemade red skin mashed potatoes--a twist on the traditional faire.

VALLEY LIFESTYLES MAGAZINE | MARCH 2015

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food&wine

FOOD SPOTLIGHT

ABOVE: The Shepherd's Pie will give the Irish a traditional taste of the homeland.

BELOW: The Irish nachos appetizer is a decadent treat of waffle fries topped with corned beef and cheddar with a chipotle dipping sauce.

OPPOSITE: It's not a pub without fish and chips and The Harp will keep you coming back again and again for theirs.

“We’re not Irish, but we are from Europe, and we feel that we can give Americans a more authentic Irish, English and European experience. Most of the recipes we have are from our parents and grandparents,” Hickman says.

Much of the furniture, fixtures and bar is from Ireland, and when coupled with the dark wood floors and old world style brickwork, may just make visitors forget they’re in Mesa.

Hickman and Claypole spend a lot of time in the kitchen along with a prep chef, with the authentic flavors of the Irish dishes flourishes under their watchful eyes.

How’s this for something that’s a wee bit different?

Nachos get the Emerald Isle treatment with Irish Nachos. The appetizer starts with waffle fries that are then piled high with diced corned beef, cheddar cheese and a chipotle dipping sauce.

But that doesn’t mean the bar is above American classics. The Classic Bacon Cheeseburger is a popular menu item.

“Being mainly an Irish pub, we have to have some American dishes to satisfy everyone who comes in,” Hickman says.

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VALLEY LIFESTYLES MAGAZINE | MARCH 2015

food&wine

FOOD SPOTLIGHT

The burger boasts a half pound ground sirloin beef, grilled to order and topped with crisp applewood-smoked bacon and melted cheddar cheese on a soft brioche bun. It is served with pub fries or other substitutions include salad, handbattered onion rings, garlic fries or sweet potato fries for $1 extra.

If a more traditional Irish dish is what you crave, the Shepherd’s Pie is what to order. The hearty entree includes ground sirloin and onions and carrots drenched in rich beef gravy.

“It’s topped with our own homemade red skin mashed potatoes and a little cheese,” Hickman says.

Red skin potatoes really do provide a different flavor profile than traditional mashed russet potatoes, making this entrée extra special.

What pub experience would be complete without fish and chips? The Harp gives their guests a choice between a generous helping of battered and lightly friend cod or haddock, served with pub fries and a wickedly delicious house made tartar sauce and homemade coleslaw. Other dishes at The

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VALLEY LIFESTYLES MAGAZINE | MARCH 2015

Harp include Irish bangers and mash, traditional corned beef, flaky pastry pasties and a selection of salads, soups and flatbreads.

Whatever you order, save room for the pot o’ gold that is the Bread and Butter Pudding. Even St. Patrick himself can’t resist the temptation of the freshly baked pudding dessert with plump raisins and rich vanilla topped with creamy caramel and whipped cream. It’s made-to-order and Hickman and Claypole wouldn’t have it any other way.

St. Patrick’s Day at The Harp can get wackier than a leprechaun after a gallon of green beer, so reservations and takeout are not available that day. A limited Irish menu and a large variety of beer and cocktails will be available from 11 a.m. until midnight. VLM

GO BRAGH AT: THE HARP IRISH PUB 1744 S. Val Vista Dr., Mesa (480) 507-7827

Complete your pub experience with a few pints.

(Guinness IS good for you, after all!) Plus, green beer is always festive.

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Baking all of their breads without oils, eggs or any other fats and using honey instead of sugar, Jay insists that his breads are actually quite healthy!

However, they have a line of sweets, including cookies, brownies, scones, muffins and their famous cinnamon rolls, that are intended for your splurge days.

Easily their most popular item, the cinnamon rolls are sweet without being too sweet. Light and fluffy, they are still substantial and filling and the cinnamon is bold but not overpowering the rest of the flavors. VLM

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food&wine

IN SEASON ASPARAGUS

ASPARAGUS

BY BREANNE DEMORE

Asparagus has quite the history. Pictured as an offering on an Egyptian frieze dating back to 3000 B.C., asparagus has been used as a vegetable and a medicine all around Europe, northern Africa and western Asia since ancient times. A recipe for cooking the vegetable is even found in the oldest cookbook known to man.

Greeks and Romans ate it fresh when it was in season and then dried it for use in the winter. Emperor Augustus even coined the expression “faster than cooking asparagus” for times of quick action.

Although asparagus drew little attention during medieval times, it was celebrated as an aphrodisiac in the 1400s and became available to the United States around 1850.

In addition to its delicate and delicious flavor, asparagus is low in calories and sodium and is full of vitamins and minerals. In addition to being full of fiber, asparagus is also an excellent source of Vitamin B6, calcium, magnesium, zinc, protein, beta-carotene, Vitamin C, Vitamin E, Vitamin K and potassium. Plus, it is a good source of chromium, which enhances the ability of insulin to transport glucose from the bloodstream into the cells.

Asparagus can be cooked a variety of ways and incorporated into plenty of recipes. Roasting or broiling them in your oven with just some olive oil and garlic salt makes a simple and nutritious side dish to any protein. Asparagus can also be steamed, pickled and grilled. VLM 58

VALLEY LIFESTYLES MAGAZINE | MARCH 2015

Prosciutto Wrapped Asparagus INGREDIENTS:

½ pound sliced prosciutto • ½ package Neufchatel cheese, softened • 12 spears fresh asparagus DIRECTIONS:

1. Preheat oven to 450 degrees. 2. Spread prosciutto slices with Neufchatel cheese.

Wrap slices around two or three asparagus spears. Arrange wrapped spears in a single layer on a medium baking sheet. 3. Bake 15 minutes in the preheated over, until asparagus is tender. *Recipe courtesy allrecipes.com

< Asparagus Frittata INGREDIENTS:

1 tsp. butter • 2 cups grated white cheddar • 1 small bunch chives, coarsely chopped Salt • 20 spears asparagus, trimmed • 12 eggs, lightly beaten • 2 small yellow onions, peeled and chopped • 2 small carrots, peeled, trimmed and finely grated • 1 cup self-rising flour • 1 cup milk • Freshly ground black pepper DIRECTIONS:

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Grease a 12 cup Bundt pan with butter, set aside.

Mix ½ cup of the cheese and one tsp. of the chives together in a small bowl and set aside. 2. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil over high heat and cook asparagus until tender (three to four minutes). Drain, cool under cold running water and then pat dry. Cut asparagus into ¼ inch-thick pieces and transfer to a large bowl. Add eggs, onions, carrots, flour, milk, remaining one ½ cups cheese, one tsp. salt and ¼ tsp. pepper and mix well. Pour batter into prepared pan and bake until firm, about 45 minutes. Allow frittata to cool in pan on a wire rack.

3. Preheat broiler. Invert frittata onto a sheet pan. Sprinkle top with cheese and chives and broil until cheese just melts (one to two minutes). Transfer to serving plate. *Recipe courtesy saveur.com

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food&wine

RESTAURANT GUIDE

taku THIS FAMILY (AND DATE NIGHT!) FRIENDLY, locally owned sushi and Asian fusion restaurant is conveniently located just south of the 202 San Tan on Gilbert Road in the Watermark Center. Valley diners will love the way Otaku’s staff combine an obsession for the freshest fish and weekly specialty items with a fanatical belief that guests should be welcomed and made to feel welcome. For guests that don’t enjoy sushi, they have a full selection of hot food from a variety of cuisines including Chinese, Thai, Korean and Japanese. Stop in today and discover your local Asian destination.

CALLING ALL BREAKFAST LOVERS! If you haven’t been to the Henhouse Cafe you are truly missing out. You’ll feel right at home with the friendly atmosphere and shabby chic decor. Our food is purchased locally from farm to table, We even make our own sausage in house. It’s high quality comfort food that will delight your taste buds The menu is bursting with egg items from the griddle to chicken and waffles. The homemade sausage and homemade green chile sauce is so delicious!!

We don’t think you can go wrong with anything on the Henhouse Cafe menu.

2430 S. Gilbert Rd. Suite 5, Chandler (480)821-3908 otakusushi.com facebook.com/otakusushi

3244 E Guadalupe Rd., Gilbert (480) 219-7379. www.henhouse-cafe.com Mon-Sun: 6:30am-2:00pm

TO THE DELIGHT of its hordes of hungry and devoted fans, Gecko Grill has reopened and is now on the southwest corner of Baseline and Greenfield roads. This family owned business serves authentic Mexican food, is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner and has an extensive catering menu. Gecko Grill is very welcoming with a fun blend of families and singles and ranged in age from babies to grandparents. Just as the website says, “Warning: This restaurant is habit forming!”

4341 E. Baseline Road, Gilbert (480) 539-2988. www.geckogrillaz.com

THE LIVING ROOM WINE CAFÉ AND LOUNGE has been drawing crowds in Chandler’s Downtown Ocotillo neighborhood since opening in 2009, and has recently opened a second location in DC Ranch Marketplace.

The Living Room is all about hospitality and staying true to their mantra of love, laugh and lounge. All ages are welcome. The Living Room is truly the modern day version of the Irish Pub and neighborhood unrushed hangout; its a chill lounge. Experience sharable food, 25 wines and sangrias by the glass, a handpicked list of wines by the bottle, beers and a full line of spirits in soft seating or on one of the cozy patios.

2475 W. Queen Creek Rd., Chandler (480) 855-2848. www.livingroomwinebar.com

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CHoP CHANDLER is Chandler’s first locally owned steakhouse and grill. Featuring steak, seafood and the new burger bar menu.

Simply prepared seasonal fish and nightly specials are cooked to perfection on the seven-foot mesquite hardwood grill. Salads, fresh vegetables, desserts, vegetarian and lighter fare options also grace the menu. The energetic social atmosphere is amplified around the U-shaped bar. The intimate interior is filled with amber lighting, wood finishes and plush chocolate leather booths. Enjoy an extensive wine list, beers and spirits. Happy hour 4 to 6 pm. ChoP’s private dining area will accommodate parties of 50, is equipped and perfect for business meetings.

2625 W. Queen Creek Rd., Chandler (480) 821-0009. www.chopchandler.com

IF YOU ARE LOOKING FOR A FAMILY OWNED and operated smokehouse and BBQ restaurant, your search is over. A one-ofa-kind, family-friendly enviroment welcomes you to enjoy fully delicious on-site smoked meats and made-from-scratch signature sides and desserts.

Simply setting the standard for quality BBQ. Fun Place. Serious Bar-b-Que. 1633 S Stapley, Mesa (US60/Stapley) (480) 707-9009 PigglysCatering@Gmail.com

PARADISE BAKERY - AT SANTAN VILLAGE. Is all that shopping making you hungry? Stop

by Paradise Bakery & Cafe at San Tan Village shopping center for a wide variety of menu selections including delicious cookies and baked goods, breakfast items, soups, salads and sandwiches. All of our menu items are prepared daily with only the finest ingredients available, just as you would at home.

We are a “hands-on” bakery and cafe concept, which is what sets us apart and keeps our loyal customers coming back, again and again. We look forward to seeing you at Paradise Bakery & Cafe at San Tan Village!

2156 E. Williams Field Rd., Gilbert (480) 889-7080. www.paradisebakery.com Mon-Fri 6am-9pm; Sat 7am-9pm; Sun 7am-8pm Breakfast: Mon-Fri 6-10am; Sat & Sun 7-11am | Free Wi-Fi

HIGH TIDE SEAFOOD BAR AND GRILL understands that great seafood is hard to come by, but Chef Eric Emlet makes it his mission to serve only the best. The fish is flown in daily from the finest purveyor on the West Coast— Santa Monica Seafood. Some of the items on the menu are considered boutique. The salmon is sushi-grade and comes from a tiny purveyor called Skuna Bay off the west coast of Vancouver Island. And don’t forget the oysters!

The restaurant has an open quality and the steam pots sit behind a U-shaped bar, so if you wish, you can enjoy a cocktail and watch your gorgeous seafood being prepared. High Tide has a full bar with a premium well, a varied wine list and eight craft beers on tap.

2540 S. Val Vista Dr., Gilbert (480) 821-9950 www.hightideseafoodbar.com Sun-Thurs 11am-9pm Friday and Saturday 11am-12am

CANTINA LAREDO - AT SANTAN VILLAGE. Serving modern Mexican food in a sophisticated, vibrant atmosphere. The Mexico City-style menu includes grilled fish, chicken and steaks complimented by signature sauces such as chipotle-wine with portobello mushrooms or sauteéd artichoke hearts and roasted red bell peppers. Enjoy the awardwinning signature margarita, the Casa Rita, made from fresh lime juice and the finest tequila. Serving lunch, dinner, drinks, Sunday brunch. Full service catering and private event dining available.

2150 E. Williams Field Rd., Gilbert (480) 782-6777. www.Cantinalaredo.com Sun-Thurs: 11am-10pm Fri & Sat: 11am-11pm

Seafood Market & Restaurant SEAFOOD MARKET & RESTAURANT is a family owned establishment which opened in 1991 in Mesa. It is not only a restaurant but a fresh seafood market too, just as the name suggests. Fish & shellfish selections are delivered daily and are always fresh, never thawed.

And we only buy the BEST! With an extensive mouth-watering menu to include King Salmon, Scallops, Crab, Lobster & Orange Roughy, there is also delicious chicken, juicy steaks & pasta for guests to enjoy. Seafood Market has won several recognition awards including being honored with a 4 out of 4 star rating.

3406 E. Baseline Rd., Mesa (Val Vista Rd.) (480) 633-1580 www.seafoodmarketrestaurant.com

ROCK LOBSTER IS THE SUSHI ROOM reinvented. Promising fun, energy and the authentic creativity of Teppanyaki. Rock Lobster has 25 menu items and all of The Sushi Room favorites. A huge Sake line-up, Asian beers and spirits add to any occasion. The Teppanyaki room is perfect for special events and celebrations. This is Downtown Ocotillo’s place to party, an exciting night out and affordable for families. Happy hour daily. Reservations are suggested for the Teppanyaki tables.

2475 W. Queen Creek Rd., Chandler (480) 821-9000. www.rocklobsterrocks.com

SOCAL FISH TACO COMPANY – IN DOWNTOWN GILBERT. The coastal Californiainspired food café has given Gilbert’s Heritage District surf vibe. From the East Valley family which established Mesa’s Seafood Market three decades ago, SoCal Fish Taco Company is a beachcomber’s take on today’s gastropub, serving premium microbrews and quick, zesty, affordable food in unfussy under-roof and underthe-stars patio settings. Fish tacos, wraps, fresh salads, crab cakes, large shrimp, raw oysters and chowder in a bread bowl: This is food you buy on the beach or from taco stands near the beach in El Segundo, Marina del Rey, Manhattan Beach and Coronado Island. This is food that brings thoughts of the waves, billowing blue sky and feet-in-thesand summer memories.

219. N. Gilbert Rd., Gilbert (480) 80-SOCAL (76225). www.socalfishtacos.com Mon-Sat: 11am-9pm, Closed Sundays

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datebook

GREAT DATES

Andy Warhol: Portraits WEDNESDAY, MARCH 4 THROUGH SUNDAY, JUNE 21

One of the most influential and celebrated artists of the 20th century, Andy Warhol is known for his pop culture-centric, brightly colored images that led the Pop Art movement. Some of his more celebrated works include selfportraits, as well as portraits of the era’s most revered celebrities, including Queen Elizabeth II, Jackie Kennedy and Sylvester Stallone. This exhibition includes more than 170 drawings, videos, paintings and photographs spanning the ‘40s to the ‘80s. Phoenix Art Museum, 1625 N. Central Ave., Phoenix, (602) 257-1880, phxart.org

COMPILED BY BREANNE DEMORE

Jerry Seinfeld FRIDAY, MARCH 6

Man hands. Soup Nazi. Close Talkers. Oh, and what is the deal with double dippers anyway? Jerry Seinfeld rose to fame as the semi-fictional version of himself in the sitcom “Seinfeld,” which he co-created and co-wrote with Larry David. For nine seasons, the four main characters of “Seinfeld” shared experiences navigating life in New York City. After finishing up “Seinfeld” in 1998, Seinfeld has guest starred on multiple televisions series and now stars in his own web series, “Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee.” Comerica Theatre, 400 W. Washington St., Phoenix, (602) 379-2800, comericatheatre.com

Cesar Millan Live SATURDAY, MARCH 7

He’s known by his fans, both human and canine, as the dog whisperer. And for good reason. Cesar Millan is a master dog and people trainer. He’s a couples’ therapist for dogs and their humans. Millan gained fame with his reality TV show “Dog Whisperer with Cesar Millan” in which he would travel to people’s homes and train them on training their dogs. Now on his traveling tour, Millan will be joined on stage by his famous dog, Junior, where he will share his philosophies and methods and then present live examples with multiple dogs. Chandler Center for the Arts, 250 N. Arizona Ave., Chandler, (480) 782-2680, chandlercenter.org

Devoured Phoenix Culinary Classic SATURDAY, MARCH 7 AND SUNDAY, MARCH 8

Founded on the idea that food can bring people together, Devoured Culinary Classic is Phoenix’s premiere culinary event. By bringing together the culinary leaders that are making a name for themselves in Phoenix, as well as helping put Phoenix on the culinary map. It has quickly earned the reputation of being the most anticipated food event of the year. Over 100 restaurant owners, food producers, chefs, distillers, craft beer brewers and winemakers come together to create a truly incredible edible experience for 4,000 guests. Phoenix Art Museum, 1625 N. Central Ave., Phoenix, (602) 257-1880, phxart.org

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VALLEY LIFESTYLES MAGAZINE | MARCH 2015

Boyz II Men THURSDAY, MARCH 12

Originally a quartet who found fame in the ‘90s on Motown Records, Boys II Men may now be a trio, but they are still known for their heartfelt, emotional ballads and undeniable a cappella harmonies. Now an important part of American pop culture, the group is also an international sensation.

Fans of the band can expect to hear hits such as “End of the Road,” “I’ll Make Love to You,” “One Sweet Day” and “On Bended Knee” as well as songs off of their new album, Collide,, which was released in 2014. LiveWire, 7320 E. Indian Plaza, Scottsdale, (480) 970-6980, livewireaz.com

Ostrich Festival FRIDAY, MARCH 13 THROUGH SUNDAY, MARCH 15

One of Chandler’s favorite annual events, the Ostrich Festival celebrates its 27th anniversary this year, and if you haven’t been before, you should definitely make time for it. Attendees can expect exciting ostrich races, duck races, a family magic show, a Texas Thrill show, plus appearances by Laura Marano, Ally from Disney’s “Austin & Ally” and country singer Colt Ford. Tumbleweed Regional Park, 2250 S. McQueen Rd., Chandler, (866) 993-2477, ostrichfestival.com

Pot of Gold Music Festival FRIDAY, MARCH 13 THROUGH TUESDAY, MARCH 17

No matter your taste in music, the Pot of Gold Music Festival has a day for you.

Starting off Friday with AWOLNATION, Chromeo, Joywave and “Pompeii” singers Bastille, the party continues on Saturday with Slightly Stoopid, Schoolboy Q, Aer, hometown boys Kongos and hip-hop superstar Kendrick Lamar. Sunday is headlined by Fall Out Boy, but you won’t want to miss Milky Chance, New Politics and Echosmith. Finally, ring in St. Patrick’s Day properly with Korn, Godsmack, Chevelle and Rite to Remain. Tempe Beach Park, 30 W. Rio Salado Pkwy., Tempe, potofgoldaz.com

The Great American Barbeque & Beer Festival SATURDAY, MARCH 21

It’s time to get your stomachs ready. Over 100 exhibitors and over 60 pit masters from all over America will be serving up 20,000 pounds (Yes, that is the correct number of zeros.) of saucy pork ribs, mouth-watering pulled pork, beautiful brisket and zesty chicken at the Great American BBQ & Beer Festival. And don’t worry, beer lovers, you’ll be taken care of, too—only the finest craft beer will be served alongside the masterpieces of meat. Chandler Park, 3 S. Arizona Ave., Chandler, (480) 234-4232, chandlerbbq.com

Kathy Griffin FRIDAY, MARCH 20 AND SATURDAY, MARCH 21

Known for her controversial comedy where she shares all of the latest celebrity gossip and her now defunct TV show, “My Life on the D-List,” Kathy Griffin has made a name for herself by humble bragging about her experiences as low-level celebrity. Having taken over for the late Joan Rivers on “Fashion Police,” Griffin is once again on the small screen sharing her hilarious thoughts on celebrities and their fashion choices. Fans can expect to laugh out loud at her uncouth observations and brutally honest confessions. Wild Horse Pass Casino, 5040 W. Wild Horse Pass Blvd, Chandler, (520)796.7777, wingilariver.com/wild-horse-pass

Marie Osmond SATURDAY, MARCH 28

“She’s a little bit country . . .” Marie Osmond herself is making her way to the Valley! Gaining fame as part of the family singing group, The Osmonds, Marie shot to superstardom when she hosted a TV variety show with her brother, Donny, from 1976 to 1979. After that, Marie hit it off as a solo country music artist into the 1980s. She appealed to a new generation in 2007 when she stared in TV’s “Dancing with Stars” and then in 2008 when Donny and Marie partnered yet again to star in their own show in residence at the Flamingo Hotel in Las Vegas. Wild Horse Pass, 5040 W. Wild Horse Pass Blvd., Chandler, (520)796-7777, wingilariver.com/wild-horse-pass VALLEY LIFESTYLES MAGAZINE | MARCH 2015

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last word

FINAL THOUGHTS

SPRING (NOT) CLEANING

BY BREANNE DEMORE

I tend to be a little messy.

I’m not the messiest person I know by far, but I tend to have a problem putting things away.

After I graduated from college, I lived with my friends for about two years before I moved back in with my parents to save money. Fitting everything from an apartment into my (already full) childhood room has made for some . . . piles.

Every time they walk by my room, every single family member feels the need to comment about how messy it is.

“Where do you even sleep?!”

“Have you ever tripped in the middle of the night on your way to the restroom?”

“How can you find anything?”

These are all questions—well, more just exclamations—that I hear on a regular basis. And they are right. My clothes are piled high at the end of my bed. I still have boxes of books and toiletries that I had in my apartment scattered around my room.

My high school and college textbooks and notebooks are gathering dust on my desk— in the same place I left them on the last day of school.

It’s not that I enjoy the growing piles 64

VALLEY LIFESTYLES MAGAZINE | MARCH 2015

around my room, I just seem to always have something more pressing to do and knowing that living with my parents is just a temporary situation until I find a place of my own doesn’t help the “I’ll do it later” attitude. I enjoy having a tidy space as much as the next person, but does it keep me up at night? Not a chance.

Then a few days ago one of my sisters sent the rest of my family a group text message explaining that she was going to do a spring cleaning program that she found online and asked if anyone else wanted to do it with her. The idea was to do “40 bags in 40 days.” You de-clutter, either throwing away or giving away, one small area of your home everyday so that little by little, it gets transformed and you don’t wear yourself out in the mean time.

Immediately the comments started rolling in.

“Breanne, are you interested?”

“Oh, I’m sure Breanne would love to participate.”

“Where would Breanne even start?!”

I giggled at their comments, thought about it for a minute and decided that I would pass. Does my life need a little de-

cluttering? Absolutely. Do I need to be pressured into doing it by those around me? Not a chance.

In the age of Facebook, Instagram and Pinterest, it is very easy to compare ourselves to others and make ourselves feel badly about not stacking up. A day doesn’t go by when I don’t see a beautiful, well-decorated and clutter-free room on my Instagram feed. I can’t get on Pinterest without seeing “20 life hacks for keeping your life clutter free!” But the fact of the matter is, not all of us have the same relationship with cleaning as the people posting those pictures or articles. Some of us are less concerned about making sure all of our clothes are neatly folded in our closet and more concerned about making sure we spend quality time with our family and friends (or getting a good night’s sleep). And forcing yourself to live up to the expectations that another has for their own life will only hurt you in the end.

So will I be participating in “40 bags in 40 days”? Not right now. Do I need to de-clutter my room? Yes, but it will only successfully happen when I am ready. VLM