Volume 1, Issue 5November | December 2012Complimentary

2. .November|December 2012

Savethe Date Please call ahead to confirm events. Promote your January and February events

by sending information to grandcitieswoman@live.com or by calling autumn at (701) 261-2692 by December 1.

Socialize learn exPlore

November 3 - 30Icelandic Wearables, Fiber Art Designs & TechniquesVelkommenThe installation and sale features new small works fin-ished and ongoing by Gerdur Kristjandottir of Reykjavik, Iceland. Patterns and design techniques were adapted to revitalize the Icelandic history and culture of the people.

November 9, 10, & 11Holiday Glow Art Sale & Show5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. November 911:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. November 101:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. November 11Tour local artists’ homes where you’ll find unique gifts, food, and fun. Admission is free. Go to www.holidayglow.net for more information.

November 13Truyu at Choice Grand Opening4:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.Truyu at Choice Health & FitnessTruyu at Choice will host its own Grand Opening celebra-tion at Choice Health & Fitness. This event will be open to the public from 4:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. and will include a Chamber ribbon cutting at 5:00 p.m., in addition to tours, refreshments, and giveaways.

November 14Art & Democracy Series Free Film: Bonnie and Clyde7:00 p.m.Empire Arts CenterThere will be an audience participation discussion im-mediately following about the philosophical themes pre-sented in the film.

November 16, 17, & 18Merry Prairie Christmas Open HouseElaine’s House of Dreams in LakotaTake part in this special, annual event. Register for door prizes, view themed Christmas trees, sample gourmet food, and walk away with a gift.

November 17National Adoption Day Celebration & Toy DriveGrand Forks County Courthouse9:00 a.m.November 17, 2012 will mark the fourth annual National Adoption Day Celebration held in Grand Forks. A commu-nity-wide toy drive, open house, children’s activities, conti-nental breakfast, viewing of the 2012 North Dakota Heart Gallery, and adoption finalizations will began at 9:00 a.m. A program including speakers, a musical selection, calling out for adopted children, and large balloon release cer-emony will take place at approximately 10:30 a.m.

November 17Medi-Fun!Session 1 Daisies and BrowniesSession 2 Juniors and CadetsGrand Forks Girl ScoutsDakota Horizons Service Center 2525 Demers Avenue, Grand ForksGirl Scouts, discover careers in health care while you learn about muscles and bones, eyes and ears, guts and brains. We will do hands-on activities with members from the Area Health Education Center. Learn to take vital signs, practice your dexterity skills, and we will simulate open-wound care in an emergency room. Call 701.772.6679 for more information.

November 18American Girl Doll Fundraiser for Ethiopia Reads3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.4:00 p.m. Program - Learn about Ethiopia Reads and hear how Jane and Mary came to write American Girl books.Calvary Lutheran ChurchFellowship Hall1405 So. 9th St.Grand Forks, NDBring your American Girl® dolls and come to meet Jane Kurtz and Mary Casanova, the 2010 and 2012 American Girl Doll of the Year authors, respectively. Fargo Barnes and Noble will have American Girl books and products for sale. There will be drawings, ice cream floats, and raffles for Lanie and McKenna dolls. For more information, con-tact Ann Porter at mgporter@gra.midco.net or call 701-330-0602.

December 1Scandinavian Holiday Open HouseVelkommen9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.Signed copies of “Real Norwegians Eat Lutefisk” by Rose Marie Meuwissen will be available. This book is beautifully illustrated by Kelly Frankenberg and features rosemaling by UND graduate Shirley Evanstad. In addition, attendees will have the chance learn how to make Scandinavian al-mond cake.

December 6Truyu Holiday Party6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.Truyu at Choice Health & FitnessTruyu will host a holiday party and trunk sale from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at Truyu Aesthetic Center on Demers. The evening will include live demonstrations, discounted products, and holiday festivities.

December 8 through 31Part II A Scandinavian Christmas: Visions & Verse of a Land and its PeopleVelkommenView mixed media and various artists through December 31. For more information, call 701-775-8482.

December 15Yuletide DesignOpen to All Girl ScoutsHoly Family Parish 1018 18th Avenue S Grand Forks, ND“Yule” paint, draw, and sparkle your way into the holiday spirit! The Yuletide Design event will give you the oppor-tunity to be creative and try a variety of artistic tech-niques. Take home your art creations and show off your inner Van Gogh! Call 701-772-6679 for more information.

December 27MUSH!Session 1 Juniors, Cadets, Seniors, AmbassadorsRed Willow Bible Camp, 1651 Jacob Drive, BinfordA dog is a Girl Scout’s best friend! Get ready to spend a day outdoors with the Prairie Isle Sled Dogs. At this event, you can learn about the sled dogs and how to run a dog sled, and then take a ride with the dogs on a nature trail. Other activities include snowshoeing, cross-country ski-ing, ice skating, and downhill sledding. Call 701-772-6679 for more information.

December 28MUSH!Session 2 Juniors, Cadets, Seniors, AmbassadorsRed Willow Bible Camp, 1651 Jacob Drive, BinfordA dog is a Girl Scout’s best friend! Get ready to spend a day outdoors with the Prairie Isle Sled Dogs. At this event, you can learn about the sled dogs and how to run a dog sled, and then take a ride with the dogs on a nature trail. Other activities include snowshoeing, cross-country ski-ing, ice skating, and downhill sledding. Call 701-772-6679 for more information.

December 29 & 30MUSH!Sleepover Juniors, Cadets, Seniors, AmbassadorsRed Willow Bible Camp, 1651 Jacob Drive, BinfordA dog is a Girl Scout’s best friend! Get ready to spend a day outdoors with the Prairie Isle Sled Dogs. At this event, you can learn about the sled dogs and how to run a dog sled, and then take a ride with the dogs on a nature trail. Other activities include snowshoeing, cross-country ski-ing, ice skating, and downhill sledding. Call 701-772-6679 for more information.

December 31Celebrate the Night6:00 p.m. to MidnightAlerus CenterRing in 2013 at this fun, family-friendly, non-alcoholic cel-ebration. Enjoy a variety of live entertainment, games, delicious food, and more. Then at midnight, an amazing fireworks display will light up the winter sky. Call 701-792-1200 for more information.

1508 N. Washington St., Grand Forks

701-795-360090 day, one and two year financing available O.A.C.

See store for details.

SOLID MAPLEHANDCRAFTED QUALITYSOLID MAPLEHANDCRAFTED QUALITY

Publisher Information

PUBLISHERGraber Media, LLCMANAGING EDITOR/AD SALESAutumn Graber, (701) 261-2692CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICERKelly Graber, (701) 740-3848Kelly Graber, (701) 740-3848ADVERTISING SALESMary Glessner, (701) 330-3150COPY EDITORMariLou HarvelandDESIGN/LAYOUTAutumn Graber

Mail correspondence to:Mail correspondence to: GRAND CITIES WOMAN PO BOX 5503 GRAND FORKS, ND 58206

Connect with us!grandcitieswoman@live.comwww.grandcitieswoman.comwww.facebook.com/grandcitieswomanwww.facebook.com/grandcitieswomanMessages sent to us by email or Facebook might be used in future issues of Grand Cities Woman.

PrintedPrinted in North Dakota. © 2012 Graber Media, LLC. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced without written permission from the pub-lisher. Grand Cities Woman Magazine assumes no responsibility for unsolicited manuscripts or photographs. Grand Cities Woman Magazine does not necessar-ily endorse or agree with content of articles or advertising presented.

If you would like to become a contributor to Grand Cities Woman, please contact us via email at grandcitieswoman@live.com or call

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Hugo’s locations in Grand Forks and East Grand Forks

SuperOne in Grand Forks

Velkommen in Grand Forks

This magazine is printed on an environ-mentally certified paper that contains a 10% post-consumer waste. FSC® (Forest Stewardship Council™) is an international, non-profit association that promotes well-managed forests by ensuring forestry prac-tices that are environmentally responsible, socially equitable, and economically viable.

WOMANCitiesGrand

2012 November|December. .3

4. .November|December 2012

Find these items and more through local retailers. When pur-chasing an item that you’ve seen in our shopping guide, make sure you tell them that you saw it in Grand Cities Woman. Claims that products make in the Grand Cities Woman Shop-ping Guide are of product manufactures’ and not of Grand Cities Woman or Graber Media.

“A smile is forever.” Sublime offers “The First and Only Professional Whitening Pen.” Liquid Smile is a power-ful paint-on gel that contains 12% hydrogen peroxide, the most powerful paint-on formulation on the market. Liquid Smile is a pain-free experience. Apply one ap-plication each night for two weeks and you can expe-rience dramatic whitening. This product is available at Sublime Aesthetic Professionals.$129

Decorate your home with unique prints from Elaine’s House of Dreams in Lakota. There are many prints to choose from in a large variety of sizes.Print shown $111.95

Add some character to your mantel with one, two, or more of these vin-tage Kodak cameras available at Nettiques in Petersburg.Prices Vary

Get longer, darker, thicker lashes with Latisse. Call Rejuv Skin and Laser Clinic to find out if you are a candidate for Latisse.$120

Under Armour Camo Antler Hoodie II - The perfect hoodie for the ride up to hunting camp or around the fire. The smooth, fleece exterior with the antler Under Armour® logo is featured on the front of the hoodie. The Under Armour Camo Antler Hoodie II is avail-able at Home of Economy.$74.99

The stately Greco table lamp lends contem-porary style to a classic motif. Showcasing a shimmering golden trim framing an open black base, this handsome luminary adds soft light and captivating style to your desk, console, or bedside. This lamp is available at Sterling Carpet One.$159.99

Make the holiday dinner preparation a snap with this Holiday Dinner Gift Bundle. The bundle includes a roast-ing pan with rack, meat lifters, and pocket thermometer. This bundle is available through Pampered Chef Di-rector and Trainer, Julie Haakenson, at www.pamperedchef.biz/juliehaak.$159

This is “Jazzy.” She lives on a white sandy beach, loves to swim in the ocean, and plays beach volleyball. Her birthday is May 17. This furry, talking creature is part of the “Monstaz” collection and is available, along with some of her friends, at Elaine’s House of Dreams in Lakota.$13.75

Imported from Denmark, we spotted these whimsical, intricately cut and assembled die-cut mobiles from paper at the area’s Scandina-vian resource, Velkommen in downtown Grand Forks.Prices Vary

Give the gift of relaxation this year. The Renew Pack-age from Rejuv Skin and Laser Clinic provides you or your loved one with 110 minutes of a relaxing ten-sion relief treatment designed to ease tension in the upper body, SkinPerfect Facial customized to your skin’s condition, hand and arm massage with hy-drating heated hand therapy, GloMinerals Make-Up Touch Up, and a complimentary beverage.$119

Pumpkin isn’t just for eating or carving; it’s also packed with valuable skin nutrients, includ-ing vitamin A and beta carotene. This natural, all-purpose daily cleanser removes residue and protects against free-radical damage. Treat your skin to this delicious fall scent. This Rhonda Allison Pumpkin Cleanser is available at Truyu at Choice.$32

Add this unique twig design candle holder to your dinner table for the holidays or any time of the year. The Uttermost candleholder is available at Home of Economy.$239.95

Send your loved one who is receiving care at Altru Health System a little cheer with this cupcake-themed floral arrangement from Altru Alliance Gift Shop.$28

Altru Alliance Gift Shop has more than flowers and balloons; they have a large assortment of home décor and accesso-ries like this Victoria Leland Designs handbag. This bag, with matching scarf and beaded necklace, can be found at Altru Al-liance Gift Shop.Handbag $29.95Scarf $7.95Necklace $28.95

Thin Mints®Girl Scouts will be selling cookies starting on February 9 through March 9. To purchase your favorite, call your local Girl Scout office at 701-772-6679 or go to www.gsdako-tahorizons.org/for-girls/get-involved/cookies to place an order.

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6. .November|December 2012

Sublime’s Private Label Mineral Make-up is sourced from nature and fused with sci-ence to protect, correct, and beautify skin without irritation. Minerals provide a natu-ral, chemical-free sunblock, shielding skin against damaging ultra-violet light. Their powerful, light-reflective properties make flaws and imperfections practically invis-ible. This holiday collection is available at Sublime Aesthetic Professionals.$89

Just add candles to these striking candlesticks from Finland. They are artistically molded with glass that appears almost effervescent. Get the area’s most extensive selection of sizes from Velkommen in downtown Grand Forks.$79 to $169

Dark and stormy nails are all the rage this season. Think classic shades of deep purple, midnight blue, and rich burgundy. OPI Vampsterdam is strong, feminine, and on-trend. This color is also available in gel polish, available at Truyu at Choice.$8.50

Modern and timeless traditional style is what you will see with this beautiful table lamp. This Uttermost Marius table lamp is available at Sterling Carpet One.$279.99Caramel DeLites®

Girl Scouts will be selling cookies starting on February 9 through March 9. To purchase your favorite, call your local Girl Scout office at 701-772-6679 or go to www.gsdakotahorizons.org/for-girls/get-involved/cookies to place an order.

This is a baker’s favorite in the kitchen. This gift bundle includes a cookie press, cookie sheet, and snowman scraper. This bun-dle is available through Pampered Chef Director and Trainer, Julie Haakenson, at www.pamperedchef.biz/juliehaak.$55

Your children will delight in seeing this Santa and his reindeer displayed on your table dur-ing the holidays. These vintage children toys are available at Nettiques in Petersburg.$16 to $24

As fluffy white snow begins to cover the golden fall leaves, the season of giving is inaugurated by the sounds of ringing bells in store entrances, bustling post office lob-bies full of people mailing their treasured family Christ-mas cards, and wide-eyed youngsters listing their wants to mom and dad at the dinner table. For some of us, the mere thought of the amount of money spent during the holidays on gifts, travel, food, and postage can be quite unpleasant. The lengths to which we stretch our pocket books is a daunt-ing subject that has some people frustrated. Perhaps people would be more satisfied if only there was a way to purchase Christmas gifts and help oth-ers at the same time. Altru Alliance Gift Shop is just that—a place to purchase gifts and help others simultaneously. Lo-cated just inside the lobby of Altru Health System, the Altru Alliance Gift Shop isn’t just the typical hospital gift shop. “People from the community are invited to come in and shop,” said Susan Alexander, Altru Alliance Gift Shop Man-ager. Money spent at the gift shop is funneled through the Alliance to support patient comfort, needs, and community programs. Altru Alliance is made up of over 160 men and women members that host several fun-draisers every year for programs like Child Life, Infant Bereavement, Safe Kids, Pediatrics’ Reach Out and Read, Hospice Good Mourning Camp, home-delivered meals, Lutheran Social Ser-vices Drug Kits, and Healthy Families. However, ninety percent of the funds raised come from the gift shop. The Al-tru Alliance will soon reach their 3 mil-lion dollar mark for gifting. The shop employs Susan, 3 part-time clerks, and 35 volunteers that work one four-hour shift per week. “Our volunteers are here because they want to be here. They are not paid—they are here because they want to help people and want to contribute back to their community.” The gift shop is known by Al-tru staff and visitors as an oasis. “If an employee is having a hard day, they take their coffee break here to walk through and clear their head,” said Susan. “Family members waiting in the lobby for those in for treat-ment or testing find it nice to take a break in the gift shop where easy-listening music is played and the volunteers love to visit.” The gift shop receives new inventory daily and is

not only a resource for on-the-spot balloons, flowers, and quirky stuffed animals for patients, but also provides every-thing from jewelry to home décor. “We are open every day of the year except for major holidays and we can always use more volunteers,” said Susan. “A customer may not always remember what he or she bought from us, but they always remember how special our sales people make them feel.” If you can’t make it into the gift shop, you can visit

their website at www.altru.org or place an order by calling 701-780-5299. The Alliance Gift Shop delivers gifts to pa-tients and hospital employees with no delivery charge. Don’t have a loved one receiving treatment at Altru, but still want to help donate to the many programs benefiting from the funds raised through the gift shop? Then, stop in or call to select an item and tell them to deliver it to some-one who might need a pick-me-up that day. “There was a lady, I never got her name, but she would come in our gift shop and pick out a stuffed animal and she would pay for it at the counter and say, ‘please bring that up to [pediatrics] and give it to a child that would need a gift.’” Susan has dedicated twenty-five years of her working career to the Altru

Alliance Gift Shop. “It makes me feel good to be working here and making a difference in someone’s life,” she said. “It fills a need.” If you are interested in volunteering your time to the Altru Alliance Gift Shop, join the Altru Alliance, or serve on their board of directors, please contact Heather Werner, Volunteer Manager, at 701-780-5125. [GCW]

More Than a Gift ShopAltru Alliance Gift ShopBy Autumn Graber

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8. .November|December 2012

Reclaiming the True YouTruyu Aesthetic Center Opens New Second Locationat Choice Health & Fitness

walked into Grand Forks’ pre-mier clinical spa and felt the calm and relaxing environment instantly wash over me. That’s the idea, right? Just by walking into a spa, your cares are left behind. The bills, kids fighting, and chaotic schedule just doesn’t matter anymore. I don’t pam-per myself enough. It’s probably safe to say most Americans don’t. Many of us are workaholics and measure our self-worth by the hours spent at our jobs. Some of our European counterparts are shocked at the hours Americans spend at work each week. Typically, Europeans work less hours a week and take an average of four weeks off for holidays or vacations. In fact, in some parts of Europe, it’s typical to start out a job with six weeks of paid vacation already banked. I may not have six weeks, but I did have one day—one glorious day to myself to enjoy what I later found out to be a food-themed spa day. I arrived at the new Truyu Aesthetic Center, located in the Choice Health & Fitness Center, and was greeted by a warm, welcoming face. Who wouldn’t be happy working at a spa? “The concept of having a Spa on site with a Health and Fitness center makes so much sense,” said Julie Edman, Truyu Business Manager. “There is a general acceptance that Physical Fitness improves our health and well-being, yet we still feel like it is a luxury to take care of our skin. Our spa services treat and prevent a variety of con-ditions. Some of our most common re-quests include; visibly reducing fine lines and wrinkles, improve skin tone and tex-ture, refine pores, hydrate skin, reduce hyperpigmentation (brown spots), hair re-moval and restore a youthful appearance.” While waiting for my appoint-ment, I answered some questions on a lengthy survey. Though the questionnaire was extensive, I understood that the aes-thetic professionals needed to know my history to correctly perform the services. Once I completed the survey, there was no more paper, writing, or thinking for me to do—I just had to be.

By Autumn GraberPhotos by Katie Brock Photography

I

2012 November|December. .9

A staff member guided me through a hallway and into yet another relaxing room, where I was given a fluffy robe and slippers and asked to get comfy on the spa bed. Bring on the pumpkin pie! Well, maybe not pie. My first event of the day was a Pumpkin Peptide Facial—fitting for this time of year, but offered year-round, I discovered. Actually, pumpkin has many proper-ties that aide in the repair and overall health of your skin. It’s a corrective facial by Rhonda Allison® that exfoliates skin cells, provides antioxidant support, and stimulates collagen activity for a more youthful appearance and brighter complexion. The facial is also included a “no down-time” chemical peel. Having never experienced a chemical peel before, I was a little apprehensive. My thoughts immediately traveled to the “Sex and the City” episode when Samantha got a chemical peel and had to wear a black veil because her face was so red and raw. So, once I was assured that wouldn’t happen to me, we proceeded with the treatment. I was not only amazed at how delicious the treatment smelled, but also at how my skin felt afterward. My skin was tighter, brighter, and felt silky to the touch. The next event was a chocolate massage. The name might be slightly misleading; my first thought was that actual chocolate would be used. However, that was not the case; it was fragrant chocolate-scented oil. Let me tell you, I wasn’t disappointed. I chose a chocolate mint scent out of a lineup of chocolate cherry, chocolate raspberry, and chocolate cake. Truyu also offers couples massage—a great treat for newlyweds or couples celebrating an anniversary. In addition to the chocolate massage, Truyu offers Swedish, prenatal, aromatherapy, hot stone, and reflexology mas-sage. Once my one-hour massage was complete, I walked into the private waiting area relaxed, rejuvenated, and met by a lovely lunch consisting of a spinach salad trimmed with strawberries and cucumbers, water, and a cupcake treat. The tasty lunch was catered in from the on-site café on the main level called Sprouts. Just as I was finishing lunch, the nail technician arrived and asked if I was ready for my manicure and pedicure. Ready for the next event, I followed the technician down the hall to the nail salon that overlooks the fitness center lobby below. It was entertaining

to watch television, read a magazine, or look through the large windows at the kids playing in the pool below while I received my cucumber-scented mani/pedi (including a leg and foot massage). An hour later, and sporting the latest O.P.I. nail colors, I shuffled out of the nail area in my spa slippers toward the make-up station. The next step was a makeup consultation and application with Leah. I enjoyed conversing with her about the makeup and learning some new tips on application. Truyu carries the Mira-bella Beauty cosmetic line, which offers mineral-based makeup formulas and professional artistry tools. During the makeup con-sultation, I addressed a frustration I have with some bald spots

in my eyebrows. Leah suggested that I try Bamboo Brow, a brush-on solution that promotes new hair growth for eyebrows. Thrilled to have a non-surgical solution to my problem, I didn’t hesitate to purchase the product to see what it could do for me.

Pictured: Graber receiving Rhonda Allison facial.

10. .November|December 2012

Helping you perform your best.

Dr. Stacy Hallgren

701-732-28884350 South WashingtonSuite 100Grand Forks, ND

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The spa day concluded with an airbrush spray tan. I’ve never had a spray tan done before and was pleased with the turn-out. The spray was accompanied by long bursts of air that dried the solution as it was applied. The bronzer did rub off on my clothes, but it washed clean in the laundry. Spa professionals suggest that you wear dark, loose clothing after you receive a spray tan to ensure that your clothing doesn’t stain. The spray tan lasted about a week and didn’t appear orange to me. It made me wish that I was planning an exotic trip or night out on the town to show it off. On the drive home that evening, I came to the conclusion that people need to al-low time to pamper themselves. Maybe you don’t have time to spend an entire day at the spa, but try to take an hour a month and treat yourself to a massage. Not only will you feel rejuvenated immediately after, but the future you will thank you also. Two weeks after my spa day, I still feel rejuvenated, my nails are still looking great, I’m seeing some fine hair growth in my eyebrows, and I’m looking forward to my next mas-sage. Depending on the type of services you seek, you can visit either Truyu location: the new location at the Choice Health & Fitness Center or the one on Demers. A grand opening is scheduled for November 13 at the new Truyu location at Choice Health & Fitness Center. Tour the facility, enjoy some refreshments, and be present to win some door prizes between 4:30 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. “We will be giving away Spa bags, as well as samples from; Rhonda Allison Skin Care Line, Skin Tx and Vivier Skin Care,” said Edman. “We will have a make-up artist from Mirabella, our artistic cosmetic line on hand for demonstrations and color matching. We will also be offering introductory pricing on many of our services, as well as drawings for spa packages and products.” Their hours of operation are Monday through Thursday from 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., and Saturdays from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. To make an appointment or ask questions, call 701-732-7570. [GCW]

2012 November|December. .11

‘Tis the season to celebrate many holiday traditions. From Thanksgiving to Christmas, Hanukkah to Kwanzaa, Diwall, and Al Hijra, we can all look forward to time with family and friends (well, at least most of them). During this time, we take joy in finding special gifts, making delicious food, and just being in the spirit of the season. For that reason, we should be happy, right? After all: ‘Tis the season to be merry. Let’s face it, the holidays offer a unique type of stress—good and bad. Yes, some stress is good in that it is exciting, mo-tivating, and even enjoyable. Some stress, like financial issues, family conflicts, and value clashes can be downright painful. We experience stress when others don’t appreciate our gifts or food, when others’ wishes or values conflict with our own, or when our budget and time are stretched too far for comfort. We can only control our own beliefs and behaviors; therefore, I believe that a few simple changes in our approach to the holidays can actually contribute to a more joyful season. The first step is to identify your five biggest barriers to having a pleasurable holiday season. These barriers could be fam-ily conflict, excessive holiday spending, religious differences, or competing priorities/needs. Be specific. Listing these barriers can be a cathartic and enlightening experience. The next step is to make a longer list of your own needs for a joyful holiday. Choose the needs that best describe your deepest wishes for the holidays. Find strategies to best meet those needs without relying on others. This might sound too easy, but it’s a start. At least you now know what you want and how to meet those needs. Most family conflict can be extensive and challenging, and it can range from well-intentioned relatives who often engage in nitpicking, to those who air their dirty laundry at every family dinner, or to those who are simply ill-mannered. Therefore, it is important to come up with strategies to meet your need for peace, acceptance, and appreciation in the face of conflict or challenges. One strategy is to consider whether you can let things go and accept the people in your life for who they are. If you can’t do this without holding a grudge (and be honest here), then consider making a request that would help meet your needs. For example, if someone in your life consistently finds fault in your housekeeping abilities, let him or her know that while you’re look-ing forward to spending time together, the negative commentary is quite deflating and it would be helpful if the comments are kept at bay. Frame your request ahead of time and practice on a trusted friend. If that isn’t an approach you feel comfortable with, per-haps getting that person involved in preparing your house prior to

guests’ arrival might avoid the negativity. Whatever strategy you choose could make a big difference in creating a positive change. Sometimes, our own behaviors, attitudes, and actions are the problem. If considering how others affect your need for a joy-ful holiday, you also need to look at your own issues. Have you ever received feedback about a particularly bothersome behavior that you have? If so, consider whether you are willing to make a change and avoid pushing those buttons. The adage is true: we must not ask someone to give what we are unwilling to give. So ask yourself what you can do to ease others’ pain and meet their needs. This might be a gift worth giving this holiday season!

With these strategies, it is my hope that we can all soon find ourselves open and receptive to all that is good in this season and always. [GCW]

Happy Holidays or Season of Stress?By Kristine Paranica, JD

Set a budget and stick to it—no matter what.

Plan ahead and get gifts early, keep lists, enter your preparation days into your calendar, and when the events arrive, you will feel much less stressed.

Continue to get rest and exercise; go outside to boost your mood.

Don’t abandon your healthy eating habits; watch portions and find new healthier recipes for favorite dishes, and eat fresh vegetables and fruits daily.

Learn to say “no” graciously, and refuse to take on too much.

Find at least one thing to do that supports your emotional needs and then do this activity at least once in November and in December. These activities could include going to the movies or theater, listening to music, meeting a friend for coffee, relaxing at the spa—anything that makes you feel great.

Agree to disagree and set differences aside—take two deep breaths, count to 8, and then force a smile (no matter how ridiculous it feels—it works to reduce anger).

State your intention to experience joy, peace, and happiness wher-ever you go each and every day.

The following are some tips to help you keep your sanity this season:

Kristine Paranica, JD | WriterKristine has been the Director of the Conflict Resolution Center at the University of North Dakota since 1999 and has been providing training and education in transformative mediation, conflict management, and oth-er processes for over 12 years. She is nation-ally recognized as a Certified Transforma-tive Mediator™.

12. .November|December 2012

Cap

Capturing life’s most important momentsKBP is an on-location photographer that servesNorth Central Minnesota and Eastern North Dakota.

www.katiebrockphotography.com

Newborn · Family · Maternity · Senior · Weddings

701.317.0595

katie.brockpahler@gmail.com

Merry Prairie Christmas Open House

November 16, 17, & 18

Hwy 2 in Lakota701-247-2242

Behl’s Photography

Katie Brock Photography

Skyloft Photography

Stacie’s Photography

2012 November|December. .13

Child Photography Gallery

Sugar Plums and Lollipops

Behl’s Photography

Katie Brock Photography

Katie Brock Photography

Skyloft Photography

Stacie’s Photography

14. .November|December 2012

My mother-in-law, Laurel, was an extremely special woman to me. She raised three boys during

her courageous fight against breast cancer. Her fight against cancer lasted nearly 13 years before she lost her battle 2 years ago. The loss of my mother-in-law

still feels so recent to me—I think about her every day. What saddens me most is that not only did

my husband lose his mother, but he also never got the chance to introduce her to our son.

In the years that I spent with Laurel, I learned how important her hair was

to her. She wasn’t keen on wearing wigs, but did anyway. A natural

brunette, Laurel once confided to me that she almost secretly enjoyed wearing wigs because she could assume different personalities as a redhead or a blonde. I never got the chance to style Laurel’s hair before she passed away, and it

really gets to me sometimes. I thrive on making people happy

by helping to enhance their phys-ical appearance, so it bothers me to

know that I was deprived of having that experience with Laurel—a regret I will

carry with me always. As a result, I became motivated to find ways, whether big or small,

that I could help cancer patients. Therefore, I was thrilled to discover that Kenra, the hair care line that

I carry, has partnered with an organization called “The Rapunzel Project.”

The Rapunzel Project was created by two breast cancer survivors, Shirley and Nancy. When Shirley was initially di-

agnosed, she sought a wig almost immediately in antici-pation of hair loss. While wig shopping, she discov-ered the technology of cold cap therapy that was

being performed in Europe. Cold caps keep the hair follicles at the scalp cold, cooling them to the point where toxins from the chemother-apy cannot penetrate, allowing for the pres-

ervation of patients’ hair. Shirley then con-

nected with scientist Frank Fonda, who invented a specific type of cold cap therapy. Shirley was delighted to find that the caps were rentable. However, she came upon a challenge: the cold caps must be held at -22 degrees Fahrenheit. This temperature cannot be reached by a normal freezer. The only option at the time was to cool the cold caps by dry ice, creating a difficult process because the temperature cannot be sufficiently regulated. Nancy saw Shirley’s determination and commenced with helping her raise funds to purchase the correct freezer so that oth-ers could take advantage of cold cap therapy. Abbott Northwest-ern Hospital in Minneapolis, Minnesota allowed donations to go through their foundation and in return, purchased the much-needed freezer. Before the freezer purchase, Shirley had under-gone only one treatment where the cold cap was chilled with dry ice. For all future treatments, the cap was properly chilled in the freezer. Shirley did not lose her hair during treatment! Cold cap therapy is not limited solely to women and is safe enough to be used on children. Additionally, it is not a treat-ment limited to just those with breast cancer. Cold Cap therapy can be used on patients with other cancers as well. The Rapunzel Project website describes the initial sensation of the therapy as “quite cold.” They suggest using warm blankets and a distraction of a nice shoulder massage. Chemotherapy patients tend to be cold during treatment because the saline being infused into the blood system is at room temperature and not body temperature. I remember seeing my mother-in-law in sweatshirts and blankets during treatments, and now I fully understand why. The Rapunzel Project website also mentions that cold cap application requires practice; mere seconds can affect the outcome of a treatment and usually one patient has a helper, if not two, during a treatment. The cost of Cold Cap Therapy varies between manufacturers and insurance coverage. For one specific type of cap, researchers have found that 95% of its users did not lose hair during treatment. This is an as-tounding number! For those who have heard the shocking words “You have cancer,” and for those who have faced the devastating potentiality of losing their hair, these caps could bring so much relief, a sense of calm, and more importantly, hope. If you want to learn more about Cold Cap therapy, go to www.rapunzelproject.org. You can watch videos, read testi-monials, see pictures of the caps and freezers, and donate to this amazing organization. Spread the word and educate others on this treatment and you too can help in the fight against cancer. [GCW]

The Rapunzel ProjectBy Rachel Horton

Rachel Horton | WriterRachel Horton is a local hairstylist that owns her own salon booth, called “The Hair Movement,” within the Ultimate Look outlet. Originally from Rosemount, Minnesota, Rachel came to Grand Forks to pursue a degree in Nursing and Theatre at UND. After a change of heart, Rachel decided to follow her passion for beauty and hair and pursued cos-metology at the Aveda Institute in Minneapolis, Minnesota. After graduating from the Institute, Rachel moved back to Grand Forks to work at an Aveda salon. Rachel married her high school sweetheart and they just welcomed their first child, Elliott, in September. After a challenging pregnancy, Rachel pursued her own business so that she could spend more time with her family and son. Rachel and her family are happy to call Grand Forks home.

2012 November|December. .15

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While driving on I-29, just outside of Manvel, I spot a little house surrounded by a perfect fall day. The swing set outside seems en-folded into a beautiful fall setting with colorful trees and three little kids hanging onto the last moments of warmth and sunshine. Halloween dec-orations on the outside of the house playfully mask this amazing family. Inside, the house has the ambiance of energy, compassion, kindness, and love—lots of love. Inside this house lives a family of five, which includes three very special kids. This is the house of Brent and Amy Havelka and their three children, all of whom were adopted through the North Dakota AASK program. AASK stands for Adults Adopting Special Kids, and is the pro-gram in the state of North Dakota which provides adoption services for children in foster care and the families who adopt them. AASK is cur-rently a collaboration of Catholic Charities North Dakota and PATH, ND Inc. Started in 1993, AASK provides structure and consistency to the adoption process throughout the entire state of North Dakota. Last year the AASK program facilitated the adoption of 134 children. A ma-jority of these children were placed with North Dakota families. “From the very beginning of the case, long before adoption workers are involved, conversations are being had with the families, about who the children can be placed with,” says Andrea Olson, Adop-tion Worker, AASK Adoption Program. They call them Forever Families. Forever Families is a kid-friendly way to talk about adoption—especially when working with young children. A forever family is a place where the children get to stay forever. This is where the Havelkas come in. Once they realized that they were unable to have biological children, they immediately knew what they wanted to do: contact AASK at Catholic Charities North Da-kota. They talked with social workers, took part in the adoption pro-grams and education, and feel that they have been incredibly fortunate.“Our first son was set for adoption; the second two were foster care and became adoption. It hasn’t been hard. I don’t know if the stars were aligned or what, but we just got lucky. I know it isn’t for everyone, but if it is right for that person, that situation, it is the best thing ever.” To celebrate this amazing union of Forever Families, AASK and the Havelka family, along with hundreds of others, will meet on Novem-ber 17, the Saturday before Thanksgiving to celebrate National Adoption Day. This will be the fourth annual celebration of the event in the Grand Forks community. The goal is to finalize adoptions for kids in foster care, in addi-tion to celebrating and honoring families that adopt and raise awareness about kids in foster care who are waiting to be adopted. There are about 107,000 children in the United States who are in foster care and wait-

ing for their Forever Families, so the National Adoption Day is a way to raise awareness for the children who continue to wait. It is also a day for former AASK families and their children to come back and make that connection with their adoption case workers. “Everybody who has walked that path—hard, good, or bad—we are all going to be together celebrating the total awesomeness of adoption,” said Havelka. The AASK program works with the GF County Courthouse and many of their partners, to help plan the event and facilitate the day. One of the biggest events is to open the courthouse to families as they finalize their adoptions. There will be children’s activities, face painting, kid’s crafts, a minute-to-win-it station, and many more fun activities for the families to participate in. “I hope this National adoption day gets big so that it gets adop-tion awareness out there because there are so many stigmas still attached. It is so much more open now, and I hope it continues to make people aware of the good things of adoption, it’s cool to adopt.” said Havelka. Once the adoptions are complete, there will be a press confer-ence with Grand Forks Mayor Michael Brown, Senator John Hoeven and his wife Mikey, presentations, a mother and daughter reading, and a mu-sical selection by a foster care case manager from Grand Forks County. To complete the celebration, there will be a balloon release ceremony at the end of the day. The balloon release celebrates children being adopted, adoptive parents, birth parents, siblings, grandparents, family, friends, professionals, all families who have been joined through adoption, and all children who continue to wait to be matched with their forever families.“I love how they make finalization so personal and meaningful. With each finalization (...), you can choose to do a balloon release, Andrea came over with poems and readings, and it is just so meaningful. With every single one of our kids, they did a thank you to God, thank you to birth parents and to the AASK program. Those guys are our angels, part of our family,” said Havelka. “An adoption day is a super fun day anyway, but this is a way for us to get back together as a community and allow us to have a moment in the sun to shine,” says Olson. A moment to create memories, a moment to create families. Since 1993, the program has been a part of placing over 1,595 children for adoption, and over 1,258 families have had their adoption assessments completed. For more information on the AASK program, you can go to www.aasknd.org or contact Andrea Olson or Trich Heck of Catholic Charities North Dakota at 701-775-4196. [GCW]

Forever FamiliesAASK Celebrates the FourthAnnual National Adoption DayBy Jennifer Dame

Jennifer Dame | WriterJennifer is seasoned freelance writer and children’s book author. She is a graduate of St. Cloud State University and a mom blogger for her blog called “Kid Crazy.” You can read her blog at http://kidcrazy.areavoices.com. “As a mom of three daughters, I can’t teach them enough about how important it is to be a strong woman, be confident in themselves, and love who they are,” said Jennifer.

2012 November|December. .17

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It takes a special person to join the Armed Forces—a person with drive, discipline, and focus. These special people say goodbye to life in their community as they know it and become dedicated to the military way of life. After being immersed in the military and possibly seeing combat, some veterans return home and are faced with a new reality. Either the environment they once knew has changed, or they have had experiences with which they do not know how to cope. Whatever the reasons, there are many circumstances that ultimately lead to a veteran becoming homeless. Some return home to find a lack of employment and housing shortages. Others might be dealing with post-traumatic stress disorder and have little knowledge of what help is available. The Department of Veterans Affairs has a special person in Grand Forks to help these soldiers open up a wealth of resources. This person in our community is Janet Nelson, Housing and Urban Development/Veterans Affairs Supported Housing (HUD/VASH) Social Work Case Manager for the Fargo Department of Veterans Affairs. “I work under a program called Healthcare for Homeless Veterans that provides shelter services, transitional living, and permanent housing,” says Janet. In addition to housing services, the VA provides a range of services for veterans who are struggling with criminal justice involvement. “Veterans Justice Outreach can assist them through the criminal justice pro-cess if there is an issue that would be better served in treatment, and works with the justice system to keep them out of jail,” says Janet. Janet’s position with the VA is three pronged: she is the HUD/VASH Coordinator, she provides outreach to help Veterans with their VA benefits, and she manages VA contract beds at Northlands Rescue Mission for veterans who might need permanent housing. Janet acts as a gateway to veterans in need of services. “When I do outreach to our returning soldiers, the door is open to any veteran who wants to come in, whether they just need assistance with their healthcare, mental health, or addiction services.” Some veterans have never used the VA in the past, so Janet helps them sign up, educates them on the services, and assists them with the eligibility process. “They know I’m the housing gal,” she chuckles. “I also educate them on how they may be eligible for medical services at our Grand Forks VA clinic located right in our own community.” The VA is working to end veteran homelessness by 2015, and one of the ways that they are trying to ac-complish this is by collaborating with Housing Urban Development (HUD) to allow the development of vouch-ers in communities like Grand Forks and Fargo. HUD has many guidelines for using its service where many veterans wouldn’t meet these guidelines. However, through HUD’s work with the VA’s HUD/VASH program, chronically homeless veterans who are dealing with mental illness, addiction, financial issues, criminal records, and major medical issues can now become eligible for housing. “What HUD and the VA are trying to do is re-move obstacles,” said Janet. “Someone might have a felony that would stop them from getting a HUD voucher, but through [the] program and our cooperative efforts with HUD, we can still work with them and help them find housing.” The HUD/VASH program goes by a “housing first” model. This model design is to house someone first before they attempt to tackle any other social issues that the veteran might have. “We want to get them housed first and help them to stabilize because we know that if you are worried about where you are going to spend your next night, it’s going to be really difficult for you to focus on your other problems,” said Janet. “So we get them housed, build a relationship with them, and we work on getting them the help that they need.” Grand Forks and Fargo are the only communities in the State of North Dakota that have active vouch-ers. Janet works within Grand Forks and Polk counties with 25 vouchers, so any veterans in those areas or those who want to move to those areas would be eligible to work with the program. “On the grand scale of things, 25 vouchers probably don’t seem like a lot, but I get to see individually how it impacts a person and it is really an honor to be able to walk into their lives in this capacity and see them grow and see their success,” she said.

By Autumn Graber

2012 November|December. .21

Although the Grand Forks HUD/VASH program has been in place in Grand Forks for only two years, Janet has seen first-hand an improvement to permanent housing and stability in life for these veterans. Janet beams as she talks about a man she walked through the program. “For years and years since he got out of the military he had been chronically homeless,” said Janet. “He was one of the first people I met at the mission when I first started with this pro-gram. There were stops and starts because there were some health related issues that we needed to deal with, but he was interested right away.” Some of the program participants want to give Janet the credit for getting them into housing. “They are the ones that do the work. When these folks are so used to being homeless, transition-ing into permanent housing is a struggle.” Janet works with people who feel they are in hopeless situ-ations, and through this program, they are able to see that there is hope for them. “I’ve had many people say, ‘I was told ‘no’ so often that I just quit asking, so when somebody says ‘yes’ to you, it feels amazing.’” A misconception that some might have about homeless people is that they are lazy and don’t want to work. “That has not been my experience with the folks that I’m working with,” said Ja-net. “What I generally find is people want to work. They just don’t have the knowledge of the resources available to get to that next level. With VA providing a hand up, not a hand-out, they are able to accomplish their goals. It is a neat process to watch.”

22. .November|December 2012

Pictured: Janet with her husband, Kevin Nelson.

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Some might wonder how a person can separate his or her work and per-sonal life when dealing with such a heavy topic on a daily basis. Janet feels that it’s something you learn how to do as a professional social worker. “It is rewarding to help people and see them succeed with our help.” Janet’s personal life consists of her husband of eighteen years, Kevin, sons Cody and Isaiah, and daughter Gabrielle, who keep her busy. Janet’s family life is very active, and in 1997, after the birth of their first child, Cody, Janet and her husband began discussing the idea of adoption. In 2002, they became licensed foster parents and had 3-year-old Isaiah placed in their home. Isaiah’s biological mother terminated her parental rights, and he was resid-ing with relatives. “My mom knew what was going on with him and she knew that Kevin and I had talked about adopting, and so it just kind of went from there.” As a 3- year-old, Isaiah was overly independent. He bathed, fed, and used the bathroom by himself. “So we had to help him scale back a little bit and be a regular 3-year-old.” Foster parenting transitioned into the final adoption of Isaiah once he turned 7 years old. Due to her training in social work, Janet understands the importance of self-care. “I spend a lot of time with my girlfriends, and my husband and I [go out on dates] a lot. For me, that is so important so I can stay balanced.” Balance and taking care of herself could be the reason that Janet takes such pride in her career and has a caring nature. “I try to be open with the people that I work with,” she said. “Some of the folks that I work with come with a lot of shame from their past history because of what they have done or haven’t done. With relationship build-ing, it’s important for me to say ‘I’m here to help you, and if there are things you want to work on, and then let’s do that together.’” [GCW]

2012 November|December. .23

Pictured: Janet with Cody, Isaiah, and Gabrielle.

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