River Valley Woman January 2019

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Stunning, custom built home on an amazing ravine lot in a city subdivision on the west side of Mankato. The open concept kitchen and dinette area have an amazing view of the outdoor living space and ravine lot. Cambria countertops throughout the beautiful kitchen. A very spacious main floor laundry and ½ bath accent the main living space as well. Upstairs features a comfortable master with a private master bath, corner whirlpool tub and walk in closet. Too many extras to list. For more info visit ASKCandee.com.

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PRICE REDUCED!

PRICE REDUCED!

Lather, Rinse, Repeat

BY EILEEN MADSEN Editor

Hello 2019!

A new year can invigorate us to set goals and accomplish new things. But, there comes a time when we can all use a little help. Sure, we’ve got great ideas! Maybe we can cook a mean spatchcocked chicken, or groom a Weimaraner until it’s West Minster dog show-worthy, or perhaps we just got a promotion and are now the boss of the boss. So, how to get the word out? With words, actually.

If you are looking for the right ones, that’s where River Valley Woman comes in this month with our PROMOTE issue, highlighting women in media. Starting with a woman we all know from…well, everywhere. Lisa Cownie is in on the trail of the who’s who and what’s where and how, all over the river valley. You may know her from KEYC TV, or CONNECT magazine (high fives fellow editor!), or maybe you get press releases from her in your inbox. And—by the looks of her many talents—she can likely spatchcock a chicken.

The right words are a powerful promoter. Take the case of the aforementioned chicken, which on its own can be rather boring and pale. But cut out the backbone and flatten it (creepy, I know, but bear with me), so you can see both sides

of it at once, kind of like a Picasso painting. And there you have it— spatchcock. One single word that gets the bird immediate attention, and the golden brown, end results on the grill are transformative.

Words are newspaper publisher Lisa Drafall’s stock in trade. Thirteen newspapers to be exact, from Sleepy Eye to Redwood Falls and surrounding communities, Drafall and her many teams report on local people and small town happenings. Local papers are still a vital connection to residents but that doesn’t mean they shouldn’t change and adapt to the times. Drafall helps guide that process so readers are kept in the know, no matter how they choose to get their information.

I found Drafall’s story particularly interesting given my newspaper roots. I worked for one of the papers she now manages, for almost 20 years. It’s true that ink gets in your blood!

Ink in printed form isn’t the only way to promote ourselves and our businesses. Social media plays a collaborative role. But which platform is best? The social savvy women at Redwood Valley Technical Solutions, highlight each of their favorite ways to network online, from LinkedIn and Pinterest, to Instagram and Facebook, they spell out how to use each to your advantage. These ladies, along with a couple new columnists this month who further dive into the whens and hows of social media, deserve medals from many of us who need a 101 on it all.

Luckily, Pam Kubat and Kate Harthan of Corporate Recognition, can fulfill that award request. Or perhaps it’s pens, calendars, knives, cutting boards or chip clips you need for the next trade show? Printing messages and logos on giveaways can be a constant reminder to customers about your business or organization. Lest you think these items are simply throwaways or inconsequential goodies, think again. Logo and slogan exposure plants itself in the minds of buyers when associated with a favorite item that is used. And one can never have enough knives and cutting boards in my opinion. That chicken isn’t gonna spatchcock itself ya know!

The river valley is full of dynamic women (and guys!), businesses, organizations and events that we all want to know more about, and River Valley Woman and our fellow media cohorts are here to tell their stories. You have our words on it.

By AUTUMN VAN RAVENHORST

PHOTOS BY RHONDA MILBRETT PHOTOGRAPHY

It’s not what you know, it’s who you know. And Lisa Cownie isn’t afraid to make connections for the greater good of Mankato. It’s her favorite part—telling the story of all the individuals she encounters. Though she stays busy and active, all her endeavors come back to a passion she discovered much earlier than most.

“Growing up in the middle of nowhere, I was an avid reader,” Lisa said. “There really wasn’t much else to do. That naturally fed into my writing, and I was lucky enough to have a high school teacher who knew and fostered that. I didn’t anticipate doing all of the things I have done—like broadcasting and television—but I knew I wanted to be a storyteller.”

Lisa grew up in the very small town of Galt, Missouri—total population 325. The nearest “big” town was Trenton, population 7,000. Her graduating class topped out at 13—10 girls and three boys.

“It was slim pickings for the young ladies,” Lisa said with a laugh.   Lisa continued her education in Kirksville, Missouri, at Northeast Missouri State, where she majored in communications. While she was in high school, the nearest radio station held a disc jockey contest. Knowing she loved to talk, Lisa entered the contest and won—which aided in her getting a job as a disc jockey in college. This segued into a news career right out of school. She began with radio news in Kirksville, but not long afterwards took a venture out of state and out of radio broadcasting.

“I received a phone call from one of my professors,” she explained. “He had ended up as a news director for a TV station in Illinois. He asked if I wanted to give television a try, so I up and moved to Quincy, Illinois and worked for KHQA. That is really where my career in TV news reporting began, and my marriage.”

While covering a ferry accident, Lisa spoke to the U.S. Coast Guard press liaison to retrieve information for the story. That liaison later became her husband—and brought Lisa to Minnesota. When her husband was sent to finish his degree in Mankato, Lisa began her involvement with KEYC News 12 as the 10:00 p.m. news anchor. That was in 1992.

Cownie’s first trip to Mankato was short lived, as being the wife of a Coast Guard member inevitably means travel. After three years, he was sent to San Francisco. There Lisa began work with a business journal. Once her television experience was discovered, they offered her the opportunity to do a business segment on the local cable station. The couple’s first two children were born in California and Lisa was pregnant with her third by the time they were transferred again—after another short three years. They made the move across the country to the D.C. area.

“I told him we needed to stop moving,” Lisa asserted. “Because every time we moved I ended up having a baby [laughs]. I started doing freelance work because that is when e-mail really started to come into play. I continued work with the business journal out of San Fran while living in D.C. We ended up moving again to Hawaii, and—of course—at this time I had four children.”

Hawaii is stunning but Lisa’s core value of family felt unfulfilled. Her husband was ready to retire from the Coast Guard after 28 years, and she thought, “Where do we go?”

Lisa and her family always loved Mankato. This was their last move and where they chose to raise their children.

“I have been with KEYC since,” Lisa said. “Denny Wahlstrom was still the GM and said if I came back, he would find me a spot.”

That was 10 years ago. 

 Since then, Lisa has taken on the role of news anchor for KEYC News 12 This Morning, editor of Connect Business Magazine (a publication serving the south central Minnesota region), president of the Greater Mankato Rotary, president of the Mankato West Booster Club, and volunteer for Lasting Imprint, Greater Mankato Growth Cavalier, and many area nonprofits and various charity events in the area. She is an adjunct faculty for Minnesota State University, a voiceover artist, and freelance writer for many other publications—all of which are housed under Good Life Publishing, LLC.

Her day begins at 4:00 a.m. and she arrives at KEYC by 5:00. She leaves KEYC around 7:30 a.m. to take her daughter to school, then begins her full-time job at MRCI, Minnesota’s largest provider of employment and day services for individuals with disabilities.

“I started to feel like I should be doing something for the greater good,” Lisa said. “I’ve been with them for two years now. I do the external and internal communications, as well as grant writing. Because barriers are being broken down, these individuals are able to find opportunities in the community. I get to tell those stores. It’s amazing.”

Lisa often gets asked, “How do you do it?”

It is impressive, but for Lisa, it comes down to trying new things and living out her passion.

“It is a lot, I know,” she said. “But I don’t even think about it. I am very fortunate. But you have to go through things you don’t like to find out what you do like. I teach my kids this—try as many things as you can. You won’t know unless you try it. You never know! It could be the best thing ever.”

Mankato is a special place for Lisa. When she isn’t out promoting it, she follows Rick Springfield, supports the MSU Mavericks as an avid hockey fan and proud season pass holder, and what she ultimately wants to be remembered for—being a good mom.

“That really is my whole life,” she added. “Despite all the other stuff going on, that is what is going to be left of me.”

She continued to express her gratitude for all that life has thrown her way and all of the professional undertakings that circle around to her writing and storytelling talents.

“It is a lot, I know,” she admitted. “But I have built a flexible schedule and am honored to have work that allows for that. Doing features for Connect has been an amazing way for me to meet all of the wonderful people in our area. Mankato is amazing. We are fortunate to have the quality media sources that we do—the information is accurate and accessible. Despite the poor tactics of national news outlets, it hasn’t made its way to us!”

Lisa’s media skills and genuine concern for objective reporting has positioned her as a reliable news source for southern Minnesota. RVW

WITH LISA COWNIE

What is your favorite color? Green

What is your favorite food? Sushi

What is your favorite season? Summer, without a doubt.

What is your favorite hobby?

Rick Springfield—I have seen him 30 times, just a little bit of a groupie.

What is your favorite movie? Hard to Hold…with Rick Springfield.

Who is your favorite cartoon movie character?

Rick Springfield…alright, I guess Dory.

What is a code or motto you live by?

Be kind to everyone. Everybody has a story—you just never know what people are going through.

What has been your favorite interview?

Rick Springfield. Seriously, I thought I was going to throw up. There was a documentary that came out in 2012 called An Affair of the Heart. It was about crazy fans like me. He had a concert nearby and I knew one of the people who produced the documentary. They asked if I wanted to do an interview for publicity and I was trying to be all cool about it—you know, pretend like I didn’t already have tickets to the show or know anything about him. He asked if I wanted to stick around for the show, and of course I already planned on it.

What is your favorite holiday?

Definitely Christmas.

Who is your favorite author?

Rick Springfield. He wrote a book, you know [laughs]. It is always changing, but I do love JoJo Moyes and Ken Follet.

A Lifetime of Mission Moments in Six Years

BARB DORN YWCA Executive Director

Mission Moments breathe life into the work of YWCA Mankato. These are the stories of women and girls connected to the YW through programs or events, and over the past six years these stories have brought tears to my eyes and joy to my heart. As I wrap up my tenure at the YWCA, I can think of no better way to honor the experiences of our community’s women and girls than to share a few of my favorite and most memorable Mission Moments with you today.

“It starts with girls.” This phrase is common at the YWCA, and it couldn’t be more true. When I heard the story of a fifth grade girl who welcomed and included a nervous third grader into her first day of Girls on the Run, it reminded me of my own career’s first-day-on-the-job jitters, and the times women intentionally welcomed and included me on that awkward first day. Decades later the difference it made to me as a newbie is still fresh in my mind, and I have no doubt that an anxious eight-year old girl also found comfort in the support of a seasoned older girl who stepped up to show her the ropes. At the end of the session (and with a smile as wide as her face), this younger girl announced to her coach “I can’t wait to come back!”

Chalk one up to the kindness of a fifth grader.

The universal language of moms is something else I’ve come to understand through the women of the YWCA. I’ll never forget the refugee mom who told me with tears in her eyes of the hopes she has for her children now that they are living in the U.S. She shared briefly about their years in a Kenyan refugee camp, but didn’t want to dwell on it. She also didn’t want to talk about the hostility encountered by her family in this community. Instead she was focused on the future, talking about her dreams for the education, health, and safety of her kids, and her gratitude for the kindness of those who’ve helped her along the way. As with our fifth grader, kindness again shapes the life of another. A mom is a mom, no matter where we’re from…we want the same things for our kids, and I learned that firsthand from this unforgettable woman.

And then there’s this testament to the power of women supporting other women. I received it from a graduate of the YWCA’s leadership program, and it speaks to the heart of women’s leadership:

Hi Barb – I contemplated whether or not to write this email, because at the end of the day, this isn’t my story to tell. However, one of the things I’ve learned through the YWCA is the importance of singing the praises of other women –particularly when they may not sing their own. So, this morning my co-worker announced she will be leaving her current role and moving to another position in our organization. She is moving from a part-time job to a full-time job, from an intermediate level job to a senior level job, and – most importantly – closer toward her career goal. She tried many times to talk herself out of applying, but we (all women here) convinced her to do it anyway. One day she told me she met all of the minimum qualifications and all but two of the preferred, so probably wasn’t going to apply. And so I said, “What would the women in your YWCA class think of you if you used that as an excuse?” She applied for the position on the LAST DAY it was posted. Our Director did a mock interview with her to prepare for the job interview, and we all screamed, cried, and hugged her when she told us she got the position (and you know I am not a hugger!). It’s bittersweet when an outstanding person, both as an individual and a professional, leaves your office – but isn’t that what we want for all

women? To leave us for new experiences, new knowledge, and personal and professional growth? It’s a huge loss for us and we’ll have to make sure the new person has the right amount of sass and sarcasm to keep up with the rest of us, but we are so stinkin’ proud of her! She could have come up with a million and five excuses. We will miss her dearly, but wow – what a victory. I feel like we can move mountains if we’d all do this for our fellow women.

So there you have it, readers…together we can move mountains. These are just three mission moments from a sea of thousands I’ve experienced these past six years. And we’re surrounded daily by even more, but in our hurry to get things done (or to see the ANTI-mission moments instead), we miss seeing them. There are shining moments when our community’s women and girls move mountains every single day, so my hope for you is to stop, pause, and revel in them whenever you get the chance. May your heart and soul be warmed by Mission Moments!

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Better health starts by changing one thing

GRAHAM KING, M.D. Family Medicine Physician Mayo Clinic Health System

Life is busy as we juggle work, kids, and family along with other obligations. Often, the hectic pace we keep makes it difficult to cook a healthy meal or find time to work out and take care of ourselves. Unfortunately, one of the side effects of this selfneglecting behavior is an increase in body weight. Many times, the resulting scenario involves a closet filled with clothes we either dream of fitting into again or look at selling outright in order to start over.

Adding insult to injury is the diagnosis by our health care provider that, because of this weight gain, we are now also pre-diabetic, with borderline cholesterol levels and pre-hypertensive blood pressure. Understandably, this causes even higher levels of stress, guilt, and depression that can lead to negative behavior, such as comfort eating and additional weight gain. We end up feeling guilty because we should know better. In response to our ill-fitting clothes that cause both psychological and literal discomfort, we come up with a plan to lose the weight, which includes:

• Ridding our homes of any dessert, candy, soda, and processed food

• Promising to buy and eat only whole foods made from scratch

• Going to the gym five days a week and working out for one hour each time

• Hiring a life coach to help get our life together

• Reducing stress from work and our jobs

Sound familiar? Most of us do okay for three to four weeks, then slowly revert to old habits that leave us feeling more discouraged and adding even more weight.

Start your path to better health

It’s time to break the vicious cycle of exercise and diet plans that simply aren’t sustainable. To start your path to better health, I want you to change one thing.

Simplify your goals.

Instead of coming up with six or seven goals right from the start, focus on one thing you can change either in your diet, exercise habits, or weekly routine.

For example, the recommended physical activity per week for cardiac health and weight loss is five to six sessions of at least 30 minutes of aerobic exercise. This is a great goal many people can achieve.

Start by committing to 30 minutes at the gym, with the eventual goal of one hour. Recent studies show that even one visit to the gym, while not optimal, is still better than not going at all. Plus, you can feel good knowing you’ve had success, and perhaps in a month or two squeeze in some additional time on another day. Even adding a half-hour walk with your significant other or a pet several times a week is great. It all starts by changing one thing.

One change can make a positive difference to your health

Think about this. If you’re someone who drinks multiple sodas daily, you can lose upwards of 10 pounds a year simply by reducing your intake of one soda per day, even if you change nothing else. This is a theoretical number based on calories alone. Yet, you’re creating success for yourself by changing one thing.

Try eating a salad every other day with a meal. This is something you can manage and feel successful with. Eventually, you can implement other healthy things into your eating routine. For example, add a water bottle with fruit infusions at work to help keep you hydrated and lower your urge to snack. Plus, it’s a great alternative to other drink options throughout the day.

Here’s something to think about. When a child starts to learn a skill, whether it’s reading, sports, or whatever, they experience success. This experience builds momentum and provides confidence that leads to long-term sustainability.

Motivation by success works much better than motivation by guilt. Unfortunately, much of our motivation to change is guilt-based. This doesn’t work with motivating our children—or with managers and leaders with employees in the workplace—so why do we expect it to work here?

Remember, these are simply examples of ways to make healthy adjustments in our lives that will give you the confidence to change one thing.

DRIVE TIME DECISIONS

There are a lot of decisions to make when it comes to driving, and the list only grows once you’ve got your own set of wheels. Whether you’re facing a purchasing dilemma over which make and model is best for you, or simply wonder how much is too much to top off the gas, being a responsible driver comes with more options than there are gears on a manual car.

Tire time

You may think that the biggest choice you’ll face when it comes to cars is which one you’ll own. However, even after that primary purchase, there’s a plethora of other parts to ponder, too - like the tires! According to the latest installment of Hankook Tire’s Gauge Index Survey, Americans are more likely to consider the safety rating of their tires (26 percent) than the safety rating of their car (18 percent). And the decisions don’t stop there. Americans are split (50/50) on whether off-road tires are only meant for off-road cars. The truth is, while you can put them on vehicles for everyday driving, they are optimized for off-road use.

Lights on, or lights off?

Apparently, we actually did listen to our parents when they told us to turn off the overhead light in the backseat. The Gauge found that more than half (58 percent) of Americans believe the “old dad’s tale” that driving with your interior lights on is illegal. Because it’s distracting to other drivers, experts recommend that you don’t drive with the interior lights on.

That said, your mom was right about using low lights in foggy or rainy conditions. While more than a third (38 percent) of drivers think that high beams are the right choice for fog or rain, it actually can create a harsh reflection against the water, making it more difficult to see.

Check the check list

Let’s add another decision to the mix - when to service your vehicle. How many miles are you really supposed to go between service appointments? That depends on the car, seasonal driving conditions, how much driving you do, and a whole plethora of other factors. However, many drivers use the change of seasons as a regular reminder to take the car in, and it’s a good schedule to keep by. For example, car and tire maintenance was on the back-to-school checklist for 45 percent of Americans, but winter weather may not have been top of mind at the time. As the leaves fall and temperatures drop, it may be time to talk about what’s necessary for the cooler coming months - whether that’s a new set of winter tires, or a fresh pair of windshield wipers.

To top it all off ...

It can be terribly tempting to squeeze the handle once or twice more to get the most bang for your buck at the gas pump. In fact, three in five Americans (60 percent) don’t think that topping off your gas tank is bad for your car ... but experts say it is, and can actually lead to further damage down the road! Topping off can overfill the tank and cause liquid gas to enter the charcoal canister or carbon filter, which in turn can damage your engine. Save yourself a potential maintenance headache, and let off the gas once the pump shuts off.

Many of the choices you make as a responsible driver go beyond figuring out which parking spot to snag in a grocery store lot (for the record, 43 percent of Americans will park as close to the entrance of a store as they can get). But the decisions don’t need to be daunting, so long as you stay informed about your vehicle’s maintenance schedule and needs, and know the options available to you to keep your ride smooth and your car well maintained. (BPT)

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sings as historic apartment

A large set of bookshelves divides the living area from Mary Beth’s office. Her love of Paris—and desire to live there someday—is reflected in the wall display.

PHOTOS & STORY BY RUTH KLOSSNER

A blue door, between the clinic and an antique store, does nothing to tip one off to the wonders to be found in the upstairs apartment.

Mary Beth calls the living area, with its huge sectional sofa, her “nest.” It’s a great place to entertain, watch movies, and/or cozy up to a fire in the fireplace.

 Enter Mary Beth Tracy. It was about five years ago when Tracy—a retired pediatric ICU critical care nurse, teacher, and author from the Twin Cities—was looking for space to hold classes. At a student’s suggestion, she checked out the Henderson apartment.

“I was pretty surprised to see this amount of space. I said, ‘Forget the classroom, I just want to live here! I’ve always 

Looking from the kitchen area into the guest bedroom that was the coatroom of the old Opera House. Note the original wood ceilings.

Looking toward the back (south) of the apartment. A large dining table separates the living area from the office, back left, and reading room.

One of Mary Beth’s favorite places to sit, between the kitchen and stage.

A “second bedroom” shares the stage with the master bedroom—but Tracy often uses it as a writing area.

The Opera House’s coatroom is now a guest bedroom. The coat hooks from the olden days have been saved, but not replaced on the walls at this time.

Mary Beth’s kitchen is in the 19-foot addition to the building, right inside the apartment door. A bathroom and utility room are just behind the kitchen, with the back bedroom and another bathroom beyond that. Notice the “ticket window” on the far right side of the photo.

Master bathroom

Mary Beth loves to cook and has shelves and shelves of cookbooks that she likes to read in this sitting area.

 wanted to live in a loft. It was a dream come true,” she said. “And, I wanted to get away from the Twin Cities to do some writing. Ted and I hit it off. He’s a great landlord.”

Mary Beth loves the open space of the apartment. “It’s a beautiful place to live. It’s beauty that’s also welcoming and comforting. I believe the inside of a house is a representation of the inside of a person,” she said.

The apartment allows Tracy to do many of the things she enjoys—entertaining, cooking, having friends in to watch movies, writing.

While she had some furniture, Mary Beth gathered more to fill the space. “I have antiques and modern stuff, too. It just has to feel good to me—I don’t ascribe to anything. Somehow it all comes together,” she explained. RVW

The Opera House’s ticket window in the wall between the outside hallway and kitchen has been preserved.

The southeast corner of the apartment is Mary Beth’s office. She’s been told that the dark spots on the floor are barrel marks from Prohibition days.

Wherever you look, you’ll find Paris and bunnies in Mary Beth Tracy’s home. She has a passion for both—and hopes one day to live in France.

BY AUTUMN VAN RAVENHORST

In the ever-changing and dynamic business of marketing and promotions, it takes an assiduous woman to go from working part-time at a handmade desk—made with 2x4s—in her basement to a downtown store front in southern Minnesota with clients nationwide.

Pam Kubat, owner and business manager of Corporate Recognition, a promotional products and advertising specialties company, grew up in Yorkville, Illinois. Her father was a salesman and owner of his own hardware business for 30 years. Pam met her now husband and business partner, Ryan Kubat, while in Alaska for a summer college internship in accounting. The two moved back to Illinois for four years until they made the decision to return to Ryan’s home state and raise their kids in Owatonna.

Pam began her career on the supply side of promotional products, in accounting, at Black Forest. She was later promoted to sales and marketing manager, where she remained for four years.

“I went to the expos and exhibited for them,” Pam said. “I saw the world of promotional products and learned who the good suppliers were. I had access to it all. I started thinking of all the businesses in town that could be promoting themselves and recognizing their employees creatively. Ryan and I began talking—and we really wanted to do something on our own.”

The foundation of Corporate Recognition began with a small fund from

their local church, based on the Parable of the Talents.

“Each family unit was given $50,” Pam recounted. “We were to come up with something that we could bring back and reinvest into the kingdom. With that money, we created our logo and bought letterhead. This is what made us sit down and think about what was next in our life and what we wanted to do.”

With Pam’s background in accounting and direct experience with promotional products—and her husband’s desire to be in sales—the two collaborated. They started working out of their home and persisted.

“Ryan has experience in construction, so he built this nice, big corner desk for me,” Pam recalled. “There was duct tape on the edges so it didn’t tear my clothes. My first computer was a quote-unquote ‘laptop.’ It weighed a

ton [laughs]. We had a Thermofax machine.”

With siblings in marketing, Pam and Ryan had the opportunity to serve Meadows Mall & Circus Circus in Las Vegas as their first customer. Their very first order was placed in 1997—a die-cut handle bag made of plastic with 10 logos. You can find one framed and hanging in the entry of their showroom today.

The first three years brought excitement, challenges, and moments of doubt. Pam left Black Forest to avoid a conflict of interest and went to work at Blount, a company that produced tree-cutting equipment. Pam was the head of their accounts payable department until they moved accounting to their offices in North Carolina. Pam received a severance check and took the leap to make their business a full-time affair January 1, 2000.

One of the biggest struggles for startups is growing a sustainable client base. Many businesses today have the advantage of referrals and Google to create a healthy prospect list, but Pam and Ryan had a tool that most have only heard about.

“Pam’s dad would create cold call lists from the phone book,” Pam said with a smile. “We would go after some of the top industries like insurance, health, finance, and banks.”

They worked from their basement for seven years. The business took on a unique model for the industry when it opened its first storefront at 104 Park Square, right across from Central Park in downtown Owatonna.

“People then and now continue to use Google for inspiration or try to order their own items online,” Kate Harthan, Operations Director and Human Resources, said. “That is where we are different. Here people can actually walk in and physically touch the items. This takes away the surprise of ordering something you thought was quality but turned out not to be. It takes away the hassle as well. You e-mail us and we do the creative brainstorming, design, and ordering right here.”

Kate is Pam and Ryan’s daughter and started working with the family business at a young age.

“My first job was filing and alphabetizing catalogs,” Kate said with a laugh.

Kate began her educational career in music but switched to accounting and business entrepreneurship. She landed in HR and that is where she finished college. At the fresh age of 20, Kate led a bed and breakfast in Lanesboro where she lived on-site, managing guest bookings, gardening, cooking, cleaning, payroll, hiring, training, marketing, and everything in between. She continued her schooling online and completed a degree in human resources and business. She later ventured to Rochester where things just weren’t lining up.

“My husband was managing a Kwik Trip in Rochester. I was teaching 35 students in piano for a conservatory,” Kate said. “Our schedules were opposite. I ended up helping part-time with accounting at Corporate Recognition. Then I was asked to help put together an HR handbook, an application and questions and expectations of employees because they were looking to hire someone.”

Amidst the recession and the economy not quite recovering in Rochester, Kate was gearing up to graduate. She saw that—despite hardships elsewhere—business at Corporate Recognition was booming. That—paired with Pam’s disappointment in her pool of candidates—Kate began full-time employment.

“It was perfect timing,” Pam said.

“My husband now helps with the graphic design, photography, heat press, web presence, and social media,” Kate said.

The initial focus for Corporate Recognition was awards, events, and gifts but it eventually added pens, pencils, calendars, and the like. The world of promotional products and specialties has broadened and businesses want their brand displayed alongside Under Armour, Yeti, North Face, Spyder, and whatever is trending. 

 “It changes all the time,” Kate explained.

Another huge shift in the industry is time—or the lack thereof.

“People want it now,” they agreed. “When we first started, we would get the logo, then mail or Fed Ex it to the supplier. Production time used to be two to three weeks, but now people want it in two days. It has changed to vector artwork that is sent via e-mail and we have to do more graphic design than ever.”

This—paired with their years of knowledge—guarantees a higher quality product than what might be produced when an inexperienced person attempts it on their own.

The showroom of Corporate Recognition, now located at 125 West Bridge Street, is adorned with both familiar and distinctive items that any business personalize. Pillars are hung with mugs ranging from rugged to dainty, drawers are filled with every purse stuffer presumable, along with lanyards, key chains, bags, satchels, totes, coolers, chargers, speakers, spatulas, pocket knives, chocolates, quality clothing, and everything you’d never think of.

If a logo can be put on it, Corporate Recognition can do it. Literally. More than 20 years since the business started, people are still surprised at the infinite ways the folks at Corporate Recognition can market their business. The team will find a product that is tangible, usable, and long lasting to fit both goals and budget.

“These products are used when someone is making a buying decision, whether they realize it or not,” Kate added. “Many have a good feeling attached to it—a favorite cutting board, a gift they actually use. They will associate a quality item with a quality business.”

A business venture that began with very little has grown into a business that continues to grow, with customers all over the United States, while maintaining its largest base in Owatonna.

“This community has been incredibly supportive,” Pam said.

Pam has served on the Owatonna Chamber of Commerce & Tourism Board, has been a committee member for the Chamber Business Bootcamp series, and is actively involved in the Cannon River Watershed. Kate is currently with the Economic Development Authority and Owatonna Business Partnership, is on the board for SHRM, as well as the Owatonna Symphony Orchestra.

The Corporate Recognition family is of the highest merit, dedicating itself to the community and clientele, and promoting businesses in ways that exceed expectations—and Google search results. RVW

The world of marketing is limitless and can honestly be overwhelming when you aren’t sure where to put your energy or your money. In a world where Facebook is the new Yellow Pages, it’s no wonder social media has taken on such an important role in our day-to-day lives. There are nearly 3.2 billion people using social media, so now is the time to get over your fears and start engaging.

Know that getting and retaining a social media presence is going to take effort. While our main job is to help merchandise a massive 100,000 square foot retail showroom, it’s really astounding how much of our focus has become devoted to our online presence. It takes time, persistence, creativity, and resilience. Those brands that you see time and time again in your newsfeed have likely been through the wringer, trying to get to you. Whether you’re starting from scratch or you’re finding ways to fine-tune your current marketing strategies, there are important factors to keep in mind.

Pick a Lane:

You probably don’t have the time, money, and manpower it takes to keep up with an account on every social media network. You can’t do it all, nor should you. Consider where your customers are already at, start

with what you know best, and expand from there. At the risk of sounding too blunt, if you can’t commit the time and effort to keep up with your accounts, don’t bother with them.

Set a Schedule:

This takes some adjusting. If you’re only posting once in a while, it’s time to step it up. Sit down and fill out a calendar with a plan of action for all those posts. Use this time to jot down ideas for the types of content you’d like to create. Consistency is really important here. What time of day are people most likely to engage? As a frame of reference, we commit to posting a minimum of twice a day for our social media platforms.

Oh, the Content Possibilities

Content is where it gets fun—and overwhelming. Clarity is crucial when it comes to your social media branding. When people look at your posts do they get a feel for what your brand represents? You don’t want to post pictures of women at a Metallica concert if you cater to 40-year-old moms in cardies. Be relevant to your brand. With that in mind, what can you show people about your day-to-day operations? What events do you have going on? People love real life pictures and videos of you and what you’re doing—especially if it’s a blunder or something you can laugh about. Record yourself doing your job and explain why it’s so important to make sure they have help from a professional such as yourself. Keep trying your ideas until you see results. We find the most engaging posts have nothing to do with product, but more with our store’s personality. We like to have fun and make fun of ourselves so we let our audience see that authenticity in our posts.

Engage:

You can post all day long, but your new followers will be few and far between if you don’t engage. Ask for their opinions or advice, have them share their photos, and/or create contests, polls, and quizzes. Get creative! Non-selling posts should account for at least half of your posts. Remember to “Like” and respond to comments, build a bond with your clients. Not only does this get you seen by more eyes, but it also boosts people’s faith in you when you give them your attention. This is a great reminder of why you do your job in the first place. Be good to people, especially people who support you. At the end of the day it’s about selling, but not just product. We work hard to sell our brand, our vision, and our lifestyle. Social media is an incredible tool for creating your brand and building relationships with customers. Be honest, be creative, and be open to change!

Dr. Angela Schuck Dr. Keith Flack

SOCIAL MEDIA GURUS MEG AND STEPH

Megan Revier Manager/Buyer of Accents

A&W Furniture and Laney Lu’s Boutique

Stephanie Klavetter

Accessory Merchandising Assistant A&W Furniture Assistant Manager, Laney Lu’s Boutique

REFILL ITSELF LET YOUR REFILL

RIVERFRONT

410 S. Riverfront Dr. Mankato, MN 507-625-1107

HILLTOP

2010 Adams St. Mankato, MN 507-625-9070

• Get prescriptions automatically filled ahead of time and ready when you are

• Receive a call when your order is ready so you never have to worry about running out again

• Ask your Hy-Vee pharmacist about Repeat Refills

Your helpful Hy-Vee pharmacists can help you stay on top of your medication therapy, because not taking medication as directed by your doctor can be costly to both you and your health.

106515

JANUARY IS A TIME TO CLEAN OUT AND ORGANIZE.

“Out with the old, in with the new!” And what better place to start than the heart of the home – the kitchen?

The New Year is a great time to take inventory of the foods you have, toss foods past their prime, and donate foods you won’t use. Taking control of your kitchen can save you time (no more hunting through the cupboards or refrigerator), money (no more tossing out spoiled foods), and teach you about your shopping, eating and cooking habits.

Did you know Americans waste an estimated 40 percent of our food, with dairy products being thrown out more than other foods — even produce? In fact, the average person wastes an estimated 25 pounds of food every month! By learning strategies to store and use food properly, everyone can help reduce food waste.

1. TAKE IT ALL OUT.

a. Remove foods completely from your pantry and refrigerator. Wipe down cabinets and shelves.

2. SORT.

a. Organize food by type. Canned goods, dry ingredients, grains, snacks, dairy, produce, etc.

b. Use FIFO (first in, first out). Place the oldest foods near the front so they will be used before newer foods, helping you save money.

3. GIVE.

a. Donate any un-opened foods that you don’t plan to use.

b. Toss any foods that have spoiled.

c. Give new life to foods that are past their prime, but are still safe to eat.

Try these “Clean-out-the-Kitchen” recipe templates for delicious mix-and-match meals.

1. Egg Muffins are a blank canvas when it comes to add-ins. Start with an egg base, add in a little dairy (milk, cream, plain yogurt), cooked meats (ham, sausage, chicken, salmon), vegetables (mushrooms, onion, leafy greens, peppers, asparagus, tomatoes), cheese and herbs.

2. Pasta is a wonderful base for a hearty meal. Mix-andmatch your pasta shape, add in sautéed vegetables, herbs, sauce and meat. Top with shredded cheese and a delicious meal awaits.

3. Stir-Fry lets you cook up your vegetables and meat quickly (any combination will work), top with soy sauce and serve over the grain of your choice (rice, quinoa, farro).

4. Soup is the perfect mode of “cleaning house.” The more flavors and combinations of beans, vegetables (fresh, frozen, canned) and herbs, the better. Place all your ingredients in a slow cooker before heading to work and top with shredded cheese just before serving and you have a simple and budgetfriendly meal for the whole family.

Egg Muffins

ALL YOU NEED

1 1/2 c. chopped meat, and/or vegetables, such as crisp-cooked bacon, fully cooked ham, bell pepper, green onion, zucchini, yellow summer squash

3/4 c. Hy-Vee shredded Colby Jack, or Cheddar cheese

8 Hy-Vee large eggs

2/3 c. Hy-Vee skim milk

1/4 tsp. Hy-Vee salt

1/8 tsp. Hy-Vee ground black pepper

ALL YOU DO

STEP 1

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray a muffin tin with nonstick cooking spray. Add 2 tablespoons chopped meat and/or vegetables and 1 tablespoon cheese to each muffin cup; set aside.

STEP 2

In a medium bowl, whisk together eggs, milk, salt and pepper. Pour into muffin cups, filling each about three-fourths full.

STEP 3

Bake for 20 to 25 minutes or until muffins are set in the center. Remove from oven and cool for 5 minutes. Serve warm or cool completely and place in an airtight container; cover and refrigerate for up to 3 days.

Nutrition Facts per Serving: 90 calories per serving, 6g Total Fat, 2.5g Saturated Fat, 0g Trans Fat, 135mg Cholesterol, 230mg Sodium, 2g Total Carbohydrates, 0g Dietary Fiber, 1g Total Sugars, 8g Protein.

April Graff, MS, RD, LD - Hilltop Dietitian 507.625.9070 | AGraff@hy-vee.com

When they were living in California, Lisa Drafall’s husband often suggested that the family should move back to Minnesota, his home state. That thought didn’t sit well with Lisa—until the thought of not being able to be the mom she wanted to be for her kids sunk in.

“I always told him, ‘Over my dead body.’ One day I said, ‘My soul is dead so that counts.’

In January 2014, Drafall, husband Dean Martin, and children Paris and Gabe Martin moved to Dean’s hometown of Redwood Falls.

“I love it—I absolutely love the rural Midwest way of life,” Lisa now says. “I can be all things I strive for. I can do what I want.”

Along with being a mom for the kids—now 14 and 15—Drafall had no problem finding work in her chosen area, journalism. With seven years in newspapers and six years in television in California—and low unemployment here—Drafall has had the opportunity to move up within the industry.

“I could set the terms,” she said. “I told them that I wouldn’t miss any football games, school plays, or doctor appointments. It wasn’t that

Newspaper Publisher Lisa Drafall READ ALL ABOUT IT!

way in California, but here, the work/life balance is almost expected. It’s more, ‘Of course, you’ll have time for family and friends.’”

After working briefly as a sales person for KLGR Radio in Redwood Falls, Drafall saw an ad and soon was employed by the Redwood Falls Gazette and Wabasso Standard. Within a short time, she became general manager for 13 Gatehouse Media publications in Minnesota and North Dakota, and—a year and a half ago—was made senior group publisher for Gatehouse. In restructuring this past June, she was made the direct manager of the Sleepy Eye Herald-Dispach and St. James Plaindealer.

“No human could do all that so I depend on an amazing team—I just put out the fires,” Drafall said modestly. “A lot of it is also teaching people to put out their own fires. I’m only able to do the job with strong passionate people working for me. I teach them to be autonomous.”

Drafall feels strongly about the role of newspapers.

“Newspapers are still critical to small towns—big media doesn’t cover the things that happen here. The community supports us, our readers support us, and businesses support us. We continue to have a voice,” she said.

She continued, “Small town publications play such a big role in the community, making it sustainable. It’s all to preserve it—so 130-yearold newspapers can get to 200.”

Being sustainable means changes, however.

“Our newspapers have more digital readers than paper readers,” Drafall said. “Twenty-five to 30 percent of the overall sales solutions we give to customers are based in digital. Our sales people have to be experts on every single social media platform to help sustain local media.”

While Sleepy Eye’s circulation, for example, is down to 1,200, its shopper reaches close to 10,000 and its online presence has 10,000 unique readers every month.

“That means everyone in Sleepy Eye is reading something online at least twice a month.” Drafall said. “We’re still critical but we’ve changed with the landscape. In rural areas, digital media was foreign at first. We were sort of ahead of the curve, but we continue to educate the market. We’re the most widely read content in the communities we serve.”

As she considers the future, Drafall said, “Looking a long way out, I think there will always be physical products to break through

Life in Redwood Falls

Lisa and husband Dean Martin live in Redwood Falls where Dean is employed as a building engineer at the hospital. Their children attend Wabasso High School.

“With the kids going to school in Wabasso, I straddle two communities most of the time,” Lisa said. “I love that they get to experience sports and academics and explore the arts. Gabe has the lead in the play Aladdin. The life my kids have here is so much easier than it was in California. The biggest challenge here is distance.”

Lisa is “huge” in theatre and was a semiprofessional comedian in California, teaching and performing improv comedy for 15 years. Here she’s joined the Redwood Falls community theatre board. She’s also in Toastmasters—finding it a great way to connect with people through stories—and is active on the board of Greater Redwood Area Suicide Prevention.

the clutter of a lot of things—I think there will always be a physical product in the newspaper industry. People are more likely to engage in content-related matter because there’s so much online.”

She continued, “As people get older, they like to read newspapers more. They get more interested in the community—they become homeowners and taxpayers—and have a stake in it. Our demographics will always get older.”

On the other hand, younger people tend to go online more. “Don’t put all your eggs in one basket. We need to use variety to reach everyone in different ways. We can grow local businesses in many different mental spaces,” she said. 

Although she ate out through much of her 20s, Lisa said, “I’m a great cook. I miss the cultural food we had in California, so I’ve become good at making international cuisine.”

As she was promised when she joined Gatehouse, Drafall attends a lot of her kids’ games, plays, dances, and concerts.

“My husband is very supportive. We coparent, we do it all together.”

“Newspapers are still critical to small towns— big media doesn’t cover the things that happen here. The community supports us, our readers support us, and businesses support us. We continue to have a voice.”

Lisa Drafall

From Sacramento to Redwood Falls

 Although Lisa Drafall left California as second in command for 13 television stations in the northern part of the state—as director of sales and marketing for all of them—Lisa’s life had taken a series of turns to get to that point.

Lisa was adopted as a baby, then raised by a single mom in Sacramento— in an incredibly urban area known for gang violence. She remembers always being curious and, when asking her mother questions, was directed to a shelf of encyclopedias. When she couldn’t find answers there, she’d walk to the library four or five miles away.

“I love to learn. I’m still teaching myself how to do stuff,” she said.

Lisa started college at 13 through the National Academic Talent Search but wasn’t supported in that endeavor by her mother. She ran away from home at 14 and was homeless for the next two years—but still tried to go to high school and college. She then spent two years in group homes and foster care but opted to be emancipated just prior to her 18th birthday. Unable to continue college, she found a job.

“There have been a million angels throughout my life who have lifted me up and pointed me in the right direction,” Drafall said.

Although she was passionate about journalism, Drafall had divergent interests. She started as an accountant because she loved statistics and data. At the same time, she also started a marketing consulting practice to help small businesses. She focused primarily on restaurants and was paid in food coupons.

“I didn’t have to cook all through my 20s,” she said with a laugh. “Eventually I got the job I wanted, as a sales and marketing manager.”

She met and married Minnesota native Dean Martin and their first child was born. It was then that Lisa decided it was time to “be an adult” and earned a bachelor’s degree in marketing. She later got an MBA in business. “I wanted to be sure that what I was teaching was based on sound principles—not just passion and creativity,” she explained.

Working in television was an “incredibly hectic job,” but one that Drafall loved. “Making commercials is a blast. And live local news—sometimes for 12 hours a day. It was fun and exciting. I worked so much that I had a room at the station converted to a playroom for the kids. But, I wanted to be more of a mom and less of an executive.” RVW

Is Your Marketing Recipe Cooking Up the Right Results?

that the time you take to have an open-ended discussion results in the kind of insight that you can use to improve your business. By talking with both recent and longtime clients you can gain intelligence that will allow you to:

• Create more products and services that they need.

• Avoid costly mistakes about new products and services

• Get more ideas for how you can support your clients

• Gain a strategic advantage over your competition

Stop Guessing About Marketing Tactics

Instead of guessing about how you are going to reach your next new client, buying insights allow you to learn about the triggers that cause them to initiate a search for a new solution. That will help you decide how you are going to build awareness. Will you focus on SEO and Google Ads, or would it be better to allocate resources to in-person events?

You’ll find out who is involved in the buying process, and what information they need to help them make a decision. When there are multiple people involved, your message can be specially tailored to them, addressing their needs and success factors, as well as overcome common objections. Your tactics might include materials that enable sales such as demos and content that helps prospects envision the success that will result from choosing your company.

Listen Better to Get a Better Message

Have you ever made lasagna from scratch? It’s laborious but worth the effort. It’s what I make for my family when I want to love on them with food. Different people have different versions of the recipe, but the basic ingredients of pasta, tomato sauce, seasonings and cheeses mixed with egg remains the same.

One time, I had homemade lasagna that a friend made with boiled eggs in it. She had the right ingredients in her dish but she cooked them up in a way that changed the results. My friend ended up with something that looked and smelled like lasagna, but the purpose of the eggs was totally missed when she boiled them. You’re supposed to mix the raw eggs with the creamy cheeses so that they bind everything together. With this process, they don’t lend an eggy flavor to the dish, but instead make the texture of the cheeses very pleasing. Finding boiled eggs in lasagna changed the flavor and the experience of the meal. Let’s just say that if I was at a restaurant, it wouldn’t be something that I would order again.

Picture Your Marketing as Lasagna

Imagine for a minute that your marketing mix is a dish of lasagna. It’s piping hot and the scent of oregano and tomatoes is filling the air. To get to this point, you had to mix the right ingredients in the right way, using the right processes. You can make modifications to your recipe to make it better. (Such as adding more cheese!) Other modifications will make it worse. (Such as adding boiled eggs.) How do you get to the perfect recipe that will make your dish so good that people will come back for more?

Find Out What People Want

To find out what your dinner guests like, you ask them. You can do the same with your target buyers to find the approach that is going to connect their need with your solution. If you have taken the time to document who is in your target market, you’ve already taken a key step in figuring out how to reach them. The best insights, however, are going to come when you interview people and let them tell you the story of their buying journey as you guide them with open ended questions.

Talk to People

You don’t have to talk to every client to get the insights you need that will help you prioritize the marketing activities that will get the best results. Make it a practice to talk one-to-one with clients and you’ll find

In addition to choosing marketing tactics, focusing on your clients allows you to get the right message. If you’re talking jargon and generalities, it will be hard to stand out from the crowd. When your message speaks directly to the needs, challenges, and experiences of your target, you have a better chance of attracting the right type of client. Like that perfect pan of lasagna, you’ll keep them coming back for more.

LORI CREIGHTON Marketing Consultant Homestead Media LLC

Whats and Whys and Whens of

Social Networking

FROM REDWOOD VALLEY TECHNICAL SOLUTIONS TEAM

LinkedIn has over 106 million monthly active users and is one of the most powerful business social media platforms available.

Business / Professional Use

 A business oriented social networking site for companies as well as individuals to network, connect and gain followers.

 Companies create business pages to publish and share relevant content.

 Employees can connect personal profiles with a company page through their work experience.

 Use LinkedIn Showcase pages to feature specific aspects of a business and reach targeted audiences.

 Often used for company recruitment.

Personal Use

 Most commonly used for business networking and connecting with people in your industry.

 Excellent social network to find a career path, build a professional network, grow a business or find a higher career opportunity.

 Create a profile to establish your professional identity and feature your education, work and capabilities.

 Give and receive professional recommendations from peers and leaders for all to view.

 Contribute professional insights by publishing articles with the potential to become an Influencer.

Pinterest is an addicting social media network where users can build their very own digital ideaboard. It’s not just about recipes and crafts, it can be used very effectively both personally and professionally.

Business / Professional Use

 A top performing platform for any type of business.

 The key is building relevant, creative boards that users want to follow and consistently pinning content that they’re excited to share.

 Each of your pins should have an eye-catching photo and keyword rich description.

 Your company’s Pinterest page should be a mixture of your content and other people’s content. Re-pinning is a great way to build relationships that will in turn help build your brand.

 Think outside the box when building your professional Pinterest page.

Personal Use

 A place where you can search for fashion ideas for a family photo shoot, recipes that you can almost taste, or anything that you can imagine.

 A platform to collect decorating tips for the holidays, design ideas for your dream kitchen and so much more!

 No two pages or Pinterest experiences are alike!

 Go ahead, indulge in YOUR Pinterest experience.

As the preferred social media network of millennials, it is no secret that Instagram is here to stay. #Instagood

Business / Professional Use

 Multi-level engagement with customers through photos, live video, stories, instant message & IGTV.

 Build an interactive profile with story categories and custom buttons.

 Direct links to business websites in stories and shopping tags on posts.

 Increase awareness through brand ambassadors.

 Manage both Instagram and Facebook advertising and analytics through Facebook Business.

Personal Use

 You get to be the photographer, the editor and the blogger all in one.

 Follow users and hashtags.

 User-friendly. Just scroll and double-tap? Easy enough!

 Hear product review from people you know and trust (or at least idealize).

 It’s the all-in-one social network site. Post photos, share stories, instant message, build a profile, shop brands, follow and interact.

Facebook had 2.27 billion monthly active users.

Business / Professional Use

 Facebook business pages allows companies to interact with their customers on a personal level.

 Business pages allow organizations to see insight information such as audience reach, demographics, and conversions.

 Engagement is an important component of this network and posted content should be conversational.

 Photos, videos and live streams dominate this platform.

Personal Use

 Connecting with friends and family is at the heart of the Facebook network.

 Engage with photos, videos, gif, memes, and stories by choosing a reaction, commenting or sharing with your friends.

 You can also follow brands, organizations, causes and personalities.

 Find events near you and invite your friends to come along too.

 Facebook marketplace is an online garage sale for you to find your next treasure.

 Your profile can reflect your personal life including information about your likes, friends and family.

 Facebook links to Instagram as well for cross posting.

SARAH KUGLIN

BRYANNE FREITAG

SAMANTHA FELT

ASHLEY AUKES

Keep your New Year’s resolution by easing into exercise

Come January, many of us resolve to exercise more frequently. We often start with good intentions, but we don’t always succeed in making exercise part of our regular routine. If exercising is your New Year’s resolution, you can set yourself up for success by following these recommendations.

Writing down goals will provide you with feedback on your progress. Goals should be specific, measurable, attainable, realistic, and have a time frame. When you achieve a goal, reward yourself with new exercise apparel or equipment.

Start with short durations of exercise when beginning a new exercise program. A walking program is a good way to begin exercising, as it does not require special equipment. Walking five to ten minutes a day, then gradually increasing your time, will reduce the risk of injury.

When you begin an exercise program, some soreness is expected. However, if you are experiencing pain, you should alter your dosage of exercise and allow for more rest.

If you are returning to exercise after missing a regular routine due to the holidays or an illness, take activity slow. Reducing the duration or the weight used during exercise will allow for gradual return to activity. It is important to gradually return to activity to reduce the likelihood of an injury. Rest days are an important part of an exercise routine to allow the body to recover.

Exercise with a friend so you can hold each other accountable. If that is not

Katie Swanson, PT, DPT Mankato Clinic Physical Therapy

convenient, check in with your friend via a quick text or join an exercise group on social media. You’ll have more fun and receiving encouragement from others will keep you motivated.

Exercising at the same time every day can improve your consistency. As a general rule, it takes 28 days to develop a habit. If you do not have as much time on some days, doing short durations of exercise can be just as beneficial.

Incorporating exercise into your daily routine will also help to increase your activity levels. You could park farther away from the front door of a store, walk during your lunch hour, and stand up during commercial breaks while watching television to increase your daily activity. Doing a little bit every day is a great start!

Try different activities, as this will reduce your risk for injury. Try bowling, walking, biking, swimming, water aerobics, dancing, or fitness classes. Trying a variety of activities will help you find a combination you really like and enjoy. If you enjoy what you are doing for exercise, you will be more likely to stay consistent.

Remember, exercise does not need to be an hour-long sweat session to provide health benefits.

by Staci Lowe

Bon

Appetite with Chef EdY

Professional chef and wine sommelier, Edy Cucurullo grew up near the Amalfi Coast in Italy. As a youngster he was exposed to a rich culture of family and food making. After many years working in the culinary and restaurant field in Europe, he moved to Mankato with his wife. He offers his culinary skills and flair to Hy-Vee, grilling in the meat department, offering his expertise in the deli and wine and spirits departments as well as hosting many events in the dining area. Here, Chef Edy, shares some of his favorite recipes for you to try at home.

Paprika Chicken with Gnocchi

INGREDIENTS

1 white onion

4 tbsp. butter

8 chicken thighs

2 tsp. smoked paprika

2 tbsp. corn starch

2 cups sour cream

2 cans (14.5 oz.) chicken broth

Salt and pepper, to taste*

2 packages Hy-Vee gnocchi

2 oz. Parmesano reggiano

4 oz. ricotta salata

Half-loaf of Asiago artisan bread (preferably toasted)

1. Prepare the ingredients. Wash and dry the fresh produce. Peel and chop onions. Heat a medium pot of salted water to boiling on high.

2. Cook the onion. Heat a medium sized frying pan on the stove and melt butter over medium heat. Add the chopped onion and cook for one minute or until translucent. In a bowl mix corn starch, paprika and salt and pepper and put chicken thighs in bowl covering both sides.

3. Cook the chicken. Add the chicken to the frying pan and cook for 1 minute per side. Add paprika and salt to taste stirring to incorporate into the butter. Stir in sour cream and cook for one minute. Add broth and cook, covered, until the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165 degrees. When the chicken is done set aside, leaving sauce in pan.

4. Heat the gnocchi. When the water begins to boil, add the gnocchi. Once the gnocchi float to the top of the water, cook for 3 to 4 minutes more. Drain the gnocchi and mix into the pan with the sauce.

5. Serve the meal. Divide the chicken and gnocchi between four bowls and garnish with shredded Parmesan cheese.

Suggested Wine: Aglianico Rose (Terradora)

Spaghetti Puttanesca

INGREDIENTS

1 jar Passata tomato gustare vita

2 tbsp. fresh parsley

1/3 cup black and green olives (pitless)

1 can of anchovies, in olive oil

1 tsp. chili pepper flakes

2 tbsp. Gustare vita capers

3 cloves fresh garlic

8 oz. multi-color cherry tomatoes

1 bottle Gustare vita extra virgin olive oil

Salt and pepper to taste

1. Wash fresh produce, chop basil, cut cherry tomatoes, dice garlic, and chop olives.

2. Put a large sauce pan on the stove, fill ¾ with warm water. Add 1 oz. of salt and bring to boil then add pasta and cook according to box directions.

3. In a large frying pan, add olive oil, garlic, chili peppers, and anchovies using some oil from can. Cook for a few minutes, then add cherry tomatoes, cook for 2 minutes. Add Passata tomato gustare vita, then capers and olives as well as fresh parsley. Cook for 25-30 minutes until sauce thickens. Strain pasta, plate the dish and top with parsley. This is a very traditional recipe from Naples, Italy.

Suggested Wine: Rosso del Piceno (red wine)

We have delicious fruits and veggies, whole grains, and proteins to keep meals appetizing, enjoyable and nutritious!

For your snacking pleasure, we carry a variety of high protein and high fiber snacks to help keep you full and satisfied.

• Healthy Meal and Recipe Ideas, already planned out for you on Hy-Vee.com under the recipes and ideas tab; check out a wide array of heart healthy, diabetic friendly, and weight control options.

• Mealtime Kits, Be a chef without the stress. With fresh ingredients and chef-inspired recipes, you can take charge and cook delicious homemade meals right from your kitchen. Plus, there’s no subscription or monthly fee. Just pick up a kit in store or online when it’s convenient for you.

• Make your grocery list on aislesonlineTM; order your groceries and let us shop them for you! You can pick up at the store or have them delivered to you at home.

Thinking ahead is key to maintaining a healthy lifestyle; let Hy-Vee help! HEALTHY

Two tones purse: Everyone loves a good handbag! A handbag can pull an entire look together and truly help as you are planning out your other accessories.

Petal Earrings: Authentic leather locally made earrings by Rainy Day Girl Designs! Lightweight, fun, and flirty.

BY ASHLEIGH MOELTER The Refinery

The Shoes: A bootie with a zip on the side! It’s the subtle details that make all the difference.

1. WORK ATTIRE

Keeping it classy with a fun jacket

2. A NIGHT OUT ON THE TOWN

Backpacks on trend

Dress & Poncho

Thigh high boots

Fun graphic tees to keep the momentum going

3. ATHLEISURE

Highheeled booties

Accessorize

Basics should be your new buddy

Blanket Scarf

Vest, flats and a hat

Distressed denim

Casual kicks

4. EVERYDAY WEAR

Release hem denim

Plain Sweater

A New Year and a New Organized You!

With the many resolutions we make at the beginning of each New Year, becoming more organized and living with less clutter is a popular resolution choice. With that said, it should come as no surprise that January is “Get Organized Month.”

How’s this for resolution inspiration? Clutter is derived from the English word “clotter” which means to coagulate. So think of the things in your home that you don’t use or love anymore, plugging up and suffocating your living space! What a positive change to your life by living with what you need and love and to be organized once and for all!

One thing we could all use more of, whether to accomplish our resolutions or just be at peace, is time. So many things eat away at our time without us really giving them much thought or consideration. It’s important to prioritize how you want your time in your life to be spent. By having less stuff and clutter in your home, you’ll naturally become organized and discover more time for yourself! Less clutter + more organized = more time for you! When you’re organized, your days go as planned, and you are productive and efficient. This naturally leads to more time to indulge in a little “me” time. (You’ll have time to treat yourself to a latte, manicure, massage, or whatever your pleasure!) Or maybe it’s “we” time with your spouse/family/friends and you can go explore, go to a movie, or just have more time together.

And what a bonus, living with less clutter and being organized works hand-in-hand with your other New Year resolutions. Did you know it is scientifically proven that living with less stuff will make you feel lighter and change how you eat and sleep so you may actually lose weight? Being organized and knowing what you have will also save you money by not purchasing duplicates thereby supporting any financial resolutions you may have!

To free up more time for you this month, let’s do a couple of things. First, as simple as this seems, eliminate sources of paper clutter and telemarketing coming into your home or personal phone lines. You’ll be amazed at the time this frees up. Try these sites to:

Jayne Jensen Your Organized Home www.yourorganizedhome.com

• Eliminate junk mail: www.dmachoice.org

• Eliminate unwanted catalogs: www.catalogchoice.org

• Phonebook opt out: www.dexknows.com

• Credit and insurance offers: www.optoutprescreen.com (be prepared to give your social security number)

• Telemarketing phone calls: www.donotcall.gov

Second, take the time to clean up all of those unwanted emails in your inbox. If you did any online shopping for the holidays, you’ve probably gotten a slew of new messages and solicitations in your inbox. You’ll be amazed at how much time it takes to go through your inbox with that added clutter. Taking two minutes a day, hit “unsubscribe” as much as you can to keep only company notifications you really want and use.

On a side note, pay attention to your time spent on the internet. Be clear on your search goals, dedicating only so much time to look. It’s no surprise how one thing leads to another and suddenly twenty minutes are gone. You can’t get that time back. Now is the time to conscientiously determine what gets your time and what doesn’t. Make it matter.

More answers can be found on the RVW Facebook page.

SHAWN: Receiving a Cabbage Patch Doll in the 1980s when none could be found anywhere.

ROBERT: Be kind, it doesn’t cost a thing and it profits all you meet.

LISA: Taking all my medicine when I am supposed to! I’ve stayed out of the hospital this way— big success.

Amber: I set a goal to read 250 books in 2018, and currently have read 320!

DEA: To lose weight by eating healthy and exercising every day; it all has helped me focus and only regret I didn’t start earlier.

LETICIA: I always make a resolution to read at least 100 books a year. I also have made resolutions to be a more positive person. I typically choose books that help me stay on track!

APRIL: My goal was to upload pictures from my phone to my computer each month. It was a good goal and I was successful at it!

MARIAH: Paying it forward at least one time a month.

CALLIE: To go out and make more friends after moving back to town. And I did! I joined community theatre, took new dance classes, and made the conscious effort to be more outgoing. It worked and I now have a group of fun and super supportive people around me.

LORRAINE: My New Year’s resolution was to not make a New Year’s resolutions and just strive every day to be a better person inside and out!

ANDREW: Well after being diagnosed with MS in Oct last year, it would be that I wasn’t going to let it dominate my life and thinking. Did pretty well this year until i had two disks in my back start bulging and just got diagnosed with the beginning stage of glaucoma. Don’t get old folks, stuff goes to pot PDQ.

LOIS: Patience.

ROBYN: Positive mindset. I try (and mostly succeed) at avoiding negative language. For example, if you miss a client deadline or take a while to respond to an email, rather than starting the email with “sorry it took so long” rephrase that to “thank you for your patience.” Also, always be thankful and grateful, minimal complaining. It was a game changer for my mood.

ADAM: In 2017, I made a resolution to get into shape. 70 lbs later, I was in the best shape of my life. 2018’s resolution was to keep it off. For 2019, I’m focusing on spirituality, learning how to meditate, and be as much of a light to others as I can.

ANew Year!

Are you ready for 2019? I want you to have the very best year possible so I am going to give you some of the most valuable tips I give to my coaching clients.

Let’s start by identifying where you might be in your life right now. You’re probably in one of three situations.

1. You’re on top of the world in your personal and professional life. You feel fulfilled and can’t imagine anything better than what you have going on right now.

2. You feel like things in your life are “right,” but yet you just can’t figure out how to pull it all together into creating more fulfillment.

3. You feel stuck, unmotivated, and hopeless about your future.

I’ll address each of these categories next, but first let me share with you the one thing that will substantially improve your life no matter which of these criteria describes your current situation—gratitude.

Gratitude is defined as “ the quality of being thankful; readiness to show appreciation for, and to return kindness.”

That seems easy enough to understand, but did you know that people who actively practice gratitude are generally more optimistic, and even healthier and wealthier? It’s true! People who practice gratitude are able to acknowledge the good things in their lives and see those things as being outside of themselves. In other words, they realize that good things are happening that they have nothing to do with.

If you aren’t sure of how to begin being more grateful, let me help. One of the very best ways is to begin to notice beauty in nature. A perfect snowflake on your windshield is a miracle of creation—and not the threat of an impending snowstorm. See the tulip that pushes through the earth in April, or the perfection of a field of wheat. By taking the time to be aware of your natural surroundings, you are starting to cultivate gratitude.

Another way is to start a gratitude journal. I write in my journal every morning. I always begin with the things that I am grateful for, even if some days it’s only the coffee in my cup and the warm sweater over my

shoulders. It’s truly amazing how noticing small things like hot water, a warm home, or even that you are alive another day, can begin to create an entirely different view of the world around you.

Prayer and meditation are two more ways to practice gratitude. Quieting your mind for a few minutes allows the positive thoughts to enter. Try it.

Now that you know how to practice gratitude, how’s that going to help you prepare for 2019? Let’s look at each of the categories I gave you above.

1. If you are blissfully happy in your personal and professional life, you are probably already practicing gratitude, but what about being a blessing to others? Giving back when we’ve been blessed increases our health and wealth. A fulfilled life is about human connections and not just the riches we acquire. If this is the place that you are in, begin to find ways that you can give to those around you. A smile, a hug, and thoughtful gestures are the best way to begin.

2. If there are so many promising things happening in your life, but you feel stuck and can’t figure out which path is the best, I encourage you to write down the goals for your future. Is it freedom to travel, more friends, a new place to live, or developing a creative outlet? Once you have written down your main objectives, take a look at those promising happenings and put them into categories. By doing this, you will uncover a direction. And if you still can’t decide, ask someone who knows you to look at the list. Often times another pair of eyes is exactly what we need.

3. Finally, if you feel hopeless about your life, I encourage you to find something in your life that is good. It might only be that you are alive and able to use your imagination. If you can imagine what you would like your future to be, your brain will see this as another reality and will look for ways to make it happen. Sometimes, having someone to help you sort out those dreams can be the best thing that you can do for yourself.

Whatever your current situation, I hope that you see the joy and possibilities that 2019 can bring!

Happy New Year!

Heidi Anne Nelson OLMA Life Coaching One Life Make it Awesome

FIRST IMPRESSIONS COUNT - INVEST IN YOUR UNIQUE PROFESSIONAL HEADSHOTS TODAY!

TO HAVE YOUR EVENT LISTED

E-mail Ruth Klossner at cowladyruth@gmail.com by the 10th of the month. Listings are generally for events that are free to the public, or are fundraisers. Listings will be published as space allows and at the discretion of the editor.

Sat., Jan. 5

• Snowshoe Adventure Hike, Minneopa State Park, 5 mi W on Hwy 68 & 169, Mankato, 1 pm. Info: 507-384-8890 or scott. kudelka@state.mn.us.

• Beginner Snowshoe Hike, Ft. Ridgely State Park, 72404 Co Rd 30, Fairfax, 10 am. Info: 507384-8890 or scott.kudelka@ state.mn.us.

Mon., Thurs. & Sat., Jan. 7, 10 & 12

• Auditions for ‘Drinking Habits,’ State Street Theater, 1 N State St, New Ulm. 7-9 pm Mon & Thurs, 1-3 pm Sat. Info: statestreettheater@gmail.com or 507-359-9990.

Thurs., Jan. 10

• Climatology with Kenneth Blumenfeld, DNR Headquarters, New Ulm, 1:30-3 pm. Info: castnu@newulmtel.net.

Sat., Jan. 12

• Mankato Craft Beer Expo, Verizon Wireless Center, 1 Civic Center Plaza, Mankato, 3-6 pm. Info: 507-389-3000.

• Family Snowshoeing, Ney Nature Center, 28238 Nature Center Lane, Henderson, 1-2:30 pm. Info & registration: 507357-8580 or info@neycenter. org.

• Granite Games Throwdown, New Ulm CrossFit, 509 20th St. N, New Ulm, 8 am-5 pm. Info: thegranitegames.com/.

Sun., Jan. 13

• Lafayette Lions’ Dad’s Belgian Waffle Breakfast, Community Center, Lafayette, 9 am-1 pm. Info: 507-240-0048.

GO. BE. DO. CON NECT.

Sun., Jan. 13, 20 & 27

• Life Living Series—Facing Alzheimer’s Together. Community Center, 600 N. German, New Ulm, 2 pm; Public Library, 120 N Cass Ave, Springfield, 6:30 pm. Info: 507-359-8331.

Mon., Jan. 14

• Savvy Social Security Workshop, Redeemer Lutheran Church, 718 S Broadway St, New Ulm, 5-8 pm. Info: 507-354-4413 or emily.mullenbach@thrivent. com.

Tues., Jan. 15

• Scott Co. Hist. Soc. presents ‘Prohibition in Scott County,’ KingsPath Senior Living, 125 Commerce Dr W, Belle Plaine, 2 pm. Info: 952-873-5800 or eaberger@tlha.

• Savvy Social Security Workshop, Community Center, Gibbon, 5-8 pm. Info: 507-3544413 or emily.mullenbach@ thrivent.com.

Wed., Thurs. & Fri., Jan. 16-18

• Red Cross Bloodmobile, Vogel Arena. 1-7 pm Wed, 12-6 Thurs, 8:30 am-1:30 pm Fri.

Thurs., Jan. 17

• Ney Senior Learning Series— Blue Zones, Ney Nature Center, 28238 Nature Center Lane, Henderson, 12-1:30 pm. Info & registration: 507-357-8580 or info@neycenter.org.

Thurs., Jan. 17 & Feb. 21

• Searles Senior Club, Bar & Grill, 13014 Main St, Searles, 12 pm. Info: 507-217-7886.

Wed.-Fri., Jan. 16-18

• Red Cross Bloodmobile, Vogel Arena, New Ulm. 1-7 pm Wed., 12-6 pm Thurs, 8:30 am-1:30 pm Fri.

Thurs., Jan. 17

• The Women’s Forum Launch Party, The Retz 227, 518 Center Street, New Ulm, 5-7 pm. Info & RSVP: launchpartytwf. eventbrite.com.

Fri., Jan. 18

• Annual Chamber Event—80’s Prom—Stairway to Hutchinson, Crow River Winery, 14848 Hwy 7 E, Hutchinson, 5:30-10 pm. Info: explorehutchinson.com or info@explorehutchinson.com.

Fri.-Sun., Jan. 18-20

• Southern Minnesota Pond Hockey Championship, Sisseton Lake, Fairmont. Info: 507-2358585 or 800-657-3280.

Sat., Jan. 19

• Cross-Country Skiing with Naturalist, Flandrau State Park, New Ulm, 10 am. Info: 507-3848890 or scott.kudelka@state. mn.us.

• Winter Fest, Minneopa State Park, 5 mi W on Hwy 68 & 169, Mankato, 5-8 pm. Info: 507-3848890 or scott.kudelka@state. mn.us.

• Beginner Cross-Country Skiing, Ney Nature Center, 28238 Nature Center Lane, Henderson, 1-3 pm. Info & registration: 507-357-8580 or info@neycenter.org.

• Full Moon Snowshoe, Ney Nature Center, 28238 Nature Center Lane, Henderson, 5-6:30 pm. Info & registration: 507357-8580 or info@neycenter. org.

Sat., Jan. 19-Sun., Jan. 27

• Bold & Cold—Owatonna’s Winter Festival. Info: boldcoldowatonna.com.

Sun., Jan. 20

• ‘Elvis Forever,’ State Street Theater, New Ulm.

Mon., Jan. 21 & Jan. 28

• Mortuary Science 101 with Eric Warmka, Minnesota Valley Funeral Home, New Ulm, 1:30 pm. Info: newulmseniors.org/ castlecourses.html.

Fri., Jan. 25

• Remember the Good Old Days of WCCO Radio with Curtis Beckmann, KingsPath Senior

Living, 125 Commerce Dr W, Belle Plaine, 1:30 pm. Info: 952873-5800 or eaberger@tlha.

Sat., Jan. 26

• Fairmont Lakes Foundation Ice Fishing Tournament, Gomsrud Park & Fairmont Lakes, 8-10:45 am sign-in. Info: 507-235-5225.

Sat.-Sun., Jan. 26-27

• Anthony Ford Pond Hockey, Spring Lake Park, No. Mankato. Info & registration: anthonyford99.com or 507-388-3482.

Sun., Jan. 27

• Brunch & Bags, Community Center, Springfield, 9:30-1 pm; beanbag tourney 1 pm.

Tues., Jan. 29

• Screening of the Documentary ‘(Mid)West of Somalia,’ Library lower level, 17 N. Minnesota, New Ulm, 1:30-3 pm. Info: newulmseniors.org/castle.html or castlelli@newulmtel.net.

• Beer & Hymns, Main Street Sports Bar, Hutchinson, 6-8 pm. Info: riverofhopehutchinson. org or office@riverofhopehutchinson.org.

Fri.-Sun., Feb. 1-10

• Winterfest, citywide, St. Peter. Info: stpeterchamber.com or 507-934-3400.

Sat., Feb. 2

• Nicollet Legion Fish Fry, Legion Friendship Hall, 715 Third Street, Nicollet, 11 am-7 pm. Info: 507-232-3031.

• Polar Plunge, Hallett’s Pond, N 3rd St. & Old Minnesota Ave, St. Peter, 1 pm. Info: plungemn. org/events/st-peter/#down or 507-934-3400.

• Mad Bobber Ice Fishing Contest, North Shore Park, Madison Lake, 11 am-3 pm. Info: 507-2433216.

• Historic Building Snowshoe Hike, Flandrau State Park, New Ulm, 1 pm. Info: 507-384-8890 or scott.kudelka@state.mn.us.

• Snowshoeing with the Naturalist, Ft. Ridgely State Park, 72404 Co Rd 30, Fairfax, 10 am. Info: 507-384-8890 or scott.kudelka@ state.mn.us.

Sat., Feb. 2, Mar. 2, Apr. 6

• Faribault Winter Farmers’ Market, Paradise Center for the Arts, 321 Central Ave N, Faribault, 1-4 pm. Info: Facebook or Instagram.

Sun., Feb. 3

• 38th Annual Ice Fishing Derby, Sleepy Eye Lake, Hwy 4 N, Sleepy Eye, 12-3 pm. Info: 507-220-5101 or 507-276-3286.

Mon., Feb. 4, 11 & 18

• Conversational Spanish, Community Center, New Ulm, 3:45 pm. Info: newulmseniors.org/castlecourses.html.

Tues., Feb. 5

• Start Up Smart, Chamber of Commerce, 1 N Minnesota St, New Ulm, 6-7:30 pm. Info: 507233-4300 or chamber@newulm. com.

Thurs., Feb. 7

• Author Event with Jill Kalz, Community Center, 601 S. Washington Ave, St. Peter, 7 pm. Info: 507-934-3048 ext 7004.

Sat., Feb. 9

• New Ulm Medical Center Foundation Have A Heart Gala, Event Center, New Ulm, 6-10 pm. Info: sara.schauer@allina.com.

• Winter Slam Demo Derby. Info: stpeterchamber.com or 507-9343400.

Sun., Feb. 10

• Quartet for the End of Time, Good Counsel Chapel, 170 Good Counsel Dr, Mankato, 2 pm. Info: 507-625-8880.

• Freeze Your Caboose Off 4-Mi. Run/Walk, Hickory Inn, 1000 Co Rd 104, St. James, 12:30 pm. Info: 507-375-3333 or stjchamber@ gmail.com.

• Ice Fishing Outing, St. James Lake, St. James, 11:30 am.

Mon., Feb. 11

• Oak Hills Foundation Bowling Classic, Concordia Lanes, New Ulm, 11:30 am-3 pm. Info: 507359-2120 or director@oakhillsfoundation.com.

Fri., Feb. 15

• Valentine’s Day Dinner with the OK Factor, Red Rock Center for the Arts, 222 E Blue Earth Ave,

Fairmont, 6 pm. Info: 507-2359262 or redrockcenter@frontiernet.net.

Sat., Feb. 16

• New Ulm’s 1st Annual Arctic Plunge benefiting the fire dept., 214 N Minnesota St, New Ulm. Info: newulm.com or 507-3542185.

• The New Standards, Verizon Center Grand Hall, 1 Civic Center Plaza, Mankato, 7:30 pm. Info: 507-625-8880.

• Gustavus Choir Home Concert, Christ Chapel, Gustavus Adolphus College, St. Peter, 7:30 pm. Info: 507-933-7013.

• Candlelight Event, Ney Nature Center, 28238 Nature Center Lane, Henderson, 6-8:30 pm. Info: 507-357-8580 or info@ neycenter.org.

• Snowshoe Hike, Minneopa State Park, 5 mi W of Mankato off Hwy 68/169, 10 am. Info: 507-3848890 or scott.kudelka@state. mn.us.

Sun., Feb. 17

• Gustavus Symphony Orchestra & Gustavus Jazz Ensemble Home

Concert, Bjorling Recital Hall, Gustavus Adolphus College, St. Peter, 1:30 pm. Info: 507-9337013.

• Butterfield Veterans Memorial Fundraiser, Community Hall, Odin, 9 am-2 pm.

Thurs., Feb. 21

• Mingle With A Purpose—Heels and All, Event Center, New Ulm, 5 pm. Info & tickets: 507-233-4300 or chamber@newulm.com.

• Ney Senior Learning Series— Snowshoeing, Ney Nature Center, 28238 Nature Center Lane, Henderson, 12-1:30 pm. Info & registration: 507-357-8580 or info@neycenter.org.

Thurs.-Sun., Feb. 21-24

Our staff is professional, knowledgeable and committed to serving you, whether it’s for closing and title services or tax-deferred exchanges. Our dedicated customer service and competitive closing costs allow you to rest easy knowing it’s getting done and getting done right.

• ‘Telemachy,’ Anderson Theatre, Gustavus Adolphus College, St. Peter. 8 pm Thurs-Sat, 4 pm Sun. Info & tickets: gustavustickets. universitytickets.com or 507-9337590. 507.385.4459

Real estate transactions can be stressful, and the paperwork mind-boggling. It doesn’t have to be.

Howard Haugh Connie Froehlich

Qualified Intermediary for tax deferred §1031 exchanges

Kelsey Goettlicher Cassie Winters Located in the Community Bank Building

How to use Facebook Live for your business

Lights, Camera, Action. When you do Facebook Live, you may feel like you are putting on your own show and—in a way—you are. However, before you hit the panic button, here are a few tips to make you look like a seasoned pro without all the stress.

Before going live, you want to check your signal. If you have a weak signal, your “Go Live” button will be grayed out. Make sure that, when you go live, you don’t have any delays with internet connection or your video may have a delay. We’ve all seen the videos where the person’s voice has a delay and things don’t sync or it seems to glitch. When that happens, your audience will tune out. Video quality is the most important factor for 67 percent of viewers when watching a livestream broadcast.

Facebook Live generates three times longer views than other video. According to Livestream, 80 percent of consumers would rather watch live video from a brand than read a blog, and 82 percent prefer live video from a brand to social posts. With the increase in consumption of video, adding video to your overall marketing efforts is a good strategy.

There are several ways to create a video on Facebook. The first is with the app on your phone where you literally go live and are in the moment. Going live with your phone is the quickest way to get your live video out there. You can simply go to your business page and start a live video. One suggestion if you are in a busy location or outside is to invest in a microphone that you can simply attach to your clothing. This will help pick up your voice and cut down on background noises. You can also use a tripod for your phone to keep it more stable.

The second way is to create a video, then upload it to your business page. You can publish it and viewers will be able to tune in and chat live and then it will be saved as a post.

Holly Sobrack Westbrack Marketing

The third way is to use a webcam and microphone at your computer. You can go to your Facebook page. When you “Go Live,” Facebook will ask for access to the camera. Once you allow it, you will see yourself on your screen. If you use this method, make sure you are in a space where there are no background interruptions. We’ve all seen videos where someone is talking with passion when someone walks in and disrupts the entire flow.

You can also premiere the video and select a date and time you want it to go out. This is not “live” but allows you to utilize video on your page. Using this method, you can record something, edit it, and make it as professional as you want. Then, upload it and schedule it to premiere. This will show your fans that you have a video coming out and to watch for it.

You can use Facebook Live to interact with customers in real time. Answer their questions, show them things about your business, and build trust. Consider doing a live Q&A or a behind the scenes. For longer videos, consider doing interviews, let viewers meet your team, or even have a master class. After all, it’s your show and you can do what you want. It’s recommended that you go live for at least 10 minutes although you can stay live for up to four hours at a time.

When you are live, ask for interactions. Ask questions like, “If you can hear me, give me a like,” so that you have more interaction on the video.

Be sure to finish with a closing line like “Thanks for tuning in!” or “I’ll be going live again next week.” After you’ve wrapped up, wait a few seconds until you hear the “ping” indicating your broadcast is complete. That’s it, you will be live with your business in no time.

It’s that time of the year again, and people are busy setting and trying to stick to their New Year’s resolution. It turns out your pet has some resolutions they would like to set as well.

Clean eating

Who doesn’t love the food from the kitchen table, Milk Bones, and PupPeroni Stix? Did you know that one Pup-Peroni fed to a 10 pound dog is like an adult human eating a Little Debbie Fudge Brownie? As humans, we often show our love and affection to our dogs with food. Try showing your dog that you love him by taking him for an extra walk or rubbing his belly a little longer. Although treats add up, be sure that you are feeding Fido an appropriate life staged diet that is measured at each meal.

Exercise more

Every dog and cat requires different amounts and types of exercise. Some pets are adrenaline junkies and love cardio and others just prefer the walk from the couch to the kitchen. With winter upon us, it can be hard to fit in walks. If a walk isn’t an option for Fido, try tossing toys or treats down the hallway, hiding toys around the house, and playing ball before bed. For Fluffy, try bringing home a new cardboard box, placing ping pong balls in the bathtub, interacting with a wand toy or laser light, or taking out a brown paper bag. Both cats and dogs can also benefit from eating meals out of pet treat puzzle toys. Not only do these provide physical exercise but they also provide mental stimulation as well. No gym membership needed for these critters!

Personal hygiene

When was the last time your dog or cat was brushed? Have they needed a new fresh hairdo? Help your pet freshen up and feel a little bit younger! February is dental health month. If you are smelling your pet’s bad breath, then chances are you are noticing dental disease. Help your pet out by getting those teeth cleaned and radiographed to be sure they are not suffering from any pain or discomfort. Bad breath makes it hard to make new friends….and snuggle with in the morning.

New Year’s Resolutions has Gone to the Dogs… and Cats!

Nicole Lueck (CVT) Minnesota Valley Pet Hospital

Learn a new hobby or skill

Our pets spend a lot of time sitting alone at home. They are often understimulated which can lead to unwanted behaviors. Teach Fido how to fetch the paper, give a high five, play dead or roll over. Teach Fluffy how to sit. When pets learn new behaviors, it increases their confidence and those “feel good feelings.”

Kick the bad habits

Does it drive you crazy when Fido barks out the window or when Fluffy scratches on the couch? Instead of spending so much time getting angry at your pet for doing a “natural behavior,” teach them what an appropriate response should be. Show Fluffy that a better place to scratch is on the fancy new cat tree in the living room by rewarding her for using it, and make the couch unavailable or less satisfying. Instead of yelling at Fido for barking, redirect him and get his attention on something better (a ball or a puzzle toy).

Update your pet’s identification

Does your pet have a collar with an ID tag? Are they microchipped? Microchipping is a great option because it’s something that never comes off and can’t be lost. It can however, be inaccurate. In order for a chip to be accurate, you need to keep your phone number and address updated through the appropriate company.

Make a date with your vet for your pet

The best way to stay ahead of illnesses is to visit your vet at least once a year. Since pets age quicker than humans do, it’s all about prevention and catching things early.

Limit Netflix and TV time

After all, you don’t want your pooch letting any spoilers slip. Plus, owners just get jealous that they don’t have that kind of time.

New Year, New Landscape

Ever since we bought a house, landscape renovation has been a constant item on my list of yearly personal goals. I’ve had to pace myself, lowering my expectations to keep from feeling like I’ll never get everything done. It’s easy to be overwhelmed by landscaping projects, especially when you lack time, vision, funds, or experience.

If you, too, want to upgrade your outdoor space but keep getting thwarted by uncertainty or overwhelmedness, get out of your own damn way! Even modest acts of landscaping can vastly improve a bare, overgrown, or disorganized yard, and I have a few tips for starting the process.

Start small

My best advice is to fully complete one small project at a time, instead of focusing on the whole yard all at once. For me, this process has meant willfully ignoring the unruly, anxiety-inducing wildflower patches in our south gardens for two full seasons while I prioritized our vegetable garden and boulevard plantings instead. Now that each of these smaller pieces is managed, I can move on to another small section this year— probably the wildflower patches.

It’s also completely fine to start your new landscape projects with plants that are literally small. Depending on the circumstances, smaller/younger plants will often out-compete their larger competitors over time, because older nursery-grown plants can struggle with transplant shock. You can also save time and labor by planting physically smaller trees, shrubs, and perennials.

Add containers

An easy, underwhelming project that can really transform your outdoor space is the addition of a container planting or two. Container gardening is user-friendly for beginners and seasoned gardeners alike. If you’re looking to make a significant change in the way your yard feels, I recommend getting your hands on the largest container that’s within your budget. Big planters often make the most design sense if they’re filled with big plants—even trees and shrubs can live in containers for a season or two.

Place the containers somewhere you’re likely to see them frequently, maybe even from inside the house when you look out the window. If you opt for smaller planters, place them in groupings of two or three, using stairs, bricks, or shelving to create differences in planter height. The plantings themselves can be simple or complex. One large plant might fill an entire small planter by itself, while a trio of diversely-sized plants could

LAURA SCHWARZ

New Ulm native, is a horticulturist and writer in Minneapolis

spill from a bigger planter. Change the plantings seasonally for maximum effect.

Divide the plants you

already have

Whether you’re a serious gardener or you just bought your first pair of gardening gloves, chances are pretty high that there are already ornamental plants on your property. Most herbaceous perennial plants are easily divided and transplanted—which means you have access to free plants. If you really like some of the plants that you already have, dig them up and cut their root systems into pieces—but do your research first, please! Then, use those brand new plants to populate other spots in your yard. One basic design concept is simply repetition. Repetition can bring cohesiveness and continuity to a landscape, so don’t feel guilty about getting your money’s worth out of a single prolific perennial. I sometimes even divide my brandnew perennials before planting them.

If you have a friend or friendly gardener neighbor who has a plant that you absolutely love, don’t be afraid to ask them if it’s possible for you to have a small division of it. Speaking from experience, most gardeners love sharing their plants when possible.

Remove the plants you hate

I mentioned my crazy wildflower “garden” earlier. It’s first on my list of small manageable projects for next season. Even though I’m a little undecided about the final design concept, I did some work last fall that was intended to keep myself from procrastinating in the spring. I prepped the area by tearing out most of the plants that I know I don’t want to keep. This means that spring will expose a lot of empty space in this garden bed, and I’m hoping that the bareness of it will encourage me to act before the weeds do.

Ask for help

I’ve met many homeowners who guiltily admit to me that they don’t know anything about gardening. It seems people think that gardening is something they should automatically know how to do by virtue of merely owning land. Landscape design and maintenance are skills that you can certainly learn, but it takes time and practice to excel at them. Luckily, the stakes are pretty low—your landscaping failures don’t reflect your personal merit. If you’re struggling, ask a professional for some advice—or maybe even a day or two of their services. It might be the jumpstart you need to accomplish this year’s landscape transformation.

A

New Year

Better You!

SAUNA POD + FOOT SOAK + HIMALAYAN SALT ROOM = ALL FOR $85

SAUNA POD

The Alpha Fuzion Sauna Spa Capsule is the world’s most versatile multi-purpose spa machine. As your own personal sanctuary of wellness and relaxation, the Alpha Fuzion Spa Capsule, includes a dry heat air sauna, adjustable massage vibrations, aromatherapy, a contour bed, soothing back heat, ionized face air, and a sound system.

• Increases Metabolism

• Burns Calories

• Reduce Cellulite

• Detoxification

• Relaxation

• Stress & Pain Relief

• Infrared Light Therapy

A detox foot soak makes joint movement easier in the knees and elbows. Detoxification also promotes weight loss, as it rids your body of crippling chemicals and raises your metabolism to higher levels.

• Reducing Inflammation

• Balanced PH Level

• Liver Cleanse

• Kidney Cleanse

• Joint Pain

• Full-body Purge

• Immune Boosting

• Improved Lympthatic System

• Reduce Bone Pain

• Promotes Weight Loss

• Toxin Removal

• Reducing Headaches

• Easing Constipation

• Mental Clarity

HIMALAYAN SALT ROOM

• Open Air Breathing

• Increase Blood Circulation

• Massage

• Skin Care

• Rejuvenate & Relax

• Improves Sleep

• Soothing Environment

FOOT SOAKS

Halotherapy, or breathing in of salt vapor, takes the healing properties of salt into the respiratory system. Dry salt therapy is a NATURAL detoxification for your airways and skin. “Halo”, coming from the Greek word for salt, Halotherapy is the use of vapor utilizing micro particles of salt to promote optimal health and wellness.

• Strengthen Immune System

• Improves Respiratory & Sinus Issues

• Helps Skin Issues-Psoriasis & eczema

• Reduces Inflammation in airways

• Relaxation & Meditation

• Improves Emotional Health & Reduces Stress, Anxiety & Depressions, SAD

• Eliminate Toxins

• Balance PH Levels

• Detox Your Lungs

• Reduces Allergies

• Reduces Asthma

• Balance Mood

• Heal the Body

Letting yourself go is not an option. This time of year is about getting rid of the excuses, right?

It’s time to lose the weight, look your best, so you can confidently post on Instagram with #nofilter because, yes, life really is picture perfect.

This is the story we’re sold every year and I’m here to say, I’m not buying it.

I don’t believe you have to control the way you look in order to feel good in your skin. In fact, feeling comfortable in your body and confidant in who you are isn’t supposed to be hard. It’s one of the most natural things in the world.

Think about it, what kind of universe would create beings that naturally dislike themselves? When I feel overwhelmed by the pressure to control how others perceive me, I look at my two dogs, Jack and Brody.

They don’t compulsively check themselves out in mirrors, suck in their stomach, then frantically run around in the backyard trying to lose their belly fat. That would be crazy. When you see young children playing, they don’t do it either.

So why do we do that? Why does feeling at home in your body seem like the hardest thing to do right now?

The reason is because those critical thoughts aren’t coming from you. The “you’re not good enough” thoughts come from external sources pressuring you to be someone or something else in order to fit their definition of beauty and success.

We’re so ready to give into these pressures because they mostly come from people who are closest to us. Your parents, siblings, friends, and teachers play a huge role in shaping your perception of yourself. This is part of your social conditioning.

As women, we’re raised to believe our worth comes from how pretty we are. If people say you have beauty, you’re afraid you don’t have enough and you always want more. If people say you don’t have beauty, you’ll do anything to get it.

You can see how either way your hand is dealt, the rules make it impossible for you to win. Let’s be real, we’re all getting older every day and—in our culture—aging is something gross to be avoided at all costs.

So instead of playing a rigged game—set up to convince you to buy things to make you feel beautiful and worthy—what if you made your own game?

Instead of looking at your body as this thing you need to deal with, tolerate, and “work on” until the day you die, what if you believed it’s not supposed to be hard?

This year, you can make a new rule by welcoming the idea that liking yourself is natural and easy when you focus on the things that really matter. Things like your personality, kindness, or generosity. Focus your internal conversation around things that truly shape your character instead of just what you look like.

A New Way to Think About Your Body in the New Year

Rebekah Storm Body Image Coach

Bringing it back to my dogs—who are truly the best teachers—I think about why they love me. It’s not because of who I try to be, it’s because of who I am effortlessly. The things that make you worthy, lovable, and important are the things you don’t have to force. They’re inherently part of who you are.

The trick is to practice listening to your intuition of who you are, instead of trying to fit into a mold created by others. That’s the secret to getting back to the truth you already have within you, that you’re already enough.

Rebekah Storm is a body image coach and confidence expert who helps perfectionists quiet their inner critic so they can enjoy life beyond their body. Her work is featured in Bustle, The Every Girl, Elite Daily, Thrive Global, Brit & Co, and more. When she’s not coaching private clients and hosting her top rated podcast, Confidently She, you will find Rebekah snuggled by the fire, watching Netflix with her dogs, and enjoying a glass of cabernet with her partner, Zack. You can find her at rebekahstorm.com and @therebekahstorm on all social media.

JanuaryMust

1. Flight Deck™ XM

Lindsey Vonn Snow

Goggle

PRIZM™ SNOW LENSES

Prizm™ is a revolution in lens optics built on decades of color science research.

Prizm™ lenses provide unprecedented control of light transmission resulting in colors precisely tuned to maximize contrast and enhance visibility.

Scheels

River Hills Mall

1850 Adams St. Mankato, MN 56001 507.386.7767 scheels.com

Shades

It’s not a shade and it’s not sheer; yet it raises, lowers, and offers an almost endless variety of light control and viewing options. Go from absolute privacy to softly filtered light or full on sunlight in just a matter of seconds. These transitions of light are created with dual layers of horizontal fabric segments alternating between sheer and semi-opaque or opaque fabric. Contact Blinds & More today to schedule your free consultation.

3. Treat Yourself this Year!

Start your year out right by treating yourself to a new handbag!

The color-block and crocodile texture is a hot trend this season and you are sure to make a statement with this in hand!

Happy New Year from The Refinery Boutique. The Refinery Boutique St. Peter, New Prague and Minneapolis, MN 507.934.5981 therefinerymn.com

4. New Arrival Accent Cabinet

With elegant decorative carved moldings in a French country finish over deeply-grained mindi veneer, featuring hand carved mahogany wood doors in aged ivory with detailed drawer pulls in antique bronze finished cast brass.

Nordaas American Homes

10091 State Hwy 22 Minnesota Lake, MN 56068

800-658-7076 nordaashomes.com

2. Allure Transition

2.

106568

1.

5.

4.

Baby, It's Cold Outside

Keep warm with your own blend of tea, coffee or infused water. It will stay warm in a double walled mug and you'll stay warm tucked under an ultra soft and fluffy throw. Snuggle in yourself or give it as a gift to someone you missed seeing over the holidays.

Larson's Home Furnishings

Redwood Falls, MN 507.637.8346

Marshall 507.532.6320 larsonfurniture.com

6. Detox for the New Year

A detox foot soak makes joint movement easier in the knees and elbows. It’s an alternative medicine option for people who suffer chronic lymphatic and bone pain. Detoxification also promotes weight loss, as it rids your body of crippling chemicals and raises your metabolism to higher levels.

Body Concepts LLC

1615 N. Riverfront Dr. Mankato, MN 56001

507.381.5467 bodyconceptsmankato. com

7. No fear winter gear Bundle up and enjoy the great outdoors with a variety of cold weather outerwear.

Insulated coveralls, mitten, hats & more for the entire family keep you cozy on your downhill run or neighborhood snowball fight!

C&S Supply 1951 N. Riverfront Dr. Mankato, MN 56001 507.387.1171 or 800.879.1938

8. Malgret Accent Chair

This contemporary accent chair will add a unique design element to any room in your home. The pinstripe fabric pattern and wood arms combine beautifully to give this piece a modern look, and the tight seat and back cushions contribute to the cleanlined profile that makes this chair feel sleek and comfortable all at once. Rooms and Rest

Furniture and Mattress

1760 Madison Ave. Mankato, MN 56001

1704 North State St. New Ulm, MN 56073 roomsandrest.com

9. Healthy, Vibrant Rejuvenated Skin Skin Essentials offers DERMALINFUSION®, an advanced skinresurfacing treatment that simultaneously exfoliates, extracts and infuses skin with condition-specific serums for an allinclusive treatment in one step to improve skin health, function and appearance with no downtime. Call Skin Essentials and schedule a free consultation to discover if DERMALINFUSION is right for you.

Skin Essentials, Mankato Clinic

1400 Madison Ave. Suite 400A Madison East Center Mankato, MN 56001 507.625.6599 skinessentialsmankato. com

5.

7.

8.

6.

JanuaryMust

HAVES

10. Contemporary Design

Our contemporary fireplace Slayton series offers affordable elegance that combines innovation and design with function and efficiency. This linear fireplace offers a sleek modern design that will revolutionize your contemporary design ideas. With a variety of media choices, accent lighting, enamel firebox lining, and dancing flames will make this fireplace a stunning addition to your home.

Glowing Hearth & Home 241 St. Andrews Dr. Mankato, MN 56001 507.345.8084

11. Mealtime Kits

Be a chef without the stress. With fresh ingredients and chefinspired recipes, you can take charge and cook delicious homemade meals right from your kitchen. Plus, there’s no subscription or monthly fee. Just pick up a kit in store or online when it’s convenient for you.

HyVee New Ulm 2015 S. Broadway St. New Ulm, MN 56073 507.354.8255

12. Kamado Joe Grills

An ancient, asian-style grill, the kamado is a thick-walled cooker that imparts rich, smoky flavor to meats, fish and vegetables. relatively unchanged for centuries, air flows through the grill’s ceramic body and out its vented dome, chunk charcoal comes to life as smoke and heat. Kamado Joe is proud to draw on that tradition, modernizing the grill’s classic style with unparalleled craftsmanship, innovative accessories and a range of flexible cooking surfaces. Simple to configure and cook on and easy to clean, all aspects of these grills were developed to make sure every grilling experience is as fun and rewarding as it can be. DeGrood's Home Store 220 St. Andrews Dr. Mankato, MN 56001 507.388.9391 shopdegroods.com

13. Kick Start Your New Year Performance Inspired was created to provide better all-natural, yet affordable, high performance sports nutrition for every athletic level. The formulas have ingredients you can trust and you’ll get results you can be proud of. Taste why all natural is better, only at your local Hy-Vee. Hy-Vee Hilltop 2010 Adams St. Mankato, MN 56001 507.625.9070

Hy-Vee Riverfront 410 S. Riverfront Dr. Mankato, MN 56001 507.625.1107

13.

What’s going on with the financial markets? Specifically, what’s behind the price swings of the past several weeks? And, more important, how should you, as an individual investor, respond?

To begin with, the recent volatility was not really all that extraordinary. The daily drops pushed U.S. stocks down about 10% from their recent record highs, although they have regained some of that ground. A 10% drop represents a “correction” – not a crash – and historically, corrections have occurred about once a year.

So what seems to have caused these market jitters? Here are the key culprits:

Anticipated slowdown in economic growth and corporate earnings. The stock market is forward-looking – investors make decisions based on what they think will happen. And right now, many investors are anticipating a slowdown in economic growth (partially due to higher tariffs and trade disputes) and corporate earnings (as the jolt from the corporate tax cuts begins to fade). We may still see reasonably strong economic growth and corporate profits, but possibly not at the same level as we had for much of 2018.

Rising interest rates – The Federal Reserve raised interest rates in 2018. While higher rates are not bad for all market sectors, they can slow the expansion plans for many businesses, resulting in reduced growth prospects. The Fed may continue its gradual rate increases, but investors are closely watching for any signs that might lead the Fed either to pause or increase rates more rapidly.

Slowing global economy – The global economy is growing more slowly than expected, resulting in lower returns for international stocks and a particularly sharp decline in emerging markets.

While it’s useful to understand the factors causing the recent stock market gyrations, you’ll want to focus primarily on what you can control. Consider these suggestions:

Keep realistic expectations. Try to maintain realistic expectations about how your investments are likely to perform over time. After five years in which the S&P 500’s returns have averaged almost 14% per year, we may well be in for a period of more typical returns, possibly in the 5% to 6% range. As always, though, there are no guarantees when it comes to anticipating the performance of the financial markets.

Review your mix of investments. From time to time, and sometimes in response to changing market conditions, you may need to change the mix of investments in your portfolio. So, for example, if higher market volatility makes you uncomfortable, you may want to consider adding bonds or other fixed-income vehicles, as these types of investments tend to stabilize stock-heavy portfolios during turbulent times.

Don’t get scared away from investing. You may not like seeing multihundred-point plunges in the Dow Jones Industrial Average, but don’t get scared off from investing. After all, recent stock market history has taught the value of patience: If you had given up on investing in March 2009, at the market’s low point in the Great Recession, you would have missed out on the 300 percent gains achieved before the current round of volatility. Of course, the market’s past performance can’t guarantee what will happen next.

The financial markets will always fluctuate – sometimes violently. But as an investor, you should strive for calmness, patience and discipline – because these attributes can help you look past today’s headlines toward the future you envision.

STOP AND SMELL THE HYGGE

Christmas has passed. The cheer and excitement of the season has either left your house, or is about to. The tree will come down soon, and the Elf on the Shelf has flown back to Santa. “Do you wanna build a snowman?” Oh, you did already? Well this is awkward. So…now what?

Now we wait. The world’s two most powerful warriors are patience and time, and we Minnesotans are her robust descendants. We reliably dream of our garden each night and gaze longingly over our lawn each day, trying to remember what it looked like back when it was green. We hunker down, turn on Netflix, and stave off our seasonal affective disorder by binge watching Island Life on HGTV. (Or is that just me?)

Winter creates idle moments. We must wait. If we don’t learn to find contentment in the required slowness of it, it will make us miserable. Try to rush headlong through it, and you’ll just end up rear ending someone. Or slipping and falling on the ice. Mother Nature does not hurry, and yet somehow she manages to finish everything she means to. We could take a page from her playbook with regard to enduring the crux of winter.

We could also borrow a play from the Danish. Year after year, Denmark ranks in the top three happiest countries in the world in the annual World Happiness Report. Experts at not just surviving, but thriving, in a cold, gray landscape, the Danish long ago adopted an important attitude toward their winter wonderland: hygge. Hygge (pronounced “hoo-gah”) is a Danish word used to describe a mood of coziness and comfortable hospitality. It is a quality of presence and an experience of togetherness rooted in a feeling of being warm, safe, comforted, and sheltered. Imagine this: fuzzy socks, warm blankets, and crock pots of comfort food all enjoyed in front of the glow of a fireplace with the person you most want to spend time with. This scene epitomizes the spirit of hygge.

Hygge is both a deeply personal experience and also an experience of engagement and relatedness to others. In hygge, we belong both to the moment and to each other. It is quality time spent with others in the most authentic way. No masks, no entertaining one another, no competition. You can’t “have” hygge. At its core, it is about being, not having. Google “hygge” right now and you’ll get 1,457,594 blogs with a Top 10 list of tips for incorporating hygge into your life today. (You’ll also be met with an unlimited number of paid affiliate advertising and clickbait, but that’s beside the point). And while these ideas are lovely, many of them are needless. Everything you need for hygge you already have—no purchase necessary.

Hygge is not about acquiring material things to attain a homey atmosphere. These are secondary to the central spirit of hygge— consideration. It is the consideration of remembering a birthday. It is the consideration of picking up your friend’s favorite bottle of wine when you know they’re coming over. It is also the more contemplative consideration of the crunch of the white sparkling scenery as you slowly tread upon the icy landscape.

It’s a kindness or caring for, the Danish word omsorg. This sense of being provided for that leaves a warm hygge feeling in not just the recipient, but the giver. Additionally, we can show ourselves omsorg. Not in big things, but small things. Taking time to find the remarkable in the mundane.

BY LORI MATHIOWETZ

Ritualizing the commonplace. One of my coworkers shows herself hygge by repotting our lobby décor to create new, fresh energy in our shared workspace. It is a ritual that happens almost like clockwork. My very hyggelig girlfriend always brings her favorite blankie to the movie theatre. Genius! How did I never think of that? Hygge is less action and more intention. Or perhaps attention? Probably a little of both.

Winter doesn’t have to be a long stretch of wallowing in frozen misery. It can be a contemplative rest, an oasis in an otherwise chaotic world that speeds by all too quickly. We just have to choose to embrace the season rather than be annoyed by its more uncomfortable parts. As local heroine Laura Ingalls Wilder said, “Cold is not so cold if you are not afraid of it.”

HEALTHY MOM. HEALTHY KIDS. HAPPY FAMILY.

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Whether it is a routine exam or care for a serious illness, our team of experts provides personalized care for women and children. From infancy to post-menopause, the care you need is close to home. Call to schedule an appointment.

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