Summer 2012 Contributors
Ruth Blanding is a freelance writer, doula and bodyworker who specializes in pregnancy massage and reflexology. She loves crafting, writing, cooking and spending time with her beautiful family. Ruth is the proud mother of three wonderful children (Loki 7, Azure 4, and Bodhi 1) as well as an avid unschooler/homeschooler. When she is not working on one of her many projects or playing with my kids, Ruth can be found on her blog at JoyInMomming.blogspot.com, on Twitter and on Facebook.
A modern bridge between the mainstream and the mystical, Annie Burnside, M.Ed. is a soul nurturer specializing in parenting, conscious relationships and spiritual development. Her spiritual support practice created in 2005 assists others in balancing the exterior world with an interior focus. Annie teaches workshops, speaks publicly and writes a Soul to Soul Perspective blog for the Chicago Tribune and ModernMom, as well as the family column for Evolving Your Spirit Magazine. Her first book, Soul to Soul Parenting, won the 2011 Nautilus Silver Book Award and the 2011 Next Generation Indie Book Award. She lives with her husband and three children in Wilmette, IL. www.annieburnside.com
Sarah Werthan Buttenwieser is a graduate of Hampshire College and the MFA for Writers Program at Warren Wilson College. Along with a personal blog Standing in the Shadows, she writes for such publications as Babble, Huffington Post, Brain Child magazine, Literary Mama, and Preview Massachusetts magazine. As a writer and mama to four, she is pretty constantly busy.http://standshadows.tumblr.com/
Deidre Caswell lives in Wichita, Kansas with her beautiful daughter and husband. She is also the owner and photographer of Deidre Caswell Photography, where she finds joy in capturing the world's newest families. www.dcaswellphotography.com
Andrea Danneker, M.A., Simplicity Parenting Coach, helps families design and implement the changes they’d like to make in their home life and family interactions. To inquire about current Simplicity Parenting workshop or to invite Andrea to speak contact her at andrea@simplicityparenting.com and www.yourparentingjourney.com.
Lauren Schnell Davison is the founder and president of OrganicGreenMommy.com and Nutrition Works at YogaWorks, NYC. She is a board certified holistic nutritionist, yoga instructor, writer and life coach. Lauren resides in Los Angeles, CA with her husband and two girls. www.laurenschnell.com
Kara Fleck is the editor of SimpleKids.net She lives in central Indiana with her husband Christopher and their four children.
Joli Selten Forbes is a freelance writer, photographer and poet based in Valley Village, CA. She is a mother, dancer, gardener and foodie who instigates change in her home and community for what she calls the “Revolution of Consciousness” currently underway. She holds a degree in Journalism from the University of Oregon who's professional bylines can be found at yourdailythread.com, Flaunt, Shape, Bon Appétit, the LA Times, Press Democrat, Orange Coast Magazine, Minnesota Law & Politics, URB, and many other magazines and newspapers. She is also a regular volunteer for local organizations like Food Not Bombs and music/art festivals like Lightning in a Bottle.
Bamboo Magazine Contributing Editor, Bamboo Book Recommendations, Show + Tell
Sabrina Helas of Milk and Cookies Photography is an award-winning lifestyle photographer specializing in modern children and baby photography. She has been voted among the best children's photographers in Los Angeles for the last three years in a row. Sabrina was recently scouted by Ford Modeling Agency, where she now shoots for their Children's division. She is a member of the National Association of Professional Child Photographers(NAPCP) Professional Photographers of America (PPA) and Professional Photographers of California (PPC). For more information on Sabrina Helas and Milk & Cookies Photography please visit www.milkandcookiesphotography.com.
Nicole Howard has been a graphic designer and illustrator for over 15 years. In addition to freelance graphics, she founded Miss 'N Nick Designs – a line of invitations, announcements and cards for any occasion. When not creating and designing, Nicole is busy with her two children and cooking when she has the chance. She chronicles many of her foodie creations and finds on her blog, Art and Aioli. To find Miss 'N Nick and the products offered, visit www.zazzle.com/missnnick* and www.zazzle.com/nicchic*
Kia Imandel is an enthusiast who is committed to creating communities of integrity, contribution, and wisdom that transform life and leave a legacy of love for future generations. With a background in early childhood development and various life-changing workshops, Kia is dedicated to helping people find their authentic self and live their true purpose. She has found herself in the role of a leader, trainer, and a salesperson for most of her life, with a passion towards positive thinking and optimism. She leads her life full of love and excitement ... and it is her goal to share this with the universe! Contact Kia: Kia@next-element.com or (818)448-5114. Next-element.com
Katie the "Wellness Mama" is a mom of four with a background in Nutrition. Katie is a real food crusader, lover of books, kettlebell junkie, scuba diver, and coffee addict who can finally do a pull up. She blogs at WellnessMama.com about health, fitness, natural living, healthy recipes, and motherhood. You can find her on facebook, twitter, Pinterest and Google+.
Lisa Kivirist and John Ivanko are national speakers and co-authors of Farmstead Chef (www.farmsteadchef.com), Rural Renaissance (www.ruralrenaissance.org) and the award-winning ECOpreneuring (www.ecopreneuring.biz). With their young son/junior chef Liam, they also operate the acclaimed Inn Serendipity Bed & Breakfast and Farm (www.innserendipity.com), completely powered by the wind and sun -- and serving vegetarian breakfasts prepared with organic ingredients harvested less than 100 feet from their back door. John Ivanko has co-authored six award-winning multicultural children’s books including To Be a Kid and Be My Neighbor. Lisa Kivirist also directs the Rural Women’s Project of the Midwest Organic and Sustainable Education Service and is a Food & Community Fellow. They don’t watch TV.
Tara Lindis is a former English Professor, and now a mom and writer. She lives in Brooklyn with her husband and two children. Visit her at her blog, Occassional Observations.
Susan Minich CNM, MSN, MSOM, LAc, Diplomate, Oriental Medicine has been a Certified Nurse-Midwife working in Women’s Health for 31 years. With her many years of experience in Western Medicine, Susan now integrates Eastern Medicine into her healing methods. In addition to her busy practice, Susan is a noted author, lecturer and teacher. She has been on Clinical Faculty in the Graduate Nurse-Midwifery Program at UCLA and the University of Pennsylvania. Currently, Susan is on the Clinical Faculty at Cal State University Graduate Nurse-Midwifery Program as well as mentoring Nurse-Midwife, Nurse-Practitioner and Nursing Students. She is involved in education and training for normal labor and delivery for the OB/GYN and family practice residents at Kaiser Permanente Hospital in Los Angeles and is on Clinical Faculty at USC Keck School of Medicine. Susan’s interest and passion for Eastern Medicine has led her to pursuing acupuncture humanitarian service work for women and children in Bali and providing care to the Tibetan women and children refugees living in Dharmshala, India. She will be going to Myanmar (Burma) in January 2013 to perform humanitarian work and acupuncture training in women and children's health.
A former teacher and lifetime learner, Avital Norman Nathman is a play-at-home mama, freelance writer, wife and feminist (and not necessarily in that order). When not gardening, cooking or dancing around the house, you can catch her musing about motherhood and feminism atwww.TheMamafesto.com.
David & Lisabeth Sewell McCann are the creators of Sparkle Stories, an online resource for high-quality audio stories for children and families. David is a storyteller, teacher and artist, Lisabeth is a playwright, and together they produce delightful weekly audio stories for subscribers around the world.
Hannah Ruth Wilde has worked with children for over twenty years. She is an educator and parenting consultant. Currently working on her first novel for young adults entitled Southern Comfort, Hannah is also a writer of short stories and poetry. Her creative writing classes have been enjoyed by women and by children. Contact Hannah at WildeRhymes@gmail.com or visit www.WeAsWomenWriters.com.
Editor: Ashley Ess
Contributing Editor: Joli Forbes
Cover Photo: Sabrina Helas
Design for Shoots + Leaves: Nicole Howard -- Miss N' Nick