The Gift of the Magi

A friend recently posted the holiday tale, “The Gift of the Magi” on the web. If you are not familiar with the tale, a poor couple want to buy gifts they believe to be the other’s greatest desire. Since they have no money, each sacrifices a personal treasure to buy the other a gift – for the woman it is her long, beautiful hair, for the man, his antique watch. When they open their presents, the woman discovers the man has bought her jeweled combs for her now cropped hair and the man finds a beautiful gold chain for his sold watch.

The moral of the story is of course that unselfish love is the greatest gift and material possessions should not matter as much as we allow them to.

In that spirit, spread some love during this holiday season to those in need. Here are just a few of the many opportunities to participate in this season:

Book & Toy Drive - Fulton Homes and radio station KEZ 99.9 have teamed up with Phoenix Children’s Hospital to provide the children with a wonderful holiday. Drop off toys and books at the radio station or at the Borders at The Biltmore Fashion Park on Friday, December 11 from 4-6 p.m.

Home for the Holidays - Our four-legged friends are often forgotten at the holidays. This year, a donation of just $75 to the Humane Society of Southern Arizona allows an individual, family, business or school to become a sponsor and help a shelter pet find a permanent new home. The $75 will go towards caring for the animal until it is adopted.

Holiday Greeting Program – For a minimum donation of $10 per card, a beautiful, specially designed holiday card will be sent to your recipients whenever you wish – for Thanksgiving, Christmas or Hanukkah – and your gift is tax-deductible. The inside of the card informs those on your list that “a gift has been made in your honor to St. Mary’s Food Bank Alliance.” Personalized cards are also available for businesses.

My Little Stocking – Devereux Arizona, a nonprofit organization that cares for children and families with behavioral health and social welfare needs, is asking the community to help bring joy and hope to 700 children this holiday season. Volunteers can donate handmade stockings, as well as toys to place within. Donations can be delivered to Devereux Arizona treatment centers around the state.

2nd Annual Gold Canyon Gingerbread Festival - The MOMS Club of Gold Canyon is hosting the Gingerbread Festival at the Gold Canyon Golf Resort on Saturday, December 12. There will children’s activities, such as a gingerbread house decorating contest, face painting and music, as well as a raffle and dinner. All proceeds benefit the Pinal County Court Appointed Special Advocates.

The importance of feedback

You don’t stay in business as a publication for 20 years if you simply push your product.

Magazines are niche publications that cater to a specific demographic and their needs. For 20 years, Raising Arizona Kids has sought to share stories about parenting children of all ages, as well as deliver advice from trusted experts.

It is no secret that the ways in which the public gathers information are changing. As our reader’s needs change, we seek to adapt to better meet those needs. We’ve expanded our web content, added additional features such as RAK Radio and RAK Video, as well as moved into social networks to encourage interaction among our readers.

We want to make sure we’re headed in the right direction.

Photo by Shelia Dee

On Wednesday, December 9th, Raising Arizona Kids will host a focus group at 10 a.m. at the Paradise Valley Whole Foods. The group will focus on the usability of our Web site, the content parents would like to see in print, as well as feedback on our social networks. Whole Foods has kindly offered to provide complimentary coffee and pastries.

Decisions are made by those that show up. Help us make the 2010 issues of Raising Arizona Kids magazine the best ever.

Email katie@raisingarizonakids.com if you would like to attend. If you cannot attend, but have feedback you’d like to share, feel free to email me with your thoughts.

The joy of homemade gifts

Every holiday season, I agonize over what gifts to buy my friends and family. AGONIZE. I want to pick a gift I not only am certain will be loved, but will be seen as thoughtful and a display of my loyalty and devotion to the relationship.

It’s torture. Every year I think to myself, how does a necklace from American Eagle show my college-aged sister how proud I am of her school successes? Does this pedicure-in-a-box provide my mother with the same feeling of support and comfort she gives me every day?

Usually the answer is no. So last year, as the recession hit, my family made a decision to keep all gifts to under $10.

Oh man. What can you get for a measly $10?

Homemade gifts it is.

I found that making my family and friends gifts did not produce the same anxiety or worry that buying gifts had done. I enjoyed the process – the joy of making something with my own two hands.

This year, I collected materials for a homemade card making set for my sister Kelly. My sister Kim will be getting jars with pre-made recipes in them since she loves to bake.

If you are looking for great ideas for homemade gifts, check out these available resources.

25 holiday gift ideas you can make at home

22 heartfelt holiday presents you can make

Martha Stewart’s Santa’s Workshop

Sharon Bowerman’s blog, How can I help you?

Also, instead of buying cards this year, make them! This Saturday (Dec. 5), Gangplank in Chandler will be hosting a Christmas Craft Day from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The class will be led by Sharon Bowerman. Materials will be provided for paper snowflakes, 2 types of ornaments, gift boxes and snow globes. Suggested donation is $5.  [325 East Elliot Rd Suite 34, Chandler]

A big thanks

The next two days will provide lots of time to reflect on those in our life and what they mean to us. There will be many personal and heart-felt “thank yous” shared over meals and sweets. I myself will be video conferencing with my parents and two sisters tomorrow, as they celebrate in Chicago and I dine with my grandparents in L.A.

What makes this post unusual is my thanks is not directed at an individual, but instead community entities. Though essential parts of our lives, they rarely get special days of thanks and Thanksgiving is not typically directed towards businesses and organizations.

So here it goes. If you are thankful for a local organization or business, post a comment stating why and I will be happy to pass it on and/or post to our Facebook page.

Public library system — Thank you for providing endless hours of entertainment both wandering your halls looking for titles and sitting in your chairs reading them. Thank you for searching for my hold requests and meticulously alphabetizing them on a shelf so I can run in and check them out. Thank you for the free wifi that came in so handy during grad school, and the free classes you provide in financial management.

Fresh ‘n’ Easy — Thank you for being inexpensive and delicious. Thank you for being within walking distance of the Raising Arizona Kids’ office so I can save gas and walk to lunch. Thank you for always greeting me and offering your help when I’ve forgotten to grab some humus, because I always do.

Margaret T. Hance Park — Thank you for all the open green space to play nerf football and let me dog run free. Thank you for providing those little doggie bags for when I run out, because I always do.

Raising Arizona Kids — Thanks for giving me a job =) Thanks for having a staff of fantastic women and men that make everyday productive AND entertaining. Thank you for having a snack box that is always filled with goodies and letting Mala bring little puppy Bonnie to work so I have a dog to nuzzle until I go home to my own.

The world keeps getting smaller…

…and I like it!

I’ve been a social media convert since the beginning. I grew up on AOL instant messenger and chat rooms. I’ve been blogging since the days of geocities and was the first of my friends to be on Facebook in college. It doesn’t take much to convince me of the value of these new tools and how they can be used to bring people closer together.

I understand that not everyone is as easily convinced as I. That is why I’m always so excited when I have a new story about how social media has connected people.

A few weeks ago, I posted to the Raising Arizona Kids twitter account that our 500th Facebook fan would receive a complimentary 1-year subscription to the magazine.  I messaged the winner, a young woman named Tatiana Scocos, and was pleasantly surprised by her enthusiastic reply.

It turns out that Tatiana had posed when she was a baby, with her mother RoxSand Scocos, on our May 1992 magazine cover.

Social media allowed Tatiana to connect with the magazine that’s been a part of her entire life. It has also permitted me to connect with her in a personal way that was more than just a name on a Facebook page. 17 years after appearing on our cover, we’re happy to have Tatiana as a fan and hope to rediscover more connections as our following grows.

Do you have a social media story? Share in the comments.

Pass the turkey

Being an independent adult 1,700 miles away from my parents makes Thanksgiving difficult. I miss my family, the chill of the mid-west air and most importantly,  my mother’s cooking.

I have no idea how to cook a turkey. I rely on the generosity of friends to make my Thanksgiving special and delicious.

I am grateful for that generosity and want to share that with others.

In the coming weeks, you will go shopping for your own Thanksgiving meal. While at the store, pick up an extra turkey or a few non-perishable items. There are several fantastic for-profit and nonprofit organizations sponsoring Turkey and food drives for the holiday season, some right at the grocery store.

Rail Life will be hosting it’s annual Turkey Drive until November 22nd. Call 480-463-4514, comment or direct message with your donation and the money will go towards the purchase of turkeys for Phoenix Rescue Mission. Last year’s drive gathered 875 pounds of turkey!

Safeway and Ben & Matt of KNIX radio station have teamed up for “Ben & Matt’s Million Can Crusade” to benefit St. Vincent de Paul (SVDP). Through November 25th, you can donate cans at any Valley Safeway store or at SVDP. You can also make a monetary donation at any Desert Schools Credit Union or at on SVDP’s web site. There are tons of shows you can attend and prizes for participating.

Several Valley TV stations are also sponsoring Turkey Drives. On November 24th, Channel 12 will host the nation’s largest one-day Turkey Drive at Basha’s and Food City stores for SVDP. Channel 3’s one-day Turkey Drive will be on November 19th. To participate, drop off a turkey or a donation at the Salvation Army, Fry’s or call the Turkey hot line (602-302-8888).

Race for Maggie’s Place

Pregnancy can be one of the scariest milestones in a woman’s life. It is hard for me to imagine going through the hormonal and physical roller coaster, and impossible for me to fathom taking that journey alone, without resources or a safe haven.

That’s why I’m glad there is such a place as Maggie’s Place.

Maggie’s Place is a nonprofit organization that provides houses of hospitality for expectant mothers who are alone or living on the streets. Maggie’s Place communities and the stories of the women participants were featured in the November issue of Raising Arizona Kids magazine.

This Sunday (Nov. 8), the second annual Race for Maggie’s Place will take place at Temple Town Lake. The race is nine-kilometers in length (5.6 miles), which represents the nine months of pregnancy. There is also a three-kilometer walk/stroller push, as well as a 1,500-meter sprint race. So there is something for all types and levels of runners!

The registration fee for the 9K/3K is $30 through race day. For those wishing to participate in the 1,500-meter sprint, the fee is $18.

Perhaps you despise running, like myself. Or maybe you are out-of-town. Maggie’s Place has an option for you! You can participate as a shadow runner, either mapping out a route to walk/run wherever you are located or simply just thinking of Maggie’s Place the day of the race.

At the very least, all runners/walkers need cheerleaders. Come out with a whistle/bull horn/bunch of pots and just cheer on the donors. This place deserves your support.

Shop Local

I didn’t understand the importance of shopping locally  until I moved to the Valley. Having grown up in Chicago, I was used to major chains (Macy’s, Chili’s, Jewel-Osco). When I lived in rural Texas, local shops were the ONLY option. Our nearest chain involved a 45-minute drive to Walmart.

I’ve never had the opportunity to choose where I shop.

Now, living in Phoenix, I’m nearly overwhelmed by choices.

A few weeks ago I wrote about experiencing a farmers market in the Raising Arizona Kids community blog. This week the Phoenix Public Market Urban Grocery & Cafe celebrated its grand opening – the only centrally located grocery store in downtown Phoenix. In addition to its prime location, the grocery will feature only local food/drink distributors.

But the market’s opening is more than a convenience for those wanting to be able to walk to get groceries and shopping there is more important than a desire for fresh vegetables.

When you shop locally, you are putting more money back into the Arizona economy than if you shopped at a major retailer like Walmart. This point was argued eloquently by Phoenix Magazine editor Ashlea Deahl in the November 2009 issue. The issue features 130 of the Valley’s best local shops, beautifully highlighting each shops unique characteristics and quirks.

In the editor’s note and corresponding feature article, Ashlea explains that the rate of return to Arizona’s economy nearly triples when you shop locally. Simply put, for every $100 you spend at a local shop, $45 remains in Arizona, as opposed to $13 when shopping at major chains.

But put aside money for a minute. What about customer service? Quality? That feeling of trust that comes with handing your money over for a product?

When I walk into Changing Hands Bookstore, I know the people behind the counter. Their staff has worked with me to provide a discount on titles for the book club I attend, in turn encouraging me to bring more members into their store. When I see a book suggestion, I know a staff member has actually read the title and that the recommendation is not a paid placement.

Think about it. When you go on vacation, you want to eat at those cute little restaurants you wouldn’t see back home. You shop in the tiny boutique stores so you can bring home unique, special gifts.

You don’t have to go on vacation. It’s right here, every day. And hey, you’ll impress out-of-state friends with your knowledge of all the hole-in-the-wall places. Always a bonus.

For a list of local shops in Arizona, visit the nonprofit organization Local First AZ.

Thank you to Phoenix Magazine and editors Ashlea Deahl & Keridwen Cornelius for providing the statistics.

HALLOWEEN!

This is my third post about Halloween. Is my excitement starting to show?

Instead of boring you (yet, again) with tales of my own Halloween delight, I thought I’d list off some of the fantastic Halloween happenings in the Valley this weekend. You can also view a more comprehensive list on our Raising Arizona Kids Calendar, available on our Web site.

Activities for under 12

Fall Festival at Bright Horizons (Oct. 30): Ages 6 & under. Come enjoy inflatables, games, food, entertainment and a cake walk. 5-7pm. Free and open to the community. Bright Horizons at ASU Research Park, 7660 S Research Dr, Tempe. 480-775-6607 or brighthorizons.com/tempe.

Halloween Spooktacular (Oct. 30): Arts & crafts, games, food, costume contests, photos and a haunted house. 5:30-8:30pm. $2 ages 15 & under. Downtown Library courtyard, 125 E Commonwealth Ave, Chandler. 480-782-2735 or chandleraz.gov.

Desert Ridge Mall-o-ween (Oct. 31): Looking for a safe place to take the kiddos? Trick-or-treat from store to store, music from Radio Disney, prizes and more. Noon-3pm. Free. Desert Ridge Marketplace, The District, 21001 N Tatum Blvd. shopdesertridge.com.

Not-Too-Scary Haunted House (Oct. 31): Ages 3-12. Arts & crafts, games, trick-or-treating and fun haunted house. Noon-8pm. Free. RisingSun Montessori Day School, 38246 N Hazelwood Circle, Cave Creek. 480-595-5437 or risingsunmontessori.com.

For the teens

Howl-O-Ween (Oct. 30-31): Scary wagon ride, DJ music, ghostly storytelling, trick-or-treating and a movie screening. 6:30-9:30pm. $8 ($6 members), ages 2 & under free. Phoenix Zoo, 455 N Galvin Pkwy. 602-273-1341 or phoenixzoo.org.

Wicked ‘n’ Wild (Oct. 30-31): Ages 13 & up. Mazes, walk-through attractions, interactive comedy show, Scare Zone, water slides and the Feast of Screams. 7pm-midnight. $24.99/general admission, $37.99/admission & feast combo (discounts if tickets are ordered online). Wet ‘n’ Wild Phoenix, 4243 W Pinnacle Peak Rd, Glendale. 623-201-2000 or phoenix.mywetnwild.com.

Arizona’s Original Scream Park (Thru Nov. 1). Ages 12 & up. 4 haunted attractions (Alice’s House of Nightmares, 3-D Fear Factory, Castle of Darkness, Goldminer’s Revenge), glow accessories, palm and tarot card readings. 7-11pm Sun-Thur, 7pm-1am Fri-Sat. $16-$25; $5 parking. Loop 101 & McDowell Rd, Scottsdale. 480-444-2590 or azscreampark.com.

Whole family

Friday Night Frights at Fort McDowell (Oct. 30): All ages. Candy, cider, wagon rides, ghostshoes (yes, you read that right), pumpkin patch and more. 5-10pm. Free. Fort McDowell Adventures, 14803 N Hiawatha Hood Rd, Fort McDowell. 480-816-6465 or fortmcdowelladventures.com.

Dia de los Muertos Celebration (Oct. 31): All ages. Hands-on activities, artist workshops, altar contests, and traditional music and dance. 10am-5pm. Free. Mesa Arts Center, 1 E Main St, Mesa. 480-644-6627 or mesaartscenter.com.

Scottsdale Fall Festival (Oct. 31): Game booths, costume contests, pumpkin decorating, Haunted Forest live entertainment and fireworks. 6-9pm. Free. Eldorado Park Ball Fields, 2301 N Miller Rd, Scottsdale. 480-312-0217 or scottsdaleaz.gov.

Challenger Space Center Family Fun Day (Oct. 31): All ages. Arts & crafts, games, movies, activities, costume contest and trick-or-treating. 10am-4pm. $6 adults, $4 students/seniors. Challenger Space Center, 21170 N 83rd Ave, Peoria. 623-322-2001 or azchallenger.org.

GlendOberfest at the Ranch (Oct. 31): Carnival games, costume parade, trick-or-treating, pumpkin decorating, live entertainment, EggHaunt and the Sinister Sinema haunted barn yard. 5-10pm. Free. Sahuaro Ranch Park, 9802 N 59th Ave, Glendale. 623-930-2042 or glendaleaz.com.

Halloween Monster Bash & Balloon Illumination (Oct. 31): Costume parade, carnival games, crafts, hot air balloons to trick-or-treat from, laser tag and live entertainment. 5-9pm. Free with a donation of canned food item to benefit St Mary’s/Westside Food Bank Alliance. Peoria Sports Complex, 16101 N 83rd Ave, Peoria. 623-773-7137 or peoriaaz.gov.

Boo at the Zoo

This past weekend I had the pleasure of attending my very first “Boo at the Zoo” event. Hosted each year by the Phoenix Zoo, the event features a Mascot Parade, scavenger hunt and dozens of booths with activities galore – including Raising Arizona Kids magazine!

Mala, Sydney and I arrived early Saturday morning to set-up Raising Arizona Kids’ booth. We had bags with free magazines, Astro Boy and Planet 51 buttons, movie posters, coloring books AND a give-a-way for 2 nights stay at Kokopelli Suites AND a family-four-pack of tickets to ride with Santa on the Verde Canyon Railroad.

Parents and their children were invited to dress in costumes to the event. An adorable giraffe was one of the first to visit our booth. Karen, our editor, also spotted this little goblin on Sunday.

                                                        

Then things really got hoppin’.

I can’t wait to see what the Phoenix Zoo has planned for Zoolights this year!