River Valley Woman March 2020

She Knew She Had a Choice

She Chose OrthoEdge for Joint Replacement Surgery.

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She got quality care close to home. The OrthoEdge Joint Replacement Program features two of the most experienced orthopaedic care providers in the area, The Orthopaedic & Fracture Clinic and River’s Edge Hospital.

• 3,000 successful hip, knee and other orthopaedic surgeries

• 245 years of combined orthopaedic surgery experience

• 1 of 13 hospitals in the nation accredited as a hip and knee replacement center of excellence

Getting the care you deserve and trust, close to home, makes OrthoEdge the right choice for joint replacement surgery.

Learn more at OrthoEdgeMN.com

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BY EILEEN MADSEN Editor

let’s buy a house! Maybe not quite how the song goes but if you want to live the American Dream, you need some green. Purchasing a home can be stressful, anxietyinducing, scary, fun, and rewarding, all at the same time. It’s like a life-changing smoothie of spinach, bananas, strawberries and beet juice, but still ends up tasting good. Except for the spinach. And probably the beet juice.

To help take the bitter bits out of the house-buying process is star mortgage loan originator, Nicole Bangasser who makes herself at home on this month’s cover. Her belief in her own ability to be good at everything has paid off by landing her in the top one percent of producing loan officers, and top 20 percent in Minnesota. Her secret formula is a combination of joy, connecting with people, truly caring and going above and beyond. Puree and move in.

When my husband and I bought our house I thought I was gonna throw up, and not because we combined bananas and spinach. The house we were renting was offered to us to buy—something we had dreamed about as it was right on the Minnesota River. But when it became a real possibility, nausea ensued. What if we weren’t approved? What if the down payment, which was pretty much non-existent in our also non-existent savings account, was too much? And what about the 567 bats that lived in the attic and the asbestos siding? I have to say it was literally the most stressful—and yet, after our signing at the bank—the most euphoric experience.

Until a week later when I shot bolt upright in bed (and not in a good way) clutching my at-the-ready badminton racket to defend

against swooping creatures, and thought “We need more life insurance!” in case one of us croaked before we can pay it off.

Fast forward to today—neither met an untimely demise, mortgage is paid, several remodels and renovations allow for a home office with a rockin’ river view, and badminton is now just a lawn game.

If she builds it, they will come. Charlotte Nienhaus, that is, an architect with ISG. Finding her passion after a sixth grade assignment to design her dream house and creating a scale model, she found her career path and ran down it. This designing woman has worked on projects from banks, bars and church steeples, to an elementary school—where it all began.

When is a carpenter also a painter and finisher?

When she is Jen Carpenter of Flawless Finish Painting and Restoration. Taking a cue from her dad, an accomplished handyman/painter/sheet rocker, she was ready to chuck her office job and follow in his dry wall mud footsteps. “Busy” is her middle name as she climbs her own ladder of success.

Cozying in at home is almost considered exercise during a long winter. Diane Smith and her fellow quilters from World Wide Whispers can enhance that workout one patch at a time. Diane’s interest in travel as well as the craft, led to her involvement in this international quilting project. Together women from around the world not only sew quilts but also friendships.

OK, so you’re in your new digs. Now what’s for supper? Local foodie, Mikaya Phar, featured on our EATS page, can dish. Literally. Like many, her parents and grandparents were a huge influence on her love for preparing and sharing food. One day she hopes to own her own restaurant. In the meantime, serve yourself with her chicken with mustard cream sauce recipe.

Whether you’re buying, selling, renting, creating, improving or building, RVW encourages you to live the dream…even if you’ve got a little spinach in your teeth.

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Once I saw how passionate everybody here is about doing the best possible work…it just rubbed off on me, and I had to stay. I had to be part of that.

By MARIE ZIMMERMAN PHOTOS BY ALICE HQ PHOTOGRAPHY

icole Bangasser has closed 213 loans totaling more than $40,000,000 since beginning her career as a mortgage loan originator in 2016. She thinks of closing day as “the birthday of home ownership,” and one of the most delightful parts of her job. But there’s one closing she hasn’t attended—her own.

“I have purchased a house zero times. I always thought that was kind of funny: I would advise people on mortgages and I never had a mortgage,” Bangasser—whose husband, Adam, bought their current house overlooking Bass Lake near Winnebago before the couple met—said.

They have since refinanced their home, and Bangasser now has her name on a mortgage.

Having zero experience hasn’t ever kept Bangasser from trying something.

“I choose to believe I’m good at everything. There are things you’re really good at and there are things you’re less talented at, but as long as you believe in yourself you can pretty much fake it until you make it,” she explained.

Things she is—in fact—bad at include saying no, losing, and loading the dishwasher. That last one is really Adam’s forte. While Bangasser excels at many things, it took some time for her to find her calling. She grew up on a hobby farm near New Prague, where she loved riding and tending to horses. Her competitive personality was a great fit for her love of coaching. Helping people has always been important to her, so when she decided to attend South Dakota State University, she set her sights on a medical career.

“Going into college I wanted to do something medical, like nursing, pharmacy, something of that nature. Then I realized, yeah, science? Not for me. Then I was kind of just lost. I had no idea what I wanted to do with my life,” Nicole said.

Both sets of her grandparents farmed in South Dakota—and Bangasser considers herself an “ag enthusiast”—so she settled into ag business as a major. She loved it.

Then, at graduation, she was unable to find a job or a path that fit. Thinking of how much she enjoyed teaching and coaching, she enrolled at Minnesota State University Mankato to become a teacher.

With tuition bills in her future, Bangasser scanned Craigslist for jobs. She applied for five—three of which were “total scams.”

One was a loan processing position at PrimeSource Funding in Mankato. She started with the company a week after graduation in May 2016 and has been there ever since. She never attended a single class at MSU.

“When I got (to PrimeSource), I saw the impact that home ownership makes for a lot of people, which I never thought would be a huge passion of mine,” Bangasser said. “I had no idea that I cared about home ownership until I got here. Once I saw how passionate everybody here is about doing the best possible work…it just rubbed off on me, and I had to stay. I had to be part of that.”

Buying a home is stressful and expensive, and all the details have to be ironed out quickly.

Bangasser, a born problem solver who loves a challenge, thrives in this environment. She quickly moved from loan processing, her original position at PrimeSource, to loan origination, becoming a licensed loan officer in November 2016. Processors handle behind-the-scenes details of getting a loan closed, while the originator connects with clients and guides them through the process. Coaching, teaching, making an impact—all those things Bangasser wanted to do with her life—she gets to do every day.

Nicole was recently promoted to vice president of marketing and community involvement at PrimeSource and now oversees company-wide community involvement, in addition to her title of senior loan originator.

“Purchasing a home is such a huge, huge moment in anybody’s life because, not only is it expensive and you did

 a lot of work to get there, but it also is that starting point of having that place that is yours, that is solely your place to be,” Bangasser said. “People want to be helped, people need to be helped to get there. And I think home ownership is within reach of a lot more people than believe they are able to do that.”

Last year, Bangasser earned the distinction of “top one percent producing loan officer” in the country, according to year-end results from United Wholesale Mortgage. She was also named a “top 20 purchase loan officer” in Minnesota for 2019.

PrimeSource Funding was awarded best broker in Minnesota for its volume of business in the state compared to its peers. It’s a team effort. In addition to Mankato, where Bangasser works alongside four other loan originators and three loan processors, PrimeSource has a branch in Rochester with four loan officers and a processor.

“We serve everybody. It doesn’t matter if you have an 800 credit score or a 600 credit score. We want to help you no matter where you fall on that spectrum, so we really take it from a different approach,” Nicole said.

A typical day for Bangasser is long and starts early. Around 5:00 a.m., she’ll visit her horses Rosalind and Ruby at the barn where they’re boarded. Ruby is a children’s lesson pony that taught Bangasser to ride as a little girl. That’s her quiet time to be herself, to have fun and get a little exercise. Energized by the equine companionship, she heads to the office.

“I find that I get a lot of joy out of the work every day. It’s not easy to communicate with a gazillion different people all day long, but I do get a lot of satisfaction from the connection I make with people. I never have the same day twice; it’s always an adventure,” Bangasser said. She also commits some of her time to volunteering. Nicole is active

with Junior Achievement, educating students about college and career readiness, entrepreneurship, and financial literacy. And she helps on the family selection committee for Habitat for Humanity South Central Minnesota, and provides input in other areas based on her professional experience.

“(Habitat’s mission) so closely aligns with what we do here and just extends my ability to make an impact in regard to home ownership,” Bangasser said.

Afternoons at work are often busy with clients, and so are evenings. Bangasser stays at the office until 7:00 p.m. some nights, unless it’s curling league. Then she has to hustle to Mapleton to meet her motherin-law on the ice. When she married Adam, curling became a family tradition. It’s another one of those things she’d never tried, but now Nicole is a Tuesday night regular and secretary of the club.

Bangasser may have to take a call while curling because she’s available to clients at all times.

“People can always get a hold of me, and I find that to be very important. You need to be able to contact me when you are concerned, when you have a question,” she explained.

And if it’s a particularly good day, Bangasser will have the chance to attend a closing for someone’s new home, to be there to be that guiding person and calming their fears while they’re sitting in front of a mountain of paperwork.

“It’s a great moment when they get their keys and they get to go home and either sit inside and survey all that they now own or instantly start moving, whatever their plan may be. It’s just a really fun moment to be a part of. If I can help it, I don’t miss any closings because you only get to see joy so many times,” Nicole summed up. RVW

What’s the first career you dreamed of having as a kid? I wanted to be an equine vet or a schoolteacher. If you could choose to do anything for a day, what would it be?

I am pretty fortunate to be able to live my best life every day. There is no one job that I would rather be doing. My perfect day is a typical summertime Saturday, drink my morning tea while sitting in my favorite chair (instead of in the car, hustling into the office, like every other day), head into the office to organize my desk that is inevitably a mess after the week and answer any calls/emails from Friday night so people aren’t waiting until Monday for answers, visit my horses, and then spend the rest of the day on the lake with my husband and our family and friends.

What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever been given?

Never underestimate the power of a positive attitude. When I was a kid, I was a competitive figure skater. I had been getting ready for the state championships and had been unable to land my hardest jump for a month before the competition. I went into the pre-competition warm-up and, like so many practices before, couldn’t land the jump. As I was waiting for my turn, worrying about my routine, my coach, Lorie, looked at me and said, “Nicole, never underestimate the power of a positive attitude.” So for the next few minutes, we stood there together with a positive attitude and I took the ice believing that I could achieve. Turns out, I didn’t win any medals, but I did nail the routine and landed the elusive jump. I find that this advice follows me everywhere. If you prepare and believe that you can achieve, you will.

Do you have any hidden talents?

I know how to crochet. My grandmother taught me when I was a kid. I am not super talented but I can make quite a few cool blanket patterns. I’ve come to the realization that a girl can only have so many blankets and scarves, so I generally donate my completed projects.

What motivates you to work hard?

What motivates me is being the best I can be. I want to leave a positive impact every day. This job is perfect for me because not only do I get to indulge my competitive nature, but I also get to help people achieve their home ownership goals and make a positive impact in the community through some of the various Mankato area organizations that I volunteer with. It’s a win/win/win!

If you could be stuck in an elevator with anyone who would it be and what would you ask them?

I am going to take this question literally. If I were stuck in an elevator, I would want to be with my dad and I would ask him to get us out of there. He’s an elevator technician, so he would be the logical choice.

What’s your favorite room in your home and why?

We have this spot in our living room that has floor to ceiling windows that overlook the lake. In front of the windows, we have two chairs that came with the house and they are straight out of the 70s. Mustard plaid fabric. They are so ugly but we just can’t possibly get rid of them because they are that comfortable. Think about it, how comfy and perfect sized would chairs have to be to make up for mustard plaid fabric in your living room? That’s how perfect these chairs are. It’s my favorite place to crochet, enjoy a glass of tea—or wine depending on the time of day—read a book, and just look out at the lake.

By GRACE BRANDT

or Charlotte Nienhaus—an architect at Mankato’s design and engineering firm ISG—there was never a “defining moment” growing up when she knew she wanted to become an architect. But, there definitely were some clues.

“I do recall an assignment we had in sixth grade where we had to design our dream house,” she said. “I don’t think it was required at all, but I got so excited that I also created a scale model of my house. That was the first time I remember someone mentioning architecture as a career path.”

Growing up on her grandparents’ dairy farm outside of Easton, Minnesota, Nienhaus said she loved helping her father work on projects. “I would watch him take things apart, fix them, and put it all back together again,” she said. “I learned how to use tools pretty young. The scraps and broken things on the farm were always free to use for whatever I wanted to try and ‘Frankenstein’ together. I credit helping my dad with these things and him allowing me (I usually didn’t ask actually) to explore and build things with developing my mechanical skills.”

Nienhaus moved to Winnebago right before high school, and attended Blue Earth Area High School. She loved the math and science classes, especially when there were assignments focused on using concepts to build something. She even

had a chance to job shadow at ISG her senior year.

By the time she graduated high school in 2011, Nienhaus was pretty set on pursuing architecture.

“I would describe it as a slow burn that ended with me picking the career in my senior year,” she said. “I grew to love the profession more and more throughout school, and now in my professional career.”

Nienhaus attended North Dakota State University in Fargo, majoring in architecture and earning her master’s degree in 2016. She was attracted to the university’s accelerated architecture program, since other programs often took six or seven years to complete.

“It was always a goal of mine to become an architect quickly,” she said. “Once in school, I decided to stay with [the program] because I loved how every problem presented to us required a new and creative solution. I was always excited for what was next.”

Shortly after graduation, Nienhaus was hired at ISG and moved back to the area, settling in Mapleton. She has been at the firm for about three and a half years and loves it.

“The biggest thing is, everybody who works here is on the same page, and they’re all ready to work hard and get the job done,” Charlotte said. “It feels like everybody is 100 percent all in, ready to go. The culture at ISG is really great. You feel really supported in everything you do and able to go out on a ledge sometimes and know that there’s going to be people there who’ll help you out if it doesn’t work out. You can push yourself professionally in that way.”

A typical day

For Nienhaus, it’s “a bit tough” to describe a typical day, since every day is different. Some days require more meetings with clients to feel out what they need, while others may be more focused on actual design work. If a project is under construction, she might spend part of her day responding to questions from the contractor and coordinating with the project team.

“A typical day might be 40 percent planning or designing, 10 percent client interaction, and 50 percent problem solving, but don’t hold me to those numbers,” she said.

Typically, architects at ISG are assigned jobs according to who has availability and who is experienced in the work. Nienhaus works on several projects at one time, since they’re usually in different stages. Simpler projects—such as warehouses—can take three to six months to design, while more complex projects can take more than a year. If the firm works with a school or other public entity, it can take even longer because of added steps—such as the school going through a referendum and more committee work. These projects, Nienhaus said, can take upwards of three years, and ISG stays in contact after completion to ensure everything is functioning well within the new building.

According to Nienhaus, different architects within the firm tend to have different specialties, such as working on school buildings or industrial warehouses. Since Nienhaus is still relatively new to the field, she hasn’t picked a specialty yet but has worked on a variety of projects to learn more about every sector. One project Charlotte worked on

One project that Nienhaus is still working on is Our Lady of Mount Carmel Catholic Church in Easton. A strong windstorm knocked over the church steeple n the summer of 2018, and it fell onto the roof, causing extensive damage.

For Nienhaus, the project is near and dear to her heart, because she grew up attending the church, went to Catholic school there for some time, and even got married there.

“I remember sitting in this church, my mind wandering, and examining every detail of how it was built,” she said. “It is a truly gorgeous church. I jumped at the chance to work with the parish to design a new steeple or find a way to not have a steeple when the project came to ISG.”

Nienhaus said they are currently in the process of looking at options with the church to design something that will complement the church, be economical and also be easily maintained.

“This project is a slower process that takes a bit more finesse, but something I am very excited to work on,” she said.

When it comes to Nienhaus’s job, she has a few favorite parts, including modeling how the exterior of a project could look and getting into 3D imagery.

“There is something so gratifying to watch a building take shape in front of you in a model, and I think this is when I have the best flow of ideas,” she said. “This is very early on in a project, and many times these exteriors are changed numerous times before we land on what is ultimately the final product. However, I love that with each iteration done, you can get ideas out there that could be used on different projects.”

Another favorite part is handling different contingencies that arise during projects.

“You can get a run-of-the-mill project that might seem boring at first, but the client might ask for one change that strays from the norm, and now you have to solve the puzzle of a unique situation,” she said. “It keeps you on your toes.”

Finally, Nienhaus said she loves how she’s able to see everything she worked hard on become a reality during the construction phase.

“In this job, you get to see a completed project, or the fruits of your labor, so to speak, come to life,” she said. “We don’t actually build the buildings, of course, but it is so cool to see something you worked on and think that you started with a blank screen or paper and ended up with a building.”

was designing an event center and bar for Chankaska Creek and Winery, making sure it was cohesive with the existing winery. In addition, Nienhaus helped design a new bank and corporate headquarters for Pioneer Bank in Mankato, as well as helping design and plan the new elementary school in Windom.

Nienhaus said she enjoys projects that are “one-offs”—projects where the client only wants one design and not a chain of buildings that are all similar.

“I like the clients who say, ‘I want to open up my own bakery,’” she said. “They don’t need 10 of them; they just want that one. So they’re very invested in what it looks like, and they put their heart and soul into it, and I want to put my heart and soul into it. I really enjoy that type of work, and that can be anything; there really isn’t a [specific] market. I like dipping my toes into every little part.”

Planning the next stage

“ISG has really helped me to learn more about everything,” she said. “I think starting out in the profession, it’s really easy to feel like you don’t know anything. As you gain experience, it’s not like a light bulb clicks on; it’s like a slow burn over time.”

Nienhaus plans to keep learning by attaining more certifications within her field, such as studying environmentally sustainable practices.

“One of my work goals is to always keep learning,” she said. “This industry requires so much on-the-job experience that it is unwise to think that you can have all the answers. I’ll admit that I get stuck in the ‘this is how we have always done this’ rut just as much as anyone else, but I hope to keep pushing myself to think outside of that rut and to learn from any issue that may arise. I hope to never make the same mistake twice.” RVW

From: Easton, Minnesota.

Lives in: Mapleton, Minnesota.

Education: Master’s degree from North Dakota State University.

Family: Husband Colin, two corgis (Pixie and Silas).

Dream project: Designing her own house or working on a cathedral.

Hobbies: Coaching MN Attack Volleyball in Mankato, playing volleyball, home renovation projects, being outside.

Organizations: American Institute of Architects

Who inspires her: Her grandma Irma, who helped raise her

Bucket list: Visiting every national park in the country.

Fun fact: “Despite being an architect, I hate drawing. I like doodling little repeating patterns and such, but I would have to force myself to sit down and draw a picture of something.”

Sofa and Loveseat are

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The

By RUTH KLOSSNER

PHOTOS BY RUTH KLOSSNER & DIANE SMITH

When she made that first baby quilt for her nephew—back when she was a high school student at New Richland—Diane Smith had no idea that her skills would someday be displayed around the world. But, it’s from small starts that great things take place.

Smith, now of Mankato, maintained an interest in quilting over the years, getting more involved recently. That love of quilting took Smith to Ireland in 2016—and created the connection that led to her taking part in the World Wide Whispers project two years later.

Smith remembers reading about a Quilt Shop Hop to Ireland in a quilting magazine—but lost the magazine. Turning to the internet, the first thing that popped up was Celtic Quilt Tours. The group takes two or three trips each year, mostly to the British Isles. A trip to Ireland intrigued Smith as her grandmother was from Belfast, Ireland—and Smith had never traveled there.

The June 2016 trip visited a half dozen quilt shops and viewed a quilt show where locals shared their handiwork.

That tour was led by Debbi Cagney of Texas and Kim Caskey of Canada. After returning home, they—along with three women from Ireland, Scotland, and The Netherlands—decided to do a Chinese

style whisper quilt. (See sidebar).

Each of the five women would start the quilt and would ask 11 other women to take part by creating a block a month. Caskey picked one participant from each province in Canada. Cagney wanted representation from different parts of the U.S. She sent emails to prospective quilters—including Smith—asking for involvement.

“I replied that I was interested,” Diane said.

Team USA was led by Cagney. Other team members were from Texas, California, Florida, Pennsylvania, Indiana, Iowa, Virginia, Massachusetts, Colorado, and Tennessee.

Smith was chosen to do the quilt block for May. She received a photo of the block done for April and went to work.

"You were free to do any type of quilting. I did appliqué and free hand wool with it," Diane said. "I sent a photo of my square to the next quilter and my actual square to Debbi in Texas, as did the other quilters. I didn't see anything again until January 2019 when we saw all the squares. It was then that the quilt started to tour in Europe."

Smith’s square is named Backyard Habitat. For the display 

After her old sewing machine decided to only sew backwards, Diane got this Bernina machine—and loves it for the ability to do so many things.

Using patterns picked up at various quilt shops, Smith completed this Row by Row quilt in 2019.

Diane Smith grew up in New Richland and furthered her education at Jackson Vo-Tech. She’s worked in accounting over the years—but seems to have a habit of closing businesses where she works!

“My first job after school was in accounting at the hospital in Trimont, until it closed after I had been there about 15 years,” she said.

Next it was on to the Wilson Center in Faribault for about six years… until it closed. Then it as on to a psychiatric clinic in Mankato in accounting for 10 years. Diane has now worked in accounting at MRCI for almost five years.

She’s also supplemented her income—to make money to take those quilting trips—with jobs at Odyssey, Herbergers, and Pier One—all of which have closed.

“People are leery of where I’m going next. The places I’ve worked all closed,” she said with a laugh.

Diane loves to travel. “I’ve hit every continent except Antarctica,” she said. “I’ve seldom been on flights with anyone I’ve known but I’ve made a lot of friends.”

She’s been to Italy, Australia, the British Isles, Kenya, Ecuador, China, Hong Kong, Japan, the East Coast of Canada and Churchill, and more.

In addition to travel, Diane’s hobbies include “just about anything”— basket making, stained glass, and gardening. “I like to try new things, but I need more time,” she said.

Diane and her cat, Sophie, live in Mankato.

Reprinted with permission from World Wide Whispers project booklet

Quilting “whispers” where memories inspire changes from the first quilt to the last quilt. It’s a bit like the child’s birthday party game where the leader starts by whispering a sentence in the ear of the next participant and then continues around the room, evolving and changing from the original.

The World Wide Whispers project began after a casual conversation between five international quilt artists. Five countries participated—Team Scotland (led by Ann Hill), Team Ireland (led by Paula Rafferty), Team The Netherlands (led by Jeltje van Essen), Team USA (led by Debbi Cagney), and Team Canada (led by Kim Caskey). Each team chose 12 quilters for their team, one for each month of the year.

The leader of each country started things off, using an original photo as inspiration to create their piece, then photographing that finished piece and sending that photo and artist statement to the next person on the team. That next team member used that photo as their inspiration to create a piece, photographed it and sent it along to the next person, and so on and so on.

Confidentiality of all projects was of utmost importance, as artists received information about the previous piece only. Once all teams’ pieces were completed, the collection was revealed to each team.

Smith’s polar bear quilt is made with photos she took of the bears of Churchill, Canada. Sophie doesn’t mind sleeping with the bears!

Smith’s polar bear quilt is made with photos she took of the bears of Churchill, Canada. Sophie doesn’t mind sleeping with the bears! Diane especially enjoys making feathered star quilts.

 Diane wrote, “Growing up in rural southern Minnesota, my Dad would help with the bee colonies on his parent’s farm. At our home, he continued to plant areas that would attract bees and butterflies. Everywhere there was a spot he would plant hollyhock flowers.”

Each quilter’s square—60 total made by quilters around the world—stayed as 15- by-24 inch squares and were displayed that way. The quilt toured Europe last year—Ireland, Switzerland, Sweden, Denmark, Italy, the United Kingdom.

Diane was able to see her square on display when she was on a quilt trip to Scotland last summer.

“I was reading the itinerary and noticed the listing. I said to the tour guide, ‘Aren’t we going to be there?’ and she said, ‘That’s why we’re here.’ That venue was fairly small, but some are much larger.”

Of having her square on display, Smith said, “It was kind of humbling. My square is pretty simple. Some were pretty intricate, detailed. Some are more artistic—I’m more of a sewer.”

The World Wide Whispers quilt show is touring the United States this year. Stops include California, Virginia, South Carolina, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey. The show will also be in Canada this summer.

For more information and photos of the squares, check World Wide Whispers on Facebook.

Diane estimates that she's completed 15 to 20 full size quilts, but actually prefers smaller pieces. She does a lot of appliqué and enjoys piecing.

“I do T-shirt quilts for graduations but I do mostly small projects, rather than full size. Many are gifts but I do sell some on eBay and at the Odin Craft Mill,” she said.

Smith has made graduation quilts for all her nieces and nephews. Although Diane enjoyed quilting with her grandmother, and later with her mother, she said her sisters are not into quilting—but they like getting pieces as finished projects.

Smith likes the challenge of new things and especially likes to do feathered stars with tiny triangles.

“You have to watch those quarter inch seam allowances. That’s very important,” she stressed.

Diane now uses a Bernina machine, having to buy a new machine after her old one decided to sew only backwards!

“I’m intrigued by machines that do embroidery. The Bernina has an embroidery module,” she said.

Smith also completed a Row by Row quilt last summer. Quilt shops around the area took part in the June to September project. Each shop put out a pattern, based on the 2019 national them, Taste the Experience. To get the pattern, quilters had to personally visit the shops. Quilters who completed at least eight rows were eligible to win prizes and have their quilts displayed.

Diane got patterns in Elk River, Hayward, Zumbrota, Mankato, New Ulm, Hutchinson, and two other towns to complete her quilt. RVW

Smith describes this quilt as “one I made several years ago when I was young and stupid. It is completely sewn by hand and has no batting or backing fabric. It’s made by folding and sewing and folding again, then adding the ‘windows.’ It took me about 10 years to complete, sewing on it off and on.” Diane’s cat Sophie seems to approve.

Diane was able to see her square, top one, on display in Scotland last summer. To create it, she used raw edge appliqué and wool embellishment with beading, doing free motion quilting on a domestic machine.

Thinking about purchasing a home?

WITH NICOLE BANGASSER

Q: What does my credit score need to be before I can purchase a home.

There is no “one size fits all” answer for this question. We have loan products available that each cater to a different credit score range and have different requirements. For example, we have loans that provide benefits to people with excellent credit but we also have loan products that cater to people who may have had a credit struggle in the past or even recently. Each situation is different but a less than fantastic credit score is not necessarily a barrier to homeownership. Together, we can sit down and discuss your qualifications for your particular scenario. If you are unable to qualify today, we will put together a plan so that you can qualify in the near future.

Q: What is PrimeSource Funding and how do they differ from my bank?

A: PrimeSource is a local mortgage broker. What this means is that we work with many different companies and investors to provide a wide range of mortgage products to fit your needs. Traditionally, mortgages have been viewed as something you get when you hit a certain stage of your life but the landscape has changed. More and more people are purchasing homes at so many different stages of their lives. Because of this, mortgage products are available to fit a wide range of borrowers and situations. Unlike a bank, we do not do auto loans or service checking accounts, instead we specialize in only mortgages so we can bring unique perspective and products to our borrowers.

Nicole Bangasser is a Senior Loan Originator and Vice President of Marketing and Community Involvement for PrimeSource Funding. Her office is located at 1751 N Victory Drive Suite 500 in Mankato MN. Nicole enjoys helping people reach their homeownership goals through new purchase and refinance loans.

Carpenter is her name, painting is her game.

After 20 some years in an office setting, Jen Carpenter of Arlington has ventured out on her own, taking on an occupation that’s most often associated with men. That hasn’t stopped her, as Carpenter’s Flawless Finish Painting and Restoration business is flourishing in its first year.

It’s not like Carpenter jumped into something unknown. Her dad, Tim Spletzer, was an area handyman, painter, and sheet rocker for many years—and Jen and her brother, Jason Spletzer, helped him when they were in high school.

“I always did my own painting,” Jen explained. “I had an office job and I was ready for a change. I always thought about painting—my dad had to give it up for health reasons and there was a need for painters and stainers in this area.”

By RUTH KLOSSNER

PHOTOS BY JEN CARPENTER AND RUTH KLOSSNER

Carpenter started part-time, doing some painting evenings and weekends in the summer of 2018—while still working full time in Green Isle. By early spring of 2019, she had a list of jobs that she couldn’t get to in a timely manner. She checked into insurance and, fortunately, found that it wasn’t as expensive as she thought, then made the decision to go full time. She gave notice at her job in April 2019 and established Flawless Finish Painting and Restoration.

Name recognition and word of mouth have been great assets to her start. “My dad was a great craftsman and I worked around here so people knew me,” Jen said. “The lumber yard and the hardware store have contractor lists and those have helped a lot. Jobs also come through my listing on Facebook.”

Carpenter was busy right from the start and saw only a bit of a slowdown over the holidays—which she expected.

“Now I’m busy, busy, busy,” she said. “My spring schedule is already filled and I hear that year two is when things really take off. People pass my name around.”

Carpenter’s services include interior and exterior painting, interior and exterior wood staining, and furniture refurbishing (painting or refinishing) with distressed and antiqued paint finishes available. She works with both residential and business customers.

To date, most of Jen’s work has been in the Arlington, Gaylord, Glencoe, Chaska, Waconia, and Belle Plaine area—due primarily to word of mouth—but she’s ready and willing to expand to the south and west. While she’ll do any interior or exterior work—painting, staining, and varnishing—she’s actually been asked to do more staining than painting.

“Maybe it’s fumes that people don’t like,” she said with a smile. “Stripping is not my favorite, either, but I do it.” 

Jen Carpenter at work on the townhouse project.

We’re already heard that Jen’s dad and brother help out. Now let’s get to know more about the family.

Jen was a 4-H and FFA member in Sibley County and graduated from Sibley East High School in 1997. She got an AAS degree in business management/sales and marketing from Rasmussen College in Mankato, then worked in a business office environment at two different companies for about 20 years.

After living in Arlington, Jen and son Tony, 15, moved to a farm site only a mile from her dad’s place outside of town. Tim had cattle as a hobby before he got sick. Now there are cattle back on the farm. Tony, a member of the Arlington Conquerors 4-H, keeps his five beef steers there and planned to buy two heifers. Jen’s brother Jason also shows cattle, and the whole family enjoys working with the cattle and going to shows.

Jen volunteers as an adult leader for Tony’s 4-H club and also volunteers to help with Tony’s trapshooting team.

She’s also on the board of the non-profit Community Giving Hope group that organizes an annual fundraiser to raise funds for local individuals battling long-term illnesses. This year’s event, the 9th Annual Car Show and Cancer Cruise, will be held Saturday, May 30 at the Arlington Community Center and will include a vendor fair, silent auction, music, food, and a 50-mile cruise through beautiful Sibley County.

Jen’s hobbies include reading, biking, hiking, camping, fishing, kayaking, snowshoeing, and bow hunting deer. The family has three dogs—a Bulldog and two Boxers.

“I love being outdoors. It’s the best of both worlds,” Jen said.

The finished product.

process.

A cedar deck and porch that Jen stained.

 She added, “There’s now a gel stain available that you can put over existing stain and varnish. You just wipe it on. It doesn’t drip.” Being a “one person show,” Carpenter knows her limits and is honest and up front about wait times.

“Communication is key. I reach out to clients about timelines. I don’t over promise. I’m realistic and people seem to appreciate that,” she explained.

While she generally works alone, Jen has had her dad help with rolling and spraying on some big jobs—or with setting up bigger equipment.

“He’s my mentor,” she said proudly.

Not only Dad, but Jen’s son Tony and a friend got called in to help with a barn project that Jen took on last summer. It was about 16 feet tall and had custom-built cupolas. The entire project took three or four weeks. While Jen uses some equipment that her dad had, that equipment didn’t include a lift, so she rented one for the project, rather than investing in one.

Winter months mean more interior work and Jen is now busy at a townhouse in Chaska—for the same person who owns the barn. She’s doing ceilings, walls, trim, windows—and incorporating ideas the owner brought back from Arizona.

“I’ll be there quite a while,” she said.

In addition to residential work, other projects have included the interior of the Gaylord Game Protective League and the Arlington Public Library remodeling project. She also did exterior work on the SLS financial services building.

“I’m always willing to entertain an idea. I say, ‘Let’s meet and talk about it.’ I’m willing to learn how to do it or, if it’s not in my wheelhouse, I’ll say so.” RVW

The same project finished. Carpenter painted ceilings, walls, windows, and doors.

A home painting project underway.

Jen painted the interior of the Arlington Public Library during its remodel last summer.

Earth Exaltation

SUNDAY,

APRIL 26TH, 2020 4:00 PM MANKATO EAST HIGH SCHOOL

Guest Conductor: Silver Ainomäe

Arvo Pärt: Fraters for Strings and Percussion

Einojuhani Rautavaara: Cantus Arcticus

Beethoven: Symphony No. 6

MSO’s final concert of the 2019/2020 season is a celebration of the earth and environment that surrounds us. The MSO welcomes guest Estonian conductor Silver Ainomäe. A selection of European compositions captures the sublime and sometimes violent beauty of the natural elements. The second half of the concert is comprised of Beethoven’s bountiful “Pastoral Symphony” No. 6. Featured in Disney’s classic film “Fantasia,” this is both familiar and jubilant. 131675

For infor mation about guest artists, program descriptions, upcoming shows, & tickets visit: WWW.MANKATOSYMPHONY.ORG

ARE GOOD FOR THE

ENVIRONMENT

4 HOME UPGRADES THAT

(BPT) Consumers today are more mindful about the environmental impact of everything they do, from driving and traveling to energy usage in their homes. Fortunately, there are a few simple steps homeowners can take to save energy and help the environment.

1. Boost your insulation

You may already know what areas of your home are poorly insulated, simply by how you feel when it’s cold or hot outside. You can have a professional home energy audit conducted to help pinpoint areas that need improvement. Many energy companies provide an audit free of charge.

Start with the attic: If your attic is insufficiently insulated, you could be losing a lot of heat over the winter, which means your home is wasting energy - and money. The U.S. Department of Energy reports that boosting attic insulation can save 10-50 percent on heating costs.

2. Upgrade your heating and cooling system

Heating and cooling your home uses the most energy, so investing in Energy Star certified HVAC products can make a big difference when it comes to cutting energy costs and your home’s impact on the environment.

For a new HVAC system in a variety of styles to fit any décor that can be easily installed by a contractor, you might consider wall-mounted duct-free systems from a trusted brand like LG. They offer a variety of ultra-quiet “Art Cool” options (the sleek Mirror, stylish Premier and unique Gallery, which looks like a picture frame and allows you to display your own artwork). These systems are smart-enabled, allowing homeowners to adjust the temperature from their LG ThinQ app for Android and iOS users, or with simple commands via Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa. The most eco-conscious consumers will want to look for “Energy Star

Most Efficient” HVAC solutions. For example, the Art Cool Mirror earned the 2019 designation and also features advanced “Reliable to Extreme Degrees” LGRED, heating technology that delivers 100 percent heating capacity down to 5 degrees Fahrenheit and continuous heating down to -13 degrees Fahrenheit. This will keep you warm and comfortable all winter long with remarkable energy efficiency.

3. Replace doors and windows

You may be losing a lot of heat in the winter and air conditioning in the summer through your doors and windows, especially if they’re older. The latest energy-efficient models of windows and doors not only reduce leaks around the frames, but they’re made from materials that enhance insulation.

Doors: According to EnergyStar.gov, energy-efficient doors not only fit better and have improved weather stripping to reduce air leakage, but also use improved core materials for superior insulation. Where glass is used, they reduce heat flow via double- or triple-paned insulating glass.

Windows: Energy Star qualified windows use superior framing materials, including multiple panes of glass, with air- or gas-filled space between for additional insulation. They’re made from Low-E (low emissivity) glass, with special coatings to reflect infrared light. Warm edge spacers keep the glass panes the correct distance apart reducing heat transfer through the window.

4. Go solar

While most people are aware that solar power harnesses the sun’s energy to create electricity, many don’t know how easy and cost-effective it is to go solar.

The newest technology behind solar energy has made it increasingly accessible and appealing for homeowners. For example, new energy solutions such as LG’s “NeON R ACe” are high-efficiency solar panels that incorporate a built-in micro-inverter (that converts DC electricity to AC) instead of a separate traditional inverter. Recessed into the frame of the solar module, the micro-inverter simplifies the installation process and allows more flexibility to create a solar array that looks attractive on your roof. When going solar, it’s important to seek out a brand you trust, one like LG that offers solar panels covered by a 25-year limited product, part and performance warranty. Choosing just one area to upgrade will save energy, reducing your home’s carbon footprint. You’ll also feel more comfortable throughout the year, as you better regulate the temperature of your home.

(BPT) 2020 outdoor living trends are all about enjoying your backyard alfresco - but with the comfort and ease you expect from your indoor spaces. Today’s outdoor spaces are transforming into an extension of the home. The current outdoor design also takes into account the look and feel of your entire home, including the interior and exterior, building materials and surroundings.

Connecting with nature: Biophilic design

Biophilic design is achieved when natural elements are incorporated into the space, helping people feel connected to the natural environment. It creates a calm, tranquil space and reduces stress. Biophilia makes sense for indoor urban environments needing to bring the outdoors in, but how does it work when you’re already outside?

Biophilic design for outdoor spaces means integrating natural elements with constructed elements to create a harmonious space. A plant wall or raised garden bed can integrate greenery and pops of color with the built elements of your outdoor space. It also means using natural materials, like wood and stone, to complement the surrounding environment.

Create greener, more sustainable spaces to celebrate the environment, which can help encourage pollinators, grow healthy food and forge a cohesive outdoor space. You can also use materials such as Belgard’s permeable pavers, which allow water to drain through the surface, replenishing the soil and aquifers beneath your path, walkway or driveway.

More than just a grill

Today’s homeowners want much more than a grill in the backyard. With aspirations to cook and entertain guests outdoors with everything the best outdoor kitchen can offer, the possibilities are endless - from grills to cooktops and ovens or even a wine cooler and an outdoor bar. Homeowners also have many options when it comes to the design and price point of their outdoor kitchen. Some may lean toward a grill island, adding prep and storage space to their grilling station, while others might create a full-on outdoor kitchen with a grill, smoker, refrigerator, sink, seating area and more.

Either way, homeowners can get a feel for exactly what their space will look like before breaking ground through Belgard’s design resources. The Belgard Design Studio takes a simple sketch, some dimensions and a couple of photos and turns it, using design software, into 3D animations and virtual reality experiences to give homeowners a sense of the finished product in their backyard.

Sleek, modern design

While it may seem contrary to the more organic approach of biophilic design, the contemporary trend toward sleek, modular furniture can enhance your outdoor space.

Modular, sectional pieces with clean lines and streamlined design can be arranged and re-arranged to accommodate any natural elements you want to incorporate in your space, or to handle different numbers of guests when entertaining.

The minimalist approach to furnishings also allows the natural elements around you to take center stage.

Multifunctional spaces

Whether your home is in an urban area with limited green space, or you want to optimize your outdoor living, get creative:

• Add vertical planters

• Hang hammocks for lounging

• Create built-in seating

• Build raised garden beds

Here’s where some of that modular seating can come in handy, too. Some urban homes make good use of their front porches and yards, instead, which invites more neighborhood engagement and a feeling of community.

Entertaining both night and day

Regardless of the time of day - or year - you and your family can relax comfortably in your outdoor sanctuary, thanks to modern technology and the latest outdoor installations:

• LED lighting is installed in a variety of ways. You can install strips of light and/or spotlights, even using multiple colors, to add flair at night.

• In the harsh sunlight, large umbrellas and movable shade walls or screens can keep your space cool and more comfortable.

• For cooler climates, an outdoor fireplace provides heat and light for cozy evenings in the yard.

Whether you have a straightforward vision for a patio or dream of elaborate outdoor living spaces, these ideas can help you create your oasis.

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APPEAL

(Family Features) Whether you’re hoping to sell in the near future or simply looking to touch up outdated areas, there’s one aspect of home maintenance most homeowners agree is important: curb appeal. It’s a broad term that may reference any number of visible features, meaning there are plenty of ways to enhance the appearance of your house. Consider these ideas – some big, some small – for bringing new life to your home’s look from the experts at the National Association of the Remodeling Industry.

Swap Out Your Front Door

As one of the first things a guest, passerby or potential homebuyer may notice, the front door is the gateway to your home and a likely opening impression. Upgrading to a heavier, bolder door or simply repainting the existing threshold can capture positive attention. Alternately, swapping out hardware for a more eye-catching look is an easy way to achieve a fresh facelift.

Create Seating Areas

A welcoming home is typically an attractive one, and there are few better ways to create a cozy vibe than a seating or gathering area on the porch. Whether it’s the classic porch swing or chairs and a coffee table suitable for the outdoors, a small zone ideal for conversation and camaraderie can help create an at-home appearance.

Plant Shrubbery

Billowing trees and blooming flowers are certainly eye-catching accessories outside a home, but many varieties require intense care to grow the way you envision and may adhere to seasonal weather patterns for optimal appearance. For a quicker result, shop around for fully mature shrubs and plants that can withstand elements throughout the year.

Rethink the Mailbox

It may not be as exciting of a project to undertake, however, giving your mailbox a fresh look helps it stand out and – especially if it’s directly in front of your home – may turn an ordinary object into a worthy attractant. Your work may be as simple as updating to a newer model or as thoughtout as constructing a small rock wall around the base.

Add Stonework

For a project that can give your house a new look altogether, consider incorporating stonework or a stone veneer for a natural appearance. If changing your facade isn’t in the plans, less complicated ideas like pavers, brick sidewalks and landscape rings are ways to introduce a classic touch.

Paint (or Repaint) the Exterior

Changing the exterior paint color of a home is one of the most popular renovation projects, and one of the first that comes to mind for many homeowners. Simply altering the colors of trim, gutters and other accent pieces may be enough for some homes, and repainting the exterior doesn’t have to mean a new color altogether – consider a brighter shade or simply a fresh coat to help your home pop.

Update Lighting

Light fixtures come in all shapes and sizes, and many times the beauty is in the eye of the beholder. While updated porch illumination may not drive home a potential sale, it’s a subtle touch right as guests arrive. Adding smaller lights in previously unlit areas like around landscaping (consider solar-powered for easier maintenance) can help your hard work shine.

To find more ideas to increase curb appeal, or to find a certified remodeler near you, visit RemodelingDoneRight.com

and Photos By BROOKE WOHLRABE

wo grain bins sit on an old family farm in rural Truman. What’s unusual about these bins is that you won’t find grain inside, but racks of women’s tops, shelves of unique coffee mugs, and dozens of pairs of dangling earrings.

Let’s Stay Home Boutique opened in December of 2018 in those old grain bins. It is a family affair involving Val and Darin Pesta and daughter Kait Wilcox.

The motivation behind the boutique is a family making the best of a challenging situation. When Kait was just a year old, she had encephalitis, an inflammation of the brain that can cause seizures and confusion, and has led to cognitive issues for Kait.

“She’s at home with us for now. This was a way for Val to stay home with her and it gives them an opportunity to do something together,” Darin said. Opening a business on their own property provided both with a purpose. Val had dabbled in selling clothes, but wanted the freedom to choose her own styles, including plus-size options.

“My niece, Taylor, said, ‘You have these old grain bins, why don’t you open a boutique in them?’” Val explained.

The bins are on Darin’s family’s farm. Until about 1875, the farm was in what was once a settlement called Nashville Center. The village had a blacksmith shop, a creamery, a few houses, and a mercantile. It all died away after the nearby city of Truman was established.

Darin explained that the bins were originally put up in the 1970s, and held corn and soybeans, but are now too small for modern-day farming.

With the help of Val’s brother-in-law, Paul, the space was 

Story

 transformed into a unique boutique.

Darin explained how the walls were built. “Paul built a two-by-four stud wall on a frame that he cut out of plywood for the base. He cut that to match the curve of the bin.”

Val noted, “We were initially going to paint the walls white. But when they went up, I really liked the rustic look that matched the rustic area.”

Darin added that they had to cut an opening for a door—and that the previous bin door turned into a window.

Val knew that at least two dressing rooms would be needed. Side-by-side changing rooms were cleverly made to fit in the middle of the circular boutique. The walls are filled with hooks for sweaters, tops, and jackets.

It took three weeks to get the first bin ready—less time than Val expected. As Darin pointed out, it was quick because they didn’t need to do any exterior work.

While there was always the thought of opening the second bin sometime down the road, a weekend with many people shopping in the bin made it necessary to expand.

The two bins were close enough to each other that combining them was a possibility. When the family decided to expand, concrete was poured and two walls were put up to form a walkway from one bin to the other. The door to the boutique is between the bins.

The two bins total about 1,150 square feet. Bin one— filled with clothing—covers 450 square feet and bin two—with accessories and home goods—adds 660 square feet. The added entranceway accounts for the extra footage.

The first bin has a flat ceiling, which measures eight feet tall. However, when they transformed the second bin, they decided to vault the ceiling, which involved creating several custom beams.

“That probably took the longest,” Val admitted. However, after just a month of work, the second bin opened in August 2019.

There aren’t many windows, but flat lights on the ceilings look nice. Several hanging light fixtures provide just the right amount of light for shoppers.

“My first thought was that (the floor) was ugly. But I had to think outside the box and remember what we were doing. I’m so glad we left it rustic,” Val said— adding that she not only likes the look, but that the concrete is easier to clean.

While the boutique may be rustic, the technology is modern, and they are able to accept both cash and credit cards during sales.

Since the opening of Let’s Stay Home Boutique, shoppers have come from all over the area including Fairmont, Blue Earth, Mankato, Madelia, St. James, and Jackson.

“I think people want to see what we are,” Val said. The bins are open only several weekends a month, which is how the family plans to keep it.

Every weekend they’re open, they order special cookies from Sweet Indeed Bakery in Madelia. Val said that over MEA weekend, they went through 37 dozen cookies.

The boutique lives up to its name as it allows the mother and daughter team to stay home.

“I like seeing everyone, meeting new customers, and being a part of all this,” Kait said.

“I wanted to give her a purpose, not just a job, and this is fun for her. We never imagined when we started all of this that it would turn out to be this big,” Val said.

As for the future, Val would love to utilize the extra space the farm provides and expand more down the road. RVW

VITAMIN D

Vitamin D is a common supplement and for good reason. Most American’s (especially those living in Northern areas) don’t get enough vitamin D

RIVERFRONT

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

HILLTOP

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

through food and sunlight. Vitamin D may help build and support strong bones by enhancing calcium absorption while also supporting muscle function, muscle strength, and balance. Few foods naturally contain vitamin D, but those that do include certain fatty fish (such as salmon, mackerel, and sardines), fish liver oils and egg yolks. Talk to your Hy-Vee dietitian and pharmacist to see if a vitamin D supplement makes senses for your health needs.

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Lent is in full swing and is a great time to experiment with new fish and seafood recipes. The American Heart Association recommends eating two servings of fish each week. When scientists compare diets around the globe, the healthiest have one thing in common: lots of seafood. What makes seafood healthy? First, it’s a lean protein option, and the fat it does contain is good-for-you omega-3 fatty acids. These fats are polyunsaturated and have been shown to protect against heart disease and some forms of cancer; reduce blood pressure; and help control inflammation.

A few tips to get started.

• Start with mild-tasting fish. Develop a taste for fish. Tilapia, swai, and cod are good choices. They have a mild, somewhat sweet flavor and pleasant aroma. They flake easily and can be prepared in numerous ways. Other mild seafood to try include crab chunks and shrimp.

• Prepare with a favorite flavor. Swap out traditional protein sources in your favorite dishes with fish. Try fish tacos, shrimp stir-fry or pesto salmon with cheese tortellini.

• Sauce it up. Cocktail sauce, ranch dressing or tartar sauce may help ease you into liking the flavor of fish. Just watch serving size because condiments in excess amounts can lead to hidden extra calories and sodium.

• Add crunch. Fish with a crunch may have more appeal. Try topping fish with crushed crackers, bread crumbs, cereals or nuts.

When choosing fish and seafood, make sure that it bares the Responsible Choice symbol. These products have been caught or farmed safely and in a way that provides for long-term viability and minimized damage to the environment or other sea life.

INGREDIENTS

1 mango, peeled, pitted, and cubed

1 avocado, firm-ripe, peeled, pitted, and cubed

1/4 c. red onion, finely chopped

2 tbsp. fresh cilantro, chopped

2 tbsp. fresh lime juice

1 tsp. Hy-Vee kosher sea salt, divided

1 lb. tilapia fillets

½ tsp. Hy-Vee garlic powder

½ tsp. Hy-Vee ground cumin

½ tsp. Hy-Vee cayenne pepper

1 tbsp. Gustare Vita olive oil

4 (8-inch each) Hy-Vee flour tortillas

DIRECTIONS

Place mango, avocado, onion, cilantro, lime juice, and 1/2 teaspoon salt in a medium bowl; toss gently. Cover and refrigerate. 1

Pat fish dry with paper towels. Combine remaining 1/2 teaspoon salt, garlic powder, cumin, and cayenne pepper; rub mixture on fish. 2

Heat oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Cook fish in hot oil for 5 minutes or until fish easily flakes with a fork (145 degrees), turning once.

Fill tortillas with fish and salsa.

Nutrition facts per serving: 430 calories per serving, 17g Total Fat, 3.5g Saturated Fat, 0g Trans Fat, 55mg Cholesterol, 1010mg Sodium, 43g Total Carbohydrates, 7g Dietary Fiber, 14g Total Sugars, 0g Added Sugars, 29g Protein.

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

Let’s take a short break from all things related to our homes and focus on a little vacation run away—to your home away from home!

There are so many options for vacations with unlimited access to all areas of the world. Let’s do a virtual visit to a few to help with your vision. How about a trip to a fabulous villa in Tuscany, right in the heart of Italian wine country? Last May we traveled to Italy and fully enjoyed a small, boutique hotel in Figline, Italy—with its lovely gardens, full spa, and proximity to the walled city with amazing local flavor. Our lodging included breakfast each day and then one day we enjoyed an Italian cooking class with “Grandma” in the historic kitchen of the inn. And, what could have been better than completing that class with a wine tasting of the inn’s own vino?

In Ireland, you should do a package that includes a rental car and then vouchers to stay at a bed & breakfast of your choice. Travel across the country and see the history of the Cliffs of Moher, the Blarney Castle, the Guinness Storehouse in Dublin, and much more. The golfer among you can play at one of many courses across the country. You can even make special arrangements to stay a few nights in a real castle, as we plan to do on an upcoming trip.

On a recent trip to Grand Cayman, we had a lovely two-bedroom condo, right on the beach. The unit came with a rental car so we were able to explore the island at our leisure and do our own shopping at a local market. Then we spent some time enjoying many of the local restaurants with anything from Czech specialties to all-you-can-eat lobster. The nice part of the condo with the beach nearby, was that we had a few of the comforts of home such as a clothes washer and dryer for wet suits and a dishwasher to make for easy meal cleanup.

A favorite of all is a nice five-star, all-inclusive beach resort. With an allinclusive resort, for one nightly rate, guests receive all meals with choices from several restaurants, all beverages (many times including top shelf liquors), non-motorized water sports, and nightly entertainment, as well as housekeeping and room service. The resorts will have lots of areas to relax, including pools, lounge areas, and beach cabanas. If it is a family resort, most offer some type of kids’ club or child supervised activities that give mom and dad time to enjoy the spa or swim-up bar. There are also a multitude of adult-only resorts on many fabulous beaches in the Caribbean.

A cruise ship offers another form of a floating home away from home. With hundreds of itineraries, you can pick a different one each year and see many different areas. The cruise ships stop in a different port almost every day to take in the local culture. And then—while at sea on the bigger ships—you have access to multiple restaurants and lounges, a casino, evening theater productions, and shopping. There are also pools and spas on board most ships. Some even have outdoor movie theaters and water parks along with sporting activities.

If this all sounds a bit too overwhelming, please contact your travel agent to do the footwork for you at no cost. Agents are paid commission by the suppliers so there is no fee to the client. The wonderful thing about a travel agent is you tell them what you want and they do all of the research. They put in all the time as they are professionals and this is what they do. They have access to hundreds of vacation sites with great values and perks included. They work very closely with the client to get them the best vacation possible. It’s completely up to the client how much time they want to spend on the planning and how much they want to turn over to the professional.

There is so much world out there—you just have to take time to explore it!

JANA HUSE, OWNER AGENT Travelooza LLC and Bucket List Travel For Boomers

Women ofDistinction

Thursday, April 2, 2020

Grand Hall

YOUNG WOMAN OF DISTINCTION

Mayo Clinic Health System Event Center

Mankato, MN

Arrive early for a social hour with our renowned silent auction of purses, boutique items and experiences!

Cost: $75/individual or $700/table

$50 for Young Women (under 30)

Doors Open 5:00pm

Program & Awards 7:00pm

RSVP online at www.ywcamankato.org email to ywca@ywcamankato.org or call 507-345-4629

Dr. Deb Bobendrier is a chiropractor who co-owns Discover Chiropractic with her husband, Dr. Cuong Huynh, and she is a faculty member in the School of Health Sciences at Rasmussen College.

Honoring Women

Sinc e 1973

She and her husband are both actively involved in the community through their service on the committee for the YWCA Girls on the Run 5K, and Dr. Deb is also faculty in the YWCA Elizabeth Kearney Leadership Program where she shares her knowledge and expertise during the Power of Movement segment each month.

She has served on various committees including the Arthritis Walk, Relay for Life, Grow MANkato’s Mustache Bash, American Cancer Society’s Prevention Study 3, and was Champion Runner at the Mankato Half Marathon for the YWCA Girls on the Run in 2016.

She is passionate about serving her community and educating community members about the importance of health and well-being.

SPONSORED BY:

WOMEN OF DISTINCTION HONOREES

HOSTED BY: Mankato

Since 2004, Jean Keenan has been the Executive Director of Life-Work Planning Center, a Minnesota Displaced Homemaker program and a pre-employment program serving the women of the Region Nine Area since 1979. She holds a degree in Spanish and was offered her first position with a non-profit in 1994 working as an advocate for Latino survivors of domestic violence in rural Minnesota.

For the last 26 years, Jean’s passion has been to work for the rights of disenfranchised women and their families; assisting them to find long-term solutions to assure their own safety and self-sufficiency.

Over the years Jean has been recognized by Minnesota State University’s Office of Institutional Diversity for her work with the Latino community; was an award recipient from South Central Workforce Partners; was recognized by the Minnesota Women’s Consortium for Exceptional Achievement for Economic Justice. Mostly recently, in 2019 Jean and Life-Work Planning were the recipients of the Hope Interfaith Center Peace Pole recognizing the agency’s tireless commitment to equity, peace and prosperity for marginalized women.

WOMEN OF DISTINCTION HONOREES

The threads that run through Margo’s volunteer and paid work are advocacy, mentoring and social justice. She has degrees in elementary and special education and higher education administration and counseling, and has worked at colleges and universities and in non-profits.

Margo is active in leadership serving on the National Fair Trade campaigns steering committee and on the Great Lakes Fair Trade Campaign Leadership Team, as well as Mankato Fair Trade. She has volunteered with the Mankato Area Adaptive Downhill Ski Program, and many others.

Margo has worked to make college and university more accessible to students with disabilities, students of color, firstgeneration college students and students from other language and cultural groups. She worked for Gustavus Adolphus College and is currently in the new University Advising Center at MNSU.

Margo’s most life-changing work was with Minnesota Council of Churches Refugee Services in Mankato. Learning and serving across racial, cultural and language barriers taught her about courage and perseverance and led to changes in her understanding and friendships she treasures.

WOMEN OF DISTINCTION HONOREES

Yurie Hong was born and raised in Los Angeles. Living in and around Koreatown for most of her life, Yurie attended both private and public schools with widely differing demographics and resources. Her experiences fostered an early awareness of the value of diversity as well as the barriers that often persist between groups of people who live and work in close proximity to one another. She graduated from UCLA with honors in 1999. In 2007, she began teaching at Gustavus Adolphus College in St. Peter, and is currently Chair of the Greek, Latin, and Classical Studies. Yurie served as Chair of the 2017 Nobel Conference on ‘Reproductive Technologies’ at Gustavus and has published and presented on ancient motherhood, reproduction in ancient texts, civic engagement, as well as teaching on a variety of subjects.

In early 2017, Yurie founded Indivisible St. Peter/Greater Mankato, a local chapter of a newly formed national movement developed to fight against the increasing attacks on already marginalized groups (immigrants, refugees, gender and sexual minorities, people of color, etc.), American civil liberties, and the norms and institutions of our democracy.

When many people think of abusive relationships, physical and emotional abuse often come to mind. One thing that is rarely talked about—but is present in nearly all abusive relationships— is financial abuse. Financial abuse is a common tactic abusers use to maintain power and control over their partner. According to the National Network to End Domestic Violence (NNEDV), financial abuse occurs in 99 percent of abusive relationships. At CADA, victims and survivors often name financial abuse or the ramifications of financial abuse as a main reason for staying with or returning to an abusive partner.

Financial abuse can be hard to identify. Financial abuse does not leave bruises. It is a form of abuse that you cannot see. Financial abuse can be an invisible weapon used against victims and survivors. Like other forms of abuse, the first signs of financial abuse can be subtle. For example, an abuser may buy gifts for their partner, or offer to take care of the finances to be helpful. After time, though, this can lead to more insidious behaviors like giving their partner an allowance or denying their partner access to financial information or bank accounts. Then, when the victim attempts to take some control over the finances, they may realize that the situation has deteriorated. They may be faced with debt, accounts that are no longer in their name, or little to no access to money or resources.

As with other forms of abuse, financial abuse may be very overt and blatant. An abuser may use threats of violence, sabotage their partner’s employment, or force their partner into fraudulent or other illegal activity. Other signs of financial abuse include:

• Running up debt on shared accounts without permission

• Giving the victim an allowance

• Forcing a victim to show receipts and account for every cent spent

• Controlling how money is spent

• Denying access to bank accounts or financial information

• Withholding money for basic necessities such as food or medication

• Giving presents or paying for things, then expecting compliance or sexual favors in return

• Applying for credit in a victim’s name

• Spending money on themselves, but not allowing their partner to do the same

The impacts of financial abuse can be long lasting and extremely damaging. Without access to money or financial resources, victims are often trapped in abusive relationships. Without money, victims struggle to see a way out. How will they support themselves and their children? How will they pay for housing?

Additionally, many victims and survivors face a damaged credit history after an abusive relationship. This can make it hard to find housing, or obtain assets such as a car. After abuse, many victims also have a sporadic employment history because an abusive partner would forbid them from working or sabotage their employment. Additionally, victims may face legal issues relating to the financial abuse they experienced. Some victims face a future of co-parenting with their abusive partner. Victims have told CADA advocates stories of their children going to their father’s house for the weekend and their father buying the children lots of presents and reminding them that mom will never be able to do that.

When we talk about financial abuse, many people will say, “But my partner takes care of all the finances—is that bad?” Having one partner managing the day-to-day finances is not inherently problematic or abusive. In fact, this is the case for many couples. We know that a common point of conflict for many couples can be finances. Conflict does not equate to abuse, and conflict can even be healthy, if it is managed respectfully. Like other forms of abuse, financial abuse is about maintaining power and control over someone. Financial abuse is used to manipulate, trap, or harm a partner.

In healthy financial relationships, one partner may manage the day-today finances, but both partners have equal access to money, financial information, and have equal decision-making power. In healthy relationships, partners share their financial goals and create goals as a couple. Partners also support one another in achieving their joint and individual financial goals. Financial decisions—especially long-term or large financial choices—are made together and agreed upon in a respectful manner. In a healthy relationship, no one needs to hide money, or lie about day-to-day spending, or ask for permission to access money.

KRISTEN WALTERS Development & Volunteer Manager CADA, Mankato

How should I know when to see a doctor in “real life” or if I can just use a virtual visit service? How should I know when to use Urgent Care vs. the Emergency Room?

Many of us are “too busy” to be sick, and few of us wish to spend our free time in the clinic or the emergency room. Thankfully, there are many options to access the medical system efficiently. E-doctors, e-nurses, telemedicine, urgent care centers, walk-in-clinics, and over the counter remedies are readily available and convenient. But when is it ok to selfprescribe, and when should you see a doctor in person?

1. Virtual Doctors vs. In Person

Virtual doctors and nurses are not intended to replace the in-person clinic visit, nor are they meant to replace the existing relationship you may have with your provider. Virtual visits are helpful for short-term health problems such as urinary tract infections, sore throats, rashes, or upper respiratory infections. Think problems that should not require ongoing care or emergency interventions. The advantages for virtual visits: convenient, cost-effective, can be done in your pajamas, and there is no interpersonal interaction. The disadvantages: if your symptoms could be a harbinger of something more serious the diagnosis could be missed or delayed because there is no interpersonal interaction.

2. Urgent Care vs. Emergency Room

If the condition you are seeking treatment for is one that you would usually see your primary care provider for, but it’s after hours or a weekend, then an Urgent Care Center or Walk-in Clinic is helpful. Symptoms associated

with cold or flu, sore throat, high fevers, broken bones, or sports injuries are commonly treated here.

If you are experiencing symptoms that could be associated with a heart attack, stroke, severe abdominal pain, head injury, loss of consciousness, shortness of breath, or major trauma, you should be seen in the emergency room. Any pregnant woman in distress should be seen in the emergency room.

3. Bandage vs. Stitches

Trauma is inevitable. Whether you are sculpting your veggie platter into a pastoral landscape complete with a ranch-dip “pond,” or you are proving to yourself “40 is the new 20” and wipe out on your son’s skateboard, there will be blood. But how much is too much?

When cuts happen, grab a clean cloth and apply direct pressure for 5-10 minutes. Sit or lie down while you are waiting. If the wound continues to bleed, or you are experiencing dizziness, rapid heart rate, or are on blood thinners then you should be seen in the emergency room. If there is a thick skin flap, if the wound goes across a joint, if there appears to be underlying nerve damage, if there is pulsatile bleeding, or if it is a deep scalp wound, you should be seen in the emergency room. If it is a minor cut, wash it out with soap and water. Apply hydrogen peroxide if there is a lot of dirt or debris in the wound. Use triple antibiotic ointment and dress the wound with a clean bandage so you can get back on that skateboard, girl, scars are cool.

Have a beautiful day!

CORINNE JORDAN, MD, FACS General Surgery Physicians Group of New Ulm

My name is Mikayla and I am a complete foodie! Most of my days revolve around what my next delicious meal will be. You could say I am slightly obsessed. I am currently going to college for business and marketing. My goal is to someday own my own restaurant/café. It has been my dream for as long as I can remember. I strive to learn more every year to make this dream a reality. My passion for food began as a young girl in my family kitchen where I got to watch and learn from my parents and grandparents as they prepared meals. I was raised in Sacred Heart, a small-town northwest of Mankato. My family has lived there for generations, and I still have several immediate and extended family members who call it home. We always get together for Sunday dinners after church, birthday parties, and holiday gatherings to enjoy each other’s company and some delicious food. Food can be a great tool for bringing people together and is a great way to show how much you love and care for them. I plan on making my dream a reality dish by dish with the hope to bring more people together.

Seared chicken breast covered in a creamy and decadent sauce. Notes of Dijon mustard, honey, and sage all combine to form this satisfying dish.

Yield: 4 Servings

Prep Time: 10 Minutes

Total Time: 30 Minutes

4 Boneless Chicken Breasts

2 T Olive Oil

1 Clove Garlic (finely minced)

¼ C. Low-Sodium Chicken Broth

½ C. Heavy Cream

2 T Dijon Mustard

1 tsp Fresh Thyme (chopped) plus extra for garnish

½ tsp Dried Sage

1 tsp Honey

Salt and pepper to taste

1. Season both sides of chicken breasts with salt and pepper. Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add chicken breasts to skillet once olive oil is heated.

2. Cook chicken breasts for approximately 6 minutes on each side (time may vary depending on thickness). Transfer chicken breasts to pan once fully cooked/time elapsed and cover to keep warm.

3. Add minced garlic to the same large skillet and sauté for 10 seconds (until fragrant) with left over olive oil. Add chicken broth, heavy cream, Dijon mustard, thyme, and sage (stirring constantly).

4. Cook mixture until sauce has thickened (approximately 5 minutes). Stir in honey, salt, and pepper.

5. Top chicken breasts with sauce and garnish with thyme. Chicken pairs nicely with rice pilaf and sautéed asparagus.

by Blue Skye Mercantile

This stew will warm the even the coldest Leprechaun right up! Guinness Beer and Salt Sisters Steak Seasoning along with the mushroom lovers olive oil give this stew a rich and earthy flavor the whole family will enjoy.

- Lisa and Karina

Irish Beef Steak Stew

 2 tbsp mushroom lovers

olive oil

 1.5-2 lbs beef stew meat

 1 medium onion, chopped roughly

 2 tsp Salt Sisters

Steakhouse Seasoning

 Salt and pepper to taste

 2 cups beef stock, divided

 2 tbsp cornstarch

 1 can Guinness or other stout beer

 2 bay leaves

 4 sprigs chopped fresh thyme or 1 tsp dried thyme

 1 clove minced garlic

 4 medium carrots

 4 medium red potatoes

 ½ cup frozen peas

Rub Salt Sisters Steak Seasoning, salt & pepper over stew meat and let sit for 15 minutes. Heat olive oil in a large Dutch oven or soup pot and brown the beef chunks, half at a time over medium heat until golden and nicely crusted.

Move the browned beef to one side of the pot and lower the heat. Add in chopped onions and thyme, cook over low heat for 8-10 minutes until tender and fragrant. Add in minced garlic and cook briefly for around 30 seconds.

Add the cornstarch to the beef and stir to coat. Add 1 cup of beef stock and scrape the bottom of the pot with a spatula to release the brown bits at the bottom. Add the Guinness and bay leaves, turn the heat up and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer for 1 hour.

Add carrots and potatoes to the pot, stir, and add in the last cup of beef broth. Cover and continue cooking for an additional hour. Add peas in and cook uncovered for an additional 30 minutes. Serve sprinkled with some fresh parsley if desired.

My husband often asks me plant questions on behalf of his coworkers. Their most recent query was about starting vegetable seedlings indoors during the winter. Since I don’t usually start my own seedlings indoors, I thought this question was a great opportunity for me to research and write about a topic I’m less familiar with.

Our vegetable garden is pretty small, so it’s cost-effective to buy my vegetable plants from the garden center. However, if you want to cultivate a large vegetable garden, it can be cheaper to start your own seeds. Seed-starting also hastens the harvest dates for long-season crops such as tomatoes, peppers, broccoli, and eggplants. Plus, if you start with seeds, you can grow unique crop varieties that aren’t readily available as plants in your local garden centers.

It’s easy to request mail-order seed catalogs online. My favorite catalogs are from Johnny’s Selected Seeds, Jung Seeds, Seed Savers Exchange, and Select Seeds. The Johnny’s catalog, in particular, contains excellent detailed instructions for growing each seed variety. The Seed Savers Exchange website also has specific instructions for most common vegetables, so take advantage of these free resources—and then buy seeds from these companies to support them for their generous gift of information.

Correct timing for your seedlings is crucial to success. You don’t want to start them too soon, or you’ll end up with giant leggy plants that spend too much time indoors. But if you start them too late, you negate the purpose of starting them early at all. Spend time researching each particular seed variety’s germination information and days to harvest, because every seed will be different. Then, consider the date you’ll be able to move your seedlings outdoors. In the Minnesota River Valley, dangers of late frost don’t pass until late May, so I cautiously recommend Mother’s Day as a starting point.

There are countless containers and potting media that can work for your seed starting, so don’t get overwhelmed looking for the perfect set-up. The most important thing is simultaneously promoting moisture retention and good drainage for your seedlings. Most conventional potting soil mixes will have water-holding components such as peat moss or vermiculite; look for a mix that contains these. Some potting soil mixes will

also already have compost or fertilizer, which can help with seedling nutrition.

Sow your seeds in containers with adequate drainage. In my experience, water should flow quickly through the container when it’s full of potting soil—you shouldn’t experience standing water for longer than a few seconds. It’s also important that the containers aren’t too big or deep, because larger quantities of soil take far longer to dry out, which can cause root rot or other fungal diseases. If the containers are very small, you’ll probably have to transplant your seedlings into bigger pots before they can go outside, which is a little extra work. If you’re reusing plastic containers from last year, you should sanitize them in bleach water first.

Light, heat, and water are the three remaining factors that will determine your success. Some seeds need light to germinate, while others won’t need light until they emerge. Once germination occurs, all of your plants will need between 12 and 16 hours of light each day. If you have a bright southor east-facing window, you shouldn’t need to supplement the lighting. If natural light is lacking, use full-spectrum “grow lights,” which are usually available at hardware stores or garden centers.

Your seedlings will benefit from a consistent source of bottom heat. You can buy electric heat mats at garden centers or from the seed suppliers mentioned above. Bottom heat will often quicken germination and help new seedlings produce stronger roots. It also prevents “damping off”— when seedlings are killed by pathogens that thrive in cold wet conditions. Most vegetable plants prefer day temperatures of 70 to 75 °F and night temperatures of 60 to 65°F. Keep in mind that soil temperatures can be up to five degrees lower than the surrounding air temps.

Watering your new seedlings might be the trickiest part of starting seeds. Germinating seeds will need consistent moisture; misting them with a spray bottle can keep the soil wet without disturbing it too much. Once the seeds germinate, you will learn a delicate dance between over- and under-watering. The soil should dry out slightly between waterings, but you should never let the tiny plants dry out to the point of wilting.

There is so much to learn about seed starting. Please visit the University of Minnesota Extension website (https://extension.umn.edu/planting-andgrowing-guides/starting-seeds-indoors) for additional information.

LAURA SCHWARZ New Ulm native Horticulturist and writer

What

Are These Dark Patches on My Face?

You’ve likely seen it before, on others and even on yourself. At first, you may think it’s just a shadow or smudge. But then you realize the terrible truth—it’s a sunspot.

Those pesky little souvenirs from your summers in the sun are a sign of a common—and usually harmless—condition called hyperpigmentation.

Hyperpigmentation is a broad term that refers to a skin condition in which the skin is discolored or darkened, and it can be brought on by many different factors. Sun, stress, estrogen (hello, melasma!), trauma, and other stimuli can all spark the condition.

Hyperpigmentation can affect people of all skin types, but the older you get and the darker your genetic skin color, the more likely you are to have hyperpigmentation. Yes, it’s a bummer, but it isn’t irreversible.

How

Can I Treat My Hyperpigmentation?

To start, investigate what your particular hyperpigmentation trigger might be. Is it lunchtime outdoors without sufficient SPF? Your birth control pills? Are you pregnant? Is it post acne scarring?

Hyperpigmentation can be difficult to treat, but most cases will improve over time once you remove or manage the underlying cause. And if you’re just starting to notice a spot here or there, topical products can work wonders for stopping hyperpigmentation in its tracks.

Begin treatment with a skin care regimen of a daily sunscreen, moisturizers, skin care brighteners, and exfoliants. I recommend looking for brighteners and exfoliants that may include ingredients like hydroquinone, vitamin C, azelaic acid, tretinoin, kojic acid, and lactic acid.

Once you have the above skin care regime down, follow these simple skincare guidelines:

Do:

Avoid excessive sun exposure to the areas of increased pigmentation. Wear a hat, sunglasses, and sun-protective clothing and seek shade when outside.

Wear sunscreen daily with an SPF greater than 45 and remember to reapply.

Don’t: Forget your sunscreen.

Aggressively scrub at your skin.

Use home remedies such as lemon juice or abrasive scrubs as these can worsen hyperpigmentation.

With a little TLC, your face will be looking better soon.

What If I Need Advance Treatment Options?

If the above skin care regimen alone doesn’t improve your hyperpigmentation, there are a couple of skin rejuvenation treatments that could help.

First, consider a chemical peel. They are a great option for anyone looking to erase skin imperfections left over from sun exposure, such as fine wrinkles and hyperpigmentation. These treatments exfoliate the skin and dissolve the outer layers of damaged skin to restore a youthful appearance. There are different types of chemical peels. The glycolic peel is a medicalgrade peel that minimizes skin discolorations and fine lines, making skin look smooth and vibrant. A modified revitalize peel is a moderate strength peel that improves skin texture, reduces melasma, and lightens sunspots. A quality provider can help you decide which peel is best for you.

The second option is laser skin rejuvenation treatments, such as intense pulse light (IPL) and broadband light (BBL). These common, non-invasive laser treatments use light to reach damaged layers of the skin and enhance the production of collagen. They can also precisely target specific areas, such as sunspots. Three to four treatments are usually needed for optimal results.

So, whether you are a 20-something dealing with acne-related hyperpigmentation, or a 60-something with a growing collection of sunspots, there are steps you can take today to improve your skin for tomorrow—and for years to come!

EMILY GIDDINGS, RN

Certified Aesthetic Injector Giddie Skin Medspa

We’ve all heard of male pattern baldness. But did you know that female pattern hair loss affects millions of women in their 40s, 50s and 60s?

About 40 percent of women experience visible hair loss by the time they are 40, according to the American Academy of Dermatology.

Women may notice a widening in their part, a thinner ponytail, receding hair at the temple, and more hair on their brush. Some women will develop widespread thinning.

We know hair loss is hereditary, but hormones also may play a role since it’s more common after menopause.

Did you know you can restore your hair’s thickness without surgery or prescription drugs?

Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) is a treatment that injects your own platelets into your scalp to promote healing and stimulate hair growth. The procedure begins with a standard blood draw from the arm. The blood is placed into a centrifuge, a machine that spins and separates the blood into different parts. Then the platelet-rich plasma is injected into the scalp.

Platelets help stimulate your cells to grow hair, increase thickness, trigger and maintain the growth phase, and decrease hair loss. Several scientific articles show PRP increases hair count, thickness, and the growth phase of the hair cycle.

Collecting the platelet-rich plasma only takes 10 to 15 minutes, and the scalp injection is even faster. There may be some sensitivity. There is no downtime or long recovery. We do advise not using harsh dyes or chemicals on the hair for three days.

The number of treatments will vary. Usually, several treatments are recommended about one month apart. After the initial treatment, maintenance treatments may be advised two to three times a year. Women often see results within the first three months of treatment. At first, women notice less hair shedding. Next, they see regrowth and increased length.

If you notice thinning hair on your scalp, see your primary care provider or a dermatologist for a diagnosis. Other causes of hair loss should be ruled out first.

Several prescription medications have proven effective in treating female pattern hair loss, but they don’t have specific FDA approval to treat hair loss. Plus, the medications have side effects. Many supplements also promise to help grow and thicken hair. However, in most studies, the supplements had no effect on hair growth and thickness, according to the American Academy of Dermatology.

If you are reading this and thinking about the man in your life, PRP has excellent success in treating male pattern baldness.

LISA MONTAG Nurse practitioner

Skin Essentials Mankato Clinic

Some of you may have the dog that bounces into the hospital excitedly and happily greets all the staff. Some of you have the pleasant kitty that comes waltzing out of its carrier, purring with “happy paws.” We love to see these patients but, the truth is, most pets are very scared, nervous and anxious coming to the hospital. Ninety percent of aggression is due to fear, so it’s no surprise that many of our pets become frantic in the hospital setting and all of it is explainable.

Dogs and cats produce pheromones—specific to their species—from different parts of their bodies. Dogs can release a fear pheromone from their paw pads. This scent is left in the parking lot (on a dry day), the lobby floor, and any surface the dog has touched. The next dog comes in— already concerned—and picks up on the fearful scent. They are now alerted to the fears that lie within the hospital. After entering the perceived “place of doom,” they are then asked to go onto a terrifying scale that is obviously lava like. In reality, we are asking them to step up onto a new surface and stay. When we move to the exam room, they are now confined, and their escape route is non-existent.

Now imagine that you are a fluffy cat that is lounging in the sunroom on the back of the couch. Suddenly you are abducted from your slumber, placed into a carrier you never see, carried by your owner, possibly slammed into every door frame and placed in a moving vehicle. You arrive at the hospital, full of loud noises, new smells, and strange new people are peering into your carrier.

In both scenarios, your pet is essentially “building a tower.” With each new thing (seeing a terrifying carrier, placed into said carrier, traveling in a vehicle, hearing noises/sounds in a strange place, and now being taken from the carrier), the pet adds a block to their tower. When the pet is not allowed time to cool down in between each block, the tower will eventually implode. This usually happens when the doctor enters the room, when an exam is being done, or some type of restraint needs to occur. One of three things will happen. The pet will choose the “flight” response and try to get away, the “fight” response that causes the pet to become aggressive, or they have that phenomenal demeanor that will allow them to roll with the punches.

Keep in mind that your pet also feeds off your emotions. If you are nervous, your pet senses this as well. These responses don’t just happen in a hospital setting, but anytime an animal feels scared or stressed—walks, pet stores, at home with visitors, etc.

Your veterinarian can’t prevent all the scary things, but they can try to

limit the stress at the clinic as much as possible. But you can even help at home. For cats, we recommend taking the carrier out the week before your appointment, remove the cover, and place some tasty canned food by it for meals. Even better, leave your carrier out all the time.

For dogs, take a walk or do some activity before coming for your appointment so extra energy doesn’t increase anxiety. Muzzle training your dog can be super helpful for dogs that tend to take the “fight” response and can be taught to be something positive. You can also look for a veterinary hospital that practices limited stress techniques.

• Pheromone plug-ins in the kennel rooms.

• Communicating with the staff to let them know any fears your pet may have.

• Spraying blankets with Feliway (calming solution) for cats while waiting or while in exam rooms.

• Staff sprays pheromones on their clothing to help ease stress in our companions.

• For cats, remove the carrier top and take them out gently.

• Weighing cats in the exam rooms to avoid further stress

• The staff should do lots of belly pats, talking to, and as little restraint as possible.

• Staff should be able to explain general body language of a fearful pet.

• Staff should be slow when introducing themselves to your pet.

• A variety of treats—peanut butter, cheese, canned food, etc.—are used to help distract while procedures are occurring.

• The staff should be able to accommodate a check-in for a reactive dog—leave your dog in the car, check in at the desk, wait until the exam room is ready.

• Anxiety medication is very helpful and should be used to avoid any excessive aggressive restraint.

Your veterinary staff enjoys working with animals and we don’t like seeing your pet scared. In fact, the number one reason people don’t bring their pet to see a veterinarian is because they are embarrassed of their pet’s behavior. Anxiety and aggression is not 100 percent preventable at the hospital, but we do our best to lessen their fears.

NICOLE LUECK (CVT) MN Valley Pet Hospital Mankato

BY CINDY HAUGLAND tidytightwads.com

If you’re like most people, you’re looking ahead to spring. Giving the house a fresh, spring-cleaning makes it seem more like spring.

As you declutter and get organized for the months ahead, I challenge you to take inventory of your personal property. While it is important to live with less “stuff,” there are plenty of items we need to keep. From our appliances and furniture to our personal and household items, we all accumulate property.

However, in the event that you would need to report items as lost or stolen or submit a claim to insurance to replace the items, in the case of a fire or natural disaster, it is important to have a recent inventory of your personal property.

Whether you have homeowners or renters insurance, you can do a written list, photos, and/or video. Most insurance agents would advise you to do a combination of all three. The more documentation you have the better.

While it’s a significant undertaking, it’s really important. Once done, you simply need to update it every year or two. While you’re completing your list, it is important to open drawers and cupboards and get as detailed as possible. Don’t forget to take inventory of the basement, storeroom, garage, and shed. If you can make note of condition of items and year purchased, that’s great. If you have a receipt that proves where, when, and cost, attach it or take a photo. If you have pertinent appraisals, warranties, or replacement information, include that with your documents. It might be tempting to skip small items to save time, but everything

counts. Imagine having to replace all your towels and bedding. It all adds up. You could organize your lists by room and by person.

Make sure you store this information in duplicate. Find a place at your home, as well as offsite such as a safety deposit box, family member, friend, or your office. In the case of digital list and photos, you could store in the cloud. Just make sure you know how to get there from somewhere other than your phone or personal computer, in case those are the items compromised.

We all hope this is never needed but, in the event that it is, you’ll be relieved that you took the time to document your possessions.

Invest

Locally made accessories are our favorite way to take an outfit to the next level and add a unique touch. We love delicate details with a big impact. All of the earrings we have pictured are Baubles and Bobbies creations. Combine Pura Vida jewelry (bracelets shown) in a variety of styles to create your own personal statement.

BY DANIELLE FISCHER MARTI & JESSICA FISCHER HOFFMANN Gallery 512 Boutique New Ulm-Mankato

A good blazer and standout blouse are essential closet staples. Pair your blazer with a dress or pants during the day, and denim with heels for a night out. Blouses are a timeless classic that can leave you looking and feeling confident. Accessories tie it all together.

in pieces that will elevate your individual style.

Experiment with trends by balancing them with solid and neutral colors.

1

Our 32nd necklace. The perfect way to show some love to the “Land of 10,000 Lakes.”

Kamba Drop Earrings. Ultra lightweight, and our Maji Quartz Strand Necklace. Kamba is

Terra Moon Earrings. Hand-woven rattan discs on matte silver ear hoops.

BY GINGER NEILON Designer + Owner Baubles & Bobbies North Mankato

Nyota necklace in Dalmation

Jasper. This 17inch necklace is great for layering. Known as “the Playful Stone,” with its spotting of tourmaline it adds a whimsical touch.

Nyota strand necklace in Dalmation Jasper.

Face the Day Necklace. Feel fierce in this empowering 30” necklace.

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.

Fri, Mar 6

• Björling Music Festival—Jazz Jamboree Concert, Björling Recital Hall, Gustavus Adolphus College, St. Peter, 7:30 pm. Info: mara@gustavus.edu

• Lenten Organ Concert, Our Lady of Good Counsel, School Sisters of Notre Dame, 170 Good Counsel Dr, Mankato, 7 pm. Info: lmatousek@ssndcp. org or 507-381-8637.

Fri-Sat, Mar 6-7

• Farm-City Hub Club Farm Show, Civic Center, 1212 N Franklin St, New Ulm, 1-8 pm Fri, 10 am-5 pm Sat. Info: 507354-8524 or farmcityhubclub. net.

Sat, Mar 7

• Schell’s Bock Fest, Brewery, 1860 Schell Rd, New Ulm, 11 am-4:30 pm. Info: 507-3545528.

• Farm & Home Show, High School, 1400 17th St., Windom, 9 am-3 pm. Info: 507-831-2752.

• Miss Sleepy Eye Coronation, Event Center, Sleepy Eye, 7 pm. Info: misssleepyeye@gmail. com

• Hamburg Lion’s Purse Bingo, Community Hall, Hamburg, 10 am-1 pm. Info: Facebook.

• Holy Trinity Cathedral Concert Series, Cathedral of the Holy Trinity, 605 N State, New Ulm, 12 pm. Info: dnu.org/local-events.

• Mankato Gun & Knife Show, Kato Ballroom, 200 Chestnut St, Mankato, 200 Chestnut St, Mankato, 9 am-5 pm. Info: 763-754-7140 or crocodile1@ comcast.net.

Sat, Mar 7 & Apr 4

• New Ulm Bird & Small Animal Swap & Sale Day, Brown Co Fairgrounds, New Ulm, 8 amnoon. Info: 507-375-4716 or 507-354-6448.

GO. BE. DO. CON NECT.

Sat-Sun, Mar 7-8

• The Brick Marketplace Spring Fling, Armory, 205 N Broadway, New Ulm. 9 am-5 pm Sat, 11 am-3 pm Sun. Info: brickmarketplace@gmail.com or Facebook.

Sun, Mar 8

• Coppélia Comic Ballet by Mankato Ballet, State Street Theater Co, 1 N State St, New Ulm, 2 pm. Info: statestreettheater@gmail.com or statestreetnewulm.org.

• Sauerkraut, Landjaeger & Dumpling Dinner, Church of St. Mary, 417 S Minnesota St, New Ulm, 10 am-12:30 pm.

• Coppélia Comic Ballet by Mankato Ballet, State Street Theater, 1 N State St, New Ulm, 2 pm. Info: statestreetnewulm. org or statestreettheater@ gmail.com.

Mon, Mar 9

• Björling Music Festival Honor Choir Finale Concert, Christ Chapel, Gustavus Adolphus College, St. Peter, 6:30 pm. Info: mara@gustavus.edu

Wed, Mar 11

• Crazy Bingo to Defeat ALS, American Legion, St. James, 2-8:30 p.m. Info: 507-327-7810,, 507-621-2475 or 507-381-6432.

Thurs, Mar 12

• Ducks Unlimited 6th Annual Gun Bash, Nicollet Conservation Club, 46045 471st Ln, Nicollet, 5:30 pm. Info: Facebook.

Fri, Mar 13

• Ladies Night, Hahn’s Dining, 206 N Main St, Winthrop, 6-9 pm. Info: Facebook.

• Woman of Achievement Awards & Celebration, Country Club, 1991 Lemond Rd, Owatonna, 6:30 pm. Info: owatonabusinesswomen.org 507-451-3580.

• St. Patrick’s Day Celebration, Paradise Center for the Arts, 321 Central Ave N, Faribault, 7-10 pm. Info: kelly@faribaultmn.org or visitfaribault. com/calendar/.

• Peace Lutheran Fish Fry, 400 Franklin St SW, Hutchinson, 11 am-7 pm. Info: Facebook.

Sat, Mar 14

• Maple Syrup Demonstration, Minneopa State Park, 5 mi W of Mankato off Hwy 68/169, 10-11 am. Info: 507-384-8890 or scott.kudelka@state.mn.us

• Courtland Rec Assn 69th Annual Fish Fry, Community Center, Courtland, 11 am-7 pm. Info: Facebook.

• Craft Show, Lansing Corner Supper Club, 27017 US Hwy 218, Lansing, 9 am-2 pm. Info: 507-456-1220 or bhortop@ farmersagent.com

• Jodi Hafemann Boisjolie Benefit, Neisen’s Riverside Sports Bar, St. Peter, 12-4 pm. Info: Facebook or 507-931-7966.

Sat, Mar 14 & 21

• Maple Syrup Tour, Ney Nature Center, 28238 Nature Center Ln, Henderson, 1-2:30 pm. Info & registration: 507-357-8580 or info@neycenter.org.

Sat-Sun, Mar 14-15

• New Ulm Trade Fair & Living History Event, Turner Hall, 102 S State St, New Ulm, 9 am-5pm Sat, 9 am-3 pm Sun. Info: NewUlmTradeFair.com, 651-247-4733 or memery@ newulmtradefair.com.

Sun, Mar 15

• LCS PROS Pulled Pork & Live/ Silent Auction, Lafayette Public Charter School, 351 6th St, Lafayette, 11 am-3 pm. Info: Facebook.

Tues, Mar 17

• St. Patrick’s Day Parade, 3rd S Minnesota to the Glockenspiel, New Ulm, 5 pm. Info: 507-3548836 or nublarney @gmail. com.

• St. Patrick’s Day Parade & Festivities, Third Street, St. Peter, 5:30 pm. Info: Facebook.

• MVL Open House, Minnesota Valley Lutheran High School, 45638 561st Ave, New Ulm, 6-8:30 p.m. Info: 507-380-3084 or valh@mvlhs.org.

Wed-Sun, Mar 18-22

• RV Camping Show, New Ulm Civic Center, 1212 N Franklin, New Ulm. 5-9 pm Wed, 10 am-9 pm Thurs & Fri, 9 am-6 pm Sat, 11 am-4 pm Sun. Info: 507-3548106 or joescampers.com.

Thurs, Mar 19

• James Sewell Ballet, Shattuck-St. Mary’s School, 1000 Shumway Ave, Faribault, 7 pm. Info: 507-333-1620 or feslerlampert@s-sm.org

• Lifelong Learner Series—Maple Syruping, Ney Nature Center, 28238 Nature Center Ln, Henderson, 12-1:30 pm. Info & registration: 507-357-8580 or info@neycenter.org.

Thurs-Sat, Mar 19-21

• North American Farm & Power Show, Steele Co Four Seasons Centre, 1525 S Elm Ave, Owatonna, 9 am-5 pm Thurs & Fri, 9-4 Sat. Info: tradexpos.com/ north-american-farm-powershow/.

Fri, Mar 20

• Stop-Shop-Go Spring Vendor Event, 140 Cedar Ave E, Hector, 9 am-12 pm.

Sat, Mar 21

• The Big Little Hunting & Fishing Expo and Auction, McLeod Co Fairgrounds, 840 Century Ave SW, Hutchinson, 9 am-5:30 pm. Info: christiandeerhunters. org/2017exposchedule.html or 320-583-3236.

• George Sveine 12th Annual Cribbage Tournament, American Legion, 13 S Minnesota St, New Ulm, 12-4 pm.

• Eagles Extravaganza, Event Center, New Ulm, 5-11 pm. Info: isd88foundation.org, 507-2338313 or director@isd88foundation.org

• Songs & Scenes—Celebrating 25 Years of The Merlin Players, Paradise Center for the Arts, 321 Central Ave N, Faribault, 7:30 pm. Info: visitfaribault. com/calendar/.

• Björling Music Festival—Jazz Jamboree Evening Concert, Björling Recital Hall, Gustavus Adolphus College, St. Peter, 7:30 p.m. Info: mara@gustavus. edu

Sun, Mar 22

• Lafayette Fire Dept. Ham Dinner, Fire Hall, Lafayette, 10:30 am. Info: Facebook.

• MN Music Hall of Fame Fundraiser & Concertina Jamboree, Turner Hall, New Ulm, 12-6 pm. Info: 507-766-4115 or mnmu -

sichalloffame.org/mmhf-fundraiser/.

Tues, Mar 24

• Farm-City Hub Club Ag Day Parade, Glockenspiel, 327 N Minnesota St, New Ulm, 10:30 a.m. Info: 507-276-7749.

• Notable Women of Brown County’s Past, Country Club, New Ulm, 5:30 p.m. Info & tickets: 507-233-2620 or browncountyhistorymn.org.

Thurs, Mar 26

• Southern MN Crisis Nursery’s 2nd Annual Taco Feast Fundraiser, St. Mary’s Church, 417 S Minnesota St, New Ulm, 4:30-7:30 pm. Info: Facebook.

Thurs-Sat, Mar 26-28

• Friends of the Library Book Sale, Watonwan Co Library, St. James. 10 am-8pm Thurs, 10 am-5:30 Fri, 10 am-2 pm Sat.

Thurs-Sat, Mar 26-28 & Apr 2-4

• Everybody Loves Opal, Center for the Arts, 15 Franklin St SW, Hutchinson, 7 pm. Info & tickets: app.arts-people.com.

Fri-Sat, Mar 27-28

• Citizens Bank Minnesota Craft Retreat for B the Light, St. George Parish Center. Info: Facebook.

Fri-Sun, Mar 27-29

• 40th annual New Ulm Home & Health Show, Civic Center, New Ulm. 3-8 pm Fri, 10 am-5 pm Sat, 11 am-4 pm Sun. Info: 507-2334300 or chamber@newulm.com.

• KOWZ Home and Rec Show, Steele Co Four Seasons Centre, 1525 S Elm Ave, Owatonna. 3-7 pm Fri, 9 am-5 pm Sat, 11 am-3 pm Sun. Info: kowzfm.com/ homeshow.html.

Sat, Mar 28

• American Legion Auxiliary Vendor & Craft Fair, 229 Nassau Street, St Peter, 8:30 am-12:30 pm. Info: Facebook.

• Courtland Spring Craft & Vendor Fair, Community Center, 300 Railroad St, Courtland, 12-4 pm. Info: Facebook.

• Men of Truth Conference—Band of Brothers, Martin Luther College Auditorium, 1995 Luther Ct, New Ulm, 8 am-2:15 pm. Info & registration: menoftruth.org or contact@menoftruth.org.

• 2020 Jeans & Dreams MVL Booster Club Auction, Turner Hall, New Ulm, 5 pm. Info: mvl. org/news-events/auction/ or

cmorgan@mvlhs.org.

• 8th Annual Civil War Symposium—‘Setting the Stage for War: 1860,’ Morson-Ario-Strand VFW, 1900 N Riverfront Dr, Mankato, 9 am-5 pm. Info: boyinblue.org or julie@mnheritage. com

• Crazy On You—Tribute to HEART, Paradise Center for the Arts, 321 Central Ave N, Faribault, 7:30 pm. Info: visitfaribault. com/calendar/.

Sun, Mar 29

• Hilltop Happenings, Hilltop Hall, 206 First St N, Montgomery, 4 pm. Info: mailto:wendyzaske@ yahoo.com

• LaSalle Fire Dept Pancake Breakfast Fundraiser, Village Inn, LaSalle, 8 am. Info: Facebook.

• Choir of Christ Chapel & Lucia Singers Spring Concert, Christ Chapel, Gustavus Adolphus College, St. Peter, 2 pm. Info: mara@ gustavus.edu.

• Cash for Kids Auction & Silent Auction, High School, St. James, 11 am-3pm.

Mon, Mar 30

• Screening of the movie ‘Silo,’ High School, New Ulm, 6 pm.

Tues, Mar 31

• Career Expo for 8th & 10th graders, New Ulm High School,1600 Oak St, New Ulm, 11 am-2:30 pm.

• Women Celebrating Women, St. Peter, 5:30 pm. Info & registration: 507-934-3048, ext. 1, or stpetercommunityedonline. com.

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

Thurs, Apr 2

• Lunch & a Bite of History-The History of Grocery Stores in New Ulm, Brown Co Museum Annex, New Ulm, 12 pm. Info: browncountyhistorymn.org or 507-233-2618.

• Films on First Thursdays: ‘Arrival—Finding Homes,’ Treaty Site History Center, 1851 S Minnesota Ave, St. Peter, 7 pm. Info: museum@nchsmn.org or 507-934-2160.

Fri, Apr 3

• The Johnny Cash Story, State Street Theater, 1 N State St, New Ulm, 7 pm. Info: statestreetnewulm.org or statestreettheater@gmail.com

• Chamber Annual Social—‘Roaring ‘20s,’ Alumni Hall, Gustavus Adolphus College, St. Peter, 5:30 9 pm. Info: 07-934-3400 or spchamb@hickorytech.net

Fri-Sat, Apr 3-4

• Prairie Piecemakers Quilt Guild Quilt Show, Event Center, 301 20th St S, New Ulm. 9 am-6 pm Fri, 9 am-4pm Sat., Info: Facebook or newulmquiltshow.com.

Fri-Sun, Apr 3-5

• Grackle Days, Winthrop. Info: 507-276-4031 or winthropminnesota.com.

Fri-Sun, Apr 3-5 & Thurs-Sat, Apr 16-19

• Disney’s Frozen Jr, Paradise Center for the Arts, 321 Central Ave N, Faribault, 7:30 pm Thurs-Sat, 2 pm Sun. Info: visitfaribault.com/ calendar/.

Sat, Apr 4

• 17th Annual Nicollet County Pheasants Forever Banquet, 400 W Union St, St Peter, 5 pm. Info: Facebook.

• Spring Fling Craft & Vendor Show, American Legion, New Ulm, 10 am-4 pm. Info: nucve. com, newulmevents@gmail.com or 612-454-9972.

• FOG Youth Ham Bingo, Fire Hall, Lafayette, 6 pm. Info: 507-7666327.

Sat-Sun, Apr 4-5

• Tasting Event-Hops for Habitat, Steele County Four Seasons Centre, 1525 S Elm Ave, Owatonna, 3-7 pm. Info: kquattrin@ tworivershabitat.org or 507-4460112.

• Mankato Natural Healing & Psychic Expo, Courtyard by Marriott, 901 Raintree Rd, Mankato. 10 am-6 pm Sat, 10 am-4 pm Sun.

proudly presents... New Ulm Quilt Show

Sun, Apr 5

• Winthrop Lions Omelet Breakfast, St. Francis de Sales Catholic Church, 501 N Brown St, Winthrop, 9 am-1 pm. Info: marymalheim@yahoo.com or Facebook.

Mon, Apr 6

• Blood Drive, Ridgewater College Campus Concourse, 2 Century Ave SE, Hutchinson, 9 am-2 pm. Info: 320-234-8562 or Facebook.

Tues, Apr 7

• Lenten Vespers Concert, Martin Luther College, Chapel of the Christ, 1995 Luther Ct, New Ulm, 7:30 pm. Info: mlc-wels.edu/ event/lenten-vespers/ or zarlinmg@mlc-wels.edu

Wed, Apr 8

• MVL Sacred Concert, 45638 561st Ave, New Ulm, 7 pm. Info: mvl.org or valh@mvlhs.org.

Sat, Apr 11

• Geocaching—Easter Egg Hunt, Ney Nature Center, 28238 Nature Center Ln, Henderson, 10 am & 1 pm sessions. Info & registration: 507-357-8580 or info@neycenter.org.

Tues, Apr 14

• Family & Friends CPR, Washington Learning Center, New Ulm, 6:30-8 pm. Info: newulm. ce.eleyo.com or cfleck@newulm. k12.mn.us

Thurs, Apr 16

• Lifelong Learner Series—Soil Health, Ney Nature Center, 28238 Nature Center Ln, Henderson, 12 pm. Info & registration: 507-357-8580 or info@ neycenter.org.

Thurs-Fri, Apr 16-17

• Red Cross Blood Drive, First Presbyterian Church, St. James. 12-6 pm Thurs, 8 am-12 pm Fri. Info & appointments: 800-733-2767.

130934

Special Guest: Doug Leko Featured Quilter: Alice Forst

About 400 Quilts, Vendors, Demonstrations, Raffle Quilt, Door Prizes, Food & Beverage, Basket/Project Raffle, AND MORE!

Admission $8.00 Follow us on Facebook and visit NewUlmQuiltShow.com

Prairie Piecemakers Quilt Guild

MarchMust

1. SIC Wine Tumbler and Bombd Fizzy Drink Bombs

SIC tumblers are essential for every wine and beverage lover. SIC stands for Seriously Ice Cold, in case you didn’t know. They are super stylish and are something that can be used over and over again. Combine Bombd drink bombs along with your favorite champagne, rum or vodka for the perfect fun libation in your SIC Tumbler. Blue Skye Mercantile 237 Belgrade Avenue North Mankato MN 56003 507.779.7076 blueskyemercantile.com

2. Oi Hair Butter from Davines

A deep nourishing treatment for all hair types giving extraordinary shine, softness and combates frizz. Use once a week leaving on for 10 minutes. Retail $44. Fréy Salon & Spa 429 S Minnesota Ave. St. Peter, MN 56082 507.934.7399

3. Dazzlers

Grab a pair of Dazzlers this Spring and add a little sparkle to your wardrobe. Lead and Nickel Free, Dazzlers are safe for sensitive skin and give the perfect sparkle with a budget friendly price tag at only $19.99. Earrings and Necklaces available in both Gold and Silver tone and multiple styles.

Bella Nova Boutique 521 N. Riverfront Dr. Mankato, MN 56001 507.779.7444

4. Woofwash

Pet Cleansing Products

These naturally derived soap-free cleansers are gentle enough for frequent use. Select from a variety of nourishing scents and formulas that offer healing and restorative properties. These products are parabenfree and sulfate-free, designed to pamper your pet. Varieties include but not limited to soothing oatmeal, puppy pure, and herbal. Stop into Pet Expo today to shop our entire line. Pet Expo

1800 Adams Street Mankato, MN 56003 507.625.2505 petexpomankato.com

5. Roanley Console Sofa Table

Make a cool, contemporary statement with this console sofa table. Sporting diamondcarved cabinet door fronts with great dimension, this designer piece is an inspired choice for an entryway, dining room or living space. Combination of distressed white wood and black metal is so striking. Rooms and Rest

Furniture and Mattress

1760 Madison Ave. Mankato, MN 56001 1704 North State St. New Ulm, MN 56073 roomsandrest.com

6. Sonicare Platinum

Get your must have Sonicare Flexcare Platinum electric toothbrush from North Mankato Family Dentistry. Smart brushing technology removes 10x more plaque making healthier gums in 2 weeks vs manual toothbrush. Special pricing at $130 with this premium model. No need to be a patient to get yours today!

North Mankato Family Dentistry

1400 Lookout Dr. North Mankato, MN 56003 507.625.CARE (2273) mankatodentist.com

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4.

6.

2.

7. Women's Under Armour Tech Tank

UA Tech™ fabric is quickdrying, ultra-soft & has a more natural feel. Material wicks sweat & dries really fast. 4-way stretch construction moves better in every direction. Antiodor technology prevents the growth of odor-causing microbes. Stop into Scheels today!

Scheels

River Hills Mall

1850 Adams St. Mankato, MN 56001

507.386.7767 scheels.com

8. Leave your skin feeling soft & smooth Basin brings the relaxation of a spa to your home. With a refreshing line of sweetly scented bath bombs, scrubs and soaps that will help relieve your daily stresses. You can find Basin products at your Mankato Hy-Vee’s.

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

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 all-inclusive 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

10. Tummy Tuck Leggings

Instant tummy tuck leggings that suck it all in where you need it most! Soft stretch, wide waistband and machine washable. Purchase in store or online! Laney Lu’s Boutique a division of A&W Furniture in Redwood Falls, MN.

Laney Lu's Boutique

1501 E. Bridge Street Redwood Falls, MN 56283

507.644.2020

www.laneylus.com

11. Paint & Supplies

At C&S Supply in Mankato

We stock interior and exterior paints and stains from True Value as well as brush-on and spray paints from a variety of manufacturers. We carry a wide selection of step stools, step ladders and extension ladders. To help you make your next paint project a success, we can supply you with rollers, brushes, trays, drop cloths and most anything else you might need for your painting project. Ask us to match your colors with our color match computer.

C&S Supply

1951 N. Riverfront Drive, Mankato, MN

507.387.1171 or 800.879.1938

12. Our Traveling Showroom

Blinds & More travels to your home or office with custom samples. We offer window coverings and interior design services. Our team will travel within a 60-mile radius of Mankato. Schedule your free consultation today!

Blinds & More Window Coverings & Decor

507.380.5019

blindsandmore.org

13. Relax. Renew. Repeat. Promote total calm and peaceful relaxation. Improve sleep, eliminate fatigue and jet lag, alleviate stress and energize your entire body. All it takes is 60 Minutes of Float Therapy. All new at Body Concepts. Call to schedule your appointment today!

Body Concepts LLC

1615 N. Riverfront Dr. Mankato, MN 56001

507.381.5467

bodyconceptsmankato. com

14. Botanical Sketches

Framed Prints

Minimalist in design, these simple floral sketches work seamlessly with a variety of styles. Each sketch is surrounded by white mats with elegant, double v-groove accents. The frames are silver leaf over a taupe wash. Each print is placed under protective glass.

Nordaas American Homes

10091 State Hwy 22 Minnesota Lake, MN 56068

800-658-7076

nordaashomes.com

MarchMust

HAVES

15. Triniti Plus 3 in 1 Facial Treatment

Total facial renewal. 3 laser treatments in the same treatment session. The complete skin program for immediate, visible and long-lasting results, Triniti Plus is a treatment in 3 steps, performed sequentially, during the same office visit. With the Triniti Plus skin program, color correction, texture and wrinkle treatment can all be achieved in a single session, using the Elōs Plus multi-application platform. One session provides three distinct treatments that are a combination of bi-polar radio frequency and light energies. Color Correction – IPL Laser, improve uneven skin tone, sun damaged skin, spider veins / telangiectasia & brown spots. Contouring – Sublime Laser, target the telltale signs of aging, including jowl & neck, brow lines and nasolabial folds. Fine lines, wrinkles and texture – Sublative Laser, treat fine lines and wrinkles for smoother, younger looking skin. Complimentary Consultations!

Giddie Skin

530 N Riverfront Dr. Suite 130 Mankato, MN 56001 507.381.7723 giddieskin.com

16. EGO Self-Propelled Battery Powered Lawn Mower

Offering the torque of gas without the noise, mess and fumes, the EGO 56-Volt Lithium-Ion Mower delivers long-lasting power, rapid charging and durability in all-weather conditions. With up to 60-minutes of cut time, this mower tackles even the toughest of mowing applications. The advanced EGO POWER+ 56-Volt battery uses industry-leading Arc-Lithium technology to deliver superior power and is compatible with all EGO POWER+ products. $549.99

Arrow Ace Hardware & Paint

201 S. Minnesota Ave. St. Peter, MN 56082

507.931.3830

arrowace.net

17. Renewal by Andersen Windows: Professionally Installed by Schmidt Siding & Window

You can be confident in Renewal by Andersen® custom replacement windows, which are backed by one of thae strongest transferable warranties in the industry. Soon you’ll be saying, “I love our new windows.” Schmidt Siding & Window expert crews install them all year round. Renewal by Andersen® windows are custom-made to fit within the exact space of an existing window. They are an easy, hassle-free way to enhance your home’s comfort and appearance without the major disruptions that often come with remodeling projects.

Schmidt Siding & Window 901 N 5th St. Mankato, MN 56001 507.625.6412 schmidtmankato.com

18. Zensory™ Weighted Blanket from PureCare

Available in both child and adult sizes, are designed to provide balanced pressure, the weighted sensation may help naturally subdue stress and ease impulses to toss and turn, linking it to improved sleep. What if your child had a blanket that could snuggle them back? Our Zensory™ weighted blanket works by using contoured compression to softly stimulate pressure points which may naturally help melt stress and alleviate anxiety. Plus, the soft & snuggly duvet cover is included for added comfort (and washability).

Larson's Home Furnishings Redwood Falls, MN 507.637.8346 Marshall 507.532.6320 larsonfurniture.com

THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT MENTAL HEALTH & GIRLS

Mental health is important to your overall health, regardless of age or gender. Mental illness can affect any community or family and should not be defined in just one way. There are many young women and girls who deal with a range of mental health conditions, including depression, anxiety, adjustment disorders, eating disorders, and addictive behaviors. One in six children, ages 6–17, experience a mental disorder each year, according to the National Alliance on Mental Illness.

Here are five things to keep in mind when considering the mental health of a teenage girl in your life:

1. Teach emotions.

Parents of young girls should start to tune in to their child’s mental wellbeing from the day their child is born. Teach your children about emotions, what they can do when they have big feelings and model positive behavior.

For example, you might say to your child: “I’m irritable today because I had a hard day at work. Let’s read a book together because that would help me feel better.” In this case, you are expressing what you’re feeling, the reason you’re feeling that way and demonstrating a positive way to handle your feelings.

2. Help with decision-making.

Mental health can affect a person’s decision-making skills. When someone is anxious, overwhelmed, angry, or sad, it can be hard to problem-solve or know what to do to feel better. That’s why it’s essential to have a general plan in mind before the big feelings happen.

To construct a general plan, start by being aware of emotions and knowing that they’re all OK. The easy ones, such as being happy and excited, along with the hard ones, such as being sad, angry, or nervous, all are important. We wouldn’t be human beings if we didn’t have an array of emotions. It’s necessary to have a plan for how to work through emotions when they happen. This could be talking with a friend or a trusted adult, listening to music, or performing physical activity like going for a run or a walk.

WOLF Licensed Clinical Social Worker Behavioral Health Mayo Clinic

3. Watch for symptoms.

While there is no one way to prevent mental illness, pay attention to emotions, thoughts, and behaviors, and be open to seeing a health professional. Sometimes symptoms, such as depression and anxiety, may manifest themselves in physical symptoms, such as headaches, muscle tension, or the inability to sleep or eat. Other symptoms can be withdrawal from friends and activities, significant tiredness or low energy, irritability, extreme mood changes of highs and lows, or excessive fears or worries.

4. Seek professional help.

Most mental illnesses don’t improve on their own, and—if left untreated— they can worsen over time and cause serious problems. Talk to your child’s primary care provider or a mental health professional if you are concerned.

In addition to mental health care, children should receive routine wellchild checkups with their primary care providers to rule out any underlying health issues that may be contributing to symptoms.

If you suspect suicide, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255. It provides free confidential support 24/7 for people in distress, and prevention and crisis resources.

5. Take care of yourself.

Finally, take care of yourself. Get adequate sleep, eat healthy, and find ways to be physically active. And encourage your girls to do so as well. Programs such as Girls on the Run through the YWCA are a great way to help young girls be healthy and confident.

If you or someone you know might be experiencing a mental health crisis, please reach out to your parents or a trusted adult. Here are some community resources:

• Mankato Crisis Center/Mobile Crisis Team: 877-399-3040

• National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-8255 (TALK)

• Crisis Textline: Text “MN” to 741-741

JESSIE

for MASSAGE TWO

Stress relief, slowed cortisol production, lowered heart rate and so much more. Don’t all these things sound pleasant? All of these things can happen between you and your partner when you engage in a couple’s massage.

Massage itself has endless physical, mental and emotional benefits. When you take the time to include your partner in these services you will see and feel even more benefits from your treatment.

BY EMILY SCHOPER Co-Owner/Senior Stylist FREY Salon & Spa

The power of massage with your partner can help you calm your anxiety and outside feelings the world can push on us. You don’t have to worry about physical activity and can let yourself connect in a much softer way. Next time your thinking about a date maybe start with couples massage in a beautiful, luxurious and tranquil space that will allow you and your partner to connect and reflect on a completely different level. Massage can sometimes seem daunting, but if you are willing to try it with your partner it can be extremely beneficial to your relationship, mind, body, and soul.

Real Estate Reality

How does having a real estate agent help a buyer?

That’s a great question! A home is by far the largest purchase most people will ever make. A great buyer’s agent will guide clients through what can otherwise be a really stressful and vulnerable experience.

A great buyer’s agent will do a lot more than show homes- although we do that. He or she will help clients get organized and streamline a process that has a lot of moving parts. We help buyers get financially pre-approved so they can make a strong offer, and we look out for our clients’ best interests so they can settle on a fair price. We provide inside knowledge on negotiation, schools, neighborhoods, your rights, and the value of the properties from different perspectives.

It can be an emotional process sometimes, and a skillful buyer’s agent will help buyers to understand their choices with a cool head, so they can make good decisions. We also take pride in building relationships with other trusted local professionals (such as contractors, plumbers, electricians, movers, lenders), so our clients have the resources they need.

Typically, a buyer’s agent’s fee is not a burden of the buyer, and so there is very little downside to using an agent to help you purchase a home. However, not all buyer’s agents are the same. Here are a few tips for selecting a buyer’s agent: First, I’d recommend selecting a fulltime agent who is helpful and available to show clients properties and respond quickly. Next, it’s very helpful to work with a buyer’s agent who is local to the region where you are looking. They just know the inside scoop and can advise you well. Finally, find an agent who communicates with you honestly. A great agent has the experience and skill to tell you the truth, keep you informed, and make you aware of your options. An agent who communicates well with you is also more likely to be able to work well with other stakeholders, such as lenders, the seller’s agent, appraisers, etc.

Why do I need a Realtor to sell my house- Can’t I do it myself?

Selling a house can be a complex process. A Realtor can help you at every stage from setting the correct price, suggesting effective ways to market the property, assistance with completing the Minnesota state disclosure forms, bringing forward qualified buyers who are both ready and able to purchase your home, and negotiating and closing the sale.

A Realtor also will be on the pulse of what’s happening in the local marketplace to help set the best and highest price for your home and any repairs or cosmetic work that may significantly enhance the salability of your home. A comprehensive marketing plan exposes your home to the public. There are so many ways to “get your home out there” with social media at the forefront. A recent statistic shows 87% of buyers buy “online,” meaning they see the multiple listings service photos or videos of your home and may decide from there that they want to buy your home. Realtors are trained to negotiate the best price and terms and will work with buyer(s) to make sure they are qualified to purchase your home when they view it.

Realtors take the guess work out of having unqualified persons view your home. Selling your home is one of the biggest financial decisions of your life. A Realtor will help you every step of the way, from start to finish, to help you move on to the next chapter of your life with ease and confidence. Considering the relatively small cost of hiring a Realtor and the large potential risk of not hiring one, it’s in your best interest to work with a professional to sell your home.

MARY HENLE New Ulm Real Estate

ORTHOPEDIC CARE THAT MOVES YOU.