Area Woman Magazine Feb/Mar '14

FM

The

Lend

DMF

Fashion Trends: Transitioning into Spring

Where to Shop

Nine must haves to start out 2014

Game Changer:

Rejuv Skin & Laser Clinic's new procedure to vanquish fat

Photography We Love: Weddings

Learn how your wedding photos can appear in Area Woman

Photography We Love: Children

Learn how your child's photos can appear in our next issue

Love Your Sweetheart

Delightfully Different

Fargo Marathon: One Step at a Time

Better Than A Cure

FirstChoice Clinic: Celebrating 30 Years

Cabin Coziness: A Summer Dream on Pelican Lake

Bringing thoughts of warm, summer air to Fargo/Moorhead

Heart & Soul of Korsmo

Music Matters: Going Far Beyond Piano Lessons

Behind the Scenes with Chelsea Hanson

Two Girls, a Guy and a 4am Gig

A look inside the life of Lisa Budeau of KVLY

WOMEN’S RESOURCES

WOMEN’S RESOURCES

AREA WOMAN CONTRIBUTORS

LETTER FROM THE EDITOR

The hustle of the holidays securely behind us and the precious minutes of daylight increasing every day can only mean one thing. Spring is around the corner. It comes every year, and yet sometime in the middle of January we wonder. And we envision buds on the trees and imagine grass between our toes... It will happen.

But for now, we turn up our collars and brace ourselves against the last few (inevitable) snow storms of the season. Good thing there is a host of events happening in the Fargo-Moorhead area to keep us occupied while we wait for the change of seasons. And plenty of people showing kindness, generosity, and compassion to bring warmth to those around them, no matter what the thermometer says.

Yes, spring will come. It's a great time to be a part of the Fargo-Moorhead community.

Amanda Peterson

Meghan Feir

Susan A. Stibbe

Patricia Carlson

Janelle Brandon

Alicia Underlee Nelson

WOMEN’S RESOURCES

WOMEN’S RESOURCES

AREA WOMAN LIFE

Calendar of Events

Please note that all events are subject to change. Confirm dates and times before attending.

08 FEB

25th Annual Sweetheart Ball

The largest fundraiser to benefit the Ronald McDonald House Charities. This enchanted evening includes dinner, dancing, auctions and a program.

6:00pm Holiday Inn

3803 13th Avenue, Fargo rmhcfargo.org

FEB 12

Pint-Size Explorers:

Zooborns!

Zooborns! Did you know that some animals can walk within hours of being born? Others need to be taken care of by their parents for weeks or months after! What do we do at the zoo when a baby animal is born? Come learn about all of the babies that have been born at the zoo!

3:15pm - 4:45pm

Red River Zoo

4255 23rd Avenue South, Fargo redriverzoo.org

FEB 01

Minnesota: Inside & Out

Exploring 100 years of art in Minnesota from the Rourke’s permanent collection. Exhibit runs through April 25.

Rourke Art Museum

521 Main Avenue, Moorhead therourke.org

FEB 06

Feast or Famine

Learn more about the gray wolf’s hunting and feeding behaviors during a 30 minute presentation. Then watch a full deer carcass being fed to our resident wolf pack!

7:00pm

Red River Zoo

4255 23rd Avenue South, Fargo redriverzoo.org

07 FEB

National Wear Red Day

National Wear Red Day is the American Heart Association’s special day to bring attention to this silent killer of women. We encourage everyone to wear red, raise their voices, know their cardiovascular risk and take action to live longer, healthier lives. heart.org

13 FEB

Giving Hearts Day

We made art and celebrated together with more than 58,500 visitors last year. To keep our exhibitions and events available, affordable and often free, we invite you to give back.

Giving Hearts Day is organized by Dakota Medical Foundation and Impact Foundation. On Feb. 13, your donation will be doubled by up to $4,000 in matching funds from an anonymous museum donor.

Plains Art Museum 704 First Avenue North, Fargo plainsart.org or impactgiveback.org

14 FEB

Lover’s Gala

The “Lover’s Gala” is an event totally dedicated to a night of fine dining, decadent desserts and lively dancing. A grown up night out for couples and singles, all under one roof at a great price. 21+ only.

7:00pm - midnight Hilton Garden Inn

4351 17th Avenue South, Fargo tickets300.com/lovers-gala-fargo

14 FEB

MSUM Founders Scholarship Gala

This Valentine’s Day, join MSUM for the Founders Scholarship Gala. The evening includes dinner, music, an auction and program. Proceeds from the evening benefit the Founders Scholarship.

5:30pm

Comstock Memorial Union Ballroom, MSUM 1104 7th Avenue South, Moorhead mnstate.edu/foundersgala

21 FEB

Home & Garden Show

Exhibits include contractors, flooring, siding, spas, windows, water purification, decks, heating/air conditioning, interior decorating and design, kitchen and bath design, cabinetry, garage doors, financial lending and more. Show runs from February 21 through 23.

12:00pm

Fargodome 1800 North University Drive, Fargo fargodome.com

22 FEB

Sugar Valley Toy Show

Exhibitors display antique and collectible toys, tractors, trains, dolls, pressed steel, die cast, tin toys, games, models and more.

9:00am

Red River Valley Fairgrounds - Hartl Ag 1805 West Main Avenue, West Fargo 701.799.4420 - Bob Johnson

23 FEB

Family Day at the Dike

Sledding, hot dogs & beverages.

1:00pm - 4:00pm Dike West 310 4th Street South, Fargo fargomoorhead.org

06 MAR

2014 Red River Valley Sportsmen’s Show

Boats, camping and RV, hunting and fiishing, travel and outdoor education. Show runs from March 6 through 9.

MAR

15

12:00pm

Fargodome

1800 North University Drive, Fargo fargodome.com

St. Patrick’s Day Parade

Everyone’s Irish for a day when Fargo-Moorhead celebrates St. Patrick’s Day.

Downtown Fargo downtownfargo.com

07 MAR MAR

16

Sarah Hultin Exhibit

Recognized regionally for her nostalgic, textured and hauntingly beautiful oil paintings. Exhibit runs from March 7 though April 7. Opening reception March 7.

7:00pm - 9:00pm - Reception ecce gallery 216 Broadway, Fargo ecce216.com/gallery/sarah-hultin

07 MAR

Fargo Film Festival

The premier film festival in North Dakota with a majority of screenings taking place at the Fargo Theatre. Visit fargofilmfestival.org for a list of screenings.

9:30pm Fargo Theatre

314 Broadway, Fargo fargofilmfestival.org/events

08 MAR

Bacon & Beer Festival

In its inaugural year, the Fargo Bacon & Beer Festival brings together the region’s top eateries, pork purveyors, and specialty craft brews in a salute to the ultimate culinary match made in hog heaven.

5:00pm Scheels Arena 5225 31st Avenue South, Fargo facebook.com/baconandbeerfm

09 MAR

Chamber Music Series: London Calling

Across the pond and across musical styles, this concert will feature select string players of the FM Symphony saluting the London roots of new Music Director Christopher Zimmerman with works by G.F. Handel, William Walton, Gerald Finzi, The Who, Led Zeppelin, Sting, and the Rolling Stones.

2:00pm First Presbyterian Church 650 2nd Avenue North, Fargo fmsymphony.org

St. Patrick’s Day 5K

Traditional St. Patrick’s 5K for the FM area. Long-sleeved shirt guaranteed to pre-registered runners. Award to the runner wearing the best green outfit!

3:00pm

Great Northern Bicycle Co. 425 Broadway, Fargo lakeagassizpacers.com

28 MAR

PRCA Rodeo

It’s only 8 seconds, but it’s the most exciting 8 seconds in any sport, in any arena, in any city. Out here there are no referees. It’s Man against Beast. Rodeo runs March 28 through 29.

Fargodome

1800 North University Drive, Fargo fargodome.com

28 MAR

Buried Alive & Embedded

The F-M Opera’s first ever world premiere. Based on the works of Edgar Allan Poe commissioned by American Lyric Theatre in New York.

March 28 at 7:30pm, March 30 at 2:30pm Reineke Festival Concert hall at NDSU 12th Avenue North & Bolley Drive, Fargo fmopera.org

31 MAR

Women of the Year

Join the YWCA Cass Clay to honor outstanding women whose lives, talents, and passions shape the Cass-Clay community. All proceeds from this inspiring evening support the YWCA Emergency Shelter.

5:30pm Social, 6:30pm Dinner & Program Holiday Inn 3803 13th Avenue, Fargo ywcacassclay.org

Are you planning or attending an upcoming event? Submit local events online at areawomanmagazine.com

Entertainment, Art & Music

Note: All events are subject to change. Confirm dates and times before attending.

01 FEB

Trampled by Turtles

“Trampled by Turtles mixes rythmic banjos and guitars with lovelorn fi ddles, creating a sound that seeps deeply into our pores and permeates our core until their riffs merge with our pulse.” — Washington Post

Doors at 8:00pm; Show at 9:00pm The Venue @ The Hub 2525 9th Avenue SW, Fargo jadepresents.com

06 FEB

The

Tell, Season 2: Deux Tell

A community storytelling event, all are welcome to listen, or throw their name in the hat to Tell. Finalists go on to vie for a cash prize.

Doors at 7:00pm; The Tell at 7:30pm Studio 222 222 Broadway, Fargo thetellfargo.com

07 FEB

Justin Timberlake

After dominating the global charts with his album The 20/20 Experience, Timberlake will bring his electrifying show to F-M.

8:00pm

Fargodome 1800 North University Drive, Fargo fargodome.com

07 FEB

The Nerd

Willum Cubbert often spoke about the debt he owed to a fellow ex-GI who saved his life in Vietnam. Willum is delighted when the GI shows up unexpectedly, but it soon fades as it becomes apparent that the man is a hopeless “nerd.” Shows run February 7 through 16.

The Stage at Island Park 333 4th Street South, Fargo fmct.org

08 FEB

Live Roller Derby

The Fargo-Moorhead Derby Girls versus Harbor City Roller Dames (Duluth, MN) & the BisMan Bombshellz (Mandan, ND).

Doors at 6:30pm, Derby at 7:00pm Fargo Civic Center 207 4th Street North, Fargo fmderbygirls.com

11 FEB

ROCK OF AGES

The worldwide party musical ROCK OF AGES features a mix of 28 rockin’ 80’s tune. It’s five time 2009 Tony® nominee ROCK OF AGES, an arena-rock love story told through the mind blowing, face-melting hits of the 80’s.

Doors at 6:30pm, Show at 7:30pm Fargodome

1800 North University Drive, Fargo fargodome.com

15 FEB

Atmosphere

Atmosphere’s “ Welcome To Minnesota Tour” is back for its fourth year!

Doors at 7:00pm; Show at 8:00pm The Venue @ The Hub 2525 9th Avenue SW, Fargo jadepresents.com

16 FEB

TobyMac

TobyMac has received an American Music Award for Favorite Christian Artist and KLOVE’s Artist of the Year Award. All ages. Reserved Seating.

Doors at 6:00pm, Show at 7:00 pm Fargodome 1800 North University Drive, Fargo fargodome.com

22 FEB

Men Are From Mars, Women Are From Venus

Men Are From Mars, Women Are From Venus LIVE!, the one-man fusion of theatre and stand-up starring Peter Story, is a light-hearted theatrical comedy based on the NY Times #1 best-selling book of the last decade by John Gray. Mature Audiences. Reserved Seating.

Doors at 7:00pm, Show at 8:00pm

Fargo Theatre

314 Broadway, Fargo jadepresents.com

28 FEB

Luke Bryan

ACM Entertainer of the Year Luke Bryan’s career now boasts over four million in album sales with seven #1 singles. His recent album, Crash My Party, has now sold over one million copies and has been certified Platinum.

Doors at 6:30pm; Show at 7:30pm Fargodome 1800 North University Drive, Fargo fargodome.com

03 MAR

MSUM Bachelor of Fine Art Student Exhibition

Art work by MSUM art majors. Free and open to the pubilc. Exhibit runs from 3 through 13. Opening reception is March 6th.

Gallery Hours

Rolande Dille Center for the Arts MSUM, Moorhead 218.477.2930

06 MAR

Heaven & Hell

Poet Mary Jo Bang, Pianist Jihye Change and MSUM art majors explore poetry, music and artwork inspired by concepts of heaven and hell.

5:00pm - 8:00pm

Fox Recital Hall

MSUM, Moorhead sundetre@mnstate.edu

29 MAR

Fargo Force vs. Tri-City Catch a Force game on Family Fun Night with dollar hot dogs and soda all night!

7:05pm

Scheels Arena 5225 31st Avenue South, Fargo fargoforce.com

Are you planning or attending an upcoming event? Submit local events online at areawomanmagazine.com

Workshops & DIY

07 FEB

DIY: Tobboggan

Love playing in the snow? Love woodworking? Combine the two and try your hand at building your own toboggan. Learn bending, finishing and fastening to create a toboggan that will fly down snow covered hills.

6:00pm - 9:00pm

DIY Wood Studio

3231 4th Avenue South, Studio A, Fargo diywoodstudio.com

11 FEB

Healthy & Flavorful Cooking

Every year we work to better ourselves whether it be on a personal level, at work or for our health. Cooking healthy can be easy and simple, all while not sacrificing flavor! Learn about gluten-free options, vegetarian lasagna, lean chicken recipes and yogurt salad dressings while trying each dish and taking home the recipes to be applied to your life and cooking!

6:30pm - 8:30pm

Square One Kitchens

1407 1st Avenue North, Fargo squareonekitchens.com

12 FEB

Loverly Cake Pops

Just in time for Valentine's Day! Make some cake pops for your sweetie, or have them join you for a date night! In this cake pops class you will get to make 8 cake pops and take them home with you on Valentine's Day! Cake pops include, classic, love bug, heart and a love bird.

7:00pm - 8:30pm

Square One Kitchens

1407 1st Avenue North, Fargo squareonekitchens.com

13 FEB

DIY: Laundry Detergent

Learn how to make your own budgetfriendly, powder laundry detergent. Please preregister with Moorhead Public Library.

7:00pm

Moorhead Library

118 5th Street South, Moorhead larl.org

Note: All events are subject to change. Confirm dates and times before attending.

14 FEB

Valentine’s 6 Course + 5 Wine Dining Experience

Treat your Valentine to a wonderful date night! Not only will you get to enjoy delightful food, you will also be able to step into the kitchen to learn how it was made! Visit Square One’s website to view their made with love menu.

6:30pm - 8:30pm

Square One Kitchens

1407 1st Avenue North, Fargo squareonekitchens.com

15 FEB

Basic Finishing

Learn how to take your woodworking projects and transform them into usable pieces for your home. Find out the secrets to choosing the right wood, supplies needed and all the steps involved to create the finished look that you want and much more!

9:00am - 12:00pm

DIY Wood Studio

3231 4th Avenue South, Studio A, Fargo diywoodstudio.com

05 MAR

Blogger’s Workshop

Curious about starting up a personal or business blog, but don’t know where to start?

Writer/blogger Kris Kerzman will introduce you to Wordpress, a popular and powerful blogging platform, and get you started on the right path.

6:30pm - 8:00pm

Moorhead Public Library

118 5th Street South, Moorhead larl.org

18 MAR

Writing for Creatives

Writing is a creative act, so it should be a natural fit for designers. But the truth is, few people, creative or not, find it easy to write --especially to write consistently. Christopher Butler is the COO of Newfangeled, where he directs strategy, design and personnel, as well as consults on a wide variety of topics surrounding design and technology.

11:30am - 1:00pm

Doublewood Inn

3333 13th Avenue South, Fargo fmadfed.org

Are you planning or attending an upcoming event? Submit local events online at areawomanmagazine.com

LOOKING FORWARD

Note: All events are subject to change. Confirm dates and times before attending.

Shrine Circus

High-wire and trapeze acts, clowns, bears, elephants, cotton candy and much more. Circus runs from April 4 through 6.

Fargodome

1800 North University Drive, Fargo fargodome.com

APR APR

Joseph & the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat

Joseph is a handsome young man who is able to interpret dreams, and the bearer of an amazing coat. Joseph’s eleven brothers become insatiably jealous. Thus, they sell Joseph into slavery. After refusing the advances of his owner’s wife, Joseph is sent to jail where he quickly becomes popular due to his abilites. The Pharaoh soon hears of Joseph’s ability and appoints him to the post of Number Two man in Egypt. Years later, Joseph’s now starving brothers arrive in Egypt and ask Joseph, whom they don’t recognize, for assistance. Show runs from April 4 through 13.

7:30pm

Fargo-Moorhead Community Theatre

333 4th Street South, Fargo fargomoorhead.org

18 APR

Easter Eggstravaganza

Meet the Easter Bunny! Dye eggs, create spring crafts, and hop on over to the egg hunts at 11am, 1pm, & 3pm. Runs from April 18 - 19.

10:00am - 5:00pm

Yunker Farms

1201 28th Avenue North, Fargo childrensmuseum-yunker.org

QUOTABLE

"For I know the plans I have for you, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. Then you will seek me and find me: when you seek me with all your heart, I will be found by you, declares the Lord. "

— JEREMIAH 29: 11-14

WOMEN’S RESOURCES

WOMEN’S RESOURCES

holiday tea for health

The First Annual Imagine Thriving Holiday Tea

BY THE STEPHANIE GOETZ FOUNDATION

December 14th was bitterly cold but inside at the Hotel Donaldson hearts and hands were warmed by friends, teas, English sandwiches and scrumptious desserts provided by the Hotel Donaldson for the fi rst annual Stephanie Goetz Foundation - Imagine Thriving Holiday Tea fundraiser.

Founder and president, Stephanie Goetz, told guests about the amazing strides the foundation has made, in less than a year, to help students who are struggling with mental health concerns. Goetz talked about programming that’s been created by the foundation in partnership with Fargo, West Fargo and Moorhead public schools to provide mental health support personnel that will work in schools ensuring students have access to early intervention mental health support and, if needed, access to mental health care providers.

Sanford Oncologist, Dr. Shelby Terstriep, spoke to the crowd about the mental health benefi ts of journaling. West Fargo High School senior and secretary of the Stephanie Goetz Foundation student board, Dylan Putnam, talked about the student board’s efforts to raise mental health awareness and education amongst peers, parents and educators.

A silver tea service donated by Stephanie Goetz Foundation Board member Nancy Jordheim was raffled off in a chance drawing. Each guest received a journal and picked out their own vintage tea cup to remember the afternoon by. [AWM]

For more information: stephaniegoetzfoundation.org imaginethriving.org

The Piga Project: Women, Immigration, Resilience Jill M. Johnson's Reflections with New Forms

Jill M. Johnson's upcoming art exhibit at The Hjemkomst Center entitled "The Piga Project: Women, Immigration, and Resilience," is a multi-media project in which new forms of folk art explore questions concerning cultural meaning, belonging and identity.

"My grandmother Marie was gentle, yet persistent in making sure we understood we were Swedish," Johnson said. "We went to the Swedish Institute in Minneapolis. We ate Swedish food. We were told the stories of our ancestors." But for all of that, Johnson could not read her grandfather's Swedish primer. "I wanted to read his grade school book," Johnson said, "So I applied to the Concordia Adult Swedish Language School and was accepted."

Johnson also attended the Swedish Cultural Heritage Society of the Red River Valley. “At nearly every event someone would sing a song with these words: Greet Them at Home, greet father and mother, greet little brother, if I had wings I would fly. "When I heard that song," Johnson said, "I wanted to cry. I felt a sorrow I couldn’t explain."

With scholarships from Uppsala International Summer Session University Language Program and the Swedish Women's Educational Association International of Minnesota, Johnson made several trips to Sweden. "The first time I went, people called me a foreigner and it was startling. I was Swedish! In America, we have this mathematical way of saying who we are. We say, 'I'm 2/3 Swedish and 1/3 German.' People have retained a sense of cultural identity even into the third and fourth generations. I wanted to explore what Swedish cultural identity means now in America and posed the question, 'Are we still Swedish 100 years after the boat has sailed?'"

Johnson's research became intensely personal when she was given information about her great-great grandmother Inger Borjesdotter. "Those stories about Inger changed everything," Johnson said. "I discovered that she had lived in extreme poverty She worked as a piga―an ordinary farm laborer at the bottom of the social ladder. Inger has become a real woman to me and my role model. I understand my own life better because of her."

of Swedish Folk Dress

When Johnson visited the Mangakulturell Centret in Stockholm, she noticed words inscribed on the steps: 'What did you lose?' This question sparked more questions. "Do women immigrate differently than men? What happens on the day you run out of the very last thing from home? The coffee from Africa, the chocolate from Mexico, the pearl sugar from Sweden? Who are we then? Are we Americans? Are we visitors? Are we something in between?"

"When immigrants don’t deal with the losses of immigration, the pain is transmitted to the next generation and the next," Johnson said. This theory, coined by University of Minnesota professor Pauline Boss, is referred to as frozen immigrant grief. Johnson herself has experienced a wide range of emotions going between Sweden and the U.S. "When I go to Sweden, I feel that I am home in some deeper inexplicable way. I love Minnesota, but as deeply as I live here, there is a different experience of coming home when I am in Sweden. It is the light and the color and the family."

The Piga Project opens January 12 at the Hjemkomst Museum and runs through March 1, 2014. It will focus on reframing

BY JILL N. KANDEL | SKYLOFT PHOTOGRAPHY

Swedish immigration stories from the Great Migration to the present day as contemporary art, writing, film, and have an interactive Immigration Altar. The installation establishes new folk art forms for the Swedish-American community. It is designed to challenge in a respectful manner. "I have spent a lot of time studying folk dress from people in Sweden and the U.S.," Johnson said, "In a sense, I am making visual jazz―understanding the underlying folk dress form and then improvising that theme using new materials like mylar and clear colored plastic. People will not see traditional wool and linen folk dresses, but they will see tradition as well as completely new ways to look at culture."

A grant from the Minnesota State Arts Board and an individual artist grant from the Arts Partnership in Fargo helped Johnson to fund this project. [AWM]

For information on activities and workshops to go along with the exhibit please visit hcscconline.org

When immigrants don't deal with the losses of immigration, the pain is transmitted to the next generation and the next.

Alice in Wonderland

The FM Ballet is committed to bringing professional dance performances to audiences of all ages in our community. This spring they will be performing “Alice In Wonderland.”

“I am so excited, I can’t even describe it,” said Camille Federowich (16), a FM Ballet principal dancer. “Mr. Matt (Gasper, the artistic director of the FM Ballet and the choreographer of “Alice In Wonderland”) is so good at telling a story through dance. He is a great choreographer and “Alice” is a great story! We want to open up the audiences’ minds so they think about dance in a new way.”

Federowich, who has been studying dance since the age of five, spends more than thirty hours a week dancing, in classes and at rehearsals.Jessie Johnson, the president of the FM Ballet Board

BY SUSAN STIBBE SKYLOFT PHOTOGRAPHY

of Directors, agrees that “Alice In Wonderland” is an exciting choice for their stpring production. “We want to provide the highest caliber of dance performances and education possible to reach new audiences,” said Johnson. The FM Ballet is a nonprofit arts organization. It holds the status of a Regional Professional Dance Company.

Teah Poyner (15) is in her second year with the FM Ballet company. She has been dancing since she was three. “My parents would put Elvis on and I would dance,” said Poyner. “I loved it. It is so much fun to do stuff with your body that most normal people can’t do. I gave up a lot of activities to do this and I think it was a great decision. I wanted to make a commitment to the Ballet and to dance. I take over twenty-five hours of class a week in addition to rehearsal time.”

“Alice” will also allow younger dancers to work alongside their more professional counterparts. Several children will be cast in the production.

Mara Brust, an FM Ballet principal dancer, said, “The children’s ballet mentorship program allows them to see the process, dedication, and work that goes into a full-length ballet production.”

This is a very accessible show, which is tough for ballet. Everyone’s heard of it. It’s fun, it’s whimsical.

Left to right: Teah Poyner, Camille Federowich, Mara Brust, Gabriela Baierle-Atwood

“This is a very accessible show, which is tough for ballet. Everyone’s heard of it. It’s fun, it’s whimsical. Children as well as adults will love it,” continued Brust.

Brust was also very appreciative of the opportunity to dance at this level while continuing with her professional life as a lawyer. “I am so lucky to be in a community that has this level of dance for someone like me,” said Brust.

Gabriela Baierle-Atwood, a project manager at Zerr Berg Architects and principal dancer, agreed. “It is great to have a mental break from work,” she said. “I think “Alice” will be fabulous for the dancers and the audience.”

The FM Ballet production of “Alice In Wonderland” will be a labor of love for all concerned. Many, many hours of work will culminate in a delightful show that can be enjoyed by everyone in the Fargo-Moorhead community.

With the FM Ballet’s hallmarks of dedication, creativity, and professionalism, “Alice in Wonderland” is sure to be a big success.

“It will be fabulous!” said Federowich. “We all want it to be sold-out – a full house every night!.” [AWM]

Matt Gasper

MSUM Memories

Book showcases history of MSUM and the city of Moorhead

BY MEGHAN FEIR | IMAGES COURTESY OF MSUM ARCHIVES

From its inception in 1888 as the Moorhead Normal School to today’s Minnesota State University Moorhead, the university has undergone significant changes over time.

“MSUM Memories: Refl ections of the college and university,” a pictorial history book by president emeritus Roland Dille and university archivist Terry Shoptaugh, spans the course of Minnesota State University Moorhead’s 125 years. It’s part of the ongoing celebration of the university’s 125 th year anniversary.

Aided with hundreds of stories from students, faculty, local residents and school newspapers dating back to the 1920s, “MSUM Memories” embodies the school’s history and the city of Moorhead’s story, as well.

Moorhead’s beginnings as a “tent city” in the early 1870s gave way to structural advancement and a swiftly growing community, and by 1887, construction of the Moorhead Normal School campus had begun.

With Moorhead and MSUM’s rich history, there was plenty of material to choose from. “It was easy to find the stories we used. The challenge was picking the best ones to use for a book of the size we wanted,” Shoptaugh said.

As a 1974 MSUM graduate, Shoptaugh’s favorite portion of the book covered 1957 to 1974, when the university was Moorhead State College (MSC). “It was a bit like reliving my own college

memories. Many of the most striking stories are from that period. It was then that students obtained more control over their education, the dorms were changed to allow male and female students in the same building, minority students began coming to the school in greater numbers, and women wrested more independence for themselves, both as students and as faculty. It was a dynamic time.”

The 215-page book includes stories from well-known alumni, like Broadway star Jan Maxwell and Big 12 Conference Commissioner Bob Bowlsby, who describe their time at MSUM as a defining period of their lives and careers.

“I wouldn’t exchange my days at MSU for anything. It was the best decision of my life,” Bowlsby said.

Students march in protest against the Vietnam War

Delta Zeta Theta Nu, 1967

Through personal stories and memories, Shoptaugh said the collection is intended to “preserve the history of the school” and to “remind everyone that the key to this type of education is the personal contact between the student and faculty. That personal contact is how MSUM has thrived for 125 years. It’s how we will continue to thrive.”

And, as Dille adds, the purpose of the book is “to focus on a number of interesting things of the past that ought not to be forgotten.”

Own your piece of MSU Moorhead history by getting your book through the MSUM Bookstore, 218.477.2111 or bookstore. mnstate.edu. A portion of sales will go toward the university’s Founders Scholarship. [AWM]

MSUM Graduate, 1980s

Lending A Hand

A hand up not a handout for medical crisis

BY JANELLE BRANDON PHOTOS BY JILL OCKHARDT

In April 2013, Freemont Pender, a 30-year resident of Sabin, was diagnosed with multiple myeloma cancer. The type of cancer treatment he underwent was intense, expensive and left him unable to work. Luckily, he had a loving community rallying around him and in October 2013, a benefit was held for Pender. Dakota Medical Foundation’s (DMF) Lend A Hand program was involved in the benefit every step of the way to make the community’s donations stretch even further for the Pender family. Lend A Hand provided planning and marketing help, coordinated online contributions and raised $5,000 in matching funds for Freemont Pender. Today, he is cancer-free.

DMF’s Lend A Hand program assists caring community members in raising funds for families experiencing a medical crisis. All contributions are distributed to eligible families living in Cass County, ND and Clay County, MN.

“The great thing about the Lend A Hand program is that the dollars given are not a handout,” said Shelly Pingel, lead volunteer for the “Fight for Freemont” benefit last fall. “The recipient is doing the most work. They are often fighting for their lives. That’s why ‘Fight For Freemont’ was a wonderful way of telling him we wanted to help him fight and give him a hand up.”

On March 29, there will be a benefit for Davies High School basketball standout Lexi Bolstad, who suffered

a traumatic brain injury last August. Lend A Hand is helping Bolstad’s friends and family plan and promote the event along with providing up to $5,000 in matching funds.

“Lend A Hand has evolved to become an effective program and giving tool to help local families experiencing a medical crisis,” said Pat Traynor, DMF President. “The Lend A Hand program provides fundraising resources, online giving options and matching funds 365 days a year to inspire and compound generosity for individuals burdened by substantial medical expenses.”

DMF covers all costs to administer the Lend A Hand program, so 100% of every gift is distributed to families to help pay for expenses related to medical care and rehabilitation.

In the past year, Lend A Hand and caring community members raised and distributed more than $1 million in contributions and matching funds to help 50 families in Cass and Clay counties burdened by substantial medical challenges.

Peinovich meets with the LexiJam Volunteer Committee

Freemont Pender volunteers, Sabin, Minnesota

Lend A Hand empowers people to coordinate successful fundraising efforts for families in medical crisis. — Jeana Peinovich

“The Lend A Hand website provides information about upcoming benefits and giving options that qualify for matching funds, enabling people to help a family 365 days a year,” said Jeana Peinovich, Lend A Hand Program Director. “Individuals may contribute online to Lend A Hand by designating a specific individual/ family fund or by making a contribution to the Giving Fund allowing the program to help many more families.”

Giving Hearts Day is a 24-hour online giveathon hosted by DMF. This Giving Hearts Day concept was originally developed and submitted to the foundation by Peinovich. In addition to Giving Hearts Day and several benefit events scheduled for families in February, an annual Bowlin for the Colon event hosted by Team Chip to raise funds for Lend A Hand is scheduled for February 8. [AWM]

For more information about how you can become involved and help your community members who are experiencing a medical crisis, visit dakmed.org/lendahand or call Jeana at 701.356.2661.

Jeana Peinovich, Lend A Hand Program Director

AREA WOMAN STYLE

Finding Family

The Humane Society of Fargo-Moorhead is primarily a pound rescue organization dedicated to rescuing dogs and cats at risk of being euthanized at local impounds. Each year, we adopt out hundreds of wonderful pets that just need a second chance at finding a “forever” home. We have a variety of pets available for adoption, from puppies and kittens to senior pets and everything in between, and almost any breed, including purebreds. Next time you’re considering adopting a pet, please check out our shelter and consider giving a pet in need a home.

TIMELESS IMAGES PHOTOGRAPHY

Azalea

Mimi Zeus

Sage Shimmer Rupert Corky

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two unique shops

BY PATRICIA CARLSON | PHOTOS BY 5 FOOT 20 DESIGN LOUNGE

If you’ve ever been lucky enough to spend some time in an Anthropologie store, then you have a pretty good idea of what to expect from two exciting new shops in downtown Fargo. Fowlers Heritage Company, a sophisticated clothier for women and men, and Pinch & Pour, the only local destination for fresh olive oils, balsamic vinegars and spices, share a welcoming interior where customers are encouraged to make themselves at home.

“Anthropologie, with its blend of vintage and modern clothing and housewares, is an inspiring place for me,” said Julie Robbins, sole proprietor of the two businesses. “We want to stand out from other boutiques. We want you to feel like you’re coming into our house and we want you to feel welcome.”

They have accomplished just that by creating a warm space combining the bones of the renovated Kilbourne Group building (like the exposed ceiling) in the 200 block of Broadway with antique fi xtures (check out the lights and dressing room doors).

But it’s the eclectic mix of urbane clothes from lines like Hazel, Petit Pois, Rodd and Gunn and Andrew Marc, and delectable oils, vinegars and spices that invite a truly one-ofa-kind experience.

Julie Robbins

We want to stand out from other boutiques. We want you to feel like you’re coming into our house and we want you to feel welcome.

“I am featuring clothes for the woman who is looking to dress polished and professional,” stated Robbins.

They opened Pinch & Pour first, in May this year; Fowlers Heritage Company followed a month later. “We were packed for our soft opening,” explained Robbins. “People were shoulder to shoulder. It was so exciting.”

Robbins is also thrilled to pay homage to her family through the naming of her store. ‘Fowler’ is her mother’s maiden name and Robbins remembers her mom and grandmother making shopping trips to downtown Fargo from their farmhouse in Arthur, ND.

“In fact, they shopped in this exact building,” said Robbins. “We played around with a lot of names but I kind of felt it was appropriate to honor our family history of shopping in downtown.”

Perhaps most exciting for the Robbins is their plan to offer Fowlers Heritage Company and Pinch & Pour as an event space, especially during the busy holiday season.

We played around with a lot of names but I kind of felt it was appropriate to honor our family history of shopping in downtown.

Lucas Swanson, Julie Robbins,Kat Kunz & Jamie Swartz

“There is no other atmosphere like this in Fargo-Moorhead,” said Gregg Robbins, who helps Julie at the stores on occasion. “Where else can you go to shop for polished clothes, talk and taste oils and roam around a fantastic space?”

Sounds like you may want to make your reservation now. [AWM]

Fowlers Heritage Company / Pinch & Pour 210 Broadway Suite 101 & 102, Fargo (701) 356-7778 FHC / (701) 356-7779 P&P fowlersheritagecompany.com pinchandpour.com

SPRING Transition into

BY KIM MALAKOWSKY PHOTOS PROVIDED BY LOCAL RETAILERS

As winter wanes, prepare to trade in structured hard edges for fluid shapes. Spring fashions are feminine, figure-skimming silhouettes with a natural sense. Shoulders are rounded and fabrics are light and soft. Even spring leathers are soft and subtle.

Colors for spring range from a brushstroke of all white to borrowed hues of orange-red poppies. Master the monochromatic look pairing a samecolor cami and cover or be a little daring and sport the ever-popular global or animal print.

Classic black this spring is anything but basic. The darker hue shows up in a big way in flowing dresses, vintage inspired knits, and palazzo pants. Pair deep shades with dark crystals and bold accessories.

We’ve traded in multi-layered necklaces for a single bold statement piece, while lady-like handbags or large totes accent perfectly.

Rounding out the season, be sure to add a painterly punch with museum-worthy artwork as part of your wardrobe. Other trends to watch for: fringe, tea-length skirts, pleats, and sheer stripes. [AWM]

Where to Shop

Nine must haves to start out 2014!

Carol Widman’s Candy Co.

Carol Widman’s assorted handmade chocolates and famous chippers make them Fargo-Moorhead’s finest chocolatiers. Dessert tray filled with chippers and assorted chocolates. Variety of sizes and prices available.

4325 13th Avenue South, Fargo (701) 281-8664 | carolwidmanscandy.com

McCulley Optix Gallery

Designing eyeglasses and sunglasses for the modern woman, JIMMY CHOO embraces elegance, beauty and confidence. Join us for a JIMMY CHOO TRUNK SHOW March 7th, noon-7pm.

2553 Kirsten Lane, Fargo (Corner of 25th St & 32nd Ave S) (701) 373-2020 | optixgallery.com

Fusion Boutique

Step out in style with the unique luggage collection at Fusion Boutique. Chic styles in a variety of sizes and prints are ready for your next getaway! Located inside Scheels Home & Hardware 3202 13th Avenue South, Fargo (701) 232-8903 | scheelshomeandhardware.com

Hillmer Eye Clinic

Do you have your eye on changing your look for the New Year? OGI Eyewear offers unique, high-quality, on-trend designs for the whole family.

101 10th Street North, Suite 120, Downtown Fargo (701) 239-9771 | hillmereyeclinic.com

Riddle’s Jewelry

- Riddle’s Noventa Diamond - This diamond is a stunning beauty with brilliant fire. Each Noventa Diamond is hand cut by a master jeweler, encompassing 90 facets of shimmering light. Available in round and princess cuts.

4055 13th Avenue South, Fargo (701) 277-1494 | riddlesjewelry.com

Dalbol Flowers

Pure romance. Hot pink roses, dark red spray roses, purple carnations and pink miniature carnations are accented with assorted greens. Delivered in a glass, violet cube. $44.99

1450 25th Street South, Fargo (701) 235-5864 | dalbolflowersfargo.com

Aquablue

- Lenny & Eva Jewelry - Every piece of Lenny & Eva jewelry is unique… you choose the style, sentiment, and colors to combine to create your one of a kind bracelet!

4955 17th Avenue South, Fargo (701) 281-6465 | aquabluefm.com

Centre for Hair & Wellness

25% off Hempz products until February 28! Hempz is enriched with 100% pure organic hemp seed oil. Luxurious lotion that hydrates, soothes, moisturizes and renews your skin. Try our new scent, Fresh Coconut & Watermelon!

Moorhead Center Mall, Downtown Moorhead (218) 236-6000 | centreforhairandwellness.com

Mystique Boutique

Put together a fabulous outfit with our combinations of colors to grab anyone’s attention. We offer junior to plus size women’s apparel, jewelry, shoes, handbags and body products.

412 Broadway, Downtown Fargo (701) 799-4390 | facebook.com/trendy.attire

Game Changer

Rejuv is the first in North Dakota to offer new fat reduction technique

BY ALICIA UNDERLEE NELSON SKYLOFT PHOTOGRAPHY

This is truly a game-changing device in our industry in that it is the first and only device that permanently destroys fat cells without surgery (liposuction) or the pain of other procedures” - Melissa Rogne, Clinic Director.

“It is extremely safe, treats a large surface area, is very comfortable and amazingly effective.” Melissa Rogne, Clinic Director.

Rejuv Skin and Laser Clinic in Fargo is among the first clinics in the country ― and the only clinic in North Dakota ― to offer a new fat-reduction procedure called Vanquish that can whittle waistlines without surgery.

Treatment with Vanquish is non-invasive and requires no recovery time. A technician suspends an applicator about an inch above the skin and uses radio frequency waves to heat up and kill fat cells without damaging the surrounding skin and muscles.

“This is truly a game-changing device in our industry in that it is the first and only device that permanently destroys fat cells without surgery (liposuction) or the pain of other procedures,” said Melissa Rogne, Clinic Director. “It is extremely safe, treats a large surface area, is very comfortable and amazingly effective.”

A series of four to six, 30-minute treatments are recommended over the course of four weeks. That makes Vanquish treatments convenient for patients and gives the

procedure an advantage over CoolSculpting, another popular fat reducing technique that freezes and kills fat cells. Clinic Coordinator Katie Ohnstad explained that one Vanquish treatment is equal to six CoolSculpting treatments and that the Vanquish treatment sessions themselves are very efficient.

“CoolSculpting generally takes one hour of application time, with another hour of thawing time, as well as possibly needing more treatments for already treated areas,” said Ohnstad.

The comfortable treatment process and quick results are key benefits for patients who try Vanquish. “During the treatment, all the patient feels is warmth, almost as though they have a heating blanket on them,” said Ohnstad. “On average, patients will see two to four inches of loss in the first four treatments.”

Rejuv Skin and Laser Clinic has offered Vanquish since November 2013 and patients that have tried the treatment are already seeing results.

“They can’t believe how amazing their results are with such a comfortable treatment,” said Rogne. “Many women who struggle with the menopausal middle are seeing a smoother tummy and are thrilled.”

But the procedure isn’t for everyone. Ideal candidates are men and women who are within 20% of their ideal body weight, but struggle with excess fat around their stomach, sides and lower back, since Vanquish is currently only approved for these areas of the body.

And although no dietary or lifestyle changes are required for the treatment, Rogne stresses that individuals who already have healthy lifestyles will see the best long-term results with Vanquish.

“Vanquish does kill the existing fat cells but weight gain can cause new cells to accumulate in the body,” she said. “Maintaining a healthy diet and exercise plan will ensure your results look fantastic indefinitely.” [AWM]

Rejuv Skin and Laser Clinic

3003 32nd Ave S. Fargo, ND 58103 (701) 356-7546 | rejuvclinic.com

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Every once in a while, in the middle of ordinary life, love gives us a fairytale.

On the day you were born, the angels clapped their hands and the moon danced with the stars!

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Love your Sweetheart ... get screened

February not only celebrates sweethearts, but it also is a time to remind yourself or your loved ones of the importance of heart health. The American Heart Association recognizes February as American Heart Month. As a strong supporter of this effort Sanford Health is also celebrating the importance of maintaining heart health by offering events and educational opportunities this February, including a special Valentine’s Day Sweetheart screening.

Get the Facts

Heart disease is the No. 1 killer in America -- surpassing even cancer! It is also a very preventable and treatable disease.

Both men and women fall victim to heart disease which can end in fatal heart episodes. Many men experience “classic” signs of a heart attack like crippling chest pain, sweating and difficulty breathing, while women often report experiencing an entirely different set of symptoms and warning signs, including nausea and vomiting, chest tightness, upper back pain, shortness of breath, lightheadedness, or unexplainable fatigue. This makes it easy to attribute cardiac symptoms in women to psychological conditions such as anxiety, panic or stress. As a result, women are less likely than men to receive recommendations from their physicians about preventive or interventional heart care.

The best way to ward off the destructive effects of the disease for both men and women is to know your risks, adopt healthy behaviors and eliminate bad ones.

Get a Handle on Your Risk

Most people over the age of 40 have at least one risk factor and many have multiple risk factors. Preventing or slowing damage to the heart is key to long-term heart health.

Preventive measures include:

• Maintaining a resting blood pressure no higher than 120/80

• Knowing family history

• Keeping total cholesterol levels under 200

• Physical activity for 30 minutes most days for a goal of 150 minutes per week

• Quitting smoking

• Maintaining a healthy Body Mass Index

• Eating a heart-healthy diet full of lean proteins, whole grains, fruits and vegetables, and low in sodium and trans-fat.

• Controlling diabetes if you are a diabetic

• Practicing relaxation and reducing stress.

fruits if diabetic and

ARTICLE PROVIDED BY SANFORD HEALTH

Get Screened

Sanford Health can help you determine your risk factors with the Heart Screening program. A heart screen is recommended if you have:

• Early family history of heart disease (less than 50 years old)

• History of smoking or currently a smoker

• Hypertension

• High Cholesterol (Total cholesterol greater than 200 mg/dL)

• Obesity

• Diabetes

• Postmenopausal Woman

“Early diagnosis and preventive therapy for heart disease is the best line of defense for our families and our community,” says Sanford interventional cardiologist, Thomas Haldis. “It is a very treatable and preventable disease as long as it is identified in its early stages. That’s why it is important to know your risk factors and have a heart screen. The heart screen at Sanford is the best way to facilitate early diagnosis and treatment.”

Honor Your Valentine

So at a time of the year when love is in the air, and many choose to embrace or escape the subzero temperatures, short winter nights, postholiday resolutions and even settling in for a long winter, don’t forget the heart health of your Valentine!

If you, your family members or Valentine fit the criteria listed above, the Heart Screen is available for $50 at the Sanford Center for Screening located at 1720 University Drive South, in Fargo. The screen takes less than an hour and is scheduled in advance. You do not need a physician referral for this program. [AWM]

Schedule a screen at: (701) 23-HEART [ (701) 234-3278 ] or (800) 821-2232

For more information about what heart healthy services are available visit heart.sanfordhealth.org.

delightfully different

BY CAROLYN LILLEHAUGEN | PHOTOS BY 5FOOT20 DESIGN LOUNGE

Each weekday morning Sally Larson calls down the stairs to wake up her daughters, twelve-year-old Madelyn, nineyear-old Sophie and four-year-old Greta for school. With her sisters, Sophie bounces out of bed anxious to get ready for another day of 3rd grade at St. Mary’s school in Breckinridge. She eats breakfast, gets dressed, and brushes her teeth just like most elementary students, but before she heads out the door, she has one more task to complete. She needs to put on her hair.

Sophie has alopecia, an autoimmune disorder that causes hair loss. When Sophie was just 20 months old, her mom Sally noticed her losing hair in little patches. Soon she had lost so much that they decided to check with their doctor who diagnosed alopecia areata. They learned that alopecia is an acquired disease that affects hair-bearing skin. It can be linked to allergies and asthma, but is rarely associated with other serious medical conditions. Although there are some treatments that have varying success, the condition is not generally reversible.

Throughout her preschool years Sophie continued to lose hair until there were just a few wispy strands left. When Sophie was preparing to enter 1st grade, her parents decided it was time for a wig. Her first wig was synthetic and not too comfortable. The Larsons then learned of “Locks of Love” an organization that receives donated human hair and creates wigs for people dealing with hair loss. In preparation for the molding for this natural wig, the Larsons had to shave Sophie’s head. To keep Sophie from feeling so alone and different, her dad Cody decided to shave his head too. Sophie’s first wig was brunette, but now she definitely prefers to be a blonde just like her sisters. As Sally describes her, “Sophie is kind of a fancy, sparkly girl who likes fashion and her hair is definitely part of the fun.” Sophie now gets her wigs at the Center for Hair and Wellness in Moorhead where the owner Violet Dielke not only helps her choose and care for her wig, she makes the whole process seem special!

Despite alopecia, Sophie still does everything any girl her age might do. She especially likes art, Barbies, basketball, jumping on the trampoline and gymnastics. Sometimes when she knows she will be in an active sport, she is supposed to use a stronger adhesive to keep her wig in place.

We wish there were more grownups who stressed to their kids that differences are okay.

Although baldness may seem strange to some, it is really just part of life for Sophie. Most of the time, she doesn’t think much about it and even prefers to go without her wig all through the hot days of summer. At St. Mary’s Sophie feels very accepted, whether or not she is wearing her wig. The only real problems occur when other people she doesn’t know stare at her. As Sophie explains, “Other people sometimes stare and whisper, and that hurts. I wish they knew that I am just a girl like everybody else.” Her mom Sally continued, “Most people do not intend to be mean, they just don’t understand. We wish there were more grownups who stressed to their kids that differences are okay.”

And for anyone fortunate enough to meet sweet Sophie, her differences are more than okay, they are delightful. [AWM]

BY ALICIA UNDERLEE NELSON | PHOTOS BY 5FOOT20 DESIGN LOUNGE

ONE STEP AT A TIME

It takes a special kind of athlete to weather the physical and mental challenges of a half or a full marathon. It takes even more dedication to continue to train through a long North Dakota winter.

Three local women who are planning to run in The Fargo Marathon races on May 10 share how they keep their lives balanced during training and keep their minds focused on marathon day.

A Blend of Passion and Discipline

Shanna Gratton Demke is a Software Implementer Specialist at Intelligent InSites in Fargo who recently moved to West Fargo with her husband Will. She caught the running bug in 2010 when she ran the TC 1 Mile Race in Minneapolis as a team-building exercise with colleagues from her previous workplace. “That started kind of a love affair with summer early morning runs and race days,” she said.

Gratton Demke, who will run the half marathon for the North Dakota Leadership Seminar GoFar Charity team, is already in the thick of training. She took a few months off and then ramped up training at the end of last year, with a goal of running a 5K in 35 minutes or less.

“That puts me at a good base to be able to ramp up training in mid-January,” she said. “Besides running, I’ll do spin and yoga for cardio and injury prevention. As soon as things warm up in the spring, I’m hitting all the West Fargo walking/biking trails I can. Being outside is really where I like to run the most.”

North Dakota’s extreme weather – and longer periods of darkness – make outdoor running risky in winter, so runners must be creative and flexible.

“Once October passes, I do an occasional run outside, but it’s finding an indoor substitute that is challenging,” said Gratton Demke. “As long as I can do other high-cardio activities, winter training is usually pretty smooth.”

Shelly Johnson and Charlie Sayers are training partners, personal trainers and group fitness instructors at Xtreme Measures in Fargo. (Sayers also works as a fitness instructor at Fargo’s Snap Fitness.) Their work affords them an indoor space and a variety of fitness activities to shake up their training routine.

“I teach group fitness classes five times a week, so at least I get those runs in during the week,” said Johnson, a resident of West Fargo. “Ideally, I wanted to get in three shorter runs and a long run on the weekend.”

Last year the pair increased the length of their runs as their training progressed and they plan to do the same this year. They try to run outside as much as possible, regardless of the weather.

“We trained mostly in the Fargo, Moorhead, West Fargo area,” Sayers said. “Most of the long runs were done on the weekend with a gradual increase in miles, from 12 to 22. I’m pretty sure we saw nearly every street, bike path and gas station bathroom in the F-M area while training!”

Shelly Johnson

Charlie Sayers

Sayers and Johnson admit winter running can be difficult, but say summer poses its own challenges in North Dakota.

“The heat in the summer elevates your heart rate, so you need to take it slower, and make sure you have lots of water with you,” said Johnson. “Winter running is better for me as far as temp, but you do need to watch the terrain with ice, snow, non-shoveled sidewalks and that darn wind!”

“Summer or winter, in this area, you’re going to have to deal with extreme weather regardless,” agreed Sayers. “We ran 18 miles in nearly 100 degrees this summer, and I’ve run long runs in negative weather as well.”

Developing Mental Toughness

The changing terrain and conditions help develop the mental toughness and focus a marathon runner needs.

“Once you get to race day, it takes some determination and a lot of heart, but the training up to race day takes a lot of physical and mental toughness,” said Sayers. “Without the cheers of a crowd, or the adrenaline of the race, it can make some of those long runs pretty miserable. We tried to find different training routes to keep our minds fresh, and to allow us to focus on things other than just the pain of training.”

Shanna Gratton Demke

Sayers, who balances her training and work at Xtreme Measures with a day job as a closing agent at Northern Title and a home life in Fargo with her husband Garth, certainly knows a few things about focus.

“At times, especially in the thick of the really long runs, it seems that from the moment you get done running your long run the week before, to the minute you are done with the next long run, running was all I thought about,” she said. She’s currently debating whether to run a full or half marathon in Fargo this spring.

Finding a Balance

Both Sayers and Gratton Demke report that running can be so addictive that their husbands sometimes have to remind them to take a step back.

Johnson, who started running with a 5K running group in 2008, and plans to run the full marathon in Fargo this year, can identify with this all-consuming passion. “I didn’t go out on the town for months,” she laughed. “You are either running, recovering or preparing for your next long run.”

To strike a balance, she’s found a way to integrate training into her social calendar.

“I always train with my best friends, so we do get to socialize for hours on end on weekends,” said Johnson. “I found I missed them so much when the marathon was over.”

All three women were empathetic that the challenges of training can be just as rewarding as crossing the finish line on race day.

“Training is a part-time job,” said Johnson, “But during the race, remember to take it a mile at a time and enjoy! I’m not a fast runner at all but I sure do like to chat with my best friends beside me and even dance a little!”

“You’re going to have great training runs, you are going to have horrible training runs,” she continued. “Just keep doing it -- it will be worth it in the end.” [AWM]

Better Than A Cure N

Neurosurgeon offers tips on caring for your back

early every woman suffers back pain at some time in her life. Fortunately, most pain caused by a heavy lift or quick twist goes away in a few days.

Back pain that interferes with work or daily activities can be frustrating. The National Institutes of Health says back pain is the second most common neurological ailment in the United States ― only headaches are more common. The NIH estimates Americans spend at least $50 billion each year on low back pain, the most common cause of job-related disability and a leading contributor to missed work.

Prevention is better than a cure when it comes to your back and spine, says Dr. Abdul Baker, a new neurosurgeon at Essentia Health-Fargo who specializes in spine care and spinal surgeries. By taking good care of your spine, you can prevent common injuries and even slow the natural degeneration of the spine that occurs naturally as you age, he explains.

Good spine health begins with maintaining a normal body weight, says Dr. Baker, who did his fellowship training at Johns Hopkins University. Being overweight puts a strain on your back muscles and your spine.

Practice good posture, especially when you sit or stand. “Our natural habits allow us to stoop over, which makes our spines more vulnerable to injury,’” Dr. Baker says. Proper posture, he explains, helps the joints of the spine lock and move in unison, which makes them less susceptible to injury.

An easy and somewhat humorous way to think about good posture is to remember to stick out your buttocks, Dr. Baker says. The simple act respects the curve of your lower back, whether you’re sitting, standing or walking.

“The spine has natural curves, and maintaining those curves allows the even distribution of forces on the spine when you walk, sit or run,” Dr. Baker explains. “That allows

predictable movement of the joints, ligaments and muscles to prevent forces that accelerate degeneration of the spine.”

Exercise to maintain your core body strength. Strong muscles keep the bones of the spine where they belong and help you avoid injury. Focus on strengthening your abdominal muscles and the muscles that run up both sides of your spine, Dr. Baker advises.

Exercise not only to build your core strength but also for overall health. Dr. Baker explains that exercise allows your body to release growth hormone, which helps build muscle and increases your body’s metabolic rate. “Exercise is the poor man’s growth hormone,’’ he says.

PROVIDED BY ESSENTIA HEALTH

Exercise also releases endorphins, the body’s natural pain killer. “It’s natural that people who exercise have a higher pain tolerance,” Dr. Baker points out. “Exercise also helps your body heal better, which can give you an edge in recovery if you do need surgery.”

Dr. Baker recommends aerobic exercise that “clears your brain and heart and puts your muscles into high gear.”

When you lift, lift smart and let your legs do the work. Remember that’s why you have those large muscles in your thighs, Dr. Baker says. Move straight up and down. Keep your back straight and bend only at your knees, not at your waist. Hold the load close to your body. Avoid lifting and twisting at the same time.

Proper nutrition helps maintain bone strength and density. “Bone is a dynamic organ, not a static one,” Dr. Baker points out. Eat a diet high in protein and also make sure you get enough calcium and vitamin D.

Check your bone mineral density as you age and watch for signs of osteopenia, a higher-than-normal thinning of the bones that can lead to osteoporosis. Dr. Baker points out that spinal fractures are common in older woman, especially white women. “Older women with osteoporosis can suffer spontaneous fractures in the front of their spines very easily and then develop progressive deformity of the spine as they age,” he explains.

If you do experience back pain or other back problems, Dr. Baker recommends seeking a physician who is trained in a broad spectrum of procedures and treatment options, both surgical and non-surgical. If you do need surgery, look for treatments that preserve motion in your back when possible, he advises. [AWM]

CELEBRATING 30 years of helping

A few years ago, after listening to an inspiring speaker, Lisa Swan felt an internal tug.

“I was riding home with my cousin and I remember saying, ‘I feel like God is calling me to do something profound for women,’” she said.

Swan didn’t necessarily think it would be earth-shattering, she added, but in its own small way it would be significant.

She was 26 at the time, a wife and mother who loved her work in the cardiac unit at Sanford Health. But she’d soon learn of an opening for a nurse manager at FirstChoice Clinic that would grab her interest.

women

BY ROXANE SALONEN MIKE SMITH PHOTOGRAPHY

Feeling that this might be part of the nudge, Swan applied for the position and was offered the job.

Two years later, she’s transitioned to client services director, managing nursing staff at the three FirstChoice Clinic sites in FargoMoorhead, Devils Lake and Bismarck-Mandan.

Now in its 30th year of operation, the nonprofit, faith-based clinic provides education and health services to encourage informed, lifeaffirming choices.

Swan said she didn’t know a lot about FirstChoice Clinic when she moved with her family to Fargo from Rochester, Minn., in 2009.

“My view from the outside was that it was this hugely pro-life place,” she says. “And while that’s not incorrect, now I see it more as pro-woman. The way the clinic approaches life is to help the woman first and foremost, and that in effect helps the child as well.”

The way the clinic approaches life is to help the woman first and foremost.

Lisa Swan with Emily Jacobs, Nurse

Lisa Swan, Director of Client Services

Tom Frei, executive director, says FirstChoice Clinic involves a support base and collaboration from all faiths, but serves anyone needing its services.

“Medical knowledge, facts, truth and charity guide the relationship,” Frei said. “By giving all the information available, we believe our clients will choose life.”

He also clarifies that FirstChoice Clinic is not a political activist group. “We are not set up to wage political battles. Our focus is to serve our clients’ needs,” he said. “With regard to our name, we believe ‘choice’ ultimately to be a corollary of our freedom, a gift from God, and not something to avoid.”

Having lived as a single mother during college, Swan models how carrying a child doesn’t have to mean a bleak future. “You can make a decision that’s healthy for yourself and your child and still achieve your goals,” she said.

And clients often receive benefits beyond what they came seeking. “They see blessings in their life beyond having a child,” she said, “and may decide to go to school or make another change, just by going through the process and re-evaluating their lives.”

Along with education, FirstChoice Clinic offers free pregnancy testing, ultrasounds, and now, testing for sexually transmitted infections (STIs), which can be treated on site. “We see guys, too,” Swan said, noting that some fathers also need to sort out pregnancy decisions.

The primary clients, however, are young women who are concerned about pregnancy and need to think through their options with a caring staff. “It doesn’t matter if they’re unsure of their plans,” Swan said. “We can see anyone in that situation.” [AWM]

AREA WOMAN HOME

Cabin Coziness A Summer Dream on Pelican Lake

BY JOYCE EISENBRAUN | PHOTOS BY JILL OCKHARDT INTERIOR DESIGNER: BY DESIGN

Like the children’s story of Goldilocks and the Three Bears, some cabins were TOO big, some were TOO small, but this one was sized just right. The young family with two small boys had found their summer dream cabin on Pelican Lake, but wanted to update the interior so it was better suited to their needs. That’s when they called Kari Bucholz, principle at by Design, to create a fresh look on their limited budget.

“It was very open and a very cute cabin,” noted Bucholz, “but they wanted to update the colors and make the kitchen a little more family friendly. I’d worked with this family previously in their other homes, so it was important to take this space that didn’t feel like their home, and make it theirs.”

The main floor of the mid-1990s cabin has about 950 square feet of space, with a kitchen, eating area, smaller living room, and a master bedroom. Upstairs are bedrooms and a sitting area. Major structural renovations weren’t in the budget, so Bucholz focused on updating through new wall colors, flooring, light fixtures and accessories.

The kitchen had a traditional look with lighter oak cabinets and antique white and brass hardware. Large white glass pendants hung over the island seating, where smaller floral-topped stools provided seating for four. The countertops were finished in a neutral gray laminate, and the appliances were all in white.

Bucholz kept the oak cabinets, but the laminate countertops were traded out for a granite-look dark brown, accenting the new trim above the cabinets. She also moved a base cabinet over to accommodate

the new dishwasher. But the biggest change in the kitchen was the revamped island. Bucholz removed the simple rectangle and designed an angled “L” shape, adding space to the kitchen, and more space for serving and seating. On the side wall, she also added another wall cabinet for more storage. The base of the new island was finished in a dark maple stain, complementing the darker countertop. The homeowners had found new stools with big comfy seat cushions and high backs. Bucholz had them recovered with a charming nautical sail cloth on the front and matching cheery red, blue and yellow accents on the back. The pendant lights were removed, creating an open visual flow for the room.

The original flooring in the kitchen and dining area was a white vinyl with a black diamond accent. Bucholz now tied the kitchen to the dining and living spaces with new commercialgrade vinyl flooring in a faux dark wood design.

In the living room, whitewashed walls, gray flooring and light gray window treatments created a neutral palette, but the family wanted something with more pizzazz. Bucholz spiced up the décor with a deep sable color on the whitewashed board walls, and added a chalky blue accent wall that goes to the second floor. Two oversize contemporary chairs, each with large ottomans that serve as extra seating or coffee tables, create a cozy place to relax and look over the lake. The microfiber fabric in a warm cinnamon is a sturdy choice for this busy household. An area rug ties

I’d worked with this family previously in their other homes, so it was important to take this space that didn’t feel like their home, and make it theirs.

in the colors with rich browns, blues, greens, rusts and gold. The roller shade window treatments have also been replaced with a decorative cornice, studded with nailheads, over woven wood blinds.

The master bedroom got an upgrade to a king-size bed, new flooring to replace the old carpet and new window treatments. “We were able to make small changes that made a big difference,” said the owner.

Upstairs, the old whitewashed ceiling and walls of the loft were repainted in the deep sable brown. “They were really concerned that it would get too dark,” Bucholz remembered from a conversation with the owners. “But once they saw the finished area, they loved it.” The upstairs loft area has large floor-to-ceiling windows, overlooking the lake. Bucholz

added a large brown faux leather sectional, ensuring lots of space for active kids and their friends to play, relax or watch television. An oversized tufted ottoman also provides more seating, and doubles as the perfect place to hold a tray of snacks. Geometric accent pillows finish the look.

In the bedrooms, Bucholz simply added accents to what the new homeowners already had. The boys’ bedroom window treatment has a brightly colored sailing fabric used on the cornice, with existing blinds beneath. In the master bedroom, she found locally available hemp fabric, done in dark brown and cream, for the window treatments.

“This was a fun little project for me,” Bucholz said. “So often the impression is that designers have to do ‘big’ projects. I just want to do as much or as little as the owner wants.”

“For this cabin, it was exciting to change their whole kitchen by doing something they had not thought of,” she said. “That’s part of my job to give you something you may not have considered. People often get ‘stuck’ in a particular style or color, so my task is to help you look at new concepts and then enjoy the result!”

result!

Bucholz’s creative insights are greatly appreciated by the owners of the cabin. “She’s the most creative person I know,” said the owner. “For example, Kari is able to combine fabrics in ways I wouldn’t think about she’ll do a funky window treatment and a crazy pillow accent that just pulls everything together.”

“We loved the location of the cabin, and it was certainly livable, but we wanted Kari to make it more our style,” said the owner. “My favorite is the new kitchen. With all the changes, the cabin now feels calm, warm and relaxed just what we wanted!”

Although renovated on a budget, the cabin on Pelican Lake now has a tempo and style that suits the family’s needs. And like a Goldilocks’ assessment, this one now feels “just right.” [AWM]

That’s part of my job to give you something you may not have considered. People often get ‘stuck’ in a particular style or color, so my task is to help you look at new concepts and then enjoy the

AREA WOMAN PROFILES

THE HEART & SOUL&of Korsmo

Ruth Korsmo may be the heart and soul of Korsmo Funeral Service in Moorhead. Her husband appreciates her as they work as a team to offer caring help to families when they deal with the loss of a beloved person.

There is a third member to this family team – although not one of the three great funeral directors or five wonderful support staff serving beside them.

This special team member is a dog, enjoyed by everyone in the Korsmo group.

BY KATHERINE TWEED | PHOTOS BY5FOOT20 DESIGN LOUNGE

Barnabas, Barney for everyday use, is a seven-year-old cockapoo. He sports seasonal bandanas, a wagging tail and big brown eyes that are almost always successful when he asks to have a treat. The little guy is not just a mascot.

The Korsmos experienced the loss of a dog before Barney. When they were ready for another dog, Ruth began the search. Even though they were surrounded by a mass of puppies, Barney sat and looked at Ruth. The little buff colored dog was “so sweet” he had to come home.

Barney does valuable work. He knows when to just sit and be petted. He knows when to cuddle. He is empathetic but he can tell when someone doesn’t like dogs. He simply moves away.

A consultant does a survey of every client for Ruth and George. The replies help identify strengths and weaknesses and changes are implemented as needed.

A recent survey returned, as many do, cited Barney. He quietly

We are a true partnership, softening and strengthening each other.

George and Ruth Korsmo & Barney

Barney

sat beside a woman in a wheelchair and she petted him. He was her solace.

When grandchildren come in with families, he will sit and get love from them, as well as give them love.

Barney, although not formally trained as a therapy dog, has an innate sense of how to bring caring and comfort.

While the funeral service has the firstgeneration motto, “Serving When the Need is Greatest,” George and Ruth added a personal motto from a Biblical perspective, “Comforting all who mourn.” They are partners in what they believe God called them to do.

“Funeral services have traditionally been male-dominated. When Ruthie, although not a funeral director, joined the family business, she brought a woman’s dimension of caring for people, her compassionate nature and her nursing background. We are a true partnership, softening and strengthening each other,” George said.

They believe one has to be called to do endof-life services because it takes heart to be in the business. “This is where the Lord wants us,” Ruth said.

Always looking for ways to improve care, Korsmo Funeral Service, as do many other funeral homes, collect and recycle eyeglasses from people they serve. The latest batch of recycled eyeglasses will go to Mexico when the Fargo Lions Club takes them on a mission trip.

And Barney – he’ll watch it all, cuddle, comfort and invite people to sit with him on his Barney bench at the door. Just another service from the Korsmo team. [AWM]

MUSIC MATTERS

GOING FAR BEYOND PIANO LESSONS

BY AMANDA PETERSON | SKYLOFT PHOTOGRAPHY

When Erik and Stacey Lucht of Fargo began searching for a piano teacher for their oldest daughter, they were happy to find Paige Keiser-Rezac, 44, owner of Shine Music in Fargo.

Yet even then, they couldn’t foresee what Shine Music would do for their family.

Five years later, two of the Lucht’s children (Sophia, 10, and Bennet, 8) are immersed in Keiser-Rezac’s music program, with their youngest daughter, Priscilla, 3, begging for her lessons to start. They each take a weekly private one-hour piano lesson, but their education goes far beyond sheet music. During their lessons, Sophia and Bennet discuss classical technique, emotion and music form. They use the computer lab to explore music theory and history.

Then, once a month they get together with other Shine Music students for a Musicianship Class where they explore a yearly theme, like this year’s folk music study through “There’s No Place Like Home: The Rise of American Music.” They do everything from making their own instruments to writing their own music. End of year recitals are more like an original musical than a piano concert.

“Our kids learn piano from a standard set of piano books that are sold at the local music stores, but that’s just where the program begins,” Erik says. “Paige writes an expanded curriculum that encompasses the whole age range of piano students and focuses on a wide variety of fine arts and music topics.”

Thanks to Shine Music, there are no arguments in the Lucht household about piano practice.

“The children love to tinker and play on the piano above and beyond the required practicing,” Stacey says. “When they go back to lessons, they are excited to play for her some of the things they were learning on their own. We believe this is all because Paige has inspired in the children a love of learning music and a feeling of confidence in what they can achieve and do.”

Creating Shine Music

After 10 years in the graphic design business, Keiser-Rezac says she was ready for a career change and turned to her first love, music. With the encouragement of her husband, Steve, and daughter Alexandra, now 13, she began writing and designing her own music conservatory inspired curriculum. She opened Shine Music out of her home in 2005.

“I knew from the start that I wanted Shine Music to be a place for students to discover themselves as individuals and to find the great feeling that music-making gives you that nothing else can interfere with or taint,” Keiser-Rezac says.

She created a three-part program: Piano Study, Voice Study and a Music Appreciation Series. The 60-minute piano lessons and

I knew from the start that I wanted Shine Music to be a place for students to discover themselves as individuals and to find the great feeling that music-making gives you ...

30-minute voice lessons are offered year-round and include the Musicianship Classes. There is a strong emphasis on classical training at Shine Music with the study of three technical focus areas each year, including ear training, touch and improvisation.

The monthly three-hour Music Appreciation Series classes are open to anyone (no lessons or experience required) and take students even deeper into music through the study of particular compositions. For example, October’s Spooky Music class will combine Hector Berlioz’s “Symphonie Fantastique” with William Shakespeare’s “MacBeth.” Past classes included Earthquake Symphonies, Art and Music Collide and Jungle Drums.

Paul Pappas, a professional headline pianist on cruises, has known Keiser-Rezac for years and followed her career with Shine Music. He’s especially amazed by her Music Appreciation Series.

“When I read the class descriptions I want to take the classes myself,” says the West Palm Beach, Fla., resident. “Paige believes the kids are capable of so much more than others might believe,” he says. “Her lessons, classes, materials, individual instruction and end-ofyear recitals all reflect that.”

For example, one year her students studied the composer Igor Stravinsky and his 12tone technique for composition. The students created their own tone rows and explored the resulting atonal or “keyless” music.

“Some would ask why I teach them a complex concept that would normally be taught in a college music class,” Keiser-Rezac says. “Even if they aren’t going to be able to take the concept and apply it, they recognize pieces of it in music and it broadens their knowledge of music. These students are definitely being creative, learning to analyze and being challenged to think outside the box.”

It’s one of the reasons parents and children love Shine Music so much.

“It’s a whole music experience for the students,” says Amanda Bunkowski of Moorhead, whose daughter, Hailey, 12, has studied piano with Keiser-Rezac for four years. “It builds a deeper understanding of music and I think that’s why students enjoy it more.”

It’s also about growing a life-long appreciation of music. Nancy Jordheim, retired Fargo Public Schools assistant superintendent and liaison to

the Trollwood Performing Arts School, admires Keiser-Rezac’s ability to give this gift to children.

“She has thoughtfully considered how kids learn and how they interact with their environment, in this case a piano,” she says. “She’s showing them the personal joy that music can give them. From an educational point of view, that’s such a wonderful connection.”

Growing the Program

Today, Keiser-Rezac teaches about 20 piano students and three voice students out of a studio at Oak Grove Lutheran School in North Fargo. She keeps the numbers small intentionally – valuing the one-on-one lessons with each of her students.

Shine Music grows in deeper ways. In the fall of 2011, KeiserRezac became the founding teacher for North Dakota with the Royal Conservatory’s Music Development Program, during its first year in the United States. (Since then, three other Fargo music teachers have become involved.) The conservatory in Toronto, Ontario, is one of the largest and most highly respected music schools in the world. Its Music Development Program provides a teaching and testing standard for students of all levels. By meeting these criteria, now Keiser-Rezac’s students can be evaluated each year to track their own progress and see how they are doing compared to other students across the globe. And they are doing well.

Four students opted to take their exams this past May in Fargo, under the direction of a Music Development Program instructor flown in from Saskatchewan. Sophia Lucht and Mya Thelen, 14, of Fargo, received the highest mark possible – First Class Honors with Distinction. Mya’s

sister, Victoria, 11, received the second highest distinction. Hailey Bunkowski, who was the first to take the exam in 2012, improved her score by several points.

“There was a lot of work involved for the exams,” says Beth Thelen, mom of Mya and Victoria. “But I think it was good for them to get that feedback. They understand how they are doing and what they should do to get better.”

It’s not all hard work, either, says Mya.

“Miss Paige makes things fun,” she says. “She always has fun games for us to learn the material.”

As she looks down the road, Keiser-Rezac hopes to open a studio on Broadway in Fargo and grow enough to add a teacher or two who also share her same passion for the program. She will keep sharing her love of music with youth.

“My ultimate goal for students is to one day have that place they can go and release, let go, and find a place of solitude that playing music can give you,” says Keiser-Rezac.

“Do you know what it feels like to play a prelude by Bach? There’s nothing like it,” she adds. “Your fingers start moving and the more keys you play the faster you slip into a world where it is only you and the beautiful melodies. Everything else is invisible. After a long day at work, this is what you can promise to come home to. I can give my students that gift. I know it will change their lives.” [AWM]

For more information on Shine Music, to sign up for lessons or Music Appreciation Classes, contact Paige Keiser-Rezac at: (701) 566-3312 or shinemusicarts@gmail.com

You slip into a world where it is only you and the beautiful melodies. Everything else is invisible.

behind the scenes

BY ALICIA UNDERLEE NELSON | PHOTOS BY 5FOOT20 DESIGN LOUNGE

C

helsea Hanson’s work is so intuitive and seamless, it’s almost invisible. As Newscast Director for Valley News Live, Hanson is in constant motion behind the scenes, literally calling the shots and “punching” the show -coordinating graphics and animations to illuminate stories, cueing transitions between the anchor desk and reporters in the field and creating an informative broadcast that’s as close to perfect as possible.

“During the show itself, my focus is execution and consistency,” said Hanson. “If I haven’t considered the last detail, something can and probably will go wrong -- and most of what can go wrong is a preventable mistake. I need to be precise and aware with every move I make. If I hit the wrong button, that will affect what happens on air.”

The buttons are on a switcher, a large and complex piece of equipment that she must knew inside and out. If the cameras are the eyes of a broadcast, then the switcher is the brain.

“All video elements you see on your television come through my switcher,” said Hanson. “It doesn’t take a lot of physical strength to operate, but it does take up a lot of physical space. There are a lot of buttons, a lot of colors, a lot of labels.”

There are multiple types of switchers and comprehensive training on the equipment can take weeks. Mastering the equipment in a high-stress environment like a live broadcast can take even longer.

Hanson uses these skills as Technical Director for live events – including Bison football games -- and monitors programming details as a Master Control Operator. She also schedules and assists the production crew as Assistant Operations Manager for Valley News Live.

“She’s not only dealing with technical issues, but she’s also having to manage people,” said her manager and mentor Sean Kelly, Operations Manager of KVLY/KXJB. “To find a person who does a nice job of balancing the two is not the easiest thing in the world. She’s just kind of blazed a trail for herself.”

Hanson first explored a media career in college when she worked with lighting, video and audio equipment while studying journalism at Concordia College in Moorhead. She met Kelly on the job at a campus event and was hired as a part time production assistant in 2010. She was a full time director less than two years later.

“She just jumps in,” said Kelly. “And she’s always looking for something new to learn, some way to challenge herself to be stronger and what she can teach somebody else to lift them up a little further. “

Hanson is efficient and exacting in her own work but she prefers a more collaborative management style. “I try to lead as I would want to be led and give each member of the crew the opportunity to voice their opinions, frustrations, or questions at the appropriate time,” she said. “To me, being a director is being more than just aware of which button I need to hit next….These are people, not machines.”

Hanson looks forward to new challenges at work and hopes to explore freelancing and teaching opportunities as her resume expands. “I’m not very good at sitting back for long,” she said. “I’d much prefer to go, go, go.” [AWM]

2 GIRLS, A GUY AND A 4 AM GIG WITH LISA BUDEAU

BY PATRICIA CARLSON

PHOTOS BY JILL OCKHARDT

Lisa Budeau loves a good nap.

“Yesterday, we had the most awesome nap. All of us - my two daughters and me - in the same bed and we slept for nearly two hours,” said the Valley News Live anchor. “It doesn’t always work to get everyone to sleep at the same time but when it does it’s magic.”

What working mom can’t relate to that?

Lisa with co-anchor, Kyle Bosch, and meteorologist, Mick Kjar

[photo by Ben Nash Photography]

Lisa with meteorologist Robert Hahn

But for Budeau, who co-anchors “Valley Today” weekdays from 5:00 to 7:00 am on KVLY/KXJB, naps are part of her survival. Just listen to her incredibly demanding schedule: She begins her day at 3 am to prep her own hair, makeup and work clothes, and ensure clothes, food and other essentials are laid out for her husband, JB, who will take year-and-a-half-old Bailey to daycare and drop 5-year-old sister Marley at kindergarten later that morning.

By 4 am, Budeau is cramming to learn all the overnight news, editing and rewriting scripts, checking for breaking news and polishing off her anchor-ready look.

Lisa and her husband, JB, with daughters, Marley (5) and Bailey (1 ¹⁄²)

“That one hour is a crazy time,” Budeau said, adding that she and her co-anchor Kyle Bosch and meteorologist Mick Kjar depend a great deal on their producer, Maecy Enger, for putting together the nuts and bolts of the show before they arrive at the station. “We appreciate Maecy so much for all the work she does.”

Bosch says he is constantly impressed with Budeau’s juggling act. “I don’t know how she does it, but I know she does,” said Bosch. “She is hands down one of the best journalists I have ever worked with and one of the best moms I have ever met.”

Lisa As Mom

For a woman who always dreamed of hosting “Valley Today”“When I first started in TV more than a decade ago, I knew I wanted to be on the morning news at this station” - Budeau is exactly where she wants to be in her professional and personal lives. Even though her job makes her one of the more prolific people in FargoMoorhead, she is no exception to the perennial battle every working mom endures: The passion for career versus the guilt of leaving your children behind. It’s a constant struggle, said Budeau.

“I really love being a mom but I love what I do, too,” she said. “The morning that I had to go back to work Bailey was sleeping so I got to say a peaceful goodbye. But once I got back from work and saw her, I cried. There is no perfect answer. You feel guilty no matter what you choose to do when you’re a mom.”

She takes the job of motherhood, or mothering, seriously. She’ll readily skip that precious nap if it means having lunch with Marley or participating in a classroom activity (she helped make gingerbread houses and Christmas ornaments during the holidays). “Marley’s at that age where she still thinks mom is cool,” said Budeau. “In a blink, she’ll be 16 and I won’t be cool anymore. I better take advantage!”

Budeau glows when talking about her two daughters, both bright and bubbly, but like any siblings they have distinct personalities. Marley is athletic and super social. She loves gymnastics, swimming lessons and sports programs at Courts Plus Community Fitness. “She’s the kid at the playground who’s like, ‘Hey, I’m Marley. Wanna play?’”

Toddler Bailey is equal parts snuggly and sprightly. She still wakes in the night to call her momma for a cuddle but isn’t interested in sitting still during the day. Whereas Budeau and JB used to enjoy bringing Marley out for the occasional Fargo Force hockey game, there is no containing Bailey for three 20-minute periods.

“She is so awesome,” said Budeau. “She’s at that ‘go’ stage and it’s fun!”

No matter what her day has already been like, Budeau picks up both girls in the afternoons. She doesn’t take that opportunity for granted because she realizes she’s one of the few folks in the television news industry to be able to do that. “Sometimes I wish I was there in the morning to wake them up and make them breakfast,” she explained. “I love being there to put them in bed at night - I'm lucky to have that time with them."

After school, Budeau, JB and the girls sometimes hit the gym or they settle in for a nice family dinner. They love their time together so they try to keep things flexible and fun.

When asked when she sleeps, Budeau just sighs and then gives an exasperated laugh. “I definitely don’t get enough sleep,” she stated. “I feel like I’m going to hit the wall eventually.”

There is no perfect answer. You feel guilty no matter what you choose to do when you're a mom.

Lisa As Anchor

As one-third of the number one local-rated television morning show though, Budeau’s viewers demand her presence. She understands that people choose their news coverage and she takes seriously her responsibility as a trustworthy and relatable news anchor. Budeau never wants to let a single viewer down.

“We have super loyal and friendly viewers. I hear a lot of people say, ‘I wake up with you every morning and I feel like I know you.’ I like that,” she said. “I try to stay relatable. I’m a mom just like everyone else who is eating breakfast and looking for that missing glove! I want to keep our viewers. I have the same stresses and family life that they have. I’m just doing my job.”

However, that job has been plagued by a couple of years of bad press for the station. Valley News Live recently came under fire for sending an undercover reporter into the Moorhead School District for a hidden-camera report. And while it was owned by Hoak Media of Dallas, Texas (KVLY/KXJB was sold in November to Gray Television and Excalibur Broadcasting, respectively), the station was

embroiled in an age discrimination lawsuit filed by current WDAY anchor and Forum reporter, Robin Huebner. There has also been a heavily revolving door of talent; most notably with the exits of Huebner, former “Valley Today” co-anchor Daron Selvig, and past General Manager and primetime anchor Charley Johnson.

Budeau said the shakeups really rattled the newsroom staff and plenty of viewers but she credits longtime morning meteorologist Mick Kjar, co-anchor Bosch and producer Enger for successfully steering the “Valley Today” ship through the storm.

"It was a rough time for all of us. But my morning team pulled together and remained focused and true to our viewers,” she said. ““Valley Today” is my second family. We supported each other and always will.”

It isn’t just the on-camera faces that have changed in television news, either. The behind the scenes and after hours work that Budeau’s job demands is dramatically different from when she started at KVLY/KXJB.

I hear a lot of people say, I wake up with you every morning and

“The online explosion of the station’s website plus social media and twitter and Facebook means we’re online 24 hours a day,” she explained. “When “Valley Today” first started it was a one hour show. Now it’s two hours and an agriculture show and a noon show. Plus I do consumer reports and health reporting. On top of that, I have an online presence. I’m being pulled in a million different directions.”

As an anchor though, the trick is to never let anyone at home see you sweat. Mick Kjar, Budeau’s longtime “Valley Today” on-air colleague, says she handles that responsibility with equal parts grace and tenacity. “During the last 15 years of working together I have relied on her ability to see things in black and white, right and wrong, good and bad. That has kept “Valley Today” on track and improving even with numerous changes at the station,” he said, adding, “Her calm demeanor on the air masks her constant churning inside and her desire to always be the best at what she’s doing whether it’s at work, or being a mom, a wife, a daughter, sister or a friend.”

I feel like I know you. I like that...

But the most awesome thing that anyone ever said to me happened while I was at the gym before Bailey was born. Another mom came up and asked me, ‘Are you Marley’s mom?’ That was an amazing feeling.

Budeau is a list person. She makes one for work. For errands. For her girls’ needs. For nights out with her husband. So much of her day (and night) is spent giving something of herself to others. So what does Budeau do for herself?

“I love to workout,” she said a little sheepishly, all to aware of how some people might perceive her chosen activity to de-stress. “I totally get why working moms cut out exercise because they already lead such busy lives but it’s something I’m dedicated to and it’s my hour. It’s good mental health. I’ve made some great friends and they’re almost like life coaches at this point.”

Because, let’s face it, when you’re a working mom, you need all the support/advice/ guidance/friendships/laughter you can get. But most of all, said Budeau, you need to give love and get love. That’s what really motivates this thirty-something dynamo to wake up when the moon is at its peak. Or to sacrifice that nap to frost cookies. Or to hit the gym after a morning filled with breaking news and an afternoon of errands.

Love for her beautiful girls. Love for her profession.

“I’ve had to work very hard to get this. And I appreciate it when people recognize me and ask, ‘Are you Lisa?’ But the most awesome thing that anyone ever said to me happened while I was at the gym before Bailey was born. Another mom came up and asked me, ‘Are you Marley’s mom?’ That was an amazing feeling.”

There is nothing more rewarding than being a mom ... except maybe that nap. [AWM]

Lisa As Lisa

Summer 2012 [photos by Ben Nash Photography]

you’re my very favorite