feb./march edition of live it magazine
DESCRIPTION
This issue spotlights two women who make the most of the cold winter months.TRANSCRIPT
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Winter?As I write this, the winter of 2015 could be dubbed “the winter that wasn’t.”
Sure, we’ve had our share of cold spells and a few dustings of snow, but we also had an extended
January thaw. For those of us who like the outdoors — yes, even in winter — the lack of snow has put
a damper on our many outdoor activities. Of our winter vacations, few have been to warmer climates,
while many have been snowmobile excursions, even out-of-state. Last
winter Mike and I traveled to Wisconsin, along with thousands of
others, to see the ice caves. They were spectacular!
We did have an extremely warm winter day when we trekked
across the frozen waters of Lake Superior to view the caves. Which
was both good and bad. We didn’t freeze our extremities, but it was so
warm we also didn’t wear the clothing one typically would. The type of
warm winter clothing that also provides a waterproof outer layer that
would have also given us protection from the sloppy wetness of the
day. Oh well, it was still a beautiful day and a wonderful trip. Beauty
to behold!
In our current issue of Live it! Magazine, we meet Lara Dahl and
her family, who, despite the lack of snow, have been enjoying the
winter days ice fi shing. Lara tells us she enjoys the “togetherness” of
the family that ice fi shing can provide. Ashtynne Engler, on the other hand, is a bit distressed by the
lack of snow. Her winter passion is snowmobiling, which she says she could do endlessly and not get
bored — if only there was snow! Hopefully by the time this issue hits the streets we’ll have had a bit of
snow, making 2015 a winter wonderland for all to enjoy.
Several ideas for family fun, both indoors and out, are offered in our family column, and our
“spirits” guy offers his take on winter outings and how to cap the day off with a bit of warmth. Michelle
Gauer, our resident “foodie,” shares a time-honored recipe for bread pudding, along with a few new
thoughts on how you can jazz it up, and staff writer Anne Polta shares with us her love of cookbooks,
which are slowly becoming a thing of the past. Many now turn to the internet instead of an actual book.
We also have some food for thought on money matters involving investing vs. paying down your
home mortgage, and our Read it! column takes us back outdoors — or if you prefer you can stay
indoors and read about the winter wonders around us. There’s a piece on social media and the stress it
can induce, and don’t forget our style tips, along with a calendar of what’s happening across the region.
So, snow or no snow, indoors or out, there’s plenty of good reading right here, as well as an abun-
dance of proposals on how to make the most of a Minnesota winter!
If you have a topic you’d like to see in Live it!, send your story idea to [email protected]. We love to
hear from our readers. You can also “like” us on Facebook or send us a tweet @Liveitmag.
Life in west central Minnesota …
it really is a beautiful thing …
Live it! Sharon BomstadLive it! Editor
Reader feedback:
� I like to read about our local com-munity.
� Good articles, good information, well-written and very interesting. I read the entire issue.
� I like to see what is going on in town and look for things to do.
� (I like) the local fl avor of the mag-azine.
� It is cool to read about people around the area.
� A good variety of reading material.
� (I like the) upbeat articles — re-freshing instead of focusing on the neg-ative things.
� (I like) the appealing layout with the color photo and great articles.
Editor’s note: We love to hear from our readers.
“Like” us on Facebook, send us a tweet with your comments or even a new story idea, or email us at [email protected].
Watch for the next issue due out April 10, 2015.
To be sure and get future copies of Live it! Magazine mailed directly to you, call 320-235-1150; cost is $15 annually.
Live it! Magazine 3
Cover Story 6A winter love affair
Liveit!M A G A Z I N E
CAN’T Live WITHOUT it!A PUBLICATION OF THE WEST CENTRAL TRIBUNE
StaffSHARON BOMSTAD
MAGAZINE EDITOR
DAN BURDETTMAGAZINE WRITER/SOCIAL MEDIA
To contact Live it! call 320-235-1150 or email [email protected]
Writing & photographyDan Burdett
Nicole HovatterAnne Polta
Marketing consultantsKevin Smith, Director
Katie [email protected]
Sarah [email protected]
Christie [email protected]
Katie [email protected]
To advertise, call 320-214-4317 fax 320-235-6769
or email a listed consultant.
AdministrationSteven Ammermann, Publisher
Kelly Boldan, EditorTimothy Bailey, Business Manager
2208 W. Trott Ave., Willmar MN 56201
Volume 4, Issue 1
Copyright © 2015 West Central Tribune Live it! magazine
All rights reserved. Although some parts of this publication may be reproduced and reprinted, we require that prior permission be obtained.
Michelle GauerGregory Harp
16 Eat it!: Bringing back the bread pudding
15 Life Happens: Social media stressing you out?
25 Style it!: It’s all about versatility
27 What’s happenin’? Mark your calendars now!
3 Reader’s mailbag: What we hear from readers
Departments
2018 Money Matters: When to pay off your home mortgage
20 Spirits!: Cap off your favorite winter activity with a nice warm drink
26 Read it!: Library books a source of winter survival skills and more
DistributionWest Central Tribune
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Become a distributor, call 320-235-1150.
What’s inside
A personal connection to food 21
6
6 These women thoroughly enjoy winter
12 Q&A: PWELC offers outdoor fun year-round
14 Men still dominate winter business sales
Features
21 Reading the cookbook cover to cover
22 Family Talk: Cold weather activities for family fun
24 Get it!: Check out these deals
6 Live it! Magazine
A LOOK AT TWO WOMEN WHO MAKE THE MOST OF THE FRIGID WINTER TEMPS
BY DAN BURDETT ICE FISHING PHOTOGRPAHY GREGORY HARP
SNOWMOBILE PHOTOGRAPHY BY DAN BURDETT
IIt’s cloudy with a little snow in the air. The predicted high for the day is 10 de-
grees, music to the ears of the Dahl family.Gage, 9, and William, 6, the eldest of the
four boys born to Lara and Mike, have been chomping at the bit for hours now: it’s already midday and there’s fi shing to be done.
Each week the Dahls make the brisk jaunt to one of the lakes that dot the land-scape neighboring their New London home, often fi shing until day turns to night.
It’s a theme Mike is intent endures, Lara says, a way for the family to cultivate to-getherness. Mike has been an ardent out-doorsman for as long as he can remember, tagging his fi rst buck as an adolescent.
“There’s just something about being out together as a family,” Lara says. “To see the boys and how they react when they catch a fi sh, the relationship they’ve devel-oped with their dad and taking after him, it makes it so much fun for me to be a part of.”
Today, Green Lake calls.
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Live it! Magazine 7
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The fi sh house is surrounded by a scattering of tip-ups, devices in which a wire attached to a rod is tripped, raising a signal fl ag when a fi sh takes the bait. Ardent red with grooved metal trim, the Mille Lacs house, as it’s dubbed, resembles a shrunken ’50s-era diner. The workmanship within its confi nes is exquisite. A rich cedar covers the four walls, blending seamlessly into foldout bunks bolted above the camoufl age design of the sitting area: it’s a home away from home, in every sense of the shopworn theme.
Lara balances her rod in one hand, its line fed into a nearby hole and the depths of some
25 feet of water. Her youngest son, Drew, 1, a strapping lad for his age, is balanced on her knee, gumming a nook as he and brother, Har-rison, 2, peer curiously at a nearby 5-gallon pail containing three sunfi sh.
It’s a small haul for the Dahl boys: the bar was raised recently when they pulled 10 fi sh, a muskellunge included, from the frigid waters of Diamond Lake.
At dusk, Mike will fi llet the day’s take and fry them up for the boys.
“Their (the boys) faces light up when they know they’re eating something they’ve caught,” Lara says. “I love it.”
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In a perfect world, Ashtynne says, winter would be endless.
“I guess I’m just one of those people who’d rather be out all day riding through the country and come home and curl up in a warm bed, than walking around all day swatting bugs and sweat-ing in 90-degree heat,” she says.
She’s been riding snowmobiles with her father, Todd, and three brothers for a decade, since she was 6 or 7 years of age.
It’s all about freedom and adrenaline, she says.
“I could ride to Michigan be-fore I got bored.”
Beyond the acreage of her home are a number of trails that lllleeeeaaaadddd ttooo aaaannnn eeeexxxxppppppaaaaannnnssssiiivvvveeee woooddland of eeeeeeevvvvvveeeeeerrrrggggggrrrreeeeeeeeeeeeennnnnsssss.. IIIItttt’’’’’ssss aaaa ppppplllllaaaaaccceee AAAAAsshhhhttttyyyyynnnnnnnnneeee lllllllllllooooooosssssssseeeeeeeessssssss hhhhhhhhhheerrrrssssseeeeeelllllfffff, ccccccccllllleeaaaarrrrriiiiiinnnnnggggg hhhhhhhhheeeeerrrrr mmmmmmiiiiiiinnnnndddddd ffffffffffffffffffrrrrrrrrrrrrooooooooommmmmmmmmm tthhhhhhheeeeeeee strrrrrrreeeeesssssssoooorrrrrrssssss oooffffffff hhhhhhhiiiiiiiggggghhhhhh ssssssssccccccchhhhhhhooooooooooooooolllllllll aaannddd 22211stt cccccccenntturyy tttttteeeeeeeeeennnnnnddddoomm.
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OUTDOOR LIVINGBefore she met Mike, Lara had a healthy ap-
preciation for wildlife and its surroundings.“There’s nothing wrong with playing video
games and being inside,” she says, “… it’s just not for me.”
The Dahls plan to build a larger home on family acreage near Sibley State Park and Lake Andrew in the coming year, a means to bring their brood even closer to nature. Mike is a contractor by trade and their dream nest-ing will be a side project.
While the elder Dahl boys have expanded their interests to shed hunting — the search for antlers shed by whitetail and mule deer, and elk — and bow hunting, Lara, won’t be joining them on their excursions on the local trails and through the backwoods to the north, content, for now, with the cozy con-fi nes of the Mille Lacs ice house.
“I can’t see a time when we don’t do this (ice fi shing),” Lara says. “I kinda look for-ward to this every year now. I’d rather be out on the lake as a family, making new memo-ries, I think, than doing anything else.”
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ANYWHERE FROM HERESometime ago, Ashtynne was out riding
near her home in the hours following a con-siderable storm and clipped a cable box with her snowmobile.
It was the type of mishap that could have shaken her confi dence. Instead, she fed off it.
“Look, I didn’t grow up playin’ with no Barbies,” she says with a chuckle. “I was a GI Joe girl. I guess you could say I’m one of the boys. I’ve got brothers, you know; that tough-ens you up. That’s probably why I enjoy rid-ing so much.”
Beyond graduation, she hopes to parlay the miles under her belt into a gig on the snow-mobile circuit and has already considered sponsorships.
In the interim, however, the rolling acres near home will do just fi ne.
That’s if it ever snows again.
Dan Burdett is the lead writer for Live it! Magazine. He met with Lara and Ashtynne on Jan. 8 and 12, respectively, when the ground was pretty bare. You can follow Dan on Twitter @danburdett1.
&
BY DAN BURDETT
When the great outdoors offers a little more
TThe winter and early spring in Minnesota can be ar-duous, a time when it’s often easier to curl up in a ball in front of the fi replace than brave subzero temperatures that can drag on for weeks or months at a time.
However, for those who enjoy the chill of the season, Prairie Woods Environmental Learning Center west of Spicer offers numerous activities and outdoors pro-grams.
Comprised of sinuous pathways stretching for seven
miles across 500 acres of rolling woodland, the trails at Prairie Woods should appeal to any outdoor enthu-siast. Cross-country skiing and snowshoeing are two programs that have proven particularly appealing to women, who have a tendency to enjoy the trails in large groups, organizers say.
Live it! sat down with Dave Pederson, Prairie Woods’ executive director, and offi ce manager Mari Klebe to discuss just what makes the programs popular.
&Q AAQ
Live it! Magazine 13
Live it!: What do you think attracts people to these types of programs?
Dave Pederson: It’s hard to ski or go for a walk in an area like this and still be irritated, frustrated, upset with the stressors of the day. I think there’s something inher-ently healthy about breathing fresh air and being out in nature. It’s good for your mind, body and spirit. So whether it’s a more rigorous sport or just hiking, these programs offer a means to get back to what we as human beings are like when we’re unplugged from all the tech-nology and distraction of our daily lives.
Mari Klebe: … And I think with winter in Minnesota … you have to fi nd a way to enjoy it or the season can really drag on. I think more and more people are fi nding these programs are a way to enjoy something without re-ally worrying about the weather.
Live it!: What programs are most popular with women?
DP: We actually see women consistently participating in every program throughout the year. Those include ar-chery, rifl ery, canoeing, climbing. You name it. In winter, obviously skiing and showshoeing. Those attract good groups.
MK: There’s actually a women’s group coming out soon that’s comprised of sisters and nieces and aunts, and they’ve signed up for the indoor climbing wall, a survival class and initiative games. They’re looking for a bonding experience, but also want something that will give them an outdoor experience, like the survival class will.
Live it!: Mari, as a woman, what’s most appealing to you about the programs offered at Prairie Woods?
MK: Just the fact that every program is hands-on. They’re built for the individual. You aren’t subjected to lectures. You get to be part of the experience. What you get out of it is what you put into it. I’ve just always had a love for the outdoors. And as a kid who got to experience the outdoors, it’s very easy for me to be a part of some-
thing that offers someone the same opportunity. The thing I enjoy seeing is when women participate in a pro-gram because their kids did previously. A woman will say I want to do the climbing wall because my kid did, so then mom climbs for the fi rst time. It’s really neat to see that.
Live it!: Are winter or summer programs more popu-lar?
MK: We’re busier in the spring. Winter, obviously, is so dependent on snow.
DP: Typically, February is stuffed with programs. If it’s cold and not much snow, it’s hard to get people inter-ested in wandering around on brown ground, you know. But there are still a lot of cool things happening with our other programs. If there’s a lot of snow, winter can be ex-tremely busy.
Live it!: As you move forward, do you think you will offer programs that cater to just women?
MK: In the past we have offered programs just for women. We’ve had a “woman of the wild” program, a sampler program.
DP: … And it allowed women the opportunity to inter-act and try new things with other women. They’ve been fun programs. We’re more than open to people calling us and wanting to try new things. We’ll happily put together a customized program specifi c to what they are looking for.
Prairie Woods Environmental Learning Center is located at 12718 10th Street N.E. in rural Spicer. For more information, call 320-354-5894 or visit [email protected].
Winter in Minnesota … you have to fi nd a way to enjoy it or the season can really drag on.
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14 Live it! Magazine
DETERMINING DEMANDWWhile winter activities clearly appeal to women,
the consensus from regional suppliers of seasonal motor equipment is sales to women have not in-creased.
Motor Sports of Willmar, located at 4970 U.S. Highway 71 N.E., as well as Spicer Sports and Marine, 13095 Green Lake Blvd., in Spicer, are two local businesses that offer an extensive line of winter-themed motor equipment.
“We do see women in our store,” says Nikki Johnson, business offi ce manager at Motor Sports,
“but it has remained pretty steadily at 95 percent male and 5 percent female for sales, and about 85 percent male and 15 percent female for parts.”
However, Nikki says, she has noticed a trend in the number of women seeking employment in the industry. She says 42 percent of all the employees at Motor Sports are women.
“We would like more women to get involved in the industry because of their enthusiasm,” she says.
— Dan Burdett
DETERMINING DEMAND
Live it! Magazine 15
BY CLAUDETTE LARSON, LICSW
I recently upgraded my antique fl ip-phone to a smart phone. I was tired of people making fun of my inability to cross over into the 21st century.
I also envied those who could while away tedious lines at the supermarket playing Candy Crush, and having GPS on your phone is a gem I simply could deny myself no longer.
Still, I was afraid I would morph into a teenage cell phone zombie. You know the ones — they simply stare into the lit screen regardless of what is going on around them — earthquake, tsunami or family dinner table discussion. I knew I had to be careful.
Social media is here, and it is here to stay.
There are many wonderful aspects of having social media at our fi nger-tips. Being able to stay connected and in touch with loved ones and people you have met throughout your life just by clicking on one web page is absolutely life enhancing.
At the same time, most of us ingest and encounter a hun-dred or more news or human interest stories a day just by going online. In one 20-minute online session, we will likely see stories and videos involving shootings, child and animal abuses, stories of terminal and chronic ill-nesses and the human toll, weather disasters, political shenanigans and the list goes on.
That doesn’t even take into account what comes next:
everyone’s opinions about all of this. Guess what? They don’t all agree.
Going on social media can be like lighting a match to an emotional powder keg: It starts out quiet enough and then KABOOM!
Where does all that vicarious emotional stress you take in go when you click off?
One guess: It’s still inside you. How many times do you walk away from the computer
or shut off your phone and feel your mind still churning with anger or frustration? So much information,
so out of our control. For people with anxiety,
depression or other stressors going on in their lives, the added stressors brought on by being on social media can be unhealthy and unneces-
sary. You need to weigh the benefi ts (social contact) with the defi cits (vicarious stress) and see
if it’s worth your peace of mind. Can you compromise? One way is to limit the time spent on social media com-
pletely or make sure you end your time on social media with a stop off on a positive site that puts the focus on good news and humor.
The world contains both — I promise.
Claudette Larson of New London is a licensed independent clinical social worker with 15 years of experience helping individ-uals, couples and families work on personal growth and positive real-life solutions.
- Life Happens -
Stress and Social Media
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� Sports Medicine
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Since 1974 the physicians at Heartland Orthopedics Specialists have provided the best orthopedic care available in west central Minnesota*. Specializing in sports medicine, total joint replacements and revisions, and minimally invasive procedures of the upper and lower extremities. Heartland Orthopedic Specialists is one of the few clinics outside the Twin Cities to offer fellowship-trained experts within the subspecialties of Sports Medicine.
www.HeartlandOrthopedics.com
� Sports Medicine| Hand to Shoulder | Joint Replacement Hip & Knee | Foot & Ankle
*Heartland Orthopedic Specialists is preferred 3 to 1 over any other orthopedic practice in the region according to Independent Market Research conducted in 2011, 2012, and 2013.
2800 1st St. S., Ste 220, Willmar, MN
001169978r1
I
16 Live it! Magazine
Best Bread Pudding with Caramel-Rum SauceBy Michelle L. Gauer
Serving size: 12; Prep time: 20 minutes; Total time: 1 hour
Bread pudding5 tablespoons butter, melted6 large kaiser rolls or mixture of breads (can use some whole wheat or grain also)1 cup packed light brown sugar1/3 cup maple syrup1 tablespoon ground cinnamon2½ teaspoons vanilla extract1/2 teaspoon salt (I use Kosher coarse grain)6 large eggs, lightly beaten5 cups 2% or whole milk1/3 cup raisins, optional
Caramel-Rum Sauce7 tablespoons butter3 tablespoons water2 tablespoons maple syrup3/4 cup light brown sugar1/4 cup granulated sugar1/3 cup heavy whipping cream1 tablespoon dark rum, rum syrup or 1 teaspoon rum extract1/2 teaspoon lemon juice1/2 teaspoon salt
Bread Pudding: Heat oven to 400 degrees F. Grease a 9 by 13 inch casserole dish with butter; fi ll with the cut rolls/bread. In a large bowl stir together 5 tablespoons melted butter, brown sugar, cinnamon and vanilla.
In a medium bowl whisk the eggs and milk to-gether. Pour the milk mixture into the large bowl with the other ingredients and whisk to mix thoroughly.
Pour the mixture evenly over the rolls gently press-ing bread down into the liquid. Set aside for 15 minutes. Using your hands gently mash the bread and liquid together; smooth the top and sprinkle with raisins, if using.
Bake until most of the custard is solid in the middle or a knife comes out clean in the center, about 30 minutes.
Remove from oven to cooling rack.
Sauce: In a two-quart saucepan over medium-low, heat butter, maple syrup and water until butter is melted, about three minutes. Stir in both sugars and scrape down the side of the pan with a rubber spatula.
Bring mixture to a boil and cook, without stirring, until golden brown and a candy thermometer in sauce
reads 245 degrees F; about eight to 10 minutes.Remove from heat; carefully add heavy cream,
rum, lemon juice and salt; stir until sauce is smooth. Let cool to room temperature. If desired, using a toothpick poke several holes in the pudding. Pour two-thirds of the sauce over the top. Cut pudding into squares and serve with whipping cream and a drizzle of the caramel-rum sauce. Serve warm or cool.
Serving ideas: Customize the bread pudding with your choice of toppings or sauces if desired: ice cream toppings, pie fi lling (blueberry or apple), or cinnamon ice cream.
BY MICHELLE
GAUER
Bread pudding ...is amazingit!
It is amazing to hear so many people have not tried making or eating bread pudding!
It is easy, quite frugal and delicious.A dish with very old roots, bread pud-
ding evolved as a use for stale bread back in the 18th century. Many of the basic recipes we know came from the Great De-pression era. (I’ve included a recipe from my Great Depression Cookbook.)
Cooks from many cultures throughout history have been repurposing stale bread, inventing many dishes, both savory and sweet. Today bread pudding in its current form tends to be far more luxurious than its humble origins, utilizing fresh gourmet breads such as brioche and sour dough with fruit, chocolate, vanilla and nuts.
Bread pudding is made in different
forms all over the world. Ancient versions include Om Ali, an Egyptian dessert made from bread, milk or cream, raisins and almonds; Eish es Serny, a Middle East-ern dish made from dried bread, sugar, honey syrup, rosewater and caramel; and Shahi Tukra, an Indian dish made from bread, ghee, saffron, sugar, rosewater and almonds.
Today, bread pudding is not as common as it used to be, but it is still frequently consumed in the United Kingdom, the southern United States, Mexico, Argen-tina, Puerto Rico, Belgium and France.
Most bread pudding is baked in a cake pan, usually 9-inch by 13-inch. You can take any of the recipes and fi ll greased muffi n tins, ramekins or small spring form pans, as well. You can also cut the fi nished
pudding with a round biscuit cutter or cut it in a triangular shape for a unique look. I have included a photo of creating an elegant trifl e in a glass goblet by cutting it into small squares.
Bread pudding fl avors and the various means by which you can serve it are far from basic. Try it with a variety of sauces like caramel, vanilla, bourbon, rum, citrus butter, blueberry or apple pie fi lling, or with whipped cream or ice cream.
Cinnamon ice cream is our favorite with caramel sauce.
Easy to make … Easy to eat … It is amazing … Bread Pudding!
Enjoy these recipes with your family and friends. Be sure to share the love of bread pudding and the recipes.
Bon Appétit!
Apple Upside-Down Bread PuddingBy Michelle L. Gauer
Serving size: 12Prep time: 40 minutes; Total time: 3½ hours
6 large eggs1 tablespoon ground cinnamon1½ teaspoons ground nutmeg3/4 cup granulated sugar, divided2½ cups milk1 cup heavy cream, or whipping cream2 tablespoons Apple Brandy, optional1 tablespoon plus 1½ teaspoons vanilla extract, divided6 cups dry white bread (1-inch cubes)5 tablesp oons butter, divided1/2 cup brown sugar4 granny smith apples, peeled, cored and quartered
In a medium bowl, whisk eggs, cinnamon, nutmeg and 6 tablespoons granulated sugar until the sugar dissolves. Add milk, cream, Apple Brandy (optional) and 1½ teaspoons vanilla; whisk until combined.
Place the bread in a large bowl. Pour the milk mixture over the bread; cover and refrigerate at least 1½ hours or overnight, occasionally pressing the bread down to absorb the milk mix-ture.
Meanwhile, in a nonstick 12-inch skillet, melt 4 tablespoons butter over medium heat. Stir in the brown sugar, remaining granulated sugar and remaining 1 tablespoon vanilla. Add the apples and cook 18 to 22 minutes or until the apples are tender and the syrup thickens and turns a deep caramel color, turning the apples occasionally.
Preheat oven to 325 degrees F. Fill a kettle or a covered 4-quart saucepan with water; heat to boiling over high heat.
Place the apples, rounded sides down, in a deep 3-quart or ceramic baking dish. Pour the bread mixture over the apples. Cut the remaining tablespoon of butter into small cubes and sprinkle over the pudding. Place the baking dish in a large roasting pan and cover it with foil; place it on a rack in the center of the oven. Carefully pour boiling water into the roasting pan to come halfway up the sides of the baking dish.
Bake pudding 1 hour 30 minutes. Uncover and bake 30 minutes longer or until a knife inserted comes out clean from the center. Let it stand 15 minutes to allow the pudding to set slightly. To unmold, run a knife around the sides of the baking dish; place a platter on top of the baking dish, then invert both, allowing the syrup to drip from the dish. Serve warm.
White Chocolate-Caramel Pecan Bread Pudding
By Michelle L. GauerServing size: 12
Prep time: 15 minutes; Total time: 1 hour
1 (16-ounce) round loaf King’s Hawaiian Original Sweet Bread2 cups heavy whipping cream (can use half and half)1¼ cups white chocolate chips1/3 cup granulated sugar2 cups 2% or whole milk5 large eggs, lightly beaten2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract1½ cups pecan pieces (I like to toast them in the oven fi rst)1 (13.4-ounce) can Nestle Dulce de leche (caramel)6 cups whipped cream or cool whip1/2 cup caramel ice cream topping
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Cut the bread loaf into one-inch cubes the night before, if possible, and leave out to become a bit stale.
In a medium saucepan, heat the cream over medium heat until steaming but not boiling. Place the white chocolate chips in a large mixing bowl. When the cream comes to a simmer, remove the pan and slowly pour over the chips, whisking until the chips are melted. Whisk in the sugar until dissolved. Add the milk, lightly beaten eggs and vanilla, continuing to whisk mixture until frothy.
Add the bread cubes to the bowl, gently fold/stir to coat the cubes. Set the mixture aside to allow the bread to soak, tossing periodically (about 30-40 minutes or so). Pour into a lightly greased 9-by-13 inch pan or casserole dish.
Sprinkle with the pecans and place dollops (about 1 table-spoon) of the dulce de leche caramel evenly using two spoons to portion and push it down into the bread mixture. You can also make this in ramekins or individual dishes baking for a shorter time period. Place in preheated oven and bake for about 40-45 minutes. Test the bread pudding with a knife in the middle to come out clean and for the center to be fi rm and top golden brown.
Serve warm or cool with whipping cream and drizzle with caramel ice cream topping. If you want an elegant presentation, cut small one-inch squares of the bread pudding and alternate layers of whipping cream, bread pudding squares, pecans and caramel in clear glass stemware of your choice. Top with whipping cream layer, pecan and caramel drizzle.
Live it! Magazine 17
18 Live it! Magazine
As we move further into 2015, now may be an ideal time to consider year-end fi nancial strategies that may benefi t you and allow you to plan for the year ahead.
Owning a home outright is a dream many Americans share. Having a mortgage can be a huge burden, and paying it off may be the fi rst item on your fi nancial to-do list. But competing with the desire to own your home free and clear is your need to invest for retirement, your child’s college education or some other goal.
Putting extra cash toward one of these goals may mean sacrifi cing another. So how do you choose? Here are some things to consider:
Evaluating the opportunity costDeciding between prepaying your mortgage and investing
your extra cash isn’t easy, because each option has advantages and disadvantages. But you can start by weighing what you’ll gain fi nancially by choosing one option against what you’ll give up. In economic terms, this is known as evaluating the opportunity cost.
Here’s an example. Let’s assume you have a $300,000 balance and 20 years remaining on your 30-year mortgage, and you’re paying 6.25 percent interest. If you were to put an extra $400 toward your mortgage each month, you would save ap-proximately $62,000 in interest and pay off your loan almost six years early.
By making extra payments and saving all of that interest, you’ll clearly be gaining a lot of fi nancial ground. But before you opt to prepay your mortgage, you still have to consider what you might be giving up by doing so: the opportunity to potentially profi t even more from investing.
To determine if you would come out ahead if you invested your extra cash, start by looking at the after-tax rate of return you can expect from prepaying your mortgage. This is gener-ally less than the interest rate you’re paying on your mortgage,
once you take into account any tax deduction you receive for mortgage interest. Once you’ve calculated that fi gure, compare it to the after-tax return you could receive by investing your extra cash.
For example, the after-tax cost of a 6.25 percent mortgage would be approximately 4.5 percent if you were in the 28 percent tax bracket and were able to deduct mortgage inter-est on your federal income tax return (the after-tax cost might be even lower if you were also able to deduct mortgage interest on your state income tax return). Could you receive a higher after-tax rate of return if you invested your money instead of prepaying your mortgage?
Keep in mind the rate of return you’ll receive is directly related to the investments you choose. Investments with the potential for higher returns may expose you to more risk, so take this into account when making your decision.
Other points to considerWhile evaluating the opportunity cost is important, you’ll
also need to weigh many other factors. The following list of questions may help you decide which option is best for you.
■ What’s your mortgage interest rate? The lower the rate on your mortgage, the greater the potential to receive a better return through investing.
■ Does your mortgage have a pre-payment penalty? Most mortgages don’t, but check before making extra payments.
■ How long do you plan to stay in your home? The main benefi t of prepaying your mortgage is the amount of interest you save over
the long term; if you plan to move soon, there’s less value in putting more money toward your mortgage.
■ Will you have the discipline to invest your extra cash rather than spend it? If not, you might be better off making extra mortgage payments.
■ Do you have an emergency account to cover unex-pected expenses? It doesn’t make sense to make extra mortgage payments now if you’ll be forced to borrow money at a higher interest rate later. And keep in mind
Should you pay off your home mortgage or invest?
BY MATTHEW LILLEBERG
- Money Matters -
Live it! Magazine 19
that if your fi nancial circumstances change — if you lose your job or suffer a disability, for example — you may have more trouble borrowing against your home equity.
■ How comfortable are you with debt? If you worry endlessly about it, give the emotional benefi ts of paying off your mortgage extra consideration.
■ Are you saddled with high balances on credit cards or personal loans? If so, it’s often better to pay off those debts fi rst. The interest rate on consumer debt isn’t tax de-ductible, and is often far higher than either your mortgage interest rate or the rate of return you’re likely to receive on your investments.
■ Are you currently paying mortgage insurance? If you are, putting extra toward your mortgage until you’ve gained at least 20 percent equity in your home may make sense.
■ How will prepaying your mortgage affect your overall tax situation? For example, prepaying your mortgage (thus reducing your mortgage interest) could affect your ability to itemize deductions (this is especially true in the early years of your mortgage, when you’re likely to be paying more in interest).
■ Have you saved enough for retirement? If you haven’t, consider contributing the maximum allowable each year to tax-advantaged retirement accounts before prepaying your mortgage. This is especially important if you are receiving a generous employer match. For example, if you save 6 percent of your income, an employer match of 50 percent of what you contribute (i.e., 3 percent of your income) could potentially add thousands of extra dollars to your re-tirement account each year. Prepaying your mortgage may not be the savviest fi nancial move if it means forgoing that match or shortchanging your retirement fund.
■ How much time do you have before you reach retire-ment or until your children go off to college? The longer your timeframe, the more time you have to potentially
grow your money by investing. Alternatively, if paying off your mortgage before reaching a fi nancial goal will make you feel much more secure, factor that into your decision.
The middle groundIf you need to invest for an important goal, but you also
want the satisfaction of paying down your mortgage, there’s no reason you can’t do both. It’s as simple as allocating part of your available cash toward one goal, and putting the rest toward the other. Even small adjustments can make a differ-ence.
For example, you could potentially shave years off your mortgage by consistently making biweekly, instead of monthly, mortgage payments, or by putting any year-end bo-nuses or tax refunds toward your mortgage principal.
And remember, no matter what you decide now, you can always reprioritize your goals later to keep up with changes to your circumstances, market conditions and interest rates.
Matthew Lilleberg is a fi nancial adviser with C&A Financial Advisors in Willmar. Material prepared by Broadridge Investor Communication Solutions, Inc. Broadridge Investor Communi-cation Solutions, Inc. does not provide investment, tax or legal advice. The information presented here is not specifi c to any individual’s personal circumstances. Each taxpayer should seek independent advice from a tax professional based on his or her in-dividual circumstances. These materials are provided for general information and educational purposes only.
If you need to invest for an important goal, but you also want the
satisfaction of paying down your mortgage, there’s no reason you can’t
do both. Even small adjustments can make a difference.
- Spirits! -
Make hay while the sun shines
Ron Skjong writes primarily about the wonderful world of wine but likes to explore various spirits and beers, too. He is married and has four grown children. While stationed in Germany, he was introduced to German wines and from that introduction, a lifelong pursuit developed to fi nd that perfect bottle of wine.
Make hay while the sun shines? That seems like a summer activity doesn’t it? Who in the world makes hay in the winter time? Well, let’s open up that statement to a wider perspective.
For instance, what if we see the statement as a challenge for us to get more active during our precious few winter months?
I know, I know, winter endures for more than a “pre-cious few months” but, let’s look at the winter time as an opportunity. An opportunity to do activities that thou-sands of people drive and fl y thousands of miles in which to participate and, we can do these activities in our own backyards and neighborhoods.
Maybe we northerners take winter for granted so, once again, let’s make hay while the sun shines!
Now it’s time for a personal disclaimer. I am not a win-ter sports person. I enjoy the season but don’t really par-ticipate in any of the sports of winter.
Ice skating? My Mom told me not to walk on ice because it’s slippery and one can fall and hurt oneself.
Hockey? We have to ice skate to play hockey, right? I’m still listening to my Mom’s advice.
Snowmobiling? Doesn’t interest me. Snowshoeing? With feet my size, there is really no need
for anything bigger with which to walk on snow. Skiing? My experience with skiing was short-lived.
One Christmas I received a pair of six-foot wooden skis and each ski had a single leather strap with which you “strapped” the ski to your foot. Again, with the size of my feet, that single strap was not too reassuring.
Our ski hill was a geographical bump in our pasture that gave me an unbelievably breathtaking three-second ride. I kept asking myself: “Is that all there is?” There was po-tential in skiing but since our family never traveled to ski country or to ski lodges, my interest fl ickered and died.
There was one winter sport I really enjoyed and that was walking. I walked on the ground (no ice, thank you, I’m still listening to Mom’s advice) and while walking, I began to notice something. That something was that the usual became unusual.
The fi elds looked different dressed in their wind-swept snow coats. The trees snapped and cracked in the cold wind — guess I’d snap and crack too if I had to stand out-side all winter.
And those eye-popping cold winter night walks were spectacular. The stars glistened with an intensity that took your breath away. For me, the winter sport that gave me satisfaction was ... walking.
Today, I still don’t ice skate but I do need to try it — sorry, Mom. Hockey, skiing, snowshoeing and snowmobil-ing are best left to those who enjoy these seasonal sports.
My sport is walking in the beauty of winter and I feel for-tunate to do so. But the enjoyment doesn’t end when the walk ends because then there is the great winter sport of a warm drink.
After being outdoors for a while, it is so comforting to sit down, relax and refl ect on the day’s activity with a hot or warm cocktail. Since I enjoy coffee and brandy, one cocktail I especially enjoy is the Grand Coffee. It is made using an orange brandy or cognac such as Grand Marnier and coffee. Sweeten it with a bit of brown sugar, top it with whipped cream and who cares how cold it is.
For those of us who enjoy hot chocolate, try a Hornitos Hot Shotty. You begin with a cup of hot chocolate, throw in some Hornitos tequila (or your favorite brand of tequila), top it with whipped cream and sprinkle a bit of chili pow-der on the whipped cream. No matter how chilled you are, this drink will warm the cockles of your heart.
I haven’t forgotten you tea lovers. Have you tried a Cham-omile Hot Toddy? This soothing and indulgent drink com-bines three ounces of chamomile tea, an ounce (or more) of bourbon, a tablespoon of honey and a lemon wedge. Warm all the ingredients and enjoy.
Finally, you have got to try Glogg. Glogg is a hot-spiced wine that is perfect after your winter workouts. A simple recipe is to combine a bottle of red wine with some inex-pensive brandy, throw in some cardamom, a cinnamon stick, add some orange peel and sugar, and heat to about 150 degrees. Raisins, cloves, fi gs and almonds are optional. This drink is amazing and is sure to heat up your conversa-tion.
Yes, winter sports are exciting and special for us north-erners. The added benefi t is your doctor will be so proud of you for all the exercise you are getting when you ice skate, ski, play hockey, snowshoe, go snowmobiling or simply walk.
Just remember to make hay while the sun shines and be happy. We are lucky to live in this part of the country.
As always, eat and drink with moderation but laugh with reckless abandon.
Cheers!
20 Live it! Magazine
W
Live it! Magazine 21
Within the pages of a cookbook, there’s no plot to speak of. No characters either, unless you count the starring role played by the ingredients and the recipes.
But this seems as good a place as any to confess: I read cook-books like other people read novels, from cover to cover.
Sure, you can skip the text and jump straight to the recipes (and the pictures, especially if they’re luscious). That’s what cookbooks are for, after all.
You’d be missing a lot, though. You’d miss the story of the au-thor’s personal connection to food and the anecdotes that turn a recipe into something more than just a list of ingredients.
You’d miss the helpful tips and inside secrets.
And you’d miss the lessons in history and culture that defi ne how humans across the globe sustain themselves each day with the food they grow, shop for, prepare and consume.
Reading the recipes and nothing else is like missing the point of eating a sandwich. Without bread, you just have fi lling. But add a couple slices of whole-grain or artisan bread and you have something that suddenly tastes pretty darn good.
Why form a deeper relationship with a cookbook?I’m awful at chemistry — unfortunately so, because one of the
things that can make you a better cook is understanding the sci-ence behind combining ingredients and altering them through simmering, sautéing, baking or whatever. Reading cookbooks has made up for this defi cit without requiring a do-over of my high school chemistry class. For example, if you want a really gooey grilled cheese sandwich, use gruyere or fontina instead of cheddar, which contains too much acid to melt smoothly. When cooking dried beans, don’t add salt to the water because it tough-ens the beans.
Technique is everything in the kitchen. Alas, most of us don’t have access to a celebrity chef who can personally coach us. What’s the next best thing? Lots of reading — and practice — to help master such subtleties as the difference between sau-téing and frying (sautéing uses less fat or oil and works best for fast-cooking foods such as vegetables or shrimp).
I’m a sucker for cookbooks that combine travel and food, or food and history. In a cultural sense, we truly are what we eat. Learning about the food of, say, China or the Caribbean can be one step toward making the world a little smaller and less strange, as well as expanding one’s own palate and discovering the many nuances of taste.
And if nothing else, cookbooks are often just, well, poetic. Take Lynne Rossetto Kasper’s description of the glorious sea-
sonal parade of vegetables in Italy: in spring, “every imaginable shade of green, accented with delicate browns and whites”; the bright summer hues of peppers, tomatoes, carrots and herbs; the golds and purples of autumn; and winter with its “maroons, whites and the icy greens of fennel, caulifl ower, leeks, potatoes, braided garlic, kale, dried beans, truffl es and olives.”
After this, how could you not look at vegetables in a com-pletely new light?
Good reading, good eating. When it comes to the cookbook, it’s the perfect match.
Romancing the cookbookBY ANNE POLTA
A baker’s half-dozen of suggested cookbooks to have on your bedside table:
Flatbreads and Flavors, Jeffrey Alford and Naomi Duguid. Flatbread traditions from around the world, accompanied by stories of bread-mak-ing and memorable meals in Afghanistan, Sri Lanka, Yemen, Armenia, Israel and more.
Death by Chocolate: The Last Word on a Consuming Passion, Marcel Desaulniers. No further description needed. Proceed at your own risk.
The Splendid Table, Lynne Rossetto Kasper. Award-winning tome on the food of Emilia-Romagna, home of balsamic vinegar, prosciutto, Parmigiano-Reggiano and many other classics of northern Italian cook-ing.
The Italian Country Table, Lynne Rossetto Kasper. The food of rural Italy, from the Alps to Sicily. Recipes are interspersed with lively anec-dotes about people and traditions.
The Cuisines of Mexico, Diana Kennedy. Forget what you know about fast-food tacos; this book is a comprehensive guide to the real deal — the authentic regional foods of Mexico, their ingredients and how to prepare them.
Vegetable Literacy, Deborah Madison. An exploration of the relation-ships among everyday vegetables, herbs, edible fl owers and wild plants within botanical families and inspiring ways to use them in the kitchen.
Anne Polta is a staff writer for the West Central Tribune
and Live it! Magazine. Follow Anne on Twitter @AnnePolta.
22 Live it! Magazine
BY CANDI WALZ - LETSTALKKIDS.AREAVOICES.COM
Have you heard the term “nature deprived”? Some experts are saying our children are not getting outside enough. When children play outside, they move and breathe in fresh air. Moving around outside also helps prevent child obesity.
It is equally important to get outside when the weather is cold as when the weather is warm. Here are some ideas you can try outside.
� Park it. Put on your snow pants, jacket, mittens, hats and gloves and go to the local park. Try going down the slide with your snow gear on. Can you swing? Also try climbing on the jun-gle gym.
� Build a snow fort. Use a bread loaf pan to form blocks for your snow fort. Consider building a snow pillow and bed so you can rest in your fort. Bring real blankets, plastic chairs or tables into your fort. Think of the fun things you can do in your fort.
If the weather is too cold, build a snow fort inside. Consider wadding up paper to have a pretend snowball fi ght.
� Winter scavenger hunt. Create a list of things you can fi nd outside, consider items like a rock, snowfl ake, dog, snow angel, twig, cardinal, animal tracks, pine cone, icicles or a snowman. Go outside and fi nd them. Cross each item off your list as you fi nd each.
� Winter time capsule. Use a large plastic bag that zips shut. Write messages, draw photos and put a few small toys or trea-sures in the bag. Bury the bag in the largest pile of snow you can fi nd. When the snow melts, your time capsule will be unveiled. Open it up and recall the fun you had packing the time capsule.
� Snowball count. Make a bunch of small snowballs and place them in a large plastic bag that zips shut. Ask your children how many snowballs are in the bag. Take turns fi lling the bag and guessing.
� Snowball toss. Place a few buckets outside and have your children fi ll the buckets with snowballs. Take turns tossing these to a partner or at your parents or friends.
You could do this activity inside by using large pom poms or folded socks as your snowballs. Make sure to set rules so every-one stays safe and things don’t get broken.
� Outside bowling. Start by using 10 two-liter jugs. Fill these about three-fourths full with water and place them outside on a cold day. When they are frozen, use them as bowling pins. Try knocking them over with a large ball.
You could repeat this activity inside by using a ball to knock over empty two-liter bottles.
We hope you fi nd fun ideas to take your family outside and play or mimic these games inside when the weather is too cold or doesn’t cooperate.
After you are fi nished exploring outside in the winter, bring your children inside to enjoy hot chocolate, warm tea or apple cider. There is nothing better than playing outside and coming inside to a warm drink.
- Family Talk -
Plan some winter family fun
Let’s Talk Kids is written by Candi Walz with material provided by her mom, Wendy Walz, (2009 Community Educator of the Year in Early Child-hood) and sister Cinnamin Theisen (both Early Childhood/Parent Educators). Together, they produce a free weekly email for caregivers of young children providing a recipe, activity and advice. The company has also developed Brain Builders, a playing and learning kit for newborn to 1-year-olds. To fi nd out more or register for the free email, visit www.letstalkkids.net.
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320.222.3993100 NW 10TH STREET | WILLMAR
001076728r1
Live it! Magazine 23
- Family Talk -
Activity: Marshmallow Igloo
Big and small marshmallowsToothpicksWhite frostingPaper platePlastic knife
Give each child a paper plate. Place out the marshmal-lows, toothpicks, white frosting and plastic knifes. Allow your child to create an igloo using the marshmallows and frosting or toothpicks.
When fi nished, they can eat the creation.
Recipe: Ice Drink
Blue Kool-AidGinger aleVanilla ice creamClear cupIce cream scoop
Make the Kool-Aid as directed on the package. Cool the Kool-Aid and ginger ale. When it is cool, add equal parts of Kool-Aid and ginger ale to a large cup. We use about one-half cup of each. For younger chil-dren, you might want to add less liquid. Next, add in one scoop of ice cream.
Drink and enjoy!
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Photo by Amy Doyle
Four-year-old Kellen Doyle of Willmar con-structs an igloo of marshmallows and frosting.
Photo by Briana Jensen
Chloe Jensen, 8, of Willmar
mixes up an iced drink of Kool-Aid,
ginger ale and ice cream.
MA
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Riddle’s signature Noventa Diamond gets royal treatment in this Twinkling Diamond setting that will dance and sparkle with every beat of her heart. See more Twinkling pendants at our store in
Forget fast food. Try something healthier! Ideal Complete Meal Replacement is an excellent tool to help maintain body weight andhelp provide a nutritious meal ready in seconds. Just mix with water. Offered in three delicious flavors: vanilla, chocolate and strawberry, Ideal Complete provides a meal option with controlled portions, 25
essential vitamins and minerals, is low in carbohydrates, low in fat and contains 26 grams of protein.
Riddle’s signature Noventa Diamond gets royal treatment
in this Twinkling Diamond setting that will dance and sparkle with
every beat of her heart. See more Twinkling pendants at our store in
the Kandi Mall.320.235.20531605 1st St. S., Willmarwww.riddlesjewelry.com
Riddle’s
Celebrating 50 Memorable Years! “Little Shop of Horrors” February 12-14, 19-21 at 7:30 p.m.February 15 & 22 at 1:00 p.m. Single Tickets: Adults $20 Students $10 Reservation suggested; tickets at the door also available.
The Barn Theatre
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Riddle’s
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The Alkalize Now Kit includes all of this: 1 can of Greens First (original or berry), 1 can of pH Alkalizer PM, 1 set of pHSaliva testing kit (15 strips and 1 color chart), 1 Greens First shaker cup, 1 travel pack of Greens First or berry (the opposing flavor of the can chosen) and 1 Alkaline Now brochure.
24 Live it! Magazine
Live it! Magazine 25
SBY NICOLE HOVATTER
Save time and money by choosing outfi ts suitable for the offi ce or out-and-about. Choose key pieces that can be mixed and matched, and you will remain fashion-able from nine-to-fi ve and beyond.
Versatile selections for every day of the week The outfi ts pictured below are examples of how you
can transition your wardrobe every day of the week. With these choices, you can head to the offi ce, take a coffee break with friends and have a few drinks after work, all without changing your entire look.
MondayA silky, satin blouse is the perfect fi x for a rough
Monday morning. Choose a top with a neutral-color and shiny fi nish for the perfect balance. Add simple accessories and a pair of slacks to make the outfi t of-fi ce-ready. Pair with heals and statement jewelry for a night out.
TuesdayAdding a blazer to your favorite sheer blouse can help
keep the chills away on cold Minnesota days, keeping you fashionable and cozy.
Spice up the ensemble by adding a blazer with a unique color. Pair the blouse and blazer with jet black skinny jeans and boots.
Wednesday Spice up the midweek slump with a colorful top. Del-
icate patterns and eyelet details add a touch of fun to your wardrobe. Choose a pair of color-contrasting pants to pair with the blouse.
ThursdayA sleeveless blouse is a great after-work look. Pair it
with a blazer or cardigan for work. Tie the outfi t to-gether with a quilted satchel.
Friday A simple, sheer blouse is appropriate for almost any
occasion. Keep it work-appropriate by wearing a tank top or cami underneath. Neutral-colored slacks also come in handy with this look to make it professional.
Nicole Hovatter is a staff writer for the West Central Tribune
and Live it! Magazine. Follow Nicole on Twitter @publicsafetywct.
Weekday wardrobeOutfi ts for
work and play it!Style
Model Kathy Hovatter sports business casual wear that can easily be transformed for after-work activities. Kathy’s favorite pieces are stylish and trendy, yet still practical. She also likes to add splashes of color and unique patterns to her wardrobe.
BY ANNICE SEVETT
Winter is in full swing and there’s no better time than the pres-ent to take up a new activity or learn a new skill. Getting outdoors can seem like a bit of a chore, but with the right preparation, ev-eryone can fi nd something to enjoy.
Or maybe you can’t stand the cold, but want to learn a new win-ter skill that could come in handy. Check out these great books the library has to offer and start beating those winter blues today.
If you’re itching to get outside, check out the “AMC Guide to Winter Hiking & Camping” by Yemaya Maurer and Lucas St. Clair. This guide walks you through everything you need to know — from winter gear to winter hazards — to survive a winter hiking or camping trip, complete with packing lists to help you
get on your way. For winter sports enthusiasts or those wanting to try a new
winter outdoor activity, safety is key. If you enjoy showshoeing, skiing, snowboarding, snowmobiling and winter camping, look no further than “The Complete Winter Sports Safety Manual” by Bern Kreiss-man. While the lure of winter sports is present, injuries are common due to rough conditions. Make sure you check out this book to ensure you arrive home safely from your next outing.
Maybe hiking and camping aren’t your cup of tea but you’d still like to get outside. How does a winter garden sound?
In “The Unsung Season: Gardens & Gardeners in Winter,” Sydney Eddison introduces readers to expert cold-climate gardeners to help inspire you to start a winter garden.
If you aren’t keen on enjoying the cold, pick up “The Minnesota Book of Skills: Your Guide to Smoking Whitefi sh, Sauna Eti-quette, Tick Extraction and More” by Chris Niskanen and learn a new winter skill.
Ever wonder how to judge ice thickness, build
your own ice rink or what it’s like to drive a snowplow truck? The answers and much more can be found in this concise guide that will get you not just through winter but all the seasons in this great state.
If getting outside isn’t the solution to making it through the winter you had in mind, take a look at “Icy Pleasures: Minnesota Celebrates Winter” by Paul Clifford Larson. Instead of you spending time in the frigid cold, you’ll learn about Min-nesotans who have embraced the weather, complete with stories and images about all the various winter festivities that take place around the state. It may just inspire you to embrace all our state has to offer.
If none of these peak your interest, stop in at the library and our staff will be happy to help you fi nd one that does so you can start beating those winter blues.
Annice Sevett is Adult Services Librarian at the Willmar Public Li-brary. For more information on these books swing by the Willmar Public Library. The librarians are there to help you fi nd your new favorite au-thor. Check out the library’s blog at turningpages.areavoices.com.
- Read it! -
Read your way to a new hobby
26 Live it! Magazine
it!outCheck What’s happenin’
February 2015 - April 2015?
Jazz-N-JavaEvery Thursday
Willmar, 6 to 6:45 p.m., Jazz-N-Java, 913 Business 71 N.; free music concerts by differ-ent individuals and groups, followed by sing-along with house band.
Glacial Ridge WineryEvery Friday through February
Spicer, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., Glacial Ridge Win-ery, state Highway 23 between New London and Spicer; free music concert by different individuals and groups.
Hinterland VineyardsEvery Friday
Clara City, 7 to 9 p.m., Hinterland Vineyards and Winery, 3060 120th Ave. S.E.; free music concert by different individuals and groups.
Barn TheatreFebruary 13-15, 19-21
Willmar, 7:30 p.m. Feb. 13-14, 19-21 & 1 p.m. Feb. 15 and 22, The Barn Theatre; The Barn Theatre presents “The Little Shop of Horrors”; adults $20, ages 18 and younger $10; visit the box offi ce at 321 Fourth St. S.W., downtown Willmar or call 320-235-9500.
Green Lake Bluegrass BandFebruary 14
New London, 7 p.m., Little Theatre; the Green Lake Bluegrass Band presents “Cabin Fever Three!” Call 320-354-2559 for tickets.
Sutter BrothersFebruary 19
Dawson, 7 p.m., Memorial Auditorium; the Dawson-Boyd Arts Association presents The Sutter Brothers - North Country Characters: Songs, Stories and Poems from the Land of 10,000 Lakes; adults $10, students free; open seating, tickets available at the door.
Chipper LowellFebruary 20
Collegeville, 7:30 p.m., Stephen B. Hum-phrey Theater, St. John’s University; a comedy magician that brings a whirlwind of energy to the stage using magic, circus tricks and clean stand-up comedy that is perfect for the whole family; call 320-363-5777 between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday or visit online at www.csbsju.edu/fi ne-arts.
Willmar Area Symphonic OrchestraFebruary 22
Willmar, 3 p.m., Bethel Lutheran Church, Willmar; “Schubert and Beethoven” concert; admission charged.
Ring of KerryFebruary 28
New London, 7 p.m., Little Theatre; Ring of Kerry Irish music group performing with the St. Paul Irish Dancers, call 320-354-2559 for tickets.
Lake Wobegon Brass BandMarch 7
Dawson, 7 p.m., Memorial Auditorium; the Dawson-Boyd Arts Association presents the Lake Wobegon Brass Band; adults $15, students free; call 320-769-2955, ext. 246, 9 a.m. to noon; tickets go on sale March 5.
Cherish the LadiesMarch 14
Collegeville, 7:30 p.m., Stephen B. Hum-phrey Theater, St. John’s University; in a high-energy, entertaining concert that puts Irish culture center stage, this group will celebrate St. Patty’s day a little early with step dancing, vocals and traditional instruments; call 320-363-5777 between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday or visit online at www.csbsju.edu/fi ne-arts.
Velvet BrassMarch 15
Glenwood, 3 to 7 p.m., Lakeside Ballroom; winter dances open to all, music by Velvet Brass; $10 per person, $5 ages 17-30; no jeans or shorts. Basic dance lessons at 2 .m. included with admission.
Ben GulleyMarch 20
Willmar, 7:30 p.m., WEAC; the West Central Concert series presents tenor Ben Gulley; $20 at the door.
‘The Temptest’March 21
Morris, 7:30 p.m., University of Minnesota Edson Auditorium; the National Players perform Shake-speare’s “The Tempest”; call 320-589-6082 weekdays or visit www.morris.umn.edu/performingarts.
Piper KermanMarch 24
Morris, 7:30 p.m., University of Minnesota Edson Auditorium; author Piper Kerman will speak about her memoir, “Orange is the New Black: My Year in a Women’s Prison,” where she recounts the year she spent in a correctional facility for a crime committed 10 years earlier in a brief, careless dalliance with the world of drug traffi cking. The memoir has been adapted into a hit television show.
Enterprise BandMarch 28
New London, 7 p.m., Little Theatre; the En-terprise Band presents a variety of country, rock and blues songs; call 320-354-2559 for tickets.
Black ViolinMarch 28
Collegeville, 7:30 p.m., Stephen B. Humphrey Theater, St. John’s University; with style and swagger, Black Violin smashes stereotypes and captivates lovers of both Bach and Beyoncé; call 320-363-5777 between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday or visit online at www.csbsju.edu/fi ne-arts.
Fraser and HaasApril 10
St. Joseph, 7:30 p.m., Escher Auditorium, College of St. Benedict; Alasdair Fraser, long regarded as Scotland’s premier fi ddle ambassador, and the sizzlingly talented Natalie Haas share the stage with the fi ll CSB/SJU Orchestra for an up-beat evening of Celtic music; call 320-363-5777 between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday or online at www.csbsju.edu/fi ne-arts.
To list your spring event email [email protected]
Live it! Magazine 27
We would like to say “Thank you” for the past 15 years! We look forward to the
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Most conventional treatments target the symptoms and not the cause. They can also be expensive, temporary, have side effects, require a long painful recovery and have poor suc-cess rates. Dr. Linden’s Unique Spinal Decompression Therapy Program uses revolutionary technology that targets the cause of the problem, is safe, drug free and non-invasive. “It is a highly effective form of treatment for causes of sciatica, leg and foot pain, and chronic lower back pain caused by bulging or herniated discs, stenosis, arthrosis and disc degeneration”, says Dr. Thomas Linden D.C.
This breakthrough procedure is believed to REVERSE the pressure that builds up on the discs and the nerves. Decompression accomplishes this by creating negative pressure within the disc (referred to as negative intra-discal pressure). Designed essentially to create a vac-uum, it draws the bulging and herniated disc material back into the disc space and relieves pressure, In addition, decompression is thought to relieve spinal joint stress which can also cause nerve pain.
“Once we establish that you are a possible candidate for Spinal Decompression Therapy, we perform a thorough evaluation. We then review all the data before preceding with care.”, says Dr. Linden.
As part of Dr. Lindens’ revolutionary program he also assesses the balance and strength of supportive core mus-cles of the spine, and prescribes a proper course of treatment to stabilize and strengthen the core. While more and more clinics are beginning to employ Spinal Decompression Therapy, few doctors’ are actu-ally certifi ed as a Spinal Decompression Therapist. Dr. Linden is one of the few chiropractors in the state of Minnesota to have completed and receive certifi cation as a Spinal Decompression Therapy Practitioner through the Kennedy Decompression Technique training. With over 25 years of clinical experience, hundreds of hours of specialized training, and personal experience as a top competitive power lifter, Dr. Linden provides a unique and effective approach to healing.
320-231-2513Skylark Center, 1604 1st St. - Willmar
www.chiropractorwillmar.com
Dr. Thomas C.Linden, D.C.
Certifi edDecompression
Therapist
I had experienced lower back pain for some seventeen years. Having tried physical therapy and shots, to no relief, my daughter talked to me about trying Dr. Linden’s decompression therapy. What sweet relief! I am now free of pain and am able to move around with ease. I would recommend decompression therapy to all with lower back pain. It is a commitment you won’t regret.~ Luella S.
After having surgery fi ve years ago for a bulging disc that was pinching my sciatic nerve, I didn’t think that it would ever happen again, especial-ly in the same location. In September of 2011, it did. I was experiencing the same unbearable pain. I had an MRI and they confi rmed it. I had another bulging disc. I had asked the doctor what other option did I have, not wanting to have surgery again. After 3 cortisone shots, it still was not better. I searched the internet and found Linden Chiropractic Clinic and they had something called a Spinal Decompression Table. In April 2012, I sat down with Dr. Linden and he suggested a treatment program. The treatment was painless and I am very pleased with the results, and I am currently on their maintenance program!~Rhonda G
The treatment was painless. What sweet relief!
Dr. Thomas Linden D.C. has developed a treatment program featuringNon-Surgical SpinalDecompression Therapy that has helped hundreds of patients with lower back pain and sciatica!
To Determine If You Are A Candidate For This Amazing ProcedureCall Dr. Linden’s offi ce at 320-231-2513 and schedule a FREE Initial Consultation.
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