on the minds of moms

www.onthemindsofmoms.com

PUBLISHER DS Communication, LLC

EDITOR Dani Parkos Fluge

COPY EDITOR Charlotte Berg

ADVERTISING Sheri Kleinsasser Stockmoe p: 701.306.1624 e: sheri@onthemindsofmoms.com

PHOTOGRAPHY Ria Czichotzki – rialee photography

Sabrina Kliniske – rialee photography

Andrea Burner – rialee photography

Scott Thuen – thuen studios

Shawn Coulter–coulter photography

DESIGN AND LAYOUT Scott Thuen – thuen studios www.thuenstudios.com

AD DESIGN Casie Beldo

Scott Thuen

Tara Kessler

Lindsay Arneson Corwin

Stephanie Drietz

Amanda McKinnon

EDITORIAL CONTACT e: info@onthemindsofmoms.com

INFORMATION mail: PO Box 190, Fargo, ND 58107

SUBSCRIPTION www.onthemindsofmoms.com/subscribe

COVER PHOTO BY Ria Czichotzki – rialee photography

OTMOM MISSION STATEMENT the publisher. All activities listed in these pages are at your own risk and require appropriate supervision.

OTMOM is a publication available at all Fargo-Moorhead Hornbachers, Sunmart and Grand Forks–East Grand Forks Hugos grocery store locations. Distribution also includes all partnering advertisers. Copyright

Carolyn Baana

fargo | nd

A business performance coach and owner of Breakthrough Strategies, Carolyn applies her strengths as well as her education from the University of Texas - Dallas in Executive and Professional Coaching. A native of Minnesota and long–time Fargo resident, she enjoys creating memories to later savor with her family of dogs [three], kids [two], and husband [one]. This full life doesn't leave much time for physical exercise, meditation, or volunteering, yet she works to stay happy by easily forgiving, expressing her gratitude, and publicly journaling on her blog, www.carolynbaana.com.

Val Wagner

monango | nd

Back in the day, Val swore to herself that she was getting as far away from North Dakota and was never stepping another foot on a farm...isn't life funny? Now living on a farm, raising four boys and living in as rural an area as one can find, she realizes how great farm life can be. Through the encouragement of her friends she started a little blog called Wag'n Tales, which chronicles the destruction and devastation that occur when you have boys...well, and a few lessons about farm life and where your food REALLY comes from. She's married to Mark, AKA Boss Man, and is passionate about agriculture, rural living and sharing her story.

Amy Anderson

west fargo | nd

A co-owner of West Fargo Animal Hospital since 2008, Dr. Amy Anderson provides veterinary medical and surgical care for dogs and cats. She received an undergraduate degree from Penn State University and her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree from Iowa State University. She has a special interest in soft-tissue surgery, although building lasting relationships with pets and their owners is what she enjoys most. Amy resides in West Fargo with her husband Anthony and daughters, Piper(7) and Paisley(5). They enjoy the company of their French Bulldog Wally, cat Doozer, and horse Geoffrey.

Patricia Carlson

dilworth | mn

What do you get when you mix a full-time freelance writer with a 1-year-old girl, two cats, a dog, a husband who works evenings, a house that needs picking up and nearly a dozen publications and clients who need their deadlines met? Welcome to Patricia Carlson’s life. She is an award-winning journalist whose work spans magazines, television, radio, newspapers and the internet. She has produced, written, edited and directed programs for ESPN Radio, History Channel and Hallmark Channel. And she hosts customized media training workshops for groups like the North Dakota National Guard. You can view her work at www.patriciacarlsonfreelance.com

Cammie Wright

fargo | nd

Originally from Bismarck, North Dakota, Cammie is a 2009 graduate from MSUM. She currently works as the production manager at In House Advertising and Consulting in West Fargo, ND. In her spare time, Cammie likes to write, travel and hopes to complete her first half marathon this May.

From a second-generation owned farm in Mooreton, ND, Tami grew up the only sister to Todd, Troy and Joe, watching her dad farm the land and her mom cook, clean and feed a ton of hired men along with four kids of her own Following graduation from Moorhead State University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Art Education, Tami taught high school art in West Fargo and Moorhead until settling in as a middle school art teacher in Wahpeton, ND After a few years the decision was made to leave her teaching job to stay home with her kids, Parker [18] and Brooklyn [15] Married to husband Joel for 22 "really cool years," Tami keeps her creative interest alive as a Sendoutcards Manager and Independent “Gallery On The Go” Guide, still making time to enjoy shopping, lake time, riding the road with Joel on his Harley Davidson motorcycle and, of course, art