Yummy Fall Flavors Team North columnist Erika Monroe-Williams serves up a tasty seasonal treat––butternut squash risotto in a festive jack-o’-lantern.  Oh, how I love the fall! There’s a feeling in the air here in Arizona that things are about to get really great. I have always noticed that right around Halloween, the weather becomes absolutely perfect and there’s no other place in the country I’d rather be ...

Say goodbye to an old standbye By Nanette Makrauer for North Valley Magazine  I’ve got something simple for you to take away today, that will reduce the toxic load in your home with one simple change… Get rid of plastic storage containers! Yep… you will substantially reduce your toxic exposure with this tip. Rummage through your drawers, kitchen and refrigerator, and remove and replace them with glass. You ...

How to plan professional parties By Jamila Watson for North Valley Magazine  I have been planning parties for a while now. It's truly a passion of mine. Ask anyone and they would tell you that Jamila loves parties! Before I started planning parties professionally, I would take my daughters on their "weekend journey" from party to party.  Way too often, I would see kids running around everywhere because ther ...

Who are you?   By Kathy Bass for North Valley Magazine “Who are you?” seems like such a simple question, yet many choose to start forming opinions about someone by asking this question first: “So, what do you do?”  That seemingly innocent, yet commonly feared question causes people to avoid events, choke from anxiety and even stutter or stumble for words.  Anyone who has been laid off or fired and has ...

Women over 50: How do we do it? By Judith Herbig for North Valley Magazine There is everything wonderful about women in general, but when you get to the magic age when AARP starts sending you invitations to join, things get even better.  I know.  I‘ve been getting the invites for some time now. We get so much information telling us what we should be doing and not doing.  We’re offered diets, health warnings ...

Just lean in By Trish Dolasinski for North Valley Magazine “Don’t hold back, just lean in,” says Facebook COO, Sheryl Sandberg, in her nonfiction book, Lean In. Sandberg refreshingly clears the path that offers an enlightening journey for all women, whether in the workplace or at home, while including benefits for the men who support them. In fact, the single most important career decision a woman makes is ...

  The Magic of Color: Inspired by Nature By Heidi Rawson for North Valley Magazine As Frank Lloyd Wright once said, “Nature is the inspiration for all ornamentation.’ We all want to live in an inspired space, one which momentarily lifts our spirits, in a place we can call home.  I want to share with you some of my tried and true designer secrets for creating a fabulous space inspired by the colors of n ...

Making Your Food Appealing    By Stephanie Studer for North Valley Magazine Did you realize the food photos you see in your favorite cookbook or magazine are meticulously styled and constructed with your appetite in mind? That fork on the plate, and those extra crumbles of cheese on the salad did not land there by mistake, but instead lay there hoping you realize them and crave a bite! The art of styli ...

  DIY Project Corner By Kimmie Dillon for North Valley Magazine Temps are still soaring here in the valley, so now is a perfect time to update your interior space.  Making just a small tweak to your décor can have a big effect, like re-covering a lampshade.  By using some trendy fabric, you can give your tired lamp a high-end look that can brighten up any room in the house. And here’s the best part: sp ...

Say goodbye to dry! By Stacey Brooks for North Valley Magazine Summertime in Arizona is always rough on my skin. Literally! It seems like no matter how much sunscreen or moisturizer I apply my skin continues to peel and flake. Let’s be honest, dry skin is NOT attractive! So, I’ve been on a mission to get my skin back in tip top shape. Here’s a quick and easy exfoliating body scrub I’ve been using at home. O ...

Seven Secrets for nurturing a relationship that you want to live in  By Val McKinley for North Valley Magazine After 23 years of marriage, I divorced, and was later fortunate to fall in love with my current husband. We each brought two teenaged children to the marriage. Life was filled with much joy. After several months, reality set in, and I began to realize that my first marriage had started out as lovin ...

The inspiring power of the fallen  By Sara Frederick for North Valley Magazine This summer, my kids and I always drove home from camp through an intersection loaded with supermarkets and condominiums.  As I slowed for traffic one day, I saw a grey-haired woman on the sidewalk with her head on her walker.  She stood up, shuffled three steps, and put her head back down.  My dashboard thermometer showed a balm ...

I’m Married… Now What? By Amina Michele  for North Valley Magazine There’s so much fun and excitement surrounding your wedding day, but how do you keep the flame burning over the years? After the honeymoon stage, most couples get caught up in work, kids, and day-to-day activities. As a newlywed and entrepreneur, I completely get it, I am one of those who practices ‘active listening’ when my spouse calls and ...

Based on the huge response to our search for a sixth Team North columnist, North Valley Magazine is having readers decide who they’d like to see round out the team. To do this, we’re asking all those interested in becoming a Team North member to submit 1) 300-word sample Team North column on their preferred topic 2) A couple high-resolution headshots 3) 100-word bio. We’ll post this material here on the blo ...

By Sondra Barr  The North Valley Magazine crew had the pleasure of meeting Erika Monroe-Williams at her Paradise Valley estate recently to photograph and interview her for our June/July '13 cover story. Photographer Scott Whitney, stylist Shannon Campbell, and I were impressed by how sweet and down-to-earth this former news anchor is, as she welcomed us into her home and her life. Of course, home is where M ...