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 ...

A guy’s perspective on matters of the heart and home Dear Dirk, My wife is dying to have another baby, and it’s not working out for us. We’ve been trying for about four months now, and no dice. This is concerning her because we’ve never had to try this hard in the past (we have three boys). The truth is that I only half want another kid and have second thoughts all the time. I am worried that my inability t ...

Ladder Down Use repetition to your advantage to lose the fat and build muscle using this simple, effective workout.   By Shannon Dougherty and Kim Miller Photos by Stephanie Heymann, stephanieheymannphotography.com Moving your body daily can make a big difference in your long-term health. Workouts don’t have to be complex to be effective. This ladder-down workout repeats the same move several times on ...

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 ...

By Sondra Barr Photos by Chadwick Fowler Styling by Shannon Campbell Hair & Makeup by Lillian Fogel Alexis’s clothing provided by Saks Fifth Avenue   Serious-injury and wrongful-death law are about justice and accountability, according to Mark and Alexis Breyer. As the husband-and-wife law team behind Breyer Law Offices, they’ve each distinguished themselves as among the best attorneys in these cat ...

76th Street Writer Lynette Carrington gets to know a local young indie pop duo.   Haley Gold and Spencer Bryant know each other so well that they can finish each other’s sentences. What has been a nearly lifelong friendship has grown into the dynamic indie pop duo known as 76th Street. The two 18-year-olds are studying business communications at ASU and manage to keep up with their burgeoning music car ...

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 ...

Slow Down  Photo by Scott E. Whitney Photography If you’re like most North Valley parents, you’re probably already feeling overwhelmed and overburdened with commitments. If your to-do list has no end in sight, then it is time to slow down. At about the time I was in over my head juggling the demands of motherhood, managing my business, and volunteering for every great cause that came my way, I decided I nee ...

  Local Bistro, located at 20581 North Hayden Road in the Hayden Peak Crossing shopping plaza, has reopened its doors with a fully renovated interior and patio area as well as enhanced menus and generous weekly features.   Local design architect and restaurant designer Ivonek Badilla, principal of EVODESIGN, and in collaboration with Todd Kessell of Platinum Commercial and Ron Hecht of Valley Arch ...

76th Street Writer Lynette Carrington gets to know a local young indie pop duo.   Haley Gold and Spencer Bryant know each other so well that they can finish each other’s sentences. What has been a nearly lifelong friendship has grown into the dynamic indie pop duo known as 76th Street. The two 18-year-olds are studying business communications at ASU and manage to keep up with their burgeoning music car ...

Paint & Sip  Writer Julie Carlson on a hot new trend that combines artistry and wine.   Are you tired of doing the same old thing on date night or girls’ night out? Maybe you’ve been wanting to put a different twist on an upcoming birthday party, a wedding anniversary, or a bachelorette party. If so, then a paint-and-sip outing may be just what you were looking for. The paint-and-sip concept has be ...

2015 Lincoln MKC This all-new model holds its own against worldwide competition, says auto writer Greg Rubenstein. There was a time—and not too long ago—when the notion that a Lincoln could compete against a BMW, an Audi, a Lexus, a Mercedes-Benz, or an Acura was theoretically possible but credibly implausible. That time is no more, and Ford’s Dearborn, Michigan-based luxury brand produces American-made pro ...

Celebrating 10 years in the North Valley This year marks our 10th anniversary serving the North Valley. We’re proud of this milestone and the mileage we’ve accrued getting to 2015. Flipping through our first issue (yes, that’s the first North Valley Magazine cover on the right!), we can’t help but notice that a lot has changed. But some things have stayed consistent, including a number of names on our masth ...

Shake, Rattle––and Don’t Roll Your Ankle!  [caption id="attachment_1420" align="alignright" width="300"] Spokane Shock at Arizona Rattlers (Matt Hinshaw/Arizona Rattlers)[/caption] By Alison Bailin Batz Turns out, the five-time Arena Football League (AFL) Champion Arizona Rattlers have a secret weapon off the field––local students! “Since 2006, the AZ Rattlers have partnered with Carrington College and its ...