Community Stars – The 2008 Top Ten List

Welcome back!

Are you finally ready to bite the bullet, back up your plans with action and move your family into a community that really supports green living? If so, help is at your fingertips. Our New Urban Mom Top Ten New Urban Communities List for Fall 2008 is HERE!

In this list you’ll see pictures and descriptions of some of the most interesting and affordable for purchase and for rent new urban community homes across the country. Some communities are in the heart of our cities and others are in the suburbs.

Take a leisurely look and even if you’re not planning on moving, see if there are some ideas that might be incorporated into your home or community.  I hope you enjoy the list.

The Leisureville Alarm – Meet the Author

Last week I reviewed nationally acclaimed and New York Times reviewed book, Leisureville. In today’s podcast I have an interview with the book’s author Andrew Blechman.

A former Los Angeles Times reporter, Andrew Blechman conducted the most in-depth research into the retirement community boom in America. These aren’t just small, benign communities dotting the landscape here and there…some will approach over 100,000 and they are big business for developers. One more thing…children are not allowed (not without special permission and a pass and they better not be there beyond 30 days over the course of the YEAR).

Most importantly we have to ask what message will this leave for the youth of today and tomorrow? How will they feel to be excluded in this way and what will that mean for us as we grow old? Will they continue to support our pension and old age benefits system?

This is a podcast for everyone to listen to and as Andrew points out, especially moms!

New Urban Mom Show No. 12 – College, Career, Family & Biz

Today’s show spans the gamut – from an update on my daughter’s college decisions to an interview with a Yale educated mom who realized that having it all didn’t necessarily mean “juggling” career and family. Christine Lowe Woolard decided that family meant more to her than her career. So she left her career to tend to her growing family and then ended up launching a successful skin products company – www.sheaproducts.info – at home while raising 3 children who are now all under the age of 6!

During the show listeners are also reminded to enter July’s fabulous Scentsy give-away contest. For details click here.

Don’t forget to view our archives for past programs.

Show 12

A Contest for your Senses

UPDATE: **WE HAVE A WINNER**

The winner of this beautiful Scentsy package is Arika Liddiard. Arika said in her comments that between toddlers and new babies, her home’s dirty diaper quotient is calling out for Scentsy’s safe and sweet smelling sensations. Congratulations Arika and thank you to Laurie Ayers of Scentsy for sponsoring July’s contest!

********************************

There is something about a scented room that just makes me feel so wonderful! Whether it’s a fresh floral scent in the summer or a warm, festive vanilla aroma at Christmas time, a beautifully scented room can really make my day.

It’s no wonder I was so excited about promoting this month’s contest give-away!

The “hottest new things in scented candles” are the safe, long lasting wickless candles from Scentsy. Scentsy Director, Laurie Ayers, has kindly offered to give-away a beautiful $40 Scentsy package to one of our New Urban Mom subscribers.

The $40 package includes:

• One Electric Wickless Candle Warmer
• One 6-cubed Candle Bar
• Priority Shipping

Please feel free to click on the graphic above to learn more about Scentsy. To enter the contest:

1. Post a comment below.
2. If you’d like to double your chances of winning, subscribe to the New Urban Mom list. All subscribers are entered into this contest so you’ll get a second chance at winning by posting AND subscribing. See the subscription box in the top right hand corner of this page (and every page on this site).

That’s it! I’ll pull out a winning entry at the end of July.

Good luck!

Hard to Go Vegan on July 4th Weekend

I’ve been thinking about it and I’m not really certain that I can go vegan…yet. I’m pretty convinced by the argument that our modern means of keeping animals for slaughter and the slaughtering process itself contributes to our ill health and harms the environment. Hopefully with all this attention there will be an increasing effort to make the slaughtering process a more humane and eco-friendly necessity in our lives.

So while I’m a luke-warm meat eater (most of the year), come the July 4th weekend (well any major summer barbecue weekend) I become a very enthusiastic carnivore.

Across the nation as we gather in our communities to celebrate our love of country and neighbor there will be a few consistent elements drawing people together. Flags, music, fireworks, and…barbecued meat! Neighbors, children, grandparents–the whole, great cross section of your community will be gathered in parks to celebrate our nationhood together.

It helps to have the sweet smell of your favorite meats cooking. It’s an image and experience we cherish throughout our lives. Food cooked really well, outdoors for all the senses to enjoy.

So for those of you that are vegetarian or vegan my hats off to you. I’m sure you’re having as much fun as the next person during your July 4th holiday festivities.

I will think of you as I lick my fingers clean!

BBQ Ribs Southern Style:

4lbs country style pork ribs (trim the fat)

4 tbsp. lemon juice

1/4 cup soy sauce

2 tsp. all purpose flour

3/4 cup Jack Daniels (or to taste)

1/2 ground mustard seeds

4 tbsp. Worcestshire sauce

1 1/2 tsp. Hot Sauce of your choice

Marinate ribs: place in a baking dish. Stir together lemon juice and flour until it is smooth. Add all other ingredients. Spread mixture over the ribs – make sure you turn over ribs to coat well. Marinate for 2 hours.

Grill: Place your marinated ribs over medium to hot coals and grill for about 1 hour. Mmmm!

Moms and Dads – Your Last Assignment: TEENS

After a child is born both parents and kids become the stars of the family. Hey we brought new life into the world and the future seems bright.

Then come the comic years…toddlers and primary school aged kids are so cute. They do say the funniest things and they keep us in stitches as they learn to eat human style, walk, string together sensible and non-sensible sentences (those ones are the best!) and give us their unconditional tantrums and love.

Well Moms and Dads…just as you feel you’ve done an exceptional job with your assignment as new parents you are promoted to the next level: PARENTS OF TEENAGERS – MISSION IMPOSSIBLE. Of course I’m joking it’s not impossible and for me this period has offered some of the most endearing experiences as a parent. But like most, I have had my days.

I look at how hard some teens work at their academics, sports and friendships and I’m moved to happy tears when they succeed. My own two have grown so much and developed into such really good people and human beings.

On the other hand I really hurt for those teens that I know aren’t being heard or haven’t been given the tools and encouragement by those that love them to become confident individuals. As a community I think it is a concern for all of us.

Without that confidence teenage years can be tough and our young people can make some of the worst mistakes of their lives. They can also make some of the best decisions of their lives. As the men and women who love them we have our own jobs to do with respect to the development of our teens.

Healthy teen self esteem is first nurtured at home. A secure home life, supportive parents and a reliable extended family provide the launching point that allows children to thrive. From there it’s a safe school environment and positive peer relationships that further affirm their feelings of being valuable to others.

If a teens home life offers more negative feedback than positive nurturing, it is nearly impossible for that child to come through puberty feeling good about themselves.

Teenagers who don’t have a strong sense of personal value from their parents are left viewing themselves through the critical eyes of their peers. And what they see there is often disappointing.

Making embarrassing mistakes, feeling clumsy, going through the first love heart break or not doing everything right the first time is all part of being a teenager. But a teen with low self esteem takes every stumble personally and internalizes the failure as being part of who they are.

That’s why it is so important to help our kids survive their mistakes and deal with disappointments from an early age. Positive teen self esteem is crucial. The best way to improve your teen’s self-esteem is to take a very active role in your teen’s life.

It’s hard work when you have a job and your own issues to manage, but you brought this bright light into the world and it is up to you–and really “us” as a community–to ensure that bright light shines. Know your teen’s interests, friends, strengths, and weaknesses, so that you’ll be aware of any problems that may arise. You don’t have to become the gestapo but you could gain a lot of knowledge about your teen just through conversation.

If you have a teenager who is struggling with low self esteem, you have to take every opportunity to remind your son or daughter of what value they are to you and to others. Provide them with opportunities to be with people who will build them up and encourage them.

For more information and support about parenting your teen see the resources offered by Aurelia Williams who is a certified Parenting Coach and author of How You Can Help Your Teen To Be Successful In High School.

New Urban Mom Podcast – Show #3: Living in the Moment

On this week’s show we talk about living in the moment and taking the time to appreciate gifts like a new season, or the conversation of the person sitting next to us at home and all the day to day stuff that we sometimes take for granted but are really the “feature show” part of our lives.

Our guest this week is Chele Neisler of Moms Love Shopping and Chele’s Treasures. During the show, Chele tells us more about shopping locally and her experience in becoming a wise, frugal and conscious shopper.

Following is my weekly link love list (or sites I think you’ll enjoy visiting)

The Household Helper

Vegan Family Living

Beauty By Design Online