without children? quiet

—Henny Youngman

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Junior Artist

701.241.8160 www.fargoparks.com

Spend an afternoon with your child [ages 3-5] at the Robert D. Johnson Rec Center exploring the world of art from 1:30pm–2:30pm.

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Family Day at the Dike 701.241.8160 www.fargoparks.com

Races, sledding, hotdogs and pop for the whole family at Dike West. Be there 1:00pm–4:00pm.

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Buddy Day @ Oak Grove 701.373.7114 www.oakgrovelutheran.com

Are you interested in Oak Grove? Come join us for grades 6–12 Buddy Day [8:00am–12:45pm] to see what life is like as a Grover. Seeing the campus, attending classes, experiencing chapel, meeting students and teachers will give you a good idea of what Oak Grove has to offer.

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4th Annual Youth Ice Fishing Derby

701.241.1356 www.fargoparks.com

Calling all Ice Fisherpersons ages 15 & under! Come to the South Woodhaven Pond [4802 Woodhaven Dr S, Fargo] and learn more about ice fishing including augers, ice houses, sonar equipment and much more! This is a FREE event 12:30pm–2:30pm.

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Are Your Kids Riding Safely? 701.234.7233 www.north.sanfordhealth.org where did the store name come from? what was the impetus for starting c.lizzy’s? how long have you been in business? how many employees do you have? what were the first five things you focused on before going into business?

Did you know that 80% of children are riding incorrectly. This class will give you the education to correctly use and install a car seat, as well as learn about child passenger safety laws, airbags & bus safety. Space is limited & pre-registration required. $30 fee.

Growing up in Leonard, ND, Cari Luchau [38] was raised in a typical North Dakota small town way with church basement Jello salad, high school basketball games and a brother. She graduated from Jamestown College with degrees in Mathematics and Business Administration intending to be an actuary. The winding road from actuary dreams to the hand-created world of c.lizzy’s included stints at a gymnastics club, a start-up secured credit card company, a start-up software company and a brief encounter with telematics [think OnStar on steroids]. Let’s just say Cari not only likes change, she craves it! When asked about her hobby she truthfully shares, “I love the world of business and I really like working so it’s kind of my hobby, too.” She’s been known to bring business magazines and books along on vacation, but when not working, husband Lance and son Leighton [3-months-old] have her undivided attention as they enjoy lake life, going to Bison football games and just plain hanging out together.

My mom and I own the business together. My mom’s name is Liz, and her close friends call her Lizzy. My name starts with a “c”, so c.lizzy’s was born.

Creating art runs in the family. My Mom and Grandma owned a part-time crafts business named Naturally Nice. They made grapevine baskets, corn husk flowers and hand-whittled wood flowers and did the local craft show circuit. I was always with them, so I think this history stuck with me. While working on a work project in London, I fell in love with Covent Garden and the artists there. I came back to Fargo nudging Mom to start a hand-created business together. I kept saying that with her experience and natural artistic talent and my business background, we couldn’t fail. Two years later, it was also timing and a few of life’s tough lessons learned that led to our decision to go for it. My Grandma passed away from a short battle with heart disease, and my Dad lost a hard battle with colon cancer. I was at a crossroads decision in the telematics job, and the dentist my mom worked for over the past 20+ years was retiring. We learned the difficult way that life can sometimes be short and it is full of turns, so we decided it was now or never. We dove in.

Nearly 8 years.

Including Mom and me, we have three full time and two part time .

I’m not sure I focused on anything, which is not what I would recommend. We just started making products, applying to shows and went for it.

what kind of products can we find at c.lizzy’s?

c.lizzy’s is a local retailer and a national wholesaler of hand-created art and crafts. We essentially have two businesses – our store on Broadway and our wholesale business.

In our store, one will find American hand-made art, jewelry, pottery and gifts that are from both local and national artists. We like to say we are “adding a little art to your every day” because one can find that quick yet memorable pick-up gift for book club or for a co-worker’s birthday or one can find that one-of-a-kind wall piece that inspires the look of your new living room. We personally make about 50% of what is in our store.

On our wholesale side of things, we create a line of products we showcase at national wholesale trade shows in Chicago, Philadelphia and Las Vegas. These shows are catered to American hand-made artists and their products, along with the stores and galleries across the U.S. that carry this type of work. Currently, our c.lizzy’s products are in stores and galleries in over 30 states.

what have you found to be the biggest challenge in owning your own business?

My biggest challenge is thinking “I can do it all myself” or “I should do it all myself” or “I need to do it all myself.” I recognize this is a myth of entrepreneurship and can be a real pitfall. I also think the word “should” is just another way to induce the feeling of guilt. I know all this yet it is still a challenge for me to let go of that thinking.

how would you describe a typically day for you?

Leighton is still working out a sleep schedule, so we are up anytime between 6 a.m. and 9 a.m. depending on how many times he is up during the night.

Luckily, I have a flexible schedule right now so we have time to play and have some mommy-son time before getting ready for work. Leighton comes to work with me, so my afternoons are a balancing act between making products, managing the business, playtime, feedings and diaper changes. My evenings are generally spent either at home with Lance and Leighton or they come to the studio to keep me company while I catch up on work.

as a new mom, how do you make time for yourself?

Ugh! I would like to improve this area by breaking in my new running shoes.

what top 10 things can you not live without as a mompreneur?

1. My husband, Lance. He is a total hands-on Dad, and he makes being a mom so much fun for me by pointing out the humorous side of parenthood. He is also completely supportive of c.lizzy’s and my role as a mompreneur.

2. Leighton’s smiles.

3. My mom—for too many reasons to list.

4. Our full-time employee, Tia. She is our right-hand and keeps things ticking along at our crazy pace.

5. My laptop.

6. My flexible schedule.

7. Many glasses of water.

8. Chocolate chunk brownies. Truly.

9. The blue bouncy chair.

10. My lists.

do you have any time management tricks that work well for you?

I am a huge advocate of laser-like focus. When I focus on each task or action item through completion before moving on to the next, I can accomplish so much in 24 hours. I am also a fan of daily lists that are made up of prioritized action items. I generally make these lists each evening for the next day. what is your strongest mompreneur skill? Confidence. I am confident that I am being a good mother and a good business owner simultaneously. I find a lot of comfort in knowing this and being ok with the balancing act it requires. what is the best part of owning your own business?

The endless possibilities it presents both personally and professionally. I love the challenge of strategizing its direction and taking the steps to get there. I also love that the business can be shaped to fit my family style and lifestyle. what advice would you share with other women considering the mompreneur title? I believe the happiest people are those that live to their potential and to their calling. So if balancing motherhood and pursuing a passion as a business keeps popping up for you, the mompreneur title may fit. I would not recommend jumping in as blindly as I did. Due diligence is a good thing when starting a business. However, I think one of my favorite sayings fits here. “With courage greater than your fear, jump into the unknown and you will fly.”

Crockpot Stuffing

submitted by: brandi lebahn

As a busy mom of a seven and 5-year-old, a nursing student employed in the Essentia Health OB department, a business trainer, a hockey and gymnastics chauffeur, and a wife, Brandi Lebahn doesn't have a lot of time to cook even though she loves to. She is always looking for easy, tasteful recipes to make for her family and has recently learned to use her Crockpot as much as possible.

“This Crockpot Stuffing recipe was handed down from my mother-in-law,” Brandi says. “Our stoves are filled preparing for the holiday meal and it can be complicated baking everything all at the same time. This helps free up the oven and everyone LOVES this recipe!”

Brandi also shares how great it is for her when she works the holidays at the hospital and an oven isn’t available. Delicious and practical cooked all in one! what you need:

Moms – Want your kids to eat more veggies? Bribe ‘em with s’mores at HuHot!

• 1 cup butter or margarine

• 2 cups chopped onion

• 2 cups chopped celery

• 12-13 cups dried bread cubes

• 1 tsp poultry seasoning

• 4 cups chicken broth

• 1 ½ tsp salt

• ½ tsp pepper

• 1 ½ tsp sage

• 1 tsp thyme

• ½ tsp marjoram

• 2 eggs beaten how to make it:

1. Melt butter and sauté onion and celery.

2. In a large mixing bowl, mix the bread cubes and seasonings and toss with sautéed onion and celery.

3. Pour broth and beaten eggs into mixture and mix well.

Kids - Sign up for Khan’s Kids Club, and receive free s’mores on your birthday www.huhot.com my first job… a landscaper in Fort Lauderdale, FL. funniest person i know… my wife is the funniest for sure. She can come up with a funny comeback for anything. the “honey-do” chore i seem to do over and over… run the “weed eater” or the painting trim work. The grass keeps growing and the walls don’t keep painting themselves.

4. Pour into a buttered Crockpot [or it will stick to the sides] and cover at high for 45 minutes and then low for 4-6 hours.

As the younger brother of two sisters from small town Fertile, MN, Joel Degerness grew up learning the construction craft from his father who owned a small construction business. That passion and interest in the trade led him to his current profession as a construction manager for Mutchler Bartram Architects in Fargo. When not spending time camping, watching sporting events, hunting and fishing with his family, Joel enjoys furniture making, carpentry projects and landscaping. A dad to Gage [17], Garrett [15], Brooke [9] and stepdad to Erika [16] and Taylor [15], Joel and wife J.J. make their home in Arthur, ND where he is president of his church council and member of the Northern Cass School Board.

Rad Dad

a radio station i tune into daily… the new Popster FM channel lately…I especially like the 80’s stuff.

I am not a fan of… negativity… focusing on the negative will make for a long life, cause there are a lot of things that don’t go the way you want them too. Life is too short…just be happy!

two things i am good at… problem solving and history trivia. the hobby i most enjoy… woodworking.

something i can never tell my kids enough… don’t give up; you get what you give out of life. I always carry with me… my portfolio/planner.

my guiltiest fast food stop… Arby’s french dip with curly fries.

biggest challenge of being a step dad… there haven’t been many challenges in this area. I consider Erika and Taylor as my own kids, they have accepted me since day one, and I know blending families can be a very difficult job but I have been blessed with the best.

weirdest thing i have eaten… raw oysters or alligator tail. if my wife could throw away one thing of mine it would be… my antique tools and record collection...she doesn’t see the beauty of them. habit i would most like to break… eating potato chips before bed. the vehicle that best describes me… my old black Chevy pickup. It’s a trusty, hard worker and always gets me to where I need to be.