Spring Cleaning 101 From an epic house-cleaning playlist to cleaning your home naturally, Kristin Caliendo makes spring-cleaning easy breezy.   You shouldn’t feel defined by whether or not your windows shine, but it’s hard not to judge your own housekeeping skills when trying to stay ahead of the gunk and grime that inevitably comes with having kids. I’ve found that being a step ahead of the mess helps ...

Girl (Scout) Power Local chefs support area troops in sweetest way possible By Alison Bailin Batz Did you know that the Girl Scout cookie program is the largest girl-led business in the world, and it’s focused far beyond simply ensuring you get your annual Thin Mint fix? In fact, the goal of this Girl Scout rite of passage is actually to teach girls the critical entrepreneurial skills of goal setting, decis ...

Yoga & Poetry  Scottsdale’s Samantha Lang combines her passions in a unique book designed to soothe the soul. By Jennifer Wolff As residents of the North Valley, most of us are busy people. Between working hard, taking care of families, countless social activities, dining out, events, outdoor adventures, and nightlife, we are an intensely vigorous group. Ask anyone these days how they are doing and the ...

Fall Follies  M.D. Thalmann laments his poor choices at Oktoberfest and football games Small pox isn't the only reason to thank European colonists! That’s right, I said it. Those pasty complected discoverers of already inhabited continents brought us style, culture, celebrations, sports, and libations. They likewise opened the door for all sorts of other interesting people to bring other wonderful bits of e ...

Sanctuary at Desert Ridge   Taylor Morrison is opening four exciting new communities at Desert Ridge. By Andrew Driggers Looking for impressive home designs in the North Phoenix area? Look no further than Sanctuary at Desert Ridge from Taylor Morrison. The Valley-based homebuilder is excited to announce a sensational lineup of new floor plans that are coming to the popular Desert Ridge area this fall. Locat ...

Performance Art Celebrate with the stars during the Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts 40th anniversary. By Julie Carlson Influential Afro-Cuban jazz pianist, composer, and arranger Chucho Valdes will perform a concert at Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts as part of its 40th-anniversary celebration. Scottsdale’s arts community has a lot to celebrate this year. Nestled within the vibrant park ...

  A Life Well Lived For retirees Sue and Morry Himmel, a beautiful life continues in Scottsdale   “Retirement doesn’t mean we stop being us,” says Sue Himmel. “It just means we get to indulge a little more.” According to Sue, she and Morry, her husband of 62 years, have led a joy-filled and active lifestyle and wouldn’t change a thing, and that includes where they now call home––Maravilla Scottsda ...

Newfound Freedom M.D. Thalmann revels in all his free time after his kids head back to school.   It’s about that time, when the sun starts to become a little more forgiving and you don’t have to listen to a cacophony of “I’m bored” because the kids are back in school after a long summer. I have a few things to say about all the fun activities that parents can do with the “extra” free time they’ll gain ...

Local mommies dish about their secret feelings about motherhood––and it’s not all cuddles and kisses.   By Kristin Caliendo Motherhood can be so many things. Motherhood is messy. Motherhood is loud. Motherhood is amazing! At the end of the day, there’s always a light at the end of the tunnel, a ray of hope, a silver lining. So hang in there and try not to take yourself too seriously. Here are some ligh ...

Centennial Anniversary: Arizona State Library, Archives and Public Records  By Julie Carlson Libraries are a haven for avid readers and researchers. Throughout the changing times, libraries have remained strong and diligent by keeping up with progress by preserving information, artifacts, and reading materials for the general public and for generations to come. Such is the case with the Arizona State Librar ...

All Kindergarten-aged Children Birthday Party  The Cave Creek Unified School District (CCUSD) will be holding a birthday party for all kindergarten-aged children on Sat., July 25, 2015. The birthday party will be held at Desert Sun Academy, 27800 N. 64th St., Scottsdale from 10 a.m. to noon. Each elementary school and Education and Community Services (ECS) will be there to answer parent questions, celebrate ...