Home + Design

Minnesota Winters Meet Their Match

How Permanent Coating Solutions keeps your floors, vehicles, and garage looking new for decades Article by Kendra Johnson | Photography by Maria Claire Media If you’ve experienced enough Minnesota winters, you know the effect salt can have on your vehicles and even your garage floors. At some point, we all just come to accept it, but that doesn’t have to be the case. Permanent Coating Solutions, based in Mayer, provides protective spray-on coatings. Their services include concrete floor...

Food + Beverage

Taste of the Holidays

We asked our partners to share their most-loved holiday recipes—and the dishes are as heartwarming as they are delicious. Article by Lauren Beaubaire One of the best parts about the holidays? Food. Really, really good food. It's the time of year when you pull out the special recipes that you don't usually enjoy during the rest of the year. The ones that fill your home with warmth, nostalgia, and a little extra holiday magic.  We love these family recipe traditions, so we asked a few of our...

Life + Culture

Life Minded

Holidaze Article by Jen Fortner I used to pore over the Martha Stewart Living magazine. I even preferred the magazine to the show. I loved the beautiful photos of her elaborate tablescapes. The layers of rich colors. Mustard-toned velvet napkins tucked into copper napkin rings on burlap placemats with terracotta dishes. Tiny place card holders made out of pinecones she gathered from the yard. I loved the step-by-step instructions on how to make a spring wreath, a summer table runner, and...

Local Services

A Little Tree, A Big Difference

How "The Giving Tree Project" in Excelsior is delivering holiday cheer to veterans and families in need Article and Photography by Rebecca Hahn It’s beginning to feel a lot like Christmas, especially now since Excelsior’s main street has between 20 and 25 new residents, each of them waiting anxiously for a visit from you and a few ornaments that you won’t be needing. I am talking about the small, 3-to-5-foot balsam trees that “with your help” will be decorated by the public, bagged and tied up...

Shopping

Holiday Gift Guide

We've rounded up perfect picks for everyone on your list Article by Lauren Beaubaire The holidays are here, and to make sure your season stays merry and bright, we’re helping out with the gift list. So, forget the stress of holiday shopping. We’ve rounded up fun, festive ideas for every personality. And the best part? These gifts are local finds, so not only are you supporting the community, you don’t have to go far to score the perfect gift for everyone on your list. From lake-life essentials...

Finance + Legal Services

AskSusan - November Column

This month's question: "Dear Susan: How do I shift my mindset from wealth accumulation to appreciation? Or can I achieve both?" Susan dives into what is more important than the amount of wealth accumulated and how to give yourself permission to enjoy and create meaningful memories that leave a legacy behind and enrich your life in ways that money can't achieve. Give it a listen, it just might give you some ideas to make your life a little happier, more satisfying. And make sure to subscribe to...

Home Services

Tis the Season to Tidy Up and Give Back

Very Organized by Valerie shares simple ways to declutter, cut holiday chaos, and spread a little joy through giving back Article by Kendra Johnson As we head into the holiday season, taking the time to declutter and organize your home can do more for your mental health and stress levels than you may realize. It can also be a huge boost to your local nonprofits. But finding the time and willpower to clean out parts of your home isn’t always easy, and deciding what stays and what goes can be...

Life + Culture

The Store on the Shore That Does So Much More

How Claudia Lacy turned a lakeside cabin into a place of giving Article by Jen Fortner | Photography by Kate Ann Photography This season brings out philanthropic energy in all of us. Giving typically spikes this time of year, and there is better awareness of how we can work to meet the needs of our family, friends, and neighbors. For Claudia Lacy, director of The Langdon, and a small group of dedicated volunteers, there is no such season. Their season is 365 days a year.  The Langdon opened...

Life + Culture

Life Minded

Let's Talk Turkey Article by Jen Fortner I had a childhood friend who always went out for Chinese food on Thanksgiving Day. My twelve-year-old brain couldn’t imagine restaurants being open that day, and I really couldn’t imagine not having what I considered ‘real Thanksgiving food.’ I found their tradition wildly exotic. They were British, and the fact that they were eating cream cheese wontons on Thanksgiving while having witty banter in charming accents was an embarrassment of riches...

Professional Services

From Humble Beginnings to Heartfelt Impact

The Story of Andrea Cruz-Babcock and The Art of Cleaning Article by Sarah Knieff | Photography by Kate Ann Photography When Andrea Cruz-Babcock arrived in the United States in 1999, she came with a dream shared by many: the hope of building a better life. But her journey didn’t follow a straight path, nor was it handed to her. Instead, Andrea carved her own way: one that started in a tiny shed in Mexico and led to the creation of The Art of Cleaning, a standout cleaning service in Minnesota...