october november
28
2026
52
On t he Cover Kayla Kallander by Alicia Underlee Nelson
cont [ aw ]
features 14
From Doer To Leader Bre Cain, The Cain Collective by Kooper Shagena
22 Everything In Place Ashley Leslie of ORGANIZED & CO. by Patrice Peterson
34 Our Bodies, Our Homes
Karly Kalstad of High Water Healing by Alicia Underlee Nelson
62 On the Rise
DaeLyn Jameson
of Dogs and Real Estate by Kooper Shagena
34
life 40 Autumn Infusion
Bringing the Season Indoors by Dawn Duncan
44 Right Here at Home
Human Trafficking in North Dakota by YWCA
60 Area Calendar
style
40
50 Area Style
22
26 pets 28 Every Cat Has A Story
Cats With Disabilities Available For Adoption At Cat's Cradle Shelter
30 Home Is Waiting
Dogs Available For Adoption at Homeward Animal Shelter
health 26 When a Child's Fever Needs
Care - And When It Can Wait At Essentia Health by Caitlin Pallai
62
30
dining 46 Cuisine & Connection Adibon's Sifa Olive by Kooper Shagena [AW] October / November 26 ::
7
underlee nelson
ALICIA
Alicia is the creator of prairiestylefile. com, a website that explores the arts, culture, shopping, events and fashion of Fargo-Moorhead and the upper Midwest. She frequently travels across the region in search of what's beautiful and what's next.
DAWN
duncan
Dawn is a Minnesota native and UND graduate who spent several years in Colorado as an entrepreneur. She is a published children's book author, artist, writer, and retreat host specializing in helping others express their creativity through art and the written word through her classes and courses. You can find her teaching fitness classes as her fun side gig, traveling, making art, or spending time with her husband Michael and her rescue cat, Marais.
OUR WRITERS
[ aw ]
are the voice of Area Woman Magazine. They bring to life the Fargo-Moorhead area and the incredible stories of the women we feature. These are the talented contributors showcased in this issue. Learn more about these and our other contributors at areawomanmagazine.com.
PATRICE
KOOPER
shagena
Kooper Shagena earned her journalism degree from NDSU and is now pursuing her master's in English from Colorado State University. She is an accomplished horse trainer who loves to ride, watch ghost shows, and read.
peterson
With a degree in journalism, Patrice continues to pursue her passion for writing by creating articles for various Midwest publications. She left behind a corporate communications job to find her own version of a perfect work-life balance. That includes spending plenty of quality time with friends and family, including her husband, children, and two young grandchildren. It also allows time to pursue her other passion for outdoor activities. Besides biking and skiing, she loves kayaking and spending time at her “happy place,” their cabin on Big Pine Lake in Perham.
See more of our feature article on page 52
publisher / art director
read it online
KIP JOHNSON
issuu.com/compmedia
managing editor
find us
DAWN DUNCAN
areawomanmagazine.com
advertising
Area Woman is published bimonthly by Kip Johnson Design, LTD (dba Compass Media) and printed in the U.S.A. ©2026 Kip Johnson Design, LTD All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced without written permission from AW. Area Woman is a trademark registered at the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. Kip Johnson Design, LTD assumes no responsibility for unsolicited manuscripts or photographs and does not necessarily agree with content or advertising presented.
JERRY SHEA | 218.205.7454 REBECCA HAARSTAD | 262.994.8744 TERRI JO PEERY | 320.491.5618
design AARON BURGENER
photography JUSTIN EILER PHOTOGRAPHY
celebrating 42 years
10 :: areawomanmagazine.com
I
In going through this issue’s stories, I had a moment. Even after all of the stories we’ve done over the years about women who are achievers, visionaries, and resilient beyond measure, I still have times where I am stopped in my tracks and a bit overwhelmed by the incredible fortitude of others. Seeing other women succeed is mesmerizing and beautiful, and this issue is full, front to back, of stories about women right here in our community who are making huge moves and boldly navigating unchartered waters. Dive into their stories of entrepreneurship and reaching goals, some of which stem from adversity or rocky paths to get to the desired result. They may make it look easy, but they’ll tell you in these pages that their successes were not overnight, nor guaranteed. There is great inspiration to glean from these stories, and it’s my hope that you’ll take a moment to learn about the women around you, not only to be educated on their stories, but to find that spark of excitement and creativity within you, perhaps to even embark on your own exciting new endeavor. Celebrate autumn and slowing down a bit, spending more time indoors, and appreciating surroundings. This is our annual issue dedicated to home, and this is a perfect time of the year to enjoy what home means to us. Creating warmth and coziness in our homes through décor, food, gatherings, and quiet time is all part of the plan, and we share a few tips for how to cultivate the feeling and look of autumn, bringing this into our homes. Explore this season both outdoors and in and enjoy the beauty of autumn in the ways that are special to you—pumpkin spice, cider, bonfires, walks in the woods…..It’s all part of this special season of letting go and settling in. Let’s get cozy.
[aw] Best,
Dawn Duncan Managing Editor
12 :: areawomanmagazine.com
t he
[ aw ]
area
BUSINESS
A virtual assistant is, in practice, an umbrella term for an individual who has turned their skills and experience into services they can provide remotely. Business owners may wish to delegate certain functions, tasks or responsibilities (e.g. administrative assistant, editor, bookkeeper, marketing professional, social media manager) out to a virtual assistant rather than hiring an on-location payroll employee. “On the hiring side,” says Bre Cain, founder and CEO of the Cain Collective, “businesses can significantly reduce overhead compared with hiring a full-time W-2 employee, while gaining flexible support that can scale with the needs of the business.”
Breanna “Bre” Cain operates an academy that trains people to become virtual assistants and helps them land clients by pairing up business owners with her academy graduates. Bre has built a multi-million-dollar business ecosystem spanning education, talent placement, and technology in just four years. Her growth has coincided with a massive post-COVID shift in how Americans think about where, when, and how work gets done—and, in the process, she has helped hundreds of women reclaim their time and build meaningful income on their own terms. Right now, she’s working on self-publishing her own book, “The New Way Women Work”, and influencing the national conversation around what it means to be an independent professional in 2026.
Approximately six years ago, however, she was crying in her car before walking into work. Having been a high-achieving student growing up in Washington state and going on to graduate a semester early from college, she had earned a lofty position as the Director of Donor Relations at Western Washington University at just 26 years old. She was born to two parents from lower-income families who had managed to put themselves through advanced education and build great careers, and she says her parents were determined that their children (of which, Bre is the eldest) know the importance of seizing opportunities and aspiring to big things. This she did; not yet 30 and already a director at a large institution. “And that,” she says, “is where the cracks started showing.” She had done it—gotten an impressive job after working so diligently in her education, but she was saddened and disoriented to find that it was not everything she’d believed it would be.
“And that,” she says, “is where the cracks started showing.” - bre cain
“I just remember sitting in my office and looking out the window at the college students on the green,” she says, “and I felt jealous of them. They just get to hang out there and use their time however they want to; they are getting to choose what they’re passionate about and how to pursue it.” She realized then that she had simply been following along with who she thought she ought to be and what she thought she ought to do. There had to be more to life: more choices, more freedom, more truth. Confronted with this awakening, she still stayed dormant until she had her first daughter. “Finally, there were enough stakes; something to give me a big reason to defy the rules, defy what society told me—I just knew I wanted to be there for her, and I was going to find a way to do it.” She tried to go back to work three months after the birth of her daughter but was just entirely miserable; “I cried every day,” she says. She soon made the choice to stay at home but remained determined to do something both to stimulate herself and to contribute financially. “I jumped into network marketing,” she says. “It was great, it was a slog, and I’m just the type of person that, if I’m going to do something, I’m going to do it all the way.” Over the next couple years, she tried all the stayat-home side gigs from donating plasma to affiliate marketing and influencing. “If there was something to try to contribute to my family financially from home, I probably tried it,” Bre says. She was seeing some success, but in the summer of 2022, her husband said something that changed her perspective: “All this time and energy that you’re putting into someone else’s business…what if you did that for your own?” Brilliant. But how? And what business? “One of the first things I did,” she says, “was pay $2,000 for this CEO program to learn how to run a business.” While she was investing all this time and money into learning skills, she was skirting around the Big Question: what would her business actually be?
16 :: areawomanmagazine.com
“It’s now December of 2022 and I feel like nothing is working. I’ve invested thousands of dollars to learn how to run a business and I had $132 in revenue to show for all of that. Like, dang,” she says, “that sucks.” At this point, her husband implored her to change direction— the time and money for just learning and investing had run out. She accepted that something had to change, but she adhered to her belief in herself: “I knew that I could do this,” she says with resolve. She had returned to scrolling Indeed day in and day out until, eventually, she happened upon a listing that finally put her on the right scent trail. “It was 15 hours a week with a life coach in California who was completely focused on empowerment,” she says, “and I thought it would be so cool to be a part of that. It was super flexible and it was listed as a contractor role; it didn’t say anything about being a virtual assistant.” But her attention was piqued: “Where could I find more roles like this,” she asked, “roles that would fit my life as a mom with young kids?” She continued scouring the internet with this new, slightly less vague sense of what kind of business she might like to operate. Eventually, she found the title of virtual assistant.
[AW] October / November 26 :: 17
“As soon as I had a word for it, I thought, ‘Oh my gosh, this is it!’ because it was tangible; it was consistent.” Bre says, “One of the things I loved was the potential for recurring income. You can sign a great client once and work together for years, rather than constantly hunting for the next sale or customer.” In just three days, she signed her first client who paid her $2,000 per month. “My brain was broken,” she says, at finding something that fit her skillset so perfectly and paid so consistently. Almost immediately, she realized that she wanted to go beyond just being a virtual assistant—she wanted to help other women like her find this industry and succeed in it. Finally, a name and a mission to put all of her business education towards: a VA academy. “Getting started, one of the hardest things was not having the belief and the buy-in of those around me,” she says. She hit the ground running with huge goals—like making $30k in a single month—which alarmed her very logical and practical husband. “He just laughed in my face,” she says, “like I was out to lunch. ‘This is so unrealistic,’ he’d say, telling me to pick a smaller goal so that I could actually make it happen. ‘Goals that big don’t work,’ he said.
“Getting started, one of the hardest things was not having the belief and the buy-in of those around me.”
- bre cain 18 :: areawomanmagazine.com
“I remember it so clearly because I felt embarrassment and shame, like I shouldn’t have told him and popped that bubble. But then I thought, well, those are his beliefs. They don’t have to be mine. So, I literally just put my head down for a year and decided I’d tell him after I’d made it happen.” He knew she was working on building a business, but she kept the hard details to herself. Which, she says, while isolating, is sometimes the only way to nurture a vision that only you can see. “When you want to do something, a lot of people are very logical, and they have to see something to believe in it. But as entrepreneurs, we’re creating something out of nothing,” she says, “and sometimes, it feels like people won’t get it. But it’s not because they don’t love you. My husband’s reaction was because he loved me and wanted to keep me safe.” Bre says a mentor once told her a cryptic idiom that helped her rationalize her lonely endeavor: “Don’t touch the baby with dirty hands.” In other words, hold your vision close to your chest and be content with waiting until it’s mature for people to see it for themselves, rather than expose it prematurely to the germs of doubt. This approach also takes away the sting of failure: it’s much easier to get up and try again when nobody saw you fall.
After working in near silence for about a year, Bre was able to hold up her business banking app to her husband and say, “Look what I did.” The academy branch of Bre’s empire, the original business plan, is called VALA, or the VA Leadership Academy. It is a 12-month business accelerator that teaches women (Bre focuses on women because her passion lies with helping mothers take back control of their lives, as she did) how to package and market the skills they already have to businesses that are looking to hire out these skills remotely. “You can specialize in bookkeeping; you can specialize in social media; you can basically take whatever you’ve done in your background and turn that into services that you offer digitally,” she says. “Something I hear from women who have incredible corporate careers is, ‘I don’t want to be an assistant for the rest of my life’. The VA industry is a big, wide bubble and you can specialize in anything. My first VA role, for example, was as a director of operations.” Today, Cain no longer works as a virtual assistant herself. Her role has evolved into leading the growing ecosystem she built around the industry—developing new programs and technology, leading her team, coaching entrepreneurs and speaking about the future of work. But becoming a CEO has brought its own learning curve. She says one of the hardest transitions has been learning that building something bigger requires letting go of being the person who does everything herself. Leadership, for her, has become less about having all the answers and more about trusting
people, empowering them to take ownership and continually asking which pieces of the vision are truly hers to carry. “The funny thing is, I started all of this because I wanted freedom,” Bre says. “And as the business has grown, I've had to keep asking myself: am I building bigger just to build bigger, or am I still building the life I wanted in the first place?” But perhaps the clearest measure of Cain's success isn't found in the revenue report. Today, she is raising three daughters with her husband in Minnesota, where their life includes school dropoffs, horses, and the ordinary rhythms of family life alongside running a multi-million-dollar business. Years after sitting in that university office watching students outside and envying their freedom to decide how they spent their days, Cain has built a career—and a life—around that very idea: that work should create more choices for our lives, not fewer. Bre is witnessing and participating first-hand in the new frontier of leadership and modern work. “I built the training program, placement agency, founder community, and future workforce platforms,” she says, “because women deserved a bigger opportunity than the traditional path they were handed.”
For information:
breannacain.com hello@caincollective.com
area
ORGANIZING
Sometimes you choose a career, and sometimes a career chooses you. Along the way, the path to that career may not always follow a straight line. For Ashley Leslie, owner of ORGANIZED & CO. in Fargo, that not-so-straight line surprisingly led her into her current role as a professional organizer. Ashley started her company in 2020 after losing her job in logistics during the COVID-19 pandemic. “My background also included experience in retail management and optical, but I wasn’t sure of the direction I wanted to take as I searched for a new job.” Soon after, Ashley’s twin sister, Nichole Rae, came to her with an unexpected opportunity to organize the home of one of her clients, even though professional organizing wasn’t a service she offered through her creative wellness business, The Art of Daily Practice. Nichole immediately thought of her sister and asked if she would be willing to take on the project with her. Ashley’s answer: A pretty solid “no.” Before she knew it, however, the two sisters were at the woman’s house, starting in the kitchen, then going through things in each room, and figuring out what would make sense throughout the home. At the end of the project, she stood in the kitchen and thought, “Wow, it feels good in here!”
That experience was a “one-off,” but it made Ashley realize that she had always been using her “God-given organizing talent” in one way or another throughout her life, starting in middle school organizing all the jeans and lip gloss of her best friend Brittney. “Although entrepreneurship tends to run in our family, I never really thought about owning my own business prior to that time – I liked the stability of a paycheck and benefits,” she continues. “But then I recognized how much I love finding solutions, and how good it made me feel. I could help someone who had been overwhelmed with their space and find a way to make them start feeling good about it again.” Ideas about a name for her new company started swirling in her head, and once she thought of ORGANIZED & CO. (“kind of like Tiffany & Co.”), she called Nichole, who already had her own business for several years. They began working together to help her secure all the other items she would need for this new business, like an IP address, website, and social media pages. Not everyone can pull something positive out of the pandemic, but Ashley feels that if it were not for Covid and losing her job, she may not have been able to make that kind of big decision. Now in her sixth year, she looks back at this exciting but terrifying time of starting a new business, and never forgets her dad’s uncertainty when he asked her, “You started an organizing business during Covid?”
"A PLACE FOR EVERYTHING AND EVERYTHING IN ITS PLACE”
This long-standing rule for keeping a house neat and clean was popularized way back in the 19th century by Mrs. Beaton, a popular household management writer. Although times have changed, households have been altered, and methods have been updated, the task of organizing and decluttering our spaces is an ongoing concern for many people. “One thing about that time during the pandemic is that everyone was at home,” says Ashley. “Many people were feeling the pressure of an organized home because they were spending so much more time there. In the beginning, I was running on fumes and saying a prayer every night, asking if I was heading in the right direction.” The twin sisters grew up in Moorhead, and since Nichole moved back to the area two years ago, she often assists Ashley with her projects. They each have their own businesses, but Ashley says they are two complementary forces that create balance, “like Yin and Yang – or partners in crime.” She says she is incredibly grateful for the collaboration with her twin sister. “Besides having two sets of hands accomplish the project quickly, we also have minds that naturally work in sync without a need for constant communication between us. (It must be a twin thing!)” [AW] October / November 26 :: 25
FINDING SOLUTIONS
When it comes to organizing, although Ashley’s clients may be overwhelmed, nothing overwhelms her. Every situation is different, as is each client, but three common types of projects include: 1)Helping people move. “We are not movers, but we can help people pack the items they want in their new home and donate what they do not want or need. Part of my hourly rate also includes donation dropoffs. I remove items from the home and bring them to an organization for re-sale or donation. Many clients say that is their favorite part of the process.” 2)Helping people who want to remain in the home but need to downsize and declutter. “Downsizing and decluttering is MY favorite part of the process. I could do it all day. I remember one client referring to this process as reverse retail therapy” 3)Helping people who have already downsized or remodeled. “They are not really getting rid of things, but they need help organizing what they already have. For them, professional organizing is the icing on the cake—the last step in making their home feel functional, comfortable, and complete.” Besides the donation dropoffs, basic supplies such as labels and label making equipment, trash bags, and donations bags are also included in the hourly rate. In addition, Ashley provides shopping assistance for items like storage bins, baskets, and drawer dividers.
“During the initial consultation – by phone or in-person – I’ll ask the client about the areas that are causing the most frustration, how they are currently using the space, what is and isn’t working, and what they hope the space will look and feel like when the project is complete,” she explains. “I also talk with them about their priorities, routines, and any specific challenges they want to solve.” Not only does she come prepared with a plan, but she also brings enthusiasm and energy to get the job done. “I just go, go, go,” she says with a laugh. “I talk fast, and I walk fast, and I love doing what I do.”
NOJUDGMENT
Melissa Pachak reached out to ORGANIZED & CO. last year following the birth of her child. She felt overwhelmed, especially with all the baby items that needed to be put away, and she says it was completely out of her capacity to do what needed to be done.
“I think that kind of stress can impact your nervous system, and having Ashley and Nichole come in, get it all organized, and find places for everything, eased the stress and the burden,” recalls Melissa, the founder of the FM Wellness Collective. “She took everything out of my bathroom, threw away what needed to be thrown away, took away what we could donate, then put the rest of it back in an orderly fashion. To me, it was like a form of healthcare, and it was life changing.” Once the rooms were all organized and there was a “spot” for everything, Melissa says she had more time to devote to getting the everyday tasks done. Stephanie Maier agrees that ORGANIZED & CO. gave her back a sense of control over spaces and routines that had become sources of stress. “I hired Ashley at a time in my life when I was wearing too many hats – as a wife, mom, daughter, daughter-in-law, farm support person, church employee – and the person who was trying to keep all the pieces of our family life moving,” says Stephanie, who is Chief Operating Officer of Maier Family & Farms. “She took what felt like a daunting and undesirable task and made it manageable.” Hiring ORGANIZED & CO. was one of those decisions that Stephanie says made a much bigger difference than she expected. She had some specific systems set up within her household, but knew she needed new systems for the garage, entryway, office, files, closets, and all the other spaces that had become overwhelming.
“There was absolutely zero judgment from Ashley, and she did not just organize my house. She listened to how our family actually lived and found ways to create systems that worked within our house – rather than expecting our house to fit a particular organizing philosophy.”
CONSTANTLY LEARNING & EVOLVING
Ashley believes that organizing is an investment with an emotional component to it, and she is passionate about her business. “In a sense, I am an organizing counselor. I don’t judge you for what I see. I’m just so proud of you for making the call so I can help you. I try to meet people where they are, and my only goal is to come in and fix the problems – to give people the time needed to enjoy other interests and activities. It’s amazing how organizing can make everything easier.” One home she organized included a five-year-old boy. After his room was completed, Ashley asked him what he thought about his room now. His immediate answer: “It feels good!” “At that moment, I knew I was doing exactly what I was meant to do,” she adds. “It feels good for them, and it also feels good for me. I help people find peace with the spaces they have and see the value in their current home.”
For information:
organizedandco.com Ashley Leslie: 701-866-2160 [AW] October / November 26 :: 27
area
Roku is a sweet black 3-year-old girl and the newest member of our diabetic crew. Her diabetes is managed with low dose of liquid oral medication once a day along with strict diet of Fancy Feast chicken canned food. Roku is curious, playful, and loves exploring her surroundings, but after her adventures, she always seems to find her way back to a warm lap. She can live with other cats with slow, careful introductions and would make a wonderful companion for someone looking for a sweet, affectionate girl. General Age: Adult | Gender: Female Coat Length: Short | Color: Black
PETS
If you think one of these special kitties might be the perfect addition to your family, please reach out to learn more about adoption and come meet them. One of them may be waiting to steal your heart and find their forever home.
Ticket is a handsome 2+ year old DMH tuxedo cat with a pink nose. Shortly after Ticket came to us, we discovered that he was experiencing seizures. He is now on medication, and we have not noticed any seizure activity at the shelter since starting his treatment. At times, he seems a bit hard of hearing, too, but that doesn’t stop him from being a lovable and sweet large cat who enjoys sitting on high perches and gazing out a picture window. He also loves to be brushed and pampered. While you pet him, he will chat with you, too, even if he doesn’t always hear your every word. Ticket’s language is the language of love, after all. This big fellow has shown signs of liking the more calm and serene aspects of life. If you have a quiet home for a gentle and affectionate cat with special needs, let Ticket know.
you will ever meet. She’s a pretty gray tabby and white cat with one green eye. The other one had to be removed recently, but she’s doing well and has already adjusted to being one-eyed. This kitty is gentle, loving, and eager to make your acquaintance. She will climb right into your arms, nuzzle your neck, and cuddle. Dopey would love to be in a home where she can be an only cat and have a lot of your attention, and you can have a lot of hers in return. Being with people is very important to her, so be sure you can spend plenty of time with this gentle and sweet girl. Dopey is FeLV+
General Age: Adult | Gender: Male Coat Length: Medium | Color: Black and White
General Age: Adult | Gender: Female Coat Length: Short | Color: Gray, Blue or Silver Tabby
Dopey is about the sweetest 1-2 year old young cat
Libby is a sweet 1 year old younger cat with dark tabby markings. She has a slender petite face, which gives her a very big-eyed expression. She is very active and playful and friendly. She enjoys saying hello to people and is always pleased to receive a good petting session. Libby tends to reach out with eager and fun-loving paws when playing, so she is a bit too spunky for the youngest children. Calm and older children (and adults!) who can learn to respect her often spicy nature would be best as housemates for Libby. General Age: Adult | Gender: Female Coat Length: Short | Color: Brown Tabby
Officer Meow is a handsome orange-andwhite 9-year-old boy who is about as gentle and loving as they come. His diabetes is well managed with a very low dose of insulin twice a day and a strictly Fancy Feast chicken canned-food diet. He loves being near his people and will happily follow you around the house, but he’s also independent enough to curl up for a nap or entertain himself with a favorite toy. Officer Meow isn’t a big fan of other cats and would be happiest as your one-and-only, where he can soak up all the love and attention. General Age: Adult | Gender: Male Coat Length: Short | Color: Orange and White
Alveda is an energetic tabby-and-white 7-yearold girl with plenty of personality! She’s confident, knows what she wants, and what she wants most is all the pets and attention you can give her. Her diabetes is well managed with insulin twice a day and a strictly Fancy Feast chicken canned-food diet. Alveda loves to chat, play, and be involved in whatever her people are doing, but she’s always ready to settle in for a cozy nap with her favorite person. She’d love a home where she can be the head of the household and your oneand-only cat. General Age: Adult | Gender: Female Coat Length: Short | Color: Tabby and White
[AW] October / November 26 :: 29
area PETS
So, here’s the thing... My name’s Sherman, but it should be GENTLEman. I’m a sweet, playful guy who loves people, kids, and other dogs. Cats? They’re a little scary, so I prefer admiring them from a safe distance. I’m unapologetically handsome, underbite and “wittle teefers” included! I love walks, sunbathing, zoomies, treats, and cuddling under a shady tree. I’m also house-trained and know basic commands. Busy or laid-back, I’m ready for any home — as long as it’s forever. Come meet me! Male | 5 years old | Pit Bull Terrier Mix
Hi, I’m Dalton! I’m a young, goofy guy with plenty of puppy energy and a playful personality. I love to explore, have fun, and I’m quite the talker! I’m still building my confidence, so I’m looking for a patient family who will introduce me to new things at my own pace. I get along great with other dogs, can be selective with cats, and would do best with kids over 12. I’m a sweet, fun-loving boy who can’t wait to meet you! Male | 5 months old | Lab/Blue Heeler Mix
Hi, I’m Brie! I’m a gentle, loving girl who adores people of all ages. My absolute favorite thing is going for car rides, but I also enjoy short walks, relaxing naps, and spending time with my favorite humans. I can be nervous around loud noises, thunderstorms, and other dogs, so I’m looking for a patient, understanding family who will help me feel safe. I’ve been waiting for quite some time for my forever home. Could you be the one I’ve been waiting for? Female | Nearly 9 years old | Lab/Border Collie Mix
30 :: areawomanmagazine.com
Hi, I’m Beesly! I’m a smart, affectionate girl who loves deeply and gives the best hugs. My foster family calls me a “mother hen” because I like keeping tabs on everyone and supervising the household. I enjoy playing, car rides, cozy naps, and being close to my people. I’m wonderful with kids, do great with dogs, and can live with select cats. I do have separation anxiety and take medication to help me feel secure. Looking for a loving little shadow? Come meet me! Female | 6 years old | Australian Shepherd/ Pit Bull Terrier Mix
Hi, I’m Juicy Fruit! Yep, you read that right. Juicy. Fruit. I’m a handsome young guy with impressive ears, plenty of puppy energy, and lots of love to give! I’m outgoing, affectionate, and great with other dogs and kids. Fetch, tug-of-war, chew toys, car rides, treats… you name it, I’m ready for fun! I’m also crate trained and love cuddling up for a nap once playtime is over. Life’s more fun with a little Juicy Fruit in it. Come meet me! Male | 7 months old | German Shepherd Mix
Hi, I’m Solana! I’m an affectionate, loyal girl who loves being close to my people. I’ve got a playful side too and enjoy tug-of-war, chase, toys, and, of course, treats! I’m still learning to feel safe around new people and dogs, so I’m looking for a patient home that will help me continue building confidence. Calm introductions and regular walks have been helping me make great progress. If you’re looking for a devoted companion to stick by your side, set up a time to meet me! Female | 2 years old | Lab Mix
32 :: areawomanmagazine.com
Hi, I’m Leora! I’m a sweet, silly girl who may be a little shy at first, but once I’m comfortable, my playful and affectionate personality shines through. I love toys, peanut butter, tasty treats, and plenty of cuddles with my favorite people. I’m housetrained, crate trained, and do well with other dogs, cats, and kids over 12. If you’re looking for a sweet, playful companion, set up a time to meet me and see if I’m the girl for you! Female | 10 months old | Pit Bull Terrier Mix
[AW] October / November 26 :: 33
area
WELLNESS
ur bodies are our homes, from our very first breath to our last moment on Earth. Yet so many of us feel out of touch with our physical being. There are dozens of reasons we can find ourselves in this detached state. Maybe we live only in our minds, disconnected from the form that allows us to move through the world, to experience our environment through our senses, to hold those we love. Perhaps we’re struggling to overcome trauma in our pasts, stuck in cycles of addiction or shame or poor decisions, or trying to manage a nervous system that’s on high alert. Some of us are trapped in cycles of anxiety, depression, or poverty that make us feel frantic and unstable — or weary and weighed down. Others crave rest, release, or a brand-new start. But we don’t even know where to begin to find relief. Karly Kalstad, founder of High Water Healing in West Fargo, isn’t just a life coach and a highly trained healer. She sees herself as a guide who can help her clients (especially women) unify their mind, body, and spirit.
“At the heart of it, my work is really about helping women reconnect with themselves,” she explains. “We live in such a crazy, fast-paced, busy world that now, more than ever, women are really craving slowing down and figuring out what it is that they really want. Like, who are they at the end of the day? What do they want? What does a life fully aligned and rooted in what they really want look like?”
High Water Healing
Kalstad sees her work as a bridge between the life her clients currently have and the lives they want to inhabit. While she can (and occasionally does) work with men, she is much more drawn to amplifying and supporting female energy. “I typically find women that are drawn to this type of work because they are going through some sort of transition in their life,” Kalstad says. “They're kind of at a crossroads. And it's not uncommon for them to be dealing with stress, anxiety. They're questioning their careers or a relationship, or they feel like they've kind of lost sight of who they are. So I end up connecting with women who are really just trying to figure out, ‘Where do I go from here?’”
Kalstad gently ushers her clients through a variety of healing sessions within her restful West Fargo space. Kalstad describes the process as heart-led and intuitive. “I sit down with women that feel called to this type of work,” she says. “I'll use modalities like Reiki, intuitive guidance, breathwork, and somatic practices to really strengthen their own inner knowing, their intuition, bring them back down into their body.”
Treating the whole person
Intuitive work — helping women to trust their own gut instincts and desires — is a vital part of helping a woman reconnect with her whole self. Kalstad also emphasizes somatic work (the root word, “soma,” means body in Greek.) She says the two go hand in hand. [AW] October / November 26 :: 35
“Our body is speaking to us all day, every day. But we all tend to live from the neck up. The mind is so powerful, and so loud, that we completely disregard rest of this body that we're in,” she says. “It’s about mind/body connection, body wisdom, tuning into the body. Somatic work really helps people come back down and live through their heart space. It helps you listen to your gut, bring in those other areas of the body that hold deep insight and wisdom for us.”
The results are powerful.
“There's usually a lot of tears,” she says. “I always think that's such a beautiful moment, just the simple act of having them close their eyes and just tune into their body. You’ll see like the shoulders drop, an exhale, tears, and then they'll typically get some sort of insight around something that has been trying to get their attention.” Energy work is also vital. Kalstad is certified in Reiki, a healing practice that uses a practitioner’s hands to guide and direct energy in the body. The conscious connected/Holotropic-style breathwork she practices can release tension. These practices can be used alone or in combination with more traditional methods like therapy. Customization is key.
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“A lot of my clients have therapists, and it's I love hearing from them. Reiki practitioners and healing practitioners are getting the support of mental health practitioners. And I think it's beautiful that we can all work together,” she says. “Talk therapy is more focused on the mind, whereas Reiki and somatic practices bring in the energy/ body aspect. It's not one thing that creates the healing. It's pulling a little bit of everything for that well-rounded picture.” Kalstad has nothing against the study of the mind. In fact, that’s where her own studies began. “I've always been somebody who really thinks about the deeper things in life; Why are we here? What's really going on, and what happens when we die?” she says. “And so that thirst for knowledge paired with lived experiences kind of led me onto this path. I studied psychology in college, and I minored in women's studies, and that probably is where my wanting to work with women has come from. And then I just collected certifications along the way for breathwork, Reiki and somatic practices.” [AW] October / November 26 :: 37
Kalstad’s own path to healing...
Kalstad knows the weight of the burdens that her clients are carrying firsthand, because she’s walked in their shoes. And she’s used the techniques that she teaches in her own life. The “About Me” page on High Water Healing’s website is frank about Kalstad’s life, which was “shaped by poverty, instability, violence, mental illness, and addiction.” She has survived violence, shame, anxiety, and the consequences of the unhealthy coping methods that so many of us use to try to stay safe or push the pain away. “Breathwork, energy healing, and intuitive mentorship didn’t just help me cope, they gave me life again,” the site reads. “They brought me back into my body. They helped me release the heaviness I had carried for so long. They showed me that healing is not about becoming perfect, it’s about coming into wholeness.” There is power in this kind of honesty and vulnerability. Kalstad’s joy, purpose, and empathy infuse her work and give her a deep sense of connection, camaraderie, and meaning. “I really took a deep dive into my own healing about 10 years ago, and I just fell in love with the feeling of the relief that comes from this level of deep inner work and the growth that comes with it — the healing, the expansion,” she says. “I loved connecting with other individuals who are also walking this path. I’ve just never felt more seen and loved in a non-judgmental way. So I wanted to figure out how I could become a person like that for others, too.”
Healing in community
Kalstad recently stepped into the role of chapter director of the FM Wellness Collective. The group connects people in need with wellness professionals in Fargo-Moorhead, as well as the Minnesota lakes region. “It’s a group of wellness practitioners in all sorts of areas spanning from here to Battle Lake,” she says, explaining the concept. “Our main goal is making healing and wellness more accessible to the community. You can go looking for a Reiki practitioner, or a nutritionist, or a massage therapist, and then you'll get a list of practitioners that you can connect with by category.” The collective also hosts events to build community. Kalstad offers events of her own, including women’s circles and breathwork retreats.
Born and raised in Fargo, Kalstad returned from Colorado to grow her business in familiar soil. In her free time, you’ll find exploring her hometown and investing in her friendships. “I love everything outdoors,” she says. “I love to travel. I love comedy shows. I love food, and just connecting, I love girl time too-- going out to dinner with friends or on coffee dates.” Karly Kalstad has come full circle. The hurt one has now become the healer. And she’s on a mission to help others tap into the wellspring of joy and purpose she’s found. If you feel stuck, consider this your sign to gently ask yourself a few questions to wake up your intuition. “Who am I? What do I want? What sets my soul on fire? How do I want to wake up and live every single day? How do I want to show up in the world?” Kalstad challenges women to ask themselves. “It’s so easy to override that inner voice, because so often as women we are told who to be, how to dress, how to speak, what to want. Coming back to that inner knowing really helps us set take some of that pressure off. I think that it can truly be transformational and life changing to build that mind-body connection and start to trust ourselves again.”
For Information: highwaterhealing.net highwaterhealing@gmail.com 303.356.6965
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HOME
all is full of wonder and change. With summers being so short in this part of the world, we cling to every bit of warm weather and sunshine we can get. But there’s something to be said for Midwestern autumn and there are ways to capture the allure of the season through outdoor experiences and bringing fall through the doors of your home. Creating a cozier aesthetic as the cooler weather begins and the leaves are changing is easy and affordable with a few intentional additions. There are easy ways to switch the look and feel of your home, moving away from summer’s light, breezy aesthetic, and beginning to embrace the richness of autumn hues and ambiance. Look at 5 key ways to switch your home into all-things autumn with just a few easy, affordable steps.
First, Look At The Colors In Your Home
If you tend to favor white, ivory, pale, and lighter shades like summer’s blues and neutrals, think about weaving in rich tones of plum, deep reds, burnt orange, black, olive green, or black to shift the mood of the space. Autumn is about feeling; slower, quieter days and nights, the first bits of cool weather and wind, the metamorphosis of the changing leaves, and the color palette of your home can reflect this.
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Use Nature As Your Muse...And Your Resource
And your resource. Nature offers free décor! Leaves, branches, moss, bark…. These are all things you can pay for at stores, but why? We are surrounded by beautiful, wooded areas and lakes; there is an infinite amount of natural décor waiting to be incorporated into our homes. Walk out into your yard or go for a hike to find stunning pieces of décor that will be the perfect accent to change your rooms from summer to fall. Branches are beautiful in vases, rustic buckets, or with plants, while leaves, rocks, and twigs can be coordinated in unique baskets or bowls.
Add texture
through chunky blanket throws, rugs, heavier draperies, accent pillows, and artwork.
Add Artwork
Create your own autumn-inspired pieces (they don’t have to be complicated or advanced, just yours!), frame some autumn-themed kid art from young members of the family, create a wreath, or mix these with textured pieces as well as glass to add intrigue and conversation starters around the home. Original art (or prints of it) sparks interest and draws attention.
Accent With Small Details
Your home doesn’t need to be entirely “switched out” to showcase autumn. By tucking in some autumn tones and pieces around the house, you’ll convey the idea of fall without making rooms look like displays in a store. Keeping a good mix of autumn and your core design elements helps to avoid an overdone or cluttered look while still celebrating the majesty of the season. Need inspiration? Build your own inspo board on Pinterest, peruse Houzz.com, check out local boutiques and craft stores, and just go outside! The woods are calling!
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HEALTH Written by Caitlin Pallai
or many parents, especially new ones, a fever can quickly turn a normal day — or a quiet night — into a stressful guessing game. One minute your child seems a little tired, and the next you’re checking the thermometer, searching symptoms online and wondering if you should go to the emergency department. The reassuring answer is that most fevers in children are not emergencies. While they can be scary for parents, fevers aren’t necessarily a bad thing. They’re a function of the immune system jumping into action. “When your child is exposed to a virus or bacteria, the immune system revs up to get rid of the infection,” said Aubrey DeCoteau, a certified pediatric nurse practitioner at Essentia Health. “A fever is one of those reactions.” Most bacteria and viruses thrive at the body’s “normal” temperature of approximately 98.6 degrees Fahrenheit. By raising your child’s body temperature temporarily, the immune system makes the body less hospitable to the infection.
Photographs supplied by Essentia Health
But a higher-than-normal temperature isn’t always caused by an illness. Physical activity, emotions, heavy clothing, certain medications and the outside temperature and humidity level can all increase body temperature. Knowing what to watch for can help parents make the right decision about when and where to seek care for their child.
Kalee Wysuph
APRN,CNP Essentia Health Pediatrics
A fever in children is defined as a temperature of 100.4 degrees or higher when measured rectally, in the ear or on the forehead; 99.5 degrees when measured orally; or 99 degrees when measured under the arm. The number on the thermometer is only one part of the picture, and parents are encouraged to consider their child’s overall symptoms. “If your child has a fever, but is still eating, drinking and peeing well, it’s OK to feel concern,” explained Kalee Wysuph, another certified pediatric nurse practitioner at Essentia. “However,
Aubrey DeCoteau, APRN,CNP Essentia Health Pediatrics
when your child isn’t eating, drinking or peeing well — their activity is completely decreased — in addition to having a fever, then it’s time to touch base with your provider.” If your child is behaving normally with a fever, do your best to keep them comfortable by maintaining cooler room temperatures and suggesting they wear lighter clothing, drink plenty of fluids and rest. If your child has a fever and other symptoms, such as a headache or body aches, you can use over-the-counter fever reducers such as acetaminophen (for children 2 months or older) or ibuprofen (for children 6 months or older) to lower their temperature and ease discomfort. Carefully follow the dosage guidelines on the package or prescribed by your child’s care provider. Never give your child aspirin, which can cause severe side effects, including a potentially fatal disease called Reye syndrome.
When should parents When to seek call the doctor? emergency care While a mild fever doesn’t usually require treatment in older children, that’s not the case for infants. If your child is under 3 months of age, contact their provider’s office any time they have a temperature of 100.4 degrees or higher.
The emergency department is appropriate when a child appears seriously ill or has symptoms that cannot safely wait. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends seeking immediate medical attention if your child has a fever and they:
“For children of all ages, you should contact their care provider if their fever reaches 104 degrees repeatedly — meaning it increases again after medication wears off or lasts longer than 24–48 hours,” DeCoteau said.
• Have had a seizure during this fever. • Have heart problems that affect heat tolerance. • Have immune system problems or take medications that impair the immune system. • Have other symptoms, such as a severe headache, stiff neck, difficulty breathing or an unexplained rash. • Seem very sick or unusually drowsy or hard to wake up. • Were in an overheated car or another very hot environment.
Even if your child’s fever doesn’t hit that mark, contact their provider if the fever lingers for longer than 24 to 48 hours in children younger than age 2, or longer than 72 hours in older children. Depending on your child’s symptoms, their provider may offer guidance by phone or MyChart message, or they may request an office visit. At Essentia, we offer several options for parents to connect you with the care your child needs and deserves, as conveniently as possible. Parents are encouraged to contact their provider via the MyChart app, start a virtual visit from our website, schedule a primary care appointment online through MyChart or call (844) 663-1068. Parents can also contact the Nurse Care Line at (800) 714-4646 and explore other Immediate Care options at EssentiaHealth.org. Virtual visits are available 24/7 and allow for expert medical advice — and, more importantly, peace of mind — without having to leave the comfort of your home.
Most importantly, parents should trust their instincts. If something feels wrong, don’t be afraid to reach out. “Caring for an ill child is a full-time job, and you are not alone,” explained Wysuph. “As providers who are also parents, we struggle with the same things at home, so please don’t hesitate to reach out to your provider at any time.”
To learn more about our Pediatrics services, visit
EssentiaHealth.org [AW] October / November 26 :: 43
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RESOURCE
It's easy to dismiss trafficking as someone else's problem — something that happens far away from the safety of North Dakota. It can't happen here. But it does. Human trafficking happens everywhere, including North Dakota, and affects people of all ages, backgrounds, and communities. It often hides in plain sight, which is exactly why organizations like YWCA Cass Clay are so essential — working every day to identify survivors and help them heal. Human trafficking is the exploitation of another person through force, fraud, or coercion for labor or commercial sex. It often leaves survivors with lasting physical, emotional, financial, and psychological trauma. Traffickers are skilled at finding and keeping victims, making it difficult for them to leave. When they do, recovery is vital to helping them rebuild — and can take years of support, stability, and compassionate care.
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Right now, inside YWCA Cass Clay's housing
REALITY OF TRAFFICKING IN NORTH DAKOTA
Trafficking thrives in isolation and secrecy, which makes it difficult to identify and report. Since 2007, the National Human Trafficking Hotline has identified hundreds of victims connected to North Dakota. The rural landscape can give a false sense of safety, but North Dakota has unique factors that make exploitation easier: greater distances between services, limited awareness and resources, fewer shelter and recovery options, and limited public transportation.
program, 17 women are rebuilding their lives after escaping human trafficking. Not in a distant city. Not in another country. Right here, in our own community.
Traffickers prey on unmet needs, offering false promises of safety, employment, housing, or affection. Those most vulnerable include youth, people experiencing homelessness, individuals fleeing domestic violence, Native American communities, people struggling with substance use disorders, immigrants, and those facing economic or social instability. Understanding trafficking — and how to support survivors — is the first step toward a safer community.
WARNING SIGNS OF TRAFFICKING
• Appears fearful or controlled by another person • Cannot speak for themselves • Suddenly stops attending school or work • Has unexplained injuries • Lacks identification or access to money • Appears malnourished or sleep-deprived
RECOVERY TAKES MORE THAN A RESCUE — IT TAKES A COMMUNITY
Escaping is only the beginning. Survivors often leave with nothing: no support system, no income, no stable place to live, and deep, ongoing trauma. Rebuilding means starting over — housing, employment, education, and safety — all at once, while healing from a uniquely difficult trauma. That's where YWCA Cass Clay steps in. Of the 97 housing units YWCA Cass Clay has available for survivors of abuse, 17 are currently home to women recovering from trafficking. Advocates work alongside survivors to build safety plans, connect them with healthcare and other resources, navigate housing and employment challenges, and regain a sense of independence. Taking a trauma-informed approach, YWCA Cass Clay offers emer-
gency shelter, short- and long-term housing, and crisis support — the stability survivors need to begin healing. Recognizing we are stronger when we work together, YWCA is a member of the Red River Valley Human Trafficking Task Force and North Dakota Human Trafficking Task Force, and collaborates with key partners to holistically support survivors.
WHAT YOU CAN DO
Human trafficking is an ugly reality, but looking away only helps traffickers. Here's how you can help right here at home: • Learn the warning signs above, and speak up if something feels wrong. • Save the National Human Trafficking Hotline: 1-888-373-7888. • Donate or volunteer with YWCA Cass Clay to support survivors in our community. Learn how at ywcacassclay.org. • Talk about trafficking — awareness is often the first step toward prevention. Every survivor deserves safety and the chance to heal. Together, we can build a safer place to be for the women rebuilding their lives right here in the Cass-Clay region.
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DINING
So much emphasis for new Americans is placed on survival, including government/municipal/ non-profit services, that, although entirely necessary, make no mention of how to share culture, how to integrate into a community, or how to just make some friends. Fargo-Moorhead is also somewhat of an island: too small to support many large community groups yet too big to be entirely without them. Not to mention, it’s isolated by several hundred miles in every direction from any larger urban hubs. North Dakota is beautiful and important, but it can also be very lonely. As is our nature, one surefire way to, at the very least, make contact with strangers is through food. Everyone’s got to eat and across all of humanity’s space and time, we all know what it’s like to crack an egg or boil some rice. Different cultures sharing their specializations is where the real magic happens, though. Sifa Olive arrived in Fargo about 25 years ago from Kenya, bringing with her a love for cooking and hospitality.
“I love cooking,” she says, “it is a passion for me— it ran in the family. My parents were the biggest entrepreneurs in hotel management, hospitality industries and restaurants, so that is how I came to love to cook.” She originally came to Fargo to attend NDSU and earned her degree in child development and women’s studies, and she has simply never left. “So many people ask me: why did I choose Fargo and then stay all these years? I don’t even know,” she laughs, “I don’t have an answer anymore.” After college, she worked for Fargo Public Schools teaching a wide range of subjects and skills to immigrant students. Her summers, however, were empty. “The reason I decided to do this is because, when you are a teacher, you don’t have a job in the summer. I didn’t want to just apply for a job for two or three months and then quit, so I decided to find something to do by myself.”
In 2015, she opened Adibon, a food truck and catering operation. To this day, she is Adibon’s head chef, and her only employees are her three children (when they are not busy with school or other work opportunities). Sifa serves fusion cuisine from Europe and Africa. On Adibon’s menu you can find sambusas, a triangular fried pastry filled with mined meat and vegetables, popular in East Africa and the Middle East, as well as croque monsieur sandwiches, a French version of a hot ham-and-cheese, or Hennessey-glazed chicken, deep-fried plantains, beignets, and baklava—a layered, honey-soaked phyllo pastry. Represented here are foods from the bed of civilization, ancient Mesopotamia and Persia to French-Cajun, Louisiana, as well as the ubiquitous fried plantain that’s found from Central America to Africa and the Caribbean. In early 2020, Sifa had built enough profit and momentum to open a permanent restaurant in addition to the mobile food truck, but during and after Covid she struggled with employee retention due to the tumult of the pandemic and ensuing changes to the workforce zeitgeist. [AW] October / November 26 :: 47
“We would hire people and after two months, they would quit,” she says. “It was a really big challenge.” In 2024, she made the decision to terminate the permanent restaurant and concentrate her efforts on the food truck and catering exclusively. Even when the restaurant was operating, most of her revenue came from catering orders anyway, so the decision was out of savvy rather than defeat. Besides the pragmatic battles of operating a business and being there to run it, Sifa says that her biggest challenge was a social one. “Building customers is the toughest thing you will ever face in the business,” she says. Getting people in the door (or up to the order window) on a consistent basis and deliberately trying to increase the amount that do so takes more effort and ingenuity than applying for permits or even cooking the food itself.
But Sifa stayed determined and consistent and now has the opportunity to cater all kinds of events across the community—from weddings, baby showers, and graduations to funerals and corporate fundraisers. She also reports that people recognize her wherever she goes in town, which brings her a deep sense of fulfillment. “The reason why I love what I do is seeing people enjoy my food; seeing people try different types of food and then giving me a positive compliment,” Sifa says. “That makes me keep moving. It makes me think that people really do want to change what they’re eating.” She agrees that, over the years, she has witnessed the community become more open-minded and willing to try new things. This is good for her business, of course, but it also helps to lift up other immigrant business owners and individuals in the area which is especially rewarding for her. “I have people come back to me and say, ‘Since we tried your food, we’ve been looking to go to different restaurants from western Africa to test the differences.’ That makes me feel happy,” she says. On a personal level, her own life is enriched by serving and interacting with the public via Adibon.
“It helps me to meet and be with people from all over the world,” she says. “I meet people at the food truck and then we stay in touch and we connect. It’s a really good place to socialize if you are someone who doesn’t know where to find friends.” Now, we arrive at the heart of Sifa’s mission: to connect people across cultures through the gift of a delicious, warm meal. People, regardless of origin or life stage, need good food and people to share it with—and Sifa makes really good food. She also hopes that her efforts might inspire others. “I want to encourage and motivate immigrant people who have that kind of talent to passion for cooking to come out—to show what they want to share with the community.” The Adibon food truck is regularly available across the Fargo-Moorhead area, making stops at West Acres Mall, NDSU, West Fargo Cruise Night, and downtown Fargo for the Night Bazaars and farmers markets. Sifa’s goal is to eventually reopen a permanent restaurant location so that she can provide a more material environment to serve this community and continue to facilitate connections between cultures and individuals.
For information:
adibonfusioncuisine.com 701-730-9301
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STYLE
GUNDERSON'S 5601 28th Ave S, Fargo, ND 18K Yellow Gold 0.40ctw Diamond Fashion Ring, 19 total diamonds
$3,460
This envelope clutch adorned with gorgeous colorful sequins is available in multiple patterns and colorways. Perfect to dress up a casual outfit or accent a dressier ensemble.
$40.00 Wrap up in Entro’s rich green Olivia cardigan that features a dark pink colorway and wrap style with tie. S-XL
$64.99 Puzzlefolk Puzzles creates bright, 1000 piece puzzles that are ideal for family nights through the colder months. Multiple styles, including That Plant Life! and Choose Happy! are available from this fun line.
$25.00 50 :: areawomanmagazine.com
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SOFT START — Papaya Enzyme Cleanser | $37 An ultra-gentle, lightly foaming cleanser made for sensitive, irritated, and post-procedure skin. Papaya enzymes soften away dull buildup while antioxidants calm and support the skin barrier — clean, soft, refreshed, never stripped.
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NEW Foaming Soap Dispenser - New amber foaming soap dispenser! Made from high quality stainless steel, amber glass, with a silicone base. Amber glass protects essential oils from UV rays and is perfect for naturally scented soap.
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Deodorant Cream - Put your hands in the air and jump for joy! These aluminum and baking soda-free deodorant, made from nourishing and gentle organic ingredients keep you smelling fresh all day long, naturally.
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FEATURE
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Buying a home is about so much more than finding the best rates and the lowest fees. Kayla Kallander, a mortgage loan officer at First International Bank & Trust in Fargo concedes that mortgage lending does require technical expertise. But that’s just the beginning. Kallander —who was recently named the number one lender in North Dakota by Modex, which tracks mortgage lending statistics across the state — says that helping her clients purchase a home requires patience, deep listening, an ability to educate people and keen emotional intelligence. She actively works to hone these skills and get to know her clients as individuals. She works hard to gain their trust and takes her responsibilities very seriously. “I’m giving people the financial means to purchase their biggest asset, while educating and empowering people at the same time,” Kallander explains. “There’s a lot of empathy that goes into mortgage lending, because it's very emotional. People are moving across the country, they’re buying their first home, or they're selling their first home — or moving for a new job. And that’s all kind of scary. So my job is to make them feel confident and comfortable.” This work takes time. No matter what those online estimates would have you believe, there’s no one-size-fits-all solution to mortgage lending. “I say prescription without diagnosis is malpractice,” says Kallander. “You wouldn't just walk into your doctor's office and say, ‘Doctor, I've got a headache,’ and want him to say "Well, let's get you into brain surgery.’ You'd want him to ask questions.”
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Asking questions is central to Kallander’s approach to mortgage lending. Many new clients expect to receive a bare bones experience, a dispassionate corporate drone (or worse, a pre-determined formula) spitting out rates and fees with all the personality of an online rate calculator. They’re often surprised when Kallander reaches out to schedule what she calls a discovery call, where both parties connect as people first — not just buyer and lender. “I never just send them a link,” Kallander explains. “I get on a call with them and I say, ‘I'd like to get to know you and your financial scenario — and your hopes and your dreams and your goals. I really lead with curiosity.” She adds that asking questions is important because each customer’s situation is distinct. Sometimes both lenders and potential homeowners make incorrect assumptions that can limit their potential. There are so many lending programs available and numerous ways to finance a home purchase. Kallander encourages folks to sit down with a professional with the patience to really listen to what makes their situation unique.
“I say prescription without diagnosis is malpractice. You wouldn't just walk into your doctor's office and say, ‘Doctor, I've got a headache,’ and want him to say "Well, let's get you into brain surgery.’ You'd want him to ask questions.”
Kayla Kallander
“You can have three people making the same amount of money and have the same debt, but they qualify for three different programs,” she says. “So really getting to know the client and asking questions — and not assuming anything — is the secret sauce, the way I can make sure that I help clients to the best capacity.” Kallander wishes that every lender took the time to really listen to their clients. But she says that the horror stories people have told her reveal that not every mortgage lending experience is grounded in empathy and respect. “I have heard these stories from people about how they never heard from their mortgage lender, or their lender didn't give them any options, and I became so flabbergasted that it's become a passion of mine to educate the consumer,” Kallander says. “
She says it’s especially rewarding when clients truly understand every part of what can feel like a very overwhelming lending process. There is lot of fine print to sort through. Numerous mortgage programs can influence down payments, interest rates, and loan pricing, but they all have different terms and conditions — and many buyers don’t even know where to look. And, at the time of publication, national mortgage rates are the highest they’ve been in a year (which Kallander reminds folks she can’t control), which can definitely increase stress levels. It’s no wonder that even veteran homebuyers get frustrated or confused now and then. “I get excited when someone comes to me stressed out because I know I have the opportunity to help turn uncertainty into confidence,” she says. “And by the end of the call they're like, ‘Oh my gosh, I didn't even know this was possible. Thank you for helping me understand it.’ Seeing consumer confidence increase is what's kept me going, because I feel like the community needs me.”
The community needs Kallander to teach and translate these technical terms and processes because people need safe, comfortable places to live, no matter what the interest rate happens to be at the moment. Mortgage lending is about so much more than money. It’s about home — and what that means to each of us. “It’s not just about the interest rate,” Kallander says. “It’s about understanding your options and it’s about what's important to you now. Is it the neighborhood? Is it a safe place for your family or the ability to be comfortable with your bills with this new payment? Does your dog want a yard?” Kallander sees her job as a balancing act, weighing a client’s budget and long-term spending and savings goals with those urgent, emotional desires. She also helps them make a realistic timeline. “As a lender, yes, I need to qualify people to make sure they can afford it,” she says. “But about more than that. People sit down and say, ‘Here's what I want for my family, my budget, my hopes, my dreams.’ And we talk about how we can get there — if not today, then in six months, one, two, or three years. And if you can just take time to really think about what you want and what you need, and work with someone who's going to be willing to help you get there, I think that’s a game changer.”
“My best advice for firsttime homebuyers is that you probably qualify for more than you think. I think a lot of people disqualify themselves by reading things online or talking to their dad and not to an actual lender.”
Kayla Kallander
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Kallander works with clients at all stages in their home buying journey. But first-time home buyers have a special place in her heart. She has specific guidance for folks trying to enter the home market for the first time right now. “My best advice for first-time homebuyers is that you probably qualify for more than you think. I think a lot of people disqualify themselves by reading things online or talking to their dad and not to an actual lender,” she says. “I read a stat that said that only 8 percent of first-time buyers guessed correctly how much was needed for down payment.” Other first-time homebuyers only talk to one lender. Not every mortgage lender digs as deep as Kallander does to find solutions for their clients. That lack of imagination and determination can limit a homeowner’s options. “I helped a client the other day get into a house for as little as $500 out of pocket with North Dakota Housing's assistance,” Kallander says. “And had they listened to the first lender who didn't take the time, it would have taken them about eight years to save 20 percent. And in the meantime, they're creating equity and have a home to call their own.”
The current market can be confusing for people who have sold homes before as well. Kallander advises folks to take stock of their financial needs and goals, especially if they’re entering a new chapter, like downsizing, relocating, or retiring. “I would say that you have equity that you are sitting on, and it does not mean that it has to go to your next purchase,” she explains. “A lot of people think that they’re just going to take these funds and roll it into a new 30-year mortgage. But you get to decide what you want to do with your equity.” For some homeowners, reinvesting that equity into a dream home makes sense. Others might choose to pay down debt, finance vehicles for new drivers, or invest in retirement plans or college savings. A good lender will run different scenarios to see how different choices influence your monthly payments until you find a solution that works for you. Kallander encourages her clients to pause, take a breath, and ask questions of their own. Life gets busy as busy for Kallander as it does for her clients. Her office is in West Fargo, but she jokes that she works “anywhere and everywhere” — a familiar refrain in a society steeped in side hustles, remote work, and being on call 24/7. But she’s been building in time to relax and take a breath into her own life too.
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Kallander has built a comfortable home with her husband, Theron. The couple share their digs with a charming quartet of pit bulls named Kolbie, Oxley, Theo, and Scarlett. “They run the house,” Kallander laughs, a statement that resonates with fellow dog moms far and wide. “It’s coming home to love every day. There's just nothing like it. That makes my home my home.” All four pups are rescue dogs. (And they’re so personable that they make her a bit of a celebrity in her neighborhood. She says a neighbor recognized the dogs before they recognized her!) Kallander feels so strongly about pet rescue that she sits on the board of directors at Homeward Animal Shelter in Fargo as a way to give back to the community. She encourages her customers to adopt as well. But Kallander doesn’t just talk about it. She actually helps make it happen. “I'm a huge advocate for dog rescue,” she says. “In fact, I even give back to my clients. I will cover their pet adoption fee because we just truly have fallen in love with animal rescue.” She and her husband also recently purchased a lake home about 70 minutes from West Fargo. Theron’s family had a lake place they grew up enjoying, so the couple jumped at a chance to create their own little slice of heaven in Minnesota lakes country. They’re putting in a little sweat equity lately. But they wouldn’t have it any other way.
“We go out there almost every weekend, let the dogs run, take them on the pontoon, and let them swim,” Kallander says. “There are constantly things to do and improve up there. We bought it as a fixer upper, so sure, it's a project. But it's also a way to escape and just be outside with nature.” Kallander’s family, her dogs, and her two houses are integral to her sense of rest and well-being. Although she enjoys a getaway as much as the next person, she says her sense of home is centered around, “feeling comfortable, having your own oasis.” “I travel, yes, but I want to create a life that I don't have to travel from,” she says. “And that means creating a space that I feel safe and happy to be in.” That sense of comfort and happiness is exactly what Kayla Kallander wants for her clients. She sympathizes with people who have been burned by bad lending experiences and information overload.
“I'm a huge advocate for dog rescue,” she says. “In fact, I even give back to my clients. I will cover their pet adoption fee because we just truly have fallen in love with animal rescue.”
Kayla Kallander
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“The consumer really doesn't know a lot about this, because they don't do it every day,” she says. “They believe the myths. They have horrible experiences.” Because of this hesitancy, this fear, she says so many people don’t even want to talk to an expert. Instead, they start searching for and falling in love with homes without knowing what kind of financing they qualify for. This just creates more work later on. “This is kind of like going to the airport without a plane ticket” Kallander says. “You need to know where you’re going, otherwise you don’t know how to pack. I'll say, “Let’s run a quick shoot from the hip estimate.’” She says people are often pleasantly surprised with the results. And if you fall in love with a home that seemingly out of your price range, don’t walk away. Go back to your lender to talk through your options. “I've seen people go find a home and then they find out it's $1,000 more a month, and they give up. They never apply,” she says. “There are many ways that we can get the payment down.”
Kallander sees herself and other industry professionals need to lead by building trust and strong relationships with consumers so they’re comfortable asking questions and thinking outside the box. Her advice to others who want to build a more client-focused business model is simple. “We just have to lead with empathy,” she explains. “You have to be willing to really take the time to talk to people. A lot of people push an email, an application, but I think there's a better way to do it — and that's to build rapport and to get to know people and be curious. Curiosity leads you down roads that you might not expect. When you start asking questions, you have to slow down to be able to really understand their needs.” Kayla Kallander is building relationships and trust with her clients, one conversation at a time. Her clients are more than just a number. They’re people first. And the mortgages she facilitates are so much more than just figures on a spreadsheet — they’re the hopes and dreams of an entire community.
For information:
fibt.com or 701-370-9766 Kayla Kallander: poplme.co
[AW] October / November 26 :: 59
OCT 3 & 4
FARGO MOORHEAD VISUAL ARTISTS' STUDIO CRAWL You can tour 37 art studios in the F-M area during the STUDIO CRAWL! Painters, potters, sculptors, wood turners, fabric artists, glass artists, and more will all demonstrate their craft—and some serve snacks. It’s free and family friendly. Studio Crawl maps are available at fmva.org.
TIME: Noon - 6:00 pm LOCATION: All around the Fargo-Moorhead area 11 S. 8th St. Suite 100 CONTACT: fmva.org
EVERY SATURDAY IN OCTOBER
OCT
3,10,17,24,31
RED RIVER MARKET Join us downtown Fargo for the Red River Market. Shop from 60+ local vendors, including produce, meat, eggs, bakery, pantry items, household goods, and art. Visit the Market. Folkways is excited to share that the Red River Market returns next Saturday! The market's 12th season will run from July 11 through October 31, taking place every Saturday from 10am2pm at Broadway Square. Red River Market’s mission is to create a place where all people can experience the joys of local food. We accept SNAP/EBT and match up to $15 per person! Visit the Red River Market information booth to learn more. Visit redriver.market to view updates to programming and vendors. This event is a program of Folkways - a community nonprofit creating belonging in the Fargo-Moorhead Area.
TIME: 10:00 am - 2:00 pm LOCATION: Broadway Square, 201 Broadway, Downtown Fargo
NOVEMBER 7
OCT 17/ NOV 21
41ST ANNUAL ST. ANDREW'S SCOTTISH SOCIETY DINNER & PROGRAM
FARGO MASONIC VENDOR & CRAFT SHOW Come to the vendor & craft show and support small businesses. The show will be from 11-3 and lunch will be served from 11-1. It all takes place at the Fargo Masonic Center, 1405 3rd St N Fargo. If you want to be a vendor, send an email to fargomasoniccenter@gmail.com
Celebration of Scottish food, bagpipes, tartans, songs, culture, and history. Anyone interested in Scotland is welcome. Deadline for receiving payment is October 30. 5:00 p m.
TIME: 11:00 am - 3:00 pm LOCATION: Fargo Masonic Center, 1405 3rd St N Fargo
TIME: 11:00 am - 3:00 pm
CONTACT: www.fargomasoniccenter.org, fargomasoniccenter@gmail.com
LOCATION: Courtyard By Marriott CONTACT: (402) 981-2333
Oct. 7, 14, 21, and 28 and Nov. 4, 11, 18, and 25
FALL STORYTIME AT THE CARLSON LIBRARY 10:00 AM and 11:00 AM Dr. James Carlson Library, 2801 32nd Ave. S> 701.241.1495
Oct. 1 and 15; Nov. 5 and 19
BABY RHYME TIME AT CARLSON 10:00 AM
Dr. James Carlson Library, 2801 32nd Ave. S. 701.241.1495 Oct. 1, 8, 15, 22, and 29; Nov. 5, 12, and 19
BEGINNER YOGA FOR ADULTS 6:00 PM
Dr. James Carlson Library, 2801 32nd Ave. S. 701.476.5980 Oct. 3 and Nov. 7
KINDERGARTEN SUCCESS! STORYTIME 10:00 AM Main Library, 101 4th St N 701.241.1495
Oct. 5, 12, 19, and 26 & Nov. 2, 9, 16, 23, and 30
FALL STORYTIME AT MAIN LIBRARY 10:00 AM and 11:00 AM
Main Library, 101 4th St N 701.241.1495
Oct. 5, 12, 19, and 26; Nov. 2, 9, 16, 23, and 30
MONDAY NIGHT MAGIC 5:30 PM – 7:45 PM Main Library, 101 4th St. N. 701.241.1492 Oct. 6
6 STRINGS AND HISTORY – AN ENTHUSIAST'S LOOK AT THE ELECTRIC GUITAR 6:30 PM
Oct. 10, Oct. 17, and Oct. 24
ROCKIN' DOCS FILM SERIES 10:00 AM
Dr. James Carlson Library, 2801 32nd Ave. S. 701.476.5977
Weld Hall at MSUM, 1201 6th Ave. S, Moorhead, MN 701.241.1492
Tuesdays: Oct. 6,13, 20, 27 and Nov. 3, 10, 17, and 24
Oct. 28
Northport Library, 2714 N. Broadway 701.241.1495
Main Library, 101 4th St N 701.241.1492 Nov. 28
FAMILY PUZZLE COMPETITION AT MAIN 10:00 AM
Main Library, 101 4th St N 701.241.1495
Oct. 22
ONE BOOK ONE COMMUNITY AUTHOR VISIT WITH IAN S. PORT 7:00 PM
Main Library, 101 4th St N 701.241.1492
FALL STORYTIME AT THE NORTHPORT LIBRARY 10:00 AM
Nov. 7, Nov. 14, Nov. 28 and Dec. 5
AMERICA 250: THE BIRTH OF OUR NATION FILM SERIES 2:00 PM
CROW PARTY: SHINY OBJECT AND TRINKET SWAP 6:00 PM Dr. James Carlson Library, 2801 32nd Ave. S. 701.476.5980
Fargo Public Library events are free and open to the public. A complete schedule of upcoming events is available at all Fargo Public Library locations and on our website at : fargolibrary.org
[AW] October / November 26 :: 61
area
ON THE RISE
“I learned quickly that there are a ton of agents everywhere; it’s no joke when people say that everyone knows a realtor,” says DaeLyn Jameson, a Realtor® with Realty Xperts in West Fargo. “So, I started thinking:” she says, “what is actually going to make me different—make me stand out?” DaeLyn’s professional journey started in property management and marketing roles with a freshly earned business degree. Her first big transition later was to a car dealership as a sales agent. This opened her eyes to the one-on-one, connection-making realm of sales, which she began to fall in love with. Soon though, it wasn’t enough. “You only sit there with people for a couple hours and then it’s highly likely you’ll never see them again,” she remembers lamenting. “I just noticed that I wanted to do something different and give back to people—to really help them instead of just getting to know them briefly.”
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“I always knew when I was selling cars,” she says, “that, although I had never before realized what I really wanted out of life, I knew I wanted to make a bigger difference than that.” She began with a Google search: how to get a real estate license? After finding and choosing a few of the local brokerages in Fargo and West Fargo, she reached out and interviewed with them, asking what their company looks like and what she would have to do to get started. After much research and conversations with professionals already in the industry, she chose Beyond Realty as the first place to hang her license. With a great training program and values that aligned with her own, DaeLyn officially broke into the real estate market with Beyond in 2021.
She still remembers her first closing like it was yesterday. “It was with a young family and I remember thinking to myself that there was so much emotion involved—especially when I’m new as well because I don’t know what I’m doing, right? And I didn’t want other people to know that.” But she had a great mentor to whom she looked for guidance and encouragement, and was able to close the sale. “I think that’s when I really knew that this is where I wanted to be,” she says. “I’ll never forget it. They were crying tears of joy and I remember thinking to myself, wow, I was a part of that; I helped them get to a point that they never thought they would get to. They didn’t come from money, so they had spent years saving and working hard for this. That made it so rewarding to see it paid off.” As a realtor, even with a brokerage, you are essentially opening your own business, which intimidated DaeLyn as she started out. “No one is going to get after you,” she says, “no one is going to hold you accountable but yourself. If you make a mistake, you have no manager to back you up.”
When people are looking for a home,” she says, “their animals are a part of that decision. They may need a fenced yard or acreage for horses. DaeLyn Jameson
This was a harsh reality for her to grapple with right away, having come from sales jobs where each aspect of the business was delegated somewhere (HR, management, accounting, marketing, etc.) so that no one party would ever have sole responsibility. “I just had one job,” she says, “and that was to sell the product. So, the adjustment was challenging—wearing all those different hats instead of just selling.” But she was tenacious and soon became a bona fide, self-sufficient realtor. With her feet officially under her, it was time to choose a direction in which to run: a personal brand to commit to. “I wanted to build my business around something that I genuinely cared about but that could also connect me with other people that may share those values,” she explains. Looking back on her own life, she tried to define what she stood for that could also support the crystallization of a brand. “I grew up riding and showing horses, so I was always around dogs and cats and horses and animals in general; I realized that was a huge part of who I was.” And the connection was clear: “When people are looking for a home,” she says, “their animals are a part of that decision. They may need a fenced yard or acreage for horses.” Thus, Dogs and Real Estate was born. The face of her brand, yes, but also a principle.
“When someone buys or sells a home with me,” DaeLyn says, “I donate part of my proceeds to a local animal shelter. And for buyers, I have this program where, if they successfully close a home with me, and if they want to, I’ll help cover the costs of an adoption fee for an animal.” Through this platform, she’s developed a niche that fills her cup while simultaneously supporting the community. “For me,” she says, “Dogs and Real Estate became a way to combine two things that I really care about, which are helping people find a place to call home, while giving back to animals that are still waiting to find theirs.” Other pillars of her operation are clear communication, informed decisions and personal power. “I try to present my business in that I’m not going to tell you what to do, but I’m going to give you your options so that you can fully understand and feel confident in making that decision for yourself,” she says. As anyone who has worked with or lived with animals (or had children) knows, they have a way of completely upheaving any plans or schedules you may have painstakingly designed. DaeLyn has found that her industry can sometimes be the same way.
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“Real estate doesn’t always happen on one’s timeline,” she says. “Deals fall apart or people change their minds, so I’ve learned a lot of patience— that’s from my daughter, too.” Through the trials she’s faced in her professional career, her lifelong partnership with animals and now as a parent, she’s found that her engine, her foundation, is her sense of agency: accepting that she is entirely responsible for her own life and no outside source is going to swoop in and save her. This can be a scary and lonely row to hoe. But, as she says, “If I want something to change; if I want my life to look different in some way, I have to be willing to make that choice and take the steps towards it—rather than waiting for someone or something to change it for me.”
It can be embittering at first, realizing that nobody else has the time or desire to rescue you from yourself or your circumstances, but, in truth, nothing is more empowering than finally discovering that you can do it yourself.
I can help educate them, give them their options and guide them through the process, but that decision has to be theirs. DaeLyn Jameson
“I have a choice in the direction my life goes,” DaeLyn says, “and I feel like that realization has been a big part of my growth both personally and professionally.” This tenet is reflected in the way she works with people as a realtor. “If someone wants to buy a house, sell a house or make some other change in their life, they are ultimately the only person who can make that decision or take that step,” she says. “I can help educate them, give them their options and guide them through the process, but that decision has to be theirs.”
For information:
dogsandrealestate.com Contact DaeLyn: 701-730-0156 [AW] October / November 26 :: 65