Issuu

soak up the sauna Hugo resident brings portability to a popular wellness practice

Moving what matters forward.

JOHN MONETTE 612-720-0545

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MANAGER

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J A N U A R Y/ F E B R U A R Y 2 0 2 4 “Close friends are truly life’s treasures. Sometimes they know us better than we know ourselves. With gentle honesty, they are there to guide and support us, to share our laughter and our tears. Their presence reminds us that we are never really alone.” —Vincent Van Gogh

DEPA RTMEN TS

10 Of Fables and Fantasy Local artist weaves stories and nature in her handmade works.

12 Smooth Skating Skate school invites people of all ages to experience the ice.

14 Encapsulating Style Stylist Sarah Ramsay shares tips for creating a closet you love.

FEATUR ES

16 Soak up the Sauna Hugo resident brings portability to a popular wellness practice.

20 You Go Girl Lisa Najarian is on a mission to bring women together.

TASTEMA KER S

28 A Cozy Kitchen The season of comfort food is just beginning.

4 7 25 32

Editor’s Letter Noteworthy On the Town Last Glance

PAGE 20

January/February 2024

whitebearlakemag.com

Photo: Chris Emeott

I N EVERY I SSUE

#BC72712 3

FROM THE EDITOR Zo e Yate s — zoe@loca lm edia .co

Photo: Chris Emeott

Something that has stood out to me during my two years overseeing White Bear Lake Magazine is the closeness of this community—a dedication of service and spirit that finds its way into each and every story we share. In this first issue of 2024, the stories, even more than usual, are tied to community and friendship. Many of the locals featured in these pages are using their passions to uplift others and create opportunities for meaningful connection and learning. For centuries, saunas have provided a hub for conversation and cleansing. I spoke with Eric Simmons about his newly launched portable sauna tent business and how his product (and the making of it) has helped him reconnect with longtime friends. Simmons shares how the opportunity to “meet on the bench” is like none other. We also met up with Lisa Najarian, a Grant resident and the founder of Twin Cities Lyme Foundation, to talk about her newest passion project: You Go Girl. The brand is devoted to encouraging women to develop and maintain their friendships. On page 20, Najarian talks girl trips, aligning priorities and the upcoming release of her memoir. Have a story to share? You can find me at zoe@localmedia.co. Happy New Year!

On the Cover Eric Simmons, photo by Chris Emeott, page 16 See what we’re doing behind the scenes and around town! White Bear Lake Magazine @whitebearlakemag @whitebearlakemag

January/February 2024

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VOL. 11 NO. 3 whitebearlakemag.com

publisher Susan Isay

editor Zoe Yates

managing creative director Renée Stewart-Hester

managing editor Hailey Almsted

digital editor Madeline Kopiecki

copy editors Kellie Doherty Sherri Hildebrandt

staff writers Jody Carey Mollee Francisco Emily Gedde Meredith Heneghan Daniel Huss Jennifer Pitterle Rachel Schuehle Josie Smith Kristie Smith

contributing writers

Shop Online. Same Day Delivery or Pickup. C R E AT E Y O U R L I S T A N D S H O P T H O U S A N D S O F I T E M S S H O P. L U N D S A N D B Y E R LY S . C O M

Karen Alnes Christina Miller Brittany Tobin Mrkvicka Therese Sonnek

4630 CENTERVILLE ROAD, WHITE BEAR LAKE, MN 55110

editorial interns

L U N D S A N D B Y E R LY S . C O M | 6 5 1 . 6 5 3 . 0 0 0 0

Elaina Mankowski Morgan McFadden Emma Mehl

editorial advisory board Karen Alnes, Greater White Bear Lake Community Foundation Lisa Beecroft, Beecroft Marketing & Events Ellie Fuelling, White Bear Center for the Arts Dylan McDonough, Solid Ground Jackie Reis, Community Volunteer Marisa Vette, White Bear Lake Area Schools

651.426.8176 bruggemanexteriors.com info@bruggemanexteriors.com

senior managing art director Sarah Dovolos

2555 County E Suite 104 White Bear Lake MN 55110

art director Allison Nolden

graphic designer Yaz Lo

junior designer Jamie Klang

lead staff photographer Chris Emeott

production director Brittni Dye

production manager Lisa Stone

production coordinator Mimi Coz

senior account executives Cynthia Hamre Mary-Catherine Hartel Sara Johnson Abbie Kinn Kathie Smith

Roofing Siding Windows Gutters

president Pete Burgeson

Translations:

go Discover.

Para Español por favor llame al 651-407-7625 Xav tau ntawv Hmoob hu rau 651-407-7623

Design Your Future. Create Your Success.

Follow whiTe Bear lake area SchoolS 6

/isd624

Join us! Why be a bear? Benefits of being a BEAR: • Student-centered instruction. We believe all students grow and learn in different ways and at different rates, all can achieve. • More academic opportunities to explore interests, excel and design your future. • Students are agents and owners of their own learning in an environment that is safe, supportive and challenging — with high expectations for student success. • Our educators inspire, facilitate, and challenge students, nurturing curiosity and confidence. We provide a window to their future. • We are transforming learning. Our flexible learning spaces and learning studios ignite opportunities for communication, collaboration, creativity and critical thinking.

aPPLy TODay White Bear Lake Area Schools

lo c al tip s, tidb its & insi ght s

N OT E WO RT H Y

STYLE

TAMING YOUR CLOSET

Sometimes, less is more when it comes to your wardrobe. I recommend cleaning out your closet twice a year and organizing it in a way that is practical for your lifestyle or the current season. The impact it can have on your daily routine and overall well-being is truly transformative.

Here’s how a tidy wardrobe can make your life easier: » Time Saver: With everything neatly arranged and easily visible, you’ll spend less time searching for that perfect outfit. » Streamlined Decision Making: An organized closet with fewer choices makes it easier to decide what to

VOTE

YOU’RE INVITED … … TO A COLLECTI V E C EL EBR AT ION for the White Bear Lake area com-

munity and its local businesses and providers that continue to serve and support us in a host of categories. What’s the best way to honor your favorite dining spots, hometown businesses, service providers, shopping haunts, community venues and more? Vote for your favorites in our annual Readers’ Poll—the Best of White Bear Lake 2024. Head to whitebearlakemag.com throughout January to share your “best of the best” in our communities. You’ll see some of your favorite categories return, along with the second annual East Metro segment, which includes a broader selection of area businesses and services frequented and appreciated by our readership area. Want to view the categories? Go online—and vote!

wear or even what to pack for a trip and can increase confidence. » Stress Reduction: A clean and organized space brings a sense of calm and order to your mornings when deciding what to wear, reducing stress levels and decision fatigue. » Money Saver: Having all items organized and visible will help prevent you from buying duplicate items or forgetting about clothes buried at the back of the closet. This also helps you identify any possible gaps in your wardrobe. » Improved Clothing Longevity: Properly stored clothes last longer. Be sure to fold delicate and heavy knits instead of hanging them, invest

Voting is live with a few simple rules*:

in quality hangers and stuff your

1. One entry is allowed per person; each ballot needs to include an email address.

purses and tall boots to prevent

2. Ballots must be completed by 5 p.m. January 31, 2024.

creasing and misshaping.

3. Voters need to vote in at least five categories to ensure their ballot is counted. 4. The top three finalists will be announced online on March 1, 2024.

Embrace simplicity, declutter

5. Watch for our much-anticipated Best of White Bear Lake in the July/August issue,

your closet and experience the

where the winners and runners up will be revealed—along with Editor’s Picks

transformation it brings.

and a host of other community highlights.

*Any rule not adhered to may result in entire surveys being discarded, and all results are subject to editorial discretion.

January/February 2024

whitebearlakemag.com

Alexandra Eve is a local stylist and wardrobe consultant. To learn more, visit alexandraeve.net.

N OT E WO RT H Y

VIEW

Joshua Cunningham is an award-winning

Center for the Arts’ Into Nature Plein Air

local painter, who paints en plein air, which

Competition in August 2023 and shares

is French for “in open air.” This means that

his thoughts on what makes plein air so

he brings his easel, paints and brushes out-

appealing to so many. “The most beauti-

side and paints the landscape as he sees it,

ful part of plein air painting is actually its

shifting light, shadows and all. Many plein

accessibility for everybody,” Cunningham

air painters prefer to paint in the warmer

says. “All you need is the willingness to go

months, but Cunningham braves the

outside with as little as a piece of paper

Minnesota cold in pursuit of his craft.

and a pen, or a paintbrush and a canvas

“The realization that I’m painting some-

and some paint, and connect through

thing that I had no idea existed 10 minutes

that medium to the world around us.”

Photo: Greta Cunningham

Painting the Seasons

before I started or the way the light unfolds as you stand there and watch it—it kind of seems like it’s nothing, but if you give it a moment or two of vulnerable thinking, you realize it’s everything,” Cunningham says. Cunningham judged White Bear

Ellie Fuelling is the communications manager at White Bear Center for the Arts. Learn more about classes, programs and events at whitebeararts.org.

Joshua Cunningham

January/February 2024

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l o ca l t i p s , t i d bits & in sig h ts

GIVE

COMMUNITY SPOTLIGHT

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class of 2003 graduate Jessica Miehe, DNP, MSN, RN, PHN, oversees an innovative program to ensure all students have access to health care. Miehe is the founder and executive director of nonprofit Rise Up Health Clinics.

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Its Bear Care Clinic, located in North Campus, provides accessible, affordable health care for children in the school district, including sports physicals, wellness exams, illness care and immunizations. Services are often offered at no cost, and the clinic tends to all children, regardless of their insurance status. It also offers no-cost mental health counseling, plus nutrition and health education. During its first year of operation in 2020, Bear Care Clinic served 470 children. In 2022–23, the clinic provided nocost health care to over 1,300 children and students. This year, 15 mobile clinics are scheduled, going out to other schools in the district and to transitional or lowincome housing developments. “People view our community as affluent and resistant to economic and health issues,” Miehe says. “Though maybe a bit more hidden from plain sight, many of our friends, family members and neighbors

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face challenges, including finding affordPhoto: Bear Cares Clinic

able health care.” For more information, visit facebook.com/bearcareclinic.

In celebration of the dedicated volunteers that uplift this community, the Greater White Bear Lake Community Foundation spotlights a noteworthy local citizen or initiative in each issue. Learn more at gwblcf.org.

651-429-3379 • whitebeareye.net

4750 Washington Square • White Bear Lake, MN 55110

Kaia Bakken

A R T S & C U LT U R E

Of Fables and Fantasy Local artist weaves stories and nature in her handmade works.

WHITE BEAR LAKE RESIDENT Kaia

Bakken was enchanted with fantastical worlds throughout her childhood. While her three older siblings did their homeschool lessons, Bakken would spend hours drawing, cartooning and immersing herself in the classics of Peter Pan, Lord of the Rings and The Chronicles of Narnia. She let her imagination soar. Decades later, Bakken creates earthinspired handmade books and jewelry through her White Bear Lake studio, Dustling & Hart.

January/February 2024

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Photos: Kaia Bakken and Rachel Desjardins

By Jody Carey

In her intricate creations, fantasy symbolism is embedded into each element, telling a story with Old World colors and textures. Her leather-bound books are one-of-a-kind with a romantic, vintage feel. She often collaborates with couples looking for a distinct wedding guest book. “I like bringing romantic elements into books and being able to tell hidden stories,” Bakken says. The addition of pressed flowers, plants and curiosities from nature further evokes a sense of adventure. Bakken gathers many of the materials she uses in her art from country roads or around their land. On walks through her parents’ 10-acre property in Hugo, she also collects mushrooms that she casts in clear resin to make earrings. And with a first name, Kaia, that is Greek for “from the earth,” this layer of her business couldn’t be more fitting. Dustling & Hart is an allegory of Bakken’s faith. “We are all made of dust and to dust shall we return,” Bakken says. Hart, referring to a stag, is representative of her husband’s support in her artistic endeavors. The name is “a way to remind me that my work should always be intentional and full of purpose,” she says. Bakken donates a portion of each sale to local charities that support single parents, including Emerge Mothers Academy. As a mother of four, Bakken hopes to provide strength to parents who need help. “A lot of the time, it’s lonely and defeating, especially if you don’t have a village of support around you,” she says. Last summer, Bakken introduced a new layer to her business. Fablewood Goods brings tales of mermaids, dragons, apothecaries, royal castles and enchanted woods to life through story-related and North Shore-inspired, wholesale products. Each theme features playful, fantasy-oriented treasures, including candles, stickers, coffee beans, books and bookmarks to lead the customer to a land of imagination and wonder.

Porch season is coming. Let us build one for you. Porch season is coming. Let us build one for you. www.pratthomes.com

651-429-8032

www.pratthomes.com

651-429-8032

WINTER

Staycation

Beat the winter blues and leave the shoveling and maintenance to us! • Join us for two months or longer...your choice. • Socialize and try new hobbies. • Relax while we do the cooking and cleaning. • Try a furnished or unfurnished senior living apartment before making a permanent move. • Enjoy on-site therapy, a salon, spiritual care, wellness programs and more!

Dustling & Hart; dustlingandhart.com Dustling and Hart

@dustlingandhart

Fablewood Goods; fablewoodgoods.com @fablewoodgoods

@intothefablewood

To schedule a tour call (651) 429-9654 or scan QR code. 11

ACTIVE LIVING

Smooth Skating Skate school invites people of all ages to experience the ice. Michele Wells

By Kristie Smith

IF YOU LIVED IN THE AREA

in December 2019, you very likely heard about figure skater and two-time Olympic medalist Michelle Kwan’s infamous first time skating on a frozen lake. It just so happened to be on White Bear Lake. A video of the experience, captured by filmmaker Jay Christensen, shows Kwan right at home on the open ice. In moments like these, Kwan and other professional skaters seem to glide their way into the hearts of skaters and spectators young and old, motivating people of all ages to do more than dream and test their toes on ice. At White Bear Lake Skate School, all are welcome, regardless of age, experience or ability. Amy Flater, a figure skating coach and the school’s director, says adult learners make up a large part of the school’s classes. “A lot of times, we get parents coming in to learn to skate, so they can be ready to play the parents versus kids game at the annual, end-ofthe-year hockey season,” Flater says.

SPRING ICE SHOW Each spring, White Bear Skate School hosts its annual Spring Ice Show. Skaters of all ages participate. “It's always an exciting time,” number in the show, too, perhaps my favorite number since I had a chance to skate with my daughter!” Michele Wells (back, right) takes a turn on the ice with Becky (left) and Chelsea (right), who skated with Wells in the Spring Ice Show.

This year's event will take place April 26–28 at the White Bear Lake Sports Center. For more information, visit whitebearlake.org.

January/February 2024

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Photos: Chris Emeott

Wells says. “There is a parent/skater

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“Their first goal is to learn to stop.” The skate school offers fall and winter classes for teens and adults with multiple levels of skaters in the same group. Spring and summer lessons are shared with skaters practicing for competition. “Each person in our class gets individual attention, so they learn what they need,” Flater says. White Bear Lake resident Michele Wells got back on the ice in 2016, after a friend invited her to join a skating group composed of adults who had experience skating and whose children were now involved in the sport. (At the time, Wells’ daughter was competing.) “That fall, I started to take adult skating lessons through the White Bear Lake Skate School,” Wells says. While participation in competitions is optional, Wells and three other women ended up going to the Ice Sports Industry Adult Championships two years in a row. “We were classified as small production/light entertainment, so basically judged on how entertaining and creative our program was,” she says. “We had a great time!” Learning to skate has benefits beyond the sparkly outfits and energetic music. For adults, ice skating is a great workout. According to the American Cancer Society, the sport improves muscular health, balance and coordination and can lower risk of cancer. As an added bonus, the cardio workout can also improve mental health. Adults who enter skate school to learn basic skills will often end up creating new friendships with other adults and continue on to compete as a group. “My favorite thing is seeing progress in skaters, no matter what their age and then to watch friendships form as a class continues through the season,” Flater says. Though the classes don’t promise you’ll be as graceful as your favorite Olympic skater, you’ll definitely get a workout and the chance to get off the bench and onto the ice to glide alongside your favorite hockey mite or beginning competitive hopeful.

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in digital format! Never miss an issue of White Bear Lake Magazine with free, anytime access to our digital editions. Full screen viewing on your digital device allows easy cover-to-cover reading. Share your favorite White Bear Lake Magazine articles with friends and family.

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White Bear Lake Skate School and White Bear Lake Sports Center, 1328 Highway 96 E., White Bear Lake; 651.429.8571; whitebearlake.org

STYLE

Encapsulating Style Stylist Sarah Ramsay shares tips for creating a closet you love. By Jody Carey

Sarah Ramsay

WHAT IS THE KEY to building a

closet filled with items you actually wear? The answer could be as simple as prioritizing a capsule wardrobe. Mahtomedi resident Sarah Ramsay spent years as a women’s clothing stylist, working private trunk shows and helping clients craft a capsule wardrobe one-on-one. That is, until she realized a need for such services in menswear. While many companies offer custom styling services to women, Ramsay feels that men deserve the same opportunity to work with a stylist and fill their closet intentionally. “A lot of guys don’t know what to wear or how to coordinate an outfit that isn’t a suit,” Ramsay says. In 2009, Ramsay began working with J.Hilburn—a nationwide custom clothing brand—eventually launching her own byappointment J.Hilburn showroom in the Getty Cowork Building last January.

Ramsay says the downtown White Bear Lake showroom has been a “game changer” after 15 years of styling—for herself and her clients. “It’s a small space where both of us can focus and make a difference in their closet and wardrobe,” she says. Creating a Capsule

A capsule wardrobe is a small collection of curated, interchangeable items meant to maximize wearability. This capsule could be made up of 10 items or 30; it could be collected all at once or over time. A capsule wardrobe is composed of essential, timeless items—and, while the term was coined in the 1970s, this method has never been more relevant as buyers prioritize sustainability with high-quality items. Ramsay prioritizes this approach with each of her clients, looking to build on a

J.Hilburn Showroom, 2150 Third St. #8, White Bear Lake; by appointment only; 651.216.6798; sarahramsay.jhilburn.com

@styled.by.ramsay

simple formula that promises 18 unique outfit options. • Two top layers (jackets, vests, hoodies and sweaters) • Three base layers (shirts, polos and Henleys) • Three bottoms (jeans, five-pocket pants and shorts) “You don’t just go in somewhere and buy five shirts,” Ramsay says. “If you buy five shirts, then you’re just creating five different outfits. If you buy one top layer, two base layers and two bottom layers, that’s still five pieces, but you just gave yourself [many] different outfit options.” At the showroom, Ramsay takes precise measurements, and clients can try on samples and select their fabric, thread color and buttons before purchasing a made-to-order item. “It’s maximizing—how do you take the same amount of money and the same amount of pieces and buy smarter?” Ramsay says. “... A lot of people look at price-per-item before

January/February 2024

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Photos: Christina Knoche

STAY CONNECTED AND CELEBRATE WHITE BEAR LAKE looking at price-per-wear.” A typical J.Hilburn button-down dress shirt starts at $148, casual bottoms at $168 and a custom four-way stretch suit starts below $700. The initial investment may be steeper than purchasing clothing from another retailer, but Ramsay says her clients discover the benefits of buying fewer, high-quality items. “Our return rate and remake rate is less than 1 percent,” she says. By shopping with a mind for coordination, comfort and fit, men can feel empowered in selecting their daily outfit without decision fatigue. As the seasons go by, Ramsay’s hope is that clients continue to come back and slowly develop a capsule wardrobe that lasts through the years—adding to their ideal closet with a mind for what they already have. “Life is filled with people [who] help you. It could be the guy that mows your lawn, your babysitter. You have people in your life that are on your team,” Ramsay says. “I’m just a person on their team there to make their life easier.”

@WHITEBEARLAKEMAG

showcase local people, places and events.

s oa k u p

Written by Zoe Yates — Photos by Chris Emeott

Hugo resident brings portability to a popular wellness practice.

the sauna In these long winter months, Minnesotans are known to embrace the cold. Polar plunges, ice baths and cold showers are all common wellness practices. And often, these routines are paired with something a bit more enjoyable to the broader public: the sauna. First brought to America by the Finns, the sauna has been a part of cultural life in various northern climes for more than 2,000 years. As technology and lifestyle have rapidly evolved in recent decades, sauna-lovers continue to redefine the practice. Hugo resident Eric Simmons has spent the last five years developing a portable wood-fired sauna. The resulting Skylight Sauna Tent is an insulated pop-up model that offers a 200-degree sweat. This increasingly popular type of woodfired sauna provides an accessible and affordable way to get into the practice—and share it with your friends and family—without committing to a permanent structure. Simmons often keeps his tent up in his backyard to use in the evenings, but it’s also become a mainstay on family excursions. “If we go out on a camping trip with other families, everybody loves the sauna tent coming along,” Simmons says. “It’s been a new avenue to stay connected with friends.”

for both its social and health benefits—as a “destresser” and post-workout ritual. After a close friend purchased a Russian-made popup sauna tent in 2018, Simmons was inspired to create his own version for the booming Midwest sauna community. It took years of researching, making modifications, branding and finding manufacturers before Ox Sweat Sauna officially launched in July 2023. From sewing stove pipe holes in ice house tents with his grandmother’s old Singer sewing machine to finally finding manufacturers, it’s been a long and exciting process of learning. Simmons says, “I’ve learned on the fly as I’ve needed to here. I would say it still feels really small, but it seems like there’s a lot of interest.”

Eric Simmons

Photo: xxxxxxxxx

embracing the north A lifelong Minnesotan, Simmons had his first exposure to saunas as a college student at University of Minnesota-Duluth. He soon discovered his love for the sauna practice

January/February 2024

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meeting on the bench For Simmons, a single father of two young daughters with a full-time job in school administration, Ox Sweat Sauna provides an enjoyable means to share his love of saunas with his community. “To me, that’s the most meaningful part, the opportunity to ‘meet on the bench,’” he says “ … You don’t have your cell phone on you; it’s just fun to meet new people and chat with people in that way.” On a recent weekend camping trip to Prescott, Wisconsin, with his college

friends and their families, Simmons says he enjoyed seeing how the pop-up sauna tent provided a means to connect in a deeper way. “The sauna was running all day Saturday, all of Friday night. I felt like I was able to have a closeness with friends. I got to hear about how friends are doing in life,” Simmons says. “We’re all years and years outside of college … and I learned a lot more and got a lot closer with those friends.” Even his daughters are learning to love the sauna in short bursts, though Simmons thinks they most enjoy setting up the tent as a fort. They even help with fulfillment, putting stickers on boxes in

the garage that serves as the Ox Sweat Sauna headquarters. “My girls gave me a wood sign with the Ox Sweat logo on it and their handprints on the back for Father’s Day [last] year,” Simmons says. “They told me that we needed a store sign, and that was my first insight into what my kids are taking away from this sauna tent work.” While Simmons is still figuring out his long-term goals for Ox Sweat Sauna, he says he’s excited for the opportunities—in business and community connection—to come: “I’m hoping that the sauna tent business grows, and that I’m able to grow along with it.”

January/February 2024

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SWEATING LIKE AN OX Wondering how a portable wood-fired sauna works? The process is straightforward. Simmons says, “A lot of people use these on a regular basis at home, and a lot of people use these to go out and adventure in some very beautiful places in nature.” The tent: Made with two layers of denier fabric with synthetic insulation to hold in heat, the tent includes a stove jack with a silicone and fiberglass material that is heat resistant. The four-person tents are 6 feet by 6 feet and 7 feet tall. The stove: The suitcase-style sauna stove is fully portable, with a chimney that comes apart in six sections, foldable legs and handles on both ends of the stove. It weighs in at just under 50 pounds and can heat up to 200 degrees within 20 minutes. To use: Make sure to select a location that’s flat, stable and away from anything flammable. “Set up the tent a safe distance away from any buildings or trees,” Simmons says. “You’re burning wood, so it’s a good idea to be aware of your surroundings.” Bring rocks to lay on top of the stove’s grate, kindling and dry hardwood to light the fire. “Five-gallon buckets work well to carry wood and rocks, and two of them can also double as a sauna bench with a 2 by 6 [foot] board on top,” Simmons says. Inside temperature can be controlled by adjusting ventilation and the amount of wood burning.

OX SWEAT SAUNA; CONTACT@OXSWEAT.COM; OXSWEAT.COM @OXSWEATSAUNA @OXSWEATSAUNA

SAUNA TRADITION This history of the sauna is layered. Nearly two millennia ago, the earliest versions of the sauna were winter pit dwellings dug into hills, where Scandinavians survived the brutal landscape by heating rooms with steam—a method that also sterilized the space. Over time, the practice became a ritualized hygienic and spiritual practice. The traditional Finnish sauna is the most common today, involving short exposures of five to 20 minutes alongside periods of cooling off and rehydration. Today, the sauna is revered for its potential health benefits, including reduced risk of vascular and neurocognitive diseases and treatment of arthritis, headaches and cold symptoms.

Consult your primary care physician or other qualified healthcare provider to discuss sauna usage.

Photo: xxxxxxxxx

Lisa Najarian

January/February 2024

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Lisa Najarian is on a mission to bring women together. W RITTE N BY ZO E YATES — PHOTOS BY CHR IS EMEOTT

YOU GO GIRL Friendship is essential to wellness. It’s an idea that’s not lost on Grant resident Lisa Najarian. As the founder of Twin Cities Lyme Foundation, Lisa has spent much of the past decade helping people find comfort in a diagnosis. And now, she’s shifting course—encouraging women to find peace in their friendships through her brand You Go Girl and an upcoming book of the same name. “I really feel that You Go Girl is sort of the definition of my life,” she says. “You Go Girl and the memoir that I’m writing are a culmination of everything.” You Go Girl is a lifestyle brand devoted to “girl friendships.” Along with a supportive social media platform, branded products and a podcast and blog, the primary intention behind You Go Girl is to support women in their friendships by offering planning services for girls’ weekend trips. “The goal is to cultivate a community of women, of any age, any background … bringing women together to travel, to cook together, to do a book club, whatever it might be … and encourage them in their friendships,” says Lisa’s daughter, Lex Najarian, who manages the day-to-day of You Go Girl and cohosts the You Go Girl podcast.

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“Women thrive in this world. Period. I wouldn’t have to say anything beyond that. But when women get together and when they support one another on a girls’ weekend trip, you almost don’t need a psychiatrist,” Lisa says. “When you have a really good girlfriend, who is going to sit and listen to you … and they’re going to support you … it’s worth its weight in gold.”

THE POWER OF FRIENDS

That Lisa has taken on this mission is reflective of her childhood. Growing up in California with a nomadic mother, Lisa attended 10 different elementary schools and struggled to make friends. When she was finally able to develop a few solid friendships in junior high, she fought to maintain them— saying to her mother, “Look, if you’re going to continue to move, you’re going to have to do it without me.” When she graduated from high school, it was with the same group of friends by her side. And three decades later, after reconnecting at a high school reunion and staying in touch through video chat app Marco Polo for months, the same group decided to get together for a weekend trip in 2019. The time together at a small beach house

overlooking the Pacific Ocean in Santa Barbara, California, deepened their friendship in a new way. “In that first trip, one of my friends divulged some information to all of us that was really quite sad, and we all were shocked,” Lisa says, sharing the group’s consternation that their friend could’ve held onto this pain alone for so long—despite all the time they’d spent together virtually. That friend asked that the group make an effort to see each other in-person more often. Lisa says, “We all agreed, and we all had tears in our eyes. We all promised … every year to get together on a girls’ weekend trip.”

TAKING FLIGHT

As Lisa sat at the small Santa Barbara airport, the last of her friends to depart, she had an epiphany. Still reeling from her friend’s confession, she recalls asking herself, “How many women like me want to be able to help their friends in this way?” She returned home and immediately began writing a memoir and launched You Go Girl with Lex’s support in the same year. “There’s just a different level of intimacy that you have with your female friends,” Lex says. “It’s not romantic the way you have with your significant other; it’s different than the relationship you have with your kids, but there’s just

a certain trust that you can have in girlfriends and a happiness, I think, that a female friendship provides.” The pair’s hope is to bring awareness and remind women to step up and work to maintain their friendships in adulthood. “Girl friendship is so vital for our wellbeing as women,” Lisa says. “... When it’s pointed out to women, they’ll stop and say, ‘You’re right. I’ve got to do that. I’ve got to make the call. I’ve got to shoot the text. I’ve got to try to make the effort.’” It all comes back to making time in your life for these moments to occur, Lisa says. Just like some schedule out “me time” in their lives, it’s just as important to schedule time with friends. “If not,

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GIRL’S TRIP 101 Let’s be honest, who wouldn’t want to be on a fun excursion with friends? But how do you even begin to plan a girls’ trip? It can get complicated fast when “everybody has a different dynamic,” Najarian says. “And you have a lot of emotions, a lot of personalities when you get a group of women together.” You can start by making a few key decisions: Transportation: How do you plan to get to your destination? Will your group prefer to fly or drive? Stay close or go far? It’s good to hone in on your group’s size and travel experience as you make a decision on how far you’re able to go. Budget: What can every person in your group afford? Cost could be a primary obstacle for your girlfriends to opt out, so clarifying this aspect early on is important. Activities: What do you want to do? Figure out what your group is interested in seeing and experiencing. Beaches, mountains and cities are popular destinations, but consider seasonal trips like a fall colors road trip in New England or a summer getaway to Mackinac Island, Michigan. For more information on recommended girls’ trip destinations and more inspiration, visit the You Go Girl blog.

the days pass,” she says. “... We get caught up in our lives. We get caught up in our jobs, in our significant others, in our kids and in ourselves. We get caught up. And time passes really quickly.” Looking ahead, Lisa is enthusiastic about the upcoming release of her memoir, You Go Girl, and a follow-up cookbook of shared recipes among girlfriends. “I really love telling my story because I feel like it’s going to help somebody,” Lisa says. “... I’m just so very hopeful that it’s successful in that it will help women, and it will motivate them to be better friends.”

YOU GO GIRL; YOU-GO-GIRL.COM @YOUGOGIRLSOCIAL Listen to the YouGoGirl podcast on Amazon Music, Apple Podcasts, iHeart and Spotify.

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lo c al things to se e an d do

O N T H E TOW N

A TIME FOR FLOWERS

Photo: Kristie J Martin Photography

Embrace the season of love with floral design classes. W H IL E T H E W INTERY WO RLD around us may feel monochromatic this time of year, local florist Staci Andro is bringing color and life to the community year-round through her business Hazel & Goose. While Andro spends the warm months curating homegrown flowers at her White Bear Lake farm, her work continues through the winter as she brings together couples and friends to spend some quality time learning the art of floral arrangement at the Hazel & Goose studio space on Third Street. Enjoy time with your sweetheart at the Hazel & Goose Valentine’s Day floral design class on February 10; tickets to the event, which runs from 4 to 6 p.m., are $125 per couple. Or, enjoy time with your girlfriends while crafting a colorful bouquet on February 11 at the Galentine’s Day class. It’s scheduled from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., with tickets available at $75 per person. Andro says these classes will include “fun little twists within

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the traditional color palettes of reds, pinks and whites.” Attendees can look forward to learning to create bouquets for the special people in their lives with anthuriums, ranunculus and anemones, along with traditional red roses, with materials sourced from United States flower farms. Through January 31, Hazel & Goose is taking preorders for bouquets and other Valentine’s Day exclusives. For a gift that keeps on giving, Andro suggests looking into the flower farm’s subscription options that offer “an arrangement now and [many to] look forward to more as different varieties begin to bloom.” —Morgan McFadden Hazel & Goose, 2186 Third St. Studio 103, White Bear Lake; hello@hazelandgoose.com; hazelandgoose.com

Hazel & Goose

@hazelandgoose

lo c al things to se e an d do

O N T H E TOW N

Compiled by Morgan McFadden, Emma Mehl and Hailey Almsted

LOCAL EVENTS

The Extraordinary Life of Fr. John Markoe,

Lake Harriet Winter Kite Festival

A Pioneer in Racial Justice, who will

01/27

share the story of Markoe’s years in

Bring your family to see the Lake Harriet

St. Paul and White Bear Lake. All ages.

(Bdé Umá ) Winter Kite Festival. There

Free. 6–7 p.m. 651.407.5327; Find Zoom information at whitebearhistory.org

will be a free shuttle provided from the Executive Center to the lake to avoid traf-

AREA EVENTS

fic. All ages. Free. Noon–4 p.m. Lake Harriet/ Bdé Umá , 4135 W. Lake Harriet Parkway, Mpls.; 612.230.6400; minneapolisparks.org

Minnesota, the Ingalls family settles

Saint Paul Winter Carnival

To have your event considered: email

in South Dakota, and Laura grows

01/25–02/03

whitebearlakemag@localmedia.co by

from a wild child to a woman respon-

The oldest winter carnival in the United

the 10th of the month three months

sible for her future. All ages. Prices

States features various events at Rice

prior to publication. Due to the fluidity

vary. Times vary. Hanifl Performing Arts Center, 4941 Long Ave., White Bear Lake; 651.478.7427; lakeshoreplayers.org

Park, the Minnesota State Fairgrounds

being experienced in the current envi-

and around St. Paul. Events include an

ronment, please note that some events/

ice fishing tournament, snow sculptures,

dates and even some business operations may have changed since these

What the Constitution Means to Me

a puzzle contest and more. All ages. Free.

Times vary. Rice Park, 109 Fourth St. W., St. Paul; 651.223.7400; wintercarnival.com

Little House on the Prairie 01/26–02/10 In this musical, which originated in

pages went to print. Please visit affiliated websites for updates.

01/29 Heidi Schreck’s play imagines how the Constitution will shape the next generation of Americans and follows Heidi, 15, who earned a scholarship by winning debate competitions.

Recommended for ages 14 and older. Pay what you can. 7:30 p.m. Hanifl Performing Arts Center, 4941 Long Ave., White Bear Lake; 651.478.7427; lakeshoreplayers.org

Showcase and Reception 02/08 The White Bear Center for the Arts hosts its Instructor Showcase Community Reception, where all are welcome to converse with teaching artists, students and art enthusiasts while viewing art.

All ages. Free. 6:30–8:30 p.m. White Bear Center for the Arts, 4971 Long Ave., White Bear Lake; 651.407.0597; whitebeararts.org

Escape the Rooms at the Armory 02/23 and 02/24 Grab a group of six, and find a way to escape one of two options, either Alcatraz

3–8 p.m. February 23; 1–8 p.m. February 24. White Bear Lake Armory, 2228 Fourth St., White Bear Lake; 651.407.5327; whitebearhistory.org

An Evening with Fr. John Markoe

JANUARY 24

In this virtual program, the White Bear

VINTERFEST

Lake Area Historical Society welcomes

Learn about and enjoy Scandinavian winter traditions with food, drinks,

Matt Holland, historian and author

games and history at this year’s Vinterfest. All ages. Free. 10 a.m.–4 p.m.

02/26

of The Rarest Kind of Courage:

20880 Olinda Trail N., Scandia; 651.233.0267; scandiaheritage.org

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iStock.com/SviatlanaLazarenka

or The Speakeasy. All ages. $25/person.

TA S T E M A K E R S

A Cozy Kitchen The season of comfort food is just beginning. Written by Zoe Yates

AS T HE HOLIDAYS come to a close and the snow piles higher, it’s time to return to the cozy recipes that warm our hearts and stomachs through long winter months. Often these recipes come with stories—some passed down to us and others created at the table. Our editors from across the Metro joined together to share some favorite recipes that have become a staple in their kitchens. From our homes to yours, let’s raise a collective cheer for the months of cozy cuisine to come!

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POTATO LEEK SOUP This is my best friend Jen’s family recipe. She taught it to me on a cold winter’s afternoon when we were in our senior year of high school. We were preparing for college and thought it would be a good idea to learn several key recipes by heart. Twenty years later, this recipe is a staple in my home. It’s my daughter’s favorite. We hope it brings you joy, comfort and warmth for many years to come. —Feroza Mehta, editor of Edina Magazine

SLOW COOKER VENISON ROAST This Midwestern take on a French classic is my favorite way to enjoy the season’s spoils. At our house, it can only be served atop a heap of mashed potatoes, so we forgo potatoes in the roast and substitute with savory cremini mushrooms. If you don’t have venison in your freezer, this recipe is just as delicious with beef! —Zoe Yates, editor of White Bear Lake Magazine • 3 lbs. venison roast (shoulder and

• 4 ½ cups potatoes, diced into ⅖- inch cubes • 4 large leek stalks (about 5 cups),

leg are best; bone-in preferred) • 1 ½ tsp. salt • 1 tsp. freshly ground black pepper

sliced thinly. Use only the white

• 3 Tbsp. olive oil

and light green parts of the stalk.

• 2 medium yellow onions,

• 3 cups chicken stock

cut into 1-inch chunks

• ½ cup milk or ¼ cup cream

• 5 cloves garlic, peeled and smashed

• ½ cup butter

• 1 ½ tsp. Worcestershire sauce

• 4 Tbsp. ﬂour, divided

• 1 ½ Tbsp. tomato paste

• ¾ tsp. black pepper, to taste

• 2–3 cups dry red wine

• salt, to taste

• 2–3 cups beef broth

• ⅛ tsp. nutmeg, optional

• 1 bay leaf

• ¼ tsp. paprika, optional

• ½ tsp. dried thyme • ½ tsp. dried rosemary

On low heat, melt butter in a stock pot. Once melted, add in leeks. Stir with a

• 5 large carrots, peeled and cut into 1-inch chunks

whisk, and cook until the white leeks turn

• 8 oz. cremini mushrooms, sliced

translucent. Add potatoes. With a whisk,

• 4–6 Yukon gold potatoes,

stir in 3 Tbsp. flour. Pour in chicken stock

cut into cubes, optional

in increments while whisking constantly.

• fresh chopped parsley,

This helps to make sure the flour and

for serving, optional

butter do not stick to the bottom of the pot. Once all the chicken stock has been

Prepare roast by drying thoroughly to

incorporated, add salt, pepper, paprika

remove liquid or blood. Sprinkle roast with

and nutmeg, and bring to a boil. Simmer

½ tsp. salt and some pepper, and sear with

for 25–30 minutes until potatoes become

oil in a large skillet over medium/high heat,

tender. Add in milk. Whisk in remain-

making sure to brown each side. Place roast

ing flour. Heat until bubbling. Remove

in the bottom of a slow cooker; pour in

from the stove. Puree with an immersion

stock, followed by the wine, Worcestershire

blender if desired. If the soup is too thick,

sauce, tomato paste, thyme, rosemary, half

add more chicken stock until desired

of the garlic and remaining salt. Rub the

consistency is reached.

mixture over the meat; add onion, remaining garlic, bay leaf, carrots, cremini mushrooms and potatoes (if using). Add more

iStock.com/PanagiotisKyriakos

beef broth or wine if needed to cover the roast. Set a 6- to 7-quart slow cooker on low, and leave for 8–9 hours. When ready to serve, remove roast, and pull meat apart, then portion into bowls or place on a platter along with the soaked vegetables and some of the remaining juice. Serve alone in all its glory or (even better) on top of your favorite mashed potato recipe with some crusty bread.

SMOKY PULLED BRISKET BISCUIT SANDWICHES In my kitchen, anything between two biscuits is the definition of comfort. This recipe allows for tweaking, depending on your taste preferences. (I omit the cilantro and add more chipotles and onion. Pepperoncinis are my favorite sammy toppers.) While the flavor of these sandwiches is on point, your kitchen will also smell glorious as the meat slowly cooks to tender perfection. —Renee Stewart-Hester, editor of Lake Minnetonka Magazine • 8 oz. tomato sauce

S E T TH E TA B L E

• ¼ cup molasses

What says “cozy kitchen” more than an eclectic mix of handmade bowls? It’s no secret that White Bear Lake is home to some amazing artists and curators, who make it all too easy to fall in love with the taste of these cozy meals and the experience of enjoying them.

• 1 Tbsp. chipotles in adobo, finely chopped (I am generous with this measurement.) • 1 Tbsp. chili powder • 2 tsp. ground cumin • ¼ cup, plus 2 Tbsp. apple cider vinegar • 2 cloves garlic, finely chopped • 1 onion, thinly sliced (My eaters love onions, so I add another ½ onion.) • 2 ½ lbs. lean beef brisket, trimmed • kosher salt • pepper • ½ cucumber, seedless • 1 tsp. honey (I’ve used monk fruit sweetener, and it works great.) • ¼ cup cilantro, optional • 2 cups pepperoncini, sliced and optional (You can also add the juice from the jar to the meat to ramp up the heat.) • 8 biscuits, store bought or homemade

Select from an assortment of one-of-the-kind pottery at White Bear Center for the Arts’ (WBCA) Ann Tousley Luther Art Shop. While items and featured artists may vary, membership and development coordinator Lexi Munson says WBCA instructors Alex Chinn, Adam Gruetzmacher, Rob Lieder and Adama Sow often have bowls and dishware available. “[Sow] has ‘soup bowls’ that are my family’s go-to during the winter,” Munson says. 4971 Long Ave.; 651.407.0597; whitebeararts.org At Haus Theory, unique pottery and vintage dishware line shelves curated by owners Amanda and Dan Evans. All items have lived a past life in homes across the country, with many picked from local estate sales. Explore the intimate shop any odd day, and you’ll no doubt find an exciting new item to add to your kitchen. 2182 Third St.; 651.429.0963; haustheory.com

In a 5- to 6-quart slow cooker, whisk together tomato sauce, molasses, chipotles, chili powder, cumin and ¼ cup vinegar. Add garlic and onion; toss to combine. Season the brisket with ½ tsp. pepper. Slice crosswise into 2 ½-inch pieces. Add to the slow cooker; turn to coat. Cook covered until the meat is tender and easily pulls apart (7–8 hours on low or 5–6 on high). At least 30 minutes before serving, cut cucumbers into half moons. In a bowl, whisk together honey, pinch of salt and 2 Tbsp. vinegar. Add the cucumbers; toss. (Add cilantro to Photo: xxxxxxxxx iStock.com/yukihipo

cucumbers if using.) Using two forks, shred the meat, and return the meat to the onions and sauce in the slow cooker to warm. When ready to serve, spoon meat mixture between biscuits, topping the meat with cucumbers. If you want more heat, top the meat with pepperoncini.

January/February 2024

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LAST GLANCE

Aurora over the Lake Local photographer captures northern lights from Matoska Park. “In late April, there had been a lot of aurora talk, so my daughter and I had been watching the aurora activity,” says Steph Herington, a White Bear Lake nature and travel photographer. One night, the pair walked down to the lake and set up at Matoska Park near the sailboats. Herington explains the science of the aurora colors. “It was so great to capture the greens, but the purple was a fun surprise,” Herington says. “Greens are typically interacting with oxygen in the atmosphere at an altitude of 60-150 miles, but the lesser seen purple is interacting with nitrogen that is less than 60 miles altitude.” See more of Herington’s work at voyagenorth.square.site and on Instagram @voyageur_nord. —Zoe Yates

Photographer: Steph Herington Title: Aurora over the Lake

Equipment: Nikon D3400, lens at 27mm, ISO 12800, f/4.5 for 10 second Category: Seasons Award: Second

To view other Lens on the Lake photo contest winners, visit whitebearlakemag.com.

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