Savvy December 2013

DECEMBER 2013

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HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE

Relieve Seasonal Stress

Get gifts from local businesses for everyone on your list

Make it to Jan. 2 without tearing out your hair

opening new doors Michelle Stimpson of Minnetonka left a comfortable corporate job to help others achieve their dreams. Her passion is in helping people choose which doors to close and open.

+ Dining Out On a Diet

At St. Francis we... care about community Distinguished as one of the best community hospitals in the nation, with clinics in Shakopee, Savage, Jordan and Chaska.

care about patients

2013

Provides the healing experience we expect for ourselves and our families.

care about caregivers Named one of Minnesota’s top 100 workplaces, thanks to our employees.

care about quality Honored to be recognized as a 2013 Minnesota Business Ethics Award Recipient.

www.stfrancis-shakopee.com

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DECEMBER 2013 | savvy.mn Š 2013, St. Francis Regional Medical Center

AWR-SVY-233

in this issue 12.13 in every issue 4 letter from the editor 8 local finds

cover story 12 opening new doors Michelle Stimpson of Minnetonka left a comfortable corporate job to help others achieve their dreams. Her passion is in helping people choose which doors to close and open.

fashion 6 classic & cozy Maybe the most popular item purchased during colder months, the perfect pair of boots can complete any outfit.

7 one of a kind Hackwith Design House crafts selective designs for Minneapolis fashionistas.

12 18

health 16 stop and breathe How to relieve tension and stress and bring more calm into your holiday season.

18 young mothers’ struggle Breast cancer diagnosis brings pain and hardship for young moms.

just u 20 celebrate Kick off your holiday season with Savvy and the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum for a special holiday shopping event.

nosh

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22 dining on a diet How to enjoy restaurant food while still following a strict diet.

24 after-school snacks Nourish your child’s wellness with healthy eats.

savvy’s mission Savvy Magazine aims to educate and inspire a community of Twin Citiesarea women who share personal stories and real-world information on how to feel, live and look the best they can. Through original reporting, local events and journalistic integrity, Savvy is the source for how to be healthy, happy, fashionable and connected.

relationships 26 a holiday from dating Stephanie Kotelnicki talks about how you know when it’s time to take a break from dating, and why it’s important to heed such a need.

love & life

corrections

28 local loves Check out Liv Lane’s guide to buying gifts from Savvy strives to publish accurate information in every edition. When necessary, we will correct and acknowledge errors.

Did you spot an error? Contact Editor in Chief Britt Johnsen at editor@savvy.mn or 952-345-6387.

feedback What do you think of this month’s Savvy? Do you have any story ideas?

Did anything inspire or irritate you? Contact us at editor@savvy.mn or 952-345-6387.

Minnesota bloggers.

30 holiday gift guide Unsie Zuege helps you figure out what to get for everyone on your list this holiday season.

36 explore your intuition Jodi Livon, author, intuitive reader and resident psychic at Twin Cities Live, answers reader questions about intuition.

38 savvy sun signs Teri Parsley Starnes, a professional astrologer living in Minneapolis, tells readers what to expect from the stars this month.

Connect with Savvy.mn Magazine @Savvymn

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savvy.mn | DECEMBER 2013

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editor'snote

More Joy, Less Stress PUBLISHER Jennifer Sorenson EDITOR IN CHIEF Britt Johnsen GRAPHIC DESIGNERS Nicole Bullock | Lindsay Gergen CIRCULATION MANAGER Ruby Winings CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Emily Abbott | Lori Carlson Scott Fagerstrom | Alex Hall Stephanie Kotelnicki | Jodi Livon Liv Lane | Teri Parsley Starnes Allison Roorda | Unsie Zuege COVER PHOTOGRAPHY Steve Lucas Photography CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS Carrie Rood WEB Adam Westland SAVVY EDITORIAL BOARD Britt Johnsen | Jennifer Sorenson Becky Poss | Kay Guidarelli Judy Holmquist | Wendy Kleiser Kelcie McKenney | Janelle Meier Lanae Paaverud | Becky Porspakka Karen Wolf Savvy is published monthly by Southwest Newspapers. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form by means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior consent of Southwest Newspapers, 952-445-3333, P.O. Box 8, Shakopee, Minn. 55379.

CONTACTS: CONTENT: Britt Johnsen, 952-345-6387 or editor@savvy.mn ADVERTISING: 952-345-6477 or advertising@savvy.mn

Ah, the holidays. The season of good cheer, good food, good company … and stress. Major stress. Sometimes tearout-your-hair, can’t-wait-’til-it’s-all-over stress.

In our annual holiday issue, we’re looking at two essential parts of the holiday equation. One part is what to get your loved ones. Unsie Zuege writes about this and gives her take on what to buy all the people on your list. Her story is on page 30. And Liv Lane writes on page 28 about what Minnesota bloggers are offering their artsy creations that make one-of-a-kind gifts.

And the other part? How to deal with said stress. When I’m not thinking about Savvy, I teach yoga and stress relief to anyone who will listen. I’ve got some tips for you on page 16 — tips that come not just from my time on the mat, but from time spent in highly aggravating, adrenaline-pumping, insomnia-creating situations.

Michelle Stimpson knows all about dealing with stress. As a life coach and business owner, she has helped hundreds of people around the Twin Cities release stress and change their lives for the better. Read Scott Fagerstrom’s thoughtful profile of her — as well as the tips he dug up on how to deal with seasonal tension — on page 12.

While we are looking at the holidays and all the fun it can bring (or not), we also explore some other topics worth checking out this month. Our hilarious and whip-smart dating columnist, Stephanie Kotelnicki, shows you the signs you need a break from dating. Her article is on page 26. Be sure to check out her new Facebook page, Stephanie’s Savvy, and comment online. We’d love to hear your dating experiences and whether you’ve needed a break.

Also, be sure to read Jodi Livon’s column about exploring your intuition.

Everyone is intuitive, although some are

more tapped into it than others. Anyone can use their intuitive sense, though, and Jodi answers’ reader questions about that.

Send questions anytime you want and your inquiry might appear in a future edition.

And now I hand it over to you. What’s on your mind? What resonated with you?

What didn’t? What story ideas do you have? Send us your suggestions to editor@ savvy.mn, or message us anytime on Facebook. Our Twitter handle is @savvymn.

Until next time, I hope your holiday season is joyous and celebratory!

Cheers,

Britt Johnsen Editor in Chief

SUBSCRIPTION AND ADDRESS CHANGE: Ruby Winings, 952-345-6682 or circulation@swpub.com

corrections • A story on page 14 in Savvy’s November edition incorrectly stated where Shannon Tassava received her Ph.D. She received her Ph.D. from the University of Illinois at Chicago. The story also incorrectly stated when her mother’s published writing appeared; her work first appeared in the 1970s.

PLEASE RECYCLE THIS MAGAZINE

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fashion | trends

1 2 3 & 4 8 7 6 5 CLASSIC

COZY

Perhaps the most popular fashion item this season, the perfect pair of boots completes any outfit.

By Emily Abbott

1. Leather Boots. $99, H&M. Wear these bohemian booties with skinnies and a cozy sweater. 2. L.C Lauren Conrad Tall Riding Boot. $99, Kohls. Channel your inner country cutie with a riding boot. Pair with a cozy flannel and cable knit sweater this winter. 3. JFlight Museum Boot. $54.99, Modcloth. Lined with shearling, these wedge booties will keep your feet toasty all winter long. 4. Kaydian. $69.95, Shoedazzle. These platform boots, with python and metal detailing, are only for the daring and perfect for a night out.

5. Samantha Short Boot. $34.99, Payless. Slip these slouchy booties on for a weekend getaway or lunch with the girls. 6. Etnies Siesta. $80, Zappos. Suede boots and cozy sweaters are the ultimate city girl uniform. 7. Natasha. $79.95, Sole Society. These perfectly timeless black booties will become your go-to year after year. 8. Muk Luks Sofia Short Slipper Boot. $34.95, Shoebuy. These cozy sweater boots are made for winter nights and warm fires. Pair them with leggings and an oversized sweater.

Unique Gifts At Affordable Prices New and upcycle apparel & accessories at prices that wonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t empty your wallet.

PROP Coat Drive Saturday, November 16th

Designer Consignment Boutique 8022 Den Road, Eden Prairie (Neighbor to EP Liquor and Cub Foods) 952-944-9290 â&#x20AC;˘ www.encorecb.com

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DECEMBER 2013 | savvy.mn

fashion | showcase

ONE OF A KIND

Hackwith Design House crafts selective designs for Minneapolis fashionistas.

BY EMILY ABBOTT Although not as well-known as such fashion metropolises like L.A, New York and Paris, fashion in Minneapolis holds its own. Designers with a unique style and something important to say have opened boutiques all over the Twin Cities, giving Minnesotans some truly artistic places to shop.

One such boutique is Hackwith Design House. Owned by Lisa Hackwith, this design house embodies individuality. Each item offered is only one of 25 created to guarantee that each piece is special. Owner and designer Hackwith shies away from mass retailing, choosing instead to make her limited selection designs in-house. Fabrics are chosen from all over the world, sketches are drawn up and each piece is sewn in the Minneapolis studio. The intent of such attention to detail is to create a beautifullycrafted garment, a feature piece for any fashionista’s closet.

The versatility of their garments is a highlight for anyone’s closet. With the hopes of creating a truly timeless selection of items to shop, Lisa does not limit her designs to seasons. Instead, each piece is intended to be worn again and again. With this idea of year-round designs, Hackwith Design

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House refrains from selling clothing as a collection. Instead, shoppers of this boutique can find a new piece to delight the senses each Monday. Not only does this create a revolving door of high-quality designs, but also allows each customer to choose something she can fall in love with knowing it is only one of a few created.

Because of the selectiveness of each design and the high quality at which each are made, garments range anywhere from $100 to $300. Customers of Hackwith Design House can rest assured, however, that with each purchase they are making an investment in something unique and lasting.

Hackwith initially had a passion for art.

And it wasn’t until later — after she finished art school — that she realized her love for sewing and fashion. A self-taught seamstress, she began selling clothing in 2010, eventually quitting her job to work full-time on Hackwith Design House. Her designs come from her own ideas of how clothing should look and feel on the body. With her own closet in mind, Hackwith ensures each piece is an expression of her style. She pays close attention to detail including the color of the fabric, the stitching and the way it drapes across the feminine form. Three years ago, she began her boutique with the goal of creating a piece intended to be cherished and

has allowed this goal to shape every design.

Not only does Hackwith gain inspiration from her own closet, but loves to partner and gain inspiration from other local boutiques.

Visitors to Hackwith Design House can often find collaborations. These carefully crafted pieces are intended to represent these other local boutiques while still maintaining the heart of the Hackwith Design House aesthetic. Lisa’s collaborations include Parc Boutique, Mille and Cliche. Customers interested in viewing these unique works of art can visit the Hackwith Design House website and search under collaborations.

Hackwith Design House items can also be purchased online on their website.

Fashionistas in Minnesota no longer have to look only to major cities for their inspiration or wardrobe. Well-crafted, oneof-a-kind pieces can be found in their own backyard.

Emily Abbott is a Twin Cities-based freelancer. Send feedback to editor@savvy.mn.

HACKWITH DESIGN HOUSE Hackwithdesignhouse.com

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savvy.mn | DECEMBER 2013

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LOCAL FINDS

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“Give the gift of wellness this holiday season, and purchase a Good & Twisted Yoga gift card that can be used towards classes or merchandise!

We’ve made your choice even merrier by offering the two great deals below...happy, stress-free shopping!”

BUY $40 GET $50 GIFT CARD

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DECEMBER 2013 | savvy.mn

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1. SHOP 501

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Five creative women team up to create a super shop in Chaska. Inside Shop 501, shoppers will find everything from vintage original artwork, and unique jewelry and items made from salvaged pieces.

501 N. Chestnut St., Chaska 612-991-0625; facebook.com/SHOP501

2. LABELLE BOUTIQUE Black Bali top with a zipper for decoration. Beautiful brocade skirt in black and maroon swirls by Linea Domani Limited Collection. Finish the look with a necklace and earrings by Access Jewel.

8160 Cty Rd. 42, Ste. 400, Savage 952-440-2955; labelleboutiquesavage.com

3. HOME ACCENTS Find your holiday decor at Home Accents Etc. as well as gifts, clothing, and jewelry.

16161 Main Ave., Prior Lake 952-440-5624; homeaccentsetc.com

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4. MAINSTREAM BOUTIQUE Scarves are a must-have accessory this season! An easy way to dress up any outfit. Not sure how to tie a scarf? Try an infinity scarf! These circular scarves are super easy to wear. Want to infuse some color into a neutral colored outfit? This is an easy & inexpensive way to add an extra layer, and add some color to your wardrobe! All scarves are priced at $22.

14025 Hwy 13 S., Savage 952-440-4020, savage.mainstreamboutique.com

5. THE VINTAGE GYPSY

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The Vintage Gypsy has EXPANDED! Stop in for unique handmade gifts including a bit of “gypsy kids”! We always have unique re-purposed & recycled items, vintage finds, unique furniture, clothing & accessories! Check us out on facebook. com/TheVintageGypsy OR shop online at thevintagegypsy.com. Located on Main Ave. in DT Prior Lake & open Tuesday-Sunday through December!!

6. ENCORE CONSIGNMENT BOUTIQUE Shop Encore this season for great gifts at affordable prices! $5-$40. Many locally made items.

And if you can’t decide, give a gift certificate.

8022 Den Road, Eden Prairie 952-944-9290; encorecb.com

7. UPTOWN GIRLZ The Holidays are right around the corner...stop up to Uptown Girlz for all your holiday needs. We have a little bit of everything...from clothing and jewelry, to furniture, artwork and home decor. We’re located right around the corner of Main St. 4775 Dakota St. SE, Prior Lake facebook.com/UptownGirlzBoutique ssavvy.mn sa vvy. vv y mn | DE D DECEMBER CEMB CE MBER E 201 2013 13

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savvy.mn | DECEMBER 2013

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DECEMBER 2013 | savvy.mn

opening new doors Michelle Stimpson of Minnetonka left a comfortable corporate job to help others achieve their dreams. Her passion is in helping people choose which doors to close and open.

BY SCOTT FAGERSTROM

PHOTO CREDIT: STEVE LUCAS PHOTOGRAPHY

HAIR AND MAKEUP EXTRADOS

STYLING ENCORE CONSIGNMENT BOUTIQUE

B

y conventional standards, Tiffany Snyder had it made.

She was happily married to her junior high school sweetheart. She had two wonderful children. She had a great job in tthe he info information orm technology department at C Cargill, argill,, and an a model home in Anoka.

Stil Still, l l , Snyder knew something was m missing: issingg: “I “ don’t know that I could put my fi finger ingger oon n it,” but with her 40th birthday aapproaching, ap pp prroa oach chi the traditional definitions of ssuccess—the su ucccces ess— — next promotion, the bigger paycheck, p pa aych ycheckk, the new car—no longer seemed ssatisfying sa ati tisf isf s yin ng at a deep level. She had a nagging feeling ffe eeel elling that elin th her life didn’t line up with her ggoals go oal als or o aabilities, and that she might come ttoo the the end end n of her days wondering “what if?” ““Smart Smar people know when to pull in Sm ssome so ome eexperts,” xp xpe Snyder says. “It’s good if you have h ha ave ve a b board o of directors for yourself, and I had an oopening ha had p on my board of directors. I needed ne n eed ded an an outside perspective, with expertise in tthis in his w whole h area of life and planning.”

Snyder S nyd de found exactly what she was looking ffor ing or in in Michelle M Stimpson, a 44-year-old, dynamic d y nami micc life coach whose Minnetonkabased b assed L LifeShine if business has helped hundreds d reds off w women (and a few men) around the Twin T win Cities Citi define and achieve their dreams.

IIn n her her 10 years as a professional coach, Stimpson Stim mpsoon has worked with women in all sorts ssoorts rt off ssituations. Typically, though, her clients of professional women who, clieents consist co like Snyder, have already achieved the typical li e Snyyde definition of success, but have a sense that defi finitioon fi something basic is lacking. someth hing

In Stimpson’s words, her clients know at some level that they’re “not always spending your time on the things that are most important … and know something has got to give.” And they’re held back by the belief that “making any type of change feels so big that they’re not even sure where to start.”

••• Stimpson knows exactly how that feels.

Ten years ago, she and her husband, Bill, were living in their “custom-built dream house, every inch of which reflected us.”

And she was enjoying her career as a training and development manager at Carlson, which gave her the occasional opportunity to “help the light bulb go off for people.”

For Stimpson, the light bulb went off when one of her colleagues underwent training for certification as a life coach, and “needed a guinea pig.” Stimpson signed up as one of her friend’s first clients, and quickly realized that as much as she enjoyed the house and the job, her passion was elsewhere.

Sitting down with a coach was “lifechanging,” Stimpson recalled. “I knew that I wanted to do this for people, and that I was meant to be on my own” — even if that meant going without the steady paycheck Carlson provided, and therefore, giving up the dream house she and her husband had spent so much time planning and building.

“We thought, ‘Wait a minute, we can’t move. We said we’d live here forever.’ But Bill and I realized that if we keep saying ‘yes’ to the house, we’re saying ‘no’ to the possibility of starting our own business. And we’re saying no to what we really love: traveling

and enjoying life.”

The Stimpsons signed up for the Coaches Training Institute, and after “116 hours of the most intense training I’ve ever been through,” the two graduated with life coach certifications recognized by the International Coach Federation (while life coaching is Michelle’s full-time job, husband Bill continues to work at Cargill, but partners with Michelle for seminars and writing projects).

••• Ten years and hundreds of success stories later, the Stimpsons have developed a program called the “LifeShine Positive Change System” to help clients determine what’s working (and what isn’t), and to help them create a vision of their happier future.

Over a period of counseling sessions that last from three to nine months, Stimpson puts her clients through a series of exercises, borrows advice from Stephen Covey’s Seven Habits of Highly Effective People, and perhaps most important, applies her own intuitive sense of what her clients are thinking and feeling.

“Michelle is a natural,” says Jodi Fidler, a long-time client who has been friends with Stimpson since the two of them were 14-year-olds serving pizza at a local Shakey’s. “She was born to do this, even before she had any training. It’s like she always knows or somehow is guided on what to say that helps a person empower themselves.”

In Fidler’s case, that meant walking away from a career as a chiropractor and savvy.mn | DECEMBER 2013

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embarking on a new position as an independent sales consultant. “She helped me realize it was OK to give myself permission to leave a profession I thought I would do my entire life. But I did that for 17 years; now I’m moving on and building my skincare business.

“I’ve never been happier.”

Faith McGown moved the opposite direction. In 2004, when she first sat down with Stimpson, she was one of the most successful Realtors in the Twin Cities. But that career left almost no time for other priorities, including her daughter and even her own health.

“In hindsight, I had way too much on my plate. It’s hard to imagine how I was getting through day to day. (Stimpson) helped me determine what was truly important in my life, and once I determined what that was, (she) helped me build my life around those things,” rather than fitting her life around the demands of her career.

“I determined that real estate and being self employed were not the right fit for me. As a single mother, I didn’t want to have to worry about where the business was going to come from, and doing the books. I wanted to simplify.”Today, McGown is blissfully employed as a fundraiser for Planned Parenthood.

For Snyder, the secret to happiness lay not in leaving her career at Cargill, but in finding a new position within the company that better leveraged her skills and ambitions, and just as important, left time for her to balance personal goals with her professional achievements.

Working with Stimpson, Snyder says, “I realized that success doesn’t always mean I spent 80 hours at work this week and I’m on track for the next promotion. It could mean I adequately spent time with my art, volunteering in the community, or leveraging my strengths at work in various ways” that don’t necessarily lead to a raise or a promotion.

In each case, Stimpson says, “my mission involves embracing what brings me joy, and helping others do that in their own life. Life is meant to be lived.”

In essence, “we are all the same. Fundamentally, at the core, we all have hopes and dreams and fears and challenges, and we all truly just want to do our best.”

Scott Fagerstrom is a Twin Cites-based freelance writer. Send feedback to editor@ savvy.mn.

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DECEMBER 2013 | savvy.mn

STRESS-FREE HOLIDAY TIPS Christmas is to perfectionists as the Venus fly trap is to insects: Irresistible, but extremely hazardous.

“We all have this idea of what (the holidays are) supposed to be like,” Stimpson says. “You turn on a TV and there’s a commercial; everyone’s singing together and ringing bells together.” The reality, of course, is rarely so picturesque, but for some people, the dream of family harmony and unbounded joy makes their own lives seem nightmarish by comparison.

“It’s ridiculous; it’s not real life,” Stimpson says. “But in my business, it’s one of the things that people talk about. They have kids in all these activities, there’s all these things, what do I do?”

It’s come up so often, in fact, that Stimpson has developed a few simple principles to help clients experience a stress-free holiday season: Establish a goal and consider what it will take to get you there: “Allow me to bring in my buddy Stephen Covey,” author of the famous Seven Habits of Highly Effective People. “I love his fundamental habits,” the second of which is beginning with the end in mind. When planning for the holidays, she suggests, imagine it’s New Year’s Day 2014. How do you want to feel that day? Calm? Peaceful? Organized? “Whatever it is, what needs to happen between now and then to get that feeling?” The alternative to having a game plan, Stimpson cautions, is “being swept up in the middle of all that (holiday) buzz, then wondering where the time went.”

Get family input: Seek buy-in for the plan by asking your spouse and kids that same question about New Year’s Day. “Maybe have the kids say, ‘We’d like to do this.’

Maybe your spouse wants to experience this. If you can do it all together, and you’re not doing it alone, trying to manage everything, it can take some of the pressure off.

You’ve built a team around you.”

Focus on what you can control: You know the drill. The kids don’t get along with their cousins. Your brother does nothing but sit in the family room watching sports.

In just about every family, “there’s gonna be a ton of stuff that’s outside your control.

Just understand that and go on.”

Prioritize: Saying “yes” to any one thing means saying “no” to lots of other things, so “focus on what matters most,” Stimpson advises. “Where can you say ‘no’ so you can say ‘yes’ to a more peaceful holiday season … maybe it means missing that one extra holiday party, which would be really, really fun. But if you say ‘no’ to that, you’re saying a bigger ‘yes’ to something more important in that moment. You can’t say ‘yes’ to anything if you don’t say ‘no’ to things that don’t fit.”

Build in ‘me’ time: “Women are really good at knowing what everyone else needs around them, which is great as long as you don’t compromise your needs. If you’re filling your own tank first, you can only be of better service to those around you. If things get overwhelming, take time out for yourself. Better yet, take time out before things get overwhelming.”

Check in with yourself: Establish some sort of mantra or affirmation that serves as a kind of check-in. One of Stimpson’s clients even established some questions to ask herself throughout the day: ‘How am I doing at focusing on what I can control right now? Do I feel great, or should I tweak things?’ “For each person, that mantra or affirmation will be different. It could be focusing on what you’re doing right … whatever you’re focusing on is what’s going to grow.”

Set up a calendar: This one might seem obvious, but Stimpson suggests penciling in your calendar daily down time. Without doing so, “your day will fill up and that won’t happen.”

Trust that you know yourself best: At some level, “you know what you need, and you know where to say yes. Always trust that.”

—Scott Fagerstrom

savvy.mn | DECEMBER 2013

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health | get calm

STOP

&BREATHE

How to relieve tension and stress and bring more calm into your holiday season.

BY BRITT JOHNSEN

When we are caught in the middle of a harried situation — maybe it’s snarled traffic, work pressure or a financial issue — we tend to hold our breath. I know I do. Are you kidding me? The last thing I want to do when I’m worried about something is stop and breathe!

I’m too busy thinking and trying to come up with a solution.

But stopping to breathe is the first thing we should do.

In addition to managing Savvy, I’m also a yoga teacher. In Sanskrit, breath is called prana, or life force. In yoga we learn we can improve and even increase the length of our lives by regulating our breath. Balancing our breath helps with mental clarity and emotional control, circulation and relaxation, just to name a few benefits. It also stimulates the parasympathetic nervous system, which slows your heart rate, helps digestion and promotes rejuvenation.

We are in the midst of one of the most stress-inducing times of the year: The holidays.

By the time you’re reading this, Halloween has come and gone, and you are likely thinking about how many pies to make for Thanksgiving. Hanukkah is almost here and Christmas isn’t too far away. Whatever you celebrate, ‘tis the season for shortened breath, shortened tempers, and high pressure to make the perfect meal, get the perfect gift and please everyone.

It doesn’t have to be this way. Or, at least the part about shortened breath and shortened tempers. While you may truly be under pressure — whose family doesn’t bring some form of tension? — you do have a choice as to how you’re going to respond.

The deal is that our mind and emotions are intimately connected with our physiology.

So as silly and simple as it may seem, stopping to make sure you are fully exhaling and taking in new oxygen actually does make a giant

16

DECEMBER 2013 | savvy.mn

difference in the way your brain operates. That, in turn, is going to allow you to put the most stressful situation into perspective.

Or at least it will allow you to take your tension to a pillow, your journal or a confidential conversation rather than angrily erupting at a person.

Here are a few more ways to relieve holiday stress when (or before) you need it: Take your burdens to the mat, the gym or a kickboxing ring. I don’t care what kind of physical exercise you prefer, although obviously my bias is yoga. But either way, please make sure you are physically moving your body, which will help get rid of toxins, release tension and bring in new oxygen (but again, be sure to exhale fully to get the best results).

This is going to help you with mental clarity, focus, emotional control and numerous other benefits. It will make it so that you can keep your pressure in perspective. Remember, the holidays are only a small fraction of the year. It won’t be long before you’re back to the normal daily grind.

Be honest. Do you completely hate hosting Thanksgiving? Maybe there’s a way someone else can host this year, or maybe you can call in cooking help. Are you short on cash? Talk to your family about where you’re at, and maybe you guys can start a Secret Santa tradition. Are you feeling a range of emotions stirred by family drama? Plan to talk with a friend before and after get-togethers. When you’re honest with yourself and others about what you’re thinking and feeling, it takes the pressure off your mind — and you will feel the pressure lift from your body, as well.

Forgive. So many people find themselves holding their breath over family upsets. Some issues require more heavy-duty attention, like professional counseling, and some transgressions divide families in a very real way. In certain cases, forgiving before you’re ready is not healthy, and it is not honest. But in other cases, letting go of your negative emotions toward a person or group of people can help lift stress immensely. Forgiving someone doesn’t mean you condone what they did; it just means you no are no longer willing to hang on to the negativity that ultimately hurts you. Put the situation in perspective by sitting with the willingness to forgive, and let yourself experience the freedom of seeing others with compassion.

Chances are that everyone will benefit in the end — and your holidays will be that much easier.

Britt Johnsen is Editor in Chief of Savvy Magazine. She’s also a certified yoga teacher, teaching poses, breathing exercises, meditation and mudras to students who want and need rejuvenation. Having experienced much stress in her life, from family to work to health, she knows the ins and outs of releasing fear from your life. Send feedback to editor@savvy. mn or comment online at Savvy.mn.

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savvy.mn | DECEMBER 2013

17

health | breast cancer

Young

Breast cancer diagnosis brings pain and hardship for young moms.

H

eather Blohm was pregnant with her second child last winter when doctors confirmed her suspicions about an unusual breast lump.

Within a week, instead of going to breastfeeding classes, the expectant mom found herself attending a chemotherapy session.

For Tanya Simonson, it was the other way around. She was struggling to get back on her feet in October 2012 after battling an aggressive form of breast cancer. Then she learned she was pregnant.

“My friends came over that day to try to keep me calm,” Tanya recalls. “I cried a lot. I just thought, ‘Am I going to die?’”

The rate of breast cancer is fairly low for women under age 40 — about 5 percent of women under 40 are diagnosed each year in the United States, according to the American Cancer Society. But the risk rises dramatically for women who have certain genetic mutations.

Both Tanya and Heather tested positive for the BRCA1 mutation (Tanya also has the BRCA2 mutation). BRCA1 and 2 are human genes that suppress tumor proteins and help to repair damaged DNA. If the genes are mutated, the resulting cell alterations are more likely to develop into cancer.

Genetic tests can check for the mutations in people with a family history of cancer. After Tanya’s diagnosis, her 25-yearold sister, Tori, opted to have a double mastectomy upon discovering she had a 90-percent chance of getting breast cancer within three years.

18

DECEMBER 2013 | savvy.mn

PREGNANCY AND CHEMO Heather Blohm’s husband, Mike, had come home from work and told her about a co-worker whose sister-in-law had breast cancer. It got Heather thinking that she should do a self breast exam, just to be safe.

“The next day in the shower, I felt a lump on the left side. I didn’t know if I was imagining it because I had just heard that other woman’s story, or what,” the 36-yearold says.

She went to the doctor, who said it was likely a cyst and to just leave it alone at the time. Heather had gone through two miscarriages and had taken progesterone to reduce the likelihood of another lost pregnancy.

The next month, Heather found out she was pregnant with Audrey.

Within a couple of months, she had shooting pains in her left breast. By January 2013, that breast had become “pretty much rock hard,” but again, her doctor said he wasn’t concerned and that it was probably just a result of hormonal changes.

An employee at the St. Francis family birth center, Heather asked a lactation specialist friend for her advice, and then went back to the doctor again. By then, her tumors had grown quickly, probably fueled by the high estrogen in her body. The next week, as she sat at home alone, Heather took the call. She had cancer.

The following weeks were a blur of ultrasounds, biopsies, genetic testing and heart scans to confirm the diagnosis of stage 2 ductal carcinoma and to prepare for treatment.

BY LORI CARLSON

Despite her concerns for her baby, Heather learned she would have to undergo chemotherapy while pregnant.

Heather was told the risks to the baby were very low, as she wouldn’t take in much of the chemotherapy drug.

Either way, she didn’t have much choice.

The tumors had grown, and she would have to follow up the chemo with a double mastectomy.

Audrey was born at exactly 36 weeks, seeming perfectly healthy.

Now at home with 7-month-old Audrey and 2-year-old son Parker, Heather is struggling with the emotional fallout of her cancer.

“I’m tired all the time. I have anxiety, I’m depressed. I worry a lot about the cancer coming back. I cry a lot when I’m driving the car,” she says. “I don’t know how to process all of it.”

She also grieves for the time lost with her newborn daughter. By the time she gave birth, she was exhausted, and she still had to endure six and a half weeks of radiation treatment after the baby was born.

“My mom took care of her a lot,” she says.

Heather, who admits to being angry that it took three doctor’s visits before she was sent for a breast ultrasound, has started going to counseling and is trying to work through her fatigue and worry to network with other cancer survivors.

Through a friend, she got connected with the Uplifters, a local group of women who gather to support one another and celebrate life. Organizer Sue Heaton of Prior

PHOTO CREDIT: BE CREATIONS PHOTOGRAPHY

Mothers’ Struggle

health | breast cancer Lake was first diagnosed with stage four breast cancer in 1997, and had her son (also named Parker) between two recurrences of the cancer, when she had thought chemotherapy had sent her into early menopause.

Heather attended Sue Heaton’s annual Uplifters luncheon this past February despite just losing her hair and feeling nervous about meeting new people.

“It was very hard to go to it. It was the first time I had been with a group of people that had cancer,” she says. “But it is a network of support. I’m starting to reach out.”

The Blohms are staying with family in Cottage Grove until their new home is built in Elko New Market. Heather will have a hysterectomy at some point soon, because the BRCA1 gene predisposes her to a much higher-than-normal risk of ovarian cancer.

“Women just really need to be their own advocate, and if you think something’s wrong, you need to push it,” she says. “There is a lot of help and support out there for women. We don’t have to do it by ourselves.”

A BRUSH WITH DEATH, AND THEN A BABY No one should have to face a cancer diagnosis, but it’s a particularly hard pill to swallow when you’re only 29.

Tanya Simonson, now 31, found a lump in her breast in February 2011. Two months later, with the spot getting more tender, she decided to follow her boyfriend’s advice and go to the doctor. It was April Fool’s Day. The doctor suspected cancer, which was confirmed on April 4. Three weeks later, Tanya underwent a double mastectomy for triple-negative breast cancer, a nonhormonal, extremely aggressive form of the disease.

Tanya — formerly of Savage and now living in Bloomington — had already gone through cancer scares in her late teens and early 20s, as her family has a history of ovarian cancer. (Both Tanya and her 25-year-old sister, Tori, will also have to undergo hysterectomies by age 35.)

She turned to her dad, Mike, who went to every single appointment as she navigated the dark roads ahead.

“I just had to be Dad, 24-7 for her,” says Mike. “It was intense. You hear the words you don’t want to hear, but you’re glad you’re hearing it so something can be done.”

Tori had her own news to digest. On the same day of Tanya’s mastectomy, Tori found

out through genetic testing that she faced an almost certain breast cancer diagnosis within three years if she didn’t have a preventative double mastectomy.

“She tells me I saved her life by making her aware of the high risk she faced,” Tanya says.

Like Heather, Tanya has gone through intense emotional distress from the pain, the worry, the hair loss, the fear of recurring cancer. Until her daughter was born, she felt like she didn’t have much to live for.

She pushed away her boyfriend, her friends and her family.

“I couldn’t find the joy. I hit rock bottom and broke up with my boyfriend. I felt guilty for surviving. You lose who you are, and you have to somehow learn to find the new you.”

Tanya went to counseling and got help for her depression. She reunited with her boyfriend and started talking and writing her way out of the “dark place.” She tries to help other women facing the “C” word, whether it’s attending chemo sessions with them or through her candid journal at caringbridge.org/visit/tanyasimonson.

Nearly a year after going through her breast cancer nightmare, Tanya got pregnant. It took her two weeks to tell her boyfriend, Rousey.

“I freaked out,” she says. “We hadn’t discussed having kids. We were just getting our life together. I wasn’t really even supposed to be able to have them — after the chemo, I had about a 25-percent chance.”

She talked a lot with her dad about the pregnancy.

“I was grieving about not being able to have kids, and then find out about this — it was a hard decision — do you want to pass on the gene? Am I healthy enough? What if the cancer comes back?”

Worse yet, when she was 23 weeks pregnant, Tanya went under the knife (incredibly, also on April Fool’s Day) — this time because of an enlarged lymph node that set off alarms that the cancer might already have returned. It turned out to be scar tissue and swollen lymph nodes, not cancer.

Six weeks after giving birth to Maliya, Tanya had a full MRI and bone scan to make sure there was still no cancer. She faces a lifetime of careful watching and frequent testing.

Tanya says women have to pay attention to their own bodies and speak up if something doesn’t feel right.

“You can’t be embarrassed to talk about it. make sure your friends pay attention, too. It was important for me to find other younger

REDUCING THE RISK OF BREAST CANCER While there is no way to prevent breast cancer with 100 percent certainty, there are ways to reduce the risk of being diagnosed.

Obesity and sedentary lifestyles increase a person’s risk. Regular exercise and a healthy diet that is low in fat but high in whole grains, fruits and vegetables have been shown to reduce the risk of breast cancer.

Excessive alcohol use increases a person’s risk of developing breast cancer. Consuming two or more alcoholic beverages a day is also believed to increase a woman’s risk factor, and the more the woman drinks, the more her risk factor is increased.

According to the Mayo Clinic, “accumulating evidence suggests a link between smoking and breast cancer risk, particularly in premenopausal women.”

Undergoing estrogen replacement therapy for more than five years increases a woman’s breast cancer risk because the estrogen stimulates breast cells.

Some studies suggest that breast feeding has a preventative effect, and the more a woman breast feeds, the greater the preventative effect.

BRCA1 and BRCA2 genetic mutations greatly increase a person’s risk of developing breast cancer.

Although hereditary, women do have options such as a double mastectomy or preventative medicines.

Women with these mutations are also urged to undergo more aggressive screening.

-Alex Hall of the Savage Pacer

women going through the same thing. This is not an ‘old person’s disease.’”

This story originally appeared in the Savage Pacer. Lori Carlson is a writer and editor for Southwest Newspapers, which publishes Savvy. Send feedback to editor@savvy.mn.

savvy.mn | DECEMBER 2013

19

just u | celebrations

RATE THE HOLIDA B E L YS CE WITH

SAVVY TH

AND

E ARBO RETUM

BY SAVVY STAFF Enjoy a night of shopping, music, wine tasting and holiday treats, all while supporting a local charity.

Savvy Magazine’s latest event, A Holiday Affair, will take place from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 5, at the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum in Chaska. Tickets are $15. The first 300 guests get swag bags full of offers and goodies. Door prizes will be offered throughout the evening, and anyone who brings a toy in support of Twin Cities Toys for Tots gets a $5 Shop Buck.

The night includes wine tastings from local wineries, music

by Jazziblu, tablescape displays with seasonal decor ideas, holiday treats and cash bar. Coat and bag check are also provided.

To purchase tickets for this special event, go to Savvy. mn and click on Events. For more information or questions, contact Lisa Kalkes at lkalkes@swpub.com or Britt Johnsen at editor@savvy.mn.

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nosh | dining

D

g o n i n n a i

How to enjoy restaurant food while still following a strict diet.

BY ALLISON ROORDA When all you want is a juicy steak or a gooey brownie — but you can’t have it because of your special dietary needs — dining out can be rough. And having to watch as friends or loved ones order anything they want can make it even worse.

But there are still some ways to eat carefully and enjoy a delicious meal. Check out these tips from local experts who recommended what to do if you’re on a low-sugar, low-fat or gluten-free diet. Heed their advice and you might not dread dining out after all.

LOW-SUGAR Sugar can pop up in foods that you wouldn’t expect. But there are some general rules that you can follow.

“If you can, stay away from things that say sucrose or high fructose corn syrup,” says Carrie Reynoso, registered licensed dietitian.

“A lot of sauces are going to be the ones that have a lot of sugar.”

Reynoso recommends choosing some-

22

DECEMBER 2013 | savvy.mn

thing like a balsamic vinegar or vinaigrette instead.

“In general, I would say that you should try to eat things that are as simple as possible,” says Lynda Enright of Be Well Nutrition Consulting. She says one good idea is to order foods that are prepared as simply as possible, such as grilled meats and vegetables. “Once you start getting into carbs, those can add a lot of sugars.”

In fact, carbohydrates are actually the greatest culprits in a low-sugar diet. Teri Rose, owner of Perfectly Produce, says the reason people care about sugar is because all carbohydrates are eventually converted into glucose. She takes a portion control approach to nutrition and tells people that what is most important is your total amount and having the proper portions of each of the macro-nutrients.

So, instead of the dense, refined sugars found in carbohydrates like rice and bread, Rose suggests fruits and vegetables instead.

“Half of the plate should be healthfully prepared produce: no cheese, no cream, no

deep-fried (foods),” she says. “Start your meal with those instead of your chips or bread.

That provides you with the volume your stomach needs to stretch to feel satiated. You save a ton of sugar and you also get fiber.”

To finish off the plate, a quarter of the plate — equal to one tight fist — can be starches and denser carbohydrates, although Rose recommends whole grains, and the final quarter of the plate is protein.

LOW-FAT Some of the offenders for a low-sugar diet can also be on the no-scarfing list for a low-fat diet.

“With low-fat, don’t get any sauces, breading (or) cheese,” Enright says. “(And) anything deep fried, obviously, is going to have a lot of fat in it.”

Sauces can have a high fat content as well as the refined sugars. Reynoso says any alfredos and dressings like ranch or blue cheese are going to be high in fat. One way to control how much you intake is to order the dressing or sauces on the side and dip your

fork into it instead of pouring the dressing over your food.

Under the proper portions guidelines Rose follows, one thumb equivalent of fats is the limit for a meal.

“This gets tricky in restaurants because you have no control of how (food) is prepared,” Rose says. “This means cheese, olives, avocado; all contributes to that.”

A lot of proteins also come with as much as a one-to-one ratio of fat-toprotein grams. Rose suggests getting foods broiled or baked rather than fried or sautéed.

“Nutrition is totally like Goldilocks,” she says. “We want just the right amount.”

Whatever you’re looking for, the more you know before going out, the better prepared you can be at the restaurant.

“I encourage people when eating out to do some research first before you go,” Enright says. “When you cook it at home, it seems like it wouldn’t be that bad, but you don’t know what a restaurant is doing.”

GLUTEN-FREE People can follow a gluten-free diet either for health reasons or simply out of a preference. Like following any other specialty diet, following a gluten-free menu takes a little more than just avoiding sugars or fat.

“Gluten-free gets a little tricky,”Reynoso says. “You always want to check the menus before.”

Reynoso says a good rule is to look for the types of meals that don’t have bread, like choosing meals that are higher in protein.

“Like putting chicken on a salad,” she says.

Meals like fish can be both low fat and gluten free. Don’t be afraid to ask servers for special considerations, like taking croutons or breadcrumbs off salads. Ask for details about how the food is prepared.

“The biggest thing with gluten-free is cross-contamination, making sure everything is cooked separately, like with tin foil,” Reynoso says.

As with any specialty diet or health need, research is key.

“If you’re eating meat, or veggies or fruit, they shouldn’t have gluten added,” Enright says. “You really have to ask and know what it is they’re preparing.”

Allison Roorda is a Twin Cities-based writer. Send feedback to editor@savvy.mn.

savvy.mn | DECEMBER 2013

23

nosh | healthy eats

AFTER-SCHOOL

snacks

BY ALLISON ROORDA

Kids often come home from school hungry. But with options ranging from quick and easy snacks to all-natural foods and everything in between, how do you choose the best thing for your kids?

“The key is getting some real food, getting some protein, getting some healthy carbs,” says Lynda Enright, owner of Be Well Nutrition.

Enright, who has written articles on children’s and family nutrition on her blog, says the most important aspect of kids’ snacks is the food groups included. A good mix would include a glass of milk with trail mix or yogurt with a piece of cheese.

“I would encourage kids to stay away from the chips and the crackers. A lot of those foods don’t fill you up until you’ve had too many of them,” says Jessica Graumann.

Graumann is a nutritionist at a pediatric weight management clinic at Amplatz

24

DECEMBER 2013 | savvy.mn

Nourish your child’s wellness with healthy eats.

SOME SUGGESTIONS FOR HEALTHY AFTER-SCHOOL SNACKS: • Apple slices and peanut butter • Pistachios and clementines • Yogurt with strawberries • Hummus with carrot sticks • String cheese • Fruit and sour cream • Nuts • Trail mix • Peanut butter sandwich or half of a turkey • Homemade smoothie, with protein added

Children’s Hospital.

“I really try to push for families to have more filling foods,” she says. “Like a fruit or vegetable with protein.”

Be sure to stay away from carbohydrates or grains, which aren't as filling as fruits and vegetables, Graumann says.

“A lot of those foods don’t fill you up until you’ve had too many of them,” she says.

Enright says a good rule of thumb is to

sandwich

stay away from pre-packaged snacks.

“The main thing is just real food, not out of a box,” she says. “Typically we just grab packaged stuff because it’s easy, and we need to try to get away from that, get back to real food.”

Allison Roorda is a Twin Cities-based writer.

Send feedback to editor@savvy.mn.

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25

relationships | dating

Holiday a

from dating

Dearest Readers, Happy holidays! Around this time of year, you are probably finalizing travel plans, baking cookies, packaging presents and taking long walks in the snow on a beautiful winter evening with, perhaps, your soul mate.

It is also about this time that your dearest Savvy columnist is deciding whether she wants to re-enter the world of dating or continue into 2014 a la Eat, Pray, Love.

Earlier this fall I experienced dating burnout, the kind of burnout where one needs to quietly exit the scene in order to restore equilibrium — in this case, restore faith in the idea of a relationship. Before committing to that decision, I decided to jot down a few symptoms and pessimistic thoughts that made me realize it was time to jump off the dating wagon for a while, climb on top of a horse and ride off into the sunset — alone.

I suspect that if you can identify with three or more of the following reflections, you may also want to saddle up and take a holiday from dating. After all, you don’t want to turn into a Scrooge — at least not forever.

Much love, Stephanezer Scrooge

HOW TO KNOW YOU NEED A BREAK FROM DATING 1. You start hating your male friends. Anything resembling locker room talk makes you want to throw dishes at them and never, ever speak to them again.

Not that they’d care, because they are just friends. Friends that forget about you when they are distracted by a new pet kitty, and then complain when there is no one around to play with anymore. You aren’t a friend;

26

DECEMBER 2013 | savvy.mn

you are a fluffer. Emotionally, and probably sexually…in their fantasies, anyway.

2. Logging into your online dating profile makes you want to vomit. It’s like swimming in a sea of frogs. Frogs that don’t read your profile. Frogs who are pushy.

Frogs who are inappropriate. Frogs you don’t want to waste time kissing because you can tell by their shirtless profile pictures that they will never turn into a prince. You know there are a few good fish out there … they just got smothered by all the amphibians.

3. You cheered loudly when Ygritte shot Jon Snow in the season three finale of Game of Thrones. Yep, he got what he deserved. Another cold, heartless bastard (literally) who ruined a young, smart and sexy woman because he couldn’t handle “belonging” to someone. He chose an ice tower and a bunch of old, crusty guys over a place to call home. But that’s fine, because

bastards don’t belong to anyone anyway.

4. You are annoyed by anything that carries a phallic look or reference. No more bananas with cereal. No more pointing your finger in someone’s face. You’re glad you converted to vegetarianism so you would never have to eat a hot dog again. You refuse to use a straw with your beverage because even that doesn’t deserve a good suck. The statue of David just seems self-righteous.

You feel degraded when you think of rubbing your milk facial cleanser all over your face. In fact, you’ve changed to kelp scrub now just to ease your anxiety.

5. Sexual fantasizing is getting difficult, and since you don’t dig girls, you’re basically running on empty.

Not even Don Juan can save you from this dry spell. Being that his magic number is bigger than a ballpark stadium, you know you wouldn’t dig him anyway. Porn doesn’t

ILLUSTRATION CREDIT: COMBINED EFFORTS OF NICOLE BULLOCK AND STOCK IMAGES

BY STEPHANIE KOTELNICKI

relationships | dating do it (too empty), romantic fantasies don’t cut it (too unbelievable), and let’s face it — you’re just not into 50 Shades of Grey.

6. Even compliments start to rub you the wrong way. Because it’s always about your sexy lips. Or your big boobs. It’s never, “You are a highly educated person and I appreciate the way you carry yourself ” or “I really love your sense of humor, you make me laugh.” Or, “I can’t believe we’ve been talking all night” or “By the way, I can’t believe how much more self-reflective I am since you’ve been in my life, thank you.”

7. You resent the fact that men want women to be a damsel, but no man is ever around to fix your car.

Or help pay your rent. Or take you out for a nice, half-decent date. And you further resent the fact that men feel emasculated because you had to learn how to fix things yourself when you were single. In fact, you are sick of them feeling emasculated in general — spouting insecure remarks because you are better at bow-shooting then they are. Or playing cards. Or playing foosball.

8. It comes through in your writing. ‘Nuff said.

9. You want to tell a guy, point blank, on the first date, “I need you,” just to see if he’ll spontaneously combust. Need. This four-letter word is kryptonite to men, which is hilarious since so many men are or want to be superheroes.

You developed a psychological term for this bipolar reality; it’s called the Superhero Complex. Men are supposed to want to fix things, but Batman be damned if you ever have expectations or say you need them.

Batman be damned if a guy ever said, “I want to save you!” What is going to happen if you break your arm, twist an ankle, or push out a baby? Will saying, “Honey, I

really need you” send him running out of the hospital towards the Canadian border?

10. Your friends start sending you extremely feminist blogs. You get their point, and it’s sad that it’s come to this.

11. You aren’t being honest about how you feel. Let yourself cheer when Jon Snow gets shot. Write about how much dating can really suck. And call men out when they aren’t aspiring to be like the so-called superheroes they are always geeking out about. Throw your hands up and walk away. It’s okay to feel disappointed, angry and upset. Instead of stifling those feelings, take all of that energy and convert it into an empowering reminder that you will not settle for less than what you are looking for.

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27

love & life | local shopping

MADE IN MINNES OTA GIFT GU IDE

BY LIV LA

NE

This holiday season, Americans will spend up to $82 billion shopping online.

Many Minnesota bloggers are also creative entrepreneurs, hoping online shoppers discover their unique shops. Get to know them through their blogs, and then support them in their shops. If you’re stumped about what to get for someone on your list, here are some great ideas — and a chance to shop local from the comfort of your couch.

FOR THE TRENDSETTER Eco-friendly, tech-friendly, fashion-friendly. When Tracy Dyer launched Urban Junket in 2008, she managed to create a line of totes and laptop bags that deliver on all three promises. For instance, the chick Power Trips Rechargeable Bags, made with eco-friendly materials, contain a battery pack that recharges your device — laptop, tablet, or phone — while you work and shop! Check out the Urban Junket blog for the latest on new products, stores and reader contests.

BLOG: urbanjunket.com/blogs/news SHOP: urbanjunket.com

PHOTO CREDITS: SUBMITTED

FOR THE TRAVELER Photographer Jen Shaffer of Painted Fish Studio offers six different sets of Polaroid refrigerator magnets featuring sights and scenes from cities including Minneapolis, Chicago, Seattle and Amsterdam. She also handstitches small journals perfect for trip notes.

BLOG: paintedfishstudio.com SHOP: paintedfishstudio.etsy. com

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DECEMBER 2013 | savvy.mn

love & life | local shopping

FOR YOUR BFF FOR THE LADIES Larissa Loden crafts her eco-friendly jewelry line using vintage and recycled materials including old atlases, license plates, beads and lockets from the 1960s. One of her specialties is creating necklaces and cufflinks that showcase vintage maps of cities all over the world.

Meanwhile, Larissa’s blog is eye candy for trend watchers and accessory lovers.

BLOG: larissaloden.wordpress. com SHOP: larissaloden. com

St. Paul artist and psychologist Rachel Awes turns her clients’ and friends’ words of wisdom into vibrant, life-affirming artwork.

Rachel’s colorful and compassionate book, All I Did Was Listen, is the perfect pick-meup for a dreary day. Need several for a group of friends? It’s available in a girlfriend pack: five books, five greeting cards and five bookmarks for $90.

BLOG: rachelawes.com/blog SHOP: rachelawes.etsy. com

FOR THE BRIDE Planning a wedding or know someone who is? Jenna Lou creates gorgeous wedding day accessories including clutches, totes, sashes and men’s ties. Her blog follows her life as a handmade business owner and soon-to-be-mama.

BLOG: jennaloublog.blogspot.com SHOP: jennalou.com/shop

FOR THE CRAFTER If your gift list includes someone who loves to create with needle and thread, you’re sure to find something special from Penguin & Fish — such as embroidery kits, iron-on and printable patterns, fabric bundles and founder Alyssa Thomas’ new book, Sew & Stich Embroidery.

BLOG: penguinandfish.blogspot.com SHOP: penguinandfish.com

FOR THE FOODIE

Mei Pak of Tiny Hands Food Jewelry creates miniature, detailed accessories designed to look — and smell — like your favorite foods, from a Red Velvet Cupcake ring to a Caramel Coffee French Macaroon necklace! Mei shares accessory trend news and fun tutorials for creative projects on her blog.

BLOG: tinyhandsonline.com/blog SHOP: tinyhandsonline.com Liv Lane calls herself a Human Sparkler, devoted to helping women define and ignite their inner sparks — the traits, talents and passions that light them up from the inside out. She has mentored hundreds of bloggers around the world, and profiles an inspiring local blogger in each edition of Savvy. Find her online at LivLane.com.

savvy.mn | DECEMBER 2013

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love & life | holiday shopping

Savvy’s 2013 Holiday Gift Guide

BY UNSIE ZUEGE For those of us who love to shop, the holiday season is just one more excuse to roam the shopping centers, pop into our favorite boutiques and visit our favorite online shopping destinations.

For those who hate to shop, it’s the season of dread. There is no anticipation or excitement. Instead, thoughts go immediately to crowded stores, seemingly endless checkout lines, and most of all, blanking out on gifts.

Where to start? What to get? Where to go?

First things first.

Breathe in. Breathe out. Repeat until you feel calm.

Now, make a list.

Significant other? Children? Brothers. sisters? Parents? Grandparents? In-laws?

Friends? Children’s teachers, daycare providers? Your hair stylist? Your book club or yoga group?

Look at the list again. Couldn’t some of these folks get by with a holiday card and a box of homemade cookies? Or a small scented candle, a cheery holiday tea towel or cocktail napkins with witty sayings? These are things you can buy in quantity and keep on hand for gift giving as needed.

Remember, it’s the thought that counts.

Now that you’ve whittled your list down to a manageable length, it’s time to put a little thought into who you’re shopping for.

What do they want? What do they need?

Still confused?

Keep reading. We’ve done some legwork for you.

Here are some great ideas — in no particular order — to get you started. It’s not a comprehensive list but it should be enough to get you started.

tronics. Introduce the youngsters to classic board games in cool retro packaging like Monopoly (the classic version, not the spinoff themes like Simpsons or Star Wars, etc.), Parcheesi or Charades. And it’s time to bring Twister back. Maybe Grandma and Grandpa will take a pass on playing but the kids will have fun hearing their Twister party stories from the old days.

PUZZLES

There’s nothing better when getting the family together for the holidays than to have a puzzle or two to work on in between opening gifts, eating dinner, having drinks, eating snacks, having more drinks, and eating cookies and desserts. And if you happen to have a family that doesn’t really talk, frequently has awkward moments, or has certain topics that are off-limits — politics, GAMES religion, McKenzie’s body art — a puzzle is Change it up and put away the elec- a great diversion. To ensure that everyone can participate, make sure to have an easier puzzle for the younger set along with the challenging version for the teens and adults.

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DECEMBER 2013 | savvy.mn

PHOTO CREDITS: UNSIE ZUEGE

HIGH-TECH You can’t avoid it. Inevitably, someone will be checking his or her smart phone while the gift giving is going on. Instead of grumbling about it, embrace it and gift it. This year’s must have tech gizmo is the Samsung Galaxy Gear Smartwatch ($299).

Think James Bond.

A smartphone for your wrist. It surfs the web, takes pictures and videos, records audio, answers your phone, give you the weather report, and keeps time. It works in tandem with the Galaxy Note 3 smartphone ($299).

love & life | holiday shopping

And for those who like to take their music with them, check out the Beats Pill, a wireless Bluetooth speaker, by Dr. Dre ($199). It’s small, portable and packs a huge sound. For the younger set, or for a small room, the Jam Wireless Bluetooth speaker ($49.99) is a less expensive alternative.

WHAT TO GET MOM? Get her something she wouldn’t think to get herself — like a luxurious, statement handbag.

While there are many purses and tote bags out there, they’re mostly practical, suitable for running to the grocery store, carrying on errands, stuffed to the gills with wallets, phones, receipts, lipstick, hand sanitizers, tissues and breath mints.

But every woman secretly desires a statement handbag, one that purrs, “Take me out to dinner,” or “We’re going to go see ‘Wicked,’ then having cocktails after.”

Whether a designer brand or not, the quality is in the craftsmanship, details and materials.

Kate Spade has a sassy collection in

bright pinks and reds ($228-$298), fitted with brass buttons, looking slightly regimental. Diane Von Furstenberg has a collection in animal prints ($195-$595), zebra and cheetah, sophisticated and sleek.

HOW ABOUT DAD? Rethink the sweater and necktie. This year, get him something f rom Under Armour. Under Armour is a high performance athletic wear brand whose first claim to fame was a lightweight T-shirt made of microfibers that wicked moisture and kept athletes cool and dry. Professional athletes in sports ranging from football, baseball, skiing, snowboarding, biking, running and more wear it. Its popularity has filtered down to college and high school athletes as well as the casual sportsman or sportswoman.

In addition to keeping athletes cool, its ColdGear line keeps them warm. Its newest line, called Infrared, uses conductive technology to maintain and sustain body heat.

And in Minnesota, that’s a good thing.

Infrared is available in jackets ($49$200), hats ($20) and gloves ($34), for men

and women. And you can’t go wrong choosing an Under Armour hoodie ($54.99) for all ages and sizes.

Less expensive but just as cooling and warming are Smartwool socks, made of merino wool ($14-$20). Because they’re made of lightweight wool, they keep feet cool in summer and warm in winter. They come in different lengths, knee high for boots, crew length and as footies. And they come in all kinds of fun colors and patterns-something for everyone.

Maybe it’s just me, but the TNT cable show “Perception” makes carrying a man bag very cool. The main character, Dr. Daniel Pierce, a schizophrenic neuropsychiatrist, helps the FBI solve mystifying cases. He also carries a man bag, which also can be called a satchel or messenger bag. The messenger bag gives Dr. Pierce a very urbane, hip vibe.

Maybe Dad isn’t ready for such a fashion forward look, but maybe your brother or son is. Tumi has a great men’s satchel ($195), and Fossil has a good selection ($108-$200), including one in a subdued camo pattern that makes it both practical and manly. It’s a nice switch from a nylon backpack.

FAIR TRADE Looking for something original and one of a kind? Check out the jewelry from Kazuri America (kazuriamerica.com). The product line includes handmade ceramic jewelry made by women in Nairobi, Kenya.

Kazuri began in 1975 as a cottage industry to help a small group of Kenyan women earn a living. It now employs 350. Kazuri is a Fair Trade member, and locally, can be

savvy.mn | DECEMBER 2013

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love & life | holiday shopping found at Safari Portfolio in the Eden Prairie Center. Safari Portfolio also has beautiful woven baskets ($28-$60) made by women in Ghana. The baskets are perfect for gift giving, on their own, or as a gift basket, filled with tea towels, soaps, or jams and jellies.

COFFEE TABLE BOOKS These are the humungous, gorgeous hardcover books with big glossy photos that everyone sighs over at the local bookstore, but no one buys for himself or herself, because, well, they’re a luxury.

If you know someone who’s a classic car freak, or into airplanes, or cooking and food, or fashion or photography, or travel, this is the perfect time to get them a book they covet but would never buy for themselves.

For example, a big luscious book for foodies called The Photography of Modernist Cuisine, by Nathan Myhrvold ($120). This oversized book contains photos of common foods, styled and photographed in such a way, you want to sniff and lick the pages.

For the fashionista or fashion historian, consider Vogue — The Covers, by Dodie Kazanjian ($50). It’s a collection of 300 Vogue covers from the beginning –December 17, 1892 to today, documenting and commenting on the style-setting magazine’s most iconic covers taken by some of the world’s most famous fashion photographers like Richard Avedon, Annie Leibovitz, Steven Meisel, Helmut Newton, Irving Penn, Herb Ritts, and Bruce Weber.

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DECEMBER 2013 | savvy.mn

Another great fashion indulgence is Vogue, the Editor’s Eye, by Conde Nast with a forward by Anna Wintour ($75), as is Fashion, a History from the 18th to the 20th Century, by Taschen and the Kyoto Costume Institute ($34.95).

THE HARD-TO-SHOP-FOR

Chicago Press (press.uchicago.edu/books/ freeEbook).

Beers of the month. These are 12-ounce beers in four different styles. Beers are made by small independent brewers across the country (craftbeerclub.com).

Wine of the month. Memberships range from $34 to $84 a month (wineofthemonthclub.com).

Coffee of the month. Tasting boxes come with 4 ounces each of three varieties of roasts. Memberships range from $19.99$24.99. Select grind from whole beans, French press, flat bottom, or cone filter (craftcoffee.com).

Bacon of the month. Organic varieties of smoked and flavored. Memberships for 3, 6, or 12 months (baconfreak.com).

Beauty and g rooming products.

Monthly box of trial-sized products ($20/ month). Men’s includes shaving, grooming and hair products.

Women’s includes hair care, cosmetics and bath and body (www.birchbox.com).

Remember, the key to holiday gift giving is relaxing and realizing that selecting the right gift is not a life-or-death decision. It is the thought that counts, after all. And if the gift is less than a wow, well, that’s why you save receipts.

There’s always someone on the list that is hard to shop for. Either they have everything, or their tastes are so divergent there’s really no telling what they will or won’t like.

In this case, go silly.

We suggest the RedNeck Wine Glass ($14.99), a Mason jar with a screw top lid, atop a wine glass stem and foot. One is nice; a set of six makes a party. And you’ll want to match it with a sassy bottle of wine like Three Dudes and a Dog merlot ($16.95, threedudeswinery.com).

Some of us like gifts that keep on giving through the year. You can give a magazine subscription. Like coffee table books, some people don’t feel right splurging on Architectural Digest or People or Oprah. So do it for them.

Also, check out gift clubs that can send a gift monthly, every other month or quarterly.

For example: Golf ball of the month. Sample all the top brands, Titleist, Nike, Calloway, Srixon, in sleeves or boxes (birdie-life.com).

Manly things for manly men. Tools, Unsie Zuege is a staff writer at Southwest gadgets, manly stuff (moremanlygifts.com). Newspapers, which publishes Savvy. She Free e-books from the University of can be reached at uzuege@swpub.com.

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DECEMBER 2013 | savvy.mn

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savvy.mn | DECEMBER 2013

35

love & life | intuition

Explore

YOUR INTUITION with Jodi Livon

J

odi Livon, author of The Happy Medium, intuitive coach and resident psychic at Twin Cities Live, says everyone is intuitive.

Each month readers ask Livon about their questions around intuition and all things supernatural. In this month’s edition, readers ask about a haunted home, weight gain and lacking intuition.

My mom just moved into a newlybuilt home. Every time my 4-year-old daughter sleeps there, she feels scared and says the man is bothering her. My mom lives alone with just her cat Mickey and he acts odd sometimes and won’t go into the guest bedroom. I’ve been there when the radio in that bedroom turns on by itself. My mom thinks I’m a major cuckoo to think the place is haunted, but I do. Is it thinkable for a new home?

Yes, it is possible for spirits to inhabit a newly-built space. Spirits can be emotionally connected to inanimate objects, including land. While I clearly believe in ‘ghosts,’ I’m also fairly pragmatic. I suggest you definitely investigate. The radio, cat and your daughter’s experience lends strong evidence that there likely could be spirit activity. However, the strange noises could be due to the new house settling and some electrical matters. Or of course, it could be a matter of spirit. Just check it out and you’ll find your answers.

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DECEMBER 2013 | savvy.mn

I’m not sure if this is a question for a psychic but I feel panicky. I’ve been super overweight for 12 years. I’ve tried diets and exercise, and they tend to work — temporarily. Once I stop the diet, the pounds return. Looking in the mirror makes me feel sick and sad. Can you offer a solution?

Great question. Your intuition can be a partner in everything, including helping you live a healthier life. When I read someone, I pick up on what inspires them and gives them joy. For many of my clients, eating feels good and is tied to self-love.

It’s often the feeling of self-love we crave, rather than pasta, so denying ourselves something doesn’t typically help. Many of us overeat when feeling stressed, so the cure for emotional hunger isn’t necessarily less food; it’s achieving a greater sense of wellbeing. Doing things we are drawn to that not only feels good at the time, but feels good afterward, is key. Put your intuition to work and start paying attention to what invigorates you and makes you feel happy.

Lock that feeling into your memory. If you find it popping up at odd times, it’s not odd at all. Your instincts are leading you in a healthy direction. So the next time you head to your refrigerator, go for the food that brings that memory to mind.

Jodi, I read your book The Happy Medium, and I enjoy reading this col-

umn, but I have to tell you, I don’t have an intuitive bone in my body. You say everyone has it, but can a few people like me just not?

This is a sensible question, with great thought behind it. Yet the act of thinking is the opposite of feeling. Thinking is a rational function, while sensing and feeling are not. I truly believe that everyone is intuitive. But in order to tune in, the thinking mind must be turned down. Intuitive guidance can be staring you in the eye but you don’t notice because it seems so unconventional. Begin tuning into your feelings rather than your thoughts and you may notice an uptick in intuitive signals.

Send your questions for Jodi Livon to Savvy Editor in Chief Britt Johnsen and your question may appear in an upcoming edition of the magazine. Livon can’t answer every question but she’s grateful to receive all of them. Johnsen is at editor@savvy.mn or (952) 345-6387.

Jodi Livon is an author, resident psychic at Twin Cities Live, and she’s an intuitive coach for the business sector. She also offers readings for individuals. Her website is TheIntuitiveCoach.com.

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love & life | astrology

savvy sun signs

38

ARIES MARCH 21 - APRIL 19 Your growing edge this month: Pacing yourself. You like excitement but even you might wear out this month. You’ve been in the spotlight recently and may want to take a backseat to avoid the heat. When Mars, your ruling planet, moves into Libra on the 7th for nearly eight months, you will be tested to learn how to be a better partner. You can accomplish a lot on the 10th but you might want to slow it down anyway. Something makes you apply the brakes on the 13th. Watch out for saying the wrong thing at gatherings on Christmas Day; tempers are short.

Lingering hurt feelings may erupt on the 30th. Be respectful and aware.

TAURUS APRIL 20 - MAY 20 Your growing edge this month: Going with the flow. You like keeping familiar holiday traditions but this season will hold surprises for everyone. Welcome the new. The best weekend days for you are the 13th and 14th. Find your bliss but watch out for overindulgence.

Your ruling planet, Venus, will station retrograde in Capricorn on the 21st.

The next three months are a good time to make progress in creating stability around money and relationship. Keep that in mind as you shop. Perhaps homemade gifts are the way to go. Your peace will be challenged on the 29th and 30th. New Year’s resolutions will be colored by the stresses of the last few days of the year. What will you change?

GEMINI MAY 21 - JUNE 21 Your growing edge this month: Getting the big picture. It is easy to get swept away in the moment but sometimes you need to step back and assess what it all means. This is your month to do that. You may have noticed that change is in the air. That is fine with you, but can you help others who are having a hard time with that? You’ll have peak days from Dec. 15 until the Full Moon on the 17th. Unexpected events may show you your next steps. It helps to know where you want to end up as the path is revealed. What are you aiming for?

The 29th is an excellent day to get clear about this question.

CANCER JUNE 22 - JULY 22 Your growing edge this month: Discerning when to help and when to step away. You have the capacity to meet people’s needs. As others respond to the stress of the holidays, which may be stronger than usual this year, you need to conserve your own energy.

Take advantage of the trine between Jupiter and Saturn on the 12th to draw healthy boundaries around how much you will help others. Learn to communicate your needs too. Pay attention to self care on the 17th through the 19th, when you are feeling strong and capable. You are learning new ways to show your support for others. Bring that goal into the New Year.

LEO JULY 23 - AUGUST 22 Your growing edge this month: Welcoming change. The last month of the year is a good time to look at assumption and to reset goals. How do you feel about change right now? Rather than resist, you can look for ways to support a new approach, especially one that is creative and fun. You can ease tension and create lightheartedness at holiday gatherings by taking the unexpected in stride. You are in your fun-loving element on the 20th and 21st. 2014 will be a banner year for you, so take time to dream about what you really want to do next. Set intentions for the New Year that will help you expand your horizons and move you into a bigger arena.

VIRGO AUGUST 23 - SEPTEMBER 22 Your growing edge this month: Feeling confident in your gifts. You have a good mind for what others need right now. You can implement the vision for change by taking care of the details and creating systems that work. Look for creative opportunities on the 10th. At the Full Moon on the 17th you may be in the midst of problem-solving. Even though you might be frustrated, along with everyone else, you can sort it out.

The 22nd through the 24th are peak days for you. You are looking for a way out of holiday chaos. Find that quiet time when you can. Brilliant insights on the 29th help you plan for 2014.

What is your inspiration?

DECEMBER 2013 | savvy.mn

love & life | astrology Teri Parsley Starnes is a professional astrologer living in Minneapolis. Her monthly horoscope is written exclusively for Savvy readers. Learn more about Starnes’ business, Starsdance Astrology, at starsdanceastrology.com.

Read more in astrology online at savvy.mn

LIBRA SEPTEMBER 23 - OCTOBER 23 Your growing edge this month: Stepping up to a new level of involvement in the world. You have unique talents for bringing people together and for working out fair solutions. Both of these gifts will be called on during the next few months. You’ve had it with conflict and you have the drive to find peaceful and just solutions. The Full Moon on the 17th may be stressful.

Your peak days on the 25th and 26th present an opportunity to ease stress or conflict at holiday gatherings. People will look to you for grace and diplomacy. Deep feelings might surface on the 30th. Use these feelings to create your New Year's resolutions.

SCORPIO OCTOBER 24 - NOVEMBER 22 Your growing edge this month: Developing long-range plans. We naturally turn toward setting goals at the end of the year. This is especially important for you now. Setting intentions will help you in the times when life feels intense.

The co-ruler of your sign, Mars, moves into Libra for almost eight months. It’s time for you to focus on relationship and balance. You also have gifts to share with the world. The 12th is a good day to notice what they are. Christmas Day energies may throw you; be compassionate. Rest on the 27th and 28th so you can meet the demands of the 29th and 30th with reserved energy. Your healing talents may be called for at this time.

SAGITTARIUS NOVEMBER 22 - DECEMBER 21 Your growing edge this month: Finding the balance between home and adventure. Your questing spirit might be frustrated by demands at home. But you manage to bring fun to holiday gatherings anyway. Take time to review the past year and set intention for the next one, especially at the New Moon on Dec. 2 in your sign. Look for the perfect balance between responsibility and celebration on the 12th—the key is to listen to your heart. There is a lot going on this holiday season and the predominant mood is for changing things up big time. You want to welcome in the New Year early—the 29th and 30th are power days for you.

CAPRICORN DECEMBER 22 - JANUARY 19 Your growing edge this month: Letting your hard edges soften. You excel at taking responsibility and holding yourself and others accountable, but you have the opportunity to try a gentler approach. Pay attention to relationship. You feel confident on Dec. 4 and 5. Let that momentum carry you to a climax of optimism on the Dec. 12. You might possibly be the one to bring a sense of calm to frantic holiday gatherings. A desire for change is in the air, especially on the 29th. What do you most want to change for yourself? Events on the 30th are important to 2014 goalsetting work.

AQUARIUS JANUARY 20 - FEBRUARY 18 Your growing edge this month: Enlisting help from others on your quest for change. You’ll want to ask for others’ help to bring your inspirations into existence. Slow down to listen to partners. On the 6th, inspiration comes from daydreaming. The 7th is a day to follow up on what interested you about that. The Full Moon on the 17th is very energetic for you—your ruling planet, Uranus, stations direct. Everyone can expect surprises. Things don’t calm down for you on Christmas day, so be mindful that distractions don’t cause accidents. The 29th is a day full of ideas and conversation. Use this to fuel your vision for the next year.

PISCES FEBRUARY 19 - MARCH 20 Your growing edge this month: Keeping your wits when others around you are losing theirs. Holiday gatherings will have an edge of tension. Your mission is to not take on the stress that others will be feeling. Try to get some time to yourself on the 6th. The 8th and 9th are days you feel strong. These days prepare you for new integration of ideals with responsibilities beginning on the 12th.

Stick with it even though you could be struggling to keep up with everything you want to accomplish. Christmas and New Year’s Eve bring a series of ups and downs. Let the bright spots help you through the times of disruption.

Enter the New Year with a clear mind and heart.

savvy.mn | DECEMBER 2013

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DECEMBER 2013 | savvy.mn