November daytime mtg 11/9, evening mtg. 11/18

Daytime Meeting November 9

We're trying out daytime meetings in November and December to see if we want to make it a regular thing! We'll be meeting on Tuesday November 9, 10 a.m. to noon, at Alexandria's Ellen C. Burke Branch Library at 4701 Seminary Rd. (east exit off 395, then left at the light at Library Lane and right into the parking lot. Library is upstairs).

We'll informally recap the October meeting (Living Holistically on a Budget), talk ahead about November's topic of creating meaningful and healthy "Holistic Holidays," or just get to know each other and discuss whatever comes up. Open to all.

We'll have some toys, but please bring a toy if you bring a toy-playing child!

Evening Meeting: November 18 -- Creating "Holistic Holidays"

When the holidays roll around, do you get stressed out thinking about the following:

• How will I keep my family eating healthfully?
• How can I approach gift-giving, celebrating, and decorating in ways that fit my values?
• What are some ways to offer alternatives to family traditions or rituals that give me pause?

At the November 18 Holistic Moms Arlington/Alexandria meeting, we’ll discuss how to create “Holistic Holidays.” Open for discussion will be all aspects of the holidays – food, gifting, decorations, consumerism, traditions – anything that comes up as we approach winter holidays or in relation to birthdays and other celebrations.

Inayet Sahin, founder of Beyond Green Living, will give a presentation and then moderate our discussion and sharing.

Evening meetings are 7-9 p.m. at AUMC (see sidebar)

Thinking seriousy about holistic living and budgeting

What a powerful meeting with had in October with Diane MacEachern of The Big Green Purse (the website, and the book). We talked a lot about our goals and values. What does it mean to us to "live holistically"? If we think about that -- and throw in some of the insights we gained from the December 2009 meeting on "Creating Balance in Family Life" -- we'll see that coming from a place of clarity about what we value can help us decide what choices to make in a lot of cases.

Diane pointed out that approximately 30% of food that is purchased goes to waste, so when we talk about the high cost of quality food, we can start by re-thinking how we use it. And there are reasons why things cost so much -- no government subsidies for organic farmers, for example.

Throughout her talk, Diane talked about using the power of the purse to effect change. To use our spending power to make statements that show what we value and will eventually force the marketplace to deliver more products that align with our values. We can also demand more of those products by talking with store managers and letting them know this is what we want.

While Diane has plenty of wonderful tips on her website and in her book for how to stretch a dollar, she also wants us all to think about what we do with that dollar and what the impact is of our purchasing decisions.

Thank you for such a provocative talk, Diane! We hope to get more notes written up soon.

"Living Holistically on a Budget" Oct. 14 and "Fertility & Acupuncture" Oct. 18

Our October meeting is Thursday, October 14 on the topic of "Living Holistically on a Budget"
Would you like to live more healthfully and eco-friendly but can't figure out how to fit "natural" choices into your budget?

Come to the October meeting of Holistic Moms Arlington/Alexandria chapter to learn how to stretch your dollar while protecting your body and the planet at the same time.

Our speaker is Diane MacEachern, author of Big Green Purse: Use Your Spending Power to Create a Cleaner, Greener World (and the voice behind The Big Green Purse online resource)
As usual, the meeting is 7-9 p.m. at 716 S. Glebe Road, Arlington, VA, 22204 (in Arlington United Methodist Church)

HMN meetings are open to members and first-time visitors. Children are always welcome. Come see what we're about!

*Please note that this meeting is on the second Thursday of the month instead of our usual third Thursday.
The Arlington/Alexandria chapter of the Holistic Moms Network is not affiliated with any church. However, we do appreciate the generosity of AUMC in hosting our meetings and encourage members and visitors to bring donations of non-perishable food for the church's food pantry, which serves the homeless population in Arlington.

Directions: AUMC is on S. Glebe between S. 7th and S. 8th St., a few blocks north of Columbia Pike, on the west side of the street. Enter the church parking lot from S. Glebe or from S. 7th St. where there is a traffic light (on the north side of church).

Can't make evening meetings? Contact us to inquire about our trial daytime meeting for late Oct./early Nov., date TBD.
Next evening meeting: November 19: "Holistic Holidays" with Inayet Sahin, founder of Beyond Green Living
Please direct any questions to Leigha Sochurek, Arlington/Alexandria Chapter Co-Leader holisticmomsarlalex (at) gmail (dot) com or 703-785-1099

Our October Moms Night Out is Monday, October 18 and is open to non-members this time because of the nature of the topic. Email holisticmomsarlalex (at) gmail (dot) com to find out if there is still room. Location is in north Del Ray (Alexandria), time is 7:00 p.m.

Ready to try again for another baby? Is it taking longer than expected?
Come learn how acupuncture works for fertility and get answers to your questions. Stephanie Simmons, M.Ac., has an acupuncture practice with a focus on fertility and pregnancy, working with women who are trying to get pregnant either naturally or with ART. She will discuss how Chinese medicine views the menstrual cycle, what to look for that could be the key to your getting pregnant, and give you some suggestions on supplements/herbs that could also help.

Bring your written list of questions with you. Stephanie recommends her clients read "The Infertility Cure" by Randine Lewis, which has a great quiz to see where your system is weak. For more info on Stephanie's practice, see http://www.acupunctureindelray.com/ or http://www.healingtr.com/simmons.html

Stephanie has invited her friend, Michelle Mitchell of Pure Prana to show us some yoga moves for fertility!

Angela Ferri of Body and Soul Healing Arts may also come to tell us about Maya abdominal therapy, a special type of massage, and show us some bellydancing moves that promote fertility.

Whether you are experiencing secondary infertility or just thinking about trying for a baby, this MNO may offer some rejuvenating and fun ideas!

Space is limited to less than a dozen people, so contact the chapter now!