Girlfriends Jan_Feb_2019

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Southern Minn

WINTER 2019

Pages 30-40

Girlfriends

Sheila Rolling

lifelong passion of health and wellness turns into career and more southernminngirlfriends.com

Start the new year with

good

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NOTE from the editor

forkner Moe Beth Forkner Moe is the editor of Southern Minn Girlfriends magazine.

H

appy New Year!

January always marks a new beginning. We put away our old calendars and hang up the new ones, we start our new planners (for those of us who still are old-school and like to write everything down), we set goals, we take a deep breath.

I once compared January to a brand new book. Last year’s story was told, and it’s time for a new one. Were we happy to shut the last page of last year’s story, or do we want it to continue on? Do we want to create a whole new story?

No matter what, this is a time for – hopefully – quiet reflection. The busy-ness of the holiday season is done, the trees are bare. This is a time when you can take stock and take a deep breath.

We hope you enjoy this issue we put together for you. It’s full of interesting information, and interesting people. From stories of new life, to thriving in the winter, to looking at life in a different way, we bring you stories from around the region.

We hope to inspire you, challenge you, even make you laugh.

My wish for you in 2019 is that you have enough – enough love, enough laughter, enough strength. Enjoy the good things that come, and know you have support for the tough times.

Cheers to you!

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20 WINTER 19 JAN/FEB

about us editor: Beth Forkner Moe

contributing writers: Kari Berit Grace Brandt Rian Dicke-Michels Mallory Fuchs Nancy Iglesias Trent Jonas Elizabeth D. Lippman Sarah Osterbauer Megan Proft Terri Schlichenmeyer Sara Schlueter Anna Vangsness Isabelle Wattenberg

multimedia consultants: Cash Alladin Kristie Biehn Ginny Bergerson Nicole Brandon Kari Clark Kathleen Davies Pam DeMorett Crystal Hobart Emily Kahnke Tim Mart Mark Nelson Jay Petsche Kyle Shaw Gayle Stelten

graphic designer: Kate Townsend-Noet Volume 11, Issue 1

Copyright© Girlfriends 2019 Published Jan/Feb 2019 by: Southern Minn Media 514 Central Avenue Faribault, MN 55021

contents features

5 Sheila Rolling is Fit for Life

Rolling shares her passion of health and fitness in her career and new video course endeavor.

12 The Upper East Side

44 Giving your Family Peace of Mind

48 Thriving in the Winter Season

20 a man’s perspective 50 book review

54 gf directory 3 note from the editor 16 the coach’s corner 52 unexpected caregiver

46 wellness

41 women in the news!

Women helping others along their faith journey.

22 Waseca’s Sleigh and Cutter Festival

A winter wonderland in southern Minnesota.

26 Intentional (Not Random) Acts of Kindness

Stepping outside ourselves to let another’s needs rise to the surface.

Winter enthusiasts offer some tips to help you survive those cold months.

accessories

Faribault woman has created a place where women shop, create, and simply spend time together.

18 Female Faith Leaders

Tips for getting your wishes and goals organized.

on the cover:

Sheila Rolling See her story on NEXT PAGE.

southernminngirlfriends.com Send releases and story ideas to:

Beth Forkner Moe at Girlfriends magazine, bfmoe@southernminn.com

Pages 30-40

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• Getting married on a budget 32 • The best wedding moments aren’t always the picture perfect ones 37

S

is

S

By Anna Vangsness

for

heila Rolling has taken her lifelong passion of health and fitness and turned it into a career, but she hasn’t stopped there. This year she’s taken it a step further and has implemented an online video course called “Simple Strategies for Nutrition Beginners” that will help her reach even

more people than she already has.

Health and fitness have been in Rolling’s blood since she earned her bachelor’s degree in psychology in 1990 and her master’s degree in exercise science in 1995, both from Minnesota State University, Mankato. She started working at Therapywerks in Faribault in 1991. When the organization expanded to include a health club in 1998, Rolling’s role expanded to serve the health CONTINUES ON PAGE 6 WINTER 2019

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CONTINUED FROM page 5

club members.

In 2006, Rolling transitioned to a career she was most passionate about.

“I wanted to see if I had what it took to start my own health club,” she said.

And she did. It wasn’t long before Rolling and a business partner opened MC Fitness and Sports Training Center in Faribault in April 2006. The next year, Rolling became sole owner of the club.

With some input from her clients, she changed the name to Fit for Life. She now has more than 1000 members and offers personal training, wellness coaching, Lifesteps Weight Management Program, and group exercise classes including eight SilverSneakers classes per week, as well as child care options.

“Faribault is where I’ve always felt like I needed to be, even though I live in Waseca,” she said.

“I started with zero members and we’ve been adding on ever since.”

While Rolling was employed at Therapywerks, she developed and led a 16-week weight management program called Lifesteps. She brought the program with her to Fit for Life. Though she has taught the

class to more than 50 groups, Rolling has always dreamed of more for the course.

“I always thought I could reach more people,” she said. “The most I could have in my classes was 15 people at a time. I would see online classes and courses offered, but I didn’t have the time to do it.”

Rolling shared her hopes with Fit for Life employee Heather Teigen and the new class (“Simple Strategies for Nutrition Beginners”) was born.

“It’s all about keeping nutrition simple,” Rolling said.

“Heather spent a lot of time writing the course material, then we hired a videographer to help us develop the online course into 12 lessons.”

Wanting “Simple Strategies for Nutrition Beginners” to be as successful as possible, Rolling CONTINUES ON PAGE 8

uuu

“Faribault is where I’ve always felt I needed to be, even though I live in Waseca. I started with zero members and we’ve been adding on ever since.” - Sheila Rolling Sheila Rolling and staff members.

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“It’s all about the basics like drinking water, paying attention to hunger cues and using the hand measurement system for proper portion sizes,” she said.

“Each of these online courses would be a more in-depth look at nutrition.” - Sheila Rolling

CONTINUED FROM page 7

and Teigen shared the online course with a beta group and Fit for Life members.

“I wanted to make sure all of the glitches were out before we opened it up to the public,” she said. “Eventually, I want to add a second and third course.”

If all goes according to plan, Rolling wants to develop “Simple Strategies for Weight Loss” and “Simple Strategies for Weight Maintenance” online video series.

“It’s all about the basics like drinking water, paying attention to hunger cues and using the hand measurement system for proper portion sizes,” she said. “Each of these online courses would be a more in-depth look at nutrition.”

Rolling and Teigen developed “Simple Strategies for Nutrition Beginners,” keeping today’s technology and people’s busy lives in mind.

“People can watch the lessons when it’s convenient for them,” she said. “We’ve set it up for mobile use, too. Our goal is simple: to reach and help more people. There is so much conflicting information about which is the best diet, or what you should or should not eat.”

With an overwhelming amount of resources accessible at our fingertips, Rolling said people don’t know where to start on their health and fitness journey, which can lead to frustration.

“People don’t know what to do or where 8

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to start, so they just give up,” she said. “If we can provide some simple strategies that people can practice daily to help them get on a path to a healthier lifestyle, we’ll really do

what we set out to do.”

There are many online nutrition courses out there, but Rolling and Teigen have made it their mission to have theirs stand above by

changing the way people think.

“People think they have to quit living the life they enjoy to be thinner and healthier, but that’s simply not true,” she said. “You can eat things you enjoy, but you’ll learn to manage it better.”

The best advice Rolling shares with all her clients is to focus on control and taking baby steps.

“Take it slow and take it one step at a time,” she said. “Everything will come together with time. People dive in too hard and too fast, and they just can’t manage it. These are strategies that can be implemented daily to help people be successful.”

With the nutrition and wellness backgrounds Rolling and Teigen bring to their

work, the duo designed “Simple Strategies for Nutrition Beginners” by including tips that they know will work.

“We came up with ideas that, when implemented, are easy to do and can be practiced daily,” Rolling said. “We provide information on how to keep track of water intake using online apps or rubber bands. People start to realize that they can do it, because it’s simple.”

Each online lesson is approximately four minutes long and comes with a weekend reminder, which is important to Rolling and Teigen.

“Weekends are when we tend to fail and Mondays are when we start all over again,” Rolling said. “In reality, weekends are just as

Let Us Help You!

Weight Management • Personal/Sports Performance Training Group Fitness Classes • Wellness Coaching Kids Corner Child Care • Professional Staff

important as weekdays when it comes to staying on track.”

Rolling and Teigen hope that their inaugural online course will gain enough popularity that they can continue with the other two online courses down the road.

“We’ll see how it goes,” Rolling said. “I’ve watched people lose weight only to gain it back, lose it and gain it back again. There’s a need out there for people to learn about nutrition and how it can be made simple. If we can help even one or two people, we’re doing something right. My desire is to reach as many people as possible.”

Anna Vangsness works in the healthcare communication field in Mankato and is a freelance writer. She resides in New Ulm with her husband.

MOTIVATION is what gets you started HABIT is what keeps you going

1400 Cannon Circle, Suite 6 | 507-333-5430 | fitforlifemn.com WINTER 2019

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New Year!

Here’s to a

A

By Sara Schlueter

new year means a new chance to come up with goals, resolutions and ways we can improve our lives. Here is a checklist of some ways you can become your most organized self ever in 2019.

Meal Planning

Is eating healthy or eating less takeout something that has been on your to-do list for years? Meal prepping and planning is one way to be sure you have the time and necessary ingredients to cook yourself something healthy when you get off work. And thanks to Instagram and other online sites, prepping pretty veggies and lunches for the week ahead has never been trendier (or easier).

It is ideal to set aside time on the weekend and go through what recipes you may want to cook and compile a shopping list. Write down breakfasts, lunches and dinners. To make it easier on yourself, and save some money, pick a few key ingredients and use them in recipes throughout the week. For example, stock up on zucchini and cook yourself up some spiralized zucchini noodles for dinner, and zucchini muffins for breakfast. To keep things fun and interesting and to keep you meal prepping the whole year through, pick one new or interesting recipe to cook yourself every week. Happy prepping!

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Write it down!

Many stationery stores sell meal planning books or notepads.

Rifle Paper Company’s meal planning notepad also comes with a tear away shopping list so you can be sure you have all the needed ingredients. $15, riflepaperco.com

Clean out that Closet!

It’s something we all dread—going through our closets and deciding which items we want to keep and which we don’t need anymore.

It can be a rather tedious process, but one good trick is to use your hangers to judge how often you are actually wearing your clothes.

At the beginning of the year, put all of your clothes on the hanger, and then place the hangers facing you. Once you wear that item, put the hanger back the right way. Take a look at your closet in a few months, and you will have a pretty good idea of which items you never wear. This may be a good indication of which clothes you can clear out. Donating your used clothes to secondhand stores or even your local Goodwill is one way of being eco-friendly as well.

Try this!

One really cool and easy way to get paid to donate your gently worn clothes, shoes and accessories is through ThredUp. It is one of the largest online secondhand stores. You simply fill one of their bags with all of your unwanted clothes and drop it in the mail. For items they choose to accept and resell, you get a small payout! You can even get discounts to shop on their site so you can fill your closet with new items. Thredup.com

Create a “landing space.”

When you come home after a long day, where do your purse, keys, and mail go? Most likely they are tossed on the kitchen counter or table, which then start to accumulate other miscellaneous stuff. Start fresh this year and create a landing space for yourself.

A small table by your doorway can not only add to your décor with a vase of fresh flowers, but can serve as a great place to put your purse and other things you may want to quickly grab as you come in and out. Buy a small bowl for little items such as keys and sunglasses, and a decorative box where you can put mail that needs to be sorted out. Keep a small basket by your table for shoes you wear regularly and an umbrella. It wouldn’t be a bad idea to keep a phone charger plugged in near the table so you can keep your phone charged once you get home. Have fun with creating a cute landing space for your home or apartment, and know you are keeping yourself organized!

Decorate your space!

Find a unique or funky-looking table at a local flea market or secondhand store. Purchase a coordinating bowl, box, basket or any other storage item you think would meet your needs the best.

Target has great, affordable options. Try Threshold’s small desktop storage unit to put on top of the table to keep your unopened mail organized. $12.99, target.com Sara Schlueter is a writer and editor in Minneapolis with a passion for storytelling, all things Minnesota, and being involved in the community.

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127 Oakdale St. - Owatonna • www.owatonnafitnesstraining.com • Justaboutyoustudio@yahoo.com WINTER 2019

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Part of the Community

N

By Sarah Osterbauer

estled on Central Avenue in downtown Faribault, The Upper East Side offers visitors from near and far the opportunity to create.

Owned and operated by Suzanne Schwichtenberg, what began as private shopping events for women has flourished in a way she never imagined.

When Schwichtenberg opened her studio space roughly eight years ago, she wanted to create a place where women could spend quality time together, relating to

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each other over a uniquely curated shopping experience showcasing Sharif handbags direct from New York.

Schwichtenberg was bitten by the New York City bug at age 18 on a trip with her mother.

Since then, she has made many trips, bringing her own daughter along. Her family’s love of the city and the theater kept them coming back. It was from

those trips that she was presented with the opportunity to become retail partner for well-known Egyptian handbag designer Sharif (whose designs now bear the name Sharif 1827).

The private shopping experiences expanded to include wine and painting events where Schwichtenberg hosts guests of all ages, from 3 to 91. In her first two years of operation (before wine and paint events became as wildly popular as they are now), she averaged 150 events a year.

Schwichtenberg’s events are mobile. She brings them to restaurants, assisted living facilities, churches and other venues. In the past, she has worked with those for whom painting can be respite from Alzheimer’s and other ailments. For Schwichtenberg, the work she does isn’t so much about critiquing the end product as it is about creating a space where people feel the support needed to express themselves fully. She understands the power environment can have

over creative juices and cultivates them by way of candles, soothing music and other elements that promote optimal ambiance.

She adapts the space to cater to the guests.

Children love painting to Disney songs, often resulting in a “sing and paint” atmosphere. While she leads the painting events herself, she’s determined not to derail anyone’s individual creativity. As you can see from the results of her events, the paintings done by guests are not the typical cookie-cutter designs you would see from a more commercial event dealer. Schwichtenberg wants her guests to create items they would want to see as fixtures in their own homes.

In addition to facilitating creativity, The Upper East Side takes pride in nurturing and developing relationships.

Schwichtenberg loves nothing more than to see her guests finding joy in their work while strengthening their bond with family, friends and coworkers. Her most memorable events are when a guest finds a deep emotional connection to their artwork, where they allow the paint brush CONTINUES ON PAGE 14 u u u WINTER 2019

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to say more than their voice ever could. She also loves the lasting relationships she has developed with members of the community over the years. The bulk of the events are planned via word-of-mouth referrals. While The Upper East Side Facebook page is active, the only other way to request an event from Schwichtenberg is by contacting her directly via phone at 507-3392770 or e-mail applauzz@hotmail.com. She has said a website is coming soon, but until then, she enjoys the direct contact and thrives on connecting with others.

The wine and paint events are only the tip of the iceberg of The Upper East Side’s business. Because Schwichtenberg owns the building, she has the freedom to make it anything she wants. The exposed brick, hardwood floors, high tin ceilings and prime real estate make it a great location for a variety of events. The space can be rented for team building, bachelorette parties, bridal showers, Christmas parties, prewedding events, etc. She recently had a group use the space as a area to get ready prior to a wedding.

The second floor of the building has an apartment that can be rented via Airbnb. It sleeps up to six people and has the same charm as the art studio space below it. Visitors to the space can expect comfort and hospitality with an urban feel, coffee shops and bars only footsteps away.

The possibilities for creativity and expression at The Upper East Side are virtually endless. As long as it involves people expressing themselves by way of an art form, she is all for it. In her own words, “if someone wanted to rent out my space for a knitting class, I would love that.”

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She has recently started to offer bisqueware painting to guests, opening the space for walk-in hours to anyone looking for an original handmade gift idea. In the future, she hopes to be able to offer more walk-in availability to speak to her guests’ spontaneity and capture the attention of folks who may not yet be on her contact list. While she does not foresee becoming a traditional retail store, she likes the idea of continuing to offer private shopping experiences in a pop up format along with her booming sip and paint events. Whatever she does decide, it is clear The Upper East Side is a unique gem that will only continue to strengthen the community and its members.

Sarah Osterbauer is a freelance writer based in St. Paul.

SPONSORED BY Jenny Gamer, LAc, M.OM 414 Central Ave. Faribault, MN 507.645.4270 pivotalpointom.com

pivotal point oriental medicine

O

ver the years I’ve come to realize how we generally don’t know what ‘normal’ is. It often takes a few cycles of a woman really paying attention to her body and symptoms to get a clear picture of what is happening within her.

Chinese medicine is an excellent lens to understanding ourselves better and an excellent choice to treat women’s health- from cramps to infertility to polycystic ovarian syndrome to menopause.

Blood quality and circulation are key to women’s health. ome common and treatable signs of poor blood are dry and brittle or thinning hair; pale, brittle or ridged finger nails; upper back or neck tightness that doesn’t resolve with massage; spider veins (treatable in the sense of not letting them spread); pale or yellowish complexion; dry, scaly or darkened skin often seen on the lower legs; dry cracked skin on the heels; poor night vision; and of course menstrual cramps. Blood disharmonies are often at the root of emotional issues such as anxiety, poor sleep and irritability as well.

Having a strong digestive system is how we create quality blood along with a good nutritious diet. Because we lose blood every month for years we need to constantly replenish it. Often we just get used to or overlook symptoms of a weakened digestive system. A good example of not knowing what ‘normal’ is, is appetite. A good appetite

is where we start thinking of meals ahead of time.

“Ah, chili sounds good on a cold day like today.

I’d better stop at the store for some kidney beans.” his kind of hunger is our bodies signal that she’s ready to digest that good food we are thinking of and turn it into everything we need to be strong and energetic. When I ask about appetite, many women don’t recognize when it’s not so good.

Being so hungry we suddenly have to stop for fast food is not a healthy appetite. Another commonly overlooked symptom is feeling bloated after eating a reasonably sized meal or having food just sit in your stomach for too long after eating.

Abdominal pain or bloating, frequent constipation or loose stools, gas and burping should all be treated. Not wanting breakfast because of nausea should be treated.

Menstrual blood should be a fresh red, not brown, purple or pale.

Any more than mild cramping for one day is not normal!

Any more than being mildly emotional the day before your period is too much!

There should be no breast distention, no body pain, no headache or flu like symptoms with your period. You shouldn’t have constipation before, nor loose stools during, your cycle.

If you have any of these issues, I can help. Call me at 507-990-5981 for an appointment., or go to pivotalpointom.com Come and join Kris Layman and me for a night of yoga and gentle acupuncture during guided meditation at Prema studio Sunday January 27.

You can sign up for the event at premastudio.com.

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2016 changed me 2017 broke me 2018 opened my eyes 2019 I’m coming back

MalloryFUCHS Mallory Fuchs is a licensed alcohol and drug counselor and a life coach for women. She helps women gain the confidence they deserve so that they can design the life they love.

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“God invites us: Daughters, look at the lioness. Watch her closely. Let her awaken your untamed nature, your fierce beauty, & your unbridled strength so that you can rise up & be the courageous women I have called you to be.” -Lisa Bevere

F

ollowing your dreams is scary and hard work, you guys. That’s why so many of us have just that - dreams. But what if your dream could be your reality? What if you could awaken that lioness that is asleep inside you and have the courage to be everything you ever wanted to be?

Talking about it gives me the chills deep in my soul and bones.

But there is one thing that was always holding me back and had me scratching my head - I had always been told things in school like, “it’s never too late to be who you were meant to be” or “you can be anything you want to be.” For the longest time those were just things you “said” to someone, and they were just words.

I used to roll my eyes when I heard people say such cliché’d things and wondered if people actually believed in those words, or if it was just something that sounded good. I didn’t hear people around me talking about actually living their dreams. It was more about people just settling and constantly saying, “maybe someday.”

Can you relate to that? I know I am guilty of it!

Let me tell you, my journey and this past year have been wild and filled with untamed adventure. My soul has been set on fire with a passion and a calling so deep it has shifted my whole life

and foundation. It didn’t happen by chance or accident. It’s because I made a lot of small choices that added up to one big goal-crushing dream.

Words are only words when there is no action behind it. The secret behind success and a life full of adventure is when you DO! Adventure is calling us all the time. The question you have to ask yourself is, are you listening? Are you willing to take a chance, put in some grit and hard work, and take a leap of faith and courage? When you start taking risks, getting out of your comfort zone, trying new things, doing the hard and scary work, getting honest with yourself and others - I can promise you that new doors are going to open that you never imagined. Do not let adventure or opportunity leave you behind!

Many people ask me, “Mallory, how did you do it?” or “I want to do what you do!”

Here is my secret. First and foremost, I don’t care what anyone thinks of me and my choices.

Other people’s opinions of you are NONE of your business. Do you - for you! Next, get out of your own way and your own head - don’t over-think things. Believe in yourself because you are seriously freaking amazing! Number three, my faith and family have led me to where I am now, and it took a lot of faith and trust. Find something that is going to help you have that unbridled strength.

Number four is ACTION. The lion is my spirit animal; you really can learn a lot from these beautiful and strong creatures. Just like a lion, we need to put in action. Lions don’t dream of hunting - they just hunt. Action is survival. In order for our dreams and adventures to survive, we have to put in the work.

It might seem shocking, but I had to actually stop talking about what I wanted to do. I just had to do it. Then once I started doing, I learned the five most important “D” words. Are you ready for them?

Determination, Dedication, Discipline, Diversity, and Direction.

Determination: First, I had to make a decision and figure out exactly what my goal was. I had to decide I was not going to let anyone or anything stop me. No excuses. I keep some of my goals secret and guard them with all my heart. When you build in silence, people don’t know what to attack. Don’t let anyone tear your dreams down or tell you that you can’t - not even yourself!

Dedication: I had to have faith in myself and my goal and work for it every day.

I had to be committed and do it wholeheartedly. I treated my goal like a relationship I truly valued and put in the work day in and day out. I had to set aside time and sacrifice some things in order to stay loyal to this goal.

Discipline: I had to train myself to do the work even when I didn’t want to.

Discipline might be the hardest one but quite possibly the most important. I had to push through and put in the work that wasn’t joyful or fun. In fact, it was the work I wanted to put off and not do that really pushed me forward into my success and adventure. I had to understand the consequences if I didn’t do what I needed to do! Make sure you are doing the work that doesn’t look appealing; go the extra mile.

Diversity: Make sure you are flexible in your methods to get to your goal. Sometimes it’s not about the goal; it’s about how we get there that makes the difference. Make sure you have a lot of resources you can use. If one way doesn’t work, continue to push through. I had to be willing to be flexible and when one way didn’t work out, I had to find another and another. Don’t allow any excuses - be diverse in how you get to your outcome.

Direction: Make sure you have guidance and know where you are going; have a clear path to your goal. My faith was a huge part of my guidance, but I also had a mentor who helped me reach my goal. He was someone who had already achieved the goal I was after. He gave me the encouraging support and guidance that I needed. Find someone who can give you real genuine support and advice, someone who has the same qualities that you want to achieve. Make sure they are

someone you can trust and respect.

Finally, new adventures and beginnings also come with some pretty tough goodbyes. Don’t let anyone or anything hold you back from living your best life, purpose, or adventure. Everyone has an adventure with their name stamped on it. It’s up to you to choose if you are going to start the new adventure and beginning, or be left behind. Don’t let your new beginning leave you behind. Choose the adventure always, even when you have no idea where the road will lead.

It will always lead you to where you are meant to be.

Be okay with choosing the adventure and leaving some relationships and old habits behind. Life has a crazy way of knowing what we need and what we don’t. Trust that.

As for me, I knew in my heart that I was going to do something big in my life. God spoke to me a year ago and told me it was time to start detaching and start to bless others. Sometimes a dream that God places in your heart isn’t meant to be yours forever. He wants you to pass it onto someone else. That is exactly what we did with our dance studio, life

coaching, and gift store. Now it’s time for me to pack up on a new adventure of my own.

Always be kind. Give when you can. Leave things better than how you found it. Take risks. Be honest. Run your own race.

Say YES to your adventure and new beginning - I dare you!

s a v e t hs ae v e t h e date date

40th Annual 40th Annual

Carriage Carriage & & Cutter Cutter Day Day MN Kenyon,Kenyon, MN

February 23rd, 2019 February 23rd, 2019 Parade ••Zoo Free Petting Petting Zoo Zoo Parade Free Parade • Free Petting VendorsHunt Medallions Hunt Hunt Vendors •• Medallions Vendors • Medallions Live Music Music Silent Auction •• Food Food Live •• Silent Live Music • Silent Auction • FoodAuction Fun Family for the the Whole Whole Family Family Fun for Fun for the Whole

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Women Helping Others Along Their Faith Journey –

By Isabelle Wattenberg

N

o two people take the same path to seek out religious or spiritual connection. The journey is deeply personal, whether it emerges from a desire for community, a conversation amongst family, or perhaps a question about inner identity. And sometimes, the experiences exploring this connection grow into a resolve not only to participate, but take a position of leadership.

Those who lead a congregation or spiritual community are tasked with guiding a group and helping its members both strengthen their own identities and also recognize the value of others’. And the impact of the conversations these leaders foster often bleeds into the communities at large and leaves positive impact—whether by encouraging cross-religion dialogue, building volunteer bases, or simply growing safe spaces that give their members the restoration they need to carry on and be thoughtful citizens in the world.

In the July 2018 issue of Girlfriends, we profiled the work of Pastor Rebecca Wold Freeman of Northfield’s Bethel Lutheran Church. In this issue, we hear about three different spiritual and faith communities from the women who have helped shape and continue to guide them.

Isabelle Wattenberg is a social media and data analytics specialist for MSP Communications.

She spends her spare moments listening to opera, reading Alice in Wonderland, and writing about Minnesota happenings.

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What is your title and what congregation or group do you lead?

Rabbi Michelle Werner,

What drove or inspired you to take on this role?

Can you talk about your journey to get there?

It was my third career. I grew up in a Jewish community in New York. I became active in the Hillel in Santa Barbara when I was doing my graduate work. A lot of people in Santa Barbara thought I should go to rabbinical school straight out of college, but instead I went to Europe--it was a fun decision. Then I went to New Zealand, and I was very active in the Jewish community, then I thought, maybe I could go back to Plan A. So I flew from New Zealand to Los Angeles to interview. I was accepted (at rabbinical school I flew from New Zealand to Jerusalem [for one year of rabbinical studies], did four years of study in Cincinnati and was then matched with the congregation in Rochester. My congregation didn’t hesitate to have me. I’ve had an interesting life; they were glad that I’ve brought life experience with me.

How do you support your congregation or group outside of religious/spiritual services?

We’re a very unique congregation, because the majority of people are affiliated with Mayo. Jewish people come to Rochester to work at the clinic, so it’s a very distinguished and committed congregation. Any Jewish person who’s come to Rochester for treatment is an immediate member of the congregation.

If they say they had a bad day, it means they lost a patient; it doesn’t mean they lost a parking spot. These are extraordinary humans, all of them. I don’t have the expectation that they’re going to do some of the roles that volunteers do in other congregations, they’re curing diseases and transplanting organs.

We don’t need them to take care of plates; they need to be restored. We have volunteers planning our gala, doing social justice, doing a lot of stuff. But their day jobs are pretty impactful. So I don’t mind doing some things that in other congregations that might be jobs filled by volunteers. (Our members) need to come be restored and refreshed, not be handed a to-do list. So we have potluck dinners, and I make the main dish. They can come and be fed a little bit and be taken care of.

In your position, how are you involved with the community at large, beyond your congregation?

Rochester is an incredibly diverse town. We had a speaker (from) Mayo; he does interfaith work, and he said ‘you’re living in the United Nations.’ Several years ago there was a racially motivated act of vandalism against a Somali student, and I was asked to speak. I started the Interfaith Association; I try to establish something that would be inclusive of religions in town that don’t have clergy as well as those that do, and also find a balance to do things and explore things we all agree on. We have sessions basically to strengthen religious leaders so that they could go back and be stronger in their own congregations.

What is it like being a woman in a role that has traditionally been held by men?

Do you feel like your received a lot of support for your training? Or did you face challenges?

I do think there are moments where you can say, would someone have treated me differently if I were a man? [But] there’s no institutional discrimination. I don’t think I face any issue at Mayo or the congregation because I’m a woman. I don’t have people treating me disrespectfully or condescendingly or anything like that.

Why do you love what you do?

It is quite particular, especially for our students, to be Jewish in Rochester. My goal is basically to make them feel authentic and proud and connected. And I told the parents many years ago that I’d go to anything I could their kids were doing, if they invited me, to make sure they know I’m interested in the whole kids, not just their education. I’ve been to dance, softball, plays. It’s so important for this kids to have this identity. Helping them navigate this, discovering and enriching their Jewish identity--that’s the only thing that matters.

B’nai Israel Synagogue, Rochester

t

Susan Quinnell, Pastor of Congregational Care, Emmaus Baptist Church, Northfield

Carol Holly, Board Member, and Anne Klawiter, Board Chair, Northfield Buddhist Meditation Center, Northfield

I was a registered nurse for 15 years and moved into some different roles when I had my children. I went back to school and to seminary and pursued a degree in Marriage and Family Therapy at Bethel Seminary. I was asked in seminary by our pastor [of Emmaus] if I’d consider an internship for 10 hours a week to assist him, to do some care and counseling and visits with people. It was just right, and it’s actually kind of what my niche has been all along. Then those hours increased when I needed to do an internship and began doing pre-marital counseling as part of my degree work. I was eventually hired on.

Carol: I’ve been involved in the center for 15 years or more; we’re only been here as a center for 18 years. The center’s changed a lot; it’s totally nonprofit. We don’t have a guiding teacher. We don’t have administration. It’s all volunteers. Over the years there have been various tasks, like organizing the library or organizing speakers to come down, and so in various ways I have volunteered. Anne: I started meditating in my mid-20’s. I went to school in the Cities and there was a community of transcendental meditation there.

I had a lackluster practice and was trying to get back into it. I knew about five years ago the center was here, so I started coming to listen to talks by [meditation teacher] Mark Nunberg from Common Grounds. I came once a month, and then I started coming to the sits. Then I just wanted to know more about the center so I agreed to join the board and become the chair.

I oversee all of the care ministry at our congregation. I work closely with a colleague. We work together providing services and referrals from people in the community, as well as contacting people when they’re planning for hospitalization, to provide spiritual care and also physical follow-up care - meals, transportation, or (our) visiting ministry, called Stephen Ministry. I oversee all of that, which is a pretty solid part of our care. It’s a trained ministry where people walk alongside others in times of crisis or transition. I do a fair amount of counseling, whether it’s people who contact me in times of change, or (following) up with families who have new babies or people who have lost a nuclear family member, offering family counseling and resources.

Anne: Members of the Sangha [a Buddhist community or assembly] will occasionally get together outside of the Sangha. We decided to have a soup potluck; there will be a sit, and people who are interested can stay around for the potluck. We had a book group this summer. Because there’s a lot going on in Northfield, occasionally people will come and post other things. We encourage folks to check out what is available. We do get Buddhist speakers almost every month. Ideally we’ll have two Dharma talks--what people might consider sermons in the Christian tradition – someone talking about the theory and background of Buddhism.

At Emmaus we have a (monthly) neighborhood free community meal. There have been I’ve been connected with some families from the neighborhood through a need that became apparent through a connection with (the meal). Otherwise, my outreach is primarily keeping tabs on the changes in peoples’ lives. Other staff may make me aware of some of those things if I don’t know the person specifically.

Carol: There are a few of us who come who call ourselves Buddhists and are very serious about Buddhism and practice, and there are others who fall into all sorts of categories. We have people who go to church but come here to meditate. Or people who want to meditate and don’t practice Buddhism, but want a spiritual connection. Anne: It’s large enough to hold all different thoughts and different faith endeavors, so anyone who wants to meditate can be here, or anyone who wants to come to learn about Buddhism can come.

In seminary, as a woman I did not feel the tension in regard to a gender gap, and I think part of that was part of the master’s degree program I was in. But with some of the theology students there still were some underlying beliefs of male dominance, and I’d have to say that I sometimes feel that more prominently in practice in the community. Not from my staff: I feel very much an equal colleague.

But there’s different unspoken pieces around the equality of my role, whether it is what’s offered for salary and benefits, to this sense that it’s more acceptable for a man to be in leadership. It’s very subtle, but I have had parishioners who made it very clear that I was not accepted in my role. And that went along with their belief system.

Carol: I don’t think we can say this is a community where women are prominent or men are prominent; we’ll take help when we can get it. Anne: We’ve had (fewer) female dharma speakers than male. There’s some talk about women and Buddhism. Not too long ago, I was thinking of meeting with women and having more gender-specific conversations. There’s patriarchy in just about all religions I can think of, but for those of us who practice in the Western world it would be counter to the whole philosophy to say that one gender is superior to others. Carol: Or more likely to gain enlightenment.

I feel so honored to be invited into very sacred and holy places in a time of discussion or exploration, or a time where someone is very vulnerable. I find those places to be very holy places, and I hope that I have been able to provide a place of safety and love as much as I receive from the people that I walk with.

Anne: I’m the chair of the board and did that because I wanted to become more involved, and I think the board – and, specifically, the chair - is the leader by default, at least at the time. I felt like that was part of my responsibility as chair of the board. It’s such a gem to have a center here; it’s so unusual, and I want to make sure that I can continue to keep it around.

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A man’s perspective

Time’s a-tickin’

jonas Trent Jonas is a Twin Cities-based writer and divorced father of two. He is fascinated and frightened by women but is working through his issues.

I

turned 50 in September. The big five-oh. Half-a-century. I now qualify for AARP membership and a colonoscopy. (And for a couple weeks in November, I inexplicably thought I was 51, so I was awfully relieved to get that year back).

At 50, all the things that I didn’t do in my 20’s and 30’s — those things that kind of gnaw at you in your 40’s — came slamming into focus: I am not an elite-level surfer, I never made a pro baseball team, I didn’t take a year off to hike through Central and South America. Heck, I’ve haven’t even been to New Zealand.

And there are dozens of other things that I would like to have done by now.

Although 50 seems a little late to start doing some of the things I want to do — as opposed to the things that I have to do, like a colonoscopy — it will be later only if I wait longer.

My oldest is off to college next year. By the following year, his sister will be there, too. I know it will rip out a part of my heart to not

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have them around, but I intend to use that spare time to explore what’s out there and give my soul a little more sustenance than it gets from my daily routines.

So, I’m trying to treat 50 like a new beginning. I’ve started exercising more (I slacked off there for a while). Both my kids now have driver’s licenses, so I have extra time to do things like work on more-creative writing. To that end, I started a Master of Fine Arts program in the fall.

I’m probably never going to rip through a barrel at Pipeline, but I’m still down for some mellow longboarding off Tamarindo. While expedition-length hikes and days-long blue water crossings are not things that appeal to me so much anymore, I’d definitely like to spend more time in the woods and on the water than I have in the last few years.

Maybe my kids will join me.

Whatever the new year means for you — or whatever it is that offers you an epiphany to start anew — I certainly hope you tackle it in health and happiness. Cheers!

Making the most of your HSA Account!

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f you are like me, you have a health insurance policy a high deductible and, unfortunately, the premiums didn’t go down this year either. So, now are you not only stuck with the premiums, but you have to pay the whole deductible before the insurance company will pay anything.

Maybe you bought the policy directly from the insurance company, or maybe you got it through work, or maybe you went through MNSure to get the coverage. In any case, the plan you have has HSA behind it, which means you are eligible to contribute to an HSA and take a front-page tax deduction for the amount that you contribute. To open an HSA Account simply go to your bank open another checking or savings account called an HSA, now you can easily transfer money from your regular bank account.

This is one thing that many of our new clients are missing. They have a health insurance policy that allows them to contribute to a Health Savings Account (HSA), but they don’t actually put any money into the account, or they only contribute a minimal amount their employer is withholding from their paychecks, because they don’t understand how it works. But they are still spending more money out of their pockets to cover the medical expenses and don’t get any type of a deduction on the Schedule A for it.

So the law is, if you have an HSA eligible insurance policy you can contribute money into an HSA Account which can be a savings or checking account. When the money is contributed into this HSA Account you take a tax deduction for the amount that you contributed on the front of your tax return. Then when you take the money out for medical purposes it is not taxable income.

There are limits on the amounts that you can contribute depending on the type of coverage that you have, as well as your age. With single coverage, you can contribute up to $3,450 and up to $6,900 a year for 2018. Then, if you are over 55, you can add an additional $1,000 each year as a catchup. Contributions for 2018 need to be made

by April 15, 2019.

The best part of the HSA is that you contribute money each year but you don’t have to use it each year. It will carry over year to year until you need it, or when you turn 65 you can use the money to pay for your insurance premiums—unlike your flex accounts at work, which are a “use it or lose it” type of benefits, you can carry the HSA over.

However, if you are like most people, you don’t have extra cash sitting around to do this. Instead, you make your contributions into your HSA right before you pay a medical bill.

You can contribute all the money at once or you can make deposits into your HSA account as your medical expenses come up and you pay them.

Example: You go to the doctor and you get a bill for $250. Before you pay the doctor bill, you first put $250 from your regular account into the HSA account. This gives you the tax deduction, then, you pay the doctor from the HSA account.

TAX DEDUCTION Checking

$

HSA Account

$

Medical Bill

Basically you play hopscotch with your money. Before paying a medical bill, you move money from your checking into the HSA Account then pay the bill from the HSA. Just remember that there is a maximum amount that you can contribute per year to the HSA account.

Taxes, Investments, Business and maybe a little more Sandy Flom CPA, CFP® Investors should carefully consider the investment objectives, risks, fees and expenses before investing. For this and other important information please obtain the investment company fund prospectus and disclosure documents from your Rep/Advisor. Read this information carefully before investing. Registered Representative, Securities offered through Cambridge Investment Research Inc., a Broker/Dealer, Member FINRA/SIPC. Investment Advisor Representative, Cambridge Investment Research Advisors, Inc., a Registered Investment Advisor. Cambridge and Sandy Flom, LLC are not affiliated. Cambridge does not offer tax advice.

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A Winter Wonderland in Southern Minnesota – “We bring a lot of people into town… we’ve had people come for ten, fifteen, twenty years. It’s a winter family tradition of getting outside and doing something, and it’s a chance for families to do something together.”

- Ken Borgmann

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By Megan Proft

t began as a simple conversation among several men at their local Waseca barbershop 68 years ago. They were discussing something many Minnesotans face every year how to embrace the chilly weather instead of hibernating.

That’s how the plan for the Waseca Sleigh and Cutter Festival was hatched.

Today, the festival draws people from across the southern region to the small rural community with its many events that run from January through March.

Over the years, the festival has evolved but continues to center around the theme of sleighs, cutters, toboggans and other winter vehicles. At the heart is still the idea of embracing winter

through events for all ages and interests.

Festival president Ken Borgmann, who has been involved in the festival for 25 years, said he sees familiar faces come to town each year.

“We bring a lot of people into town… we’ve had people come for ten, fifteen, twenty years,” he said. “It’s a winter family tradition of getting outside and doing something, and it’s a chance for families to do something together.”

Waseca Chamber of Commerce Director Ann Fitch agreed that the annual festival is a staple for the community. She’s experienced the festival her entire life and seen the community gather around it over the years.

“The Sleigh and Cutter has become Waseca’s winter identity. The CONTINUES ON PAGE 24 u u u

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“It gives the chance for the family to do something... it’s meant to help families to be together and get their minds off things” - Ken Borgmann

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Members of a Old West re-enactment group participated in downtown Waseca prior to the parade.

Waseca County News

CONTINUED FROM page 23

community knows that and is always willing to participate to keep it vibrant,” Fitch said. “I think that people are willing to go out in the bitter cold of winter to entertain themselves is what makes it so special. It can be difficult to embrace a wind chill, but this makes it fun.”

When it comes to the activities for people to enjoy, events range from a parade, movie night, ice sculpting and medallion hunt.

“We have a longevity for a lot of these things,” Borgmann said. “We might lose an event here or there, but this year we have two new events,” he said. The new highlights for 2019 are a cross-country skiing event and a fat tire bike event.

While events may come and go, Borgmann said a few important annual pieces of the festival are particularly unique.

One of those things is the pageant, which saw former Miss Waseca Sleigh and Cutter Michaelene Karlen go on to win Miss South Central, then Miss Minnesota, and finally compete at the national level of Miss America - placing in the top 15 contestants.

“We’re so proud of our pageant program... that’s just another aspect of the things we provide,“ Borgmann said. “The scholarship program is outstanding and we’re proud to be a part of it.”

Another thing that is a particularly special program and a point of pride for the festival is the Children’s Dream Catcher Fund.

The program was developed when a tragedy struck a festival helper.

“One of our members lost a grandchild to a serious disease and literally days afterward, we got together… and we had the idea of doing a ‘make-a-wish’ kind of thing,” he said. The festival coordinators began working with local ministers to find a family to help each year who was dealing with a child with serious illness.

For the selected family, that wish can be something as simple as sending them to

Wisconsin Dells with expenses covered, Borgmann explained.

“It gives the chance for the family to do something… it’s meant to help families to be together and get their minds off things,” he said.

The program is funded locally as well, in a very community-based way.

“Children’s Dream is funded in a simple, hometown way - bingo on Monday nights at Waseca’s Barden’s Bar,” he said.

That’s how the festival continues, Borgmann said.

“It’s the support of businesses like Barden’s that makes the festival happen year-to-year. The money shows up thanks to sponsorships. I think that it shows the business people appreciate what we’re trying to do,“ he said.

“And the festival is a great tribute to the city of Waseca for supporting it.”

That support also comes in the way of volunteering. Borgmann said that the festival has always aimed to find a mutually beneficial way to ask for volunteer support.

“We support other nonprofits in Waseca and for that, in turn, they

help us,” he said, adding that the relationship is always positive and is good public relations for everyone.

The Waseca Sleigh and Cutter Festival runs from January through March 2019. For a full list of events, visit sleighandcutterfestival.org.

Megan Proft is a regional freelance writer originally from Owatonna. She has a B.A. in English and has been writing professionally for more than a decade as a journalist, editor and copywriter.

It was a casual cruise down through downtown Waseca for this unit.

Waseca County News

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By Nancy Iglesias

nyone who has ever worked in a retail environment during the holiday understands that life as a cashier can get a little crazy during December. On one particularly cold rainy Saturday just before Christmas, I found myself running on low reserves. Target had once been one of my favorite places to wander aimlessly down the aisles and do a little retail therapy.

Standing on the other side of the cash register gave me a whole different perspective. The lines had gotten ridiculously long and “team members” and “guests” alike were doing their best to keep the holiday spirit alive. In a feeble but well-meaning attempt to expedite service for a rather outspoken gentleman with only a few items, I moved this guest into a line that I thought would get him out the door faster.

Just as he got to the front of his line, his cashier ran into a snag and all forward progress came to a halt. He kept looking back at me with disgust, as though I had caused the problem and he verbally “let me have it.”

All eyes were suddenly transfixed on the two of us (or at least it felt like that). All I could do was say, “Sir, we’re all just trying to do our best.” There was a

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sweet couple in line that I was trying to help during this same time.

They quietly tried to reassure me that I did not deserve to be the object of this man’s scorn. They even bought a bottle of sparkling water from the cooler next to our register and handed it to me as we packed their cart and told me to bring it to my upcoming break as a little treat.

I was so touched by their kindness that I found tears springing to my eyes and spilling down my cheeks. They, too, had waited in line for a long time, but they chose to extend kindness rather than anger. It was just a little thing, but I greatly appreciated it.

I was recently chatting with a friend who relayed a story of another intentional act of kindness. In the hustle and bustle of a busy day, another friend called to share some difficult circumstances happening in her life. My friend “Betty,” who is a great active listener, could have simply let it stand as a phone call, but she acted on a hunch in her heart that this friend needed more. She laid her agenda for the afternoon aside and suggested the two women meet for coffee to chat about what was going on. It meant the world to her friend, and there is no doubt that “Betty” made a difference to the woman who called her.

Researchers have tried to quantify the benefits of these not-sorandom acts of kindness. Journalists, like Leon Logothetis in “The Kindness Diaries,” have tried to document them.

But I suspect that the kindness of the my new and dear friends at Target or the listening ear offered by my friend “Betty” didn’t come out of a book, a yoga class (yes, there really is something called kindness yoga), a Facebook page, or series on TV or Netflix.

There are certainly lots of resources out there if you need a few suggestions to get started, but more than anything, it is watching and

Celeb

listening to those around us.

Intentional acts of kindness occur when we choose to give from the heart to another person. Sometimes those choices simply spring from our hearts with little or no effort. But, sometimes, it is a choice to lay aside what seems oh-so-pressing at the moment to step outside of ourselves and let another’s needs rise to the surface.

Maybe it’s sending a hand-written note to someone, saying thankyou in a unique way, or stopping to offer assistance to a senior citizen or an over-stressed young mom whose child is having a melt-down in the grocery store.

There are times when the phrase “random acts of kindness” seems appropriate. The spontaneous act of purchasing a coffee for the person in line behind you can be a sweet thing. Perhaps it was random in that it wasn’t something the giver thought too much about before they did it - but the act of doing it is not random at all, but rather intentional.

It’s easy to see a need or a person who needs a little encouragement and still walk on by and ignore what you see. Our lives are busy and we’re doing important things, right? Or that’s what we often tell ourselves.

I may not be able to change the world in 2019, but one of my new beginnings for the year will be to be on the lookout for more intentional acts of kindness.

Amelia Earhart said, “A single act of kindness throws out roots in all directions, and the roots spring up and make new trees.”

Here’s to planting a forest in the new year!

CONTINUES ON PAGE 28 u u u

y rating our 69th Anniversar

Sleigh & Cutter Festival

January 26th - February 24th

• Dinner Dance - February 8th • Parade - February 9th • Cross Country Ski@Courthouse Park - February 16th • Fat Tire Bike Ride - February 23rd • $1,750 Medallion Hunt

& $1,750 Frosty Contest • March 23rd 2019 - Children’s Dream Catcher Bingo Check out our website below for complete events listing!

sleighandcutterfestival.org Advertising support from Waseca Area Foundation

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CONTINUED FROM page 27

The following list is from A Cookie Before Dinner, a website designed to “encourage parents in Western Massachusetts to chase a sweet life well-lived.”

- Hold the door open for someone.

- Pay for the drive-thru order of someone behind you.

- Send snail mail to a friend.

- Call your parents.

- Bring a treat to a friend.

- Send an “I love you” text to someone you care about.

- Instead of wishing someone happy birthday on Facebook, call them and tell them how much they mean to you.

- Leave change in an envelope for someone at the vending machine.

- Return someone else’s cart at the grocery store - Visit your neighbor. (From Nancy – “My favorite. We do not bake anything in this house without a piece or two making their way to the neighbor’s house.”)

- Leave a thank-you note for your mailman.

- Hide a note of encouragement in a library book.

- Take old blankets, towels, and sheets to the animal shelter.

- Tell your child how special and loved they are.

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Jenny Gamer has been helping people become balanced, heathy and happy using Chinese herbs, acupuncture, bodywork and lifestyle coaching since 2003.

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We’ll help you get the brightest smile possible Call us today!

Michelle Lund, D.D.S. | Bethany Whittier, D.D.S.

LAc, • M.OM, Dipl. CH

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Nancy Iglesias is a freelance writer and non-profit consultant. She spent 20 years working as an Executive Director for Habitat for Humanity in Winona, MN. Prior to that, she was the Marketing Manager for InterVarsity Press in Downers Grove, IL. Nancy enjoys entertaining, water fitness and teaching preschoolers at her church.

Accepting New Patients Jenny Gamer

414 heritage place, faribault

- Be a friendly driver.

- Bring a meal to someone who needs it.

- Leave a coupon next to the item it is for in the grocery store.

- Call and check on someone you know lives alone.

- Tell someone they’re doing a great job!

- Pay for the toll of the person behind you.

- Call a homeless shelter. Ask what they need. Bring it.

- Drink water. Take a hot shower. Go for a walk. Be kind to yourself!

- Drop a few coins at a playground for a child to find.

- Walk the talk. Follow through on something you’ve been meaning to do.

- Offer your expertise to someone who is new in your field.

- Mail a surprise to a far-away friend.

- Buy a treat for the cashier when you check out.

- Drop off a new stuffed animal at your fire station. Many fire stations keep a small stash to give to a child in crisis.

- Leave a “have a happy day” note on the windshield of someone’s car.

- Hide a note in the lunch box of your spouse or child.

- Get down to their level and look your child in the eye when they speak to you.

Kyle J. Rasmussen, D.D.S. 217 Nassau Street, St. Peter (507) 931-5646 riversidedentalcarestpeter.com

Ian Laird Ian is a Lighting Specialist and designer at The Design Element, located in the Mankato Design Center. He can help you with all your lighting and design needs from planning to product selection.

The Ins and Outs of Custom Tile

P

style or – more aptly – the decade lanning a custom tile installation may seem to which the style was popular. simple on Knowing a little the sursomething about SPONSORED BY face, but popular tile arrangethere’s ments and what The Design Element a lot is on trend today 1711 Premier Drive involved to make it could help your deMankato, MN happen. There are sign from appearing 507.345.8708 various types of tile “dated” too soon. per surface appliSecond, choose cation, varying tile widths, grout the right type of tile. Sometimes a selection, finishing pieces (bullnose wall tile can only be used on the or edging profile), and underlaywall – and sometimes even if a ment to consider not to mention wall tile has a matte texture for the the relevancy of shape, style, and floor, make sure it’s strong enough color of the tile itself. The art of tile to be used on the floor. Porcelain design really requires a keen eye tiles are the way to go for a durable and a deft hand to achieve a lasting floor tile, but are heavier and look. I suggest doing some research should be installed professionally. before you begin and I’ll provide Ceramic tile, although easier to cut a few suggestions to help you on and less expensive, is not nearly your way. as durable as a porcelain tile and First, start with your design. Do should never be installed outdoors. you want the impact of the layout Often the handcrafted, decadent to be based on color, style, shape, tiles you see are ceramic tiles and pattern, or a combination of these? should only be used on the walls.

Is grout a factor in the design or However, there are now patterned do you want its presence to be porcelain and cement tiles on the minimal? Is the texture important market that have their own rules or is the size of the tile important – for use. or both? How do you want the tiles Third, choose the right edging arranged? Many of the answers to profile. Generally, there are five these questions will determine the ways you can “edge” a tile design.

The first, easiest, and best way to do this is to have it tie directly into another material seamlessly. This would be when there’s a transition either to an opposite wall (perpendicular to the tile) or possibly to another tile or material of equal height. The trick is to match tile thicknesses or else you end up with edging option #2 a transition piece. Getting the correct transition piece seems minor but can make or break a design. Tile is unforgiving, and smoothly connecting disparate elements affects the balance of the whole and the further function of the space. If you’re lucky to find a cohesive decorative transition piece, such as a decorative “pencil” piece for your tile this might be your saving grace and is option #3 for your edging. Option #4 is closely related and is a bullnose tile. Bullnose tile refers to the rounded or finished end of a tile that is made from the same material as your field tile, but often only comes in certain sizes and is rounded or finished on only one end of the tile. Sometimes this interrupts the pattern you’re trying to make and is not always ideal, nor does it always solve difficulty in transitioning from one material to the next. The final option avail-

able for finishing a tile edge is to pick a substance that doesn’t need a finished edge at all. This generally refers to using a through-body natural stone or a glass tile. Since both of these types are naturally finished throughout, you can end the grout when the tile ends and keep an open look. Whether you want this look of the open grout is up to you, but is nevertheless an option in those two scenarios.

Fourth, choose the right professionals. I am a professional designer and work with professional installers every day, and we’re here to help with your project. There’s something about a professionally tiled space, both designed and installed, that elevates the look and function.

Tile is intricate and fussy in the details and involving a designer early on in the project will save so much time and effort! Let someone who’s made all the mistakes in the past with years of experience help you avoid the same pitfalls in your own project. We at The Design Element want to see your project be a success, if not for the beautiful pictures at the end, then for the satisfaction of achieving a cohesive stylish and functional space. But, mostly it’s for the beautiful pictures at the end!

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for weddings as nature intended Linnaeus Arboretum gustavus adolphus College St. peter, Minnesota

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o 32

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By Grace Brandt o, your significant other whisked you away to an impossibly romantic location, got down on one knee and proposed. Congratulations!

But after the initial euphoria has worn off and you’ve called everyone in your address book to share the exciting news, reality starts to set in. How are you going to organize a wedding?

According to bridal juggernaut The Knot, the average American couple spent $35,329 on their wedding day in 2016 – up eight percent from 2015 and ringing in at more than 60 percent of the average American household’s annual income. According to WCCO-TV in Minneapolis, the average cost of a wedding in Minnesota is about the same.

For those of you reading this and shaking your heads in shock, fear not! It’s actually possible to host a wonderful wedding, pay for it yourselves and not go into thousands of dollars of credit card debt. I know – I just did it myself in December. Obviously, every wedding (and every couple!) is different, but I thought I could share my experience planning a wedding on a (relatively) tight budget in the hopes of helping other couples who are feeling slightly overwhelmed by this whole wedding process.

Here’s a quick background: My husband, Nathan, proposed on May 15, 2018, and we got married December 1 of that year.

Overall, we spent $18,000 on our wedding and invited about 100 people. The ceremony site was at Fort Snelling Memorial Chapel, which we chose both because it allowed us to bring in my pastor father to officiate and because of its gorgeous architecture and rich military history (I have a lot of family members in the military). Our reception was held at Embassy Suites by Hilton Minneapolis Airport hotel, about two miles away from the chapel. Most of Nathan’s guests were flying in, so we wanted it to be convenient for them.

From the beginning, Nathan and I were committed to funding the wedding ourselves. We figured if we were adult enough to get married, we were adult enough to pay for the big day. We did receive $5,000 as a wedding present from my folks, which helped immensely. We also used about $5,000 of stocks and savings I’d accumulated throughout the years. So, between May 15 and December 1, we saved the other $8,000 – mostly through Nathan’s $17/hour job, since I had quit my full-time job to prepare to deploy with the military and was working only as a freelance CONTINUES ON PAGE 34 u u u Getting ready with the bridesmaids. Photo by Marjorie Webb.

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Our wedding day. Photo by Marjorie Webb.

reporter in the meantime.

This means we saved roughly $1,300 a month on essentially only one income. How did we manage that, you ask? We tightened our belt buckles a lot. Nathan moved out of his apartment and back in with his parents to save on rent. We almost never went out to eat – probably once a month. We almost never went to the movies or other pricey dates; instead, we got really good at finding free things to do on our dates, like going on walks or visiting museums with free admission. We wouldn’t even drive up to the Twin Cities unless it was absolutely necessary, because we wanted to save on gas.

We also immediately sat down and planned out a rough budget as soon as Nathan proposed, so we knew what our expenses would be and whether we were staying on track. We used a free budget calculator through The Knot’s website, which allowed us to input every expense from the reception venue to groomsmen’s boutonnieres. Having that written-out budget we could revisit and consult was crucial to ensure we were staying on track and to remind us why we were saving when we really, really wanted to just splurge on dinner for once.

Here are our biggest expenses, best splurges and spots where we didn’t care about cutting corners…

Reception venue--$7,500. The cost seems large, but that included the catering, wedding cake, bridal suite, DJ, and day-of coordination by our wonderful hotel assistant, Allison Zimmer.

Honestly, if you’re looking for a stress-free package that covers all the wedding “basics,” just go work with Allie. So much was included in the wedding package (you can get your flowers through them, too, if you want), it really can be a one-stop shop.

Wedding photographer--$2,600. We worked with Alice HQ Photography out of Le Sueur, and she’s great. She offers off-season discounts (we

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saved a ton by having a December wedding) and also includes a free engagement session and wedding album as part of her package. In addition, you get access to all your photos digitally instead of having to purchase individual copies. For me, taking really good photos was very important, which is why I was willing to spend good money on a photographer, while we didn’t hire a videographer. Obviously, if you’re looking to save money, you could delegate that work to a friend or family member. I’ve seen lovely “non-professional” photos from weddings, too! (But… if you’re really looking to save money, think about skipping that photo booth idea. The trend is pretty played out by now.)

Wedding dress--$2,200. I found my dress at Bella’s Bridal Boutique in Woodbury. It was pretty much the top end of their selection, and they had plenty of great dresses at lower prices. Their veils were a bit on the costly side, I thought, and I ended up finding a gorgeous lace-edged cathedral veil at David’s Bridal for $250. Pins and Needles Alternations in Mankato altered my dress to fit like a glove for about $250.

Wedding planner--$1,600. Right from the start, Nathan and I knew we wanted to hire a wedding planner to help us as we organized this day. We had help set up and tear down far too many weddings and knew we did not want that stress for our own day. For us, paying more for less stress was totally worth it. We worked with Amber Jensen of Meaningful Moments in Mankato, and she was fantastic, especially the day before and the day of the wedding. When we didn’t even know where to start looking for vendors, she had great suggestions that saved us thousands of dollars.

The day of the event, we had no idea what was happening half the time, and that was fine – Amber took care of everything, from hunting down the flowers we’d ordered to bringing our gifts up to our room after the reception ended. If you want to totally DIY for your wedding, more power to you, but we are so happy that we spent this money so we could actually enjoy our wedding day instead of worrying about every detail the whole time.

Those were our biggest expenses, and they were all well worth it.

We also allowed some other splurges, such as paying $400 for a limo, which turned out to be worth every penny when we got caught in white-out winter weather conditions between the courthouse and the hotel. We bought a canvas photo frame off Etsy for $60 for our guests to sign as a guestbook. We bought presents for the bridal party, my dad (who officiated) and others involved. I got myself a relaxing massage the day before the wedding. We budgeted for about $250 worth of waltz lessons.

There were plenty of places where we saved money, too. Our wedding planner took care of all the flowers, from centerpieces to bouquets, by ordering from her wholesaler. That whole category cost us $100. She also got our self-designed wedding programs (I found a free template online) printed for $60. We bought $45 worth of “ugly” chocolate (roughly five pounds) from the Russell Stover outlet in Medford for favors. We ordered 100 invitations through Zazzle.com for about $250 and 100 thank-you postcards for $50. I bought my pearl earrings on sale for $4 from JCPenney at the Mankato mall. I found my wedding nightgown for $1 at a thrift store and paid about $25 for Pins and Needles to alter it. We found our bridesmaid dresses, necklaces and shoes on Amazon. Nathan even bought his wedding band from there for $200. We didn’t decorate the ceremony site at all (except for purchasing two flower bouquets for $34 that stayed on the altar for the next day’s church service), and we barely had any decorations at the reception.

Then there were places we just didn’t spend money at all. We didn’t send out “save-the-date” notices. We didn’t have crazy bachelor/bachelorette parties. Nathan’s parents bought pizza for everyone after our wedding rehearsal. We had a cash bar (our venue package came with a champagne toast for everyone and a keg). I didn’t buy my bridesmaids

“wedding” – themed robes or slips or cozies. We did our own nails and used $1 spa masks I’d found at Five Below.

Rolling with it was the name of the game for most of our planning process, and I highly recommend it for any couple trying to organize such a potentially stressful event. Pick the things that are extremely important to you, and make sure you find space in the budget for them. Then learn to let go of the lesser things. We love ballroom dancing, so we made sure our reception venue had a large dance floor, but we didn’t spend a ton of money on invitations or programs because we didn’t really care.

Our wedding planning process took a lot of work, some smart compromises, and a bit of stress, but we ended up with a truly wonderful wedding day. Things went wrong the day of, but we could still celebrate by focusing on the important thing – we were getting married.

When you keep that in mind, forgetting the bouquet toss isn’t really such a big deal anymore.

So, there you have it. We were able to plan the wedding of our dreams without scrimping on what was important or breaking the bank. You can, too!

Grace Brandt is a wandering reporter whose home base is Mankato.

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Weddings by Deb is a family business established in 1989. We specialize in formal attire for weddings, proms and special occasions. We offer custom fitting and altering of gowns to fit your individual personality. Our experience gives us the edge on the Bridal and Tuxedo industry in which our knowledgeable and experienced staff will help your day be worry free. We truly appreciated your support over the last 28 years and encourage all to shop local and continue to support the local businesses of Faribault!

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By Nancy Iglesias

The best wedding moments aren’t always the

’ve always been a hopeless romantic, so when it came time to plan to my own wedding (a , long time ago - think 80’s poofy sleeves and even poofier hair!), the dreaming was endless. I couldn’t wait to purchase my first copy of “Brides” magazine and actually cried a year later when I bought my last copy.

So other than a quick glance at an issue in an airport newsstand or a random doctor’s office, I haven’t spent much time perusing

bridal magazines for several decades. I have more recently had occasion to look at on-line wedding resource websites like The Knot and Wedding Wire, where a couple can find all the information, inspiration, registration and reservations they will need to plan an amaz-

ing wedding. No, wait - not just amazing (that somehow seems sub-par) – how about an EPIC wedding?

Just to satisfy my curiosity, I checked out a few of these sites to see what they had to offer.

Check out these show-stopping headlines and promises:

- “Five Steps to the perfect reception.” Wow. Just five?

- “539 Ideas for an epic wedding.” Seriously 539? I think I liked five better.

- “The No-regrets guide to wedding photographers.”

- “Now you can have a not-to-be-forgotten fairy-tale wedding, too!” (Like a British Royal Wedding?)

- “Looking for a unique venue? Check out this Versailles-worthy chateau in the South of France.”

With wedding website names like Carats & Cakes, Newlywish (I love this one! Don’t need a toaster or a blender? Check out this site to register for everything from cooking CONTINUES ON PAGE 38 u u u

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classes to crazy dance lessons and concert tickets), Weddington Way and All Seated, there is absolutely no reason to have anything other than a first-rate affair.

Epic venues, epic cakes, epic dresses - lions and tigers and bears, oh my! Now remember, I’m a big fan of romantic weddings, but when did the expectation go from beautiful, lovely or meaningful to EPIC???

Is it even remotely possible to make one’s Pinterest vision board a total reality? Is it any wonder that more than a few women have turned into Bridezilla before the big day comes? It would seem as though there is just too much pressure to have the perfect day.

My husband of 34 years is a pastor. In that role, he has come home with more than a few stories of well-intentioned wedding plans that went slightly awry. There was the groom who loved his dog almost as much as his fiance and wanted the dog to be a second best man, or “best dog,” as it were. While the marriage license had to be signed by an actual human, the dog did stand/sit next to the groom for the entire wedding…..well, most of it. About three-quarters of the way through the ceremony, the dog decided to make a

run for it and managed to escape through two sets of doors to the parking lot. He was captured quickly and, after a brief pause to acknowledge nature’s calling, he rejoined the ceremony and all was well.

My husband also remembers the wedding that he called the bride Lisa, instead of her actual name, Linda, throughout the ceremony. Only when he got to the vows, did she actually get up the courage to correct him.

My husband also recalled a two-ambulance wedding. Two separate members of the bridal party fainted about 30 minutes apart.

They each hit their heads hard enough to need medical attention. Yikes! Now, there’s a story for the grandkids.

He has enough stories to write a book. He always tells people that from a detail standpoint, very few weddings are actually perfect.

But from a day tailor-made for them and their families, almost every wedding is “perfect” for that couple. At the end of the day, there will be wonderful memories made and - most importantly - they WILL be married.

My husband left his wedding ring on the corner of the sink in our wedding venue. As we were leaving for our honeymoon, my dad had to chase after us to ask if it was his.

My sister wanted cheesecake instead of

a traditional wedding cake. This was in the days before wedding cake tastings. While the baker assured us she could do it, let’s just say that it didn’t turn out to be as beautiful or tasty as my sister was hoping.

While dashing up the steps to my brother’s wedding, in my forest green velvet dress for a candlelight Christmas wedding, I

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stepped on the hem of my dress and ripped half of the bottom ruffle off the dress. (In 1971, there were a lot of ruffles.) When I looked down at the dress with tears in my eyes, just moments before the wedding was to start, my mother quickly got out a box of safety pins and started pinning me back together. Her usual kind demeanor went out the door as she warned me that my teardrops would stain the velvet.

Almost everyone has their own story that makes their wedding unique.

A good friend and former colleague, Stephanie - a wedding co-ordinator in southeastern Minnesota - shared several great stories with me. A very sweet, talented and generous mother-in-law offered to arrange the flowers for the wedding. The flowers were all arranged and set into the church walk-in cooler by late afternoon on Friday for the Saturday wedding. A sign was placed on the cooler door warning people to not open the door to the cooler, because it was filled with flowers for a wedding. There was another event at the church on Friday evening, and the sign simply served as an invitation for curious visitors to take a quick sneak peek at the flowers. This action caused the cooler to work overtime; by morning, the flowers were all frozen. A maddash scramble the next morning and phone calls to several florists put it all back on track and the wedding went on with very few people the wiser.

Wardrobe malfunctions abound at weddings - tuxedos that arrive three sizes too big or small. Broken zippers, missing or

popped buttons. My wedding coordinator friends tell me that safety pins and duct tape can fix just about any problem.

While the verdict may still be out on whether rain on your wedding day brings “blessings or bad luck,” CONTINUES ON PAGE 40

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Mankato

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“Brides” magazine detailed 11 reasons why you want it to rain on your wedding day.

Outdoor weddings can be both beautiful and risky. Stephanie told me about a storm that rolled across a wedding venue, knocking out the power in its path. While the reception inside a rustic barn could mostly still happen, the fact that there was no power and no back-up generator meant that the bathrooms were not in working order. Mother of the bride to the rescue. The bridal party limo bus was turned into a bathroom shuttle bus and people were transported back and forth from the venue to the bride’s parents’ home.

Stephanie said she coaches her couples ahead of time to think about the two or three things that are most important to them about the day. Is it the first look?

The first “official” kiss? The vows? A special picture with father of the bride?

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Whatever it is, make sure everything is set for that and consider everything else that goes well a bonus.

The pursuit of the perfect wedding will always come into play. Certainly every couple wants their “special day” to be just right. But will it be perfect? Probably not.

And maybe that is the best preparation for the rest of their marriage. The days that follow the perfectly imperfect wedding will be filled with much joy and many challenges. Learning to work through the big and small mishaps of life and respond with laughter and grace is yet one more important step in this journey of life and love. Learning to focus on the truly important is in fact what’s truly important!

Nancy Iglesias is a freelance writer and non-profit consultant. She spent 20 years working as an Executive Director for Habitat for Humanity in Winona, MN. Prior to that, she was the Marketing Manager for InterVarsity Press in Downers Grove, IL. Nancy enjoys entertaining, water fitness and teaching preschoolers at her church.

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Edward Jones Financial Advisor Cate Grinney of Faribault attended .

Barron’s Top Women Advisors 404 Heritage Place Summit held Dec. 5-7 in Palm Faribault, MN 55021 Beach, Fla. This is the fourth time in 507-334-1666 Grinney has been invited to attend the the invitation-only event.

The conference gathers the nation’s top women financial advisors and leading industry decision-makers. Over the course Do you want to share a small press release about of the three-day event, those in attendance have the a female staff member and their achievements/ opportunity to share ideas, grow professionally and network awards? This could be an award, anniversary, a among their peers. joining announcement, retirement, etc.

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E

very year we are encouraged to make resolutions, some opt to try to better themselves by improving their health - go to the gym, do a cleanse, make better food choices, etc. Often our attempts at those improvements only last a few weeks (or days for the less determined among us) and after that initial period of success the falloff is that much more crushing to any motivation we started with. However, what if we didn’t look at the reversion to our pre resolution selves with negativity, or anger, or shame, or disappointment. What if we looked at the time that we were succeeding and reveled in the success for a change?

Who hasn’t been trying to master a new skill and thought, ‘ugh, I’m terrible at this, I just want to be good’ we all know mastering something new takes time, and a LOT of failure, but with that failure we learn what works for us.

Lets say you went to the gym for a few weeks, then life happened, things got busy and you had to skip a workout, then another, and then it was just easier not to go rather than trying to cram one more thing into your already busy schedule. After you take stock and realize that you have failed to fulfill your resolution guilt inevitably sets in, we get angry with ourselves for not continuing the effort, but that’s life. Rather than berating ourselves for failing to follow through, what if we were to take heart

- Closing Time Semisonic from the time spent succeeding? We are indeed our own worst critics, but that doesn’t make us right to do so. Pretend that the person you are talking about is someone near and dear to you, and talk to yourself that way.

When you feel the time for a change is near, make a plan that encompasses what you value. Set an achievable end goal to work towards, discover your preferred learning style, and set up a support network (chiropractor, acupuncturist, nurse practitioner, massage therapist, physician, mental health specialist, etc). Writing your plan can help in maintaining accountability. A well written plan should be specific, it is of little use to set a broad goal as you will have difficulty crediting yourself when you’ve achieved it. The goal should be measurable, small successes build on each other to get you the larger overall success of the plan. Be sure to challenge yourself or you won’t feel that any progress has been accomplished, but be sure that the challenges you set for yourself are within reason - don’t aim to rule a small country in under a year, that inevitably will take a little time. And finally, CELEBRATE when you succeed, acknowledge it, and if you feel it warrants a reward or celebration, then do so!

We are all human, and in being so, have the capacity to adapt to new things, without growth there is no change.

Make a difference in your community!

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lthough January is “officially” National Mentoring Month, three local women mentor and tutor Cannon Falls elementary students all year long. Anne Lundgren, Chris Illa, and Kay Meyers have combined for over 25 years of service as Foster Grandparents. Anne is in her 16th year with Lutheran Social Service as a Foster Grandparent, Chris and Kay are both in their 5th year. Students refer to all three affectionately as “grandma” and benefit greatly from the 1 on 1 or small group attention they receive. Grandmas are also able to help students catch up after a missed day of class.

It isn’t just the students that prosper though, the teachers appreciate having the added help. One of the teachers summed it up like this, “I gain greatly from the program; it offers me another adult in the classroom to work with the students on any activity that I ask. It allows for a student to work on an assignment or read one on one with a grandma and I have a tremendous amount of confidence in our grandma!”

Who is it that benefits the most from the Foster Grandparent program? The teachers, students, parents, and community all benefit in different ways. But, it might just be the many grandmas and grandpas volunteering across the state that benefit the most. The sense of joy and pride they feel watching their students succeed is something only the Foster Grandparent program can provide. Their time in the classroom creates relationships that run far longer than just a school year.

Consider a great volunteer opportunity with Lutheran Social Service!

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www.lssmn.org/seniorcorps WINTER 2019

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S

By Beth Forkner Moe

ome people make it easy on their loved ones when they pass away. All the paperwork is in order, the house is tidy, the photos are sorted (with names and dates on them!), and they know what hymns should be sung at the funeral – and, better yet, everyone was part of the process of learning what their family member’s wishes were well ahead of time.

Unfortunately, that’s not usually the case.

Many people put off making the appropriate arrangements, for so many reasons. It’s inconvenient. It’s hard to make decisions.

And it’s definitely not something fun to think about.

However, as Meg Miller will tell you, if you don’t plan your estate, the state will plan it for you. Miller has helped people get their personal affairs in Meg Miller. order for years, including close friends and some family members.

In 2015, she started a business in order to walk others through the process.

Critical Next Step (www.criticalnextstep. com) offers people a way to walk through what is important to them – their wishes, their goals – as well as all the legal documents necessary to close an estate, from powers of attorney to advance directives (sometimes known as “living wills”) to wills, and more.

One example that most people don’t think about is how to close out social media. We’ve probably all seen stories of people not being able to shut down their family member’s

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Facebook account after that person died, since the account legally belonged to them.

When developing your own end-of-life plan, Miller said, make sure someone knows your passwords or is set as a secondary contact on your accounts in order to be able to shut them down.

Even if your own death or that of others in your family is not imminent, it’s important to have paperwork ready to grab in a hurry if there’s an emergency and you have to evacuate. We’re all vulnerable to this, no matter where we live – if there’s a tornado or a flood and you need to leave your home quickly, having important legal documents handy will make your life so much easier.

Miller is oldest of five and has always been a teacher or has taken care of people.

She was a nurse’s aide during her teenage years. When a patient died, she would often help clean their bodies after deat. “It’s just what you do,” she said, “and there was some reverence around it.”

During her teaching career, she often worked in the summer as a chauffeur or helped a friend at a funeral home wash the business’s vehicles (the hearses). Sometimes she helped her friend bring people’s bodies to the funeral home. “If someone had told me then what I would be doing now, I would have laughed hysterically,” she said.

Miller was her aunt’s caregiver for five years beginning in 2010. That experience pushed her into starting her business. She worked with her aunt on paperwork, helped her plan everything she needed for her funeral and burial, and worked with her aunt’s financial planner and accountant.

She also helped her aunt downsize during this time from a 1200-square-foot apartment, to an 800-square-foot apartment, then finally

to assisted living. It was hard, she said, because her aunt struggled with depression and “everything was a treasure” she didn’t want to get rid of. “Her mental and physical health continued to decline, and I had to negotiate a lot of things with her.” In the end, though, when her aunt died, it took less than a year to close the estate (generally it takes about 18 months), because everything was in order. “It made it much easier (on me) as the executor,” she said.

Miller is not an attorney or a financial planner. She helps people get their personal affairs in order, by helping them develop the appropriate paperwork, helping them with their advance directives, and more.

She is a Certified Senior Advisor (CSA), which included working with 26 modules, including ethics, finance, medical care, and aging, among others. She has also trained with Honoring Choices, which is a program that focuses on advance care planning. As its website says, “Honoring Choices Minnesota is focused on helping every Minnesotan understand what advance care planning is, and working with health care providers to make sure they offer assistance to all patients, and will honor your choices.”

Locally, Honoring Choices Faribault/Owatonna is a program coordinated through Allina Health. Kerry Hjelmgren is the Honoring Choices Advance Care Planning Coordinator for those communities.

“We coordinate and create programming to help people become educated and engaged in advance care planning,” she said. “We help individuals and families talk about their endof-life wishes. It’s (often) a difficult conversation.”

Honoring Choices is a community-based organization by and for the community, sponsored by Faribault Area Hospice Foundation, Owatonna Hospital Foundation, and Federated Insurance. It provides free classes, promoted and facilitated by volunteers, including Miller.

The volunteers work with individuals one-on-one to help guide them through the process of finalizing health care directives,

Hjelmgren said. “Through this community engagement, we try to get conversation about endof-life wishes normalized. There seems to such a block (about doing it).”

Miller gets referrals to Critical Next Step through word of mouth. She makes presentations at community groups, at financial companies, etc. The people she sends to professionals in the various arenas are those she has carefully vetted. She sits down with her client and a primary caregiver, if there is one, and directs them to professionals they may need – an attorney, a financial planner, even professional organizers (for people who may have issues with hoarding).

When she talks to people, she starts with the basics: what is your short-term emergency plan?

What documents do you already have?

Clients range in age from 40’s to 80’s. Often the planning will Meg Miller works with her dad. start with the “sandwich generation.” It’s easier, she said, for adults session to start the discussion. Everything is to focus on their parents, then set up as a package, and can be done with realize “maybe we should do it ourselves, individuals, couples or full families. Packages as well.” She also said people often have a are customized for individuals and families. hard time broaching the subject with their According to the website, this is a sample of parents. what could be included: Developing and organizing the plans can - Advanced Care Planning be overwhelming, plus emotional. In some - Burial/Funeral Planning – many – ways she is a coach to help people - End of Life Planning walk through their affairs. “Everyone has - Executor Assistance so much stuff, not just knives, forks, and - Family: Blended Unions, Multi-generational books,” she said, “but often multiple bank or considerations financial accounts – personal, health, busiFinancial Overview ness, investments.”

Health Care Management Critical Next Step offers a complimentary - Managing Home and Property/Belongings

- Pet Care Planning - Pre-planning for your Estate - Senior Transitions - Small Business Contingency Planning - Vulnerable Adult/Child Care Miller also writes a blog on the Critical Next Step website, including such topics as organization, grief, addiction in elderly people, hoarding, having conversations with your family members, and transitional living.

None of this is easy or fun to do or discuss, but think about giving yourself and your family the gift of peace of mind in the new year. You’ll breathe a sign of relief once it’s completed.

Honoring Choices Advance care planning. It’s about the conversation

It is important for every adult to have a health care directive–a written plan for loved ones and health care providers to follow–so that your wishes are known if a time comes when you cannot speak for yourself.

Honoring Choices of Faribault and Owatonna is sponsored by:

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Advance care planning is a process which helps you think about, talk about, and write down your choices for future health care decisions.

Interested in learning more or sharing this information with a group?

Please call: 507-497-3061 | email: honoringchoices@allina.com | honoringchoices.org

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WELLNESS

A

By Rian Dicke-Michels

t first, I was unsure of how to get this column started. I spent much of the first week in December writing, making a plan, then scrapping it as I tried to come up a good way to discuss bringing in the New Year. The way a well-orchestrated itinerary can sometimes feel pointless and clunky upon execution, none of it felt right.

Our society thrives on timely arrivals and a sense of preparedness, despite the fact that nothing ever seems to go according to those plans. There are often far too many variables to be accounted for. We do our best in this life to seem well put together, and we are quite often begged the question, “What’s your plan?” Then, we are more than likely to be asked about our plan “B” since we all know what is to be said for even the best-laid plans. Now, as I sit here staring at my newborn son, I can tell you that the best new beginnings come at you in the most unexpected ways.

My plan was to have a calm birth, with my partner, midwife, and doula by my side. I told myself to have zero expectations in terms of a birth plan, since the birth process is as diverse as women themselves. Everyone who asked thought our plan was too risky, simply because our destination was an hour away. In my mind, we were prepared, so how ridiculous could this plan turn out to be?

We needed flexibility in order to truly be prepared for anything. So we were.

In the end, we were en route to the hospital, our doula following closely behind, and the next thing I knew I was pulling my sweatpants away to catch my baby in the passenger seat of my car.

As we come into this New Year, we hear talk of plans and resolutions to change. We all have our own regrets, things that we wish we had tried harder to achieve, or wish that we had pursued a little differently. For example, a statistic from USA Today in 2016 showed that 67% of gym memberships go unused. I use this as a way to portray how we often push ourselves to change using the wrong avenues.

Where someone might think that getting fit will make them happy, the answer may truly lie in that person’s mindset around the idea of health. Is it a poor attitude towards the food they eat?

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Perhaps lack of sleep, water, or nutrition has made them feel too sluggish to go to the gym they are paying to not use? We all have excuses as to why our plans don’t work out, especially when we have control of most aspects. However, there are also those uncontrollable elements. Even the most prepared-to-succeed people can find themselves in a place where it may seem that nothing went according to plan.

New beginnings may come shrouded in darkness as well. The untimely death of a loved one is tragic and painful, but as a lotus blooms out of the mud, we grow from the darkness in life. There are never enough days in the year to be with the people we love, and we should have gratitude for everyday with them. The pain we experience through loss is just as much an opportunity for change as a joyful experience, because we learn lessons that can shift our focus onto the important things in life and allow us to blossom anew. This year we can be everything we wished we had been, take the time to love ourselves a little more, and appreciate the little things.

A plan is the promise of a new beginning, but not all things can be planned for. As the saying goes, “We make plans and God laughs.” Just several weeks ago (as this issue goes to press), I was totally prepared for birthing my second child. Bags were packed a month in advance, music playlists were ready to go, my gas tank was never less than half full, and we had mentally prepared to create a relaxing experience.

What happened defied every bit of planning that had been set forth, and yet from it came the most wonderful new beginning of all: new life. No matter the situation we are in, we are submersed in the opportunity for growth. We can create new habits and dump old ones. We can put family in our top priorities, instead of letting the menial things get first dibs and then let everything else trickle down. We can make self-care a daily treat, rather than a weekly or monthly task.

Plan, set expectations, and make resolutions, but always know that we are blessed with the truest new beginning of all: we get to wake up and choose to be different with every sunrise, all year long.

Rian Dicke-Michels is a highly independent, Minnesota State University Mankato graduate and the proud mother of an earthy 5-year-old daughter and a brand-new baby boy. Although a 10-year yoga practitioner, she earned her 200RYT in 2015 from The Green Lotus Yoga and Healing center, and is continuing her education toward 500 hours. “My life is a continuous journey toward healing and self-love,” she says, “I’m honored to share it with you.”

By Tracy Patterson

T

he New Year is a natural time for new beginnings and resolutions. Most of us laugh and joke about how long we were able to keep our resolutions before they fade into the background of life. We create a well-meaning resolution only to have it poke us with guilt later on because we didn’t follow through as desired. Can yoga and mindfulness have a place in making resolutions? Absolutely!

Yoga can be an opportunity to plant the seeds for cultivation on nurturing the symbiotic SPONSORED BY relationship between our breath, Zen Wellness our mental health and our 785-787-5104 physical health. We can feel the www.zensational.biz/ transformation time and again zen-wellness when we come to our mat, and it lingers with us for the rest of the day or longer. During practice we are encouraged mentally to come to a place of non-violence with our thoughts. As we notice thoughts of powerlessness, we are inspired to question this rather than accept it. When we delve

Miki Orr, Zensational www.zensational.biz 403 1st Ave. NW

into the concept of quantum physics, we see that energy follows thought and is guided and manifested by the creator of that thought. So, we can remind ourselves of just how much choice and power we really do have. We can face our fears without being paralyzed by them. We find our courage. And then we find our balance.

Balance does not look a specific way. Balance is not a set expectation that we enforce on ourselves or something we can mark on the calendar. Balance is the guidance, the wisdom of our quiet, subtle inner voice. To get to the inner voice we must get past the ego which can be loud, feel pushy, unsettled or bombard your thoughts with lofty promises. Try this…Give your ego the job of following your breath, you may have to redirect multiple times and allow that to be okay. Visualize or feel all other thoughts shifting from the front of the brain to a room or box in the back of the brain, gently shut that door for now.

Now remind yourself that balance is fluid, ever-changing, depending on where you are on your life’s journey. Continue to follow your breath. The whisper of your inner voice will come through. Be patient. As you start to sense the deep harmony, you will be able to tap into that inner knowing of what health, vitality and abundance means for you at this moment. On this foundation, now make your resolution, create your new beginning. If later on, you come to a realization that this resolution eventually faded into the background, sit down with it again, releasing any guilt or disappointment. Instead bring in power, courage and balance while heeding the teaching moments, experience, growth and change it has blessed and empowered you with. Understand you received exactly what you needed when you needed it. Let this simple guided imagery inspire you!

Change your visualizations to what resonates with you!

Come back to this to ask questions of yourself emotionally and physically! Be attentive and mindful for cues as you continue on your daily activities! Consider offerings at Yoga Reset such as the weekly yoga class schedule, Raindrop Technique, Reiki, Pilates along with many other modalities offered by the Zen Wellness team you see listed on this page to raise your vibrational energy.

May you be healthy, may you be joyful, and may you be loved!

Namaste.

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Cynthia Prange, Zenful Life Coach www.zensational.biz/zenful-life-coach 403 1st Ave. NW

Tracy Patterson, Yoga Reset www.yogareset.com 412 Central Ave. NW b

Sara David, Animal Communication 507-330-3459 lldavid8755@gmail.com 403 1st Ave. NW WINTER 2019

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in the

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By Elizabeth D. Lippman

he beautiful snow-covered ground and plants that, months ago, shot their sugar down to their roots can make anything other than winter rest and quiet seem counterintuitive. But the sun’s shifting slant doesn’t have to mean hibernation and inactivity. It can, instead, act as an invitation to enliven your inner and outer landscape—and to nurture the new beginnings that might carry you into spring and beyond.

Here, some area winter enthusiasts offer some tips to help you not just survive southern Minnesota’s coldest months— but thrive.

“Winter poses a different, not difficult, set of barriers to going outside than other seasons. It’s so important to get nature exposure regularly that a set of tools to overcome these barriers is imperative,” Derek Barkeim said. He is the founder of Seekers Wild, an organization that offers outdoor experiences for youth and adults throughout Minnesota and Wisconsin. “Unlike the rest of the year, when we battle bugs and heat that keep us inside, the cold, shorter days and road conditions are the most common barriers to winter’s perks,” Barkeim said.

Laura Reutlinger, Wellness Specialist at Winona Health, also emphasizes the importance of getting outdoors and its ability to help us maintain productivity and good mental health.

“Yes, go out in the cold!” she said. “Just be sure to put on your layers first. As little as a few minutes of sunlight each day has been shown to be a mood booster by helping our bodies produce more serotonin, a feel-good hormone.”

“Even if it seems like the sun is not out on a given day, the rays are still peeking through, and you will still reap the benefits by being outdoors,” Barkeim said. “Fresh air and sunshine can give you a boost of energy to help you feel happier and be more productive with your day. Mountains of empirical scientific evidence have shown what many know intuitively, the importance of humans spending time outdoors. Beneficial effects to our physical, mental and spiritual wellness are out there. We just need to leave the house.”

With decreased outdoor time and, perhaps a reduction in exercise, it can be easy to slip into unhealthy eating habits.

Reutlinger encourages individuals to maintain a focus on nutrition during wintertime.

“When our bodies are fueled in the right way, they are able to function in the right way,” she said. “Stave off the winter blues by eating nutrient-dense food. One easy way to get a variety of nutrients at every meal is to put a rainbow on your plate with a variety of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains.”

And build in activities – even small ones – to your day.

“When it’s cold and snowy outside, the easiest thing to do is curl up on the couch with a nice warm blanket. Don’t let this desire for hibernation deter you from keeping up your regular exercise routine,” Reutlinger said. “Meet a friend for a group class at the gym, or walk around inside the mall while you window shop. If you are at home, add some extra movement into your day by walking in place or stretching during the commercial breaks of your favorite show, or do a few squats while you wait for leftovers to heat up in the microwave.”

Now is also the time for trying new things.

“Break up the bleakness by planning a fun activity to look forward to,” Reutlinger said. “This activity can be something small like meeting a friend for lunch during the week, or something bigger like a weekend getaway or vacation.

Consider a crafting project you would like to complete or a new class you would like to join. Our spirits are lifted when we have something positive to look forward to in the near future, rather than focusing on how cold and grey the winter season can seem.”

And, despite the winter blues, the cold also provides a time in which to be especially thankful.

“When you are feeling down, it’s easy for negative thought patterns to take over, and we often forget about what is going well. To encourage more positivity, start your day with a positive affirmation to set your intention for the day,” Reutlinger advised.

“Create a gratitude list by writing down one thing you are grateful for each day. Write down the things you are grateful for as you think of them or set aside a few minutes in the evening to add to your list,” she said. “At the end of the month, re-read your list for a boost of positivity. The more you practice the habit of gratitude, the easier it will be for you to recognize and focus on the positive aspects of your life.”

For dealing with the harshness of winter, as with so many places and times in life, looking for the beauty around us can be crucial to our survival.

“Finding the beauty is a skill that can be honed with practice and is also an important survival skill in that it can be calming, comforting, and helpful in changing our mindset from a victim to a survivor,” Barkeim said. “Specific to the winter in the Midwest, some aspects of nature are different and better than in our other seasons.”

The physicality of winter offers the opportunity to better understand what we find compelling and worthwhile.

“Nature’s sounds change due to the insulative nature of snow and loss of leaves and herbaceous plant matter,” he said. “A fresh layer of white on the landscape is overwhelmingly considered beautiful. The ability to sled, ski, skate, ice fish, snowshoe, build snow forts, have snowball battles, create snow people sculptures, and easily view animal tracks make winter just as outstanding as any other season.”

Elizabeth Lippman is a freelance writer and editor and youth services librarian based in Winona, Minn. She holds a master’s degree in literary nonfiction from the University of Minnesota and is pursuing her library science degree with an emphasis in local history and librarianship.

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BOOK REVIEW Book Review – “My Love Story” by Tina Turner (with Deborah Davis and Dominik Wichmann) c.2018, Atria Books $28.00 U.S. / $34.99 Canada 260 pages

Review by Terri Schlichenmeyer, The Bookworm

My Love Story

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J

ust wait.

Two words that are impossible to hear, especially if you have big plans. Hold on, don’t veer off-course, work the plan, hard as it may be. Just wait. As in “My Love Story” by Tina Turner, good things really do come to those who do.

If you’ve come to this book solely because of the name of the author, you probably don’t need to be told about her early adult life.

Even so, it bears repeating: Anna Mae Bullock was born in November 1939, on a farm near a tiny Tennessee town.

Hers was a difficult childhood; her mother, who mostly rejected Anna Mae, tired of her marriage and abandoned it when Anna Mae was 11 years old. Two years later, Anna Mae’s father also abandoned the family, so Anna Mae moved to St. Louis to live with her estranged mother.

She took one important thing with her.

“Even as a little girl,” says Turner, “I knew I could sing… I was born with that talent. My voice was my gift and I knew how to use it.”

Because her sister was old enough to go to St. Louis clubs, Anna Mae managed to tag along and that was where she met Ike Turner, a womanizer who ignored Anna Mae until he heard her sing.

Not long afterward, he started paying her to be onstage and they became friends. He was “ugly,” she was “skinny and all voice,” but they were a team until they started sleeping together, she became pregnant, they got married-not-married, and the fighting began.

Ike seemed to feel as though he owned Turner; for sure, he owned her name, since he’d registered it as a trademark. He told her what to do and where to be, didn’t trust her, beat her, slept with other women and didn’t bother to hide it.

She endured it, waiting for things to get better, until one hot July night, she fought back, and

Author Tina Turner. ew.com

she ran…

Admittedly, a story you (sort-of) already know makes up the bulk of this book. If you’ve come to it for the promise of the title, you’ll read about “My Love Story” in the first 18 pages. So why pick it up, then?

Wait. There are a few rock-your-world moments inside author Tina Turner’s memoir, things she says she’s never admitted before, memories she’d rather not revisit, nuggets that were rumors ‘til now. These come wrapped in steely pulses of determination and power, all saucy and flippant but studded with soft notes of pain as Turner also tells about illness, family, personal losses, and missed opportunities.

But wait: this isn’t a poor-me tale. Though Turner writes (with Deborah Davis and Dominik Wichmann) about challenges, gratefulness beams between sentences. So do words of inspiration, so-whatever humor, and that wonderful romance.

Wait. That love story you’re promised? It’s a perfect bow atop a not-anywhere-near perfect life, and for readers who want a memoir with a minimum of gratuitous name-dropping, but heavy on sassitude and triumph, “My Love Story” tells it right.

So why wait?

-The Bookworm is Terri Schlichenmeyer. Terri has been reading since she was 3 years old and she never goes anywhere without a book. She lives on a hill in Wisconsin with two dogs and 12,000 books. For more information, visit bookwormsez@gmail.com.

BOOK REVIEW Book Review – “Let’s Talk About Death (Over Dinner)” by Michael Hebb c.2018, Da Capo LifeLong $26.00 U.S. / $34.00 Canada 246 pages

Review by Terri Schlichenmeyer, The Bookworm

Let’s Talk About Death

(Over Dinner)

T

here’s plenty of food for all.

You can see that, and it smells delicious.

Your dinner companions are strangers no more, especially since you’ve had plenty of get-to-know-you time and you’ve gotten your nervousness out of the way. And then your host begins the evening; as in “Let’s Talk About Death (Over Dinner)” by Michael Hebb, it’ll be an enlightening meal.

After “more than 100,000” dinner conversations held world-wide on behalf of his organization Death Over Dinner, founder Michael Hebb is touched by stories he’s heard. Touched – and bothered.

Death is something each of us will face; the human mortality rate, Hebb reminds us, is 100%, but we don’t like to discuss it with ourselves, our loved ones, or with anyone. Even doctors seem reluctant to talk about it, though it’s an essential topic. Hebb’s dinner parties, and those like them, are changing that, and bestowing gifts “one conversation at a time.”

Studies show that “open conversation… about your end-of-life wishes results in better care, less suffering, and a longer life.” It’s a discussion that can (and should) happen at any time, to ease concerns on both sides of the table. Such talks also tend to take the fear out of a subject that we often prefer not to ponder, they can heal rifts that may have risen through the years, and they can be “liberating.”

Having your own Death Over Dinner gathering is easy enough, but preparation is key. Be clear and casual in your invitation, and don’t “pounce on someone”; make sure attendees all know that a non-gruesome adult discussion about death will be involved. Don’t worry too much about the menu or the venue. Remember that you, as host, “are planting seeds.”

Author Michael Hebb.

And then be ready. Here, Hebb includes many conversation-sparking questions to get Death Over Dinner hosts started: What foods did you share with your departed loved one? What kind of memorial would you have for him or her? Do you think there’s such a thing as too much endof-life care? And how would you like your own funeral to be?

This time of year, during the holiday season, a dinner party about mortality seems like all kinds of wrong. But then again, you haven’t yet read “Let’s Talk About Death (Over Dinner).”

Yes, indeed, a sit-down party exclusively for death-talk may seem unseasonably morbid, but once you see what author Michael Hebb espouses, you’ll change your mind. Just dip your toes into the stories Hebb shares, and see how a discussion of death can feel like a discussion of any other life milestone. Note how these stories gently push discomfort aside, easing fears and replacing them with an understanding for the need of calm conversation.

Even if you don’t want to host your own little soirée, this book will help you have That Talk with your loved ones, especially after you see the benefits of doing so. At the very least, “Let’s Talk About Death (Over Dinner)” will open your mind with plenty of food for thought.

-The Bookworm is Terri Schlichenmeyer. Terri has been reading since she was 3 years old and she never goes anywhere without a book. She lives on a hill in Wisconsin with two dogs and 12,000 books. For more information, visit bookwormsez@gmail.com.

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Unexpected CaregiveR

Berit Kari Berit (KariBerit.net) is a national speaker and author of The Unexpected Caregiver: How to Keep Mom & Dad Active, Safe and Independent and yourself S.A.N.E.— Supported, Appreciated, Not Guilty and Energized. (Attainment Company, 2016)

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Unexpected

&

I

Slightly Awkward Life Changes

wish someone had had “the talk” with me. The subtitle of Lisa Selin Davis’ Opinion article in the November 19, 2018, issue of The New York Times reads: “Forty‐five‐year‐old women need a version of ‘the talk,’ because our bodies are changing in ways that are both really weird and really uncomfortable.”

My perimenopausal years were hell.

I would cry at the drop of a hat, become sweaty to the point of uncomfortable, followed by feeling ice cold. When I looked in the full-length mirror, I swear I caught a glimpse of the back-fat fairies making their deposits. I broke out in zits (which I missed at puberty), craved nothing but comfort food, and had moments of stupid (wasted) anger. I felt like I was living in a fog of forgetfulness.

Davis clarifies perimenopause in her opinion piece, “Puberty for the Middle-Aged,” as: “… a term so under-used that Microsoft’s word‐ processing program is telling me it’s not a word, a term that was new to many when Gwyneth Paltrow uttered it last month in a Goop video. ‘Peri’ is Greek for ‘near,’ and menopause is the ceasing of menstruation. So peri-menopause is all the crazy stuff that happens on the way to that cessation.”

My best friend and I were sharing our woes of increased forgetfulness about the time I interviewed Dr. Sara Gottfried on my radio show. She says that “Perimenopause is similar to the years leading up to puberty…[when] hormone levels are once again chaotic.” In her book, The Hormone Cure (Scribner: 2013), she offers a test one can take to get a better

understanding of hormonal imbalances. She also realizes that it is not easy to convince the everyday doctor to administer a hormone test.

Dr. Sara and I talked about the inconvenient timing of all these hormonal changes; it is often during exactly this time of perimenopause that our parents need our help. As we face changes associated with aging, which may cause us to feel “crazy,” our parents face their own aging changes.

In turn, this often make them feel vulnerable. Add to this mix dysfunctional family issues, and the combination can easily turn into a whole lot of insanity.

I developed the S.A.N.E. model to help caregivers navigate the emotional chaos of giving care. Seeking Support, the first letter in the acronym, means that we talk to other caregivers— sharing daily challenges (learning how to change Depends or communicate without words) and ethical issues (as in when, if ever, you make decisions for your loved one). Supporting our women friends means we talk with them about the real issues of aging—the surprising and the not-so-great (shifting waist line, random skin tags, dwindling ability to recover from a slip on the ice) and the unexpected, positive changes (a stronger sense of one’s self, increased ability to say “No” to events once believed to be obligatory).

Because this life-changing transition (perimenopause) often occurs when Mom and Dad need us the most, it’s even more important that we take extra good care of ourselves. Gather together your women friends of all ages—sharing the hard stuff and laughing over the small stuff. Don’t hold in your fears and sadness. Be the courageous one and start the conversations.

Find your joy, balance and strength. Join the Y!

Stop in or go to our website today. No contracts. $25 joiner fee.

Bring in this ad by Feb. 28th and receive a FREE Guest Pass for Both You and a Friend Go to: northfieldymca.org for group exercise, pool, program, child watch and facility calendars.

1501 Honeylocust Drive Northfield • 507-645-0088

www.boredpanda.com

WATCH FOR OUR NEW RE-ISSUE Learn about re-styling, re-purposing, re-freshing (your home, your garden, your personal style), or re-inventing your life.

Articles will include: • Unexpected Caregiver • Man’s Viewpoint • Coach’s Corner • Wellness • Book review • Minimalism - on your own terms • Singing through dementia • After illness - Marine recruit helps community in a completely different way ...and more

Southern Minn

MAR/APR ISSUE DEADLINE IS FEBRUARY 8TH Have an idea or suggestion?

Girlfriends

Contact Beth Forkner Moe at bfmoe@southernminn.com

To ADVERTISE:

Contact Pam DeMorett by email at pdemorett@faribault.com or call 507-333-3117

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Southern Minn

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Financial Resources Castle Rock Bank

The Castle Rock Bank has been serving the women in this community for 96 years. To answer the question, “What do women want in banking?” We believe the answer is, “To be heard, understood, respected and valued.” 27925 Danville Ave Castle Rock, 507-645-7751 www.castlerockbank.net.

EVENT RENTAL SPACE PILLSBURY COLLEGE PREP

Hold your next event at the historical campus of Camp Pillsbury. Large auditorium, dining hall, conference rooms, ample meeting space and dormitory sleeping quarters that hold up to 750 overnight guests. Perfect for corporate events, weddings, concerts, leadership retreats, youth development retreats and more. 507-214-2200.

Health & Wellness Millstream Commons Assisted Living

Millstream Commons Assisted Living is located in downtown Northfield. 44 Assisted Living apartments (studio, 1 and 2 BR) featuring three meals a day, supportive nursing care, respite care, & life enrichment activities. Pets allowed. Licensed Housing with Services provider. Part of the Three Links Community. Member of Aging Services of Minnesota. 210 8th St W, Northfield, 507-650-9627, threelinks.org.

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Northfield Urgent Care

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Tired of waiting to see your doctor for simple problems like sore throats and earaches?

We provide walk-in medical care for all ages, from infants to adults. We are open 7 days per week and no appointment is needed!

Quick, easy and efficient! 2014 Jefferson Rd Suite C, Northfield, MN 55057, 507-664-9999, northfieldurgentcare.com.

Situated on a 30-acre, beautifully landscaped campus, NRC was established in 1969 to provide housing and services specifically designed to meet the physical, social, psychological and spiritual needs of older adults. Housing options include apartments with a minimal level of services, as well as other home settings that make increasing levels of service readily available. Options include rental and owner-occupied living spaces. Units are available for both income-sensitive and market-rate income levels. NRC also provides a fully-staffed care center for those who desire a more traditional nursing home setting. 900 Cannon Valley Drive, Northfield, 507-645-9511, northfieldretirement.org.

Home & Garden Judy’s Floral Design

Whether your wedding is black tie/ ballroom or barefoot on the beach or somewhere in between! Beautiful, quality flowers and great ideas start with Judy Smith. “Specializing in fresh creative and affordable blooms for all the flower moments of your life” 507-645-0008, 1951 Division St. S., Northfield, judysfloraldesign.com.

Simon Bros Cement Co. has been serving the Northfield area since 1969. We specialize in quality concrete and masonry including foundations, driveways, epoxy garage floors.

Call for a free estimate. We will look at your project and use 40+ years of experience to share ideas and advice. Call Ray 612-328-4591.

CAMP PILLSBURY

Camp Pillsbury is a unique day and sleepaway summer camp, offering over 100 activities! Flying trapeze, circus arts, musical theater, sports, magic, horseback, gymnastics, dance, technology, musical instruments and waterski– all in the same day. So many activities to choose from!

Camppillsbury.com 507-214-2200.

Transportation Northfield Lines, Inc.

Have your group arrive in style when you pull up in one of our luxurious motor or mini coaches. Single or multi-day sightseeing trips, shopping, girlfriend getaways, dining, concerts, weddings, receptions, casino visits – you name the event and we will get your group there safely and on time.

32611 Northfield Blvd, Northfield, 800-944-2190, www.northfieldlines.com.

WANT TO BE LISTED ON THE GF DIRECTORY?

507-333-3117 pdemorett@faribault.com

WINTER 2019

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