186813
Do you have discomfort and mobility issues associated with joint pain or an injury? Mayo Clinic Health System provides innovative orthopedic care that uses greater precision for a quicker recovery — with many patients leaving the hospital the same day.
Virtual and in-person appointments now make it easier than ever for patients in Mankato to receive expert care in Orthopedics — every day, for life.
Call 507-479-2057 to schedule an appointment.
March. March who?
March Home Issue! And things are about to get real—estate. House-selling dynamo Candee Deichman hears you knocking, and you can come in! Her positive attitude practically leaps off our cover. A sales award winner, several times over, Candee homes in on success with her can-do determination.
You’re gonna flip for our section on five women who, by hobby or profession, buy, renovate and sell homes, or turn them into VRBOs (vacation rentals by owner). Emily Davis, Kari Linbo, Chayla Henle, and Lynn Lodes share flip tips, abode advice, and pitfalls of their passion.
It’s no joke when Ann and Carl Schmitz say they “own this town.” Because the 50-acre piece of land they bought for hunting in 2002 was actually platted years earlier as the town of Lowell. When they renovated their hunting cabin with the idea to make it a vacation rental, it was only fitting to name it The Cabin at Lowell—this month’s SPACES feature—after the town they unwittingly purchased.
Our monthly Facebook poll asked readers what the word HOME means to them. Hands down the most popular response referred to family making the house a home. However, the one response we gals can most relate to, may be the woman who revealed that home was the place where she could ditch her bra, and eat ice cream right from the container. Now that I can support.
Granted, family can make a house a home, but there is a lot to be said about the stuff therein and the stories it tells. For instance, the couch my husband and I chose together and spill food on together while bingewatching Netflix. Or our collection of clocks that come from a variety of eras and sources (Target end caps, thrift & antique stores, family and friends). Plus that cool low slung chair, that our cat has claimed, scored at the local furniture store where we have smart-talked with the owner for over 30 years.
The same goes for the 1950s ranch-style house in which I grew up. Although it was recently sold, the items I kept from it say home to me. Especially the bright orange hassock that my older brothers would shove, without warning, in front of my sisters and me, just to watch us do a classic Dick Van Dyke topple onto the floor. Guess home is about family. Carpet burns and all.
The word “cozy” comes to mind for most of us when we think about home. The St. Peter Woolen Mill has been providing cozy since 1867 with their wool products. Pat Johnson, who grew up in the business, was the proverbial black sheep of the family when she wanted to stray and discover her own path.
After a few years experiencing school and a nursing profession, Pat eventually found herself back in the family operation, helping to elevate it to new levels.
Not-so-happy camper, Lori Mathiowetz, resorts to bathroom humor—literally—in her What Next column. She shares the ups and downs of her family’s move to their RV during a home renovation where number two, became their number one priority.
This issue is rockin’—so DO come knockin’! No bra required.
I WANT EVERYONE TO HAVE A GOOD EXPERIENCE.
can mean many things. It’s the physical place you live your life, where you feel most comfortable, the go-to place to gather with friends and family.
Some will say home is not a place, but a feeling. For Mankato-based REALTOR® Candee Deichman, home is something she strives to give her clients, both literally and figuratively.
While Deichman didn’t initially plan to enter the real estate field, her success at it proved that it was the perfect fit for her.
Deichman was born and raised in Randolph, Wisconsin. She graduated from high school there and moved to Mankato in 1987. She met her husband, Mark Deichman, in 1998, when she was a human resource director.
After Candee had their first son Carter, now 21, she realized how much she loved being a mom and staying home to care for him. They went on to have two more sons, Carson and Corbin.
“Mark and I were blessed with two more sons and I was lucky enough to stay with them throughout their childhood years,” Candee said.
Once the the youngest went off to school, Candee and Mark discussed what the next chapter in life would be.
“I wasn’t sure I saw myself as a REALTOR® but Mark had confidence that I would excel at it,” she said. “His belief in me, as well as my seeing how it would fit into his contruction business made sense.”
“So I decided I would give selling real estate a try on a part-time basis,” Candee said.
She originally began work for her husband’s business, Deichman Construction, a high-end residential building company.
“At that time, he was doing spec homes, so he would build a house, then turn it over and sell it. We thought it would be a good plan. I could list the house and be a hobbyist at it,” Deichman said.
She continued to build her career working at a variety of local brokerages in Mankato, learning from successful agents and mentors.
“I knew I was home when I began working with CENTURY 21 Atwood,” Candee explained.
As her passion and success for selling homes and properties grew, so did the time she devoted to it, turning a parttime “hobby” into a full-time career.
“I’m a very competitive person. I’ve always been into sports. I wanted to be the best. That was what I strived for. There are a lot of great REALTOR®s in Mankato, but I wanted to be one of the best,” Deichman said. “ I never imagined being as successful doing this when I first started, but it has turned out to be my biggest passion.”
Deichman’s license covers the entire state of Minnesota—but she mostly serves southern Minnesota and the south metro. She is now in the eighth year of her career.
In her first two years at CENTURY 21 Atwood, Deichman earned the Centurion Award, which is the corporation’s highest level of achievement in their Master’s Sales program. Last year, Deichman earned Double Centurion. Candee is the first CENTURY 21 Atwood Mankato agent to earn Double Centurion in the last decade. Only 1,272 CENTURY 21 agents in the country have earned this honor in the last 10 years combined, which puts her in the top 0.2 percent of CENTURY 21 agents in the country. Additionally, she was the #1 CENTURY 21 agent in the state of Minnesota for two years running, in 2020 and 2021. (These rankings are determined by data collected and distributed by CENTURY 21 Real Estate LLC for individual producers by AGC in the State of MN in 2020 and 2021.)
Last year Deichman sold over $33 million in real estate helping 90 families with their real estate needs.
Her achievements led Deichman to be voted Mankato Magazine ’s Best REALTOR® of 2021.
“Who knows what 2022 will bring,” Deichman said with a laugh.
Candee credits several things to the success she’s had— including both her passion and compassion, her branding, and the support she has at home.
“To me, it’s not just about selling a house,” Candee said. “it’s helping families find their perfect fit in a home, building relationships and providing the best experience imaginable.” u
Favorite home style: Transitional. A blend of traditional and modern.
Favorite room in a house: Master closet.
Favorite room in her own house: Home gym.
Favorite color: Sherwin Williams Crushed Ice.
Favorite place you’ve traveled to: Costa Rica. If you weren’t doing what you’re doing now what would your ideal job be: “I would be a beauty consultant at the Estee-Lauder counter,” Deichman said without missing a beat.
What are most people looking for in a home: A good-sized kitchen. And, since the pandemic, a lot of people are looking for an additional bedroom to use as a home office.
Deichman acknowledged that she couldn’t be in this career without the support of her husband.
“If you don’t have support at home, you won’t make it with kids. There are many times I’m running out the door, not knowing when I’ll be back, and he’s there. He’s very supportive,” Deichman said. “Being a REALTOR® is my career. It’s not a hobby for me.”
A lot of effort goes into branding and marketing. The pandemic has caused a lot of people to move out of the Twin Cities and into Mankato. She picked up on that early on and started advertising more in the Cities.
“My higher end listings, I advertise there. Facebook-wise I target more in the Cities and there are some magazines I advertise in there, as well,” she said.
Deichman works hard to get her name out in public with “AskCandee” T-shirts, signs, and more. She recently purchased a moving van, wrapped in her branding, that is available to her clients who are moving that have worked with her.
“I’ll also offer it to non-profit organizations,” Deichman said.
Candee has done a lot of work with various organizations including Loyola, CADA, United Way, ECHO Food Shelf, and the Salvation Army. She donates her time, as well as money, to these organizations.
In January she did a Frozen Pants Campaign, freezing a pair of jeans and an “Ask Candee” shirt in an effort to raise awareness and money for the homeless community.
Deichman is very active in her minimal free time. She was formerly a fitness instructor at the YMCA, and then had her own studio, Next Level Fitness, which she operated out of her house.
“I’m huge into exercise and CrossFit,” Candee said.
Her love of fitness has been passed on to her children. All three compete in triathlons from coast to coast.
Son Carson will be competing on Team USA, at the world championships which will be in Montreal in June and Abu Dhabi in October.
“It’s a commitment,” Deichman said of the family activity. Juggling a full-time career along with family life can be a challenge for anyone. This past year proved to be just that for Deichman, with two kids off to college, selling their home and moving, as well as the passing of her mother from a short battle with cancer.
While Candee puts a lot of time and effort into her job, she says she does it all for the satisfaction of her clients. Candee loves working with all types of clients including first time home buyers, families moving into second and third homes and especially the aging generation who is looking to downsize.
“It’s easy to work with a range of clients as I’ve been in most of their shoes myself,” Candee said, who bought her first home in her 20s and helped her parents purchase a home in their older years.
“I have compassion for my older clientele. I think of my own parents and I want to make sure they’re not taken advantage of. I treat everybody the same no matter the size or price of the homes they are selling or buying,” Deichman said, knowing how hard they’ve worked for their money and the pride they take in their homes. And knowing how hard it may be for them to leave it.
All of the extra help she provides is part of the client experience.
“I love helping people—from helping them find a cleaner or someone to move them, or find a place for them to go to,” she said.
Deichman spoke of a podcast she listened to once about Walt Disney.
“He wanted everyone to leave the park having a good experience.
That’s how I try to run my business— I want everyone to have a good experience,” Deichman said.
Candee is aware that buying a house is stressful, as it’s the biggest financial decision someone will ever make.
“I try to take off as much stress as I can from the process,” Deichman said.
To do this, Candee will often send clients a gift card to a spa or to get a massage. She also drops messages to them on closing day to get them excited for the big event.
“I’ll call them the next day and ask how their first sleepover was in their new house,” Deichman said.
For Candee, hearing how she’s helped her clients find a home they love is what it’s all about.
“My favorite part is calling people back at the three-to six-month mark and hearing how much they still love their house. That’s always my goal,” Deichman said. RVW
“I’M A VERY COMPETITIVE PERSON… I WANTED TO BE THE BEST. THAT WAS WHAT I STRIVED FOR.”
BEING A REALTOR® IS MY CAREER. IT’S NOT A HOBBY FOR ME.
Unwanted tattoos can be truly difficult. During a tattoo removal session, a pulse of intense light emitted by the laser targets the pigment in the skin. Tattoo removal session vary based on color and size. Schedule a consultation.
Fibroblast Skin Tightening for Treating Wrinkles, Signs of Aging, and Scars by stimulating collagen, elastin, and hyaluronic acid. The tip of the plasma device never actually touches the skin but it’s the power of molecular physics that gives this treatment its magic.
The Aerolase is a laser treatment for acne, rosacea, melasma, laser hair removal, warts, and toenail fungus.
The VI Peel is a skin-resurfacing chemical peel that stimulates collagen and increases cellular turnover to reveal smoother and more radiant skin.
VI PEEL
Quick 10-minute treatments that work beneath the surface and temporarily reduce the underlying muscle activity that causes moderate to severe crow’s feet, frown and forehead lines.
EVOKE NECK & FACE
Evoke is a facial remodeling platform that is revolutionizing non-invasive anti-aging treatments. Evoke offers a first-in-class proprietary technology that delivers structural reorganization of the facial tissues to produce dramatic skin tightening results. With Evoke, patients with concerns about sagging or loose facial skin can remodel the cheeks, jowls, neck and jawline with no recovery time!
SKIN WAVE
The Skinwave combines an aqua-delivery system, skin revitalizing solutions and Hydrogen therapy for a multi-dimensional skincare treatment.
Versa® injectable hyaluronic acid gel fillers can be used to correct age-related volume loss and moderate to severe facial wrinkles and folds. It can also be injected into the lips for lip augmentation and for correction of the fines lines around the mouth.
Evolve is the next generation in skin remodeling that maximizes skin tightening and body contouring results! It harnesses the power of RF energy to remodel skin and improve its appearance. With Evolve, you can get both skin contraction and adipose tissue reduction with a single treatment.
The Morpheus8 combines the power of micro-needling and RF (radio frequency) to penetrate deeper into the skin than any other microneedling device allowing it to stimulate collagen production to truly contour and transform different parts of the body. The result – a smoother and sleeker appearance.
Pat Johnson grew up in the woolen mill business—and couldn’t wait to leave it when she graduated high school.
Looking back, she compares those years in the mill to those of kids growing up on a farm. Like them, she came home from school, changed clothes, and went to work in the mill—just as farm kids went out to do chores. And like many farm kids, she wanted to get away from it. She went off to nursing school in 1968 and spent 10 years away from St. Peter and from the mill, working in nursing in California, Seattle, San Francisco, Yakima, and other places.
At about the same time that she and her first husband were not happy with where they were at, her father, Charles E. Brinker, was thinking about selling the woolen mill, so he could concentrate on Mary Lue’s Yarn Shop, and branch out into knitting and sewing machine sales and repairs.
“We had a dream of the self-sufficient mother earth life style of the 1970s, so we came back and starting running the mill in 1977,” Pat said.
It wasn’t all peaches and cream, however, as Johnson recalled, “The first
five years were really tough working for my father. We had a lot of rows— some in the office and some down on the floor, but we finally figured out how to work with each other.”
As it had for decades, the mill continued—and continues—to specialize in wool washing, products, tying, and re-carding.
“We’re still doing the same process that my great-grandfather did, only on a larger scale. He didn’t have the retail or wholesale business—he was just a custom mill,” Pat said. “We don’t do any spinning, weaving, or dying. We make batting for bedding.”
The mill does both custom processing and refurbishes old wool
“We’ve been doing custom processing for four generations,” Johnson said. “We take in wool, process it, wash it, and card it into batting that can be used in comforters, mattress pads/toppers, and pillows, or for spinning and felting.”
“We also refurbish old mattress pads, pillows, etc. We wash and re-card the wool, add a bit more as needed, and put new covers on it. u
“We had a dream of the self-sufficient mother earth life style of the 1970s, so we came back and starting running the mill in 1977.”Pat Johnson does the hand and machine quilting at St. Peter Woolen Mill. Clients can choose their own quilting fabrics and quilting pattern.
Before there were telephones, cars, computers and assembly lines, there was St. Peter Woolen Mill, one of Minnesota’s longest-running family-owned businesses and one of the five oldest wool processing mills in the country.
— from the St. Peter Woolen Mill website
The St. Peter Woolen Mill was established in 1867—less than a decade after Minnesota became a state—to custom process wool for sheep ranchers in Le Sueur and Nicollet Counties.
Four generations of Brinker family ownership began in 1912 when John Charles Brinker and wife Margaret purchased the woolen mill from owner Edward Borneman.
After John Charles Brinker passed away in 1931, his son Charles Henry and wife Evelyn inherited the mill. Evelyn continued to operate the mill after Charles Henry became ill. Her son, Charles Eugene Brinker and his wife Mary Lue purchased the mill in 1954. Three years later, the business moved across the alley to its present location at 105 West Broadway, on a bend in the Minnesota River. Charles loved concrete and construction work and added on to the building, one section at a time. The family business continued to expand with the addition of Mary Lue’s Yarn & Quilt Shop in 1965. For many years, Mary Lue’s was the largest yarn shop in southern Minnesota.
Tragedy struck March 29, 1998 when an F-3 tornado caused massive damage in St. Peter and nearly destroyed the mill. The storm ripped off half of the building’s second floor and all of the third. The yarn shop was leveled. However, the machinery was undamaged and the mill was running again in a few weeks.
Following the reconstruction in 1999, the fourth Brinker generation, sisters Patricia Johnson and Peggy Grey, assumed responsibility for the business. Peggy moved Mary Lue’s to Mankato in 2007, then brought it back to St. Peter—to the warehouse building that had been their mother’s knitting machine studio, across the alley from the mill.
Pat continued to operate the business until 2016. When no one in the family was interested in continuing family ownership, she sold it to Minnesota native Nathan Thill who operated a mill in California. He started to drive new wholesale business to the mill. Hank Kearns assumed ownership when Thill had medical issues a few years later.
The woolen mill continues as a family-owned business and continues to grow and expand. Under the California ownership, business has expanded, more equipment has been brought in, and employee numbers doubled from five to ten.
“It’s nice that another family has taken over, it wasn’t a corporate buyout,” Pat Johnson said.
A 155-year-old story woven into the fabric of American historyPat Johnson checks out a mattress topper that was ready to be sewn shut.
“In recent years, there has been a return to natural things. People want natural food, clothes, and bedding. Green, sustainable, renewable, recyclable, organic—all of those keywords apply directly to what we sell. We’re doing the same thing my great-grandfather was when he started here in 1912, and the same thing the original owners were doing in 1867—turning wool into quilts. Just like the story of our mill, much of the wool we reprocess has been passed down from one generation to the next.”
—
Pat Johnson, 4th Brinker Generation Family woolenmill.com
That’s a 1938 model…the machine, not the worker—though Ben Malloy has been at the St. Peter Woolen Mill for about 30 years. He started as a wool washer and now is the “boss carder.” He’s learned to run all the machines and is valuable in keeping them running.
No matter whether the wool is new or being repurposed, it is labeled with a lot number and instructions, and tracked through the mill.
All batting products are made by weight. Employee Ronald “Dewey” Quade removed batting from the carding machine, then placed it on an adjacent table, and folded it—ready for the next step in the process.
You never throw the wool away,” she continued. “That’s why we’ve survived. There’s so much sentimental value to the wool. It’s been handed down through the family for generations—and people can pass along the stories that go with it.”
Heirloom quilts and comforters require cleaning and refurbishing as wool packs down after time and needs to have fluff added.
Every bag or piece of wool that comes into the mill—whether new or being repurposed—is labeled with a lot number and instructions.
The mill guarantees that customers get their own wool back. And some of that wool has been there numerous times, as some is over 100 years old.
The mill has records from way back with the same family names.
“Every seven, 10, or even 20 years, they come back,” she said. “You can tell that the wool is older—like people’s hair, it changes color.”
But, unlike human hair that gets lighter, wool gets darker as it ages.
“Hundred year old wool would be the color of light cardboard,” Pat explained.
In addition to new and repurposed processing, a third aspect of the business is a retail shop where the mill’s products—under the brand name Nature’s Comfort—are sold. In addition, some quilting fabric, sewing supplies, and Fair Trade gift items from Nepal—hats, socks, mittens—are stocked.
Nature’s Comfort products are made with domestic Midwestern wool and covered in 100 percent unbleached cotton. No chemicals are used in the processing.
About 25 years ago, Pat began to attend trade shows to increase the mill’s business. “That’s when we started the wholesale aspect of the business,” she said. “We sell to about 30 stores throughout the country. A lot of that is private label for other companies.”
The mill buys about 10,000 pounds of wool every three or four months, getting it from a wool cooperative in South Dakota that sorts and grades wool to their specifications. The wool comes from Montana, Wyoming, Nebraska, the Dakotas, and Minnesota.
“We want a medium grade of wool,” Pat explained. “Fine grades are sweater grades and course grades are rug wool. We want medium grade—which local producers don’t have.”
The mill does process local wool, as Johnson noted that more sheep producers are operating farm-based businesses that sell lamb and wool products under their own label.
Although Pat sold the business in 2016, she continues to work there full time. She’s turned over a lot of the bookkeeping and computer work to 18-year employee and office manager Brenda Malloy. Pat still does all the custom comforters—hand or machine quilting them—and is part of the “crew upstairs” where the sewing is done. During the years that Mary Lue’s Yarn was part of the mill, Pat worked six days a week and Sunday afternoons.
When the yarn shop moved to Mankato, things changed…a little.
“So, then I said it was going to be nine to five Mondays through Fridays,” she said with a chuckle. “But there are always things that need to be cleaned and things that need to be fixed. I’m the wrencher.”
“My husband says, ‘Your dad wanted his firstborn to be a boy, but he got a girl. But that didn’t stop him from teaching the things a boy would be taught, especially in mechanics.’ It’s worked well,” Pat said. “Work has been my life. I have no plans to retire. I love the business. I love the people. More and more young people are getting into sustainability. We’re attracting more young people.”
Outside of work, Johnson is secretary/treasurer/actuary for the large old Woodland Cemetery and takes care of her mother, Mary Lue’s, finances. Not surprisingly, she has a small sheep collection and also collects miniature spinning wheels.
Pat’s hobbies include doing a little needlework, especially working with twine, and some locker hooking, too. She especially enjoys the locker hooking as it’s fast and she can do it when she and current husband, Robert, travel. RVW
“There’s so much sentimental value to the wool. It’s been handed down through the family for generations— and people can pass along the stories that go with it.”After coming off the carding machine, the newly created batting is folded and ready to be used in a mattress pad, topper, or comforter. Pat Johnson shows some of the products that the St. Peter Woolen Mill markets under the Nature’s Comfort brand.
YOU
PACKAGE
EACH SESSION INCLUDES MY LIPO LIGHT + SAUNA POD
4 FOOT SOAKS + BUY 4 SESSIONS GET 1 FREE $299 + BUY 8 SESSIONS GET 2 FREE $525 + BUY 8 SESSIONS GET 2 FREE $599+ shop now
BEST VALUE
Shop Body Concepts' NEW WELLNESS BOUTIQUE full of clothing, accessories, purses, coffee mugs, and so much more. New items added daily!
Infrared heat will help loosen the muscles, allowing extra flexibility and maximizing every position for a deeper stretch. Benefits are endless and include burning twice as many calories, pain relief, relieves inflammation, detoxes the body and skin, raises core temperature which boosts the immune system, reduces blood pressure, improves circulation, collagen repair, cellulite reduction and increases metabolism.
RedFit Rooms temperature can be set from a cozy 100-150 degrees to ensure a good sweat and flexibility. We have two rooms available. Each room has room for you and two friends.
RedFit Rooms are virtually instructed with the built-in television. There are multiple options to choose from so don’t feel like you won’t know what to do when book a session!
Although flipping houses and owning vacation rentals are very different business ventures, they often overlap for the enterprising individual who can see potential beauty in something of a beast. Both require taking risks and getting your hands dirty. Both provide a facelift and welcome mat for homes in our communities.
Five very enterprising women from Southern Minnesota share their stories as well as their tips for success.
Emily Davis, owner of A&W Furniture, Finds and Design of Redwood Falls, began flipping houses out of necessity.
“My interest in flipping homes started by accident when a contract for deed home I had with someone fell through,” Davis said. “I needed to make the best of an undesirable situation.”
According to Davis, the house was small with good bones and so she decided to give it a try.
Flipping houses, along with her full-time career of owning a furniture and design store, were a perfect fit.
“I have years of design experience,” Davis said. “Having an extremely talented husband who can fix anything didn’t hurt either.”
In the course of five years, she and husband Mike have successfully flipped five houses.
Owning a VRBO (Vacation Rentals By Owner) was more of a choice. Davis and Mike had always wanted a lake place, but didn’t think they could afford it because of inflated pricing on lakefront property.
“We found our dream lake home and went for it,” Emily said. “Potential rent income made the mortgage payments possible.”
After six years, Emily and Mike own two lakefront VRBOs on Leech Lake in Walker.
Jenna Laughlin, a REALTOR® with True Real Estate, and her husband Eli renovated their first home together right after they were married in 2012. After just four years in the house, they decided to sell because the housing market was strong. The successful result of the sale sparked an interest in flipping houses. u continued on page 24
Profession: Agent for Farm Bureau Financial Services in Lake Crystal/ REALTOR® with Mages Land Company.
Part-time passion: Flipping houses.
Length of time flipping houses: Ten years.
Advice to aspiring flippers: Do it for fun. When it becomes a business, it becomes a job, and you can lose the fun part.
Flipping a property means buying a property as an investment, fixing it up over a short period of time, and then selling it for a profit.
The first step is determining if a property is worth the investment. Some flippers use the rule of 70, meaning they spend no more than 70 percent of the home’s afterrepair value, minus the costs of repairs necessary for the renovation.
“There is a balance between finding an ‘ugly’ home and a home that won’t break the bank,” Davis said. “I mentally go through the costs involved when walking through a potential home and ask myself, ‘Can I make this home awesome for X amount of dollars?’ If the answer is ‘Yes,’ I’ll go for it.”
According to Laughlin, renovations that are key to a successful home sale include a remodeled kitchen, an open floor plan, and updated bathrooms. Good neighborhoods and a mid-level price range also make a big difference in the sale of a flip. Truth be told, many people want the benefit of an updated home without the hassle of a remodel.
“There’s a real interest in houses that are flipped,” Linbo said.
“A rental home won’t work if there isn’t a demand for short term stays in your area,” Davis said.
Taking the time to research your location is a big part of running a successful vacation rental. The location should also be convenient for the owner. Laughlin, who manages and services her own Airbnbs, prefers to have properties close to home due to last minute bookings and property maintenance.
An inexperienced flipper may fall into a money pit if there are structural issues with a home, but a home with a solid foundation in a good neighborhood can be a win-win for both the flipper and the home buyer.
“We have this rule—if we are in the house longer than 10 minutes it’s not generally a good one,” Laughlin said.
Ultimately, the most important aspect of a good flip is a home with a solid structure or good bones, in Laughlin’s opinion. Cosmetics—including carpeting, new kitchens, or paint—can be more easily managed through your budget. Problems with structure, including the condition of the foundation, exterior, or roof will lead to costly surprises.
Linbo also warned to be on the lookout for do-ityourself projects gone wrong.
“Homeowner’s are looking for great homes and don’t have time or interest in renovations.”
For Lodes, when word got around about the quality of her family’s remodels, she started receiving calls wondering what she was working on and when it would be available.
“Most of our homes were sold before we even had them completed,” Lodes said. “We never even got them placed on the market.”
“If you can’t pay cash for a home, it’s very important you get the flip done successfully within 90 days,” Davis said. “If not, your profits are being sucked away by mortgage payments.”
That means vetting a home, making lists and timelines of improvements, setting a budget, and hiring subcontractors immediately, Davis noted.
Timing also comes into play when it comes to the housing market. Over the last few years, both Lodes and
Another trick of the trade is doing as much of the manual labor as possible to save on expenses.
“Flipping homes is more grit and less glam than shown on trendy television shows,” Davis said. “We make money on our flip homes because we physically do most of the manual labor ourselves.”
However, when in doubt, leave it to the professionals.
“We do a substantial amount of work ourselves—like demo, interior painting, and landscaping,” Linbo said. “We leave the electrical work, plumbing, and general carpentry to the professionals.”
Laughlin have moved away from flipping houses because the current housing market restricts profits made from renovating and reselling a home.
“Over the last year or so, renovation projects have not been great,” Laughlin said. “Houses are selling for over asking price because the market is so crazy.”
Building materials and supplies have been harder to come by and more expensive as well, making it tougher to stick to a strict renovation timeline and budget.
“It’s like owning a second home,” she noted. “You are checking on it all the time.”
Although some vacation rental owners hire management companies to take care of the details of renting, many owners do much of the work themselves.
“I manage it fully,” Henle said. “I do the cleaning, stocking, decorating, communication, web management, and social media marketing.”
Renters need a point person to connect with for any questions about the rental before and during their stay.
“It’s important for the renter’s experience to only have to deal with one person—the person that’s in charge,” Henle said.
“I do answer questions frequently during guests' stay and that’s just part of the gig,” Davis said. “The financial reward is worth the 10 p.m. text from guests asking where the fly swatter is.”
When Laughlin gets the chance, she loves to visit with her guests, but she pointed out another key piece to communication— the neighbors. Before she even built her new Airbnbs, she met with the neighbors to ensure they were comfortable with the project. Both Laughlin and Davis also include requirements and restrictions in their guest contracts that protect their neighbors from any rowdy behavior.
local rental laws and requirements
Laughlin has learned valuable lessons about rental codes through ownership of vacation rental properties.
First, follow the code guidelines required by your city. When she and her husband bought and flipped two houses in order to turn them into Airbnbs, the strict guidelines required costly modifications to the homes in order to meet codes.
Second, contact your city before making any purchases meant to be used as a rental because there may be a limited number of rental licenses available.
Both lessons helped them in their decision to build their own Airbnbs, rather than modifying existing homes as they had previously done.
“We knew the rental codes going into it and built it accordingly,” Laughlin said. “We knew where rental licenses were available before buying.”
“The goal is to have it so well planned out and organized that all guests have to do is show up and enjoy their stay,” Davis said. In addition to smores’ kits and all the water and lake toys you can imagine, she even provides the little details of bug spray, batteries, sunscreen, and menus for local restaurants.
Laughlin also provides extras to make her guests comfortable.
What has pleased them the most has been free Wi-Fi, cable, a fullyequipped kitchen, all the basic cooking ingredients, and laundry.
“We provide a cozy and convenient space for tourists to
make themselves feel at home in New Ulm,” Henle said.
Chayla always provides extra snacks and drinks for guests, as well as a hand-written thank you note.
Reaping the benefits of these rewarding “side hustles,” as Davis puts it, requires an understanding of the housing industry, an intense work ethic, and a willingness to take a risk. Keeping up with these fast-paced business ventures also requires passion and creativity—something all of these women exude. In doing so, they are providing well-loved homes to both residents and visitors in our communities.
Profession: REALTOR® for New Ulm Real Estate in New Ulm.
Part-time passion: Managing a VRBO.
Length of time managing your VRBO: Six months.
Advice for aspiring Airbnb owners: Your heart needs to be in it. If you’re just looking to make quick money, this business isn’t meant for you.
Profession: Owner of Route 1 Interiors in New Ulm.
Part-time passion: Flipping houses.
Length of time flipping houses: Five years.
Advice to aspiring flippers: Be flexible and ready to adjust the budget and plan often. Make sure the house is structurally sound.
Profession: General Manager and Owner of A&W Furniture and Design in Redwood Falls.
Part-time passion: Flipping houses and owning VRBOs.
Length of time flipping houses: Five years.
Advice to aspiring flippers: Avoid structural pitfalls. If you don’t know what to look for as red flags when considering a flip home to purchase, bring a building expert and a calculator along.
Length of time owning your VRBO(s): Six years.
Advice for aspiring VRBO owners: Communication is key for a great experience for both you and your renters. Answering questions frequently during a guest’s stay is part of the gig.
Profession: REALTOR® for True Real Estate in Mankato.
Part-time passion: Flipping houses and owning Airbnbs.
Length of time flipping houses: Ten years.
Advice to aspiring flippers: Get it in writing—make sure to have signed contracts with all your subcontractors.
Length of time owning your Airbnb(s): 9 years.
Advice for aspiring Airbnb owners: Do your homework. Check with the city on rental license requirements and availability. Talk with your banker about how loans on investment properties vary from home loans.
“We had so much equity in renovating that house, we realized that this was something we could start doing in other projects,” Jenna said.
The sale of their first home set the stage with funds and financing, and made it possible for them to move forward. In the course of ten years, they flipped an average of two houses a year.
The Laughlins’ first home was also the beginning of their interest in owning and operating Airbnbs. They made the basement of their home into a bed and breakfast and the income more than covered their house payment. Over the last nine years they have owned several Airbnbs. Most recently, they opened a new one—built from the ground up—in September, 2021. Right next door, they are building a second Airbnb set to open in April of this year.
Lynn Lodes, her husband Ron, and son Wes, have been flipping homes since 2012. Lynn got started with remodeling homes as something to do during the long winter months when her husband and son had extra time on their hands. Ready to put them to work, she suggested they buy a home and begin remodeling. It was truly a family affair as Lodes’ other children would also come to help out on evenings and weekends.
Lodes and her family have bought and sold several homes since they started. Although the Lodes family is not currently working on any homes, due to the housing market, they would certainly remodel again if another great find came along.
“We all have our day jobs, so just decided to let this part take a back burner for now,” Lodes said.
For the past five years, Kari Linbo, owner of Route 1 Interiors in New Ulm, has been flipping houses with husband Craig. For Linbo, it was a passion project.
“I love seeing the transformation of a home that has been neglected or outdated,” Kari—who has always had a knack for seeing potential in homes—said. “Flipping houses allows me to breathe life into these homes.”
To date, Kari and Craig have flipped ten houses. Like a flipped house, the Route 1 Interiors building needed a lot of updating and fixing when they bought it. After renovating the show room, the pair tackled the attached apartment on the back of the building, completely gutting it and creating a stylish downtown apartment.
The apartment attracted the attention of Chayla Henle, a REALTOR® with New Ulm Real Estate.
“After seeing the apartment, I immediately asked why they didn’t have it listed as a shortterm rental on Airbnb or VRBO,” Henle said. Soon after, Chayla and her husband approached Linbo with a proposal to rent the apartment and market it as a short-term rental.
Already having a great working relationship, Henle and Linbo worked out an arrangement called Rental Arbitrage. Similar to subletting, this allows Henle to sign a long-term lease on the apartment and then list it on platforms such as VRBO and Airbnb.
“It’s becoming a more popular way to get involved in vacation rentals without owning property,” Henle said.
Additionally, Henle is serving local businesses who occasionally need a place to house traveling professionals.
Based on their years of experience, these talented women have shared valuable tips on both house flipping and vacation rental investments through VRBO and Airbnb. RVW
THIS ISN’T A PART TIME JOB
Unite simplicity and style. The open cage design, multiple sizes, and angular details offer a look at home in any setting.
This globe pendant adds a contemporary-chic style to any setting. The blown clear textured glass shade and two-toned noir/satin nickel finishes combine to enhance the fixture’s modern appeal. Add a warm glow to your kitchen, bedroom, or bathroom with this lovely luminary.
Mesmerizingly asymmetrical with a Mid-Century Modern flair, Skye showcases a cluster of clear, open globes, each encircled with a slender brass ring. Adjustments are easily made with the cinching ring, also finished in Heritage Brass. Skye is part of the Lisa McDennon Collection.
Combining 19thcentury industrialstyle with 21stcentury design and technology, the vintage industrial Mira ceiling fan/ chandelier combo, features three compressed blades an open-aired cage, all wrapped together in a compact form. Ideal for lowered ceilings, this noir finished fan is sure to turn heads.
This bold, twotoned trend has continued to dominate interior and bath categories, and for good reason. The rich black finish combined with a sophisticated brass creates a striking contrast fit for any Mid-Century, Art Deco, or industrial space.
Add a touch of classic styling to your home with the addition of the Dublin pendant. This lighting fixture provides transitional style with its moody black finish, adds a hint of sophistication. Thanks to its geometric, clover-like shape, this luminary can work as a focal point in any setting.
A gentle wave of thick lava glass washes over the chrome base and integrated LED to create a soothing, wall-grazing light that smoothly transforms a space. Lucent features a minimalist profile, yet the exceptional light pattern makes a maximum impression. Invisi-mount system ensures the look stays clean and contemporary.
Who says a beachy look can’t also look refined? Elegant and airy, this white weave look can transform a room from blah to aaahhh. Luca's coastal vibe has a slightly exotic edge offered in a variety of color combinations. Luca is part of the Lisa McDennon Collection.
A fanciful combination of finishes and shapes to create an opulent, transitional silhouette, stunning from below. Metal binding adds an artisan touch that completes the look.
Inspired by the idea of structure combined with movement, Folio is composed of framed, illuminated LED panels that rotate to create diverse angles, infusing a space with crisp modernity.
Craftmade clear bubble diffusers illuminate while creating a unique radiance using LED lights. Great for entrance ways or anywhere you want to make a statement.
FULL COURSE
FULL TIME
ALL THE TIME BURN THE MIDNIGHT OIL
WE ARE CAREER AGENTS
After living our way into our forever home for the last few years, honey badger and I decided we were finally ready to take on our magnum opus dream project. We had done smaller projects ourselves, then slightly bigger ones, so now we surely were ready to take on the Holy Grail: the kitchen renovation.
And as long as we were doing the kitchen we may as well do the bathroom next to it... And as long as we’re doing that bathroom we may as well move the adjacent laundry to a different area of the house where it’s more easily accessible...
And as long as we’re moving laundry hook ups we may as well update the adjacent bathroom next to that...
And as long we are this brand of psychotic, we may as well prepay for all of our marriage counseling,
But wait, there’s more!
Everyone knows that the hardest part of a renovation is living in it and not going mad-as-a-hatter, while your favorite stilettos slowly get covered in construction dust. So, this time we had that conundrum taken care of. The perfect solution was parked outside in the driveway: Our Forest River Heritage Glen RV! We could simply live in the camper outside of the renovation devastation!
I immediately created a Pinterest board, began following RV Instagram accounts, and subscribed to YouTube channels helping me transition to the “less is more” lifestyle. It was candy to my overactive imagination; I could see it all like a music montage playing in my head. We would be just like all those wanderlusty families who home school their children in an Airstream and live a gypsy life on the road. The sun would set at our backs each evening as Country Roads, Take Me Home played in the background as the soundtrack to our new wholesome life. And while living our best life, our house project would be seamlessly progressing without interrupting our perfect life with its noise and dust. Because building something bigger and better totally goes hand in hand with a less is more kind of summer. It was the perfect plan. Right? Wrong.
Home renovations are not for the faint of heart. I felt like I had enough experience with my current portfolio of house projects that I was prepared for the big kahuna. I irrationally overlooked the fact that we were embarking on this journey in the middle of manufacturing, transport, and labor shortages across the globe due to the-virus-that-shall-not-be-named. I also overlooked the fact that literally 100% of the allure of going camping is leaving your house, and the camper wasn’t gonna take us
anywhere because we were parking it in the driveway (though on the three days that we had to move the camper to different parts of the driveway there was a pathetic sort of excitement that gripped our family). We settled into our routines. The dog lived on the couch, the husband lived in the garage, and my teenage daughter lasted about a month in her fiberglass bunk bed before she decided she would rather gingerly tip-toe across ceiling joists and nails to sleep in her bedroom with a stockpile of goldfish crackers and Oh’s cereal. No campfires were lit, no flashlight bedtime stories under sheets, we slid into the dog days of summer and settled into the apathy of Netflix and microwaved SpaghettiOs.
We had one rule, one commandment that was to be held up as the golden one— simple yet elegant: No pooping in the camper. All pooping was to be done in the only bathroom in the house that was still functioning, in the basement. We held fast to our encampment commandment for about two weeks before the problem of sanitation became an issue. You see, you really only have enough hot water in a camper to wash maybe one sink-full of dishes. And without scalding hot water to sanitize dishes and surfaces, your digestive system gets, well, funny. Not funny enough to warrant antibiotics, but just funny enough for your microbiome to make some objections to its new environment and offer you a new array of aromas and a differing sense of urgency around its work. And as the days turned into weeks, the weeks turned into months, and the weather became less accommodating to doing the poopsie walk across the driveway, through the garage, and down a flight of stairs, well, habits changed.
By this time honey badger pretty much avoided us and lived in his garage anyway, so it was pretty easy to just neglect to inform him of our commandment amendment. Until he walked in on me plunging the kitchen sink in a panic, some combination of Fruity Pebbles and my tears backing up into our makeshift kitchen. Shaking his head, he hitched the camper for one final trip, this time the exact distance for the stinky slinky to reach the well so we could leave our tanks open. Though I’m pretty sure we shouldn’t have done that, and will have to shock the well, like three more times to kill the inevitable E. coli cross contamination that he likely was trying to avoid by invoking the pooping commandment in the first place.
I put my head down and got through the summer by placing my hope in the start of school when, I thought, we certainly would be moved back into the house. When I was wrong, we not so ironically took our first day of school pictures next to the camper rather than by the front door. My most memorable first day of school drop off will forever be
little Penny’s preschool teacher meeting her at the door and asking how her summer was. Serious, yet doe-eyed, she reported: “This one day, some men came over, and destroooooyed our house! So now we live in a camper.” Then she happily sauntered into the classroom straight to the playhouse...for obvious reasons.
As the temperature dropped, we couldn’t keep filling propane tanks to heat the camper every two days, and so had to move back inside. Finding ways to balance sports practice, shower routines, and homework, at the same time as trying to avoid construction noise and the dusting of drywall sprinkles was what led us to our gypsy wagon to begin with. Que sera sera I guess.
It’s January now, and the end is in sight, but I still can’t decide what the lesson is in it all. Nothing in life comes easy? When something seems too good to be true it probably is? Absence makes the heart grow fonder? Or maybe Orson Wells’ “if you want to tell a story with a happy ending, it just depends on where you end the story.”
Mostly though, I think it’s a renewed appreciation for the best seat in the house: the porcelain one.
BY LORI MATHIOWETZ
Most people—when they set out to buy some land—buy a lot or some acreage, but Carl and Ann Schmitz bought a town.
“Anybody can buy a lot. We bought a town,” Carl said, to which Ann added, “and we didn’t even know it!”
That is, until they got the land survey. That’s when they realized that their 50-acre piece of bare farmland had been platted many years earlier as the town of Lowell, Minnesota.
Lowell, not far from Garden City where the Watonwan and Blue Earth Rivers meet, may have had a blacksmith shop and/ or another business or two, but it disappeared when the railroad didn’t come near it.
“The Indians called it The Haunted Hollow,” Carl offered, adding that they have found some artifacts over the years.
When the Schmitzes bought the land in 2002, they first put up a hunting cabin and used it for a number of years. Then they got the idea to make it into a VRBO (Vacation Rentals by Owner) which they called The Cabin on Lowell.
It’s an interesting story of how it came about and what it is today. It’s also a trip back in time—in all the things that Carl and Ann collected over the years when they used it as a hunting cabin—and since. The Cabin at Lowell is homey, and has so many stories Carl and Ann share
about where all the pieces came from. Or, as Carl says, “scrounged.” Much of the material used in the house has been scrounged or repurposed. That includes furniture, counter top, spindles, doors, exterior siding, decorations, and more.
Starting with the original cabin—which had a kitchen, bedroom, and loft—the Schmitzes added an entryway, handicapped accessible master bedroom and bath, and stairway downstairs, along with several rooms and a bath upstairs. They did it with the intention of being a VRBO and having guests. The Cabin now has room for nine guests.
With Carl being a general contractor until two years ago, doing the work themselves was no problem for the couple. Carl now is the chief caretaker as Ann continues to work as an early childhood special education assessment specialist.
“Boy, do I know how to make beds now—and clean toilets,” Carl quipped.
The Schmitzes live just up the hill from The Lowell so it’s convenient if guests need anything.
Visitors have been surprised by the secluded house on the dead end road, just a mile off Highway 169. u
The cabin’s sun room and deck are great for those warm summer days.
Hunting trophies are everywhere in the house, along with signs that Carl salvaged—all legally—from various sources, including highway departments and DNR.
Carl and Ann’s cat, “Brother,” likes company and visits the cabin whenever there are guests.
The view from the master bedroom, looking out across the pond (which was dry this year).
Carl Schmitz has been “scrounging” things since he was three years old. His first scrounge was this coat rack, rescued from his Great-grandmother Prybylla’s house at Good Counsel in Mankato when it was going to be torn down. He’s in the photo, along with his great-grandma.
“It’s as private as you can get. People comment that they didn’t think that southern Minnesota had anything like this—they don’t have to go up north,” Carl said.
“A lot of people fish in the river or go ice fishing when they’re here,” Ann added. “They can see a lot of wildlife.”
Except in drought years, there’s a three-acre pond with ducks, geese, turtle, deer, racoons, and one pesky beaver.
For those preferring more domestic animals, the barns out back house a dozen Dexter beef cattle and laying hens…and Carl makes sure to stock fresh eggs of various colors—brown, green, blue—for guests.
Carl and Ann have been pleased with the interest in their VRBO. “People keep coming, it hasn’t slowed down,” Ann said.
Guests have come from Minnesota, Iowa, North and South Dakota, Wisconsin, Missouri, California, Kansas, Texas, Mississippi, Massachusetts, Illinois, Indiana—and as far away as Costa Rica. “It’s fun to meet different people,” Ann said. “One family has been here at least five times.”
Some people hang out at The Cabin, and others do day trips around the area, with Ann suggesting that they check out the sights in Lake Crystal, Madelia, New Ulm, St. Peter, Good Thunder, and other area towns.
Carl and Ann also purchased the house next door, just down the road, in March 2020 and redid it as a COVID VRBO project called Two Rivers Ranch House which has room for 11 guests. Some families have rented both houses to have enough room for their group. RVW
RIVERFRONT
410 S. Riverfront Dr. Mankato, MN 507-625-1107
HILLTOP
2010 Adams St. Mankato, MN 507-625-9070
• Get prescriptions automatically filled ahead of time and ready when you are
• Receive a call, e-mail, or text when your order is ready so you never have to worry about running out again
• Ask your Hy-Vee pharmacist about Repeat Refills
Your helpful Hy-Vee pharmacists can help you stay on top of your medication therapy, because not taking it as directed by your doctor can be costly to both you and your health.
186804
Oils perform a variety of functions in cooking, and they perform differently in how they enhance flavors. Some oils can withstand high levels of heat before smoking (the smoke point) and are great for frying or sautéing. Others perform best at low or no heat as the base for salad dressings. Here’s an easy guide on how to use popular varieties.
Made from avocado, the oil has a slightly grassy and mild avocado flavor. It is great for frying and on salads, but can also be used for searing, grilling, baking, sautéing, and roasting. Avocado oil has a smoke point of 520 degrees, the highest smoke point of all plantbased cooking oils. It is high in heart-healthy monosaturated fats and lower in saturated fat than many other oils.
Extracted from sunflower seeds, it bears a subtle flavor and can be used in place of any neutral vegetable oil. Sunflower oil can be used for deep-frying, pan-frying, sautéing, roasting, and grilling Gaining popularity in the U.S., this oil has a high proportion of essential fatty acids that make it a good choice for heart health.
Derived from rapeseed, a mustard relative; this oil has a neutral flavor making it a favorite among oils (and inexpensive). This versatile and popular oil can be used for frying, deep-frying, sautéing, stir-frying, grilling, and baking. It is low in saturated fat and has a high proportion of monosaturated fat.
Extracted from seeds of winemaking grapes, it is valued for its neutral, clean, and nearly flavorless taste. One of the more versatile oils, use it for sautéing, frying, searing, or even baking. It is a good source of vitamin E and antioxidants. Studies have found consuming grapeseed oil may reduce blood clotting and inflammation.
Extracted from coconut meat, coconut oil has a strong coconut flavor. Best for medium-heat sautéing of meats and vegetables, especially Thai and Indian recipes, and can be used in baking. Coconut oil contains fatty acids that metabolize quickly for spurts of energy.
Depending on how the olives are pressed, flavor can range from spicy and peppery to slightly sweet. A low smoke point means it isn’t the best for cooking other than sautéing, but drizzle it over pasta dishes, sauces, or use it for salad dressings. Full of antioxidants, olive oil can help fight inflammation. Studies show consuming it may lower the risk of stroke, the fifth leading cause of death in the U.S.
1 Pat salmon dry with paper towels. Place in a large resealable plastic bag. Pour kombucha over salmon; close bag and place in a rimmed baking pan. Marinate for 1 to 2 hours in refrigerator, turning occasionally.
Heat coconut oil in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Add quinoa; cook and stir for 4 minutes or until golden. Add coconut milk, water, and 1/2 teaspoon salt. Bring to a boil; reduce heat to low. Cover and gently simmer for 15 to 20 minutes or until liquid is absorbed and quinoa is tender. Remove from heat; let stand for 5 to 10 minutes. Fluff with a fork. Stir in lime zest.
Combine kale, lime juice, 1 tablespoon olive oil, remaining 1/4 teaspoon salt, and pepper in a medium bowl. Massage kale using fingers for 1 to 2 minutes or until softened; set aside.
Heat remaining 1 tablespoon olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Remove salmon from marinade; discard marinade. Cook salmon for 4 to 6 minutes or until salmon flakes easily with a fork (145 degrees).
To serve, divide quinoa mixture among 4 serving plates. Top with kale mixture, then salmon. Sprinkle with pistachios. Garnish with lime wedges, if desired.
Nutrition Facts per serving: 770 calories, 43g fat, 19g saturated fat, 0g trans fat, 60mg cholesterol, 580mg sodium, 57g total carbohydrate, 6g dietary fiber, 8g sugars, 0 added sugars, 36g protein. Daily values: 30% iron, 60% vitamin D, 6% calcium, 10% potassium.
The smoke point of an oil is the temperature at which oil stops simmering and starts smoking and breaking down. Not only does it release harmful free radicals and chemicals at this stage, but it will also give the food an undesirable flavor.
AGraff@hy-vee.com
At Giddie Skin we are all about all things skincare, and that doesn't just mean the skin on your face. It’s time to shed some light on an area not so talked about in the skincare field… the chest and neck. In an ideal world, we’d love to simply throw ourselves in the dryer for 10 minutes and come out wrinkle free, but of course, it isn’t quite that easy. Just like the sensitive skin on our faces, this area is often exposed more frequently to damaging UV rays. In general, wrinkles appear in areas on the skin that have lost their structure. There are many things that can cause this such as sun damage, age, genetics, weight change, sleep positions, and sun exposure. When this happens, the collagen, elastin and proteins that keep our skin firm slowly start to lessen. While this is a completely natural occurrence, there are things you can be doing to help decrease this or repair it once the damage has been done. In this article, we break down all the treatment options to care for that area.
Neck Creams
If you are looking for a noninvasive method, neck-and-chest-specific creams are a great treatment option. A good neck cream will target visible signs of moderate to advanced aging, enhance the skin’s own antioxidant system, reduce the appearance of adipose tissue and crepey skin by smoothing the appearance of lines and wrinkles!
Microbotox
Microbotox is a newer more advanced botox injection technique used to reduce fine lines and wrinkles with a needle the size of a single strand of hair. The injection is more superficial compared to traditional Botox in which the injection is placed in the muscle. This means new treatment areas and more natural results!
Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) treatments are another great option for the chest and neck area! PRP is utilized during microneedling or a post ablative procedure, using your own natural growth factors and healing properties to help heal, smooth, tighten and stimulate new growth. This treatment is an excellent option for those wishing to reduce wrinkles or scars and improve skin tone, texture and appearance. Microneedling involves pricking the skin with very fine needles, once small wounds are created this allows the skin to begin its natural healing process in the area which stimulates new collagen and elastic production. The result… firmer, younger looking skin!
Chemical peels are another great option to revive the neck and chest area. Chemical peels are commonly used to improve skin health by removing damaged outer layers to reveal a fresher, more refined complexion. New skin cells emerge naturally, and with a glowing appearance. Superficial peels offered at day spas can give the skin a nice glow, but medical grade peels offer longer-lasting results. No need for a little twinkle in your wrinkle. Instead, the result… glowing skin and very little down time.
2022
Admission $8.00 Friday, April 8 9-6 Saturday, April 9 9-4 New Ulm Event Center 301 20th Street So., New Ulm, MN
Special Guest: Doug Leko
Alice Forst Prairie Piecemakers Quilt Guild Sponsored in Part by
And last, but definitely not least, we have laser treatments. Eventually these will be one of your best options if the area is not too hyperpigmented. Often times we’ll do a combo laser treatment to this area. Utilizing IPL treatments is going to target hyperpigmentation, and a non-ablative fractional resurfacing treatment is going to target crepey skin by causing a dermal remodeling and tightening effect. If you’re just wanting to prevent, and you’re not quite to the stage of having to treat already existing damage, add this area to your treatment regimen when doing peels and microneedling sessions.
While there are many treatment options available for already damaged skin in the neck and chest area, we always want to encourage preventative measures as well. We feel this one goes without saying, but sometimes we all need a little reminder—make sure to use sunscreen any time the area is exposed to the sun.
Historically, chest wrinkles were difficult to get rid of, but thanks to incredible advancements in technology, they are no longer impossible to treat. So here’s to ironing out all of the wrinkles!
For most women, taking nine months off to rest while pregnant is not a possibility. Women often plan to work until their due date to get the most time possible with their baby during maternity leave.
But working during pregnancy isn't always easy.
To stay healthy and productive on the job, it's helpful to understand how to alleviate common pregnancy discomforts.
Nausea
Feeling nauseous at work is a common pregnancy discomfort. While commonly called morning sickness, queasiness can occur any time of the day. To keep nausea at bay, avoid things that trigger a sick feeling in your stomach and snack often. Keep a stash of crackers or another bland food at your desk.
Fatigue
You might feel tired as your body works overtime to support your pregnancy, and resting during the workday may not be possible. To improve energy, try these tips:
• Eat foods rich in iron and protein. Try red meat, poultry, leafy green vegetables, iron-fortified whole-grain cereal, and beans.
• Take short, frequent breaks. Getting up and moving around for a few minutes can reinvigorate you.
• Drink plenty of fluids. Keep a water bottle in your work area so you can sip throughout the day.
• Cut back on activities. Scaling back can help you get more rest after the workday ends.
• Keep up your fitness routine.
Physical activity can help boost your energy level. Try a prenatal fitness class or take a walk after work, as long as it's OK with your health care professional.
• Go to bed early.
Try to get seven to nine hours of sleep every night. Resting on your left side will maximize blood flow to your baby and ease swelling. Pillows between your legs and under your belly can add comfort.
As your pregnancy progresses, everyday activities—such as sitting and standing—can become uncomfortable. Moving around every few hours can ease muscle tension and help prevent fluid buildup in your legs and feet.
It's also important to limit the amount of stress at work during your pregnancy. Job stress can sap the energy you need to care for yourself and your baby. To reduce the amount of stress at work, share your frustrations with a supportive co-worker, make daily to-do lists and prioritize your tasks, and practice relaxation techniques.
Working during pregnancy is not always easy. If you have concerns about your work duties affecting your pregnancy, talk with your health care professional.
APRIL SHUNESON Certified nurse-midwife Mayo Clinic Health System Red Wing, Minnesota
The Kar astan name has been synonymous with quality, beauty and dur ability for more than 90 year s. Designed with livability, inspir ation and comfor t in mind, Kar astan® car pets are both stylish and functional.
Kar astan LuxeCr aft® Luxury Vinyl combines inspired design, long-lasting materials and flawless cr aftsmanship to give your home a natur al look that is better than nature intended.
Find Kar astan® at MCI Car pet One, your locally-owned leader in flooring for over 45 year s.
Find Kar astan® at MCI Car pet One, your locally-owned leader in flooring for over 45 year s.
224 St Andrews Dr, Mankato, MN 56001
• 507-625-3472
www.mcicarpetonemankato.com
224 St Andrews Dr, Mankato, MN 56001
• 507-625-3472
www.mcicarpetonemankato.com
Have you ever found yourself standing in front of an open pantry or refrigerator carefully inspecting its contents in search of something that seems appealing to eat? We make more than 200 food-related decisions per day, and are unaware of 90% of them. In a phenomenon called mindless eating, our eyes, rather than our stomachs, really do dictate how much we end up eating.
Eating less may be easier than you think. By making simple changes to your environment, you might be able to eat less without really thinking about it. So, what is on the menu for a healthy kitchen?
Good Things Come in Small Packages.
We eat more from bigger packages. Instead of eating directly out of a package or box, put snacks in a separate dish or snack-size baggies, and leave the box in the kitchen. The smaller the serving container, the less you’ll serve yourself. Remember, you can always go back for more if you are still hungry or unsatisfied.
Buy Smaller Serving Dishes.
Size matters. We eat 72 percent of our calories from food in bowls, plates, and glasses. Drink from tall, slender glasses instead of short, wide ones. You’ll pour yourself less. Did you know if you eat off a 12-inch dinner plate instead of a 10-inch one, you’re likely to eat about 22 percent more? Same applies for serving spoons. When you use a larger spoon to dish up the meal, you’re likely to consume more than you would with a small spoon. Out of Sight, Out of Mind.
We typically crave food most when we see it. If you’re going to grab food that crosses your field of vision, a bowl of fruit or vegetables sitting in plain view will encourage you to grab healthy snacks instead. Even placing healthy options at eye level in the refrigerator and pantry will inspire eating mindfully.
See It Before You Eat It.
Plate your food beforehand and leave the serving dishes in the kitchen. When people pre-plate their food, they eat less than when they take smaller amounts and go back for seconds.
Location, Location, Location.
Be in the moment, and present while you are eating. If you eat in front of the television, in bed, or standing in the kitchen, you may have an urge to eat simply from being in that location. Make it a family rule to limit eating to one or two rooms in the house. This will decrease triggers, and help you focus on enjoying your food without distractions.
184387
Hydrangeas have become wildly popular during the past few years. It’s hard to argue with a plant that produces enormous flower clusters, especially when those flowers dry in place and create season-long beauty that often lasts throughout winter too.
There are five species of hydrangea that grow in Minnesota, and most of them will thrive in our Minnesota River Valley’s USDA Hardiness Zone (4b). Each species can be a little fussy in its own way, and they’re a little slow to get established. But when planted in the right spot, mature hydrangea plants are definitely worth the wait.
Smooth hydrangea
The smooth hydrangea (Hydrangea arborescens) is probably the most common species, the one that most of us envision when we think of hydrangeas — large spherical flower clusters that are usually white or light green. This shrub is almost like an herbaceous perennial in that you can cut it back to the ground each fall or spring, and it’ll reliably resprout and flower. Smooth hydrangeas do well in partial shade but can also handle full sun when they’re well-irrigated. They like consistent moisture, especially in sunnier locations.
My main complaint about smooth hydrangeas is that they often get too top heavy to support their own flowers. The plant is well-known for flopping to the ground once it’s in full bloom. To remedy this issue, stake the plant’s stems before they start to lean. Triedand-true smooth hydrangea cultivars include ‘Annabelle’ and ‘Incrediball,’ both of which have enormous white flower heads. I don’t have as much experience with the newer ‘Invincibelle’ series, but some of these varieties bloom in very tempting shades of pink.
Big leaf hydrangea
A few years ago, Minnesota’s Bailey Nurseries released its ‘Endless Summer’ hydrangea, a cultivar of Hydrangea macrophylla (commonly known as the big leaf hydrangea). These hydrangeas are (in)famous for changing flower colors depending on the pH level of the soil they’re growing in. ‘Endless Summer’ led to a new wave of big leaf hydrangeas being bred for increased cold hardiness, as they usually live in much warmer locales. My general opinion of big leaf hydrangeas is that
our growing seasons are still too short for this plant to produce the magnificent flower shows that they produce in southern climates.
But despite their inconsistent performance, mature big leaf hydrangeas produce sincerely irresistible flowers. The newer Seaside Serenade collection has blooms in bright shades of pink, purple, and blue that are unbelievably pretty. A few varieties in this series have ruffled petals, too! So, I’ll understand if you want to try to grow them, just in case you succeed!
Climbing hydrangea
People are usually surprised when they learn that there’s a climbing hydrangea (Hydrangea anomala ssp. Petiolaris) This woody vining plant takes several years to get going, but then it really takes off, eventually reaching fifty to eighty feet long/tall. The climbing hydrangea is one of the few flowering vines for partial shade. It flowers in flat frilly white clusters that emerge in midsummer. The vines are self-supporting, easily clinging to whatever vertical structure they find to climb on — houses, fences, tree trunks. No fancy cultivars here — you’ll only find one variety of climbing hydrangea in Minnesota garden centers.
Panicle hydrangea
My absolute favorite hydrangeas are panicle hydrangeas (Hydrangea paniculata), probably because they are vigorous, sturdy, and reliable. This species grows and flowers best in full sun, and they’re unforgiving if you accidentally let them dry out during the first season. After a few years, they turn into beautiful monsters, with some cultivars reaching eight (or more!) feet tall and wide at maturity. Panicle hydrangeas have coneshaped flowers that either start out green and age to white or start out white before aging into shades of deep salmon pink. Shorter cultivars include ‘Little Lime,’ ‘Bobo,’ and ‘Little Quick Fire.’ Some of the show-stopping larger varieties are ‘Pink Diamond,’ ‘Tardiva,’ and ‘Pinky Winky.’
Oak leaf hydrangea
I wanted to mention the oak leaf hydrangea (Hydrangea quercifolia) even though it’s not reliably cold hardy here. It technically grows best in Zones 5 and warmer, but I’ve seen a few spectacular oak leaf hydrangea specimens growing in the Twin Cities. As its name suggests, the oak leaf hydrangea has lobed leaves that resemble red oak foliage. Flower spikes start out white before turning deep pink in color. The cultivar you’ll find in Minnesota is called ‘Ruby Slippers.’ The shrub itself is rounded and tidy, and I’m thinking I’ll have to add one to my collection this year.
Kara: Family for sure. It doesn't matter where you are as long as family is close.
Jeannie: Whenever I am with my husband of 19 years, no matter where it may be, I am “home.”
LuAnn: Home is wherever my heart finds happiness. Home is a feeling of enveloped warmth.
Kathy: Bonfire with friends & family.
Ruth: The voices of my brothers.
Tracy: Family!
Cole: A place where my kids greet me at the door with hugs, where I can be myself, where I am finally relaxed and of course, where you can remove your bra and put on sweats.
Lisa: A hug from a loved one.
Cali: My bed.
Anna: Anywhere is home, as long as I am with my family, friends or great co-workers.
Valerie: Food.
Jenny: It’s that always a little tiny bit messy, coffee’s always in the pot, cozy sweats and ugly tee shirt place , where I can be myself with those l cherish and those who love me the very most.
Deena: Home is where you ditch your bra, put on your comfy sweat pants, and eat ice cream out of the the container with that weird spoon because you don't have the energy to do the dishes right now.
Jamie: Wherever I can snuggle my boys. They are my home.
Darcy: Being with my siblings.
Vicki: Being greeted by my handsome rescued cat Ezra. Plus all my family art, pictures and the little storefront loft I created that is my cozy haven.
There are many benefits to taking probiotics. For most people, probiotics will maintain digestive health, reduce inflammation, boost the immune system, and may lower the risks of certain types of cancers.
These “good bacteria” can be found as a dietary supplement or in food sources such as yogurt. Probiotics can significantly contribute to maintenance of digestive health and overall sense of well-being.
Microbes in the gut, known as the “microbiome,” help us digest food, fight off disease, regulate the immune system, and fend off harmful bacteria. If there is an imbalance, the body will respond with symptoms of diarrhea, bloating, fatigue, malaise, inability to concentrate, anxiety, and other health problems.
When the gut is overwhelmed with unhealthy levels of certain bacteria, probiotics can help restore that balance. These “good bacteria” secrete
CORINNE JORDAN, MD, FACS General Surgeon Physicians Group New Ulm
protective substances that activate the immune system and prevent pathogens from taking up residence and causing disease.
Some studies encourage taking a probiotic to prevent the diarrhea associated with antibiotic therapy. Other studies have shown that probiotics taken as a supplement may reduce the number of colds you will have in a year.
The best way to take probiotics is by eating and drinking them. Probiotics can be found in yogurt and kefir. Fermented foods— such as pickles, sauerkraut, and kombucha (fermented tea)— are rich in probiotics.
If you prefer to take a supplement, you can find them in most drugstores and supermarkets. The supplements can come in the form of capsules, powder, or tablets and will contain Lactobacillus or Bifidobacterium. Common dosages for adults range from five to ten billion colony-forming units per day. You may experience some bloating or loose stools initially, but this usually sorts itself out after a few days.
Stay healthy, friends!
New homeowners likely will hear “20 percent” more than once when talking with friends and family about down payments. And many will walk away thinking that’s the magic number—the must-have if you want to buy a house. But how accurate is that?
Let’s start by noting that putting down 20 percent of the house purchase price does provide a few advantages. You’ll most likely be able to avoid private mortgage insurance, or PMI, which is attached to many loans and protects lenders in case buyers don’t make their payments. Your mortgage payment also will be lower if you have a higher down payment, and you may receive a lower interest rate if you have 20 percent down.
But you definitely do not need a down payment of 20 percent. In fact, the National Association of REALTORS® found that, on average, first-time homeowners have a down payment of just 6 percent. And often, you can get into a new home with as little as 3 percent down, depending on your mortgage type.
For first-time homebuyers, there’s a variety of down-payment assistance options available, if your income qualifies. And many first-time homeowners—including younger entry-level professionals and those who have been long-time renters—fall into that category.
Each of the assistance programs has distinct requirements, and you’ll find different programs in different states. And with some types of mortgages, you can even receive 100 percent financing, which means you don’t even need a down payment.
Every buyer is unique, and each has different budget needs and financial goals. That’s why it’s important to talk with a trustworthy mortgage lender, who can help discuss your options and how they fit into your current and future plans. There is no one-sizefits-all answer, and mortgage choices can seem almost endless, but a good mortgage lender can answer all your questions and help you navigate into your dream home.
Original article written by Old National Mortgage Sales Manager Jamie Hermann for oldnational.com.
Old National Bank is an Equal Housing Lender. Member FDIC.
Mankato-based Mortgage Loan Originator, Dawn Ruhland, has worked in the financial services industry for over 26 years. She has extensive knowledge of all mortgage programs and specializes in assisting first-time homebuyers.
Dawn has a comprehensive knowledge of the mortgage lending process from origination to processing to closing. She is skilled at developing successful, collaborative partnerships with a variety of entities.
DAWN RUHLAND Mortgage Loan Originator Old National Bank
I am a mom of two wild and crazy kiddos. I can’t count how many times one of them has gotten sick and needs medical care. Of course, it never fails to be on a Friday night after my pediatrician’s staff have left the building for the weekend. Yes, we visit the emergency room and urgent care more frequently than I want to admit. As much as I trust and love my pediatric team, it sure is nice to have some place else to go, when my first option is unavailable. In the human world, urgent cares are open on weekends and later evenings but, even when they are closed, you can find the emergency room (sometimes with entertainment included).
Do you know who to call when you are experiencing an emergency for your pet? I will give you a hint—it’s not Ghost Busters.
Have you asked your veterinarian what you should do on a Saturday night? Or what about when there are no appointments available during the day?
The first step is knowing what your clinic offers to their clients. Some clinics do not offer any after-hours care, while others offer care until a certain time. Most clinics do offer urgent care appointments for their clients during clinic hours.
Unlike in the human world though, there is no separate urgent care location. These appointments are fit into an already full schedule by the same staff who are seeing the appointments. These are situations that can’t wait until the next day or the next available appointment. These situations might include urinary concerns, bleeding that won’t stop, traumatic wounds, cluster seizures, or other forms of trauma.
Emergency situations can happen during the day but are more likely to happen as soon the clinic closes their doors. Fortunately, you may never need this care, but it is responsible to be prepared.
In the heat of the moment, anything seems dire and, if you consult Google, it will tell you your pet is sure to die within the hour.
So, what is a true emergency? Emergency situations are things such as severe bleeding (and not from a broken toe nail), difficulty breathing, unable to walk or get up, persistent non-productive retching, known foreign body ingestion, trouble during active labor, inability to urinate, ingesting a poison, trauma such as being hit by a car, or unconsciousness. If your vet clinic can see you on emergency there may be only so much they can do.
This can be incredibly frustrating for a pet owner whose family pet is suffering. Your local vet clinic may not be equipped for full emergency care. Most people do not realize that at your local clinic, there are no overnight staff members. So, even if they can stabilize your pet after being hit by a car, there is no one there to monitor them. If your pet needs surgery, there is no staff there to help. There are also safety concerns for veterinarians as there have been attempted robberies for drugs. Due to these limitations, it is possible that your veterinarian will refer you to a true emergency veterinary clinic. Some close to this readership area include Blue Pearl of Eden Prairie, Rochester, University of Minnesota, and AERC in Oakdale.
True emergency vet clinics are spread throughout the nation. Some open at the end of the day and close in the morning, sending their patients back to their primary vet clinic, while others remain open 24/7. These veterinary emergency clinics are facilities that have very experienced critical care staff and equipment such as ventilators, oxygen cages, loads of fluid pumps, copious amounts of drug supplies, and stored blood/plasma. COVID has made these emergency clinics even more swamped than usual and a trip to one of these clinics could mean an eight to 20 hour wait. On New Year’s Eve, emergency rooms across the states were closing due to full capacity and not enough staff to treat the animals in their care, nor the space.
What were people to do for the next three days (besides drink, eat and binge watch TV)? COVID has changed veterinary medicine, producing more pets than veterinary medicine can physically handle—and that includes the emergency situations.
Of course, there are things that are out of our control, but to help prevent the need for an emergency visit, follow these guidelines and cross your fingers.
River’s Edge Hospital uses state-of-theart equipment to provide a variety of laboratory clinical testing to diagnose, monitor and prevent disease. And for your convenience, Direct Access Testing (DAT) is available so you can receive commonly asked for tests without an order from your physician. No appointment necessary!
• Keep all toxins including poisonous plants (there are many), antifreeze, rat bait, chocolate, medications, and cleaners in high and safe locations.
• Keep your pet on leash to avoid being hit by a vehicle.
• Don’t trim your dog’s nails in the middle of the night.
• If you see some concerning or uncharacteristic behaviors for your pet, please call your clinic right away to get their advice rather than waiting until they are closing for the day or weekend.
It can be scary when these unexpected situations come up, but please know that the veterinary team wants to help your pet, that’s why they are in this profession. Learn what your vet offers and what your back up plan is, in case you have an emergency. Know that, though we may not be Ghost Busters, we sure are trying our best to fight the demons but a little bit of grace (and maybe holy water or donuts) is always appreciated.
Acne can be tough on teens and impact their confidence. According to the American Academy of Dermatology, research shows that acne can cause adolescents and teenagers to suffer from anxiety, low self-esteem, poor self-image, decreased quality of life, and a feeling of being all alone. Some teens may stop doing things they love or participating in class because they are so self-conscious.
Acne is caused by oil glands in the skin that are stimulated when hormones become active during puberty. Overactive oil glands and a buildup of oil, dead skin cells, and bacteria lead to inflammation—swelling and redness—in the pores.
Early treatment of acne can be very successful in clearing up the skin, reducing emotional pain, and preventing scars. Without treatment, acne can worsen.
There are many effective treatments for acne. With a sea of over-the-counter products out there, it can be expensive, confusing, and frustrating to find the right product for the acne type. A dermatology provider can help you sort through the options to find what will work best.
Typically, the first line of treatment includes gentle cleansers, a moisturizer that does not clog pores, and prescription-strength topically applied creams or solutions. Your dermatology provider will examine the skin, review the options and find the best fit for your child.
Open communication between patients, parents, and providers can play
a big role in the success of treatment. Office visits allow an opportunity to develop a plan together that is individualized and realistic for a young person’s lifestyle.
Dermatology providers will also review potential side effects and advise on how to prevent the side effects or alleviate symptoms.
Sometimes, over-the-counter or topical medications are not effective. In these cases, other options can be reviewed such as oral medications. Additionally, we know that hormones often play a role in acne. That’s why contraceptive pills which contain female hormones are sometimes a better choice when considering what acne treatment to start females on.
Isotretinoin, formerly known as Accutane, is an oral medication that improves acne in everyone. It treats the cause of acne, whereas all other options just manage the symptoms of acne. However, insurance providers may require patients and providers to try other topical and oral medications first. Your dermatology provider can help you navigate through this.
Finally, acne can leave scars behind. Sometimes acne scarring improves on its own after several months. But, if scars don’t resolve on their own, say after nine months, there are treatments to help improve and minimize scarring significantly.
We all want to feel good about how we look. That’s why treating acne can make a big difference in the well-being of our adolescents and teenagers.
Our foot and ankle physicians and surgeons provide complete medical and surgical care for a wide spectrum of foot and ankle conditions including common to complex disorders and injuries that affect people of all ages.
Our Foot and Ankle team can help you with:
• Fractures, sprains and strain
• Sports injuries
• Foot deformities, bunions and hammertoes
• Toe disorders
• Tendon disorders
• Arthritis and joint disease
• Nerve disorders
• Diabetic leg and foot care
To learn more about our Foot and Ankle providers, please visit:
COVID-19 safety measures are taken at all Mankato Clinic locations including wearing masks and social distancing.
To have your event listed, please email Ruth Klossner at cowladyruth@gmail.com by the 5th of the previous month. Listings are generally for events that are free to the public, or are fund-raisers. Listings will be published as space allows and at the discretion of the editor.
Sat, Mar 5
• Schell's Bock Fest 2022,1860 Schell Rd, New Ulm, 11 am-4:30 pm. Info: Facebook.
• IV Play at Bock Fest After Party, Event Center, New Ulm, 9:15 pm12:15 pm. Info: Facebook.
• Social Security 101—What you need to know in 2022, Washington Learning Center, New Ulm, 6-7:30 pm Thurs, 9-10:30 am Sat. Info: newulm.ce.eleyo.com/, 507-233-8307 or cfleck@newulm. k12.mn.us.
• Historical Building Snowshoe Hike, Flandrau State Park, 1300 Summit Ave., New Ulm, 10 am. Info: 507-384-8890 or scott. kudelka@state.mn.us.
• Maple Sap Tapping, Minneopa State Park, 5 mi W of Mankato off Hwy 68/169, 1 pm. Info: 507-3848890 or scott.kudelka@state. mn.us.
• Winter Farmers Market, The Historic Depot Marketplace, 22 Adams St, Hutchinson, 11 am-3 pm. Info: hutchinsonfarmersmarket.org
• ACT Prep Seminar (Doorway to College), New Ulm High School, New Ulm, 9 am-3 pm. Info: newulm.ce.eleyo.com/, 507-233-8307 or cfleck@newulm. k12.mn.us.
Sat-Sun, Mar 5-6
• Creating a Barn Quilt Class, The Grand Center for Arts & Culture, 210 N Minnesota St, New Ulm. 9 am-3 pm Sat, 1-5 pm Sun. Info & signup: thegrandnewulm.com, 507-359-9222 or grandnewulm@ gmail.com.
Sat-Sun, Mar 5-6; Wed, Mar 16; & Fri, Mar 2
• Maple Syrup Programs, Ney Nature Center, 28238 Nature Center Ln, Henderson. 1 pm Sat-Sun, 5 pm Wed & Fri. Info & registration: 507-357-8580 or info@neycenter. org.
Sun, Mar 6
• NHS After Prom Party Dad’s Belgian Waffle Breakfast, Public School, 1 Pine St., Nicollet, 9 am-1 pm. Info: isd507.k12.mn.us.
Fri, Mar 11
• The Jimmys Blues & R&B, Paradise Center for the Arts, 321 Central Ave N, Faribault, 7:30 pm. Info: visitfaribault.com/calendar/.
• Bjorling Honor Orchestra Concert, Christ Chapel, Gustavus Adolphus College, St. Peter, 7:309:30 pm. Info: 507-933-7013.
Fri, Mar 11 & Apr 8
• Chicken Dinner, American Legion, 600 Co Rd 20, Lake Crystal, 5-7 pm. Info: lakecrystalchamber. com/events.
Fri-Sat, Mar 11-12
• New Ulm Farm-City Hub Club Farm Show, Civic Center, 1212 N Franklin St, New Ulm, 1-8 pm Fri, 10 am-5 pm Sat. Info: 507-3548524 or farmcityhubclub.net.
• The Classic Dart Tournament, Inspire Event Center, downtown New Ulm, 5:30 pm Fri, 9 am Sat. Info & signup: 507-382-1871.
Sat, Mar 12
• Home Alone, Washington Learning Center, New Ulm, 10-11:30 am. Info: newulm.ce.eleyo.com, 507-233-8307 or cfleck@newulm. k12.mn.us.
• Gustavus Wind Orchestra & Chamber Winds Concert, Christ Chapel, Gustavus Adolphus College, St. Peter, 1:30-3 pm. Info: 507-933-7013.
Fri-Sun, Mar 11-13
• Mankato Home Show, Mayo Clinic Event Center, Mankato. 3-8 pm Fri, 9 am-5 pm Sat, 11 am-3 pm Sun. Info: 507-345-4537.
Sat, Mar 12
• Bingo, Legion Friendship Hall, 715 N 3rd St, Nicollet, 4 pm. Info: American Legion Post #510 on Facebook.
• Evening for Kid's Sake Gala Fundraiser, Torey's Restaurant & Bar, 208 N Cedar Ave, Owatonna, 5 pm. Info & tickets: michelle@ bbbsofsouthernmn.org or bbbsofsouthernmn.org/events/ evening-kids-sake/.
• McLeod County Pheasants Forever Banquet, McLeod County Fairgrounds Commercial Bldg, Hutchinson, 4 pm. Info: mcleodpf.org/banquets/.
Sat, Mar 12 & Apr 9
• Made Rights @ The Legion, American Legion, 13 S Minnesota St, New Ulm, 10:30 am-1 pm. Info: 507-354-4016.
Sat, Mar 12 & 26
• LTC 101—The 4 Steps of Long Term Care Planning, Washington Learning Center, New Ulm, 9-10:30 am. Info: 507-233-8307, newulm.ce.eleyo.com, or cfleck@ newulm.k12.mn.us.
Sat-Sun, Mar 12-13
• Skating the Red Carpet Ice Show, Burich Arena, 950 Harrington St SW, Hutchinson. 1 pm Sat, 2 pm Sun. Info: hutchfigureskating. org.
Mon, Mar 14
• Bjorling Honor Choir Concert, Christ Chapel, Gustavus Adolphus College, St. Peter, 7-9 pm. Info: 507-933-7013.
Thurs, Mar 17
• Lifelong Learners Series—Exploring Ney’s Forests, Ney Nature Center, 28238 Nature Center Ln,
Henderson, 12-1 pm. Info & registration: 507-357-8580 or info@ neycenter.org.
Thurs-Sat, Mar 17-19
• North American Farm and Power Show, Steele County Four Seasons Centre, 1525 S Elm Ave, Owatonna. 9 am-5 pm Thurs & Fri, 9 am-4 pm Sat. Info: tradexpos.com/north-american-farmand-power-show/.
Fri, Mar 18
• David Malmberg Comedy Show, State Street Theater, 1 N State St, New Ulm, 7 pm. Info: christina@ statestreetnewulm.org or statestreetnewulm.org.
Sat, Mar 19
• Wildflower Band Amanda Grace, Paradise Center for the Arts, 321 Central Ave N, Faribault, 7:30 pm. Info: visitfaribault.com/calendar/.
Sat, Mar 19
• Cannon Valley Farmers' Market, Faribo West Mall, 200 Western Ave NW, Faribault, 12-3 pm. Info: visitfaribault.com/calendar/.
• Inheritance 101 (How to Be an Executor), Washington Learning Center, New Ulm, 9-11 am. Info & signup: 507-233-8307 or newulm. ce.eleyo.com/.
• Wildflower Band Amanda Grace, Paradise Center for the Arts, 321 Central Ave N, Faribault, 7:30 pm. Info: visitfaribault.com/calendar/.
Tues, Mar 22
• Do Tell: Notable Women of Brown County, New Ulm CC, 1 Golf Dr, New Ulm, 6 pm. Info: education@browncountyhistorymn.org, 507-233-2621 or browncountyhistorymn.org.
Thurs, Mar 24
• New Ulm Chamber Annual Meeting/Business of the Year Event, Turner Hall, New Ulm, 5:30 pm. Info: 507-233-4300 or chamber@ newulm.com.
Fri-Sun, Mar 25-27
• KOWZ Home and Recreation Show, Steele County Four Seasons Centre, 1525 S Elm Ave, Owatonna. 3-7 pm Fri, 9 am-5 pm Sat, 11 am-3 pm Sun. Info: 507-444-9224 or kowzfm.com/ homeshow.html.
Sat, Mar 26
• 2022 Jeans & Dreams—MVL Booster Club Auction, Turner Hall, New Ulm, 5 pm. Info: mvl. org/news-events/auction/.
• Biker Breakfast, Faribault Harley-Davidson, 2704 W Airport Dr, Faribault, 9-11 am. Info: visitfaribault.com/calendar/.
• Legion Bar Bingo, John Watson Post 257, 5 N O’Connell Ave, Springfield, 7-10 pm. Info: springfieldmnchamber.org/events/ legion-bar-bingo-2/.
Sun, Mar 27
• Omelet Breakfast, Legion Friendship Hall, Nicollet, 8:30 am-12:30 p.m. Info: American Legion Post
#510 on Facebook.
• Hilltop Happenings, Hilltop Hall, 206 First St N, Montgomery, 4 pm. Info: wendyzaske@yahoo. com or HilltopHall@wordpress. com.
Wed, Mar 30 & Mon, Apr 11
• 55+ Driver Refresher Course, CAST Senior Center, 600 N German St, New Ulm, 1-5 pm. Info & signup: 507-354-3212, castnu@ newulmtel.net or newulmseniors.org.
Fri-Sun, Apr 1-3 and Thurs-Sat, Apr 7-9
• Boeing Boeing by the Paradise Community Theatre, Paradise Center for the Arts, 321 Central Ave N, Faribault. 7:30 pm except 2 pm Sun. Info: 507-332-7372, info@paradisecenterforthearts or gparadisecenterforthearts. org.
Sat, Apr 2
• Dad’s Belgian Waffle Breakfast, Community Center, Brownton, 9:30 am-12:30 pm. Info: Brownton Days Facebook Page.
• Gustavus Jazz Home Concert with Adolphus Jazz, Bjorling Recital Hall, Gustavus Adolphus College, St. Peter, 1:30 pm. Info: 507-933-7013.
• Celebrate Me Week Gala, Mayo Clinic Health System Event Center, 1 Civic Center Plaza, Mankato, 5 pm. Info & tickets: gala.campcmw.com/.
• Stand Up Comedy Night with Sam Ellefson, High School Auditorium, Hutchinson, 7 pm. Info: business.explorehutchinson. com/.
Sun, Apr 3
• The Choir of Christ Chapel & The Lucia Singers, Christ Chapel, Gustavus Adolphus College, St. Peter, 2 pm. Info: 507-933-7013.
Fri-Sat, Apr 8-9
• Prairie Piecemakers Quilt show, Event Center, 301 20th St S, New Ulm. 9 am-6 pm Fri, 9 am-4 pm Sat. Info: Facebook or newulmquiltshow.com.
Fri, Apr 8
• Murder at Tax Time, Best Western Plus, 2101 S Broadway, New Ulm, 6 pm. Info: 312-550-7868, murders4fun@gmail.com or murders4fun.com.
Sat, Apr 9
• Le Sueur County 4-H Horse Project Tack Swap, Fairgrounds, 350 Plutt Ave S, Le Center, 10 am-2 pm. Info: Facebook.
• Nicollet County Pheasants Forever Banquet, Johnson Hall, 400 W. Union, St. Peter, 5 pm. Info: Facebook.
• Habitat for Humanity Brewfest, Steele County Four Seasons Centre, 1525 S Elm Ave, Owatonna. Info: visitowatonna.org/ calendar-of-events/.
ELEVATE YOUR PRODUCT OR BRAND WITH PROFESSIONAL PHOTOGRAPHY 184347
70% of new businesses are started by women
92% of travel decisions are made by women
65% of auto purchases are made by women
80% of healthcare decisions are made by women
80% of family decisions are made by women
61% of major home repair projects are purchased by women
80% of clothing purchases are made by women
75% of all household finances are managed by women
95% of all purchase decisions for the household are made by women
“If you own a business and you need an effective way to advertise, do what works! River Valley Woman is the best Ive found! Great Magazine and phenomenal staff! Thanks River Valley Woman staff for always having such great articles and great ads!”
“I absolutely love this magazine! What a fantastic read and amazing advertising medium for my business. My clients always comment on seeing my ad in the magazine and it truly has helped my business and kept my brand top of mind. Thanks for bringing this wonderful magazine to southern MN every month.”
“River Valley Woman Magazine has been my GO TO publication to advertise in! I anxiously await each new publication as I always enjoy reading the fun stories of those living, and working throughout the reading area. As an advertiser, I always ask “How did you hear of Blinds & More?” 70% of our Southern MN clients say “River Valley Woman Magazine”! Thanks for putting out such a Fantastic Publication!”
BRENDA SANDERSON Bella Nova CANDEE DEICHMAN CENTURY 21 Atwood BROOK DEVENPORT Blinds & More
1 2 3 4 5
River Valley Woman Magazine has been successfully reaching the woman decision-maker (your demographic) since 2013.
RVW is the largest per-issue print quantity in the Mankato market.
RVW Magazine has a pick-up rate of 99.6%. We guarantee that the magazine is being read.
Women account for 85% of all consumer purchases including everything from automobiles to healthcare.
Marketing Manager
rivervalleywoman.com
JULIE VETTER
“Community Bank has been advertising in RVW for several years.This magazine reaches local women in the communities we serve. It’s a perfect platform for Community Bank to share how our team of local bankers can help simplify finances for women of all ages. We look forward to partnering with RVW into the future!”
NATALIE SADAKA SOHRE Community Insurance
1.
7. One Minute Manicure
Schedule an in-home or virtual consultation. Blinds & More will take your custom window treatment shopping experience to a new level. Work with a pro to create the perfect mood with the latest blinds, drapery, motorized shades, and shutters. Blinds & More Window Coverings 507.380.5019 blindsandmore.org
2. Soft & Smooth Skin 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.
Hy-Vee Hilltop 2010 Adams St. Mankato, MN 507.625.9070
Hy-Vee Riverfront 410 S. Riverfront Dr. Mankato, MN 507.625.1107
A detox foot soak makes joint movement easier in the knees and elbows. It’s an alternative medicine option for people who suffer chronic lymphatic and bone pain. Detoxification promotes weight loss, and rids your body of chemicals, raising your metabolism. Body Concepts LLC 1615 N. Riverfront Dr. Mankato, MN 507.381.5467 bodyconceptsmankato.com
The industry’s first hands-free applicator designed specifically to address cheeks and jowls. The patented technology harnesses the power of RF energy to remodel facial tissue and improve its appearance. The Skin Clinic Medspa 1603 N Riverfront Dr. Mankato, MN 651.226.3704 mankatomed.com
5. Davines Elevating Scalp Recovery Treatment
Leave-on treatment for sensitized & dehydrated scalp. With soothing and hydrating activity, this product immediately relieves the scalp, reducing itching and redness. Anti inflammatory active ingredients help to balance the scalp.
Fréy Salon & Spa 429 S Minnesota Ave. St. Peter, MN | 507.934.7399 freysalon.com
Shop interior and exterior paints and stains from True Value and brush-on & spray paints from many manufacturers. We carry step stools, step ladders, extension ladders, rollers, brushes, trays, drop cloths and most anything else you might need for your next painting project. Match your colors with our color match computer.
C&S Supply 1951 N. Riverfront Drive, Mankato, MN 507.387.1171 or 800.879.1938 candssupply.com
Stop in and turn your dry cracked winter skin into soft glowing skin with our One Minute Manicure Salt Scrub. This 60 seconds scrub exfoliates your dry skin while replacing it with essential oils for the softest skin ever. Stop by Bella Nova and try our sample and fall in love with softer hands.
Bella Nova Boutique
521 N. Riverfront Dr. Mankato, MN 507.779.7444
8. Renewal by Andersen Windows
You can be confident in Renewal by Andersen® custom replacement windows, which are backed by one of the 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 507.625.6412 schmidtmankato.com
9. Fit to Celebrate!
A memorable occasion calls for a perfectly fitted dress or gown. Re-sizing, custom alterations, rebeading and more will put the YOU in your uniquely special day. Pins and Needles Alterations 728 N. Riverfront Drive Mankato, MN 507.625.5163 katobears.com
10. Healthy, Vibrant Rejuvenated Skin
Skin Essentials offers DERMALINFUSION®, an advanced skin-resurfacing 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 507.625.6599 skinessentialsmankato.com
Radio Mankato recently purchased the Mankato Home Show, formerly known as the Southern Minnesota Home & Builders Show, which takes place March 1113 at the Mayo Clinic Health System Event Center in Mankato. Radio Mankato shared their excitement for this acquisition and what show goers can expect.
Tell us about why Radio Mankato purchased the Mankato Home Show?
Radio Mankato is about connecting the community. We love being local, and we believe that such an event will help us connect our customers with this community in person. We also want to be a full-service marketing shop and adding Home Show was the right fit.
What excites you about this?
Seeing vendors strike conversation with potential clients who are genuinely interested in buying their product or service. That’s what’s it’s all about!
What can show-goers expect at this year's show?
People can expect to see a show with a wide variety of businesses that are experts in their respective industries. The businesses are excited to show and explain the important details you need to know about products and services related to where you live and so much more. They can expect to see little improvements that we believe will make the show better for everyone.
What can we learn from visiting with vendors at a home show?
You would be surprised how sophisticated businesses are right here in southern Minnesota. You will see amazing technology and talented people with incredible ideas, and you can talk to all of these people in one place at the Mankato Home Show.
What questions should people ask vendors when considering their business for a home or office project? With lead times and supply chain issues affecting some industries right now, it’s more important than ever to plan ahead. Be sure to talk to these local experts about timelines, so you are prepared. Also, use this as your opportunity to ask local experts their opinion on a product or service instead of relying on the internet.
Even if a person isn't planning a home project, what can they get out of attending a show?
Your ideas start here. That’s our tagline for the show. Ideas for homeowners are generated there, you get to learn about new technologies, new products, and you have professionals there to answer your questions.
What benefits are there in attending a home show?
If you’re planning a project, there will likely be multiple contractors there for you to discuss details, questions and more. You also get to learn about someone before they come into your home. In fact, who wants a stranger in their home? Plus, if you’re looking for a new furnace for example, there should be a few different vendors, so you get to learn about the different brands and how they’re built.
What suggestions would you give to vendors to better serve show-goers?
Don’t pressure sell, be inviting, and be knowledgeable about the product or service you’ll be showcasing at the show. People aren’t coming for free candy, they are coming for your professional knowledge.
Can attendees sign up for giveaways?
Radio Mankato and Cambria have partnered to give away a countertop to one lucky Home Show attendee! See you at the show!
Deanna was just managing knee pain with cortisone shots until she returned from a trip to Vietnam & Cambodia. She consulted her doctor, Jesse Botker, and scheduled a double knee replacement. Now Deanna can go back to traveling without worry!
“It’s been wonderful! I can stand for hours and I am not in pain. I can walk and I am not in pain.”
See Deanna’s full story at www.rehc.org/news
Learn more at OrthoEdgeMN.com
JOINT REPLACEMENT SURGERY IMPORTANT CHOICE, EASY DECISION
River’s Edge Hospital has been recognized as a DNV GL Healthcare certified Orthopaedic Center of Excellence for:
• Hip & Knee Replacement
• Shoulder Surgery
• Spine Surgery
Plus, River’s Edge Hospital is top rated for patient experience!