The Woman Today Nov/Dec 2019

WOMAN today the

Allison Hoffbauer

Christmas season keeps this Northlander busy

• Meet four can-do women in the Northland

• Year of the Womxn -- why the X?

• Modern farmhouse captures lake living style

• Make your Twin Ports Christmas memorable

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6 Allison Hoffbauer

10 Tiffiney Bartz

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GENERAL MANAGER ACCOUNT REPRESENTATIVE

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Nan Wisherd

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Nan Wisherd

PRODUCTION • GRAPHIC DESIGN

WOMAN the today

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COVER PHOTO

GROUP PUBLISHER

Neal Ronquist

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INSIDE PHOTOGRAPHY

EXECUTIVE EDITOR

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Derek Montgomery Photography, Three Irish Girls Photography, Robert Peters, Mary Rasch Photography

ADVERTISING DIRECTOR

Megan Keller

ADVERTISING SALES MANAGER

CONTRIBUTORS

Kathleen Pennington

Kristina Bourne, Jessica Hehir, Angela Jones, Susan Peters, Mary Rasch, Alison Stucke, Connie Wirta

ADVERTISING ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE

Ali Comnick

GRAPHIC DESIGNER

SALES

Stewart Hunter — 218-722-5998 stew@momsanddadstoday.com

ADD YOUR

Renae Ronquist

PRODUCTION COORDINATOR

Julie Schulz

CONTRIBUTORS

Allison Stucke

Alex Comstock/Comstock Photography

Andrea Busche

Kelsey Roseth

Molly Milroy

Bob King

Clint Austin

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This issue of The Woman Today features a variety of wonderful articles. They include four women ranging from strong entrepreneurs to working mothers who do it all, and community go-getters. They are an inspiration and I thank them for sharing their stories with you. Also, do you know what Year of the Womxn is all about? Or how to make a super fancy 3D gingerbread tree that will wow your guests? You will after you have read this issue.

Additionally, we learned a lot about a hidden gem in our own backyard on watercolor classes. She was also honored in the Duluth News Tribune's Best of the Best contest for Best Gift Store. There are so many amazing DIY classes in our city and The Woman Today team plans to find as many as we can.

Now, with Christmas around the corner, we were delighted to hit the streets once again and learn some of your most memorable holiday moments in years past. My favorite memory is every year we would get home late on Christmas night from Mora, MN. Back then our only heat source was a small fire stove in our basement. My brother, Matthew, and

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One of my favorite childhood holiday memories is piling into my family’s station wagon with my parents and eight siblings and driving to downtown Chicago to view the holiday lights and decorated department

The holidays are my favorite time of the year. I really enjoy visiting all of our wonderful advertisers during the holiday season and watch them transform their stores for the holidays. They are filled with laughter, wonder, magic and sparkles! One of my favorite holiday memories is when I was a kid, my parents recruited

I were always so darn excited when we got home we never noticed how freezing the house was. This one year, my parents made a scavenger hunt for us. This led us all over the place in waist-deep snow, -40 temperatures. It was hilarious! After running all over the property and finding clues from tree houses to sheds, we get back to the house, pull off our boots and Wonder Bread bags (which kept our feet dry), fly upstairs to find my brother got a TV for his room (now we could watch The “Simpsons”!) and I got my very own Schwinn bike. Every year, my parents had something up their sleeve to surprise us and we made amazing memories, all captured on the world's largest home camcorder.

As I reflect on holiday memories, they didn’t include smart phones or social media. They were all of us sitting in the living room with fuzzy jammies, holiday music and my dad recording the evening with his giant shoulder camera. This year, reflect on your favorite holiday memories and traditions. As you enter this holiday season, remember the importance of your family, traditions and values.

Enjoy this issue of The Woman Today, and thank you for being a part of our readership.

Megan Keller Advertising Director

store windows.

As 2019 comes to an end, we at The Women Today magazine wish all of you a happy and healthy holiday season and look forward to an exciting 2020.

Kathleen Pennington Advertising Sales Manager

my uncles to come over to our house Christmas Eve when we were not home. They brought in all of our "Santa" gifts. My parents wanted us to come home from our grandma's house Christmas Eve night and surprise us with an early visit from Santa because we were SO good that year so Santa delivered to our house early.

Ali Comnick Advertising Account Executive

Allison Hoffbauer and

THE HOFFBAUER TREE FARM

By Allison Stucke

It’s going to be a busy couple of months for Allison Hoffbauer and her family, but they love every minute of it. In addition to their jobs teaching with the Duluth Public Schools, and in addition to raising their young daughters Stella, 3, and Sadie, 2, Allison and her husband Jesse help farm the Hoffbauer Tree Farm just outside of Proctor, Minn., with Jesse’s parents, Doug and Lois Hoffbauer. Starting

mid-November, they’ll sell their locally grown fresh-cut Christmas trees and other goods at the Duluth Farmers Market, as well as at a pop-up at Super One Foods in West Duluth. Additionally, the Hoffbauer Tree Farm features a small cut-your-own operation on site at the farm for people who want to harvest their own tree.

Family Photos Photo courtesy of Francesca Ella Photography

Allison and Jesse Hoffbauer with daughters Sadie, 2, and Stella, 3, help farm the Hoffbauer Tree Farm located near Proctor.

“We are busy,” Allison said. “November and December are very busy for us. But we wouldn’t have it any other way. We’ll be down at the Farmers Market a lot — even the girls. But we’ll get to share in people’s traditions and family stories. People are usually in a happy place. We get to share their joy.”

The history of the Hoffbauer Tree Farm

Doug and Lois Hoffbauer bought the farm and planted trees in the 1980s. Doug came to be known as “Farmer Doug,” and the Christmas tree business flourished. Jesse has been helping most of his life, and 10 years ago when she moved to Duluth for graduate school, Allison became involved when she and Jesse became a couple.

“I grew up in St. Paul,” she explained. “I came to graduate school at UMD. I fell in love in the outdoors and knew I wanted to stay here. So it kind of makes sense that I married a tree farmer and now I get to farm trees right in my back yard.”

A sign at her wedding told her that trees would be in her future.

“I knew I was destined to be a tree person when we received a tree baler as a gift for our wedding,” she laughed. (A tree baler is a piece of equipment that prepares a tree for transport or shipment.) “It’s a privilege to live this outdoor lifestyle with my family. Jesse and I are lucky to have his parents as teachers. We learn each year more and more what works and what doesn’t.”

Trees grown with love

Now Allison and Jesse live on the farm with their daughters, and growing the trees is a family affair.

“We plant thousands of seedlings in the spring. Then we prune them in the summer, and then it’s cutting and baling time,” Allison explained. “We shape the trees several times a year to make

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them look like Christmas trees. We do a lot of maple syrup in the spring. In the summer we work on ball and burlap tree projects for landscaping,”

The family works hard, but they love life on the tree farm, Allison said. A favorite season is springtime, when the family does the planting together.

“A lot of the planting is done in May,” Allison said. “It’s always exciting when the snow is finally melting. It gives us a lot of hope. The kids like to separate out the seedlings and hand them to mom and dad. It’s a fun time because everyone gets out together. It’s definitely a family affair. Every person has a role to make the tree season happen.”

Summer is a busy season, with much work to be done.

“Summertime is spent doing a lot pruning and mowing and shaping, getting the Christmas trees to look like the shape of a Christmas tree,” Allison said. “We walk through with the sheers, getting the

Their trees and other products

trees to the shape they need to be.”

“These trees are definitely grown with love,” Allison said.

An outdoor life

The family — including Stella and Sadie — spends lots of time outdoors caring for the trees and just being near the trees.

“They love it,” Allison said of her daughters. “I am fortunate that they get to grow up outside, living an outside lifestyle, as much as toddlers can be outside. We take walks almost every day among the tree farm, so they’re well versed in types of trees. They actually play farmers market.”

Working and playing together with her loved ones outdoors in the fresh air is her dream come true.

If you visit them at the Tree Farm, the Duluth Farmers

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Allison Hoffbauer and her daughter Stella, 3, take a closer look at one of the trees on the Hoffbauer Tree Farm.

Market, and/or their pop-up shop at West Duluth Super One Foods, you’ll find a variety of fresh-cut trees including balsam, fraser, Siberian, Canaan, Scotch, red pine, exotics, and Charlie Browns. You can also select from table-tops, potted live trees, wreaths, porch pots, kissing balls, garlands, spruce pots, jams, maple syrups, and gifts. There’s a lot to see!

Allison said she and her family look forward to spending time at their booth at the Duluth Farmers Market during the holiday season.

“We get to do a lot of Christmas, just with a lot of other families,” she said. “It’s a really fun time. We really enjoy ourselves. We’re doing something that brings a lot of joy to families and you can’t replace that.” D

Stucke is a Duluth freelance writer and frequent contributor to The Woman Today.

Alison

ITASCA DOG LODGE

A DREAM COME TRUE FOR OWNER-OPERATOR TIFFINEY BARTZ

By Andrea Busche

Tiffiney

Bartz is living her best life. A lifelong animal lover, this 36-year-old mom of three is the owner of Itasca Dog Lodge, a dog boarding business she opened at 27386 Jess Harry Road in Grand Rapids in the spring of 2017. Her business is much more than just a boarding facility. With amenities like couches, comfy beds and blankets, and even TVs tuned in to dog- friendly programming, Bartz makes sure the dogs feel like they are part of her “pack.”

Best of all? The dog lodge is just 50 yards from her home. So, in addition to attending to the canines in her care, she can focus on her kids, her husband, and the smooth running of her household at the same time.

“This is my dream,” she said. “To be here with the kids and animals, running my own business.”

Early love for animals

Bartz grew up in an environment which taught her a few important lessons: the value of hard work, and the love of animals. Bartz’ mother, Bonnie Stotts, is the owner of Beier’s Greenhouse in Grand Rapids.

Growing up, Bartz and her older brother Jarrod often helped their mom with the business.

“My mom introduced us to a strong work ethic,” Bartz said. “There wasn’t a lot of room for goofing off, and everyone had to pitch in.”

When she wasn’t busy with school and the family business, however, Bartz’ true passion was for animals. She loved horseback riding, and spent many weekends taking her horse, Image, to shows. She also had a special collie named Pal.

Education

After graduating from Grand Rapids High School in 2001, Bartz’ life took a series of twists and turns as she figured out her life’s purpose. First, she attended the Minnesota School of Business in Minneapolis.

Around this time, her cousin told her about a program called Youth with a Mission, a Christian missionary and outreach group. Through this program, Bartz traveled to Azerbaijan, where she taught English for three months. The experience was transformative for Bartz, who has always had a strong Christian faith.

“It was humbling,” she said. “I think I brought the biggest suitcase made in the U.S., and when I went home it was almost empty. Others needed what I had, so I gave everything away.”

Bartz earned an Associate of Arts degree from Itasca Community College. Later, she

Itasca Dog Lodge owners Tiffiney and Jacob Bartz with their late companions, Kita and Griz.

attended the University of WisconsinStout, where she graduated with a degree in their hotel, restaurant and tourism program.

As a young adult, Bartz began a romantic relationship with her future husband, Jacob, who was, and still is, her brother’s best friend.

“There are pictures of us together at 3 and 5 years old,” she said. “I’ve known him my whole life.”

Taste of entrepreneurship

While in college, Bartz started Heavenly Pet Sitting, a small pet sitting business, to help finance her education. She loved working with the animals and discovered that she also enjoyed the entrepreneurship aspect of the work.

After graduation, she returned to Grand Rapids. She worked for Timberlake Lodge for a time, and later got a job as a marketing associate at Sysco, where she remained for over seven years.

“I knew in my gut that someday I’d open my own business,” Bartz said. “Sysco allowed me to save money so I could eventually go out on my own.”

Tiffiney and Jacob were married in 2009. Jacob is also an entrepreneur: he owns and operates Bartz Contracting.

The couple knew they wanted a large chunk of land where they could eventually have animals and raise a family. Initially, they bought 20 acres, where they built their dream home: a five-bedroom, four-bathroom home, which is well-suited for the Bartz family, which now includes three children: Karsten, Myles and Georgia. They later added another 10 acres to their property, bringing the total acreage to 30.

The Bartz family also includes two beloved dogs: Foxy, a Jack Russell terrier mix, and Gertie, a nine-monthold bernedoodle.

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Dog lodge

Sometimes, unfortunate events have a way of putting life into perspective, and that was certainly true for Bartz. After she injured her back at a concert in 2016, she made the decision to move forward with her entrepreneurial dream.

Bartz knew she wanted more freedom and time with her kids but didn’t know exactly what she wanted to do. She listed the things she loved, and what brought her the most joy was animals.

She began by calling Tina Morgan, owner of Morgan’s Kennel in Grand Rapids. Bartz asked Morgan if she thought there was room for another dog boarding facility in town, and the answer was a resounding yes.

The Bartzes, along with their neighbor Eric Simonson and friend Dustin Perron, built the Itasca Dog Lodge from scratch. It features 18 dog suites, several fenced-in areas, a lobby, a “quiet wing,” and even a grooming area.

Dogs in the Bartzes’ care receive plenty of attention, exercise and play time. The dogs are housed in glassdoored suites, which allows them to watch television.

“The dogs are here to relax, play and have fun,” Bartz said.

Dog owners can even schedule an on-site grooming session with Liz Schultz, owner of Furget Ne Knot Grooming.

While Itasca Dog Lodge doesn’t accept intakes on major holidays, they do accept dogs in their care over the holidays. Last year, Bartz dressed the dogs up in Santa beards and texted photos to their owners, which was a huge hit.

“When people are traveling, their dogs become part of our family over the holidays,” Bartz said.

Reputation built through trust

Tiffiney Bartz is living her dream

and making a lot of dogs and their owners very happy along the way.

“To know that people trust us to care for their animals is something we don’t take lightly,” she said. “The best compliment I can get is to have someone say, ‘I didn’t worry about my dog when I was gone.’” D

For more information, please visit itascadoglodge.com.

Andrea Busche is a Duluth freelance writer and frequent contributor to The Woman Today.

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20 Years in the Advertising Business

By Andrea Busche

Briana Manning, owner of Duluth businesses Pearson & von Elbe Advertising and Footprint Promotional, recently celebrated 20 years in business. Today, she employs five other people, works with many wellknown clients, and enjoys significant professional success.

Briana Manning

Considering a few of the factors that could have sidelined her career, however, including a frightening, lifealtering car accident, and the fact that she initially operated her business out of a tiny Superior apartment, her success is even more impressive.

Her advice to other entrepreneurs is to “keep moving forward,” which is exactly what she has done – in good times and bad.

Active childhood

Manning was born and raised in South Range, Wis., but attended high school in Superior. She has one younger brother,

Ty. Her dad was a conductor on the Burlington Northern Railroad, and her mom tended to the home and family.

From elementary through high school, Manning enjoyed competing in civic orientation contests and forensics. She was on the swim team, diving team, and ran track and cross country. She enjoyed graphic design classes and joined VICA, the Vocational Industrial Club of America.

Manning had a long-time dream of being an athletic trainer for the Green Bay Packers. While attending UW-Superior,

Manning took classes with an emphasis on athletic training and sports-related injuries. She even had discussions with the Packers about starting an internship.

Life takes a scary turn

During this time, when Manning was working two jobs and going to school, she was involved in a horrific car accident.

“I was burning the candle at both ends,” she explained. “On a trip to Minneapolis, I fell asleep at the wheel. I was going 70 miles per hour with my car on cruise and the sunroof open, and ended up flipping my car and flying 200 feet out of my sunroof.”

Luckily for Manning, a semi-truck driver who was also an EMT had witnessed the accident. Paramedics stabilized her, and she was airlifted to Duluth with a broken neck, a compound fracture in her leg, and torn nerves in her shoulder and neck.

When Manning awoke, she was in a halo, and remained so for two months. She was sent to Polinsky Rehab to relearn how to use the left side of her body.

The accident changed the course of Manning’s life. She decided to not pursue athletic training, as she had permanently lost a lot of physical strength on her left side.

She hadn’t considered any other career options at that point, so she focused on communications, as it seemed to be the most general. She took marketing and public relations classes and quickly became intrigued by the curriculum. She also took a radio production class.

For a time, Manning was on-air for KUWS Radio’s jazz segment. She loved it and decided to pursue a career in media.

A move to advertising

Manning took a job as an assistant media buyer with an advertising agency

Continued on page 16

in Duluth. Eventually, she decided to go into business for herself, and opened a sole proprietorship, Briana Pearson Advertising. Her business did well, but Manning found it difficult to set the boundaries necessary to protect her personal time.

“I worked out of my one-bedroom apartment in Superior, and found out that wasn’t healthy for me,” Manning said. “I worked from the time I woke up until the time I went to bed. I knew that in order to maintain balance, I needed to find an office space.”

Manning secured office space in Hermantown’s Woodbridge Building. She got married in 2001 and renamed the business Pearson & von Elbe Advertising (PVA).

She stayed in Hermantown for 10 years, moving within the building to bigger spaces every couple of years. In 2009, she relocated downtown, to the Providence Building, where she remained for five years. In 2014, she bought her current building at 1427 London Road.

PVA and Footprint

PVA handles all aspects of marketing for their clients, including media production for TV and radio, print/ graphic design, website design, social and digital media, and promotional products. In 2008, Manning started Footprint Promotional Advertising, which creates customized promotional products, after she discovered that many of her PVA clients also needed these items.

Advisory Banking for Women

“I didn’t intend for the business to take off like it did,” she said, “But shortly after we opened, we had orders from all over the country and I needed to hire more people.”

Today, Footprint has clients from Duluth to Switzerland.

2010 was a difficult year for Manning. Her beloved father passed away and she got divorced.

“Even though there were many days that I didn’t want to get out of bed in the morning,” she said, “I pushed even harder, and thankfully PVA and Footprint continued to grow.”

Although Briana’s last name is now Manning, she has opted to keep her business name the same.

Family life

In February 2016, Manning began advertising on KQDS FM. On her first day in the studio, Jason Manning, co-host of the KQ Morning Show, asked her out. The couple began dating and got married in 2017.

Today, Manning is stepmother to two teenagers, Emily (19) and Colby (17). The family lives on Island Lake, and have four dogs, a cat and a horse.

“We spend as much time as possible together going to all the great new businesses in the area, and patronizing the ones we’ve enjoyed for years,” she said. “We love our lake life, and enjoy pontooning, kayaking and having campfires.”

Volunteer work and awards

Manning has served on the Boards for Second Harvest Northern Lakes Food Bank, PAVSA, and the Minnesota Ballet.

Briana and Jason Manning were married in 2017. The couple met when Briana began advertising on KQDS FM, where Jason is co-host of the KQ Morning Show.

“I have always enjoyed volunteering and have been doing it for as long as I can remember,” she said.

Over the years, Manning has been nominated for several professional awards and recognitions. In 2012, she was named one of the Duluth News Tribune’s 20 under 40. Coincidentally, her husband was also recognized that year. Manning was also nominated for the Joel Labovitz Entrepreneurial Success Award three times, under the categories of emerging entrepreneur, established entrepreneur and mature entrepreneur.

Keep moving forward

With over 20 years of experience as a business owner, Manning has some words of wisdom to share.

“The best advice I can offer people is to ‘Keep moving forward.’ I have that statement on the wall in my office, and I look at it every day. It seems simple, but that phrase has helped me through the toughest of times.” D

For more information, please visit pvadvertising.com.

Happy Holidays from

Designs

Andrea Busche is a Duluth freelance writer and frequent contributor to The Woman Today.

Tying in the community to

Glensheen Mansion

By Molly Milroy

Originally from the Twin Cities, Jane Pederson found her way north to attend the University Minnesota-Duluth.

“UMD was a perfect mix of community for me,” said Pederson. “I thought it was just the right size, where I felt that I could have meaningful relationships with people that I could see time and time again and not get lost in a sea of thousands of people.”

After graduating in 2012 with degrees in communications and psychology, she moved back to the Twin Cities and

worked in a corporate job, but knew that Duluth is where she would eventually call home.

“I wanted to come back to Duluth and work for the University that I had such a great experience working at as a student employee,” she explained. And six years ago she landed the sales and events coordinator position and would shortly move into the marketing manager role for Glensheen Mansion, the historic house museum operated by University of MinnesotaDuluth.

Pederson not only

Jane Pederson

loves her alma mater, she is actively involved in the Duluth community. She was a 2015 Leadership Duluth graduate, currently serves on the Fuse Leadership Council, and is on the volunteer marketing committee for the John Beargrease Sled Dog Marathon. In her free time, you might find her snowshoeing on the Lester Park trails with her fiancé, Mike Jandl, and their dog, Honeybee. She enjoys the local craft beer scene and partaking in a Pizza Luce pizza paired with a Castle Danger beer. Pederson also finds time to

visit her parents and brother, Matt, in Woodbury. “Matt and I are very close, he was the Man of Honor in our wedding,” she shared.

Between her time at Glensheen, her involvement in the community, and preparing for her destination wedding in Maui this upcoming spring, she has a lot to look forward to.

As the marketing manager at Glensheen, her role involves a variety of hats including public relations, social media, and advertising. She manages a team of students who assist with creative and graphic design. Glensheen Director Dan Hartman said, “Her general enthusiasm has been a lifting element for the overall team at many different points.”

Pederson is energetic and passionate about Glensheen, she said she works with the best people and she can’t get enough of the location.

“The location is hard to beat, being right on the shore of Lake Superior. The grounds are gorgeous. I love every season here,” she shared.

Christmas at Glensheen

Glensheen embraces each season, offering different tours that match the season. Beginning Friday, Nov. 15, Christmas tours in the mansion will be open.

“Christmas is my favorite season to be in the mansion. We decorate 25 Christmas trees throughout the 39-room mansion,” Pederson said.

In recent years they’ve started hiding 25 little elves.

“Kids love that and it’s not just kids, but it’s kids at heart that love ‘I spying’ the Christmas elves throughout the mansion,” Pederson explained. There is a book available for purchase in the ticket house to help guests hunt for the elves.

Christmas truly is Pederson’s favorite season at the mansion.

“This season, more than any other season, for me, the mansion really feels like the family home that it was. With all of the Christmas decorations it feels vibrant and lively,” explained Pederson. “You can just imagine the Congdons coming together for their Christmas gathering.”

When you go, make sure to indulge in one of the shortbread cookies, an old recipe from Clara Congdon, the matriarch of Glensheen in the early 1900s.

Winter Events at Glensheen

Hartman knows Pederson’s forward-thinking nature first hand.

“She has an insatiable desire to learn more, which in a field of falling attendance, a need to explore new ideas is a must,” he said.

Pederson’s vision helped bring new events to Glensheen. For

Continued on page 20

Glensheen is decorated with 25 unique Christmas trees during the holiday season, one of Pederson's favorite seasons at the mansion.

the first time, they will be hosting Marcia Hale’s Park Point Christmas light display.

“We are infusing the Park Point light display with Glensheen’s current Christmas experience. We’re really excited to launch that this year,” Pederson said.

The outdoor display, free and open to the public, will begin Tuesday, Nov. 26, and will run through the first week in January. Guests do not need to purchase a grounds pass to experience the outdoor light display. All winter displays will be open through Sunday, Jan. 5.

Another favorite winter event of Pederson’s is the Duluth Winter Village, an outdoor village co-hosted by Glensheen and the group Duluth

Duluth Winter Village, an event cohosted by Glenseen and Duluth Loves Local, features arts and crafts, seasonal food and beverages and cozy bonfires on the shore of Lake Superior.

• Dr. Paul K. Hodapp

• Dr. Scott K. Varland • Dr. Nathan A. Jarnot

Loves Local. This free community event is on the Glensheen grounds and is a collaboration of local businesses including seasonal food and beverages, arts and crafts, and bonfires on the shore. A free shuttle brings you directly to Glensheen. Duluth Winter Village takes place Saturday, Dec. 7, and Sunday, Dec. 8, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. For more information visit https://duluthwintervillage.com.

For Pederson, Glensheen is not just a magical place that hosts incredible events, it’s a museum that offers so much more.

“Glensheen, as a house museum, is really unique in that it is a combination of all of the other different types of museums in one,” she explained. Her job has allowed her to experience the museum and grounds in a new way. “I’ve learned a ton about not only house museums, but architecture, landscape design, art, interior design, you name it” she explained. For more information, visit https://glensheen.org.

Pederson’s energy and positive attitude is contagious as is her passion for the historic house museum. This winter look for her on the trails at Lester Park or on the grounds at Glensheen, because she’s not going anywhere. Duluth is her home. D

writer.

Molly Milroy is a Duluth freelance

Kimberly Stokes poseswiththe 2019 RosieAward after accepting it at GreysolonBallroom

A ZEITGEIST INITIATIVE

By Andrea Busche

Fromright here in our own backyard to clear across the globe, today’s women are doing amazing things. From arts and entertainment to science, math and politics; parents of little girls born today can tell their daughters they can grow up to be anything they want – and mean it.

One organization that fully supports the advancement of women is Zeitgeist – a nonprofit arts and community development organization based right here in Duluth. Zeitgeist consists of many enterprises, including a café, cinema, movie theater and more.

For the full calendar year of 2019, Zeitgeist is promoting “Year of the Womxn” – a special programming series at Zeitgeist that highlights womxn’s perspectives, experiences, and stories. Maddy Wegener, marketing manager for Zeitgeist,

explains this exciting initiative, which is open to the public, along with the significance of that special and unique letter “x.”

Why the “x?”

Wegener explained the meaning behind the spelling of “womxn,” rather than “woman.”

“Zeitgeist is committed to making our programming inclusive to all women, and as such the Year of the Womxn planning committee decided to spell ‘woman’ a little differently – with an ‘x’ replacing the ‘a.’

“This spelling has become a trend globally over the last few years and attempts to be an inclusive spelling of the word ‘woman’ to acknowledge the exclusion of many women

Continued on page 24

Reagan Kern (from left), Amelia Barr and Laney Goei all play protagonist Alison Bechdel at different stages of her life during Renegade Theater Company's production of Fun Home.

throughout society and historical feminist movements. It intends to be accessible for all womxn, including transgender womxn, womxn of color, womxn from all nationalities, and other identities womxn use to distinguish and identify themselves. Additionally, the different spelling often causes people to pause – helping to ignite contemplation and conversations around the complexity of gender.”

The Events

As noted, the Year of the Womxn initiative is a series of programming at Zeitgeist which highlights womxn’s perspectives, experiences, and stories. Wegener shared some

information about this year’s events.

“The goal of this year,” Wegener explained, “was and is to integrate and highlight more womxn in Zeitgeist’s internal programming. We’ve been integrating more womxn in our curated art galleries, our cinema programming, our live music in our cafe, and our live programming in the Teatro Theater which includes Superior Shorts, Ted at the Teatro, Gag Me With A Spoon community story share, and Renegade Theater productions.

“Our featured program for the year is Cocktails and Conversations, which features a small group of womxn engaging in conversations around a timely topic,” she continued. “Our first Cocktails and Conversations was centered around Womxn in Activism, and our second focused on Womxn in Music. We will have two more Cocktail and Conversations events this year, and once our speakers have been confirmed, all details will be published on our website at ZeitgeistArts. com/yotw.”

All Year of the Womxn events are open to the public. Some are ticketed or have a suggested donation, but many of the events have been offered at no charge.

A Special Guest

Duluth Mayor Emily Larson was one of the featured speakers at the first Cocktails and Conversations event.

“We were so thankful that Mayor Larson was willing to

Twin Ports musicians Mary Bue (from left), Di Jay and Venus DeMars have a conversation about their experiences as womxn musicians, moderated by Christine Dean (right) at "Cocktails and Conversations" in August 2019.

get involved and share her experiences with our community,” Wegener said. “It was fun to hear from her in a more relaxed setting where she could share her personal stories and perspectives not only from her time as Mayor, but also from her youth.”

Mission

Wegener summarized the overall mission for Year of the Womxn.

“Our hope is to showcase that womxn can, and do, hold positions of power, leadership, and influence across our community. This year is an opportunity for anyone to hear from, learn from, and connect with the number of exceptional womxn across our city and region, and to bring womxn’s stories to the forefront.

“Additionally, our goal at Zeitgeist was to be more intentional about our internal programming curation process, and we look forward to continuing these new processes into our future work as well. This year is not specifically about womxn and their contributions to the arts, although we have been highlighting womxn artists, but rather about celebrating a variety of womxn across a variety of career and demographic backgrounds.”

In addition to her professional ties to the project, for Wegener, it’s also personal.

“As a woman, I am happy to see my organization and my community rallying around a vision that champions womxn and gender equity,” she said. “My hope is that this initiative serves to move our organization, community, and region forward on the path to gender equity.” D

For more information, please visit ZeitgeistArts.com/yotw.

Andrea Busche is a Duluth freelance writer and frequent contributor to The Woman Today.

Hucklebeary: FULL OF HEART

e g

By Kelsey Roseth

When I walked into Duluth’s Hucklebeary a few weeks back, nervous energy bubbled beneath my chest. There to attend a watercolor class alone, I was intimidated. Sure, I can create a card as good as anyone armed with

Bear, a 6-year-old border collie/Australian shepherd mix who rushed forward as I stepped in – saying “hi” with an enthusiastic bark and uncontrollable tail wag. I barely had time to admire his red flannel bandana before Sam J. Nielsen, the watercolor artist leading the event, warmly greeted and guided me to this special space in the back of the shop.

Natural lighting filled this white-painted room, right up to its tall ceilings, casting a bright glow on the dozen or so participants who sat around an expansive table. The men and women eagerly explored the materials arranged in front of them while sipping mimosas, tea and coffee and snacking on fresh fruit and sugar-

With a friendly introduction from Nielsen and some laughcausing comments about her

We sent our writer to a watercolor class, and she left with far more than a one-time

Excited participants begin their watercolor class at Hucklebeary in downtown Duluth.

“pregnancy brain,” the class kicked off with enthusiasm. The atmosphere was energetic, yet laid-back and comfortable. If there was ever a place to have fun painting, I thought “this could be it.”

From the get-go, the focus was all about the event takeaways. “Being able to feel that you’re not only walking away with the experience, but something tangible you can bring home to then continue and move on with your skills,” said Nielsen, who designed the course and watercolor basics booklet we worked from.

My neighbors at the table were there for the long-term benefits, too.

“We had been looking for at least two years for a painting class in the area,” said Joli Austin, a Superior resident who attended the class with her sister-in-law Ali Bilden Camps and mother-in-law Judy Bilden.

“I like how causal it is. It’s not a real formal class, and I love this kind of organization. You can take it home and know what you did. It’s wonderful,” said Bilden Camps. Continued on page 28

Sam J. Nielson teaches participants about watercolor technique in a hands-on class offered at Hucklebeary.

A combination of a carefully-curated gift store, creative lab and community studio, Hucklebeary is celebrating its second year in business. Founded by Twin Cities native and University of Minnesota Duluth alumni Emily Ekstrom, this shop combines passion and purpose.

“What I’m looking for is for people to leave having a positive experience,” said Ekstrom, who started her store through the Greater Downtown Council’s pop-up program. “If you’ve always wanted to try [to learn a new skill], now you’re able to give it a try and it’s a low risk.”

Ekstrom works hard to spark creativity and watch it grow and develop – and based on my experience I’d she’s well on her way to transforming the Twin Ports artistic community.

To give a class a try, visit hucklebearyduluth.com or call (218) 4619083. D

Hucklebeary

106 E Superior Street

Duluth, MN

Monday-Wednesday: Closed

Thursday: 10am-6pm

Friday: 10am-6pm

Saturday: 10am-6pm

Sunday: 11am-4pm

uwsuper.edu/ourhive

Looking to get into the holiday spirit?

no further than Fitger’s on the shores of Lake Superior in downtown Duluth. Santa and his live reindeer arrive at noon Friday, Nov 29. Visit with Santa and snap pictures using your own camera on Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sundays from noon until 3 p.m. through Dec. 22. Include a visit to the courtyard to see the live reindeer. This is a must-see over the holidays!

Look

On Saturdays and Sundays, Nov. 29 through Dec. 21, delight the kids by having breakfast with Santa at The Boat Club Restaurant -- 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturdays and noon to 3 p.m. Sundays. Reservations are suggested; call 7274880.

The halls/ courtyard and windows are decorated during the holidays to make your trip to Fitger’s even more

fun. Plan a special dinner in one of three restaurants at Fitger’s, before or after riding the North Shore Scenic Railroad train to Bentleyville. Park at Fitger’s or nearby and hop the train to tour the most amazing holiday light show at Bentleyville. The train travels from Fitger’s to Bentleyville on Fridays and Saturdays. Watch the children’s faces light up when they see the twinkling lights before them. Reservations for the train rides can be made at duluthtrains.com.

Let’s make shopping easy – be assured you will be pleased with the customer service you will receive at the shops in Fitger’s, as well as the high quality, beautiful gifts you will be proud to give. Begin your shopping experience the Fitger’s way with a great cup of coffee or latte from the newly opened

Yellow Bike Coffee. Stumped and not sure what to give the difficult-to-buy-for person on your list? Purchase a gift certificate online at shopfitgers.com or stop by the Fitger’s Inn. Fitger’s Mall Certificates can be redeemed in any of the shops, the Fitger’s Inn or restaurants (with the exception of Mexico Lindo).

One guest was heard saying, “It wouldn’t be Christmas without a trip to Fitger’s.”

Fitger’s has the pleasure of bringing Santa for everyone to see during the Christmas City of the North Parade on Friday, Nov 22. And don’t forget to stop by Fitger’s after the parade for hot chocolate and cookies and visit with Santa!

Thank you in advance for supporting locally owned shops during the holidays.

Fitger’s - Shop*Eat*Sleep.

Happy Holidays from Whimsy !

Trains board at FITGER’S,and bring passengers to the Bentleyville Tour of Lights display at Bayfront Park, with convenient, optional return times.

Santa arrives November 29th and leaves December 21st. Saturdays 11-4 and Sundays 12-3

Innovative tech eases knee replacement at Essentia

By Louie St. George III

TheGreat Minnesota Get-Together set another attendance record in 2019, with more than 2,126,000 fairgoers descending on Falcon Heights in search of anything-on-astick goodness.

Among the masses — improbably — was Valerie Pavlatos. The 57-year-old Superior resident was less than two months removed from having her left knee replaced at Essentia Health-St. Mary’s Medical Center. Yet, there she was navigating the state fair madness for eight straight hours over Labor Day Weekend. Pavlatos, a certified professional coder at Essentia, attributes the rapid recovery to an innovative technology known as Mako TM robotic arm-assisted surgery.

In the past, Pavlatos would have paid a steep price for spending an entire day on her feet and taking thousands of steps.

“Any time I would have done something like that before, I would think, ‘OK, how many Aleve am I going to have to take today to work through the pain?’ ” Pavlatos said. “But it was fantastic.”

This wasn’t Pavlatos’ first foray into knee-replacement surgery. In 2013, she had the right one done. Then, she underwent a more conventional surgery, also at Essentia. And while the results were terrific, Pavlatos endured more pain, more time in the hospital and twice as much missed work when compared to the Mako procedure this past summer.

Pavlatos was laid up for six weeks following the 2013 operation. This time around, she was back on the job three weeks later. Pavlatos said the pain “wasn’t bad at all.”

“You had a little bit of post-surgical discomfort, but you’re prepared for that,” she said.

Part of the reason for the reduced pain is that, with Mako, there is less trauma to the soft tissue, much of which is spared thanks to a detailed surgery plan that yields more precise cuts. Less pain, of course, means less pain medication and more mobility. And, because this approach, which uses a 3D model of your bones that comes from a CT scan, leads to a more predictable surgery, outcomes are better.

Pavlatos can attest to that.

“Valerie has been outstanding,” said Dr. Anne Normand, Pavlatos’ orthopedic surgeon at Essentia. “She’s a good example of what happens when you get really good buy-in and cooperation from a patient. Her attitude and determination … she’s just done beautifully.”

A mother of two, Pavlatos had arthritis in both knees, hence the replacements. She knows she waited too long to have surgery on the right knee, and didn’t want to make the same mistake again.

“This time, I didn’t want to let it get to that point,” Pavlatos said. “It was terribly bad when I had the right knee replaced. I just didn’t want to reach that point.”

Cortisone shots had kept the pain tolerable in her left knee. That was only a stopgap solution. As Pavlatos prepared to visit her daughter last March in Washington, D.C., she received the injections preemptively. The nation’s capital is one of those modern-day big cities that encourage mass transit and foot traffic.

“Pedestrian-friendly” sounds great unless you’re hobbling

Valerie Pavlatos has made a quick recovery after having her left knee replaced in July, thanks to an innovative technology known as Mako robotic arm-assisted surgery that is available at Essentia Health. She’s shown here walking, something she likes to do frequently.

around with the assistance of cortisone.

“They got me through fine, but a couple days after I got home, I needed it again,” Pavlatos said.

If Pavlatos were to schedule a similar trip for March 2020, she’d have no concerns.

“Oh, my God, I’d be fine,” she said.

When Pavlatos arrived for a recent interview, you’d have never guessed she was moving on a pair of surgically replaced knees. An avid walker who used to downhill ski and play tennis while growing up, Pavlatos always has been active. The Mako procedure ensured that was possible sooner than later.

That’s good news for Pavlatos’ puppy, a flat-coated retriever that Pavlatos affectionately refers to as “80 pounds worth of energy.” She and her husband, Dan, spend a lot of time walking the pup. But Pavlatos hadn’t been comfortable taking the leash, something she expected to change by the end of September.

“That’s my major goal, the final holdout, is walking the dog,” she said.

Pavlatos is increasingly confident in the strength of her left knee. She was looking forward to doing some hiking while on vacation to the Black Hills in October. D

Louie St. George III is a media relations specialist at Essentia Health. He wrote this for The Woman Today.

Follow these tips on how to select the right or for your meal wine beer

Whenit comes to selecting the right wine or beer to serve with your meal, the choices and options can be overwhelming. It’s an important factor when you’re trying to make a good impression for dinner guests, but should still be considered when you simply want the best flavor combination for your family dinner.

It’s a little like rocket science if you delve into contrasting or congruent flavors, balancing sweet and acidic, or navigating through reds, whites, lagers and ales, so let’s break it down for both wines and beer selections.

Wines

Pairing wines with your favorite foods can be intimidating. Professional and amateur wine enthusiasts might know just the bottle to pair with that sizzling steak, but weekend warriors might not be so confident.

Mark Casper of Keyport Liquor in Superior offers the following pairing tips to people looking for the right bottle to go with some popular foods.

∙ Steak: Cabernet Sauvignon is a red wine that’s high in tannins. Novice wine drinkers might wonder why certain wines dye their mouth after drinking, and that’s because of tannins. Steak softens the impact of tannins because of its fat content, making this an ideal pairing.

∙ Spaghetti and meatballs: Italian food and wine go handin-hand, and Chianti, merlot and red blends are a great wine to pair with spaghetti and meatballs. Chianti has a bold flavor, and it has enough acidity to stand up to all the tomatoes and meat in spaghetti and meatballs.

∙ Indian cuisine: Fans of Indian cuisine no doubt like spicy

foods, but that doesn’t mean they wouldn’t also enjoy some temporary relief from their fiery favorites. Rieslings, which tend to be low in alcohol content (ABV), are sweet white wines that can be just the thing to complement all that spiciness.

“The high-alcohol wines might make spicy Indian food feel even spicier, so if Riesling isn’t your ideal wine, at least opt for another wine with a low ABV,” said Casper.

∙ Salmon: Seafood fans who love salmon might like it even more if they pair it with Pinot Noir. While many types of fish

See Mark and Nick Casper at Keyport Liquor for a recommendation about which wine or beer would complement your planned entree.

are best paired with white wine and Pinot Noir is a red, this pairing actually works well because the salmon stands up to the wine’s bold flavor.

∙ Chicken, Pork or Turkey: Casper explained that fruity or dry wines pair well with white meat. "Wine fans sometimes miss the pairing of a good chardonnay or gewürztraminer with their turkey at Thanksgiving,” said Casper.

∙ Lamb: Red meat and red wine go great together, but different types of red meat pair better with different types of wine. Lamb and sauvignon blanc go great together because lamb has a gamey flavor that requires a rich, bold wine. Sauvignon blanc fits that bill, allowing the rich, fatty lamb meat to absorb its tannins.

Brews

The rise of craft and home brewing has created more beer flavor profiles than ever before. In fact, there’s likely a beer for everyone, whether you’re a novice or connoisseur.

The Brewer’s Association, a trade association that represents small and independent American craft brewers, reports that, in 2018, small and independent brewers collectively produced 25.9 million barrels and experienced a 4 percent total market growth. The BA also states that these small brewers achieved a collective retail dollar take-in of $27.6 billion.

While wine will always have its enthusiasts, beer is fast on its heels as a popular mealtime beverage. Much in the way wines are paired with certain foods, it has become the natural course of action to pair certain foods with particular styles of beer.

“We have a very large selection of local and regional craft beer that is expanding all the time,” said Nick Casper of Keyport Liquor. “Ask us for recommendations as we are happy to help you pick a new craft beer to try.”

Although each person has his or her preferences, here is a brief listing of generalized pairings, courtesy of the Brewer’s Association and CraftBeer.com.

∙ American Amber Lager: Creamy risotto, wild rice, polenta

∙ American Pale Ale: Game birds, such as duck and quail

∙ Belgian-style Dubbel: Pork chops, sausage, tenderloin

∙ Belgian-style Flanders: Grilled ribeye, root vegetables

∙ Blonde Ale: Chicken, salads, salmon, nutty cheese

∙ Dark Lager: Barbecue, sausage, roasted meat

∙ Hefeweizen: Weisswurst, seafood, sushi

∙ Imperial Stout: Smoked goose, foie gras, strong cheeses

∙ IPA: Spicy foods, curries

∙ Porter: Roasted or smoked foods, blackened fish

“Beer is a great match for food because of the complexity of its flavors, its ability to provide refreshment and to interact with many food flavors,” said Marc Stroobandt, a master beer sommelier for the Food and Beer Consultancy, UK.

The Brewer’s Association recommends matching delicate dishes with delicate beers and strong dishes with assertive beers. Commonalities, like aromas and sub-flavors, also work together. A beer with roasted notes may pair well with chocolate, for example. Opposites also attract, in that a spicy food may taste best when paired with a sweet beer.

Pairing might once have been limited to matching wines with certain foods, but the booming craft beer business has popularized pairing flavorful beers with foods to make meals just as tasty. D

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Becoming a Medical Assistant

By Claire Kiger

After25 years of being a beautician, Robin Van Til was ready for a change. She went back to school to pursue a medical coding degree, but then she heard about the medical assistant (MA) role.

“One of my teachers suggested the program to me,” she said. “I thought: Well, this might be a good thing for me to do.”

This program typically only takes 12 months to complete, but Robin took a year and a half. This allowed her to continue working at the salon full-time and care for her family. The full schedule was a challenge, but she pushed through, completed her internship and was able to quickly find a position.

Seven years into her career as an MA and currently working at St. Luke’s Mariner Medical Clinic, Robin has no regrets. “This is the best move I’ve ever made,” she said.

Robin encourages others to consider the role as well.

“You’ve got to be motivated. There’s not a lot of sitting around,” Robin explained. “But I think a lot of people could do it, and we need more medical assistants.”

Supporting providers, caring for patients

Also known as a clinical assistant, many MAs are paired with a specific physician, nurse practitioner or physician assistant in a clinical setting, and work closely with patients.

“An MA is typically the one who calls you from the waiting room at the doctor’s office,” Robin said. “He or she will take the patient’s weight, height, blood pressure and temperature.” An MA will also briefly discuss the patient’s medical history with them before they see the doctor.

However, rooming patients isn’t all these medical professionals do. MAs also help with performing procedures, administrating medications and vaccines, documenting the

patient's medical record, and coordinating additional services such as lab work or x-rays. “We do a lot,” Robin said. Between triaging patients and filling out paperwork, there’s not much downtime, but she sees it as well worth the effort. “It’s really rewarding work,” she said.

The biggest reward for Robin is being able to care for people. Since MAs work so closely with patients, Robin has been able to build relationships and create special bonds over the years. “The patients really make it worthwhile,” she explained.

An attainable, in-demand role

To be employed as an MA at St. Luke's, applicants are required to have an MA certification or license within 120 days of hire. Both Wisconsin Indianhead Technical College (WITC) and Lake Superior College (LSC) offer a medical assistant program locally. Each program can be completed in 12 to 15 months.

However, other certifications and licenses qualify applicants for the position at St. Luke’s as well. This includes licensed practical nurses (LPN), registered nurses (RN), emergency medical technicians (EMT), paramedics and radiologic technologists (RT).

This was especially good news for Jennifer Kromrey, now an MA at St. Luke’s Medical Arts Clinic. She had received her

Robin Van Til, medical assistant at St. Luke’s Mariner Medical Clinic, cares for a patient.

An attainable, in-demand and fulfilling role at St. Luke’s

EMT Basic certification and license to fulfill requirements and explore emergency medicine while completing her bachelor’s degrees.

“I don’t think many EMTs know they can get a job as an MA at St. Luke’s,” she said. “I still volunteer for an ambulance service, but this is another great way to put the license to use and gain experience in the clinical setting."

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistic’s Occupational Outlook Handbook, there is high demand for MAs and it’s expected to see dramatic growth in the future. Employment is projected to grow 23 percent from 2018 to 2028. This is much faster than the average growth rate for all occupations which is only 5 percent.

MAs at St. Luke’s

As far as where to seek out employment, Kieona Wilford, recent graduate of LSC’s program and now an MA at St. Luke’s Internal Medicine Associates, recommends St. Luke’s.

“I definitely picked St. Luke’s on purpose. I’ve had nothing but good experiences,” said Kieona. “I love working here. It’s great. It’s one of the best jobs I’ve had so far, and I’ve had a few.”

Robin also recommends working at St. Luke’s. “The people here make it a wonderful place,” she said.

Starting pay for an MA at St. Luke’s is over $17 per hour for new graduates, and more for those with experience. However, the hourly wage is only part of your compensation package. St. Luke’s has a generous medical, dental, retirement and paid time off benefit plan offered to all employees hired into a position that is 0.6 FTE and above.

To learn more about the MA role, contact St. Luke’s Recruiting at 218-249-5595 or recruiting@slhduluth.com, and visit slhduluth.com/MedicalAssistant. D

Claire Kiger is a marketing specialist and writer for St. Luke's.

Robin Van Til works with Dr. Sonja Swenson.

By Yvonne Michaud Novak

For many, the holidays are all about family. The greatest gift you can give your loved ones is the peace of mind that your final affairs are in order. As we look forward to the upcoming holiday season, it may be a perfect time to discuss your estate planning with your children. There are three main issues that should be addressed: advanced health care directives, your will, and distribution of your personal property. It is best to notify your family members that you want to have this discussion and actually schedule time separate from holiday festivities when everyone is available.

Though this topic may be uncomfortable, it is about making sure that everyone is on the same page with you regarding your long-term goals and ensuring that your wishes will be respected and honored. The conversation should not be aggressive or contentious, but rather open and honest. You may decide that you want to have the discussion with your estate planning attorney present so that he or she can act as a mediator if necessary.

Discussing the advance health care directive is critical as that document is

Estate Planning: A Gift for Your Family

where you designate someone to make health care decisions for you when you are not able. The decisions provided for include whether or not to remove life support when a person is incapacitated, comatose, brain dead or is suffering from some terminal condition. Having this discussion during the holidays can be uncomfortable but by making your wishes known, it hopefully avoids conflict at a very stressful time for the family.

A will is the document where you leave your assets to whomever you choose, usually family. Things to consider include whether you want to make any charitable donations at the time of your death and your children’s ability to manage an inheritance responsibly. Factors such as age, fiscal maturity, and if they are subject to an addiction may have an impact on that decision. Another item that must be planned for is the situation where one of your beneficiaries has special needs and how to give the main inheritance to them without jeopardizing their benefits. Discussing the provisions of your will avoids surprises and unnecessary fights at the time of your death.

A revocable trust is an alternative to a will that some people use to avoid probate and gain some flexibility in how their estate is administered. Trusts are also used for management of a family cabin or hunting land. The size of your estate is not indicative of whether you need a trust, it is a fact specific analysis that you should go over with an experienced estate planning attorney.

Providing for the distribution of personal property can avoid family disputes over items that often have very little monetary value but great sentimental value. Examples of things that I see children fight over are wedding rings, the Christmas tree angel and the family cookie jar. It may seem silly, but because these items often have good personal memories for your children, their distribution can cause huge fights among the children leading to the destruction of the familial relationship. Discussing your estate plan with your loved ones at the holidays are a way to build family ties and show respect for your choices regarding your assets and health. Understanding your needs and goals clarifies how to proceed and prevents potential conflict. It may be a difficult conversation to have during the holidays, but will strengthen your family long-term and truly be a gift when they need it most. D

The information in this article is for general information purposes only. Nothing in this article should be taken as legal advice for any individual case or situation.

Yvonne Michaud Novak is a member of the American Academy of Estate Planning Attorneys which is an exclusive national organization of estate planning attorneys. She opened her own law office in 2007 after a varied career which included nursing home administration, estate planning and business paralegal, and work as a certified financial planner.

Yvonne Michaud Novak

Feeling Frazzled? The doctor is in!

Reduce holiday stress with helpful tips from a psychologist

By Andrea Busche

Amid the chaos of purchasing gifts, baking treats, and attending parties, many of us don’t feel too jolly around the holiday season. Additionally, many of us don’t meet the criteria for having the “perfect family,” or we may even feel sad as we grieve a lost loved one more intensely over the holidays.

If you find the holidays are more stressful than restful, have no fear. The doctor is in! Dr. Carolyn Phelps,

large family who is happy to see each other. And, that’s not always the case.”

And, when it comes to departed loved ones, it doesn’t matter if they passed away last week or 20 years ago; we often feel their loss most profoundly around the holidays.

“If you’ve lost important people in your life, we notice their physical absence more acutely during the holiday season,” Phelps said.

Whether you find yourself comparing yourself to “the Joneses,” are part of a dysfunctional family, or

different ritual that’s meaningful to you. Make choices that represent your values.”

Everything in moderation

The holidays are a season of bounty and joy. While it’s definitely appropriate to indulge a little, it’s important to set boundaries for yourself when it comes to sleep, food, alcohol, your holiday budget, and even your time.

“For many of us, the holidays involve food,” Phelps said. “Rejoice in what’s good, but do so in moderation. And bring wisdom to your use of alcohol.”

Rest is our body’s way of rejuvenating itself.

Phelps advised, “Get a good amount of sleep every night, and set limits with your time. You should ask yourself, ‘Do I want to attend this party, or is it just another chore?’”

And when it comes to your holiday spending, be mindful of your limits.

“If your holidays involve spending money, stick to a budget,” Phelps said. “If you don’t want to spend money, you can volunteer instead of giving gifts. There are lots of ways to celebrate the spirit of the holidays.”

Practice self-care

While we should be treating ourselves well year-round, it’s especially important during the busy holiday season. Phelps recommends incorporating daily self-care, such as yoga, meditation, knitting, reading, or anything that brings you peace, for 30 minutes a day.

“Don’t abandon self-care around the holidays because it’s a busy time,” she said. “We need to continue to treat ourselves with tenderness and kindness.”

Reach out

Perhaps you are someone who takes the holidays in stride and enjoys every moment of this special time of year. If so, count your blessings.

But if you know someone who is feeling sad or stressed out during the holidays, take a moment to reach out and show you care.

“If you know someone who struggles around the holidays, reach out to them in a way that is meaningful and supportive,” Phelps said.

This advice is intended for everyone in your life – from friends and family, to coworkers and even the cashier where you purchase your groceries.

“We can expand our notion of family to go beyond just the people we are related to by blood or marriage,” Phelps said. “And that is the true meaning of community.” D

Andrea Busche is a Duluth freelance writer and frequent contributor to The Woman Today.

where to SHOP

White Cedar Studio 916 Hammond Ave., Superior, WI whitecedarstudio.com

Kat’s Eyes Optical 1016 Woodland Ave katseyesoptical.com

2116 Maple Grove Rd.

Word on the Street

EACH ISSUE THE WOMAN TODAY IS ASKING ABOUT YOUR LIVES, EXPERENCES, AND THOUGHTS.

What is your most memorable Christmas memory?

Lori Pasley

Baking cookies with my grandma Lillian. We would make butter cookies, spritz, with the different shapes. My favorite was the tree! We would sprinkle the cookies as well. We would bake at her house-she had the old tinsel on her tree. Grandma Lillian also had Santa wrapping paper. It was a GIANT roll though, she had the same paper for all the grandkids for like 10 years!

Julia Zimmerman & Denise Wraalstad-King

Denise: (left)

My family had a primitive cabin up North. To access the cabin we had to load up everything in a toboggan and haul it across the ice on the lake. My dad decorated the trees with lights for the holidays for my three brothers and I.

Julia: (right)

My most memorable holiday gift was an electric typewriter I got when I was about 10 years old from my mother. I started writing chapter books with it when I was a kid.

Jodie Cowan

Playing with my brother in the snow. He would pull me on a sled behind our snowmobile. He is three years younger than me and would drive me all around the snow with the snowmobile!

Nancy

Janice Armagost: (left)

My favorite memory is baking cookies because I LOVE eating the dough! One of my favorite cookies is a chocolate buttersweet cookie with cream cheese and coconut.

Nancy Reijo: (right)

I graduated from Denfeld High School and I was a part of the marching band. I always remember playing in the Christmas City of the North parade with my marching band. Another favorite is bringing my kids to Bentleyville, I never went before it was downtown. Janice and I have been friends for 51 years, we met at a laundromat when we were doing our laundry and I just started talking to her!

Janice said she'd share her cookies with Nancy and they laughed at how they'd both hide the cookies in the freezer and not share them with their families.

Reijo & Janice Armagost

Arts & Events Calendar

The season of giving is here.

8th Annual Project Joy

November 1

This fundraiser to benefit the Backpack Program of Second Harvest Northern Lakes Food Bank will be held from 5-9 p.m. Friday, Nov. 1, at the Duluth Curling Club. Cost is $25 for adults, $10 for youth 6-10 years, and free for children age 5 and under. This “family friendly” event raises monies and awareness of childhood hunger “in our own backyard.” Admission includes live music, silent auction, appetizers and dessert bar, cash bar available. For more information, call Laura Plys at 218525-4988, or visit https://www.facebook.com/ projectjoynorthland.

Junk Hunt: Fall 2019

November 1-2

Handpicked vendors from all over the state of Minnesota and beyond bring junk, repurposed treasures and rusty finds to sell at the annual fall Junk Hunt, which runs from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Nov. 1-2, at the DECC Pioneer Hall. Junk collectors can pay $10 for early admission to arrive an extra two hours early at 8 a.m. Friday. Early birds also receive free donuts. For regular attendees, the cost is $5. For more information, visit www. duluthjunkhunt.com.

Gales of November

November 1-2

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The Gales of November is a two-day event featuring a Friday luncheon at Grandma’s Sports Garden, an evening reception at Lake Superior Magazine, and Saturday’s educational, fundraising and networking event at the DECC, which brings together the entire Lake Superior community to learn about underwater exploration, Great Lakes lighthouses and shipwrecks, maritime history and diving technology. Gales of November also includes a maritime trade show and exciting silent auction. Funds will help maintain and preserve the Lakes Superior Maritime Visitor Center. For more information, visit www.lsmma.com

Duluth Art Institute Masquerade Gala 2019

November 2

The Duluth Art Institute’s Masquerade Gala celebrates contemporary art, artists and the community. This year’s event will be held in the Duluth Depot’s Great Hall. The Masquerade Gala is the Duluth Art Institute’s main fundraiser. Funding from the event supports the organization in bringing art to and inspiring art in everyone. The DAI serves 68,000 artists and art lovers in the region and throughout the state with visual art exhibitions, art classes for all ages, and artist services such as professional development and networking. Cost is $85-$100. Visit www. duluthartinstitute.org.

We make every effort to ensure the accuracy of this information. However, you should always call ahead to confirm dates, times, location, and other information.

Have an event for the calendar?

Submit your event information to: magazines@duluthnews. com at least two months before your event.

Harbor House Annual Dinner

November 7

This annual fundraiser, featuring dinner, silent and live auctions, helps support the homeless women, children and families in Douglas County and the surrounding areas, including the Twin Ports. It will be held Thursday, Nov. 7, from 5:30-8:30 p.m. at Barker’s Island Inn, Superior. Cost is $35. For more information, visit harborhousecs.org or call Kathy Thompson at 715-997-7181.

Bridge to Wellness Health Fair

Nov. 13

This event, from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the DECC, is open to City of Duluth employees and retirees and features presentations and “brain power” food demos, yoga demonstrations, massages, exhibitors that address a variety of wellness needs, flu shots for ages 7 & older, and fitness assessments. Admission and parking are free. For more information, visit www.duluthmn.gov/bridge-to-wellness.

Junior League Festival of Trees

November 16-17

In the past this event has included over 170 of the area’s top crafters and vendors showing their wares. Festival of Trees is the Junior League Duluth’s (JLD) largest fundraiser. Proceeds go to support JLD and community projects. Other highlights include JLD toffee and beautiful hand-decorated trees. Santa arrives with his sleigh on Saturday for pictures. Several live entertainment acts perform throughout the weekend. Festival of Trees will be held in the Edmund Fitzgerald Exhibit Hall and the Lake Superior Ballroom at the DECC from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday. Cost is $6 Saturday and $4 Sunday, children age 12 and under are admitted free. Get $1 off admission with a non-perishable food item donation either day. For more information, visit www. juniorleagueduluth.org/events/festival-oftrees.

Arts & Events Calendar

Christmas City of the North

November 22

This annual holiday tradition has been around since the 1950s and features marching bands, dance performances, colorful floats and an appearance by Santa Claus. The parade begins at 6:25 p.m. from Fitger’s and runs along Superior Street throughout the heart of downtown to 4th Avenue West. Spectators are welcome to watch the parade from anywhere along the route. For more information, call Kristi Stokes, president of the Greater Downtown Council, at 218-727-8549.

Bentleyville Tour of Lights Opening Night

November 23

Duluth’s mega-light spectacular opens for the season with free cookies and hot cocoa for everyone from 5-10 p.m. at Bayfront Festival Park. Stroll under the glow of 4 million lights in the 20-acre park. Santa and Mrs. Claus, along with Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, will be on hand for photos and handing out candy canes. See www.bayfrontfestivalpark. com for more information.

Thanksgiving Day Buffet

November 28

This free buffet, set for 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the DECC, serves approximately 5,000 area persons in need. You can help! Volunteer to prepare for and/or serve food at the buffet. Sign up online at css.edu/administration/ thanksgiving-day-buffet. For questions, call 218-723-6774 or email thanksgiving@css.edu.

Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day

December 7

This event, which will be held at 11 a.m. at the DECC, is free and open to the public, including free parking.

Arrowhead Ice Fishing and Winter Show

December 13-15

This show features a wide variety of winter sports equipment and gear shown by a vast array of vendors as well as manufacturers. There will be many discounts offered which are only available at the show. Manufacturers will be on hand to answer any questions you have and help guide you to the right equipment to fit your needs. Everything new, from ice houses to augers, ice fishing accessories, rods, reels, tackle, winter clothing, ATVs and so much more, will be represented. No matter what your budget is, you will find it here during the biggest sale of the year! The show runs noon to 8 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday. Admission is $10 for ages 13 and older. For additional show information, mniceshow.com.

Duluth East High School Holiday Music Concert

December 20

Enjoy the sounds of the season when Duluth East High School students perform during the annual Holiday Music Concert. The concert will be held at 7 p.m. at Symphony Hall and seating is reserved. For more information, visit www.isd709.org/duluth-east

Arts & Events Calendar

ONGOING:

Duluth Children’s Museum

115 S. 29th Ave. W., Duluth 218-733-7543

duluthchildrensmuseum.org

Duluth Depot

506 W. Michigan St., Duluth 218-727-8025 duluthdepot.org

Douglas County Historical Society 1101 John Ave., Superior 715-392-8449 douglashistory.org

Glensheen Historic Estate 3300 London Road, Duluth 218-726-8910 glensheen.org

Great Lakes Aquarium 353 Harbor Dr., Duluth 218-740-3474 glaquarium.org

Lake Superior Zoo 7210 Fremont St., Duluth 218-730-4500 lszooduluth.org

North Shore Scenic Railroad

506 W. Michigan St., Duluth 218-722-1273 duluthtrains.com

The Lake Superior & Mississippi Railroad 6930 Fremont St., Duluth 218-624-7549 lsmrr.org

FACT:

IN THE NORTHLAND, WE STILL THROW AWAY 480 TONS OF PLASTIC BOTTLES IN THE TRASH EVERY YEAR. THAT’S ENOUGH TO FILL THE RINK AT AMSOIL ARENA 3 FEET HIGH, 52 TIMES.

We’ve made great progress in keeping recyclable products out of our landfills. But the facts show that we have a long way to go. Learn what you can do to recycle more at wlssd.com.

WESTERN LAKE SUPERIOR SANITARY DISTRICT 2626 Courtland Street, Duluth, MN 55806 218-722-3336 • wlssd.com

in the Twin Ports

A LITTLE SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE

By Molly Milroy

ARE YOU LOOKING FOR SOMETHING FUN TO DO THIS HOLIDAY SEASON? FROM CLOQUET TO KNIFE RIVER AND IN BETWEEN, YOU WILL FIND A PLETHORA OF OPPORTUNITIES. INVITE A FRIEND, TAKE YOUR GRANDCHILD, OR ASK A NEIGHBOR TO SHARE IN THESE HOLIDAY EXPERIENCES.

Christmas Tours at Glensheen Mansion

Friday, Nov. 15 through Sunday, Jan. 5 Glensheen Mansion, 3300 London Road, Duluth, MN

Purveyor of Unique Optical Goods

Kat Leek -Optician Extraordinaire

Questions: kat@katseyesoptical.com

Shops at Bluestone 1016 Woodland Avenue •Duluth, MN 55803 218-724-3444

Five-year-old Allie Pybas of Duluth sits on Santa's lap at the Miller Hill Mall on Friday, trying to decide what she would like for Christmas. Santa, also known as Dale Merrell Sr. of Hermantown, has been a Santa Claus on and off for the past 27 years.

Santa in Duluth

Nov. 16-Dec. 24

Miller Hill Mall, 1600 Miller Trunk Highway, Duluth, MN

Santa’s Home for the Holiday’s Celebration

Wednesday, Dec 4 – Saturday, Dec 7 Cloquet, MN (various locations)

Chris Ibarra (right) and Blake Romenesko decorate the Great Hall Christmas Tree at Glensheen Monday afternoon ahead of the holiday tours which start later this week.

Dancers from Stacie Juten's Duluth Dance Center perform during the Christmas City of the North parade Friday on Superior Street in Duluth.

Christmas City of the North Parade

Friday, Nov. 22, 6:25pm-8pm Superior St. from Fitger’s to Fourth Ave. W., Duluth, MN

Bentleyville's Christmas tree and other displays reflect off rippling waves in the harbor basin behind the DECC Tuesday night . The lights were lit for a dry run in preparation for the opening of the attraction on Saturday.

Bentleyville

Nov. 23 - Dec. 28, 5-9 p.m., Sundays through Thursday 5-10 p.m., Fridays through Saturdays

Bayfront Festival Park, 350 Harbor Drive, Duluth, MN

Julebyen “Christmas Village”

Friday, Dec 6 – Sunday, Dec 8

199 Alger Smith Road, Knife River, MN

Season of Songs - concert with UWS.

Season of Songs

Sunday, Dec. 8, 4:30 p.m. and Tuesday, Dec. 10, 7:30 p.m.

Cathedral of Christ the King, 1410 Baxter Ave., Superior, WI

Twinkling Holiday Evenings

Tuesday, December 10, Tuesday, December 17, Friday, December 27

Fairlawn Mansion, 906 E. Second St., Superior, WI

Randy Ellestad of Knife River (left) and Jane Martin of Duluth prepare Norwegian waffles using strawberry preserves and sour creme at Julebyen. Julebyen means "Christmas Village".

Gwen Hall, 10, and Veronica Hall, 8, both of Hawthorne help Dara Fillmore of Lake Nebagamon decorate a tree in the side entrance during the annual decorating party at Fairlawn Mansion in Superior Saturday.

PHOTO BY UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN-SUPERIOR

Urshan Home Caribou Lake

By Alison Stucke

You could call the Urshan home on Caribou Lake an “All-of-Our-Favorite-Things” style home. The Urshans say it’s designed and built exactly to suit their particular style and needs.

“It’s a mix of all of our favorite things,” said Cindy Urshan. “We just picked things that we like.”

Building their dream home

Dan and Cindy Urshan had been dreaming for some time about what they’d want in designing and building a new home. When a lot across from their cabin on Caribou Lake became available for purchase, Dan and Cindy bought the land, saying, “Why not?” to the idea of having a home and a

cabin so near to each other.

“We wanted to keep going with the style that we used when we built the cabin, so we did,” said Dan, “and we incorporated some new things in the home. I call it ‘Lake Living’ style.”

They called architectural designer Heather Hiner to help bring their dreams to reality in designing the home.

“I have been friends with the homeowners for over 25 years and designed their cabin and office building, so I was happy to help them on yet another design,” said Hiner. “The site was a challenge as it was narrow and sloped up toward the lake, which made an attached garage at the main level difficult to incorporate. The design solution became a tuckunder garage with a small driveway and parking area at the

main level to welcome guests and for ease in unloading groceries.

“The homeowners knew they wanted an efficient layout and simple design and were drawn to the modern farmhouse look. So the end result is a simple gable roof with a vaulted-ceiling great room that captures views of both the sunrise from the kitchen and sunset over the lake from the living room. The linear layout of the house means that both bedrooms and entry area also have beautiful lake views. The floor plan is simple and the finishes selected by the homeowner create a cozy inviting home to gather with friends and family.”

Cindy had three wishes for the new home they would build: a place to sit outside and watch the sunrise while having a cup of coffee; a kitchen window where she could see who is driving up to the house while she’s preparing food; and a pantry. When the home was completed, she would get all three wishes as realities.

Getting the help they needed

Cindy also wanted to be highly involved in making design choices throughout the home. The Urshan’s daughter Andrea is a designer in the Twin Cities, and she helped with many of the selections that needed to be made, including the polished nickel faucets from Ferguson Bath, Kitchen & Lighting in Duluth that appear throughout the home. Cindy and Andrea spent many pleasant hours together looking at products, and Dan was very agreeable. Andrea also selected the distinctive six-light chandelier that hangs over the table in the dining area.

“She knew the touches that would be helpful to us,” Cindy said.

Dan and Cindy pointed out again and again what wonderful professionals they worked with in all aspects of creating their gorgeous and comfortable home.

Continued on page 54

The kitchen features granite countertops and luxury vinyl wood-look flooring for stunning contrasts to the light cabinetry, and the view from the kitchen window lets homeowner Cindy Urshan see the sunrise as well as anyone driving up to the house.

“We were blessed all around with the people who we worked with,” Dan said. “Our vendors were an all-star team. We owe a lot to Heather Hiner. Her plans set the stage. She made our ideas come alive. The Ken Hiukka team, our general contractor, made them a reality.”

“Dan and Cindy both knew what details were important to them,” Hiukka said. “For example, the painted shiplap boards for all interior walls gave this home a unique and old-time look. Because of this, it made my job so much easier.”

A house with a cabin close by

The Urshans’ cabin and home sit on the short peninsula of Caribou Lake. The lots aren’t next door to each other, but they’re close to each other and easily within walking

The vaulted ceiling of Dan and Cindy Urshan's Caribou Lake home is covered in a rich barnwood. Lots of windows let in natural light from the west over the lake, and from the east into the kitchen.

distance. The cabin faces north and the home faces west on the lake.

The home’s lot is steeply sloped, and Dan calls the living room window “a great view” because it offers a wonderful panorama of Caribou Lake. Every room and every door of the home offer a view of the lake. In the back yard behind the patio, 32 steps lead down to the lake. The cabin’s lot is flat and provides a great place for the grandkids to play. Dan said that boats and water toys are left at the cabin for easier use. The cabin is also used as guest housing.

“Sometimes we entertain at the house and sometimes we entertain and have fun at the cabin,” Cindy said. “It just depends on what we’re doing.”

Beautiful design elements appear throughout the house

Walls throughout the home are covered with white shiplap. There’s not one piece of sheet rock on the entire main level.

Continued on page 56

Both bedrooms in the Urshan home are on the west side of the house with beautiful lake views. Subway tile in the master bath is Trends Rainfall Fog matte, which gives the room a clean look.

Doors from Northern Door of Duluth on rooms and closets feature eye-catching crystal doorknobs. Luxury vinyl tile wood-look flooring is by Carlson Floor Center in Superior. The ceilings are barnwood from Tongue & Groove Store of Duluth.

Subway tile in the bathrooms includes Trends Rainfall Fog matte in the master bath and Trends Rainfall White gloss in the guest bath. Doors, trim and walls throughout the home are painted alabaster. Plush carpeting in the bedrooms is also from Carlson Floor Center.

“We wanted carpeting in the bedrooms because it feels warm and cozy under our toes when we get out of bed in the morning,” Cindy said.

Continued on page 58

Dan and Cindy Urshan love the look of a modern farmhouse, so all of the interior walls are clad in shiplap. Other finishing touches were chosen with the help of their daughter, Andrea, a designer in the Twin Cities.

The three-car garage (below) is finished with an epoxy floor.

Special touches are everywhere

Dan did make one major selection in choosing the granite countertop in Cocco Cream for the kitchen.

“Usually we pick out the important things together,” Cindy said. “I tend to be on the conservative side. He tends to go for more excitement.”

Both Cindy and Dan love the creams, browns, taupes and bursts of golds in the granite that is the focal piece of the kitchen. In fact, the gorgeous island covered by this granite includes a bench on one side that aligns with the dining table to provide convenient seating in a limited space.

“We wanted to make the most of a smaller area,” Cindy said of this “banquette” area.

The island also has storage cupboards and cubbies built in. All of the cabinets and vanities came from Hermantown Millwork.

“Brenda and Brooke were fabulous to work,” Dan said.

“It’s a smaller house but there’s plenty of storage,” Cindy said.

Dan can open the patio door, located off the living room, and walk a few feet to grill year-round. During warmer months, the family enjoys the wonderful patio space and outdoor fire table (for a wood fire they go to the cabin). From this location, they enjoy panoramic views of the lake. As you turn back toward the house, once again you can see how Dan and Cindy incorporated the cabin style. To continue the board and batten theme that was used at the cabin, Dan called longtime friend Dan Morin for ideas with siding. Dan and Cindy ultimately chose bright white siding from Morin’s Siding and Window.

And just as Cindy planned her place to see the sun rise each morning, she thought of where she wanted to see the sun set each evening. Today her dream is a reality: the view from the window of the home’s master bedroom features the sun setting on Caribou Lake.

“The real view is the sunset,” Cindy said. She loves their bedroom and its nightly show of sunset on the lake.

Garage

The entire home is designed for one-level living, with a lower level providing a walkout entrance, the utility room, and space for the three-vehicle garage. The garage was tastefully finished with a beautiful epoxy floor.

“We had a party here in the garage upon completion of the house,” Dan said. “We invited all the people who had anything to do with building it and all the neighbors.”

“It’s a well-loved home,” Cindy said. “We really like our neighborhood. Our neighbors have been very welcoming to us.” D

Alison Stucke is a Duluth freelance writer. Her Home Touches feature can be found in every issue of The woman Today.

The building site for the Urshan home had its set of challenges -- a narrow lot and a steep slope to the shores of Caribou Lake, but architectural designer Heather Hiner incorporated a tuck-under garage for easy access, and a patio off the living room with a fire table to enjoy the panoramic views of the lake year round.

Voted Duluth’s Best Bar!

SOCIALS

Duluth News Tribune's 20 under 40 winners — Sept. 25, 2019

Erin Moldowski

Ashley Northey

Brittany Robb

Kaitlin Erpestad

Chiamaka Enemuoh

Jeff Stark

Kevin Pillsbury

Renee Passal

Bella Maki

Moira Villiard

Alison Moffat

Shawna Weaver

Helen Clanaugh

Jonathan Reznick

Annie Harala

Brittany Lind

Ashley Lindsey

Martha Bremer

Abigail Clarke-Sather

Cameron Kruger PHOTOS BY AYLA ANDROSKY

Merry Christmas &Happy New Year

At the HolidaySeason, ourthoughtsturngratefully to those whohavemadeour progress possible. It is in this spirit thatwesay...Thankyou!

It’sgot to be real.

Front/ Seated: Alicia Lokke, ShelbyVukelich, Christi Slattengren, Chloe Olejar, Cheryl Ekstrand, Marci Love,Karen Reed, Deanna Bennett, Amanda Broman, CaitlinGardner,KimberlyPowell, CarolCarlson, Ayla Dougherty,BrennaFahlin

Back/ Standing: River Rockenstein, Luke Hansmeyer, Michael Messina, Megan Gagner,MaryBethNevers, Gage Hartman, Brian Rud, CarrieDittmar,Jim Gruba, TanyaTempler, FrankMessina,Deb Messina, SherriPearson, Jeff Leusman, AmyOlson, Julie Carlson, Eric Sams,Steve Carlson, Jarett Mickelson,Dee Furo,Kevin O’Brien, Katie Robinson

Not Pictured: Casey Scrignoli, Chad Jones,DarrinYoung, Gigi Maxwell, Jason Watters, Julia Shepersky,Matt Tusken, Meg Jager, Michelle Peterson, Nicki Conrad, Valarie Lake

By Julie Schulz

Christmas Tree 3DCookie

Thismonth’s Recipe Remake – chosen by the random scroll of “holiday recipes” on Pinterest – is the slightly intimidating 3D Christmas Tree, made from gingerbread and royal icing. As a baker, I was excited to take on this challenge and, despite a few hiccups, equally excited to bring my creation to the office to show everyone.

Everything about the project was pretty basic, it was just very time consuming. And the hiccups? Not so bad, really.

Hiccup No. 1: No recipe. Although the Pinterest post included nice photos and commentary about how “Your friends and family will be amazed by this 3D Gingerbread Cookies Christmas Tree!” – the link to the recipe and instructions was broken. So, I improvised and found a recipe for a gingerbread house. As far as instructions, I just used the photos from the Pinterest site to wing it. We’re just stacking cookies, right?

Hiccup No. 2: No cookie cutters. Who owns 10 multisized star-shaped cookie cutters? Not me, so I used the handy dandy star shape in Microsoft Word and created my own templates.

Hiccup No. 3: Old fashioned food coloring. Seems the ol’ liquid drops of green food coloring I’ve had in my cupboard for umpteen years don’t create that deep forest green color –more of a limey pastel. “Would this look weird? It’s not really the color of trees,” I fretted to my husband, who assured me it’d be fine, so I forged ahead.

Hiccup No. 4: No piping bag. Instead, I used a plastic quart-size baggie and snipped the corner – good to go!

If you want to give this project a try, I’d say go for it! Just plan ahead – the dough needs to chill, so make it first thing in the morning, then roll out, cut and bake your cookies in the afternoon, and the next day, make the frosting and assemble.

Do you have a favorite recipe that you’d like to share with us and our readers? Email us at magazines@ duluthnews.com and our Woman Today taste testers will enjoy preparing and reviewing your recipe.

Taste Tester Comments

“It was almost too pretty to eat! I liked that it wasn’t covered in icing, just the outer tips of the stars had it. I think it would have been too sweet had there been more icing. The cookie was soft and chewy, loved this!”

“The stacked star cookies with bright green icing and decorative sprinkles would make a festive table centerpiece for the holidays. The gingerbread was very fragrant and the amount of spice in the cookie was nice.”

“No way could this beautiful cookie art be eaten! But I was thankful to have a sample of leftover cookies :) And wow, they were delicious and chewy. I may have had more than my fair share!”

This is definitely something you want to display around the holiday season. Perfect size and festive for any room. The gingerbread was soft and had just the right amount of frosting.

The Woman Today

3D Cookie Christmas Tree

Cookie Ingredients:

6 cups all-purpose flour

½ teaspoon baking powder

4 teaspoons ground ginger

4 teaspoons ground cinnamon

½ teaspoon ground cloves or allspice

½ teaspoon salt

¾ cup butter, softened

1-1/2 cups dark brown sugar

2 large eggs

1 cup dark molasses

1 tablespoon water

Cookie Instructions:

1. Whisk together the dry ingredients in a large bowl, set aside.

2. In your mixing bowl, beat butter and brown sugar on medium speed until fluffy. Beat in the eggs, molasses and water until well blended.

3. Add half of the flour mixture until well blended and smooth. Stir in the remaining flour. Using your mixer’s dough hook, knead (or manually knead) until well blended.

4. Wrap the dough in plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 2 hours or overnight. Let sit at room temperature for 10 minutes before rolling out.

5. Working with a portion of the dough at a time, roll to ¼-inch thickness and cut with cookie cutters or use knife to cut out 10 star shapes. (My star templates were 2, 2½, 3, 3½, 4, 4½, 6 and 6½” wide). Cut out 2 stars of each size. I also made a 1½-inch star for the top.

6. Place cutouts on a greased cookie sheet and bake at 350 degrees for 6-8 minutes for the smaller shapes and up to 12-15 minutes for the largest shapes. Cool on a cooling rack. Store in a sealed container until assembly.

Royal Icing Ingredients:

Egg whites from 2 large eggs (or 3 ounces)

1 teaspoon vanilla

4 cups confectioner’s sugar

Icing Instructions:

1. In your mixing bowl, whip egg whites until fluffy (a few minutes), and add vanilla.

2. Slowly ad the confectioner’s sugar and whip for 5 minutes.

3. Add food coloring and blend well.

4. Transfer to a piping bag.

Tree Assembly:

1. Place the largest cookie in the center of your display plate, using a dollop of icing to secure it to the plate.

2. Decorate the tips of the star with the icing, then add swirl of icing in the center to secure the next cookie.

3. Place the second cookie on top – turned a tad so the points alternate – then decorate the tips, add a swirl of icing in the center, and repeat, using the next size cookie, and so on.

Baker’s Note: Add sprinkles or other decorations during assembly, while the icing is soft, so they stick. I waited until I had the whole tree done, and then my sprinkles just bounced off because the icing had started to harden. D

Makes getting there half the fun.