Rudri Patel
Rudri Bhatt Patel is a former attorney turned freelancer writer. Prior to attending law school, she graduated with an M.A. in English with an emphasis in creative writing. She is the managing editor for The First Day and her work has appeared in The Washington Post, Brain, Child, The Huffington Post, The Review, Review Role, Reboot, The Mid and elsewhere. She writes her personal musings on her blog, Being Rudri, and is currently working on a memoir that explores Hindu culture, grief and appreciating life’s ordinary graces. She enjoys reading, writing and running. Rudri has lived in the Valley since 2009 with her husband and daughter (9). You can find Rudri on Twitter, Facebook and Being Rudri.
Don’t Let Summer Interfere with your Exercise Routine
The kids are home from school and it is easy to use them as an excuse as to why you're not exercising. Let's face it - there are so many reasons why we avoid...
How to Create a Yoga and Meditation Space in Your Home
Trying to find your Zen place doesn’t necessarily mean you need to trek across town to a yoga studio. You can create a space in your home to practice your best yoga pose or...
6 Helpful Travel Apps
School will be out soon and summer travel plans will be in full swing. When you are managing travel with family, it's helpful to use technology to your advantage. Where is the closest gas...
6 Inspirational Spots for Instagram in the Valley
If you love taking photographs, having an iPhone or a smartphone makes it incredibly easy to take pictures and immediately post them on Instagram. The Valley offers countless moments of beauty, whether it's the mountains...
5 Classic School-Age Kids and Tween Book Recommendations
Are you confused on what books to get your school-age kids or pre-teens? There are several selections that fall into the teen category, but with tween books you may want to take a quick glance...
Is It Possible to Live Without Regrets?
As I creep into midlife, I've pondered the word regret. We hear it all of the time throughout our life, "If you don't move forward with this plan, you might regret it," or "Don't...
6 Tips on Dealing With Difficult Family Members During the Holidays
Let's face it. The holidays are fun, but sometimes we are forced to interact with family we don't necessarily adore. Whether you are flying home to be with family or hosting your closest relatives in...
How to Host a Debate Party
Election mania is in full swing. Candidates are running commercials, social media is focusing on the latest comments from Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton, and water-cooler talk at work might gravitate toward the question,...
Celebrate Birthdays with Cold Stone Creamery Ice Cream Cake
How do you like to celebrate your birthday? I love receiving cards in the mail, going to dinner with my family, celebrating with friends and spending the day doing what I love. These little...
Secrets to a Lasting Book Club
I climb out of my car, grab my book and head toward my friend’s door. A knock later, I am embracing my book club buddies, exchanging stories and catching up on life. We’ve had...
Are These Books on Your Summer Reading List?
Whether your have a few hours of downtime or you are headed to your favorite vacation spot, it's fun to have a go-to book to throw into your beach bag or purse. Here are 6...
Graduation Gifts for Every Personality
Graduation season is upon us. Are you having a difficult time deciding what gift to get? We suggest buying a present reflective of the graduate's personality. Here is a roundup of Scottsdale Mom's Blog...
Friday Favorites {Rudri}
Hi! I am Rudri.
I've lived in the Valley for the past seven years with my husband and my 10-year-old daughter. To make any place home, you definitely need go-to services, products and places you...
Spring Break Favorites
Sometimes it isn't an option to fly during Spring Break. That doesn't mean you can't have a great time with the local venues in town. From hiking to movies, there are plenty of options...
10 Practical Organization Tips for a Clutter-Free Home
Do you struggle to clear the clutter from your home? Are you constantly overwhelmed by the amount of stuff accumulating in all the rooms of your house? You don't have to tackle your whole...
Create Your Personal Gratitude Journal
“Showing gratitude is one of the simplest yet most powerful things humans can do for each other.” - Randy Pausch
Do you make resolutions? What is on your list? Have you thought about approaching your...
Age Appropriate Chores for All Kids
"That's too hard, Mom. I can't do it." Is this a familiar response when you ask your kids to fold laundry or set the table? Some chores might be too much for kids at...
Banning the Words: Girl Drama
“It’s too much drama!” My daughter complains as she spills the details of a squabble she experienced in the park. I am not a proponent of the word since it furthers the myth that young...
Fall Fun: Things to Do Around Town
It's still hot in the desert and I know it's hard to think about Fall, but there are several wonderful events to get you in the mood for pumpkins, Halloween and yes, even colder...
Explore Scottsdale Hiking: Find the Perfect Trail
September is here and you know what that means. . . Fall is in the air. Well, technically fall won't arrive for another month or so in Scottsdale, but temperatures are starting to cool...
Favorite Ways to Relax {Contributor Corner}
School is officially in! Now, it's time for moms to relax. . . at least until pick-up time. We asked our contributors how they love to relax after school drop-off.
These all sound great to...
Sunday Meal Planning Series {Southwestern Chopped Salad}
Our latest Sunday meal planning guest contribution comes from a local Scottsdale mom who has two young toddlers and looks to find healthy, but quick ways to feed her family.
Here are some of the reasons...
After-School Snacks {Sunday Meal Planning Series}
As soon as I pick up my daughter after-school, she has one thing on her mind. "I am hungry, Momma!" Sound familiar? When I can, I like to plan ahead for snack time so...
Favorite Summertime Memory {Contributor Corner}
Can you believe it?
In a few weeks, kids will be back in school!
Before our contributor moms get back in the hustle and bustle of the fall, we asked them one important question....
Sunday Meal Planning Series {Summer Dessert Ideas}
Looking for simple summer dessert ideas for your family after a meal? Summertime means lazy days and trying to stay cool in the desert heat. A sundae bar or snow cone will hit the spot!
These...
Happy Mother’s Day!
Happy Mother's Day! I hope all of the moms out there are spending the day with the ones they love and doing the things that they enjoy. Here are a few quotes to help...
7 Travel Tips for a Spring Break Road Trip
Are you heading out on a family road trip as part of Spring Break? Planning, embracing the unexpected and a healthy dose of humor can make questions like "Are we there yet?" more bearable. Here...
Too Many Digital Pics? 6 Ways to Cherish Your Memories
How many times have you heard "quick, grab the camera!" to capture that moment your daughter tumbles toward her first somersault or your son dons his first pair of tennis shoes. With our phones at...
Top 10 Fun Things To Do With Kids In Scottsdale & Phoenix
This post was originally run a year ago but the fun things remain the same - especially for all of our visitors in town for the golf and Super Bowl - so we wanted...
Reject Resolutions. Here Is What To Do Instead.
In the past, I’ve written resolutions. By mid-February these goals are lost in the shuffle. For the last few years, I've opted to reject resolutions and chose to focus on adopting one word that...