Issuu

Ladies of Gilbert

M AY 2 02 1

LI F E + C U LTU R E L E T T ER T O O U R L I T T L ES HOME + DESIGN G I L B ER T ’ S D RE A M H O M E M AK ERS

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LIFESTYLE LETTER

MAY 2021 PUBLISHER

Robin Belley | robin.belley@lifestylepubs.com SALES MANAGER

The Female Leaders of Gilbert

Kristy Belley | kristy.belley@lifestylepubs.com ADMINISTRATI VE A SSISTANT

Gabriel Belley | gabebelley@gmail.com

SINCE THE DAY WE SIGNED THE CONTRACT TO BECOME THE PUBLISH-

SOCIAL MEDIA COORDINATOR

ERS OF GILBERT LIFESTYLE, I HAVE BEEN THINKING ABOUT THE LADIES

Jordon Breske | gilbertguide1920@gmail.com

ISSUE. 2020 interrupted that issue with that little thing called COVID. This year

AD DESIGNER

as more vaccines are being rolled out and some things are starting to open again, I have walked around with a smile on my face just knowing that I was going to see my friends again. We are so grateful to Tracy from the Peacock Wine Bar for hosting our first steps out as a group. Next year, we would love to meet you there and tell your story. So I ask that you reach out to us and introduce yourselves, Now about this month's issue...

Evan Deuvall L AYO UT DESIGNER

Jayme Emery CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Lynette Carrington, Robin Belley CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS

Dog moms, cat moms, plant moms, human moms—calling all moms and pseu-

Lindsay Borg, Lara Catherine, Sammy Clark

do-moms! We’re celebrating you this month and sharing stories of the difference you all make in our community. We are so proud of the women here in Gilbert, and we want you to know that no matter your age or occupation, you are a unique and crucial part of who we are as a whole. We wouldn’t be the same without you, so spoil yourself this month and enjoy

CORPORATE TEAM CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER Steven Schowengerdt CHIEF SALES OFFICER Matthew Perry CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER DeLand Shore

the celebrations. In this issue, you can read about your fellow Gilbert women

ART DIRECTOR Sara Minor

and maybe even make a new connection. If you’re interested in someone’s story,

OPERATIONS DIRECTOR Janeane Thompson

try reaching out on social media to learn even more! You never know what new

AD MANAGER Chad Jensen

opportunities and partnerships could come from it.

REGIONAL SALES DIRECTOR Eric Williams WEB APPLICATIONS Michael O’Connell

Happy May, ladies. Thank you for all you do.

514 W 26TH ST., KANSAS CITY, MO

Robin Belley, Publisher

Kristy Belley, Sales Manager

ON THE COVER Ladies of Gilbert PHOTOGRAPHY BY LINDSAY BORG & LARA CATHERINE 4

Gilbert Lifestyle | May 2021

CityLifestyle.com/Gilbert

Proverbs 3:5-6 Gilbert Lifestyle™ is published monthly by Lifestyle Publications LLC. It is distributed via the US Postal Service to some of the Gilbert area’s most affluent neighborhoods. Articles and advertisements do not necessarily reflect Lifestyle Publications’ opinions. No portion of this magazine may be reproduced in any form without written consent. Lifestyle Publications does not assume responsibility for statements made by advertisers or editorial contributors. Information in Gilbert Lifestyle™ is gathered from sources considered to be reliable, but the accuracy of all information cannot be guaranteed.

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CityLifestyle.com/Gilbert

INSIDE THE ISSUE MAY 2021 FEATURES 08 Ladies of Gilbert Lifestyle Connecting for an amazing 2021 10 Gilbert’s Dream Home Makers Award winning East Valley Realtors step in the answer questions to help Make Your Home Buying Experience a Success

16 Bravo to the Ladies of the East Valley Women in the East Valley are passionate about family, love, business and giving back to the community

10 08

22 Letters to “Our Littles” Letter of Wisdom to our younger selves from the Ladies of Gilbert

22 DEPARTMENTS 4

Lifestyle Letter

Good Times

Open House

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Call Us: (480) 250-3857

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GOOD TIMES

Ladies of Gilbert Lifestyle Connecting for an amazing 2021 Ladies from across Gilbert came together for our first small event in over a year. These Ladies have been consistent Lifestyle Partners though out the launch of Gilbert Lifestyle helping provide support for charities, and projects all over the East Valley. We were honored to share a few glasses of wine while discussing plans to make 2021 the best year ever for making new friends.

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Gilbert Lifestyle | May 2021

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Goodness Continues Cultivate Goodness keeps growing and the mission is still the same. Helping our neighbors and showing just a little kindness. We wanted to share a few photos of goodness from March and April. May is our ladies month and a special time for Moms. Please reach out to them for special projects for ladies in May at cultivate-goodness.org

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CityLifestyle.com/Gilbert

OPEN HOUSE ARTICLE KRISTY BELLEY PHOTOGRAPHY PROVIDED

mindy jones

GILBERT’S DREAM HOME MAKERS KW INTEGRITY FIRST AMY JONES REAL ESTATE GROUP BEST TIP FOR 1ST TIME BUYERS First time home buyers are our absolute favorites to work with - they are excited, new to the process, and more educated today than ever in history about the benefits of home ownership. There is so much information available online for our first time home buyers but nothing replaces the consultation we have with them at the very beginning of the process to ensure that not only are they informed but empowered. Today’s market is moving quickly and in order to put your best foot forward, you’ve got to know what that means and how to do it. This consultation is for you so soak it all in, ask all of the questions you were too afraid to google, and get excited because you are about to become a home owner! HOW TO PREPARE TO SELL? Preparing to sell your home in a competitive market looks quite a bit like preparing to sell your home in a slow market if your goal is to maximize your profits. With inventory as low as it is, you can surely sell ANTYHING in this market but the laws of attraction still apply and the more swooning a buyer does for your home, the more likelihood they will be willing to do whatever it takes to make it theirs and the greater chance you have at checking all the boxes on the make me move checklist. Our first recommendation is to put a little sweat equity into preparing your home for sale. You’ll want to start at the front and work your way through the back of your home picking up and storing items that you don’t need or use, squaring off furniture to make photos of the space appear larger and more open, and reducing decor from 2 or more pieces to 1 piece in each area. Clear all of your counter tops, pick up your rugs, take of your fridge magnets - it’s going to be feel bare and the opposite of homey, but I promise it work

AWARD WINNING EAST VALLEY REALTORS ANSWER QUESTIONS TO HELP MAKE YOUR HOME BUYING EXPERIENCE A SUCCESS

Gilbert Lifestyle | May 2021

WHAT QUESTIONS SHOULD YOU ASK WHEN INTERVIEWING A REALTOR? Interviewing a realtor when you haven’t bought or sold a home before can be intimidating but it shouldn’t be! As a consumer, you want to feel confident

that your agent not only has the skills and experience to navigate the current market but that you like them, trust them, and will get along with them as you are working together on one of your greatest assets. Some of our favorite questions to ask are: + Can you describe the current market and how you are helping your clients win? + How would your clients describe working with you and what are two or three of the things that you think you do better than anyone else?

+ Can you describe the challenges of this market and how you are going to make sure I come out ahead? + Can you give me some success stories or are there people that I can talk to that you’ve worked with before? + How can I find you online, are you local and what does your community presence look like? + What happens if you aren’t available - do you have a team? Who will help me? These are just a few to get you started!

+ How many families have you served in the last year and what are your plans for serving families this year?

THE SLOAT GROUP- REALTY ONE GROUP TIPS FOR 1ST TIME BUYERS Don’t be intimidated! As full time agents we have the experience to keep you educated from start to finish. One of the biggest things we hear about not wanting to buy is affordability. Yes, down payments possibly as low as 3%, closing costs and home repairs can add up, but it really boils down to that monthly payment. With the rents rising even faster than home values, buying a home can make more sense over time since you won’t have a landlord raising your rent every year. Is it a good time to buy real estate in Arizona? That depends on your unique situation. GETTING OFFERS ACCEPTED Getting an offer accepted in today’s market can be tough. We’ve been able to navigate these challenges by understanding our market, knowing the area and neighborhood activity and learning about the seller and their needs. Stronger offers can include a larger down payment, adding an enticing escalation clause, or offering above appraised value of the home.. It’s typically a careful combination of several tactics to not only put our buyers in first place, but also bring them all the way to closing day. PREPARING TO SELL One of the best things a homeowner can do is to tackle home improvement items before you list your home. Making sure major systems like the roof, A/C and water heater are functioning properly will go a long way. We walk our seller’s through a full consultation addressing small fixes to staging to major recommendations like roof, interior and exterior paint or pool repairs. These minimal investments will usually result in a greater return. Downsizing? We’ve heard recently from moving professionals that selling or donating items that are no longer needed or can be used alleviates some of the stress from moving. Family heirlooms aside, parting ways with unused, or items too large for the next home is also a great way to prepare your home for the market. Minimal

jenn sloat

home furnishings will show better, highlighting a home’s layout and features instead of furnishings and decor. CONTINUED >

CityLifestyle.com/Gilbert

OPEN HOUSE (CONTINUED) THE SLOAT GROUP - REALTY ONE GROUP CAN YOU STILL GET YOUR DREAM HOUSE AT A REASONABLE PRICE? All though home prices have definitely increased over the last several months owning your dream home is still in reach. With interest rates still at a low, this can give a small boost to your buying power, since a smaller portion of your monthly payment will be put toward interest. This can mean being able to afford a little bit more house than you might in a higher rate environment. When you finally find the perfect house, you want to be able to move with lightning speed, having a prequalification is your first step. Homes go really fast in this market but you also need an experienced agent that knows how to successfully negotiate a contract, “Everything is always negotiable” with shortening inspections along with a knowlable agent, can be a difference in winning that offer still at a reasonable price. WHAT QUESTIONS SHOULD YOU ASK WHEN INTERVIEWING A REALTOR? When you’re buying your first home, your first relationship with a real estate agent can mean either a relatively smooth, easy experience for you… or a complete nightmare. But knowing what questions to ask can help you find the agent that best fits your needs. 1) How do you handle multiple offer situations? 2) How do you overcome appraisal issues if my home appraises low? 3) Do you work as a full time agent? 4) What negotiating strategies do you use when working with other agents? 5)How many homes have you sold this year? HOW IMPORTANT IS PRE-QUALIFYING FOR A LOAN NOW? We are competing in a very competitive market with multiple offers, most sellers will consider offers with pre-qualification letters before those without. If you do not have that pre-qualification along with your offer then your offer is not going to be considered. A pre-qualification serves as two primary purposes:It demonstrates to

crystal hight

both (you) and to sellers how much you can afford and It gives you the purchasing power to make a legitimate offer.

melanie nemetz KW INTEGRITY FIRST - MELANIE NEMENTZ TEAM HOW TO GET YOUR OFFER ON THE TOP OF THE LIST: Creating an offer that will be at the top of the list in this market requires a strategic approach. Melanie’s includes connecting with the listing agent to learn what the seller is looking to accomplish (along with receiving the best offer), ie choosing a specific closing date, or use of a certain title company. It is also important to utilize the terms that are free to the buyer. For example, we suggest shortening the inspection period from 10 days to 7. We are in a strong seller’s market and homes are closing for 5-10% over list price and being sold in AS IS condition. These are the two hot buttons for sellers right now and adding these two terms in your offer is a sure way to have your offer get to the top of the list. 12

Gilbert Lifestyle | May 2021

HOW TO PREPARE TO SELL YOUR HOME:

+ A clean home is a priority. A deep clean is suggested from the

Preparing your home for sale is ever changing and improving. Even in our strong seller’s market, it is important to have your list price match the condition of the home. Seller’s sometimes want to put the top dollar list price on a home that is not in top dollar condi-

baseboards to the windows. A clean home will show well and show the buyers the home has been maintained. + We market the home prior to the home going live in the mls. This helps to bring a buyer to the home earlier in it’s time on the market. + We establish a listing date and begin scheduling showings for

tion. There is a price for every home. If you want to maximize the sale of your home, we suggest the

that first day on market. + A checklist of steps to prepare for the showings includes, having

following steps to prepare for the sale: + Meet with us to establish an informed list price, based off of

all blinds open to allow in natural sunlight, all lights on in the home,

recent sold comparable sales that are close by and similar in size to

bring the senses to life with lights, sounds (music, waterfalls), a clean

your home.

smell. A fresh “Welcome” mat at the front door and blooming flow-

+ We offer the services of our home stager who will create a written staging report. Our sellers love this as it serves as a checklist and takes the mystery out of the home prep.

ers is always a great start. + Plan to leave for the day to allow showings to be scheduled at the buyer’s convenience.

+ Once we have this report, we are able to establish a timeline from prep to listing. This will include setting a drop dead date for photos in

Following these steps will create a market ready home and help maximize the sale of the home.

order to maximize exposure in the mls and the online presence. + Professional photos completed, we are able to create high quality marketing materials, both online and in print.

janine igliane with the home, it makes for a much smoother process. So what exactly should you do to prepare your home? Start with the first impression, the exterior of the home. Then, make sure the inside of the home is clean, free of clutter, depersonalized and move in ready, as much as possible. Show off the beautiful features of your home. I have a stager that walks through my clients home and tells them exactly what to do to prepare the home for sale. This takes the guesswork out of the process and makes it easier for the seller to have a checklist of sorts, that is personal to their home. Lastly, address any major repair items that are needed. A little goes a long way, so if the baseboards need to be cleaned or maybe even painted, do it! WHAT QUESTIONS SHOULD YOU ASK WHEN INTERVIEWING A REALTOR? I say that WHO you choose to sell your home is just as important as HOW. What do I mean? Today more than ever, a seller has multiple options for selling their home. As a Realtor, I would advise any KW EAST VALLEY - THE HOME SELLING TEAM

seller to consider the following when choosing who to hire for the sale of their home. First, what is their experience and specifically

HOW TO PREPARE TO SELL?

what experience do they have in your neighborhood. Next, what will

This is such an important part of the process in selling your home.

they do to prepare your home for sale. In addition, what marketing

Even in this sellers market, when you are intentional with your home

will they do for your home, how much will they spend. Another good

before you put it on the market, it can make such a difference in what you

question to ask is how long they expect your home to take to sell and

ultimately sell the home for. In addition, you set yourself up to go under

at what price ultimately. A good Realtor with experience should be

contract with a buyer who loves your home and when a buyer is in love

able to answer these questions with confidence and ease. CityLifestyle.com/Gilbert

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Gilbert Lifestyle | May 2021

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LOCAL’S CHOICE

O B R AVO T T HE L AD IES O F T HE

E A ST VALL E Y

WOMEN IN THE EAST VALLEY ARE PASSIONATE ABOUT FAMILY, LOVE, BUSINESS AND GIVING BACK TO THE COMMUNITY ARTICLE LYNETTE CARRINGTON | PHOTOGRAPHY LINDSAY BORG

Gilbert Lifestyle | May 2021

ALLIE STARK Allie Stark was raised in a small Nebraska town called Hebron. There were no stoplights, no reason to lock the doors, and the town’s biggest claim to fame is the world’s largest porch swing; a fact of which Stark says she is, “oddly proud.” Her upbringing was one reason she was drawn to Gilbert and she’ll always be a small-town girl at heart. She is passionate about connecting in meaningful ways, and dislikes how people have disappeared behind computer screens. Ironically, that was the driving force in joining leadership of the Gilbert Girlfriends Facebook group. The purpose is to bring women together face-to-face. In three years, the endeavor now includes groups in 18 states and Canada. Stark recently developed the app “Moxie. Inspire. Empower. Grow.,” on Mighty Networks to bring women together globally to support each other in business and beyond. She also has new show “Inspired Moxie” on iSheTV.

Moxie, Girlfriend Connection

JORDAN BRESKE Jordan Breske was born in Illinois, has lived in Arizona for 25 years and has called Gilbert home since 2015. She enjoys Gilbert life with her husband and their blue nose pit bull named Stretch. Breske graduated from ASU with a degree in early childhood education and currently teaches PreK. She recently started a fun Instagram page called @gilbert_guide where she shares information and photos of local restaurants, businesses and events. She is passionate about supporting small businesses and wants to share her love of all things local with her community. One of her favorite things about living in Gilbert is all the incredible people. She also loves spending Saturday mornings browsing all of the amazing vendors at the Gilbert Farmers Market. In her spare time, she enjoys watching true crime documentaries and traveling, and one of her favorite places to visit is Sedona.

Gilbert_Guide CONTINUED >

CityLifestyle.com/Gilbert

LOCAL’S CHOICE (CONTINUED)

DE NISE LOPE Z Denise Lopez is honored to be president and CEO of HD SOUTH, home of the Gilbert Historical Museum, a private nonprofit at the southern end of the Heritage District in Downtown Gilbert. In addition to her career, she has four fantastic daughters ranging in age from 13 to 30. She has lived in Gilbert with her husband and their children since 2010, and cannot imagine a better place to live, work and play. Lopez spends free time searching for “treasures” at antique and thrift stores. She loves to recycle, repurpose, and give discarded objects new life. She is passionate about supporting local businesses and making a difference in her community. Her fur baby family includes two dogs, two cats, a rabbit and a guinea pig that are all rescues. She enjoys historical fiction, developing new recipes in the kitchen, entertaining and scrapbooking. She also loves road tripping throughout the Southwest.

HD South Director

CHRISTI L ARSON Christi Larson is a third generation Arizona native who loves living in the East Valley where treks to the Superstition Mountains and Canyon Lake are just a short drive. She enjoys camping, hiking, fishing, boating and any activity where she can soak in the beautiful Arizona scenery. She also loves spending time with her 7- year-old son and family. Larson received her doctor of pharmacy degree at Midwestern University. With 20-years’ experience in the pharmacy field, she’s been a director, author, speaker, consultant, and currently works as a clinical pharmacist. She was inspired to pursue a career in medicine by her grandparents who lived with her while growing up. Participating in their care as they grew older gave Larson insights into the needs of aging adults and motivated her to want to learn more. Her health and medicine coaching practice and book, “Empowered Medicine” were born out of her experiences.

Gilbert Lifestyle | May 2021

Empowered Medicine

DONNA SPARACO MEADOR Donna Sparaco Meador was raised in Nutley, NJ, a small town outside The Big Apple. She was a Girl Scout and tomboy who loved sports and camping. No one was more surprised than she to discover she loved the city. She moved to Brooklyn so she could jump a subway to get to work on Madison Avenue. She found herself alone in her 40s, took to the dating scene, and met husband Pietro Sparaco, an off-the-boat Italian. The dating experience as an adult left an impression that led her to write, “DATING: It’s Not Personal.” Pietro passed away in 2016, and her passion became her mission when her message of self-care took the media by storm in her podcast “Daily Dose A Donna.” She and new husband Jeff Meador spread their message of hope on “The Meador Affect,” an uplifting, inspiring and

The Meador Affect

fun variety show coming to SimulTV this summer.

KELLY GEISLER & C ARRIE OWENS Arizona native Kelly Geisler grew up in the East Valley and happily calls Gilbert home. Her parents became foster parents and over the course of 25 years, parented 125 foster children. The experience provided a unique upbringing and instilled in Geisler great empathy for children who needed so much. Geisler became a foster parent for special needs children in 1994, caring for medically fragile children who, in return, taught her unconditional love. She and husband Erik Geisler recently adopted one of their special needs foster children in December 2020. In addition to spending time with family, she loves to hike, travel and meet new people. She started sewing business, Create Your Own Joy Studio, which provided the opportunity to teach hundreds of kids to sew. She and her friend, Carrie Owens launched nonprofit Cultivate Goodness, focusing on needs in our community and invites others to get involved in service projects. Carrie Owens is a fourth generation Arizona native, hailing from a ranching and farming family that includes Valley founders, The Hayden Family. She has been married to the love of her life, fellow native Tim Owens, for 35 years. They have three children, four grandchildren and another grandchild debuting soon. She cherishes that all of their family lives in the East Valley, and marvels at the growth of the Valley during her lifetime. Owens enjoys vacationing with family, playing games and getting out to the lake or to go camping in the pines. She met Kelly Geisler when they were training buddies, and the two became fast friends. After having many in-depth conversations, the duo discovered they shared a passion for wanting to help the community, and together co-founded

Cultivate Goodness

nonprofit Cultivate Goodness to elevate and serve the community. Owens is excited to see what the future holds for the organization. CONTINUED >

CityLifestyle.com/Gilbert

LOCAL’S CHOICE (CONTINUED)

M INDY JONES NE VARE Z Mindy Jones is an Arizona native and the proud owner of the Amy Jones Group, a residential real estate team specializing in the Southeast Valley out of their Keller Williams Integrity First office in Gilbert. A born leader, Mindy has a long history of community involvement and engagement centered around empowering individuals to be the best versions of themselves including her unofficial start as a playground mediator in second grade where she held trainings, created puffy paint uniforms, and advertised her “team’s” services as helping those who needed a hand with disagreements at recess. Mindy is a strong communicator with a positive attitude on life who believes that where there is a will, there truly is a way even if you have to crawl through the thorny bushes, stand up to the wild animals, and use your wit and grit to find your way back to the sunny path. With a background in non profit management and operations in both the private and public sectors, Mindy has held several leadership positions including her current role on the agent

KW Integrity First The Amy Jones Team

leadership council at Keller Williams Integrity First, as a committee member of the Women Empowered Committee of the Gilbert Chamber of Commerce, and as the leader of a power-house team of women serving more than 160 families as they buy, sell, and invested in $61M in real estate in 2020 alone.

ALICE WOODARD Alice Woodard is originally from McHenry, Illinois. She moved to Gilbert, Arizona in 1999. Alice is married to Chris Woodard and they have five children: Alexis who is married to Arturo who live in Chandler, AZ, Zachary who is married to Julie; Julie & Zachary live in Irvine, CA with my Granddaughter Felicity, Jordyn who is married to Kelan. they live in Queen Creek, AZ, Christopher who lives in Queen Creek, AZ and Emily who lives at home and attends Gilbert High School. It is an understatement to say Alice’s family means a lot to her. She always wants to spend as much time as she can with them. She loves animals and currently have four dogs, two cats, two ferrets and a turtle. A mini zoo. Alice also loves to do creative crafty things and enjoys growing plants and spending time in the pool. She thinks that the town of Gilbert is amazing and her business, Printwerx is located here. Lately, her passion is her locally created product line Gilbert Made by Printwerx. This is where her daughter Alexis and Alice design and print town and state inspired small goods. 20

Gilbert Lifestyle | May 2021

Printwerx

J E NN SLOAT After 15 years in the marketing industry, Jennifer made the switch to real estate to apply her project management expertise to the business her husband, Mark Sloat, had built. Jennifer’s background is based in project management and process improvement, allowing her to approach real estate from a different perspective and enhance the client experience at Sloat Group at Realty ONE Group. Jennifer is passionate about helping people during this large life transition and keeping things clear, transparent and simple. Collectively, Sloat Group at Realty ONE group works hard to advocate, support and educate their clients from writing their first offer to closing day. Outside of real estate, Jennifer and her husband, Mark, have 2 daughters: Charleigh, 5 and Sawyer, 1. Jennifer loves being active with the kids whether it’s chasing bubbles in the backyard, swimming or going on adventure hikes when camping up North.

Realty ONE - The Sloat Group

CHELSEA MCCOMBS Chelsea is originally from Enid, Oklahoma, and moved to Gilbert in 2015 to further pursue her career in the medical field. After graduation from Heritage College as a Certified X-ray Technician and Medical Assistant, she entered the Chiropractic field where she could continue to learn more about radiology, patient care, and also now marketing for LifeQuest Physical Medicine and Rehab. In her spare time, Chelsea enjoys taking her dogs out hiking on some of Arizona’s great trails, spending time with her wife and 2 kids, and also doing home renovation projects. When asked what she loves most about the East Valley, she said “There is always something to do and I love the culture that Gilbert has to offer!”

LifeQuest - Physical Medicine & Rehab CityLifestyle.com/Gilbert

LOCAL LIMELIGHT

LETTERS TO “OUR LITTLES”

LETTERS OF WISDOM TO OUR YOUNGER SELVES FROM THE LADIES OF GILBERT

SOMETIMES WHEN WE LOOK BACK

OUR

CHILDHOOD

DREAMS, IT IS HARD NOT TO THINK HOW DIFFERENTLY THINGS ACTUALLY TURNED OUT. I know that I did not cure cancer, (as I once thought I would), or become that world famous fashion designer as I dreamed of in high school. I, instead am an entrepreneur, a mom, a connector, a wife, and a friend. Knowing who I am now, there are definite tips, I would have given Liitle Kristy. I asked some of the most successful ladies in Gilbert to share what they would tell their younger selves. I hope you enjoy these letters of wisdom.

Gilbert Lifestyle | May 2021

WISDOM

ARTICLE KRISTY BELLEY | PHOTOGRAPHY PROVIDED

MELANIE NEMENTZ

Hey kid! Just wanted to take a quick moment to say a few words. You have been doing amazing things. The hours you have poured

into sports will pay off down the road and allow you to continue doing the activities you love. Stay focused in school and know your

value. You are a good person and those who know you are blessed to know you. More importantly, continue to choose those people in your life, wisely. They will influence you in more ways than you could possibly know. Treat these friends with great respect as you will be blessed to have them the rest of your life. Stay true to your family. They have always been there for you and will continue to be there for you when times get really hard, and it will get hard. Trust the path that is paved for you and walk it with courage and faith. Big and exciting things are in your future. Take each step, one at a time,

Melanie Nementz

while focusing on where they are leading you. Plan, save, work hard, play hard, and have faith! You, your family, and your friends, will be ok!

Kathy Tilque

Melanie Nementz

KATHY TILQUE Dear little Kathy, I know it is hard to believe but life works out better than you can imagine. You will be surrounded by those who love you, you’ll find your hometown, and you will be able to use your strengths to help others. But the road to get there will be filled with opportunities to wander off the path and then find your way back. If I can share any advice to make the journey easier it would be: + Be brave and believe in yourself! Raise your hand and speak up, it is okay to be smart, even when you are the new girl, in a new school, in a new country. + Be bold and make some noise! Celebrate your uniqueness. Speak out for yourself and those who can’t. + Never fear failure! You’ll miss out on so many amazing experiences if you do. It is not about having to be the best, it’s about the journey and what you learn along the way that makes you a better person and prepares you for life’s challenges. + Sing from your heart! Don’t allow others to dampen your passions. You’ve got this. Love with all your heart and take time for fun along the way. Me, P.S. Call Mom and Dad more often and truly cherish the time with them and your siblings!

CONTINUED >

CityLifestyle.com/Gilbert

DREAMS LOCAL LIMELIGHT (CONTINUED)

STEPHANIE HARVEY

That couldn’t be further from the truth.

Dear Younger Me,

As you continue to grow and settle into who you are, you’ll realize

Oh, if you only knew what was in store. There’s so much I want to

tell you.

that you don’t fit perfectly into one box. And I’m sure you know this by now, but that’s not the easiest concept for you to wrap your head

While I won’t be able to change the trajectory of your life (nor

around. But I want you to promise me this…

would I want to because it led you to your future self), perhaps I can

You’ll always stay true to who you are because that person didn’t

help you navigate the endless waves you’ll continue to ride through-

happen by accident. You’ll fight hard to become the truest, most

out your young life.

authentic version of yourself and she deserves to be protected at all

It will not always be easy but hang in there because you’re going to

costs. Embrace your grayness in a world that will continue to pres-

find yourself surrounded by more beauty than you could have imagined. sure you to choose black or white. So, Younger Me, here are 3 things I would like you to remember

Be proud of all of your colors, sister. You already have everything.

that have the power to change everything. You are worth more than you realize.

If I could only teach you one thing it would be this…

I have a feeling you already knew I was going to say that. You’ve

You are surrounded by love and therefore, you already have everything.

already spent too much time wondering if you’re worthy of the prom-

The world is far from perfect. Your world isn’t perfect either. But

ises God has made you. And although I wish I could tell you that you’ve

if love remains your foundation for everything, you will always have

already defeated this negative self-talk, it’s going to continue well into

something to be grateful for.

your 20’s. But don’t worry – eventually you’ll start not to believe it. Promise me this. You’ll commit to learning how to love yourself fiercely. You’ll never find your worth in a boyfriend, a job, friends or

Love is ultimately what changes the world. And I’ll let you in on a secret, it will change YOUR world too. So promise me this.

a city (even if it is New York). Your worth has to come from a deep-

You’ll accept the love around you and you’ll let that love inspire

rooted belief that you were created to serve a purpose on this earth

how you love others. And more than that, you’ll let that love inspire

just by being who you are.

how you love yourself.

Your worth really has nothing to do with what you accomplish

Love is everything in all it forms and it’s all you’ll ever truly need.

and everything to do with who created you to accomplish it. Give

This all may sound obvious, but these seemingly simple concepts

yourself grace, be kind to yourself and remember that perfection

will be ideals that one day, serve as the foundation for who you are.

does not equal worthiness.

Embrace your wholeness, learn from your mistakes, and remember

You don’t have to be just one thing. In fact, be all the things. We live in a world that tells you that you have to be this or that, but not both.

Gilbert Lifestyle | May 2021

With all of my love, Your Future Self

Stephanie Harvey

that you already have everything you need.

Stephanie Harvey

Dear Little Sarah,

OPPORTUNITIES

SARAH WATTS

I wish I could tell you the journey will be an easy road

without challenges, loss, heartbreak, or struggle. The truth is, you will face hard times, question your value, and lose

some special people along the way. The journey will also

be full of beautiful moments of love, strength, purpose and meaning. In times of adversity, you will find your character

and faith. You will discover the value of relationships and the significance of unconditional love.

Don’t focus on making life perfect. Don’t hang your value on the opinions of others. Don’t second guess your instincts

and abilities. Do your best to remain focused on serving God, loving people, and experiencing everything the jour-

ney has to offer. Along the way, there will be many people who believe in you when you don’t believe in yourself. Show your gratitude by paying it forward.

Last, and most importantly, hug your parents every chance

you get and make time for those you love most. And, when that

Sarah Watts

saxophone player in the high school marching band asks you on

a date, do not hesitate. He will end up being the love of your life! Sarah Watts

Emily Staples

EMILY STAPLES Dear Young Emily, You are such a smart and beautiful girl! Oh the places you will go. The things you will see, the people you will meet. You have a bright and blessed future. Keep doing well in school because your hard work will pay off. Keep your eyes on God because He will take care of you. When days seem rough, yes hard days will come, continue to look up, instead of looking out. As Dr. Suess once said,” And will you succeed? Yes! You will, indeed. 98 and 3/4 % guaranteed. Kid, you’ll move mountains!”

Emily Staples

CONTINUED >

CityLifestyle.com/Gilbert

FAMILY LOCAL LIMELIGHT (CONTINUED)

KRISTINA MATTSON, FNP Kristi,

You were a sweet and adventurous five-year-old. Now look-

ing back, I wish you knew a few things that would have made things easier for you. First, always live life to its fullest and do what makes you, not others, happy. If not, you will waste time and money entertaining other’s wishes and will eventually end up doing what you want anyways. Second, don’t be so stubborn and learn to accept help. Many friends and family have experience and connections that can help pave the way to faster success. Accepting their help is not weak, it’s smart! Lastly, set goals that push you out of your comfort zone and be patient. Remember, Rome wasn’t built in a day and neither will your lush life. Even if you fail at your goals, eventually it

Andrea Robbins

will pay off in a big way. Don’t rush things and do not give up! Best of luck, Kristina Mattson, FNP-C Kristina Mattson

Andrea Robbins

ANDREA ROBBINS Dear younger Andrea, There are so many things that I have learned along the way that make life interesting and challenging. Many lessons are learned but there are a few important ones worth passing on: + Always make sure you follow your heart and keep pushing forward. Determination and drive have never led anyone down Kristina Mattson

the wrong path. + You will not know the answer to everything so listen, be open to learning new things and taking advice from the experts. + Believe in human kindness, there will always be someone that has suffered more or achieved more than you, so be kind to everyone. You will not always know their past or what they have been through. + There will be moments when you feel overwhelmed and people ask too much of you. Remember there are only 24 hours in a day, and you need to take time for yourself. There is always tomorrow. + Take time for family and friends. They are your biggest supporters and cheering squad. Sincerely, A much wiser Andrea

Gilbert Lifestyle | May 2021

Janine Igliane

Dear Janine, You are going to grow up and have an amazing life! It won’t be easy, but don’t give up. Trust that God has a purpose for each pain you will experience. He is going to use those trials and difficulties to mold you into a strong, passionate, driven woman. You are going to marry a wonderful man who loves you and loves your family more than anything. Your future husband is the best example of what it means to never give up, to pursue your dreams no matter how hard it is and how many times you get told no. You will have 3 amazing kids! Each of your kids will be unique and special. They will be beautiful inside and out. You are going to have a wonderful Real Estate business where you will get to use all of your God given talents and strengths to help others with one of their biggest financial transactions. You will be very good at it and you will get to help a lot of people. But more than all of that Janine...I want you to know that through all the challenges you will face, God loves you, He sees you, He knows you inside and out. It will take a while before you know that, but He is always with you. Stay strong, stay determined, and don’t let anyone get you down because of your strong personality. God is going to use it for so many good things! From Your Future Self!

FRIENDS

JANINE IGLIANE

CONTINUED >

CityLifestyle.com/Gilbert

BRAVERY LOCAL LIMELIGHT (CONTINUED)

Mindy Jones

MINDY JONES Dear Mindy,

You are a strong little girl. You can see and feel things in

people that others can’t. You are what they call a sensitive person, an empath, someone who can intuitively sense fear, uncertainty, a need for belonging in other people - but more than sense it, you feel responsible to fix it, help it, make it better for them. You know what it feels like to want to be included and you want to be sure that everyone gets the chance to feel what it feels like to be included. You want a level playing ground for everyone, you want everyone to have a chance, you want everyone to feel celebrated and you want to protect everyone from pain. Dearest Mindy, I see you. I see you trying, I see you feeling, I see you loving. One day, others will see you too and it will be the greatest joy you’ve ever felt. You will change the world, you will meet others who will help you in your quest to leave the world a better place than you found it, and you will create the most beautiful little boy who you will teach to see people, feel people, and love people on his own quest to change the world.#bethechangeyouwanttosee

Allie Stark

Mindy Jones

ALLIE STARK Dear Kindergarten Allie, No matter the number of feet and inches on the measuring tape, the tag size on your jeans, the breadth and depth of your voice or the complexity of your dreams, never diminish yourself in order for others to feel more comfortable. Let yourself be the first person to whom you offer grace. You will often be the person who needs it the most. Redefine your definition of success. Unapologetically forge your own path in your own time. Success isn’t just about the destination, it’s also about the journey and the choices you make along the way. Always try to listen more than you speak, lead with intention, and love unconditionally. Surround yourself with authenticity, kindness, acceptance, gratitude, and inspiration. Chin up, shoulders back, know your worth, and never settle. 28

Gilbert Lifestyle | May 2021

Allie Stark

Lindsay Bianco

LINDSAY BIANCO If I could go back and tell you a few things that would help you conquer this crazy thing called life, first I would tell you to be kinder to yourself. I would tell you that life is tough, and it can be very hard at times and because of this, you need to be your own best friend, not your enemy. I would tell you to do everything Lindsay Bianco

you can to cultivate a positive self-image, both inside and out. Secondly, I would tell you that failing at things is not a tragedy, but a learning experience to make you a stronger and more resilient person. Lastly, I would tell you to not be afraid to love or to accept love from others. We will never know what the future holds, or how long we will have our loved ones, so please make the most out of life while you can. Live big, and love big. Shadow Asgari

SHADOW ASGARI I’d tell my younger self “play more, go and explore, it’s ok to laugh and to be silly. You will wake up one day and the wonder and innocence of childhood will be gone and you’ll spend years mourning it and trying to regain it. Be your true authentic self and don’t worry so much about what others expect of you and want you to be. Don’t lose yourself in this world.”

Shadow Asgari

CHALLENGES

Dear Lindsey,

CityLifestyle.com/Gilbert

MAY

LIFESTYLE CALENDAR

SATURDAYS GILBERT FARMERS MARKET 7:00 AM – 11:00 AM

Located in Downtown Gilbert just

West of the iconic Water Tower and is open every Saturday. With over 60 vendors during the summer season and over 100 vendors in the fall/ spring, the GFM offers a wide variety of locally grown produce from nearby farms as well as many local Arizona Food Producers. gilbertmarket.com

MAY 13- JUN 26 HALE THEATER - DIRTY ROTTEN SCOUNDRELS | MUSICAL COMEDY

Based on the popular 1988 MGM film, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels takes us to the French Riviera for high jinks and hilarity. Lawrence Jameson makes his lavish living by talking rich ladies out of their money. Freddy Benson

humbly

women

with

fabricated

swindles stories.

www.haletheatrearizona.com

7 MOVIES IN THE PARK – STAR WARS THE FORCE AWAKENS 6:30 PM

Enjoy a socially distanced movie night under the stars at Gilbert Regional Park. Pack a picnic or enjoy something tasty from the food trucks on site. This evening of fun and entertainment is suitable for the whole family. Feel free to bring a blanket, lawn chairs, etc. to sit on within your circle. (Cost: $8 -$20) gilbertaz.gov

CONTINUED >

Gilbert Lifestyle | May 2021

MAY

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14 GILBERT CONCERTS IN THE PARK – DUELING PIANOS 11:30 - 12:30 AM

MAY

LIFESTYLE CALENDAR

Pack a picnic or enjoy something tasty from the food trucks on site. The entertainment at all our concerts is suitable

for the whole family. Moonshots Hot Dogs and Maui Wowi Hawaiian food trucks will be on site for this concert. (Free) gilbertaz.gov

18 HD SOUTH - HERBAL MEDICINE FOR HEALTH AND WELLNESS 6:30PM-8:00PM

Facilitated

Jamie

Fitzgerald,

the founder of The Healing Point Acupuncture in Phoenix and Desert Sage Wellness Center. Jamie is a nationally accredited practitioner of Chinese herbal medicine. Attendees will learn about the history of herbal medicine, options, availability, and uses. You will not want to miss this informative and timely presentation! (Free - Registration is required)

22 GARAGE BAND SHOWCASE, WALDO’S BBQ 10:30 AM – 5:30 PM

Garage Band is the premier music program offered by Garage Rock Academy. It is a performance-based program that allows organized bands to play in a structured supervised setting, providing them with both a rigorous and effective weekly rehearsal schedule

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monthly gigs at established local venues. All bands will perform in at least one organized event per month.

Gilbert Lifestyle | May 2021

MAY

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