Category: Life at Home in Metro Phoenix

This post is part of our At Home In Metro Phoenix series. Each month, we explore local businesses, attractions, events and people that call our wonderful community home.

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Okay, let’s be clear from the get-go. We aren’t the best museum goers. We’re those people staring at the art on the white wall internally saying, “Um… What am I missing? I don’t get it…” It’s not that we don’t appreciate art at all. It’s just that standing in a museum, viewing some contemporary artwork, we might not have the most eloquent observations to share. And, our legs and attention spans grow fatigued far too quickly.

Given that, we didn’t know what to expect of the Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art (SMoCA). But, we were willing to give it a go, especially given the fact that we scored free admission via an Act One Culture Pass. (Sidenote: At many Metro Phoenix libraries, library cardholders can check out Culture Passes, which offer free admission or tickets to participating arts and cultural institutions around the Valley. More reasons to love your local library.)

It turns out, SMoCA was a great museum for our crowd. It’s small, and we like that. You can get just the right dose of contemporary art, architecture and design without feeling overwhelmed or fatigued. On our recent visit, we enjoyed the curation and thoughtful presentation of the exhibitions. Each of the galleries had something different to offer from a set of dramatic video installations to vibrant kinetic sculptures and paintings to sound art.

Though we may still have a ways to go elevating our cultural sensibilities, we certainly walked away having awakened our senses. If you’re interested in a dose of inspiration to kindle your own creativity, a visit to SMoCA might be right for you. Standard admission (without the awesome Culture Pass) will only set you back $7/adult and $5/student, and Thursday admission is free along with Friday and Saturday after 5 p.m.

Visit SMoCA – 7380 East Second Street, Scottsdale, AZ 85251 • (480) 874-4666

This post is part of our At Home In Metro Phoenix series. Each month, we explore local businesses, attractions, events and people that call our wonderful community home.
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We hope you like to eat as much as we do. Food seems to be a theme around these parts. Is it just us, or does the local food scene here in the Valley just keep getting better and better?

This month we’re giving a hat tip to one of our favorite restaurants of all — True Food Kitchen. The concept, created by Fox Restaurant Concepts, features a menu based on the anti-inflammatory diet, guided by some of the wisdom of Dr. Andrew Weil. What on earth does that even mean? Well, science is increasingly pointing to inflammation as a factor in many serious diseases. The anti-inflammatory diet, therefore, focuses on consumption of foods that help counteract chronic inflammation. That translates to lots of fresh vegetables and fruits, whole grains and fish with minimal amounts of other animal products and processed foods.

True Food’s wholesome menu shifts with the seasons, features responsibly-sourced ingredients and includes dishes that meet the needs of all types of eaters and specialty diets. Some of our top picks include the autumn ingredient salad and turkey burger. The herb hummus and kale salad are ridiculously good too. And, if those don’t strike your fancy, we hear the grass-fed bison burger, and moroccan chicken are all big hits. True Food also boasts a list of intriguing refreshments — fresh juices and elixirs, organic spirits, sustainable, organic and biodynamic wines, and local beers.

You may be celebrating — feeling like this restaurant is totally up your alley. Or, you may be running for the hills — guessing this health-conscious approach cannot make for a tasty menu. Whichever camp you find yourself in, we encourage you to give True Food a shot, whether it be at the Scottsdale or Phoenix location. The concept is now gaining traction in other cities across the country like Santa Monica, Atlanta, Denver and Dallas. We tend to think it’s pretty awesome that Phoenix is its original birthplace!

Visit True Food Kitchen —

at Scottsdale Quarter – 15191 N. Scottsdale Road #101 • Scottsdale, AZ 85254 • 480.265.4500

at Biltmore Fashion Park – 2502 E. Camelback Road, Suite 135 • Phoenix, AZ 85016 • 602.774.3488

This post is part of our At Home In Metro Phoenix series. Each month, we explore local businesses, attractions, events and people that call our wonderful community home.

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One of our absolute favorite spots in Phoenix is finally open for a new season. We’ve waited months for Singh Farms to reopen for the fall season and are elated that the farm’s Saturday morning markets are back in session.

Singh Farms is a magical spot in the middle of the desert. Tucked just off Loop 101 at Thomas, you have no idea it’s even there, which explains how it evaded our knowledge for so long. Once you walk onto the property, it feels as though you’ve magically entered another world.

The Saturday morning markets are bustling. There you can fill your bag with the latest freshly picked items. Be they bunches of beets, chard, herbs or much more, you can actually see the produce being grown and picked right there on the property. If you are a lucky early bird, you may even be able to snatch up some farm fresh eggs to carry home. Singh Farms also invites in a couple local vendors to sell freshly baked breads and pastries and local goat cheese products. There’s even a stand for lovely floral bouquets made on the spot.

While you’re there, you can grab a fresh juice, enjoy some breakfast pastries or try out the wood fired pizzas and other eats. For the yogis, there’s a spot nestled under a group of trees for a 10am all-levels yoga class. For those with a green thumb, there is a separate garden market area at the back of the property with plants, seeds, compost and more for your own home garden.

If you do make it out there, be sure to give yourself ample time to stroll through the garden paths and explore the property. If you’re anything like us, you’ll find yourself enjoying the chance to linger among the beautiful surroundings.
Visit Singh Farms — 8900 E. Thomas Rd. Scottsdale, AZ

This post is part of our At Home In Metro Phoenix series. Each month, we explore local businesses, attractions, events and people that call our wonderful community home.

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It’s hard to imagine a world without music. Quite frankly, if there was such a place, we wouldn’t want to live in it. What would the tough days be like without bluesy ballads to remind us we’re not alone or catchy pop favorites to bring a smile to our faces?

Our love of music made the Musical Instrument Museum (MIM) a worthy destination. This five-year-old Valley museum is touted as “the world’s only global instrument museum.” With 6,000 instruments on display from about 200 countries/territories around the world, there’s much to explore.

The museum itself is divided into several major sections including: an artist gallery, showcasing a handful of famous musicians and their one-of-a-kind instruments; an experience gallery, giving folks hands-on interactions with instruments; and a geographical gallery, offering a tour of instruments, both ancient and modern, from around the world.

The experience is quite interactive, capitalizing on audio and video to help tell the story. Individual audio headsets are included with admission to give you the chance to hear what the instruments on display sound like. (Good move, MIM. Can you imagine a roomful of visitors and chaotic noise?)A few hours at the MIM remind you — styles do differ dramatically around the globe, but music has a big presence across cultures. We left a bit in awe of the influence music has throughout such a diversity of times and places.

Beyond the museum and collection itself, the MIM also contains a world-class concert hall that hosts performers from around the world. We recently had the chance to enjoy a piano performance in the intimate venue and learned that there (a) wasn’t a bad seat in the house and (b) acoustics are, of course, impressive and taken very seriously in the concert hall.

Next time you’re looking for a weekend activity or chance to catch some inspiring live music, consider paying the MIM a visit.

Visit

MIM 

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4725 E. Mayo Boulevard, Phoenix, AZ 85050 • 480.478.6000

[Photo Credit: MIM Website]

Take the comfortable, down-to-earth vibe of an inviting home and a dash of hip local scene and you have Phoenix Public Market Cafe. This gem lies in the heart of Phoenix on Central Avenue.

It’s an appealing spot for breakfast, lunch, dinner, dessert, drinks… you name it. The cafe’s homestyle cooking features quality ingredients sourced from the local community. With hearty favorites like rotisserie chicken to intriguing dishes like the roasted cauliflower plate, Phoenix Public Market Cafe manages to cater to a variety of needs in a way that appears natural and almost effortless. The menu is clearly marked to suit all dietary preferences with dishes to delight all parties among us — be they meat-lovers, vegans or gluten-free folks.

Once you visit, the tasty food and charming personality of this cafe will have you back again and again. Or, perhaps it’s that ridiculously-alluring bakery case that’s responsible. Once glance at those treats, and it’s hard to stay away.

On a recent visit, we thoroughly enjoyed their comfortable patio, tucked behind the restaurant with a captivating view of downtown. The magical quality of the engaging environment left us quickly forgetting it was the middle of the intense summer in Phoenix. And, we found ourselves impressed by the cafe’s ability to do the simple things quite well. An unassuming side of black beans brought immediate delight to our tastebuds. (We’re still not sure what it was about that preparation that was so darn good. Just do yourself a favor and get some when you go.)

If you’re familiar with St. Francis restaurant on Camelback, it might be worth noting — the cafe is created by the same team. And, Phoenix Public Market’s lot is also the site of an Open Air Farmer’s Market (Saturday mornings and Thursday nights) and Food Truck Friday. Whether you live near downtown or are looking for an outing beyond your neighborhood, we recommend giving Phoenix Public Market Cafe a visit.

This post is part of our At Home In Metro Phoenix series. Each month, we explore local businesses, attractions, events and people that call our wonderful community home.

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If you mentioned the word “summertime” to a group of people and captured the images in their minds, you might come across a good handful of idealized outdoor scenes — walking along the beach, skipping through open fields, shooting hoops in the driveway.

We’re big fans of the outdoors. But, I’d wager we’re not the only ones looking for a few more activities that involve a break from the outdoor heat. And, if we could simultaneously find activities didn’t break the bank? Well, that’d just be the perfect recipe for a lovely late August day.

That beautiful combination came to life for us in a recent trip to Scottsdale Civic Center Library. True, it’s not the sexiest local find. It’s been around since the 60’s, so it’s far from new. But, seeing that this local library has to much explore, it’s a shame to overlook it just because it lacks the new luster of trendier local spots.

The library equates to an endless number of books, movies, and cd’s right at your fingertips. And, unlike accessing those things through say Amazon.com, at the library, they are free. (And, if you were a fan of our recent post about The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up, you’ll find the library also can save you from acquiring things that you simply don’t need to own).

Maybe this one speaks most to the nerdy bookworms among us. But, keep in mind, there’s something to be found for the chef, music fanatic and movie watcher too. That cookbook you’ve been wanting to spend some time with? It’s yours for three weeks. That album you’ve been dying to listen to? Pop it in your car, enjoy it for a few weeks and return it before you get to that point at which it grows stale.

And a not-so-insider, yet helpful tip you need to know — just because the branch nearest you doesn’t have the book you’ve been trying to track down or that movie you’ve been waiting to see, doesn’t mean all is lost. Within the same library system (for example, the Scottsdale Public Library) you can request items and have them transferred to the branch nearest to you free of charge.

Consider this a dose of encouragement to visit your local branch — whatever the area of town in which you reside. The Phoenix, Mesa, Tempe, Glendale and Peoria libraries all have something to offer. Just don’t be delinquent returning items. We take no responsibility for your late fees 😉

This post is part of our Life at Home series. Each month, we explore different thinking, techniques or tools related to the concept of a home and what it means to live well in ours.

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It’s safe to say — we’ve all felt it. You are at home with the ones you love, eating dinner in what could be characterized as quite a picturesque moment. But, you aren’t really there. Physically your body sinks into the chair, and your mouth devours each fork-full of food. But, when it comes to your mind, you’re anywhere but there.

The momentary daydreaming or lost-in-thought moments are fine — healthy, even. But, we’re talking about that other sort of not being present. It leaves a little twinge of emptiness in your soul. The last place you want to feel that is at home — the very place that should be filled with rest, peace and stability.

Those “not present” moments are bound to come. We know of no one living a perfect life totally free from them. That being said, we’ve found firsthand it’s possible to lessen their occurrence and influence on our lives.

It sounds a bit counterintuitive, but getting away from your home can help you be more present there. What do we mean? Sometimes you need a shift in perspective that’s best prompted by a change of scenery. Engaging elsewhere can allow you to return refreshed. Whether it’s a yoga class, neighborhood walk or full vacation, choose something outside of your home that gives your mind space to be calm.

Then, commit to be more mindful in your home upon your return. Perhaps, let yourself mull over a question or two. What aspects of your home do you like, yet easily overlook? What aromas do you sense, and how do they affect you? What do your feet feel like against the tile floor or carpet? What sort of expression is on your daughter’s face? Without placing judgement on yourself, aim to be just a bit more mindful, and see what unfolds.

Getting away won’t morph the every bit of your life at home into some hyper present state, but it truly can help you be a bit more present. Give it a whirl, and let us know how it goes. And, while you’re at it, we’d love to hear — what other ways have you found to be more present at home?

It is no small decision or investment to purchase a home. Whether you’re a seasoned home buyer or you’re venturing forth on your first quest to acquire a property, understanding the benefits to buying a home warranty after purchasing a home is extremely important. Even when you think you understand everything about the house you are purchasing, there are many events that are out of your control. To be protected from unexpected breakdowns, save money on repairs and replacements, and for general peace of mind, a home warranty is invaluable.

Get Protection for Unexpected Breakdowns

Unless you happen to be an appliance whiz, it can be difficult to tell exactly what sort of condition the built-in appliances are in for the home you are purchasing. Depending on the terms of the sale, once the transaction closes and you have the keys in hand, the seller of the home is not necessarily responsible for anything that goes wrong from that point forward. Unless specific problems are known well beforehand, it is difficult to predict when breakdowns and other issues will occur. Purchasing a warranty for your new home is a simple way to protect yourself from the unexpected. If appliances do start breaking down or other issues covered under the warranty start to crop up, you have a policy in place to help you out.

Save Money

When appliances, electronics, and specific areas of your home require repairs or complete replacement, the costs add up quickly. The purchase of a new range or refrigerator alone can cost thousands of dollars. Without a warranty, new homeowners are left to cover these costs themselves or go without the use of a stove, oven, or cold food storage. When you’ve just closed on a home, you’re not likely to have a lot of extra cash floating around for a little while. Home warranties can cost only hundreds of dollars a year and save you thousands when you need repairs or replacements.

Get Peace of Mind

The greatest benefit to a home warranty is simply the knowledge that if something does go wrong, the warranty is there to help you. You’re not left to deal with the problem on your own. Depending on your policy, you might not even have to stress about finding a technician for repairs or a locksmith to get you in the door. The company that holds your warranty can usually help with all of that to make your life easier.

Consider It an Investment

A home warranty is one of those items that you hope you don’t have to use, but it sure is convenient to have when things go to pot. If you’re looking into purchasing a home, check to see if the seller is offering a warranty with it. For continued protection, don’t forget about renewal if your home is currently under warranty.

This post is part of our At Home In Metro Phoenix series. Each month, we explore local businesses, attractions, events and people that call our wonderful community home.

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During the Valley’s intense summer months, one wouldn’t expect to find a bounty of fresh local eats. Perhaps a few items could be found here and there in an air conditioned cafe, but beyond that, there’s little likelihood of finding fresh, life-filled local produce and goods.

Or, so we thought.

A recent weekend outing proved our assumptions to be far too limited. Uptown Farmers Market, offers access to a wide array of vendors even in the middle of summer. Located at North Phoenix Baptist Church (SE corner of Central Ave and Bethany Home Road), the market runs from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. Saturday mornings.

It’s a hub of activity even in the middle of these intense summer months. During this toasty season, a large part of the market moves indoors. This means you can browse at a leisurely pace even when peak temperatures hit.

Vendors are lined up both indoors and outdoors with plenty of goods to offer – fresh produce, jarred condiments, seafood, baked goods, plants, jewelry… you name it. We made it home with multiple bags filled with fresh greens, tomatoes, beets, mushrooms, plums, dates… and the list goes on. Plus, one member of our crew simply couldn’t resist indulging in a waffle from one of the food trucks lined up outside.

If you’re looking to stock your kitchen with some local fare this summer, a stop at Uptown Farmers Market is worth your while. We recommend carving out some time on an upcoming Saturday morning to take a little trip over there.

— This post is part of our Life at Home series. Each month, we explore different thinking, techniques or tools related to the concept of a home and what it means to live well in ours. — You know that feeling AFTER you finish organizing your closet? Amazing, right? The resulting sense of mental white space is a priceless reward. Except… Who are we kidding? You paid quite a price for it. With discipline, you dedicated yourself to the loathsome process of confronting your chaotic closet. And as you did so, you kept battling images of lounging by the pool. Somehow any and all images of leisurely weekend activities kept drifting through your mind. But, there you were… trapped in your closet, of all places. Does it have to be such undesirable drudgery? What if there was a different way of approaching that task of putting your home in order? That’s what The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up is about. Within her book, Japanese cleaning consultant Marie Kondo presents the distinct process she uses to help clients simplify and organize their homes. We should make clear — Kondo is not promising a good ol’ time. But, she reframes the onerous task in quite a refreshingly meaningful light. A few things we took away from the read:

-Focus on what you want to keep versus what you want to get rid of. Fixing your energy and attention on what to “get rid of” casts the whole activity in a negative light. Instead, it’s best to place your emphasis on what you are choosing to keep. Doing so puts you in a more positive mindset from the get-go.

-Ask “does it spark joy?” To figure out what you want to keep, Kondo offers this filter question. She insists that you take each item in hand as you ask this question and pay attention to your reaction in both your mind and body. Yes, it may seem too out there for some folks, but following her advice was just right for us. Don’t be surprised if emotions come to the surface. Letting go of things that are no longer serving you can be tough, but there’s also a lot of reward in truly seeing those things that do, in fact, “spark joy” for you.

– Working by category, take EVERY item you own and put it on your floor. Yes, we hate to even bring this up. At first, it makes a massive mess, but she’s right — it helps. For example, all of your clothes come off the closet rod into a big pile. You are then able to take each item in hand, see it in full light and determine whether it sparks joy. This prevents you from overlooking items or lazily leaving items in the closet that truly ought to be discarded.

This just scratches the surface of Kondo’s distinct approach to simplifying and organizing your home. With years of experience in tidying, Kondo has many more insights to offer on the topic. If you’re looking to get your home (and/or life) in order, this read may be for you. And, since we’re all for supporting local businesses, we recommend checking in with Changing Hands, Bookmans, your library branch or other favorite local spots to get a copy.]]>