This past week I was invited to an exciting event in the world of chocolate, all because of this blog. Like my friend Tamara Holland said, I have a thing!! I have a thing, and Emily, the Online Marketing Manager at NEWTREE, happened to notice. So she invited me to the private opening of their NEWTREE Cafe & Chocolate Shop in downtown San Francisco. Thank you, Emily!

I was blown away by the beauty of this place and by the scrumptious food! We sampled their Belgian-inspired, local and organic menu, along with their fair trade chocolate treats.

Pictured above is NEWTREE founder Benoit de Bruyn, showing us their wall of chocolate. Notice the samples for each bar! I consumed WAY too much chocolate that night. :)

NEWTREE’s chef John Hutt created the extremely tasty cafe menu. I tried everything above! That counter is made out of recycled glass, by the way. In fact, the entire space features sustainable, recycled, repurposed, non-toxic and energy-efficient materials.

The floor is made out of reclaimed pebbles. I liked the owner’s green pants, so I took this photo while he was telling us about their awesome philosophies…

See how modern and natural this place looks? You feel like you’re in a spa.

I don’t know if you can read the words on this mirror, but I thought it looked cool.

NEWTREE products are organic and fair trade certified. They recently reduced the sugar content 20-35%, by using agave fiber, which means that their bars have 2-5 times more fiber than other chocolate bars. Sounds like health food to me!

Savor Life is NEWTREE’s motto. I love the green paint they chose for their cafe…and everything else about it. My foodie friend Cathy Curtis joined me at this event, and after sampling just about everything, we sat next to this wall with cups of hot organic herbal tea…talking and taking in the beautiful, peaceful atmosphere.

If you’re in San Francisco, be sure to check out the NEWTREE Cafe & Chocolate Shop, located at 1 Ecker Place at Stevenson St. Find them on the web at newtree.com, Facebook and Twitter.

• Tags
• NEWTREE
• chocolate
• food
• San Francisco

9 year old food blogger Martha Payne has been all over the worldwide news lately due to her food blog NeverSeconds which has gone viral, with over 1.6 million pageviews so far. Martha started her blog because she was coming home from school hungry due to lousy-tasting, unhealthy school lunches. She decided to take photos of her lunch every day and post them on a blog, along with ratings of the food. It wasn’t long before she received international attention…even school lunch activist Jamie Oliver got involved. And, more importantly, her school has improved the quality of their lunches because of Martha’s efforts!

As soon as I read about Martha, naturally I wanted to interview her. I checked her blog for contact info, then after finding none went directly to Twitter. Bingo…I found her dad, Dave, who is, of course, a #prouddad, as he stated in one of his tweets! (Thank you, Dave, for tweeting me back with your email address!) Martha was kind enough to get back to me within 24 hours with her fantastic answers to my questions… :)

Peggy: Where do you live, how old are you, and what grade are you in?

Martha: I live in Lochgilphead in Argyll in Scotland. I am 9 years old and in a class called P5.

Martha: I wrote a newspaper article in school about the sinking of the Titanic and really enjoyed it so I asked Dad if I could write everyday. I came up with the idea of a blog about lunches because I was coming home hungry. 

Martha: I have seen some of Jamie’s TV programmes with my family and we have some of his recipe books. Many people sent him a message about my blog. He said on TV that I should take over from him! I don’t feel famous. My friends are the same as before. It’s nice to be asked questions but I think I’d rather ask than answer. 

Martha: My mum has a really important job. She is a family doctor and also runs a hospital. When she is on call she has to rush in sometimes. She is always fair and kind to everyone. One rule we have is limited electronic time so I am not allowed to watch a lot of TV or play on computers though answering this email doesn’t count! We have to mute TV ads and dad always says he’d rather give us an experience than a toy. 

Martha: I’d like to be a journalist and ask questions. I have a friend in Spain who is a journalist and she is really cool.

Martha: I like to have my friends over to play. We make dens outside and I show them our lambs. Sometimes they help round the sheep up. 

• Tags
• food
• neverseconds
• news
• success
• Martha Payne
• Jamie Oliver

In honor of Mother’s Day, I decided to pose this question on Twitter: What is the one best thing your mother taught you, or should’ve taught you? I knew my friends would respond (you know who you are), but I was so pleased and honored to hear from other wonderful women whom I’ve never met. As a result, I’m now reading Natalie MacNeil’s new book, Danielle LaPorte’s new book, and I am keeping up with Chrissy Horansky’s activities in D.C.! Thank you, all.

@alembic ~ Maria Benet ~ I wish she would have taught me when to hold on and when to let go…though she did teach me that persistence pays. :) ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

@RenaissanceDaze ~ Tatiana Dokuchic ~ My mother taught me that you can never change a man so don’t think you can and don’t even try :)) Very good advice!! ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

@MissMillennial ~ Chrissy Horansky ~ My mother taught me to channel my outsized imagination into an entrepreneurial spirit. She always had this attitude like ‘you can do anything you dream up, you just need to figure out how to make it happen’. She showed me how to break things out into achievable steps. ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

@ctygrl99 ~ Donna Hoo ~ Perhaps one of the best things was teaching me about money. When I was a pre-teen earning money babysitting, she helped me open a savings account at a local bank and I was fascinated that I could earn interest each month. That taught me financial independence.

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@tamholland ~ Tamara Holland ~ Let everyone know you love them. ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

@dianefischler ~ Diane Fischler ~ My mother took me to the museums of New York City frequently, and exposed me to classical music. ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

@fun_master ~ Marilyn LoRusso ~ My mom taught me the importance of unconditional love, humor and appreciation. She modeled all of them often! (Marilyn’s mom recently passed away. Here is a sweet post she wrote for the Larkspur Patch: Legacy of Love.) ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

@nataliemacneil ~ Natalie MacNeil ~ Always give back. No matter what our situation or circumstances, we have opportunities to use our unique skills and talents to help others, and those are opportunities we should always take. (I just have to plug Natalie’s fantastic new book, She Takes on the World!) ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

@cproppe ~ Colleen Proppe ~ Don’t sweat the small stuff- It’s all small stuff + shopping for bras with your mom is not a good idea. :) My mom always had chocolate to share in her purse, usually York Peppermint Patties! ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

@mydogwontbite ~ My grandmother, who I just lost, taught me that it is OK to be alone, and that it is OK to be a strong, independent woman. She has also inspired me to travel finally this year, even though I’m terrified. Also: be friends with your exes. ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

@sarahgranger ~ Sarah Granger ~ Patience. ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

@Jeena_Cho ~ Jeena Cho ~ My mom taught me the difference between being cheap and frugal. And the value in being frugal. Cheap is skimping on quality or not placing the appropriate value. Frugal is appreciating and conserving what you have. She is an immigrant and worked so hard all of her life doing nails. ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

@nextmoon ~ Marjanne Pearson ~ My mother taught me how to sing, which has been an incredible gift. (She was a professional singer.) She was also so handy, pre-Martha. ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

@tonicarr ~ Toni Carr ~ #1 To be your own person and not to wait for others when opportunities arise. #2 The importance of good legible handwriting. ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

@pcooknews ~ Pam Cook ~ Don’t spend your life worrying about your house; it’ll be clean & organized when you’re kids are grown and you’ll wish for these crazy days!

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@RaceToNowhere ~ Vicki Abeles ~ Make family a priority. Effort matters more than grades. My mother told me women can do it all. I wish she taught me that women can do it all but maybe not all at the same time. ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

@erinschrode ~ Erin Schrode ~ Dream and do (our motto)

- Strive and aspire towards tomorrow, but let it evolve

- Look for the silver lining (each and every day)  ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

@DanielleLaPorte ~ Danielle LaPorte ~ Love is a verb.

(You’ve got to get her #1 new book, The Fire Starter Sessions!) ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

@Sally_K ~ Sally Kuhlman ~ When I enter a room, new school, etc., where I don’t know anyone, look around to see who looks lonely and go up & talk to them.

(Be sure to read Sally’s poignant blog post, Other Mothers.

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

@mombloggersclub - Jennifer James ~ My mother always taught me to be a great reader. Reading has helped me tremendousy over the years as a writer and an info junkie. ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

@DrJenGunter ~ Jennifer Gunter ~ Best thing: if you find a bra that fits, buy 5. What I wished she’d taught me: that sex is great; that I have worth.

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

@Toffee_Talk ~ Ellin Purdom ~ Always make sure you wear clean underwear in case you are hit by a car or end up in the ER! LOL. Always remember to send a thank you note. ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

@tiffanyrenee ~ Tiffany Renee ~ Mom taught me: Be nice, work the hardest, play harder. I’m still working on play harder.

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

@OnePinky ~ Laura Fenamore ~ She should have taught me to have a healthy relationship with money, instead she taught me to fear not enough. in all fairness, she did teach me to be kind to others as she was kind and generous with her heart. 

@curtisfinancial ~ Cathy Curtis ~ Hold out until you meet a good man. (Although “hold out” from my mom’s point of view included no sex…being the good Catholic she is.) I took part of her advice… ;-) And I held out for a man who treats me like a queen.

Read Cathy’s fantastic ebook, The Happiness Spreadsheet

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@DougP1 ~ Mothers’ wisdom from both mothers: Be humble, show respect for others. Before you spend it, think if you really need it. 

(Thank you, Doug, for being my token male respondent!)

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@iPeggy ~ that’s me:) ~ My mom taught me, by example, that there is strength in silence. (Great quote: Silence is a source of great strength. ~Lao Tzu) …And that I can do anything I set my mind to.

Thank you, Mom, and Happy Mother’s Day!

• Tags
• Mother's Day
• women

Laura Fenamore is another amazing and successful woman I’ve met via Twitter, and have had the pleasure of meeting in person several times at A Band of Wives functions, as well as local TweetUps. I can’t imagine Laura weighing 220 pounds, as she once did, because she is very fit and thin now, as you can see in this lovely photo of her. Here is Laura’s story on how she lost 100 pounds and started her OnePinky business…

Bio: Weight Release & Body Image Coach Laura Fenamore is on a mission to guide women around the world to love what they see in the mirror, one pinky at a time, so they can unlock the secrets to a healthy weight and start loving their lives as soon as possible.

Having overcome her own battle with addiction, obesity, and eating disorders, Laura released over 100 pounds 24 years ago to begin a journey to guide other women to live more joyous, balanced lives. The author of the forthcoming book Weightless: 7 Tools to Love Your Body (and Lose Weight For Good) and a frequent contributor to local and national media – including First for Women, Ladies Home Journal, the Dr. Pat Show and blog contributor on Betty Confidential, Daily Love and Positively Positive. Laura believes that self-love and self-care is where the transformation begins. Learn more about her programs, invite her to speak or contribute to your program or conference at OnePinky.com.

Peggy: Where did you grow up and where do you live now?

Laura: I grew up in New York and at 18 years young, (I will be 49 in July), I moved to California. My 1st cousins moved out here first…that’s what brought me out here. I feel like they came out to California to get me out here…that was their purpose. They went back to the East Coast, I stayed. I was going down my darkest road at that time. I had been in two car wrecks from alcoholism. I went deeper into darkness after I moved…I gained more weight, and was doing drugs and alcohol. I walked over the Golden Gate Bridge every week and thought about taking my life. One day I had a moment of clarity and as I like to say, “saw the light”. I was suicidal, fat, drunk, depressed and an angel came into my life and suggested I go a 12-step meeting. Fortunately for me, at the time, I listened and both AA and OA became my launching pad to consciousness work.

Peggy: I can’t believe that you were ever 100 pounds overweight. How long ago did you lose the weight, and how have you kept it off?

Laura: 24 years ago. I got into Overeaters Anonymous which gave me the support I needed. I was on a very strict diet, basically starving myself. I don’t recommend that way. I didn’t exercise until years later. I really got, very clear early on in my recovery, that I had to accept myself at 220 pounds before I could release any weight. I knew that if I could love and accept myself, I could release the weight for good which I did. I don’t abuse myself anymore. Through the years I have attended many different kinds of self-help groups which have supported my journey. I see that as a sign of strength not weakness. We build the foundation to our lives and then we need support systems to keep it going peacefully and healthily.

• Tags
• addiction
• alcoholism
• chocolate
• success
• weight loss
• women
• personal growth

The New York Times calls Vicki Abeles’ film “a must see movie”; The Washington Post describes it as “A growing grass-roots phenomenon”; and a reviewer for the Huffington Post says ‘No Child Left Behind’ Means a Race to Nowhere. 

I saw Race to Nowhere when it first came out, in 2010, at our local theater. Vicki was there that night, and spoke after the filming. I have long been a critic of the No Child Left Behind Act, as I have seen what it has done to our education system and today’s children. I am a big fan of preserving childhood and instilling a love of learning in children…and I am not a fan of kids being saddled down with piles of homework. That said, I was nodding my head throughout Vicki’s film. I applaud this woman for taking action, big-time! 

Bio: Vicki Abeles, an ex-Wall Street lawyer and mother of three, turned filmmaker in 2007 to produce her first feature documentary, Race to Nowhere, a vivid portrayal of the pressure-cooker culture dominating America’s schools. Using a cutting-edge community distribution model that has showcased the film in more than 4,500 community-sponsored screenings, Abeles has brought Race to Nowhere to more than 1 million viewers nationwide. She lives with her family in the San Francisco area, and continues to produce films on issues affecting children, women and families. Additional credits include Associate Producer on the Sundance favorite Miss Representation and parent facilitator on Edutopia, part of the George Lucas Educational Foundation.

Peggy: You were a lawyer, with no filmmaker experience, when you decided to create Race to Nowhere. How did you get your idea off the ground?

Vicki: I started by talking to everyone I knew to better understand the experience of students today. And I set out to understand all I could about documentary filmmaking. I’m a connector and found in the Bay area a supportive community of filmmakers and other documentary professionals who were instrumental in guiding me throughout the production of the film. 

We spent over 8 months researching the issues and speaking with students, parents, educators, pediatricians, psychologists, and child development experts. Even during this initial phase, I knew it was important to start filming, so I took out my camera and started shooting. In 6 weeks we produced an 18-minute film that was so well received it gave me the inspiration to continue capturing stories.

Instinctively, I always knew there was an important story to be told, and believed that a film would have the potential to reach large numbers of people and to inspire change. 

Peggy: How long did it take to create the film? What is it in you that was able to see that process through?

Vicki: Production of the film was completed in about 20 months. My determination and commitment to inspire change that improves the lives of children was a big factor in seeing the film through to completion and also in our hybrid approach to distribution - maintaining our focus on using the film as a vehicle to bring communities together and spark action. Being fearless - unafraid to make mistakes and keep going - was also a big factor in seeing the process through.

Peggy: Did you expect Race to Nowhere to be so successful?

Vicki: Five years ago, I had an “Inconvenient Truth” moment around the way our culture has come to define success and the impact it is having on our children, our schools and our future. I believed in the power of the stories of students to tip the scales of public awareness and create the determination to take action to reclaim healthy childhood and inspire a new vision for education. Just after the Mill Valley Film Festival, we began to share the film in community settings with town hall style discussions following. It was clear that the film had hit a cultural nerve and the greatest hope for change would be in bringing communities together to see the film and discuss the issues and their vision for change. 

Peggy: What changes did you make in your own family with regard to education and homework after you realized the pressures your children were under?

Vicki: With a good dose of self-reflection, humility and honesty, I knew that at the “end of the day” I simply wanted my children to be happy, healthy, independent, informed, resilient people who are contributing members of society. I took steps to simplify life for my family and prioritized time for relationships, play/downtime and sleep. I stopped asking about homework and grades. I didn’t want my children to see me as one more person measuring and comparing them. As parents, we are the most important people from whom our children seek approval, and I didn’t want them to think my approval or love was contingent on grades, test scores and trophies. We shifted our conversations to things they were excited about learning. I stopped checking the homework and was determined not to allow it to take over family life. Our children have the space to make mistakes and learn from them. Once I considered that what I ultimately  wanted for my children - happiness and health - I set out to find ways to align our actions with our hopes for our children. 

Peggy: What are you working on now?

Vicki: We’ve launched a call-to-action movement that is providing resources and a support network for parents, families, educators, medical professionals, policy makers and corporations seeking to measure educational achievement not through evaluation, busywork and competition (i.e. testing, homework and college admissions) but instead through a child’s successful embrace of personal challenge, a love of learning, and a sense of common purpose. I’m also working on a book and am in pre-production on my next documentary. 

Peggy: How do you balance work and motherhood?

Vicki: Finding balance is an ongoing challenge. Not only is there the work I’m passionate about and all that goes with being a parent, but there’s the rest of life - friendships, extended family, marriage and my health. And with technology opening the floodgates of unlimited communication, and work weeks for us and our children spilling into evenings and weekends, finding quality downtime is a challenge and a priority for me. I find that I’m more productive at work and happiest at home when I make time to connect with friends, exercise, get outdoors, sleep and read a book. On a daily basis I remind myself to be present with whatever it is I’m doing. And there are days when I’m struck by the irony of the work I’m doing and my own challenges around finding balance.  

Vicki: Definitely a morning person! I get about 7 hours of sleep a night.

Vicki: Spending time with those I’m closest to (especially my children), cooking, getting outdoors, and moving works wonders for me. And with work, it’s critical that I spend time in the communities screening and discussing Race to Nowhere - that’s the best resource for inspiration.

Vicki: I’m currently reading Rework on the topic of workaholism. (Excerpts can be found on its site: http://37signals.com/rework/.) There’s research that points to the detrimental effect of workaholism on leadership and management. There’s a parallel issue in our approach to raising and educating our children and adolescents.

Vicki: So many favorites when it comes to chocolate. Bridgewater Chocolate from Connecticut (try their bark), Cocobella in San Francisco, and my son introduced me to the best hot chocolate at Bittersweet Cafe. And there are usually plenty of Hershey’s kisses on hand at my office. And, as a filmmaker, I need to mention my favorite popcorn - 479 Popcorn (Fleur de Sel Caramel) in San Francisco!

Vicki: Naysayers may wrongly conclude that my message is about lowering the bar. Rather, I, along with hundreds of thousands of educators, parents, health care professionals and students are instead rebelling against the current culture with its emphasis on competition, test scores and resume building. I’m advocating for a new vision for education and childhood. If we truly want to improve the educational experience of our children, our focus should not be hinged on competition with other nations; it must begin with conscious parenting and education practices that address the development of the whole child – their intellectual, emotional and physical well-being. They center on developing creativity and critical thinking through project-based learning and fostering student engagement through collaboration. They support a model of parenting and education that encourages children to discover their individual talents and pursue their true passions. They don’t demand perfection. They don’t involve assigning more homework, prolonging the school day, or increasing assessment tests. Our schools need to be community institutions that nurture and inspire children.

• Tags
• Race to Nowhere
• Vicki Abeles
• chocolate
• education
• homework
• success
• parenting

Teens Turning Green is an organization that I have long admired. In fact, when I came up with the idea for this blog, these women were on my list from Day 1. I wondered if Judi and Erin would agree to an interview, though, because they’re so incredibly busy doing their good work; plus, Erin is in college and was traveling when I emailed her. Well, they both blew me away with their kindness and speedy positive responses. I am beyond grateful for their time…and very excited to post my first double interview!

Bio: Judi Shils has spent the last 10 years of her life spearheading grassroots community projects. The dearth of answers around Marin County’s high cancer rates led Shils to found the non-profit Search for the Cause, now Teens Turning Green. Moving to the Bay Area and becoming a mother to daughter Erin changed the course of her life. Prior to this, she was an Emmy Award-winning television producer for 25 years with ABC Sports, FOX and Oxygen, founded The Diary Project forum for youth at the onset of the internet, and ran a successful student art show, Celebrate Arts. She also consults for the California Coastal Commission around public education.

Bio: Erin Schrode is a young ecoRenaissance woman. As the “face of the new green generation,” the co-founder and spokeswoman of Turning Green promotes global sustainability, youth leadership, environmental education, and conscious lifestyle choices. After working in disaster response in Haiti, she founded and launched The Schoolbag, a youth education project to provide tools and materials for students in need, as well as initiate active citizenry and environmental stewardship.A “sustainability prodigy” and eco expert, Erin has been featured in the NY Times, Vanity Fair, SF Chronicle, NY Post, Seventeen Magazine, Teen Vogue, National Geographic, ABC, NBC, BBC, CNN, FOX, MTV, E!, AOL, GOOD, Slate… More about Erin

Peggy: Judi, You went from being an award-winning TV producer to a founder of several non-profits. How did that shift happen? Have you always been an activist?

Judi: No, I didn’t even know that that word meant. It has been a wonderful learning curve!

• Tags
• Erin Schrode
• Green
• Teens Turning Green
• The Schoolbag
• Judi Shils
• chocolate
• success
• environment

This interview is different from my other interviews. Tika Hick is not a doctor or a lawyer or an author or a business owner. Tika is a successful and inspiring woman because she is a survivor. I’m sure everyone in Marin County, CA, where I live, has heard Tika’s story. For those of you who haven’t, here it is: Tika was a new mom, recently diagnosed with breast cancer, when her fiance, David Potts, tragically died during their vacation in Hawaii. He was swept into a blow hole. Here is an article about that horrible event. Tika & David were in Hawaii celebrating life the week before Tika was to undergo a double mastectomy. As it turned out, Tika and their son Indie had to fly home without her beloved David, whose body was never found. Tika did have her scheduled surgery days after returning home, because she wanted to rid her body of the cancer so that she could go on to raise her son in good health.  

Last week I visited Tika, who is so kind, and her sweet baby Indigo in their small cottage which is behind the house that David & Tika once owned, but lost, during the recession. Tika told me about how David, who was a contractor, once let someone live in that cottage rent-free during a difficult time. Tika talked about how David “paid it forward”, and now that generosity is coming back to her, by the current owner of the property.

My heart broke for Tika last summer when I read about David’s accident in our local paper. Shortly thereafter I attended a fundraiser for her, hosted by A Band of Wives, where I realized that many of my friends and acquaintances knew Tika personally, including Christine Bronstein and Sally Kuhlman. Recently I heard that Tika was about to have her fourth, and hopefully last surgery, and I noticed that fundraising was still going on for Tika & Indie, so I wanted to see if I could help out by meeting and writing about her. By the way, Tika is now home recovering from her final surgery, which thankfully went well.

Peggy: You were a preschool teacher, but you’re not currently able to work because of your health situation. How are you surviving financially? Did David have life insurance?

Tika:  No life insurance. We are living solely off donations. People have been generous, and I’m very grateful. I’m determined to go back to teaching this fall due to overwhelming bills. I’d like to be able to get a bigger place to live, so that Indie can have his own room and a bathtub.

If you would like to make a donation to Tika & Indie, please click here for details.

Peggy: How are you doing? How do you get up and face each day?

Tika:I used to roll over and kiss my husband; now I roll over and take an antidepressant. I just get up and do it. I have to, for Indie. I don’t want pity and I don’t want to bring other people down. I don’t know that I’ll ever know true happiness again, but there’s going to be some light at the end of the tunnel. You have to fake it until you make it. David & I loved each other so much…we were together 10 years. I still got goosebumps when he pulled into the driveway…

Peggy: I’m so sorry. I don’t know what to say…

Tika: Oh, no one knows what to say. What can you say? It’s just nice to hear “I’m sorry for your loss”. I understand that it’s hard to find the words to speak to me about it. 

Peggy: Are you cured of cancer now?

Tika: I’m considered cancer-free. I’m having hopefully my last surgery next week, earlier than planned, because an expander ruptured. They will do the reconstruction, and I should be done. The cancer has just been a pain in the ass; an annoyance. I can’t fully grieve for David because of the cancer. When I was diagnosed, after the initial shock, I decided that cancer wasn’t going to bring me down. I was going to beat it, and David was right there with me.

Peggy: Wow. Have you always had a positive attitude like that?

Tika: Yes. My theory was that I’d fill the cancer quota…take one for the team. Then, no one else close to me would get cancer. I can deal with it. It could be worse…it could be my baby.

Peggy: Tell me about your meeting with Michael Franti, your favorite musician.

Tika: Yes, I’m a huge fan of Michael Franti. David & I went to all of his shows. He heard my story and came to my house to interview me, right after David died and days before my surgery. I’m incredibly grateful for all he has done for me and Indie. [Video]

Peggy: Tika, thank you so much for taking the time to meet with me. Oh…I almost forgot to ask you… What kind of chocolate do you like?

Tika: I feel like I should be sophisticated and say dark…but I really like milk chocolate with almonds.

Peggy: That’s OK. You’re allowed to like milk chocolate. :)

~ David and Tika ~ To donate to the “We Love Tika” fund, please click here.

• Tags
• David Potts
• Tika Hick
• breast cancer
• cancer survivor

I have been reading AnnieFox’s tweets and blog for several years and, as a parent, I find her information to be extremely valuable. I admire this woman who, at a young age, decided that helping kids was going to be her life’s work. It is obvious that Annie is passionate about that work. Parents and t(w)eens: do yourselves a favor and check out Annie’s stuff! 

Bio: Annie Fox, M.Ed. is an award-winning author and student/parent/teacher educator with 30+ years experience focusing on kids’ healthy Social & Emotional Development. Annie’s books include: Too Stressed to Think? and the new Middle School Confidential series. Her new book, Teaching Kids To Be Good People, will be published by Electric Eggplant in September 2012. Learn more about Annie at: AnnieFox.com 

Peggy: Where did you grow up and where do you live now?

Annie: I grew up on Long Island, New York and went to college and grad school in Upstate New York. I live in the beautiful San Francisco Bay Area.

Peggy: You wrote your first book People Are Like Lollipops before you were old enough to legally sign the contract! How did you pull off getting a book published at such a young age? And how many books have you written since?

Annie: The publication of the first book was a fluke of timing. I worked that summer in the library and the Children’s librarian was kind enough to show my story (which I also illustrated) to a friend of hers who was an editor at Holiday House. Within days I had a contract! Let me tell you, it was surreal! Including that first one, I have had (give me a minute and let me count…) a total of 7 books published, plus a Read-to-Me iBook. I’ve also got an ebook for parents & teachers coming out in September.  

Peggy: Why did you decide to focus your work on helping teens?

Annie: I’ve always been fascinated by people like Dear Abby, even as a kid; I used to cover up Abby’s answers and try to figure out what I would say to the person writing in for advice. In 1996, my own kids were 11 & 17. While doing my share of carpooling with them and their friends, I found my calling… giving advice to middle and high school students! In 1997 we launch my teen website (TheInSite.org ) and the email questions from around the world started pouring in. It’s been 15 years and it hasn’t stopped yet! Since 1997, everything I’ve written and spoken about has been with the intention of helping t(w)eens make choices that reflect who they really are (vs. who their friends expect them to be!).

Peggy: After receiving your Master’s in Education, you worked as a teacher until, as you say, computers changed your life. You then went on to write a your best-selling book, Armchair Basic: An Absolute Beginner’s Guide to Programming in BASIC. I learned to program in BASIC in high school, so this fascinates me…I love tech-savvy women! Can you explain a bit about that period of your life: how did you go from education to computers?

Annie: In 1977 my husband, David Fox, and I, opened the world’s first public-access microcomputer center. He’s the techie. But I am a teacher. So the deal was that he would teach me programming and I’d teach the kids and adults who came to our computer center. It became very clear very quickly that my aptitude for programming was limited (though I was great with our beginning classes). What I was really interested in doing was designing games that would entertain kids while teaching them social intelligence skills. And that’s what David and I are still doing with our apps and iBooks. ElectricEggplant.com

Peggy: What do you spend most of your time working on today? I can see from your wonderful website that you’re very busy!

Annie: I’m the kind of person who needs the freedom and creative autonomy to mix things up, every day! So I’m either speaking to students, teachers and parents at schools or presenting workshops and keynotes at conferences. (Right now I’m in Atlantic City at the American Camp Association’s Tri-State Camp Conference.) Or, I’m working on my new book Teaching Kids To Be Good People. Or I’m answering emails from teens and parents. Or I’m tweeting or posting to my student empowerment forum: Cruel’s Not Cool! I also love hiking, photography, baking and gardening.

Peggy: What one piece of advice do you have for parents of today’s teens? (My oldest daughter recently turned 13, so that includes me!)

Annie: Talk less and listen more. Teens have already heard pretty much all of the advice their parents have to give. They’ve heard it a million times. Which isn’t to say they don’t still need us. They do! But you will be in a much better place to give them what they need by LISTENING and finding out where they’re at and where they’re experiencing confusion. Check out my Q&A with teens to give you some ideas of what you can learn when you truly listen to your kids with 100% of your attention: Letters.AnnieFox.com

Peggy: Are you a morning or a night person? How much sleep do you get?

Annie: I’m definitely a morning person. I crash at around 10 pm. I get around 9 hours of sleep a night. That might surprise people, because I am fairly productive. But maybe that’s why I’m so productive… 

Peggy: Is there something you do every day that helps you stay focused/grounded?

Annie: I have been a yoga student for 12 years. That practice has taught me so many useful tools to use for dealing with stress, for staying focused on what is right in front of me vs. letting my monkey mind yank me around willie and nillie. LOL! I also really enjoy breathing and I teach re-centering breathing to students and parents in every one of my presentations. Hiking is also one of the best things I know for reminding oneself that whatever’s bugging you, you can deal and in the meantime, look at that beautiful mountain!

Peggy: Do you have a favorite inspirational book or quote?

Annie: Gandhi, “Be the kind of change you want to see in the world.” and, also from Gandhi “There is no road to peace. Peace is the road.”

Peggy: Dark or milk chocolate? Do you have a favorite brand?

Annie: Dark chocolate! Between 72-80% Trader Joe’s Organic Dark Chocolate 72% is a consistent winner!

Peggy: Is there anything else you would like people to know about you?

Annie: My best friend in the world is David Fox. We’ve been happily married for 37 years and if not for him, I wouldn’t have achieved any of this. 

Peggy: That’s very sweet! I hope your husband reads this, though I’m sure he already knows how special he is. Annie, thank you so much for your time!

Annie can be found: AnnieFox.com ~ TheInSite.org ~ Twitter ~ Facebook ~ Google+

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