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As the holidays approach, take the time to think about what small changes you can make to ensure this year’s festivities are more eco-friendly. Need easy product ideas? We’ve got you covered!

Send Seeds N’ Greetings

Bloomin offers a selection of holiday greeting cards that not only can be used to send cheer to family and friends, but keep on giving—they are made with fully plantable printed seed paper or feature a seed paper shape attached to a printed cardstock. A recycled envelope is included. $21/8-pack at www.bloomin.com

Wrap it Up

Did you know that most wrapping paper cannot be recycled because it's dyed, laminated, or contains non-paper additives? Instead of grabbing the first roll you see, make sure to order from Wrappily. With the help of neighborhood newspaper presses, the company offers renewable newsprint as an answer to the tons of trash generated by wrapping paper every year. Wrappily is milled, printed, and packaged in the U.S., and many of the prints are created by local artists. The reversible gift wrap sheets—which are available in a variety of patterns, including holiday—come flat & folded with gift tag stickers. $10 at www.wrappily.com

Out-of-the-Ordinary Ornaments

Use these as a tag on a gift, or hang them on your tree as an ornament. Besides being functional, they are Earthfriendly—they are plantable. Each kit includes 12 two-part tags and raffia ties. One tag is for writing and reading, and one is for planting (they include a wildflower seed mixture) and growing. Planting instructions are printed on the back of each. $9.95 at www.bloomin.com

See the Light

It’s a menorah! It’s a skincare gift! This two-in-one product makes for a perfect holiday decoration. When the holiday is over, use the eight Mitty Minis (four white and four golden) for your face routine. Each finger mitt has a round side for larger areas and a pointed tip for delicate areas like the lash line. Mittys, which replace cotton balls, wipes, and washcloths, stay soft for years of use. $66 at www.takemyfaceoff.com

Nikki Reed BY KYLEY WARREN Strikes Gold

The actress-turned-environmental advocate stepped away from Hollywood to tap into another creative space—designing luxury jewelry that’s as sustainable as it is chic

TThroughout her expansive 17-year career, storytelling has always been at the forefront of Nikki Reed’s work—beginning at age 13 when she was tapped to cowrite and star in the coming-of-age drama, Thirteen, and continuing on through her diverse acting roles and famous portrayal of vampire Rosalie Hale in the film adaptation of the wildly successful Twilight series. Now, Reed has transitioned her creative efforts into the world of conscious storytelling and environmentalism through her sustainable lifestyle brand, BaYou with Love.

BaYou with Love is rooted in the desire to “achieve the very balance we find in nature, in the fashion world.” Even in its earliest stages, Reed knew that she had discovered a niche market that would give her company the potential to evolve into something truly special. In an effort to keep the business as small as possible, she opted out of reaching out to investors, and instead decided to recruit a six-person team to help manage the business alongside her when it launched in 2017. This small-business mindset carried over into production methods too, with the company making an early commitment to source items only from local manufacturers in Los Angeles, as a means to help reduce the brand’s carbon footprint. In 2018, she was approached by an all-female team at Dell who were looking to repurpose their e-waste—the tech giant is known to use nearly 7,000 pounds of gold per year in its products. The pitch eventually evolved into a partnership which would help to recycle the company’s trashed tech, and inspire the One Earth Collection—Reed’s line of 14-18 karat gold jewelry made from the extracted gold found in Dell’s old computer motherboards. The move eventually earned BaYou with Love a Fast Company nomination for innovation and design, and quickly put her eco-startup in the same category as brands like Nike and Apple. We had the chance to connect with Nikki and ask her questions about the value of sustainable beauty, the challenges of ethical business management, and how motherhood has influenced her career as an entrepreneur. This interview has been edited for length and clarity. Sustainability often feels like a buzzword that's thrown around in the business space, but rarely broken down. What does BaYou with Love do specifically to truly embody a sustainable company, and to leave the smallest footprint possible? At BaYou, we create fine jewelry using recycled—as opposed to newly mined gold—and specifically recycled gold from used technology through our partnership with Dell. We currently produce everything in California at our downtown Los Angeles manufacturing facility. We also offer all of our clients the option to choose a carbon-neutral grown diamond for their engagement or bespoke piece instead of a mined diamond. The cultivated diamonds we source are grown using solar energy in California, as well. Our goal is to go from being sustainable to regenerative in the next year or two.

The company name is so unique and beautiful. Where did the inspiration for it come from? Thank you! My husband grew up on the Bayou waterfront in Louisiana, so I always thought I would name a child Bayou, but then I birthed a company before I had my daughter! You've advocated for the importance of collaboration and "combining worlds" in business. Has your partnership with Dell inspired you to want to work within other facets of sustainability more, or to collaborate with other companies to expand the reach of BaYou with Love? I have always approached business with the “together we are stronger” mentality, likely due to my background work in activism. I don’t think we will ever make true progress as activists if we don’t lean on each other, share and provide resources, partner, etc. If we act as islands, we can’t really move the needle. With BaYou, I try and approach business in the same way. We have a section of our website dedicated to sharing some of our vendors, and talk openly about how we produce. The goal is not for BaYou to be the only company doing this, but to inspire others to join us!

How can the bioeconomy help us to find sustainable solutions for the future? I think holding ourselves accountable and having reliable sources of information are crucial for real change. We need to incentivize companies to produce in a more conscious way, while educating consumers so they ask the right questions and put more pressure on businesses to change. The more information is readily available, the better! What advice do you have for entrepreneurs who want to run their business in an ethical way? The truth is, running a sustainable/ethical/eco-conscious business has its challenges. It does! There are inevitably shortcuts that will pop up which could potentially make things easier, but you can’t take them, because shortcuts often mean less sustainable or ethical. The only path is the one you are on, and you have to commit. On a daily basis I’m presented with options to produce faster and cheaper which, technically speaking, is built into the DNA of most companies. But BaYou focuses on slow production, small batches, with sustainability at our core. You've had such a successful acting career. Has it been challenging having to pivot away from Hollywood? Moving away from acting was definitely a conscious choice that I made knowing there were other areas of passion I had to explore. I have always known I would do something outside of acting. I started my career as a writer, and always felt the desire to tell stories. Making jewelry is another aspect of storytelling. I think what we create, where we put our time, where we find inspiration are all parts of storytelling. I get to dive deeper into my creative self, while also sharpening my tools as a business owner. We are a small company, so I still work in every single area of the company. I design, I create, but I also handle operations as well. Everything from building product pages, to web design, to accounting, to photography; I do it all. We also have an amazing BaYou team that continues to grow with a ton of passion, and I’m so grateful for their commitment to the brand and mission. How do you practice mindfulness and sustainability in your own home? The work/life balance is definitely tough right now. It’s hard to set boundaries with yourself when I can work remotely because I find myself working 16+ hours a day since there is always more to do. With BaYou being a small company, I am still catching up on things and to-do’s from a year ago. There’s always so much to manage! So my mindful practice has been reminding myself to slow down. As a household, we are very conscious of what we bring in, and where it goes when it leaves. We buy in bulk and rarely bring new plastic into the home. We make sure to recycle. We compost. We drink water from a well, we grow a lot of our own food or we buy from a nearby farm so we don’t have to go to the supermarket. We use hydroponic growing towers for veggies and herbs that reuse water to reduce water waste. My daughter pretty much only wears hand-me-downs, we don’t buy new clothes, we just pass around amongst neighbors. But still, there’s always more to do. Has motherhood made the work that you do feel more important—knowing that you're not just helping to create a more conscious world for future generations, but for your daughter, as well? Absolutely. Every day I learn new things I want to incorporate into our life for her future and the future of

our planet. She is my greatest source of inspiration and motivation to be a part of creating a life that is one which helps regenerate. I have always loved plants and animals, but my connection to the Earth definitely expanded after becoming a mom, and my passion only continues to grow. BaYou With Love feels, in many ways, like it was your first baby before you actually had a baby. As the brand expands, does that make it harder to let go of some of the control? I would like to always stay a small business, because I think the morals of the company mirror mine, and I don’t feel the need to grow to a point where we lose sight of who we are as a brand and what we stand for. We produce in a way that could so easily be replaced by a less sustainable model if another entity were to take over. We don’t cut corners, because I have made it clear that we will travel the harder road if it means better, more conscious production in the end, and I am not willing to let go if it means compromising! What does the future look like for BaYou With Love? Right now I am really focused on creating products that are versatile. One of the reasons I love working with gold is because it is a treasure, an heirloom, something people hold on to for a lifetime. It doesn’t often end up in landfills polluting our earth, and technically it came from the Earth, so working with the elements feels like the path we will stay on. But given the fact that I can’t change the cost of gold, and it is a luxury item, I want to create pieces that are multifunctional so those who can’t necessarily afford a ton of jewelry can still be a part of the BaYou story by purchasing one piece in their lifetime which can have many functions. Less is more. We have to buy less but buy better. I know this goes against the conventional business model handbook, but it’s who we are as a company and I know there is a way to succeed without abandoning our mission!

For more information on Nikki Reed and BaYou with Love, visit www.bayouwithlove.com.

Very Vessl

BY MICHELLE GLICKSMAN

Talking with GRAMMY® Award-winning artist

Miguel, and Vessl CEO Walter Apodaca, on their collaboration—and the revolutionary product

VVessl™ is truly a unique product—one that CEO Walter Apodaca is excited to share with the market, and one that has drawn GRAMMY® Award-winning singer, songwriter, producer, and global artist Miguel to join the team as a creative advisor and sustainability ambassador.

What is Vessl? It is a patented, pressurized dosing and dispensing system in the form of closure or bottle cap, which automatically propels and instantly mixes concentrated ingredients into a base container. “Many consumer products that are packaged in bottles, such as beverages, have water as their primary ingredient. By storing the concentrated active ingredients in the Vessl closure, these same products can be sold in environmental and ecommercefriendly multipacks, consisting of a single reusable bottle and multiple Vessl refills,” Apodaca explains. ”Once the initial bottle has been used, simply refill it with water and reuse the bottle by twisting on another Vessl. “Why ship water? It’s available at home, at work, and on the go. Vessl allows us to eliminate the unnecessary transport of these products and their associated single-use bottle waste.” We sat down with Apodaca and Miguel to chat about the company. How did this product come to be developed and how long did it take? Walter Apodaca: Vessl was developed by a Scottish inventor named Bernard Frutin. Prior to developing Vessl, he created the ''widget,'' which produces a draught-type head on a can of beer. His idea was sold to a major brewery for an undisclosed sum. When Mr. Frutin encounters a problem, he invents a solution. Vessl was born of this same inventive spirit. I’ve spent a career as an executive in the beverages industry with various companies, including Coca-Cola and MillerCoors. When I first saw the Vessl technology, I

Walter Apodaca

immediately recognized the promise for the technology in the beverage space. Vessl acquired the rights to the technology for the beverage category in 2012, and in 2016 expanded this to the global rights to the technology for all applications for the life of the patent and patents for any subsequent improvements on the technology. I recognized the enormous potential, but believed that Vessl needed to demonstrate commercial success before any third party would pay to use it, so we founded Vessl. After securing the global rights to the technology and launching products that are now distributed in 50 countries worldwide, Vessl has set the stage to upend the disposable bottle paradigm and enable efficient and eco-friendly ecommerce solutions for a wide range of products and industries.

What problem were you trying to solve with this? WA: Vessl is a tremendously versatile solution. We are working with companies for applications of the technology in fields as wide-ranging as beverages, disinfectants, pharmaceuticals, and much more. Over time, active ingredients may settle, separate, lose their efficacy and expire. In other cases, products require a complicated mixing process by the user, which is often time-consuming, prone to error, and messy. By purging oxygen from headspace and preserving the active content under pressure with an inert gas such as nitrogen, Vessl reduces or prevents degradation and eliminates the need for chemical preservatives in perishable items. For cosmetic, chemical, medical and pharmaceutical applications, the precise dosing and instant mixing provided by Vessl eliminates complexity and allows for revolutionary packaging systems. What sets this product apart? WA: Vessl is a patented device with significant global coverage. The system provides formulators and marketers with a unique opportunity to significantly enhance the functional efficacy, accuracy of dosing, mixing and sensory impact of their products. Aside from the ability to deliver products in a concentrated format for use with reusable bottles, we are able to address other product development constraints. By purging oxygen from headspace and preserving the active content under pressure of an inert gas such as nitrogen, Vessl reduces or prevents degradation and eliminates the need for chemical preservatives in perishable items. For chemical, medical and pharmaceutical applications, the precise dosing and instant mixing provided by Vessl eliminates complexity and allows for revolutionary packaging systems. How will this impact the environment? WA: One of the primary benefits of Vessl is replacing traditional bottled products with Vessl pods for use on reusable bottles. With reusable bottles, Vessl eliminates single-use disposable bottle waste. We also eliminate the associated freight for inbound empty bottles, the delivery of those bottles to the consumer, and the associated packaging materials for these heavy and bulky items. This represents end-to-end supply chain savings, including fuel, freight, and the associated carbon emissions. As traditional retail is eroded, which is only being accelerated by COVID-19, Vessl is an optimal solution to offset singlebottle delivery to the home. How is Vessl used with your own brands, Tea of a Kind and Kalvara? • WA: TOAK Single bottle 12-pack—Preserve sensitive ingredients like antioxidants and vitamin C

TOAK—Four-pack using one useable bottle and four closures

TOAK—Reusable bottle with three closures

TOAK—Reusable bottle 24-pack closure only

TOAK Recovery by Marshawn Lynch 2 oz. bottles—fourpack of closures with reusable bottle. Preserves-sensitive ingredients like vitamin C, zinc, and B vitamins

TOAK Recovery by Marshawn Lynch 12-pack

Kalvara 2 oz. Bottle—Preserve sensitive ingredients

Kalvara—Four-pack reusable bottle

Kalvara—Five-pack reusable bottle What are some of its other applications? WA: Personalized Skin Care Serums. The Vessl closure was used to solve the problem of short shelf life and supply chain logistics with a beauty cream. Prior to using Vessl as a solution, the serum component of the beauty cream had a short shelf life of 30-90 days. This limited the distribution geographic footprint, and required end users always have refrigeration available. Vessl allowed artistry to fill the Vessl closure with the serum and extended the shelf life of the product for up to two to three years, without refrigeration. In addition, the Vessl closure allowed for the customization of the product, with multiple serums being offered to address different solutions (dry skin, age spots, wrinkles, etc.), thereby adding additional profit channels and increasing demand. Also, Kalvara. The Vessl closure is being used with this product to offer a radically unique Cannabis beverage. The active ingredient in cannabis degrades rapidly without preservation and/or refrigeration. Vessl allows the beverage to be shelf-stable at room temperature for an extended period of time. More importantly, because we are able to deliver a liquid nano-emulsion from the pressurized inert environment provided by Vessl, we are able to deliver a precisely measured, highly efficacious dose with rapid onset and high bioavailability. What do you see in the future for this product? WA: The Vessl closure can be customized for different sizes and shapes, and can even be adapted to store two different types of liquids in separate chambers, or a liquid and a powder. This allows for the use on a virtually unlimited number of applications, for anything requiring the final mixing of ingredients at the point of use, to applications requiring the preservation of natural ingredients with the use of artificial preservatives, to environmentally friendly applications allowing for elimination of the disposable bottle paradigm, or any combination of any of the above. Vessl aims to disrupt industries and eCommerce in the most virtuous ways. We see that Vessl being used across product categories in everyone’s home. Vessl transforms the household with reusable bottle formats, thus eliminating single-use plastic bottles whether in beverage, household and cleaning, personal care and beauty, baby products, and much more. Visit www.greenlivingmag.com for an extended story.

Miguel

Why did you become involved with Vessl? Miguel: I’ve been looking for alternative solutions that can reduce carbon emissions and eliminate single-use plastic for some time, and I knew this was the company to align with. I had to be involved with Vessl once I saw how great their technology was, and how large of an impact the brand would make on the world. I personally have a deep passion for sustainability, and together we will drive positive change in a quantifiable way. What does being an ambassador for the company mean to you? M: I get to use my platform to educate people about alternative solutions that I believe in. Being an ambassador allows me to use my creativity in a way to make a positive impact to the future of the Earth. How will your company, Schedule 1 Concepts, be involved? M: Schedule 1 Concepts will lead the design of limitededition reusable bottles that support all Vessl-powered beverages. What types of sustainability do you practice in your own life? M: I’ve been driving an electric vehicle for some time now and our household does not use plastic water bottles ever. In general, I make a large effort to minimize single-use plastics in my everyday life. I’m also a big supporter in sustainable fashion. What is on the horizon for you in addition to Vessl? M: As you know, I’m working on the reusable bottle program and Kalvara products with Vessl. Separate from that, music, film, and sustainable fashion.

Gift Guide!

Need inspiration for this year’s holiday season? We’ve got you covered with gift ideas for everyone on your list—including yourself

WRITTEN AND COMPILED BY MICHELLE GLICKSMAN

Tea-tastic

The Numi Organic Tea World of Tea Variety Gift Set assorted collection features 45 black, green, mate and herbal tea bags, and comes in an elegant bamboo chest that can be reused for years. It contains teas from all caffeine levels and a wide range of flavors to represent iconic tastes from around the world. Numi’s organic, full-leaf quality teas come individually wrapped in compostable overwrap to ensure the tea is fresh. $32.99 at www.numitea.com

Drink Up

This Nalgene Sustain water bottle is the first-of-its-kind reusable water bottle that is made from recycled materials. Each Nalgene Sustain has the equivalent of eight singleuse plastic water bottles in one reusable bottle—and it’s durable, leak-proof, and dishwasher safe. $14.99 at www.nalgene.com

Movie Night

Enjoy a popcorn treasure chest of non-GMO organic kernels, along with activities and games like Movie Night Bingo, Trivia, Word Searches, and Crafts printed right on the recyclable box with a Quinn Movie Night Popcorn Box. The popcorn comes in bags made of compostable paper that is free of all chemicals, plastic, and heat-conducting susceptors. You’ll get nine bags of popcorn, in flavors such as real butter & sea salt, aged parmesan & rosemary, and white cheddar & sea salt. $26.99 at www.quinnsnacks.com

Gift Guide!

Shirt the Issue

There's nothing more adorable than Mom or Dad twinning with their mini me! These super cute matching shirts are made by The Spunky Stork, a happy + modern clothing company passionate about creating clean, organic, nontoxic clothing for babies, children and adults. There are hundreds of designs and clever sayings screen printed on baby bodysuits, toddler tees, adult tees, and tanks. $15 and up at www.spunkystork.com

Easy Off

Known for its reusable, super soft makeup-removing Mittys, these limited-edition Snowman Mittys are a festive, sustainable, and adorable holiday gift. Take My Face Off’s products are much better for the environment than singleuse products like makeup wipes and cotton balls. They take off every trace of makeup, are cuter than an old washcloth, and can even be used on eyelash extensions! $22 at www.takemyfaceoff.com

Perfect Pack

The Resin daypack makes your daily routine infinitely easier with a mindful design, including optimal organization and comfort for your daily commute. The weather-resistant pack is also built with completely recycled materials, PVCfree coated fabrics, and conscious choices in construction to reduce its overall impact on the environment. It’s perfect for everyday adventures and commuters. $99.95-$119.95 at www.gregorypacks.com

Double Duty

It’s pretty to wear and it smells great. With the Aromatherapy Bracelets and Essentials Oils from Goddess Garden, you can literally set your mood in stone. Porous lava rocks capture and carry the scent of pure essential oil blends, while genuine stones offer energetic properties. The stones and oils work in tandem to enhance one’s mood and reinforce one’s intentions, while the symbolic charm and color patterns reinforce intentions and make each bracelet on-trend and stylish. Bracelet, $14.99; essential oils, $9.99 at www.goddessgarden.com

Cool Coffee

The Surfrider Select is a delicious blend of African and South American coffees. Civilized Coffee has teamed up with the First Coast Chapter of the Surfrider Foundation and will donate part of the proceeds to the chapter to help them focus on their mission “Clean Water & Clean Beaches.” Each box comes with two bags of fresh roasted coffee (whole bean or ground) and a scoop. For the holidays, try the Surfrider Select Coffee Gift Box. $32.95 at www.civilizedcoffee.com

Readings • Energy Healings • Past Life Regressions • Crystal Healings Chakra Alignments • Sound Healing Meditations • Yoga Qi Gong • Metaphysical Group Classes

(480) 450-3877 Julia Conrad www.halosholistichealingcenter.com Facebook: @Halo’s Holistic Healing Center

Aiding Spiritual Beings On Their Human Journey

Crystals • Grids • Orgonites • Jewelry Essential Oils • Fairy Gardens • Oracle Cards And So Much More... (480) 605-8499 www.serenity-rocks.com Facebook: @Serenity-Rocks Instagram:@serenityrocks4

Virtual Shopping Available You Shop. I Ship. text 480-605-8499 for an appointment

1309 W. Guadalupe Rd., Mesa AZ 85202

Gift Guide!

Carry around your items in style with this sustainable, fairtrade, vegan leather, upcycled SuperNova Backpack from Rafi Nova. Defined by handmade, vintage, upcycled textiles that have been carefully curated from Northern Vietnam and re-purposed, each bag carries a story and no two bags are exactly the same. Because each bag is different, after an order is placed, Rafi Nova will contact you and send you photos to confirm your exact bag. $228 at www.rafinova.com

Say it Loud

Eco-friendly T-shirts from Living Loudly deliver microexperiences in every package. When the colorful capsules arrive, to the fun science lesson wrapped up in a teachable story written on seed paper, and the hidden paper airplane in every image, these are activities designed for parents and children to do together, inspire conversation, and build memories. $39.50 at www.livingloudly.com

Spiritual Journey

-Sponsored - As you delve into the pages of this book, you are opening the pages to knowledge of other dimensions that are just waiting to be explored by the human psyche. This is the place for self-discovery, and where you might realize that your ordinary life may be more extraordinary than you thought; where the metaphysical becomes the physical and the extraordinary becomes the ordinary. This book brings to light a new awareness of the fact that there is so much more going on around us, other than what just the human eye can see. $13.99 at www.amazon.com

Scent-sational

This all-natural ceramic diffuser from Snow Fox diffuses scents without fire or electricity. It comes with a specially paired oil Snow Fox fragrance, Sunday Morning, which is made from 100% natural, organic, certified Australian essential oils that are blended and bottled in Australia, meant to promote mood-boosting, emotional well-being, and general wellness. $48 at www.snowfoxskincare.com

In 2007, Dr. Andrew Weil M.D. and André Fasciola fell in love with traditional matcha on a business trip to Japan. With a shared mission to expand the reach of the product—and to speak on its undeniable health benefits—the duo founded MatchaKari, with the hope of providing an experiential alternative to coffee and sugary drinks to American consumers.

MatchaKari is rooted in the belief that good matcha should be accessible anywhere in the world—and they maintain this belief by only importing products that meet the company’s standards for color, aroma, and flavor. Dr. Weil, a cofounder of the brand, prefers to start the day with matcha because he appreciates the matcha’s: Beautiful color. Aroma. Complex rich taste.

“Also, I like the ritual of drinking matcha. It is a relaxing and meditative time for me and I know I’m getting the health benefits from it,” says Dr. Weil.

Matcha Tea Set $139.00

For more information on MatchaKari, visit www.matcha.com. You can also follow along with the brand on social media at @matchakari

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Cottonwood: You Are Welcome Here

Cottonwood is the Heart of Arizona Wine Country. That isn’t just because of its perfectly situated location— close enough to Sedona, just down the road from Page Springs, or at the bottom of the hill from Jerome. It’s the location along the banks of the Verde River, the base of Mingus Mountain, and the center of high desert terrain with a unique climate, that makes a perfect mix for the science and art of winemaking. Cottonwood is home to nearly 10 wine tasting rooms; countless restaurants serving Arizona wines; and merchants with local product or Arizona produced goods that go hand-in-hand with wine, from cheeses to olive oil. Cottonwood is a place to explore, sip, and share in the art of winemaking. And, wine isn’t the only reason visitors come to Cottonwood. Cottonwood has embraced the slogan: You Are Welcome Here, and for good reason. Visitors will find a state park—Dead Horse Ranch State Park— less than two miles from Old Town. Here, explorers of all ages can hit the trails on foot, bike or horseback, and discover the terrain that has led many to call Cottonwood home for decades. After exploring the outdoors, dine outside in ideal temperatures. In Old Town, the food options for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, are as varied as the shopping selection to take part in after. With partners like Friends of the Verde River working to conserve and protect the Verde River, visitors are encouraged to explore the outdoors, enjoy the opportunities to recreate on the water, but also be mindful to take care of the precious resource flowing through the community. Leave no trace, take only photos to capture the memories! Cottonwood is the Heart of Arizona Wine Country and also a place extending the invitation, You Are Welcome Here. Find out more at www.visitcottonwoodaz.org.

Photo courtesy Friends of the Verde River.

VisitCottonwoodAZ.org

Thanksgiving

Thoughts, 2020 BY DAVID M. BROWN

AA few weeks ago, I was enjoying a regular mid-afternoon walk to Trader Joe’s, a quarter-mile from my East Valley home. These grocery outings offer a break from the computer keyboard, and a few casual moments for centering and considering dinner. On my right wrist, worn like a hospital bracelet, was a standard-issue mask, blue and white.

While I approached the store, an unmasked associate stopped me, smiling. “So good to see you,” she said, clearly happy to be outside and breathing unobstructed. “We haven’t seen you without a mask for so long we forgot what you looked like,” she added. Through this pandemic, we have forgotten what all of us look like and how important we are to each other; we have also learned how strengthening it is to actually see each other again. I look at eyes inside the grocery, and they Dorie Morales Publisher, Green Living magazine Scottsdale As the publisher of Green Living, Dorie Morales turns living green into an art form fully embracing green living. She completed a bachelor of fine arts from the University of Arizona. Her vision of a sustainable future drives the magazine, educating and inspiring readers to make eco-conscious choices for a healthy life and healthy planet. She and her husband, Mark, have two sons. I am thankful and blessed for my family and friends’ health during the times of COVID-19. Health is the most important aspect to anyone’s life. Life is a gift and so precious. I am grateful that many people are aware of the environment and healthy living. And, it is so important for everyone to connect with nature and want to eat healthy. inspire questions. Is that...? Is that person smiling? Is she stressed? Is he happy? This holiday season, in a year of so many challenges, let’s celebrate the blessings together: what brings us joy, what makes us glad, and what—as one of our 11 participants below says—“rocks our boat.” I asked some friends and business associates: “During these COVID-19 times and as we approach the holidays, what are you thankful for in terms of eco-consciousness and healthful

living, the mission of Green Living magazine?” When COVID-19 began, Mike McMahon and Green Living magazine co-founded the Fresh Food Collab with our partners, Amici Catering and Witnessing Nature in Food. We put together boxes, filled with some organic fresh fruits and vegetables, for those in need. We have also donated hot and cold meals to frontline hospital workers, domestic violence shelters and veterans. We have donated over 200,000 pounds of produce since late April of this year. For the Fresh Food Collab, we create videos for our sponsors and collaborators for our website to share with people who are getting back to work so that they can grow their own food, create a good mindset, eat healthy and live a good life. Our pillars of the movement are fighting food insecurity and food waste and fighting for food education. We have created a wonderful community of volunteers who have helped make this movement possible. I am filled with gratitude that I have been able to spend time with my family, friends and the Green Living team, preparing and handing out food boxes at schools and churches. I also feel very fortunate that I have had time to connect virtually with family, friends, clients, partners and teammates through COVID-19. I look forward to a bright future where everyone is connected to planet Earth, and a healthy living and mindset.

Brad Leavitt President, A Finer Touch Construction LLC Scottsdale Leavitt completed a bachelor of science in Construction Management from Brigham Young University in 2005 and has since worked on projects Valleywide, including the Omni Scottsdale Resort & Spa at Montelucia in Paradise Valley. He and his wife, Ashley, have six children—five girls and a boy. One of the benefits from these COVID-19 times has been the focus on healthy living and the home. We have seen a huge increase in demand for homes that are more healthy, sustainable and efficient. Our clients have asked for better water and air filtration, storage, and more energy-efficient methods. This has been something very important to us over the years, and even more so now. Home offices, increased data capacity for at-home school children, and home gyms have been ever more important. Touchless faucets, self-cleaning toilets, and bidets are also so important, as are switches that turn on and off the lights automatically when you enter and exit the room to save energy. We are thankful for the continual innovation and accessibility of these items.

Lloyd Ramsey Global Engineering Leader | Principal, DLR Group Phoenix DLR Group is an employee-owned architecture and engineering firm with 1,100-plus employee owners working from more than 30 offices across the United States. During these challenging times, I am reminded that I have much to be thankful for. My family has been able to stay healthy, we have been able to continue to work and study from home, and we have been reminded again of just how precious life is. This pandemic has focused a lot of attention on not just how we live but how we choose to treat each other and the world around us. It makes me think we can and should do better.

Ron Steege Retired, Former Co-owner, La Casa Builders Scottsdale Steege retired from his luxury home design/build business five years ago and now paints Arizona landscapes and Biblical illuminations. He and wife, Jenn, love traveling the backroads of Arizona. Around Thanksgiving 2019, I made a commitment to make some major health and lifestyle changes and choices. I felt I owed it to my beautiful wife, Jenn, to become a better man, physically, emotionally and spiritually. Over the course of two decades, I had gained a significant amount of weight, which led to depression and negative thinking, and then to even more weight gain. I was desperate to change this. I needed a solution. I set my mind and my will to a plan of action. Although rather radical, I began an intense exercise program and started eating healthy small meals, which were interspersed with fasting. My exercise included power-walking 20-plus miles a week with 2-pound wrist weights and weightlifting two to three days a week. By the end of 2019 I had lost over 20 pounds. When the COVID-19 lockdown hit, I had already been following a regimen. The isolation imposed by the lockdown allowed me to focus more fully on my weight loss and fitness goals. With no other lifestyle distractions, my concentration on my goals was easier to maintain. By month seven into my program I had lost 60 pounds. I had regained my fitness, which in turn changed my negative thinking patterns and helped me restore my relationship with Jenn, my life partner in body, mind, soul and spirit. If I can do this at age 75, anyone can do it. This Thanksgiving and holiday season, I have so much to be grateful for... blessings upon blessings.

Ken Edwins CEO, Wealth Manager Scottsdale Edwins lives in North Phoenix, where he cycles on the road and in the dirt regularly. A Southwest native, he has lived in Southern California, Las Vegas, and now for 26 years in Phoenix. He has a rescue dog, Max, a Cane Corso. He loves reading.

I began riding bikes when I was about 5–6 years old. I still remember my brother helping me take off the training wheels. That was an exciting moment. I graduated to a “big-boy bike” a few years later, which I promptly proceeded to crash into a fire hydrant. I bent the fork so badly that my father had to use a torch to heat the metal and make it soft so he could bend it back into shape. What really stood out for me about that experience was that my father went out and bought some spray paint so he could repair the paint that had been damaged by the repair job. He wanted me to continue to experience the “new” bike and not a damaged bike. He knew a complete repair would help me heal from my embarrassment. I continued to ride bikes as I got older. I’ve ridden my mountain bike with friends of mine for close to 20 years. What started as an informal get-together turned into 20 years of riding together through the country’s economic ups and downs, and life’s many personal and professional experiences. During this COVID-19 experience, I have had a number of friends and family members pass away, but not from COVID. I have continued to ride, mostly by myself, and my bikes have become places of joy, meditation, solitude, and grief. Life comes with you on the bike, and you can either ride with it or stay home. I will continue to ride through this COVID experience and live in the hope that the day comes when we have no more COVID infections and families are able to play, heal, and grieve together.

Sam Kathryn Campana Former Scottsdale Councilwoman, First Female Mayor (1996–2000) Scottsdale Campana moved to Scottsdale in the summer of 1969 from a rural farming community in Idaho. In addition to her political service, she established the Arizona office of the National Audubon Society, which built the Valley’s first LEED Platinum building—the Nina Mason Pulliam Rio Salado Audubon Center on the banks of the Salt River. She has three children, five grandchildren (including two sets of twins), a dog, and chickens. COVID-19 has brought many things into sharp focus. What I miss and what I’m thankful for are the main ones. My daughter and her twin boys, Evan and Connor, have been living with me through COVID-19. I'm so grateful to have them close. The boys have learned how to prepare soil (gathering cow pies and elk poop), manage a compost pile, plant seeds, thin(!) and harvest a garden. We’ve canned veggies, squeezed citrus to exhaustion, put up jam and marmalade, raised baby chicks to prolific layers, unsuccessfully incubated fertilized eggs, and learned how to make challah. How happy am I that they know better the origins of a Thanksgiving table!

Scott Jarson Co-Principal, azarchitecture Phoenix Jarson and his wife, Debbie, are celebrating the 30th anniversary of azarchitecture/Jarson & Jarson Real Estate, specializing in the marketing of properties with unique design and architecture. Scott is widely recognized as an expert on architecture in Arizona. And, azarchitecture/Jarson & Jarson Real Estate is an ecobroker™ certified firm. We were so fortunate to have architect Will Bruder design our home for us. His design was beautifully integrated into a desert site against the Phoenix Mountain Preserve. We had bought the lot, considered “unbuildable” by many because of its intensely natural setting. Our architect did not need any encouragement to make most of the location, placing the home with wonderful views and thoughtful orientation. The result has never been more noticeable and appreciated by us than in this trying time. We are grateful for the solace we derive from communing effortlessly with the desert. Every day brings news of new life, changing light, and calming vistas; this was always an ethic integrated into the design. Our home’s sheltered connection to the outdoors allows us wonderful views, all the while being protected with thoughtful overhangs built into the design. From the beginning, we selected a simple and natural palette of materials that add to our ease of living: Concrete and cork floors feel great underfoot and are comfortable to maintain, woods and fabric add to the texture. Consciously choosing the right materials has paid off; recycled denim insulates the interior walls, and low-VOC materials and high-efficiency HVAC keep it clean and comfortable. Our lot is landscaped almost entirely with native plantings to restore and blend into our gentle hillside. We’ve never needed to apply any extreme methods to “control” our environment. The result is a carefree setting that invites nature in. It is a place of shelter, comfort and solace. There is seldom a day passes where we both don’t marvel at our good fortune.

We do feel that the home and location have had a positive impact on our health and outlook. I was able to meet an original owner of one of Frank Lloyd Wright’s Usonian homes in New York. He built his home when he was in his 20's. Today, in his 90s, he attributes no small portion of his longevity and happiness to living in great architecture. Debbie and I could not concur more.

Tony Sutton Principal, Est Est Scottsdale Sutton completed a bachelor’s degree in interior design at the University of Illinois, working in Chicago first, then Arizona, including at Est Est in 1979; he bought the company in 1984. He has worked on projects in 40 states, plus Canada, Mexico, and Europe. His wife, Esther Boivin, also has an interior design firm. Sutton has three children and three grandchildren, and Boivin has a daughter, Alessandra, who lives with them. Esther and I are both very social. Prior to COVID-19, we attended many events regularly. We also enjoy our personal time, and COVID has given us an opportunity to be discerning with our schedules. While we used video conferencing prior to COVID, we are using it even more now.

With remote access, there is less time spent traveling, resulting in more personal time and more free time to cook together and enjoy new recipes from scratch. We enjoy using our fresh herbs and citrus in our healthy cooking. Whole 30 has several favorites. We utilize our outdoor “house,” having breakfast outside and using our outdoor spa and living space. We also spend more time at our house in Arkansas in the Ozark mountains of the North: 200-plus acres of mountains, fields, garden area, a stream and a fishing pond. Hiking trails within a diverse hardwood forest allow access to remote areas of the property with abundant wildlife. We have enjoyed sharing it with friends, teaching them to fish, cook, throw axes and knives, shoot a bow and arrow, and use a chainsaw to harvest fallen trees from the trail. We sit on the front porch, enjoying the view and engaging in healthy conversation. We don’t watch TV or listen to the news. It’s a wonderful way to reboot your soul with some God time while hiking the trails. The best things in life are free. Spend time with those you love, doing what you enjoy, and make the most of each day God gives you! Vivian Ayala Principal/Partner, Candelaria Design Associates Scottsdale Ayala joined Candelaria Design Associates (CDA) in July 2000 and became a partner in 2016. She lives in Phoenix with her 15-year-old daughter, Gabby. Founded in 1999, CDA designs luxury homes throughout Arizona, the California coast, and the Hamptons, New York. Founded on the principle that the design process needs to be a collaborative adventure, the firm works closely with its clients and design team to create homes and projects specifically for the needs and experience of the end-user. During this unprecedented time and as we all feel uneasy about what is happening around us, we have also found ourselves in what we call a new routine. I have found that in my constantly busy days at work and life, I am able now to take a break from the hectic daily living, look around and have a new perspective toward my surroundings and a look back at the pace I was living my life. Even with the unfortunate circumstances shadowing us these days, I have found myself taking a new appreciation at staying home, being healthy, cooking with my daughter, and enjoying the beautiful Arizona outdoor settings. Amazingly, I found more time in my hands than usual when I realized how much driving I was doing every single day, a break Earth has also benefited from with reduced air pollution. I am thankful to build these new memories!

Kyle Ritland Vice President of Marketing, Sun Valley Solar Solutions Chandler Since 2006, Chandlerbased Sun Valley Solar Solutions has served nearly 9,000 Arizona homeowners and businesses. The NABCEPcertified company is a member of the Solar Energy Industries Association, the Electric League of Arizona, the U.S. Green Building Council, and Local First.

Long walks with my dog in the early mornings and late evenings have become a very welcome new routine. Most Arizonans know there is ample healing available in our breathtaking sunrises and sunsets. These are now the backdrop for a twice-daily ritual that helps me process my thoughts and reflect on many blessings. My walks have also allowed me to meet many neighbors who were never really on my radar before COVID. We wave and smile with delight in knowing that we’ll probably do the exact same thing again tomorrow. In fact, we look forward to it. From a professional perspective, I’m grateful to work in an industry where the long-term health and safety of our society is the primary mission. The pandemic is fraught with many unknowns, as pandemics tend to be, and I think it’s safe to say we were mostly caught unprepared. But, we know where our current energy choices will lead us, and we know how to avoid that through different decisions. I’m thankful every day that I get to have that kind of impact on future generations, especially now.

Martha M. Grout, M.D., M.D.(H) Principal, Arizona Center for Advanced Medicine Scottsdale In 1971, Dr. Grout graduated from Women’s Medical College of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia. She spent the first 25 years in emergency medicine and the next 25 moving beyond conventional allopathic medicine into functional, nutritional, Oriental, and bioenergetic medicine and acupuncture. She has a practice of integrative medicine in Scottsdale and is convinced that people who feel unwell have a reason for that feeling, and that reason can be identified and treated. So much of our world is living in fear these days–that they will become infected with the COVID virus, that they will die of the COVID virus, that someone near them is not wearing a mask and will infect them, that they are not wearing a mask and therefore they might get infected. Because of this fear, we are willing to give up even more of our freedoms–even to the point of accepting forced and involuntary vaccination, should that situation arise. I am thankful that I am alive today, and that tomorrow will surely take care of itself. I am thankful that I have my wits about me, that my body is in reasonable shape, that I am free of pharmaceutical medications, and that I am in good health. I am very thankful that my medical practice does not have to worry about whether “insurance will let me” order the tests that I need; I can simply recommend the treatments that I feel are in the patients’ best interests, and my patients can make the decision about which tests they are willing to pay for. I am truly grateful that the health of my bank account does not depend on what the insurance companies will pay me. I am thankful that I finally have an office staff who are dedicated, loyal, honest, and loving, who care about our patients almost as much as they care about their own families. I am thankful that most of my new patients have done their homework and made a decision to get healthier before they come to see me. Many of my patients have already moved to healthy food choices: organic, non-genetically modified, more plant-based foods, less animal-based. I am thankful that they have taken that first crucial step toward health. I am thankful that my patients come to me voluntarily, expecting to work hard to restore their health. Many have investigated their symptoms online, most come in with a list of conditions they have questions about or would like to rule out. Many bring in articles from the medical literature to discuss with me. I am thankful that these patients care enough about their health to take an active part in the journey. I am beyond thankful that my patients have made the decision to move forward and I am honored to share their journey. I am 75 years old. I have no idea how long I will be physically present on this earth, but while I am still here, I am beyond grateful that the journey––while “interesting”–has also been fun. How many people get to do for a living what truly floats their boat?

Nothing the lesser creatures can teach us is more worth learning than the lesson of gladness.

— Joseph Wood Krutch, The Great Chain of Life

Key Strength to

Arizona-based company Charity Charms is supporting nonprofits through its new pandemic-proof Key to Strength campaign

BY KYLEY WARREN

TThis year alone, nearly 89% of Arizona nonprofits have lost critical funding as a result of COVID-19. It’s a daunting statistic—one that’s made even more disconcerting considering the contributions of the state’s nonprofit sector, which is reported to contribute at least $22.4 billion to the state's economy, employ more than 324,000 people and generate at least $2.1 billion in annual sales, payroll and property taxes.

But for Kay McDonald—founder of Charity Charms—she saw the setback as an opportunity to expand the efforts of her own business, so that it could act as a vehicle for struggling nonprofits and organizations of all types to creatively brand, fundraise, and engage with their communities. "We saw the need for charities to have a turnkey program that was not hands-on for them, and that could be totally handled from start to finish,” says McDonald. “So, we came up with the item, we came up with the concept, and we came up with all of the marketing through a program that could do just that.” Since 2004, Charity Charms has worked to meet the growing demands for socially conscious brands—demands that have escalated even more throughout the pandemic. The company’s mission is to empower organizations and their supporters, employees, and customers through symbolic pieces that celebrate their impactful work, and act as tangible gifts to those who support them. This year, the company launched the Key to Strength program, an innovative marketing campaign that gives nonprofits the opportunity to control their narrative and tell their authentic story through charming jewelry pieces. By design, the Key to Strength campaign is meant to inspire giving and promote brand recognition through multiple communication channels. “This was developed out of the need for struggling nonprofits and charities,” says McDonald. “Because these organizations couldn't have live, in-person events anymore, we knew that we needed to come up with something that would enhance their virtual events—specifically, something that could be mailed so that after the event is done, the memory would still live on.” The program starts with the corporation selecting a charity that aligns with their values. They then underwrite a custom program for the charity, and a 30-day virtual donation campaign is launched. Supporters are driven to virtual donation pages through the messaging shared through the various community channels. For each $50 donation, the donor will receive a thank you gift mailed to them by the Key to Strength team.

The memento includes a his & hers fob with the signature Key to Strength Charm that’s customized with the company and charity logo charms. The recycled, eco-friendly pewter charms are made in Phoenix and assembled by Seeds for Autism—another Phoenix nonprofit. The Charity Charms team believes that charms not only have the power to tell a story and bring people together through a common thread, but that they can also serve as an elegant way to market your brand.

This November, the chosen partner for the Key to Strength program is Waste Not—an organization that’s working to support the nearly 1 in 6 Arizonans who experience food insecurity. The company develops food systems that help people and the planet flourish, by eliminating food waste and hunger through innovative community partnerships partnerships. Additionally, the corporate sponsor for the program is Sierra Signs. “What this pandemic has shown us is that we needed to think a little bit more outside the box and provide even more solutions to our clients than we previously did. We've turned into a completely full-circle company that does everything from the design and inception, all the way through the shipping and follow-up. And I think this new business model is really going to help nonprofits in the future.” For more information, visit www.charitycharms.com/wastenot.