AL Magazine May/June 2016

Seeing

DOUBLE A.L. moms share ups and downs of life with twins

bring your home a

splash of color MAY/JUNE 2016

4

tips for

fitness goals

Curl up with you r favorite book

LIve your life

outdoors

Welcome to Summer!

Freeborn Lumber Co. 917 Plaza Street W Albert Lea, MN 56007 507-377-4284

䐀漀 礀漀甀 渀攀攀搀 愀

Any pontoon can float...

栀漀洀攀 氀漀愀渀㼀 一漀眀 椀猀 愀 最爀攀愀琀 琀椀洀攀 琀漀 最攀琀 愀 栀漀洀攀 氀漀愀渀 昀爀漀洀 礀漀甀爀 氀漀挀愀氀 䠀漀洀攀 䘀攀搀攀爀愀氀⸀ 伀甀爀 栀漀洀攀 氀漀愀渀 攀砀瀀攀爀琀猀 洀愀欀攀 琀栀攀 瀀爀漀挀攀猀猀

儀甀椀挀欀 ☀ 䔀愀猀礀℀

䌀愀氀氀 琀漀搀愀礀℀

...see what makes a

Bennington fly.

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䨀甀猀琀䌀愀氀氀䠀漀洀攀⸀挀漀洀

2120 Consul St., Albert Lea | 507-373-9000 www.northstarpowersports.com

EDITOR’S NOTE

Big kudos to area mothers of multiples

Editor Sarah Stultz lives in Albert Lea with her husband, Jason, and two children, Sophie and Landon. In the summer, she enjoys gardening.

Got ideas?

This is our fourth year! We at Albert Lea magazine want to hear what you think, and we need your brightest ideas for coming issues.

Favorite musicians? Finest artists?

Goofiest pranksters? Best storytellers? Local nightlife? We are openminded. Call Sarah Stultz at 3793433. Feel free to write a letter, too.

Our address is on the right.

2 | ALBERT LEA | MAY/JUNE 2016

I have a lot of respect for parents, let alone parents of multiples.

So when we came up with the idea to do a feature on families with twins in Albert Lea, I was excited to see how these parents do it — how do they make it work having two children the same age, plus other children, too?

I have two children myself, but my children are 4 and 8. Right when I think I have something figured out with one, something comes up with the other. For me, the younger ages were the most challenging so far, and I can’t imagine having gone through some of these experiences multiplied times two.

For our cover feature, I interviewed Emelia Gaudian, a mother of 2-year-old fraternal twin girls and a 4-year-old son; Jen Zoller, a mother of 2-year-old fraternal twin boys and a 6-year-old son; and Holly Muilenberg, a mother of 2-year-old fraternal twin boys and three other children.

These women are awesome mothers, and I was happy to learn from them — not only as parents but as people, too.

I also had fun catching up with a former Tribune employee, Rebecca Houg, who I worked with in my first year at the newspaper, and who now owns her own photography business called Rebecca Lynne Photography. Rebecca took the photos for this feature and did a fantastic job catching the love these mothers have for their children, along with the personalities of all the children.

I hope you enjoy looking at our finished feature as much as I had putting it together.

Other highlights of this issue include a feature on the home of Joyce Nixon, who lives on Mariners Lane north of Mayo Clinic Health System in Albert Lea, and a behind-the-scenes look at Between Friends Boutique in downtown Albert Lea. Store owner Becky Johnson travels to markets in St. Paul and Minneapolis, among others out of state, to find one-of-a-kind merchandise for her shop.

For our DYI story, stay-at-home mother Ellen Raleigh showed us how to create coasters with a splash of color, and our recipe from Jennifer Levisen puts a new spin on a classic sugar cookie recipe.

As always, we hope you enjoy this issue. Let us know what you think!

In the meantime, get out and enjoy some sun!

— Sarah Stultz

Publisher Crystal Miller Editorial Editor Sarah Stultz Contributing Writers Colleen Harrison Kathy Johnson Crystal Miller Michelle Nelson Emily Schmidt Sarah Stultz Kelly Wassenberg Contributing Photographers Colleen Harrison Sarah Stultz Rebecca Lynne Photography Art Art Director Kathy Johnson Graphic Designers Susan Downey Kim Ehrich Colby Hansen Sales & Promotion Sales Representatives Kelly Besco Michele Beyer Renee Citsay Jessica Glassell MAY/JUNE 2016 Volume 4, Number 3 Editorial correspondence: Editor, Albert Lea Magazine, 808 W. Front St. Albert Lea, MN 56007 Online: albertleamagazine.com or facebook.com/ albertleamagazine © 2016 All rights reserved.

No part of this publication may be reprinted or reproduced without written permission.

For comments, suggestions or story ideas call 507-379-3433.

To purchase advertising, call 507-379-3427.

To subscribe, call 507-379-3422.

Travelers

advise

detour

to summer fun ahead!

HWY 71 is under construction but despite construction issues, our businesses are still open and accessible and we will still be hosting the same fabulous events that we have each year!

2016 Summer Events: Franks-A-Lot Night in Jackson: Thursday, June 23rd World of Outlaw Races at the Jackson Motorplex: June 24th Town and Country Days in Jackson: June 20-26th Rhythm of the River Music festival at Ashley Park: July 8-9th Jackson County Fair: July 26-30th Jackson Nationals at the Jackson Motorplex: Sept. 2-4th Pioneer Days at Fort Belmont: Sept. 9-11th Prairie Winds Kite Fly on Sept. 10th

Only 90 minutes west of Albert Lea off I-90!

Email Us At: chamber@jacksonmn.com www.jacksonmn.com

features

on the cover

ALBERT LEA › may/june 2016

Seeing double Albert Lea area moms open up about the struggles and joys of having twins.

38

32

Behind the scenes at an area boutique

Between Friends Boutique owner seeks for one-of-a-kind merchandise.

46

Home is what you make it

Albert Lea woman has a home full of personality that is full of history and memories.

4 | ALBERT LEA | MAY/JUNE 2016

ALBERT LEA › MAY/JUNE 2016

contents Seen

8

18

A.l. high school art show

12

lakeview school fun night

14

jukebox Saturday Night

16

‘madame butterfly’ opera

18

Weddings & engagements

✔

Departments

22

22

Dazzle: natural beauty products

26

DIY: sharpie coasters

30

Savor: frosted sugar cookies

31

Savor: beer review

All the rest

52

looking back

56

Dietitian’s digest

59

why i love albert lea

60

Events Calendar

64

Behind the Scenes

✔

✔

✔

26 ✔

46 On the cover: Emelia Gaudian and her twins, Josephine and Alivia. The cover photo was taken

by Rebecca Lynne Photography

M&S

OutdOOr EquipMEnt Stihl, Exmark & Husqvarna Chainsaws, sharpening, & lawn mowers, trimmers 519 Prospect Avenue Albert Lea, MN (507) 377-7705 MAY/JUNE 2016 | ALBERT LEA | 5

Produce State Bank Founded over 88 years ago and now serving you at three convenient locations.

Stop in today.

109 W. Park Ave. Hollandale (507) 889-4311 Member

FDIC

220 E. William St. Albert Lea (507) 373-5500

2401 Bridge Ave. Albert Lea (507) 373-8600

www.producestatebank.com

I finally found a dentist who makes me smile.

Dr. Hung Vu, DDS 507-377-5033 141 E. William St., Albert Lea, MN www.uptowndental.org

Providing the latest in cosmetic & family dental care.

Lumineers/Veneers • Sapphire Whitening • Restorative Periodontal • Root Canal Treatments • Laughing Gas Laser Check-ups • Crowns • VisiLite Plus (oral cancer screening) Dental Implant • Adults and Children Braces Botox Injections • Juviderm Dermal Fillers

6 | ALBERT LEA | MAY/JUNE 2016

Because we care...

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Every co every fin lor, s you will ih want!

SEEN › Albert Lea High School Art Show

2

3

1 Artwork from Albert Lea Area Schools students was shown at Northbridge Mall throughout March. The artwork was shown from 2 to 6 p.m. Tuesdays through Fridays; from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturdays; and from 1 to 4 p.m. Sundays, and was sponsored by Albert Lea Art Center.

(1) Jose Soto and Christian Soto (2) Sienne Jepson (3) Daleney, Sam and Danette Meyer (4) Emmalee Peterson (5) Tom Mullen and Bev Jackson Cotter (6) Charla, Jeremy and River DePoppe

5 8 | ALBERT LEA | MAY/JUNE 2016

4

6

Assisted Living with Helping Hands Built-in Oak Park® Place features assisted living apartment homes with licensed nursing staff on call 24-hours.

Planned activities and amenities are customized to individual needs. A wide range of floor plans are available, from cozy studios to deluxe two-bedroom apartment homes.

To learn more about our Assisted Living options and to schedule a personal tour, Call (507) 373-5600 or visit albertleasales@oakparkplace.com.

1615 Bridge Avenue Albert Lea, MN 56007

Assisted Living • Memory Care

www.OakParkPlace.com © 2014 Oak Park Place

Independence when you want it, assistance when you need it.®

Find us on Facebook

Your Destination for

Shopping, Dining & Entertainment • Over 25 stOres & businesses • specialty shOps • fOOd cOurt • restaurants • mOvie theater • much, much mOre!

I-90 & Bridge Avenue, Albert Lea, MN, Exit 157

Join us on Facebook

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s Barb Schopper

Shopping Hours: Mon.-Fri. 10-8 • Sat. 10-6 • Sun. 12-5 Some Business and Holiday Hours Vary www.northbridgemall.com

ve e Syverson... lo Thank you Dav ve w ride. We ha love love our ne you 3 vehicles from bought our last T EA R s gave us G guys and alway be back. ..thank ill w deals !!! We you SO much

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1-800-423-6663 • 507-373-1438 • 2310/2320 E. Main • Albert Lea, MN 10 | ALBERT LEA | MAY/JUNE 2016

BRIGHT IDEAS BRILLANT

SOLUTIONS

YOUR BUSINESS DESERVES A MARKETING PLAN, NOT JUST AN AD FOR THE WEEK.

507.379.3427 808 West Front Street • Albert Lea, MN www.albertleatribune.com

SEEN › Lakeview School Fun Night

1 2

3

4 5

Lakeview Elementary School hosted Fun Night March 4 for students and their families. Students could enjoy games, food and other activities. (1)Back from from left, April Jeppson, Brie Beasley, Ella Bordeaux, Shannon Bordeaux and Jenna Bordeaux. Front row from left, Hans Jeppson, Olivia Bordeaux, Alexia Baldwin and Mason Bordeaux (2) Jordan, Patricia, Riley and Parker Flatness (3) Beth, Norah and Aleyah Griffith (4) Ashton Besco, Hannah Obermeyer and Jerry Eastman (5) Emie Mahoney, Jennifer Jensen, Tyler Hall, Ellizabeth Dufour and Gavin Mahoney (6) Lynden Matthies, Cassie Matthies, Alexis Swalve-Matthies and Ryanne Swalve-Matthies (7) Kim, Matt, Keira and Channing Erickson

6

7 12 | ALBERT LEA | MAY/JUNE 2016

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507-373-8830 1-888-339-9954 MAY/JUNE 2016 | ALBERT LEA | 13

SEEN › Jukebox Saturday Night

1

2

The jukebox era was featured March 26 at the Marion Ross Performing Arts Center.

Called Jukebox Saturday Night, the show featured Dylan Kaercher of Austin with his girl singers Michelle Neal, Lauren Severson and Heather Pliska.

The DC Drifters of Austin backed up the main act.

The show featured songs from The Shirelles, The Chiffons and The Supremes of the 1960s, along with singers such as Janis Joplin and Cindy Lauper, all the way to the 1990s.

(1) Tom and Roberta Flaherty (2) Wayne and Helen Leidal (3) Chloe and Lia Guttormson (4) Patsy and Dave Ziebell (5) Lanita Smith (6) Marina Severns 3

5

4 14 | ALBERT LEA | MAY/JUNE 2016

6

Dawson Limousine Service would love to be a part of your special day!

Perfect for weddings, birthdays, concerts, sporting events, transportation to casino or airport.

New limo bus Special rates for extended rentals

Call 507-402-0606 for more information or to book your special occasion transportation

Bridal

guide

Summer wedding Planner Available in the Tribune To subscribe call 507-379-3421

MAY/JUNE 2016 | ALBERT LEA | 15

SEEN › ‘Madame Butterfly’ opera

1

The Marion Ross Performing Arts Center hosted a performance of the Met Live Opera’s “Madama Butterfly” April 3.

(1) Paul and Debra Linnes (2)Linda and Neil Opstad (3) Evelyn Egland (4) Beth Spande (5) Diane Heaney (6) Sue Jorgenson and Sara Aeikens (7) Phil Getts and Gail Thurnau (8) Mary Anderson 2

3

4

5

6

7

16 | ALBERT LEA | MAY/JUNE 2016

8

Call today to visit our showroom

Most salons independently owned and operated. ©2016 Fantastic Sams Franchise Corporation

under the sun & trees

2352 Hendrickson Rd. Albert Lea, MN 56007 • 507.373.8888 Mon.-Fri. 9am-7pm • Sat. 9am-5pm

Bacon Ranch Quesadilla

Measure Ventura Foods Ingredient

1/4 cup

Marie’s Lite Creamy Ranch Dressing

Methods 1. Place non-stick skillet over medium-high heat until hot.

4

Large flour tortillas

2. Warm tortilla and fill with cheese, bacon and tomato and top with second tortilla.

1 cup

Shredded mozzarella cheese

3. Flip when cheese is melted and cook until golden brown.

Measure Other Ingredients

1/2 cup Crumbled bacon 1

Diced tomato

4. Cut into wedges and top with a dollop of Marie’s Lite Creamy Ranch.

919 E. 14th St., Albert Lea, MN 56007 • 373-2431 For more recipes, visit our website: www.venturafoods.com MAY/JUNE 2016 | ALBERT LEA | 17

SEEN › Weddings and engagements

1

3 18 | ALBERT LEA | MAY/JUNE 2016

2

(1) Jennifer Krueger and Kyle Ignaszewski (2) Alison Blenka and Christopher Froisland (3) Mariah McGill and Benjamin Kelly (4) Jaime Andersen and Stacy Doppelhammer (5) Matt Nielsen and Jessica Wayne (6) Antonia Kolas and Nick Yenser

4

5

6 MAY/JUNE 2016 | ALBERT LEA | 19

Finding Solutions . . . One Client At A Time

Not feeling well? Call us

Matt Benda has provided general legal services in Albert Lea since 1996. He provides personal attention to his clients and practices under the motto: “Finding Solutions … one client at a time.” Matt is a tireless community advocate and participates in numerous community-driven activities. Matt currently serves as vice-chair of Southern Minnesota Regional Legal Services and chair of the St. Theodore School Board.

Matt attended school at Drake University Law School, Des Moines, Iowa, 1996 - J.D. and University of Minnesota, 1992 - B.S. Matt’s primary areas of practice are Agriculture Law, Business Planning and Transactions and Real Estate. In 2011, Matt received state-wide recognition as an Attorney of the Year.

Matthew Benda

Matt is married to Heather Benda, who is a C.P.A. in Albert Lea. Matt and Heather have two children.

211 S Newton Ave • Albert Lea, MN • (507) 373-6491 • www.albertlealaw.com

an outdoor retreat See us for Flowers Trees Shrubs Pottery

1414 W. Main, Albert Lea

(Across from Marketplace Foods)

377-2372 www.AlbertLeaGardenCenter.com Open Mon-Fri 8-5, Sat 8-4 20 | ALBERT LEA | MAY/JUNE 2016

Get Mayo Clinic care by phone •

24/7 care for you and your family

•

Your guide to the care you need: self-care, an appointment or immediate medical advice

•

Prescriptions for some conditions can be filled at the pharmacy of your choice

Call 507-373-2384 (Albert Lea) or 507-433-7351 (Austin).

Always call 911 in an emergency.

OUR CONTENT. YOUR WAY.

www.albertleatribune.com

DAZZLE › Natural Beauty Products

Lengthen and protect Check out this natural black mascara. Made with 100 percent natural and certified organic ingredients. 0.25-ounce.

Daisy Blue Naturals, Albert Lea $28

Instead of reaching for the medicine cabinet, go for the makeup bag Comfort therapeutic oils contain 10 unique plant and essential oils that work synergistically to help support muscle aches, pains and symptoms associated with the common cold. Rub on the bottoms of your soles at night and wake up refreshed.

Available in lavender, lemon, peppermint and tea tree.

Daisy Blue Naturals, Albert Lea $19 each or set of 4 for $65

Things

You

Your skin will thank you Rich in Omega-3s and antioxidants, this face serum will help to hydrate and reduce thin lines. Pure jasmine extract, organic rosehip oil and organic coconut oil help to reveal the natural beauty that you are.

1-ounce bottle.

Daisy Blue Naturals, Albert Lea $39

Didn’t Know

You Wanted

By Crystal Miller

Where the land and sea meet Working together to fight troubled skin, the organic seaweed and tea tree oils buff away dead skin cells.

Reveal a cleaner, fresher you.

2-ounce bottle.

Daisy Blue Naturals, Albert Lea $22

22 | ALBERT LEA | MAY/JUNE 2016

Instead of going natural, go with natural ingredients This natural deodorant cream is chemical-free with all day stinkblockers. Made with shea butter, baking soda, aloe vera and essential oils to beat the stink.

1.5-ounce tin.

Daisy Blue Naturals, Albert Lea $9

Get ready for summer

and look your best with products made with ingredients from nature, not science.

Buying local is easy with products from Daisy Blue Naturals made right here in Albert Lea. All of these products are available through a consultant, online at www.

DaisyBlueNaturals. com or at the store in Albert Lea at 2610 Y.H. Hanson Ave., suite 108. The store is open from 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday and from 8 a.m. to noon Friday.

You had me at Chardonnay Finally, a cream that speaks the language of wine. This hand and face rejuvenating cream is filled with antioxidants powered from Chardonnay grapes. (Yes, these are the same grapes used to make wine!) 1.8-ounce jar.

Daisy Blue Naturals, Albert Lea $39

Each good day starts with a good night’s sleep Use this pillow mist infused with ylang ylang, patchouli and lavender oils that relax the mind and body. This mist earns extra credit as a mosquito repellant and a companion for anxiety.

4-ounce bottle.

Daisy Blue Naturals, Albert Lea $19

MAY/JUNE 2016 | ALBERT LEA | 23

ExquisitE food & finE winEs

101 S. Broadway, Albert Lea 507-373-4366

we feature usdA Prime beef & fresh seafood open thursday, friday and saturday evenings at 5:30 Regularly changing menu, see our website at www.cresendodining.com

507-377-2425 118 s. Broadway Ave, Albert Lea

PAINT COUTURE IS HERE! Repurposed furniture New gifts & decor New unfinished furniture 122 W Main St • Albert Lea, MN

507-402-5650

Thursday-Friday 10 am - 5 pm Saturday 10 am - 3 pm To follow our updates and events.

Unique women’s clothing & accessories

Larry

Cheryl

Arline

Georgia

JoAnn

105 N. Broadway Downtown Albert Lea 507-473-2111

Jeanne

Shaunee

Kathy

202 S. Broadway Albert Lea 507-373-3925

Show your love for your mom with one of these fine gifts:

• Bouquets • Roses • Plants • Flowers

“The Store full of fun for everyone!”

122 S. Broadway Ave. Downtown Albert Lea 507.373.7746

For All She Does...

• Balloons • Candy • Cards • Stuffed Animals

216 S. Broadway • 377-2081

SHOPDOWNTOWN ALBERT LEA

Get bikini ready! full body waxing Call for information or appointment 123 S. Broadway

377-6062

Open Mon-Thurs 9-8, Fri 9-5, Sat 9-3

120 S. Washington Ave. 507-373-5469

Mon-Fri 4:30am-2pm; Sat 4:30am-11am

STep righT in To Summer wiTh our wide varieTy of SandalS and TenniS ShoeS

Jamie A. Kyllo

General Practice at Law Downtown Albert Lea 202 W. Clark St. | Albert Lea

Check out what’s new for Summer 2016!

507.373.4680

129 South Broadway Ave Downtown Albert Lea (507) 373-6793

w w w. p l y m o u t h s h o e s t o r e . c o m

Featuring a wide variety of genuine antiques

WeWe Carry & Redline RedlineBicycles Bicycles CarryRaleigh, Raleigh, Felt Felt &

218 S. Washington, Albert Lea 507-377-8212 Hours: Mon-Sat 10-4, Sun 12-4

WeWe Repair AllAllBrands BikeRental Rental Available Repair Brandsof of Bikes Bikes -- Bike Available

Open Mon.-Fri. 9:00 am-5:30 till7:00 7:00pm, pm,Sat. Sat. 9:00 am-3:00 Open Mon.-Fri. 9:00 am-5:30pm, pm,Thurs.

Thurs. till 9:00 am-3:00 pm pm S. Broadway Ave.| |Downtown Downtown Albert 114 114 S. Broadway Ave. AlbertLea Lea| |507-373-2060 507-373-2060

Apparel Outerwear Accessories Shoes

2016

2016 “Prices to put a smile on your face.”

123 North Broadway | Downtown Albert Lea | 507-373-0388 Tuesday-Friday 10 am - 5 pm | Saturday 10 am - 3 pm

It’s a beautiful stitchuation • hats • sweats • blankets • jackets • denims • business logos

Reinertson’s Embroidery

230 S Washington Ave. • Albert Lea, MN 56007 • greinertson@gmail.com Phone: 507-373-0751 • Cell: 507-261-3959

find everything you need, locally

DIY › Sharpie coasters

story and photos by sarah stultz

CREATING

A stay-at-home mother of two children, Ellen Raleigh loves working on arts and craft projects and is always looking for fun things to make with her children. Raleigh lives in rural Albert Lea with her husband, Matt, and children.

Raleigh and her husband own Raleigh’s Ace Hardware, and she teaches workout classes at the Albert Lea Family Y. She took us step-by-step through how to make these colorful Sharpie coasters to bring in a splash of color for an otherwise functional accessory.

1

Color ceramic tiles with Sharpie markers.

Primary colors — red, yellow and blue — mix best, creating new colors when they blend together. Remember, colors opposite on the color wheel will likely blend together to make brown.

26 | ALBERT LEA | MAY/JUNE 2016

COASTERS with a splash of color What you’ll need White ceramic tile Sharpie markers Rubbing alcohol Eye dropper or straw Self-adhesive bumpers Clear gloss spray paint

2

Using an eye dropper, drop small amounts of rubbing alcohol all over the tile. Don’t drop too much alcohol. This causes the colors to run together and look messy, and the tile will take longer to dry.

3

Apply another set of alcohol drops once the first set is dry. They will mix and blend together again. Let dry 10 to 30 minutes.

4

Color sides of the tile with a marker.

5

Spray with clear gloss spray paint. Hold spray can 6 to 10 inches away and do light coats. Be sure to wait between light coats to avoid adding too much. That could cause the colors to blend again.

6

When dry, add self-adhesive felt, rubber or cork bumpers to the bottoms of the coasters to prevent from scratching your tables.

MAY/JUNE 2016 | ALBERT LEA | 27

health & fitness

BY kathy johnson

4 tips for setting yourself up for smart fitness goals that will get you up and moving.

2. Keep a paper or electronic journal of your long- and short-term goals.

Make sure your short-term goal is doable. If you currently run or walk one mile a day, aim for twice as much. Make Goals are a great way to stay your longer-term goal a little more accountable for so many things in life. challenging — maybe walk or run five When making goals, keep the following miles after a month or two of training. four steps in mind to help you be Whatever you choose to do, make sure successful. you log it, so you can track the progress.

1. Choose realistic, yet challenging Seeing the progress will keep you goals that can serve you throughout your motivated to continue the efforts. You life. If you are very sedentary now, could track the progress, either by walking 20 to 30 minutes a day would minutes you exercise, distance or be a great place to start. If you are a number of classes or walks per week. more active person, start a more intense 3. Record or log all of your fitness, workout or a walk and run program that whether on paper or an online tracker. will challenge you. Whatever you There are so many fitness-tracking choose, make sure it is something you devices to choose from today. I have a have an interest in and you will find Fitbit, and it automatically tracks all my enjoyable. Some great ideas are aerobic runs and steps for me. Everything is on activities, along with fitness classes, my watch, and I can just check it at the stretching, lifting weights and anything end of the day. These fitness devices are Kathy Johnson is the creative director for Albert Lea magazine and the Albert Lea Tribune. During her spare time she is a group fitness instructor at the Albert Lea Family Y.

28 | ALBERT LEA | MAY/JUNE 2016

also excellent for having friendly and challenging competitions with friends and family. Make it fun with a little game of getting and staying active. If you don’t have an electronic device, log it in your journal and compare each day for your progress. As you improve, challenge yourself to push your fitness to the next level.

4. Make sure you are adaptable if you need to be. If your goal is to run five miles and it is raining all day, you will have to choose the following day for that run. Make your fitness goals based on your personality and lifestyle. If you are an outdoors person, make your goal for an outside activity. If you are more of an inside person, maybe joining a local gym would be more for you.

Being realistic about your fitness goals means you probably won’t see results as quickly as you want. You have to be patient and keep the momentum going and embrace fitness as a lifelong goal.

Wednesdays • 11am-8pm June 15 July 20 August 17 For more information on events, contact the Albert Lea Convention & Visitors Bureau, 507.373.2316

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MAY/JUNE 2016 | ALBERT LEA | 29

SAVOR › Frosted Sugar Cookies

by Jennifer Levisen

Finding sugar cookie perfection

Frosted Sugar Cookies

Frosted Sugar Cookies Jennifer Levisen lives and works in Albert Lea. She enjoys finding new recipes to share with her family and friends.

Typically my cravings lend themselves to more salty than sweet — hello French fries! Yes, I’m talking to you! — but lately, I’ve been dreaming about that crunchy on the outside, chewy on the inside perfection that comes in the form of a sugar cookie, with a nice dollop of nottoo-sweet frosting spread on top.

Thankfully, my family is always thrilled to indulge my sweet tooth, so they whole-heartedly supported my Pinterest search for the perfect sugar cookie. I found this copycat recipe for Swig Sugar Cookies. Apparently Swig is practically an institution in Utah, known for their cookies — specifically their sugar cookies — and their fountain drinks. Has anyone ever been? You’ll have to let me know how these compare, because if they are anywhere near as good, I might need to bump a trip to Utah up a little higher on my travel wish list! Enjoy!

Ingredients 1 cup butter (room temperature) 3/4 cup vegetable oil 1 1/4 cups sugar 3/4 cup powdered sugar 2 tablespoons water

2 eggs 1/2 teaspoon baking soda 1/2 teaspoon cream of tartar 1 teaspoon salt 5 1/2 cups flour

Directions Cream together butter, vegetable oil, sugars, water and eggs. Combine dry ingredients and slowly add to butter mixture. Mix until everything is combined.

Your dough should be a little crumbly and not sticky at all.

Roll a golf ball-sized ball of dough and place it on your cookie sheet.

Apparently Swig sugar cookies have a signature rough edge, so to recreate that: Put 1/4 cup of sugar and a pinch of salt in a dish (this is in addition to the sugar and salt listed above). Stick the bottom of a glass in it. This will serve as your cookie press. Firmly press the bottom of the glass into the center of your dough ball. You want your dough to spill out over the sides of the glass.

Bake at 350 for 8 minutes. They should just barely be browning on the bottom.

(Please note it took me 13 minutes to achieve this in my oven.)

Move cookies to a cooling rack, and once they are cool store them in the refrigerator.

Sour Cream Frosting

Ingredients 1/2 cup room-temperature butter 3/4 cup sour cream 1 teaspoon salt

Approximately one 2-pound package of powdered sugar 1/4 cup milk Food coloring

Directions Start by creaming together butter, sour cream and salt.

Slowly add powdered sugar — you’ll use almost the entire bag. When it gets so thick, it’s not frosting-like, so add a splash of milk. Alternate this process until your frosting is the desired consistency.

Add food coloring to whatever color intensity you’d like and whip on high for one minute.

Keep cookies in a sealed container until they are ready to serve. Frost right before serving. If you make them in advance and need to refrigerate the frosting, make sure you give it time to warm up before frosting.

Cookies should be kept in the refrigerator.

Recipe Source: Recipe courtesy of vintagerevivals.com on Pinterest.

30 | ALBERT LEA | MAY/JUNE 2016

SAVOR › Beer review

By cOLLEEN HARRISON

A beer that tastes good while doing good With a nice, dry IPA being my favorite kind of beer, I’m always looking for different ones to try out. This time around, that happened to be the Hoppy Shepherd IPA from the small Minnesota brewing company of Finnegans.

According to Finnegans’ description, Hoppy Shepherd is a session ale made from admiral, centennial, citra and jester hops with aromas of apricot, grapefruit and tangerine. It’s pretty smooth, especially for an IPA, and it reminds me a lot of Summit’s EPA. Hoppy Shepherd pours a bright, amber orange with a moderate amount of bubbles. The carbonation is light enough that the head is just about a finger of off-white foam.

As far as taste goes, the session IPA tastes like it smells: a hop forward taste with notes of citrus and pine. There are some upfront citrus hop notes of orange peel, grapefruit, lemon, tangerine and apricot, with light background malt notes of cracker, caramel and grains with some yeast. Overall, it’s a pretty solid taste. I like my IPAs to have a bit of bite to them, though, and I think in that area Hoppy Shepherd falls just short for me. It’s still a decent beer, and I’ll buy it again, it’s just not my favorite.

Something that makes a strong case for

not only Hoppy Shepherd, but other Finnegans beers, is the fact that all profits go towards feeding the hungry.

“We believe that we are all responsible for creating healthy communities. We believe in creating and supporting selfsustaining business models that have a positive social impact in the community,” are what the Finnegans website lists as the brand’s main objectives, as well as, “Creating awareness and action about critical community issues through projects that are fun, social and a win-win for our volunteers, probono partners and business partners.”

Finnegans is contract brewed at Summit Brewing Co., and the two breweries have been supportive brewing partners since 2003. According to Finnegans’ website, 98 percent of all funds that are donated to the Finnegans Community Fund — including revenue from beer purchases — goes directly back to alleviating hunger in local communities. The other 2 percent is used to pay a tax accountant and filing fees.

Based out of Minneapolis, Finnegans beer is distributed in Minnesota, Iowa, Wisconsin, and North and South Dakota.

Those states are also the ones that benefit from any proceeds. The main organizations the brewing company works with are The Food Group, Hunger

Voted Best Liquor Store!

HHH H Task Force, Foodbank of Iowa, Great Plains Food Bank and Feeding South Dakota. A more detailed listing and breakdown of the nonprofit organizations that benefit from Finnegans can be found on the company’s website.

My review of Hoppy Shepherd was mostly positive overall to begin with, but knowing that the money I paid for the beer goes toward helping others locally and regionally just makes it all the more positive.

1617 W. Main St. • Albert Lea 507-379-2364 MAY/JUNE 2016 | ALBERT LEA | 31

32 | ALBERT LEA | may/june 2016

behind

the scenes at a local

boutique Story By Sarah Stultz Photos by Colleen Harrison

MAY/JUNE 2016 | ALBERT LEA | 33

Betweeen Friends Boutique owner seeks for all one-of-a-kind merchandise for her downtown store

W

hen Becky Johnson first opened Between Friends Boutique on North Broadway almost two years ago, she knew she wanted to have a business that had merchandise like no other store in town.

“I try to always keep in mind I’m not a women’s clothing store,” she said. “I’m a women’s boutique, and I want to find things that are unique.”

Whether it is clothing or accessories, Johnson said she attends markets out of town to find one-of-a kind, quality items.

She has gone to markets in Dallas and Las Vegas, but most regularly attends markets in Minneapolis and St. Paul.

“This is like Christmas. It’s always fun to see what comes in.”

— Becky Johnson

The market in Minneapolis — called MinneapolisMART — has shows about

six times a year. The one in St. Paul — called Northstar — has shows about five times a year. Each visit to a show in the Twin Cities is a day trip lasting from about 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Johnson said she often goes with one of her sales assistants, Mary Stapleton or Kathy Oothoudt. Sometimes she travels with her husband, Steve, as well.

“It’s nice to get his opinion, though sometimes I don’t always follow his advice,” she said with a smile.

At MinneapolisMART, Johnson said

An assortment of scarves are for sale at Between Friends Boutique.

34 | ALBERT LEA | MAY/JUNE 2016

vendors have permanent showrooms, and she makes appointments with the vendors she is interested in.

“Most of them you sit down, and they show you the clothes,” Johnson said.

Vendors are organized a little differently at Northstar, which is at the St. Paul RiverCentre. At these shows, vendors are in booths.

She said she has found some vendors online, but she prefers to see the clothing and items firsthand that she will order for her boutique. She likes feeling the fabrics and seeing the colors in person.

Most of the vendors at both the Minneapolis and St. Paul shows are from the Midwest, though the show in St. Paul does have some others who travel from farther away.

After picking out everything she likes, Johnson then orders what she wants to sell in her store. The clothing and other items typically are shipped within a few weeks.

“This is like Christmas,” Johnson said, as she opened one of the orders in late March. “It’s always fun to see what comes in.”

Johnson opens a recent shipment of merchandise for her boutique.

Johnson and Between Friends Boutique sales assistant Kathy Oothoudt look at different options from a vendor at MinneapolisMART. march/april 2016 | ALBERT LEA | 35

Bracelets sit on display in an accessories area at MinneapolisMART.

After the clothes arrive at the boutique, they need to be steamed before they can be hung up on racks to sell.

Johnson said her store appeals to a wide variety of customers, as she has some who are teenagers, all the way up through women in their 80s.

Her best-selling items are probably fun tops or dresses.

In addition to clothes, Between Friends Boutique offers bags, scarves, jewelry, candles, lotions and many other accessories. The boutique is at 105 N. Broadway.

Johnson, who moved to Albert Lea in 1993 from Eden Prairie, grew up in the Lake Mills area. She moved to Albert Lea to be closer to her parents. She was a stay-at-home mother for a long time and has also worked in real estate and at the Albert Lea clinic. AL What are some popular trends this summer?

Johnson said she anticipates seeing a lot of bold prints and longer tops.

Leggings are still popular, as is the color aqua.

The Pantone Colors of the Year for 2016 are Rose Quartz, a soft pink color; and Serenity, a tranquil blue color.The Pantone Colors of the Year are for everything from fashion to furniture. The two colors paired together bring calm and relaxation.

Johnson looks at different accessories to possibly order for her shop, Between Friends Boutique.

36 | ALBERT LEA | march/april 2016

MAY/JUNE 2016 | ALBERT LEA | 37

SEEING

38 | ALBERT LEA | MAY/JUNE 2016

Three sets of fraternal twins from the Albert Lea area are, from left, Matthew and Andrew Zoller, Alivia and Josephine Gaudian and Cooper and Parker Muilenburg.

DOUBLE Story By Sarah Stultz Photos by Rebecca Lynne Photography Toys pictured from Celebration Party & Gifts

MAY/JUNE 2016 | ALBERT LEA | 39

Albert Lea area moms share how their lives and families have changed since giving birth to twins

A

typical morning in Emelia Gaudian’s home begins like many others.

She and her three children wake up and eat breakfast — most of the time it is oatmeal with a little bit of yogurt.

After breakfast, Gaudian and the children read books and play, before eating a snack and then taking a nap.

Though this could be a routine for any

parent with children, what sets Gaudian apart from most other parents, however, is that she is the mother of twins.

Gaudian, 28, has a 4-year-old son, Isaiah, and 2-year-old fraternal twin girls, Alivia and Josephine.

She is one of three Albert Lea area mothers Albert Lea magazine interviewed about the ups and downs of raising twins.

While the moms agreed there were

After she had her son, Isaiah, Emelia Gaudian said she prayed her next child would be a daughter. Then she found out she was having twin girls.

definitely challenges to raising young twins, they said they wouldn’t trade their experiences.

“I never in a million years imagined I would have twins,” Gaudian said. “I’ve always been fascinated with twins.”

“It’s not for the faint of heart. It’s hard to sometimes balance what everybody needs, so you just have to do what you can at that moment. It’s a give-and-take among everybody.”

— Jen Zoller

Finding out Gaudian said she and her husband, Carl, found out early on in her pregnancy they were having twins. When she was about 10 weeks pregnant, they had an ultrasound done, and she knew the image looked different from the one she had when she was pregnant with Isaiah. The ultrasound tech was silent for two or three minutes.

“We were so excited,” she said of when she found out the reason why. “I felt like

Meet the

mommy

Emelia Gaudian, 28, and her husband, Carl, have 2-year-old fraternal twin girls, Alivia and Josephine, and 4-year-old son, Isaiah. They live right outside of Albert Lea. Though the Gaudians have a history of twins on both sides of the family, Emelia Gaudian said she “never in a million years” imagined she would have twins.

“They’re as different as night and day,” said the stay-at-home mother.

40 | ALBERT LEA | MAY/JUNE 2016

It’s still up in the air whether fraternal twin girls Josephine and Alivia Gaudian will be introverts or extroverts, according to their mother.

it’s Christmas and I just opened the biggest gift I could get ever.”

After that, she had what she described as an “amazing” pregnancy, carrying the twins until they reached 37 weeks. When they were born, Alivia weighed 6 pounds, 2 ounces; and Josephine 5 pounds, 10 ounces. They did not spend any time in the NICU and were able to come directly home.

Things weren’t quite so easy for Jen Zoller and her husband, Jeff. She said they found out when she was about six or eight weeks along that they were expecting twins.

“Jeff and I went, ‘What?’” Zoller said.

She has a great-grandmother who is a twin, along with another distant relative.

Zoller said doctors could tell right away that one of the twins, Matthew, was in the lower percentile for his growth.

They were referred to Rochester and started visiting doctors there once a week when she was three or four months pregnant. The visits increased to twice a week at six months. Doctors told her Matthew had poor umbilical cord placement, and therefore, his growth was restricted.

The boys, Matthew and Andrew, were delivered via caesarean section at 30 weeks. Matthew weighed 1 pound, 13 ounces; Andrew weighed 4 pounds, 4 ounces.

Both boys spent time in the NICU: Andrew for two months and four days and Matt for three months.

Other than having to put tubes in their ears when they were 1 year old, they have

Josephine and Alivia Gaudian slept nose to nose for the first three months of their lives and would get angry if their twin wasn’t around.

may/june 2016 | ALBERT LEA | 41

Fraternal twin brothers Andrew, left, and Matthew Zoller were born at 30 weeks.

been healthy since they came out of the hospital.

The boys have attended The Children’s Center since they were 7 1/2 months.

Holly Muilenberg said she and her husband, Mark, were both in shock when they found out they were having twins.

The couple, which by that point already had three other children, said they had a history of twins on both sides, so they always knew it was a possibility.

Muilenberg said her pregnancy went fairly well until at about 29 weeks, when she went into pre-term labor and was put on bed rest for seven weeks. She ultimately had fraternal twin boys Parker and Cooper at 36 weeks, and though the twins spent one night in the NICU, she and the newborns went home after only three days in the hospital.

Double the trouble or twice the fun?

When they first went home from the hospital, Gaudian said things went well.

It started to get a little more challenging when around 18 months old, the twins started to get more independent. She credits her support network, including 42 | ALBERT LEA | MAY/JUNE 2016

her husband’s parents who live only about 2 1/2 miles way. Her mother-in-law has brought over meals, and her fatherin-law comes over regularly to take the children on stroller rides and to help out with things like the dishes. Her family lives on the West Coast.

“It’s crazy but we love it. Having five kids now is not really heard of anymore.”

— Holly Muilenburg

“The biggest thing with twins is that it takes a village,” Gaudian said. “If you have incredible people behind you, it’s really nice.”

Alivia and Josephine, now 2, are developing their own personalities, though Gaudian said she thinks it is still a little too early to determine whether her children are going to be introverts or extroverts.

“They’re as different as night and day,” she said. “One will pick up a lady bug

and be excited, and the other will cry about it.”

The mother said she dresses the two girls alike probably at least 50 percent of the time. The girls love wearing boots and their mom’s necklaces — but they also love playing in the mud, too.

Gaudian said they like to be together most of the time, though sometimes the girls have little arguments of their own.

“They’re either kissing each other and hugging each other, or they’re ripping a toy from each other,” Gaudian said. “It’s either kisses or crying, but I love it.”

Zoller said after her twins came home, she was off work for another month and a half and her husband was also home for a while, along with their mother-in-law.

She said the hardest part of having twins has been feeling like she wasn’t doing enough for one of them at any given time. With sleeping schedules and other demands, at first she felt like she couldn’t do much else as she juggled their needs.

“It’s not for the faint of heart,” Zoller said about life with twins. “It’s hard to sometimes balance what everybody

Meet the

mommy

Jen Zoller, 37, and her husband, Jeff, have 2-year-old fraternal twin boys, Matthew and Andrew, and 6-year-old son, Jack. The mother, who grew up in Alexandria and has lived in Albert Lea for 17 years, is an administrative assistant at the District 241 office. She said her boys love reading books and playing outside.

It’s “monkey see, monkey do” for fraternal twins Andrew, left, and Matthew Zoller, according to their mother, Jen Zoller.

MAY/JUNE 2016 | ALBERT LEA | 43

needs, so you just have to do what you can at that moment. It’s a give-and-take among everybody.”

The twins have continued to excel since coming home from the hospital and are now 2 years old.

Though still in the lower percentile for his age, Matthew is growing well. He wears clothes that are about 18 months in size, while Andrew wears clothes that are about 3T or 4T. Zoller said she has never had them wear matching outfits.

Matthew is what his mother described

Parker Muilenburg is considered more of a “shy but tough” child, according to his mother, while his brother Cooper is more outgoing and silly.

44 | ALBERT LEA | MAY/JUNE 2016

as a “spitfire,” who is feisty and knows what he wants, while Andrew loves to cuddle and give hugs. She loves when they make each other giggle by doing something silly.

Both boys like to explore and are adventuresome, and they like to do the things their older brother, Jack, 6, does.

Muilenburg said she and her family moved to the area when the twins were 2 months old. She has three other children in addition to the now 2-year-old twins: Autumn, 15; Hunter, 12; and Hope, 4.

Coming from the Lakeville area, they now

live between Clarks Grove and Hollandale.

She said she stayed home with the twins for their first year and then went back to work part time at Good Samaritan Society of Albert Lea. She is now going back to school to get her degree.

She thanked her family for watching the children while she attends school, along with Gaudian, who watches her 4-year-old two days a week.

Some of the challenges for her were balancing sleep with other needs.

She said it is very rare she goes out somewhere with all five of her children. People often comment about how busy she must be with all of the children.

“It’s crazy, but we love it,” she said. “Having five kids now is not really heard of anymore.”

Muilenburg said her older children have developed a special bond with the twins and they enjoy helping out as much as they can.

For now, Cooper is outgoing, silly and talkative, while Parker is shy but tough, she said. They watch out for each other.

The mothers said it can be a challenge to go out in public with their children, and they often limit their time out, especially when the children were younger.

Zoller advised making sure to give yourself plenty of time.

“It can be done,” she said. “You just have to be prepared.”

Meet the

mommy Holly Muilenburg, 33, and her husband, Mark, have 2-year-old fraternal twins, Parker and Cooper, along with three other children: Hope, 4; Hunter, 12; and Autumn, 15. They live between Clarks Grove and Hollandale.

The Muilenburgs were high school sweethearts and met in the ninth grade. They started dating and have been together ever since. She stayed home with the twins for their first year and then went to work part time at Good Samaritan Society of Albert Lea. Now she is going back to school to get her degree from Riverland Community College.

Mother Holly Muilenburg said her twin boys Cooper, left, and Parker, right, have different personalities but like to watch out for each other.

MAY/JUNE 2016 | ALBERT LEA | 45

home is what you make it story by KELLY WASSENBERG photos by colleen harrison

46 | ALBERT LEA | MAY/JUNE 2016

Joyce Nixon sits in the living room of her home overlooking Fountain Lake in Albert Lea. MAY/JUNE 2016 | ALBERT LEA | 47

Albert Lea woman has a home of personality that is full of history and memories

E

veryone has a different idea of what makes a house a home.

For Albert Lea resident Joyce Nixon, home is an eclectic mixture of old and new items that are fun and leave her with good feelings.

Nixon, a former public health nurse and nursing home administrator and director, and her husband, Bob, moved to Albert Lea from the Quad Cities area to be closer to their daughter 15 years ago.

The search for a home brought Nixon to 406 Mariners Lane off of Park Avenue, overlooking Fountain Lake. They bought the home due to the view of the lake, which can be seen from almost every room in the house.

“We’re only the fourth family to live in it,” she said of the home, which they’ve made minimal changes to. They’ve painted, added hardwood floors downstairs and restored the floors upstairs. The couple also added additional storage by putting up more cabinets in the kitchen.

“It’s easy to tear out and do things, but

A vintage dress hangs in a spare bedroom in the Nixons’ home.

48 | ALBERT LEA | MAY/JUNE 2016

you want to keep as much history as you can,” Nixon said.

The summer porch, which will be opened sometime around May, was also left the same. This includes a floor that slightly slants for water to run off.

“I think those things are interesting,” she said.

The move also made downsizing a necessity.

“All of our lives are like art.”

— Joyce Nixon

“Bob said, ‘You got to get rid of some of this stuff, Joyce,’” she said. “If we decide to move again. I said, ‘that will be very difficult’ because we have a lot of stuff, but I still think back and think, ‘I wish I hadn’t gotten rid of that.’”

Many of the items she brought from her last home were acquired from estate sales

A piano is the centerpiece of a room the Nixons refer to as “the piano room.�

such as a bedroom set and a coffee table in her husband’s office.

“I like to keep things because they always have a story,” she said noting she imagines how many people have once sat around the pieces and what stories they could tell if they could only speak.

Items she received as gifts or acquired herself have their own stories, including a chandelier she purchased with a friend about 50 years ago that now hangs in the dining room or art work she has purchased over the years.

“All of our lives are like art,” she said.

Nixon is involved with the Albert Lea Art Center and helps the organization

The Nixons’ bedroom has its own view overlooking Fountain Lake.

50 | ALBERT LEA | MAY/JUNE 2016

fundraise and organize events.

“I love their talents,” Nixon said. “It’s a two-way street, and it’s fun for everybody.”

“I like to keep things because they always have a story.”

— Joyce Nixon

She has added a centerpiece she made for the Albert Lea Art Center’s Festival of Trees. It sits underneath that very chandelier she purchased so long ago.

Her husband even teases her, “How

come whenever you do something it comes back to the house?”

Her reply, “It’s pretty. It’s cute. I like it.

I can always find a way to tuck it in.”

As a result, Nixon has a home with personality filled with a lot of memories and a lot of history.

In time, her possessions will be left behind for her children, who can decide to keep them or let them go, but Nixon insists they are not to be sold.

“When you leave this world, all you can leave is good feelings that you’ve had with family, friends and your religion — and then leave the treasures for whoever wants them,” Nixon said. AL

Various chandeliers throughout the Nixons’ home cast intricate shadows and patterns onto surrounding decor.

MAY/JUNE 2016 | ALBERT LEA | 51

LOOKING BACK › Spring activities

Proof that warmer weather made the City Beach a very popular place for swimming, exercising and relaxing is emphasized with this 1960s photo.

Albert Lea in the spring

By Ed Shannon Photos courtesy Freeborn County Historical Museum For the people of the Albert Lea area, the end of winter and the advent of spring provides many welcome opportunities to enjoy the various outdoor assets of the area. These assets include the lakes, parks, playgrounds, golf courses, skate parks, tennis and the newer pickleball courts, hiking trails and other warmer weather activities.

52 | ALBERT LEA | MAY/JUNE 2016

A cement-lined wading pool provided area youngsters with a cool place to enjoy in the 1920s. This pool was located in Morin Park near the corner of West Main Street and St. Mary Avenue. Now, as an updated replacement, a splash pad is being proposed at the north end of Broadway Avenue.

People of all ages have many choices when it comes to getting out of the house or apartment to take advantage of the much better weather conditions. Incidentally, two of the sometimes overlooked aspects of this spring season are reviving the lawns and/or gardens.

Therefore, enjoying Albert Lea in the spring could result in some very interesting outdoor challenges.

Baseball was a very popular part of area outdoor activities back in the 1940s.

This aerial view shows Albert Lea’s Hayek Feld while a game was taking place. Note all the cars parked around the West Clark Street site.

In the 1940s, a popular part of Albert Lea’s City Beach at the west end of Johnson Street was this diving tower anchored just offshore out in Fountain Lake.

These young people took advantage of the springtime weather to enjoy golfing on a local course.

A Fountain Lake Bull Head Derby was held on May 20, 1950, in Fountain Lake. Two of the winners in this springtime event, in the foreground, are Glenn Graham and Carlyle Stanek.

MAY/JUNE 2016 | ALBERT LEA | 53

healthy pets › Keeping your pet safe

BY michelle nelson

5 tips to keep your pets safe Michelle Nelson is the owner of Ranch & Pet Supply in Albert Lea.

The flowers are blooming and spring cleaning around the house and yard has begun — what a great time of year as new life begins. Here are five tips to keep your pets safe this spring.

1. Toxic plants are in full bloom.

Make sure you know which of these plants are growing in your garden; tulips and hyacinth (bulbs are more toxic than the leaf or flower), daffodils, lilies (tiger, day, Easter, Japanese and asiatic are highly toxic to cats and can cause severe kidney failure), crocus and lily of the valley. All of these toxic plants when ingested normally induce drooling, vomiting, diarrhea and in even more severe cases, liver and kidney damage, drop in heart rate and seizures. If your pet exhibits any of these signs, do not wait. Call the Pet Poison Help Line at 1-800-213-6680 or your local veterinarian.

2. Spring fertilizers (even organic). If they contain high amounts of blood meal or iron, they can induce vomiting, diarrhea, severe pancreatitis or iron toxicity. Rose and plant fertilizers that contain disulfoton or other organophosphates can be deadly if

consumed. Just 1 teaspoon of 1 percent of disulfoton can kill a 55-pound dog. Again, call the Pet Poison Help Line if your dog gets into your container of fertilizer. Also, if you apply spring fertilizer to your lawn, make sure you keep your pets off the lawn until it has time to get worked into the ground. Remember, everything they get on their feet they ingest.

3. Household cleaning products. We use them every day, but we don’t always think of how much our pets actually ingest. Remember our pets walk, lay and play on our floors, so anything you use to clean your floors gets on their paws and is ingested while they groom themselves. Or what about when your pet drinks out of the toilet, what toxic cleaner did you just use? Look for great non-toxic cleaning alternatives (I use Norwex) to clean your house. These are safe, not just for your pets, but for your entire family.

4. Flea and tick prevention. This is a must in Minnesota. Ticks are normally in full force April through June, and fleas become more prevalent as we get into late summer when it becomes hot and dry in July through October. Whether you use treatments like Advantix, Frontline or

choose to go the all-natural route (this is what I use) — getting your pet on a program is a must. Monthly heartworm (transmitted by mosquitoes) prevention is also something you need to consider starting.

5. Seasonal allergies. These affect pets just like they affect people. When dogs with air-borne allergies inhale irritants like pollen and ragweed, they will scratch, lick and chew their paws, or rub their face and ears on the carpet or couch. If left untreated, this skin inflammation will lead to bacterial infections, hot spots, repeat ear infections and analgland infections. These secondary symptoms may last year round, leading owners to believe it is a food allergy instead of an airborne allergy. Many dogs end up at the veterinarian getting an allergy shot to provide relief from these symptoms. What I have found that works the best are homeopathic remedies — 100 percent natural and onetenth the cost of allergy shots. Homeopathic remedies trigger the immune system itself to fight the allergy, so you are treating the problem, not just the symptoms. If you know this is a yearly problem for your pet, get started on a preventative program today.

Happy spring!

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Skyline Plaza 1701 W Main St • Albert Lea Call us today (507) 373-1318

Celebrating 49 Years of Service to Our Community!

Day Trips, Billiards, Bingo, Yoga, Aerobics, Bone Builders, Zumba Gold, Support Groups, 500/Bridge, Computers, Red Hat Society, Monthly Newsletters and More! $30 Annual Membership Fee Monday 8-12p.m., Tues.-Fri. 8:30-4:30p.m.

Albert Lea Senior Citizen Center

373-0704

1739 W. Main, Albert Lea, MN

Senior Resources 1659 W Main St Skyline Plaza Albert Lea, MN 507-377-7433

MAY/JUNE 2016 | ALBERT LEA | 55

dietitian’s digest

BY Emily Schmidt

Refreshing recipes with fresh produce

1 cup chopped plum tomato (about 2) 2 tablespoons finely chopped onion 2 teaspoons fresh lime juice 1/4 teaspoon salt 1/8 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper 1 avocado, peeled and finely chopped Albert Lea resident Emily Schmidt is a registered dietitian at Mayo Clinic Health System in Albert Lea. She enjoys writing, cooking and spending time with her son and family.

Summer is a great time to experiment with healthy and refreshing fruit and vegetable recipes. Utilizing fresh, seasonal produce also tends to be less expensive than using off-season foods. Make it a goal this season to try new ways of preparing and eating fruits and vegetables, especially those including ingredients you’ve never tried before.

Cilantro Lime Chicken with Avocado Salsa From CookingLight www.myrecipes. com/recipe/cilantro-lime-chicken-withavocado-salsa Yield: 4 servings (serving size: 1 chicken breast half, about 1/4 cup salsa) Ingredients Chicken: 2 tablespoons minced fresh cilantro 2 1/2 tablespoons fresh lime juice 1 1/2 tablespoons olive oil 4 (6-ounce) skinless, boneless chicken breast halves 1/4 teaspoon salt Cooking spray Salsa: 56 | ALBERT LEA | MAY/JUNE 2016

Directions 1. To prepare chicken, combine first 4 ingredients in a large bowl; toss and let stand 3 minutes. Remove chicken from marinade; discard marinade.

Sprinkle chicken evenly with 1/4 teaspoon salt. Heat a grill pan over medium-high heat. Coat pan with cooking spray. Add chicken to pan; cook 6 minutes on each side or until done.

2. To prepare salsa, combine tomato and next 4 ingredients (through pepper) in a medium bowl. Add avocado; stir gently to combine. Serve salsa over chicken.

Nutritional information Calories: 289 Total fat: 13.2 grams Saturated fat: 2.4 grams Monounsaturated fat: 7.5 grams Polyunsaturated fat: 1.9 grams Protein: 35.6 grams Carbohydrates: 6.6 grams Fiber: 3.6 grams Cholesterol: 94 milligrams Iron: 1.6 milligrams Sodium: 383 milligrams Calcium: 29 milligrams Dietitian tips (from Emily): This is a great recipe to serve over brown rice.

To reduce sodium content, omit salt or

replace with a salt substitute such as Mrs. Dash salt-free seasoning blend.

The avocado salsa could also serve as a great topping for salads, tacos or even served over brown rice as a side dish for a lean steak or other grilled meat.

Watermelon Smoothie with a Hint of Mint Recipe from Oxmoor House www. myrecipes.com/recipe/watermelonsmoothie-mint Yield: serves 1 Ingredients 2 cups (1-inch) cubed seedless watermelon 1/3 cup plain 2 percent reduced-fat Greek yogurt 2 tablespoons chopped mint Directions Place all ingredients in a blender; process until smooth.

Nutritional information Calories 143 Total fat: 2 grams Saturated fat: 1.1 grams Monounsaturated fat: 0.5 grams Polyunsaturated fat: 0.2 grams Protein: 8.3 grams Carbohydrate: 26.4 grams Fiber: 1.5 grams Cholesterol: 5 milligrams Iron: 0.9 milligrams Sodium: 29 milligrams Calcium: 79 milligrams Dietitian tip (from Emily): Add a few ice cubes for an even cooler, more refreshing taste.

Finances › Different styles of investing

by edward jones

Do women and men invest differently?

Several years ago, a book titled “Men Are From Mars, Women Are From Venus” was quite popular. As the title suggests, the book argues men and women are vastly different from each other, particularly in their emotional needs and in the way they communicate. While not everyone agrees with the notion that men and women might as well be from different planets, most of us would probably concur that the two genders frequently behave differently — and this divergence in behavior may also show up in the way we invest.

In fact, various studies and anecdotal evidence suggest the following differences in the way men and women invest: • Men tend to trade more often than women. Men seem to buy and sell investments more frequently than women. This difference could result in an advantage for women investors. For one thing, those who trade less often may incur fewer commission charges, fees and other expenses, all of which can eat into investment returns. Also, by holding investments longer, women may be able to take better advantage of

market rallies. During the 2008-2009 financial crisis, for example, men were more likely than women to sell shares of stock at market lows, which led to bigger losses among male traders — and fewer gains when some of the stock values began to rise again, according to a study by Vanguard, a mutual fund company.

• Men tend to invest more aggressively than women. Perhaps not surprisingly, men seem to be more willing to take risks with their investments. This trait can be both positive and negative.

On the positive side, risk is associated with reward, so the more aggressive the investment, the greater the potential for growth. On the negative side, taking too much risk can speak for itself.

Ideally, all investors — men and women — should stick with investments that fit their individual risk tolerance.

• Women are more likely to look at the big picture. Although both men and women investors want information, women seem to take a more holistic approach — that is, instead of focusing strictly on performance statistics, they tend to delve deeper into their investments’ background, competitive

environment and other factors. This quest for additional knowledge may help explain why all-female investment clubs have achieved greater returns than all-male clubs, according to a study by the National Association of Investors Corp., which represents thousands of investment clubs across the country.

• Men may be more optimistic about the financial markets. Some studies show men are more optimistic about key economic indicators and future stock market performance.

Optimism can be a valuable asset when it comes to investing: If you have confidence in the future, you’re more likely to invest for it — and to continue investing. On the other hand, false optimism may lead to overconfidence, which can have negative results for investors.

Neither men nor women have a monopoly on positive investment behaviors; each gender can probably learn something from the other.

This article was written by Edward Jones for use by your local Edward Jones financial adviser.

MAY/JUNE 2016 | ALBERT LEA | 57

TRAVEL › Travel advicew

The best trips in Alaska by cruise ship

Calving glaciers, miles of untouched wilderness, whales and orcas, and Egyptian-cotton sheets — no wonder an Alaskan cruise is on many bucket lists. Southeast Alaska is where a slew of

Tammi

the state’s highlights are concentrated, many of which are inaccessible to automobiles but easily reached by boat. The major cruise lines can access some of the best Alaskan sights, while

Sara

offering convenience and bang for the buck!

Let us take you to the Last Frontier. Four Seasons will have an Alaska tour and cruise July 21 through Aug. 4.

The top 10 reasons to visit Alaska this summer: 10. Midnight sun: 24 hours of daylight in the summer 9. Cool temps in the summer away from the heat and humidity of the lower 48 8. Unpack once and let your ship, a floating hotel, take you to the sights 7. Pay for the trip by panning for gold 6. Know what makes a sourdough — it’s more than a bread!

5. Be outside on deck when cruising the inside passage.

4. Talk with the natives of Alaska — the Eskimos, the Aleuts and the Athabaskans.

3. See the tallest peak in North America, Mt. McKinley, at 20,320 feet 2. The sights and sounds of glaciers — Alaska has it all on ice!

1. Scenery, scenery, scenery

Louise

1-800-328-4298 or 507-373-4705 SINCE 1967 • 130 West Clark Street • Albert Lea, MN 58 | ALBERT LEA | MAY/JUNE 2016

www.4-seasonsvacations.com

David Nelson Owner & Tour Director

why i love albert Lea

BY ANN AUSTIN

Why I

L Albert Lea Ann Austin is the executive director of the United Way of Freeborn County. She and her husband, Nick, have two children.

My favorite place in the world is in Albert Lea. There’s a spot out at Myre-Big Island State Park that is on top of a little hill overlooking a pond and a grassland filled with Indian paintbrush grass that flows like ocean waves when the wind blows. And the wind blows strong most days.

I have been there during joyful times and when I’ve felt desperately sad and alone. I always leave feeling at peace.

Lately I haven’t been able to spend as much time there — too busy with life to live and work to be done — but I look forward to the days I can wander freely again in the woods and grasslands.

Escape is only temporary, and that is all it needs to be.

My first experiences of the park were through the stories my husband, Nick, would share with me. His grandparents would take him there as a young boy; they would drive slowly, looking for deer. As a Cub Scout, he would camp and wander in the woods.

We went for many hikes and mountain bike rides in our first years together. He took me along the glacial eskers and explained the geology and history of the

land. We watched for otter, deer and turkey vultures, and I obsessively tried to identify plants along the path. One evening we saw a great horned owl, and it stared deep into our souls.

It gives me joy every day knowing there is wildness nearby to explore.

There is a reverence for nature and the natural world in Albert Lea and among its inhabitants.

So many people choose to spend time outside: running, fishing or sitting on their porch to watch the sunset and talk about life.

I love how people stop their cars to let the ducks across busy roadways in town.

On any random day you can observe an eagle soaring above the downtown or formations of white pelicans searching for the perfect fishing spot. Lately, there have been loons who have chosen to linger on our lakes.

Our city leadership values the beauty of the natural world that surrounds u,s as well, and has chosen to landscape our downtown to feature native plants such as the blazing star and purple prairie clover. To some, these plants may appear to be weeds, but they give me joy every time I go to the library or take a walk around the lake. I know they will take good care of our soil and provide food and shelter for the little birds and

insects, often forced out of areas where humans choose to live.

The boathouse and community gardens have been intentionally placed to help people gain greater connection to the earth and the joys of the natural world. This not only adds value to our current days, it helps our children develop an understanding of how important it is to protect our earth.

Local stores like Albert Lea Seed House also carry native seeds so we can cultivate our backyards to become green, sustainable places for ourselves and our wild neighbors. One of the first things Nick and I did at our old house was to purchase a packet of wildflowers — every year we would see new growth of coneflower and Indian paintbrush in our yard. I had the pleasure to meet little leafcutter bees in our backyard and watched them build their homes.

I love Albert Lea because I have been able to find meaningful work, create meaningful relationships, develop a stronger connection with nature and continue to learn new things. I plan to grow a garden this year and learn the art of canning. I happen to have many friends who already do this and have been very encouraging and helpful with advice.

Here, I am able to experience a quality of life I’m not sure I could find elsewhere. It’s just #awesomealbertlea.

MAY/JUNE 2016 | ALBERT LEA | 59

events calendar MAY

7

Freeborn County Bike-A-Thon When: 6 a.m.

Where: Sibley Elementary School warming house Cost: Pledge donations

maY

5-8

More info: This will be the final year for the 100-mile Freeborn County Bike-A-Thon, which raises money for the American Cancer Society. The event raised more than $16,000 last year.

maY

11-14 ‘Kitchen Witches’ When: 7:30 p.m. on all days except for May 8. On that day the show will start at 2 p.m.

Where: Marion Ross Performing Arts Center Cost: $15 for adults, $10 for students More info: Isobel Lomax and Dolly Biddle are two middle-aged cableaccess cooking show hostesses who have hated each other for 30 years.

When circumstances put them together on a TV show called “The Kitchen Witches,” the insults in this hilarious comedy are flung harder than the food. Play will be directed

by Dylan Kaercher.Midwest, Tonic Sol-fa began at St. John’s University in central Minnesota. The group reached national prominence with appearances on NBC’s “Today” and in Newsweek magazine and have shared the stage with Jay Leno, Jeff Foxworthy and Lonestar.

maY

21 Land Between the Lakes Paddle, Pedal, Run When: 9 a.m.

Where: Begins at Brookside Boat Landing Cost: $30 for a relay, $20 per person More info: The race begins with a 1 1/2-mile paddle on the channel and Bancroft Bay. Racers will then transition to a nine-mile bike ride through Albert Lea area countryside and then finish with a 3.1-mile run around part of Fountain Lake.

Deadline to register is May 13.

maY

28 Bernie King and the Guilty Pleasures When: 7:30 p.m.

Where: Marion Ross Performing Arts Center Cost: $15 More info: Bernie King and the Guilty Pleasures combine a little bit of blues, bluegrass and rock into a style of music that some fans have come to call “bluesgrass.”

Performance will include some original songs inspired by the styles of Shane McGowen, Johnny Cash, The Rolling Stones and Bill Monroe.

JUNE

11 Richie Lee & the Fabulous 50s When: 11:30 and 6 p.m.

Where: Marion Ross Performing Arts Center Cost: $5

JUNE

10-12

More info: Richie Lee & the Fabulous 50s return to Albert Lea for Eddie Cochran Weekend this year. Lee has played with many Iowa Rock & Roll Hall of Fame bands and started his own band in 2003 at the age of 13. The band tours the Midwest and beyond.

Take a Kid Fishing Weekend When: All day Where: Across Minnesota Cost: Free More info: Minnesotans 16 or older who take a child 15 or younger fishing don’t need a license to fish that weekend.

JUNE

25 Just Play! Festival When: 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Where: Frank Hall Park Cost: Free More info: There will be several activities available for children, including bocceball, basketball, water sports, demonstrations and music. On the same day will be the bike rodeo.

MAY/JUNE 2016 | ALBERT LEA | 61

June

Dairy Jubilee PLEASE

JOIN

US

Saturday, June 18th 2016 in honoring Lester Perschbacher DHIA TESTER FOR

60 years

IN CONJUNCTION WITH Morin Lake Days [Alden, Minnesota]

Supper & Social 5:00-7:00 pm Program 5:30 pm Parade 7:00 pm CALLING ALL DAIRY ROYALTY

Do you know a past Freeborn County Dairy Princess?

Join us in celebrating the dairy industry and community of Minnesota and Freeborn County. All past and present royalty are invited to the festivities and we would love to have you join in the fun by riding in the parade! Please send your current contact information and a current picture to junedairyjubilee@gmail.com or call Carrie Hubbard Eyler at 507.402.2980.

Spill it here.

405 E. Main St., Blooming Prairie, MN 55917 • (507) 583-2141 1170 East Frontage Rd, Owatonna, MN 55060 • (507) 455-1000 3110 Wellner Dr NE, Rochester, MN 55906 • (507) 536-7700 132 N. Broadway, New Richland, MN 56072 • (507) 463-0502 287 St. Andrews Dr., Mankato, MN 56001 • (507) 720-0250 www.mainstreetdentalclinics.com

SUIT YOURSELF

THREE SUITS

FOR $399 See store for Details Send your Letter to the Editor to: Albert Lea Tribune 808 W. Front St, Albert Lea, MN 56007 or e-mail to: letters@albertleatribune.com To subscribe, call 507-379-3422

62 | ALBERT LEA | MAY/JUNE 2016

NORTHBRIDGE MALL ALBERT LEA 507-373-3142

A chandelier in Joyce Nixon’s Albert Lea home casts intricate shadows and patterns acorss the ceiling.

MAY/JUNE 2016 | ALBERT LEA | 63

INSIDE ALBERT LEA MAGAZINE

behind the scenes

Having six 2-year-olds with different personalities in one room isn’t easy, but our moms did a great job of keeping their children entertained in between photoshoots.

Albert Lea magazine photographer Colleen Harrison met Becky Johnson and Kathy Oothoudt bright and early one Sunday morning at Caribou Coffee in Albert Lea before driving up to MinneapolisMART.

Like the Albert Lea Magazine page on Facebook for insider info, unseen photos and prizes!

64 | ALBERT LEA | MAY/JUNE 2016

Albert Lea magazine Publisher Crystal Miller has the same photo of the diving tower on Fountain Lake that is featured on Page 53 hanging on one of the walls of her office.

Š2015 Hormel Foods, LLC

Plan a weekend trip today!

## | ALBERT LEA | Spring 2013

Spring 2013 | ALBERT LEA | ##