The original post can be found here.  

Just a reminder that Stephen M (Ethesis) and Win Marsh - AKA Amateur Parent are hosting a pool party for families in or around Texas this weekend.

I’ve received feedback that a few people haven’t been able to access the invitation. Here is the information: (more…)

Over the past year it has worked out where I have been able to attend some seriously jealousy inducing events. A retreat with the gals from the Exponent and Margaret Toscano and Lorie Winder Stromburg, Sunstone West featuring Claudia Bushman, A leg of the Our Visions Our Voices tour where I got to meet Joanna Brooks, and now a snacker with a private performance by Carol Lynn Pearson. It’s almost embarrassing. It’s like I’m in one of those grad programs where you make your own coursework and find your own mentors and mine happens to be Mormon Womens Studies.

This was a real personal highlight for me, because Carol Lynn has managed something I want with my whole heart to figure out. She appeals to everyone of any Mormon ideological stripe. The feminists love her. The gays and supporters love her. The most mainstream of conservative patriarchy supporters read her poetry and praise her name. She has never been disciplined, or even chastised. I want to walk that line. I want to have my radical feminist bean cake and eat my molly-made green jello too. (more…)

I don’t want to distract from the two awesome FMH snackers scheduled for this weekend - one in San Francisco and one in Idaho - but I wanted to get this put up so people can start marking their calendars.

We are having our third Texas FMH snacker in six months (come on other regions, try to beat that!) This one is going to be the most fun of all. Stephen M (Ethesis) and his wife Win are graciously opening up their home to FMHers and their families (kids, too!) for a swim party and barbecue.

It will be Saturday, July 17 at 6:30 p.m. in Plano, Texas. Here is the invitation. Please RSVP there. Hope to see you then! 

We’ve had to make some changes from the original plan that was posted at the end of May, but now we are ready to announce the revised San Francisco Area fMh “reading and snacker” with Carol Lynn Pearson!  Carol Lynn has agreed to open her home in Walnut Creek to us for a special group reading of her play, “Mother Wove the Morning,” followed by discussion and a snacker.

“Mother Wove the Morning” is a one-act play that Carol Lynn wrote and performed over three hundred times, portraying sixteen women throughout history in search of God the Mother.

(more…)

OZ:  We should figure out what kinda deal this is.  I mean, is it a gathering, a shindig, or a hootenanny?

 CORDELIA:  What’s the difference?

 OZ: Well, a gathering is brie, mellow song stylings; shindig — dip, less mellow song stylings, perhaps a large amount of malt beverage; and hootenanny, well, it’s chock full of hoot, just a little bit of nanny. (more…)

Just a reminder that we are having our second Texas snacker this Saturday at Fadi’s Mediterranean Grill in Frisco.

2787 Preston Rd. #1100. Frisco, TX 75034

We’ll meet at 6 p.m.

See you there! If you have questions or would like to comment off-line, email me at fmhstephanie at gmail dot com.

Details below the fold! (more…)

Hello all!

Spring is here and its time to shake off the winter dust and get outside!

AllieKay and I have been conspiring behind the scenes to plan a little snacker for the Wasatch Front readers.

When: Saturday, May 15th at 12:30ish
Where: Salt Lake’s beautiful Liberty Park (but where, specifically? You tell me)

UPDATE BELOW the FOLD: (more…)

FMH San Francisco Area Retreat & Snacker With Carol Lynn Pearson!

Please join us for a wonderful and amazing experience with Carol Lynn Pearson the week-end of June 4-6th. We are having a retreat with her at her home in Walnut Creek. This is such an honor and delight. Please join us if you can. It’s ok if you want to come in from out of town. Space is somewhat limited, but we will fit in everyone we can.

We will begin on Friday evening, and end Sunday evening. The cost is $395 each if there are four coming. If there are more, the cost is less. I am hoping for $195 each, ideally. First signer-upers get the best beds, but all will be comfortable. The cost pays Carol Lynn, accommodations, and covers food, too.

If you can’t come for the retreat but can come for a snacker either Saturday evening or Sunday late afternoon, please let us know.

Please post anything that would be of value to the readership. For private questions and comments, please email sanfranFMH@yahoo.com

Woohoo!!!

This Friday and Saturday, Sunstone comes to Southern California.

Kaimi calls Sunstone “part academic conference, part sacrament meeting, and part group therapy.” I called it totally lifechanging, but I have always had a flair for the dramatic.

The lineup is especially impressive: Richard and Claudia Bushman, Armand Mauss, D. Michael Quinn,  Todd Compton,  tons of shining lights from throughout the bloggernacle - Emily Clyde Curtis, Jana Remy, Caroline Kline - and some fascinating scholarship from the Mormon Studies program at Claremont Graduate University.

I’ll be there both days taking rapid fire notes and trying not to choke on my tongue when I introduce D. Michael Quinn’s session on “Us vs. Them Tribalism.”

After the closing session on Saturday night, Kaimi and I will be hanging around in the Albrecht auditorium until someone comes along to kick us out. Kaimi is a fondue expert and will be putting his skills to use while I stand by and clap and shove cheese in my face.

Please come join us! Saturday night, 9:30pm, Albrecht auditorium in the Stauffer bldg on the CGU campus. Follow the smell of melted cheese, and bring something to dunk in it!

by: Hammie

Now with pictures!

Finally, more than a week after the great event, here’s a recap of the fabulous Seattle snacker!!! I had a sister visiting, and a busy work schedule, so forgive me for the huge delay.

Here’s the report of our first (of hopefully many) snackers in the beautiful and cloudy city of Seattle! (more…)

Seattle Snacker - Saturday, March 6th — It’s not too late to R.SV.P.

Come one, come all, in the Pacific Northwest!

When: Saturday, March 6th, 7-11pm
Where: ErinAnn’s condo in Bellevue - RSVP for address and directions
What: A fun night of conversation, get-to-know-you games, and eating food.
What to bring: Yummy snacks! We ask only that they be non-processed. We’d love any desserts, main dishes, or anything else you feel like bringing, home-made or otherwise.

We’d love to see men and women alike, and you should come even if you are not a regular commenter here on fMh! ErinAnn’s kids will be asleep, so please find a sitter for any non-nursing little ones.

RSVP to fmhseattle @ gmail . com. Get back to us as soon as you know if you can make it, so we can get a good head count.

Meet:  2:00 at the Berkeley ward building

Address: 1501 Walnut St in Berkeley. It’s at the corner of Walnut and Vine. If you want to come on public transportation, it’s about a 15 minute walk from the downtown Berkeley BART station. (That’s the way I’ll be coming, so if anyone wants to meet there and walk over, that would be a possibility.)

The blood drive lasts until 3:00. It would be great if you wanted to do a cool humanitarian thing and donate, but definitely still come even if you can’t. Afterward, we’re going to head to a park a few blocks away. (Live Oak Park at 1301 Shattuck.) So if you want to come later, that would be great, too.

A whole bunch of us braved the rain and got together last night for a wild rumpus and lots of vegetarian gluttony.

Bobby Pin Natalie, Mardell, Kaimi, CWC, and Lorian (more…)

From left to right: Stephen, Win, Stephanie, AmazonaWomona, Enna (front), Ziff (back), Lynnette, Heidelade, Lawyer Lady.

Stephanie here to return and report on our AWESOME Texas snacker. As you know, we met at Fadi’s Mediterranean Grill (fantastic food - just as soon as I learn to cook like that, I’ll become a vegetarian). We had 8 FMHers show up with 3 spouses, 1 mom and 1 baby. I honestly don’t think I have ever met so many interesting people in the same place at the same time. I was so out of my league. Everyone was fascinating to talk to! (more…)

by Lawyer Lady

One last reminder!!

Calling all Feminist Mormon Housewives in Texas and the surrounding area! Oh. Wait. I’m only one of those things and only sorta-kinda. So. Calling all lovers of feministMormonhousewives in Texas and the surrounding area!

Please come to our Texas Snacker:

When: January 16, 2010

Where: Fadi’s Mediterranean Grill (more…)

AKA the Come and Meet CWC While She’s In Our Neck of the Woods Snacker!

Sorry for the short notice, but we just decided to open this up once CrazyWomanCreek realized how many of her favorite commenters live around these parts.

It will be Friday January 22, 2010 starting whenever people can make it through traffic. I’ll be ready for guests any time after 6.

I’ll be mixing up a few vegetarian dishes in CWC’s honor, but potluck is welcome because a Snacker can’t earn its name unless food is involved. I may even do a little fondue spread because an FMH Snacker can’t earn its name without cheese.

I live in Vista, which is North San Diego County. It may be a little bit of a drive for any LA readers, but I’m in a great central location for OC and San Diego and Riverside, so hopefully everyone can make it.

Email me for address and phone information - tresa at reese dixon dot com.

*edited to add*

I should probably mention that three lovable little longhaired cats live at my house. I’m sure we’ll end up keeping them out from underfoot somehow, but if you’re deathly allergic be sure and load up on benadryl.

By:  Lawyer Lady

 Calling all Feminist Mormon Housewives in Texas and the surrounding area!  Oh.  Wait.  I’m only one of those things and only sorta-kinda.  So.  Calling all lovers of  feministMormonhousewives in Texas and the surrounding area!

 Please save the date for the latest snacker:

 When: January 16, 2010

Where:  Frisco, Texas (more info below)

What time: 7:00 - ?

RSVP:fmhtxsnacker@gmail.com

(more…)

So, I know we’ve announced this already, but in case you missed it (and mostly just to emphasize how excited we are), fMh Lisa will be receiving the 2009 Eve Award from the Mormon Women’s Forum at the Counterpoint Conference this weekend! Yaaay! (finger-pointing hip-jiggle dance) And she totally deserves it, too. We didn’t even rig the ballots. Her vision and revolutionism and charisma and inimitable writing skillz have brought her to this pinnacle.

Accordingly, I’d like to encourage you, especially you local Salt Lake-rs to please join us for the Conference and Lisa’s award. She’ll get it during the lunch session, but sessions go all morning and all afternoon, and it will be like your dream fMh Relief Society, only you don’t have to Mormon (or actively so) to come or to enjoy it. This year’s theme is ‘Women In Dialogue About Faith”; there will be thought-provoking and thoughtful presentations and discussions and fantastic company. There’s even a rumor that we’ll extend the love into the evening with an informal snacker-ish gathering. We’re thinking of meeting at The Bakery on 3rd &3rd (email me if you need clarification, fmhartemis at yahoo dot com). But, as in all anarchies, we may change our minds at the last minute. So you have to come to at least one session.

Pre-registration is not required (not sure you could accomplish it at this point, anyway), but if you want to pre-print your registration or if you just want to see the day’s schedule, see here.

Hope to see you there!

Mary Magdalene, Wayfarer, Julie, & meems - Paris, 2009

 Julie & meems - Paris, 2009

The 1^st Semi-Annual European FMH Snacker was an amazing success.  Three of us (myself, meems, and Julie) were able to rendezvous at the base of the Eiffel Tower – it was easy to find each other since I was reppin’ the FMH in my snappy t-shirt and zip hoodie.  After a photo op, we made our way over the Seine and up to the Trocadéro.  With some last minute coordinating, we were able to connect with Wayfarer who was able to get us a table at Café de l’Homme.  The view was amazing and the conversation even better.  There were a number of firsts for some folks in our Snacker, some of which were: first time to travel alone internationally, first time to meet someone from FMH, first time to visit Paris. 

Ok, so that’s the nuts and bolts… but getting to know these outstanding women was absolutely worth the effort (which, for each of us was a big sacrifice of time and money – I can’t speak for anyone else, but that was my impression).  None of us was a copy of the other – our backgrounds so different – but I think that’s representative of FMH.  We talked about how we each found FMH – I was the only one who was referred here by a friend (shout out to semo). 

For me, it was a long-overdue spiritual booster shot in heart.  This meeting strengthened my faith in the goodness of women and allowed me to really be myself with my sisters in the gospel (though not everyone attending is an active church member, it didn’t matter one bit).  I came away with a feeling of being loved and belonging to something that is greater than myself.  Visiting with these courageous women of faith bolstered my resolve to be better, do better, and try harder to be the Heavenly Daughter I think is possible.  I show up in RS in my ward and I’m a cynical, untrusting, boat-rocker.  Sitting in the company of the Women of the Paris Snacker, I could see nothing but love.  That has an amazing power… all that love. 

I’m incredibly grateful for the opportunity to meet with these brave women of faith.  I’m grateful we could meet in Paris with the Eiffel Tower as our backdrop.  I’m grateful for all four husbands who supported their life partners in this adventure.  I’m in awe of the power for good that can come from when two or more are gathered in His name.  And I am a new person for having met and dined with women living life one day at a time and are willing to share their experience, strength, and hope with me.   

I can’t wait for the next one and I hope to see more of you beautiful sisters.   

Talk about a great day sisters and brothers!!