Missoula Valley, MT February 2022

F E B R UA RY 2 022 | TH E LO C A L LOV E I S S U E

local love

LO C A L S E RV I C E S

BE AUT Y I N BLO O M LI F E + C U LTU R E

A L ABO R O F LOVE H E A LTH + W E LLN E S S

H ER BELI EF I N BRE ATH

Varicose veins will not get in my way.

Get back to life without varicose veins.

Msurgical.com 25 YEARS

OF

|

406.542.7525

DEFEATING VARICOSE VEINS

VEIN CENTER

Locally Owned & Operated for Over 20 Years

We are Missoula’s Coolest Hotspot!

Great Happy Hour Specials on Food & Drinks. The Perfect Place to Watch Sports with Friends.

BREAKFAST • SANDWICHES • BURGERS Join us at 3621 Brooks Street • 406.728.3228 • Visit us on Facebook to see our current specials, menu, and events!

4

LIFESTYLE LETTER

For the love of local.

February 2022 PUBLISHER

Mike Tucker | MTucker@Citylifestyle.com EDITOR

Chelsea Lyn Agro | Chelsea.Agro@CityLifestyle.com

I've spent a long time forgetting the past. And by forgetting, I actually mean running away.

After my father died in 2013, New York state felt like a betrayal. That autumn, the leaves painted themselves red and orange and gold, and every hue in between. And then, when winter came, the snow piled up in heavy mounds that were impossible to move, which I had to, for opposite side of the street parking. The roads were all the same, even the hot dog joint where I always sat with him in any season. My point is, all of these things felt like they should've shut down the way his life did when he was gone. I know it's unrealistic and a little askew but it's the taste of trickery, like your tongue rejecting something you've always savored but now, suddenly, feels vile.

I needed new roads and territory—a mapless place for my heart. And I've spent a lot of time here, discovering them and writing my own story. But when the dust settled and roots grew deeper, the past rang in my ear and called me home: To mom's perfectly made gift baskets and the chocolate shop with melt-in-your-mouth confections. To apple dumplings that were three hours away, road-tripping to them on a whim. To dad's impeccable eye for quality and his adventurous sweet tooth. I wanted to create my own version of these things here in my backyard, so my husband and I got to work on our own farm.

On a recent trip back east, I had to relearn new intersections, new roads entirely. Businesses weren't where they should've been, and most devastatingly, my son's namesake marketplace in a lakeside town was no longer. And I suppose that's how it goes—not everything can last forever. But feelings do.

Choosing local products means choosing someone's story, and I like the way the life's work of others can leave impressions on our own. It brings me unmatched joy to see local touches scattered all over my home, adding rich depth to the things I hold closest to me. I hope this issue makes you think about those places you always went growing up—the ones that don't exist anywhere else in the world—and of course, I hope they remain part of your story for years to come.

COPY EDITOR

Erika Fredrickson | Erika.Fredrickson@CityLifestyle.com ACCOUNT MANAGER S

Marla Huggins | Marla.Huggins@CityLifestyle.com, Heather Cassidy | Heather.Cassidy@CityLifestyle.com STAFF PHOTOGR APHER

Erika Spaulding | InspiredByMontana@Gmail.com AD DESIGNER

Whitney Lockhart LAYOUT DESIGNER

Dani Moore CONTR IBUTING WR ITER S

Chelsea Lyn Agro, Shelby Humphreys, Jill MH Taber

Corporate Team CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER Steven Schowengerdt CHIEF SALES OFFICER Matthew Perry CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER DeLand Shore CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER Randy Radosevich CHIEF DIGITAL OFFICER Bruce Ianni DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL MEDIA Mindy Hargesheimer ART DIRECTOR Sara Minor OPERATIONS DIRECTOR Janeane Thompson AD MANAGER Chad Jensen WEB APPLICATIONS Michael O’Connell

C H E L S E A LY N A G R O , E D I T O R @MVLMAGAZINE

Learn how to start your own publication at: citylifestyle.com//franchise

Scan QR code to visit our Instagram CIT YLIFEST YLE.COM/MISSOUL AVALLE Y |

Proverbs 3:5-6 Missoula Valley Lifestyle™ is published monthly by Lifestyle Publications LLC. It is distributed via the US Postal Service to some of the Missoula Valley area’s most affluent neighborhoods.

Articles and advertisements do not necessarily reflect Lifestyle Publications’ opinions. No portion of this magazine may be reproduced in any form without written consent. Lifestyle Publications does not assume responsibility for statements made by advertisers or editorial contributors. Information in Missoula Valley Lifestyle™ is gathered from sources considered to

6

L I F E ST Y LE LE T T E R

be reliable, but the accuracy of all information cannot be guaranteed.

F E B R UA RY 2 0 2 2

inside the issue The Local Love Issue

36

14

28

F E ATU R E D

D E PA RTM E NTS

14 Her Belief in Breath

6

Lifestyle Letter

10

Business Monthly

14

Healthy Lifestyle

20

Culinary Creations

28

Party Planning

36

Giving Back

40

Events

42

Local’s Choice

It takes lungs and heart to say Mary Fouse’s story.

28 Beauty in Bloom

Southbound Flowers can meet your floral needs, big or small.

36 A Labor of Love

Street Dogs Coalition reaches paws in need.

O N T H E C OV E R

Photography: Erika Spaulding, Inspired by Montana Bride Sadie McKay holds a bouquet of locally grown flowers with intimate details fit for a day she’ll always remember. She and Tyler McKay were wed at the Lutheran Church on Flathead Lake in September 2021.

8

HEA LT H + W E L L N E SS FO O D + B E V E R AG E

LO CA L S ERV IC E S

LI FE + C U LT U R E

LI FE + C U LT U R E

A Single Momen t In Time

Go to MandMTuck .PicFair .com

A Single Moment taken of the Beauty of the Montana Outdoors

F E B R UA RY 2 0 2 2

business monthly A round-up of exciting news from local businesses.

Cold Smoke Freeride If you're in the mood for a little road trip and competition, the Cold Smoke Freeride at Lost Trail Powder Mountain is for you. Taking place on Saturday, February 26, and Sunday, February 27, watch skiers and snowboarders of all ages compete on some of the most pristine powder trails this area has to offer.

Bernice's Bakery for your Valentine Bernice's Bakery has perfected the way to say, "I love you." And it's by way of cakes, pies, and cupcakes. Coffee, too. Bernice's is always accepting customized orders so if you're wanting to give the ultimate Missoula valentine to someone special this month, let their confections show your affection! Call 406.728.1358 to place an order.

Scan to read more.

Snowbowl Cup Gelande Championship This event features spectacular ski jumping of up to 200 feet using alpine equipment. This event attracts national media as well as jumpers from all over the U.S. $8,000 cash purse. This annual event takes place the last weekend of February.

10

B USIN E SS M ON T H LY

If you want to be included, send us a message!

Visit CityLifestyle.com/MissoulaValley to get in touch.

Birthday Party at Glacier Ice Rink It's safe to say that snow is in the forecast for February in Montana so if you're a February baby, let's embrace the season together. Glacier Ice Rink offers private rental of their indoor or outdoor ice rinks. The private ice party package includes one-hour rental of rink, party room for birthday festivities, and skate rentals for the total price of $250. This package is for up to 15 guests. Call Kate Leonberger at 406.728.0316, extension 0 to book your party!

Scan to read more.

Happy Valentine’s Day to all the love birdsout there!

Custom framing with a fine art touch (406) 493-6855 | arthausframing.net ArtHausFineArtFraming@gmail.com 1540 West Broadway Missoula FEB R UARY 2 0 2 2 | C I TYL I FE STYL E . C OM/MI SSO UL AVA L L E Y

11

PROTECT YOUR INVESTMENT from the Chemicals used to De-Ice our Winter Roads

Magnesium Chloride, Salt and Sand are Harmful to your Vehicle.

Wintertime road salt, treatments like liquid magnesium chloride, sand, snow and moisture can cause rust on a car, and rust can spread across your car over time. Not only does rust not look great, at its worst, it can cause major damage to your vehicle. Keeping your car freshly washed and clean in the winter can help limit long-term damage.

Some experts recommend washing your car after every big storm or when you think your car may have been exposed to salt, sand or other chemicals on the road. Our 2-stage under carriage flush with our signature ‘Rust Guard’ application helps ward off corrosion to keep your vehicle clean and protected.

UNLIMITED WASH PLANS START AT ONLY $2499 MONTH

METRO EXPRESS CAR WASH • 3550 BROOKS STREET • MISSOULA

ARTICLE JILL MH TABER | PHOTOGRAPHY ERIKA SPAULDING

IT TAKES LUNGS AND HEART TO SAY MARY FOUSE’S STORY

Her Belief in Breath

14

H EA LT H Y LIF E ST Y LE | HE ALTH + W E LLNE S S

Breath is life.

In moments of worry, panic, fear, or sadness, gulps of oxygen provide physical sustenance—a calm, a slowing, a reminder to restore balance.

Mary Fouse, owner of Just Breathe Massage Therapy, encourages her patients to focus on that life-giving breath.

“The connection to our breath, on and off the massage table, is so important,” Mary explained. “We go subconsciously throughout our days and realize we haven’t taken a deep breath for 12 to 15 hours. We compartmentalize. We move through life and we don’t make time for ourselves unless we schedule it.”

Mary knows, on multiple levels, the importance of life-sustaining breath: she was born with cystic fibrosis. And though that diagnosis comes with massive challenges, she’s always been active: playing volleyball and running track in high school, currently running six miles a day.

Taking care of her body has never been an afterthought, making her career path a natural fit. After high school, she pursued her life-long dream of becoming a massage therapist, starting her own practice by age 19.

And she worked her tail off: building a clientele, giving complimentary chair massages at gyms and food banks, and veterans’ centers in her off-hours.

“Anything to get my name out there,” said Mary.

But the grueling schedule took its toll. By 25, Mary’s lung function declined—so much so that her medical

team recommended a double lung transplant. When she arrived in Seattle that fall, she only weighed 82 pounds. Her lungs were operating at 25 percent capacity.

“The surgeon said, ‘You were so sick.

If you weren’t so positive, I don’t think you would have lived,’” said Mary.

She returned to Missoula with a new lease on life and a fresh passion for helping others, starting Just Breathe a year after her transplant surgery. Many of her patients have their own share of medical challenges.

“The universe keeps giving me patient after patient with ailments,” she explained. “I haven’t climbed the same mountains as they have but I’ve been on the same trail.”

Mary knows, intimately, the rigor of caring for a body that requires precise care. She takes 15 pills a day. She exercises religiously. There are no days off with a terminal illness.

And then, much like the cold virus that triggered the string of illnesses leading to the need for a lung transplant, Mary hit another health speed bump.

Last summer she had a heart attack while playing in the backyard with her daughter.

“I went in the house and was leaning over the counter. I thought, ‘Damn, those strawberries are not settling with me,’” Mary said. “It wasn’t until my arm started to hurt that I googled ‘symptoms of heart attack in women’ that I realized what was going on.”

A heart attack didn’t make sense: She’d devoted herself to health. Her doctor couldn’t explain it. CONTINUED >

FEB R UARY 2 0 2 2 | C I TYL I FE STYL E . C OM/MI SSO UL AVA L L E Y

15

“It forced me to walk the walk of what I’ve based my whole company on for 17 years,” she said. “The meaning of health is multi-faceted. Hopefully you get a little piece of each part of the pie every day. But if you don’t, you give yourself grace, take a breath, and come back tomorrow.”

Mary has always set out to accomplish goals. One could argue it’s that very drive that helped her recover from a lung transplant—a procedure that came with no guarantees.

But Mary said her choice was to continue down the path of restrictions and shallow breaths or to take a chance on her health and her dreams—whether post-transplant or post-heart attack.

Mary’s massage work, along with classes she teaches, are her ways of encouraging others to take chances—and take care—of their one life.

16

H EA LT H Y LIF E ST Y LE | HE ALTH + W E LLNE S S

“Just do the thing. If you want to take the class, take the class. If you want to push boundaries, push boundaries. If you want to take a nap, take a nap,” she said.

“Stop listening to the world telling you what their idea is for you.”

She realizes that the balance between going after life and taking care of your body can sometimes feel at odds. But she points out that tomorrow is never promised, and for her, that carries a hefty weight.

“People say they wouldn’t have been able to do what I did,” Mary said. “But you can choose to suffocate or you can choose to jump. When people are faced with something more serious in life, I hope they’ll jump.”

Do Something For You Just Breathe Massage 406.596.5842 Direct Message @Just_Breathe_Montana via Instagram

FEB R UARY 2 0 2 2 | C I TYL I FE STYL E . C OM/MI SSO UL AVA L L E Y

17

proudly located in the heart of Missoula, MT

Dr. Amy Haynes N.D., founder of Full Circle Natural Medical Clinic, practices holistic medicine in Missoula, MT. For over 35 years, Dr. Haynes has used natural methods to treat the whole body, rather than masking symptoms.

Another Option Beyond Pain Meds and Surgery Full Circle Natural Medical Clinic is delighted to offer Regenerative Medicine to restore joint and back function naturally!

REGENERATIVE MEDICINE is an exciting new field of therapy that specializes in rejuvenating body function and tissues. It includes therapies such as: • Prolotherapy • Placental Allografts, 2 nd Gen Stem Cell Therapy • Platelet Rich Plasma • Facial Rejuvenation • O-Shot/P-Shot • Prolozone Therapy

WE ARE THE SECOND OPINION

Call to schedule your free 20 minute consultation!

406.721.2147 521 South 2nd St West, Missoula MT 59801

info@FullCircleMedicalClinic

www.fullcirclenaturalmedicalclinic.com OFFICE HOURS: Tuesday – Friday | 9am – 4pm

18

FREE SESSION IN THE MAGNESPHERE

Magneceutical Health® has developed the Magnesphere ™ system, a whole body immersion system that utilizes very precise, extremely low level electromagnetic fields (EMF) to “enhance feelings of relaxation.” This technology involves no drugs, no surgery, and no pain.

Benefits of PEMF therapy

• Enhances the body’s natural recovery process • Corrects cellular dysfunction throughout the body • Stimulates & exercises cells to recharge cells • Gives patients more energy naturally • Improves athletic performance • Reduces inflammation & pain • Helps you recover from an injury faster

Dedicated to helping you get your health back

Because, without your health, you have nothing.

Let us help you get your health back.

Dr. Gregory Chapman, D.C. (406) 721-5780 ChapmanProAdjuster.com

1526 South Reserve St. Missoula, MT 59801

Serving Missoula and surrounding Areas FEB R UARY 2 0 2 2 | C I TYL I FE STYL E . C OM/MI SSO UL AVA L L E Y

19

20

C ULIN A RY C R E AT ION S | F OOD + BE VE RAGE

united we eat A CULTURAL CULINARY EXPERIENCE FOR MISSOULA ARTICLE BY CHELSEA LYN AGRO PHOTOGRAPHY BY ERIKA SPAULDING

Soft Landing Missoula’s Program Manager, Beth Baker, is up to a lot of things. And I don’t think the phrase, “too many cooks in the kitchen,” really applies here. Beth is someone who wants to share the gemstones of talent, which in this case of United We Eat happens to be food inspired.

HOW DID UNITED WE EAT COME TO FRUITION? WAS IT A REALIZATION OF UNDERUTILIZED TALENTS THAT DROVE THE DECISION? United We Eat came about organically, when newly arrived families invited Soft Landing staff into their homes and gave them food to eat, or brought treats into the office to share. The food was amazing, and we asked, how can we share this food with a broader audience, and perhaps build relationships and community along the way?

The answer to that question grew into helping families sell food at the farmers markets, then to our popular supper clubs (currently on hiatus due to the pandemic), to our weekly take-home dinners, to where we are today, with four distinct food programs nested under the umbrella of United We Eat. These programs are UWE@home, our takehome meals program; virtual cooking classes, which we host roughly every other month; four dessert sales a year;

and our most recent program, Grab & Go, which is a partnership with Masala Curry Restaurant, and grew from the recognition that demand for food far outstripped supply. Now, in addition to the 150 meals we sell with @home every week, we have food available at Masala all week in the cold case.

Our goals for United We Eat are threefold: to provide supplemental income for our chefs, to share amazing authentic food with the community and build cultural bridges, and for the program to be an earned income opportunity for Soft Landing.

I’M SO EAGER TO HEAR ABOUT HOW THIS SYSTEM WORKS. WHO COMES UP WITH THE MENU AND WHO DECIDES WHO COOKS EACH WEEK? TELL ME ALL THE DETAILS OF HOW THIS IS ORCHESTRATED. We work closely with chefs to plan a menu for UWE@home, starting with a taste test—one of my favorite parts of my job! A chef brings us a small sample of each item they want to cook, from meat and veggie entrees to an appetizer, salad or soup, and dessert. We sit down together, taste the food, talk about ingredients (often using a translation app, or lots of googling and pictures if there’s a language barrier), and discuss what it would take to recreate the food on a larger scale.

CONTINUED >

FEB R UARY 2 0 2 2 | C I TYL I FE STYL E . C OM/MI SSO UL AVA L L E Y

21

Our chefs come to us with a wide range of experience, from chefs who have run their own restaurants for decades, to chefs who are excellent home cooks but who have never cooked for more than 20 people. We are there to ease the experience for them, to provide food safety and handling guidance, and to help plan and create a menu that is both authentic to the chef’s home culture but also understandable to an American palate.

Sometimes that means including little notes with the menus we write so that folks know how to eat the ugali, for example, the Congolese porridge, with their hands, dipped into the stew.

In terms of scheduling chefs to cook, we work hard to break down barriers to participation. That can look a lot of ways: Sometimes it means scheduling a chef when she’s on break from school, or ensuring that a chef isn’t cooking during Ramadan so she can be home to celebrate with her family, or providing childcare for a breastfeeding mama, so her infant can be close by.

I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention our fantastic team that supports chefs to actually create the meals each week—our Kitchen Manager, Katie Kirwan, our Kitchen Assistant, Rozan Shbib, and an amazing crew of dedicated volunteers who show up for shifts, rain or shine (or sleet or blizzard) and chop mountains of onions and scrub crusty rice pots. Their behindthe-scene work is what makes the program run so smoothly.

FOOD IS SUCH A CONVERSATION STARTER. WHAT DO YOU THINK THESE MEALS SAY ABOUT OUR COMMUNITY? Every week, we sell out of 150 to 175 meals for UWE@ home in under an hour. Folks who buy our meals are both eager to taste food from around the world, as well as to support our chefs and their families. During the past two years, we’ve operated entirely under the shadow of the pandemic, and it’s been a testament to our amazing community that they’ve been steadfast throughout the most uncertain times, purchasing meals, coming in as volunteers, and supporting us in various fundraising campaigns to ensure our program keeps going.

During a time when we’ve largely stayed home, our program has offered ways for people to experience the world from their own homes. Our chefs are from Afghanistan and Guinea, Syria and Eritrea, Pakistan and Iraq, Jamaica, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. We’ve heard from customers that our meals have sparked wide-ranging conversations at their dinner tables about history and culture, spice trades, and geopolitics. Some customers talk about using our meals as educational tools for their kids.

What better way to learn than with food?

Our meals tell the stories of where our chefs have been, and this is a beautiful tapestry of places. Refugees often spend years displaced in camps before arriving in the US. Their food reflects these stories. One of our chefs is from Syria but spent years in Cairo before she arrived in Missoula. She makes amazing Egyptian dishes, as well as the traditional Syrian meals she learned from her mother. Cooking with UWE offers chefs a way to both spotlight their culinary skills, celebrate their cultures, and to tell stories, and I think the Missoula community is hungry both for the food and the stories.

22

C ULIN A RY C R E AT ION S | F OOD + BE VE RAGE

WHAT DO YOU THINK THE MOST REWARDING PART OF UNITED WE EAT IS? Seeing the connections that grow between our amazing chefs and the community. We have had folks drop off cards for the chef that say, “We are so lucky to have you in our community.” I’ve watched friendships grow between chefs and staff members, chefs and volunteers, and this community building work is at the heart of what United We Eat is, and what Soft Landing Missoula does.

HOW DOES UNITED WE EAT HELP SOFTING LANDING MISSOULA, OR VICE VERSA. United We Eat is an integral part of Soft Landing’s programming, and it’s an exciting way for the community to both support our newest neighbors while taking something tangible with them—the aromas and flavors of other places. We’ve found that at specific times, like when the Afghan evacuation happened last summer, there was an outpouring of community interest in helping, and United We Eat offers both volunteer opportunities to the community, as well as the chance to support our newest families by eating— such a great win-win!

CONTINUED >

FEB R UARY 2 0 2 2 | C I TYL I FE STYL E . C OM/MI SSO UL AVA L L E Y

23

WHERE DO THE INGREDIENTS COME FROM AND IS THERE A WAY FOR THE COMMUNITY TO HELP SUPPLY THESE? We purchase ingredients from a variety of local and national food distributors. It’s funny you ask, as we’re working on a sponsorship program for the coming year. Stay tuned!

FROM READING THE CHEF BIOGRAPHIES, IT SEEMS COOKING WAS A TREASURED HAND-ME-DOWN FROM GENERATION TO GENERATION, OFTEN WITH CONNECTEDNESS AT THE HEART OF THE EXPERIENCE. DO YOU THINK THESE CHEFS HOPE TO PASS THEIR LOVE OF COOKING ONTO OTHER COMMUNITY MEMBERS? Cooking has become a special way for our new neighbors to keep the memories of their home cultures and families alive, while also creating new traditions with new friends. Our chefs are delighted that the Missoula community is so excited to eat their food, and I love to watch our customers thank our chefs at food pick-ups on Tuesday nights—so many smiling faces beneath masks. I don’t know if chefs necessarily want to pass on their love of cooking to the community, but they are thrilled to share their home culture’s cuisine with their new community.

WHERE DO YOU HOPE TO SEE THIS PROGRAM IN FIVE YEARS? We have a lot of dreams for United We Eat, and we’re really just starting out! Something that we’re really committed to is growing a program that’s guided by our newest neighbors. One of the ways we’re doing this is by having frequent conversations with our chefs about what their dreams are, and how we can help support those dreams. We’ve also hired Rozan Shbib, a member of the refugee community, as our kitchen assistant, and she’s been a great liaison to the community and a help to us as we plan.

In five years, we would love to have our own kitchen space seven days a week (instead of the three days a week we currently have). This would allow us to venture into catering, and offer a small business incubator program for interested chefs, as well as potentially open our own restaurant staffed by refugee and immigrant chefs. The sky’s the limit!

24

C ULIN A RY C R E AT ION S | F OOD + BE VE RAGE

FEB R UARY 2 0 2 2 | C I TYL I FE STYL E . C OM/MI SSO UL AVA L L E Y

25

CRISP HEARING Treat your hearing loss and help your brain at the same time.

Call today to schedule your appointment

Dr. Jennifer Hartze, Board-Certified Audiologist Dr. Nora Martin, Board-Certified Audiologist Jon M. Lyman, HIS, Hearing Instrument Specialist Alyssa T. Keith, HIS, Hearing Instrument Specialist

MISSOULA • 317 S Orange St HAMILTON • 299 Fairgrounds Rd, Ste 4 POLSON • 6 13th Ave E PLAINS • 10 Kruger Rd

VibrantHearing.com • 406.552.0382

Give us a call and we’ll be there chop-chop.

call 542-SEED 26

Uncompromising Service. Montana Style.

Financial Planning and Portfolio Management.

Left to right: Jim Benson, CFP®, CWS®, Senior Vice President, Financial Advisor; Julie Passuccio, CWP, FPQP®, Senior Registered Associate; Cynthia Fritch, CFP®, CPFA, CWS®, Senior Vice President, Financial Advisor; Laurel Saravalli, CWP, FPQP®, Senior Registered Associate; Frank D’Angelo, CFP®, CWS®, Senior Vice President, Financial Advisor, Branch Manager

283 W. Front St., Suite 101 | Missoula, MT | (406) 329-4040 | 406wm.com

Westside Lanes and Fun Center GET OUT OF THE COLD

& COME IN AND BOWL!

!

It’s FRIENDS & FAMILY TIME at Westside Lanes and Fun Center!

THUNDER ALLEY BOWLING

Every Friday, Saturday and Monday Evening.

Enjoy the Lights, 10 Foot Video Screens, Music Videos!

es n a L 36

1 Bowling Special

$ 25

Every Sunday, Monday & Wednesdays Starting at 9PM, Per Person, Per Game.

+ $2.00 Tuesdays!

1615 Wyoming Street, Missoula | (406) 721-5263 | missoulabowling.com FEB R UARY 2 0 2 2 | C I TYL I FE STYL E . C OM/MI SSO UL AVA L L E Y

27

Beauty in Bloom Southbound Flowers can meet your floral needs, big or small ARTICLE BY SHELBY HUMPHREYS | PHOTOGRAPHY BY ERIKA SPAULDING

It’s February in Missoula—gray skies hang low and the green life of spring seems like a far off dream.

Everything is in waiting, even us. So it might come as a surprise to have flowers be the topic of conversation as we bed down for the shortest (yet longest) month of the year, albeit a happy surprise.

Bess Brownlee knows flowers and she celebrates them in every season with unique, Montana-grown bouquets. As a businesswoman, she has tilled the rocky, tumultuous ground, planted seeds, and is reaping the rewards of a brave and thrilling venture on her own quarter-acre farm with one hoop house. Bess takes

us inside the blooming—of her business and the flowers—and shares how her passion for creativity and the professionalism of owning a business can converge and sprout a beautiful beginning.

WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO START YOUR FLOWER BUSINESS? I’ve fallen in love with flowers. They are such a unique medium of expression because they are so fleeting. You put together something special and then you only get to enjoy it for a week or two before it begins to fade. You know it will be gone soon. I think that makes the experience all the sweeter.

CONTINUED >

28

PA RT Y P LA N N IN G | LOCAL S E RVI CE S

FEB R UARY 2 0 2 2 | C I TYL I FE STYL E . C OM/MI SSO UL AVA L L E Y

29

YOUR FLOWER CLUB MEMBERSHIPS INCLUDE WEEKLY DELIVERIES OF BOUQUETS. WITH OUR SHORT GROWING SEASON, HOW DO YOU MANAGE TO DELIVER SO CONSISTENTLY? We can really pump a lot of flowers out of a small space. I plant seedlings really close together and I work in “successions,” so when one crop is done blooming I can replant that space quickly with another batch of seedlings. Because everything is grown locally on the farm, we can offer delicate and unique varieties that folks who are used to grocery store flowers may not have seen before. It’s because of our short season that we are able to craft a super special bouquet that changes every week.

YOU’VE EXPANDED YOUR BUSINESS TO INCLUDE CUSTOM WEDDING BOUQUETS. WHAT DO YOU ENJOY ABOUT THAT? Wedding florals are so fun to work with.

What’s blooming in May is totally different from what’s blooming in July, so we can offer a ton of variety. One of my favorite arrangements was for a friend’s late-September wedding. We included some of the most special September flowers from the farm for her, like dahlias, eucalyptus, calendula, and mignonette. Her husband loves birding so we also wove pheasant feathers into the bouquet for a personal touch.

MISSOULA IS HOME TO MANY CREATIVES WHO HAVE LEVELED-UP THEIR PASSION AND MADE IT INTO A BUSINESS. HOW HAS OUR COMMUNITY HELPED YOU DO THAT? Missoulians support local food farmers, so that local frame of mind was already thriving when I began offering flowers a few seasons ago. Customers were really excited to get Montana-grown flowers! My farming experience has been overwhelmingly positive as well, and I think that is due to our flower farming community. They are a uniquely generous and kind bunch of folks who are more collaborative than competitive. I know I can call my flower pals with questions anytime—and vice versa!

“Flowers, all of a sudden, became an expression of art and color and creativity and weirdness and all the things that artists are in it for. It just totally worked for me."

AS A BUSINESS WOMAN, WHAT CHALLENGES HAVE YOU HAD TO OVERCOME? The hustle is real! I love farming and I feel passionate about the whole process, from seed to bouquet. If I could, I’d spend all day outside just taking my time moving from bloom to bloom, like an unhurried bumblebee. But the reality of flower farming is that I need to be quick, efficient, and organized.

I’m still refining my business model and workflow to bring more balance and carve out more time to revel in the joy of creating.

It’s a process but it gets better every season.

DO YOU HAVE ANY ADVICE FOR OTHER MAKERS OUT THERE WHO ARE CONSIDERING OPENING A BUSINESS? Build your team! Get really honest with yourself about your strengths and weaknesses and bring on people who are good at the things that you dread. It can be hard to let go and allow others behind the curtain but I was pleasantly surprised by how doing so brought some really cool and talented people into my orbit while saving my sanity.

CONTINUED >

30

PA RT Y P LA N N IN G | LOCAL S E RVI CE S

FEB R UARY 2 0 2 2 | C I TYL I FE STYL E . C OM/MI SSO UL AVA L L E Y

31

From Buds to Brides, Let There Be Flowers Southbound Flowers 406.531.9668 SouthboundFlowers@Gmail.com SouthboundFlowers.com

32

PA RT Y P LA N N IN G | LOCAL S E RVI CE S

Liberty Safes of Montana Stop in our Showroom in East Missoula & choose from over 75 safes ready to be delivered.

Go to www.libertysafesofmontana.com & find the perfect Liberty Safe or design your own that best fits your home & design.

Join the more than TWO MILLION HOMEOWNERS

Missoula, MT 59802

Billings, MT 59102 1313 Broadwater Ave

who have found the peace of mind that comes from owning a Liberty Safe.

406-542-6606

406-245-7022

Showroom Hours: Open 7 day a week 10am — 6pm

Showroom Hours: Open 7 day a week 10am — 6pm

When people search for a safe to buy as their home vault they shop at Liberty because of the quality, reliability and service received. Just read the more than 15,000 reviews online and you’ll see why Liberty has a 98% customer satisfaction rating. There is nothing like owning a Liberty Safe with value and features at a great price. If you have been in the market to buy a strong security vault you have come to the right place.

615 Highton Street

FEB R UARY 2 0 2 2 | C I TYL I FE STYL E . C OM/MI SSO UL AVA L L E Y

33

M O R G E N R OT H M U S I C C E N T E R S Life is short...don’t forget to play!

RENT-TO-OWN BAND AND ORCHESTRA

Educator approved instruments for the budget conscience.

“Voted Missoula’s Best Music Store for 17 consecutive years!”

1105 W Sussex, Missoula, Montana 59801

www.montanamusic.com 406-549-0013 34

SO YOU CAN BE STRONG FOR HIM

M ON TANA AC UPUNC T U RE & H E RBAL M E D IC IN E montana-acupuncture.com

NO ENROLLMENT FEE!

Join the Missoula YMCA today and save up to $135 when you mention LifestyleYMCA at checkout! Sign up in person at the Y, or online at ymcamissoula.org. Exp 6/30/22

DO YOU REALLY HAVE TO CHOOSE? Franchising with us means making money and time for your life.

“Doug gave me my life back. I am seeing the world through whole new eyes. I am a better Mom, a happier wife and I look forward to each and every day ahead of me because I know I am in a great place. And no matter what is put in front of me now, I am able to handle it.”

S PEC I ALIZING IN D IF F IC ULT C A S ES Services include, but not limited to: Migraines • Infertility Chronic Pain/Arthritis • Digestive Issues PMS/Irregular Periods/Menopause

M E N T ION T HIS A D A ND REC E I V E 3 0 % OFF YOUR FIR S T V ISI T

406.541.2399

D O UG L A S K WOM ACK BE YOUR OWN BOSS

S I X- F I G U R E PROFITS

SET YOUR SCHEDULE

W O R K- L I F E BALANCE

START YOUR OWN PUBLICATION CITYLIFESTYLE.COM/FRANCHISE

L.AC ., D.O.M , M . M. Q .

E X T E NDE D IN T E RNSHIP I N CH I NA

320-A Expressway Missoula, MT 59808 FEB R UARY 2 0 2 2 | C I TYL I FE STYL E . C OM/MI SSO UL AVA L L E Y

35

A LABOR OF LOVE

36

G IV IN G BAC K | L IFE + CULTURE

ARTICLE BY CHELSEA LYN AGRO PHOTOGRAPHY BY ERIKA SPAULDING

Street Dogs Coalition reaches paws in need CONTINUED >

FEB R UARY 2 0 2 2 | C I TYL I FE STYL E . C OM/MI SSO UL AVA L L E Y

37

“I heard about the Street Dog Coalition when I was looking for a way to give back to the community.

I love my job, but I was looking for a way to give back in my free time,” said Joseph Conrad, Managing DVM at Pruyn Veterinary Hospital. “My wife had worked with Dr. Jon Geller years before and mentioned that he had started The Street Dog Coalition and did this great outreach in Fort Collins, CO. I did a little research and reached out to Jon. He, Katrina, and the rest of The Street Dog Coalition Team graciously gave me the rundown and all we needed to start our own street clinics here in Missoula. Since then, we have worked with The Street Dog Coalition and the great folks at the Poverello Center to provide much needed care to pets of the homeless and near-homeless here in our area. It has been a wonderful experience, and we look forward to continuing this work for many years to come.”

The Street Dog Coalition provides free medical care and related services to pets of people experiencing, or at risk of, homelessness. To learn more, visit PruynVet.com/Community and to make donations to the Missoula team or to the Street Dog Coalition as a whole, please visit TheStreetDogCoalition.org/Missoula-MT.

38

G IV IN G BAC K | L IFE + CULTURE

Professional Education Courses ONLINE for your convenience!

With Mari Hodges, TPS, M.AmSAT, AAPTA

Therapeutic Pain Specialist and Certified Alexander Technique Teacher

FRI & SAT • FEB 2 5 & 26

FRI, SAT & SUN • MAR 4-6

Intro to Pain - The Biopsychosocial Model

GET IN TOUCH

Intro to Chronic Pain

https://layinggroundwork.com | 406-530-7175

®

406-721-9359 www.signpromissoula.com

· Digital Printing · Vehicle Decals and Wraps · Window Graphics · Site Signs · · Parking Signs · Sandwich Boards · Banners · Dimensional Lettering · Trade Show Displays · FEB R UARY 2 0 2 2 | C I TYL I FE STYL E . C OM/MI SSO UL AVA L L E Y

39

F E B R UA RY 2 0 2 2

events A curated selection of the most intriguing upcoming events in the city.

F EB RUA RY 1 ST

Learn InDesign!

LIFELON G LEARN IN G CEN TER | 1 :0 0 P M Learn all the basic aspects of the InDesign CC interface including tools and palettes as well as how to create documents and master pages, import and style text, graphics, and objects. Create custom colors, print and package documents as well as export documents to PDF files.

F EB RUA RY 4 T H

Dierks Bentley Live

ADAMS CEN TER, UM | 7:00 PM Country music, whiskey-smooth voice. What could be better?

F E B R UA RY 5T H

7th Annual Urban Interface-Off

GL ACIER ICE RIN K The 7th annual Urban Interface-Off is a fundraising event played by the Missoula Fire Department Local 271 BomBEARos v.s. The Wildlanders.

F EB RUA RY 9 T H

Make a Valentine Card

MIS S OULA PUBLIC LIBRARY | 6 :30 P M Learn how to use the library’s laser engraver and cutting machine to create a valentine for that special someone in your life. Registration is required and can be done by visiting MissoulaPublicLibrary.Org .

F EB R UA RY 1 0 T H

Fact & Fiction Book Club

FACT & FICTION (ON LIN E) | 7:0 0 P M F&F Book Club's February selection is Homeland Elegies: A Novel by Ayad Akhtar! Discussion will be virtual and is currently scheduled for Thursday, February 10, 2022, at 7 p.m. If you would like to participate and be added to the Book Club email list, please email your name to FactandFictionBookClub@Gmail.com. New members welcome anytime!

F EB RUA RY 1 2 T H

Heart Throb 5K

SI LVER PARK | 10:00 AM Run for love! This year’s Heart Throb 5k is all about love. Wear red or rainbow and you could win a prize for best dressed. A portion of this year’s race proceeds will go to The Center. The Center fosters safe, inclusive, and welcoming spaces for community members to focus on identity development, self-care, empowerment, leadership development, and overall wellness.

40

EVE N TS

F E BRUA RY 1 8T H

WinterFest at The Resort at Paws Up

THE RES ORT AT PAWS UP Get the chance to celebrate Presidents’ Day with mouthwatering feasts and wintry adventures. You’ll enjoy top-notch wine tastings, curling and broomball, live entertainment and winter-themed meals created by guest chefs, including Top Chef winner Chef Brooke Williamson, Cake Wars star judge Chef Waylynn Lucas and Chef Beau MacMillan, on loan from the esteemed Sanctuary on Camelback Mountain.

F E BRUA RY 1 9 T H

Big Sky Documentary Film Festival

ROXY THEATER ON LIN E Big Sky Documentary Film Festival is an annual non-fiction film festival held in Missoula each February.

The event showcases documentary films from around the world. The festival first began in 2003 as a seven-day event. It is now a ten-day event.

F E BRUA RY 2 4 T H

Missoula Butterfly House and Insectarium

S PECTRUM DIS COVERY BE NC H AT MI S S O UL A P UB L I C L I B R A RY | 3:0 0 P M Every Thursday from 3 to 5 p.m., you can enjoy the many-legged Bug Ambassadors that will be on hand to observe and, of course, hold!

FEB R UARY 2 0 2 2 | C I TYL I FE STYL E . C OM/MI SSO UL AVA L L E Y

41

ARTICLE BY CHELSEA LYN AGRO | PHOTOGRAPHY BY ERIKA SPAULDING

Can you Speak in Love Languages?

I never paid much attention to love languages. In a general sense, yes, but I never looked up what the Seven Love Languages are until now. They (and their examples) are: Gifts (an anniversary necklace); Acts of Service (washing the dishes); Quality time (dinner and conversation); Words of Affirmation (you are such a great mom/dad); Physical Touch (holding hands); Communication (a spontaneous phone call or text); Expression of Affection and Love (kiss of hug).

It makes a lot of sense that strong, healthy relationships sometimes fall victim to failure due to not paying attention to a partner’s love language because, after all, we have our own language and have you ever tried speaking to someone in a language they don’t understand? With Valentine’s Day at our feet, I challenge you to hone in on the love languages of your friends, family members, and your lover. There are so many simple ways to tell someone that you care about them.

42

LOCA L’S CH OICE | L IFE + CULTURE

A Single

Moment in Time

Go to MandMTuck .PicFair .com A Single Moment taken of the Beauty of the Montana Outdoors